-but it would not come. 'Amen stuck
in my throat.' Twice I got half-way, and covered my retreat by a short
cough. Only think what a change in my destiny another syllable might
have caused! It was exactly as my second effort proved fruitless that a
delicious sound of music swelled up from the glen beneath, and floated
through the air--a chorus of young voices singing what seemed to be a
hymn. Never was anything more charming. The notes, softened as they rose
on high, seemed almost like a seraph's song--now lifting the soul to
high and holy thoughts, now thrilling within the heart with a very
ecstasy of delight. At length they paused, the last cadence melted
slowly away, and all was still.

We did not dare to move; when Laura touched my hand gently, and
whispered, 'Hark! there it is again! And at the same instant the voices
broke forth, but into a more joyous measure. It was one of those sweet
peasant-carollings which breathe of the light heart and the simple life
of the cottage. The words came nearer and nearer as we listened, and at
length I could trace the refrain which closed each verse--

'Puisque l'herbe et la fleur parlent mieux que les mots,
Puisque un aveu d'amour s'exhale de la rose,
Que le "ne m'oublie pas" de souvenir s'arrose,
Que le laurier dit Gloire! et cypres sanglots.'

At last the wicket of the garden slowly opened, and a little procession
of young girls, all dressed in white, with white roses in their hair,
and each carrying bouquets in their hands, entered, and with steady step
came forward. We watched them attentively, believing that they were
celebrating some little devotional pilgrimage, when to our surprise they
approached where we sat, and with a low curtsy each dropped her bouquet
at Laura's feet, whispering in a low silver voice as they passed, 'May
thy feet always tread upon flowers!' Ere we could speak our surprise
and admiration of this touching scene--for it was such, in all its
simplicity--they were gone, and the last notes of their chant were dying
away in the distance.

'How beautiful! how very beautiful!' said Laura; 'I shall never forget
this.'

'Nor I,' said I, making a desperate effort at I know not what avowal,
which the appearance of the _pere_ at once put to flight. He had just
seen the boy returning along the river-side with the mule and cart, and
came to apprise us that we had better descend.

'It will be very late indeed before we reach Dinant,' said