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instead of such good little angels as you are。〃
〃You are right； Dagobert； in this way many things may be explained； even
as our father says。〃 And Rose continued to read：
〃Not without pride； my gentle Eva； have I learned that Djalma has French
blood in his veins。 His father married； some years ago； a young girl；
whose family； of French origin； had long been settled at Batavia in the
island of Java。 This similarity of circumstances between my old friend
and myselffor your family also； my Eva； is of French origin； and long
settled in a foreign landhas only served to augment my sympathy for
him。 Unfortunately； he has long had to mourn the loss of the wife whom he
adored。
〃See； my beloved Eva！ my hand trembles as I write these words。 I am
weakI am foolishbut； alas！ my heart sinks within me。 If such a
misfortune were to happen to meOh； my God！what would become of our
child without theewithout his fatherin that barbarous country？ But
no！ the very fear is madness； and yet what a horrible torture is
uncertainty！ Where may you now be？ What are you doing？ What has become
of you？ Pardon these black thoughts； which are sometimes too much for
me。 They are the cause of my worst momentsfor； when free from them； I
can at least say to myself： I am proscribed； I am every way unfortunate
but； at the other end of the world； two hearts still beat for me with
affectionyours； my Eva； and our child's！〃
Rose could hardly finish this passage； for some seconds her voice was
broken by sobs。 There was indeed a fatal coincidence between the fears
of General Simon and the sad reality； and what could be more touching
than these outpourings of the heart； written by the light of a watch…
fire； on the eve of battle； by a soldier who thus sought to soothe the
pangs of a separation； which he felt bitterly； but knew not would be
eternal？
〃Poor general！ he is unaware of our misfortune；〃 said Dagobert； after a
moment's silence； 〃but neither has he heard that he has two children；
instead of one。 That will be at least some consolation。 But come；
Blanche； do go on reading： I fear that this dwelling on grief fatigues
your sister； and she is too much affected by it。 Besides； after all； it
is only just； that you should take your share of its pleasure and its
sorrow。〃
Blanche took the letter； and Rose； having dried her eyes； laid in her
turn her sweet head on the shoulder of her sister； who thus continued：
〃I am calmer now； my dear Eva； I left off writing for a moment； and
strove to banish those black presentiments。 Let us resume our
conversation！ After discoursing so long about India； I will talk to you
a little of Europe。 Yesterday evening； one of our people （a trusty
fellow） rejoined our outposts。 He brought me a letter； which had arrived
from France at Calcutta； at length； I have news of my father； and am no
longer anxious on his account。 This letter is dated in August of last
year。 I see by its contents； that several other letters； to which he
alludes； have either been delayed or lost； for I had not received any for
two years before； and was extremely uneasy about him。 But my excellent
father is the same as ever！ Age has not weakened him； his character is
as energetic； his health as robust； as in times paststill a workman；
still proud of his order； still faithful to his austere republican ideas；
still hoping much。
〃For he says to me； 'the time is at hand；' and he underlines those words。
He gives me also； as you will see； good news of the family of old
Dagobert； our friendfor in truth； my dear Eva； it soothes my grief to
think； that this excellent man is with you； that he will have accompanied
you in your exilefor I know hima kernel of gold beneath the rude rind
of a soldier！ How he must love our child！〃
Here Dagobert coughed two or three times； stooped down； and appeared to
be seeking on the ground the little red and blue check…handkerchief
spread over his knees。 He remained thus bent for some seconds； and； when
he raised himself； he drew his hand across his moustache。
〃How well father knows you！〃
〃How rightly has he guessed that you would love us！〃
〃Well； well； children； pass over that！Let's come to the part where the
general speaks of my little Agricola； and of Gabriel； my wife's adopted
child。 Poor woman！ when I think that in three months perhapsbut come；
child； read； read；〃 added the old soldier； wishing to conceal his
emotion。
〃I still hope against hope； my dear Eva； that these pages will one day
reach you； and therefore I wish to insert in them all that can be
interesting to Dagobert。 It will be a consolation to him； to have some
news of his family。 My father； who is still foreman at Mr。 Hardy's；
tells me that worthy man has also taken into his house the son of old
Dagobert。 Agricola works under my father； who is enchanted with him。 He
is； he tells me； a tall and vigorous lad； who wields the heavy forge…
hammer as if it were a feather； and is light…spirited as he is
intelligent and laborious。 He is the best workman on the establishment；
and this does not prevent him in the evening； after his hard day's work；
when he returns home to his mother； whom he truly loves； from making
songs and writing excellent patriotic verses。 His poetry is full of fire
and energy； his fellow…workmen sing nothing else； and his lays have the
power to warm the coldest and the most timid hearts。〃
〃How proud you must be of your son； Dagobert；〃 said Rose； in admiration；
〃he writes songs。〃
〃Certainly； it is all very finebut what pleases me best is； that he is
good to his mother； and that he handles the hammer with a will。 As for
the songs； before he makes a 'Rising of the People；' or a 'Marseillaise；'
he will have had to beat a good deal of iron； but where can this rascally
sweet Agricola have learned to make songs at all？No doubt； it was at
school； where he went； as you will see； with his adopted brother
Gabriel。〃
At this name of Gabriel； which reminded them of the imaginary being whom
they called their guardian angel； the curiosity of the young girls was
greatly excited。 With redoubled attention； Blanche continued in these
words：
〃The adopted brother of Agricola； the poor deserted child whom the wife
of our good Dagobert so generously took in； forms； my father tells me； a
great contrast with Agricola； not in heart； for they have both excellent
hearts； but Gabriel is as thoughtful and melancholy as Agricola is
lively； joyous； and active。 Moreover； adds my father； each of them； so
to speak； has the aspect； which belongs to his character。 Agricola is
dark； tall； and strong； with a gay and bold air； Gabriel； on the
contrary； is weak； fair； timid as a girl； and his face wears an
expression of angelic mildness。〃
The orphans looked at each other in surprise； then； as they turned
towards the soldier their ingenuous countenances； Rose said to him； 〃Have
you heard； Dagobert？ Father says； that your Gabriel is fair； and has the
face of an angel。 Why； 'tis exactly like ours！〃
〃Yes； yes； I heard very well； it is that which surprised me； in your
dream。〃
〃I should like to know； if he has also blue eyes；〃 said Rose。
〃As f