utly to the Church Latin; but her face assumed a
vague expression of uneasiness at the idea of enemies and persecutions.

"Those enemies are numerous and powerful, noble lady, but let us not be
alarmed beyond measure. Let us have confidence in the decrees of heaven
and the justice of our cause. God is in the midst of it and it shall not
be shaken. _In medio ejus non commovebitur._"

A gigantic negro, resplendent in new gold lace, interrupted them to
announce that the velocipedes were ready for the daily lesson on the
terrace of the Tuileries. Before leaving the room, the children solemnly
shook once more the wrinkled, calloused hand of their grandmother, who
was watching them walk away, utterly bewildered and with a sore heart,
when, yielding to an adorable, spontaneous impulse, the youngest of the
three, having reached the door, suddenly turned, pushed the great negro
aside, and plunged head foremost, like a little buffalo, into Mere
Jansoulet's skirts, throwing his arms around her and holding up to her
his smooth brow splashed with brown curls, with the sweet grace of the
child who offers his caress like a flower. Perhaps the little fellow,
being nearer the nest and its warmth, the nurse's cradling lap and
_patois_ ballads, had felt the waves of maternal love of which the
Levantine deprived him flowing toward his little heart. The old
"Grandma" shuddered from head to foot in her surprise at that
instinctive embrace.

"Oh my darling--my darling!" seizing the curly, silky little head which
reminded her of another, and kissing it frantically. Then the child
released himself and ran away without a word, his hair wet with hot
tears.

Left alone with Cabassu, the mother, whom that kiss had consoled, asked
for an explanation of the priest's words.--Had her son many enemies,
pray?

"Oh!" said Cabassu, "it is not at all surprising in his position."

"But what's all this about this being a great day, and this 'sitting'
you all talk about?"

"Why, yes! This is the day when we're to know whether Bernard is to be a
deputy or not."

"What? Isn't he one yet? Why, I have told it everywhere in the
neighborhood, and I illuminated Saint-Romans a month ago. So I was made
to tell a lie!"

The _masseur_ had much difficulty in explaining to her the parliamentary
formality of testing the validity of elections. She listened with only
one ear, feverishly pulling over the linen.

"And that's where my Bernard is at this moment?"