brandy still gave me courage to answer, Man' cries, he meekly allowed himself to be led back or woman, whom hast thou there?' But it to the arm-chair in his own room. cried out in a voice that went through the marrow of my bones, 'I have got tall William to-day, and in eight days I shall have thee! That was enough for me; and here I am, thank God, at least on dry land still; and in eight days hence I shall take pretty good care to be far enough from here!" Scarcely had the cripple named the name of William than the brigadier hurried off, with an exclamation, to the canal, and all his party after him. We heard the click of their muskets as they cocked them in setting off; next, we heard the brigadier call out three times, and then a gun was fired: and on hastening to the place whence the sound came, we found the gendarmes collected on the bank of the side canal, by which Blaisot's land was bounded, and occupying a portion of the causeway from which one could see part of the great canal and its nearest ramifications. "If the little yellow man has escaped us, he has at all events left his freight behind him,” called out the brigadier as he pointed towards a moonlit spot on the opposite side of the small canal which belonged to Blaisot's land. With horror we discovered a corpse stretched out at full length in the moonlight. The gendarmes brought out the boat in which our woodenlegged friend had just arrived, and went to fetch the body. Scarcely had they laid it down upon the dyke than Loubette, followed by her father and their guard, rushed towards it, kneeling down to look at the face, and finding it unrecognizable through decomposition, snatched at the right hand of the corpse, and, exclaiming, "Holy Virgin, it is my brother!" sprang up, and held out a ring to her father, with the names of William and Louise inscribed on it, and a flaming heart between them. After the first outburst of grief, the girl soon attained to a remarkable degree of outward, composure; though there was certainly something overstrained and excited about it; and it was often interrupted by almost convulsive gestures, wringing of the hands, and deepdrawn sobs. However, it was such as enabled her to give all the orders she deemed necessary. Agreeably to her directions the corpse was taken to an outbuilding near the house, to which Loubette made her escape as soon as she had with inconceivable celerity prepared everything against the arrival of guests. The old father appeared quite broken down, and almost childish with grief and horror; and, with lamentable groans and unconnected 1 Either by the shot, or by the sort of presentiment or instinct which never fails to draw people to a place where a calamity has occurred, even before any definite tidings of it can have had time to reach them, a number of the country people of the neighbouring district were soon collected. Loubette was now busily occupied; for according to the popular custom, which makes a death, as well as a wedding or a christening-joy and sorrow alike-a pretext for eating and drinking, she had to provide both food and liquor, during which task she seemed to be struggling rather with anxiety than grief. Old Jerome welcomed each arrival with loud lamentations, which did not, however, interfere with his activity in passing round the jug. As soon as Loubette had attended to her guests, and especially seen that the gendarmes were favourably placed as regarded the circulation of the cider-jug and the brandy-pitcher, she hurried out again, and placed at the threshold of the little outhouse, where lay the corpse, covered with a coarse linen cloth, two lighted candles, which were not rendered superfluous by the dawning light-for it was a dark corner enough. The maiden was seated at the entrance with her head covered, and as one neighbour after another came in, she appeared neither to see nor hear, and kept all at a distance by the violence of her emotion; so that even those who would fain have taken a nearer look at the body, refrained from passing her to do so. Each fresh comer was contented with a hasty glance and a murmured prayer, and then withdrew. After a while the aged shepherd presented himself, a venerable form, that seemed rather to belong to other times. This also comes in the train of old age," he said in a half-whisper, as he remained standing close to Loubette. The son of the house, whose birth I commemorated, lies dead upon the bier, and the daughter sits weeping at the threshold!” "God is proving our faith and patience, Master Jacques," replied the girl, looking up as if struggling with contending purposes, and then, deeply moved, looked sadly in the old man's face, as he continued his wailings. He placed his broad hand upon her head, as if to bless her; but his consolations only increased her grief, for he spoke of the virtues of the deceased, who was evidently an object of affection to the whole neighbourhood. At only one in all Lower Poitou who has the grand piece on his arm; and that is, or was—not Guillaume Blaisot, but Pierre Sauvage, called the Well-reputed, who was drowned a week ago, no one knew where, or how, and now" length, groaning deeply, he shaded his face with his hands, and the few large tears that trickled slowly over his furrowed cheeks seemed as though wrung by the greatness of his agony from fountains that had long been dry. He now made a movement towards the corpse, and at first Loubette appeared in-pletion of the sentence, and on looking round clined to hinder his advance, but checking herself, she muttered in an undertone, "The gray-head will not betray us!" and followed him with