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called Jovial）； by playing a mischievous trick； of which the dog was the
victim。
This latter； who； doubtless for the sake of contrast； was called
Spoil…sport （Rabat…joie）； being always at his master's heels； found
himself within the reach of Jovial； who from time to time nipped him
delicately by the nape of the neck； lifted him from the ground； and
carried him thus for a moment。 The dog； protected by his thick coat； and
no doubt long accustomed to the practical jokes of his companion；
submitted to all this with stoical complacency； save that； when he
thought the jest had lasted long enough； he would turn his head and
growl。 Jovial understood him at the first hint； and hastened to set him
down again。 At other times； just to avoid monotony； Jovial would gently
bite the knapsack of the soldier； who seemed； as well as the dog； to be
perfectly accustomed to his pleasantries。
These details will give a notion of the excellent understanding that
existed between the twin sisters； the old soldier； the horse； and the
dog。
The little caravan proceeded on its ways anxious to reach； before night；
the village of Mockern； which was now visible on the summit of a hill。
Ever and anon； Dagobert looked around him； and seemed to be gathering up
old recollections； by degrees； his countenance became clouded； and when
he was at a little distance from the mill； the noise of which had
arrested his attention； he stopped； and drew his long moustache several
times between his finger and thumb； the only sign which revealed in him
any strong and concentrated feeling。
Jovial； having stopped short behind his master； Blanche； awakened
suddenly by the shock； raised her head； her first look sought her sister；
on whom she smiled sweetly； then both exchanged glances of surprise； on
seeing Dagobert motionless； with his hands clasped and resting on his
long staff； apparently affected by some painful and deep emotion。
The orphans just chanced to be at the foot of a little mound； the summit
of which was buried in the thick foliage of a huge oak； planted half way
down the slope。 Perceiving that Dagobert continued motionless and
absorbed in thought； Rose leaned over her saddle； and； placing her little
white hand on the shoulder of their guide； whose back was turned towards
her； said to him； in a soft voice； 〃Whatever is the matter with you；
Dagobert？〃
The veteran turned； to the great astonishment of the sisters； they
perceived a large tear； which traced its humid furrow down his tanned
cheek； and lost itself in his thick moustache。
〃You weepingyou！〃 cried Rose and Blanche together； deeply moved。
〃Tell us； we beseech； what is the matter？〃
After a moments hesitation； the soldier brushed his horny hand across his
eyes； and said to the orphans in a faltering voice； whilst he pointed to
the old oak beside them： 〃I shall make you sad； my poor children： and yet
what I'm going to tell you has something sacred in it。 Well； eighteen
years ago； on the eve of the great battle of Leipsic； I carried your
father to this very tree。 He had two sabre…cuts on the head； a musket…
ball in his shoulder； and it was here that he and Iwho had got two
thrust of a lance for my sharewere taken prisoners； and by whom； worse
luck？why； a renegado！ By a Frenchmanan emigrant marquis； then
colonel in the service of Russiaand who afterwardsbut one day you
shall know all。〃
The veteran paused； then； pointing with his staff to the village of
Mockern； he added： 〃Yes； yes； I can recognize the spot。 Yonder are the
heights where your brave fatherwho commanded us； and the Poles of the
Guardoverthrew the Russian Cuirassiers； after having carried the
battery。 Ah； my children！〃 continued the soldier； with the utmost
simplicity； 〃I wish you had； seen your brave father； at the head of our
brigade of horse； rushing on in a desperate charge in the thick of a
shower of shells！There was nothing like itnot a soul so grand as he！〃
Whilst Dagobert thus expressed； in his own way； his regrets and
recollections； the two orphansby a spontaneous movement； glided gently
from the horse； and holding each other by the hand； went together to
kneel at the foot of the old oak。 And there； closely pressed in each
other's arms； they began to weep； whilst the soldier； standing behind
them； with his hands crossed on his long staff； rested his bald
front upon it。
〃Come； come you must not fret；〃 said he softly； when； after a pause of a
few minutes； he saw tears run down the blooming cheeks of Rose and
Blanche； still on their knees。 〃Perhaps we may find General Simon in
Paris；〃 added he； 〃I will explain all that to you this evening at the
inn。 I purposely waited for this day； to tell you many things about your
father； it was an idea of mine； because this day is a sort of
anniversary。〃
〃We weep because we think also of our mother；〃 said Rose。
〃Of our mother； whom we shall only see again in heaven；〃 added Blanche。
The soldier raised the orphans； took each by the hand； and gazing from
one to the other with ineffable affection； rendered still the more
touching by the contrast of his rude features； 〃You must not give way
thus； my children；〃 said he； 〃it is true your mother was the best of
women。 When she lived in Poland； they called her the Pearl of Warsawit
ought to have been the Pearl of the Whole Worldfor in the whole world
you could not have found her match。 Nono！〃
The voice of Dagobert faltered； he paused； and drew his long gray
moustache between finger and thumb； as was his habit。 〃Listen； my
girls；〃 he resumed； when he had mastered his emotion； 〃your mother could
give you none but the best advice； eh？〃
〃Yes Dagobert。〃
〃Well； what instructions did she give you before she died？ To think
often of her； but without grieving？〃
〃It is true； she told us than our Father in heaven； always good to poor
mothers whose children are left on earth； would permit her to hear us
from above；〃 said Blanche。
〃And that her eyes would be ever fixed upon us；〃 added Rose。
And the two； by a spontaneous impulse； replete with the most touching
grace； joined hands； raised their innocent looks to heaven； and
exclaimed； with that beautiful faith natural to their age： 〃Is it not so；
mother？thou seest us？thou hearest us？〃
〃Since your mother sees and hears you；〃 said Dagobert； much moved； 〃do
not grieve her by fretting。 She forbade you to do so。〃
〃You are right； Dagobert。 We will not cry any more。〃And the orphans
dried their eyes。
Dagobert； in the opinion of the devout； would have passed for a very
heathen。 In Spain； he had found pleasure in cutting down those monks of
all orders and colors； who； bearing crucifix in one hand； and poniard in
the other； fought not for libertythe Inquisition had strangled her
centuries agobut； for their monstrous privileges。 Yet； in forty years；
Dagobert had witnessed so many sublime and awful sceneshe had been so
many times face to face with deaththat the instinct of natural
religion； common to every simple； honest heart； had always remained
uppermost in his soul。 Therefore； though he did not share in the
consoling faith of the two sisters； he would have held as criminal an