Now she raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at him, and a faint smile came to her lips.
“Is Rosalie then so strong to bear so heavy a burden of sorrows as this house affords?”
“Search all you can find from the dust hidden in this room, and he will bring the rest. Did Rosalie appear to you so weak?”
“I loved her on that account I think.”
“Part of a cause that changes weakness into strength. You feel yourself strong, Mariana?”
“Oh, no! But cold. The strength of ice, not iron.”
“Rosalie has suffered from your complaint, I think. But she’s cured.”
Her eyes rested on his. There was a thoughtful expression in them, and she said:
“Cured? Then the ice was frozen less deeply.”
“Or maybe the fire was stronger. There’s something in that, you know.”