she was poor; therefore, nobody who
came to the castle took any notice of her: and her cousin Adelaide
treated her more like a servant than a relation. Maria had been nursed
among the Waldenses, and had learned, with God's blessing, all the holy
doctrines of these people from her nurse.

"When Adelaide and Maria were about twenty years of age, they were both
married. Adelaide was married to the young Marquis de Roseville, one of
the handsomest and richest men in France, and went to live in Paris
with her husband, where she was introduced to the court of the king,
and lived amongst the greatest and gayest people in France."

* * * * *

"Where is Paris, mamma?" said Lucy.

"You know, my dear," answered Mrs. Fairchild, "that London is the
chief town of England, and the residence of the Queen: in like manner,
Paris is the chief town of France, and the Emperor of France's palace
is in Paris."

* * * * *

"Maria's husband," continued Henry, "was one of the pastors of the
Waldenses, of the name of Claude: he lived in a small and neat cottage
in a beautiful valley; he was a holy young man, and all his time and
thoughts were given up to teaching his people and serving his God.
Maria was much happier in her little cottage with her kind husband than
she had been in the castle of the Baron. She kept her house clean, and
assisted her husband in dressing their little garden and taking care of
a few goats, which afforded them abundance of milk.

"When the Marchioness of Roseville had been married twelve months she
brought the Marquis a son, to whom his parents gave the name of
Theodore. This child was so beautiful that he was spoken of in Paris as
a wonder, and his parents, who were very proud and vain before, became
more and more so. All the Marchioness's love seemed to be fixed upon
this child, so that when, at the end of two years more, she had a
second son born, she showed no affection whatever for him, although he
was a lovely infant, not less beautiful than his brother, and of a
tender and delicate constitution.

"When this little infant, who was called Henri, was little more than
two months old, the Marquis and Marchioness undertook a journey to the
Castle of Bellemont, to visit the old Baron, bringing their two sons
with them. The fatigue of the journey was almost too much for poor
little Henri, who, when he arrived at his grandfather's castle, was so
ill