What would you have, my friend?
I joined my hands as in my younger days, I felt too wretched, too forsaken, I had too keen a need of a superhuman help, of a divine power which should think and determine for me, which should lull me and carry me on with its eternal prescience.

How great at first was the confusion, the aberration of my poor brain, under the frightful, heavy blow which fell upon it! I spent a score of nights without being able to sleep, thinking that I should surely go mad.

All sorts of ideas warred within me; I passed through periods of revolt when I shook my fist at Heaven, and then I lapsed into humility, entreating God to take me in my turn.

And it was at last a conviction that there must be justice, a conviction that there must be love, which calmed me by restoring me my faith.

You knew my daughter, so tall and strong, so beautiful, so brimful of life.