their
helpless little ones were fatherless.

Opposite the hotel I perceived Jeanne and my mother, and on seeing me
their faces lit up with happy smiles. I could not go to them then, but
the instant my duties permitted I ran again into the street. They were
still in the same place, waiting.

"I thank God for this blessing, my son," said my mother. "I feared I had
lost you for ever. Let us hasten home; you are weary and faint."

"But are you not hurt, Edmond?" cried my pretty sister. "Oh, how my
heart ached at sight of those poor wounded men! They must have suffered
torture on their long march!"

"Did Jacques not find you?" my mother asked presently.

"Yes, he was with me at the beginning of the last battle, but I have not
seen him since. He may have escaped though, for all that; numbers
besides ourselves got away. Bellievre is safe, and so is Roger Braund.
They have acted like heroes!"

"I saw them both," said Jeanne, blushing prettily; "Monsieur Braund has
been wounded."

"Yes," I replied laughing, "he will need a skilful nurse. But where is
my father? Is he not still in Rochelle?"

"No," said Jeanne with a sigh, "an order came from the Admiral three
weeks ago for him to take fifty men to St. Jean d'Angely. I know it is
selfish, but I wish Edmond, oh, I wish he could have stayed with us. It
seems to me there is no safety outside the walls of Rochelle."

"Rochelle may be as dangerous as any other place," I remarked, not
caring to let them know that Monseigneur was marching on St. Jean
d'Angely. "But here we are at the house; does my aunt still keep her
room?"

"Yes," replied Jeanne with a smile, "though I believe her illness is
more fanciful than real. But she is very good and kind, and we humour
her fancies."

It was very pleasant to be home again; to see the loving looks and to
receive the tender caresses of my mother and sister. They were eager to
hear what had happened, and the tears came to their eyes as I described
the sufferings of my gallant comrades. They were brave, too, and instead
of being crushed by our defeat looked forward to happier times.

"Perhaps the king will stop the cruel war," said my mother hopefully,
"and let us worship God in peace. How can he think we wish to harm our
beautiful France? We ask so little; surely he could grant us our modest
request.

"I believe he would if it were not for his mother," I said, "and she is
afraid of the Guises. They are hand in glove with the Pope