"That is not it.

It is a piece of prudery.
This young gentleman was a sort of admirer of hers, though she did not admire him much, as far as I remember.

But it was four years ago; and she is married to a man she loves, or is going to love." "Well, but, mamma, a trifling excess of delicacy is surely excusable." This from Rose.
"No, no; it is not delicacy; it is prudery.

And when people are sick and suffering, an honest woman should take up her charity and lay down her prudery, or her coquetry: two things that I suspect are the same thing in different shapes." Here Jacintha came in.

"Mademoiselle, here is the colonel's broth; Madame Raynal has flavored it for him, and you are to take it up to him, and keep him company while he eats it." "Come," cried the baroness, "my lecture has not been lost." Rose followed Jacintha up-stairs.
Rose was heart and head on Raynal's side.
She had deceived him about Josephine's attachment, and felt all the more desirous to guard him against any ill consequences of it.