on which they placed the knives and forks and
plates, with the loaf and cheese, and the fruit-pie, and a bottle of
beer for their papa; for Betty was gone back to the house; and when
they had said grace, they dined: after which the children went to play
in the coppice and amongst the hay, for a little while. When they had
played as much as their mamma thought fit, they came back, and sat down
to work, as they had done in the morning, whilst Henry read the story
in Lucy's book.

[Illustration: Marten goes to school]

The History of Little Henri; or, The Good Son

[Illustration: Henri stood at the window]

"Every person who lives in England has heard of France. A small arm of
the sea parts this country from France; but though a person may pass
from England to France in a few hours, yet there is a great difference
in the manners and customs of the French and English. A few years ago
the French were governed by a king who had so much power, that, if he
did not like any person, he could condemn him to be shut up for life at
his pleasure, and nobody dared to inquire after him. The religion of
the French was, and still is, Roman Catholic.

"About one hundred and fifty years ago, there lived in France a certain
great man, called the Baron of Bellemont: he was a proud man, and very
rich; and his castle stood in one of the beautiful valleys of the
Pyrenees, not far from the dwelling-places of those holy people the
Waldenses."

"What are Waldenses, mamma?" said Henry.

"Why, my dear," answered Mrs. Fairchild, "many hundred years ago, when
many of the nations of Europe were very wicked, a certain set of
persons retired from the sight of the rest of mankind, and hid
themselves in valleys amongst hills, where they led innocent and holy
lives. These people, in some places, were called _Waldenses_; in
others, _Valdenses_; and some were called _The poor Men of Lyons_,
because there was a city called Lyons near their dwelling-places."

* * * * *

"The Baron de Bellemont," continued Henry, reading again, "lived in a
castle not far from the valley of the Waldenses. He had one daughter,
of the name of Adelaide, who was very beautiful; and as she was to have
much of her father's riches at his death, everybody flattered and
seemed to admire her, and many rich and great men in France sought to
marry her. The Baron had also a poor niece living with him, named
Maria. Maria was not handsome, and