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KOBERTSON'S CHEA.P SERIES.

POPULAR READING ^T POPULAR PRICES.

MADELEINE: A LOVE STORY.

By JULES SANDEAU.

HIS PRIZE NOVEL. CROWNED BY THE FRENCH ACADEMY.

COMPLETE,

TORONTO :
i. ROSS ROBERTSON, 55 KING-STREET WEST.

■OmrH-WISr OOHNEB Ot BAT-STiUIIT,

1879

Like I

royal ro

market-t

summer,

mystery.

over, tha

simple St

no reoolli

ping with

the pastil

affected t

enough id

It was

mass and

to the hai

fell perpe:

natives gt

diligence

was, on ]

short, it ii

joys that {

neard it c(

ly ranged i

road; thei

spinuing al

between tv

eyes and g

a turn in t

iionest peoj

hearts over

Now, the

thing foresh

the usual t

high that N

the theatre

modest vilh

half century

to count. ]

oannoaball

■toDed Bh<

road, betwe*

upon its trac

•t this uafoi

Ie8-B>i3 3to

dreamiug to

such a rare

were acousto

MADELEINE.

CHAPTER I.

W>8T IN THE WOODS,

Like altnott »U villages traversed by a
royal road. Neuvy-lea-Bois is a frightful
market-town, muddy ia wiuter, dusty in
summer, m all seasons devoid of poetry and
mystery. Such was its importonce, more-
over that prior to the day at which this
sincple story commences, the inhabitants had

nf„r°° ►f°"°.? ?^ ''"y P"»>'i° v«»»i le stop,
pmg w.thm their wall. This disdain thit
the postilions and drivers had at all times
aflFected towards Neuvy-les-Bois gives a poor
enough Idea of the quality of its wines
JI^^a"" autumn, one Sunday, between

t^^hp hf 7?*"-. ^TP«^ "* **>« entrance
to the ham et, under a fiery sun, whose rays

fell perpendicularly upon their heads, the

natives gravely awaited the passage of the

diligence from Paris to Lim.gesl for this

was on holidays, their only diversion,-

short It IS true, but intoxicating, like all

joys that are of brief duration. Vt'hen they

Iv rlnLT'"*^ ? *'»«'l"t'">°«. they solemn-
rL^ fk, '''«"1"«1^«8 upon each side of the
road ; then. wh«n this great rolling machine.
Bpnning along at the rapid trot of the hor«5
between two rows of noses in air, of dull
eyes and gaping mouths, had disappeared at
a turn in the road in a cloud of dust* these
honest people returned to their horned, the r
hearts oyerdowmg with sweet satisfaction.

Now, the Sunday of which we speak, no-
thing foreshadowed a possible departure rU

hfeh"th' v"'*"".' ''o"' '* was Written on
high that Neuvy-les-Bois should be that day

mn^lf'^^if °^ * r'''^^' "PO" which this
modest village profoundly discouraged by a
half century of expectation, no longer dared
to count Instead of spinning along ke a

•tooed short m the middle of the
road, between the two living hedges formed
Tl^^r''- ^' tJ^i^-nexJected'^sJeoSt

Ar^rlL '"""'^ s^ocii stilt, without even
«,«hT^ *"'!"'' ""^ """'her whence came
■uoh a rare honour. Even the dogs, who
were accustomed to run yelping after the ve?

hicle.inviting the kicks of the postilion seem
down , h. <,p,„„l ,h, d,,or oTtb ;,Z. ;lf h'

na habit 4\>^aI- •"?""/ .*han her mourn-
road in the bTazing sun ". t^^"" ^^^ «"*'

same air, neither breathing a wo.d„n.« ^*

, ropo.. the boi». which ""dZ\^. ""S"
I thiog mote i, l.|. „. „d„ "!„„ fj^

MADELEINE.

' De»r demoiselle, may God take pity on
your pain I I nee plainly, by your way of
■peaking, that you are not of our country.
You come from a distance, no doubt V

' Oh ! yes, madame, very far, very far.
I frequently thought that I should never
»n ive. '

' And you go V

' Where my mother, before dying, bade
me to go. I knew, in setting out, that once
at Neuvy-les Bois, I should tind easily the
way to Valtravers.'

' You are going to Valtravers ?'

' Yes, madame.'

* To the chateau ?'

'Eicactly.'

' You have lengthened your way, made-
moiselle ; the driver ought to have let
you got out at the neighbouring
town. It is the same — you have before you
only three little leagues, and moreover you
will be able, by going through the woods, to
gain time. If you will allow him, my
nephew Pierrot will guide you ; but the
heat is oppressive, and I am oertaiu, my
dear little one, that you have eaten
nothing to>day. Gome to our farm-house ;
you shall taste the milk of our cows, and, to
aet out again, you will wait the freshness of
the evening.

' Thank you, madame, thank you. You
are good ; but I do not need anything. I
should like to set out immediately, and if it
is not abusing thegood nature of M. Pierrot' —

'Here, Pierrot 1' cried the farmer's wife.

At this invitation, made in a tone which
suffered no reply, a little imp separated from
the crowd, and came forward with the cring-
ing air of a dog that feels that hia master
calls him only to beat him. Pierrot, who,
since morning, had been nursing the deli-
cious prospect ot taking, after vespers, his
ahare in the play upon the church square,
appeared only moderately flattered by his
aunt's proposition. Sne repeated it in
such a way that he judged it prudent to con-
sent. She put the little bundle of the
stranger under his arm, then, pushing him
by the shoulders : ' Go through the woods,
and be sure not to walk too fast for this
young demoiselle, who has neither your
feet nor your legs.' Thereupon Pierrot
started with a sullen air, while Nenvy-Ies-
Bois, commencing to recover from its stupor,
was lost in comments upon the events of
this great day.

We suspect this village of Neuvy-les-Bois
to havd been so named by antiphrasis. For
Neuvy (green), it is perfectly correct ; but
for les bois, (the woods), it is another affair.
For my part, I know nothing more deceitful
or more fallacious than these names of places,

or of persons that have a precise signification,
and are as well formal pledges. I have
notice that, in such cases, persons and places
rarely furnish that which they promise, and
that, in general, what is lacking is precisely
that quality which christening has given
them. I have known Angelines who pos-
sessed none of the attributes of an angel, and
Blanches black as little crows. As to
places, without going further, Neuvy-les-
Bois, since we are here, has not a clump of
elms, or poplars, or aspens to shield it from
the winds of the north or the heat of the
south. The circumjacent country is as bare
and as flat as the sea coast, and in its vicini-
ty, within the radius of a half-)aague, you
would not find the shade of an oak. How-
ever, at Fontenay-aux-Roses thty show a
few sorry rose bushes.

But, aa the young girl and her guide
withdrew from the dusty road and penetrat-
ed into the country, the landscape gradually
assumed greener and more joyous
aspects. After two hours' walking,
they perceived the woods of A'al-
travers undulating at the horizon. In spite
of the recommendations of his aunt, Pierrot
went at a brisk pace, without thinking of his
companion. The possibility that he foresaw
of being able to return to take part in the
play, gave wings to this scamp. Although
she had light feet and fine limbs, at inter-
vals the poor child was forced to ask mercy,
but the abominable Pierrot deafened his ear
and piteously pursued his course. Going
posthaste, he regarded with a mournful eye
the shadow of the trees, that the sun began
to lengthen enormously upon the surround-
ing sward ; in the bitterness of his heart he
did not dissemble that if he went as far a!«
Valtravers it was an end to his Sunday joys.
Once upon the edge of the forest an infernal
idea passed through the mind of this young
shepherd.

' There !' said he resolutely, putting upon
the grass the bundle that he held under his
arm. * You have only to follow this wide
avenue, which will lead you right to the
chateau. In a quarter ot an hour you will
have your nose at the gate.'

Then this rascal prepared to escape ; a
motion retained him. Having detached
from her girdle a little purse which did not
appear very heavy, the young girl drew from
it a little white piece that she courteously
offered to M. Pierrot, thanking him for his
trouble. At this trait of generosity, upon
which he was not cworting, Pierrot felt
troubled. He hesitated ; and perhjips he
might have given way to this cry of his cou-
sciencdl if he h*d not discovered in the dis-
tance, on the plain, the steeple of Neuvy-leu-

Boil, HI
beach,
alone ca
the chui
at pitch
rot held
of silver
to his
him.

Passii

girl felt

perience

ing into

movemei

■ustiine(

ney that

pray Hir

which ah

not doul

hand, she

and speei

by the et

dulgent

friend of

even chih

forget a [

harmony,

slanting i

sun eent c

that nighl

followed 4

every insi

found thf

led to the

only openi

child liatei

of a neigh 1

the dull hi

woods at t

knoll and i

of verdure.

of Provid(

When, dish

to return

ble to recog

■be had pap

yet left the

filled with

no longer si

their down]

the osprays

such an hon

solitude wei

soul of the

sides powe

little one

and her tear

the black

while she W(

her blonde

gilded.

She remai)

use aignificatioD,
ledges. I have
irsoiis and places
ley promise, and
king is precisely
Jiiing has given
felines who poa-

of an angel, and
srows. As to
;her, Neuvy-les-
I not a clump of
to shield it from
r the heat of the
luntry is as bare
.nd in its vicini-
half-)cague, you

an oak. How-
es thty show a

and her guide
id and penetrat-
Iscape gradually

more joyous
Jurs' walking,
oods of Val-
lorizon. In spite
his aunt, Pierrot
t thinking of his

that he foresaw
ake part in the
mp. Although

limbs, at inter-
id to ask mercy,
deafened his ear

course. Going

a mournful eye
it the sun began
n the surround-
9 of his heart he
e went an far as
liis Sunday joys,
orest an infernal
ad of this young

ly, putting upon
e held under his
follow this wide
ou right to the
n hour you will

I to escape ; a
aving detached
e which did not
g girl drew from
she courteously
ing him for his
[enerosity, upon
g, Pierrot felt
tnd perhaps ho
i cry of his cou-
ered in the dia-
le ofNeuvy-les-

MADELEINE.

oeaoh. By an effect of mirage that Fancv
.bne can explain, he believe,i' he saw upou
the church square a dozen comra.les playK
• ** P'^o.^l-P®"?'^" •""• 'l»»'t«- At this S
rot held back no longed. He tonk the piece

I t h'^'L "'.'■"''* '* "''° hiB pocket and took
j to^h.s heels as if the arcli-Hend pursued

Passing under the branches, the vounc

;; girl felt that sensation of delight that Uex^

penenced on going outof an ovL and p lung

• "^g into a bath of c.ol water. Hor first

J movement was to thank (i„,l, X had

nrav teL f *'^ ^^^ accomplished, iL to
' wh^hi '•«'"^«'• hospitable the door at

which she was about to knock. As she did
not doubt that the chateau was close at '
hand, she seated herself at the foot of an oak
I and speedily allowed herself to be diverted
I by the enchantments of the forest ; or in
I dulgent and good-tempered, thou art the
i friend of all ages ; thou consolest the aJl •
I even children, when thou smilest upon them
forget a parent's loss. All arounaher w«
harmony, freshness and perfume Th^
slanting rays that through theToWeThe
?hatTlrP'""« ^' ^'' ^««*' -^dmou hed Jer
olloa''JhrrP''°''<'^''>«- ^*^« '»«« -^"d
every instant facade and turrets. But hHb

frd'iM''** '^'' P«*»» ^hich Pierfc^said
led to the avenue of the cheateau, in rlS

S?P!"'*^.""° " t'-ansverse path. The
of i ni'- ^KK*'^ attentively to hear some sounds
tL M*'"""'^^ *>a»>itation ; she heard only
the dull hum which runs in the deoth of thi

knoll afd'*^' ''"'' ''/^y- She atuded a

ot verdure. Committing herself to the care

filled with shadow and mystery. The birds
no longer sung, the moths beat the ai, Sh

soul of i^Z, il ^ *°®"' ^<""<=e upon the
She remained in this position some min-

utes, overwhelmed with (Icspair, when aha
breed, which she had not hear.l approach

steDs''tl'5''T**"''*^ "' *•'« <'■"*'""'« «^» few
ateps, motionless as at the time of stopping :

, in the saddle was a rider who reganlLv her

I and icrl " '""^ 'iJr""«»- •* «""-'•' «" hour
ana such places. Hhe arose bv an abruot

' ZTu'1^ *''"","*'« ^''^ immediately reaa

i'triyu^Jn^C^ ''"^'""'^^^ «^ ''^ '-"

! 'Monsieur,' said she, 'God has sent vou

vou'^u^'t'h''"'-"'-, ^ ^■"" "'" "f *''is count^ry!

amlesslv.fTv ." hours Ihave wandered
aimlessly lu this forest, without being able
to get out or knowing where I am going •
perhaps you can ,lo me the favour o^ pSing
me on my way.' I'uuwu^j

'No doubt, mademoiselle,' answered a

•buTth'T "" ?',*''«*'"'' ''^^he young g rl-
^but then I must know where you wish ti

! J° J*'*'"*^®"' monsieur.'

Ao the chateau?'
' Yes, to the chateau of Valtravers.'
nl,w?"*"'"*i'"'*.have made a luckier ap-

ing in that direction ; and, if you please.
I^shall uave the pleasure of accompanying

,w^* these words, without waiting an an-
swer, the rider sprang lightly from his s^d-

ouL ■"' u^^ *. y°"°« ""an in all the
fareful ^Ti". «P"'^«t''n« of life, slender,
lovpr il i. "" cje proud and gentle
o er all he possessed an indescribable
fet in «'"""«• , ^" hair, shining like
i!n \ excessive luxuriance, curled natu-
lr.LfT ^" ^t^Pi^"- Carelessly knotted
T ,^^'^. J"^"^' his cravat of gray silk
streaked with blue, instead of conceaHng

Siilf'^ IT"* the ivory purity of hiscoml
8lendpr\n^ brown ridmg.coat clasped his
?„«„ /ii"'*°"P?'^ ^°'"™! his white panta-
lroh.H " J." T^^" f"^'^* '^hout a smalfboot,
arched and slender, armed with a heel of
shining and sounding steel. His bearing was
at once unaffected and charming.

' Does this belong to you, mademoiselle,
he inquired, pointing with the ».nd of his

upon^h?'g^rat*"' '""'^^ P^°'"'«« "»*-«

r^lJ^A ^°°«'eur, it is my whole fortune,'
responded the stranger, with a sad smile.

fJ!i^^.°"°*^'".*° *°°*' *he bundle and fas
dn?. i!* 'T'^'?'.*.'' his horse's saddle; that

?h.v'h H ''""'■"' ^'^ *™ *° *he child and
they both proceeded in the direction of the
chateau, followed by the beautiful and

MADELEINE.

dooile animal, oropping here aud there the
young sprouts of autumn.

'So, mademoiRelle, when I met you, you
were puzzled, lost, and knew not what to tio?
I thitnk the chiinoe that led nie thither, for
vou were in danger of sleeping this ui((ht
Dy the light of the stars, upon the muss of
the woods,'

'I had resigned myself to it, monsieur.'
And the young girl recounted the manner in
which she ha(r been mvstitied by M. Pierrot.

' M. Pierrot is a little rascal who deserves
to have liis ears boxed, And you are going
to Valtravera? Then, perhaps, mademoi-
uelle, you know the chevalier, or at least
■ome one at the chateau ?'

' I don't know any one.'

' Indeed 1'

' Absolutely no one j but you, monsiear,
you know M. leChevalier ?'

•Yes, certainly; we are old friends,'

' He is said to be good, generous, charita-
ble.'

*Ohl very charitable,' replied the young
man, who conjectured that it was a matter
pertaining simply to the help of some unfor-
tunate ; but after a rapid glance thrown
upon his young companion. Tie quickly re-
pelled this idea, aud clearly comprehended
that this was not an ordinary aoUiciteuee.

' Mademoiselle,' added he, gravely, ' I in-
form you that M.le Chevalier's is the noblest
heart that beats under heaven.'

' I know it. I do not doubt it : however,
at this hour, it is very sweet to hear it
affirmed anew. Ani little Maurice, mon-
sieur, you must know him also ?'

• What little Maurice, mademoiselle ?'

'Oh ! well, the son of the chevalier.'

' Ah ! good, good !' cried the young man,
laughing. 'Yes, certainly, I know him,
little Maurice. '

' Does he promise to become some day
good and generous like his father ?'

' Marry 1 he passes generally in this vici-
nity for a good enough devil. It is not
I who should wish to say anything ill of
him,'

' I feel that he will love me like a bro-
ther.'

' I can assure you that, on his part, he
will be delighted to see you.'

At this instant they traversed a clearing,
and behind the walls of a park, the gates of
which opened upon the forest, appeared a
beautiful castle whose windows were illu-
minated by the light of the setting sun.

CHAPTER II.

Aif ARTIST AT WORK. I

The same evening, at the same hour, the

old Chevalier de Valtravers w«b seated upon
the perron, in company with the old \far-
quisede Fresnes, whose neighbouring chateau
was perceived at the bottom of the valley,
through tno yet green foliage of the poplars
which skirt the Vienne They were both
talking pleasantly of the days gone by, for
at their age lite is only illuminated by that
pale and soft rcHectiou called remembrance.
The friendshi|) of the marquise and the
chevalier dated fi.in a remote period. At
the first stroke ot tiie tocsin sounded by the
worn-out monaruliy. the Marquis de Fresnes
had judged it convenient to go with his wife
to spend a few months upon the borders of
the Rhine, were it only to protest against
that which was passing in France and to
give to the throne of Saint Louis an authen-
tic testimony of respect and devotedness. M.
de Valtravers had decided to accompany them.
It is well known what happened to these
travels of a few months, and how these little
excursions, that were represented at hrst as
pleasure parties, ended for the most part in
a long and hard exile. Our three compan-
ions counted so surely upon a prompt return,
that they had barely taken funds enough to
supply their needs a year. These resources
exhausted, the diamonds sold, the trinkets
converted into money, they gained Nurem-
berg quietly ; here they were installed in

f>oor quarters ; their only concern was to
ive. MM. de Fresnes and de Valtravers
were indeed in deep dejection. So, as it aU
ways happens, it was the wife who showed
the example of resignation, of courage,and of
energy. ' We shall work,' answered Mme.
de Fresnes simply to her two friends, who
asked with anxiety what part remained for
them to take. She drew gracefully with the
crayon aud painted miniatures, she gave les-
sons .lud made portraits. Her beauty, her
grace and her misfortune, still more than her
talent, acquired for her in a short time a
select and numerous clientele. The two
gentlemen who had commenced by declaring
it derogatory, and raising their voices at
seeing the marquise at work, ended, will or
nill, in perceiving that they were passably
provided for without doing anything, aud
that after all it was the marquise that, as
the common saying is, bronaht the water to
the milL The marquis found no occupa-
tion ; but M. de Valtravers comprehended
that to remain thus with folded arms was
to bid farewell to all pride and dignity.
But what em I oymeut could he find for his
faculties ? to what industry could he apply
his idle hands ? The idea came to him to
teach French ; the necessity of preliminary
self-instruction cut short this tine project.
After studying aud revolving all projects in

hit own
obliged I
for uoth
io the ai
pared se
this, wh
enough
raeohanii
which h<
turned v
worked,
ning topi
of Nuren

gentleina
aving Iv
i'aoks and
lave had
nation an
Neverthe
minutes c
travers a
that emol
■uddeuly
the boson
World ; a
terrestrial
kept mot
space, mo
M. de^
thanks to
custom a
classes of
education
The prece(
the King
honourabh
best locksi
great nobl(
mechanica!
dames she
children,
out foresigi
played at w
ter yielded
than to the
did not sus
that the he
noblemen v
men, and i
thinking in
selves pleb(
At the si
chance, or
rious vociti
Valtravers
to turn el
later, he pa
veiiuto Cell
iu less than
ing wood \
making toy
tasty ; but

MADELEINE.

wm iMtod upon
th the old Mm'
bouriiii/uh«t«au

of tlin valley,
) of the putilart
liey were both
'» K^iie t*y. for
iimteil by that
1 roiiionihrance.
rquUc and the
tte p«rio<l. At
Rounded by the
quia He Fresnei
{o with bia wife

the borders of
proteat agaiuat

France and to
>uia an authen-
e voted neas. M.
^company them,
ipened to these
how these little
nted at first a«
>e most part in
three compan-

prompt return,
nnds enough to
'hese resouroes
d, the trinkets
gained Nurem-
ire installed in
oncern was to

de Valtravers

So, as it al-

e who showed

courage.and of
answered Mme.
D friends, who
't remained for
efuUy with the
m, she gave les-
er beauty, her
1 more than her
\ short time a
ele. The two
3d by declaring
bheir voices at

ended, will or

were passably
anything, and
rquise that, as
it the water to
nd no occupa-

comprehended
ided arms was
and dignity,
he find for his
could he apply
.me to him to
of preliminary
8 tine project.

all projects in

hia own mind, the chevalier waa at last
obliged humbly to ooufesa that he waa unad
for nothing but to go and get himself killed
10 the army of the Conde. He. therefore, pre-
pared aeriously, but without enthusiasm, for
thie, when one day he waa wandering aadly
enough through the atreeta, he stopped
meohanioally before tlie toy-ahop window in
which he saw, among other little objecta of
turned wood, jumping.jacka very artistically
worked, and a good number of those apin-
"!"« tops,— delights of childhood and Klory
of Nuremberg. It might seem that for a
gentleman emiKrant, utterly ruined, and
having long passed the period of jumping-
iaoka and Gorman tops, thia spectacle would
have had nothing that could exalt the imagi-
nation and inspire an intellectual transport
JVevertheless, it happened that after a few
miuutes of silent contemplation, M. de Val

travere appeared to undergo something of
otion which Chriatopher Coluinbua

thatemotion „„.„.. v..,.«i„pner i^oiumoua
•uddenly experienced when he saw riae upon
the bosom of the ocean the ahores of the New
World ; and Galileo, when he felt our little
terrestrial globe, stopped by ignorance and
Kept motionless for six thousand years in
apace, moving and circling around the sun.

M. de Valtravers was born in 1760. Now.
thanks to the Emile of Rousseau, it was the

nu. c^i ^^^i P*"°*^' *""°8 t»>e upper
classes of French society, to complete every

education by apprenticeship at some trade.

ine precedent came from above. In 1780

the King of France, who was the most

honourable man in his realm, was also the

best locksmith. It was intended that the

great nobles should be acquainted with some

mechanical art ' kewiso that the great

dames should .i .nselves nurse their own

children. Generally this was practised with-

out foresight and without seriousness ; these

played at work, those at maternity ; the lat-

tZrfA^u ^^ **''^«»P'-ic« of the day rather
than to the demands of nature j the former

fi.f *u ""'P^c*' »n "8'n«J the file or the plane,
tuat the hour was approaching when youne

Zn '™*°. :u°"'^ ^' "^^'S'^'^ to I,ecome3
nien, and that It was acting prudently in
thinkiuK immediately of creating for them-
selves plebeian titles.

At the sight of these toys, before which
rit,»^^' °V**^«^ the instinct of a myste-
nous voo.4tion,had just conducted him.M. de
Valtravers remembered that he had learned
Uf.. k" ebony and ivory. Three months
later, he passed at Nuremberg as the Ben-
venuto Cellini of turned wood wori- In "~°
m less than three months his skilHn fashTon'
ing wood was unrivalled. He excelled in
making toys ; his tops were generally very
tasty ; but what shall be said of his S

crackers, whi.-h, from their delicacy and

de un" h"'"' ""? -h-lutely mi..clea of
deaign I He manufactured in ivory what
were regarded as genuine ornaments. Fa-hion
had somothinK to do with it, and, as the
painting, of M,„e. de Fresnes enjoyed already
an unparallele.1 popularity.it was found.dur-
lug two years in the old German city, every
individual of good birth must pose before the
marqumcand that nobody jould oat a filbert
*'^'J^'^"* the intervention of a French emi-

It may be believed that, quite difTerent
trom certain people, our two artists did not
take their success aeriously ; if they set their
talents in public at a high price, they made
great progress in friendship. Having worked
apart, they reunited at evenina, and there
were then, between her and him, scenes of
msane Kaiety when she showed upon her
easel the broad face of aome huge Nurem-
berger, while he drew from his pocket a half-
dozen nut-crackers that he had turned during
the day. They laughed like children, and
did not perceive that it was to the work

li • u ? j"''^'^ *^*''■ 8"'ety-to the work,
which had already rendered them better
and happier than they had ever
been in the happiest time of their
prosperity. As to the marquis, he deemed
to earn one s bread the act of the rabble,
and that a gentleman who respected himself
would rather die like the Roman Senators in
their curule chairs, than stoop to live like
beggars, by work. He expostulated private-
ly with hts wife, regarded the chevalier with
sovereign contempt, and did not trouble
himself to conceal it. That which especially
exasperated him waa to find them occupied
and in good humour all day. while he was
literally dymg from tha: gloomy and pro-
found ennui which is a nevor,failing con-
comitant of inaction. Notwithstanding all
this, he ate with great appetite, appropriat-
iBg without scruple the profits of the assooia-
tion, and showed himself in many thinos a»
puerile, as futile and more exacting than if
f i.u V?*'" ''®®" '° his chateau on the bauks
?h .! u^M°^- ^^ was at the dinner hour
that his bile was most freelv exhaled.

«ell! marquis,' cried sometimes the
chevalier, 'do us the favour to tell us where
you would be without the portraits of the
marquise ?

'And without the nut-crackers of our
triend ? added the marquise laughinj?. M
de Fresnes shrugged his shoulders, spoke of
aoihug his cscutcheoo. asked forgiveness for
his wife from the shades of his ancestors,
and lamented at not seeing Bordeaux wine
upon his table.

At length, when they were assured of their

MADELEINE.

physical well-beinft, Mme. de Freinea and
M. do Valtravors could obey a lentimniit
moru (li»iiitereiited and moru poetiu, which
had beuH gradually and nncnniuinuily dp-
velopod in them. They had paasod, without
being awaro of it, the steps which lead from
trade to art, like Jacob's ladder, mounting
from earth to heaven. The man|uise essay-
ed, in reduced copy, some pictures from the
old masters. 8he succeeded ; and her
miniatures after Holbein and Albert Durer
were eagerly sought after. Un his side, the
chevalier entered seriously upon sculpture-
in-wood ; he distinguished himself and be-
came one of the most eminent artists of this
kind beyond the Rhine. They show, to-day,
in the I'athedral of Nuremberg, a chair of
his make. Executed perfectly, the orna-
ments are not wholly of irreproachable taste,
but the principal piece, which represents .St.
John preaching in the wilderness, is one of
the most beautiful that Germany possesses,
and would be able to sustain comparison
with the carved wainscots seen at Venice, in
the church of San Giorgio Maggiore.

Besides the pleasure that it contributes,
however humble and modest it be, Art pos-
sesses these infallible and precious qualities :
it elevates the heart ; it enriches the mind ;
it opens to thought larger and serener hori-
zons. This is what happened at least in the
case of the marquise and chevalier. Both
Bucceeded through it, little by little, in
breaking entirely the circle of narrow ideas in
which their birth and education had imprison-
ed them. They recognized the aristocracy of
work and the royalty of intelligence ; like two
butterflies escaped from their chrysalis, they
went out of their nurrow and limHed caste
to enter triumphant into the great human
family. All this time, wasted away by en-
nui even to a skeleton, the marquis continued
to be consumed with ineflTectual desires and
sterile regrets. One beautiful day he restor-
ed to God whatever he possessed of soul ;
his wife and friend mourned him as a child.

Some mouths after,- ' :\i8 was in 1802, — at
the invitation of the First Consul, they re-
passed the Rhine and returned joyously to
their country, regenerated like themselves.
Since a long time, they had succeeded in
comprehending and accepting the new glo-
ries of France ; touching this brave Boil.ihey
felt their hearts throb and sweet tears moist-
ened their eyes. The best part of their do-
mains being left national property, they
readily obtained re-posseasion ; so that the
years of exile which had flowed by were, for
them, only a long dream ; but, different from
Bpimenides, they went to sleep aged and
awakened youthful. As soon as he was re-
established in the hall of his fathers, the

chevalier hastened to summon a. beantifa
and chaste creature whom he had loved in
Germany, \/hom he i. arried, and who died
in giving birth to a son. This child grew up
between his father and Mme. de Fresnes, who
were wholly devoted to him, and who con-
tinued to live philosophically in their retreat
doin^ good, enjoying tht-ir pleasures, scarce-
ly hearing the noise of the world, stranger
to every ambition. Uf all habits, that of la-
bour is the rarest and most imperious. The
marquise painted as a pastime, while the
chevalier, rising every morning at daybreak,
planed, carved and poiished pear-wood wal>
nut and oak. He had undertaken to magni-
tioeutly renovate, with his own hands, the
worm*eaten wainscots of his manor ; perhaps
also, by a pleasant return to his first suc-
cesses, he turned now and then some nut-
crackers, which he presented to the daugh-
ters of his farmers. Reading, ridisg, the de-
lights of a friendship whose charm had never
grown old, and the education of young
Maurice, absorbed the remainder of the day,
ever t'^o short when one is busy and when
one is loved.

CHAPTER III,

A MKW DEPARTaBI.

One evening then, seated near each other,
these old companions were enjoying them-
sulvea in remounting the current of the days
that they had descended together, when they
perceived, issuing by a path of the park, the
two young people that we left at the gate.
Arrived at the foot of the perron, the young
girl ascended the steps slowly with a com-
posed air, although apparently moved. The
marquise and chevalier rose to receive her.
She drew from her bosom a letter that she
piously pressed to her lips ; then she gave it
to M. do Valtra vers, who was examining with
a sentiment of gentle curiosity this child
that he saw for the first time. The old gen-
tleman broke the seal and read. Standing,
her thin arms resting upon her bosom, .calm
in her grief, dignified in her humility, the
foreigner remained, the eyes btnt upon the
ground, under the look of Mme. de Fresnes,
who was observing her with iuttirest, while
a few steps distant the young man who had
brought her stood a discreet witness of this
silent scene.

' Munich, July 18th, 18—
' About to leave this world, in face of the
eternity which is near at hand, it is not to-
wards Heaven, it is towards France that my
eyes turn before closing ; it is not to God, it
is to you that I cry, my brother, and extend

non a- bcantifn
le hkil loved in
I, and who di«d
hilt ohil<l drew up

(le Freanes, who
, •lid who con-
f ill tlieir retreat
leaiiurea, icarce-
world, atranifer
labita, that of la-
imptirioui. The
time, while the
ing at daybreak,

pear-wood wal-
rtaken to ma^ni-
nwD handi, the
manor ; perhapa
;o hia tirat auo-
then acme nut-
1 to the daagh-
g, ridisff, thede-
Ciharm had never
atiou of young
nder of the day,
buay and when

II.
DBB.

near each other,
enjoying them-
rrent of the daya
ether, when they
of the park, the
left at the gate,
erron, the young
iwly with a com-
tly moved. The
I to receive her.
a letter that she
then ahfl gave it
i exaiiiiniug with
osity thia child
). The old gen-
read. Standing,
her bosom, .calm
ir humility, the
a btnt upon the
Ime. de Freanea,
1 iuttirest, while
ig man who had
t witneaa of this

ily 18th, 18—
d, in face of the
.nd, it ia not to-
I France that my
is not to Ood, it
bher, and extend

MADELKINE.

Diy sappnant anna, m the name of her who
waa my aiateraiid the woman of vour ohoice,
Alaa ! how cruel have been the trials of thia
house that you have known ao jiroMUBroua !
WherH have vanishwl the j..y» of that hearth
by which you have sat lu the post? The
grave lias taken from me all my kin-lred.
My hii^liand was un, do to outlive his , ros-
perity, and I, miserable, in my turn, 1 now
am dyiiiK. I die, and I am a mothor ; this
la to die twice, O (Jod ! When you read
these lines, sole treasure, unique heritai/e
that 1 have been able to leave htr in depart-
ing, my dauKhter will have but you upon
earth ; when you hold in your hiiiid this
paper wet with my tears, my child will be
before you, alone, arriving from afar, over-
wi.elnied with grief and fatiKue, without
other refuge than your roof, without other
aupport than your heart. Oh ! for the sake
of the sweet bond that was dear to you, and

that death.no doubt. haa left uubroken,for the
lake of this Germany that waa hospitable to
you, and that waa for a loiigltime your
country, for the aake of my family
become youra— for the aake of the adorable
creature too soon torn from your love and
who adjurea you here through my voice, oh'
do not reject my dear deserted one ! Re-
ceive, warm in your bosom the dove fallen
from her nest. And you, whom 1 k now not.
but whom I loved so frequently to unite with
my daughter in the same sentiment of ten-
derneaa and aolicitude, aon of my ai^ter, if
thy mother baa given thee her soul, thou
wilt also be good and fraternal to my darlinc
Madeleine. Protect her, watch over her
when thy father ia no more, and forget not
ever, young friend, that the orphan whom
Heaven senda you becomes sometimes the
tute ary angel of the houae that ia opened to

her.

