t, who would as soon
have thought of adopting the Great Mogul. A thousand
impossible schemes and notions flitted through the foolish
young fellow's brain as he walked along, chafed and irritated
with his interview--all ending, as we have seen, in his coming
into the hotel and telling Madelon she was to go to the
convent that very afternoon. One thing indeed he determined
upon, that against her own will she should never become a nun,
if it were in his power to prevent it. He had promised her
father not to lose sight of her, and, as far as he was able,
he would keep his engagement.

He did not witness the meeting between his little charge and
her aunt. He bade farewell to a tearful, half-frightened
little Madelon at the door of the parlour, he saw it close
upon her, and it was with quite a heavy heart that he turned
away, leaving behind him the little girl who had occupied so
large a share of his thoughts and anxieties during the last
ten days. He had nothing to detain him in Liege now, and he
left it the next morning, with the intention of carrying out
as much of his proposed tour as he should find practicable.
His original intention had been to proceed from Paris to
Strasbourg, and so into Switzerland, and over the Alps to the
Italian lakes. So much of his holiday was already gone,
however, that he gave up the idea of the lakes; but
Switzerland might still be accomplished, and Strasbourg at any
rate must be in his first point, as it was there that, on
leaving England, he had directed his letters to be sent in the
first instance, and he expected to find them lying awaiting
them.

He did find them, and their contents were such as to drive all
thoughts of his tour out of his head. It was with a wild throb
of excitement and exultation, such as he had never known
before, that, on opening the first that came to hand, one that
had been lying there for nearly a week, he read that the
regiment to which he was attached was under immediate orders
for the Crimea, and that he must return, without loss of time,
to England. Even then, however, he did not forget little
Madelon. He knew that she would be counting on his promised
return, and could not bear the idea of going away without
seeing her again, and wishing her good-bye. He calculated that
he had still half a day to spare, and, notwithstanding his
hurry, resolved to return by Brussels rather than Paris,
choosing those trains that would allow him to spend a couple
of hour