"Dearest Emile," cried my mother, "let us have no more of this. Remember that it is so long since we met. Pray keep these sad reflections for another time, and let us enjoy the happiness of being once more together.'

"I have no time for fooling, madame," said he sternly; "I have come a long and weary journey about this boy. It is unlikely that I can afford to occupy myself with his affairs again. Let him have the benefit-if benefit there be of my coming. I would relieve you of the burden of his support, and himself of the misery of dependence."

I started with surprise. It was the first time I had ever heard the word with reference to myself, and a sense of shame, almost to sickness, came over me, as I stood there.

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Jasper is my child; he is all that a son could be to his mother," cried Polly, clasping me in her arms, and kissing my forehead, and I felt as if my very heart was bursting. "Between us there is no question of burthen or independence."

"We live in an age of fine sentiments and harsh actions," said the count. "I have seen M. de Robespierre shed tears over a dead canary, and I believe that he could control his feelings admirably on the Place de Grêve. Jasper, I see that we must finish this conversation when we are alone together. And now to dinner."

He assumed a half air of gaiety as he said this, but it was unavailing as a means of rallying my poor mother, whose tearful eyes and trembling lips told how sadly dispirited she felt at heart.

I had heard much from my mother about the charms of the count's conversation, his brilliant tone, and his powers of fascination. It had been a favourite theme with her to dilate upon his wondrous agreeability, and the vast range of his acquaintance with popular events and topics. She had always spoken of him, too, as one of buoyant spirits, and even boyish lightheartedness. She had even told me that he would be my companion, like one of my own age. With what disappointment, then, did I find him the very reverse of all this. All his views of life savoured of bitterness and scorn -all his opinions were tinged with scepticism and distrust: he sneered at the great world and its vanities; but

even these he seemed to hold in greater estimation than the humble tranquillity of our remote village. I have him before me this instant, as he leaned out of the window, and looked down the valley towards the Spluzen Alps. The sun was setting, and only the tops of the very highest glaciers were now touched with its glory; their peaks shone like burnished gold in the sea of sky, azure and cloudless. The rest of the landscape was softened down into various degrees of shade, but all sufficiently distinct to display the wild and fanciful outlines of cliff and crag, and the zig-zag course by which the young Rhine forced its passage through the rocky gorge. Never had the scene looked in greater beauty. never had every effect of light and shadow been more happily distributed; and I watched him with eagerness, as he gazed out upon a picture which nothing in all Europe can surpass. His countenance for a while remained calm, cold, and unmoved; but at last he broke silence and said

This it was, then, that gave that dark colouring to all your letters to me, Polly; and I half forgive you as I look at it. Gloom and barbarism were never more closely united."

"Oh, Emile, you surely see something else in this grand picture?" cried she, in a deprecating voice.

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Yes," said he, slowly-"I see poverty and misery-half-fed and halfclad shepherds-figures of bandit ruggedness and savagery. I see these, and I feel that to live amongst them, even for a brief space, would be to endure a horrid nightmare."

He moved away as he spoke, and sauntered slowly out of the room, down the stairs, and into the street.

"Follow him, Jasper," cried Polly, eagerly"he is dispirited and depressed the journey has fatigued him, and he looks unwell. Go with him, but do not speak till he addresses you."

I did not much fancy the duty; but I obeyed without a word. He seemed to have quickened his pace, as he descended; for when I reached the street, I could detect his figure at some distance off in the twilight. He walked rapidly on, and when he arrived at the bridge he stopped, and, leaning against the ballustrade, looked up the valley.

"Are you weary of this, boy?" asked he, while he pointed up the glen.

I shook my head in dissent.

"Not tired of it!" he exclaimed"not heart-sick of a life of dreary monotony, without ambition, without an ob ject? When I was scarcely older than you I was a guard-du-corps; at eighteen I was in the household, and mixing in all the splendour and gaiety of Paris; before I was twenty I fought the Duc de Valmy and wounded him. At the Longchamps of that same year I drove in the carriage with La Marquese de Rochvilliers, and all the world knows what success that was! Well, all these things have passed away, and now we have a republic, and the coarse pleasures, and coarser tastes of the

canaille. Men like me are not the mode, and I am too old to conform to the new school. But you are not so; you must leave this, boy; you must enter the world, and at once, too. You shall come back with me to Paris."

