Two courses
lay open to you: to leave this house with Camille Dujardin, or to
dismiss him, and live for your hard duty till it shall please Heaven to
make that duty easy (no middle course was tenable for a day); of these
two paths you chose the right one, and, having chosen, I really think
you are not called on to reveal your misfortune, and make those unhappy
to whose happiness you have sacrificed your own for years to come."
"Forever," said Josephine quietly.
"The young use that word lightly. The old have almost ceased to use it.
They have seen how few earthly things can conquer time."
He resumed, "You think only of others, Josephine, but I shall think
of you as well. I shall not allow your life to be wasted in a needless
struggle against nature." Then turning to Rose, who had glided into the
room, and stood amazed, "Her griefs were as many before her child was
born, yet her health stood firm. Why? because nature was on her side.
Now she is sinking into the grave. Why? because she is defying nature.
Nature intended her to be pressing her child to her bosom day and night;
instead of that, a peasant woman at Frejus nurses the child, and the
mother pines at Beaurepaire.
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