"Henri's poor father and mother had fallen asleep on the floor, after
having wearied themselves with their violent grief; the Marquis had
made a pillow of his cloak, and the Marchioness of a small bundle which
she had brought in her hand out of the carriage. Henri looked at them
till his eyes were full of tears; they looked pale and sorrowful even
in their sleep. He got up gently, for fear of disturbing his poor
parents, and went to the window: the air from the opposite hill blew
sweet and fresh in at the casement; it reminded Henri of the air which
he used to breathe in Claude's cottage. The window was exceedingly high
from the court of the castle; so that the little village below, and the
opposite green hill, with its cottages and flocks and herds, were all
to be seen from thence above the walls of the court.
"'What reason have we to be thankful!' said Henri; 'I was afraid my
poor father might have been shut down in a dismal vault, without light
and fresh air. If the Governor of the castle will but allow us to stay
here, and give us only bread and water, we may be happy; and I have my
little Bible, and my Book of Martyrs.'
"Whilst Henri stood at the window, he heard someone unbar the door; and
an old man came in with a basket, in which was a comfortable breakfast.
"'I have orders,' said he, 'from my lord the Governor, to give you
everything which is convenient.'
"'God bless your lord,' said Henri; and he begged the old man to return
his thanks to him.
"'I shall come again presently,' said the old man, 'and bring you the
things which you brought with you in the carriage.'
"'Your lord the Governor is a kind man,' said Henri.
"'Yes,' said the old man, 'and if your noble father will but make
himself contented, and not try to get away, he will have nothing to
complain of here, and you would do well to tell him so. My young
gentleman, excuse an old man for giving his advice.'
"Henri went up to the old man, and, taking his hand, thanked him for
his kindness.
"When the old man was gone, Henri, full of joy and thankfulness, began
to take the things out of the basket, and to set them in order upon the
table; and now Henri found the use of having been brought up to wait
upon himself and upon others; he soon set out the little table in the
neatest way, and set a chair for each of his parents; and all this so
quietly that the poor Marquis and Marchioness did not wake till he had
done. The Marchioness first opened her eyes, and looked round her.
Henri ran to her, and kissing her, said:
"'Dear mother, see what comforts we have still got! We are fallen into
good hands; look around on this room, how light, how airy, and how
pleasant it is!'
"Henri then told her all the kindness of the Governor, and showed her
the breakfast prepared for them; but she still looked sullen and
unthankful, and began to blame the Marquis, as he lay asleep, as the
cause of all her affliction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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