m told that even now among your noblest families there are
some ready to risk life and fortune to bring him back! See what ours
has done for us! Think of the atrocities of his barbarous dragoons in
our Protestant districts--peaceful homes given up to pillage, to fire,
and the sword. The best of our pastors flogged, and tortured in other
ways, imprisoned in loathsome dungeons--what do I say? worse, oh, worse
than all! the horrors of the galleys reserved for the noblest and best,
for such as my own dear husband Eugene, who, if he still lives, may yet
be labouring at the oar, among slaves and outcasts of all nations! Oh,
may heaven in mercy rescue him from such an existence!"

She ceased, for her feeling, roused by the recollection of the terrible
scenes she had gone through, overcame her power of speech. She hid her
face for some moments in her hands!

"I should not have ventured to speak on this subject," she said, when
she again looked up. "My husband was Dutch, of an old family; but when
he married me he became naturalised as a Frenchman. For a few years
after our marriage we lived a life of tranquillity and happiness in a
chateau which I had inherited, removed from the turmoil of the world and
political strife. We had one only child, a fair-haired, blue-eyed
little damsel, with bright rosy cheeks and a happy, joyous smile on her
countenance. At length, however, fearful troubles broke upon us on the
revocation of the Edict of Nantes, just ten years ago. It was a time
fatal to Protestants who ventured to remain in the country. Many of the
best and noblest in the land fled from persecution. Some effected their
escape, but many were overtaken, and were executed, or are still
groaning in prisons, or, like my dear husband, in the galleys. My dear
sister and her husband had come to reside with us, hoping that in our
secluded abode they would escape observation. Her health was delicate,
and on that fatal night when the dragoons burst into our house and
carried off my brother-in-law, so greatly was she affected that her
spirits gave way, and in a few days afterwards she sank to rest from
this troubled world. My brother-in-law was heart-broken at the loss of
his wife. He little knew how soon he was to follow her! My husband was
absent from the house, when one evening I received notice that some
officers of justice, as they were called, were approaching, in search of
Protestants. I had just time to snatch up my