'Come, daughter, come to my arms ! ' ex-
claimed the chevalier, when he had finished
reading the letter; ' be welcome, my child,
under the roof of your old uncle. Were it
not Borrow that brought you 1 should call
th.a day thrice happy, and your arrival
would be a festivity to ua. Marquiao, this

h.nL ?rt' f'^H ^^' "t'-oking with hi»
hands the head of the child ; ' Maurice, this
18 your cousin-thia is a young aister that
cornea from your mother's country '

The orphan passed from the arms of her
uncle into those of the marquise. Mme. de

;wav"'in h 'IV "" «»'y, •laughter, taken
•way, in her bloom, at aKnn* fi,„ ^_- .. I

Madeleine; now, in the mindV oTall thos^e

hS"."*!" °°^* ^*'o ^»^« suffered thia
dreadful bereavement, especially in the
miuda of motbera, there ia au irreaistible

tendency to discover, when even they have
no existence.pluin and striking rescinblancea
beiweon the child removed by death and the
greater part of those that they encounter
upon thtir way : touching illusions of love
and grief which transform all theae
fresh facds into so many living portraits of
the adored being that no longer exists I
Ihe marquise therefore naturally felt at-
tructed towa.da this pale creature, which
appeared to her as an image of herdaughter.
Ihere were the same eyes and the same
look, the same grave and sad charm,
peculiar to beings who have un-
dergone early ordeals or condemned to pre-
mature death. So riisposed at the outset, it
might be inferred that the vivid and siwn-
taneous spirit an-. ;■ neroua nature of Mme.
de hresnes, which time had not impover-
ished, must espouse with euthusiam the
tate of the young foreigner. She pressed
her to her bosom, lavished upon her the
tenderest namea, covered her with kisaeaand
caresaes. Then it was the young man's
turn. 'Whatl my cousin, it was you 1 '
said ahe, laughing through her tears. ' It
WM you, little Maurice ! I imagined
you must be only a child like my.
self. Maurice very cordially embraced
her : it waa all the more pleaaant, aa he
had not even suspected the existence of hia
couain. Meanwhile the chevalier gave
orders, was animated, had an eve upon
everything, and to each of hia servitora aaid,
with em-.tion : ' We have another child I'
Aasuredlj , that evening, if she could see the
reoe^)tion of her dauchter at Valtravera, our
hermne'a mother in Heaven could not but be
content.

The installation of Madeleine changed no-
thing in the routine of the chateau. She
was a devout child, simple, modest, already
serious and rertective, occupying little room,
making no nmse. the most part of the time
silent and bending over aome needle-work.
In a few days she had made herself agree-
able to all by her gentleness and goodness.
As to her appearance, we must say nothing
ot that ; Its character is well known at that
ungrateful period at which one has pviaed
the graces of childhood and not yet attained
those of youth. She was not exactly beauti-
tul, and we dare not affirm that ahe promised
to become so. Before pronouncing upon
such delicate questions, it is always prudent
to ivait ; the more so, as m this season of
transition a mysterious work is accomplish-
ed, m wnich UiiiiDfebb IS as often transformed
as the tec precocious flowers of beauty are
blasted. Such aa ahe was, the mar^ uise and
the chevalier loved her with vivid* tender-
nesa, and the life of thia child was divided

MADELEINE.

between the two uoighbouring habitation!,
which, to speak properly, made but one. Far
from having been menlected, her education
had been pushed far enoueh for her to con-
tinue it herself, and finish it without need-
ing extraneous assistance. She spoke
French wirh purity, almost without accent.
Like all Germaos and too many French,
alas I she understood music thoroughly, and
what is unfortunately rarer, she did not mis-
use it. The marquise and chevalier were <le-
lighted to hear her sing tyroliennes of her
country ; but these airs, which carried them
back to their days of exile and poverty,
cruelly recalled to her, her mother and her
country^ both irrevocably lost, and frequent-
ly the poor little one was interrupted by her
tears ana sobs. For Maurice, at the end of
one, or two weeks at the most, during which
ha felt obliged to occupy himself with his
cousin, and do with her the honours of the
country, hardly appeared to perceive her
presence. He was twenty, and possessed
all the ardours and all the transports of his
age; other cares already engaged him.
This young man had grown up in the great-
est freedom, doubly spoiled by his father and
by the marquise, who knew nothing in the
world more beautiful or more charming than
he. A private tutor had instructed him a little
ia Latin and Greek; at the same time M. de
Valtrave.3, with whom the love of wood -
aculptun^ had become a true mania, had in'
itiated him in the secrets of his art. The
good old chevalier wept with pride and joy
when he saw his son at his side

squaring, turning,
mising to surpass
rice, on his part,
this innocent pastime

polishing, and pro-
his father. Mau-
appearod to enjoy
but one day, here is

the misfortune I he asked himself if the»-e
might not be something here below besides
the chevalier, the niarquise and sculpture-in-
wood. At this indiscreet question that was
addressed to him by turbulent youth, uneasy
and about to break forth, the response was
not bng in coming,— it was youth itself that
answered by an explosion.

There are some tender and poetic natures
veiled in their morning by a light cloud ;
there are others, on the contrary, more viva-
cious and energetic, whose dawn glows with
all the tires of mid-day. With the former,
the first trouble of the senses and the imagi-
nation that are excited, reveal themselves
without disturbance and become translated
into sorrowful reveries ; with the latter,
violently, in tumultuoua a"itatinRs, MftH*
rice participated in both these natures. They
saw him at times, sad, preoccupied, dreamy;
then suddenly seized with i'limitable and
nameless ardors, reatle8s,impetuou8,ebullieBt,

even somewhat passionate, and knowing not
to what wind he owed the savage energy
that consumed him,— remaining affectionate
to his aged father, overflowing with kindness
to his old friend, jjood to all, loved by every
one, merely having for diversion beside*
soulpture-in-wood, of the hereditary manor
eternal histories that he endured since twenty
years, he asked himself with bitter irritation
if his whole txisterjce must for ever occupy
itself with turning box-wood, with fashion-
ing oak, and at evening, at the corner of the
fire-place, to listen, with feet upon the and-
irons, to the interminable stories of the times
of emigration. While waiting more, he
hunted a toute outrance, scoured the country
and killed horses.

It was in the midst of this explosion that
Madeleine's unexpected arrival occurred.
One can easily judge of what importance
would b«, at such an hour, in the destiny of
this young man, the apparition of a young
girl of fourteen or fifteen years, timid, re-
served, silent, without too much beauty or
grace. He concerned himself about her hard*
ly more than if she had not left Munich
He went away at sunrise and did not return
until nightfall ; also he frequently passed a
whole week, either in the neighbouring city
or in one of the chateaux of the vicinage. If
he saw Madeleine in the morning at her win-
dow, be unceremoniously bade her good-
morning, and that was all. During dinner,
he addressed her, at intervals, without look-
ing at her, with some iusigaifioant phrase.
When she sang her tyroliennes, as it was for
the chevalier and marquise an occasion which
they embraced with eagei ness, to speak of
Nuremburgand to recjJl, the one his nut-
crackers, the «ther her miniatures, Maurice
stopped his ears and never failed to escape
at the first riotet One evening, however,
as he stood near her, he could not
help being struck by the luxuriance of
her hair —indeed, of rare magnificence. He
made in a loud tone some remark upon it,
raising familiarly with one hand the luxu-
riant mass ot tine blonde hair that covered
the head of the little German. The poor
cliild was so little accustomed to see herself
the object of the attentions of her cousin,
that she blushed, was troubled and trembled
hke an aspen. When she attempted, by a
smile, to express her recognition, Maurice,
having a presentiment of some tyrolienne,
had already escaped. Another time, return-
ing from the chase, he offered her a pretty
ph8s-?ant that he had snatched liring from
the jaws of one of his dogs.

' What 1 my cousin, do you sometimes
think of met' asked the young girl quite
moved.

MADELEIKE.

&od knowing not
a aavage energy
uing affectinoate
ing with kiDdneas
., loved by every
lirersion besidea
ereditary manor
ired since twenty
1 bitter irritation
for ever oooupy
1, with fashion-
the corner of the
•t upon the and-
ories of the times
iting more, he
ured the country

I explosion that
rrival occurred.
I'hat importance
ithe destiny of
;ion of a young
ears, timid, re>
nnoh beauty or
If about her hard*
>t left Munich
d did not return
uently passed a
iighbouring city
;he vicinage. If
ning at her win*
bade her good-

During dinner,
Is, without look-
nificant phrase,
es, as it was for
n occaaion which
iss, to apeak of
be one his nut-
aturea, Maurice
failed to escape
ining, however,
he could not
3 luxuriance of
igniQoence. He
3 mark upon it,
hand the luxu-
kir that covered
laH. The poor
i to see herself

of her cousin,
9d and trembled
attempted, by a
nition, Maurice,
Drae tyrolienne,
lertime, return-
d her a pretty
:hed liTiog from

you sometimes
ouug girl quite

Maurice had already turned on his heeL
It was not because he was displeased at the
presence of the orphan under the paternal
roof. Far from it ! If he had all the ardours
of youth, he had all its noble and generous
instincts. The thought of disputing the part
that Madeleine might some day have in the
chevalier's will never entered his head.
Let it be aaid, in passing, to the glory of
youth, such shameful calculations rarely en-
ter the hearta of twenty years. Maurice was
ready to share with his cousin as with a sis-
ter ; and, if he did show himself more atten-
tive or more tender to her, it was very plain-
ly because Madeleine had forgotten to come
into the world fifteen or twenty mouths
sooner']

The marquise and the chevalier had not
failed to notice, fro* he first, the sudden
change which was t ing in the habits of
Maurice, whose tastes had hitherto been so
simple and whose humour so facile. They
were, in consequence, disturbed without too
well understanding it. They had been
young m a time when youth, scattered here
and there in petty distractions, in elegant
frivolities, hardly suspected that dull disoon-
tent and profound ennui that were destined i
to be, later, the torment and martyrdom of
s whole generation. Although raised in the '
retreat, in the interior of the country, Mau- '
nee had undergone in his isolated position
the influence of new ideas. Ideas are living
forces mixed in the air we breathe— the wind
carries and sows them at all points of the
horizon ; and, whatever onem»ydo to escape
these invisible currents, howaoever far he
keepa himaelf aloof, he is penetrated, he ia
iropregnated ; he is always the progeny of
his century. That which chiefly surprised the
old chevalier and marquise was not the need
of absorbing activity that they explained
naturally as the result of the warm blood
and impetuousness of youth, but the sombre
melancholy in which were swallowed up al-
most always these ardours and transports.
What could they understand, indeed, of the
malady of an epoch in which gaiety, exiled
from souls of twenty years, would no longer
occur under the white hairs of the aged ?
ay dint of thorough study and co-operation,
they succeeded, however, in recognizing
that the existence that Maurice had hitherto
led waa neither fruitful nor enjoyable ; and
tbat, despito the incomparable charm of
sculptnre-iu-wood, they ought not to be as-
tonished that a young heart wm nnt ^KcH"
absorbed in it. This was the opinion o"f the
"i?)?"."®' *''® chevalier corroborated it.
What was to be done, however ?' They
spoke at first of marriage; but the remedy
was tcand a little too violent ; besides, the

marquise made the just obaervation that they
did not marry any longer at twenty ; and
that, difiereat from the practice of the past,
marriage had become less a beginning than
an And. In short, after ripe reHeotion, it
was decided that they would send Maurice
travelling for two or three yeara— to Paris
tirst, then, at his choice, in Germany or in
Italy— in order to complete his education by
thorough knowledge oi men and things. This
programme was not much more vague than
the greater part of those which the provinces
trace out for their aona every year, before
putting the bridle upon the neck and lead-
ing them into Pariaian life.

Some time later, on an autumn evening, a
year to a day after the arrival of Madeleine,
the chevalier, his son, and the marquise
were aasembled in the chat««H of Valtravera.
The horse that was to bear Maurice to the
neighbouring village, through which passed
the mail coach, was waiting saddled and
bridled at the foot •( the perron. It was the
hour of parting. A departure has always
something of sadness and solemnity, even
when it does not pertain to a sorrowful sepa-
•■**'<"•• The chevalier appeared painfully
affected ; the marquise illy concealed her
emotion ; Maurice himaelf felt moved, and
when his old father open ji his arms to him,
he threw himself in tears upon his breast as
if ho embraced him for the last time. Ma-
dame de Fresnes clasped him to her heart
with emotion. Lastly, the servitors of the
house, the oldest, those who had seen him
born, embraced him as their child.

Time flew ; Maurice must put a stop to
all these embraces. It was only at the last
moment, when about to put foot in stirrup,
that he remembered Madeleine. He looked
around for her ; and astonished at not
seeing her, he was going to call her, when
somebody told him that the young girl, gone
out since several hours, had not yet returned
to the chateau. Committing a few affection-
ate messages, to be addressed to his cousir,
to the charge of the people around him, he
moved off at the measured step of his horse,
not without turning several times to salute
once more with a tender gesture the excel-
lent creatures who followed him with their
eyes. Arrived at the gate of the park, about
to break into a gallop, he hesitated, like
an eagle upon the edge of his eyrie before
launching himself into space. H*. recalled
the happy days that he had passed under
ehc shadow of this pretty manor, between
the cares of the marquise and the tenderness
of his father. He fancied he saw through
the moving foliage the gracious phantom of
hu. youth, that regarded him with sorrow
and strove to retain him. Ho fancied h«

MADELEINE.

heard charming; voices saying to him— 'In-
grate, where art thou going?' His heart
sank and his eyes filled with tears ; but his
destiny urged him on. He plunged into the
forest thrDugh which he must pass in order
to reach the village.

In a few hrief minutes, at the same place
where he had met her a year previously, on
the same day, at the same hour, Maurice
perceived Madeleine seated ana in reverie.
Just as in the past year, the orphan had not
heard the noise of the gallop upon the moss ;
raising her eyes, she saw her cousin looking
at her. It was the same frame and the same
picture. Nothing was changed ; but in the
place of a scarcely-developad, slender and
sickly child, without beauty and grace, there
was a white figure around which was com-
mencing to hover the golden liost of sweet
dreams of youth. It was not yet the full-
blown flower ; but the bud had half-opened
Its envelope. It was not the full daybreak,
but the incipient dawn, when Nature, near
to waking, trembles into life under the first
kisses of the mornina;. Maurice sprang
from his horse. He hastened to embrace his
cousin and to bid her adieu ; then, regaining
his saddle, he pursued his way, never sus-
pecting, alas I that he was leaving happiaess
behind him.

After he had disappeared at a turn in the
path, Madeleine turned towards the chateau.
When she entered the salon, the chevalier
was seated at the corner of his deserted fire-
place. She went and leaned her elbows sor-
rowfully upon the back of the fauteuil in
which the old man sat in a dejected attitude,
and remained some momtnts contemplating
him in silence.

• My father,' said she, finally bending her
blonde head towards him, • my father, there
18 left you a daughter.'

The chevalier smiled and drew her softly
to his heart.

CHAPTER IV,

THE FORTCNES OF LOVB.

After the departure of itlunrice, Madeleine
became all the joy of Valtravers. It was
she who enlivened with evergrowing grace the
roof that the presence of this young man no
longer animated. She was seen like a young
Antigouns, redoubling, around her old uncle,
her pious and touching cares ; although with
a sadder heart and a more reflective mind

J "°''^* " belonged to her ago, she
understood how, in amusing him, to forget
herself, and transform her natural gravity
into smiling serenity. She accompanied him
on all his excursions, loitered around him

when he worked in his workshop, read his
papers aloud, did not oblige him to repeat
again the stories of emigration, and especial-
ly never failed to go into ecstacies before all
the pieces of carving with which this indefa-
tigable artist loaded every corner and recess
of the chateau. At the «l|ine time, she was
the loved daughter— an**'Very truly lovable
—of the marquise, who instructed her in
painting, and was overjoved to develop all
the sweetness that God had implanted with-
in her. In this manner between, these old
people, the child increased in talents and
amiable virtues. Three years after her ar-
rival Madeleine was a good and beautiful
oreaturu, not, it is true, of that accomplish-
ed and conventional standard of beauty to
which seem irrevocably consecrated all the
heroines escaped from the brains of roman-
cers and poets. Neither tall nor short, her
form was not abaoh'.tely as pliant ss a reed,
A critic, enamoured with the plastic side of
Art, would indeed have found something to
object to in the oval of her face. Her hair,
of an indecisive brown, would not perhaps
have perfectly satisfled the highest ideal in
the world, having neither the black of ebony
nor the golden g'later of the silky com. If
her skin had that dull whiteness of the camel-
lia that defies the effects of sun and air, her
eyes were not of a very pure or very bright
azure. If her teeth, ranged like the pearls
or a neoklace.had the limpid light of mother-
of-pearl, her mouth was a little too large, the
hps were a little too full ; lastly, the eye-
lashes in drooping fell not upon the cheek
like the fringes of a gonfalon ; and, to speak
the truth, the line of the nose only recalled
vaguely the royal nose of princely races. As
it was, however, her features and entire per-
son formed a, suave ensemble, in which the
mperfections of detail united and harmon-
ized so well that each of them ap-
peared to be an increased seduction and
charm. I prefer these beauties less cor-
rect than sympathetic, in which the heart is
captivated before the eye ; and which, with-
out possessing anything that dazzles or fas-
cinates at the first view, are ever prepared
to awaken, in those who understand them,
some unforeseen grace and newenchantmenf.
Although occupied with domestic adminis-
tration, and charged with watching over the
good order of the house, the precocious
wisdom and reason that she possessed did
not exclude from the mind of Madeleine
either refinement, poesy, or even a certain
romauliii and dreamy turn of mind that she
had received alike from her mother, from
Germany and from God. She was, on the
whole, a pleasant girl to see, in all the bloom
of youth and health, of rich and expansive

spirit auc
over, som
wrote to (
other in
prodigies.
Debt ; th
spoken of.
But at t
young fri
shorter, le

•rkshop, read his
fi;e him to repeat
bion, and especial*
cstacies before all
vhioh this i|idefa-

O'irner and rteess
Mne time, she was
^ery truly lovable
nstructed her in
'ed to develop all
1 implanted with-
it ween, these old
d in talents and
ears after her ar-
[)d and beautiful
' that accomplish-
»rd of beauty to
naecrated all the
brains of roman-
ill nor short, her
pliant SB a reed,
ihe plastic side of
nd somethini^ to

face. Her hair,
Quld not perhaps

highest ideal in
le black of ebony
( silky com. If
less of the camel*

snn and air, her
re or very bright
I like the pearls

light of mother-
tie too large, the

lastly, the eye-
t upon the cheek
a ; and, to speak
ose only recalled
ncely races. As
IS and entire per-
e, in which the
>ed and harmon*

of them ap-

soduction and
auties less cor-
lich the heart is
nd which, with-

dazzles or fas-
i ever prepared
aderstand them,
wenchantmenf.
mestic adminis-
itchiog over the

the precocious
a possessed did
1 of Madeleine

even a certain
i mind that she
• mother, from
>he was, on the
in all the bloom

and expansive

MADELEINE.

n»tur«, spreading around her without os-
tentation, animation, happiness and life

One can easily form an idea of the position
of Madeleine between the chevalier and
marquise. She was the joy of their old ace
and like a sweet beam of light that illumi-
nated the end of their days. Minding in
onison, these three existences flowed in
•!bw and peaceful waves, and nothing fore-
shadowed that the transparent limpidity
r™«rrK ^ .1}^"^^- ^* nevertLless

The letters of Maurice were at fir., ^jllof
charm and poesy, fresh and fragrant as so
many bouquets collected in the dew of the
tields. It IS in this way that they write in
that happy age. too quickly stolen away. At
the fading hour when life already commences
to decline, have you ever found at the
bottom of some old drawer some of the letters
of your youth? Have you been surprised
nJn ^KT- J" '«adin«them. have yon
seen pass through your tears the image of
your happy years ? By a bitter return upon
the present state of your heart, have you
asked yourself if it was indeed from that
same source, to-day near to exhaustion, that
could have issued all these treasures of en-
thusiasm and of faith, of grace and of virtue,
of expansion and of love ? It was letters of
this character that Maurice wrote at twenty.
The days of post were therefore davs of
festivity at Valtravers. When she saw the
ITly J'^^"'^ *^ *^« distance, Madeleine
JnfK T! ^""'^°f returned triumphant
to the chateau Ordinaril^r it was she who
read al„ud the letters of he^r cousin. When
ever shb found her name there, which did
S^LrlT'"' ''"PP^"' "'•« '"'«»>* I'ave seen her
Sece^t^hr-.T'* a rosy light, almost im-
perceptible, coloured an instant the alabaa-

Ibou^tthl/^M- "•**'«^« ^" "» q"eS
about the little cousin, which h- opened fre-

quently she appeared neither . Irprised nor
?hit'":h: °°^^ **"' '"*«»'* have remarked
th«rJ f*!."^*? 8^*n'*"" ""d '"ore silent
the rest of the day. These letters of Maurice
caused every fibre of the good chevS to
;''^'-*tt"; unison, who could therein olio w
SeS^ tht r'?*'^ "' impassiolied ton"
BviTl'nA If ''^^^T'^^ «^ »" elevated
spirit and of a vivid intelligence. More-
over some old friends that he had in Par^
wrote to congratulate him, vieing whh each

;5^dIg-/EStS^.-*t^J!-^

.p:LS''^''^'-'-'---ai;eat

vo?^l */ ■^"a'"^^ "^ ■ y**"" t'"' l«tt«r8 of our
young friend -<rme rarer and rarer and
shorter, less ^c i ■«, affectionate aid tender

Vague in thought, constrained in exDr«.«inn
they betrayed evidently a ffreat frK i
sense and soul. The littl-i ""''''' "'
menced by being afflicterin"tl"eLe"";
ended by being seriously allrmcd and bv

t^i^-^dd^sS^a-^^Sr-i^

expired; but ^'^nnc:\k:Z'':^o t^on
aerran7J;?o^ 4^U:^^«J;4^^^^^^
nrged it, at first he^id „ot , n'^ler^r^'^^
pushed to extremity, bv th« iS ' J
his father, he answered^ in i """»*»''?? 9^
contained,' in w^fcrTrnp^t^iei^ruXr'S:
rem was plainly exhibited if tt ofd

preTst^rir/^r ''.^'^ •» "d" to ex
nast T„,n "*'* '**?« Maurice as in the

Pliste a wet^rnSfLTnTmrth-^-AT

auugni Still to colour his excuinR \i a^

mTn in^hT'u f *"* '^** a perfect gentle-
man, in the best acceptation of this word
become so common sin^e the thing is so rare
—generous, accessible tn .n * V '

bounng city, in which some baiHffr«„H

liKSand*^"^"''^' "^, taverns jiatro'
liberalism and vermin of the province did
not pardon him for retnrnine into h^«
NowT ""^ T^^« »'''"««« ffied ?Jere^

toun/di' vT."'"''''^. **'« ^'^"ten^o* th"t
young de Valtravers led at Paris • for thl

IhTr t' \ «°°'i tnoth^rthit never
thro"u;h Iif/;>'J.''"* -""^ ' '^' fo"ow« them
louT«v« It "*" *» eager, curious and jea-
? eye, every ready to crush those who

IsLv »nH general. ,f you wish to throw
aespair and consternation into that h"— n

«ow7nn'*" •*' "T you "bo7n""or
grown up. arrive with head erect and
oy the right road to success t«

other hand, to spread a lively joy, go astray
that your virtuous fellow-men Ly wwp

&1ADELEINE.

When our fellow>inen weep
because tfaey have well

Mil

upon your rum.
for us, it ia only
wished to laugh.

Lienoe, Maurice, in a short time, became
for the toM'u in question a wonderful subject
of public scandal and interior satisfaction.
Traitorously concealed under the mantle of
pity, hatred took joy at h««art. Thu chevalier
was spared neither charitable advices, nor
compliments of hypocritical condolence ;
anonymous letters did the rest.

The marquise devoured her tears in silence;
the chevalier disappeared from view. All
bappiness was banished since a loug time
from under the roof of these old friends.
Madeleine went from one to the other like a
consoling angel. She defended Maurice,and
spoke still of the approaching return of the
prodigal son ; but she herself no longer be-
lieved it, and * equently hid herself to weep
in solitude. 1 was plainly perceived that
the good chevalier was seriously sVuck, for,
oomiuencing to neglect his wood-carving, he
soon wholly abandoned it. He no longer had
any inclination for anything ; Madeleine
ainne possessed the secret of unbending his
forehead and bringing a pale smile upon his
lips. He said to her at times : ' 1 ought
indeed, poor child, to occupy myself before
dying in assuriug your dear destiny ; for,
from tKe way he is going, it is not Manrice
that will watch over yon when I am no more.
' Never mind, never mind, father ; do not
worry about that. I wish only to love you ;
I shall need nothing when you are gone.
See, I am large enouiih to watch over myself.
I have good courago, thank Ood 1 and what
you have doqe in our Germany, you and
Madame the Marquise, why,- my uncle, I
shall do in your France. I shall work, why
not?'

The old maa >fmiled softly, shaking his
bead. One day the young girl took it upon
herself to write in secret to her cousin. It
was a lovely letter. Maurice did not answer.
As to the chevalier, he no longer wrote ;
scarcely did he permit, in tke latter part of
the time, anyone to speak of his son in his
presence, Ashe grew feebler and feebler,
and as he felt his end arrive, he determin-
ed, however, to send toward this unfortunate
young man a last cry of love and despair.

The response was slow in coming ; they
waited three months ; finally it arrived. It
was, that absent from Paris for about a year,
traveling no one knew where, nor in company
wcth whom, Maurice had not received until
his return thti last advioea of his father.
God be praised I this young man was return-
ing to bettfir sentiments ; his letter showed
it. Tbey saw revealbd in it the distress of
a lacerated soul, wiudi by a auprame effort

was striving to raise itself. He embraced the
knees of tus old friend ; he covered with
tears and kisses the hands of the marquise ;
Madeleine herself was found mixed with
the tears of his repentance. He asked only •
few weeks to finish breaking bad associations,
lu a few weeks he was going to set out ; he
was going to bid an eternal adieu to the
world that had led him astray; driven by the
tempest, he was goingj to re-enter the port,
never more to leave it ' Paternal roof, I
am then going to \ see thee again 1 I am
then going to return to the soft nest of my
childhood 1 Amiable companions of my
youth, I am then going to clasp you in my
arms ; you also, little cousin, well-grown,
very beautiful, no doubt 1' Exalted by
these vivid images, his imagination found
for an instant the grace and froshness of
youth. Unfortunately, when this letter ar-
rived at the chateau, the chevalier had
been dead twenty-four hours. The lamp of
his life was extinguished at evening near the
window where they had rolled his fauteuil,
between the Marquise and Madeleine, who
each held one hand.

The same day of the funeral, after the
earth had covered all that remained here be-
low of that excellent being that chance had
made nobleman, and that work and poverty
had made man, the marquise led away Ma-
deleine, orphan for the second time.

' My child,' said she, ' thy work is not ac-
complished. Thou yet must assist me in
dying, and close my eyes.' They threw
themselves in e^h other's arms and remained
in a long embrace.

' Ah 1' cried the marquise, ' since you
have restored my daughter to me, it is right
that I should hold the place of mother.'

From this day, Madeleine lived at the
chateau de Fresnes. A week before his
death the chevalier had put in the hands of
the marquise a holographic last testament, by
which he bequeathed to his niece his metairie
of Coudray, having a value of eighty to a
hundred thousand francs. This testament
was couched iu affectionate and touching
terms ; all the exquisite delicacy of the
testator was therein revealed in a few charm-
ing lines. Wheh, in order to tranquillize,
doubtless, Madeleine with respect to her fu-
ture, Madame de Fresnes confided to her
this precious gage of the tenderness of her
unnle, with a movement of pious recogni-
tion the young girl pressed it to her lips and
to her heart ; then having torn it, she sacred-
ly slipped tho piocea iaco her bosom.

' On ! my child, what have you done T'
cried the marquise, apparently dismayed, in
reality charmed.
' la it you, noble heart, that ask this T'

•nswere

thing of

this you

and thai

benetice;

of a par

friend, t

You you

vise in i

'But,

eounsul 3

upon the

and I hi

dear chil

'That

thing buj

thanks t(

self "'ere

that He ^

will not {

my own

•Ah !

as beaut

suddenly

the head

again an

cheeks.

They w
whom the
a thunder
Maurice d
that he ha
that his I
the affaire

I living. H

II a letter wit
} tional,in m

thusiasm i

tance of hi

I of Coudra}

I just renou

I tingly hap

I which she

m answered a

!| de Presnes,

The young

he done,ho

Restraired

he dared m

* which he c(

himself of |

I plauded hii

I doubt that

I vers the off

While at

this last ho

:<: eases were

hardly pass(

Her, when t

that the do

were to be s

and Madeh

He embraced the
he covered with
of the marquise ;
lund mixed with

He asked only a
; bad associations.
Dg to set out ; he
nai adieu to the
-ay;drivea by the
a-enter the port,
Paternal roof, I
e again 1 I am
I soft nest of my
npaniouB of my

clasp you in my
isin, well-grown,
: V Exalted by
nagiuation found
iUd froshness of
eu this letter ar-
te chevalier had
rs. The lamp of
i evening near the
lied his fauteuil,

Madeleine, who

ineral, after the
emained here be-
that chance had
Fork and poverty
8e led away Ma-
ud time.

y work is not ao-
at assist me in
I.' They threw
'ms and remained

ise, ' since you
to me, it is right
of mother.'
ae lived at the
reek before his
; in the hands of
ist testament, by
)iece his melairie
of eighty to a
This testament
be and touching
delicacy of the
1 in a few charm-
to tranquillize,
Bspect to her fu-
confided to her
mderness of her
': pious recogni-
t to her lips and
rn it, she sacred-
bosom.

ive you done T'
bly daamayed, in

that ask this f

MADELEINE

answered Madeleine, smiling. « I know no-
thing of the life of Maurice ; I feel only that
this young man must need all his resources
and that it would be a poor recognition of the
beneticence of the father to deprive the son
of a part of his inheritance. Be assured my
friend, that what I hava done is well done
You yourself would not have acted other-
vise in my place, '
'But, poor child, yon have nothinjr I
eonnsulyou not to place too much dependence
upon the self-denial of Maurice. I gone —
and I have not long to remain on earth
dear child,— what will become of you ? '

' '^'l" ^^'<'*» happens when one has no-
thing but courage and strong will. Am I not
thanks to your lessons, as rich as you your-
self "^re on arriving at Nuremberg ? I hope
that He who came to your assistance then
will not abandon me now, and I shall make
my own nest as you have mcde yours '

• Ah ! well, you are a brave girl, as good
as beautiful,' added the marquise, tatine
suddenly between two white and thin hands
the head of Madeleine, which she kissed
ofeik8*° *^*"' "^"^ *^® forehead and
They waited day by day, Maurice, upon
whom the death of his father had fallen like
• thunderbolt. Weeks, months flowed by ;
Maurice did not come. They learned soen
that he had sent his power of attorney, and
that his agent was occupied in regulating
the affairs that the (lead occasion for the
living. He had at once wiitten to his cousin
• letter without any effusion, although convex.
tional,m which he offered her, with neither en-

;ilT?'.•*'^«T®•* '"«« part in the inheri-
tonceofhis father, precisely that metairie
of Coudray which the orphan had generously
just renounced— so, indeed, Maurice unwit-
tangly happened to otter to Madeleine that
which she gave him. The young girl
answered simply that, retired with Madame
de Fresnes, she absolutely needed nothing.
The young man did not insist. What had

BLt?^^'^°^'"■' ^•**' ^" 8°od resolutions ?
K*straired by respect and remorse, perhaps
he dared not yet affront the sight of a tomb

mmseif of prematurely opening. They an-
plauded him for this reserve; they did not

veTs h?ot^' '^rJ'^ ''^•"« later t'oValtr^'
vers the offering of his expiations.

While at Fresnes they nursed i

Iff

thiH u«f' l\' ""-"\ they nursed innocently

1 h:j'l^'"^f r« '^"^^-'•i of-^th^Jhet'

weretobfrM^"^ chateau of Valtravere
Tnd M^ '*^ fl* f°''*^°"- The marquise
»nd Madeleme flatly refused to believe it

and protested against the calumny, as the-
bad ever done when the matter in hand wm
to defend Ma-irice against the reporte of Th"
province. One day, however, as they wert

fnrtbi i^f-'-'^bsentone-for, while blam-
ing they still could not help loving him
-they perceived through the bars of the
gate grouped here and there upon the

llm ^'^f P*"""' • nu-^ber of the
servitors and peasants, who were talking
earnestly among themselves, and regard*
ing each other with an air of con-
sternation. Impelled partly by a pre-
sentiment, partly by curiosity, they both ad-
vanced towards the manor, to which they
were accustomed to make frequent pilgrim-

'Oh I Madame la Marquise 1 Oh I Ma-
demoiselle Madeleine !' cried they all tog^
ther as soon as they bad approached. ' Oh 1
M/hat a great misfortune for us all I Heaven
has rallen upon our heads. This is the ruin
of our poor lives.'

n«np!?'?1i\'-' .u^ children? what has hap-

•See 1 see 1 Madame la Marquise. What
must our good master in heaven. M. la
Chevalier, think ?' ' *

,^^'*\*}>'>'^\^^^red air they went up to the
door and facade of the cheateau, dishonoured

fiL™ ""*!}" ?''^.'"'*^'' "^'^^ '^« ""l" «f the of.
ncers. lo doubt was no longer possible :
they were notices of sale. H"«w»uie ,

rolled silently down her cheeks. Till this
moment she had not well understood what
was called in the vicinity the dissipations and
excesses of Maurice. Therefore, u. her own
conscience, she had ever absolved him. Now.
all her noble instincts revolted within her—
cried piteously that this young man was lost,
ihe maiquise, ou her part, feit all the blood
ot an indignant heart mount to her forehead,
—that heart, ever young and burning, which
age had not chilled. *

'Jri^x"'?? children, no,' she cried resolutely,
while I live, this domain and chateau shaU
never become the prey of the black shoal of
snarRs. 1 will never permit so great a i .y to
be given to the fools and rascals. The.efore
be tiauquil my friends. You shall remain
just as m the past, you in your farms where
you were bom, you in this house where you
have grown up. Nothing will b« nban'-ed in
your existence ; take my word for it, and bo
uTeT' *° *'°°''®^® y°^' ^'^es and chfl-

She, therefore, instantly sent for her no-
tary, and put into his hands the certificates
of her stocks that represented the greater part

lilil

MADELEINE.

■Il'

! M:i

of her fortune, by means of which he must
on the day of sale outbid all competitors.
The marquise awoke, therefore, one tine
morning legal proprietrnits of the domain of
Valtravers, whioh did not change her habits,
since she continued to live with Madeleine iu
the chateau of Fresnes, where her daughter
had died and where she also wished to die.

