Meanwhile, a curious sound is heard below, as if many people were rushing upstairs together. Mysterious noises and smothered exclamations are heard in the next room; every one presses thither; the bride-maids and friends run out to see what it is; but it is remarkable that none of them return.
Athalie hears her mother scream. Well, she generally screams even when she is talking quietly.
"Do see what has happened," says Athalie to her bridegroom.
The captain goes out, and Athalie remains alone with Timéa, the suppressed whispering grows louder. At last even Athalie becomes uneasy.
The bridegroom returns. He remains standing at the open door, and says thence to his bride, "Herr Brazovics is dead."
The bride throws her arms into the air and falls swooning backward. If Timéa had not caught her in her arms, she would have struck her head on the marble table behind her. The lovely, haughty face of the bride is whiter even than Timéa's; and Timéa, while she holds Athalie's head on her breast, thinks, "See how the beautiful wedding-dress lies in the dust!"
The bridegroom stands at the door and looks at Timéa, then turning away suddenly, he leaves the house amid the universal confusion.
He does not even take the trouble to lift his bride from the ground.
CHAPTER VIII.
TIMÉA.
"How the beautiful dress lies in the dust!"