He started and reddened as his sister's
eyes rested on him. He looked through the open window like a wild
animal ready to spring out of it and escape.
A raging thirst was on him, which Amelie sought to assuage by
draughts of water, milk, and tea--a sisterly attention which he more
than once acknowledged by kissing the loving fingers which waited
upon him so tenderly.
"I cannot stay in the house, Amelie," said he; "I shall go mad if I
do! You know how it has fared with me, sweet sister! I yesterday
built up a tower of glass, high as heaven, my heaven--a woman's
love; to-day I am crushed under the ruins of it."
"Say not so, brother! you were not made to be crushed by the nay of
any faithless woman. Oh! why will men think more of our sex than we
deserve? How few of us do deserve the devotion of a good and true
man!"
"How few men would be worthy of you, sweet sister!' replied he,
proudly. "Ah! had Angelique had your heart, Amelie!"
"You will be glad one day of your present sorrow, brother," replied
she. "It is bitter I know, and I feel its bitterness with you, but
life with Angelique would have been infinitely harder to bear.
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