Then Rose, seeing her terror, was almost glad at the suicidal falsehood
she had told. She comforted and encouraged Josephine and--deceived her.
(This was the climax.)
"All is well, my poor coward," she cried; "your fears are all imaginary;
another has owned the child, and the story is believed."
"Another! impossible! He would not believe it."
"He does believe it--he shall believe it."
Rose then, feeling by no means sure that Josephine, terrified as she
was, would consent to let her sister come to shame to screen her, told
her boldly that Jacintha had owned herself the mother of the child, and
that Raynal's only feeling towards HER was pity, and regret at having
so foolishly frightened her, weakened as she was by illness. "I told him
you had been ill, dear. But how came you on the ground?"
"I had come to myself; I was on my knees praying. He tapped. I heard his
voice. I remember no more. I must have fainted again directly."
Rose had hard work to make her believe that her guilt, as she called
it, was not known; and even then she could not prevail on her to come
down-stairs, until she said, "If you don't, he will come to you.
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