e is no need.
Quick--quick--let me have it. I have waited three years; I am sick of
waiting. Why don't you speak? Why don't you tell me? Then I will tell
YOU. He is alive--he is well--he is coming. It was not he those soldiers
saw; they were so far off. How could they tell? They saw a uniform but
not a face. Perhaps he has been a prisoner, and so could not write;
could not come: but he is coming now. Why do you groan? why do you turn
pale? ah! I see; I have once more deceived myself. I was mad. He I love
is still a traitor to France and me, and I am wretched forever. Oh! that
I were dead! oh! that I were dead! No; don't speak to me: never mind me;
this madness will pass as it has before, and leave me a dead thing
among the living. Ah! sister, why did you wake me from my dream? I was
drifting so calmly, so peacefully, so dead, and painless, drifting over
the dead sea of the heart towards the living waters of gratitude and
duty. I was going to make more than one worthy soul happy; and seeing
them happy, I should have been content and useful--what am I now?--and
comforted other hearts, and died joyful--and young. For God is good; he
releases the meek and patient from their burdens."

With this came a flood of tears; and she leaned against a bough with her
forehead on her arm, bowed like a wounded lily.

"Accursed be that man's name, and MY tongue if ever I utter it again in
your hearing!" cried Rose, weeping bitterly. "You are wiser than I, and
every way better. O my darling, dry your tears! Here he comes: look!
riding across the park."

"Rose," cried Josephine, hastily, "I leave all to you. Receive Monsieur
Raynal, and decline his offer if you think proper. It is you who love me
best. My mother would give me up for a house; for an estate, poor dear."

"I would not give you for all the world."

"I know it. I trust all to you."

"Well, but don't go; stay and hear what I shall say."

"Oh, no; that poor man is intolerable to me NOW. Let me avoid his sight,
and think of his virtues."

Rose was left alone, mistress of her sister's fate. She put her head
into her hands and filled with anxiety and sudden doubt.

Like a good many more of us, she had been positive so long as the
decision did not rest with her. But with power comes responsibility,
with responsibility comes doubt. Easy to be an advocate in re incerta;
hard to be the judge. And she had but a few seconds to think in; for
Raynal was at hand. The last thing in