she said was such a treasure to her, that she would not part with her on any account, and should consider her as a daughter.  “I tell her not to grieve so much; for though she has lost one mother she has gained another for herself, who will always love her; and besides she is so useful, and in so many ways, with her pen and her needle, in accounts, and everything that is wanted in a family or a shop; she can never want employment or friends in the worst times, and none can be worse than these, especially for such pretty girls as she is, who have all their heads turned, and are taught to consider nothing a sin that used to be sins.  Many gentlemen, who come to our shop, have found out that Victoire is very handsome, and tell her so; but she is so modest and prudent that I am not afraid for her.  I could tell you, madame, a good anecdote on this subject, but my paper will not allow, and, besides, my writing is so difficult.”

Above a year elapsed before Madame de Fleury received another letter from Victoire:  this was in a parcel, of which an emigrant took charge; it contained a variety of little offerings from her pupils, instances of their ingenuity, their industry, and their affection; the last thing in the packet was a small purse labelled in this manner—­

“Savings from our wages and earnings for her who taught us all we know.”

CHAPTER XII

   “Dans sa pompe elegante, admirez Chantilly,
   De heros en heros, d’age en age, embelli.”—­DE LILLE.

The health of the good Sister Frances, which had suffered much from the shock her mind received at the commencement of the revolution, declined so rapidly in the course of the two succeeding years, that she was obliged to leave Paris, and she retired to a little village in the neighbourhood of Chantilly.  She chose this situation because here she was within a morning’s walk of Madame de Fleury’s country-seat.  The Chateau de Fleury had not yet been seized as national property, nor had it suffered from the attacks of the mob, though it was in a perilous situation, within view of the high road to Paris.  The Parisian populace had not yet extended their outrages to this distance from the city, and the poor people who lived on the estate of Fleury, attached from habit, principle, and gratitude, to their lord, were not disposed to take advantage of the disorder of the times, to injure the property of those from whom they had all their lives received favours and protection.  A faithful old steward had the care of the castle and the grounds.  Sister Frances was impatient to talk to him and to visit the chateau, which she had never seen; but for some days after her arrival in the village she was so much fatigued and so weak that she could not attempt so long a walk.  Victoire had obtained permission from her mistress to accompany the nun for a few days to the country, as Annette undertook to do all the