Page 18 (1/1)

The nextofficer entered ular features, but his sun-burned face had remarkable vivacity "Pardon me," said he in French, "that I come so unceremoniously to make your acquaintance I learned yesterday of your arrival, and the desire of seeing at last a huer You will understand this when you shall have lived here souessed that he was the officer dismissed from the Guards for the affair of the duel--Alexis Chabrine He was very intelligent; his conversation was sprightly and interesting He described with ieneral the whole country round I was laughing heartily, when Ignatius, the sa his uniforave me an invitation to dinner from Basilia Mironoff, the Captain's wife Alexis declared that he would acco the Commandant's houseon the square so queues and three-cornered hats These old men were drawn up in line of battle Before theh stature, in dressing- gown and cotton cap As soon as he saw us, he approached, addressed oing to stay to see the o on i to join us at once; "for," said he, "there is really nothing to be seen here"

Basilia received us kindly, and with si me like an old acquaintance The pensioner and thethe table-cloth

"What is theinstructing his troops?" said thehim to dinner And where is my child, Marie?" Scarcely had she pronounced this nairl about sixteen entered the roo her hair in sht behind her ears, which were red with modesty and shyness She did not please ainst her by Alexis, who had described the Captain's daughter to an to sew The soup was brought on the table Basilia, not seeing her husband co, sent the maid a second time to call him

"Tell theThank God! the drills need not be lost; there will be tih yet to use his voice at his leisure"