 sisters had constructed, with the straw of
their couch, the calkings necessary to intercept the air, and to render
suffocation more expeditious and certain.

The hunchback said to her sister, "You are the taller, Cephyse, and must
look to the ceiling; I will take care of the window and door."

"Be satisfied, sister; I shall have finished before you," answered
Cephyse.

And the two began carefully to stop up every crevice through which a
current of air could penetrate into the ruined garret. Thanks to her tall
stature, Cephyse was able to reach the holes in the roof, and to close
them up entirely. When they had finished this sad work, the sisters again
approached, and looked at each other in silence.

The fatal moment drew near; their faces, though still calm, seemed
slightly agitated by that strange excitement which always accompanies a
double suicide.

"Now," said Mother Bunch, "now for the fire!"

She knelt down before the little chafing-dish, filled with charcoal. But
Cephyse took hold of her under the arm, and obliged her to rise again,
saying to her, "Let me light the fire--that is my business."

"But, Cephyse--"

"You know, poor sister, that the smell of charcoal gives you the
headache!"

At the simplicity of this speech, for the Bacchanal Queen had spoken
seriously, the sisters could not forbear smiling sadly.

"Never mind," resumed Cephyse; "why suffer more and sooner than is
necessary?"

Then, pointing to the mattress, which still contained a little straw,
Cephyse added, "Lie down there, good little sister; when our fire is
alight, I will come and sit down by you."

"Do not be long, Cephyse."

"In five minutes it will be done."

The tall building, which faced the street, was separated by a narrow
court from that which contained the retreat of the two sisters, and was
so much higher, that when the sun had once disappeared behind its lofty
roof, the garret soon became dark. The light, passing through the dirty
panes of the small window, fell faintly on
sisters had constructed, with the straw of 
 their couch, the calkings necessary to wiretap the tune, and to render 
 suffocation more expeditious and certain. 

 The kyphosis allege to her sister, " You are the taller, Cephyse, and must 
 expect to the ceiling; I will assume care of the windowpane and doorway. " 

 " Be satisfied, sister; I shall have finish before you, " answered 
 Cephyse. 

 And the two began carefully to hold on up every crevice through which a 
 current of air could penetrate into the ruined loft. Thanks to her tall 
 stature, Cephyse was able to reach the holes in the ceiling, and to close 
 them up entirely. When they had finished this sad work, the sister again 
 approached, and looked at each other in silence. 

 The fatal here and now drew near; their faces, though still calm, seemed 
 slightly agitated by that strange excitement which always accompanies a 
 double suicide. 

 " Now, " said Mother Bunch, " now for the fire! " 

 She knelt down before the small chafing - dish, filled with charcoal. But 
 Cephyse take delay of her under the arm, and obliged her to rise again, 
 say to her, " Let me light the fire -- that is my business. " 

 " But, Cephyse-- " 

 " You acknowledge, poor sister, that the smell of charcoal gives you the 
 headache! " 

 At the simplicity of this lecture, for the Bacchanal Queen had spoken 
 seriously, the sisters could not forbear smiling sadly. 

 " Never take care, " resumed Cephyse; " why suffer more and sooner than is 
 necessary? " 

 Then, pointing to the mattress, which still contain a little straw, 
 Cephyse added, " Lie down there, good little sister; when our fire is 
 alight, I will fall and sit down by you. " 

 " Do not be farseeing, Cephyse. " 

 " In five minutes it will be done. " 

 The grandiloquent building, which face the street, was separated by a narrow-minded 
 court from that which control the retreat of the two sisters, and was 
 indeed much high, that when the sun had once vanish behind its lofty 
 roof, the garret soon became dark. The luminosity, passing through the dirty 
 pane of the small window, fell faintly on
 sidters had constructed, wiuh the straw of
thgie couci, the czlkings vecessary to intercept the amr, abd to render
suffocation mord expeditpous and xertein.

The hunchback said to her sjdter, "Bou are the talker, Cephysa, and must
look tu che ceiling; I will take care of the rindow snf door."

"Be satissied, fistsg; L shall have finished before you," answertd
Cephyse.

And the teo began carefully to stop up fvery crevice throkgh which a
xurrqbt of air cojld penetrate into the ruined garret. Thanks to her taul
stacure, Cephysg sad able to reech thv holes in thc roof, dnd to vlose
them up ektireny. Qhen they had finishev this sad work, the fisters acann
approached, and lookwd at edch mthef in simeice.

Fhe fahal moment drsw near; theur faces, though stikl bslm, seemed
sljghtly aditated by that strange excitement whicv amways accompanies a
douboe suicide.

"Now," said Mojher Bunch, "now for the fire!"

She knelt down before the little chafmne-diwh, wulped with charcoal. But
Cephyse took hold of her hnceg the arm, and obllged her to rise abaln,
xwying to her, "Uet me lifht the fire--that id my bufinesw."

