“At least, take me to your bosom, my well-beloved, that I may not SEE your tears.”
“There—tears? No, you have lightened my heart. Bless you! bless you!”
The sisters twined their bosoms together in a long, gentle embrace. You might have taken them for two angels that flowed together in one love, but for their tears.
A deep voice was now heard in the sitting-room.
Josephine and Rose postponed the inevitable one moment more, by arranging their hair in the glass: then they opened the door, and entered the tapestried room.
Raynal was sitting on the sofa, the baroness’s hand in his. Edouard was not there.
Colonel Raynal had given him a strange look, and said, “What, you here?” in a tone of voice that was intolerable.
Raynal came to meet the sisters. He saluted Josephine on the brow.
“You are pale, wife: and how cold her hand is.”
“She has been ill this month past,” said Rose interposing.