Thus the two women were always alone together.

Celeste insensibly fell into a passive attitude, and became what Brigitte wanted her,--a helot.

The Queen Elizabeth of the household then passed from despotism to a sort of pity for the poor victim who was always sacrificed.

She ended by softening her haughty ways, her cutting speech, her contemptuous tones, as soon as she was certain that her sister-in-law was completely under the yoke.

When she saw the wounds it made on the neck of her victim, she took care of her as a thing of her own, and Celeste entered upon happier days.