The Wandering Jew, Book I.
n the country. A bed without curtains, a table, and two chairs, composed the more than modest furniture of this retreat
twice uttered a deep growl, and turned his head towards the window-
beautiful chestnut hair was confined at the temples by a broad piece of tape, so that it might not get tangled during the night. These white
age. The remembrance of their mother would sometimes make them sad, but this sorrow had in it nothing bitter; it was r
hers whose children were left on earth, that he allowed them to look down upon them from highest heaven-to see them always, to hear them always, and sometimes to send fair guardian angels to protect therein. Thanks to this guileless illusion, the orphans,
some days, they had a secret, a great secret, which often quickened the beatings of their innocent hearts, often agitated their budding bo
her head, which was half turned towards her sister; Blanche, with her elbow resting on th
inly. He promis
he would not bre
me, with his l
charming name!-How we
g us by the hand: 'My children, bless God that he has given you o
hearts,' he added
to remember his
Rose, laughing, and kissing her sister's forehead. "Well-when he speaks, your-or rather our eyes-are wide, wid
is so grand, so no
, what good thoughts rise within us! If
main in our hearts, like little
Rose, that he loves us
wise, since we have bu
ve Rose, without
become of the poo
uld have found it so
much like o
rouble," said Rose, laughin
e is alone to love us; we are
t leave us till
too-we must see
him with us-and Dagobert, too-in that great cit
t be like a ci
ne must be happy, sinc
dare so much as to enter it
ere is happy, every o
will l
e with our friend with th
told us noth
t; we must speak to him
ten you know, he likes best to gaze o
is look recalls to me the
how pleased she must be at
so much beloved, we mu
, smoothing with her slender fingers the pa
said to her: "Don't you think we s
ink so, le
told everything to mother. Why
something which gives
have known our friend, our hea
seem to be
enough; our friend fills
to tell Dagobert what
his moment the dog ga
er to Blanche, "there is the dog growlin
her," said Blanche, striking with he
ane, still obstinately casting a sidelong glance at the window; the sisters bent over him to pat his br
ort?" said Blanche, pulling him ge
always so uneasy wh
nk he knows that he then h
, Dagobert is late in c
is attendin
at we did not bid good-
sorry
he licks our hands. One would think
will have wished hi
ng of us. How he spoils us! We rema
we prev
are not rich, to gi
r! we shall never be any
re's the
attached to it, else we should
mised to tell us
ng, for two of the windowpanes
selves into each other's arms, whilst the dog
rs held their breath; in their extreme fear, they durst not even cast their eyes in the directio
murmured the orphans.
izing Blanche by the arm; "hark
like the tread of Dagobert. Do y
defend us!" cried the two siste
was heard along the thin partition that divided the chamber from the landing-place. Then a ponderous mass, falling against the do
ened. It wa
joyfully exchanged a kiss, as if they
are you afraid?" asked
ting as she spoke, for both her own he
ot recognize your footsteps-they seemed so he
a boy of fifteen, seeing that I carried my bed upon my back-a straw mattre
that!" said Rose, looking at Blanche. And their pretty faces, wh
ll resting against the window,
rk in that direction, my c
anes have just been broken. That is
w to the window, opened it quickly, p
night. He listened; but hear
, old fellow, and search!" The faithful animal took one mighty spring and
gesture: "Search, old fellow, search! If there is any one ther
kwards and forwards, snuffing on every side, and no
this." Then, turning to the maidens, who listened to his words and watched his movement
her when we heard a great crash, and
, "as if a shutter had struck
d observed a long movable hook, d
e the window. Yes, yes; that is it. What interest could anybody have to play such a sorry
d as a negative, for he continued: "Well, then, come back! Make
econds beneath the window, he set off at a gallop to make t
the soldier, as he again drew near
d deal frighte
onvenience, he took from a chair the reindeer pelisse, and suspended it from the spring-catch of the curtainles
od you are! We were very
se, only just then perceiving that his countenance was disturbed and pallid, for he
ets?-Oh,
r countenance is quite
r he was little used to deceive; till, finding an excellent excuse for his emotion, he added: "If
r fa
upper, I should have been here when the windo
ere now, and we th
't you s
alk together," said Dagobert, as he dr
ed, trying to smile in order to reassure t
, smiling in their turn, and opening
ey are yet far enough, from shuttin
Dagobert," resumed Rose, after ex
dee
et to t
sec
to be
at secret!" added R
oncerns us both,"
always concerns the other. Are you not always,
you put our heads under the great hood
ever has the last word with them. Come, lad
ister," s
like that you talk of belongs of right to the elder sister. Come, I am listening to you," added the soldier, as he for
, was doing duty as eldest) that s