They flashed fire under the scrutiny. "Yes, it is all
over; I could not despise and love. I am dead to him, as he is dead to
France."
This was joyful news to Rose. "I hoped it would be so," said she; "but
you frightened me. My noble sister, were I ever to lose your esteem, I
should die. Oh, how awful yet how beautiful is your scorn. For worlds
I would not be that Cam"--Josephine laid her hand imperiously on Rose's
mouth. "To mention his name to me will be to insult me; De Beaurepaire
I am, and a Frenchwoman. Come, dear, let us go down and comfort our
mother."
They went down; and this patient sufferer, and high minded conqueror, of
her own accord took up a commonplace book, and read aloud for two mortal
hours to her mother and Aubertin. Her voice only wavered twice.
To feel that life is ended; to wish existence, too, had ceased; and so
to sit down, an aching hollow, and take a part and sham an interest in
twaddle to please others; such are woman's feats. How like nothing at
all they look!
A man would rather sit on the buffer of a steam-engine and ride at the
Great Redan.
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