dog。
  The　little　caravan　proceeded　on　its　ways　anxious　to　reach；　before　night；
  the　village　of　Mockern；　which　was　now　visible　on　the　summit　of　a　hill。
  Ever　and　anon；　Dagobert　looked　around　him；　and　seemed　to　be　gathering　up
  old　recollections；　by　degrees；　his　countenance　became　clouded；　and　when
  he　was　at　a　little　distance　from　the　mill；　the　noise　of　which　had
  arrested　his　attention；　he　stopped；　and　drew　his　long　moustache　several
  times　between　his　finger　and　thumb；　the　only　sign　which　revealed　in　him
  any　strong　and　concentrated　feeling。
  Jovial；　having　stopped　short　behind　his　master；　Blanche；　awakened
  suddenly　by　the　shock；　raised　her　head；　her　first　look　sought　her　sister；
  on　whom　she　smiled　sweetly；　then　both　exchanged　glances　of　surprise；　on
  seeing　Dagobert　motionless；　with　his　hands　clasped　and　resting　on　his
  long　staff；　apparently　affected　by　some　painful　and　deep　emotion。
  The　orphans　just　chanced　to　be　at　the　foot　of　a　little　mound；　the　summit
  of　which　was　buried　in　the　thick　foliage　of　a　huge　oak；　planted　half　way
  down　the　slope。　　Perceiving　that　Dagobert　continued　motionless　and
  absorbed　in　thought；　Rose　leaned　over　her　saddle；　and；　placing　her　little
  white　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　their　guide；　whose　back　was　turned　towards
  her；　said　to　him；　in　a　soft　voice；　〃Whatever　is　the　matter　with　you；
  Dagobert？〃
  The　veteran　turned；　to　the　great　astonishment　of　the　sisters；　they
  perceived　a　large　tear；　which　traced　its　humid　furrow　down　his　tanned
  cheek；　and　lost　itself　in　his　thick　moustache。
  〃You　weepingyou！〃　cried　Rose　and　Blanche　together；　deeply　moved。
  〃Tell　us；　we　beseech；　what　is　the　matter？〃
  After　a　moments　hesitation；　the　soldier　brushed　his　horny　hand　across　his
  eyes；　and　said　to　the　orphans　in　a　faltering　voice；　whilst　he　pointed　to
  the　old　oak　beside　them：　〃I　shall　make　you　sad；　my　poor　children：　and　yet
  what　I'm　going　to　tell　you　has　something　sacred　in　it。　　Well；　eighteen
  years　ago；　on　the　eve　of　the　great　battle　of　Leipsic；　I　carried　your
  father　to　this　very　tree。　　He　had　two　sabre…cuts　on　the　head；　a　musket…
  ball　in　his　shoulder；　and　it　was　here　that　he　and　Iwho　had　got　two
  thrust　of　a　lance　for　my　sharewere　taken　prisoners；　and　by　whom；　worse
  luck？why；　a　renegado！　　By　a　Frenchmanan　emigrant　marquis；　then
  colonel　in　the　service　of　Russiaand　who　afterwardsbut　one　day　you
  shall　know　all。〃
  The　veteran　paused；　then；　pointing　with　his　staff　to　the　village　of
  Mockern；　he　added：　〃Yes；　yes；　I　can　recognize　the　spot。　　Yonder　are　the
  heights　where　your　brave　fatherwho　commanded　us；　and　the　Poles　of　the
  Guardoverthrew　the　Russian　Cuirassiers；　after　having　carried　the
  battery。　　Ah；　my　children！〃　continued　the　soldier；　with　the　utmost
  simplicity；　〃I　wish　you　had；　seen　your　brave　father；　at　the　head　of　our
  brigade　of　horse；　rushing　on　in　a　desperate　charge　in　the　thick　of　a
  shower　of　shells！There　was　nothing　like　itnot　a　soul　so　grand　as　he！〃
  Whilst　Dagobert　thus　expressed；　in　his　own　way；　his　regrets　and
  recollections；　the　two　orphansby　a　spontaneous　movement；　glided　gently
