r hundred."

"Will not the Government mark the spot, or at least raise some memorial
to these brave men?"

"I should think so," replied Tournier; "or if the English Government
failed to do so, ours will not forget them. And yet, the shameful
butchery of Marshal Ney does not favour the idea. They may look on them,
as they did him, as soldiers of Napoleon, not of France."

Then they slowly wended their way homeward, Tournier turning round on his
saddle to take a last look at the place that interested him so deeply,
and again exclaiming, "There should I be lying now, in a dishonoured
grave, but for God's great mercy."

That night, poor Alice could not sleep, but watered her pillow with
tears.

"He does not care for me a bit," she said; "he is just the same as he
used to be, only stiffer in his manner. But what does it matter? I
could never leave my darling brother; and what is more, I never will. But
he is so nice, nicer than ever." And the tears came again, with a wee
bit of vexation in them, and kept on at intervals, till kindly sleep at
length fell on those dear blue eyes, and dried them up.

And while this was going on, her brother and his friend were smoking and
talking together below.

"You must find it very wearysome, Tournier, to live by yourself now. You
are not the man to like that sort of thing. You are too unselfish to be
a confirmed bachelor. Excuse me for touching on a painful subject, I use
the privilege of a friend."

"I thank you for doing so. But the fact is, and _you_ cannot be
surprised at it, I have lost all faith in a woman's constancy. No doubt
there are many of my countrywomen who would make me a happy man, but I
don't know them, and do not mean to search them out."

Cosin was silent.

What good angel put it into Tournier's mind to come out with it? but he
_did_ burst forth, after a pause, with the imprudent assertion, "The only
woman in the world I know in whom anybody might place entire reliance is
your sister. Sure am I that the blue sky of Heaven does not more truly
reflect the love of God than her blue eyes reflect constancy and truth!"

Tournier felt he had betrayed himself, and was vexed.

As to Cosin, he opened his eyes with amazement at the other's vehemence
of manner. Then a bright smile of surprise lighted up his face, and he
said, "Why on earth then do you not ask her to be your wife?"

"My dear fellow," replied Tournier, in his turn amazed, "you surely know