Alas I this was the last act of the amiable
and beloved marquise. For a long time she
fancied herself gently but irresistibly drawn
by the impatient soul of her old companion.
'You see, 'said she at times to Madeleine,
' we were never separated. Without speak-
ing of the marquise, whom you never knew,
I am certain that my poor chevalier is
wearied there alone waiting for me. It is
ungenerous in me to have kept him waiting
ao long. But I am somewhat embarrassed to
know what co answer when he asks ma for
uews concerning his son.'

The eve of her death, waking from a long
■lumber, Madame de Fresnes turned to-
wards Madeleine, who was seatedat the side
of her couch, and said : ' I just had a strange
dream that I wish to relate to you. I saw
Maurice at the bottom of a dreadful gulf.
Hideous reptiles were crawling and hissing
at his feet, and the unhappy child was ex-
hausted by the desperate efforts made to re-
mount to the light of day. I wanted to run
to his assistance, but I felt my feet chained
to the ground, and I was stretching towards
him my powerless arms, when all at once I
saw you coming in the distance, calm and
serene. Having arrived at the edge of the
abyss, and removed the white scarf that en-
circled your neck and floated about your
shoulders, you threw it smiling to Maurice,
who seized it, and was drawn forth without
effort, and appeared to me radiant and tra:is-
tigured. Tbat is my dream : what do you
think of it, my daughter?'

A pale ray beamed upon the lips of Made-
leine, who remained pensive and did not an-
swer. Tho marquise died on the morrow,
or, more exactly, she expired in the arms of
he young German; her beautiful soul pastel
away gently iu a last smile.

' Little one,' said she quite gayly some,
hours before her end, ' I have not forgotten
you in my will. Since you have a taste for
paiutiug, I have bequeathed you my colours
and brushes. Try with those to find a hus-
band.'

In fact, upon opening the will Madeleine
saw that Madame de.Fresnes was not jesting.
Only, to this little legacy the marquise had
added the domain and chateau of Valtravers,
leaving still a good share to her natural
heirs, who had, however, no need of it.
In this manner this young and beautiful ■

;irl was left in absolute possession of that

.ouse where, one autumn evening, five

vears previously, she had preseated herself,

her whole foitune consisting of a little

bundle under her arm.

CHAPTER Y.

HISTRESa AND UISKRT.

Less elated with her new position than
one might believe, Madeleine re-entered re-
ligiously into the chateau, in which the
domestics, who had seen her grow up and
who loved her, received her as if a young
queen. She lived as in the past, modestly,
unostentatiously, solely preoccupied with
the beings confided to her care. Her
authority was revealed only in the profusion
of good deeds that she spread around her ;
except for this, it would have been ditBuult
to inter any increase of fortune ; except for
this, she might still have passed for the little
orphan sheltered by the charity of her uncle.
Sue had declared at the outset that she in-
tended that nothing should be changed in
the former routine of the house, and that
all the customs of the good chevalier should
be respected, precisely as if he were npt
dead and liable to return at any instant. As
to herself, she did not wish any other apart-
ment than the little room iu which had
melted away the last days of her childhood
and the tirat days of her youth. Whenever
they came to receive her orders upon some-
thing of some importance, she never failed to
consult with her people to ascertain what the
chevalier would have done in similiar cir-
cumstances. If it was necessary to admo-
nish or chide any one (which la iter happen-
ed very rarely), she always prepared the way
by some such phrase as this: 'I think, my
children, that this is what your excellent
master, M. le Chevalier, would have said or
done.' She reminded herself often that the
best way to honour the memory of the beings
tiiat we have loved is to do nothing which
would have pained them, and to rehect, be-
fore acting, upon what they might have
thought in like cases. Finally, whenever
she spoke of Maurice, it was only with re-
spect, and as of a young prince whose king-
dom she was administering during his mino-
rity. She wa^ less queen than regent.

The report of her prosperity having spread
in the country, suitors were not slow in pre-
senting themselves. Valtravers became a
sort ot Mecca or a kind of holy sepulch^ ?)
assigned to the fervent piety of all tiie celi-
bates of the dtputment. During several
months a long bie of these pilgrims might
have been seen wending their way to the

holy spo

Small cc

men's sc

broken-(l

on hors

their ol

though

leine p

leM gait

consoienc

healthy

faithfuls

see a pooi

ject of so

zeal. Sh

that Fran

souls and

hitherto «

ligion of

Moved ev

gret, whit

io her hui

wish to ej

which the

in Older tl

Howeve

ansivered :

cli'valier

ni»rry. Th

not marry

approve i

petty ridi<

Would it E

modity ali

one canno

same time(

There is ac

who has n(

through lif(

who has re

has done i

aUianceot h

Freed frc

tinned to li

jdays to the

aperforraanci

the arts she

I the library <

' served to

smiling grai

beauty, she

and reason,

irs that in

ihrough the

, lame time tl

^'of heaven.

il every Sunda

Jwreiched vil

I less, in whic

|orphan3 who

Mg the chu

MADELEINE.

posaeuion of that

utnn eveniiiK, tiv«

preaeated heraeif,

isiating of a little

I V.

MI8KRT.

new position than
tleine re-entered re-
sau, in which the
her grow up and
her as if a young
the paat, niodeatly,
preoccupied with
her care. Her
oly in the profuaion
spread around her ;
have been difficult
jrtuae ; except for
paaaed for the little
harity of her uncle,
utset that she in-
juld be changed in
3 house, and that
d chevalier should
as if he were npt
tt any instant. As
ti any other apart-
Doi in which had
^s of her childhood
youth. Whenever
orders upon aome-
she never failed to
ascertain what the
i*> in similiar cir>
eceaaary to aduio-
ich latter happen-
8 prepared the way
this: 'I think, my
nat your excellent
I'ould have scid or
raelf often that the
imory of the beings
do nothing wLich
and to reflect, be-
they might have
finally, whenever
vaa only with re-
riuce whose king-
; during his miu3-
than regent,
rity having spread
re not slow in pre-
Itravers became a
of holy Bepulch^<)
ety of all itie celi-
During several
se pilgrims might
their way to the

WllT *<." ""*''? *^«'"« *^«''' 'levotiona.
Small country aqu.res, ruined lords, noble:

hZLT"' *"'y«.y"'>« «n<l old; some in
broken-down carriages, aome on fiot. some
on horsel«ck.-ull flowed hither to recUe
ther cbaractenstic pater nonters. Al-
though aenoua and reflective, Made-
erne posaeased that good and art-
leas gaiety which proceeds from a pure
heauCTnte r".' an upright Teart Cd

I faitffi« fhlf .*• ^^^ '«P"«d to theae
I laithfula that it was an edifying apectaole to

^ ieToFr "'■P^''^ ^f "-""^ ""'^ af oa^ce "e Ob'
Tea Shrh''? .°" *^°^ «« disinterested a
fhtfi? ^'''' '"''*'«'^' ^i^""! >n Germany
soul rr' """■ '''" ""^'^^ ''"•"'"•y of li ,u^
soma aud geiieroua hearts, but she had i ever

Sn o"f "Zf7'f *''''* ^'^ P"«»»«<i the re-
ligion of misfortune to such an extreme

Moved even to tears, she had only ooe"e

gret, which was.

have been cal[ef hippy Ve^rft ?." ?"«'*
incessant preoccupation which bl„ I L I",! ""
Pinessfroii; h.r hL^ ^Wlfa wa \f '^"P"
doin^ ? Whaf i,oj I "viiai «aH Aiaurioe

1 in her humble condton thai .ho did nV.. I.r „ f f' * ''°,* "'"'» ""P"l«e of an ado™

in nivlfiM 4-l%««_ .J «

in^de;^^d;^3"a„JK:S;:iiS

^Thi-JfflLatSl-^

Kd t n" ' "u ""*'^'^«d t° spinsters!

moditi i?k« "PP*!*'" *•>»* a huBband is a corai
moaity alike ao indispensable and rar« thaf

^ same'tiror*'''''"^ '•'^-* it an'd't'fh
1 Th^L "^ ".^^'''' •■""« the risk of losine it '

'S£rrt^r-*"„-rhrS

a.„„,S hTan ™d Votr •°''""' "^ * ""•
tinuSto'lr '°'k ■"'""•• "■^•1"" o»h-

Joha.e borne re.pocUoUy'lo htji™' „°„T "

Si?v^""*»-to^^^^^

r'V *'°" •^'^^. ""'I ''"'''""s thought .^he

Zerthr"'/" ^- J'-^'^'H'. justis Ji'eap!
pearea tlie autumn eveniuir whfin f«, Ti;

but !ffh ^''' *''^" °"^y a kittle girl-
but at this age, which we men regard on Iv

wh.? •'"*?" ^?'" *^>« """ery, who knows

and.howerVoun^'tts%'!L,^'!.lt1^
has grown up with h..r f.h. v,..„i' . . ®*^ ?®

---, ...,„„,c. young oe bia wife, unless he
ithe lihrarvof i.„ , '**'' ex lumed from Omnisc eimn th„* . .i.

I smiling gravi ? in h.r ^',"*^""=^ ^"^ ^^'^

iteame time throutli f ho h, . " *t the

-?of heaven S™ ^^ ^^ '''^^^ the dew

.■every SundavpKo . religious, and

|wreVhed"vilw;whi<"hhi!:i''*''* u'^'^'^ that
lless, in whicffinoJ^i^^^^^^^rBohelp

lorphans who blessed her name Ar;/"*^
F« the church she rarely" orgot"" tli

— . --.-e-niiuc ui ner soul,
in. irST""' ,""■.*"•■ "■• <li«mond form.

heve that Maurice had fall.nVs low as r.eo'

ai'ainsTTll'- ^""^ ^^^^ '"''^ "^^'^-^^ ' »
against all even against his so indukeni

'±:^^^'f:. «ood marquise. ZX

, wa-one the less fe^t'the'rnn r' h^glft "K
hidden romance of her life. TheaeTe^ccu.

MADELEINE.

:i I!

nations were redoubled in intensity since
Madeleine, having returned to Valtravers,
found at every step vivid traces and remi-
niscences ot that youth whom she had
known so impetuous, but yet bo charming,
in his zeal. In the room that he had occu-
pied, nothing was changed since his depar-
ture. In it she paaae.l frequently lon^
hours, alike sad and enchanting. In the
park she sat uuder the trees that he had
planted. When she walked through the
court yard of the chateau, his hunting dogs
ran to lick her hands. If she went to the
banks of the Vienna, above the hedges she
perceived the horses that he had mounted,
and that now pastured in freedom in the
grassy meadows. The whole forest was
Hlled with his single image. He had him-
self carved the oaken wainscot of the dining-

This was not all : thera was at Valtravers
a good and brave creature, that had never
left the manor, in which she was born almost
at the same time as Maurice. They had
both drank the same milk, which in our
provinces always establishes a kind of fra-
ternity between children. The chevalier,
who loved her, had caused to be giveu a fair
education to this girl, who had the rare
sense not to feel vain of it, and remained
simply what nature had made her,— neat,
active, alert, prepossessing, frank-spoken,
pleasing the sight by her beautiful health,
and recalling from afar Dorine and Marinette.
She had hardly any defect except that of
being at times somewliat impetuous in the
expression of her sentiments, by nature ex-
alted. It was not love that she possessed
for her foster-brother, it was genuine adora-
tion. She saw simply that he had disposed
of his inheritance accordins; to his taste, and
was only astonished at one thing, tiiat is,
that people should permit themselves to be
astonished at it. If, instead of having sold
it, he had set fire to the chateau of his
father, Ursule would have unhesitatingly
justified him. He might have roasted his
fanners by way of pastime, and she would
have at the most only considered it a little
aiagular. She had at once conceived for
Madeleine an unparalleled affection. As
soon as she learnad that a little German
orphan, Maurice's cousin, had come to the
chateau, she ran, threw herself in her arms
and overwhelmed her with a deluge of tears.
She was beautiful, especially when thedomes-
" ties or peasants dared to doubt in her pre-
sence the virtues of the young chevalier. A
■lap in the face for this one, a box on the ear
for that one, she did not scruple about it ;
she hid a strong hand ; the hardiest dared
not provoke it. Madeleine was pleased to

talk with her. What attraction impelled
her ? It is not neccaary to say. As Ursule,
on her part, was happiettt in spuakiug of her
young master, every thing went for the best.
There was hardly a day passed in which
Madeleine did not call her. At one time,
both seated in tho embruanre of a window,
the oneeuGjaged upon embroidery, the other
mending, the conversation turned upon
Maurice. Ursule recounted the childhood
of this young man. Always, whatever the
one did not allow herself to hear, the other
was careful not to utter. In nscending the
current of souvenirs, they arriv«(l gradually
at the present. Ursule reproseuted her
foster- bruther as a spotless luuib, and pre-
dicted his approacbin|{ return. Madeleine
shook her head. However, the metairie of
Coudray had not been sold ; Maurice had
not therefore bidden an eternal adieu to the
country.

This last hope was broken. One day she
learned that Coudray was for ^ale ; and as
misfortunes never come singly, the same day
an unforeseen event threw trouble and con-
sternation in the little colony. A lawyer
came to notify Madeleine that a
nephew of Madame dp Frt-snes, that
was supposed dead several years, hUd
suddenly appeared iu the country, that he
had contested the will of his aunt, and that
from this day litigation would commence.

Some time later, Madeleine was walking
one evening in the avenues of the park. She
walked slowly, alone, sad and preoccupied.
Although it was impossible to foresee the is-
sue of the lawsuit entered upon, although
she felt an aversion to the ignoble troubles
that affairs of this kind drew in their train,
yet it was not the care of her fortune that
agitated her. Her first motion had been
to proudly leave the chateau ; if she had re-
solved to defend her rights, it was only
through respect to the memory of her bene-
factors. Now, whatever happened, she had
done her duty. The rest did not trouble
her. Of what value to her henceforth this
manor to which Maurice would never re-
turn ? She had ever considered it only as
the property of her cousin ; during nearly
three years, it had been the dream of her
life and the joy of her soul to think that a
day would come when the prodigal son
would be reinstated by her hands iu the do-
main of his ancestors.

Meanwhile, what was he doing T Turning
into a oath Madeleine saw hiin before her.
it was indeed he, it was Maurice ; but so
pale and so chai||ed, that one might havef
called it the spectre of this young man. Hei
was truly only the spectre of himself. Ma-
deleine, bewildered with joy and astonish

ment, vi
her emo

of this e

that the

escort hi

Madeleii

with an

hesitatio

when he

•aid to h

died 1' h(

hands.

to Ursul*

braces.

places to

to set out

hoped ne'

again for

and to bi(

loved. A

his room,

him to see

'Oh, „

bursting it

Poor Ur

Manrice

cided to re

soon set oi

pnt his affu

parations f

At the insii

, ed to re

this time,

ravages tha

I man, less, 1

ifheart and

^uently son

Affectionate

jjieared preoi

sousin. On

ionscience, i

iwsnit, esti

leclared, w

jhe decision

That coi

fonnggirl, si

' Me, my <

^ 'Don't yo

tf your fathe

' tasters ?*

' Oh, good

aurice, ia a

,, ) that out

2" you that

m Prance wit

■f ' You are t

Ve young air

lat it might

' I, cousin I

On the foil,

at Maurice

ir adieu. It

ttractjon impelled
to say. As Ursule,
ill Rpuakiug of tier

went for tlie best.
pas8e<l in wliiuh
r. At one time,
sure of a window,
roitlery, tlie other
oil turned upoa
>ed the childlioud
.>8, whatever the
:o hear, the other

III naoending the
arrived gradually
5 represented her
a lamb, aud pre-
iturn, Madeleine
er, the metairie of
old ; Maurice had
erual adieu to the

:eD, Oae day she
B for tale ; and as
ugly, the same day
w trouble and coa-
olony, A lawyer
deleine that a
de Frtsnes, that
veral years, htid
I country, that he
hia aunt, aud that
lould couimeuce.
leine was walking
i8 of the park. She
d and preoccupied,
le to foresee the la-
id upon, although
le iguoble troubles
rew in their train,
f her fortune that
t motion had been
eau ; if she had re>
;ht8, it was only
mory of her beue-
happened, she had
at did not trouble
ler henceforth this
I would never re-
snaidered it only as
in ; during nearly
the dream of her
111 to think that a
I the prodigal son
er hands in the do*

je doing T Turning
law hiin before her.
8 Maurice ; but so
tiat one might havei
is young man. Hs)
re of himself. Ma-
joy and astonish'

ment, wished to throw herself in his arms •
her emotion recoiled before the icy attituL'
of this sombre figure. Having ^,6™^!
that the evening was pleasant, h*e of^red t^

Mir,'"'?"'"^*" ^^^ chateau. Whie
Madeleine trembled upon hia arm he wd Jed
with an assured step. He mounted withouf

Sr^jxii-r£S

^u'lle.^^hoaXXfrm S'h\fe^«

feo hSz"ai,'^f ^LLitt^^r;

to set out for a long journev Lm wh*^^
hoped never to con.e back h^e SeTl n .^'

T^ 'Z '^' }^' """^ *^'« hSuae of hMther'

and to bid a laat adieu to all that he hln

loved. At the end of an hour he retired tJ

h.. room, the young girl having forb din

him to seek other lodging. ""-oiauen

'Oh, misery! oh, m/aeryl' cried «»,»

bnrating into tears an.l sobs '•"*'

i'oor Ursule seemed transformed to stone

Maurice, in coniinK to ValtravB« k 5 j

oided to remain only*^a few hmir, ' ^"^ ^^l

soon set out and ret^urn to Pari "?' ^T"f *

pnt hia affairs in order and comnlete ?h**'' *°

K"*.'.. "ithoM knortng ."X.V'ot ?l

MADELEINE.

d^r-de'pUut '""'tZo'TT *,^"' •"'^-
wrote again Hinnrl T""" '"^«>' h<»
Pleted ; In fifteen C S""' *''' "°"-
start. Under a ie-tin/ * ■ *°^ «""•« *<>
letters bore evidince ^f th« h'T' l^''*> *^°
mind. The Utfl ■ ^^*^ ^^'^'e of his

sombre ditctrS^;„rrnr^ ^""^'-'^ *

r£^tHiy=v^-H

CHAPTER VI.

TIRED OK LIFX.

pnnggirl, smiling.
J , ^^' "ly couain I'

If your father 5^^,*^"*' 'i""* the death
*aK r ' **'"' •^°""'"' ^'^ °«t changed

Prance without teiugZrl^ptfe*;?"
le ?oTnn!r«1„"."t^Py- Maiici'Kked

-t^it™.>htha::3;f;rd'ah:Sorst"'

lat Maurice bad set n !l ! .'?*•""

.r-dieu. Itiftrre'rhat/'i^X^'retSf

long indeed, tha? of ail l^"« i^^'^^y~oo
attempted it not one has yet t-, ^^l ^^ve
at the hour of deDartu7«^h """^^ ^^^ck. and
Jave felt their hS" hil?^ ^TLS?''^
heads pale with fear. A 1 hi« ., " ^"™-
were made • it remained f„rk"'")«^'"*"*»
an eternal adieu to that worWwhSV" ^'^
going to leave for a better I. f °^ ^® *"
and if it be permitted t^V?-^"'" ^ *""^«d.
presuming to^mue" upon I'hT '*7'*^""'
God. Maurice had arnVedh **'\««°dne8s of
but slow desceS I s historv^^ " «"^"«^
known, so common so ™.n ?• " "^ *ell
by voices more Xqulnt^ha^ t^es related

only necessary to Iketoh th °"'-' ' *> '' "'
tures. ' ®'°h the principal fea-

3u&t,tr»^^

childhood PMs^d away fn th^r^^P- ^^^

escorted bv all <-K« i ?• ^ "^ advances.

youth dra^s after it te ^'^T' ''""^
his forehead; iCion d wX i„'T**'^ "P"»
I'ke an expanded flower undlr fh" ^ •'""?/
water, beneafh i,.= i "'"'•e' the limoid

beaut; of h!a sout ^uT^t' 'T'"^^ '^^

sponta'neoualy:Ta'- all hone'sf S^r'^'
the nflvor-unr^'- - -^ •• - seotunents. in

ated on'the othlr^sidTof Sf "' ^''^'^'^
vows exchangedTn the lilf nf *^™^''- '° **»«

in expanding. whUe your^S^ilioTLl

MADELEINE.

...n .. la.. ,h. ..,.r,z":. i „'irc

those who approach them • even Bri-fm V
comes to us from them is blensed *^ ol

thetatal property of those waters which
the couHdiug Td- crtdulou'rt 'L" ma"

of feeble and ardentt's'tVto^tHt au'ex"
tremes, he went on to outrage everv nohh,"
impulse within him. If there bl^ n^t
hearts that strengthen and nurifv H ^

ter than to go headlong into that sSs n^

•nd rehnement. The sole occupation of
these abortive souls seems to be to degrade
at every turn whatever relates to hnmo
nature, considering the words «"th.

upon this inchne. the des'cenTfs sTeTciy "^Tt
tirstone read. ly persuades himself that it1«
only amusement, and indeed. fTa per'od,^
M only amusement. Whatever ma/ b" said

that when tha oppSSTnece sU^tS^^
they will reappear, and at f l,« «. V^ comes
.ummons non'^ of \lLVm tlr^Z'
Relying upon this, they do not r>ero«Tv« t^fl I
by these boastiuKs of vice bv th'L'^ j '

itiadiaooTered. .ome fine morning. Titiu

upon .8 acorwcfc niri,Lv« T?, °'"""«^
their tent, an^^i stoS away ' "'^""^ "™«'''

eun.esr.^hi';„"^^r':'iT s *='ffp'«^ -^

cretly i?ritatei hf,:.'""/!;'"" '^'» '»»''««• -^

Restoration was ln,l«H ? ,|^^''«'^®n'on. The

epoch has pu heV"artr;r*tTan I'"* TJ
contempt of all rule an, tJ, . *"'"' *•>•

wa. already t/mov.d from Th.» ■*'"'""• >»

Krao»an.iillu.ioM, .Kai™!. I '"'
good to lUl I "nootwoalo, ohariuiiij,

from th!cE uiir,"' ~"">' "<"»•

bo do.", «o.'<i,.t;\7^ trpf^zSi'

g.nor„«,, prodigal, h, „„ „K ~„°S'

w£o*b reV^ .fo'lXTlbr"^"-

Froo, 0,0 de.c»1 tj^^^.X^TSI^^^

to moolcerjrBnd par-
which wure counted
' I'ftve •ilently •truck
"tty.

;iino to time towards
ly bondi clagped and
1 "Hies. Ouoe eo-
' of life it ia unt ,„_
tn.m his father se-
I though tender and
'loiistrances of the
> smile with pity or
lion. It was quite
outh of that period,
loiiour the ancient
Lacedaanion. The
they entered upon
irodttimed itself to
'^'iiig the face of
)t aware that any
er than this, the
the absence of all
loniciously impreg.
'olt that circulates
hich the ardour of
usness of his char-
'">• Ah I how he
that young man
d with so many
ionate, charming,

organizations are
1 when it is intact,
roken !

ed the streets of
enues, and culti-
t enough not to
ing recently come
from great minds,
)rtally wounded,
to heal in silence
cklessly plunged
gar distractions.

succeeds to the
I him deeper and

remedy for the
insists in bathing
tters I He who
lect his grief is
)utraging it, that
!>py. Beautiful,
ot long in mak-
ocal world into
)f the regency,
ers and charms
Ife of his duels

and successes.

at last he foHtid

sbauohery. He

|ut paling, and

his >outh to

MADELEINE.

It was in the midst of thene disorders that
the last l«tt«r of his father Rurpised him.
lliis letter was beautiful and touchinu.devoid
of vain anger or pu.iile declamation? Mnu-
noe. in reading it. felt, u.wler the pricks of
remorse, all his noble instincts awaken with-
in him. At this august nml dear voice his
•obs broke j..rth, tears (lowed from his eyes
• cry of love went forth from that heart lonK
■dent and ol.durate. He would break he

from the fatal embrHct-s, when he learned
that his father was dead. Too often in the
abundance ot youth, we forget that the days
of mir parents are numbered ; we postpone
from month to month the performance of
those hlial obligations, and almost always it
IS upon a tomb that we bring with our tears
the offerings ot a lingering piety. Maurice
was overwhelmed. Fever and delirium en-
sued Under pretext of consoling him. his
friends, or rather his accomplices, pressed
around his couch, so indeed the blow that
seemed intended to break the bad ties only
avaUed to tighten them more closely than
ZV- W*'*' ^o"'d he do at Valtravers ?
After vain efforts to master an.i reclaim him-
■elf, he found it easier to abandon himself to
the muddy stream that swept him away.
It 18 hard to ascend that current so easy of
descent ; this is because the gulf to which it
leads has strange fascinations, unknown to
those who have navigated only in pure and
peaceful waters. Meanwhile, more and
more menacing, realities began to annoy
hini. Embarrassments multiplied arround
hun, for disorder of the feelings leads direct-
ly to all disorders. In order to appease the
hydra of debt and fill up the abvss yawn^
ing beneath his feet, Maurice was' forced to
consent to the sale of the chateau where he

So^nhr'""*^ '¥**""''•'' ^^ h» ancestors
Soon, he came by degrees to mingle with
that group of old roues that are seen at
ra.is, without patrimony, without pros-
pects and without position, plo.ying Wh

;3n^«r* "'^'t' «clipsing^ifh thei7^n-
explained fort'ine the honest people whom
theydesp.se, and who. I am%hankful t^

tempt '"^"^ **""" ^'^^ ^'^^ '=°"-

in^ittT^' ""^ ""^y ^° *° "°»P« it. there
cred oJ^?'^''"",^*'"^^^«" *^»* pitiless
m«m, 1' A ''^^'■"h ^"P'^*'" ** '•"'• door with
memorandum in hand. In vain when «h«

Lr of' n "l^- ^"^ ^^'^'^ of^rTne^in" h:
■cene of Don Juan and M. Dimauche fon^
must, wul or n.tl, comply and forthwith
balance his accounts with her. It has been
^id and repeated that man is the pfay thing
of chance. I know not. for my part close?
or more inflexible logic than th^at^ of human

lif". All its events are bound together as
tlu(\"/ * ch.in;for him wIk, know,
how to fathom the pren.i»cs „nd patiently

nZou. T'^"r'' '' "'<'-'-t«i"'y Ihe ^lil
thltZ K "y^'lg"'""- -So. for Maurice,
that which must ban-eu arrived : the fatal
hour surpriH...,! him driven into a cul-de-sa"
without other opening than saic.de or dU^

soil'T'.V'^'"''""*"'^' >* "°* a perverse

mi Jhf i t "^'J'"^ "f '■'" '"'"■'"'«-. there
might have been discerned in him the stamp
of his oriKin, and, although sin^ula.ly aller^-
ed. the Mopnnt of a native dignity?^ In a
world where povert> ot educatu.n stalks in
ho midst of all the turniture of luxury _iu

, • .-.„, „.^, occii Lrruoms uivine

tbe:nselves airs of marquises, this yonnj ma?
had borne m himself, at least, retin/d and
chivalrous manners, an a.iventurous and
proud spirit. In the profound night wher"

febt rT' "^V'^^y-'" l"*'! "bed a noble
light. Between the two issues that were

o&.red. he did not hesitate. Besides, fori

long tinie his moral suicide was accomplish-

ed : nothing was left him but to die ; and

the bitter ennui that consumed him, and,

^^Zlu • "'! • ''""t^'npt in which h; held
nmself, must inevitably impel him sooner or
ater towards this vulgar denouement, easily
oreseen ,n an epoch in which it was not rare
rie"oflir"^^'°P'' °' twenty years wea-
His resolution once taken, too proud even
in his debasement to consent to leave the
world like an insolvent debtor who tiees the
bailiffs, he sold bis metairi, of
Coudruy. which he had hitherto
retrained from touching, solely in view of
Madeleine; for, although he halkept
in his breast only a vague image of his
cousin he had nevertheless foreleen the
possibility that this child some day might
fall into poverty. Reassured on that point

?«^''?^\^^7'^**^**^*''«'°« possessed ii
legal right the domain of Valtravers, in order
to pay the recent debts he had coAtracted'
he parted with the sole and last remnant of

tj^T^ ^*'"**«* ' *^«°' ^y that vague
impulse of emotions that are never exfin.
guished in us, he wished to see again, before
dymg, the spot of earth where he had been

That return to the place of his natiTity.

'""";f-.- , " """' served only to show
n ail Its nude sterility the poverty of his ex-
istence. Scarcely did he recognize the paths
througn which he had so many times pLsed
with the marquise and chevalier ; he saw
again without emotion that lovely Nature to

MADELEINE.

I I

find th.,ol\cSLtr''' •"""'•""- •"'^

that «o call MadeiJl i , .'V*''* "''*»'"'••
strangely ;;iuK?l'^' ^""'^ '"":« been to

bitter dooep ion, *"iP,7'"' •."""? "" ^^^
aer.t.n.l of that vir;a„vl*U"''^ ""' •"^•

*lter havinu e»«m;n„ i u ' "' moreover,

miKhthaveMne : ifnl """"""'y " »>»
perceived that hi. J,, ""j «r picture, he
character. All that h«" '^«°|d«'Hy Iwked
presence was redn^ll f "P!"*'""''^ *" »>«••
n.ent of a"kward.^L" * '** ^''«"'' ""«"
•IinosteverdeblucheZt"'^ constraint that
chance to me.t a ct7e"wS°' 1"'^";*^^

0«t saying «„ything to anrbo'dt '""^'' "'*'»•

pu&l^^ir?!roU^r."tf;e.£''trh*«
departure, he had nU.Li u' u^' '***"™ his

his'servante'sok^inlriL'^The"''"""^
the sale of Coudray paid h Hast debts^^V^
done, he found h.mgplf i„ ^ ■ ^^^'
thousand crowns whlh P-^^ession of a
necessary to arr°v; aTthe cnH^f .T'-'' ''*'"'
Free from every care h« ^1°^, the journey.

remainecf to h Kn e^'^A T 7 f"^* ,*'"**
badly.ho. wished :t"a'io die well'^hir''

occu?ied"'n,or'; w th'^Sd" Tk* "'** P^
The image of M^ J '^ u''"'° 'n*"-
iUuminatef with'^'^T.^e '"^ ^"^
•nticpated evening of his^lif! H« H i **"!
even once think with m« u ?« <*1<1 not
gentle being fn Ti'',"'^''""=^?'y of that

not call to m^nd that : iTZilZT' ^-^ ^1*^
>n question th« fZl,, ^*'*^^"" Put seriously
cousin " ^"'*""« *°'» destiny of his

t lit ^ot be^'""''^^'^- " ^'« ^''ite'I longer

'"•onze, us if to '««] '"^^f*'' their lip, „£

f^i"«lly. and therely c, ulVb^e J'" l""*'''-
•"prome moment w». am r « . •"*'> that the
hi>naelf in destroyri^ "it *''"'<•.*''' ^'"""'l
I't. that he JiS leVv .dy r,;?,*: ''"'
the comments of curiosity. '"'^ *"

UHAPrijR Vil,

SAT It !i '

case and opened it thele't 1 th^/h'l!''!!
reoeiveu in better /;,„ '*"*" *hat he had
therein, jumbled nrS^' ''T presented

without niore order'or cZ than ^h ^T^f^^'^''
in the adjuhtrnent of J i?^. i . ^* '**** ""«d
letters, live letters w fK "i^j'^^' ^^'^'h
ribboni. locks ohJln the ^'"r"' 'fl"^
youth was there A. ht .P?*'^ °^ hit

a hand less everent ...5 . "*"^'^ '''^ "^ with

would.be pleLTt°l*l\Tru':r-*'*" '*
sible since many year. ^ .' .■*'** macoes.

nature, vet he c^ould not LTnThT "^ *'"'•
odour of happy days ?hat if "}^?« ** the
""Im"^ %nt of 'pn%^^^^ ^-- '^»

flames,*chanc"inTodu tt ;e?y"on^f ?
h.s cousin had written to him ^no^ l„ **
before, unknown to the cheviuer a^ .h«
niarqmso. and that he h.H if fl *"*^ the

i^^onS^:!;ri;*p^''i^^^^^^^

was seized wih a X^usX^'mTs ''/ ^'
hea. became clouded withjoom .nt •''■^"
tar lights darted f.om his eyes "'li^tlf "'k'?"
since dull in the denths of fK.- l^ ^^^^^
was the portrait offhe first of L*""^'.'"- ^*
man that he had loved ' 1^^;%""^^ ^°-

beautiful, of a melancholy and fttal hi 7"
examining it actentivelv «„» beauty ;

of th. fatld Snh":- •^' ""? ^»« reminded

an enigmat tfee'r^iralld'". '""* "
the madmen who presented .h ^T»"ng
-olveit. After sevLlSji'Srco^

Madeleine.

