There had certainly been no time then for other
love than that which the circumstances and the sorrow of the hour
demanded from their mutual friendship. From that day, from the first
moment in which she had heard of his arrest, every thought, every
effort of her mind had been devoted to his affairs. So great was his
peril and so strange, that it almost wiped out from her mind the
remembrance of her own condition. Should they hang him,--undoubtedly
she would die. Such a termination to all her aspirations for him whom
she had selected as her god upon earth would utterly crush her. She
had borne much, but she could never bear that. Should he escape, but
escape ingloriously;--ah, then he should know what the devotion of
a woman could do for a man! But if he should leave his prison with
flying colours, and come forth a hero to the world, how would it be
with her then? She could foresee and understand of what nature would
be the ovation with which he would be greeted. She had already heard
what the Duchess was doing and saying.
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