But it was four years ago; and
she is married to a man she loves, or is going to love."
"Well, but, mamma, a trifling excess of delicacy is surely excusable."
This from Rose.
"No, no; it is not delicacy; it is prudery. And when people are sick and
suffering, an honest woman should take up her charity and lay down her
prudery, or her coquetry: two things that I suspect are the same thing
in different shapes."
Here Jacintha came in. "Mademoiselle, here is the colonel's broth;
Madame Raynal has flavored it for him, and you are to take it up to him,
and keep him company while he eats it."
"Come," cried the baroness, "my lecture has not been lost."
Rose followed Jacintha up-stairs.
Rose was heart and head on Raynal's side.
She had deceived him about Josephine's attachment, and felt all the more
desirous to guard him against any ill consequences of it. Then he had
been so generous to her: he had left her her sister, who would have gone
to Egypt, and escaped this misery, but for her.
But on the other hand,
--Gentle pity
Tugged at her heartstrings with complaining cries.
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