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A man of tall stature； with a sun…burnt face； and long gray moustache；
was leading the horse by the bridle； and ever and anon turned towards the
girls； with an air of solicitude at once respectful and paternal。 He
leaned upon a long staff； his still robust shoulders carried a soldier's
knapsack； his dusty shoes； and step that began to drag a little； showed
that he had walked a long way。
One of those dogs which the tribes of Northern Siberia harness to their
sledgesa sturdy animal； nearly of the size； form； and hairy coat of the
wolffollowed closely in the steps of the leader of this little caravan；
never quitting； as it is commonly said； the heels of his master。
Nothing could be more charming than the group formed by the girls。 One
held with her left hand the flowing reins； and with her right encircled
the waist of her sleeping sister； whose head reposed on her shoulder。
Each step of the horse gave a graceful swaying to these pliant forms； and
swung their little feet； which rested on a wooden ledge in lieu of a
stirrup。
These twin sisters； by a sweet maternal caprice； had been called Rose and
Blanche； they were now orphans； as might be seen by their sad mourning
vestments； already much worn。 Extremely； like in feature； and of the
same size； it was necessary to be in the constant habit of seeing them；
to distinguish one from the other。 The portrait of her who slept not；
might serve them for both of them； the only difference at the moment
being； that Rose was awake and discharging for that day the duties of
elder sisterduties thus divided between then； according to the fancy of
their guide； who； being an old soldier of the empire； and a martinet； had
judged fit thus to alternate obedience and command between the orphans。
Greuze would have been inspired by the sight of those sweet faces； coifed
in close caps of black velvet； from beneath which strayed a profusion of
thick ringlets of a light chestnut color； floating down their necks and
shoulders； and setting； as in a frame； their round； firm； rosy； satin…
like cheeks。 A carnation； bathed in dew； is of no richer softness than
their blooming lips； the wood violet's tender blue would appear dark
beside the limpid azure of their large eyes； in which are depicted the
sweetness of their characters； and the innocence of their age； a pure and
white forehead； small nose； dimpled chin； complete these graceful
countenances； which present a delightful blending of candor and
gentleness。
You should have seen them too； when； on the threatening of rain or storm；
the old soldier carefully wrapped them both in a large pelisse of
reindeer fur； and pulled over their heads the ample hood of this
impervious garment； then nothing could be more lovely than those fresh
and smiling little faces； sheltered beneath the dark…colored cowl。
But now the evening was fine and calm； the heavy cloak hung in folds
about the knees of the sisters； and the hood rested on the back of their
saddle。
Rose； still encircling with her right arm the waist of her sleeping
sister； contemplated her with an expression of ineffable tenderness； akin
to maternal； for Rose was the eldest for the day； and an elder sister is
almost a mother。
Not only； did the orphans idolize each other； but； by a psychological
phenomenon； frequent with twins； they were almost always simultaneously
affected； the emotion of one was reflected instantly in the countenance
of the other； the same cause would make both of them start or blush； so
closely did their young hearts beat in unison； all ingenuous joys； all
bitter griefs were mutually felt； and shared in a moment between them。
In their infancy； simultaneously attacked by a severe illness； like two
flowers on the same steam； they had drooped； grown pale； and languished
together； but together also had they again found the pure； fresh hues of
health。
Need it be said； that those mysterious； indissoluble links which united
the twins； could not have been broken without striking a mortal blow at
the existence of the poor children？
Thus the sweet birds called love…birds； only living in pairs； as if
endowed with a common life； pine； despond； and die； when parted by a
barbarous hand。
The guide of the orphans； a man of about fifty…five； distinguished by
his military air and gait； preserved the immortal type of the warriors of
the republic and the empiresome heroic of the people； who became； in
one campaign； the first soldiers in the worldto prove what the people
can do； have done； and will renew； when the rulers of their choice place
in them confidence； strength； and their hope。
This soldier； guide of the sisters； and formerly a horse…grenadier of the
Imperial Guard； had been nicknamed Dagobert。 His grave； stern
countenance was strongly marked； his long； gray； and thick moustache
completely concealed his upper lip； and united with a large imperial；
which almost covered his chin； his meagre cheeks； brick…colored； and
tanned as parchment； were carefully shaven； thick eyebrows； still black；
overhung and shaded his light blue eyes； gold ear…rings reached down to
his white…edged military stock； his topcoat； of coarse gray cloth； was
confined at the waist by a leathern belt； and a blue foraging cap； with a
red tuft falling on his left shoulder； covered his bald head。
Once endowed with the strength of Hercules； and having still the heart of
a lionkind and patient； because he was courageous and strongDagobert；
notwithstanding his rough exterior； evinced for his orphan charges an
exquisite solicitude； a watchful kindness； and a tenderness almost
maternal。 Yes； motherly； for the heroism of affection dwells alike in
the mother's heart and the soldiers。
Stoically calm； and repressing all emotion； the unchangeable coolness of
Dagobert never failed him； and； though few were less given to drollery；
he was now and then highly comic； by reason of the imperturbable gravity
with which he did everything。
From time to time； as they journeyed on； Dagobert would turn to bestow a
caress or friendly word on the good white home upon which the orphans
were mounted。 Its furrowed sides and long teeth betrayed a venerable
age。 Two deep scars； one on the flank and the other on the chest； proved
that his horse had been present in hot battles； nor was it without an act
of pride that he sometimes shook his old military bridle； the brass stud
of which was still adorned with an embossed eagle。 His pace was regular；
careful； and steady； his coat sleek； and his bulk moderate； the abundant
foam； which covered his bit； bore witness to that health which horses
acquire by the constant； but not excessive； labor of a long journey；
performed by short stages。 Although he had been more than six months on
the road； this excellent animal carried the orphans； with a tolerably
heavy portmanteau fastened to the saddle； as freely as on the day they
started。
If we have spoken of the excessive length of the horse's teeththe
unquestionable evidence of great ageit is chiefly because he often
displayed them； for the sole purpose of acting up to his name （he was
called Jovial）； by playing a mischievous trick； of which the