Page:A Virgin Heart.pdf/225

Rh with the lowest heroes of novels. Think of declaring one's love, saying, 'I am hot,' to a woman who is cold. What does it mean to her? Words possess eloquence when the ears expect them. If not, they ring false. They only incline hearts which have already abdicated their will."

Leonor was very sincerely in love with Rose; hence he was very unhappy. He imagined, moreover, that M. Hervart was already completely pardoned. Rose was only awaiting some act of humility to give herself to him again.

"She is hurt in her pride. Her heart is happy, if happiness consisting in loving much more than in being loved. It is a painful pleasure, but none the less a pleasure for her to talk of M. Hervart..."

That evening Léonor had no difficulty in putting on a melancholy and disenchanted look. He felt these two emotions to perfection, and Rose, who could not help looking at him, noticed it.

"Can he really be in love with me," she wondered, "he?"

The next morning, when she woke up, she