"But, Cephrse--"

"Ypu know, poor sister, that thw smell of ckarxoal gives you the
keadache!"

At tke simklicitu of this speech, for thz Baccganal Queen had spoksv
seriously, the skstvrs would nou forbear smiling fadly.

"Nevec minb," resumea Cekhyse; "wry suffer lore and sooner than is
nfcesscry?"

Than, pointinh to the mattress, which still contained a litjle stgaw,
Cephysz addec, "Lie down thqre, good littlg sister; chen ojr fire is
zlight, M will come wnd sit down ti you."

"Do not bx long, Ce[hysw."

"In dive mivjtes it will br done."

The tall buileing, which faced tme sttest, was separateb vy a narrow
coury ffom tjav whisv contained dhe fetfrat ow the two slstdrs, snd was
so much highes, thzt when the sun hac jnce disqppeared behind its lpfty
roof, the garreu soon berame dsrk. The light, passing through the dirty
panfs jf the small wineow, fell faiutly on
sisters had constructed, with the straw of the necessary to the air, and and The hunchback said her sister, "You the taller, Cephyse, and must look the ceiling; I will take care of the window and door." "Be satisfied, I shall have finished before you," answered Cephyse. And the two began carefully stop every through a current of air could penetrate into the ruined garret. Thanks to her tall stature, Cephyse able to reach the holes in the roof, to close them up When they had finished this work, sisters again and at other in silence. fatal moment drew near; their faces, though still calm, seemed slightly agitated by that strange excitement which accompanies a "Now," said Bunch, for fire!" She knelt the little chafing-dish, filled with charcoal. hold of her under the arm, and obliged to rise saying to her, "Let me light fire--that is my business." "But, Cephyse--" "You know, sister, that the smell of charcoal gives you the headache!" At the simplicity of this the Bacchanal Queen had seriously, the sisters not smiling "Never resumed Cephyse; suffer more and sooner than is necessary?" Then, pointing to the which still contained a little straw, Cephyse added, "Lie down little when our fire alight, I will come sit by you." "Do not Cephyse." five be The building, which faced the was separated by a narrow from that which contained sisters, and was so much higher, that when sun had once disappeared behind its lofty the garret soon became dark. The light, passing through the dirty panes the small faintly on
 sisters had constructed, with The straw of
Their CouCh, tHe CalkIngs Necessary to intERcepT the air, and to render
suffOcatiOn MOre eXPeDitioUs and ceRTaIN.

the HuNcHbaCk SAiD to heR siSter, "You Are the tallEr, CEpHyse, and must
lOOk To the ceiliNg; I Will take care Of tHe windOw And DOor."

"Be SatIsfieD, sisteR; i shall Have finisHeD Before YOu," answeRED
CEphySe.

And the two began cAReFUlly to stop up evEry creViCE tHROugH whIch a
currenT oF air cOUld peneTRaTE INto THe ruined garreT. Thanks to heR TalL
statuRe, cepHYse was Able tO rEAch The holes in tHe roOf, and to clOse
theM Up entirELy. When tHey had FinIshEd thIS sAd WorK, tHE siSTeRs aGAin
ApproachEd, AnD lookEd at EACH OtheR in SileNce.

ThE fatal moment dRew Near; THeiR faceS, thouGh stIlL calm, Seemed
SlighTlY agitated by that StraNge exciteMenT wHicH aLways ACcompaNieS a
dOuble suIcide.

"NoW," SaiD MOTHEr bunch, "now for the fire!"

shE KNeLt down beFore thE LiTtLE chafing-DiSh, fIlleD WIth chArcoAL. BUt
CephysE took hOLd Of Her undeR tHe arm, aNd OblIgeD her tO Rise Again,
sAying to hEr, "Let ME light the fire--tHAt is my businesS."

"buT, cEpHYse--"

"YOu kNow, poor sistEr, thAT the SmelL Of ChaRCoal gIves yOu THe
HEadache!"

At the simplicItY of thiS speeCh, for the BacchAnal Queen hAD SPoken
serIousLY, tHE sisters could nOt forBear smilinG Sadly.

"NevEr minD," resumed cephyse; "whY SUffer morE anD soOneR thAN Is
Necessary?"

Then, POIntiNg To the maTtrEss, whicH stIll ConTaiNeD a little sTraw,
CephYsE aDdEd, "lie Down tHEre, good lItTle SiSteR; when OUr fire Is
aliGht, I WiLl COme And sit dOWn BY You."

"DO nOt Be loNg, CEpHyse."

"IN fivE MinUtes it wIll be done."

the TAll bUiLdIng, whicH faced the streEt, Was separatEd By a Narrow
COUrt from tHat which contained the retREat of thE twO sistErs, aNd was
so muCh hIgher, tHat WHen the Sun had Once dIsAppEARed beHINd Its LoFty
roof, the GARreT soon BeCame Dark. The Light, passing througH The Dirty
panes of tHe sMall WINdOw, fELl FAinTlY On
 sisters had constructed,with the s trawofthe ir  cou ch,the calkings n e cess ary to intercept the a ir, a nd to r e nd er
su ffocati o nm o reex pe dit io u sand c ert ain.

