[The élléasandMémurmur of prayers has gradually drawn nearer. Part of the crowd invades the garden. Dull steps heard, running, and low voices speaking.]
Stay here;... do not go near the windows.... Where is she?...
They are coming by the walk that leads to the door.
[The old man goes away. Martha and Mary are seated on the bench, with their backs turned to the windows. Murmurs in the crowd.]
[_The elder of the two sisters rises and goes to bolt the door...._]
On the contrary, she is shutting it. [_A silence._
No.... She returns and sits down by her mother.... The others do not stir, and the child sleeps all the time.... [_A silence._
Martha!... [_They embrace and give each other a kiss._
He must have knocked.... They have all raised their heads at the same time;... they look at each other....
Oh! oh! my poor little sister!... I shall cry too!... [_She stifles her sobs on her sister's shoulder._
He must be knocking again.... The father looks at the clock. He rises.
Sister, sister, I want to go in too.... They cannot be alone any longer....
Martha! Martha!... [_She holds her back._
The father is at the door.... He draws the bolts.... He opens the door prudently....
He hardly opens it.... I can only see a corner of the lawn; and the fountain.... He does not let go the door;... he steps back.... He looks as if he were saying: "Ah, it's you!"... He raises his arms.... He shuts the door again carefully.... Your grandfather has come into the room....
[The crowd has drawn nearer the windows. Martha and Mary half rise at first, then draw near also, clasping each other tightly. The old man is seen advancing into the room. The two sisters of the dead girl rise; the mother rises as well, after laying the child carefully in the armchair she has just abandoned; in such a way that from without the little one may be seen asleep, with his head hanging a little to one side, in the centre of the room. The mother advances to meet the old man and extends her hand to him, but draws it back before he has had time to take it. One of the young girls offers to take off the visitor's cloak and the other brings forward a chair for him; but the old man makes a slight gesture of refusal. The father smiles with a surprised look. The old man looks toward the windows.]