"Josephine goes to Paris with the doctor in about three weeks," murmured
she.
"And you will stay behind, all alone?"
"Alone? that shall depend on you, monsieur."
On this Edouard caught her for the first time in his arms.
She made a faint resistance.
"Seal me that promise, sweet one!"
"No! no!--there!"
He pressed a delicious first kiss upon two velvet lips that in their
innocence scarcely shunned the sweet attack.
For all that, the bond was no sooner sealed after this fashion, than the
lady's cheek began to burn.
"Suppose we go in NOW?" said she, dryly.
"Ah, not yet."
"It is late, dear Edouard."
And with these words something returned to her mind with its full force:
something that Edouard had actually made her forget. She wanted to get
rid of him now.
"Edouard," said she, "can you get up early in the morning? If you can,
meet me here to-morrow before any of them are up; then we can talk
without interruption."
Edouard was delighted.
"Eight o'clock?"
"Sooner if you like. Mamma bade me come and read to her in her room
to-night.
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