t
l'Oriflamme et la Croix rouge sont etabli a sa place; non-seulement
Pierre voit ces merveilles, mais il les fait voir a tous ceux qui
l'entourent; il ravive l'esperance et le courage dans [tous ces corps
epuises de fatigues et de privations]. La bataille ne sera livree que
demain, mais la victoire est decidee ce soir. Pierre a promis; et les
Croises se fient a sa parole, comme les Israelites se fiaient a celle
de Moise et de Josue."

As a companion portrait to this, Emily chose to depict Harold on the eve
of the battle of Hastings. It appears to me that her _devoir_ is
superior to Charlotte's in power and in imagination, and fully equal to
it in language; and that this, in both cases, considering how little
practical knowledge of French they had when they arrived at Brussels in
February, and that they wrote without the aid of dictionary or grammar,
is unusual and remarkable. We shall see the progress Charlotte had made,
in ease and grace of style, a year later.

In the choice of subjects left to her selection, she frequently took
characters and scenes from the Old Testament, with which all her writings
show that she was especially familiar. The picturesqueness and colour
(if I may so express it), the grandeur and breadth of its narrations,
impressed her deeply. To use M. Heger's expression, "Elle etait nourrie
de la Bible." After he had read De la Vigne's poem on Joan of Arc, she
chose the "Vision and Death of Moses on Mount Nebo" to write about; and,
in looking over this _devoir_, I was much struck with one or two of M.
Heger's remarks. After describing, in a quiet and simple manner, the
circumstances under which Moses took leave of the Israelites, her
imagination becomes warmed, and she launches out into a noble strain,
depicting the glorious futurity of the Chosen People, as, looking down
upon the Promised Land, he sees their prosperity in prophetic vision.
But, before reaching the middle of this glowing description, she
interrupts herself to discuss for a moment the doubts that have been
thrown on the miraculous relations of the Old Testament. M. Heger
remarks, "When you are writing, place your argument first in cool,
prosaic language; but when you have thrown the reins on the neck of your
imagination, do not pull her up to reason." Again, in the vision of
Moses, he sees the maidens leading forth their flocks to the wells at
eventide, and they are described as wearing flowery garlan