For people who
believe in a hereafter, and choose to contemplate a doubtful
future, adorned with flames and largely peopled with devils, I
can imagine death to have its unpleasant side; but I look upon
all such notions as unphilosophical in the extreme. And now,
Monsieur, I think I could sleep a little. By-and-by, when
Madelon awakes, I should like to see her."
He turned his head away, and presently fell into a light dose.
Did he mean, or did he persuade himself that he meant half of
what he said? Graham could not decide; and, in truth, he had
uttered his little speech with an air of dignity and
resignation that half imposed upon the younger man, and
impressed him, in spite of his better judgment. An heroic soul
going forth with an unfeigned stoicism to meet its fate? Or an
unhappy man, striving to hide a shivering consciousness from
himself and others, with an assumption of philosophical
scepticism? Ah! who was Graham, that he should judge or weigh
the secrets of another man's heart at such an hour as this? He
left the bedside, and went back once more to his writing.
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