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soldier。
The great Siberian dog； who was lying close to the door； had already
twice uttered a deep growl； and turned his head towards the windowbut
without giving any further affect to this hostile manifestation。
The two sisters； half recumbent in their bed； were clad in long white
wrappers； buttoned at the neck and wrists。 They wore no caps； but their
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
garments； and the white fillet that like a halo encircled their brows；
gave to their fresh and blooming faces a still more candid expression。
The orphans laughed and chatted； for； in spite of some early sorrows；
they still retained the ingenuous gayety of their age。 The remembrance
of their mother would sometimes make them sad； but this sorrow had in it
nothing bitter； it was rather a sweet melancholy； to be sought instead of
shunned。 For them； this adored mother was not deadshe was only absent。
Almost as ignorant as Dagobert； with regard to devotional exercises； for
in the desert where they had lived there was neither church nor priest；
their faith； as was already said； consisted in thisthat God； just and
good； had so much pity for the poor mothers 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； persuaded that their mother incessantly watched over them；
felt； that to do wrong would be to afflict her； and to forfeit the
protection of the good angels。This was the entire theology of Rose and
Blanchea creed sufficient for such pure and loving souls。
Now； on the evening in question； the two sisters chatted together whilst
waiting for Dagobert。 Their theme interested them much； for； since some
days； they had a secret； a great secret； which often quickened the
beatings of their innocent hearts； often agitated their budding bosoms；
changed to bright scarlet the roses on their cheeks； and infused a
restless and dreamy langour into the soft blue of their large eyes。
Rose； this evening； occupied the edge of the couch； with her rounded arms
crossed behind her head； which was half turned towards her sister；
Blanche； with her elbow resting on the bolster； looked at her smilingly；
and said： 〃Do you think he will come again to…night？〃
〃Oh； yes！ certainly。 He promised us yesterday。〃
〃He is so good； he would not break his promise。〃
〃And so handsome； with his long fair curls。〃
〃And his namewhat a charming name！How well it suits his face。〃
〃And what a sweet smile and soft voice； when he says to us； taking us by
the hand： 'My children； bless God that he has given you one soul。 What
others seek elsewhere； you will find in yourselves。'〃
〃'Since your two hearts；' he added； 'only make one。'〃
〃What pleasure to remember his words； sister！〃
〃We are so attentive！ When I see you listening to him； it is as if I saw
myself； my dear little mirror！〃 said Rose； laughing； and kissing her
sister's forehead。 〃Wellwhen he speaks； youror rather our eyesare
wide； wide open； our lips moving as if we repeated every word after him。
It is no wonder we forget nothing that he says。〃
〃And what he says is so grand； so noble； and generous。〃
〃Then； my sister； as he goes on talking； what good thoughts rise within
us！ If we could but always keep them in mind。〃
〃Do not be afraid！ they will remain in our hearts； like little birds in
their mother's nests。〃
〃And how lucky it is； Rose； that he loves us both at the same time！〃
〃He could not do otherwise； since we have but one heart between us。〃
〃How could he love Rose； without loving Blanche？〃
〃What would have become of the poor； neglected one？〃
〃And then again he would have found it so difficult to choose。〃
〃We are so much like one another。〃
〃So； to save himself that trouble；〃 said Rose； laughing； 〃he has chosen
us both。〃
〃And is it not the best way？ He is alone to love us； we are two together
to think of him。〃
〃Only he must not leave us till we reach Paris。〃
〃And in Paris； toowe must see him there also。〃
〃Oh； above all at Paris； it will be good to have him with usand
Dagobert； tooin that great city。 Only think； Blanche； how beautiful it
must be。〃
〃Paris！it must be like a city all of gold。〃
〃A city； where every one must be happy； since it is so beautiful。〃
〃But ought we； poor orphans； dare so much as to enter it？ How people
will look at us！〃
〃Yesbut every one there is happy； every one must be good also。〃
〃They will love us。〃
〃And； besides； we shall be with our friend with the fair hair and blue
eyes。〃
〃He has yet told us nothing of Paris。〃
〃He has not thought of it； we must speak to him about it this very
night。〃
〃If he is in the mood for talking。 Often you know； he likes best to gaze
on us in silencehis eyes on our eyes。〃
〃Yes。 In those moments； his look recalls to me the gaze of our dear
mother。〃
〃And； as she sees it all； how pleased she must be at what has happened to
us！〃
〃Because； when we are so much beloved； we must； I hope； deserve it。〃
〃See what a vain thing it is！〃 said Blanche； smoothing with her slender
fingers the parting of the hair on her sister's forehead。
After a moment's reflection； Rose said to her： 〃Don't you think we should
relate all this to Dagobert？〃
〃If you think so； let us do it。〃
〃We tell him everything； as we told everything to mother。 Why should we
conceal this from him？〃
〃Especially as it is something which gives us so much pleasure。〃
〃Do you not find that； since we have known our friend； our hearts beat
quicker and stronger？〃
〃Yes； they seem to be more full。〃
〃The reason why is plain enough； our friend fills up a good space in
them。〃
〃Well； we will do best to tell Dagobert what a lucky star ours is。〃
〃You are right〃 At this moment the dog gave another deep growl。
〃Sister；〃 said Rose； as she pressed closer to Blanche； 〃there is the dog
growling again。 What can be the matter with him？〃
〃Spoil…sport； do not growl！ Come hither；〃 said Blanche； striking with
her little hand on the side of the bed。
The dog rose； again growled deeply； and came to lay his great；
intelligent looking head on the counterpane； still obstinately casting a
sidelong glance at the window； the sisters bent over him to pat his broad
forehead； in the centre of which was a remarkable bump； the certain sign
of extreme purity of race。
〃What makes you growl so； Spoil…sport？〃 said Blanche； pulling him gently
by the ears〃eh； my good dog？〃
〃Poor beast！ he is always so uneasy when Dagobert is away。〃
〃It is true； one would think he knows that he then has a double charge
over us。〃
〃Sister； it seems to me； Dagobert is late in coming to say good…night。〃
〃No doubt he is attending to Jovial。〃
〃That makes me think that we did not bid good…night to dear old Jovial。
〃I am sorry for it。〃
〃Poor beast！ he seems so glad when he licks our hands。 One would think
that he thanked us for our visit。〃
〃Luckily； Dagobert