looks of earnest attention. He lifted the cloth that covered the face, but let it fall again immediately. There was no trace of identity; and the spectacle revealed by the uncertain light was one of horror. The pet sheep, which had accompanied the old man, and at first attentively sniffed the air around the corpse, now turned unconcerned away-a great offence in the eyes of old Jerome. "I have thought more highly of the beast than it deserved," he said sullenly. "It is no better than the children of men! Should you not recognize your master's son, living or dead -even though his features be disfigured? But such is the way of the world-to have no memory for the absent and the dead!" And so saying, he withdrew, accompanied by the black sheep, which looked half-ashamed, half-surprised at his reproof. The brigadier, finding I had studied the law, had asked me to visit the body, and to draw up the procès-verbal of the finding of the corpse. Berand offered to assist me, as he had experience in such matters. On the discovery of a corps malheureux—as a body whose manner of death is suspicious or doubtful is termed in this country-it frequently happens that the next of kin devolve the duties of preparing it for burial on an official styled the Gravedigger of the Lost, who is seldom a person of good repute, although the pay is excellent. Master Fait-tout seemed, nevertheless, accustomed to the work; and his help was very acceptable, for it was no pleasant task; and I wrote down what he dictated in answer to my inquiries. On a sudden, as he was busied with the right arm, he burst into a loud exclamation of astonishment. "What is the matter?" I cried. "What is the matter!" he replied softly, coming nearer than was agreeable to me; "what do you see on this arm?" "I see a tattooing mark, such as you were making at the inn at Marans." "Just so; the grand piece-the altar, the lily, the cross and a cipher. Now, except the lad on whom I etched it this morning, there is A half-suppressed scream prevented the com we saw Loubette standing erect at the entrance, pale, and with dishevelled hair and flaming eyes, and her arm stiffly extended. "Come hither, maiden!" he exclaimed, "your brother is alive! At least, this is no more he than it is the Pope of kome." But her emotion was at first too great for words; and when she did speak, the accents were not those of joy, but of anguish and terror "On thy life-on thine everlasting salvation, say not another word! And who allowed you to meddle with the dead? what business have you here?" she added with a deep groan, at the same time approaching him. I quieted her with a few words of explanation, and an assurance that she might trust me. She grasped my hand, but cast a look of suspicion on my assistant. The latter, after a short pause, during which he displayed more feeling than was his wont, exclaimed "Now I see it all! You knew that it was not Guillaume?" She nodded assent. "You are a brave lass, and I understand the game; and may the deuce take me if I meddle or mar! I've no such liking for the bloodhounds, especially since the glorious days' in Paris yonder. So, my word upon it, I'm silent.". Now I know the meaning of the bird-call," said I to Loubette; "a signal that Guillaume was there with the corpse, was it not?" Again she nodded and whispered, faintly smiling "He had most fortunately seen it lying in the mud and slime at the border of a little creek two hours ago, and had arranged it all with me. He is in concealment, while he is supposed to be dead, and the hue and cry is thus stopped. He hovers about here as though Louise had bewitched him, and declares that he must see and speak to her yet once more.' She turned again to Berand— "You keep our secret?" she said, looking earnestly at him, and holding out her hand. He was about to grasp it, when he suddenly drew back, and exclaimed "Not so fast! Your fine brother, then, was the yellow dwarf with the hollow cough, and the corpse in his White Boat, who gave me such a fright as he chased me on the water?No, that was too much-that's not to be forgiven! To make such a fool of me, and terrify me, like a child with a scarecrow! We'll see what the brigadier says to that game!" I strove to appease him; but, unluckily, another weight dropped into the wrong balance. "No, no," said he; "what a fool I should have been! The Sauvages have offered fifty pounds for the body of their son, and I may as well have the reward as anyone else." He was rushing out, but she stood in the doorway, and placing both her hands on his shoulders, and looking at him with sharp and earnest gaze, while her cheeks glowed with the excitement of her situation, she said in a calm but harsh and determined voice "Look well to yourself, wooden-leg; you have a choice to make. Are we in future to be friends or foes? Give me your word that you will say no more than you are asked, and from this hour you have a home in the house of the Blaisots-and you know the value of such a home to you and the like of you. Or say but a word, make but a sign-a gesture that may involve peril to my brother, and you have Loubette Blaisot for your deadly enemy --and Loubette keeps her word for good and for evil. If you know it not, ask throughout Lower Poitou; and then, old man, ask yourself whether it can bring you either honour or profit in this country to betray a loyal Vendean to the gendarmerie? Guillaume is lost if he is not dead! Do you understand? As to the promise of the Sauvages, the Blaisots can fulfil it as well." A host of conflicting feelings was struggling in the man's breast. It was mortified vanity alone that had caused him to swerve from his original friendly resolution; and thus, when I told him that if he did not himself represent his fright as a mere idle joke, in order to justify his treacherous betrayal of the young Blaisot, no one in the country would for a moment doubt the fact of a spectral appearance, or regard his terror as otherwise than perfectly natural-he was pacified, and able to estimate Loubette's promised gratitude, as well as her threatened vengeance, at their proper value. He now put his hand into that which she again held out— "Done!