o us？〃
〃I'll see；〃 said Rose； with all a woman's wit； and whipped hastily round to hinder Camille from going。 She found Josephine white as death； apparently fainting； and clutching at the tree convulsively with her nails。 Such was the intensity of the situation that she left her beloved sister in that piteous state； and even hoped she would faint dead away； and so hear no more。 She came back white； and told Camille it was only a bird got into the tree。 〃And to think you should be wounded；〃 said she； to divert his attention from the tree。
〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃and it is rather inflamed； and has worried me all the way。 You need not go telling Josephine； though。 They wanted me to stop and lay up at Bayonne。 How could I？ And again at Paris。 How could I？ They said； 'You will die。''Not before I get to Beaurepaire；' said I。 I could bear the motion of a horse no longer； so at the nearest town I asked for a carriage。 Would you believe it？ both his carriages were OUT AT A WEDDING。 I could not wait till they came back。 I had waited an eternity。 I came on foot。 I dragged my self along； the body was weak； but the heart was strong。 A little way from here my wound seemed inclined to open。 I pressed it together tight with my hand； you see I could not afford to lose any more blood； and so struggled on。 'Die？' said I； 'not before Beaurepaire。' And； O Rose！ now I could be content to dieat her feet； for I am happy。 Oh！ I am happy beyond words to utter。 What I have gone through！ But I kept my word； and this is Beaurepaire。 Hurrah！〃 and his pale cheek flushed； and his eye gleamed； and he waved his hat feebly over his head； 〃hurrah！ hurrah！ hurrah！〃
〃Oh； don't！don't！don't！〃 cried Rose wild with pity and dismay。
〃How can I help？I am mad with joyhurrah！ hurrah！ hurrah！〃
〃No！ no！ no！ no！ no！〃
〃What is the matter？〃
〃And must I stab you worse than all your enemies have stabbed you？〃 sighed Rose； and tears of womanly pity now streamed down her cheeks。
Camille's mind began to misgive him。 What was become of Josephine？ she did not appear。 He faltered out； 〃Your mother is well； all are well I hope。 Oh； where is she？〃 and receiving no reply； began to tremble visibly with the fear of some terrible calamity。
Rose； with a sister fainting close by； and this poor lover trembling before her； lost all self…command； and began to wring her hands and cry wildly。 〃Camille；〃 she almost screamed； 〃there is but one thing for you to do； leave Beaurepaire on the instant： fly from it； it is no place for you。〃
〃She is dead；〃 said Camille； very quietly。
When he said that； with an unnatural and monotonous calm such as precedes deliberate suicide； it flashed in one moment across Rose that it was much best he should think so。
She did not reply； but she drooped her head and let him think it。
〃She would have come to me ere this if she was alive；〃 said he。 〃You are all in white： they mourn in white for angels like her； that go to heaven； virgins。 Oh！ I was blind。 You might have told me at once； you see I can bear it。 What does it matter to one who loves as I love？ It is only to give her one more proof I lived only for her。 I would have died a hundred times but for my promise to her。 Yes； I am coming； love； I am coming。〃
He fell on his knees and smiled； and whispered； 〃I am coming； Josephine； I am coming。〃
A sob and a moan as of a creature dying in anguish answered him。
Rose screamed with terror when she heard it。
Camille rose to his feet； awestruck。 〃That was her voice； behind this tree；〃 he whispered。
〃No； no；〃 cried Rose； 〃it was me。〃
But at that moment a rustle and a rush was heard of some one darting out of the tree。
Camille darted furiously round it in the same direction。 Rose tried to stop him； but was too late。 The next moment Raynal's wife was in his arms。
CHAPTER X。
Josephine wrestled long and terribly with nature in that old oak… tree。 But who can so struggle forever？ Anguish； remorse； horror； despair； and love wrenched her to and fro； and O mysterious human heart！ gleams of a mad fitful joy shot through her； coming quick as lightning； going as quickly； and leaving the despair darker。 And then the fierce struggle of the soul to make itself heard！ More than once she had to close her mouth with her hand： more than once she seized her throat not to cry out。 But as the struggle endured； she got weaker and weaker； and nature mightier and mightier。 And when the wounded hero fell on his knees so close to her； when he who had resisted death so bravely for her； prepared to give up life calmly for her； her bosom rose beyond all control： it seemed to fill to choking； then to split wide open and give the struggling soul passage in one gasping sob and heart…stricken cry。 Could she have pent this in she must have died。
It betrayed her。 She felt it had： so then came the woman's instinctflight： the coward's impulseflight： the chaste wife's inspirationflight。 She rushed from her hiding…place and made wildly for the house。
