But Ambroisine was determined not to leave her friend without consolation, and one morning she paid her a hurried visit. She was alarmed by her pallor, her prostration, and the grief-stricken expression of her face.
When she saw Ambroisine, however, Bathilde strove to conceal the misery that was devouring her.
"I came to find out if you have been brave, if you have kept the promises you made me?" said Ambroisine, as she embraced Bathilde, who submitted to her friend's caresses without responding to them.
"Yes," she faltered, "I have done what you ordered."
"Ordered!—As if I gave you any orders! don't you know that it is my affection which leads me to advise you, to keep watch over you?—But how pale you are! Are you so very unhappy?"
"I? oh, no!"
"You have not been on the balcony again?"
"No; but I might as well go there now; for it is all over; he doesn't come any more; he has not passed the house, not once, for four days."
"How do you know? So you have been looking out of the window, have you?"
"Indeed! I was in father's room, and I could not help seeing. Besides, I wanted to be certain that he was not there.—It is all over; he has forgotten me!"