I shall never disobey the angel who loves me, my only friend upon the earth." A single deep sob from Josephine was all the answer.
Then he could not help asking her why she had not trusted him?
"Why did you not say to me long ago, 'I love you, but I am a wife; my husband is an honest soldier, absent, and fighting for France: I am the guardian of his honor and my own; be just, be generous, be self-denying; depart and love me only as angels love'?
Perhaps this might have helped me to show you that I too am a man of honor." "Perhaps I was wrong," sighed Josephine.

"I think I should have trusted more to you.

But then, who would have thought you could really doubt my love?
You were ill; I could not bear you to go till you were well, quite well.

I saw no other way to keep you but this, to treat you with feigned coldness.

You saw the coldness, but not what it cost me to maintain it.
Yes, I was unjust; and inconsiderate, for I had many furtive joys to sustain me: I had you in my house under my care--that thought was always sweet--I had a hand in everything that was for your good, for your comfort.