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ut why？ he is on a sickbed； poor little fellow！〃
〃But your sister？ She could not have a lover unknown to you。〃
〃I defy her。 No； sir； I have not seen her speak three words to any young man except Monsieur Riviere this three years past。〃
〃That is enough；〃 and he tore the letter quietly to atoms。
Then Rose saw she could afford a little more candor。 〃Understand me； I can't speak of what happened when I was a child。 But if ever she had a girlish attachment； he has not followed it up； or surely I should have seen something of him all these years。〃
〃Of course。 Oh！ as for flirtations； let them pass： a lovely girl does not grow up without one or two whispering some nonsense into her ear。 Why； I myself should have flirted no doubt； but I never had the time。 Bonaparte gives you time to eat and drink； but not to sleep or flirt； and that reminds me I have fifty miles to ride； so good…by； sister…in…law； eh？〃
〃Adieu； brother…in…law。〃
Left alone； Rose had some misgivings。 She had equivocated with one whose upright； candid nature ought to have protected him： but an enemy had accused Josephine； and it came so natural to shield her。 〃Did he really think I would expose my own sister？〃 said she to herself； angrily。 Was not this anger secret self…discontent？
〃Well； love；〃 said Josephine； demurely； 〃have you dismissed him？〃
〃No。〃
Josephine smiled feebly。 〃It is easy to say 'say no；' but it is not so easy to say 'no；' especially when you feel you ought to say 'yes；' and have no wish either way except to give pleasure to others。〃
〃But I am not such skim milk as all that；〃 replied Rose： 〃I have always a strong wish where you are concerned； and your happiness。 I hesitated whilst I was in doubt； but I doubt no longer： I have had a long talk with him。 He has shown me his whole heart： he is the best； the noblest of creatures： he has no littleness or meanness。 And then he is a thorough man； I know that by his being the very opposite of a woman in his ways。 Now you are a thorough woman； and so you will suit one another to a T。 I have decided： so no more doubts； love； no more tears； no more disputes。 We are all of one mind； and I do think I have secured your happiness。 It will not come in a day； perhaps； but it will come。 So then in one little fortnight you marry Monsieur Raynal。〃
〃What！〃 said Josephine； 〃you have actually settled that？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But are you sure I can make him as happy as he deserves？〃
〃Positive。〃
〃I think so too； still〃
〃It is settled； dear；〃 said Rose soothingly。
〃Oh； the comfort of that！ you relieve me of a weight； you give me peace。 I shall have duties； I shall do some good in the world。 They were all for it but you before； were they not？〃
〃Yes； and now I am strongest for it of them all。 Josephine； it is settled。〃
Josephine looked at her for a moment in silence； then said eagerly； 〃Bless you； dear Rose； you have saved your sister；〃 then； after a moment； in a very different voice； 〃O Camille！ Camille！ why have you deserted me？〃
And with this she fell to sobbing terribly。 Rose wept on her neck； but said nothing。 She too was a woman； and felt that this was the last despairing cry of love giving up a hopeless struggle。
They sat twined together in silence till Jacintha came to tell them it was close upon dinner…time； so then they hastened to dry their tears and wash their red eyes； for fear their mother should see what they had been at； and worry herself。
〃Well； mademoiselle； these two consent； but what do you say？ for after all； it is you I am courting； and not them。 Have you the courage to venture on a rough soldier like me？〃
This delicate question was put point…blank before the three ladies。
〃Sir；〃 replied Josephine timidly； 〃I will be as frank； as straightforward as you are。 I thank you for the honor you do me。〃
Raynal looked perplexed。
〃And does that mean 'yes' or 'no'？〃
〃Which you please；〃 said Josephine； hanging her sweet head。
The wedding was fixed for that day fortnight。 The next morning wardrobes were ransacked。 The silk； muslin； and lace of their prosperous days were looked out： grave discussions were held over each work of art。 Rose was active； busy； fussy。 The baroness threw in the weight of her judgment and experience。
Josephine managed to smile whenever either Rose or the baroness looked at all fixedly at her。
So glided the peaceful days。 So Josephine drifted towards the haven of wedlock。
CHAPTER VI。
At Bayonne； a garrison town on the south frontier of France； two sentinels walked lethargically； crossing and recrossing before the governor's house。 Suddenly their official drowsiness burst into energy； for a pale； grisly man； in rusty； defaced； dirty； and torn regimentals； was walking into the courtyard as if it belonged to him。 The sentinels lowered their muskets； and crossed them with a clash before the gateway。
The scarecrow did not start back。 He stopped and looked down with a smile at the steel barrier the soldiers had improvised for him； then drew himself a little up； carried his hand carelessly to his cap； which was nearly in two； and gave the name of an officer in the French army。
If you or I； dressed like a beggar who years ago had stolen regimentals and worn them down to civil garments； had addressed these soldiers with these very same words； the bayonets would have kissed closer； or perhaps the points been turned against our sacred and rusty person： but there is a freemasonry of the sword。 The light； imperious hand that touched that battered cap； and the quiet clear tone of command told。 The sentinels slowly recovered their pieces； but still looked uneasy and doubtful in their minds。 The battered one saw this； and gave a sort of lofty smile； he turned up his cuffs and showed his wrists； and drew himself still higher。
The sentinels shouldered their pieces sharp； then dropped them simultaneously with a clatter and ring upon the pavement。
〃Pass； captain。〃
The rusty figure rang the governor's bell。 A servant came and eyed him with horror and contempt。 He gave his name； and begged to see the governor。 The servant left him in the hall； and went up…stairs to tell his master。 At the name the governor reflected； then frowned； then bade his servant reach him down a certain book。 He inspected it。 〃I thought so： any one with him？〃
〃No； your excellency。〃
〃Load my pistols； put them on the table； show him in； and then order a guard to the door。〃
The governor was a stern veteran with a powerful brow； a shaggy eyebrow； and a piercing eye。 He never rose； but leaned his chin on his hand； and his elbow on a table that stood between them； and eyed his visitor very fixedly and strangely。 〃We did not expect to see you on this side the Pyrenees；〃 said he gravely。
〃Nor I myself； governor。〃
〃What do you come for？〃
〃A suit of regimentals； and money to take me to Paris。〃
〃And suppose； instead of that； I turn out a corporal's guard； and bid them shoot you in the courtyard？〃
〃It would be the drollest thing you ever did； all things considered；〃 said the other coolly； but bitterly。
The governor looked for the book he had lately consulted； found the page； handed it to