She caught hold of one of the branches and
clung to it, gasping.
"Genevieve, Genevieve, why am I here?"
Her eyes shone with a wild light. She seemed to be absolutely exalted.
"He loves me, he loves me...."
"And I love him." And she threw herself in her friend's arms. "I am as
happy as you now, for I love.... The thick cloud that hung over
everything is gone. Everything is bright and beautiful. This dark
grove is sparkling with sunlight and...?"
Genevieve stopped her.
"Little sister, you are raving. Your pulse is racing with fever. We
must go back. Think of poor Albert."
Esperance drew herself up proudly, replying, "I will never betray him,
I will tell the truth, and I will become the wife of the Duke."
"You are talking wildly, dearest, the Duke will not marry you."
"He will marry me, I swear it!"
"Albert will enter the Chartist Monastery and the Countess Styvens
will die of sorrow."
"The Countess Styvens," said Esperance slowly.
As the sweet face of the mother came before her mind's eye she began
to tremble all over.
Maurice had followed the girls into the grove, and he found them now
in each other's arms.
"Genevieve," said Esperance, "not a word of what I have said!"
"Have you both gone crazy? They are looking everywhere for Esperance
for the 'Judgment of Paris,' and here you are congratulating and
kissing each other!"
"Cousin, I needed the air, don't scold. Genevieve looked for me and
found me before anybody else, and I kissed her because I love her
most.
Pages:
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207