re was already trying his voice.
The winged inhabitants of the forest twittered in terror; the peacocks
in the neighboring chateau answered by those alarmed cries with which
they greet the approach of a thunder-shower; the neighboring peasants
started from their sleep, and old Mother Archambauld wondered what was
going on in the little house, where the moon shone so whitely on the
legend in gold characters over the door:

PARVA DOMUS, MAGNA QUIES.

CHAPTER XI.~~CECILE.

"Where are you going so early?" asked Dr. Hirsch, indolently, as he
saw Charlotte, gayly dressed, prayer-book in hand, come slowly down the
stairs, followed by Jack, who was once more clad in the pet costume of
Lord Pembroke.

"To church, my dear sir. Has not D'Argenton told you that I have an
especial duty to perform there this morning? Come with us, will you
not?"

It was Assumption Day, and Charlotte had been much flattered by being
asked to distribute the bread. She, with her child, took the seats
reserved for them on a bench close to the choir. The church was adorned
with flowers. The choir-boys were in surplices freshly ironed, and on
a rustic table the loaves of bread were piled high. To complete the
picture, all the foresters, in their green costumes, with their knives
in their belts and their carbines in their hands, had come to join in
the Te Deum of this official fete.

Ida de Barancy would have been certainly much astonished had some one
told her a year before, that she would one day assist at a religious
festival in a village church, under the name of the Vicomtesse
D'Argenton, and that she would have all the consideration and prestige
of a married woman. This new role amused and interested her. She
corrected Jack, turned the pages of her prayer-book, and shook out her
rustling silk skirts in the most edifying fashion.

When it was time for the offertory, the tall Swiss, armed with a
halberd, came for Jack, and bending low whispered in his mother's ear
a question as to what little girl should be chosen to assist him;
Charlotte hesitated, for "she knew so few persons in the church.
Then the Swiss suggested Dr. Rivals' grandchild--a little girl on the
opposite side sitting next an old lady in black. The two children walked
slowly behind the majestic official, Cecile carrying a velvet bag much
too large for her little fingers, and Jack bearing an enormous wax
candle ornamented with floating ribbons and artificial flowers. Th