Page 96 (1/1)
"You know, monsieur," she questioned me--"you know that I betrayed you?"
"Yes," I answered si you to your death and you have no reproaches for me! Oh, monsieur, it will kill me!"
"Hush, child!" I whispered "What reproaches can I have for you? I know the ether, monsieur; you cannot know them I loved you, monsieur I do love you, monsieur Oh! this is not a time to consider words If I am bold and unmaidenly, I--I--"
"Neither bold nor unmaidenly, but--oh, the sweetest da to her aid "Mine was a leprous, sinful soul, child, when I caood, and I looked as little for an honest man or a virtuous woman as one looks for honey in a nettle I was soured, andinto contact with your own Then, a the roses at Lavedan, in your dear coood, some of the sweetness, some of the purity about you were infused anew into ain, and I seemed oddly cleansed In that hour of my rejuvenation I loved you, Roxalanne"
Her face had been raised to mine as I spoke There came now a flutter of the eyelids, a curious sain and was laid against an to weep softly
"Nay, Roxalanne, do not fret Come, child, it is not your way to be weak"
"I have betrayed you!" sheyou to your death!"
"I understand, I understand," I answered, s her brown hair
"Not quite, ht of how I suffered thatwhen Mademoiselle de Marsac ca that--that I was about to lose you; that you were to go out of my life, and that I should see you no more--you whom I had enshrined so infor having dreaht had deludedthat your manner towards me had a tenderness that spoke of affection I was bitter with myself, and I suffered oh, so arden, you came to me