who knows so well how to appreciate them. But,"
continued he, looking round admiringly on the bands of citizens
and habitans who were at work strengthening every weak point in the
fortifications, "my brave Canadians are busy as beavers on their dam.
They are determined to keep the saucy English out of Quebec. They
deserve to have the beaver for their crest, industrious fellows that
they are! I am sorry I kept you waiting, however."

"We can never count the moments lost which your Excellency gives to the
survey of our fair land," replied the Bishop, a grave, earnest-looking
man. "Would that His Majesty himself could stand on these walls and see
with his own eyes, as you do, this splendid patrimony of the crown of
France. He would not dream of bartering it away in exchange for petty
ends and corners of Germany and Flanders, as is rumored, my Lord."

"True words and good, my Lord Bishop," replied the Governor; "the
retention of all Flanders now in the strong hands of the Marshal de Saxe
would be a poor compensation for the surrender of a glorious land like
this to the English."

Flying rumors of some such proposal on the part of France had reached
the Colony, with wild reports arising out of the endless chaffering
between the negotiators for peace, who had already assembled at Aix la
Chapelle. "The fate of America will one day be decided here," continued
the Governor; "I see it written upon this rock, 'Whoever rules Quebec
will sway the destinies of the continent.' May our noble France be wise,
and understand in time the signs of empire and of supremacy!"

The Bishop looked upwards with a sigh. "Our noble France has not yet
read those tokens, or she misunderstands them. Oh, these faithful
subjects of hers! Look at them, your Excellency." The Bishop pointed
toward the crowd of citizens hard at work on the walls. "There is not
a man of them but is ready to risk life and fortune for the honor and
dominion of France, and yet they are treated by the Court with such
neglect, and burdened with exactions that take from life the sweet
reward of labor! They cannot do the impossible that France requires of
them--fight her battles, till her fields, and see their bread taken from
them by these new ordinances of the Intendant."

"Well, my Lord," replied the Governor, affecting a jocularity he did not
feel, for he knew how true were the words of the Bishop, "we must all
do our duty, nevertheless: if France requires impossibilities o