Bonnie Prince Charlie

arge, testifying that the bearer, Malcolm Anderson, had served his time in the 2d Scotch Dragoons, and was now discharg

otice to the police of the name and occupation of his lodger, and at the same time mentioned that the relati

f Our Lady. It was a massive building, in a narrow street near the river, to which its grounds, surrounded by a high wall, extende

asked a woman who was sitting knitting at her door nea

ugh what they do with their riches is more than I can tell, seeing that the rules are of the strictest, and that no one ever comes beyond the gates. They have their own g

willingly," Malcolm said; "

s, or because their lovers had been killed in the war, just as if grief for a lover was going to last one's life. Besides, they are not all sisters. They say there's many a lady of good family shut up there t

rather than gold plates inside a prison. I have been a soldier all my life, and have had my share of hard knocks

have a brother in the regiment o

said; "and there are no braver set of men

r the last two years. He is a tall man, a

w without asking, so great is his resemblance to you. Why, his last words to me were, 'If you go to Tours, seek out my sister, who lives

again the next day in the evening to be introduced to her husband, he rejoined Ronald, who had been waiting at th

all this time, Malcolm, and what c

ent, and how he distinguished himself at Dettingen, and will surely be made a serg

and when did you know hi

scar over his left eye," Malcolm said laughin

d to this poor woman th

e may know some of the lay sisters, who are, in fact, the servants of the convent, and come out to buy supplies of food and other things, and who distribute the alms among th

onald did not accompany him on any of his visits, for as the plan of proceeding was still undecided, he and

upon the terrace, was that of his mother. It was not until Malcolm had become quite at home with Madame Vipon that he again turned the conversation towards the convent. He learned that she had ofte

, and her father would not hear of it, but wanted her to marry Jacques Dubois, the rich miller, who was old enough to be her father. Andre went to the wars and was killed; and instead of changing when the news came, as her father expected, and taking up with the miller, she hated h

, and when she does she generally drops in here for a few minutes for a talk; for though she was only a child when

ladies who reside in the co

f the sisters, who keep to their own side of the house, and have very little to do with the

as talking to another officer, is shut up here, either because she wouldn't marry some one her father didn't want her to, I forget

against her father's will. At any rate she has been there ever so many years, and they have not made her take the veil, as they do most

usin is alive and well. I was his servant in the regiment, and I know, from what I have heard him say, he was very much attached to her. There ca

things come round; and though there's no harm in what I have told you

n. It is singular how you take after your brother. Pierre Pitou had the

obtained news at second hand as to his mother, and it was with difficult

ond our expectations. A fortnight ago it seemed absolutely hopeless that you

the subject to Madame Vipon until a fortnight ha

l him from whom I had heard the news, save that it was from one of the kindest of women, the sister of an old comrade of mine. He has sent me this"--and he took out a

ands; "and I have so often wished for a real gold bro

gossiping, although there is no woman in the world less given to gossiping than you are. Still, you know what husbands are. Therefore, if I were you I would

e to Pierre and tell him. Otherwise when he comes home, and my husband thanks him

ou would have said that you had in fact bought them from your savings; but that thinking your husband

m afraid you are teachi

old me a great deal more about the poor lady, and knowing your kindness of heart I do not hesitate to communicate the contents of his letter to you. The Countess Amelie de Recambours was secretly married to a young officer, a great friend of my late master, and her father did not discover it until af

ically. "Only to think of being separated from your husba

sympathize with her," Malcolm sa

ecame of he

tes of the boy, who it seems is so delighted with the news about his mother t

on exclaimed. "How can he see her,

when a woman of heart like yourself takes a matter in hand; and I rely, I can tell

te impossible, I assure you,

the first measure to be taken is to open communication bet

hing of course, monsieur;

d that Jeanne might deliver a message. I am sure that she would never be your friend had she not a warm heart like your own, and it will

s, Monsieur Anderson: think what w

onvent I would not on any condition ask you to assist in such a matt

n interview, Mo

u said that it was quite impossible. All that we want now is just a little message, a message by w

talk to Jeanne. It will be her day for going to market tomorrow; I will tell her the story

