jury to his character, and he was therefore
compelled to go back without me, and I remained a year and a half at the
_pension_, very happy and improving very fast in my education and my
personal appearance.

But I was not destined to be so happy long. True it was, that during
this year and a half of tranquillity and happiness, the feelings created
by my mother's treatment had softened down, and all animosity had long
been discarded, but I was too happy to want to return home again. At
the expiration of this year and a half, my father's regiment was again
ordered to shift their quarters to a small town, the name of which I now
forget, but Luneville lay in their route. My mother had for some time
ceased to importune my father about my return. The fact was, that she
had been so coldly treated by the other ladies at Nance, in consequence
of her behaviour to me, that she did not think it advisable; but now
that they were about to remove, she insisted upon my father taking me
with him, promising that I should be well-treated, and have the same
instruction as my sisters; in fact, she promised everything;
acknowledging to my grandmother that she had been too hasty to me, and
was very sorry for it. Even my brother Auguste thought that she was now
sincere, and my father, my brother, and even my dear grandmother,
persuaded me to consent. My mother was now very kind and affectionate
towards me, and as I really wanted to love her, I left the _pension_ and
accompanied the family to their new quarters.

But this was all treachery on the part of my mother. Regardless of my
advantage, as she had shown herself on every occasion, she had played
her part that she might have an opportunity of discharging an
accumulated debt of revenge, which had been heaped up in consequence of
the slights she had received from other people on account of her
treatment of me. We had hardly been settled in our new abode, before my
mother burst out again with a virulence which exceeded all her former
cruelty. But I was no longer the frightened victim that I had been; I
complained to my father, and insisted upon justice; but that was
useless. My brother Auguste now took my part in defiance of his father,
and it was one scene of continual family discord. I had made many
friends, and used to remain at their houses all day. As for doing
household work, notwithstanding her blows, I refused it. One morning my
mother was chastising me severely, when my