before it; and she was absorbed in topics absolutely removed from her own private griefs, when suddenly a young man of rustic appearance, overheated and in great agitation, burst into the kitchen.

CHAPTER II.

The Flitting.

T was now nearly three o'clock.

IT

"What has happened? What kept you at Le

Puy?" cried Colette, with a look of great alarm.

""

I've never reached Le Puy! I've never got beyond the broken bridge-who's that?" stopping short, and looking suspiciously at Bertrand.

"A good honest man-a pedlar, going to Le Puy. No fear, Christophe. But, where then are the cow, and the sheep, and the goats?"

"I know no more than you do. We were picking our way down to the bridge-I and the stock-and I had just got them nicely in single file, when, Hem!' cries some one; and, before I could look round, I was pinioned, blindfolded, and tied to a tree. I gave one of the fellows a precious black eye, first, though; that's one comfort. He roared out, but the rest laughed and gibed; I should think there must have been

half a dozen of them by their voices, which gradually died away as they drove off the stock. So, there was I, lashed to the tree, unable to stir hand or foot, or see where I was, or keep the flies off my face, for hour after hour; till, at length, hearing some one whistling, I bawled out, 'Help! help!' without knowing if it were to friend or foe. As luck would have it, it was young Meurice, who was surprised enough to see me pinned up like a kite against a barn-door. Heugh! my joints ache from head to foot; and only look at my nose ! And all the stock gone!"

"The monks of Chanteuges!" said Bertrand.

"Nay, they only rob at night," said Christophe, " and I think these were likelier to be some of the Terrible Baron's men."

"De St. Vidal?"

"Des Adrets. No, no, St. Vidal doesn't stoop to these mean things. Any way, our stock's gone, and we're pretty near ruined."

And the poor young fellow wiped his brow and sat down. Colette put her arm round his neck, and kissed him; and Michel, without being able to comprehend the matter very clearly, saw that

Christophe was in trouble, and clasped one of his hands.

Bertrand, looking down on his book, read aloud: "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

'Good words, master," said Christophe sadly. "This seems an affliction, rather than a temptation," said Colette.

"And therefore the better to be borne," said. Bertrand. Temptations, we know, come from the Evil One, whereas afflictions are laid on us by God."

"Yes, such as a broken leg, or a bad illness," said Christophe, "but this was the wicked deed of wicked men, not a dispensation of Providence."

"God overrules all second causes," said the pedlar. "He might have smitten the men or diverted them from their purpose, if He had seen it would have been for the best."

"You talk like a priest, master,-or, rather, as a priest ought to talk. But what's to be done?"

It is too late now to start for Le Puy," said Colette. "Besides, I should be afraid."

"If you would have done as I wanted," said Christophe, not crossly, but smiling at her, though a little ruefully, "we should have waited till tomorrow, and joined Grégoire's family, and then this would not have happened."

"Ah!" said she, dropping her eyes, "you know why I did not like that."

Why, Fabien would not have bitten your nose off, would he?" lowering his voice and smiling.

"At any rate we should have saved our stock.

I'm sorry

!

Never mind, it will do no good. We will still

join them to-morrow."

"Yes, that will be safest. I'll unpack the bedding again. But we had better dine first-how hungry you must be."

"" As a monk!

"Poor Christophe! and I fancied you being made much of by granny and aunt Marcelline, and having the best of the bouilli, and roast meat, and sweet things besides!"

"No sweet things to my share to-day! Never