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〃My one？〃 asked the young lady； reddening； 〃my what？〃
〃The little oneEdouardMonsieur Riviere。〃
〃Oh； Monsieur Riviere；〃 said Rose； acting nonchalance。 〃Why could you not say so？ you use such phrases； who can conjecture what you mean？ I will come to Monsieur Riviere directly； mamma will be so glad。〃
Jacintha gone； Rose tore up the letter and locked up the pieces； then ran to the glass。 Etc。
Edouard had been so profoundly miserable he could stand it no longer； in spite of his determination not to visit Beaurepaire while it contained a rival； he rode over to see whether he had not tormented himself idly： above all； to see the beloved face。
Jacintha put him into the salle a manger。 〃By that you will see her alone；〃 said the knowing Jacintha。 He sat down； hat and whip in hand； and wondered how he should be receivedif at all。
In glides Rose all sprightliness and good…humor； and puts out her hand to him； the which he kisses。
〃How could I keep away so long？〃 asked he vaguely； and self… astonished。
〃How indeed； and we missing you so all the time！〃
〃Have YOU missed me？〃 was the eager inquiry。
〃Oh； no！〃 was the cheerful reply； 〃but all the rest have。〃
Presently the malicious thing gave a sudden start。
〃Oh！ such a piece of news； you remember Colonel Dujardin； the obnoxious colonel？〃
No answer。
〃Transferred his attentions。 Fancy！〃
〃Who to？〃
〃To Josephine and mamma。 But such are the military。 He only wanted to get rid of you： this done （through your want of spirit）； he scorns the rich prize； so now I scorn HIM。 Will you come for a walk？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃
〃We will go and look for my deserter。 I say； tell me now； cannot I write to the commander…in…chief about this？ a soldier has no right to be a deserter； has he？ tell me； you are a public man； and know everything except my heart。〃
〃Is it not too bad to tease me to…day？〃
〃Yes！ but please！ I have had few amusements of late。 I find it so dull without you to tease。〃
Formal permission to tease being conceded； she went that instant on the opposite tack； and began to tell him how she had missed him； and how sorry she had been anything should have occurred to vex their kind good friend。 In short； Edouard spent a delightful day； for Rose took him one way to meet Josephine； who； she knew； was coming another。 At night the last embers of jealousy got quenched； for Josephine was a wife now； and had already begun to tell Camille all her little innocent secrets； and she told him all about Edouard and Rose； and gave him his orders； so he treated Rose with great respect before Edouard； but paid her no marked attention； also he was affable to Riviere； who； having ceased to suspect； began to like him。
In the course of the evening； the colonel also informed the baroness that he expected every day an order to join the army of the Rhine。
Edouard pricked his ears。
The baroness said no more than politeness dictated。 She did not press him to stay； but treated his departure as a matter of course。 Riviere rode home late in the evening in high spirits。
The next day Rose varied her late deportment； she sang snatches of melody； going about the house； it was for all the world like a bird chirping。 In the middle of one chirp Jacintha interfered。 〃Hush； mademoiselle； your mamma！ she is at the bottom of the corridor。〃
〃What was I thinking of？〃 said Rose。
〃Oh！ I dare say you know； mademoiselle；〃 replied the privileged domestic。
A letter of good news came from Aubertin。 That summons to his nephew's funeral was an era in his harmless life。
The said nephew was a rich man and an oddity； one of those who love to surprise folk。 Moreover； he had no children； and detected his nephews and nieces being unnaturally civil to him。 〃Waiting to cut me up；〃 was his generous reading of them。 So with this he made a will； and there defied； as far as in him lay； the laws of nature； for he set his wealth a…flowing backwards instead of forwards； he handed his property up to an ancestor； instead of down to posterity。
All this the doctor's pen set down with some humor； and in the calm spirit with which a genuine philosopher receives prosperity as well as adversity。 Yet one natural regret escaped him； that all this wealth； since it was to come； had not come a year or two sooner。
All at Beaurepaire knew what their dear old friend meant。
His other news to them was that they might expect him any moment。
So here was another cause of rejoicing。
〃I am so glad；〃 said Josephine。 〃Now； perhaps； he will be able to publish his poor dear entomology； that the booksellers were all so unkind； so unfeeling about。〃
I linger on the brink of painful scenes to observe that a sweet and loving friendship； such as this was between the good doctor and three persons of another sex； is one of the best treasures of the human heart。 Poverty had strengthened it； yet now wealth could not weaken it。 With no tie of blood it yet was filial； sisterly； brotherly； national； chivalrous； happy； unalloyed sentiment； free from ups and downs； from heats and chills； from rivalry； from caprice； and； indeed； from all mortal accidents but oneand why say one？ methinks death itself does but suspend these gentle； rare； unselfish amities a moment； then waft them upward to their abiding home。
CHAPTER XV。
It was a fair morning in June： the sky was a bright； deep； lovely； speckless blue： the flowers and bushes poured perfume； and sprinkled song upon the balmy air。 On such a day； so calm； so warm； so bright； so scented； so tuneful； to live and to be young is to be happy。 With gentle hand it wipes all other days out of the memory； it smiles； it smells； it sings； and clouds and rain and biting wind seem as far off and impossible as grief and trouble。
Camille and Josephine had stolen out； and strolled lazily up and down close under the house； drinking the sweet air； fragrant with perfume and melody； the blue sky； and love。
Rose was in the house。 She had missed them； but she thought they must be near； for they seldom took long walks early in the day。 Meeting Jacintha on the landing of the great staircase； she asked her where her sister was。
〃Madame Raynal is gone for a walk。 She has taken the colonel with her。 You know she always takes the colonel out with her now。〃
〃That will do。 You can finish your work。〃
Jacintha went into Camille's room。
Rose； who had looked as grave as a judge while Jacintha was present； bubbled into laughter。 She even repeated Jacintha's words aloud； and chuckled over them。 〃You know she always takes the colonel out with her nowha； ha； ha！〃
〃Rose！〃 sighed a distant voice。
She looked round； and saw the baroness at some distance in the corridor； coming slowly towards her； with eyes bent gloomily on the ground。 Rose composed her features into a settled gravity； and went to meet her。
〃I wish to speak with you；〃 said the baroness； 〃let us sit down； it is cool here。〃
Rose ran and brought a seat without a back； but well stuffed； and set it against the wall。 The old lady sat down and leaned back； and looked at Rose in silence a good while； then she said；
〃There is room for you； sit down； for I want to speak seriously to yo