pretty palms together,
and casting a look of abject supplication on Edouard, she murmured, "my
temper!"

"Do not you put words into his mouth," said the shrewd old lady. "Come,
Monsieur Riviere, be a man, and tell me the truth. What has she said to
you? What has she done?"

By this time the abject state of terror the high-spirited Rose was in,
and her piteous glances, had so disarmed Edouard, that he had not the
heart to expose her to her mother.

"Madame," said he, stiffly, taking Rose's hint, "my temper and
mademoiselle's could not accord."

"Why, her temper is charming: it is joyous, equal, and gentle."

"You misunderstand me, madame; I do not reproach Mademoiselle Rose. It
is I who am to blame."

"For what?" inquired the baroness dryly.

"For not being able to make her love me."

"Oh! that is it! She did not love you?"

"Ask herself, madame," said Edouard, bitterly.

"Rose," said the baroness, her eye now beginning to twinkle, "were
you really guilty of such a want of discrimination? Didn't you love
monsieur?"

Rose flung her arms round her mother's neck, and said, "No, mamma, I
did not love Monsieur Edouard," in an exquisite tone of love, that to a
female ear conveyed the exact opposite of the words.

But Edouard had not that nice discriminating ear. He sighed deeply, and
the baroness smiled. "You tell me that?" said she, "and you are crying!"

"She is crying, madame?" said Edouard, inquiringly, and taking a step
towards them.

"Why, you see she is, you foolish boy. Come, I must put an end to this;"
and she rose coolly from her seat, and begging Edouard to forgive her
for leaving him a moment with his deadly enemy, went off with knowing
little nods into Josephine's room; only, before she entered it, she
turned, and with a maternal smile discharged this word at the pair.

"Babies!"

But between the alienated lovers was a long distressing silence. Neither
knew what to say; and their situation was intolerable. At last Rose
ventured in a timorous voice to say, "I thank you for your generosity.
But I knew that you would not betray me."

"Your secret is safe for me," sighed Edouard. "Is there anything else I
can do for you?"

Rose shook her head sadly.

Edouard moved to the door.

Rose bowed her head with a despairing moan. It took him by the heart and
held him. He hesitated, then came towards her.

"I see you are sorry for what you have done to me who loved you so; and
you loved me. Oh! yes,