"And leave my mother?"

"She is not your mother; you have no claim on her as such; I am more your relative than she is, for your mother was my cousin. But we live in times when these ties are not binding. The guillotine loosens stronger bonds, and the whisper of the spy is more efficacious than the law of divorce. must see the capital, and know what life really is. Here you will learn nothing but the antiquated prejudices of Raper, or the weak follies of others."

You

He only spoke the last word after a pause of some seconds, and then moodily sank into silence.

I did not venture to utter a word, and waited patiently till he resumed, which he did by saying—

"The countess has told you nothing of your history-nothing of your circumstances. Well, you shall hear all from me. Indeed there are facts known to me with which she is unacquainted. For the present, Jasper, I will tell you frankly that the humble pittance on which she lives is insufficient for the additional cost of your support. I can contribute nothing; I can be but a burthen myself. From herself you would never hear this; she would go on still, as she has done hitherto, struggling and pinching, battling with privations, and living that fevered life of combat that is worse than a thousand deaths. Raper, too, in his own fashion, would make sacri

fices for you; but would you endure the thought of this? Does not the very notion revolt against all your feelings of honour and manly independence? Yes, boy, that honest grasp of the hand assures me that you think so! You must not, however, let it appear that I have confided this fact to you. It is a secret that she would never forgive my having divulged. The very discussion of it has cost us the widest estrangements we have ever suffered, and it would peril the continuance of our affection to speak of it."

"I will be secret," said I, firmly.

"Do so, boy; and remember that when I speak of your accompanying me to Paris, you express your wish to see the capital and its brilliant pleasures. Show, if not weary of this dreary existence here, that you at least are not dead to all higher and nobler ambitions. Question me about the life of the great world, and in your words and questions exhibit the interest the theme suggests. I have my own plan for your advancement, of which you shall hear later."

He seemed to expect that I would show some curiosity regarding the future, but my thoughts were all too busy with the present. They were all turned to that home I was about to leave to the fond mother I was to part from-to honest Joseph himself-my guide, my friend, and my companion; and for what? An unknown sea, upon which I was to adventure without enterprise or enthusiasm.

The count continued to talk of Paris, and his various friends there, with whom he assured me I should be a favourite. He pictured the life of the great city in all its brightest colours. He mentioned the names of many who had entered it as unknown and friendless as myself, and yet, in a few years, had won their way up to high distinction. There was a vagueness in all this, which did not satisfy me, but I was too deeply occupied with other thoughts to question or cavil at what he said.

When we went back to supper, Raper was there to pay his respects to the count. De Gabriac received his respectful compliments coldly and haughtily: he even interrupted the little address poor Joseph had so carefully studied and committed to memo.

ry, by asking if he still continued to bewilder his faculties with Greek particles and obsolete dialects? and then, without waiting for his reply, he seated himself at the table, and arranged his napkin.

"Master Joseph," said, he half sarcastically, "the world has been pleased to outlive these follies: they have come to the wise resolve that, when languages are dead, they ought to be buried; and they have little sympathy with those who wish to resuscitate and disinter them."

"It is but an abuse of terms to call them dead, count," replied Joseph. "Truth, in whatever tongue it be syllabled, does not die. Fidelity to nature in our age will be acknowledged as correct in centuries after."

"Our own time gives us as good models, and with less trouble to look for them," said the count, flippantly. "Your dreamy book-worm is too prone to delve in the earth, and not to coin the ore that he has discovered. Take Jasper there; you have taught him diligently and patiently: I'll be sworn you have neglected him in nothing, so far as your own knowledge went; and yet, before he shall have been three months in Paris, he will look upon you, his master, as an infant. The interval between you will be wide as the broad Atlantic; and the obstacles and crosses, to overcome which will be with him the work of a second, would be to you difficulties insurmountable.

"To Paris! Jasper go to Paris!" exclaimed my mother, as she grew deadly pale.

"Jasper leave us !" cried Raper, in a tone of terror.

"And why not?” replied the count. "Is it here you would have him waste the best years of youth? Is it in the wild barbarism of this dreary valley that he will catch glimpses of the prizes for which men struggle and contend? The boy himself has higher and nobler instincts; he feels that this is but the sluggish existence of a mere peasant; and that yonder is the tourrament where knights are jousting."

