Then she rose and went hastily out, and her voice was heard crying very
loud, "Jacintha! Jacintha!"
The doctor followed in considerable anxiety for the effects of this
violent joy on so aged a person. Three remained behind, panting and
pale like those to whom dead Lazarus burst the tomb, and came forth in a
moment, at a word. Then Camille half kneeled, half fell, at Josephine's
feet, and, in a voice choked with sobs, bade her dispose of him.
She turned her head away. "Do not speak to me; do not look at me; if we
look at one another, we are lost. Go! die at your post, and I at mine."
He bowed his head, and kissed her dress, then rose calm as despair, and
white as death, and, with his knees knocking under him, tottered away
like a corpse set moving.
He disappeared from the house.
The baroness soon came back, triumphant and gay.
"I have sent her to bid them ring the bells in the village. The poor
shall be feasted; all shall share our joy: my son was dead, and lives.
Oh, joy! joy! joy!"
"Mother!" shrieked Josephine.
"Mad woman that I am, I am too boisterous.
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