'« his la,t «,iie„jj
more than onca h«
Blje»'l their lip, „/
B Jcy kiu „f „ettth.
'» b« aeeD th«t th«
r..aohln^, he ^mioU
'nBtiKM of hii pMli
">ly • do* J hoiiy to

Vil.

uinR and returned
•ed all j.y in 4^^

^-elle. Life had
pon him -he had

8 einptineiii of hia
• fftcuities. Hap.

he took a amall
tters that he had
were presented
uously together,
thau he had uaed
loje life. Family
ed tiowBra, laded
he poetry of hia
■laed the lid with
I anxious thau it

though inacoea.
maatioas of tbia
? thrilling at the
'caped from thii
e.

re-read, before
le other to the

9 very one that
him not long

Bvalier and the
aft unanswered.

carefully from
re and thereat
overcd therein.
^d all, Maurice
medallion that
< with a sombre
liuddered as if
iognizing it, he
asm, his fore-
om, and sinis-
. a little while
eir orbits. It
f the only Wo-
I'he face waa

fatal beauty ;
was reminded
K her heart as
ud devouring
hemselves to
J of derce coi-

templatiori, with a movement of hatre<l and

anKer, MHurico threw from him the amall and

fragile ivory, daubing it in pi. ea agtinat the

hiepUou. Overcome by tbia iaai effort, he

sank upon a divan, hia pale face bi.iden in

Lia haiida. He ruiiiaiiied in this poature about

an hour. Ui.i»iug hia head, he perceived,

•tanding near him, Madeleine, who waa

regarduii} him with a aweet and sorrowful

•milu. He thought at first it was a halluci-

nation of hia overexcited auii.ea ; for an in-

•taut he faucjeil it waa the Angel of Death

come touMiat him ; but h« was no longer a

man to be aneated long by auch poetic im-

aifea. '^

' ^r ' i* '! J.""' M»''«leine I What wiah
you of me T What do you demand ? What
whim or rather what motive, bringa you f

At all events, it ia not your place here,

yea, my couaiii, it is l/ responded the
young girl, who appeared neither troubled
noi au.priaed by theae words pronounced in
quick Bucceseiou in a short and almost brutal
tone. It IS I, or rather it is we, ' added ahe.
for your H.ster, Ursule, is here, in your
aute.ohanib.r. I could not allow the excel-
lent creature to be separated from me. Per-
hups It will not be displeasing to see from
time to tmia her good and honest face.'

, *'** &^ ''"*, po»«»8ed you to leave
your home -abruptly demanded, the young
man. What have you come to seek in this
iufamoua city ? You don't kuow that the
very air you breathe is poisoned ! You Hre
not aware that they die in this place of aor-

pZ.*". p'"Tn ^'*"?^« -""^y"". both in
rXnJ, ^""f^'^'l'l'en. depart immediately;

your w^dl* *'"'*'"'"'"*"' '"^^^^ '^'^'^^^
' But, my cousin, you are assuming a little
too much,' replied Madeleiue, gently • •"„
your turn, you don't know that the lawsuit
tlmt I must so ceruioly wiu, I have lost be-
yond appeal ; you are uot aware that Valtra-
vers no ouger belongs to me, and that I am
.bsolutely ut the same point as on that
evening when you met me in the heart o
those woods whose shadow you commend to

• You have lost your lawsuit ! Valtravers
no longer belongs to you !' Maurice ex
claimed ith a sensation of terror

' Bless me ! yes, my cousin. But there is
no need of impeaching human justice. Ah I

rlT!" W ™^ ^''°'^'' '^"^ id" "ot covet
riches. It pains me only to think that the

tS V:}" ^iT'^^' ""^ welMoved marquise
irspc, :i;a. I must also say

My children will not need anything, and
It la not I th.U It oouwrna.' replie.l Maurice
in a tone more .nd more crisp and cutting.
Why have you m.t accepted tliat rr ,i,it
of Coudray that I offered you ? Why d,.ly,m
let me sell it? Why di.i you not then aay tL^
you might K. ,,e day find yourself without
reaources? That day haa airived ; what is
going to become of you ? "

'Don't acold me, my couain. Vou olf-arly
perceive that I do not doubt jour ht*rt
eiiiL 1 It 18 to It that I have come to App'-
j avow that I have not hesitated an inat*.
l»aid tomyaelf ; <■ My cousin is '..ncefor
th.; only support that ia permitted >ie to rel,
on lu thia world. He knows that I have
tender y oved bis old father, and, taking
everything' into consideration, am a good
girl, wortl- perhaps of his interest, i know
him ti be L. ueroua. I ahall go and put my.
sell under i.'s protection. I am certain that
he will not refuse me." Henco, I made a
little buudl. an formerly when I left Mu-
nich ; then, . wing knelt upon the threshold
that had bei so hospitable to me, having
bidden a very ong, a very sorrowful adieu
to the house ii which I had growr. up, to
those sweet pla, es that I was never more to
see, I set out, and here I am. Maurice,
have I not done well ? Do you think that I
ought to have act d otherwise ?'

Maurice did not answer. Seated upon the
Uiyan m front of } hideleine, he regarded her
with an air of mel. ouholy stupor, like a man
who knows uot whether he is asleep or
awake. No great -gree of perspicacity waa
necessary to guess rom his face what waa
passing in his mind. Madeleine did not ap-
She added, however,

♦i,«* T -- --- J-- -ou. 1 must also sav

that I was flattering the hope that that beau
tiful domam and cuateau which fell to me

;orch&u.'^^'^*"'"«^^^^'^-->-or'?:

pear to perceive it.

with agreeable dignit

'Above all, do not rear, my cousin, that I
sliuii ever be a sen as embarrassment to
your existence. I sh. i not interfere in any
manner with your hal s or your liberty. I
have simple and mode tastes ; my poverty
wi I hamiy be a burde;- to vour fortune. I
only implore you to ren .unce, for some time
at least, that long jourjey that you medi-
tate. \ou would not wish to abandon me
alone and without protection in this great
city that you call infam us. You will re-
main, you will uot depart It is your uobie
fatlier, it is the amiable narquise, that be-
seeches you through my v ice ; it is also my
saintly mother who, before dying, confided
me to the care of her sister's son. Do you
recall the letter that in H» ;..,, ^u.. i r.. _-

-■_ • — ." — F, "'■" fit Hits

as sole hentoge ! If you have forgotten it.
take It, Maurice— here it is, read it"

The truth is, Maurice had never read this

etter. As it was the sole thing that was

left her from her mother, the day after her

MADELEINE.

arnyal at Valtravers the orphan had asked her
uncle to return it ; the goo.i chevalierpromptiv
acceded to thi« devout wish. In the midst
of the preoccupations that then possessed
turn, It was not surprising that this youoi?
man was not interested iu verifying the titles
that pertam.d to the identity of Madeleine,
or in knowing in what manner his aunt in
Munich wrote French. It was naturally the

h?^ °/p" *'°"'''"«' H'" f**'^^^ hud saw to
.n^hr ^^if " *''y °°"«'°-' Mauiice had
embraced the stranger without further ques-
ton. Rather through embarrassment than
curiosity, he mechanically took the paper
that the young girl presented to him ; and,
having unfolded it with a Jistbss hand, he
commenced to run through it with an indflfe
rent and hard eye.

h«^i*'T':v,"°\'"*y. **>'"''' a"d whatever
f^J u f *.''°"«^,^'' '"^ '^^"t ^'as not pro.
&es tLr^'^T'^- ^°'^«^ superticial callosi-
ties there yet remained some fibres that

that Tr! r"n ^'*^ ^■*'"'f''«*« P*'-*ly«''. ""xl
S« K^ ?K "i' susceptible of vibrating to
the breath of powerful emotion. He had
especially preserved, not, it is true, in all its
freshness or in all its integrity, the most
precious and the most fatal of the flcuTues

S^v^!?.'"' *"*' ''"'K^^ ^™™ P»«""° "nd from
dmnecompassion.that «hich is bornin us firft
and aies last, alike blessing and curse bane
and antidote, infernal anguish, celetui joy
superhuman force added to our ioys and
sorrows-ma word, imagination ^ ^

In reading this letter, whose characters
blurred by tears and kisses, had passed first

ea little by lutle the deatils of the autumn
fnr««t ih ,^* ^,7 *«*'" *»»e shadow of the

pi .« iL'hf th?'^'i*'*^ '^•ff"^^ ''"d *'-

S^e d? ^£rof t^hl r'oTHr:;

the last lines, that were addressed to him
alone, when he read these words • ' And
you whom I know not. but whom I ioved s
frequently to unite with my daugl terTn the
same sentiment of tenderness and solickude

ffood 1, T^' '''°" ^"t »J8o be
Madeleine • .^'''"f^ , *° ">y darling

forth in in?"''"' '" '""« <'»l^ti^e. g««hecl
w'!^ '" impetuous and abundant, wa"-

SshL^:^'r f^"^ ^'", «"^« -"-« the
leine r^Lr iJi k'^'''*" ''" '^^ich he sat. Made-
W Lmf *^ '',"" "" ""«'"'«» standing with
her arms erased upon her bosom, herlir sor

Maurice, my friend, my brother wh«f ;-
the matterr demanded she^SstTn a'Srts!

hi3"*'anT?h^''"°nMl'^"'*°"''her hand in
ins, and there, still quivering un.ier the
strode of emotion, he .eiated of' his life all

Lf the T^'^ '' \*" *'*^»»' *°° '"»«h shock
poke o/^ZT^'*"«'°«"P°" his lips. Ho
spoKe ot the destruuiiou of his ideals th«

ctuatd iim f -'^S-^-dennui had' p^re!
cipitated him, his erro-s, h s utter ruin hi«

Tend it'.t^rf//;^^' ^'^ "^-^ --l"tion

to end It ; he told all. One can easily con

ceive the nature of this recital MaurLo

herein depicted himself, with secret cor^Sa-

ITdl'ZT "^*^^ h'T' -f disenchantZnt
and a poetic victim of the realities of life -_

KhS'ran'th ^"1^ l' human'Veakn:;,^
Ue then ran through the world of theories

t^tlreC^rof '*"^'"^ *^*^« aole a'^ul
to ine energy of vigorous m nds. Maurice
tonched upon it in a few words. He blamed
Sttr mad ^"1%-''' ''''''' ^- the'saSe

revlrie and 'J'f °f r^""-^"" »'' "^ ''°"«^fal
reverie and melancholy p ty. When he had

ceased speaking, she remained long sclent in
a pensive and abstracted attitude. '

It 18 a strange history,' said she.abruntlv
^T\i li*"'"! ^•"- heautiful eyeL towmU
him the limpid azure of which had not for »

on 'that ^h* iT- '"t"^^'^ ^y the revela

iv I mno. ^"'^ J"'* heard ; 'unfortunate-

nndi^^L''^'"^' •"/ *=?"""' *hat I have not

th« fnf f?i '^ * «'"*/ ''^'*' "^ '*• 1* '8 too deep for

hernrov r"'^ * ^u*"" K'^^^hat comesfrom
hei province, where she has artlessly crown

Zi^ZT ^^Th'* \''''' "^°«« ^''P*""""
18 limited. Ihey have not taueht -me thesft
sentiments so extraordinary, and in^nite of
1 fe wins?" ' ^-^hith^erto though't 'thai
\\h7rl! \ * r^^ beautiful gift%f God.

iust tofd ™« ' •''^^;.'"/*"'* ^^'''•h y°« hav;
just tow me, IS that you have dissinatprl

your patrimony, and that, if I have no bin/

you have just as much. This is not a rS

^r giving way to despair. But in your t^n

what IS going to become of you ? What d™

nowlSt 11 """' r--'^'^^ You caVn^t
now do It. I have not come to apply solely
to your fortune. I counted, in Lttig out
ess upon your gold than upon your X-
tion. Though ruined and poor like my-
self, you arc none the less my legitimate
17a11 n^ natural support, lie your own
judge. Our mothers were sisters. Both
of them are now, perhaps, watching over
and listening to us. When I appealed at
your threshold, your father opened his arms

* young mother near

child.

my brother, what is
she at Jast in a caresa-

m, took her hand in
quivering under the
ilated of his life all
hont too muoh ihook-
g upon his lips. He
u of his ideals, the
if and ennui had pre-
, his utter ruin, his

his firm resolution
One can easily con-
8 recital. Maurice
I with secret compla-
es (f disenchantment
e realities of life,-^

human weakness !
3 world of theories
y as the sole avenue
8 minds. Maurice
words. He blamed
lort, for the saorilioe
ty, he himself was

li an air of sorrowfal
?ity. When he had
lined long silent, in
attitude.

,'8aid8he,abruptly,
itiful eyes towards
vhich had not for a
ged by the revela-
sard ; ' unfortunate-
in, that I have not
it. It IB too deep for
jirl that comes from
lias artlessly grown

whose experience
not taught me these
T. and in spite of
herto thought that
itiful gift of God.
fc which you have
u have dissipated

if I have nothing,
rhis is not a reason

But in your turn,
you? What do you
self? You cannot
ne to apply solely
«d, in setting out,

upon your affec-
d poor like my-
Icaamy legitimate
ort. Be your own
re sisters. Both
)a, watching over
en I appeared at
' opened his arms

MADELEINE.

to me and I became his dearly loved dangh-
ter. It was I that replaced you near him— it
was I that was the last joy of his old age. I
smoothed the bed of death, and my hands
closed his eyes. However, orphan for the
second time, here I am alone, without re-
sources, without other protection than yours,
in a world sown with reefs, and which I do
not understand. Maurice, answer ; do vou
think that your life is your own »'

Crushed under the weight of" duties that
burst hkea thunderbolt upon bis head,
dreading as much the obligation of living as
he might have m happier days, the neces-
sity of dying, bound by existence as a con-
vict that, seeing his chains fall, foels that
his feet are more firmly bound than ever.
Maurice answered only by a burst of des-
pair. What could he do for his cousin, he
who could do nothing for himself ? Of what
assistance could he be, he who bent under
tne weight of nis own destiny »

Jo^^/y^^^,^^^"^^^^^^'' "«'' he cried,
excitedly. 'Respect my misfortune, do not
mock my distress. From the bank where
jou stand do not call to your assistance an
unfortunate who is drowning ; look not for
Bupport to a reed beaten by the winds '

friend, responded Madeleine, ' let us
lean upon each other, and we shall resist
contrary wir.ds. Let us extend to each other

frnm T^ ^,f' ''"t^^ «'>»" *°g«ther escape
from the billow which threatens to engulf
us; by a common effort, we shall come to
the bank where I now am not, although it
pleases you to think so. Come, Maurice
take courage. Instead of lamenting and
bury,n^ yourself, rise again. Peath is on"y
R«S' "P'^V'"^; Live-be a man, indeed^
Reality alone is fruitful; it is only neces
earytoknow it to uuderstand and love i.
W e are poor ; but is it for nothing that we
have receive' from Heaven intelligenr
strength and health? We shall do, 5
cousin, as many others that are our peers
have done as the marquise and chevalier
formerly did. We shall work like two
children ofthe good God.'

This perspective did not appear to charm
Maurice, who allowed a fierce gesture to
escape him, in which was betrayed both dis°
dain and anger.

'I shall make wooden toys, is that it?'
He demanded, shruggmg his shoulders.

vv hy not, my cousin ? Your father did

y^u.fim'a'nr'''*' ''^' " ^^^^^^^^ "
Maurice rose, walked twice the length

Madeleine""'' "^^ '''^^'^ "^'""^tly before
•Well, Maurice, a good movement T cried

resolutely the pale and gentle creature.

'Well, then, my cousin, be content,' said
ne, m a merely polite but not very aflfection-
ate tone. 'I shall do for you what I cer-
tainly should not have done for myself : I
will live. ' •'

. ' Thank you, my cousin.' said Madeleine,
in a tender tone. « Ah ! you are good, and

J J j^,^^" *'^"* y"" ^o"!*! »'ot refuse me ! '
added she, taking his hand and pressing it
to h^r heart. 'I shall pray to Heaven
morning and evenintr. that it shed upon you
head the dew of its benediction.'

- Enough, enough, my cousin,' answered
Maurice, withdrawing his hand with some-
what bad grace and putting it into his
pocket. God must have much to do, and
one ought not to trouble Him for so little,
u „ V^^ ' ^"* "" condition that, when
we shall have assured your destiny, I shall
again become free and master of mine.'
^ That is very good,' said the young girl,
^i r,i" .•'f.'^y P'"'^ie"t8 for organization;
we shall talk fraternally about them.
1 am sure, in advance, that you will approve
ot them. Heaven and you assisting, I de-
mand not more than two years to establish
myself comfortably in life.'

'Two years 1 you demand two years''
exclaimed the young man with a move-
ment of stupor that he did not try to dis-
semble.

Is that exacting too much of vou ? Be as-
Bured my friend, that I shall neglect no-
thing to abridge this time of probation,' said
Marieieine with a sad smile,

Maurice terminated the conversation by a
gesture of heroic resignation.

While this was going on, Ursule, leavine
her place, precipitated herself like a water*
spent into the room and threw herself upon
the neck of her young master, who escaped
peevishly from the eflFervescence of a bois-
terous tenderness.

Standing in the embrasure of a window
pale, immobile and hands clenched, he re-'
garded alternately these two women; he
?^^, °. ^"?*®'^ without circumlocution
that he had both of them on his arms ; and
m spite of himself, quivering with hatred
and rage, he felt kindling in his heart the
appetite of a fierce beast ready to throw it-
self upon its prey.

However it would be but a postponment.
L^T^xu^ regulating the future he con-
Med to the morrow. Maurice conducted
Madeleine as far as the door of the little
notoi at which they were staying. He was
obliged to submit on the way to the provin-
cial questions and absurd amazements of
ursnle, who, taking the street lights for an
unequivocal sign of public rejoicing, and
having hved at all times in intimacy with

MADELEINH.

S?ve?v ?nf °^ ^\ '"•«"'^"' demanded
that the city was illuminated. Thwe

•tances, would have siugularly divert-
ed Maurice, only succeeded in e".
•aperatiDK him. He returned by the de
aerted quays.casting here and there an e«e;
look into the blacg and deep water of the
stream that appeared to beckon him Hav
d"fect?i"7rl-*° ^'' »P'"-t-ent8. he went

plating them with an ardent and sombre

;• Sleep," said he at last, letting the cover
■ ; sleep, faithful friends, till the

fall slowly , „.„„j,_
day of deliverance.
Awake you."

when I shall 'come to

CHAPTER VIII.

IN THE RIGHT.

fnJ**®^",'"^'?* <^*y« a^ter a few h6urs of
Irweakner'i^'"'- ''*""'=? «"•-«' -^^'-e" o1
L^eTff« I • ^"!'T *«*"'«* Madeleine, ex-
asperated a^^ainst himself. In what u:l^

^'^'hi'tH't ^^f'^y of I'- cUn oonleTu

•h^come^tT M "^^u-' ^''^' ^^"^ *'*'«had
•ne come to claim his protection ? Warn i>

of de^a h rs'iu?/ 'f ^"« 'f "ge - the armf
sLn c.f J "^^^^ ^"^ ^* »>««" the mis-
through lifeTwH'? ''°°'* *^«''- ««>»«'"«
a sUter t mL 7 ** !"°'1 *=°"^'l ^^^ do for
a Sid llJ^'^'^i^'ie besides, was no longer
L. t ^u^"*^^*^' 'he was twenty-two or

advln !I f ^"^^ "''"^^d decidedly the
And then f^"M« ^'"^""t kindred,
do for her? H^'''^' ^^''* ^"'"•d he

ed ;tetVno?h\^gTr%w\^^;irTo;

ir'the"™'""^ ^^ "^'^ roomrwhffl'epre!
seuted the price of his rent. If he had Z

eolTe. to kill himself, it was not merefy be

S;df^r''^*r'"*«^^'^<'=hi!^

considerable embarrassment. Work I the
word IS easily pronounced ; but. when one.

IS rooted in corruption and idlenPM ,* i. l

ti»]ity. He could no mof. Uv dim Ml
conto„ceot8oipio lh.„ to'L cC«l»"'
^P^Pk.; '"J. 'howl. l.i.oo».in VX'd'fJ

ner torm and shoulders, that had VBt thl
slender elegance and delicate graTe of^outh
Two severe braids of hair descenderalon;

t^stte'd^ClnarrS* f^"^
STnl-th chJrry-corourel SeU'^'sr;

mhcently dressed women, Maurice saw ^
his cousin only the appearance of agSte
It is very rare that one loses the tiste ?«;
honest things without losing at thesametiml
the instinct of the truly beLti ul. fort^ie^e
K^ul?*' atTi 1" • •"t'"**^^^ allied 1 t'o
wore thA . '° J'^y ""hest dress, she
wore the costume of girls of her country
shoes exposed, with silver buckles sh^^i
sk.rt, extravagant coiffure, which she had

r n" er: he'r^T^'^*^" "**»* *»»« intentln'o^
terhrother H^ ""'* agreeable to her fos-

Mauricf »«""'• """'"« *'"'• *^"« dressed out.
Maurice was overcome with laughter
immediately uDon enterin.. f. <c'-u- , ,

nd idleness, it is not
>e transplanted and
f order and work,
b to himself and e«-
er with rigid impar-
»re lay claim to the
1 to the chastity of
cousin appeared to
■desirable, .although
w appealed to hia
did not fully un-

had sounded his
ediment the eight
adjust passed had
iimself that at the

that vileness, to.
srhaps, be agitated

B reflections, irritat-
break the engage-
dy contracted the
e saw his cousin,
smilingly enter his
ainly attired in a
til, without other
wy olive-buttons
id continuing the
fell in thick folds
ite Chinese crepe,
led the contour of
hat had vet the
te graue of youth,
descended along
liteness of which
of light straw,
red taffeta. She
if blue moire, the
nsed of a single
k-bag hung upon
stomed to mag-
Maurice saw in
ice of a grisette.
5S the taste for
; at the same time
dutiful, for these
ly allied. As to
ohest draas, she
of her country,
' buckles, short
which she had
the intention of
seable to her fos-
limbs, full hips,
and Vermillion
imousin extrao-
tius dressed out,
laughter.
i» f**7 11 aiic iiaa
sitations of her
be seated near
n time to revert
Q the preceding

MADELEINE.

evening, she explained to him how she ex-
pected to arrange tiieir life.

They were going to seek at first, in wme
retired quarter, under the same roof, two
•mall rooms, one for Maurice, the other tor
her and Ursule, where they would install
themselves plainly, as now be(itt^d their
humble condition. Madeleine had saved
from the wreck of her fortune some diamonds
that she had received from the good mar-
quise, and that she had believed she miizht
carry away without scruple. The sum that

^2 V^t ''^"^^ *'■«'» t^^'"- «ale woul,l
BU&ce for the expense of their installation,
snd also satisfy their needs for the immediate
future. Provided she was directed by a firm
hand, protected by a faithful heart. Made-
leine did not doubc her ability to bui d a nest
according to her taste. She had, as the
common saymg is more than one string to
her bow. She embroidered as if oy ma«ic
and her crochet haod-work of gold and 81^
tissue was done with a taste and fiuiah truly

^n^ffl'n''"'-.;,^^ painted upon wood biS
and flowers that, when varnished, possessed
the vmd light of flowers and bUs of the
tropics. She could give music and singing

m!?"'- A^^^^^y' **'»"^« ^ *he car? o?
Madame de Fresnes, she excelled in portra"
painting ; either out of respect to thememorv
of the marquise, or because it was in reality
the most evident and surest of her resource/
It was here that she centred her hopes li
u evident that she did not lack talent •* sh"
possessed in addition to »U. that winjed
o^irage that makes light of obstaclesT tfat
•pontaneous energy m which one is never
•ware of any elort, that charming gaX
Which smgs and laughs, together with the
will which works. It was therefore almost
immediate y decided that Madeldue should

at Z^.l^'T.*"?"/ "^^ '•«J°'°«^ I'ke a child
at the thought of living in Paris as the «ior

evef bL Wh' "'"^"^"d that this had
!ffi fJt ■ ''''**'"• I* might even be
affirmed that in thi^ sense there wm s^,me
thing in the loss of her fortune that did not

frel':Ti!^\^\*° ^^^'»\"««. he remled
tree t,o act as he chose and obey his insoiri-

^TV:^'"'^^ asked himto^su tJinTud
direct her hrst steps in the world and "n
the career into which she was going to ven
ture. At the end of two yearsf as Vey had
agreed, he would recover his independence
and become again master of his Un des
-i ?;, .^'"' .."" that time. Madfil«in-
^vum nave tue right to lean uponWm
M If he were her brother; and, to escaoe
the comments of malignity L well B^tSl
greater weight and authority to t^ecuar
a^anship that he exeroiseJ. he sh^ouTd

pass in effect as her brother before the
public : a pious falsehood that Heaven would
witness without anger. AH this was said
wit 1 such verve and animation, that Maurice
could make no objection ; with such grace
aud beautiful humour, that he could not. from
time to time, refrain from smiling. How-
ever when the girl had finished spetking. he
shook h,s head with the air of a man but
Uttle touched or convinced ; but rising and
taking him by the hand without hesitetiou.
she said : '

'My cousin, from to-day our fraternity
commences. Kemember, besides, that your
1 11°"^}^'^ ,'°® 'laughter and that I was in-
deed his dear y loved child. The day is fine;
let us take advantage ,if it, and go and seek
under some modest roof lodgings more suit-
able to our convenience. You may choose
the locality. For you must be anxious to
leave this apartment, whose luxury mocks
your poverty. Let us go then as soon as
possible and.' added she gaily. • try to leave
here ihatj sombre and sullen air that is
not appropriate to your age, and that ill
becomes you, I assure you. '

«;.,'/fhJ^''%*T^' ^^*' '^y y°^°S master,"
said the good Ursule in her turn, ' you must
iaugh, play, amuse yourself. You are only
twenty-niue ; you can only be Saint Nicaise.
i hat IS a beautiful age 1 Zounds, you will
see what a beautiful household we three shall
make, and what care I shall have »er you
two. Come : all is not yet lost, since you
ha^e left health, youth and your foster-sister
to make you. as at Valtravers, rolls and
buckwheat pancakes that you loved so well '
lathe meantime Madeleine led Maurice
away, who showed, while being conducted,
the eagerness of a condemned person going
to the block. Passing through the dooiway
he turned and perceived Ursule, who was
preparing to follow him.

' ^*i^°"Y ' *™ y°" S^^'^a with us ? ' de-
manded he, brusquelyscamiing her from head
to toot.

'What I I go with you r cried the good
girl with naive astouishmeut. ' My younc
master, do you think that I have put on mv

holiday dress for nothing ? '
'But. poor creature.' said

.^r^^'.A^^'T^^ture.'^said Maurice with a

1 11 r ^ «-«Bi»iiuro. eaia iviaurice
dull fury that he scarcely concealed, • you
are not then awa. e, you do not then under-
stand that you will be regarded as some rare
animal in all the streets through which we
may pass ? ' o wo

,» r '-"'•'^•"7^^'- «ii fiiia. my yoang mabter,'
replied Ursule. tossing her head. • For my
part, I shall not be ashamed to show to your
Parisians of what stuff the girls of Valtravers
are made. Seeing me they will say. ' There
IS the foster sister of Monsieur Maurice

MADELEINE

and, save your respect, I dare believe that it
will contribute to your honour," added she
making a courtesy.

Re8is;iied to drain tt>e cup even to the
dregs, Maurice responded uhis time only
with a gesture of dull despair. A
few minutes later they were walkine
along the boulevards, Madeleine upon
the arm of her cousin, Ursule following
close behind, head erect and shoulders
thrown back, her face beaming with joy and
her arms aitimbo, beating back the billows of
the crowd like a ship in full sail and signals
flying. It was indeed one o: those splendid
days when Paris opens her gilded cages and
lets loose her prettiest birds-one of those
joyous suns that causes to pour forth upon
the glittering pavements of the great city a
whole population of elegant voutlis and smil-
ing women. To the lively regret of Ursule,
who already obtained a complete success,
and for whom every step was marked as
a genuine triumph, Maurice hastened to
leave those quarters which had witnessed
80 many times the dazzling splendour of his
mistresses and his horses. The place, in-
deed, was no longer supportable. Without
•peaking of her costume, which excited the
curiosity of the passers, Ursule, thinking her
young master was as well known in Paris as
m Neuvy-les-Bois, addressed him, from time
to time, m a loud voice, with some astound-
ing question, in order to show clearly that
she belonged to his company. At other
times, when the crowd became too compact,
she grasped the skirt of his coat lest she
should lose him and go astray. From time
to time, Maurice half turned and launched a
furious look upon her, to which the brave
girl naively responded by s broad smile or
by some characteristic gross playfulness.
Ihe poor fellow was on the rack. He had
indeed thought at first to hide his shame by
taking a carriage ; but his cousin had ob-
served that such grand style hardly befitted
their humble station. The sky was clear,
the walks were dry, and simple good sense
told them that it was not necessary to take
a coach to look for rooms. As to Madeleine,
she advanced with feet as light as those of
some bird, exhibiting neither trouble nor
surprise at the noise and movement which
occurred around her, apparently unconscious
of the tierce mood that her companion
scarcely took pains to hide, solely preoc
cupied with the thought of the existence
that they wore about to commence, and re-
veahng the joy of a young spouse that
hascens to asbumo her household duties.

They gained in this manner the left bank
of the river. Near to the entrance to the
Louvre, at the moment when thev entered I

upon the quay, that which Maurice most
dreaded happened. Having stopped to allow
au open caleche to pass, which Advanced »T
a rapid trot, drawn by two Mecklenboure
horses he was recognized by a merry com-
pany bound for an excursion to the woo(is.
It was the choicest flower of the society in
which he lived. With a movement of^/e"
spect too profound to be sincere, four or
Mm.'Li^ ^'l^' r^^^'^ gravely 'towards
throwing around him a penetrating odour
of cigars and patchouly, the poor fellow,
transhxed with shame and rage, heai^ a
Jong peal of laughter. In that instanVhe
experienced an almost irresistible longing
to throw Ursule and Madeleine into thf

Ivfrf ^'^K^''^ been in setting out, religious-
ly resolved to keep his promise of the ore-
ceding evening this promenade, like that of
a convict with ball and chain, would have
been sufficient to demonstrate beyond ques-
tion that it was beyond his power to render
the devotedness that he had promised To
live two years of such a life was to undergo
a continual death of two years duratiol
However, Maurice felt, at the same time^
that even were he the worst of men, he could
not refuse to protect these two poor creatures
lost in Pans, with no other guide or support
but himself. Although he might not K
recoiled from a crime, he had a horror of
fc'T- .^f'^'-f "t^i'ce. he indulged since an

Ursule; but to unworthily abandon two
women who had come to place tdemselvea
under his protection, he could not summon
resolution to do it. ""muu

Ma- rice therefore continued to walk towards
tne locality that Madeleine had inSeu?
aince she wished to retire into an honest and
secluded quarter of Paris, he thought that
the environs of Luxembourg would be abls
to realize the wishes of his cousin. Besides,
in contenting himself to live near her some
months, in this quarter at least, asylum of
science and liberal studies, he supposed he
would be almost sure never to meet any in-
dividual of his acquaintance. After havina
sought vainly,in the adjacent streets, lodgings
that conformed alike to the poetic instincts
and to the modest ambition of the youna
German, they took dinner plainly in the
neighbourhood of the Observatory, which
did not contribute to lighten the humour of
Mauru>«. whnm «.>«.►„-,. ••« ut

often repeated had disposed to a less frucal
denouement. I ought to add. that even in
face of suicide he had carefully preserved
habits which were not at aU those of an

MADELEINE.

which Maurice moRt
ftvini; stopped to aJlow
Bs, which advanced at
y two Mecklenbour^
sed by a merry oom-
lursion to th«5 woodB.
iver of the society in
» a movement of re-
> be sincere, four or
ed gruvely towards
sarriage had passed,
a penetrating odour
ly, the poor fellow,
1 and rage, heard a
In that instant he
irresistible longing
Madeleine into the

setting out, religious-
promise of the pre-
)raenade, like that of
chain, would have
istrate beyond ques-
his power to render
had promised. To
life was to undergo
two yeara duration.
, at the same time,
jrst of men, he could
se two poor creatures
»er guide or support
he might not have
ie had a horror of
he indulged since an
ringing the neck of
•thily abandon two
;o place ttaemselves
could not summon

i)ling ^ith pasuon,
ued to walk towards
sine had indicateu.
B into an honest and
I, he thought that
org would be able
is cousin. Besides,
ive near her some
it least, asylum of
9, he supposed he
er to meet any in-
ice. After having
ent streets, lodgings
lie poetic instincts
tion of the young
aer plainly in the
•bservatory, which
ken the humour of
>' asccnsioas too
id to a less frugal
add, that evcn in
arefully preserved
l> all those of an

•nohorite. He maintained especially ele-
gance of service, and, though wearied and
dissalistied with everything, he did not
a4uiit that a gentleman, were ho on the
point of taking his own life, would ever ven-
ture to put the same fork into two different
dishes. He was exceedingly fastidious in
eatiug and drinking. Ursule literally de-
Toured her food ; Madeleine declared that
she had never tasted so charming a repast.
On their way back, in their search, as they
discovered no house that attracted them,
they entered with one accord into a street
whose quite rural aspect immediately capti-
vated Madeleine : a secluded street, opening
at one end into the Boulevard des luvalides,
at the other into the Rue du Bac, wliose
celebrated fountain Mme de Stael re-
stored. Thanks to the increase of population
and to the progress of industry, in five
hundred years there will not be in the
whole world a refuge for reverie ; a<-
this street is to-day scarcely more than a
double row of houses more or less new, ugly
and wretchedly built. It might then have
been taken for some quiet hamlet, or, at the
very least, th< green faubourg of some small
village hidden in the surrounding foliage.
During the beautiful season, one breathed,
penetrating into this street, the odour of
Au °''*'*« perfume of lindens in bloom.
Above the walls of hedges, acacias, labur-
nams, the trees of Judea shook their odorous
clusters. In the heart of the parks, where
the whi8tle.pipe sang during the pleasant
summer nights, through palings, they per-
TT! '"'*""f"l. silent mansions, and pretty
children running upon the lawns. It was, in
a word. Rue de Babylone, so named either
because of its gardens, or because it might
have been formerly the habitation of the bi-
shop of the ancient city of Semiramis. Ur-
sule believed herself to be at Valtravers, and
asked where the Vienne flowed. Madeleine
exclaimed that it would be happiness for her
to live in this village lost in the bosom of
fans. As for Maurice, it was a matter of
complete indiflfereace to him. The prayers of
the young girl were anowered. She found in
one of the rare houses which cropped up here
andtiiere from the surrounding landscapj,
twosmull adjoining apartments, separated
trom each other— one for Maurice, consisting
of two rooms ; the other of three, for Ursule
and herself ; all somewhat high under the
roof, but screened by immense trees. Ma-
deleine sensibly preferred to hav« WforA h^r
windows an ocean of verdure rather than the
colonnade of the Louvre.