"And you wish to leave us, Jasper ?" cried my mother, with a quivering lip, and a terrible expression of anxiety in her features.

"To forsake your home!" muttered Raper.

"Ask himself; let him be as frank

with you as he was half-an-hour ago with me, and you will know the truth."

"Oh! Jasper, speak!-leave me not in this dreadful suspense!" cried my mother; for in all my troubles, I never pictured to my mind this calamity."

"No, no!" said Raper; "the boy's nature has no duplicity he never thought of this !"

"Ask him, I say," cried the count; "ask him if he wish not to accompany me to Paris."

I could bear no longer the power of the gaze that I felt was fixed upon me, but, falling at her feet, I hid my face in her lap, and cried bitterly. My heart was actually bursting with the fulness of sorrow, and I sobbed myself to sleep, still weeping through my dreams, and shedding hot tears as I slumbered.

My dream is more graven on my memory than the events which followed my awaking. I could recount the strange and incoherent fancies which chased each other through my brain on that night, and yet not tell the actual occurrences of the following day. I do remember something of sitting beside my mother, with my hand locked in hers, and feeling the wet cheek that from time to time was pressed against my own-of the soft hand, as it parted the hair upon my forehead, and the burning kiss that seemed to sear it. Passages of intense emotion - how caused I know not-are graven in my mind; memories of a grief that seemed to wrench the heart with present suffering, and cast shadows of darkest meaning on the future. Oh, no! no! -the sorrows-if they be indeed sorrows of childhood are not short-lived; they mould the affections, and dispose them in a fashion that endures for many a year to come.

While I recall to mind these afflic tions of the actual events of my last hours at Reichenau, I can relate but the very slightest traits. I do remember poor Raper storing my little portmanteau with some of the last few volumes that remained to him of his little store of books-of my mother showing me a secret pocket of the trunk, not to be opened, save when some emergency or difficulty had presented itself of my astonishment at the number of things provided for my use, and the appliances of comfort and convenience which were placed at my disposal and then, more forcibly than

all else, of the contemptuous scorn with which the count surveyed the preparation, and asked "if my wardrobe contained nothing better than these rags?"

Of the last sad moment of parting the agony of my mother's grief

as she clasped me in her arms, till I was torn away by force, and with my swimming faculties I thought to have seen her fall fainting to the ground -of these I will not speak, for I dare not, even now!

CHAPTER

XXVI.

OUR journey was a dreary and wearisome one. The diligence travelled slowly, and as the weather was dull and rainy, the road presented nothing of interest, at least of interest sufficient to combat the grief that still oppressed me. We were upwards of a week travelling before we reached Paris, which I own presented a very different aspect from what my ardent imagination had depicted. The narrow streets were scarcely lighted-it was night— the houses seemed poor, and mean, and dilapidated; the inhabitants rudelooking and ill-dressed. The women especially were ill-favoured, and with an air of savage daring and effrontery I had never seen before. both sexes patrolled the streets, shouting in wild chorus some popular chant of the time; and as the diligence did not venture to pierce these crowds, we were frequently delayed in our progress to the "bureau," which was held in the Rue Didier of the Battignolles, for it was in that unfashionable quarter in which my first impressions of the capital were conceived.

Gangs of

"Remember, boy, I am no longer a count here," said my companion, as we got out of the conveyance. "I am the

citizen Gabriac, and be careful that you never forget it. Take that portmanteau on your shoulder, and follow me!"

We treaded a vast number of streets and alleys, all alike wretched and gloomy, till we entered a little "Place,” which formed a "cul de sac" at the end of a narrow lane, and was lighted by a single lantern suspended from a pole in the centre. This was called the Place de Treize, in memory, as I afterwards learned, of thirteen assassins, who had once lived there, and been for years the terror of the capital. It was now but scantily tenanted, none of the rooms on the ground floor being inhabited at all; and in some instances an entire house

haivng but one or two occupants. The superstitious terrors that were rife about it (and there were abundance of ghost stories in vogue) could scarcely account for this desertion; for assuredly the fears of a spiritual world could not have proved formidable to the class who frequented it; but an impression had got abroad, that it was a favourite resort of the spies of the police, who often tracked the victims to this quarter; or at least here obtained information of their whereabouts. Plague itself would have been a preferable reputation to such a report, and accordingly few but the very poorest and most destitute would accept the shelter of this ill-omened spot.

