interest in my studies had induced him to abandon his former intention
of departure; and he now scarcely took any part in the proceedings of
the delegates, and devoted himself almost exclusively to me. During the
daytime we never left the house; but when night fell we used to walk
forth, not into the city, but by some country road, often along
the canal-side,--our conversation on the only topic wherein we felt
interested. And these rambles still live within my memory with all
the vivid freshness of yesterday; and while my heart saddens over the
influence they shed upon my after life, I cannot help the train of
pleasure with which even yet I dwell upon their recollection. How
guarded should he be who converses with a boy, forgetting with what
power each word is fraught by the mere force of years,--how the
flattery of equality destroys judgment, and saps all power of
discrimination,--and, more than all, how dangerous it is to graft upon
the tender sapling the ripe fruits of experience, not knowing how, in
such, they may grow to very rankness! Few are there who cannot look
back to their childhood for the origin of opinions that have had their
influence over all their latter years; and when these have owed their
birth to those we loved, is it wonderful that we should cling to faults
which seemed hallowed by friendship?

Meanwhile I was becoming a man, if not in years, at least in spirit
and ambition. The pursuits natural to my age were passed over for the
studies of more advanced years. Military history had imparted to me a
soldier's valor, and I could take no pleasure in anything save as it
bore upon the one engrossing topic of my mind. Charles, too, seemed to
feel all his own ambition revived in mine, and watched with pride the
progress I was making under his guidance.

CHAPTER IX. THE FRENCHMAN'S STORY

While my life slipped thus pleasantly along, the hopes of the insurgent
party fell daily and hourly lower; disunion and distrust pervaded all
their councils, jealousies and suspicions grew up among their leaders.
Many of those whose credit stood highest in their party became informers
to the Government, whose persevering activity increased with every
emergency; and finally, they who would have adventured everything
but some few months before, grew lukewarm and indifferent. A dogged
carelessness seemed to have succeeded to their outbreak of enthusiasm,
and they looked on at the execution of their companions and the