M.de Chateauvieux walked up and down with the noiseless step which even a few hours of sickness develop in the watcher, till he came and stood before his brother-in-law, saying in the same painful whisper, 'You must have some food, then I will tell her you are here.' 'No, no; I want no food,--any time will do for that.

Does she expect me ?' 'Yes; you won't wait?
Then come.' He led the way across a little anteroom, lifted a curtain, and knocked.

The nurse came, there was a little parley, and Paul went in, while Eustace waited outside, conscious of the most strangely trivial things, of the passers-by in the street, of a wrangle between two _gamins_ on the pavement opposite, of the misplacement of certain volumes in the bookcase beside him, till the door opened again, and M.de Chateauvieux drew him in.
He stepped over the threshold, his whole being wrought up to he knew not what solemn pageant of death and parting, and the reality within startled him.

The room was flooded with morning light, a frosty December sun was struggling through the fog, the curtains had just been drawn back, and the wintry radiance rested on the polished brass of the bed, on the bright surfaces of wood and glass with which the room was full, on the little tray of tea-things which the nurse held, and on his sister's face of greeting as she lay back smiling among her pillows.

There was such a cheerful home peace and brightness in the whole scene--in the crackling wood fire, in the sparkle of the tea-things and the fragrance of the tea, and in the fresh white surroundings of the invalid; it seemed to him incredible that under all this familiar household detail there should be lying in wait that last awful experience of death.
Marie kissed him with grateful affectionate words spoken almost in her usual voice, and then, as he sat beside her holding her hands, she noticed that he looked pale and haggard.
'Has he had some breakfast, Paul?
Oh, poor Eustace, after that long journey! Nurse, let him have my cup, there is some tea left; let me see you drink it, dear; it's so pleasant just to look after you once more.' He drank it mechanically, she watching him with her loving eyes, while she took one hand from him and slipped it into that of her husband as he sat beside her on the bed.