Josephine shuddered, and clung weeping to her sister in turn. For in
Rose's arms she realized more powerfully what that sister would suffer
if she were to die. Now, while they clung together, Rose felt something
hard, and contrived just to feel it with her cheek. It was the phial.

A chill suspicion crossed the poor girl. The attitude in which she had
found Josephine; the letter, the look of despair, and now this little
bottle, which she had hidden. WHY HIDE IT? She resolved not to let
Josephine out of her sight; at all events, until she had seen this
little bottle, and got it away from her.

She helped her to dress, and breakfasted with her in the tapestried
room, and dissembled, and put on gayety, and made light of everything
but Josephine's health.

Her efforts were not quite in vain. Josephine became more composed; and
Rose even drew from her a half promise that she would give Raynal and
time a fair trial.

And now Rose was relieved of her immediate apprehensions for Josephine,
but the danger of another kind, from Edouard, remained. So she ran into
her bedroom for her bonnet and shawl, determined to take the strong
measure of visiting Edouard at once, or intercepting him. While she was
making her little toilet, she heard her mother's voice in the room. This
was unlucky; she must pass through that room to go out. She sat down
and fretted at this delay. And then, as the baroness appeared to be
very animated, Rose went to the keyhole, and listened. Their mother was
telling Josephine how she had questioned Rose, and how Rose had told her
an untruth, and how she had made that young lady write to Edouard, etc.;
in short, the very thing Rose wanted to conceal from Josephine.

Rose lost all patience, and determined to fly through the room and out
before anybody could stop her. She heard Jacintha come in with some
message, and thought that would be a good opportunity to slip out
unmolested. So she opened the door softly. Jacintha, it seemed, had been
volunteering some remark that was not well received, for the baroness
was saying, sharply, "Your opinion is not asked. Go down directly, and
bring him up here, to this room." Jacintha cast a look of dismay at
Rose, and vanished.

Rose gathered from that look, as much as from the words, who the visitor
was. She made a dart after Jacintha. But the room was a long one, and
the baroness intercepted her: "No," said she, gravely, "I cannot spare
you."

Rose stood pale and p