OF THE FOREST. 99

and the garland are to be placed on her
coffin, sir; the garland, indeed, sir, is
withered and shrunk, but the crown is not
made of such things as can fade, they tell
me: but it will be a touching spectacle; and
surely, sir, there will not be many absent
from the church this evening who were at
the lady’s Feast of Flowers.”

I could not speak—so the good woman
proceeded without interruption.

She informed me of many things concern-
ing the sickness and death of the poor child,
and of the grief of the Baronne and of
Madame Bulé, who both together, as she
said, waited on the dear child day after day
and night after night; and she told me how
she had prayed whilst her senses had been
continued to her, and how she had again and
again called upon her Saviour, and spoken of
her hope of being speedily taken to Him
who had died for her; and how she had
expressed her love for her instructress and
the lady of the chateau, and her tender
regard for her schoolfellows. “But,” added
the peasant, with some emotion of manner and