In Shis way ended this day, which gave
Maurice a foretaste of the delights in store
for hiia. The day after and the following

days were still ruder and more laborious,
lo select the branch in which to build the
nest was not all — they must bring hither
twigs, down and moss. With Ursule alwavs
at his heels, Maurice was compelled to ac-
company Madeleine into stores and shops, to
see and examine everything, to hear prices
discussed and debated, he who had never
haggled in his life, and who made it a point
of honour to pay more than otlicrs. Though
she possessed a keen percpfLiou of the reali-
ties of life, though uaturiiiiy endowed with as
much reason as grace, Madeleine exhibited a
considerable degree of indifference and neglect
in her diverse purchases : she showed tha.
infantine joy which cares iittle for Hijures
and scarcely stops to calculate ; but Ursule
who imagined that the shopkeepers wished
to impose upon her business capacity,— the
relentless Ursule raised at every step inter-
miuable difficulties, and defen('3d the inte-
rests of her.superiors with a greedy uaisi-
moniousness that would have done hono'ur to
a Jew. Somewhat violent in her language
like the servants of Moli^re, she dis-
puted with the clerks, called them bluntly
cheaf« and rasciils, so that indeed they
were nore than once compelled to politely
request her to leave the shop. Maurice be-
lieved that she was out of her mind. He
consigned Ursule to all the fiends ; but
Ursule still persisted, knowing well that the
public vehicles did not travel that way. It
was only by threatening to send her back to
Valtravers that Maurice was able to make
her moderate her suutimpnts.

Finally, at the end of the week, at the
most, our three companions took possession
of their little domain. On a beautiful
morning, a hackney-coach, drawn by two
lean horses, stopped noisily at the door of
the sumptuous hotel at which Maurice still
stayed. Ursule and Madeleine got down.

'Come, Maurice, come, my brother,' ex-
claimed the young girl, entering the room of
her cousin, with the eagerness and lightness
of a fawn playing upon the turf of some
wooded glaae ; ' the great day has arrived.
There remains for you only ^o bid a final
adieu to this fhrniture, to these carpets, to
these curtains, to this gilded ceiling. You
will not find their equivalents where we are
going ; but poverty also has its luxury, and
happiness does not need such macuificent
lodging.'

'Poor lamb 1' said Ursule, with an iuef-
fahl.'s espression of tendef ticss, who was beside
herself with joy at the thought of living with
her young master. ' We are going to love
and cherish him, humour and pet him ! He
wi 1 believe himself again at Valtravers.
And what pleasures, Sundays and holidays,

MADELEINE.

when wo shall have worked all the week t,,
go out w« king, we three together in the
BuW.0 gardens 1 Hold me.Monsienr Maurice
I am too happy! See me sutfocatir th«
impulse 18 stronger than I , I TuV" Ikrni
dieul I mu8t embrace you ' """' •l*'^°>

th«l t^'^^^u v.""'" *''« excellent creature

Sx'\'nf t':yirTtr'' '^^^"^*"-

efforts that he'maX t^ undo'^^r^^el'rZic

tTh^":h:et:^^ '-'^ '--^*"« -=

♦j./.'k*"*" Vi^" .*:"« ' *h« hour had sounded

c5me^" H '"h ^*""*'' '""r^^' should nevi
come. He had counted upon unforeseen
hmdrances, upon insurmountable obstacTr

Even hrL'^°°' I' }^ ^y ^"chantment
hiZ^lAtf «^«°'"g before, he had said to
himself that some accident must necessarilv
happen, which would draw him from th^
•trange position in which he found Tmself
driven and nothing had come, nothinrex

SolT? i/ ^''^ '"■■* ^"°* ^""^ ^""t « «ee^
■ttecou r it was now too Wte, a* *i,

nieutof crossing the t^reihoTd ^tltZ
never to repass, about to separate bimrelf
i^^u "u'^J^"^' '""''^«' wi'ich his turbSent

man t A*"^ *:''" ^'"*«'^' ^^""ce was not a
man to burst out with plaintive elegies in
poetic adieux. Besides, very ditfereut frn-
Peaces ,n which one has'auff/red aud whTch

wh.ch life has boen poorly spent can Lev«r K
considered as a native country and o„« ^^

Slthath l^'''"i'*V«°^«y *« the carriage
h iml ^ belonged to him, then casting arouud
him a dry :^nd melanct.oly look, he took un

n.?f ^l\u"" ^'^ "'"^ "^ P»^ols. he thre w hfm
out of the room, beariue awav thni ii u™'

fortune and hi; Imlole Lfh^! "".*"*
there might have been sin hi ? """*"*
the face ^f MadefeineTreStionr t?at"r
lestial joy which must illumiie the f«i ^"
StVui^" ''-y' -«-«. ''"^« bi^kt God'

9 '

CHAPTER IX.

A HARD WOHT.

MS-icewZ^::'''^i°«'''^'°'' Madeleine and
were hn mil «""* »««°'="Py near each other
were numble rooms ; but a uoet w..ni i u
been enraptured by them at \ T ^^''^

of the furniture. The rnnm "„f lu ^^'""^
German was covered with an ^i ^^^''^
paper, gathered togll^tt "t.rSi.n ,

aciuths. The inrnif?, '^ • ™'*"'' ■"<» hy.
Chair, of pla'^'d^Trccirane ^?lf "^ ^*

-!^Sg^=^;n£^f^^^

^eraa amp% Sz^urffn "t.'^'"**''^ ""•
tiie paper of the room. Near th« "'"°.^''*
was «ti«n a table covered with K t *">dow
of colours and porceTam n^i^^ ^'"'^t'' '"'^«

belonged to thramSiCquisT 'rf '*"*
ble inautel-niecB ha,j '"'*'^1"'so. Ihemar-

ti>an two Crlcott v^^" «">*gmentB

shaped mouths • Samples o7 th""'*^ .''^"•
01 Ziegier : while wfif kt ''*® Pottery
h.artii*' and bS T' hf f''"']'^^^- the
disappeared under a thick cn^h?'^'*^** ^'^
'nos«. AttheheadoftheC "f.f/ 8'«*"'
served to sustain a lamr.m„'* ^'^^^^ *»ble
its copper suo^t t^^ """'^ *t will upon

one co?ld sS LaJirCCn\"*«°*'''?'
was so clear and shiuX iJl"''^ ^T''*
the mirror hum; 8«v«r!.i*t • *** °°« "«*« of

«ie Freshes *devou^f„'^""""'"*'«°f J^«d««ne

others, aifd'aced co"/ o?Te"^*^ '■ '''"r*

Madame de Mirbel u?V,iS! n '«,'"' "*"

not have been afrai.l to o"n^ S'Vk'' """u"^**

side were some movable «rJ!j *^® "'her

acordoiblue silk ?ni ? /? retained by

aried liowers nLt^ . ?''*"^ ^'^^ books.

brought from\tSter'^'' irSa^'^^^'y

1 have said, opened upon » park at fh '^LT

torn of wnich a crave hol>i ?^ ' "^ t^® bot-

melancholy medSn Th!''''''*''*'^ t° be in

was of iike^c^aSSer 'fiiJ' '■?^'^ of Maurice

therein habits o^plans^o/ wo^s^ "^^''t

some object upon wnioh tl\.t^^ ' ^ "*«'^

or souvjnir Z^ldlT, ^J^'r^ta"'^^ "^r

were bare; the curuinlesa HpH h / ^'^'"

and cold aspect. '^""-''««« bed had » hard

• To be sure, it is not beautiful • saiH nr.
poc^^':t^ni"cli'o"tmir^Vu%r?'".'^

=rs.^i--fSiS^3 ^

suspect, and wL^h to my^'Ud 'T

our loverwVdtin ; Z^Zl^:" S" L"
ways the walls of a palace" ^ ' " '^'

aovrn here and ther«
wnks, roBe^ ana hv-

waa of walnut, the
caoane. The bed-a
lume litUe couch of
hidden chastely nn-
irtain that matched

-Near the window
with brushes, boxea
)amt-cup8 that had
narquisc The mar-

other ornagments
vases with bell-
8 of the pottery
ug November, the
ne tire-place had
t cushion of green

' ^od, a little table
lovujg at will upon
•pets were wantinir.

the French floor.it

Aloaa one side of
natures of Madame
reserved ; amoca

tue Virgin, that
ime David would
" ; on the other
Blvea retained by
^(led with books,

minerals piously
i'he window, at
park, at the bot-
appeared to be in
!5 room of Maurice
nothiug betrayed
works; to seek
btach some hope
ivain. The walls
ed had a hard

iti/ul," said Ma-
iuto his new
is no room so
adorn it better
e able to do it.
}, our joys and
mture and de-
t do not even
»y mind, are
wlka, rosewood

1 which witness
hopes, are al>

scted Mam ice,
Jk around his
• Finally his
led his hands,

upjn his bed
ided of himself

what incredi-
ted things to
tiimiielf ox im-

MADELEINE.

becility, and blasphemed the name of his
cousin. During this time, Madeleine busied
herself m putting in order her paints, brushes
and other instruments, as much at ease al-
ready in her new condition as if she had
never known any othor.niore carried away by
her poverty than she had been by her fortune
when she was left possessor of Valtravers,'
after the death of the marquise. Ursule was
also at work ; she put the things in order
scrubbed and polished, singing all the while
m a full voice a chanson of her country. At
the end of an hour Maurice went out. The
voice of his foster-sister, which he heard
through the partition, capped the cli-
max of his rage. He wandered till even-
ing through the city, knowing not where
he went nor even caiing to ask himself,
lowards eleven o'clock chance led him
back almost to the point from which he
had set out. Vivid gleams of lightning
pierced the darkness ; the thunder muttered
savagely ; large drops of rain were begin-
ning to fall. M.aurice, who in reality had
no other retreat than his attic in the Rue de
Babylone, took refuge there. UrsuJe was
waiting his return. Having hastened to the
landing at the sound of her young master's
step, she was struck with terror by the pallor
of his countenance. His lips were livid •
sunken in their orbits, his eyes burned with
a feverish light. The good girl, seriously
alarmed, wished to conduct him to Made-
leine, who was accustomed to sit up very late*
but he repelled her with impaience* and
passed by her to his room. Seated near the
open window, he remained till morning list-
omng to tne trees of the park groaning under
•the assaults of the wind, regarding the
heaven, less sombre and less temptestuous
than his own soul. He went to bed with a
lever, and was delirious when they came to

They despaired of his life for some days
In preseoca of reality, the unfortunate youth
aai not been able to endure the look of that
rude company that he had not believed so
near; hke Don Juan when he touched the
hand of marble, Maurice had felt thunder-
^IT ^ V*''i'*r«'* o^ science, youth which
was not dead m him— more than all. the
passionate solicitude of Madeleine and
Ursulme, recalled him gradually to life.
Ihey put forth every exertion to save him.
and no mother ever showed more devoted-
nesstohersuflTering child, more tenderness
and love, than was exhibited bv th««» ♦-«
good creatures at the bedside of this young
man. Sickness is not, whatever one may
say such a bad guest. It has its good as-
pects ; did it serve only to make us appreci-
ate the alFection of the beings that are dear

tons itshouldnotbe too much slandered
Be8ide8,itha8 this excellence ; it buries bad

lTraT:i' l'^"""" ^"'^''''^ ^'^^'^' »n"'^nd»
Hcross its kuee, as a willow stick, the most
intractable natures. Thus this ungovernable
Maurice allowed himself to be nursed with!
out remonstrance. More than once he
hanked with a tender eye MadeleLe' and
Ursule, seated near him ; his subdued hand
sought more than once the hand of h^
cousin. " "'■

One day, perceiving above his head

death of the cheveiier, he teok it and re.

mained contemplating it for a long time, ad-

dressing it ,n a voice stiHed bv tue sobs of

touching words of regret ami repentance

Madeleine and Ursule \ept also,1^urwith
tears f j„y. ^ ^H ^^ '^ l^

upon a corner of the mantel a box of
mahogany that he had never before no-
's a stat«°'?^r""'' "' " ^«" ""'O^n.
ILw •%**"** "^ 'n»°y respects re

TiZJ^^T^- '^^' «•""« weaknew
ot organs, the same naive enchantments,
vhe same curiosity that the lea»t littli
thing suffices to awaken or amuse ; it is lie
recommencmg-it is. in fact, anotheJ ch Id*
hood. Maurice caused this box to he
brought to him ; he raised the cover and
recognized, arranged with symmetry in tS
compartments of green velvet, tLZ^Z
ments which he had formerly used, with
h« father, to carve walnut, pearwood and

h.lf ^ ' ' ^f\^ Madeleine, 'it is all that I
nave been able to save of your patrimony

L Zli't^^'^Z T'''.^"°» be^disXLfd
^aJ^ u *^^^^ "^^^""^ '° yo"*" possession,
for ^not T ^°" T''** ^« «^**«f"l to ">•
8tranget.''*''"« *^'™ *° '''« "^'^V of

w« th V"''"^"''^ ^'°'^*'" immediately (it

the vou?/" V™', '5*' ^J' K''^^ »>«'• this name
the young girl paled and appeared agitated) •

>s, you have done well. Opening thi»

y^aVes'aT' "" "" """''' "' "^ >''"•'«
' When It is remembered,' added Ursule.
that with those things there, M. le CW
her earned his bread with the inttdels 1 M. *e
Cnevaher, » nobleman, a great lord an
am ocrat, what 1 And to say that with his

r-' "® """6 ^ii«:re ail his lile ! to say that

he was not ashamed to work like a child of
the people I There's one that wasn't proud ;
and yet he was a proud man. '
helrt'^'' '"'^ ^»deleino, 'his waa a noble

MADELEINE.

'And Madame la Marquise,' cried Uraule

ri^'^Th''"""""'^ ^° «*°P "'■"'■t in hei
path. There e one who wasn't kept knock-
iDK long at the door of heaven. To thTnk
that such a great lady, who had been at
court, painted portraits of a lot of beer
drinkers and souikrout eaters, when it would
have been so easy to live better and richer I
Jariudieu 1 She was a grand woman.'
tifnU 'dl.'* '^*^''^«'"«' ' *»«" vvas a beau-

'Like yours, brave demoiselle,' responded
Ursule, bearing with respect the fingers o
Madeleine to her lips. « " "»

Like people who hear a fable without
heeding the moral, Maurice heard all this
and hardly thought to a«k himself whethe;
there was not therein some advice directed
perchance at him. That which is especially
charminur ,„ convalescence is the complete
absence of all preoccupation for the future
Too weak yet to launch ourselves beyond
the present hour, we take refuge wholly in
the sentiment of our own conser'vanov VVe
feel that we exist-this is enoui-h. Unfortu-
nately, a condition 80 sweet cannot endure j

tie by httle, with health, the burden of
life IS resumed.

Though out of danger and almost wholly
recovered, Maurice was yet extremely weak,
and either because his condition still de'
manded assiduous care, or in order to cheer
and amuse him, Madeleine and Ursule passed
the greater part of their time near him.
In accordance with a wish that he had himl

work into the room of her cousin ; she
worked there during the day, frequently she

71°^"a ^^T'^^ "'" "'«^'* Shi p2ted!
embroidere.! or crocheted, while Ursule

thrslitTl^^"'*; .^'^'^"^ l>-d. at first, found
this little mtenor-picture charming; but,
the inhrmities of his heart and spirit re-
vmng ,n proportion as his physical reco-

Sf!^T'*:u'''' ^,^.^^S^^ to be secredy
irritated by the solicitude of the two wo-
men who remained at his bedside. Already
tae consciousuess of the burdens and duties
saspended on his head mysteriously oppress-
ed him like some noxious atmosphere] with-
out yet seeking to account for it, he heard
the dull rumbling of his destiny like the
distant noise of the in-rushing tide

One evening, when he appeared to be sleep.

2 ijrordiinH v hnn^ cn«^„^ i ,. '^

pens, of this sickness has caused our «

«: no^t tir'' """y- '."'^ •* this hour ther;-
are not two crowns in the house.'

i>on t disturb yourself, »ood Ursule T
expect to finish by to-morVoV the pa ntinJ

Hed with" % \rr' "^•'"y '^"« -
Ks V: Jvu^^*' ''e»"tiful and pretty
Diras ! \\e shall be very unluckv if I dnn%
succeed ,n putting this work Tn^thei°^J
store where they have already takon t^^^»
my fire-screens. This isn't aM T K ? °^
little reticules that reX aren't t *'""
tt: X' '" '"^ off- th- to' tt fs o7
1 n'^ a ^^^y^^^'^^ me that these trifles
bwngagood price in Paris. If we haDMen
to come to want well i fK«..« "appen

play, you will lose your beautiful blue «V«
"' vre?/ tr;//f.' ™T P-r"B "Ln all.-^"'
• T 211; ^ ' i^P*'^'^ Madeleine smilinir

thai fil ^^ marquise used to tell me

ember^ "'^uyt''.'": l^'^" ^'^e" at nT
^ ^,n *^ffi ^''^..^o'-ked night and day ; and

1 ., .. , -„<; J 1 V "Pi/oai cu to oe Sleep-
ing profoundly, both seated around the same
table, Madeleine and Ursule were conversing

I Ta'\^^u *?°*'' ^'^"e working by thi
shaded light of their lamp. ^

' Poor angel 1' said TTrsulo tl'—.-vdi;-- h —

nsedle, • I do not regret the' money' thlt he

has cost us. For him, I would pawn n.y

last morning cap and petticoat. But the ex-

beautiiul a f .w da s beforLTdLS And
then think, good Ursule, that for our dear

Xrt ' hI ^"*^ i^ *° ••^•i«"'"« courage and
ettort. His convalescence will be loni ner-
haps ; ,f we should not surround him wfth
every care that his staie requires Tow wa
should reproach ourselves ! what renTor^
would be ours 1 What would Maurice thLk
who consented to live only for us 7 '

Yes, exclaimed Ursule. turning a look
of adoration towards th; bed where her
young master slept. ' yes indp«T t u
been good and gen'tie en'ouV ^^e aa\'e t'
reason to complain. He ias sav.d goX
by friendship for us. at the moment when

„ffk Vu'^'"^.''°^P''°"<l he was to walk

tentto.workf:riirclin?,7t-isr
for he isan angel. Mademoiselle MadeSe-

fi J!?^^ conversed thus in a low tone up to
the hour at which Ursule compelled |Z|!?

repose. When about to w thdraw both
bending over the bedside of M,„rTJ' .ul^
remained some moments contemi,ratin^"in
sdence that pale face, to which suffeShad
Sd^ni'j;.^"'^^''^"'^''-"*- o^ Sdeur

MADELEINai

But Maurice had not slept. He had heard
everytb.og , the next day, he was on "in
teet As calm, as resolved as he had for-
h^.L been uncertain angry and impetuous,
he accepted, at last, the task bequeathed to
him. However, honest souls would have
^wlL""'""^* u'" *""butiuK this sudden
awakening of his will to a movement of re-
cognition and affection. With health.

mind. Thedevotednessof these two noble
creatures who had expended their last re-
sources at his bedside, far from touching

pride at the bottom of our hearts in order
to supply the need of virtue. In the present

.^r*''i-f!"'"^'?'''^'^*''« '"^''''cle that virtue
•should have done.

iaf^l >ra8 prepared without enthusiasm, it
18 true, but witnout hesitation, like a man of
honour who «„ht8a duel, l.ss by i, clination
than by necessity. But what could he do ?
To work 18 soon said ; but he must know

Thr,w''t.-^^"'"'ir**'y'' ""-^ "ut.crackers?
This would do at Nuremberg, in the country
oftoy-makers As concern^ wood carvS
there were a/housand difficulties. For the
indolent, the avenues of labour are always
encumbererVwith obstacles. Besides, he had

Se^ 'f/'^'r'".* '^ ^""K *»>»* he had for-
gotten it. As to mental labour, he could
not dream of it It was not that* he St
not have been fitted for that kind of lifSt
literature that is so successful in the present-
nnfortunately, at that epoch. letteVs pos
caTof ^nVn ?■•««»'««■ /"d the most ilffi
of tr-i a *** °°' y^* *'«''°'°« the easiest
nnf K '• u ^^""^ y^*""" '**«•-. Maurice might
not hare hesitated, and we should have at

tti"" r*»'«r8'-e-t writer. To come a
the proper time IS one of the greatest secrets
h 8 cousif fthf ''" ^i".. Maurice consulted
gen^eness ': *^' ^""°« «''^ ^"'"^•'•^d with

^I^-!"/ '"J^y^ Nothing 18 urgent. You
are still weak and suffering. Recover vour

ed ?f 'I' '^'. ••«'* ^^'1 <=<""« later! Pro^vi"

ficient Clf ^.l" P'-°*««'io". that is sS-

yourselT w?rt ^^^\l^ ™°"; ^° °«* <J'«t»^b
yourself with anything. I am strong • I

have good courage. I shall work for Vou

work tor me with happiness.'

As might be seen, such words only irritat
ed the pride of Maurice. Here is the mea„8
that chance, or rather Providence t,mk
through the medium of Madeleine, t'o ^:i

openito hlL"'" "'" "^^ '"^^ way that w=aa

CHAPTER X.

OOOD ACCOUNT.

In a wing of the house, vis-a-vis to th« Ak
tics in which Maurice and Arde^eine lived
was a modest tenement composed of S
rooms, occupied by a f.m/ly ' of^^ounj
artizans, cah.aet-makers by trade. Thehus
band was called Pierre Marceau. He wa" a
good and agreeable young man of not n^re

charn.ing i„ his grey luse'that" pa^tK
leather girdle conHned closely to h*s^vSoJ
ousand supple form. He made no vS'
and had no lyre but his plane and chisel'
Up with the suu, he worked merrilv frn™
momng till night, as if convLTd thi^ IZk

bes sv's em h^:'r^/'^*"•« P*"P'«' ""d the
uest system hitherto dev «ed for amelinrTf

ing the condition of working LnCouJ"

teous and gentle, his wife occupied he«elf

with her needle-work near him, keeping I^i

the while her eyes upon her two little fmn-

; playing around their father. MarceauTef?

to' h''".J''-^"°*'*' ^••°'" time to J^'*
to bend over the embrJ,idery of T!

without interrupting his work, the yoad;
man caught the refrain in a proud andS5
onsvoce. When the day^Ipproache??^'
close, the pretty household'^ bus'^ed Ttself in

Tin^ ^ 1 . P™'*'^ .°^ *he children. Thev
lingered long around the frugal table «n J
prolonged the evening amid familiar cC
Leaning his elbows upon the window .f,!?'
port, Maurice was frequently selnfoH^r'''
with a careless eye a?l th7 detail^ "rtS?
honest and industrious interior Not tl.f
he found therein the least intereit. or ouJht
salutary instructions : it was simplJ a "di.

t„7r- V.°'"''P"*' Madeleine was^leased
to follow the sequence of lif« nf *hi^ P'easea

nerrt: Marceau had come more than onoe'to
ask concerning his condition. One morn?nl
having noticed that the cabinet-maker w^
planing and cutting oak, as formerly mI^
rioe m company with the chevalier had done
the young girl began to watch him with at.'

MADILEINE.

tention. Bending over hia work-bench, near
to the open window, Maroeau appeared ab-
•orbed by some difficulty that he was tryinc
in vain to surmount. All at once, with one
of those violent gestures which betray the
feeluig of impuissauce. he threw dov/n his
tools, aud struck his forehead iu despair •
then, with his arms crossed upon hia brwkst'
he remained sUndins: in an attit ade of pro-
found discouragemeat. The young wife
having approached him to try, with caresses
and soft words, to raise his languid couraae
for the hrst time, perhaps, he repelled her
rudely, and tears of rage flowed down his
"u*^ .u The young wife began to weep,
while the children, intiuenced by the ex'
ample, cried still louder. At this scene of
desolation, Madeleine, moved by a good im-
pulse, left her room, and appeared a few
minutes later, in the midst of the little
household, whoae friendly curiosity she had
more than once awakened.

' Alas ! mademoiselle,' said the yoi '\g wo-
man whom she first cjueationed, • this is the
trouble : my husband must fill an order
thu very day, upon the success of which
resta our whole future. Either in acceptina
It he has over-ertimated his powers, or per-
haps hia talent has faUed ; my poor friend
feela the impossibility of performing well
the important work that has been entrusted
to him. My huabaud gribvea becauso of me
and our dear little ones ; I weep because I
■ee him wofping.'

*AhI maaemoiselle,' said the young work-
man, • may God pardon me for daring to
think that He had put in me the atuff of
which artisU are made I I am but a pitiful
creature, good at the most for planing plan*ks
and turning chair rounds.'

• You do not wholly understand it, mon-
sieur, replied Madeleine, gently ; ' talent
has Its hours like fortune. Mediocrity alone
18 always ready and never hesitates. Let
us see, monsieur, what is the matter.'

The thing in question was a piece of carved
wood .representing the figure of an archangel
destined to ornament one of the churches of
raria. The truth is the figure was badly
done. Although naturally indulgent, Ma-
deleine was obliged to acknowledge that if
the future of the young family seriou-ly
depended upon the merit of the work, there
was, indeed, every reason to despair. At
that maUnt she saw Maurice at his window
who, at a sign from his cousin, repaired
thither without manifesting much eaaer-
nesa. °

'See, my brother,' said she. • if there h«
not acme way of coming, to the assistance of
these two amiable young people, aud extri-
eating them from their embarrasamenU'

DoaraH fn ».;l ".■,*"• •"<» Madeleine ap-

hntlll.* ■• ^»""ce aaidnoi a word •

I ;: ** ?"'"'' "npelled leas by Koodness nf

Xi Wh^ '''' *?'«"'*»« «f makingTdis
P3ay he threw aside his coat, rolled un hi.
shirtsleeves, and. seizin.^ one of the instrJ
menta. he attacked resolutely he block of

Ce tJit r'""^ accompaniment of the

Ihh i**.*^^'? "^ ^''"»' did it conuTn only

fiowerthiTif '"^"•^''' ^''«" » therefu one

ad aplendour '•^'"*'?» '« »» i<» freehness

ThlTaU tho nfr '^ **"'■ J"'* "Panded.
xnou^n au the others are withered around it

Wh^on h" r^"''^ '" itacor^Ua, i
laugas on theendof its stalk »h.f ^^ _' j

can uproot, Thia immSrtXwer 5f the hu
man heart is called vanitv tk„. \i j ?
all that makes life JCSe. utVe^lf.
ed witn secret complacence the effect thatX
produced upon hisaudience. Under the stimu!
lus of amour propre. he had found again ^^f
by mag,c that skill and precision in fhe us^o!
S^valirr ^''l ,r/rr''y *''• pride oe ho

shook h'« f * u^ '''*■ victorious archang^
few hnSr» *:r^''"K *i"«8- At the end of a
few hour^ the bgure that Maurice had taken

i^ffuS ".**'' "^^'"''^ " '•e-t and pure
as If it had been cut in marble.

fj,« 4 **"'^*' •' " '' ^'^ 1»«. throwing down

the instrumenta and unrolling his sleeve •

It was not so very diflicult.' '

It 18 impossible to describe the ioy of *hfl

t? th'eii"h"'r^^- u ^'^^ *^» chil JrTn clap!
ped their hands, the young wife aud her

husband crowded around Maurice, comp"

Zt^C IT ^",^-"*.'f"» work, ble'sa.
l.^f ™.- .i* S"od action. Silent and
half-smilmg. Madeleine contemplated thj

i::%:XlZ%^y -he flattered'herLlf she
--.. ^^.,.ng in tJic mind ^t her cousin : but

Sure thilV't'''^^ .^''"««" »' ti** Billy pSS

•ure that he had juat tasted, and aa nothing

■itukt'on. M«u-
>f sculpture and
:amioinf{ it with
M, to apeak ex-
Jtt promiied no-
I bim, the young
d Madeleine ap.
y what he wai
»id not a word ;
hy goodness of
f making a dis.
t, rolled up hia
>e of the instru-
ly the block of
a nf Marceau.

secret. Stand-
templation, the
Jro^rcau of the
ork- bench each
ith their blonde
m, the children
tninieut of the
$row under the

passed through,
leart, were it
it contain only
s is therein one
1 itp freehness
ust expanded,
ered around it,
its corolla ; it
, that no wind
>wer of the hu-
fhus, dead to
tfaurioe enjoy-
) effect that iie
ider the stimu-
tiud agaiu,aa if
3n in the use of
le pride of the
le oontines of
3U8 archangel
t the end of a
lice had taken
leat and pure

jrowing down
; his sleeves ;

the joy of the
ihildren clap,
ivife and her
irice, compli-

work, bless-

Silent and

npiated this

i herself she

cousin ; but
ed to laugh
le silly plea-
td as nothing

MADET.EINE.

Memed to him more foolish than scones of
tenderness, he cut this on* »hnr* k„
in^ his coat. ^°'* ^^ '""™-

^rUA^ monsieur, you have saved my life,'
cried the young workman, with emotion.
«r A ,^^\ monsieur,' Maurice dryly re.

lit!'; P u ' "*«8«'-»'">n. otherwise 1 should
tharein have done you a very poor service
oiu.^.carcely worth 'the troubfe'oTSrg

With these words, pushing awoy some,
what rudely the two childrin thJt Xe
w"nt3 tT'^r. '"'"'P'°« ^•'' '"^«« he
hm room. Whence came this Herce humour ?
It IS because the heart of man is an abyss of
shameful baseness. Unquestionabir "au
r.ce waa furious, because lie now had neitSe
pretext or excuse for being idle. The vounB
artisans were astonished it such a UZll
departure and completely confused at their
inability to express their gratitude As to
wort'Tat Tl'. '''''' ^y the •'unfiling

hrn/fl- **• '""■ *«*"• However, per-
future ' ^^ <=°°t»i»«d the germ of the
In fact, as she had hoped, from this day
Madeleine noticed that Maurice held freouent
interviews with Pierre Marceau. KenE
.ile.ce in her presence; but in his seriou^s

•omething new was preparing in his des-

One morning, as she was about to enter

*d and fled precipitately, leaving the door
half.opened. What had she seen » What
was it so extraordinary that was passing in
Maunoe's apartment ? She ran to Made"
eine, and threw herself upon her neck de
luging her with tears and kisses. '

Come, come, my dear demoiselle i' and
without further explanation she ook Ma
deleine by the hand and led her hurriedly in
the direction of the you ng man's rooms. ^

look'"" ""^ °°''^'' '"•* '^^' ' a°d

The young girl held her breath and
peered through the half-opened door, "d
when she had looked attentively she fell in
5r:IH/"'\*^!,"•°^"^ U™"'«' »"d these two

Th^^m^V^l^^'.-r^*- ^"^ Madeleine seen ?
ihe most beautiful vision thiit ah^n^.,iA u-_:

£„S*T ^ ■'"'"'*'°?f bending oVera work!
bench, Maurice in a blouse and working

CHAPTER XI.

CORIOUS C0NTRADICTI0N8.

The moment was propitious for w«)«d

chairs, wardrobes, were lacUin./ ^u, .u
real n.iddle age wis in defutl ^the^tea ed

wllnut''T' ^'^'^y » m'edi«^ar age
Walnut oak, pear wood, shaped by skiX
hands, cleverly deceived more than one co„
noisseur, and this innocent ruse enrich«,i
some fortunate artists. Through thoo
o Pierre Marceau, Maurice £nd'hfS

*oTk''hTwL''f r'^•^°^"'''^'^^'*»»i"'P S
worK, He was able, in a few mnnfh. ;►■_ Tl

spreacl around him^aseandcorfo fa SS
put fieyond need the twocreatu?es en rusLd
to his care. It was poverty but thLf •
dustrious poverty owe^ no Sigto anytdv"
without remorse for yeaterday or aSv
"'•..^"■""rrow, a hundred tim-^ca preferable
to the hctitious and tormenting Uixurv i^
the midst of which Maurice had former v
lived. It 18 true that this young man d J
apt appear much touched by. or ev^« o„n

t7r' He*'^ ''f r>? «^. hisiTcordi:

tion. He accepted hia destiny bu^ H«t«»l. j

" ; he workecl, but cursed tSworLK
many t,„,,^ ^„^i ^j^^^^ first months h«
felt his courage fail and his Purpos7vaciiiate!
How many time, did he abandon hSf t^
indescribable furies • pvon j„ "imseif to
his cousin, he threw'dorhfs fZZ' ?'

that he had commenced, as if ii/norant nf * k

dejection upon his couch^he wp... tU- -^
wipea the perspiration from his brow hacnv
if he did not repel her with J^^' '^P?
speech Pride ^as the sole 7hZ X

wholly his duty to ^'^i^ Z tSu^^h^

MADELEINR.

that she had iold her diamonda and worked
to care for him,— this thouj<ht became hia
impulae. He aaid to hiniaeit tliat as aoon a«
he should have assiirtd the future of Miule
leine, just so soon he would bo released from
hi» obligation towards her and bo free to go
where he chose. Suicide watched over his
bed, not as a menaciui^ spectre, but as an
angel of deliverance.