  from　the　horse；　and　holding　each　other　by　the　hand；　went　together　to
  kneel　at　the　foot　of　the　old　oak。　　And　there；　closely　pressed　in　each
  other's　arms；　they　began　to　weep；　whilst　the　soldier；　standing　behind
  them；　with　his　hands　crossed　on　his　long　staff；　rested　his　bald
  front　upon　it。
  〃Come；　come　you　must　not　fret；〃　said　he　softly；　when；　after　a　pause　of　a
  few　minutes；　he　saw　tears　run　down　the　blooming　cheeks　of　Rose　and
  Blanche；　still　on　their　knees。　　〃Perhaps　we　may　find　General　Simon　in
  Paris；〃　added　he；　〃I　will　explain　all　that　to　you　this　evening　at　the
  inn。　　I　purposely　waited　for　this　day；　to　tell　you　many　things　about　your
  father；　it　was　an　idea　of　mine；　because　this　day　is　a　sort　of
  anniversary。〃
  〃We　weep　because　we　think　also　of　our　mother；〃　said　Rose。
  〃Of　our　mother；　whom　we　shall　only　see　again　in　heaven；〃　added　Blanche。
  The　soldier　raised　the　orphans；　took　each　by　the　hand；　and　gazing　from
  one　to　the　other　with　ineffable　affection；　rendered　still　the　more
  touching　by　the　contrast　of　his　rude　features；　〃You　must　not　give　way
  thus；　my　children；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　true　your　mother　was　the　best　of
  women。　　When　she　lived　in　Poland；　they　called　her　the　Pearl　of　Warsawit
  ought　to　have　been　the　Pearl　of　the　Whole　Worldfor　in　the　whole　world
  you　could　not　have　found　her　match。　　Nono！〃
  The　voice　of　Dagobert　faltered；　he　paused；　and　drew　his　long　gray
  moustache　between　finger　and　thumb；　as　was　his　habit。　　〃Listen；　my
  girls；〃　he　resumed；　when　he　had　mastered　his　emotion；　〃your　mother　could
  give　you　none　but　the　best　advice；　eh？〃
  〃Yes　Dagobert。〃
  〃Well；　what　instructions　did　she　give　you　before　she　died？　　To　think
  often　of　her；　but　without　grieving？〃
  〃It　is　true；　she　told　us　than　our　Father　in　heaven；　always　good　to　poor
  mothers　whose　children　are　left　on　earth；　would　permit　her　to　hear　us
  from　above；〃　said　Blanche。
  〃And　that　her　eyes　would　be　ever　fixed　upon　us；〃　added　Rose。
  And　the　two；　by　a　spontaneous　impulse；　replete　with　the　most　touching
  grace；　joined　hands；　raised　their　innocent　looks　to　heaven；　and
  exclaimed；　with　that　beautiful　faith　natural　to　their　age：　〃Is　it　not　so；
  mother？thou　seest　us？thou　hearest　us？〃
  〃Since　your　mother　sees　and　hears　you；〃　said　Dagobert；　much　moved；　〃do
  not　grieve　her　by　fretting。　　She　forbade　you　to　do　so。〃
  〃You　are　right；　Dagobert。　　We　will　not　cry　any　more。〃And　the　orphans
  dried　their　eyes。
  Dagobert；　in　the　opinion　of　the　devout；　would　have　passed　for　a　very
  heathen。　　In　Spain；　he　had　found　pleasure　in　cutting　down　those　monks　of
  all　orders　and　colors；　who；　bearing　crucifix　in　one　hand；　and　poniard　in
  the　other；　fought　not　for　libertythe　Inquisition　had　strangled　her
  centuries　agobut；　for　their　monstrous　privileges。　　Yet；　in　forty　years；
  Dagobert　had　witnessed　so　many　sublime　and　awful　sceneshe　had　been　so
  many　times　face　to　face　with　deaththat　the　instinct　of　natural
  religion；　common　to　every　simple；　honest　heart；　had　always　remained
  uppermost　in　his　soul。　　Therefore；　though　he　did　not　share　in　the
