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mpromising Josephine's delicacy。 Matters were not so bad but what a fine sprightly girl like Rose could cheer up a dejected but manly colonel； and Rose was generally successful。
But then； unfortunately； this led to a fresh mystification。 Riviere's natural jealousy revived； and found constant food in the attention Rose paid Camille； a brilliant colonel living in the house while he； poor wretch； lived in lodgings。 The false position of all the parties brought about some singular turns。 I give from their number one that forms a link； though a small one； in my narrative。
One day Edouard came to tell Rose she was making him unhappy； he had her alone in the Pleasaunce； she received him with a radiant smile； and they had a charming talk；a talk all about HIM： what the family owed him； etc。
On this； his late jealousy and sense of injury seemed a thing of three years ago； and never to return。 So hard it is for the loving heart to resist its sun。
Jacintha came with a message from the colonel： 〃Would it be agreeable to Mademoiselle Rose to walk with him at the usual hour？〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Rose。
As Jacintha was retiring Edouard called to her to stop a minute。
Then； turning to Rose； he begged her very ceremoniously to reconsider that determination。
〃What determination？〃
〃To sacrifice me to this Colonel Dujardin。〃 Still politely； only a little grimly。
Rose opened her eyes。 〃Are you mad？〃 inquired she with quiet hauteur。
〃Neither mad nor a fool；〃 was the reply。 〃I love you too well to share your regard with any one； upon any terms； least of all upon these； that there is to be a man in the world at whose beck and call you are to be； and at whose orders you are to break off an interview with me。 Perdition！〃
〃Dear Edouard； what folly！ Can you suspect me of discourtesy； as well as ofI know not what。 Colonel Dujardin will join us； that is all； and we shall take a little walk with him。〃
〃Not I。 I decline the intrusion； you are engaged with me； and I have things to say to you that are not fit for that puppy to hear。 So choose between me and him； and choose forever。〃
Rose colored。 〃I should be very sorry to choose either of you forever； but for this afternoon I choose you。〃
〃Oh； thank youmy whole life shall prove my gratitude for this preference。〃
Rose beckoned Jacintha； and sent her with an excuse to Colonel Dujardin。 She then turned with an air of mock submission to Edouard。 〃I am at monsieur's ORDERS。〃
Then this unhappy novice； being naturally good…natured； thanked her again and again for her condescension in setting his heart at rest。 He proposed a walk； since his interference had lost her one。 She yielded a cold assent。 This vexed him； but he took it for granted it would wear off before the end of the walk。 Edouard's heart bounded； but he loved her too sincerely to be happy unless he could see her happy too； the malicious thing saw this； or perhaps knew it by instinct； and by means of this good feeling of his she revenged herself for his tyranny。 She tortured him as only a woman can torture； and as even she can torture only a worthy man； and one who loves her。 In the course of that short walk this inexperienced girl； strong in the instincts and inborn arts of her sex； drove pins and needles； needles and pins； of all sorts and sizes； through her lover's heart。
She was everything by turns； except kind； and nothing for long together。 She was peevish； she was ostentatiously patient and submissive； she was inattentive to her companion and seemingly wrapped up in contemplation of absent things and persons； the colonel to wit； she was dogged； repulsive； and cold； and she never was herself a single moment。 They returned to the gate of the Pleasaunce。 〃Well； mademoiselle；〃 said Riviere very sadly； 〃that interloper might as well have been with us。〃
〃Of course he might； and you would have lost nothing by permitting me to be courteous to a guest and an invalid。 If you had not played the tyrant； and taken the matter into your own hands； I should have found means to soothe your jealI mean your vanity； but you preferred to have your own way。 Well； you have had it。〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle； you have given me a lesson； you have shown me how idle it is to attempt to force a young lady's inclinations in anything。〃
He bade her good…day； and went away sorrowful。
She cut Camille dead for the rest of the day。
Next morning； early； Edouard called expressly to see her。 〃Mademoiselle Rose；〃 said he； humbly； 〃I called to apologize for the ungentlemanly tone of my remonstrances yesterday。〃
〃Fiddle…dee；〃 said Rose。 〃Don't do it again； that is the best apology。〃
〃I am not likely to offend so again；〃 said he sadly。 〃I am going away。 I am sorry to say I am promoted； my new post is ten leagues。 HE WILL HAVE IT ALL HIS OWN WAY NOW。 But perhaps it is best。 Were I to stay here； I foresee you would soon lose whatever friendly feeling you have for me。〃
〃Am I so changeable？ I am not considered so；〃 remonstrated Rose； gently。
Riviere explained； 〃I am not vain；〃 said he； with that self… knowledge which is so general an attribute of human beings； 〃no man less so； nor am I jealous； but I respect myself； and I could never be content to share your time and your regard with Colonel Dujardin； nor with a much better man。 See now； he has made me arrogant。 Was I ever so before？〃
〃No！ no！ no！ and I forgive you now； my poor Edouard。〃
〃He has made you cold as ice to me。〃
〃No！ that was my own wickedness and spitefulness。〃
〃Wickedness； spitefulness！ they are not in your nature。 It is all that wretch's doing。〃
Rose sighed； but she said nothing； for she saw that to excuse Camille would only make the jealous one more bitter against him。
〃Will you deign to write to me at my new post？ once a month？ in answer to my letters？〃
〃Yes； dear。 But you will ride over sometimes to see us。〃
〃Oh； yes； but for some little time I shall not be able。 The duties of a new post。〃
〃Perhaps in a montha fortnight？〃
〃Sooner perhaps； the moment I hear that man is out of the house。〃
Edouard went away； dogged and sad； Rose shut herself up in her room and had a good cry。 In the afternoon Josephine came and remonstrated with her。 〃You have not walked with him at all to…day。〃
〃No； you must pet him yourself for once。 I hate the sight of him； it has made mischief between Edouard and me； my being so attentive to him。 Edouard is jealous； and I cannot wonder。 After all； what right have I to mystify him who honors me with his affection？〃
Then； being pressed with questions by Josephine； she related to her all that had passed between Edouard and her； word for word。
〃Poor Camille！〃 sighed Josephine the just。
〃Oh； dear； yes！ poor Camille！ who has the power to make us all miserable； and who does it； and will go on doing it until he is happy himself。〃
〃Ah！ would to Heaven I could make him as happy as he deserves to be。〃
〃You could easily make him much happier than that。 And why not do it？〃
〃O Rose；〃 said Josephine； shocked； 〃how can you advise me so？〃
She then asked her if she thought it possible that Camille could be ignorant of her heart。
〃Josephine；〃 replied Rose； angril