However, there is a pleasure, unknown to
those to whom life means only the trouble
of beinK born, anci which Maurice relished
the more keenly in virtue of his hmu^ un-
OonsciouM of hia inability to reHint it. I
mean that pleasure, pueiilo if vou choose to
call It so, but nevertheless intoxicatiui/,
which ia experienced in holding in the hand
W»e first money earned by one's own labour.
No, this plen ire is not puerile, for it is
nothing else tlian the consciousness of our
persmal worth. Riches created by one'.«
own labour, is it not the most legitimate of
all riches, that of which we are the most
j'lstly proud? The heir who counts his
gold IS less rich in God's eyes than the work-
man who receives the price of his labour.
These reflections were far from the mind of
Alaurice ; but when he saw upon his work-
bench some crowns that Pierre Marceau had
received for him, he took them one by one
»nd examined the m again and hgain with an
expression of infantine curiosity. He might
have been taken for a miser, or a
ipoor devil that touches money for the
fiist time. By a naive impulse worthy
of the best days of his youth, he
went merrily to carry in triumph these first-
fruits of his labour to Madeleine. He smiled,
he became twenty years old again. Alas 1
he had not reached the door of the young
German's room ere he named already the
contentment that he had just experienced,
folly, and the sentiment that impelled him
towards his cousin, silliness. In less than a
minute all that beautiful transport was
extinguished like a stubble fire in a heavy
rain-btorm. Ursule was in the ante-chamber.
Maurice threw coldly a handful of crowns
upon the table, and withdrew without sayina
a word. *

lu the performance of a serious duty, how-
soever hard or painful it may be, God has set
an interior satisfaction from which the most
degraded souls with diflSculty escape. Be.
sides, just as the moat iunoble profession has,
from time to time, its hours of attraction, so
the culture of an art, however modest it be,
has also its moments of enthusiasm. Even
while chafing under the bit, Maurino found
a nameless charm in feeling himself useful
and necessary. In this, we are all somewhat
like people in important stations. Beneath

the importunities whioh besiege their credit

no L'h Tl'T*""!'""'*'' ^^'"^ i-eversomethipg

lot wholly ,f„pi«„,i„^ . tj,^ iu.humour that

they exhibit i. most frequently <,nly » d "

guise that serves to conceartheir\anity.

for the figures .,reatod by his chisel The

Ss'w.UTT'*'/; ^""'^ hovered arouml

worlS t'^fu "u'' '""^ "*""• »>'•" '"•« father,
working m the shop at Valtraver« . t\,l

countenance of the g.^d chevaliera .p;. ed

to sm le upon and encoura,/e him. I .short

Mulefrom the outbursts of rage. such as hav;

been indicated, an.l which became lets a'^d

less frequent, at the end of » fet month.

when evening approached, Maurice was i''

.at he expeiience-l. Work ever brings with
t itH own recompense. It isolate, uf from

sdrt'llr^^TT-^'^^' T^" it«i'"'^

it should be blessed

every well-spont day
and loved.

Unfortunately, these pure influences had
•carcely time to fructrfy in the mind of

outs de the mora Motit that he had uncon-
sciously drawn fr.rn it. Too superior in
hi. own opinion, to stoop to subject himself
to an existence bourgeoise and Regular? he
declared curtly that he expected to live II
l-e saw fit It must be .aid, he was not vei?
TvTJ? ^?'"! »°1"?"'tt-''l with the cuisine
with mS 'i •*" ^A^f *"■ '"«"'" tete-a-tete
Lastiv nt In' ^i u""* P'^"" him more,
as InLn Ki'^'"'' ^""S"' ^«»"«« held it
^o wh«n T^'l^P^ '?8*'''^« *hat he should
go when and where he chose. At mornina
he breakfasted frugally in his room ; at even^
Tl^W^'^r t^"- ''"l'" «f *he neighbouring

donned h?"^ 'if' ^^ ^"L'' *"^« hi. blousef
donned his clothes, and went out, most

Irdurin/trS""* having seen his cJusfn I
' hi ^ly- ^ ^^y- ^^ """"Kht nothing due
satisfiT H^ ner pecuniary needs Ivere
saiisnert. Ho went out in calmness th«
brain rested, the blood refreshed by work, in
sience and solitude. He experienced ?
hrit, aj-peces of intoxication in feeling him-
self out of his attic, lost in the crowd? frTe
Ji HeCT'^ ^".* where was he to
fife Nnt t f •"^'" ^'"'ently from his past
i.Ti *i, *• ^T""^ ^'"' 'e^t him ; let it be
said rather, ,n the world where h^ had di.!
honoured his youth, one has companion.,

Znaf r'"''- ,"«. """^^^^ «* random
almost always a fatal charm impelled him
towards the places in which he had wrecked
11!- ifmra,! arK.

Pale melawcholy, scanning the walls, like

bank tT'^'^''^ mariner stranded upon a
bank and regarding with an envious eye the

Madeleine.

5ge their credit
levernomethiqg
ill-hiimour th»t
ly only a dig.
1 their vanity,
emiine paiaina
i chisel. The
Kvered around
■him hid father,
Itravers ; the
'nlier ajipeared
lim. ludliort,
;e,8uch as have
:aina less and

few months,
urice was y.
nd the peace
'er brings with
lates us from

To it alone
llibly crowns
id be blessed

liluenoes had
the nnind of
d, dissipated
I had uncon<

superior, in
bjeot himself
I regular, he
d to live as
was not very
th the cuisine
9 tete-a-tete
3 him more,
turice held it
>t he should
At morning
>m ; at even-
leiehbouriog
9 his blouse,

out, most
lis coudiii at
nothing due
needs were
ilmnesg, the
by work, in
erienced, at
feelins; him-
jrowd, free
was he to
'om his past
1 ; let it be
he had dis-
ompaniona,
t random ;
polled him
id wrecked

walls, like
led upon a
ous eye the

•hips sporting npwn the waves that have en-
gulled his fortunn, ho traversed with a som-
bre air that oeasoless festivity winch n»-ver
considers the grief of its victims, from which
the youngest, the most beautiful, and the
most brilliant disappear, leaving behind
them neither void nor regret, not even the
luminous trail of the falling star. Stilled for
an instant, the bad paHsions awoke and mut-
tered onuiioUHly in hif, breust. Upon the
boulevards inundate.! with light, in the
mnUt of the enohaiitinents which constitute
the pri.le of Paris and one of the wonders of
the world, on thoRe sidewalks that had wit-
nenHed him so many times indulging his ele-
gant idleness, Maurice thought of the Hue
de Ba 'ylone, of his attic, of his work-lienoh j
tears of rage rolled down his cheeks. Irri-
tated, feverish, miserable, he returuod like a
wild boast wounded with a thousand arrows.
Upon returning to his lodgings, before retir-
•n"? t« his room, ha rarely failed to visit
Madeleine, who, as 1 haveulrradv said, was
accuHtomed to prolong her labour far into
the nigbt. It is not necossary to believe
that in this Maurice yiwliled to au impulse
of solicitude, or that he waa preoccupied by
a duty of simple politeness. The unhappy
mortal obeyed only the baie nee<l of exhaling
his anger and avenging upon these two poor
creatures the misery that he experienced.
It 18 characteristic of egotists to wiah, when
they suttor, that everybody surt'er around
them.

Maurice infallibly found Madeleine and
Uraule seated working by the light of their
lamp, both as serene as if they were still by
the banks of the Vienne, in the salon of
Val travers. With hat on and coat buttoned
to the chin, he entered brusquely, the face
pale, eye cold, lips scornful. Both rose to
receive him, Ursnle with a caress, Madeleine
with a smile. Never an unkiu.l word, never
au mdiscret question ; nothing in their wel-
come that did not betok.iu, on the contrary,
the most adorable tenderness, as if he were
an amiable brother ora charming friend. Hav-
ing brutally repelled hi.s foster-aister and
thrown a glance of hauj/hty .liMUinupon the
pauuingscf the young Ourina... lie went and
8eate<l him.selt at the end of tiia room ; and
when the two good creaturea resumed their
work he watched thjm with a furious or
scornful air. The placidity of these two
faces, the calm of this little interior, the
order that reigued under this Humble roof
the harmonious grace revealed in the smallest
••evSilg oi th-j monoit aunouuuiugs ; ail this
exasperated instead of appeasing him. Soon
without any cause, he broke forth in bitter
words. Ordinarily taciturn, he possessed at
«uoh times a cruel, bitter, aggressive, im-

plaoahle gaiety j melancholy and lilent from
habit, he be..ame spiritual, ingenious, elo-
quent at need, when he wished totorture hit
cusin's heart. Having .Vladeleineand Ursult
before his eyes, sutfiued to bring out more
clearly his diiaourse. Madeleine opposed to
all that he said only a soli answer, an un-
changeable goodness ; but Ursule knew that
she shell tears after her cousin had departed.
The outrages went further. Maurice be-
longed to that school of young roues, Love-
laces of green-rooms, Don Juans of low de-
gree, who, because they have foolishly de-
voured their patrimony with courtesans,
iinagiiio tht'y understand women and glory
in reviling them. From two or three soiled
or degraded Bacchantes that tliey have
trained en currome, these pigmy mcHsieurs
speak of half of the human kind with auoh
irreverence, that, in liatoning, one is tempted
to ask what trpde their sisters make,
and what was the character of their mothers.
Though he did not find his cousin either
beautiful or desirable, Maurice ended by dis-
covering that he played in her presence the
role of a fool. Her chaste and spotless beauty,
instead of leaving his senses perfectly tran-
quil, ini;ited self-love and vanity to nnmnt
to his head in gross fumes. Was it natural
for a young man not yet thirty to live fra-
ternally with a young woman not quite
twenty-three, next .ioor to each other, under
the same roof ? Whatjwould his old com-
panions think of it ? What must Madeleine
herself think of it ? For, in the tenderness
that she exhibited towards him, Maurice
could not but see encouragement. However,
every time he went towards her with the in-
t-intion of changing a position that appeared
to him ridiculous, seized with a vague senti-
ment of respect which he did not understand
at tirsi., and next revoled him, he retired
witliout even daring to take her hand.

Having left his room in the inoriung, one
day when work wa.i lacking, .Maurice wan-
dered till evening ui.dei- oue oi iho^e burning
suns which cause the slime of marMhoa and
the scum of impure passions to ferment.
He dined, in the vicinity of tlio old Theatre
Itulien, in a kind of tavern of dnrk and dis-
honest aspect. Seated at the end of a gloomy
room, under the flame of an oil
laaip. he ate little and emptied
without iutermishion a bottiv of one
of those wines mixed with alcohol that have
never paid duty. It was far diderent
from those repasts that Maiirice in iovnus
company had formerly made in the salons of
the Cafe do Paris, when his carriage waited
at the door and l.in groom at the foot of
the perron. L' uung his elbows on the
table, his forehead on his hands, he remain-

MADELEINK

ett long plunged m a chaos of irritating
thoughts which the fumes of intox cat on
Btill more exc ted. Intellect an,) .»„ •
fl>».<,.i I , , •'■"''''"ect ana senses in-

flamed he passed the remainder of the even,
•nginthe carrefours. following with a Xili

tr s^lweTif Si^ theinfamfus sirensrhlt
»ne sewers ot Fari^an life spew forth uoon
the pavement. When he came back to ^ a
couj-in. seeing her alone in her room he

SlSir- T""''"." ™°''°'' «f savagT'joy
S hghtly indisposed since the previous day
Ursule. yielding, though with regret, to the
urgent solicitations of her mistress, had retir!
ed this evening at an early hour. Madeleine
was reading when Maurice entered She
closed her book, laid it upon the table and
welcomed her cousin as usual, apparent^v
without not cing the alteration o hfsTatures
the sombre light of his eyes, the nflamed

iTnZi^'' "'r^ Maurice seatXm
/^L I K^""' t""^ **'*'°' i"» voice crisp, ar.

to iJ'suirthaf fl'':.''*'°'"'u'^" »'«««•• «"ited
10 insult than flattery, he beaan withonf

tranaition. with compliments so^exiggerateS

that the young girl first regarded him with a

surprised air. and. at the eld. bur! 17 into

» peal of laughter. This was only an add i

tional incentive. This silvery and p^rlv

laughter, this lively gaiety of unau,n!!f„,^

nymph pursued byLfyr, served to ?nflTm:

Maurice and push him on. He stifled inT.s

heart a cry of rage, and resumed immediate

ly-he spoke of love with a frenzy of hatred

of tenderness in atone of anger.^ dark Uu!

^age that strange words iHumin.'ted at times

liko Chastity astonished to see at her feet
the offerings intended for the alta" of lewd
Venus, Madeleine, while he was speakiw
contemplated him with an airat once proull
and sorrowful; there occurred an inrtant
when Maurice, startled by the lo^k of W
cousin, stopped short, as if he had dasped in
his arms an insensible marble. Meanwhile
m the same attitude, Madeleine con«nued to
regard h.m with the same sorrowfu" and
grave look m which nothing betrayed either
indignation or anger_a mifture o^maternal
p ty and painful astonishment. Maurice
B^ame. *^-' ''' '""' *°^ ^'^ ^'*»» ^'" a°d

iJ7ih^fh\ "•""? ''°"" "^ t'"'* l^a^Jeu slum-
i^f« il '^""r'?'"*"'^**"'*'"''' this unfortu.
nate wretch, waking on the succeeding day re-
membered what ha,l taken place, he felS
dying from shame and confusion. Not that
his conscience addressed to him the reproach^
t»!ri If"""'."/ i '"""f^nce he had habl^

t.t coum" V T'^'^^ indulgence :
Du.. !i^ eou.,} not endure the thought of

iir/v.*?, **'"f*' ^"f""-" Madeleine. *How
would he dare to appear in her presence?

r"«dv h«r^**i^""**,"/ recriminations; al.
nK. ^""^ ^"^^^^^ «*P08ed to the im-
placable rancours of a vexatious pruder?-'

iokn^ r,*'*''^y""»8™"«« are obliged to'

inemselves by representing it under a dis-
grace ul aspect; they make 1 bugbear of 2

rtse^nr^M ^''"«'^'^^- '^'^« d«y drew nea^

verrieafantTflT ^'""^'y *" '^^^ ""t
tered h! ,'f'^«<=]'0"s when his cousin en-
lered. He reddened, paled, was troubled •

nL7rJ*^^*'*«'*«^lyf«^* th; floor fall be.'
neath his feet and the ceiling fall upon Wa
head. With extended hand, gentle Lok an!?
smiling lip, she called him b ofher. so that

s'enTof taJ" ''''''''''' *" •"«t»'^t that the
scene of last evening was jome cruel dream

sen?im:nV'f "'"•'"'^ "«" '^^ »"' reS"i
sentiment of sincere respect for the woman
hy*homthey are baffled, and who S
th 1**" ^*ri"**« **>«" '° their deSt' cove?
girsf o'urT''%°' '^'- -^»'«-ceTnd
fmallest ktw- "^■'. ^^e' g'-atef uI for th»
smallest attentions paid to our .anitv Al-
though he carefuli; concealed ftrMiur^e
was keenly touched by the generosty of E
'leleine; he acknowledged In his own inner
consciousness that virtSe is not necessLrilv
ridiculous and harsh-that it my Te £
once, perchance, amiable. ^ "

di^jHSSVJT^ *° rP^«'« Maurice to
ed ft thi «L **i* :!^'^ ^"y- Maurice look-

fnto rain Tn <,*''**. ""*=" J^^'^'^S ™«'ted
at . A^Jt' «" °"t in such weather'to seek
at a distance a meagre meal-this perspec*
tive possessed Httle\ttraction. On tS^er

cedfn'.*"" '^-"""'^ t^^ *^« ^ff^ot" of the**J?e.
said tLfc thlT So-^^hody has somewhere
choritSs *T Jh'"",!!*'''^ ''^ "'•«•«« create an.
»oif u • ^^y* Maurice, who judged him-
self guilty in the sight of his cousin wTg
not sorry at being able to expiate hsfaultS
at so small expense. Noble and generous!
leine! "' ^"""^^^ ^^"^ request of Made^

CHAPTER XII.
A joYOPs FESTivrrr.

r«^® **^^® 7*? *P*"**'^ '■» » little dininff-

oro^k"" Th!^ T'**^ '"'''y P^P^' *" ™itatlS.
aLTJ^' 1 Ul? "tovewas masked by tufts of
asters, dahlias and rosy heaths ; the only
window opened upon the trees of the park
Zi^J'^^'T '^^ ''"*"»'° breelesTad
whaf.mal?'''Tr*'- '^^f ^^^^^^a- ««»«■
s";ri?^ilL*'itM"7,,f - *''« ?-vice would
n.,.tu,:L- — 1~ — "^ F"^J'i"iccs or a (Quaker or
SS- " ^'IV ^"* "P"" the tiTble-oloth
of dazzling whiteness, and from which exhal.
ed the odour of home-made linen, everything

MADELEINE.

linatioDs ; al-
3 to the im-
>U8 prudery •
e obliged to
they console
t UDder a dig-
bugbear of it,
Y drew near
' to these not
his cousin en-
t-aa troubled j
loor fall be-
-all upon his
ntle look and
ler, so that
ant that tho
Tuel dream,
not retain a
the woman
who, being
lefeat cover
ilj^ence and
eful for th&
'jnity. Al-
it, Maurice
Mty of Ma«
i own inner
necessarily
may be for

Maurice to
lurice look<
ing melted
'her'to seek
8 perspec-
lu the other
of the pre-
Bomewher»
I create an-
idged him*
ousin, was
i his faults

generous,
i of Made>

Sitting opposite the young German, who did
the honours of her poverty with a grace

le dining-
imitation
y tufts of
the only
the park,
ezes had
[as some-
ice would
^Uitker or
^ble-cloth
ch exhal-
erything

that riches not always possesses, Maurice
was obliged to confess that this was much
better than the horrible tavera in which
since some time he habitually dined. The
viands were neither numerous nor recherche •
but what IS rarer, they were wholesome and
excellent. Ursule h»d employed all her
science ; the good girl had even surpassed

nf^n V. ^^^' T*'"«' quick, light-footed,
nimble hands, sleeves rolled back to the
elbow, revealing the roundness of a plump
arm. It was pleasing to see her flitting about
moving and removing the plates and dishes
indicating to Maurice the finest morsels
ready to go into ecstacies whenever he found
anything to his taste. Madeleine scarcely
ate at all, and occupied herself about he'r
cousin with the anxious solicitude of a
young mistress, hsppy and proud to wait
upon her lover. Object of so many cares,
Maurice could not help being touched ; he
demanded of himself what he had don4 to
merit them. It should be said that he was
no longer insensible to the talent and skill
of Ursule which he had not hitherto sus-
pected. Another surprise awaited him at
dessert. Ursule approached him with an
enormous bouquet, and began to recite a
little compliment that she had learned in
advance; but her voice broke with emotion,
she threw herself upon her foster-brother
wished him every happiness, covering him
with sweet tears and noisy kisses. Made-
leine extended to Maurice over the table her
hand, addressing him in a few simple and
affecting words. The table-cloth was cover-
ed with cvtpe8nad galettea,M as Valtravers ;
a llagon of old wine, which the two good
creatures had procured, in view of this great
day, by dint of a whole month's privltion
and rigorous economy, stretched up in
the midst of flowers its long neck cover-
ed w.th wax ; the sky brightened, the
birds prior to seeking their nestsfwere singing

lastly, sinking below the horizon, the sun
sent a joyous beam upon the table
' r.. *''*. , '8ht of which the Kkssea
flittered like so many precious crfsTaTs
Siuce Maurice had left the pater-
nal roof this was the first time that any one
had made a festivity in his honour. Since

t«n VHAPa {n-r^.^H- J 1--, ... . "'""»

«ru'„Ti"" "'•s-'-y" ="u lose, 5ni8 auniversarv
violently awoke in him the best souvenirs of
his youth. He recalled the time when This

joicing. He saw again the marquise and

rn^M''"'T'^ expressed u> him their vows
softeneT^Tn" f \*^.^«V'"»g««. his hear?
feettoth^f .^^'"l'" *'*"" ran from his
paled and hf ''^ ^" *'*''"' »»*« f^'^head
whowa«.t ^^^^ moistened. Madeleine,
3« fT "^?:""« him. rose and came to hi^
side to contribute to this good impulse She
leaned upon his shoulde?, bendTng towards

s^ale^rt^e'r' ''"'• ''^« **>«* »'«-*""
statue of the Louvre cal ed Polymene or

rather like a guardian angel wSn« the

rrr'shrrel*'' f""^ -mmitted to'her
Hr«!m„ ^,'""*"*^'^ «""'« minutes in a
dreamy and pensive attitu-'e. Comparing

been to her, Maurice felt at last his stub-
born soul soften. On this occasion taken
TL"r;.^'1 P"'^*' '""t^'d «f being rntat^
ed, bent the knee and humbled itself before
so much virtue. Not a word disturbed thit
affecting scene. Ursule herself was silent
But when the young man, with a gesture too
sudden not to beinvoluntary.seized the hand
of Madeleine, which he bore quickly to his

those ones of adoration that were so familiar
to him. as ,f her foster-brother had perW
ed the most beautiful action possible. The
rj?h ^»\ .T'^'"'^*** '» Madeleine's room

fravl™ T/r**'""'- • '^^'y *»'ked of Val-
u^J 'a S'"' '"i""^'"^®' «* the good cheva-
ihJ ifif H'? °^ *^** »"*•"»" e^«ni°K when
h^Ll^^Vj^^.^ *^"* »'«"«. Maurice on
horseback, Madeleine, a victim of the rascal-
ity of Pierrot, seated weeping upon the moss
I ^X" *.?•■*'*; '^^^y both wept in recaUina

the little orphan on the arm of the young
chevalier, who did not suspect that it wsS
£'-r"'»5.*he horse walLg ffnd, thi
vn f„! K"«i"« "P''" *"'" "««»'• browsing the
J.?n^*. f^^.*' ' t^^ K'*"^* illuminated by the
lhTW.'>*'*«"«ty °« thevoungman
when Madeleine spoke of little Miurice; the
park g»te; the turrets of the beautiful manor
appearing behind the walls; lastly. thTwo

^11. '??*'"°"" """8 "P"° the perron to re-
ceive the young stranger. They forgot
themselves ,n this sweet retrcspeet of the

thll h« K*""*''' T"" »ft«''«hed by the charm
that he herein found ; the railing accom-
paniment of the romance of ifon JuTn
was yet heard, but at rare intervals, feeble
and almost immediately extinguished by an
anthem. About t.. r«tir« i.« ~— .vi.-_/,^

confess that life hasVom;' happ7hourrand
that poverty has its festivities m well a^ for-
he"r«».2*I"\? '•?t"'-ned to his own room,
toe regarded his instruments without anger
the portrait of his father with satisfaction

MADELEINE.

CHAPTEK XIII.

THE lUWMINO OF A NKW LIFJC

youth rtud all i(<. „ u ? ''''"*^ ^^'^ recover
ignore athe same tim« f^^n ""^^^kea, and

oalfl hr,?;a 1 I ' , ^*^« stopped half-wav

those had not near th^rn^n ", */"^ *^»*
them, to win" tL n ^.''S*^^ *° ^^^t*'"

forehead! KhJw tC?th*.*'°". ^"'" *^«''-
easiest path by which wi^ the shortest and

gain the'oeLtLrs'ulr'^''' '""'^ *''''' '«■
be JlLLTwaaTri^r' ^'^ !" '^- N«^-

oirr£nr{i«£iSea^^

resTgaed Lirift'''H''° ^'f«' Maurice had
cousin A readv L f ^ "-eKularly with his

of the evmC of hi f'\*''? P"''^ ^"""^o^s
difficultttZ?^!. '^ festivity, it was with

eagernesr ri ^ **? welcome him witS
KtT;.«Jl!^r'^'*t« «"eh pleasures i?

Auu -""•J 5" uc a uraudi«<»n.

a'JreS: ttt tli f;r7'w*'^« ^''™'^'''"«

rendered hTm S Wto tSr*"' '"'^ '^'>'''*''
the tabJe. Ursula »!?!? ^/ equipment of
her young master • """f«V°'^ *''« *»«*«« "^

up /he dIshertL'tt likt.r"o n'r^''''^

Madeleine made LfJih^' <-*" 'l.«'' Part,
of the Wands bvfJr " *^^"* ^^ ^"'""'.V
Maurice reTuctanM„ ! 'I'T ''^ *'«•• •"'«"'•
poetic illuson?. iL^7* ^T''" *» «"«»»
he marvelled SDontL."" •V'"^*^ *'"'«'
which he had remaiS^ 'P\"* "^"^ S™«=« *»
So everytl7rn/pr«l 1,^" long mdifferent.
they were ft T"le n„f 'r"""^ ^*»''«
evenings dragKe.i . .^V JIu^''*""''*'''^ **>«
ness, not forTr' ■ ' ^'^l^df^Perate «Iow.
Maurice, who did t/"t ^"^^f^^'^^. but for
himself.' Seated around th ^7*" ^P'^^
leine and Ursula h^,j *^f '*™P- l^a^e-
needle-work or Ir ^ i^'' themselves with
hands .ntspoS'*'"^^ ¥^""''«' ^'^
room with an Tnntyed' aTr^ H ^'''''''^ '^'
one to the other^!^ ■ i*® ^«"* ^'om
seated himself ro„; f f'""'«d their work,
between the brirt!;f*\^r° *«'*'"• *=^«n
jeots of conversftinn '""^^^'H^^ees the sub-

i can wen conceSe whv m"e„* '"'^'"'"^"'''^ '
w^^^t^ytr3=.-^^^«-^^^^^

l^=fHBLi^"-i2^'S^

More than once unon J."^** """^ contented,
had represseSe u?t«?J' ^'^T^^^S lips. he
thought. But- tho^fT u^ °^ '°™« ""''ind
aud vanquish himti?„^' "''"^*!, '^"™>"»*«
that has also ite ;i,f *'P^'"*^'' by ennui
he rarely passed i^""' *'''^ transports,
ting escane «nmr k ?. ^''^"'"g without lefcl

sufe/'rhe';'"^'! "• sfaT7"''"«- -°'<^-

of bending her head' »- ? ^^'°^ '"'*^*'^
with genti firni' V^lbAl'^^''^
iaueuaue whinh ..^» °*t charmine

and' Koo'dnt f evTis'^T"' '"^ «"-^««
Ursule slinned 7n •^""' ^"'l then

have done credit to "f."''""'^ *^^' ^""'^
J»er. Mauric« h» *^* *'"'^*"t "f Mo.

he came'iS't: ^^ai ^^^ l^He 'l^^r ^

earnest attSStionfo VaT I "'"' .t"^''' *^«
still seemed v?ry loL t't' "'"^ 'be evenings
iy the converlti-ir* H*""''®' frequent-
difficulty resTmei"" tIT'^' ^"'*. T'^^^'*''

bat the ennui Tad asLn ^'""^ «""'' *°«"™-
her • but »f lV7 ^^^ Maurice to read to

irla

MADELEINE.

the formidable
bour, and which
he equipment of
fl the tastes of
pride in making
On her part,
want of luxury
J of her mind,
imaelf to such
time to time,
it and grace to
mg indifferent,
easantly while
irtuuately the
lesperate slow-
ileine, but for
low to employ

lamp. Made-
imselves with
Haurice, with
i around the
le went from

their work,
again. Even
ices the sub-
lexhausiible ;
ave invented
■ith speakinar
loe the dav
)om with the
Maurice had
loourse. He
a contented,
ling lips, he
lome unkind
d dominate
ed by ennui

transports,
pithout let-
iding word.
Qe, instead
fly, replied
charming
d by grace

and then
hat would
nt of Mo.
irritation ;
1 silenL'O ;
Ip smiling,
espite the
le evenings
Frequent-
was with
1> to com-
;o read to
irioe had
i life he
In the

he was
and the
? in read.

ing an aliment for reverie or reflection.
Kepulsed the first time, Madeleine was not
discouraged. One evening she put in her
cousin 8 liaud one of the most charming works
of English literature, ' The Vicar of Wake-
neld. It IS well known with what finesse,
with what touching simplicity Goldsmith
hassuceeeded m this hook in relating to us
all the joys, all the troubles of the household
Maurice m his profound ignorance, spleneti-
cally refused to read the first paecs. He
demanded of his 3ou8in if she took "him for
a ciiiia to be amused with stories. Madeleine
gently insisted, and Maurice, rather through
impatience than goodness, to free himself
trom these importunities, commenced to read
this admirable story. There is in the por-

,*^ ^m^" *^^'''""■»''*«"' '» *he manner
!^J u ij.*^*"* *!"? 'ntroduced, in the art with
Which the smallest circumstances are con-
nected to the action of the story, so much
naturalness and fascination, that it is very
difficult to lay aside this book without finish-

for fW if"u°,f' '"iTi^ "f *»" '«^*y disdain
for that which he called nursery tales, could
not resist the charm of this domestic epopee.
His daily conversations with Madeleine had

and fructify these precious gfirms. Per-
ceiving whar trials are reserved for the most
obscure destinies, he comprehended that
there ,« ^oon, fo, the highest virtues, the
most heroic devotedness, in the humblest
^■f'^'T-u ^' ^"''^'^ ^ith a proKged

she haf J ^^"^^'l^" °°^''° ^°'- *^'« pleasure
she had afforded him. From this day he no

longer required urging. Astonished at the
charm he found in these readings, headmired.
without avowing it, the superior reason of
Madeleine ; he allowed himself to be directed
tL k'"?'^ elt himself becoming better
A.„! K*""" f°^^^.' ^^^y exchanged their
thoughts and sentiments ; Ursule took part
«vi/ d"°»88ion and in this way they ar-
nved at the end of the evening without
having counted the hours. ^ wtnout

,.Z'Tr ***:°«''» »i«l h'S wife came occasion,
ally to pass the evening with Madeline, who

li?H« i!!!^'^ u *..""';'''■« friendship f„r the
little household. In the depths of her i
^! -^ «^% .saw in Pierre Man;eau the i
providential instrument of the rehabilitation
of Maurice; she could not forget that, wilh
for\i ' 'V*""''® ""l^ht perhaps have waited
for a long time yet the chance of setting him-
dldnotZl ,^ *.•?«'' "de, the two artisans
did not forget that it was to the intervention

of M^n'^-"°^ ""11 ^^"y °^«'i »*»« assistance
thefr wVnl'%\*'""""y °'«»"n«tonce, when
^h!r^.i, ^'^ •"*"™ ^*« »* "take. They

gratitude Tir ••rr^"""^' *»»'-''ent
gratitude. Altfaoagh. they were accustomed

to his manner, and though they loved him
Alaurice still frightened them a little ; but
they had for Madeleine a genuine ctilte that
almost approached adoration. They quickly
perceivea that these two young people, whom
they believed to be brother and sister, were
notin their true place ; so, with that amiable
tact that education fails to give, they main-
tamed in their relations as neighbours a sen-
timent of respect and deference that took
away nothing from the sincerity of their
affection.

^i.^^'t^,''.*'"^ sometimes at evening when
the children were asleep ; occasionally, at
the request of Madeleine, who loved to see
them around her, they brought their little
ones. Maurice objected, at first, to the in-
trusion of the Marceaus ; of the aristocratic
blood that flowed in his veins, the poor fellow
had kept only the instinct of pride and idle-
ness. One day.in the presence of Madeleine,
he spoke of them with contempt. Made-
leme, who felt stronger and stronger, and
who did not listen to railiery on this subject
I regarded him, for the first time, wiia seve-
nty,

• Well,' said she, 'you are only an ungrate-
tul wretch 1 ay, even if this good Marceau
had not opened to you the way fqf work into
which you have entered, you should still be
proud to touch the hand of a man who has
closed the eyes of his old father and who
cares for his wife and children. '

At this reproach, too well merited, Mau-
rice, who, some days previously, would have
stamped with rage, blushed and was silent.
One evening, all the household were as-
sembled. Therese,-this w.is the name of
the young artisan's wife— had brought her
work ; ranged round the lamp, the three
women, while working, were talking in sub-
dned tones. Sitting some steps from them,
Marceau observed them with the benevolent
expression of strength in repose. From time
to time, Therose, without interrupting her
embroidery, smiling, raised her eves and
looked towariis him ; the face of the young
workman lighted up then with tranquil joy!
V\it;i elbows leaning upon the table, one
hand buned in his hair, Maurice turi,ed
the other the leaves of a book that he
brought, and whose selection would
singularly astonished Madeleine,
she been able to guess the poison
It contained. He had assumed,
this evening, the character of a revolted
---.-., ... .,i„.p.„,i,g jj, g,„^ whicn trouDiea
his cousin. With her habitual sagacity, the
young girl comprehended immediately that
this book absorbed all his attention. Ourious
and disquieted, she requested Maurice to
read. He obeyed with eagerness.

WlCll

ha<l
have
had
that

MADELEINE.

It was one of those romances ao numerous
since about fifteen years, but which happily
are becoming rarer and rarer from diy to
day It spoke with disdain, almost with
contempt, of duty and of the family. To
make amends, it exalted passion, attributiajt
to It a divine mission. In this romance, aa
in many others published at that epoch, the
Hero having trampled under foot all the
absurd prejudices of which education is com-
posed, having planted himself in face uf so-
cisty as an Ajax insulting the g-^ds, or rather
M a Solon destined to regenerate it by the
example of hishfe.having maintained against
institutions au implacable strife, ends by
Rivingwayaod losing courage. Despairine
of inen and things, indignant against a cor-
rupt society, which refused to receive the
Uws of his prido and the oracles of his genius.
to punish It, takes refuge in aiucide, as the
iast, the sole asylum here below for great
hearts and hne souls. But unwilling to
•vow himself vanquished, he essayed more-
over to conceal his defeat and his agony in
casting towards heaven and earth a cry of
rage and defiance. All these be:utifal
things, which have been the admiration of a
Whole generation, were written in a frothy
sonorous, Ijombastic style. Maurice found
in this book the faithful image of the thoughts
that had lon^ swayed him, and that, though
now slnmberiug, might yet be awakened by
the least imprudent breath. His eye glowed
with, a sombre and sinister fire ; he gradually
assumed an accent terrible and menacina
He was so well identified with the hero
wiiose iDfipreoations he was reading, that he
believed him to speak in his name ; his evil
genius again possessed him. Madeleine
listened, trembling. Therese in naive aston-
ishment, Ursule with a somewhat bantering
air, Pierre Marceau with an expression of
scornful good-nature. When he had finished,
Maurice threw the book upon the table and
regarded his audience with an air of triumph
and curiosity. His glance appeared to
question them. ,

- ; ^>*^ *'•"'! ''.«"'' Ursula, ' what a mass
of follies ! Who IS this wretohed soamp who
would like to regenerate the world, and who
doesn t know h»w to regulate his own life T"
Monsieur," said Pierre Marceau, 'he is
but a sad hero whenever finds anything
better to do than to kill himself. Men of
courage have ever a part to play ; each one
M concerned only in choosing a suitable part.
1, that am only a workman, I esteem nobler
the work of my hands than all the oomnous
pnrasesot tiiis wearisome i^ook.' "

Therese confessed, ingenuously, that she
did not at all understand it.

