They parted for a
little while at the cottage door. Rose retired to the upstairs
room from which she had been summoned by her brother. Trudaine
and Lomaque returned to wander again along the banks of the
stream.
With one accord, and without a word passing between them, they
left the neighborhood of the cottage hurriedly; then stopped on a
sudden, and attentively looked each other in the face--looked in
silence for an instant. Trudaine spoke first.
"I thank you for having spared her," he began, abruptly. "She is
not strong enough yet to bear hearing of a new misfortune, unless
I break the tidings to her first."
"You suspect me, then, of bringing bad news?" said Lomaque.
"I know you do. When I saw your first look at her, after we were
all seated in the cottage parlor, I knew it. Speak without fear,
without caution, without one useless word of preface. After three
years of repose, if it pleases God to afflict us again, I can
bear the trial calmly; and, if need be, can strengthen her to
bear it calmly, too. I say again, Lomaque, speak at once, and
speak out! I know your news is bad, for I know beforehand that it
is news of Danville."
"You are right; my bad news is news of him."
"He has discovered the secret of our escape from the guillotine?"
"No--he has not a suspicion of it. He believes--as his mother, as
every one does--that you were both executed the day after the
Revolutionary Tribunal sentenced you to death.
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