coverlet, and
nestled close to his mother, so that only his laughing face and fine
curly hair could be seen. But at this the two others raised a shout of
war, and rushed forward in their turn upon the besieged citadel.

"Make a little room for us, mamma, make a little room! By your back,
mamma! Near your shoulder, mamma!"

Only little Rose remained on the floor, feeling quite vexed and
indignant. She had vainly attempted the assault, but had fallen back.
"And me, mamma, and me," she pleaded.

It was necessary to help her in her endeavors to hoist herself up with
her little hands. Then her mother took her in her arms in order that
she might have the best place of all. Mathieu had at first felt somewhat
anxious at seeing Marianne thus disturbed, but she laughed and told him
not to trouble. And then the picture they all presented as they nestled
there was so charming, so full of gayety, that he also smiled.

"It's very nice, it's so warm," said Ambroise, who was fond of taking
his ease.

But Denis, the reasonable member of the band, began to explain why it
was they had made so much noise "Blaise said that he had seen a spider.
And then he felt frightened."

This accusation of cowardice vexed his brother, who replied: "It isn't
true. I did see a spider, but I threw my pillow at it to kill it."

"So did I! so did I!" stammered Rose, again laughing wildly. "I threw my
pillow like that--houp! houp!"

They all roared and wriggled again, so amusing did it seem to them.
The truth was that they had engaged in a pillow fight under pretence
of killing a spider, which Blaise alone said that he had seen. This
unsupported testimony left the matter rather doubtful. But the whole
brood looked so healthful and fresh in the bright sunshine that their
father could not resist taking them in his arms, and kissing them here
and there, wherever his lips lighted, a final game which sent them into
perfect rapture amid a fresh explosion of laughter and shouts.

"Oh! what fun! what fun!"

"All the same," Marianne exclaimed, as she succeeded in freeing herself
somewhat from the embraces of the children, "all the same, you know, I
want to get up. I mustn't idle, for it does me no good. And besides, you
little ones need to be washed and dressed."

They dressed in front of the big blazing fire; and it was nearly ten
o'clock when they at last went down into the dining-room, where the
earthenware stove was roaring, while the warm breakfast m