She abused it
directly.
"How can I forget it if you come reminding me?"
"Dear Rose, now don't be so unkind, so cruel--I have not come back to
tease you, sweet one. I come to know what I can do to please you; to
make you love me again?" and he was about to kneel graciously on one
knee.
"I'll tell you. Don't come near me for a month."
Edouard started up, white as ashes with mortification and wounded love.
"This is how you treat me for humbling myself, when it is you that ought
to ask forgiveness."
"Why should I ask what I don't care about?"
"What DO you care about?--except that sister of yours? You have no
heart. And on this cold-blooded creature I have wasted a love an empress
might have been proud of inspiring. I pray Heaven some man may sport
with your affections, you heartless creature, as you have played with
mine, and make you suffer what I suffer now!"
And with a burst of inarticulate grief and rage he flung out of the
room.
Rose sank trembling on the sofa a little while: then with a mighty
effort rose and went to comfort her sister.
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