The Refugees

s the centre, and above the middle of the transom a tiny coat of arms—three caltrops gules upon a field argent—let into the diamond-paned glass.

diagonal wood-work in front, and topped with a bristle of sharp gables and corner turrets.

l that was going forward in the busy world beneath them. Two of them sat there now, a man and a woman, but their backs were turned to the spectacle, and their faces

cence, that one would not wish its maiden grace to be marred by an intrusion of colour. Her features were delicate and sweet, and her blue-black hair and long dark eyelashes formed a piquant contrast to her dreamy gray eyes and her ivory skin. In her whole ex

with silver braidings, and with broad silver shoulder-straps on either side. A vest of white calamanca peeped out from beneath it, and knee-breeches of the same disappeared into high polished boots with gilt spurs upon the heels. A silver-hilted rapier and a plumed cap lying upon a settle beside him completed a costume which was a badge of honour to the wearer, for any Frenchman would ha

without influence and against all odds to his present position. His father’s younger brother, however, finding every path to fortune barred to him through the persecution to which men of his faith were already subjected, had dropped the “de” which implied his noble

said he, “why do y

troubled

een those curving brows. Ah, I can read y

thing, Am

t w

e me this

to return

really, really

m on duty tomorrow morning outside the king’s bedroom! After chapel-t

king and the court and the grand

y with

d such splendour should stoop t

t does the r

o beautiful, so witty, should think me worthy of your love, me, who am such a quiet l

rilliant sunflower, or the rose, which is so bright and large that it must ever catch the eye. But give me the little violet which hid

g that father

re you so l

ly until to-night. But I am always uneasy when he is away. On

ncle can d

e Mercer Guild about this notice

ve not told

th a red seal dangling from it which lay upon the table. H

required to give shelter and rations to twenty men of the Languedoc Blue Dragoons under Captain Dalb

France, but he had flattered himself that his own position at court would have insured

do the

said t

e an order to remove them. But the sun has sunk behind S

ou must no

these troopers may come. And yet no excuse will avail me if I am not at Versailles. But see, a hors

d peered out, with her hand resting up

. It is the man from America. Fat

boots were such as any citizen might have worn. Yet his general appearance was so unusual that a group of townsfolk had already assembled round him, staring with open mouth at his horse and himself. A battered gun with an extremely long barrel was fastened by the stock to his stirrup, while the muzzle stuck up into the air behind him. At each holster was a large dangling black bag, and a gaily coloured red-slashed blanket was

on one side of the sea as on the other. Perchance I know him. There are not so many white faces

nces, Amory. But he speaks our ton

his n

done much trade together, and now his son, who, as I understand, has lived ever in the woo

he shouting of a man and the sound of rushing steps. In an instant De Catinat was ha

t he might have been heard at the Louvre. Attached to the gray worsted stocking which covered his fleshless calf was a fluffy black hairy ball, with one little red eye glancing up, and the gleam of two white teeth where it held its grip.

speaking in excellent Fr

ow. “Ah, it has aged me five years! I was at the door, b

as but pupped the day we left New York, six weeks come Tue

y uncle is out, but I am Captain de Catinat, at your servi

ed with them to the sitting-room, and then in an instant was gone again, and they heard his feet thudding upon the stairs. Presently he was back, with a lovely glossy skin in his hands. “

ght well admire it, for no king in the world could have had a finer skin. “Ah, it is

yself last fall up near the Iro

ackness. “I am sorry my father is not here to welcome you, monsieur,” she said; “but I do

om? Fo

sieur, to

I sleep

at the gloomy fac

ep there if you do

cried. “There is a beech-tree there, mademoiselle, and if I might take my blanket out yonder, I should like it better

m a town then?”

you must have heard. He is a very hardy man, and he can do it, but I—even a few d

sleep where you like and to do what y

n I shall take my things out th

here is

to doing

inat, “for I would have a word with you.

omorrow,

s together, and the guardsman foll

a long journ

from R

you t

m seldom

dy, then, until her

you sa

go, and she might

wing off his black coat, set to work vigorously ru