y； before she entered it； she turned； and with a maternal smile discharged this word at the pair。
〃Babies！〃
But between the alienated lovers was a long distressing silence。 Neither knew what to say； and their situation was intolerable。 At last Rose ventured in a timorous voice to say； 〃I thank you for your generosity。 But I knew that you would not betray me。〃
〃Your secret is safe for me；〃 sighed Edouard。 〃Is there anything else I can do for you？〃
Rose shook her head sadly。
Edouard moved to the door。
Rose bowed her head with a despairing moan。 It took him by the heart and held him。 He hesitated； then came towards her。
〃I see you are sorry for what you have done to me who loved you so； and you loved me。 Oh！ yes； do not deny it； Rose； there was a time you loved me。 And that makes it worse： to have given me such sweet hopes； only to crush both them and me。 And is not this cruel of you to weep so and let me see your penitencewhen it is too late？〃
〃Alas！ how can I help my regrets？ I have insulted so good a friend。〃
There was a sad silence。 Then as he looked at her； her looks belied the charge her own lips had made against herself。
A light seemed to burst on Edouard from that high…minded； sorrow… stricken face。
〃Tell me it is false！〃 he cried。
She hid her face in her handswoman's instinct to avoid being read。
〃Tell me you were misled then； fascinated； perverted； but that your heart returned to me。 Clear yourself of deliberate deceit； and I will believe and thank you on my knees。〃
〃Heaven have pity on us both！〃 cried poor Rose。
〃On us！ Thank you for saying on us。 See now； you have not gained happiness by destroying mine。 One worddo you love that man？that Dujardin？〃
〃You know I do not。〃
〃I am glad of that； since his life is forfeited； if he escapes my friend Raynal； he shall not escape me。〃
Rose uttered a cry of terror。 〃Hush！ not so loud。 The life of Camille！ Oh！ if he were to die； what would become ofoh； pray do not speak so loud。〃
〃Own then that you DO love him；〃 yelled Edouard； 〃give me truth； if you have no love to give。 Own that you love him； and he shall be safe。 It is myself I will kill； for being such a slave as to love you still。〃
Rose's fortitude gave way。
〃I cannot bear it；〃 she cried despairingly； 〃it is beyond my strength； Edouard； swear to me you will keep what I tell you secret as the grave！〃
〃Ah！〃 cried Edouard； all radiant with hope； 〃I swear。〃
〃Then you are under a delirium。 I have deceived； but never wronged you； that unhappy child is not Hush！ HERE SHE COMES。〃
The baroness came smiling out； and Josephine's wan； anxious face was seen behind her。
〃Well；〃 said the baroness； 〃is the war at an end？ What； are we still silent？ Let me try then what I can do。 Edouard； lend me your hand。〃
While Edouard hesitated； Josephine clasped her hands and mutely supplicated him to consent。 Her sad face； and the thought of how often she had stood his friend； shook his resolution。 He held out his hand； but slowly and reluctantly。
〃There is my hand；〃 he groaned。
〃And here is mine； mamma；〃 said Rose； smiling to please her mother。
Oh！ the mixture of feeling； when her soft warm palm pressed his。 How the delicious sense baffled and mystified the cold judgment。
Josephine raised her eyes thankfully to heaven。
While the young lovers yet thrilled at each other's touch； yet could not look one another in the face； a clatter of horses' feet was heard。
〃That is Colonel Raynal；〃 said Josephine； with unnatural calmness。 〃I expected him to…day。〃
The baroness was at the side window in a moment。
〃It is he！it is he！〃
She hurried down to embrace her son。
Josephine went without a word to her own room。 Rose followed her the next minute。 But in that one minute she worked magic。
She glided up to Edouard； and looked him full in the face： not the sad； depressed； guilty…looking humble Rose of a moment before； but the old high…spirited； and some what imperious girl。
〃You have shown yourself noble this day。 I am going to trust you as only the noble are trusted。 Stay in the house till I can speak to you。〃
She was gone； and something leaped within Edouard's bosom； and a flood of light seemed to burst in on him。 Yet he saw no object clearly： but he saw light。
Rose ran into Josephine's room； and once more surprised her on her knees； and in the very act of hiding something in her bosom。
〃What are you doing； Josephine； on your knees？〃 said she； sternly。
〃I have a great trial to go through；〃 was the hesitating answer。
Rose said nothing。 She turned paler。 She is deceiving me； thought she； and she sat down full of bitterness and terror； and； affecting not to watch Josephine； watched her。
〃Go and tell them I am coming； Rose。〃
〃No； Josephine； I will not leave you till this terrible meeting is over。 We will encounter him hand in hand； as we used to go when our hearts were one； and we deceived others； but never each other。〃
At this tender reproach Josephine fell upon her neck and wept。
〃I will not deceive you；〃 she said。 〃I am worse than the poor doctor thinks me。 My life is but a little candle that a breath may put out any day。〃
