ly the order comes； as we can。 Perhaps if I were to give them twenty…four days instead of hours？hum！〃
With this the commandant fell into a brown study。 Now each of us has his attitude of brown study。 One runs about the room like hyena in his den； another stands stately with folded arms （this one seldom thinks to the purpose）； another sits cross…legged； brows lowered： another must put his head into his hand； and so keep it up to thinking mark： another must twiddle a bit of string； or a key； grant him this； he can hatch an epic。 This commandant must draw himself up very straight； and walk six paces and back very slowly； till the problem was solved： I suspect he had done a good bit of sentinel work in his time。
Now whilst he was guarding the old oak…tree； for all the world as if it had been the gate of the Tuileries or the barracks； Josephine de Beaurepaire came suddenly out from the house and crossed the Pleasaunce： her hair was in disorder； her manner wild： she passed swiftly into the park。
Raynal recognized her as one of the family； and after a moment's reflection followed her into the park with the good…natured intention of offering her a month to clear out instead of a day。
But it was not so easy to catch her： she flew。 He had to take his scabbard in his left hand and fairly run after her。 Before he could catch her； she entered the little chapel。 He came up and had his foot on the very step to go in； when he was arrested by that he heard within。
Josephine had thrown herself on her knees and was praying aloud： praying to the Virgin with sighs and sobs and all her soul： wrestling so in prayer with a dead saint as by a strange perversity men cannot or will not wrestle with Him； who alone can hear a million prayers at once from a million different places；can realize and be touched with a sense of all man's infirmities in a way no single saint with his partial experience of them can realize and be touched by them； who unasked suspended the laws of nature that had taken a stranger's only son； and she a widow； and wept at another great human sorrow； while the eyes of all the great saints that stood around it and Him were dry。
Well； the soldier stood； his right foot on the step and his sword in his left hand； transfixed： listening gravely to the agony of prayer the innocent young creature poured forth within：
〃O Madonna！ hear me： it is for my mother's life。 She will dieshe will die。 You know she cannot live if she is taken away from her house and from this holy place where she prays to you this many years。 O Queen of Heaven！ put out your hand to us unfortunates！ Virgin； hear a virgin： mother； listen to a child who prays for her mother's life！ The doctor says she will not live away from here。 She is too old to wander over the world。 Let them drive us forth： we are young； but not her； mother； oh； not her！ Forgive the cruel men that do this thing！they are like those who crucified your Son they know not what they are doing。 But you； Queen of Heaven； you know all； and； sweet mother； if you have kind sentiments towards me； poor Josephine； ah！ show them now： for you know that it was I who insulted that wicked notary； and it is out of hatred to me he has sold our beloved house to a hard stranger。 Look down on me； a child who loves her mother； yet will destroy her unless you pity me and help me。 Oh！ what shall I say？what shall I do？ mercy！ mercy！ for my poor mother； for me！〃
Here her utterance was broken by sobs。
The soldier withdrew his foot quietly。 Her words had knocked against his very breast…bone。 He marched slowly to and fro before the chapel； upright as a dart； and stiff as a ramrod； and actually pale： for even our nerves have their habits； a woman's passionate grief shook him as a cannon fired over his head could not。
Josephine little thought who was her sentinel。 She came to the door at last； and there he was marching backwards and forwards； upright and stiff。 She gave a faint scream and drew back with a shudder at the sight of their persecutor。 She even felt faintish at him； as women will in such cases。
Not being very quick at interpreting emotion； Raynal noticed her alarm； but not her repugnance； he saluted her with military precision by touching his cap as only a soldier can； and said rather gently for him； 〃A word with you； mademoiselle。〃
She replied only by trembling。
〃Don't be frightened；〃 said Raynal； in a tone not very reassuring。 〃I propose an armistice。〃
〃I am at your disposal； sir；〃 said Josephine； now assuming a calmness that was belied by the long swell of her heaving bosom。
〃Of course you look on me as an enemy。〃
〃How can I do otherwise； sir？ yet perhaps I ought not。 You did not know us。 You just wanted an estate； I supposeandoh！〃
〃Well； don't cry； and let us come to the point； since I am a man of few words。〃
〃If you please； sir。 My mother may miss me。〃
〃Well； I was in position on your flank when the notary delivered his fire。 And I saw the old woman's distress。〃
〃Ah； sir！〃
〃When you came flying out I followed to say a good word to you。 I could not catch you。 I listened while you prayed to the Virgin。 That was not a soldier…like trick； you will say。 I confess it。〃
