errible to him.

"Whilst the Marchioness and Henri sat at breakfast, she asked him a
great many questions about his education and manner of life among the
mountains. He did not hide anything from her, but told her that he
never intended to become a Roman Catholic. She answered that there was
time enough yet before he need trouble himself about religion.

"'You have a long life before you, Henri,' she said, 'and have many
pleasures to enjoy; it will be well enough to become devout when you
are near death.'

"'May not death be near now?' said Henri, looking very serious. 'Had my
brother Theodore any greater reason to expect death than I have? And
yet he was suddenly called away.'

"The Marchioness looked grave for a moment; then smiled, and said:

"'Oh Henri, Henri, how laughable it is to hear one at your age speaking
so seriously! Yet everything sounds prettily out of your mouth,' she
added, kissing him, 'for you are a charming boy. But come,' she said,
'I will be dressed; and we will go out and pay visits, and I will show
you something of this fine city.'

"When the Marchioness was dressed, she and Henri went out in the
carriage; and, returning at dinner-time, they found the Marquis at
home: he looked pale and fatigued, but was pleased to embrace his son,
with whom he seemed better and better satisfied as he saw more of him.

"The next day a tutor was appointed for Henri: he was a Roman Catholic
priest; but although he bore the character of a clergyman, he seemed to
have no thought of religion; he took great pains to teach Henri such
things as he thought would please his father and mother, and make him
appear clever before his fellow-creatures, but he had no desire to make
him a good man. Besides this tutor, Henri had masters to teach him
music and dancing and drawing, and all such things as were wont to be
taught to the children of the great men at that time in France. Thus
Henri's mornings were employed by attending on his masters; and his
mother often in the evening took him out to pay visits, and to balls
and public amusements. He was introduced several times to the King, and
became acquainted with all the nobility in Paris. But, amongst all
these worldly pleasures and enjoyments, God still held the heart of
Henri; so that he took no delight in all these fine things, and would
have preferred Claude's cottage to all the splendours of Paris.

"When Henri had been in Paris about six months, it happened that one