Madeleine was silent, wid applauded with

a look the words of Ursule, Marceau and
iherese. Astounded by the strange success
of his reading, Maurice took his hat and
went out.

However, this evening was not lost to
Maurice. Left alone to his thoughts, after
having given vent to bis auger, after having
quahhed, as may be imagined, the intelli*
gence of Ursule, Therese and Maurice, after
having exhausted among them all the epi-
thets that disdain and humiliation could
furnish, ne was brought, wiU or nill, to con-
tess that they had but taken up the cause of
goou sense. Later he came back to Made-
leine, Marceau and his wife. Perceiving
their tranquillity and happiness, he grew to
love them. The children even, that at first
had excited his impatience and ill humour,
awoke in hins an unexpected tenderness.
Ue took them upon his knees, covered them
with caresses, and in embracing them
caught a glimpse of the pleasures of home.

Ihus this youug man reascended the
muddy current that had swept him away.
A.few more eflForts and he would touch the
shore; he would shake the mud from hie
m.*". '"^ towards serene regions.
This industrious and retired existence pos-
sessed Its diversions and pleasures ; some-
timee Maurice and Madeleine went to the
theatre. One evening they found them-
selves at the opera. They were playing
Omllaume Tell. Maurice, in his reckleu
days, had never passed an evening at the
opeia without experiencing a profound en-
nui. In the midst of the frivolities of his
companions in foUy, it is scarcely possible
that be had perceived any charm in music, in
that form of the imagination so vague and
yet so rich ; never had the aucenU of a
meloaious voice transported him into the
Ideal regions of passicm and reverie. Now
seated near Madeleine, alone with her—for
no one in the crowd that surrounded them
sent him a friendly look— he listened to the
last song of Rossini as to a new language
whose meaning was revealed to him for the
first time. The opening measures had moved
him deliciously ; with astonishment he f«U
himself penetrated with enthusiasm and
sympathy for^this beautiful poem. The soba
*t •™"°^'*' ■' *^« moment when he learna
the death of his father, summoned up in him
the remembrance of his own parent, who
bad died witiiout his having for the last
time pressed his failing hand. The oaths of
the can*->ns sworn for the common deliver-

anoe. a»Vuke in Ilia haarf • Hhr" ^ifi <--

nauto— love of country and liberty. All pure
thoughts join hands ; when one of them haa
re-entered into our conscience, it beckons ite
eompanione by a mysterious sign, and opena

MADELEINE.

Marceau and
trauge succeu
: his bat aad

) not lost to
loughts, after
after having
i, the iutellu
Maurice, after
m all the epi>
iliatiou could
r uill, to con-
p the cause of
Lck to Made*
. Perceiving
9, he grew to
, that at first
I ill humour,
[ tenderness,
covered them
racing them
38 of home.
Ascended tho
t him away,
lid touch the
lud from bis

^ODS.

ixistence pos-
surea ; some-
went to the
found them-
frere playing
his reckless
ining at the
profound en-
olities of his
iely possible
u in music, in
10 vague and
accents of »
im into the
rerie. Noir,
itb her — for
unded them
itened to the
Bw language
him for the
la had moved
nent he f«slt
iisiasm and
I. The sobs
1 he learns
3d up in him
}areut, wito
tor the last
Dhe oaths of
ion deliver-

•^6 fitfiiOrtO

1^. Ail pure
of them has
beckons its

I, and opens

to them the door of its new domain. Mau-
rice could not help making a soirowful and
severe self-examiuation. What honour had
he been to his country or his family,
he asked himself. He exchanged a few
words with his cousin ; but, by the
tone of his voice, and by his absent look,
Msdeleine clearly comprehended that his
thought was not upon his lips : she feared to
trouble him and said no more.

They returned together under a starlit
sky, talking of their emotions. Listening to
Madeleine, Maurice discovered new sources
of admiration that had escaped him. Upon
returning to their rooms, swayed by the
profound impression of the representation,
he did not at once leave his cousin to repair
to bis own apartment ; he opened the win-
dow and remained some instants contem-
plating the heaven whose serenity had de-
scended into his heart. Then he came and
seated himself near the young German, who,
to worthily crown this poetic evening, asked
him to read Schiller's William Tell. He
obeyed with joy. Scarcely had he read a
few pages, when his voice, transformed as if
by enchantment, assumed an accent of unc-
tion that Margaret listened to with rapture.
As he proceeded in the recital of that won-
derful deliverance of a whole people, he
seemed transfigured. His forehead was illu-
minated with a gentle light, his glance
seemed animated with celestial hope. The
former man was eflFaoed, and Madeleine con-
templated with pride the new man that was
before her.

In awakening to the extent of his duties,
Maurice did not delude himself with respect
to the value of his faculties, for Madeleine
possessed ihe art of alternately exciting and
subduing. He did not therefore exaggerate
the importance of the role that he had to
play. Enough people, thank God I believe
themselves called to direct the chair of
state ; Maurice no wish to increase the
number. He prudently remained in his
place, feeling that though it is not given to
all to conduct public affairs, it is still the
duty of all to be interested in them. From
this day, he followed with great solicitude
the msrch of current events, and his heart
was no longer close i to those sentiments of
honour and glory that he had formerly ridi-
enled. ■'

Thanks to his work, Maurice enjoyed
already a s6rt of competence. Madeleine,
m more fortunate times, had studied music
ana could sjug with taste. Maurice had not
forgotten it. and, as if to thank his cousin
for the cares siie had lavished upon him
especially to testify to the angelic patience
with which she had borne his anger and

harshness, he presented her with a piano.
Ihis was a great happiness to Madeleine.
Ihis unexpected present gave new life to
their httle reunions. Frequently Madeleine
gathered around her Pierre Marceau, his
wife and children, who listened to the music
with rapture. Maurice also was pleased to
listen.

- -Oiie evening, when he was alone with her,
Madeleine ran through the leaves of a music-
book upon the piano ; it was a collection
of the melodies of Schubert : she chose one
of the most beautiful and touching— 7/ie
Adieu. What I admire especially in these
compositions is, they do not support medio-
crity. Kendered faithfully, they carry us
away in ecstasy or lull us into delicious
reverie ; sung unintelligently, with a purely
literal exactitude, they plunge us into fathom-
less ennui. They are touchstones that rare-,
ly deceive : in order to move and charm, in
singing the melodies of Schubert, to know
rausio does not suffice ; tlie soul of the poet
IS necessary. Madeleine felt profoundly
this divine genius ; she could render with
simplicity all that she felt. Her voice had
not a large compass, but it was of a penetrat-
ing timbre ; no one could listen to it w ith-
out emotion. She rendered 77ie Aiieu wir.h

a melancholy so touching, that Maurice was
affected.

He raised his eyes to hers, and for the
farst time in his life he realized that she was
beautiful ; not, as I have previously said,
that she offered to statuary a complete typo
of perfection, Imt her charming soal beamed
in her eyes, her melodious lips possessed a
grace that no weds can translate. Hitherto
Maurice had not separated beauty from
voluptuousness ; he confounded admiration
with desire ; did he even know what it is to
admire ? A new sense awoke in him. He
contemplated Madeleine in almost religious
ecstasy, as a pilgrim kneeling before a Ma-
donna.

CHAPTER XIV.

LABOUR AND SWEET CONTENTMENT.

Thus the dream of the marquise a few
hours before her death was realized : from
the bottom of the abyss into which he
had fallen, Maurice gradually remounted to
the light of day, thanks to the helping hand
of Madeleine. Already he felt his hair

moved hw t.ho ironf}^ U^a.,^U «<

-- -^ — c gw»».» ... ...^vfi .rt oci cxinr

regions ; he breathed the fragrance of the

neighbouring summits ; he heard confusedly

the voices of his youth, which sang in chorus

in praise of his return. Already might b<»

I seen upon hia face the glorious sign of his

MADELEINE.

rehabihtation. His features, long since
turned and prematurely hardened, wore the
Btamp of diginty that industry infaliblv im-
presses upon the forehead of men of courage
and will. Dimmed by debauchery, his eyls
resumed again their limpid light ; his ling
sometimes contracted by anger and eve^
ready to shoot forth a poisoueci arrow, now
relaxed as a bow in lepose.an.l expressed only
benevolence Lastly, when he walked with

liZ if 1% ^°"'''- ^ ««°°°d «P"n<J-
rnh^ J'^* appeared in him, en-
nched perhaps with fewer graces than
the hrst, but fruitful in surlr promises,
and already rich with the promised treasures
of summer. Alas I the poor fellow had not
attained it without effort. How many times
with lacerated feet and forehead bafhe" iu
•sweat, he had stopped discouraged upon the
ZZL H^V^ny times when the end was
alracst reached he felt himself slip the

^S^K^^''*^*^"^ *''^ '°''''°« that he had
climbed with 80 much difficulty ! Qaite

W°;k° r ^"'"'/'^ rebellion or dejection, he
lost the fruit of many months of toil and
th^Eh'- ^r^ fr<J"ently, at the moment
when the good seed commenced to germinate
nrif ^T^^ 5 ^"'"'''^ «*«'■'«' impossible to

W mI', ,'"^*^''*''"yf'**'^« W« of harvest:
but Madeleine watched over him With

angelic patience and indefatigable solicitude,
she sustained, upheld, encouraged him -she
planted anew the heart thatth! temTst had
devastated. Then kneeliug in her own room
she prayed tervently; for, as pious as beauti-
ful, she thought that the creature could do
nothing without the assistance of the Crea-
tor. and that the noblest undertaking
wouM never fail if Heaven smiled upo^n

«,1^h^ ''ho rends the heart had already bless-
ed her undertaking. Maurice, long known
ter S*'*^ with everything, scornful, bit
tor, p tiless-this Maurice no longer existed •
Madeleine had made a new man of him If
at intervals the old spirit reappeared it was
only a pale phantom that the young girl im-
mediately exorcised with a gesture or a look;
If the tempest of his past life re-awakened
and muttered at long intervals, it was but
the dull sound of the distant thunder when
the sky has recovered its serenity. Man-
noe s sadness or iU-humour no longer persist-
ed against the gentle speech of his cousin;
Ursule herself who had so long annoyed

?»f«'/.T'^u""v*"'* ** times jommuni-
oated to him her high spirits. Did he at-
tempt .0 assume im grand disenchanted

hrn.; i^^^^^u «'.'''' "^'^^ her common sense,
brought him back to reason by some charaol
teristic saUy; instead of losing temper, he

laughed with her. He began to enjoy the

Iirst repelled in disgust. The flavour is
acrid and yet one learns to like it. He rea
.zed that in the fulfilment of adutrhow-
ever humble, however modest it be thereTs

philosophy which consists in dei.yinff or de-
precia ingal that relates to huinan^nature

use ul, that with rare exceptions it is only

sSd? 'pk'^" ^'^^^''' *»>''* t'^ke refuge S
8U cide Child of an irreligious century, in

ence o"f Sr.'^"?^ ^' felt,%nder tM iK
ence of his good angel, hope and charity
awaken inhira. He did not believe but he
hoped, artd he wished to believe. WhSe
waiting he freely confessed that no one risk!

ver^^l ?i?l"°"",^''^'"'"« °° ^^--th to the
verities that religion inculcates. Sui-

?hat "^rrf ""^-'^'^ ** ^'« ^"^'^^^' People
that are busy irom morning to evenine

sleep nights, and scarcely think of shufflinf

that had formerly inspired so many fine
phrases, had been sold to buy flowers for h°s
cousin on his birthday /e<e. Along with his
heart hii mmd was elevated. He loved
Art, he read the poets. Like his father at
Nuremberg he Jaarned to acknowledge the
l7tiTJ '''''^l^Sinoe. Attentive wftness

tL i. u *"??* *^\* ^*« *'>««» "liking in
the world of Ideas, he welcomed with in-
dulgence, sometimes with enthusiasm, aU the
generous Utopias that, not long since, had
excited only his anger or diadain. If he
naaiutained an implacable hatred towards

(rtln'^'f T'"'""' hypocritical democracy,
friend of the people, because it is th^

H»f' "r ^°!i.*" «"P«"<""ity ; if he profoundly
detested the charlatans who make a trade 6f
socialism and philanthropy, he venerated
the disinterested souls who embrace with
«j'^"^°e™'i«votednessthe cause of labour and

It must not be believed, however, that
Maurice had not bis relapses. He still had
his days of despair and languor. At times
the burden of his faults ffll with all its
weight upon him ; at times the spectre of
his wasted youth abruptly appeared to him
and struck him dumb with dread. It is the
punishment of beings who have lived ill
to bear for a long time alonif with them,'

21a '" *f tu™-"*'' ''^ * *»""•"• "'^f' the soiled
shadow of their past. Thunder-struck, with
haggard eyes, the unhappy mortal saw
slowly dfifi1« tbefo'- ><i^ *h- s^_5 ** .**^
of his souvenirs ; his neglected father, the
domain of his ancestors sold at auction, the
destiny of Madeleine left to the chances of
fortune ; then came in its turn the image of

MADELEINE,

to enjoy the
;hat he had at
he flavour is

it. He real-
a duty, how-
it be, there is
I that Uckey
3iiying or de-
uman nature,
want as it is
ions it is only
ke refuge in
s century, in
rler th6 influ-
and charity
elieve but he
eve. While

no one risk-
larth to the
ites. Sui-
iside; people

to evening
of shuffling
lious pistols

many fine
twors for his
)ng with his
He loved
8 father at
wiedge the
ive witness
making in
d with in-
iasm.all the
since, had
»n. If he
d towards
iemocraoy,

it is the
profoundly

a trade of

venerated
irace with
labour and

ever, that
e still had

At times
iih all its
spectre of
red to him

It is the
lived ill,
ich them,
the soiled
•uck, with
ortal saw
'e cortege
iither, the
:tion, the
chances of
! image of

the years wasted in debauchery. Crushed
under the weight of his own self-contempt,
too proud to seek iu the tears of repentance
tor release from his conscience, iVJaurice
took refuge in a fierce silence ; without ut
tenng a cry, like the child of Lacedaemon,
Ue allowed is woe to corrode within his
bosom. But Madeleine was ever by, anx-
ious, vigilant, never losing sight of him,
fathoming all the motions of his spirit. Bet-
ter than Maurice, she knew what was pass-
ing within him. in these days of dejection
and taciturn melancholy, she redoubled
with ingenious tendernesss her pious and
touching cares. She possessed adorable
secrets for softening and relaxing that heart
hardened within itself, to pierce the source
ot the stream, to open mysterious issues to
the waters which pressed upon it. While
seated near her cousin like some youna
mother, she talked to him in a grave and
gentle voice; while she spoke. Maurice felt
his wounds heal. At evening she seated
herself at the piano : like Orestes at the
acoentsM his sister Electra,Mauiice,in listen-
ing, felt his remorse appeased. He under-
went graduaUy softening influences. Insen-
sibly emotion prevailed. Under the ever in-
creasing charm his heart was ready to melt :
profuse tears escaped from his eyes. Tears
are divine ; they are a celestial dew that
wash away our stains. Maurice was at last
punned at this fountain.

Aside from days of this character that be-
came rarer and rarer, time flowed away in
enchanted hours. The two years that Aiau-
nce had pledged with such bad grace to his
oonsm, had expired several months since ;
he scarcely dreamed of reclaiming his liberty.
Having become attached to his work, he
fell in love with his art. Work was never
lacking ; through the introduction of Pierre
Marceau, who had for him a friendship, a
well-proved devotion, orders came unsoli-
cited. Maurice had attained in wood carving
8 '.most as great success as his father in toys
and nut-crackers. On her side, Madeleine
was no longer reduced to paint fire-screens
and tea-trays ; her miniatures were s,.ucht
after, especially in.the salons of the aristo-
cracy, m which the report had spread that
a young nobleman and his sister, ruined uy a
lawsuit, were eking out a poor existence by
their work in the attics of one of the houses
of the Rue de Babylone. This was more
tnan was necessary to occupy a languid soci-
ety that eagerly watches for oecasiona tr. di-
vert Itself. After having suffered from po-
verty Madeleine and Maurice enjoyed at
last the competency that never fails to
crown the efforts of a determined will, when
It has for auxiliaries the sentiment of order

simplicity of tastes, modesty ot ambitions.
I^aTJ^ have quitted their attics and in^
stalled themselves more elegantly, seeking a

upon It. ^ot that he desired on his own ac-
count an abode more sumptuous ; he felt a

truth of the words, that the walls which wit-
ness our work, dreams, hopes, are always the
walls of a palace. The little room that had
been the theatre of his regeneration by work
and resignation, became for him a sanctuary
that he could not abandon without grief •

hL'.h ^°!5T'"*1i ^"'""''^y «« brusque and
nf M '/f''''' ^'T'l^ concerning the lelfare
of Madeleine with the solicitude of a brother.
Not to be able to restore the fortune she had
lost was the misery of his life. He had
therefore repeatedly offered her larger and
more commodious lodgings in a retirid quar-
ter, Madeleine replied : ^

•Why change our existence, since we
fn^i^l^^^^ ^"'^J ««Ppiness has its habits;
m interfering with them care is necessary.
We are somewhat near the sky, but we
breathe a serene air ; we live in a deserted
quarter, but we have a park under our win-
dows ; instead of the noise of carriages, the
singing of birds awake us each morning. Our
r<)oms are small, but in winter are warm.
Take my advice my friend, let us remain in
bg'them' ^° «l»0"ld be ungrateful in W

If Maurice still insisted to quiet his con.
science, he nevertheless applauded in secret
the counsel of his companion. They con-

took delight in embellishing the humble lit-
tie parlour of his cousin, while Madeleine had
no greater joy than to enrich the room of
Maurice with all the objects of art that he
loved. These young friends worked for each
other; m this v ay work becomes pleasure.
They lived m solitude, without other ac-
quaintances than the good Marceaus.
Charmed wun the grace an.l elegance of her
nature, some hne la,.ies, whose portraits she
had painted were indeed attracted towards
Madeleine; the young girl had been able to
resist these overtures, which originated, in
truth, only m a sentiment of curiosity. She
maintained a complete reserve, such was the
se-enity of her spirit, that Ursule and Mau-
rice never heard her express either a com-

n(fhl k' ^?f ,*/^fi'^* ^' ^^« remembrance
of the beautiful domwn that an adverse law-
'"•^, had sjiaiched from her. She rarely
spoke of that unfortunate affair ; she might
have spoken of it with gaiety, if it had not
had reference to the patrimony of Maurice.
Un this head. Maurice was less resigned. He
could not think without remorse and bitter-

MADELEINE.

pesB of that chateau in which he was born
in which h« Uther had died, that had been

i^rn!^ T**^ •"." '*;'r'*; ^'^^^^^^^Y l>i« heart
tamed to«rar.la Valtraver« with sorrow.
10 wish It otherwise were exacting too much
of human resignation ; it would also be ex-
aggeratinfir too much the luxury of the attics
the enchantment of wood-carving. As to
Ursule. she regretted nothing, desired no-
^JI^'a ^.'1?' """8 praises of Maurice, and re-
peated with more energv than ever that he
was an angel, an angel (if heaven, an angel
M. -^ «°"d God. «Coine! come I 'slid
Maurice at times good-naturedly, 'you
know there i, only one angel hefe-it^is
neither I nor you, gross creature.' At these

fe\r'"i:'^''l *'"'* *° ^^^ ^""^ been at all times
the highest expression of the friendship of
Maurice for h.s foste.-sister. Ursule burst
^to tears and sobs jahe crL d that Maurioe
was an archangel Durin,; the i,ift..ant
season, when they had worked <.ll the week,
on Sunday a three weuded their way to-
had if ± Jf 1' *^'^' ^'«"'« «»^ M^JeSe
to»d listened to low mass at the church of the

Mumona-'-tmngerea. It was to them the
most beautiful „f holidays. They passed the
day upon the hill sides, lit the bo^tCof the

ItlX' ^"*"'^- u" '■«"«»««'•«. and returned
overflowing with happiness. In this way

those woods of Luciennes and Celle, in
ri'/'^'^^!'*"^"^'""^' ^«had shaped his
Fit? A'"]°mr-. U.'"^^"- **»« chestnut groves
thathehadhUed with his soul's sorrow, by

Ifd«™''*^'^'1 the iittle lake, fringed ^ith
alders and tremulous poplars where death
had appeared to him. he listened to the
music of life in his breast.

What was
had later

passinfr
a vague

CHAPTEiTxV.

SAINT ELIZABETH,

Meanwhile it happened that this young
man was seized with a strange malady
««rn! "^Tr* i'T ^^ experienced in the pre-
«enoe of Madeleine an inexplicable trouble.
Une might have seen him alternately turn

triLr'^/tu'^^" "°^*"' he»- glance, and
tremble at the sound of her'^voice. At

Ih!!!!"?''^^''^ '^^ embroidered, he remained
w^ nn T'''°"°\"'"?'*^*"« ^e*- i« "'ence ; it
rh.th«/""^'"","^"^""°"« «r scornful kir
that he formerly possessed. When he en-

trhl if T'^r. '"" ''^""'l fl"*^e't violently
t»l ^Tt- " Madeleine entered his, he
welcomed her with the embarrassment knd

wlni^'^^'u^T^."^ * °^'l^- At times he
wept without divining the cause of his tears.

i2Jll-LfP^*'-^"'**'°^<* *° *he almost im-
P«roeptiWe noue of an enchanted work that

was making in him.
within hira ? Maurice
revelation.

Through the agency of Marceau. Maurice
had received fhe order for a great hgure. It
was in honour ot a Saint Elizabeth of Hun-
xary that a rich baronet, faithful to the
traditions of his family, which had remained
Oatholio', designed to decorate the Oratory
of one of his chateaux in Lancashire. The
young aitist had accepted this work with
all the more eagerness, because his mother

htt^T^y, f.T"'^''^ *'"" ■"int.and he com-
b ned both of them in the same sentiment
of veneration. However, despite the very
real knowledge that he owed to the instruc
tion of his father, despite the dexterity with
which he handled the chisel, at the moment
of attacking the oak he felt himself seized
Z\u ^ Pr°f°"?'i self-distrnst. He, who
hitherto had played with all difficulties
with a confidence that might pass for pre-
sumptiom. he hesitated ; he dared not strike
his chisel into the wood ; he was astonished
at his own timidity, for he did not yet know
that distrust of self is a sign of true talent
He interrogated the recollection of all the
sculptured hgures that he had seen in
churches ; none of them realized the ideal of
aqueen and saint, none had the nobility and
chastity that belonged to this character,
lime slipped away. He outlined at first the
draperies and the hands. The ambition to
produce at last a work capable of estaSlish-
ing nis renown and meriting the approbation
of his cousin sustained his courage, and at
the same time rendere 1 him more severe to-
wards himself He was never content with
*K wu" *'^** ^* *^*'' J"8t finished ; he found
that the materialhad never enoughflexibility,
that the movement of the body had
never enough grace. The hands occupied
nun long; he endeavoured to give them a
regal elegance. It is thus that chefa-.d'ceu-
vre are created ; the multitude that admire
tbem never suspect the labour they have
fu* L Vi^^^ ^^^ b°"'" arrived to commence
the head, his hesitation redoubled. However,
he set himself at work, and soon the chisel
obeyed the impulse of a mysterious thought,
xhe torehead was rounded without effort,
the eyes were modelled as if by enchantment;
u/ *^'elded under the shadow of their
orbits, they expressed the rapture of a soul
in prayer. The lips, full of indulgence and
goodness, were hatf-opened as if to afford
passage to the balmy breath: the hair,

^ ui,i,„ „no n'lcucau into two masses,

descended upon the cheeks and then raised
over the ears, formed a frame for the grace-
ful oval of the face. After some momenta of
silent contemplation, Maurice retouched

MADELEINE

> wai pasiinjt
later a vague

!eaa, Maarica
9at Hgure. It
5eth of Hun-
ithful to tbo
tiad remained

the Oratory
Mhire. The
I work with
3 his mother
t,aQd he com-
ne sentiment
ite the very

the instruc-
sxterity with

the moment
imself seized
He, who
1 difficulties
atjs for pre-
ed not strike
8 astonished
lot yet know

true talent
>n of all the
lad seen in

the ideal of
nobility and
8 character,
d at first the
ambition to
if estaSlish-
ipprobation
tge, and at
) severe to-
mtent with
I ; he found
b flexibility,

body had
a occupied
ive them a
che/s -d'atu-
that admire

they have

commence

However,

the chisel
18 thou(i;ht.
lout effort,
ihantment;
w of their
3 of a BOUl
Igenoe and
: to afford

the hair,
VG masses,
hen raised
'he grace-
loments of
retouched

•lowly, with secret complacence, all the parts
tha. appeared modelled with incomplete pre-

IT"^-^?" *i"'"'*** "^f *•>« "'J" «'f the nose,
which did not seem fine enough ; he softened
the curve of the eyebrows, which did not
appear majestic enough. Finally he threw
down his instruments and withdrew a few
paces in order to better judge of his work.
While this was going on, Madeleine entered
»nd scarcely could believe her (.«n«es. She
clapped her hands and exhibited a naive joy,
r„i» .'"'u''!' *'°n^»"'^. embarrasied
K^T A?\ *'^** countenance to keep, and
b ushed like a young girl whose first secret is
discovered. In seekit g the model that was

,v.f * m"'J !"*■ '"^ iound in his heart the
image of Madeleine ; without willing it. or
even dreaming it, he had faithfully rendered
the charming features of his cousin. A liaht
broke in upon him, but it was almost imme-

««!;! ^u''*!f *^?"l''®'' "S""- ^'»'»t could he
comprehend of those chaste preludes of love,

intn^'"*"*^ hitherto known'^only the gros^
intoxication and excesses of passion ? How-
ever, from this day the malady that he ex-
perienced only increased, and the serenity
\l ti" 'T' '••""°fi troubled more profound-
ly than he would have dared to tell, or even
to avow to himself. ' ®^*°

This figure of Saint Elizabeth was destined
to brin,; into his existence a storm in other
respects terrifying, and he scarcely suspected
that It would decide his whole destiny.

n.J^Ki'K*'"®^*^ "*'">•» •>" workshop -it
mjght be said that Maurice was loth to

«1« '*"P. .Each time that some one had
nr^PvfT *^! "°'' ^"°°«*' he found some
tlti^ ^u P««*P°«« the delivery. To listen
to him there was ever left some part imper-
feet which demanded the aid of his chi^l.
The truth ,8, the artist had finished retouch
ng his work, and, like Pygmalion, was feast-

rag the baronet presented himself in person.
S ^lT^t\r't^- ""« eyes, ^ white

♦v.^„ M "..^ouig man, appearing younjter
than Maurice, though in reality he was se
veral years older. Simple and i^ good t" te,'
his costume from head to foot was of an

STm '''"• '^^«*\^«- ^« entered coldly?
saluted Maurice with a distraU air ; then

m±r of Ih**'^ °«''°«™*«>« himself with th^

St eLIk fr^'ir'^'' ^''"^ «^'"°«y to the
aaint Elizabeth. He remained some time

examining It in silence, standing moronlew

the body sliehtlv innlin-./l hi- Has- "■?

fa.nd. his ca5e a'nd hat inlhe oth^ '^ """

iJt' ^tr ?"* '^^'^ deceived,' said he at
Usj without turning hi. head, and speaking
M If to himielf ; • it is the ideal that I havS

dreamed— it ia indeed the work of a great

Having said this, the gentleman opened a
httle portf/euitle that he drew from the
pocket of his coat, and took therefrom a
small package of bank-notes, which he laid
lightly upon the work-bench.
^ ' No, monsieur, no 1' exclaimed Maurice.

If you please, we shall hold to the price
agreed upon Take back your bank-notes
n, r^l„'*K ' •°°°"«"'-. y«w generosity is
na^VK '■°*'° "^"y ' ^°'"' '^ y«" *»hed to
pay the once at which I value the work
your whole fortune would not suflBce '

At these words Sir Edward (this was the
baronetV name) deigned, for the first time?

Th„„ ^m" «'"''^ "P"" *he young artist
Though Maurice wore a blouse, by thi
whiteness of his hands, by the purity of hi.
features, by the prou/ attitude of thU

L»^^M*u'J'P?" whose forehead work had
re-established the effaced imprint of his race,
the baronet quickly comprehended that h^

r„nH^^ ?"*""'*"'"y7«''"""- He cmnpre.
hended It more readily because he was dis-
tinguiHhed as much by the elevation of hi.
faculties as by his wealth. Somewhat con!

iThdrirrf*""* ''"S^^"'^' ^^ '*''* "«* "ke to
Britannic entrance. Seating himself fami-
liarly unon the edge of the little couch thLt
served toth a. bed and divan, he entered
into conversation with, Maurice, with a grace
ZIJTT'"'^^^'' '°''« of' Albion.* Ho
I l^!n K 'T ***,**" *■"» *'th the taste of
trT* "^h" ^^"•^'^ '* »°<^ »"'«w how to ap
p eciate it Reserved, cold, and silent. It
first, the young artist was gradually won by
the exquisite simplicity of his language and
manner. In this little room, nelr to the
work-bench, in the midst of blocks of oak
tht^'^Tf ""P^^ *''»* ''*'«''«d the floor,

tory calculation of vanity, the one was im-
pel ed to prove that he had not always livTd
by the labour of his hands, and that he was
Tent li?e?thJ^*K"y "/'*"" elegancie. of opu-
wftli/ '.j*^' °^^^' **''**^« *o show that. not.
withstanding his wealth, he clearly co npro^

Thi'l"'" r'^t °J ^*'^" *"'i intelligence.
They thus touched upon grave subjects of
conversation. In listen*ing to MaurTce SiEd
ward could not help feeling that he wii in the

S r FH^ "!.*' M "^ ^'^ P""™- i° l^tening to

?v hi ' *'*"f'°* recognized that pover.

ty has no monopoly of wisdom, and that all
conditions of Hf» t^^^ *u A , "". *"

hi^k t^rv.''''^ *° P'°."l ^y »^«'n Coming
back to the figure of the saintly Dnchew ot

mother had home the gentle name of Elizv

MADELEINE.

beth duriDK thefew d.ysthut .he had paased
on earth. Maurice, in his turn, said that big
mother, dyin^ young, was also called by the
•au,e name, and this coinoideuce, how little
soever was its importance, established be-
tween then, a sort of sympathy. In nhort.at
the en.l of two hours they separuted pleased
with each other, and already almost friends
1 his commencement of intimacy was not
destined to remain long at this point. Rich
without arrogance, grave without stifTness,
expansive, atlectionate, witty at need. Sir
iiidwar.l was one of those Englishmen that
one meets with at times when bom under a
lucky star. He passed generally for an ori-
gmal character : he was so indeed. Ac ele-
vated spirit a liberal mind, a generous and
chivalrous heart, a nature prompt in devot-
edness, ha had, especially, in the highest de-
gree, the sentiment which incites refined
minds to conceal the advautajtes that chance
of birth has lavished upon them, and which
might be called the modesty of wealth.
More .fortunate, stronjrer than Maurice, he
had passed through the storms of youth with-
out leaving therein any of his native p .rity.
The wreck of his ideaU had not turned him

thri, i!- "^"T; "* ^'^ '^°*' "»'« Maurice,

think himself warranted, in virtue of some

vulgar deceptions, in vilifying humanity. In

learning to know men, he had felt himself

called upon neither to hate or despise them.

