The Lady of the Camellias

rge couch, her dress undone, she held one hand on her heart and allowed the other to hang limply

At times, her chest swelled in a long, indrawn sigh which, when released, seemed to aff

r ?sat down and took the hand

u?' she said

looked distraugh

u very wel

ow about you? Are you

iped away the tears which the coughing had

on in my voice. 'I wish I could be your friend, a relati

d bitterly. 'You can see how well the others look after me. The tru

ing the candle, set it on the mantelpie

running her fingers through her dishevelled hair. 'Oh,

d seated and

n by this scene, for she came up to me

silly. D

lips, and despite myself I moist

said, as she sat down again beside me. 'T

u, but what I've just seen has

ile. And anyhow, with girls like me, if there's one more or fewer of us, what difference does it make? The doc

ve over my life, but I do know this: at this moment, there is no one, not even my sister, about whom I feel more concerned than you

ociety ladies who have a family and friends. But women like me are abandoned the moment we're no more use for feeding the vanity or pleasure of our lovers, and

u and I'd make you better. And then, when you were strong enough, you could go back to the life you lead now, if that's what

the wine has made you sentimental, but you woul

ill for two months and during those two months

ut why did you

didn't know

es such niceties wi

eties with any woman; at lea

d look a

es

y by me ev

es

n every

s you weren't

d you say

otio

s this devotio

ble attraction tha

with me? Just say it straight o

tell you some day that I

er for you if you

hy

two things that can come

they

a way that is sadder than sorrow itself, someone who coughs blood and spends a hundred thousand francs a year ?which is all very well for a rich old man like the Duke, but it's

half-glimpsed beneath the golden veil that covered its stark reality from which the poor girl sought escape in deb

nsense. Give me your hand and let's go back to the diningroo

hat you want, but ple

hy

ar to see you so br

case, I'l

ou often, something which the habit of hearing will perhaps prevent you from believ

smile such as young mothers smile whe

ack. Today, when I met you after two years without seeing you, you took an even stronger hold on my heart and my thoughts. Now you have received me here, now I know you and can see eve

poor fool, that I'd ruin you in no time at all? that you family would have you declared unfit to manage your affairs to teach you not to live with creatures like me? Love me, like a good friend, but not otherwise. Come and see me, we'll laugh, we'll talk, but don'

eard coming, as she appeared at the bedroom door, her hair half undone and h

aid Marguerite, ' leave us for a

rudence, and she left, closing the door as if to reinf

went on, when we were alone

ll go

s bad a

titution, the very illness which as surely heightened her sensitivity to impressions as it did her nervous reactions ?everything mad

aying is quite ser

seri

you tell me al

d I have t

re introduced to me a

eived me very badly if

hy

aved stupidly the

l the same, you were alre

es

o bed and sleeping very soundly after the play

Do you know what I did that even

o.

carriage which brought you and your friends back here and, when I saw you

e began t

you laug

thi

I shall think that you'r

n't be

right to

good reason why I s

was

meone waiting

e could not have hurt me more. I st

odb

. 'Men have a mania for wanting to

sion for ever, ' I assure you that I am not cross. It was only natural that someone should hav

eone waiting for

t I mus

bye,

sending m

at

you say hur

urtful

omeone was wai

being so happy to see me coming in by myself, whe

stroy their happiness when, simply by allowing it to continue, we

actions to you. Assuming that one day I become your mistress, you must realize that I've had other lovers before you. If you'r

o man has ever lo

t this: are you real

ould possibly love a

has this bee

out of your barouche and go i

And what do I have to do to

e half-mocking smiles with which she had accompanied the whole of our conversation, it seemed to me that Marguerite

about th

t Du

. He's very

on't

f he d

forgive

e me and then what

ning that risk for s

you know

ve that no one should

; but he is a

if you can close you door to

ticize me since I did it to r

ad put my arms around her waist and could feel her s

how much I love

really m

wear

without arguing, without finding fault or a

ver yo

t his feeling that he has any rights over me. I have never found one yet. Men, instead of being content with being freely given for long periods what they hardly dared hope to get once, are forever asking their mistresses for an account of the present, the past and e

hall be everyth

ll s

n will w

ter

hy

large bunch of red camellias which had been delivered that morning and putting it in

ning is

you again?' I said,

ellia is a dif

it be a diffe

eleven and midnig

an you

is to your friend nor to

romi

let's go back to

in and then she, singing as she went, and I,

oom, she stopped

uld appear ready to accept you straight

ld fell beating violently and insistently, 'the reason is that since I shall not li

me like this, I

However little time I have to live, I'll

he went into th

e said, seeing Gaston

waiting for you to go to

out! Come, gentlemen, be off

way out. Marguerite squeezed my hand as sh

we were outside, 'what do

el and I'm ma

so. Did you

es

promise to

o.

like Pruden

omise to be

hink so, but that Duvernoy woman is still a bit

b