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〃There is room for you； sit down； for I want to speak seriously to you。〃
〃Yes； mamma； what is it？〃
〃Turn a little round； and let me see your face。〃
Rose complied； and began to feel a little uneasy。
〃Perhaps you can guess what I am going to say to you？〃
〃I have no idea。〃
〃Well； I am going to put a question to you。〃
〃With all my heart； dear mamma。〃
〃I invite you to explain to me the most singular； the most unaccountable thing that ever fell under my notice。 Will you do this for your mother？〃
〃O mamma！ of course I will do anything to please you that I can； but； indeed； I don't know what you mean。〃
〃I am going to tell you。〃
The old lady paused。 The young one； naturally enough； felt a chill of vague anxiety strike across her frame。
〃Rose；〃 said the old lady； speaking very gently but firmly； and leaning in a peculiar way on her words； while her eye worked like an ice gimlet on her daughter's face； 〃a little while ago； when my poor Raynalour benefactorwas aliveand I was happyyou all chilled my happiness by your gloom： the whole house seemed a house of mourningtell me now why was this。〃
〃Mamma！〃 said Rose； after a moment's hesitation； 〃we could hardly be gay。 Sickness in the house！ And if Colonel Raynal was alive； still he was absent； and in danger。〃
〃Oh！ then it was out of regard for him we were all dispirited？〃
〃Why； I suppose so；〃 said Rose； stoutly； but then colored high at her own want of candor。 However； she congratulated herself that her mother's suspicion was confined to past events。
Her self…congratulation on that score was short； for the baroness； after eying her grimly for a second or two in silence； put her this awkward question plump。
〃If so； tell me why is it that ever since that black day when the news of his DEATH reached us； the whole house has gone into black； and has gone out of mourning？〃
〃Mamma；〃 stammered Rose； 〃what DO you mean？〃
〃Even poor Camille； who was so pale and wan； has recovered like magic。〃
〃O mamma！ is not that fancy？〃 said Rose； piteously。 〃Of what do you suspect me？ Can you think I am unfeelingungrateful？ I should not be YOUR daughter。〃
〃No； no；〃 said the baroness； 〃to do you justice； you attempt sorrow； as you put on black。 But； my poor child； you do it with so little skill that one sees a horrible gayety breaking through that thin disguise： you are no true mourners： you are like the mutes or the undertakers at a funeral； forced grief on the surface of your faces； and frightful complacency below。〃
〃Tra la！ lal！ la！ la！ Tra la！ la！ Tra la！ la！〃 carolled Jacintha； in the colonel's room hard by。
The ladies looked at one another： Rose in great confusion。
〃Tra la！ la！ la！ Tra lal！ lal！ la！ la！ la！〃
〃Jacintha！〃 screamed Rose angrily。
〃Hush！ not a word；〃 said the baroness。 〃Why remonstrate with HER？ Servants are but chameleons： they take the color of those they serve。 Do not cry。 I wanted your confidence； not your tears； love。 There； I will not twice in one day ask you for your heart： it would be to lower the mother； and give the daughter the pain of refusing it； and the regret； sure to come one day； of having refused it。 I will discover the meaning of it all by myself。〃 She went away with a gentle sigh； and Rose was cut to the heart by her words； she resolved； whatever it might cost her and Josephine； to make a clean breast this very day。 As she was one of those who act promptly； she went instantly in search of her sister； to gain her consent； if possible。
Now； the said Josephine was in the garden walking with Camille； and uttering a wife's tender solicitudes。
〃And must you leave me？ must you risk your life again so soon； the life on which mine depends？〃
〃My dear； that letter I received from headquarters two days ago； that inquiry whether my wound was cured。 A hint； Josephinea hint too broad for any soldier not to take。〃
〃Camille； you are very proud；〃 said Josephine； with an accent of reproach； and a look of approval。
〃I am obliged to be。 I am the husband of the proudest woman in France。〃
〃Hush！ not so loud： there is Dard on the grass。〃
〃Dard！〃 muttered the soldier with a word of meaning。 〃Josephine；〃 said he after a pause； and a little peevishly； 〃how much longer are we to lower our voices； and turn away our eyes from each other； and be ashamed of our happiness？〃
〃Five months longer； is it not？〃 answered Josephine quietly。
〃Five months longer！〃
Josephine was hurt at this； and for once was betrayed into a serious and merited remonstrance。
〃Is this just？〃 said she。 〃Think of two months ago： yes； but two months ago； you were dying。 You doubted my love； because it could not overcome my virtue and my gratitude： yet you might have seen it was destroying my life。 Poor Raynal； my husband； my benefactor； died。 Then I could do more for you； if not with delicacy； at least with honor； but no！ words； and looks； and tender offices of love were not enough； I must give stronger proof。 Dear Camille； I have been reared in a strict school： and perhaps none of your sex can know what it cost me to go to Frejus that day with him I love。〃
〃My own Josephine！〃
〃I made but one condition： that you would not rob me of my mother's respect： to her our hasty marriage would appear monstrous； heartless。 You consented to be secretly happy for six months。 One fortnight has passed； and you are discontented again。〃
〃Oh； no！ do not think so。 It is every word true。 I am an ungrateful villain。〃
〃How dare you say so？ and to me！ No！ but you are a man。〃
〃So I have been told； but my conduct to you； sweet one； has not been that of a man from first to last。 Yet I could die for you； with a smile on my lips。 But when I think that once I lifted this sacrilegious hand against your lifeoh！〃
〃Do not be silly； Camille。 I love you all the better for loving me well enough to kill me。 What woman would not？ I tell you； you foolish thing； you are a man： monseigneur is one of the lordly sex； that is accustomed to have everything its own way。 My love； in a world that is full of misery； here are two that are condemned to be secretly happy a few months longer： a hard fate for one of your sex； it seems： but it is so much sweeter than the usual lot of mine； that really I cannot share your misery；〃 and she smiled joyously。
〃Then share my happiness； my dear wife。〃
〃I do； only mine is deep； not loud。〃
〃Why； Dard is gone； and we are out of doors； will the little birds betray us？〃
〃The lower windows are open； and I saw Jacintha in one of the rooms。〃
〃Jacintha？ we are in awe of the very servants。 Well； if I must not say it loud I will say it often；〃 and putting his mouth to her ear； he poured a burning whisper of love into it〃My love！ my angel！ my wife！ my wife！ my wife！〃
She turned her swimming eyes on him。
〃My husband！〃 she whispered in return。
Rose came out； and found them billing and cooing。 〃You MUST not be so happy； you two；〃 said she authoritatively。
〃How can we help it？〃 asked Camille。
〃You must and shall help it； somehow；〃 retorted this little tyrant。 〃Mamma suspects。 She has given me such a cross…examination； my blood runs cold。 No； on second thoughts； kiss her again；