the very day he joined; another knew some one
who was thrown out of a window: here was an account of a delicate boy
who passed an entire night in the snow, and died of a chest disease
three weeks after; there, a victim to intemperance met his fate in
the orgy that celebrated his promotion. This picture, I confess, did
somewhat damp the ardor of my first impressions; and I took leave of my
old friends with not less feeling of affection, that I doubted how much
kindness and good feeling I had to expect from my new ones.

In this mood of mind I shook their hands for the last time, and followed
the soldier who carried my baggage to the distant quarter of the ecole.
As I entered the large court by the richly ornamented gate, whose
bronzed tracery and handsome carving dated from the time of Louis the
Fourteenth, my heart swelled with conscious pride. The facade of
the square, unlike the simple front of the scholars' quarters, was
beautifully architectural; massive consoles supported the windows,
and large armorial insignia, cut on stone, surmounted the different
entrances. But what most captivated my spirits and engaged my attention
was a large flag in the centre, from which waved the broad ensign of
France, beside which a sentinel paced to and fro. He presented arms as
I passed; and the click of his musket, as he stood erect, sent a thrill
through me, and made my very fingers tingle with delight.

"This is number thirteen, sir," said the soldier, as we arrived in front
of one of the doorways; and before I could reply, the door opened, and a
young officer, in the uniform of an infantry regiment, appeared. He was
about to pass out, when his eye resting on the luggage the soldier had
just placed beside him, he stopped suddenly, and, touching his cap,
asked in a polite tone,--

"Not Mr. Burke, is it?"

"Yes," said I, bowing in return.

"Eh, mon camarade," said he, holding out his hand, "delighted to see
you. Have you breakfasted? Well, you 'll find all ready for you in the
quarters. I shall be back soon. I 'm only going to a morning drill,
which won't last half an hour; so make yourself at home, and we'll meet
soon again."

So saying, he once more saluted me, and passed on. "Not very like what
I feared," thought I, as I entered the quarters, whose look of neatness
and comfort so pleasantly contrasted with my late abode. I had barely
time to look over the prints and maps of military subjects which
ornamented the walls, whe