--I keep counsel." It was indeed high time that we came to an understanding, for during the discussion all the neighbours had withdrawn, and the brigadier had called twice; and scarcely had we turned again towards the corpse, while Loubette resumed her place and attitude at the entrance, when he appeared, and inquired if the deposition were not yet ready, as it was time he should be setting out. I hastily wrote the concluding words, and handed the document to him. He scarcely looked at it; and it was evident that the cider had done its work. Calling his men together, he departed with them and old Jerome to make his deposition before the nearest magistrate. The old shepherd would fain have taken another look at the corpse, but this Loubette prevented. "He knows nothing of it," she whispered in my ear, shrugging her shoulders, and shaking her head significantly. No sooner had the tread of the gendarmes and the clang of their weapons died away in the distance, than Loubette, who had been intently listening, sprang to the back-door, and twice repeated the bird-call that I had heard at the beginning of the evening. After a few minutes I heard her speaking with some one, and, in company with a young peasant, she walked into the room, to which, unable any longer to bear the neighbourhood of the corpse, I had betaken myself. Fait-tout now proved his right to his name by undertaking to dig a grave in the garden, and to superintend the interment of the deceased, by which the gendarmes, as well as the neighbours, asserted that he had sought his own death, and had thus forfeited all claim to Christian burial. As Loubette came in leading her brother, the likeness between them was very striking: and those traits which took from her the softness of womanly attractiveness rendered him a type of manly beauty. He was an active, well-looking fellow, in spite of the hardships that he had recently endured while he had been wandering about like a criminal or a baited wolf. On seeing me he retreated a step, and put his hand in his vest as if seeking a weapon, but Loubette soon reassured him. When the first greetings were over, and he had offered me a few words of thanks, Loubette interrupted us, reminding him that it was time to refresh himself. spoon; anxious to give him yet once more the full impression of home. It was touching to see him fold his hands in prayer before he cut the bread. "It is the first of the new wheat," said Loubette; "I would not use any till you were with us. "God bless thee, my sister! I praise Him that He has permitted me to taste again the corn of our paternal fields for the last time," he added slowly, and with a deep-drawn sigh. He, however, turned to the table, and set to in good earnest as though he were making a meal that might carry him through more than one day. Between whiles he asked a hundred questions about all the little matters that had occurred in field and stable during his absence; and in the interest of these domestic details both seemed to have forgotten the perilous circumstances in which he was placed. I was compelled to remind him that if there were nothing more to be apprehended than the return of his father, the meeting with him must be avoided, as he was not in the secret. When Guillaume was away, he might know all with safety. At the same time I offered to take him with me to Marans, from whence he could readily get across the country. It was so early that we ran but little risk of meeting neighbours on the road, and in case of a straggler or two he could contrive to hide his face. He accepted the proposal, and slowly arose from his seat in the home of his youth. "God's will be done! but it is hard for a son to shun his own father, and steal from his own home like a felon!" said he as he grasped his staff and took the bundle which his sister had prepared. She now turned aside, and for the first time during this trying scene, her strong mind gave way beneath the storm of her feelings. She covered her head, and sobbed as though her heart were breaking. He stood undecided, and struck his stick against the floor. She made a strong effort, turned towards her brother, and cutting a small slice from the loaf, she made the sign of a cross on it, then kissed it, and put it in his vest. She then grasped his hand, and looked imploringly I understood her, and went out to look to the vehicle, and to leave the brother and sister alone to their bitter parting. She still strove against her weakness before the stranger. In a few minutes he came out, and without saying a word took his seat beside me in the car, gathered up the reins, and we were off. We drove on for about an hour and a half, when he suddenly halted and said at me. VOL. I. "Excuse me, sir, I will not detain you, but I have business here, hard by." I represented to him the risk he incurred, and expressed my surprise at his having any business that could hinder him for a quarter of an hour under such circumstances. It availed not, and he only entreated me to wait for him. "Only ten minutes," he exclaimed with the deepest