Mme. de Renal had begun to entertain gloomy thoughts. Despite her resolution, she had told Julien the whole business about the auction.* "He will make me forget all my vows," she reflected. . She would have sacrificed her life without hesitation to save her husband's had she seen him in danger. Hers was one of those noble and romantic souls for which to be aware of the possibility of doing a generous deed and not do it is a source of regret almost equal to that of a crime committed. Nevertheless, there were ill-fated days when she could not drive away a vision of the inordinate happiness she would taste if, on suddenly becoming a widow, she could marry Julien.