Josephine said nothing, but she began to walk slower and slower. And
so the unfortunate pair came along creeping slowly with drooping heads
towards the gate of the Pleasaunce. There their last walk in this world
must end. Many a man and woman have gone to the scaffold with hearts
less heavy and more hopeful than theirs.

"Dry your eyes, Josephine," said Camille with a deep sigh. "They are all
out on the Pleasaunce."

"No, I will not dry my eyes," cried Josephine, almost violently. "I care
for nothing now."

The baroness, the doctor, and Rose, were all in the Pleasaunce: and as
the pair came in, lo! every eye was bent on Josephine.

She felt this, and her eyes sought the ground: benumbed as she was with
despondency, she began now to dread some fresh stroke or other.

Camille felt doubly guilty and confused. How they all look at us, he
thought. Do they know what a villain I have been? He determined to slip
away, and pack up, and begone. However, nobody took any notice of him.
The baroness drew Josephine apart. And Rose followed her mother and
sister with eyes bent on the ground.

There was a strange solemnity about them all.

Aubertin remained behind. But even he took no notice of Camille, but
walked up and down with his hands behind him, and a sad and troubled
face. Camille felt his utter desolation. He was nothing to any of them.
He resolved to go at once, and charge Aubertin with his last adieus to
the family. It was a wise and manly resolve. He stopped Aubertin in
the middle of his walk, and said in a faint voice of the deepest
dejection,--

"Doctor, the time is come that I must once more thank you for all your
goodness to me, and bid you all farewell."

"What, going before your strength is re-established?" said the doctor
politely, but not warmly.

"I am out of all danger, thanks to your skill."

"Colonel, at another time I should insist upon your staying a day or two
longer; but now I think it would be unadvisable to press you to stay.
Ah, colonel, you came to a happy house, but you leave a sad one. Poor
Madame Raynal!"

"Sir!"

"You saw the baroness draw her aside."

"Y-yes."

"By this time she knows it."

"In Heaven's name what do you mean?" asked Camille.

"I forgot; you are not aware of the calamity that has fallen upon our
beloved Josephine; on the darling of the house."

Camille turned cold with vague apprehension. But he contrived to stammer
out, "No; tell me! for Heaven's sake tell me