But； unluckily； Camille was at that moment darting round the tree： she ran right into the danger she meant to flee。 He caught her in his arms。 He held her irresistibly。 〃I have got her； I have got her；〃 he shouted in wild triumph。 〃No！ I will not let you go。 None but God shall ever take you from me； and he has spared you to me。 You are not dead： you have kept faith as I have： you have lived。 See！ look at me。 I am alive； I am well； I am happy。 I told Rose that I suffered。 If I had suffered I should remember it。 It is all gone at sight of you； my love！ my love！ Oh； my Josephine！ my love！〃
His arm was firm round her waist。 His glowing eyes poured love upon her。 She felt his beating heart。
All that passed in her then； what mortal can say？ She seemed two women： that part of her which could not get away from his strong arm lost all strength to resist； it yielded and thrilled under his embrace； her bosom heaving madly： all that was free writhed away from him； her face was averted with a glare of terror； and both her hands put up between his eyes and it。
〃You turn away your head。 Rose； she turns away。 Speak for me。 Scold her； for I don't know how to scold her。 No answer from either； oh； what has turned your hearts against me so？〃
〃Camille；〃 cried Rosethe tears streaming down her cheeks〃my poor Camille！ leave Beaurepaire。 Oh； leave it at once。〃
Returned towards her with a look of inquiry。
At that Josephine； like some feeble but nimble wild creature on whom a grasp has relaxed； writhed away from him and got free： 〃Farewell！ Farewell！〃 she cried； in despair's own voice； and made swiftly for the house。
Camille stood aghast； and did not follow her。
Now ere she had gone many steps who should meet her right in front but Jacintha。
〃Madame Raynal； the baroness's carriage is just in sight。 I thought you'd like to know。〃 Then she bawled proudly to Rose； 〃I was the first to call her madame；〃 and off went Jacintha convinced she had done something very clever。
This blow turned those three to stone。
Josephine had no longer the power or the wish to fly。 〃Better so；〃 she thought； and she stood cowering。
The great passions that had spoken so loud were struck dumb； and a deep silence fell upon the place。 Madame Raynal's quivering eye turned slowly and askant towards Camille； but stopped in terror ere it could see him。 For she knew by this fearful stillness that the truth was creeping on Camille。 And so did Rose。
At last Camille spoke one word in a low whisper。
〃Madame？〃
Dead silence。
〃White？ both in white？〃
Rose came between him and Josephine； and sobbed out； 〃Camille； it was our doing。 We drove her to it。 O sir； look how afraid of you she is。 Do not reproach her； if you are a man。〃
He waved her out of his way as if she had been some idle feather； and almost staggered up to Josephine。
〃It is for you to speak； my betrothed： are you married？〃
The poor creature； true to her nature； was thinking more of him than herself。 Even in her despair it flashed across her； 〃If he knew all； he too would be wretched for life。 If I let him think ill of me he may be happy one day。〃 She cowered the picture of sorrow and tongue…tied guilt。
〃Are you a wife？〃
〃Yes。〃
He winced and quivered as if a bullet had pierced him。
〃This is how I came to be suspected； she I loved was false。〃
〃Yes； Camille。〃
〃No； no！〃 cried Rose； 〃don't believe HER： she never suspected you。 We have brought her to this； we alone。〃
〃Be silent； Rose！ oh； be silent！〃 gasped Josephine。
〃I lived for you： I would have died for you； you could not even wait for me。〃
A low moan； but not a word of excuse。
〃What can I do for you now？〃
〃Forget me； Camille；〃 said she despairingly； doggedly。
〃Forget you？ never； never！ there is but one thing I can do to show you how I loved you： I will forgive you； and begone。 Whither shall I go？ whither shall I go now？〃
〃Camile； your words stab her。〃
〃Let none speak but I；〃 said Camille； 〃none but I have the right to speak。 Poor weak angel that loved yet could not wait： I forgive you。 Be happy； if you can； I bid you be hap…py。〃
The quiet； despairing tones died away； and with them life seemed to end to her； and hope to go out。 He turned his back quickly on her。 He cried hoarsely； 〃To the army！ Back to the army； and a soldier's grave！〃 Then with a prodigious effort he drew himself haughtily up in marching attitude。 He took three strides； erect and fiery and bold。
At the next something seemed to snap asunder in the great heart； and the worn body that heart had held up so long； rolled like a dead log upon the ground with a tremendous fall。
CHAPTER XI。
The baroness and Aubertin were just getting out of their carriage； when suddenly they heard shrieks of terror in the Pleasaunce。 They came with quaking hearts as fast as their old limbs would carry them。 They found Rose and Josephine crouched over the body of a man； an officer。
Rose was just tearing open his collar and jacket。 Dard and Jacintha had run from the kitchen at the screams。 Camille lay on his back； white and motionless。
The doctor was the first to come up。 〃Who！ what is this？ I seem to know his face。〃 Then shaking his