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the top stair； listening。 No doubt； to calm himself entirely； the
marshal went to embrace his children； for I heard him open and shut their
door。 Then he returned to his room； and walked about for a long time；
but with a more quiet step。 At last； I heard him throw himself on his
bed； and I came down about break of day。 After that； all remained
tranquil。〃
〃But whatever can be the matter with him； father？〃
〃I do not know。 When I went up to him； I was astonished at the agitation
of his countenance； and the brilliancy of his eyes。 He would have looked
much the same； had he been delirious； or in a burning feverso that；
when I heard him say； he could have thrown himself out of the window； had
it been open； I thought it more prudent to remove the caps from his
pistols。〃
〃I cannot understand it！〃 said Agricola。 〃So firm； intrepid； and cool a
man as the marshal； a prey to such violence！〃
〃I tell you that something very extraordinary is passing within him。 For
two days； he has not been to see his children； which is always a bad sign
with himto say nothing of the poor little angels themselves； who are
miserable at the notion that they have displeased their father。 They
displease him！ If you only knew the life they lead； dear creatures！ a
walk or ride with me and their companion； for I never let them go out
alone； and； the rest of their time； at their studies； reading； or
needleworkalways togetherand then to bed。 Yet their duenna； who is；
I think； a worthy woman； tells me that sometimes at night； she has seen
them shed tears in their sleep。 Poor children！ they have hitherto known
but little happiness；〃 added the soldier； with a sigh。
At this moment； hearing some one walk hastily across the courtyard；
Dagobert raised his eyes； and saw Marshal Simon； with pale face and
bewildered air； holding in his two hands a letter； which he seemed to
read with devouring anxiety。
CHAPTER XLVII。
THE GOLDEN CITY。
While Marshal Simon was crossing the little court with so agitated an
air； reading the anonymous letter； which he had received by Spoil…sport's
unexpected medium； Rose and Blanche were alone together； in the sitting…
room they usually occupied； which had been entered for a moment by Loony
during their absence。 The poor children seemed destined to a succession
of sorrows。 At the moment their mourning for their mother drew near its
close； the tragical death of their grandfather had again dressed them in
funereal weeds。 They were seated together upon a couch； in front of
their work…table。 Grief often produces the effect of years。 Hence； in a
few months； Rose and Blanche had become quite young women。 To the
infantine grace of their charming faces； formerly so plump and rosy； but
now pale and thin； had succeeded an expression of grave and touching
sadness。 Their large； mild eyes of limpid azure； which always had a
dreamy character； were now never bathed in those joyous tears； with which
a burst of frank and hearty laughter used of old to adorn their silky
lashes； when the comic coolness of Dagobert； or some funny trick of
Spoil…sport； cheered them in the course of their long and weary
pilgrimage。
In a word； those delightful faces； which the flowery pencil of Greuze
could alone have painted in all their velvet freshness； were now worthy
of inspiring the melancholy ideal of the immortal Ary Scheffer； who gave
us Mignon aspiring to Paradise； and Margaret dreaming of Faust。 Rose；
leaning back on the couch； held her head somewhat bowed upon her bosom；
over which was crossed a handkerchief of black crape。 The light
streaming from a window opposite； shone softly on her pure； white
forehead； crowned by two thick bands of chestnut hair。 Her look was
fixed； and the open arch of her eyebrows； now somewhat contracted；
announced a mind occupied with painful thoughts。 Her thin； white little
hands had fallen upon her knees； but still held the embroidery； on which
she had been engaged。 The profile of Blanche was visible； leaning a
little towards her sister； with an expression of tender and anxious
solicitude； whilst her needle remained in the canvas； as if she had just
ceased to work。
〃Sister；〃 said Blanche； in a low voice； after some moments of silence；
during which the tears seemed to mount to her eyes； 〃tell me what you are
thinking of。 You look so sad。〃
〃I think of the Golden City of our dreams；〃 replied Rose； almost in a
whisper； after another short silence。
Blanche understood the bitterness of these words。 Without speaking； she
threw herself on her sister's neck； and wept。 Poor girls！ the Golden
City of their dreams was Paris； with their father in itParis； the
marvellous city of joys and festivals； through all of which the orphans
had beheld the radiant and smiling countenance of their sire！ But； alas！
the Beautiful City had been changed into a place of tears； and death； and
mourning。 The same terrible pestilence which had struck down their
mother in the heart of Siberia； seemed to have followed them like a dark
and fatal cloud； which； always hovering above them； hid the mild blue of
the sky； and the joyous light of the sun。
The Golden City of their dreams！ It was the place； where perhaps one day
their father would present to them two young lovers； good and fair as
themselves。 〃They love you；〃 he was to say； 〃 they are worthy of you。
Let each of you have a brother； and me two sons。〃 Then what chaste；
enchanting confusion for those two orphans； whose hearts； pure as
crystal； had never reflected any image but that of Gabriel； the celestial
messenger sent by their mother to protect them！
We can therefore understand the painful emotion of Blanche； when she
heard her sister repeat； with bitter melancholy； those words which
described their whole situation： 〃I think of the Golden City of our
dreams！〃
〃Who knows？〃 proceeded Blanche； drying her sister's tears； 〃perhaps；
happiness may yet be in store for us。〃
〃Alas！ if we are not happy with our father by usshall we ever be so？〃
〃Yes； when we rejoin our mother；〃 said Blanche； lifting her eyes to
heaven。
〃Then； sister； this dream may be a warningit is so like that we had in
Germany。〃
〃The difference being that then the Angel Gabriel came down from heaven
to us； and that this time he takes us from earth； to our mother。〃
〃And this dream will perhaps come true； like the other； my sister。 We
dreamt that the Angel Gabriel would protect us； and he came to save us
from the shipwreck。〃
〃And； this time； we dream that he will lead us to heaven。 Why should not
that happen also？〃
〃But to bring that about； sister； our Gabriel； who saved us from the
shipwreck； must die also。 No； no； that must not happen。 Let us pray
that it may not happen。〃
〃No； it will not happenfor it is only Gabriel's good angel； who is so
like him； that we saw in our dreams。〃
〃Sister； dear； how singular is this dream！Here； as in Germany； we have
both dreamt the samethree times； the very same！〃
〃It is true。 The Angel Gabriel bent over us； and looked at us with so
mild and sad an air； saying： ‘Come； my children！ come； my sisters！ Your
mother waits for you。 Poor childre