ing old he had intrusted that to me, and I went
out very early. The wind had blown the leaves in heaps against the
walls during the night, and the people were coming to take their
torches and vases of flowers from the altars. All this made me sad,
and I thought, "Now that they have performed their service for the
dead, I hope they are satisfied. If the permit would come, it would be
all very well, but if these people think they are going to amuse us
with psalms they are mistaken. In the time of the Emperor we had to go
to Russia and Spain it is true, but the ministers did not leave the
young people to pine away. I would like to know what peace is for if
it is not to get married!"

I denounced Louis XVIII., the Comte d'Artois, the _emigres_, and
everybody else, and declared that the nobles mocked the people.

On going home I found that Mr. Goulden had set the table, and while we
were eating breakfast, I told him what I thought. He listened to my
complaint and laughed, saying, "Take care, Joseph, take care; you seem
to me as if you were becoming a Jacobin."

He got up and opened the closet, and I thought he was going to take out
a bottle, but, instead, he handed me a thick square envelope with a big
red seal.

"Here, Joseph," said he, "is something that Brigadier Werner charged me
to give you."

I felt my heart jump and I could not see clearly.

"Why don't you open it?" said Father Goulden.

I opened it and tried to read, but had to take a little time. At last
I cried out, "It is the permit."

"Do you believe it?" said he.

"Yes, it is the permit," I said, holding it at arm's length.

"Ah! that rascal of a minister, he has sent no others," said Father
Goulden.

"But," I said, "I know nothing of politics, since the permit has come,
the rest does not concern me."

He laughed aloud, saying, "Good, Joseph, good!"

I saw that he was laughing at me, but I did not care.

"We must let Catherine and Aunt Gredel know immediately," I cried in
the joy of my heart; "we must send Chaudron's boy right away."

"Ha! go yourself, that will be better," said the good man.

"But the work, Mr. Goulden?"

"Pshaw! pshaw! at a time like this one forgets work! Go! child, stir
yourself, how could you work now? You cannot see clearly."

It was true I could do nothing. I was so happy that I cried, I
embraced Mr. Goulden, and then without taking time to change my coat I
set off, and was so absorbed by my happiness, tha