It led to the
tapestried chamber, and years ago they used to steal up it and peep into
the room.
Rose scarcely needed to be told that she was to watch Camille, and
report to her. In truth, it was a mysterious, vague protection against
a danger equally mysterious. Yet it made Josephine easier. But so
unflinching was her prudence that she never once could be prevailed on
to mount those stairs, and peep at Camille herself. "I must starve my
heart, not feed it," said she. And she grew paler and more hollow-eyed
day by day.
Yet this was the same woman who showed such feebleness and irresolution
when Raynal pressed her to marry him. But then dwarfs feebly drew
her this way and that. Now giants fought for her. Between a feeble
inclination and a feeble disinclination her dead heart had drifted
to and fro. Now honor, duty, gratitude,--which last with her was a
passion,--dragged her one way: love, pity, and remorse another.
Not one of these giants would relax his grasp, and nothing yielded
except her vital powers. Yes; her temper, one of the loveliest Heaven
ever gave a human creature, was soured at times.
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