A single light, twinkling like a faint star, showed through the gloom as we entered, where some watcher yet sat, but all the rest of the "Place" was in darkness. Gabriac threw some light gravel at the window, which was immediately opened, and a head, enveloped in a kerchief by way of nightcap, appeared.

It is I, Pierre," cried he; down and unbar the door!"

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"Ma Foi," said the other, "that is unnecessary. The commissaire broke it down yesterday, searching for Torchon,' and the last fragment cooked my dinner to day."

"And Torchon; did they catch him?"

"No, he escaped; but only to reach the Pont Neuf, where he threw himself over the ballustrade into the river." "And was drowned?" "Doubtless, he was."

"I scarcely regret him," said Gabriac.

"And I, not at all," replied the other. "Good night;" and with this he closed the window, leaving us to find our way as best we could.

I followed Gabriac, as he slowly groped his way up the stairs and reached

a door on the third story, of which he produced the key. He struck a light as he passed in, and lighted a small lamp, by which I was enabled to see the details of a chamber poorer and more miserable than anything I had ever conceived. A board laid upon two chairs served for a table; and some wood-shavings, partially covered by a blanket, formed a bed; a couple of earthenware pipkins comprised the cooking utensils, and a leaden basin supplied the provisions for the toilet.

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And you, sir," said I, "have you no bed ?"

"I have no need of one. I have occupation that will not admit of sleep," said he. "And now, boy, once for all, never question me, nor ask the reasons of what may seem strange or odd to you. Your own faculties must explain whatever requires explainingor else you must remain in ignorance;" and with these words he passed into an inner chamber, from which he speedily issued forth to descend the stairs into the street, leaving me alone to my slumbers. And they were heavy and dreamless ones, for I was thoroughly wearied and worn out by the road.

I was still asleep, and so soundly that I resisted all efforts to awake me till a strong shake effectually succeeded, and, on looking up, I saw Gabriac standing by my side.

"Get up, boy, and dress. These are your clothes," said he, pointing to a uniform of dark green and black, with a sword-belt of black leather, from which hung a short, broad-bladed weapon. The dress was without any richness, still a becoming one, and I put it on without reluctance.

"Am I to be a soldier, then ?" asked I, in half shame at disobeying his injunction of the night before.

"All Paris, all France, is arrayed at one side or the other just now, Jasper," said he, as he busied himself in the preparation of our coffee.

"The

men who have ruled the nation by the guillotine have exhausted its patience at last. A spirit, if not of resistance, of at least self-defence, has arisen, and the little that remains of birth and blood amongst us has associated with

the remnant of property to crush the hell hounds that liveby carnage. One of these bands is called the battalion of 'La Jeunesse Dorée,' and into this I have obtained your admission. Meanwhile, you will be attached to the staff of General Danitan, who will employ you in the secretariat' of his command. Remember, boy, your tale is, you are the son of parents that have died on the scaffold. You are the nephew of Emile de Gabriac, brother of Jules Louis de Gabriac, your father; whom you cannot remember. Your life in Switzerland you can speak of with safety. You will not talk of these matters save to the general, and to him only if questioned about them."

"But is this disguise necessary, sir? May I not assume the name I have a right to, and accept the fate that would follow it?"

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"The guillotine," added he, sarcastically. Are you so ignorant, child, as not to know that England and France are at war, and that your nationality would be your condemnation? Follow my guidance or your own," said he, sternly, "but do not seek to weld the counsels together."

"But may I not know in what service I am enrolled ?"

"Later on, when you can understand it," was the cold reply.

"I am not so ignorant,' said I, taking courage, "as not to be aware of what has happened of late years in France. I know that the king has been executed."

"Murdered!-martyred !" broke in

Gabriac.

"And monarchy abolished."

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Suspended-interrupted," added he, in the same voice. "But I will not discuss these matters with you. When you have eaten your breakfast, take that letter to the address in the Rue Lepelletier, see the general, and speak with him. As you go along the streets, you will not fail to meet many of those to whom your duty will at some later period place you in opposition. If they by look, by dress, by bearing, and manner captivate your imagination, and seduce your allegiance to their ranks, tear off your colours, then, and join them, boy; the choice is open to you. My charge is then ended; we are not, nor ever can be aught to each other again."

I saw that he would not be ques tioned by me, and forbearing at once