In the absence of a legitimate full stop, she put one hand before her
lovely face to hide it, and so no more. But some two minutes after she
delivered the rest in the form and with the tone of a distinct remark,
"No: my mother would never consent."
"Yes, she would if you could be brought to implore her as earnestly as I
implore you."
"Now would she?" asked Josephine, turning quickly to her sister.
"No, never. Our mother would look with horror on such a proposal. A
daughter of hers to marry within a twelvemonth of her widowhood!"
"There, you see, Camille."
"And, besides, she loved Raynal so; she has not forgotten him as we
have, almost."
"Ungrateful creature that I am!" sighed Josephine!
"She mourns for him every day. Often I see her eyes suddenly fill; that
is for him. Josephine's influence with mamma is very great: it is double
mine: but if we all went on our knees to her, the doctor and all, she
would never consent."
"There you see, Camille: and I could not defy my mother, even for you."
Camille sighed.
"I see everything is against me, even my love: for that love is too much
akin to veneration to propose to you a clandestine marriage.
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