suddenly began to shiver, he remarked that the
room was cold, and blamed himself for not having already lighted the
fire. Some logs and some small wood were piled in a corner, near the
chimney-piece.

"How stupid of me!" he exclaimed; "here am I leaving you to freeze."

Then he knelt down before the fireplace, while she protested: "What an
idea! Leave all that, and call Zoe."

"No, no, she doesn't know how to light the fire properly, and besides,
it amuses me."

He laughed triumphantly when a bright clear fire began to crackle,
filling the room with additional cheerfulness. The place was now a
little paradise, said he; but he had scarcely finished washing and
dressing when the partition behind the bed was shaken by a vigorous
thumping.

"Ah! the rascals," he gayly exclaimed. "They are awake, you see! Oh!
well, we may let them come, since to-day is Sunday."

For a few moments there had been a noise as of an aviary in commotion
in the adjoining room. Prattling, shrill chirping, and ringing bursts
of laughter could be heard. Then came a noise as of pillows and bolsters
flying about, while two little fists continued pummelling the partition
as if it were a drum.

"Yes, yes," said the mother, smiling and anxious, "answer them; tell
them to come. They will be breaking everything if you don't."

Thereupon the father himself struck the wall, at which a victorious
outburst, cries of triumphal delight, arose on the other side. And
Mathieu scarcely had time to open the door before tramping and scuffling
could be heard in the passage. A triumphal entry followed. All four of
them wore long nightdresses falling to their little bare feet, and they
trotted along and laughed, with their brown hair streaming about, their
faces quite pink, and their eyes radiant with candid delight. Ambroise,
though he was younger than his brothers, marched first, for he was the
boldest and most enterprising. Behind him came the twins, Blaise and
Denis, who were less turbulent--the latter especially. He taught the
others to read, while Blaise, who was rather shy and timid, remained the
dreamer of them all. And each gave a hand to little Mademoiselle Rose,
who looked like an angel, pulled now to the right and now to the left
amid bursts of laughter, while she contrived to keep herself steadily
erect.

"Ah! mamma," cried Ambroise, "it's dreadfully cold, you know; do make me
a little room."

Forthwith he bounded into the bed, slipped under the