e gate was that which brought Roland bac

whip smartly for the last five hundred yards, but the noise was insufficient to rouse these country people from their first sleep. When the carriage had stopped, Roland opened the door,

childish but firm voice cried

Edouard?" said Roland. "M

at the same time his voice was heard in the corridors, crying: "Mot

ittle slippers, he ran down the steps, cryi

hite figure appeared in the portico, and flew rather than ran to the gate, which an instant l

I am the sickest-ah! except Michel, the gardener, you know, who has sprained his leg. But why aren't you in uniform? Oh! how ugly you are in citizen's clothes! Have you just come from Egypt

owered questions upon him. The Englishman, still seated in th

l embraces came the voice of a

th such violent, joyous emotion that it was almost painful. "Where is he? Can it be true t

ms like an eel, dropped upon his feet on the grass, an

d Roland. When he saw his mother Roland could no longer contain himself. He felt the sort

eed ungrateful to God when lif

glish phlegm disperse as he silently wiped away the tears that flowed down his cheeks and moisten

the group, exclaiming: "Sister Amélie! Why, where is she?" and he rushe

nst a door. Silence followed. Then little Edouard shouted:

ncet and a smelling bottle in his pocket. He jumped from the carriage and, obeying his first impulse, hurried up the

ement which Roland's return had occasioned was too much for her, for after descending a few steps in an almost automatic manner, controlling herself by a violent effort, she gav

I'm all right," she clung to the balustrade with one hand, and leaning with the other on the child, she had continued to descend. On the last step she met

laimed: "Air! Air! She is fainting!" and carried her out upon the portico. I

endor, shook off a cloud which had veiled her, and lighted Amélie's face, as pale as her own. Sir John ga

f antiquity, her pale face gently inclined upon her brother's shoulder, her long golden hair floating around her snowy shoulders, her arm thrown around her mother's n

As for the child, surprised to see this stranger in his mother's home, he ran hastily down the steps of the portico, stoppin

asked Sir John; "and wh

r's friend, and I have brought you the silver-mounted

they?" aske

ll take some time to send for them. But your big bro

n to Sir John, for you have made me abominably ungrateful." Then grasping Sir John's hand, he continued: "Mother, Sir John took occasion the first time he saw me to render me an inestimable service. I know that you never forge

repeat my friend Roland's words. I could wish to spend, not

portico and offered her hand to Sir John, who

day you entered it has been one of joy, the d

e disorder of her dress before this stranger, was

rcome by her brother's unexpected return to greet you herself as she will

riend Sir John to kiss her hand, and he wil

ed her arm, and held out her hand to Sir

aid: "Roland, your sister is seriously indisposed. Let us think only of her health this evening. I am some

aused this slight indisposition, and it has already passed over." Then turning to Madame de Montrevel, she added with almost feverish haste: "Mother, we are forgetting that these gentlemen have made a long voyage, and have p

t, leaving on the mind of Sir John that sort of fairy-like impression which the tourist on the Rhine brings with

He drew rein before the portal, pulled out a note-book, and pencilling a few lines on one o

l, he disappeared in the forest, rapid and mysterious as Faust on his way to the

General Bonaparte's

Chateau des Noires-F

ions o

rgan had drawn a cross above his name, which signified that no matter what

way without being obliged to explain the motives which actuated t