I am
grateful to Pierre; yet, oh, my Amelie, better he had left me at the
bottom of the deep river, where I had found my bed! I have no
pleasure in seeing Tilly any more!"
"Why not, brother? Are we not all the same? Are we not all here?
There is happiness and comfort for you at Tilly."
"There was once, Amelie," replied he, sadly; "but there will be none
for me in the future, as I feel too well. I am not worthy of you,
Amelie."
"Come, brother!" replied she, cheerily, "you dampen the joy of our
arrival. See, the flag is going up on the staff of the turret, and
old Martin is getting ready to fire off the culverin in honor of
your arrival."
Presently there was a flash, a cloud of smoke, and the report of a
cannon came booming down to the shore from the Manor House.
"That was well done of Martin and the women!" remarked Felix
Baudoin, who had served in his youth, and therefore knew what was
fitting in a military salute. "'The women of Tilly are better than
the men of Beauce,' says the proverb."
"Ay, or of Tilly either!" remarked Josephte Le Tardeur, in a sharp,
snapping tone.
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