Page:Gide - Strait is the Gate.pdf/233

“And that life can breathe upon it every day, without extinguishing it?" The evening came slowly up like a grey tide, reaching and flooding each object which seemed to come to life again in the gloom and repeat in a whisper the story of its past. Once more I saw Alissa's room, all the furniture of which Juliette had collected together here. And then she turned her face towards me again, but it was too dark for me to distinguish her features, so that I did not know whether her eyes were shut or not. I thought her very beautiful. And we both now remained without speaking. “Come!” said she at last; "we must wake up.” I saw her rise, take a step forward, drop again as though she had no strength, into the nearest chair; she put her hands up to her face and I thought I saw that she was crying. A servant came in, bringing the lamp.