with the exception of
the reverend priest,--total strangers, let us all sociably and without
ceremony take our places at this table, eat and drink, and afterwards
enjoy a refreshing sleep under my roof." Edmond looked up, and could
scarcely believe at first that his father was in earnest; the priest
cast an expressive glance at the huntsman and one of still deeper
meaning at the young man, and smiled as if to hint, that he at all
events should withdraw from this distinguished circle, among which he
himself only had any claim to remain; but the little Eveline hung on
the young man's arm and drew him by her side to the table where he
immediately sat down with her the first without waiting for farther
bidding. "Quite right," said the Counsellor, "No ceremony if you wish
to please me! here are no invited guests, we meet together as if we
were on board a ship or in a wood. I must render you all this
hospitality without distinction." Edmond blushing, placed himself at
the head of the table by his father, the priest seated himself opposite
to him, by the side of the latter sat the huntsman, who left a large
space between himself and his neighbour, and then came Eveline and her
playfellow as he almost appeared. "Quite patriarchal," said the priest,
"those men there, my worthy sir, will not forget to publish throughout
the country, your philanthropy and contempt of prejudices."

At this moment the veil of clouds in the horizon burst asunder, the sun
in its descent suddenly threw a purple glow over the lowering sky, a
red fire spread itself over the mountain-vineyards, tree and bush, and
vinetendril sparkled in the fiery ray, beyond the woods shone
brilliantly, and as the eye glanced upwards, the summits of the distant
Cevennes were seen glowing in the rosy light; on the left, the
waterfall rushed like blood from the steep rock, and the whole hall,
the table, and the guests, all was as if bathed in blood, so that the
lights just then burned darkly and the fire in the chimney emitted a
blue flame. The rain had ceased, a holy silence reigned throughout all
nature, not a leaf rustled, the red brook only flowed splashingly
along, and the glowing waterfall murmured its melody. The old
Counsellor's eyes were cast upwards as if in fervent prayer, and a tear
glistened in his full eye; the fair young man laid down his knife and
fork and folded his hands; the huntsman glanced timidly from under his
heavy eyebrows; the priest tried to assum