With the experience of a sage, he had the

enthusiasm of a poet, the candour and in-

genuousnesB of a child. He united, by rare

good fortune, two faculties which, unfortu-

nately, often appear to exclude each other :

he knew like those who are no longer

capable of loving, and he loved ifke

li^h%., "\" y«* unacquainted

with the ways of the world. He had
moreover, expanded and enriched his
intelligence by study and travels. Endowed
with V1V1.1 intuition of the beautiful in art,he
honoured talent, he professed the culte of
genius. For several years he had passed the
winter at Pans in the friendship of a few
chosen artists. Society attracted him but
little ; he was found less often in salons than
m studios,

. He frequently oaHed on Maurice. He came
im ?*'«''°o°''. .bringing with him some
choice imported cigars, seated himself on the
ed«e of the bed and smoked, while
Maurxoe, standmg beside his work-bench
talking at the same time, was busily
occupied in shaping and polishing oak and
walnut. Sometimes Sir Edward rose to in-
spect the work ; at other times Maurm- i.-tor
Jupted his work, lighted a ci^r, and" came"
and seated himself near the bironet. ThZl
two youny people formed a strong affection

for each ether. Maurice had arrived bv
rCr'^"." '^'f'^"' *' •emi-conHdence^
.uiorir. "A'"''*'"*'^ »'«Pt''"«"ce upon th;
disorders of his past life, bespoke efFusivelv

roof" T^ ^.^" '''''^'^ ""^«'- '"« "«m
f f • *^i* rf ?**" "**«"« ao^l poetic oruan.

als oTty/f^' """i "" P'^-^^'l «t th^^ect
tals of this fraternal existence j but.although
he desired to become acquaints ^ith thw
vet!]?.«t'r''^''°"8'*'''''°'«*''"^he hS not
him In 1 '^ r'*""'.' ^^""••'"^ *« infoduce
sincere attacliment that he had for him

ItZt T"''*'°"'^/P"" *»''« subject he
that th«r« T°' l"'/ ?*'*'»^'* presentiment
Alas fr„r f ^^»">Jtbappiue..s was atstake.
Aias I from destiny there is no escape. One
day wliile the baronet wa.s with Maurice

her more than once concerning his new friend,
and the young g.r . who rej,^oed .o see all
the beautiful sentiments bloominr ajrain in a
enc rf" i"".^ devastated, had -^constantly
enc. raged the progress of this growina

Madeleine showed what she was naturally'
though, with the intention of rendering £-'

t .Lf ^^'^L* *° ^^', *'"""°' comprehending,
besides, with a single look, that, this younl
n an was worthy of her confidence, she took
*< IS commonly said, more pains than a first

rc7a?Th«"''*^^* n'^^p" r "*• s^-^ ^th-

arcwatthe end of an hour, leaving Sir
Edward in raptures. *

JfZV" ^^""^ l'^^*' monsieur,' cried he with
enthusiasm, when she had left the room.

vonr«;T^''l«'^*';' f'™"^"« *be charms of
JTLu ^^ i^"*' ^ ""•^' "ow.that yra spoke
too coldly of so many graces and cliaste^e.
ductions. Never did a purer soul shine
through agtl,, face, f understand how
iL L*"? ^or yon to create chefs-d'oeuvre ;
the beauty of the model explains the genius
of he artist. My friend, fortune has treated
you less severely than I feared, since it has
lett you so precious a treasure.'
w;S!.,?f "'"^ have spoken long in this strain
without running the risk of being interrupt-
ed. Bending over his work. bench, Maurice
was turning a piece of wood and did not even
appear to listen to what Sir Edward was
saying to him. The same day, during the
dinner and the rest of the evening, the
baronet was the subject of conversation in
the room of Madeleine. By the elegant
simplicity of his manners, by the refinement
of his language, by the natural elevation of
his Ideas. Sir Edward had won the girl's
sympsthies, \vho could not help congratulat-
ing her cousin upon possesdng a friendship
of th:8 character. Women who love have
a wonderful, instinct for measuring at

1 arrived, by
ni-oontiiienoe.
iioe upon th«
ike efFusively
ier the anm
poetic organ-
B(l at the reci-
; but.although
e«l with thia
I he hurl not
*o intioduce

despite the
had for him,

subjeot the
prosentiiTiHnt
< was at stake,
iscape. Ooe
ith Maurice,
id spoken to
is new friend,
d ;o see all
'IS, again in a
1 oon<itantly
^is growing
9 presence,
I naturally ;
ideriug her-
iprehending,

this young
'e, she took,
than a first

She with-
leaving Sit

•ied he with

the room.

charms of

b yra spoke

Ciiaste SC"

aoul shine

'Stand how

fs-d'ceuvre ;

the genius

has treated

ace it has

this strain
interrupt-
I, Maurice
id not even
ward was
uring the
;niug, the
rsation in
e elegant
refinement
jvation of
the girl's
ngratuiat-
Friendship
iove have
uring at

MADELEINE.

of ■ihe'%rt*nTh *''• ^•'"« and! sincerity
Uraule u,uTu , **"™*- , Inia was U(,t all.

oe", whi'SS'the- '"^"^' i'-'-reMar!
and Madelei e .n , '^?'"?«,^itl» Maurice
SirFH^,!iu '•*"'* ^'"' ^^A long known

Sv hI ; "' '^^'^'' appeared to strike

this concert of praises Min J *^^'«"^«t «f
main mute rF,1 u ' ***"'l'^o JiJ not re-

.eek°ng to account ?„r.l '"^"^'"«- '*''*'""'
experienced hL S **'f '"«'«"« that he

.Undlng wiv Hke I^SL^'K T^"''' "»''«■-
a "tormf though thet ^ ^^'' apP^oach of

MadZnf \ste I'nd^'tf artitT
'isits gradually Upr-aVnl i , ^"*' ^Js

in his company Maurfce*nh ^''''^i^" ^"""^
disquietude -at timt« T "^««''*'ed it with

watching tVemwirhll i"'"'""'''^ ^*™««»
were hours w^ienth. ^ *u°"' ^^^^ ^'^ere

against his frTend a bitt-^^^'"* """" ^'^'
he could not exnhiin « resentment that

his cousin°wa: mt";eae'r';:'^';i/h h "' *'^*
open-hearted with +t„ ^ • '*" him, more

ticed already ^hat tt! h'"''^"!'"- "« '«'•
spoke of the vo^aeettf h '■°°^* °° ^""g^"-
to make ever/X 'a t^h^' •^<^°?t«">«'i
evening, he ve^ntL'd to qJ tiKfrn ""''
cerning his approaching dSt.Z ?^ T"
ronet answered that k„ "^P^i^'wre ; the ba-

Maurice thoulrhS « "^m ^°^ «°'°g' '^''d
him with a smile TiT ^*^«J«ip« thank

mysterious pai^' eSed if ' '°''*'^^- *''"
length a sfiHn,?.' j^, '*>' assuming at

weighed noon ^nH ' *", "iknown i 1

lant and clear «iX»^ tormeriy so vigi-

of the change, that w«r«T.f '^ ^ ^ '""'^^''
cousin. It miiJht hJf f *''''1"S P^»°e in her

had eyes onlXsir eS '''' ^"^^'^^'^ I
-r VP®.'"?'"oing.as he was sea<:«,i ,.„^„ ^u- _ , '
wi CIS o6d, sad dninr.fc^ * ^, -:••'■« vDccugc

tioninghimseU 2h Ire'aJ V.?'" *'"* ''"^?
gentleman enterT graver th»^»^'^^* "^"^ '^^
Edward came and sit Tv S« •^'''t"? 1- Sir
out opening his Uns i /'.^^' '"'''• '^th-
i* uiug nis lips, begBu to trace invuible

S"^" y'th the end of his cane upon the
Hoor of the room, with the air of a man who
has «ometh,ug of importance to say and Iom
not know how to commence, whife Maul^

thaTth:^'''" "T'^^^'y^ '^ -^f he ; hVined
that the storm, whose iuHuouce he had borne

amia^ble^^ih "''^ ^"' '^"""y- ^^h that
t^ uu .^'nharrassment so beoomina to
wealth when it addresses poverty 'lived
your sister before I knew Lr In speakfuB
;• her you taught me to love her ; 1 wM
pleased to mingle both of you in the sam^
««nt„nentof affection and respect I came

love"" r^T'. "?1 '^'' "''°*''"«"t has Je omS
love. Could It be otherwise ? I constitute
you a judge in this matter ; if this «S e
person were not your sister,' could yo^Lave
wen her and not adored her? Noble chil
dren, I know nothing of your familv nr nf
your destiny ; but iLve s'een you, l^e and
that IS sufficient. By the way in which vou

vrarr' TJ^^'r'- y"" '^^^^ shown that
fhi?l, M ^"'^^y °^ ^'«""h ; on my side I
Stv * mP'"""'^ '°y*^'^ "«* unwortSy of
wkhtL ^^r"^' T are friends; do you
wish that we become brother »'

! Paler than death, Maurice'let fall an iov
hand into that of the baronet. ^

voice th^JT*^'' "?^'!'^- ^i« '" " tremulous
worl !l ^^\''*"'^y*"«'^ ^ calm, 'the
Zr In f h** ' ^r^ J"«* ^^"'^ equa ly ho-
nour all three of us ; believe me, I am oro^
foundly touched, as lought to be ; but K
deleme, but my sister-undoubtedly. she
loves you You have her assent ? You have
at least, divined the secret of her soul ?'

r<o, my friend, no ; I do not know if I
' but t1' P'.J^^a^d modestly responded!
but I firmly believe in the force otaltrao

irhr^*T^°^'''"*'^ !»'" persuaded S
enSnf ', ^^ ^"^''^'^'^8 tenderness, by never-
winn^L ?rV''^°'''l'"y heart will succeed in
winning the heart that it has chosen.'

iJut Madeleine, Sir Edwaid Madelfiin«
knows that you love her'- ^aaeleine

m«'lftt^°'i*^'°'' *^** «^« looks upon me
me with disfavour ; but neither my lips nor

rLT^^^''\ ^^^' ^P"''^" to he/ oAove.
Before asking her consent, I thought it wm

y"ours"'^ "'"'* ""^ '^'"'''"^ *° ^"'^^^d soS

' It is well !' said Maurice, extending in

turn his hand to Sir Edward. 'To know

your worth, I have not waited till th-^-I

lou^hita'T"' ' "^ ^'*^'."' *"d friends'iirp
8nTtM»L •"'* since acquired. I shaU con-
su t Madeleine, and if your wishes are agree-

thltn°„?h'"'^*=1? P'°""« vou inadvK
that nothing will oppose your happiness.'
The baron«jt withdrew, his heart overflow.

MADELEINE.

Ing with Bweet hopeg. If he loved Made-
leine, if he liAil not been al>le to see no much
candour and reason, «o much grace and
beauty, without bein^ fascinatetl by it, ho
also loved Maurice with intenoe atrt'ction,
and that which especially dehghted thin poe-
tic mind, this tender and generous houI, was
the thought of aveiigMig these two youug
people for the injustice of fate, in restor-
ing them, in the face of the world, to the
position that they had lost.

CHAPTER XVI.

HIS SACBIFICK.

Left alone, Maurice was sunk in a chaos
of thoughts so confused, and of sentiments
so conflictini?, that the cleverest analyst, the
most subtile psychologist, would have been
perplexed in seeking to explain them.
Having conducted, by a supreme effort of
will, Jjir Edward to the head of the stairs,
he re-entered his room and throw himself
upon his bed, as ir crushed by the words to
which he had just listened. He felt at first
a horrible agony, impossible to describe.
This torment was succeeded by au utter
prostration. The tumult of his senses was
appeased ; little by little his perceptions
became more precise and lucid. Soon his
face shone with a gentle radiance, like the
first light of the dawn. Indeed, it was the
dawn of a new life. A celestial ray beamed
in his look, a childlike smile enlivened his
half-opened lips, still pale and trembling.
He continued long in mute ecsttoy. Then
his breast heaved and swelled ; suddenly
tears sprang from his eyes, a cry went forth
from his breast, and, like resnsuitated
Lazarus, he rained his arms towards
Heaven. In lookinu to the bottom of his
heart, Maurice had just perceived a newly-
opened flower ; he breathed its perfume,—
this flower was love. He loved I Ah ! to
understand this iutoxioation, one must
himself experience it ; at the detdine of a
precocious autumn, he must feel germinate
in his soul a second spring-time — he must
feel revive and re-expand, under a Divine
breath.that flower of love which he believed
for ever blasted !

This intoxication was of short duration ;
Maurice left it by a sudden movement of
anger and despair. Like a bird mortally
Struck in free air, he fell back heavily upon
the ground of reality. Unhappy mortal !
he loved when it was too late ; he had ar-
rived to. late at the gates of Faradise ; he
discovered happiness only in time to bid it an
eterup' adieu. His violent nature was re
ted for t last time ; he bant forth in

S'r Edward,
in the frenzy

jealnnt imprec itioni againit
who had robbeil him of life ;
of his grief ho hardly spared Madeleine.
He recalled the late bearing of his cousin ;
ho saw herfcmiling upon the baronet, who
looked fondly upon fior, and he felt hia
breast torn by all the tortures of hell. He
had not even the consolation of saying to
himself that he hail perhaps deceived him-
self. Even though he had not observed
these two youug people— even though he
had not followed with an uneasy eye the
progress of their mutual passion, the
vague malady which he had suUered should
have already enlinhtened him ; the martyr-
dom that he endured at this hour would
have cried plainly enough that Madeleine
loved Sir Edward. He walked hercely in
his room, when he suddenly stopped,
ashamed of his frenzy. He looked into hit
own heart, and blushed with confusion.

' Why complain, miserable one ? exclaimed
he, bowing his head. 'Only just escaped
from the muddy stream where thou hast
wasted thy youth, thou complaiuest because
thou are not loved j thou art incapable of
seeing that a noble heart, a spotless virtue, a
conscience that has never weakened, may be
preferred to thee ! What hast thou done to
merit that tenderness which appears to thee
to-day the supremo good ? For more than
two years thou hast had this treasure under
thy hand, what bust thou done to render
thyself worthy of it ? Thou hast misunder-
stood hrr, thou hast contemned her, thou
hast trampled hrf under foot, and now thou
rebellest against thyself at the thought
that another should possess her ! As a re-
ward for the insults with which thou hast
overwhelmed her, it does not satisfy thee
nat the adorable oii.ature that God has
placod under thy care, has drawn thee from
die bottom of an abyss, that she has washed
the stains from thy soul and directed thy
steps with consecrated thoughts. As a price
of the insane afl'ronts that thou hast lavished
upon her, as a recompense for thy harshness,
for thy infamous conduct, it would seem to
thee that her love could not be too much.
Ah ! be dumb, remain in thy obscurity, and
thank Heaven, which has given thee the grace
of being able to love.'

Maurice had never wept with so much bit-
terness upon the mistakes of his past life ;
never, at the remembrance of his errors, had
he shed such bitter, such burning team ;
never had remorse for ill-spent days weighed
upon him with greater foree. H« meARnrnd
for the hrst time the extent of his ruin ; his
mind had just opened to the sentiment of
happiness which he had had under his hoad
and had not been able to beize.

MADELEINE.

I'r Edwarl,
1 th« frenzy
Madeleine.
f his oousin ;
baronot, who

he felt hia
at hell. K«
at Baying to
oeived him-
lot observed
though he
sy eye the
paMion, the
lured should
the martyr-
hour would
t Madeleine
d tiercely in
y Btopped,
ted into hii
f union.
?' exclaimed
ust escaped
I thou hast
test because
incapable of
ess virtue, a
led, may be
hon done to
ears to thee

more than
asuni under
5 to i).'iider
i niisuuder-
;l licr, thou
id now thou
he thought
! As a re-
1 thou hast
latisfy thee
b God haa
1 thee from
has washed
rected thy

As a price
Mt lavished
' harshnese,
Id seem to

too much,
curity, and
ie the grace

> much bit-
past life ;
errors, had
ini; tears ;
ya weighed

I meiLnnrnd

3 ruiu ; his
intimeut of
r his hand

At this hour,' said he. ' if I had always
followed. Iik« Sir Kdward, the iiitloxible linu
of duty, ] ihouhl be under the ro.;f of my
ancestors, near to MiidfliMiio, who would
love mo uurhaps, fir I iihould have rumuiued
wonhy or her lovo.

True love is humble, resigneil, ever ready
for suorifiue. What coiiM Maurice ofler to
his cousin ? What could he cio, in spite of
his couMj^e and porsoveruuce, in spite of the
favour that his works ei)ji.yt;d? Even suppos-
ing that this favf)ur w.-uld bo durable, he
could only provide for her a Horry and limit
ed existence. In espousing S,r Edward,
Madeleine would ru-assunie in society the
rank which belonged to her, and which site
ought never to liave left. Il she felt her-
■elf drawn towards him by a senti-
ment of affection, however feeble it
might be, should Maurice oppose it?
Was it not his duty, on the contrary, to
enoourags it by every means in his power,
and to sacriHce everything for Madeleine's
happiness ? Ho did not heHitute herein ; his
part was immediately chosen.

SorDwful and silent, but without ill-
humour, he pasued the evening with his cousin
in accordance with his usual custom. By
one of those contrasts frtqueiit in all friend-
ships, the young Germ, o was animated this
evening by a In I ,,,u«i ; Maurice sorrow-
fully observ, out, with an appearance

ot siniimu iti=„guiUiou. He did not solicit a
word, ho (iiil not seek a glance that might
weaken his resolution. Hut, when about to
retire, he asktd Maileleiue to scat herself at
the piauo and sing ' The Adieu,' thit melody
of Hiiuibert which had, on a previous evening
sopiofoundly moved him. The young giil
C()uipiied with good grace to this fancy.
Never, in singing, had she' aupeared more
touching. When she had finished, Maurice
rose, took in his own the hands of his cousin
bore them respectfully to his lips, then left
the room to relieve, in solitude, his heart of
the load which oppressed it.

' Vou are sad. Monsieur Maurice ! my

nothing should be lacking at the immolation
of his hopes, stifling the cries of his spirit,
crushing back the lovo in his brea8t,he wrote
with a him hand :

young master, what troubles you ?' said
Ursule, meeting him in the antechamber.

' It io nothing, good Ursule,' responded
Maurice, controlling himself. ' You know
that for some time my sorrows are not serious.
So, as to this, embrace me j I am sure that
wul do me good.'

Ursule threw herself upon the neck of her
foster-brother, who clasped her into his arms.
Once alone, Maurice could no longer contain
II iiiocif ; he aiiowed his despair co burst out
u» Sobs, to liberate itself iu rivulets of tears ■ it
was the last tribute that he paid to human
weakness. The next day, rising at daylight,
lie bent over hJB table, and there, that

Madeleine, I have kept my proiniie.
You a«ke(i me to remain two years with you;
the term indicated by yourself expired Several
months sincH. You asked of me two years
of abnegation and devotudness, and you have
taken nio role, You have done for me more
than 1 fur you. In making me recognize the
value of Work, tho Krandour and holiness of
duty, you have almost effaced in me tho
memory of my mistakes. Wiiatever be the
future that God reserves for me, I shall have
for you only an etoiiial sentiment of grato-
luluess and words of blessing ; but I do not
wisli, nay, 1 ought no longer to accept the
sauiihco to which you have resigned yourself
with so much courage : it wouhl be, on my
part, a gross egoism which I should never
forgive myself. It is more than I that ia
now concerned, it is you and your happiness.
Sir Edward loves you : he id v. , thy of your
love. He will assure you the lank that you
deserve. He has for me, I doubt not, a sin-
cere udection; he will taKe upon liimseU the
responsibility of acquitting my debt towards
you. Adieu, then ore. 1 am going awav
Do not be trouble., about my destiny. In
whatever place 1 find niyst-lf, my work will

'"^^n'^c m"", ""y "*®''*- -^''*v«'' f^ar that 1
sliall tall back into that utter darknesB
trom whenci' you have drawn me ; a m vste-
rious star u ill ever be my guide m the way
that you have opened tor me. If my
stieugtii weakens, if disi'ouragement again
possesses m. it will suffice, in order to raise
mo again, to look into the recesses of my
heart. I snail find there your ima«e. I ao
to see once more the chateau of my ancestors-
it is a legitimate repaiation that I owe to'
the memory of the ohevalier. I wish to re-
veal myself pure and regenerated in those
places that have 6een me dishonoured and
degraded. My father died far from me,
vkiuiout pressing mine in his failing hands
This holy pilgrimage will timsh appeasing
the tronble of my conscience. Then I shall
go with a firm step wherever God pleases to
ead me. Once more, adieu, Madeleine :
ehappy.and while I bless the remem-
brauce of the days that we.have passed to-
gether, this . remembrance cannot be very
bitter to you. Your brother, ^

Mauhice.'

Helfolded this letter, traced upon the en"

fniTfiii k''^"!* ."^'"^ ^^^^ should thence
forth hU his whole life, and put it in plain
sight upon the mantel-piece. At this
moment, he perceived Marceau and his wife

MADELEINE.

who were already at work, near the cradle of
their children; he saluted them with en
aflectiouate gesture. Having contemplated
with an envious eye, for a few minutes, the
peace and happiness of this little menace,
he busied himself with the preparations for
hiB departure : this occupied him a quarter
of an hour at the most. When all was
ready he buckled around his blouse his
belt of patent-leather, put upon his back the
knapsack that contained his whole fortune,
seized with one hand the staflF of the
journeyman ; then, having cast a tender
glance around the little room, into which he
had entered hardened by egotism, stained by
Idleness, rendered prematurely old by de-
bauohery, he went out regenerated by work
rejuvenated by love, sanctified by sacrifice'

^CHAPTER XVII.

HOME AGAIN.

While he remained in Paris, his sorrow
was mixed with secret irritation. He felt
the generous resignation that had impelled
him to leave Madeleine, falter within him.

fcf^^■^« greaft city, a remnant
of the fatal influence to which he formerly
had been subjected. Once outside of Paris,
when he felt his chest dilate in the vivify!
ing air of the country, in face of nature, his
anger [was appeased, his heart was softened
and he permuted himself to be dominated
wholly by an unique sentiment, his love for
Madeleine. In the time of his stormy life,
which he foolishly took for an earnest life
every time that one of his desires was oppos-
ed or could be gratified only after an obsti-
nate Btrufitgl, resistance awoke in him spite
or hatred. He could not understand love
without possession ; he might have smiled in
pity If one had told him that the heart could
taste in love a happiness independent of the
object loved. Now, alone with his own
thoughts, he realized thejgrandeur and the
holiness of a sentiment that he had never
before understood, of which he had embraced
hitherto only the grosser image. He with-
drew from Madeleine ; his heart bled at this
separation, and jet he flavoured his grief
with pleasant thoughts. In his voluntary
isolation in the exile to which he resigned
himself, he experienced a joy more vivid and
profound than in the intoxications of his
satiated passions. He was not loved, but he
.' ■■ — -i-.er.,, r-eiug luvcu. and trie

consciousness of his moral worth inspired in
him a legitimate pride. He was not loved,
bat he applauded himself for the;saorifice

that he had just made for the woman that he
loved ; au,i toe found, in this very sacrifice, a
joy that it was not in the power of any one
to rob him of. In his pilgrimage to Valtra-
vers he was not guided solely by the desire
to acquit himself with respect to the memory
of his father; he wished also to see aijain
the place where he had met Madeleine for
the hrst tune, and bless the imprint of her
steps. He wished to breathe the air that
she had embalmed with her oresence ; to
run through the places in which he had
listened to her voice ; it was for him a last
and supreme form of gratitude.

He walked with head erect, breathini; the
air with dilated lungs. The apprecia-
J • u- 'beauties of nature, long d.-aden-
ed m his heart, was at last awakened.
It approached the last days of
^«**V; the sun smiled upon the earth
Al the undulations of the hill sides,
all the caprices of the sky. all the accidents
of the scenery, were, for Maurice, a source
of unexpected joys. To witness his naive
enchantment, ic might have been said tha
hesiw. for the first time, the wonders of
creation, T.e austere fatigues of this pedes-
trian journey were sweeter to him than all
the excursions made not long since in the
bottom of an indolent caluchs. at the Kallop
of horses. The halts, at evening, in the
little inns, the departures at the early dawn
the rencontres at the common table, the
salutations exchanged upon the road, the
chats with children upon the stone steps
before the door. were, for him. so many
poetic episodes that renewed at each instant
the interest in his pilgrimage, at the same
time mitiatmghim into the practice of equa-

Last of all. a final moral revolution was
destined to crown all the otht rs.
^Madeleine had succeeded in re-animatina
the religious sentiment in the heart of
Maurice but she had ever vainly sunplicated
him to have recourse to prayer, and invoke,
in his woes, divine consolation. Whatever
she might say to him, he had never consent-
ed to set foot in a church. It was left to
grief to bring him back by an insensible
grade to the faith and to the religion that
he had hitherto railed at. Every sincere
grief lifts us towards Heaven. Maurice
proved It Walking through a village that
was found on his way, he passed before a
church ; impelled by an irresistible instinct,
without being importuned, without deliber-
ating within himself, he entBrnd T* was
one of those poor churches that God is said
to prefer to sumptuous and gilded temples.
Ihe sun shone softly through the lowered
Winds ; wild flowers were scattered upon the

MADELEINE.

otnan that he
ry sacritice, a
er of any one
go to Valtra.
by the desire

the memory
to see a^aia
Madeleine for
iprint of her

the air that
presence ; to
tiich he had
>r him a last

ireathiug the

le apprecia-

long deaden-

3t awakened.

daya of

the earth.

hill sides,

he accidents

ice, a source

ss his naive

3en said tha

wonders of
if this pedes-
him than all
since in tho
Eit the gallop
ling, in the
early dawn,

1 table, the
e road, the
stone steps
n, so many
each instant
it the same
tiue of equa-

olution was

•e-animating
e heart of
supplicated
ind invoke,

Whatever
'er consent-
was left to

insensible
iligion that
ery sincere
> Maurice
village that
sd before a
>le instinct,
ut deliber-
d. It was
od is said
i temples.
)e lowered
d upon the

steps of the altar ; here and there, upon the
floor, some women, some old people were
kneeling in the subdued light. Maurice
sank upon his knees and prayed. He prayed
to obtain pardon from his father for his
errors, to obtain from Heaven iiappiness for
Madeleine.

At length, after fifteen days of solitary
travel, he traversed, without beiug recoij-
nized, the little village adjoining Valtravers.
His costume was sufficient to assure hia
incognito ; besides, in that assured step, in
that proud and serene glanc sin the calmness
and dignity of that noble and manly li^ure,
u *^ u""^*^ anyone recognize the young man
that had been seen, three years previously
passmg through the town like an outcast?
Who could be able to tell what emotions
attacked him, when he saw, an hour later,
looming above the horizon, the leafy shades
that had screened his cradle, when he set foot
upon the edge of the forest, when he plunged
\mto the mysterious depths that he had so of-
ten traversed in company with his father and
the marquise, where Madeleine was revealed
to him ? Finding himself again, overflowing
with love and life, in those beautiful places
where, three years pieviously, he had
brought only a sentiment of his degradation,
his first movement was t(» cry out to Nature
that he was young again, that he could love,
that he loved; his regenerated soul was
lifted up m holy raptures. He proceeded
slowly ; souvenirs sprang up before him like
lark* from the meadows. Under the shade
of that oak he had reposed at the chevalier's
side ; under the silver foliage of this poplar
he had H.-eamed away a day, listening to the
nascent murmurs, counting the incipient pal-
pitations of youth just starting into life with-
in him. At a turn in the path, he recognized
ed the place where, one autumn evening, he
had met his cousin. He recalled all the de-
tails of that poetic evening : he recollected
also that a year later, on the day of his de-
parture, he had found Madeleine seated at
the same place.

'Ahl unhappy one, what demon drove
you away ?' cried he sadly. ' She was eveu
then beautiful and charming, like a celestial
warning, like theimageofhaopiness that you
were leaving behind you. Had you then but
taken her by the hand and retraced your
steps!' '"^

Day was declining. Worn out by his emo-
tions, Maurice had thrown himself upon the
greensward. _ He rose and turned his steps
towards the chateau. As he did not know
the people that iuhabitated it; not very anx-
iops, be it understood, to see and recognize
them, he but wished, through the bars ct the
gate, to oast a devout glance into the park ;

he wished to bid a final adieu to the Eden
from which he was for ever exiled

He walked beside the wall that enclosed
the park, as far as to the gate, and remained
for along time with his forehead pressed
against the palings. Mechanically he opened
the gate ; by an impulse of the heart, he en-
tered. Ihe park was deserted, the shades of
evening were beginning to fall. Maurice
heard only the murmur of the wiud among
the leaves, the cries of birds hiding in their
nests, tne noise of the sand under his feet.
Pushing aside the thick branches, he advanced
with a furtive step. At a bend in the
path, when the facade was about to appear
he stopped, held his breath, crossed his arms
upon his ciiest as if to quell its rising emotion.
Finally he looked. Could he believe the evi-
dence of his own eyea? Was it not
a dream, a mirage, a hallucination of
his over-cxcited brain? He wanted to
cry out but his voice died upon his
ips. The stick that he car..ed escaped
from his hands, his limbs refused to support
him, and, to prevent himself from fallTng.
he was obliged to lean against a tref.
Ihere before him, twenty paces distant, seat-
ed upon the perron, in tiie subdued licht of
the last rays ot ihe setting eun, while two
children, well known to Maurice, played
upon the lawn, Madeleine, Sir Edward;
l-ierre Marceau and his wife, were chatting
together. Suddenly Madeleine arose, and
Maurice saw her advancing towardi him
smiling, as serene, as calm, as it the occur-
rence were the simplest and most natural
thing m the world.

she ^""' ""!'' ^^ "'^'^^ waiting for you,' said
And. taking his arm, the young girl drew
him gently towards the baronltT Thereat
ana Marceau, who, on their side, came to
meet him. They pressed his hands in st
lence ; not a word was u ttered. Every heart
was moved ; every lip was mute.

in . t ' "^v ^"^"^^ '' ""''^ Maurice, at last,
in a trembhng voice, stopping at the foot o
the perron a„d throwing around him a con-

S^' Tw?i'^"^^t''*^' •' ^l"** has hap.
pened ? fcWhat is happening ? Speak
answer me. Have I dreamed of griefand

Tue faces which surrounded him answered
ouy by a gentle smile. Supported by Ma-

ifrS n'tr*^**^ '^^ «'^P« «f *he piron.
Already all the servants were .lasninfjig^ -

the hail. Maurice recognized them all : i"l
had seen him bom and grown up

' My children,' said Madeleine to them
here is your young master, who has comi
back among you.

MADELEFNEl

They pressed about him with love and re-
spect, while Uraule hastened to unbuckle the
straps of the sack that he carried upon his
back. At the same inetant.it was announced
that dinner was ready. Followed by Sir
Edward and the Marceaus, Madeleine took
his arm, led him into the dining-hall, where
nothing had been changed, and made him
sit, in his artisan's dress, at the place which
his father formerly occupied. Though the
table was loaded with every hereditary lux-
ury to which Maurice had been accustomed
in youth, the repast was short an^l silent.
Maurice retained to the end the attitude of a
man who knowing not whether he is
asleep or awake, fears lest by a too sudden
gesture or imprudent word, he should cause
the enchantment which he witnesses to
vanish. At the end of a quarter of an hour,
Madeleine rose, and, leaving the group of
convives, directed her steps towards the
park in company with her joousin, who
allowe<i himself to be led like a child. Hav-
ing arrived at a grassy eminmce, the young
girl seated herself first, and caused Maurice
to sit beside her.

It was one of those beautiful evenings
which seem to double the value of happiness.
While one part o^^ the sky was even
yet purpled with sleeping fires, at the
other limit of the horizon the moon was
rising in a lake of azure, and mounting
slowly over the tops of the trees, whose
foliage glistened like silver in its pale rays.
The nightingale sang deliciously amid the
thick branches ; in the depths of the woods
was heard the distant sound of the cascade.
'_ Oh, mon ami,' said Madeleine at last, in a
voice surpassing in melody the song of the
nightingale and sweeter than the fresh night.
breeze, ' I have loved you from the day
when I saw you here for the first time.
You had need of regenerating yourself by
passing through poverty, labour and abne-
gation. I understood it, and I wished to
share the proofs that I imposed upon you.
These proofs are ended, Maurice ; will you
forgive me ?'

Maurice felt his very soul melt like a grain
of incense, and exhale towards Madeleine in
silent adoration. He knelt at the foot of
the little eminence upon which his cousin
was sitting. Thai pure being beat towards
him her sweet face, and there, under the
light of the silent stars, their lips met in a
chaste kiss.
It is hardly necessary to state, nSw, that

_ _ _ J J „,»., "iiijr a jlluuS iatSC.

hood. She had not lost her lawsuit. She
h%d deceived Maurice in order to save him
] do not wish to describe what passed in the
luftrt of Madeleine while Maurice efifeoted

his rehabilitotion. Such a recital is best left
to delicate souls ; as to the others, they
would not comprehend it. The young che-
valier had just found his friends of Paris
under the roof of his ancestors.

' They have been witnesses of your strug-
gles and eflForts ; it is right,' said Madeleine,
• that they should be present at the moment
when you receive the recompense that you
have so well merited. What Sir Edward
loved in me was our poverty ; our happiness
will console him.'

A month later Maurice and Madeleine
wer« married without noise and ostentation
at Neuvy-les-Bois, in presence of their
friends, peasants and domestics. Having
enjoyed for several days the sight of their
sweet pleasures, Pierre Marceau set out for
Paris with his wife and children. In vain
iVladeleme essayed to retain them— in vain
Maurice offered to keep them at the cha-
teau, where they would easily find employ-
ment for their activity and their intelli-
gence.

>• You have found your true place,' Mar-
ceau wisely arswered ; ' permit me to keep
mine. In spite of the friendship that unites
us, I feel that I should disturb your happi-
ness. I fear nothing from your pride ; the
work that we have .-shared together has
established between us an equality that no-
thing would be able to change ; but the so-
ciety in the midst of which you are going to
live would refuse to understand it, and its
astonishment would be for me a silefft re-
proach that I am anxious to spare both of
us.'

The little family set out loaded with
tokens of affection. At the end of a month
Sir Edward departed on his tour. • Care-
fully watch over your happiness,' said he to
Maurice, at the moment of bidding him
adieu; 'it is a delicate plant, that needs
vigilant care. It has grown up under a
balmy air ; take care to protect it against
the storms which might break it. ' Then
turning towards Madeleine, he wished to ad-
dress a few words of adieu to her, but he
was troubled, his eyes moistened, and the
young wife felt a tear fall upon the hand
that he pressed sorrowfully to his lips.

My task is ended. Happy existences are
not related. Maurice was thenceforth out
of danger, and no longer needtd even forti-
tude. Though work was no longer a neces-
sity, yet he was not idle j he busied himself
in doing good, he disseminated his wealth
arouaa hiiu. Madeleine was paid with
usury for her devotion. No cloud appeared
to disturb the serenity of their mutual ten-
derness. As to Ursule, whatever Madeleine
might say, she persisted in believing that

hery

suit,

carvii

main

ed foi

gratil

intox:

MADELEINE.

bal is beat left
others, they .
le young che-
inda of Paris

f yonr strug-
d Madeleine,
; the moment
nse that you
Sir Edward
ur happineas

1 Madeleine
1 ostentation
3e of their
ius. Having
ight of their
1 set out for
en. In vain
lem — in vain
at the oha-
tind empluy-
sheir intelli-,

place,' Mar-
me to keep
a that unites
your happi-
' pride ; the
ogether has
ity that no-
but the so-
are going to
I it, and its
a silejtt re-
are both of

oaded with
of a month
ur. • Care-
' said he to
lidding him
that needs
up.under a
St it against
it.' Then
ished to ad-
her, but he
led, and the
3n the hand
» lips.

stences are
loeforth out
even forti-
;er a neoea-
lied himself
his wealth
paid with
d appeared
lutual ten-
Madeleine
ieving that

her young mistress had really lost her law-
suit, and that Maurice had found in wood-
carving the means of buying back the do-
main of his ancestors. Maurice ever retain-
ed for his young wife an exalted feeling of
gratitude; frequently it happened that in an
intoxicated sense of happiness he blessed

her. 'uVon omi,' she replied in such cases,
' it is not I that yuu should thank ; I only
indicated the way in which you were to go.
It is work that yon should bles<i ; for it is
through it that you have found again youth,
love and happiness. '

THE ssn.