OF THE FOREST. 51

to see them happy ; and everything that is
pleasant in this place brings these things
fresher into my mind; and there is a valley,
sir, in the forest, which I often visited last
summer, which reminds me too of these
things. And when I hear music, or the bells
ringing, or the organ at mass, all these things
fill my heart with pleasure, and make me
wish that the time would come when I might
go to my dear parents; but I know that I
ought not to be impatient to leave this world,
where you and Madame and so many people
are kind to me.”

“You talk of much kindness, Aimée,” I
said; “have you no unkindness to complain
of? have you no feelings of malice or envy in
your heart? You know, that if you have
such feelings, it is your duty to confess them.”

She looked very earnestly at me, and re-
peated the word “malice,” as if she did not un-
derstand the signification, or at any rate as if
she did not take in the purport of my question.

“To be plain with you, Aimée,” I said,
“are the young ladies your companions so
kind to you that you never feel anything like
anger or ill-will towards them? Are you in
charity with every one?”