Jacintha colored and evaded this question, and begged her to go on, to keep nothing back from her. Josephine assured her she had revealed all. Jacintha looked at her a moment in silence.
“It is then as I half suspected. You do not know all that is before you. You do not see why I am afraid of that old man.”
“No, not of him in particular.”
“Nor why I want to keep Mademoiselle Rose from prattling to him?”
“No. I assure you Rose is to be trusted; she is wise—wiser than I am.”
“You are neither of you wise. You neither of you know anything. My poor young mistress, you are but a child still. You have a deep water to wade through,” said Jacintha, so solemnly that Josephine trembled. “A deep water, and do not see it even. You have told me what is past, now I must tell you what is coming. Heaven help me! But is it possible you have no misgiving? Tell the truth, now.”
“Alas! I am full of them; at your words, at your manner, they fly around me in crowds.”
“Have you no ONE?”
“No.”
“Then turn your head from me a bit, my sweet young lady; I am an honest woman, though I am not so innocent as you, and I am forced against my will to speak my mind plainer than I am used to.”