He too was intently thinking of his son.
His face was filled with the satisfaction of old Simeon when he
cried, out of the fulness of his heart, "Domine! nunc dimittis!"
"Dame Rochelle," said he. She turned promptly to the voice of her
master, as she ever insisted on calling him. "Were I superstitious,
I should fear that my great joy at Pierre's return might be the
prelude to some great sorrow."
"God's blessing on Pierre!" said she, "he can only bring joy to this
house. Thank the Lord for what He gives and what He takes! He took
Pierre, a stripling from his home, and returns him a great man, fit
to ride at the King's right hand and to be over his host like
Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, over the host of Solomon."
"Grand merci for the comparison, dame!" said the Bourgeois, smiling,
as he leaned back in his chair. "But Pierre is a Frenchman, and
would prefer commanding a brigade in the army of the Marshal de Saxe
to being over the host of King Solomom. But," continued he,
gravely, "I am strangely happy to-day, Deborah,"--he was wont to
call her Deborah when very earnest,--"and I will not anticipate any
mischief to mar my happiness.
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