“Two days! Two long, long days, and yet no food! And yet no hope, no comfort! Foolish woman! How can I wish to lengthen a life so wretched! Yet such a death! O! God! To perish by such a death! To linger out such ages in torture! Till now, I knew not what it was to hunger! Hark! No. No one comes! They will come no more!”

She was silent. She shivered, and drew the rug over her naked shoulders.

“I am very cold! I am still unused to the damps of this dungeon! ’Tis strange: but no matter. Colder shall I soon be, and yet not feel it⁠—I shall be cold, cold as thou art!”

She looked at the bundle which lay upon her breast. She bent over it, and kissed it: then drew back hastily, and shuddered with disgust.