above our suffering;
she strengthens our feelings; she inspires and gives us that noble
vigour, which becomes but too often enervated in society, and in every
day life. This will be a glorious day after the storm; I will forget
all that I have experienced here."

"Let us but bring to nature a pious and purified spirit," said his
father, "and she becomes to us the holiest of temples, psalms and songs
of praise will then re-echo our holy inspirations; but her gloomy rocks
and waterfalls, her desolate solitude with black masses of clouds
brooding above, her wild echo can also excite still more the uneasy,
agitated mind, and arouse more powerfully the turbulent spirit, for she
answers only as she is questioned."

"I will therefore speak to her in my way," replied Edmond, half
petulantly, "woods and mountains will perhaps understand me better than
men." He bowed and went through the garden, and descended the vineyards
already glittering, with the first rays of morning.

"He is going there again to Alais," said his father sighing, "and his
wild enthusiasm for nature gives place to a well-lighted saloon,
card-playing, witticisms, and frivolous conversations. Woe to me that I
must thus recognise in him the characteristics of my youth, disfigured
and exaggerated!"

CHAPTER II.

The candles were already lighted, when Edmond stood before a large
house, undecided if he should enter or not; "she has company again, the
same as ever," said he to himself; "and how shall I in my dusty
shooting-dress present myself among well-dressed ladies? However, she
is kind and indulgent, I am at a distance from home, the strangers too
are already accustomed to this in me." He ascended and laid down his
gun and pouch in the anti-chamber, the servant ushered him in, and he
found only a small circle, the young lady's two old aunts and a few
younger ladies of the town of Nismes, established at two card tables
and entertained, as usual, by an old Captain. They were relating to one
another the defeat of the Camisards on the preceding day, and how they
had assembled again, and how their leaders had escaped.

"Where is the Lady Christine?" asked Edmond of the Lady de Courtenai.

"My niece," replied the lady, "is within there, indisposed as she says:
her capricious fits have returned again, and no one can make anything
of her; perhaps you may be able to enliven her, or perhaps she is sad,
because the Marshal is