complete, the most absolute idleness, with nothing to do but twirl my thumbs—alone with my thoughts!
If I have been able to resist so many torments until now it is because I have often called up the thought of you, of the children, of you all, and then I realized what you suffer, what you all suffer.
Then, darling, accept everything, whatever may come; bear it, suffer in silence, like a true human soul, exalted and very proud—the soul of a mother who is resolved to see the name she bears, the name her children bear, cleansed from this horrible stain. Then to you, as to you all, again and always, "Courage, courage!"
You must kiss the dear children for me and tell them how dearly I love them.
And you must also kiss your dear brothers and sisters, and all my family for me.
And for yourself, for our dear children, all that my heart contains of unfailing love.
Alfred.
4 May, 1897.
Dear and good Lucie:
I have just received your letters of March, with those of the family, and it is always with the same poignant emotion, with the same sorrow that I read your words, that I read the letters from you all, so deeply wounded are all our hearts, so torn by all our sufferings.
I have already written to you, some days ago, when I was waiting for your dear letters, and I told you that I did not wish to know or to understand why I had been thus crushed, under every punishment.
