Taking the Bastile

FOR D

in her daughter and fed her field hands as no other housewife did

the pot of cider set on his right, and the chunk of mild-cured bacon before him. Since he lo

ties of neatherd and shepherd had b

ement of the kine and orders were

ther understand that you are good for a heap of

r rules of arithmetic

ahead of me.

e afar from you. Oh, I beg pard

that," said Catherine; "it is no

they say so much

e had more time to make pretty caps and "tit

tier without a ca

own and dance without a cap on. That is all very well for fine ladi

hem all wit

did you learn to mak

ght nothing

nci

rtier's! he made us cut cap

ong with me on Sunday, and see Master Isidor Charny dance

is

Manor. He will dance

hrank without h

f lovely to dance wi

e rest. You, too, if

had to acknowledge that tuition is agreeable according to

I don't believe I should have m

nd be shut up in an ugly old mona

am not sorry I am

f the Gilbert pamphlet was to take place in the barn at ten

it, to test my lads

ostles of tyranny, and seized the opportuni

gh for womanfolks, no doubt, and they might go and sleep away their time there; bu

only Catherine ever coped with him

tou was agreeably surprised when Sunday morning came round to see the tailor enter while he was ruminating how he could "clean up," and lay on a chair a coat and breeches of sky blue cloth and a l

brought a three-cocked hat of the latest fashion so full of sty

im proud for a space, but it was spoilt by his fear that he would have to go to the ball in his old shoes-which would mar the new suit. This uneasiness was of short duration. A pair o

at himself in the mirror, he did not know himself. He grinned

your Master

ted into the main room: "you have turned out a strapper, my lad. I should li

ould not take him

-unless she forfeited her

aid Pitou quickly, "for which Dr

t I am always hearing such good deeds of his. D'ye see, it

learn a trade," w

rancs are left to fit a lad for the battle of life, and they put him in a priest

thi

eted Master Gi

likely

saint cracks her whistle, look into the boxes, demijohns and old crocks, for

in my p

he matter over, fat

"The doctor bade me have the book read and the good principl

church?" venture

w, yes: but we men have better t

the tight coat allowed and followed

red men and they did not mind his roaring at them as long as he boarded and

trange words were current in mouths never pronouncing them. Freedom, Independence, emancipation, were heard not on

Republic of America which was to be in its round a vast conflagration for France by th

words of hope. Those at the head of the government found certain wheels clogged without understanding where the hindrance lay. Opposition was in all minds before it

ield hands, and neighbors

ncovered and all hats waved at arms-length. It was plain

ng man was about to read out. The doctor was well-known in the dist

reader, who scrambled upo

full sense of the pamphlet escaped the keenest wits here, and Billet's as well. But in the midst of the cloudy phrases shone

Dr. Gilbert!

ed to have the rest in two more sessions, next time o

his share in the cheers for the language, and Billet himself fe

, that Catherine had not witn

to his wife and daughter. Mother Billet s

t into trouble," sighed

omen again. Let me tell you that

g that you were looke

sai

fri

e thanked. Tell me

informed, as it is Vi

advice on the way I should think? Do I suggest how he should cut his co

vex you, father: but the advic

tional Assembly is going to give them a shaking up; and the question will be roughly handled of the royal pets and favorites.

ce than we, and you can act as

this Charny fop shove in his oar anyhow?" for

, or pretended not, an

looked charming. She was a pretty, black-eyed but fair girl, slender and flexible as the willows shading the farm spring. She had tricked

scended to patronize the popular amusement was a

y movement like those brought up in aristocratic education from the c

lity towards him in these respects. He looked down at his legs with the eye of t

to own the superiority of Charny as

his skill in a curranto in the royal quadrille. More than one other nobleman

a model of grac

e returned to him; "I shall never dare to da

tell a lie; she stared at the speaker for he was

er round with Isidor Charny, she asked to be taken

s her companion kept quiet;

was the other's reply. "What can I say after a

king about you. If your guardian does

h to keep the farm b

cation you have received you a

ing to, but I do not want to

avor at the court, and he married a bosom friend of the Queen Marie Antoinette. Lo

old you, I am content to stay as I am,

a rough voice which Catherine sta

Lord Isidor," whis

o' feared I was not smar

still believes himself a wise clerk. No, Pitou, the good God brings people

dly. He recalled Gilbert's book; it was principally against the privileged classes and their abuses, and the cowardice of those who sub

ht fall on the book through an open window with the additional advantage tha

ion of an opaque body between him and the light, he was

his own-for Pitou had resumed his old clothes for the working day-while thrusting his head forward on a la

d the stranger's mouth in which a few snags stuc

up his nose, "In octavo, 'On the Freedom of Man

ess of the unknown reader, so that when he had r

sir," sa

of Dr. Gilbert's?" s

joined the you

Ange everybody was a superior. In rising something fair and rosy attracted his attention

know whose book this is?" remarked the stranger pointing at

but the girl motioned that he ought to lay cla

book i

reader and heard but these words. But he suspiciously g

r bo

it-'Avidus legendi libri

s beseem," said the stranger: "'Non dives vestitu sed i

sped Pitou at the su

two sergeants of the Paris Police

nd Pitou's hands by a rope and took the book into his own possession, an

me person who had already so influenc

articular. Hence, without any distrust, they walked into the farmhouse where the two po

io gone in than Pit

p your

and saw Catherine's pale and frighten

e and she cut the r

aid, "and cut yourself

twice telling but fou

e girl; "you have good legs. Make aw

armed constables stood on the sill for an instant, astounded to see the man free whom they had left bound. But as at the dog's

lost no time in speech-making but darted after the escaped one. His men followed his example. B

es off on the meadow, tearing away directly to the woods, a qu

though more for the name of the thing than any hope of overtaking hi

utes as he might for an hour. But judging that he was out of danger, by his

ity of incidents have been cra

ately at his coi

ne a penny for the knife, for fear it will cut our friends

uck a straight line over the heath