For a full hour the worshippers continued their mournful confessions. At length the convent bell gave one solitary toll, the signal of a new day, and of the close of their devotions. They rose, and paced in silent procession, like so many spectres, along the passage, towards the door by which they entered, and immediately all was again silent as death. In a few minutes, Herbert heard the voice of Father Bernard. "Haste thee, my child," said he, "the mules wait us at the door, ready for our departure; speak not a word, but silently follow me." So saying, they stole softly along the passage by which they had entered, and obtained a readier outlet at the convent gate than they had received admission. Herbert found Alice already seated on the patient animal that had borne her so well through the previous part of her journey, and which pawed the ground, as if to assure his burden of his readiness for farther service, notwithstanding the fatigues of the past. Herbert had only time to press, first the hand of his dear sister, in token of his joy at being again at the side; and then that of the old lady who still held her bridle, whispering into her ear a heartfelt expression of gratitude for her kindness, when the little cavalcade was once more in motion. After four days and a half of fatiguing journey through many a desolate glen, and across many a bleak and barren mountain path, where they encountered perils and difficulties which it would encroach on the sequel of our story to enumerate, the travellers had reached a gentle eminence, immediately under the rugged peaks of the Jura range, overlooking a panorama of wonders, to this day the admiration of every traveller. The mist, that had till now obscured the landscape, rose like a curtain from their feet-the glorious orb of day had risen high in the firmament, and was pouring a flood of glory over rock and meadow, plain and mountain-his rays seemed to have metamorphosed into molten gold the broad expanse of water which lay sleeping in unruffled stillness at their feet, and the beautiful villas that lined its banks were mirrored in a thousand reflections in the glassy waters. A magnificent Alp soared majestically in the distance above the rest of the landscape, and appeared to the eyes of Herbert and Alice, a giant to any of their native mountains, the guardian spirit of a scene which seemed rather to have been conjured up by the wand of an enchanter, than to wear the "sober livery" of nature. The bells of a. cathedral, whose towers peeped above the valley below, were pealing their melodious chimes over this fairy domain; and when, a few steps farther on, they beheld the smoke and heard the distant hum of a busy city, they had no difficulty in discovering that they were about to enter the gates of lovely, Protestant GENEVA! 66 "Here we must stop," said the monk; safety forbids that I go farther-but ye will find hundreds within yonder gates, ready to welcome you, and to impart better counsels and abler assistance than a secluded monk. Farewell, then," said he, the tear starting in his eye, "farewell; may the God of your fathers guide you in peace! I have an interest in your welfare, which you know not of; there is a tie which binds you to my soul, which is shared by no other who breathes the air of this polluted world." The grateful children embraced their kind deliverer, and loaded him with many assurances of the depth and sincerity of their gratitude. He was just about to leave, when Herbert once more addressed him. "Dear father," said the boy, thy kindness has indeed been like that of a parent, and I feel at this moment all the bitterness of being for a second time orphaned; but never shall this head repose on its nightly pillow, without sending up a prayer of gratitude to Heaven for having sent us such a benefactor, and a prayer for that benefactor's eternal weal; thy kindness will not pass unnoticed nor unrewarded by Him who hath said, that whosoever shall give even a cup of cold water to a disciple, shall not lose his reward.' Although thy love," continued he, "admits of no earthly remuneration, even had it been mine to give, yet I was unwilling to quit thy humble cell, without leaving behind me some token of my gratitude, some memorial of my affection. It so happened, that I had in my possession, one little gem, whose value I will leave to thyself to estiWhen thou returnest to thy chamber, remove the bricks thou hast placed for a pillow to thy couch, and underneath thou wilt find this 'pearl of great price,' brighter far than ever glittered on mitred heads, or in kingly diadems.” mate. 66 Thy gift, my child," said the monk, "thou mightest better have bestowed on those who are still enamoured with the tinsel glitter of the world's vanities. The brightest and costliest of earthly gems, are utterly valueless to one whose worldly desires and prospects are now bounded by the walls of his cloister; but I feel, and duly appreciate the motive which has induced thy kindness, and I shall preserve it for thy sake. Farewell-farewell!" With these words, they each took their different paths the monk, with his docile charge, to the valleys of Dauphiny-the young Vaudois to the city, which formed a temporary rendezvous for many of their exiled countrymen. CHAPTER III. In vain the little children, peeping out Nor wife nor children, more shall he behold, Lays him along the snows-a stiffen'd corse SCARCE an hour had elapsed, since parting with their kind conductor, when our young fugitives had arrived at the western gate of Geneva. They crossed by a draw-bridge the deep moat which surrounds the city, and which is fed by the waters of the Rhone; and the sentinel who paced in front of the massive archway contented himself with bestowing a passing glance on the strangers, and permitted them to enter unchallenged. Had it been at any other time, the novel sight of a bustling town, and particularly one ennobled by so many hallowed associations, would not have been thrown away, on such minds as those of Herbert and his sister. They had often listened |