Then she spoke of the two dead ones, who also had seemed to her very beautiful, endowed with an extraordinary beauty, at once superb and sweet; and despite all her tears, she still remained in a transport of admiration.
On speaking with La Pierina, Pierre learnt that her brother Tito was at the hospital in great danger from the effects of a terrible knife thrust dealt him in the side; and since the beginning of the winter, said the girl, the misery in the district of the castle fields had become frightful.

It was a source of great suffering to every one, and those whom death carried off had reason to rejoice.
Celia, however, with a gesture of invincible hopefulness, brushed all idea of suffering, even of death, aside.

"No, no, we must live," she said.

"And beauty is sufficient for life.

Come, my dear, do not remain here, do not weep any more; live for the delight of being beautiful." Then she led La Pierina away, and Pierre remained seated in one of the arm-chairs, overcome by such sorrow and weariness that he would have liked to remain there for ever.