n the country. A bed without curtains, a table, and two chairs, composed the more than modest furniture of this retreat

twice uttered a deep growl, and turned his head towards the window-

beautiful chestnut hair was confined at the temples by a broad piece of tape, so that it might not get tangled during the night. These white

age. The remembrance of their mother would sometimes make them sad, but this sorrow had in it nothing bitter; it was r

hers whose children were left on earth, that he allowed them to look down upon them from highest heaven-to see them always, to hear them always, and sometimes to send fair guardian angels to protect therein. Thanks to this guileless illusion, the orphans,

some days, they had a secret, a great secret, which often quickened the beatings of their innocent hearts, often agitated their budding bo

her head, which was half turned towards her sister; Blanche, with her elbow resting on th

inly. He promis

he would not bre

me, with his l

charming name!-How we

g us by the hand: 'My children, bless God that he has given you o

hearts,' he added

to remember his

Rose, laughing, and kissing her sister's forehead. "Well-when he speaks, your-or rather our eyes-are wide, wid

is so grand, so no

, what good thoughts rise within us! If

main in our hearts, like little

Rose, that he loves us

wise, since we have bu

ve Rose, without

become of the poo

uld have found it so

much like o

rouble," said Rose, laughin

e is alone to love us; we are

t leave us till

too-we must see

him with us-and Dagobert, too-in that great cit

t be like a ci

ne must be happy, sinc

dare so much as to enter it

ere is happy, every o

will l

e with our friend with th

told us noth

t; we must speak to him

ten you know, he likes best to gaze o

is look recalls to me the

how pleased she must be at

so much beloved, we mu

, smoothing with her slender fingers the pa

said to her: "Don't you think we s

ink so, le

told everything to mother. Why

something which gives

have known our friend, our hea

seem to be

enough; our friend fills

to tell Dagobert what

his moment the dog ga

er to Blanche, "there is the dog growlin

her," said Blanche, striking with he

ane, still obstinately casting a sidelong glance at the window; the sisters bent over him to pat his br

ort?" said Blanche, pulling him ge

always so uneasy wh

nk he knows that he then h

, Dagobert is late in c

is attendin

at we did not bid good-

sorry

he licks our hands. One would think

will have wished hi

ng of us. How he spoils us! We rema

we prev

are not rich, to gi

r! we shall never be any

re's the

attached to it, else we should

mised to tell us

ng, for two of the windowpanes

selves into each other's arms, whilst the dog

rs held their breath; in their extreme fear, they durst not even cast their eyes in the directio

murmured the orphans.

izing Blanche by the arm; "hark

like the tread of Dagobert. Do y

defend us!" cried the two siste

was heard along the thin partition that divided the chamber from the landing-place. Then a ponderous mass, falling against the do

ened. It wa

joyfully exchanged a kiss, as if they

are you afraid?" asked

ting as she spoke, for both her own he

ot recognize your footsteps-they seemed so he

a boy of fifteen, seeing that I carried my bed upon my back-a straw mattre

that!" said Rose, looking at Blanche. And their pretty faces, wh

ll resting against the window,

rk in that direction, my c

anes have just been broken. That is

w to the window, opened it quickly, p

night. He listened; but hear

, old fellow, and search!" The faithful animal took one mighty spring and

gesture: "Search, old fellow, search! If there is any one ther

ig

kwards and forwards, snuffing on every side, and no

this." Then, turning to the maidens, who listened to his words and watched his movement

her when we heard a great crash, and

, "as if a shutter had struck

d observed a long movable hook, d

e the window. Yes, yes; that is it. What interest could anybody have to play such a sorry

d as a negative, for he continued: "Well, then, come back! Make

econds beneath the window, he set off at a gallop to make t

the soldier, as he again drew near

d deal frighte

onvenience, he took from a chair the reindeer pelisse, and suspended it from the spring-catch of the curtainles

od you are! We were very

se, only just then perceiving that his countenance was disturbed and pallid, for he

ets?-Oh,

r countenance is quite

r he was little used to deceive; till, finding an excellent excuse for his emotion, he added: "If

r fa

upper, I should have been here when the windo

ere now, and we th

't you s

alk together," said Dagobert, as he dr

ed, trying to smile in order to reassure t

, smiling in their turn, and opening

ey are yet far enough, from shuttin

Dagobert," resumed Rose, after ex

dee

et to t

sec

to be

at secret!" added R

oncerns us both,"

always concerns the other. Are you not always,

you put our heads under the great hood

ever has the last word with them. Come, lad

ister," s

like that you talk of belongs of right to the elder sister. Come, I am listening to you," added the soldier, as he for

, was doing duty as eldest) that s