ellow, with a laugh.

"Tais-toi, v'limeux!" cried the woman, angrily.

"il reviendra-z-a Paques,
Ou a la Trinite,"

he continued, unconcernedly, and the crowd catching at his humour,
joined in the lilting refrain, and involuntarily quickened their
steps to the "mironton, ton, taine" of the old war song, at which
Angelique clapped her hands in delight, and was rewarded with a
shout of admiration.

"They would have done better to have fed that fellow," she said,
decidedly, as we turned away; "he will do some fighting, depend
upon it."

"You are confident, Angelique?"

"Certainly, cherie; the town cannot be defended. We know that,
and if General Murray goes out, as he is sure to, he will but march
to his fate, as did our poor marquis."

On the 22d of April we were up before daybreak, and saw the garrison
march out with their cannon under a leaden sky and a cold drizzling
rain. I went about my tasks weighed down by a sickening anxiety,
for though I had renounced Hugh, it was impossible to banish him
at all times from my thoughts, and I could not but remember that,
in addition to the ordinary chances of battle, he had among his
enemies a sworn foe in my brother, and among his friends a treacherous
enemy in Sarennes. Against these dangers, at least, I could pray
for him with an undivided heart.

Noise of firing came to us through the day, which we spent in
Perpetual Adoration, but at evening the troops re-entered the town
and the battle was still unfought.

On the morrow they were again assembled, and again we watched them
march through the sodden streets.

We had not long to wait for news of the combat; every gust of wind
swept down on us the faint crackle of musketry and the deep boom
of cannon; it seemed interminable, but before the afternoon was
well advanced the first stragglers had reached the gates. They were
followed later by a mad, ungovernable mob of English troops, and
soon the streets were choked with men, shrieking, crying, and
swearing at their defeat. Their officers, with swords drawn, rode
among them, threatening and striking, entreating and commanding to
deaf ears, for the men were like wild beasts, and could not be
controlled. It was not fear; it was like to a frenzy of rage and
shame at their rout. They broke into taverns and even private
houses, and presently the madness of drink added to the pandemonium.
The wounded were with the greatest difficulty carried through the
streets, and b