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handsome and benign a countenance； that we elapsed our hands as if to
pray to him。 Then he told us； in a soft voice； that he was called
Gabriel； that our mother had sent him to be our guardian angel； and that
he would never abandon us。〃
〃And； then；〃 added Blanche； 〃he took us each by the hand； and； bending
his fair face over us； looked at us for a long time in silence； with so
much goodnesswith so much goodness； that we could not withdraw our eyes
from his。〃
〃Yes；〃 resumed Rose； 〃and his look seemed； by turns； to attract us； or to
go to our hearts。 At length； to our great sorrow； Gabriel quitted us；
having told us that we should see him again the following night。〃
〃And did he make his appearance？〃
〃Certainly。 Judge with what impatience we waited the moment of sleep； to
see if our friend would return； and visit us in our slumbers。〃
〃Humph！〃 said Dagobert； scratching his forehead； 〃this reminds me； young
ladies； that you kept on rubbing your eyes last evening； and pretending
to be half asleep。 I wager； it was all to send me away the sooner； and
to get to your dream as fast as possible。〃
〃Yes； Dagobert。〃
〃The reason being； you could not say to me； as you would to Spoil…sport：
Lie down； Dagobert！ Wellso your friend Gabriel came back？〃
〃Yes； and this time he talked to us a great deal； and gave us； in the
name of our mother； such touching； such noble counsels； that the next
day； Rose and I spent our whole time in recalling every word of our
guardian angeland his face； and his look〃
〃This reminds me again； young ladies； that you were whispering all along
the road this morning； and that when I spoke of white； you answered
black。〃
〃Yes； Dagobert； we were thinking of Gabriel。〃
〃And； ever since； we love him as well as he loves us。〃
〃But he is only one between both of you！〃
〃Was not our mother one between us？〃
〃And you； Dagobertare you not also one for us both？〃
〃True； true！ And yet； do you know； I shall finish by being jealous of
that Gabriel？〃
〃You are our friend by dayhe is our friend by night。〃
〃Let's understand it clearly。 If you talk of him all day； and dream of
him all night； what will there remain for me？〃
〃There will remain for you your two orphans； whom you love so much；〃 said
Rose。
〃And who have only you left upon earth；〃 added Blanche； in a caressing
tongue。
〃Humph！ humph！ that's right； coax the old man over； Nay； believe me； my
children；〃 added the soldier； tenderly； 〃I am quite satisfied with my
lot。 I can afford to let you have your Gabriel。 I felt sure that Spoil…
sport and myself could take our rest in quiet。 After all； there is
nothing so astonishing in what you tell me； your first dream struck your
fancy； and you talked so much about it that you had a second； nor should
I be surprised if you were to see this fine fellow a third time。〃
〃Oh； Dagobert！ do not make a jest of it！ They are only dreams； but we
think our mother sends them to us。 Did she not tell us that orphan
children were watched over by guardian angels？ Well； Gabriel is our
guardian angel； he will protect us； and he will protect you also。〃
〃Very kind of him to think of me； but you see； my dear children； for the
matter of defence； I prefer the dog； he is less fair than your angel； but
he has better teeth； and that is more to be depended on。〃
〃How provoking you are； Dagobertalways jesting！〃
〃It is true； you can laugh at everything。〃
〃Yes； I am astonishingly gay； I laugh with my teeth shut； in the style of
old Jovial。 Come； children； don't scold me： I know I am wrong。 The
remembrance of your dear mother is mixed with this dream； and you do well
to speak of it seriously。 Besides；〃 added he； with a grave air； 〃dreams
will sometimes come true。 In Spain； two of the Empress's dragoons；
comrades of mine； dreamt； the night before their death； that they would
be poisoned by the monksand so it happened。 If you continue to dream
of this fair angel Gabriel； it isit iswhy； it is； because you are
amused by it； and； as you have none too many pleasures in the daytime；
you may as well get an agreeable sleep at night。 But； now； my children；
I have also much to tell you； it will concern your mother； promise me not
to be sad。〃
〃Be satisfied！ when we think of her we are not sad； though serious。〃
〃That is well。 For fear of grieving you； I have always delayed the
moment of telling what your poor mother would have confided to you as
soon as you were no longer children。 But she died before she had time to
do so； and that which I have to tell broke her heartas it nearly did
mine。 I put off this communication as long as I could； taking for
pretext that I would say nothing till we came to the field of battle
where your father was made prisoner。 That gave me time； but the moment
is now come； I can shuffle it off no longer。〃
〃We listen； Dagobert；〃 responded the two maidens； with an attentive and
melancholy air。
After a moment's silence； during which he appeared to reflect； the
veteran thus addressed the young girls：
〃Your father； General Simon； was the son of a workman； who remained a
workman； for； notwithstanding all that the general could say or do； the
old man was obstinate in not quitting his trade。 He had a heart of gold
and a head of iron； just like his son。 You may suppose； my children；
that when your father； who had enlisted as a private soldier； became a
general and a count of the empire； it was not without toil or without
glory。〃
〃A count of the Empire！ what is that； Dagobert？〃
〃Flummerya title； which the Emperor gave over and above the promotion；
just for the sake of saying to the people； whom he loved because he was
one of them： Here； children！ You wish to play at nobility！ You shall be
nobles。 You wish to play at royalty！ You shall be kings。 Take what you
likenothing is too good for youenjoy yourselves！〃
〃Kings！〃 said the two girls； joining their hands in admiration。
〃Kings of the first water。 Oh； he was no niggard of his crowns； our
Emperor！ I had a bed…fellow of mine； a brave soldier； who was afterwards
promoted to be king。 This flattered us； for； if it was not one； it was
the other。 And so； at this game； your father became count； but； count or
not； he was one of the best and bravest generals of the army。〃
〃He was handsome； was he not； Dagobert？mother always said so。〃
〃Oh； yes！ indeed he wasbut quite another thing from your fair guardian
angel。 Picture to yourself a fine； dark man； who looked splendid in his
full uniform； and could put fire into the soldiers' hearts。 With him to
lead； we would have charged up into Heaven itselfthat is； if Heaven
had； permitted it；〃 added Dagobert； not wishing to wound in any way the
religious beliefs of the orphans。
〃And father was as good as he was brave； Dagobert。〃
〃Good； my children？ Yes； I should say so！He could bend a horse…shoe in
his hand as you would bend a card； and the day he was taken prisoner he
had cut down the Prussian artillerymen on their very cannon。 With
strength and courage like that； how could he be otherwise than good？
It is then about nineteen years ago； not far from this placeon the spot
I showed y