n should risk his life with such indifference, rather than remedy an
evil, and yet be under such thraldom to a woman!--that one who was
always distinguished in action as the most forward and the most brave,
should be a trembling coward before an imperious wife! But this is a
world of sad contradictions.

There was a lady in the barracks, wife to one of the superior officers,
who was very partial to me. She had a daughter, a very sweet girl, who
was also named Valerie. When I could escape from the house, I used to
be constantly with them; and when I saw my name-sake caressing and
caressed, in the arms of her mother, as I was sitting by on a stool, the
tears would run down at the thoughts that such pleasure was debarred
from me.

"Why do you cry, Valerie?"

"Oh! madam, why have I not a mother like your Valerie? Why am I to be
beat instead of being caressed and fondled like her? What have I
done?--But she is not my mother--I'm sure she cannot be--I will never
believe it!"

And such had really become my conviction, and in consequence I never
would address her by the title of mother. This my mother perceived, and
it only added to her ill-will. Only permit any one feeling or passion
to master you--allow it to increase by never being in the slightest
degree checked, and it is horrible to what an excess it will carry you.
About this time, my mother proved the truth of the above observation, by
saying to me, as she struck me to the ground--

"I'll kill you," cried she; and then, catching her breath, said in a
low, determined tone, "Oh! I only wish that I dared."

CHAPTER TWO.

One day, a short time after this, I was walking out as usual with my
little brother Pierre in my arms; I was deep in thought; in imagination
I was at Luneville with my dear grandmother, when my foot slipped and I
fell. In trying to save my brother I hurt myself very much, and he,
poor child, was unfortunately very much hurt as well as myself. He
cried and moaned piteously, and I did all that I could to console him,
but he was in too much pain to be comforted. I remained out for an hour
or two, not daring to go home, but the evening was closing in and I
returned at last. The child, who could not yet speak, still moaned and
cried, and I told the truth as to the cause of it. My mother flew at
me, and I received such chastisement that I could be patient no longer,
and I pushed my mother from me; I was felled to the ground and left
the