The lips ceased to move. Gradually the high excitement of the features passed away and was succeeded by an expression of sadness and love. "Haydée--gone--gone to a better world. Mercédès--Mercédès--oh! does she love me yet? The long lost idol of my heart!--the adored angel of my life!--come! come! come!"
As the dreamer spoke, he spread wide his arms; when his eyes opened, and his long slumbering senses returned, Mercédès, his own Mercédès, was, indeed, clasped to his breast.
"Mercédès! Mercédès?" he faintly whispered. "Ah! it was no dream, for you are, indeed, beside me and mine--mine forever!"
"Thine--thine--forever!" was the reply, and she clasped his feeble form to her heart as she would have clasped that of a child.