De bloemen, die de ziel vertroosten

Summary

Helena adores her father and is always eager to help him with his work in the bulb-fields. She is in love with Louis, a young neighbour to whom she is shortly to become engaged. Helena's sister has ju

Helena adores her father and is always eager to help him with his work in the bulb-fields. She is in love with Louis, a young neighbour to whom she is shortly to become engaged. Helena's sister has just signed a contract to go to India as a nurse. When she goes out to say good-bye to her friends, her horse bolts. In an attempt to stop the runaway horse, Helena has a nasty fall. As a result of the accident she becomes an invalid with a disfiguring scar across her once beautiful face. She begins to doubt whether Louis can still love her, as she cannot help but notice that he is gradually losing interest in her and becoming increasingly attracted to her sister. One day, when she suddenly enters the living-room, she realizes that her sister's feelings towards Louis are more than friendly. When her sister and Louis announce their engagement, Helena is distraught and decides to depart from this world. Out in the hyacinth fields she plucks hundreds of clusters. In her bedroom she strews the flowers on the floor, on the bed, everywhere. She lies down to die, stupefied by the strongly poisonous perfume of the flowers she has always loved and that now will comfort her soul by bringing her the death she desires.