Chapter 28: More Bitter Than Death

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​⁠"No—there's nothing left us now

 But to mourn the past;

Vain was every ardent vow—

Never yet did Heaven allow

 Love so warm, so wild to last.

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​⁠Not even hope could now deceive me,

 Life itself looks dark and cold;

Oh, thou never more canst give me

 One dear smile like those of old!"

Dainty dragged her trembling limbs as fast as her strength would permit toward the great house, lifting her