, which the first blast uproots.
Where is Euphemie? Where Lucy, where our tears and sighs of those days?
You have become a little old man in an instant: and, is it not true,
that those youthful feelings appeal to you even now sometimes, but like
dumb children, with their countenances? Now perform a little bit of a
miracle with your superabundant love, and awaken these dead again which
lie here in our way. But the question is, whether they would thank you
for it, since they have once made a step to the other side, though
rather in a neck-breaking manner; for if examined closely, that so
called life is a cursedly tedious and base affair, and if one is to
expect jokes like these every day, such as have been practised on these
fellows here, then really one must be damnably sunk in bad habits, not
to put an end to this miserable existence by a single gash on the
throat. But thus indeed are we all.

In these conversations they passed the night. The venerable pastor
replied but little. Neither did his exhaustion permit him, which was so
great, that he was often compelled to rest. As the hours passed the
more agitated he became and the more he wished to end quickly his days
in the ruins of his beloved commune, for he did not know why he should
still wish to live. Edmond talked to him filially and affectionately,
as a son, and the old man heartily forgave all the evil that the youth
had drawn upon him, "If I could, only see thy father once more before
my death!" exclaimed he much affected, or--grief did not permit him to
say more, but Edmond guessed what he meant. After they had reposed
several times, with the early dawn they reached a village, which lay
pleasantly among some green trees. They determined on breakfasting
here, in order to be able to continue their way to Florac, Edmond felt
as if his whole life and being would dissolve in dream and mist. As
they arrived before a small house, in the upper story of which some men
appeared, but who quickly drew back at the sight of the regimentals,
Edmond said to himself, "I am on the point of becoming mad, for I now
see the figures of my mind; it was indeed as if I perceived my father
and Christine, and Eveline; and only because I here escort the two
friends of his youth." They were going to inquire for the inn of an old
man, who was gathering herbs in a small garden, when the wife came out
of the house and begged of them to accompany her, since she herself had
business at the inn,