nd wept at another great human sorrow, while the eyes of
all the great saints that stood around it and Him were dry.

Well, the soldier stood, his right foot on the step and his sword in
his left hand, transfixed: listening gravely to the agony of prayer the
innocent young creature poured forth within:--

"O Madonna! hear me: it is for my mother's life. She will die--she will
die. You know she cannot live if she is taken away from her house and
from this holy place where she prays to you this many years. O Queen
of Heaven! put out your hand to us unfortunates! Virgin, hear a virgin:
mother, listen to a child who prays for her mother's life! The doctor
says she will not live away from here. She is too old to wander over the
world. Let them drive us forth: we are young, but not her, mother, oh,
not her! Forgive the cruel men that do this thing!--they are like those
who crucified your Son--they know not what they are doing. But you,
Queen of Heaven, you know all; and, sweet mother, if you have kind
sentiments towards me, poor Josephine, ah! show them now: for you know
that it was I who insulted that wicked notary, and it is out of hatred
to me he has sold our beloved house to a hard stranger. Look down on me,
a child who loves her mother, yet will destroy her unless you pity me
and help me. Oh! what shall I say?--what shall I do? mercy! mercy! for
my poor mother, for me!"

Here her utterance was broken by sobs.

The soldier withdrew his foot quietly. Her words had knocked against
his very breast-bone. He marched slowly to and fro before the chapel,
upright as a dart, and stiff as a ramrod, and actually pale: for even
our nerves have their habits; a woman's passionate grief shook him as a
cannon fired over his head could not.

Josephine little thought who was her sentinel. She came to the door
at last, and there he was marching backwards and forwards, upright and
stiff. She gave a faint scream and drew back with a shudder at the sight
of their persecutor. She even felt faintish at him, as women will in
such cases.

Not being very quick at interpreting emotion, Raynal noticed her alarm,
but not her repugnance; he saluted her with military precision by
touching his cap as only a soldier can, and said rather gently for him,
"A word with you, mademoiselle."

She replied only by trembling.

"Don't be frightened," said Raynal, in a tone not very reassuring. "I
propose an armistice."

"I am at your disposal, sir," said