f things. But come, help me to gather a
large bunch of flowers."

"Just now, when we were on the lower walk, you told me not to pull any,
although there was abundance of sweet ones."

"Yes; but that was in my uncle the canon's garden.

"And are his flowers more sacred than those of uncle Fesch?"

"They are indeed, Panoria."

"And why?"

"I'm sure I don't know, but when any one wants to prevent our playing,
they say, 'That will give your uncle the canon a headache!' When we are
not to touch something, 'tis always, 'That belongs to the canon!' If we
want to eat some fine fruit, 'Don't touch that; 'tis for your uncle the
canon!' And even when we are praised or rewarded, 'tis always because
the canon is pleased with us!"

"Is it because he is archdeacon of Ajaccio that people are so much
afraid of him?"

"Oh, no, Panoria; but because he is our tutor. Papa is not rich enough
to pay for masters to teach us, and he has not time to look after our
education himself; so our uncle the canon teaches us every thing. He is
not unkind, but he is very strict. If we don't know our lessons, he
slaps us smartly."

"And don't you call that unkind, Eliza?"

"Not exactly. Do you never get a whipping yourself, Panoria?"

"No, indeed, Eliza. It is the Corsican fashion to beat children; but our
family is Greek, and mamma says Greeks must not be beaten."

"Then I'm sure, Panoria, I wish I were a Greek; for 'tis very unpleasant
to be slapped!"

"I dare say your brother Napoleon does not like it either."

"He is the only one of my brothers who does not cry or complain when he
is punished. If you heard what a noise Joseph and Lucien make, you would
fancy that uncle was flaying them alive!"

"But about Napoleon. What can he be talking about alone in the grotto?"

"Hush! Here he is! Let us hide ourselves behind this lilac-tree, and
you'll hear."

"I see Severia coming to call us."

"Ah! it will take her an hour to gather ripe fruit for uncle the canon.
We shall have time enough. Come!"

And the little girls, gliding between the rock and the overhanging
shrubs, took up their position in perfect concealment.

The boy who advanced toward the grotto differed from the generality of
children of his age in the size of his head, the massive form of his
noble brow, and the fixed _examining_ expression of his eyes. He walked
slowly--looking at the bright blue sea--and unconscious that his
proceedings were closely watched by two pair o