On that day all the combatants arrived from the Falkenstein and the Donon, and the farm received them with doors and windows wide open. Every one brought his presents to the bride and bridegroom--Jerôme, little shoes for Louise; Materne and his sons, a fine heathcock, the most amorous of birds, as everybody knows; Divès, packets of smuggled tobacco for Gaspard; and Doctor Lorquin, a parcel of fine linen. There was open table kept even in the barns and outhouses. What was consumed in wine, bread, meat, tarts, and _kougelhof_, we cannot say; but what we know is, that Jean-Claude, who had been very gloomy and depressed since the entry of the Allies into Paris, brightened himself up on that day by singing the old air of his youth as gaily as when he set off, gun on shoulder, for Valmy, Jemmapes, and Fleurus. The echoes of the Falkenstein opposite repeated from afar this old patriotic song--the grandest, the most noble that man has ever heard under heaven. Catherine Lefévre beat time upon the table with the handle of her knife; and if it is true, as many say, that the dead come to listen when we speak of them, our brave fellows must have been satisfied, and the King of Diamonds have foamed in his red beard. Towards midnight, Hullin rose, and addressing the newly-married couple, said to them: "You will have brave children; I will dance them upon my knees; I will teach them my old song; and then I will go and rejoin my forefathers!" So saying, he embraced Louise, and arm-in-arm with Marc Divès and Jerôme, he went down to his little cottage followed by all the wedding guests, singing in chorus the sublime song. Never was there seen a more beautiful night; inumerable stars sparkled in the deep blue sky; there was a gentle rustling among the shrubs at the foot of the mountain beneath which so many brave men had been interred. Every one experienced by turns feelings of joy and of regret. On the threshold of the modest dwelling there was shaking of hands and wishing good-night; and then all, some to the right, others to the left, returned to their villages. "Good night, Materne, Jerôme, Divès, Piorette, good-night!" exclaimed Jean-Claude. His old friends returned the salute, waving their hats, and they all said to themselves: "There are still days when one is very happy to be in the world. Ah! if there were never either plagues, or wars, or famines--if men could agree together, love and help each other--if no unjust quarrels rose between them, the earth would be a real Paradise!" [Illustration] WARD, LOCK & CO.'S LIST OF SELECT NOVELS By ANTHONY TROLLOPE, CHARLES LEVER, HENRY KINGSLEY, WHYTE-MELVILLE, HARRISON AINSWORTH, HAWLEY SMART, JANE AUSTEN, and other Popular Authors; BOOKS OF HUMOUR By THOMAS HOOD, ARTEMUS WARD, BRET HARTE, MARK TWAIN, JOHN HABBERTON (Author of "Helen's Babies"), MAX ADELER, and others; and _CHEAP EDITIONS OF POPULAR BOOKS_. THE SELECT LIBRARY OF FICTION. PRICE TWO SHILLINGS EACH; Or cloth, 2s. 6d.