Rose said nothing； but trembled and watched her keenly。
〃My little Henri；〃 said Josephine imploringly； 〃what would you do with himif anything should happen to me？〃
〃What would I do with him？ He is mine。 I should be his mother。 Oh！ what words are these： my heart！ my heart！〃
〃No； dearest； some day you will be married； and owe all the mother to your children； and Henri is not ours only： he belongs to some one I have seemed unkind to。 Perhaps he thinks me heartless。 For I am a foolish woman； I don't know how to be virtuous； yet show a man my heart。 But THEN he will understand me and forgive me。 Rose； love； you will write to him。 He will come to you。 You will go together to the place where I shall be sleeping。 You will show him my heart。 You will tell him all my long love that lasted to the end。 YOU need not blush to tell him all。 I have no right。 Then you will give him his poor Josephine's boy； and you will say to him； 'She never loved but you： she gives you all that is left of her； her child。 She only prays you not to give him a bad mother。'〃
Poor soul！ this was her one bit of little； gentle jealousy； but it made her eyes stream。 She would have put out her hand from the tomb to keep her boy's father single all his life。
〃Oh！ my Josephine； my darling sister；〃 cried Rose； 〃why do you speak of death？ Do you meditate a crime？〃
〃No； but it was on my heart to say it： it has done me good。〃
〃At least； take me to your bosom； my well…beloved； that I may not SEE your tears。〃
〃Theretears？ No； you have lightened my heart。 Bless you！ bless you！〃
The sisters twined their bosoms together in a long； gentle embrace。 You might have taken them for two angels that flowed together in one love； but for their tears。
A deep voice was now heard in the sitting…room。
Josephine and Rose postponed the inevitable one moment more； by arranging their hair in the glass： then they opened the door； and entered the tapestried room。
Raynal was sitting on the sofa； the baroness's hand in his。 Edouard was not there。
Colonel Raynal had given him a strange look； and said； 〃What； you here？〃 in a tone of voice that was intolerable。
Raynal came to meet the sisters。 He saluted Josephine on the brow。
〃You are pale； wife： and how cold her hand is。〃
〃She has been ill this month past；〃 said Rose interposing。
〃You look ill； too； Mademoiselle Rose。〃
〃Never mind；〃 cried the baroness joyously； 〃you will revive them both。〃
Raynal made no reply to that。
〃How long do you stay this time； a day？〃
〃A month； mother。〃
The doctor now joined the party； and friendly greetings passed between him and Raynal。
But ere long somehow all became conscious this was not a joyful meeting。 The baroness could not alone sustain the spirits of the party； and soon even she began to notice that Raynal's replies were short； and that his manner was distrait and gloomy。 The sisters saw this too； and trembled for what might be coming。
At last Raynal said bluntly； 〃Josephine； I want to speak to you alone。〃
The baroness gave the doctor a look； and made an excuse for going down…stairs to her own room。 As she was going Josephine went to her and said calmly；
〃Mother； you have not kissed me to…day。〃
〃There！ Bless you； my darling！〃
Raynal looked at Rose。 She saw she must go； but she lingered； and sought her sister's eye： it avoided her。 At that Rose ran to the doctor； who was just going out of the door。
〃Oh！ doctor；〃 she whispered trembling； 〃don't go beyond the door。 I found her praying。 My mind misgives me。 She is going to tell him or something worse。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I am afraid to say all I dread。 She could not be so calm if she meant to live。 Be near！ as I shall。 She has a phial hid in her bosom。〃
She left the old man trembling； and went back。
〃Excuse me；〃 said she to Raynal； 〃I only came to ask Josephine if she wants anything。〃
〃No！yes！a glass of eau sucree。〃
Rose mixed it for her。 While doing this she noticed that Josephine shunned her eye； but Raynal gazed gently and with an air of pity on her。
She retired slowly into Josephine's bedroom； but did not quite close the door。
Raynal had something to say so painful that he shrank from plunging into it。 He therefore； like many others； tried to creep into it； beginning with something else。
〃Your health；〃 said he； 〃alarms me。 You seem sad； too。 I don't understand that。 You have no news from the Rhine； have you？〃
〃Monsieur！〃 said Josephine scared。
〃Do not call me monsieur； nor look so frightened。 Call me your friend。 I am your sincere friend。〃
〃Oh； yes； you always were。〃
〃Thank you。 You will give me a dearer title before we part this time。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Josephine in a low whisper； and shuddered。
〃Have you forgiven me frightening you so that night？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃It was a shock to me； too； I can tell you。 I like the boy。 She professed to love him； and； to own the truth； I loathe all treachery and deceit。 If I had done a murder； I would own it。 A lie doubles ever