LOUIS DUVAL.

 heard. It came from below, and seemed far distant,
 as indeed it was: but they both heard it.
 Hark, grandmother! said Louis, his attention
 turned for a moment from his own sufferings, by the
 sound of music: he was fond of music. Ah, they
 are gay and happy below. Do you know, there is a
 fresh family on the first floor : the other grand folks
 are gone."
 "It matters little to us, my poor Louis, who comes
 or who goes. It is strange, too, that riches and
 poverty, splendour and want, should be brought so
 close together as they are in Paris-all under one
 roof. But who has the first floor now, Louis ? "
 The Count St. Clair, grandmother. I was told
 that is his name. He was married but a few days ago.
 He sometimes lives in Paris; but he has a large cha-
 teau in Anjou, and great estates; he is going there
 next week."
 Louis did not notice his grandmother while he was
speaking; but, looking directly afterwards at her
countenance, he saw that she was troubled.
 "Grandmother! dear grandmother !" exclaimed
Louis, do I offend you ?"
 "CIt is nothing, my boy," she said, "I shall be
better soon. I did not think ever to live under the
same roof as the St. Clairs. But it matters nothing."
 Do you know them, then, grandmother ? "
 "Listen, Louis; I am better now: I will tell you
what I know of them."
 Louis forgot his hunger, and listened.
 "I was not always lame and half blind, my boy,"
said Margaret Duval; "nor was I always poor and
hopeless: but you know this, without being told it
now. Well, many years ago-forty years or more-I
lived- ."