  consoling　faith　of　the　two　sisters；　he　would　have　held　as　criminal　any
  attempt　to　weaken　its　influence。
  Seeing　them　this　downcast；　he　thus　resumed：　〃That's　right；　my　pretty
  ones：　I　prefer　to　hear　you　chat　as　you　did　this　morning　and　yesterday
  laughing　at　times；　and　answering　me　when　I　speak；　instead　of　being　so
  much　engrossed　with　your　own　talk。　　Yes；　yes；　my　little　ladies！　you　seem
  to　have　had　famous　secrets　together　these　last　two　daysso；　much　the
  better；　if　it　amuses　you。〃
  The　sisters　colored；　and　exchanged　a　subdued　smile；　which　contrasted　with
  the　tears　that　yet　filled　their　eyes；　and　Rose　said　to　the　soldier；　with
  a　little　embarrassment。　　〃No；　I　assure　you；　Dagobert；　we　talk　of　nothing
  in　particular。〃
  〃Well；　well；　I　don't　wish　to　know　it。　　Come；　rest　yourselves；　a　few
  moments　more；　and　then　we　must　start　again；　for　it　grows　late；　and　we
  have　to　reach　Mockern　before　night；　so　that　we　may　be　early　on　the　road
  to…morrow。〃
  〃Have　we　still　a　long；　long　way　to　go？〃　asked　Rose。
  〃What；　to　reach　Paris？　　Yes；　my　children；　some　hundred　days'　march。　　We
  don't　travel　quick；　but　we　get　on；　and　we　travel　cheap；　because　we　have　a
  light　purse。　　A　closet　for　you；　a　straw　mattress　and　a　blanket　at　your
  door　for　me；　with　Spoil…sport　on　my　feet；　and　a　clean　litter　for　old
  Jovial；　these　are　our　whole　traveling　expenses。　　I　say　nothing　about
  food；　because　you　two　together　don't　eat　more　than　a　mouse；　and　I　have
  learnt　in　Egypt　and　Spain　to　be　hungry　only　when　it　suits。〃
  〃Not　forgetting　that；　to　save　still　more；　you　do　all　the　cooking　for　us；
  and　will　not　even　let　us　assist。〃
  〃And　to　think；　good　Dagobert；　that　you　wash　almost　every　evening　at　our
  resting…place。　　As　if　it　were　not　for　us　to〃
  〃You！〃　said　the　soldier；　interrupting　Blanche；　〃I；　allow　you　to　chap　your
  pretty　little　hands　in　soap…suds！　　Pooh！　don't　a　soldier　on　a　campaign
  always　wash　his　own　linen？　　Clumsy　as　you　see　me；　I　was　the　best
  washerwoman　in　my　squadronand　what　a　hand　at　ironing！　　Not　to　make　a
  brag　of　it。〃
  〃Yes；　yesyou　can　iron　wellvery　well。〃
  〃Only　sometimes；　there　will　be　a　little　singe；〃　said　Rose；　smiling。
  〃Hah！　when　the　iron　is　too　hot。　　Zounds！　　I　may　bring　it　as　near　my　cheek
  as　I　please；　my　skin　is　so　tough　that　I　don't　feel　the　heat；〃　said
  Dagobert；　with　imperturbable　gravity。
  〃We　are　only　jesting；　good　Dagobert！〃
  〃Then；　children；　if　you　think　that　I　know　my　trade　as　a　washerwoman；　let
  me　continue　to　have　your　custom：　it　is　cheaper；　and；　on　a　journey；　poor
  people　like　us　should　save　where　we　can；　for　we　must；　at　all　events；　keep
  enough　to　reach　Paris。　　Once　there；　our　papers　and　the　medal　you　wear
  will　do　the　restI　hope　so；　at　least。〃
  〃This　medal　is　sacred　to　us；　mother　gave　it　to　us　on　her　death…bed。〃
  〃Therefore；　take　great　care　that　you　do　not　lose　it：　see；　from　time　to
  time；　that　you　have　it　safe。〃
  〃Here　it　is；〃　said　Blanche；　as　she　drew　from　her　bosom　a　small　bronze
  medal；　which　she　wore　suspended　from　her　neck　by　a　chain　of　the　same
  material。　　The　medal　bore　on　its　faces　the　following　inscriptions：
  Victim