OF THE FOREST. 73

succeeded in impressing their holy lessons so
strongly upon your mind that you never can
forget them. Let me tell you, my daughter,
that you have reason to bless God for having
given you such parents.”

Two gentle tears dropped from her eyes as
I spoke ; and at the same moment my con-
science reproved me for having bidden a child
to thank God for having given her parents who
were heretics! and then again such doubts
arose in my mind respecting my own principles,
and their foundation in truth, that I walked
on a considerable way in silence.

We had left the village and the chateau
behind us, and were entering on the precincts
of the forest, before I extricated myself from
the labyrinth of perplexing thoughts in which
I was involved. At length, as we passed under
the shade of the trees which skirted the wood,
I recollected myself, and said, “ Aimée, where
are you leading me? How far are we to go?”

“ Are you tired, father?” she said. “If you
wish it I will go no further; I can make a
wreath of any flower I see in the hedges.”

“ Tired! my dear child,” I said ; “ tired in

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