my subject. 'Twas at
the close of a very hot July day that the diligence drew up to the door of
the before-mentioned auberge. "A diner," as the postilion (nearly smothered
in his tremendous "bottes fortes," genteelly taking from his head a hat
almost as small as the boots were in comparison large) was politely pleased
to term it. No pressing invitation was requisite to incline our English
travellers to take their seats around the table well arranged with French
fare, and fatigue seemed to lose itself in the exhilaration proceeding from
the chablis, champagne, and chambertin; but there was _one traveller,_
whose melancholy defied eradication--_an English lady,_ genteelly but
plainly habited, to appearance about seven and twenty years of age; her
features handsome and strongly marked; when in health of mind and body,
they might have possessed the "besoin du souci," habitual to the country in
which she was then travelling, but were now too deeply clouded with that
"apparence de la misere," to which the English seem alone to give fullness
of effect--a fault, perhaps, but a sentimental one, worthy of that or any
other country. She had with her a beautiful boy, whose age might be about
five, who, attracted partly by the pretty appearance of the dog, by signs
and childish frolics, soon formed acquaintance with the hostess's daughter,
the little Louise. For some time previous to the arrival of the diligence
at the auberge, a storm had been expected; and the distant thunder and
heavy drops of rain beating against the casements before the dinner was
half over, gave appearance of justice and reason to the entertainment of
such anticipations, and caused a general congratulation at the party being
so safely housed. As the storm was increasing every minute, much argument
was not necessary to induce the postilion to delay proceeding until it
might abate. Some of the party adhered to the bottle, some resorted to a
book, and some to cards, to wile away the time. The lady requested to be
conducted to a private apartment, wherein to pass with her dear child
(remote from the noisy mirth of her companions, so little according with
her then feelings) the time, until the diligence might again be ready to
start. But half an hour had scarce elapsed from the formation of this
arrangement ere admission was sought and gained by a brigade of English
soldiers, six of whom, on a support formed by muskets, bore what seemed to
be the corpse of an officer,