"With the same amount of mustache," added Ernestine.
"Lerma had less—but he was so young."
My hand lay upon the coverlet, and, with her soft warm hand, Ernestine touched it gently by chance.
"He is hot and feverish—we must be very kind to him, Gabrielle. Poor boy!"
The touch of Ernestine's hand made my heart vibrate; but I remembered Prudentia, and resolved to steel my heart against all soft impressions and nonsense for the future.
She is very beautiful and charming, of course, thought I; but let me beware how I fall lightly into that troublesome trap again.
Now, reflecting that it was unfair, by a seeming sleep, to impose upon them thus, I made preparations to awake, on which they let the hangings drop, and glided noiselessly to some distance.
On my drawing back the curtain, they both approached me again, and Gabrielle, who possessed either less pride or more frankness than Ernestine, asked me, with the most winning kindness, "How I was," and bade me "good-morning."
I replied that the pain of my bruise was gone, that a little giddiness remained; but that I suffered greatly from thirst.
On hearing this they hurried to a side table, and in a minute returned with a silver salver, bearing some warm refreshment, of which I partook because it was offered by the white jewelled hand of Gabrielle, though I would have given the world for a cup of pure cold water.