I had no mother nor matronly friend to instruct
me. I knew that I had broken no command of God or man; that I had
been a faithful wife, but when Gabriel Le Noir accused me with such
bitter earnestness I feared that some strange departure from the
usual course of nature had occurred for my destruction. And I was
overwhelmed by mortification, terror and despair!"
"Ah, the villain!" exclaimed Traverse, between his teeth.
"He told me at last that to save the memory of his dead brother he
would hide my dishonor, and he ordered me to seclude myself from the
sight of all persons. I obeyed him like a slave, grateful even for
the shelter of his roof."
"A roof that was your own, as he very well knew. And he knew, also,
the caitiff! that if the circumstance became known the whole State
would have protected you in your rights, and ejected him like a
cur."
"Nay, even in that case no harm should have reached him on my
account. He was my husband's brother."
"And worst enemy! But proceed, dear lady."
"Well, I secluded myself as he commanded. For four months I never
left the attic to which he had ordered me to retreat. At the end of
that time I became the mother of twins--a boy and a girl. The boy
only opened his eyes on this world to close them again directly. The
girl was living and healthy. The old nurse who attended me had an
honest and compassionate face; I persuaded her to secrete and save
the living child, and to present the dead babe to Colonel Le Noir as
the only one, for the suspicions that had never been awakened for
myself were alarmed for my child.
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