who told him that although she had not actually promi

in the morning, and if you will be here with the boy,

ng French gentleman, arrived at the house of Madam Vipon, who wa

terms of you, Madam Vipon, and I am sure that

Ronald's appearance and manner; "it's a cruel thing separating a mother from

woman of five or six and twenty, and even her sombre attire a

pirator," she said, "and to run the risk of all sorts of

something of your story, will, I am sure, feel for that poor lady shut up for fifteen years, and knowing not whether her child is dead

about that, Francoise; you only said take a message. How can th

e done that will be very much; but I cannot think but that you and my mot

d in perplexity, "how

come in as a lay sister? I am not much taller

urst our

nown; besides, in other ways it would be altogether impossible, and even if it were not it might be years before you could get to speak to the countess, for there are on

n to the river terrace at night, and perh

said thoughtfully; "but all th

rged; "with a rope ladder she could get down,

r a minute, and then

r, or are you intending that the

uld be pursued and brought back, and her position would be far worse than it is now. No; I swear t

an escape from the convent would be terrible--terrible!" she repeated with a shudder. "As to the other, I will risk it; for a gentler and kinder lad

g, which he wore round his neck, a

he was an infant is in Tours, longing above all things to speak to you;' that is all my message. Afterwards, if you will, you can tell her what we have said, and how I long

shook h

en if you entered, not a word could be spoken without being overheard. But fortunately she is on the first floor, and I am s

Jeanne came out from one of the cells. Glancing behind to see that no one was following, she put her finger on her lips and then whispered: "Make s

ound impossible to overcome her steady refusals the messages had at last ceased, and for years no word from the outer world had reached her, although she had learned from those who from time to time came to share her captivity what was passing outside. Whether her husband was alive or dead she

ong contrast to most of those within the walls of the convent; but she had exchanged but few words with her, knowing that she would be but a short time about her. For the policy of the abb

group for a moment before proceeding to their respective apartments, where t

he countess said. "

know we all say that you must have a constitution of iron and the courage of a Roland to be six

tess smi

weep no more. If a bird in a cage once takes to pining he is sure not to live long. There are few of us here the news of

ribly in the one hour of the day when we really live, the hour

tess said. "I shall lie down and keep myself quiet. Tomorrow I

message from her husband she had no hope, for so long as her father lived she was sure that his release would never be granted. As to the child, she scarce gave it a thought. That it had somehow been removed and had escaped the search that had been made for it

heard the doors of the other cells open, the sound of feet in the corridor, and then all became still. In a few m

d that her

nd feverish. I will send you up some tisane. It is the he

and Jeanne entered with the medicament. As she closed

What is it that you

ster Felicia will be here directly. When she heard you were unwell she said she would come up and see what you needed. And now, I

sturdy child in its nurse's arms, and a tall man looking on with a loving smile as she fastened a

ge: 'He whom you have not seen since he was an infant i

I thank thee that thou hast remembered a friendless mother at last.

d comely and tall, with brown waving hair and a bright pl

w her arms around Jeanne's

nne; happy as I never thought t

quietly. Sister Felicia moves about as noiselessly as a cat, and she may pop in at any moment. Do you lie down

tisane and drank it off, and t

nk how I am longing to hear of him. Did the message sa

ough it would be dangerous, very dange

e? You know what our life is here

e river wall, and await you on the terrace, and that you should desce

I could knot my bed clothes and slide down. It matters

for it would excite suspicion, and you would never have a chance of doing it again. But it is not an easy thi

e height, do you think I should hesitate for a moment when it was

lace them in your bed. You will know that that night at e

t. The countess closed her eyes and then lay down on her pillow, while Jeanne stood as if watching her. The ne

leep?" she

sing that the sister would have heard the murmur

ntess l

a sent up, but my hands are burning and my head aches. The h

an I can count. Yes, you have a touch of fever. I will mix you a draught and bring it up to you at once. Hark! that is the first peal of thunder; we are going to have a stor

which was just what she desired, for she was so filled with her new born happiness that she feared that if she went about her daily tasks as usual she should not be able t