In the few seconds in which he grasped them, and then bore the

child up the embankment in desperate bounds, a hail of bullets

poured round him, ringing on his breastplate, shearing the plume

from his hat, but scarcely evenheard; and in another moment he had

sprung down, on the inner side, grasping the child with all his

might, but not daring even to look at her, in the wondrous flash of

that first conviction. She spoke first. 'Put me down, and let me

have my beads,' she said in a grave, clear tone; and then first he

beheld a pair of dark blue eyes, a sweet wild-rose face--Dolly's

all over. He pressed her so fast and so close, in so speechless

and over powering an ecstasy, that again she repeated, and in

alarm, 'Put me down, I want my mother!' 'Yes, yes! your mother! your mother! your mother!' he cried, unable

to let her out of his embrace; and then restraining himself as he

saw her frightened eyes, in absolute fear of her spurning him, or

struggling from him, 'My sweet! my child! Ah! do you not know me?'

Then, remembering how wild this was, he struggled to speak calmly:

'What are you called, my treasure?' 'I am la petite Rayonette,' she said, with puzzled dignity and

gravity; 'and my mother says I have a beautiful long name of my own

besides.' 'Berangere--my Berangere---' 'That is what she says over me, as I go to sleep in her bosom at

night,' said the child, in a wondering voice, soon exchanged for

entreaty, 'Oh, hug me not so hard! Oh, let me go--let me go to

her! Mother! mother!' 'My child, mine own, I am take thee!--Oh, do not struggle with me!'

he cried, himself imploring now. 'Child, one kiss for thy father;'

and meantime, putting absolute force on his vehement affection, he

was hurrying to the chancel.

There Philip hailed them with a shout as of desperate anxiety

relieved; but before a word could be uttered, down the stairs flew

the Lady of Hope, crying wildly, 'Not there--she is not--' but

perceiving the little one in the stranger's arms, she held out her

own, crying, 'Ah! is she hurt, my angel?' 'Unhurt, Eustacie! Our child is unhurt!' Berenger said, with an

agonized endeavour to be calm; but for the moment her instinct was

so entirely absorbed in examining into the soundness of her child's

limbs, that she neither saw nor hear anything else.

'Eustacie,' he said, laying his hand on her arm, she started back,

with bewildered eyes. 'Eustacie--wife? do you not know me? Ah! I

forgot that I am changed.' 'You--you--' she gasped, utterly confounded, and gazing as if

turned to stone, and though at that moment the vibration of a

mighty discharge of cannon rocked the walls, and strewed Philip's

bed with the crimson shivers of St. John's robe, yet neither of

them would have been sensible of it had not Humfrey rushed in at

the same moment, crying, 'They are coming on like friends, sir!' Berenger passed his hand over his face. 'You will know me WHEN--IF

I return, my dearest,' he said. 'If not, then still, thank God!

Philip, to you I trust them!' And with one kiss on that still, cold, almost petrified brow, he

had dashed away. There was a space of absolutely motionless

silence, save that Eustacie let herself drop on the chancel step,

and the child, presently breaking the spell, pulled her to attract

her notice to the flowers. 'Mother, here are the soucis for the

poor gentleman's broth. See, the naughty people had spoilt all the

paths, and I rolled down and tore my frock, and down fell the

beads, but be not angry, mother dear, for the good gentleman picked

them up, and carried me up the bank.' 'The bank!' cried Eustacie, with a scream, as the sense of the

words reached her ears. 'Ah! no wonder! Well might thy danger

bring thy father's spirit;' and she grasped the little one

fervently in her arms, murmuring, 'Thank, thank God, indeed! Oh!

my precious one; and did He send that blessed spirit to rescue

thee?' 'And will you tie up my frock? and may I put the flowers into the

broth?' chattered Rayonette. 'And why did he kiss me and hug me so

tight? and how did he know what you say over me as we fall asleep?' Eustacie clasped her tighter, with a convulsive, shudder of

thankfulness; and Philip, but half hearing, and barely gathering

the meaning of her mood, ventured to speak, 'Madame---' As if touched by an electric shock, Eustacie started up, as

recalled to instant needs, and coming towards him said, 'Do you

want anything, sir? Pardon one who has but newly seen a spirit

from the other world--brought by his child's danger.' And the

dazed, trance-like look was returning.




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