ne, before her brother, now at liberty
to leave, set off to the cottage to inquire after Caliste. The village
street was deserted, as it had been on the day D'Elsac first arrived
there; and, unnoticed by one individual, he reached his sister's cottage.
The door was half opened to let in the air, for it was a warm evening;
and, by the light of a lamp, he could perceive that Caliste was extended
upon the bed, which I have before mentioned as one of the chief articles
of furniture in the kitchen. Close beside her couch sat Victorine, still
wearing the white dress put on for the fete; and at her feet was Mimi,
whose head rested on her lap, and who was evidently in the sweet sleep of
childhood.

For a moment, or more, all was silent; and D'Elsac had leisure to remark
the softly serene countenance of Victorine, whose sweetly expressive face
was sometimes turned towards Mimi and then towards Caliste. It was
evident that Caliste slept not; for D'Elsac heard her moan, and he could
remark that, when the sound reached him, Victorine looked grieved, though
she spoke not, fearing to rouse the invalid. Suddenly, however, Caliste
addressed her, and though her uncle could not hear her words, yet her
manner was energetic, and like one still suffering from excitement.

Victorine tried to sooth her, bending over her, and arranging her
pillows; during which movement Mimi awoke, and inquired of Caliste "if
she felt herself better."

"Yes, my little Mimi, I am better," she said, "that is, my head does not
pain me as it did; yet, for all that, I am perhaps more miserable than
ever. Oh! what shall I do, Victorine, what will become of me? At this
moment I would gladly change place with the lowliest and most abject of
God's creatures."

"Dear Caliste," replied the astonished child, "how can you say so; you,
who are so beautiful, why even Lisette, the Rosiere, was jealous of your
beauty more than once this very day."

"Ah, it is that!" exclaimed Caliste, sitting up in her bed, and clasping
her hands together, "it is that very jealousy, Mimi, which I fear will
ruin my soul and my body. Oh, Mimi, guard against jealousy, strive
against envy as you would against a desire to murder your own mother."

The child seemed frightened by her sister's agitation, and clung closer
to Victorine; whilst Caliste continued--"Oh, if you knew the bitter
passions raging in my breast this day, if you knew how first I despised,
then hated, Lisette; how I sh