"
"Oh, thank you! bless you for respecting as well as loving me, dear
Camille," said Josephine.
These words, uttered with gentle warmth, were some consolation to
Camille, and confirmed him, as they were intended to do, in the above
good resolution. He smiled.
"Maladroit!" muttered Rose.
"Why maladroit?" asked Camille, opening his eyes.
"Let us talk of something else," replied Rose, coolly.
Camille turned red. He understood that he had done something very
stupid, but he could not conceive what. He looked from one sister to the
other alternately. Rose was smiling ironically, Josephine had her eyes
bent demurely on a handkerchief she was embroidering.
That evening Camille drew Rose aside, and asked for an explanation of
her "maladroit."
"So it was," replied Rose, sharply.
But as this did not make the matter quite clear, Camille begged a little
further explanation.
"Was it your part to make difficulties?"
"No, indeed."
"Was it for you to tell her a secret marriage would not be delicate?
Do you think she will be behind you in delicacy? or that a love without
respect will satisfy her? yet you must go and tell her you respected her
too much to ask her to marry you secretly.
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