〃It matters little； sir； and you heard nothing I blush for。〃
〃No！ by St。 Denis； quite the contrary。 Well； to the point。 Young lady； you love your mother。〃
〃What has she on earth now but her children's love？〃
〃Now look here； young lady； I had a mother； I loved her in my humdrum way very dearly。 She promised me faithfully not to die till I should be a colonel； and she went and died before I was a commandant； even； just before； too。〃
〃Then I pity you；〃 murmured Josephine； and her soft purple eye began to dwell on him with less repugnance。
〃Thank you for that word； my good young lady；〃 said Raynal。 〃Now； I declare； you are the first that has said that word to me about my losing the true friend； that nursed me on her knee； and pinched and pinched to make a man of me。 I should like to tell you about her and me。〃
〃I shall feel honored；〃 said Josephine； politely； but with considerable restraint。
Then he told her all about how he had vexed her when he was a boy； and gone for a soldier； though she was all for trade； and how he had been the more anxious to see her enjoy his honors and success。 〃And； mademoiselle；〃 said he； appealingly； 〃the day this epaulet was put on my shoulder in Italy； she died in Paris。 Ah！ how could you have the heart to do that； my old woman？〃
The soldier's mustache quivered； and he turned away brusquely； and took several steps。 Then he came back to Josephine； and to his infinite surprise saw that her purple eyes were thick with tears。 〃What？ you are within an inch of crying for my mother； you who have your own trouble at this hour。〃
〃Monsieur； our situations are so alike； I may well spare some little sympathy for your misfortune。〃
〃Thank you； my good young lady。 Well； then； to business； while you were praying to the Virgin； I was saying a word or two for my part to her who is no more。〃
〃Sir！〃
〃Oh！ it was nothing beautiful like the things you said to the other。 Can I turn phrases？ I saw her behind her little counter in the Rue Quincampoix； for she is a woman of the people； is my mother。 I saw myself come to the other side of the counter； and I said； 'Look here； mother； here is the devil to pay about this new house。 The old woman talks of dying if we take her from her home； and the young one weeps and prays to all the saints in paradise； what shall we do； eh？' Then I thought my old woman said to me； 'Jean； you are a soldier； a sort of vagabond； what do you want with a house in France？ you who are always in a tent in Italy or Austria； or who knows where。 Have you the courage to give honest folk so much pain for a caprice？ Come now；' says she； 'the lady is of my age； say you； and I can't keep your fine house； because God has willed it otherwise； so give her my place； so then you can fancy it is me you have set down at your hearth： that will warm your heart up a bit； you little scamp；' said my old woman in her rough way。 She was not well…bred like you； mademoiselle。 A woman of the people； nothing more。〃
〃She was a woman of God's own making； if she was like that；〃 cried Josephine； the tears now running down her cheeks。
〃Ah； that she was； she was。 So between her and me it is settled what are you crying for NOW？ why； you have won the day； the field is yours； your mother and you remain； I decamp。〃 He whipped his scabbard up with his left hand； and was going off without another word； if Josephine had not stopped him。
〃But； sir； what am I to think？ what am I to hope？ it is impossible that in this short interviewand we must not forget what is due to you。 You have bought the estate。〃
〃True； well； we will talk over that； to…morrow； but being turned out of the house； that was the bayonet thrust to the old lady。 So you run in and put her heart at rest about it。 Tell her that she may live and die in this house for Jean Raynal； and tell her about the old woman in the Rue Quincampoix。〃
〃God bless you； Jean Raynal！〃 cried Josephine； clasping her hands。
〃Are you going？〃 said he； peremptorily。
〃Oh； yes！〃 and she darted towards the chateau。
But when she had taken three steps she paused； and seemed irresolute。 She turned； and in a moment she had glided to Raynal again and had taken his hand before he could hinder her； and pressed two velvet lips on it； and was away again； her cheeks scarlet at what she had done； and her wet eyes beaming with joy。 She skimmed the grass like a lapwing； you would have taken her at this minute for Rose； or for Virgil's Camilla； at the gate she turned an instant and clasped her hands together； with such a look； to show Raynal she blessed him again； then darted into the house。
〃Aha； my lady；〃 said he； as he watched her fly； 〃behold you changed a little since you came out。〃 He was soon on the high road marching down to the town at a great rate； his sword clanking； and thus ran his thoughts： 〃This does one good； you are right； my old woman。 Your son's bosom feels as warm as toast。 Long live the five…franc pieces！ And they pretend money cannot make a fellow happy。 They lie； it is