ike yesterday, Pierre," exclaimed Amelie, sparkling at
the reminiscence; "I recollect how I wept and wrung my hands, tired out,
hungry, and forlorn, with my dress in tatters, and one shoe left in a
miry place! I recollect, moreover, that my protectors were in almost as
bad a plight as myself, yet they chivalrously carried the little maiden
by turns, or together made a queen's chair for me with their locked
hands, until we all broke down together and sat crying at the foot of
a tree, reminding one another of the babes in the wood, and recounting
stories of bears which had devoured lost naughty children in the forest.
I remember how we all knelt down at last and recited our prayers until
suddenly we heard the bugle-call of Aeolus sounding close by us. The
poor old man, wild with rapture at having found us, kissed and shook us
so violently that we almost wished ourselves lost in the forest again."

The recollection of this adventure was very pleasing to Pierre. He
recalled every incident of it perfectly, and all three of them seemed
for a while transported back into the fairy-land of their happy
childhood.

The bugle-call of old Aeolus again sounded, and the three friends rose
and proceeded towards the house.

The little brook--it had never looked so bright before to
Amelie--sparkled with joy like her own eyes. The orioles and blackbirds
warbled in the bushes, and the insects which love warmth and sunshine
chirmed and chirruped among the ferns and branches as Amelie, Pierre,
and Le Gardeur walked home along the green footpath under the avenue of
elms that led to the chateau.

The Lady de Tilly received them with many pleasant words. Leading
them into the breakfast-room, she congratulated Le Gardeur upon the
satisfaction it afforded her to see her dear children, so she called
them, once more seated round her board in health and happiness. Amelie
colored slightly, and looked at her aunt as if questioning whether she
included Philibert among her children.

The Lady de Tilly guessed her thought, but pretending not to, bade Felix
proceed with the breakfast, and turned the conversation to topics more
general. "The Iroquois," she said, "had left the Chaudiere and gone
further eastward; the news had just been brought in by messengers to
the Seigniory, and it was probable, nay, certain that they would not be
heard of again. Therefore Le Gardeur and Pierre Philibert were under
no necessity of leaving the Manor to search for the