ountain: go on."

Thus encouraged, Josephine thought on aloud, "And then, gratitude!" said
she. "I have heard it said, or read it somewhere, that gratitude is a
burden: I cannot understand that sentiment; why, to me gratitude is a
delight, gratitude is a passion. It is the warmest of all the tender
feelings I have for dear Monsieur Raynal. I feel it glow here, in my
bosom. I think I shall love him as I ought long before he comes back."

"BEFORE?"

"Yes," murmured Josephine, her eyes still half closed. "His virtues
will always be present to me. His little faults of manner will not be
in sight. Good Raynal! The image of those great qualities I revere so,
perhaps because I fail in them myself, will be before my mind; and ere
he comes home I shall love him dearly. I'll tell you one reason why I
wished to go home at once was--no--you must guess."

"Guess?" said Rose, contemptuously. "As if I did not see it was to put
on your gray silk."

Josephine smiled assent, and said almost with fervor, "Good Raynal! I
feel prouder of his honest name than of our noble one. And I am so calm,
dear, thanks to you, so tranquil; so pleased that my mother's mind is at
rest, so convinced all is for the best, so contented with my own lot; so
hap--py."

A gentle tear stole from beneath her long lashes. Rose looked at her
wistfully: then laid her cheek to hers. They leaned back hand in hand,
placid and silent.

The carriage glided fast. Beaurepaire was almost in sight.

Suddenly Josephine's hand tightened on Rose's, and she sat up in the
carriage like a person awakened from a strange dream.

"What is it?" asked Rose.

"Some one in uniform."

"Oh, is that all? Ah! you thought it was a message from Raynal."

"Oh! no! on foot--walking very slowly. Coming this way, too. Coming
this way!" and she became singularly restless, and looked round in the
carriage. It was one of those old chariots with no side windows, but
a peep hole at the back. This aperture, however, had a flap over it.
Josephine undid the flap with nimble though agitated fingers; and
saw--nothing. The road had taken a turn. "Oh," said Rose, carelessly,
"for that matter the roads are full of soldiers just now."

"Ay, but not of officers on foot."

Rose gave her such a look, and for the first time this many a day spoke
sternly to her, and asked her what on earth she had to do with uniforms
or officers except one, the noblest in the world, her husband.

A month ago that wo