"I am sure to live now—am I not the Grand Duchess of Gerolstein?" added she, with a bitter smile.
Remaining alone with Rudolph, Sarah murmured, in an exhausted voice, while her features changed in an alarming manner, "My strength is gone. I feel that I am dying—I shall never see her."
"Yes, yes, calm yourself, Sarah—you will see her."
"I have no more hope—this delay—oh! it needs a strength superhuman. My sight fails already."
"Sarah!" said the prince, approaching, and taking her hands within his own, "she will come—now she cannot delay."
"God has not willed this last consolation."
"Sarah, listen—listen. I hear a carriage—yes—it is she; here is your child!"
"Rudolph, you will not tell her that I was a bad mother?" articulated the countess, slowly. The noise of a carriage resounded on the pavement of the court. The countess could not hear it. Her words were more and more incoherent. Rudolph leaned over her with anxiety; he saw her eyes covered with a film.
"Pardon—my child—see, my child—pardon—at least—after my death—the honors—of—my—rank——" These were her last intelligible words. The fixed, predominating thought of her whole life returned again, notwithstanding her sincere repentance. At this moment Murphy entered the room.
"Your highness, the Princess Marie——"