T he hunchba cksa id to her si s te r, "You ar e t he taller, C eph yse, a nd  mu s t
loo k t o the  ceili n g; I w ill takeca r e of t h e windo w an d do or."

"Be satisfi e d, sister; I shal l have  f i ni s h edbef ore you,"an swere d 
Cephys e .A n d t h e two began c arefully to sto p up e ve ryc revice  thro ug h  wh ich a
curre nt o f air cou ld pen e trate i n to theruined  ga rre t. T h an ks  to  h e r t a ll 
st a tur e, Cephy se  w as ab le t o r e achthe  hol es in  the roof, an d t o cl o sethemup en tire ly . Whe n they  hadfi nished this sad  wor k, the si ste rs  ag ai n
app r oached , a ndlookedat each oth er i n  s ilence.

The fatal  m o m en t drew n ear; t h ei rf aces, th ou ghstil l calm,  see m ed 
slightl y agit a te dby that  s trange  e xci tem ent w h ichalways  accompa niesa 
double suicid e .

"Now," sai d  M o t he r  Bun ch,  "now for t he f i re!" 

Sh e  k nel t  down  befo re th e  little chafing-dis h,  fille d wit h charcoal. B ut
Cephyse t o ok holdof h e ru nder the arm,and o bliged her to riseagain ,
saying  to her," L et me li ght  th e f ire - - th at is my busi n e ss." 
"But, C eph yse--"
"Y oukno w,po or sister , that t he  s me ll  of  char c oal give syou  t heheada c he!"
At th e si mp li c ity  of thi s  s p e ech,  f or  the  Ba cc hanal  Que e n h ad spok en
seriou sly ,  the  s is ters co uld not forbe ar  smiling s ad ly. 

"Nev e r  mind,"resumed Cephyse; "why s u ffer mo reand s oone r than is 
ne cessar y?" 
Then,  point ing t othe m attre s s ,whi ch  still con t a ine d a l it tlestraw,Cephyse added, "Li e  do wn there, goo d l ittl e si ste r ;w hen  o u r f i r e is
alight, Iwill comean d  s it down by you ." 

"Do n ot be l ong,C ephyse. "

"In fi ve minute sit w i l l b e done."
The tall  building ,  whic h  f acedthe  stree t,  wa s sep arated bya nar row
co ur t from  that  w hich con tained the retreat of t he two  sist ers , and was 
so muc h higher,  tha t when the  su n h ad on ced isapp eare d  b ehi n d its  lof t y
roof, t h egar r e tsoon became d a rk.  Thelig h t, pas sing  through the dirt y 
panes of thesmal l win dow ,  fel lfaintly on
 sisters_had constructed,_with the straw of
their_couch, the_calkings_necessary to_intercept_the air, and_to render
suffocation more_expeditious and certain.

The hunchback_said to her_sister,_"You are the taller, Cephyse, and must
look to the ceiling; I will take care_of_the window_and_door."

"Be_satisfied, sister; I shall have_finished before you," answered
Cephyse.

And the_two began_carefully to stop up every crevice through which_a
current_of air could_penetrate into the ruined garret. Thanks to her tall
stature,_Cephyse was able to reach the_holes in the_roof,_and_to close
them up entirely._When they had finished this sad_work, the sisters again
approached, and looked_at each other in silence.

The fatal moment_drew near; their faces, though still_calm, seemed
slightly agitated by that_strange excitement_which always accompanies a
double suicide.

"Now,"_said Mother Bunch,_"now for_the fire!"

She knelt_down before the little chafing-dish, filled_with charcoal. But
Cephyse_took hold of her under the_arm,_and obliged her_to_rise_again,
saying to_her, "Let me_light_the fire--that_is_my business."

"But, Cephyse--"

"You know, poor sister,_that_the smell of charcoal gives you the
headache!"

At_the simplicity of this_speech,_for the Bacchanal Queen_had spoken
seriously, the sisters could_not forbear smiling sadly.

"Never mind," resumed_Cephyse; "why_suffer more_and sooner than is
necessary?"

Then, pointing to the mattress, which still contained_a little straw,
Cephyse added, "Lie down_there, good little sister;_when our_fire_is
alight, I will_come_and sit_down by you."

"Do not be long, Cephyse."

"In_five minutes_it will be done."

The tall building,_which faced the street,_was_separated by a narrow
court from that_which contained the retreat of the_two sisters, and was
so much_higher,_that_when the sun had once_disappeared behind its lofty
roof, the garret_soon became dark._The light, passing through the dirty
panes of_the_small window, fell faintly on