receive my sincere repentance.' Then sending for Caelia up to her
bedside, she in a weak voice, with hardly strength for utterance,
spoke in this manner: 'My dear Caelia, though you know me to be a
worthless base wretch, yet do not think so hardly of me, as to
imagine I would deceive you with my last breath. Believe me then
when I tell you, that I sincerely repent of my treachery towards
you; and as sincerely rejoice that it has in reality been the
cause of your happiness with Sempronius. Tell him this; and then,
perhaps, he will not hate my memory.' Here she fainted away, and
they forced Caelia out of the room, thinking her breath was for
ever flown. But in some time she came again to herself, and cried
out, 'What! would not my dear Caelia say that she forgave me?
Methinks I would not die, till I had obtained her pardon. She is
too good to refuse her friend this last request.' Her attendants
then told her, that seeing her faint away, they had forced Caelia
out of the room; and they begged her to try to compose herself,
for they were sure that seeing her friend again, at this time,
would only disturb her mind, and do her an injury.

Chloe, from the vent she had given her grief in speaking to
Caelia, found herself something more easy and composed; and
desiring the room to be made perfectly quiet, she fell into a
gentle sleep, which lasted two hours; and when she awaked she
found herself so much better, that those about her were convinced,
from her composed manner of speaking, that she was now able to
bear another interview.

They again called for Caelia, and told her of her cousin's
amendment. She flew with all speed to her chamber; and the moment
she entered, Chloe cried out, 'Can you forgive me, Caelia?'