She then hastened to attend to the poor little infant who had been so cruelly abandoned. She undid its wrappings, washed the smoke and dust from its face and hands, and then prepared some food for it of bread and goat's milk. Whilst thus engaged, her two boys rushed into the hut with shouts of joy, having heard of their father's return— Michael, who was first, eagerly asking if he had brought them anything. Gaspard, smiling, pointed to the child on his mother's lap. "John, John!" cried the boy, "father has brought back our little brother!" John, having embraced his good father, ran to look as Michael desired. "Yes, yes," said he, "our little Francis is come back; the good God has given him to us again. Oh, what pretty blue eyes and curling hair!" The two boys kissed the child, thus offering to it the love they had for their little brother. Poor Katherine's tears fell fast as the loss of her little one was thus recalled to her. Gaspard suppressed the emotion he himself felt at this little scene, and, seating himself by his wife, he said,— "Yes, my boys, this little one shall be a brother to you, and your good mother will adopt it in the place of the dear one we lost." Katherine wiped away her tears, and laying her now charge on one of their rude beds, with the two boys to watch it, she hastened to prepare the meal she was sure her husband much needed. The evening passed happily away. The little stranger slept as soundly on Katherine's humble bed as on the rich couch on which Gaspard had found it. John and Michael soon followed its example, and then Katherine had leisure to seat herself by her husband's side, and talk over the events of the day. "How I pity that poor little infant's parents," said she. "Their sorrow must be greater than ours when we lost our little Francis. We knew he was safe with God, whilst they cannot know what has become of their little one. I wonder if any marks on its clothes could lead to any trace of who are its parents; but though its linen is of the finest sort, I can see no mark. But look, Gaspard," she suddenly added, "at this cap; is it not an uncommon one?" It was, in truth, remarkable, not only for the fine Brussels lace of which it was made, but more so from there being a star embroidered in silver on the right side. "Look at this star," continued Katherine; "I wonder what it means." "It looks as if the child is of noble birth," said her husband. "I will take this little cap to-morrow to the Baron; by means of it he may be able to help us in trying to discover to whom this poor little one belongs." "We must keep it carefully," replied Katherine; "some day or other it may lead to some discovery." The husband and wife were long in talking over the past and the future, till fatigue at last compelled them to seek that rest which Gaspard especially much needed. The exciting events of the day, however, kept the weary soldier for a time from sleeping, but at last he slept soundly.