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294 down my life. My spirits grew lighter as I increased my distance from you, however the weakness of my human nature might pine to return. I knew that I was removing the curse far from you; and my sorrow, my suffering—had I not stored them up for myself?

"I arrived in Paris, but a residence there was insupportable. The noise, the gay crowds, vexed me with a constant self-consciousness. I could never call up, vivid almost as life, the image of her I loved so deeply. She, who of late had so often stood beside me, with softened look and forgiving eyes, came upon my solitude no more; there was no quiet in that stirring and troubled city. I had no part in its pleasures, I took no concern in its business; why was I to be haunted with their echo?

"I left Paris, and wandered forth by chance;—by chance, did I say?—by that fate which has governed my whole life, and has relented towards me at last. The long shadows of the summer twilight rested on the venerable building as I approached; the soft gray light seemed scarcely to penetrate the arched windows, and not a breath of air stirred the huge boughs of the old trees that spread their quiet around the place. Repose was in the atmosphere—so calm, and so subdued.