“And we did not think to die so quickly, and so soon.  Yesterday, we were gay and happy.”

“Oh, good angel! you will appear to our father, even as you have appeared to us.  You will tell him that, in dying—­the last thought of his children—­was of him.”

“We came here without Dagobert’s knowing it—­do not let our father scold him.”

“Blessed angel!” resumed the other sister in a still more feeble voice; “appear to Dagobert, also.  Tell him, that we ask his forgiveness, for the grief our death will occasion him.”

“And let our old friend caress our poor Spoil-sport for us—­our faithful guardian,” added Blanche, trying to smile.

“And then,” resumed Rose, in a voice that was growing still fainter, “promise to appear to two other persons, that have been so kind to us—­good Mother Bunch—­and the beautiful Lady Adrienne.”

“We forget none whom we have loved,” said Blanche, with a last effort.  “Now, God grant we may go to our mother, never to leave her more!”

“You promised it good angel—­you know you did—­in the dream.  You said to us:  ’Poor children—­come from so far—­you will have traversed the earth—­to rest on the maternal bosom!’”

“Oh! it is dreadful—­dreadful!  So young—­and no hope!” murmured Gabriel, as he buried his face in his hands.  “Almighty Father!  Thy views are impenetrable.  Alas! yet why should these children die this cruel death?”

Rose heaved a deep sigh and said in an expiring tone:  “Let us be buried together!—­united in life, in death not divided—­”

And the two turned their dying looks upon Gabriel, and stretched out towards him their supplicating hands.

“Oh, blessed martyrs to a generous devotion!” cried the missionary, raising to heaven his eyes streaming with tears.  “Angelic souls! treasures of innocence and truth! ascend, ascend to heaven—­since God calls you to him, and the earth is not worthy to possess you!”

“Sister! father!” were the last words that the orphans pronounced with their dying voices.

And then the twins, by a last instinctive impulse, endeavored to clasp each other, and their eyes half-opened to exchange yet another glance.  They shuddered twice or thrice, their limbs stiffened, a deep sigh struggled from their violet-colored lips.  Rose and Blanche were both dead!  Gabriel and Sister Martha, after closing the eyes of the orphans, knelt down to pray by the side of that funeral couch.  Suddenly a great tumult was heard in the room.  Rapid footsteps, mingled with imprecations, sounded close at hand, the curtain was drawn aside from this mournful scene, and Dagobert entered precipitately, pale, haggard, his dress in disorder.  At sight of Gabriel and the Sister of Charity kneeling beside the corpses of his children, the soldier uttered a terrible roar, and tried to advance—­but in vain—­for, before Gabriel could reach him, Dagobert fell flat on the ground, and his gray head struck violently on the floor.