Soon after this Raynal ordered his charger.

The baroness began to cry.  “The young people may hope to see you again,” said she; “but there are two chances against your poor old mother.”

“Courage, mother!” cried the stout soldier.  “No, no; you won’t play me such a trick:  once is enough for that game.”

“Brother!” cried Rose, “do not go without kissing your little sister, who loves you and thanks you.”  He kissed her.  “Bravo, generous soul!” she cried, with her arms round his neck.  “God protect you, and send you back safe to us!”

“Amen!” cried all present by one impulse, even the cold notary.

Raynal’s mustache quivered.  He kissed Josephine hastily on the brow, the baroness on both cheeks; shook the men’s hands warmly but hastily, and strode out without looking behind him.  He was moved for once.

They all followed him to the door of the house.  He was tightening his horse’s girths.  He flung himself with all the resolution of his steel nature into the saddle, and, with one grand wave of his cocked hat to the tearful group, he spurred away for Egypt.

CHAPTER IX.

The baroness took the doctor a-shopping; she must buy Rose a gray silk.  In doing this she saw many other tempting things.  I say no more.

But the young ladies went up to Beaurepaire in the other carriage, for Josephine wished to avoid the gaze of the town, and get home and be quiet.  The driver went very fast.  He had drunk the bride’s health at the mayor’s, item the bridegroom’s, the bridesmaid’s, the mayor’s, etc., and “a spur in the head is worth two in the heel,” says the proverb.  The sisters leaned back on the soft cushions, and enjoyed the smooth and rapid motion once so familiar to them, so rare of late.

Then Rose took her sister gently to task for having offered to go to Egypt.  She had forgotten her poor sister.

“No, love,” replied Josephine, “did you not see I dared not look towards you?  I love you better than all the world; but this was my duty.  I was his wife:  I had no longer a feeble inclination and a feeble disinclination to decide between, but right on one side, wrong on the other.”

“Oh!  I know where your ladyship’s strength lies:  my force is—­in—­my inclinations.”

“Yes, Rose,” continued Josephine thoughtfully, “duty is a great comfort:  it is so tangible; it is something to lay hold of for life or death; a strong tower for the weak but well disposed.”

Rose assented, and they were silent a minute; and when she spoke again it was to own she loved a carriage.  “How fast we glide!  Now lean back with me, and take my hand, and as we glide shut your eyes and think:  whisper me all your feelings, every one of them.”