en the little
ragamuffins of the neighbourhood robbed birds' nests in the trees, you
always fought hard to rescue the nestlings from their hands and restore
them to the mother, and many a time you did not give in till after you
had been kicked and cuffed cruelly. At seven years of age, instead of
wrangling with bad boys, you would pace soberly along the street saying
over your catechism; and all the poor people you came across you
insisted on bringing home with you to relieve their needs, till I was
forced to whip you to break you of the habit. You could not see a living
creature suffer without tears. When you had done growing, you turned out
a very handsome lad. To my great surprise, you appeared not to know
it,--how different from most pretty boys, who are full of conceit and
vain of their good looks!"

His old mother spoke the truth. Evariste at twenty had had a grave and
charming cast of countenance, a beauty at once austere and feminine, the
countenance of a Minerva. Now his sombre eyes and pale cheeks revealed a
melancholy and passionate soul. But his gaze, when it fell on his
mother, recovered for a brief moment its childish softness.

She went on:

"You might have profited by your advantages to run after the girls, but
you preferred to stay with me in the shop, and I had sometimes to tell
you not to hang on always to my apron-strings, but to go and amuse
yourself with your young companions. To my dying day I shall always
testify that you have been a good son, Evariste. After your father's
death, you bravely took me and provided for me; though your work barely
pays you, you have never let me want for anything, and if we are at this
moment destitute and miserable, I cannot blame you for it. The fault
lies with the Revolution."

He raised his hand to protest; but she only shrugged and continued:

"I am no aristocrat. I have seen the great in the full tide of their
power, and I can bear witness that they abused their privileges. I have
seen your father cudgelled by the Duc de Canaleilles' lackeys because he
did not make way quick enough for their master. I could never abide _the
Austrian_--she was too haughty and too extravagant. As for the King, I
thought him good-hearted, and it needed his trial and condemnation to
alter my opinion. In fact, I do not regret the old regime,--though I
have had some agreeable times under it. But never tell me the Revolution
is going to establish equality, because men will never