emotion. "It is no business-it is but a house-a look. I cannot leave the country without once more" He pointed to a house overshadowed by trees, about a hundred paces from the spot. "Louise?" I asked. He coloured, and nodded assent, and then hurried towards the dwelling. I fastened the horse to a tree, and followed him, to be at hand in case of trouble. He stood a while beneath a tree that was growing out of the hedge which surrounded the garden. The window of a projecting angle of the building was just opposite, and doubtless he had good reasons for choosing his post. The curtains were drawn, and the inmates of the house seemed buried in sleep. The distant village clock struck three, and I thought it high time that we were again on the road. I approached, and bade him be comforted, and take courage. His expression awed me; it was rather one of anger and passion than of sorrow, with the same stern fixed look that he had in common with his sister. "One moment more!" he whispered softly. "She must know that I have been here, and then she will see how to settle it with her conscience. Yes; if she should learn that my corpse was found here!" He laughed a bitter laugh as he untied his cravat, and was about to fasten it to a branch which overhung the window. "She will know it but too well," he murmured. Just at this moment the cry of an infant was heard from the chamber. It had a wonderful effect on him, and changed his fiercer mood into one of complete prostration. "She is a mother!" he cried. "I did not know it; Loubette should not have concealed that from me. It is all over now; and God forbid that I should bring terror to a mother!" He let go the bough, which swung back against the window, and fastened the cravat round his neck, and in a few seconds was seated by my side, lost in thought, and rapidly urging forward the horse on the road to Marans. He drew up at the bridge of Vix, and de 24 clared that his route now lay in a different direction. I offered him the charge of a little farm in Touraine if he would let me know where to find him. He was evidently grateful for my sympathy, but declined the offer, saying "It can't be; I must live as the rest do. To manage a farm properly I must have a wife, and I could not think of that. Man must labour in the quietness and the peace of his heart and of his life, and that I cannot do. I should never see a gendarme without thinking that he was seeking me!" "You are dead for the gendarmes, Guillaume, and for all the world except Loubette and me,' I replied, half-jestingly. But the words made a painful impression on him. "It were perhaps the best thing that could happen for me if it were true," he rejoined gloomily. But recovering himself quickly, he imparted to me his plan, which was to seek a home with some friends in the Talmond country. I made some inquiries as to his means of subsistence; but he was shy, and broke off the conversation abruptly, saying that he had still far to travel, and that people were coming in sight along the road from Marans. He was right; and we had scarcely time for a brief farewell, and a hearty grasp of each other's hand, when he was lost in the thicket, and I saw him no more. But among the bodies of those who were shot by the gendarmerie in the slight rising that soon afterwards took place in La Vendée, on the appearance there of the Duchess de Berri, that of Guillaume Blaisot was recognized. SONG. Gather ye rose-buds while ye may, And this same flower that smiles to-day, The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun, That age is best which is the first, When youth and blood are warmer; But being spent, the worse and worst Times still succeed the former. Then be not coy, but use your time, HERRICK. THE SLEEP. [Elizabeth Barrett Browning, born in London, 1809; died in Florence, 29th June, 1861. She was equally distinguished by her genius and her scholarship. At the age of seventeen she published her Essay on Mind, with other poems; and that volume was followed by The Seraphim, 1838; The Romaunt of the Page, 1839; The Drama of Exile; Isobel's Child: Casa Guidi Wind 08, 1851; Aurora Ligh, and numerous miscellaneous poems. She also translated into English the Prometheus Bound of Eschylus, which in after years she pronounced an "early failure." Having come to that conclusion, she produced a new translation, which is published in the collected edition of her works (five volumes, Smith, Elder & Co.) Leigh Hunt calls her, in one of his poems, "The sister of Tennyson;" another writer claims her as "Shakspeare's daughter;" and all critics, whilst admitting with regret the occasional obscurity of her language, agree in acknowledging her marvellous poetic interest every admirer of the poet: "Such is the influ power. Miss Mitford's tribute to her friend will ence of her manners, her conversation, her temper, her thousand sweet and attaching qualities, that they who know her best are apt to lose sight altogether of her learning and of her genius, and to think of her only as 1846 Miss Barrett was married to Mr. Robert Browning.] the most charming person they have ever met." In "He giveth His beloved sleep" (Psalm cxxvii. 2). For gift or grace, surpassing this- What would we give to our beloved? The monarch's crown to light the brows?- What do we give to our beloved? A little dust to overweep, And bitter memories to make The whole earth blasted for our sake: "Sleep soft, beloved!" we sometimes say, Sad dreams that through the eyelids creep: But never doleful dream again Shall break the happy slumber when O earth, so full of dreary noises! O men, with wailing in your voices! |