ened or cast down by the greatness of their misery. Her heart
was satisfied and happy; why should she be crushed by mere physical
suffering and discomforts? She was very brave, although apparently so
delicate and fragile, and inspired de Sigognac, who could have fallen
down and worshipped her as he gazed up into her beautiful eyes, with
some of her own undaunted courage.

The great, barren plain they were slowly traversing, with a few dreary
skeletons of misshapen old trees scattered here and there, and not a
dwelling in sight, was not calculated to dissipate the melancholy of the
party. Save one or two aged peasants trudging listlessly along, bending
under the weight of the fagots they carried on their backs, they had not
seen a human being all day long. The spiteful magpies, that seemed to
be the only inhabitants of this dreary waste, danced about in front of
them, chattering and almost laughing at them, as if rejoicing in and
making fun of their miseries. A searching north wind, that penetrated
to the very marrow in their bones, was blowing, and the few white flakes
that flew before it now and then were the avantcouriers of the steady
fall of snow that began as nightfall approached.

"It would appear," said the pedant, who was walking behind the chariot
trying to find shelter from the icy wind, "that the celestial housewife
up above has been plucking her geese, and is shaking the feathers out of
her apron down upon us. She might a great deal better send us the geese
themselves. I for one would be glad enough to eat 114 them, without
being very particular as to whether they were done to a turn, and
without sauce or seasoning either."

"Yes, so would I, even without salt," added the tyrant, "for my stomach
is empty. I could welcome now an omelette such as they gave us this
morning, and swallow it without winking, though the eggs were so far
gone that the little chicks were almost ready to peep."

By this time de Sigognac also had taken refuge behind the
chariot--Isabelle having been driven from her seat in front to a place
in the interior by the increasing violence of the storm-and Blazius said
to him, "This is a trying time, my lord, and I regret very much that
you should have to share our bad fortune; but I trust it will be only of
brief duration, and although we do get on but slowly, still every step
brings us nearer to Paris."

"I was not brought up in the lap of luxury," de Sigognac answered, "and
I am not a