"Oh, you don't know!" answered Noémi, in broken words, which seemed to choke her. "I won't—no, I cannot tell you—if only you knew. Oh, do help me!" and she flung her arms round Renée in despair. "I love you dearly—you——"
"Come, come, Noémi; I don't understand anything. Is it this marriage—is it my brother? You must answer me—come!"
"Ah, yes; you are his sister—I had forgotten that. Oh, dear, I wish I could die——"
"Die, but why?"
"Why? Because your brother——"
She stopped short, in horror at the thought of uttering the words she was just going to say, and then, suddenly finishing her sentence in a murmur in Renée's ear, she hid her face on her friend's shoulder to conceal her blushing cheeks and the shame she felt in her inmost soul.
"My brother! You say—no, it's a lie!" exclaimed Renée, pushing her away and springing up with a bound in front of her.
"Should I tell a lie about it?" and Noémi looked up sadly at Renée, who read the truth clearly in her eyes.
Renée folded her arms and gazed at her friend. She stood there a few minutes deep in thought, erect and silent, her whole attitude resolute and energetic. She felt within herself the strength of a woman, and something of the responsibility of a mother with this child.
"But how can your father—" she began, "my brother has no name but ours."