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.i nocr.i.i'. fi \rsrif wi h a powerful effort, she
replied in a calm, fir in, but ii\< ffably tender voice;
"
Well, my dear chil 1, my beloved Victor, m:iy (lod's \vi,l lie
done ! Let in separate, full of I'.-ith and confidence, lii.e l!:e
early martyrs. And take this last nmin itir from the mother
who loves you."
Here she gave him her portrait, on the back of which Him
had traced with a firm hand these words:
''
(to, my sou; obey
the call of onr God ! May His angels watch over you every
instant of your life. Fear nothing, ;ny child, but Ciod and sin.
pure and innocent soul. Ask your Divine Son to deign to
restore him to ufi, at least it' such is His Divine will. But,
above all, l(t ,ny son ever remember the word-t of Queen
Blanche to her royal pupil, and be happy to die rather than
offend God."
" Oh ! thanks, thank?, mother," cried Yictor, deeply moved.
" I'll never forget that advice in those noble words. Thisgjft
of your love will rest on my heart ; it will surely protect me
against the poniards and balls of the enemies of the Church ;
and if God grants me the grace of one day joyfully returning
to embrace you, I will triumphantly deposit it i;i your hands
as a glorious ^nn nir of the holy crusade."
"May God grant you that grace, child," oriel the poor
short iife ; it will bo elevated, if need be, to the pure regions
of eternal light, to behold you triumphant t the foot of God's
throne !"
"And now, mother," interrupted Victor, kneeling before
her, " in the name of my father and yours, give me your bless-
ing." And a tear gushed to the lad's eyes, as he thought of
that absent father who had refused to bless him and follow
him in his glorious enterprise with the eyes; of faith and love.
The mother then raised her eyes to heaven, whence she
sought strength and grace to calmly pronounce these solemn
words, and in a voice ;
husky from deep emotion, said :
"
May the Loid bl ss you ns your mother bl sses you, my
for the cause of God and His
remain faithful and devoted to the love of your
beloved child ! Fight valiantly
Holy Church ;
iner ; faithful and devoted unto death if the Lord re-
l it ; do all this, as I do it, in the nam;< of the Father,
and of tli:n, v.-li fee', of i
and add:-es:-ed (!> i
; 0111. d out all her he ,
in a torp
>"
'
fog iotlie railway.
Where
'
P< i- bwro .'" suddenly exclaimed fle> f.'arbonarn, bethink-
Pray for us all, and particularly your father. Fray for your
mother, who blesses you from the bottom of her soul, who will
constantly pray for you, and wlio-e love, whose heart, whose
thoughts will follow you nuce.isiugly wherever you shall be.
Your mother and :riend, Hose Morren. Mary, I confide ing himself, "isn't this the day that young S;-li
wan to set out for Borne ? Mightn't Vie; ..,>"
's simple enough to do so, I think. But it's easy en
my for us to ascertain. Let us go at once to Mm r
beloved child to you; preserve from all evil, I entreat you, his A tew momenta later they knocked at the door. Barbara,
still -weeping, hastened to open it.
" Is M. Morren at home 1"
" No, gentlemen; he went to the country yesterday."
"And his sou?"
"Alas! he left for Rome only a moment ago!" And, at
these words, the poor servant shed a deluge of tears.
The two visitors feigned the profoundest sympath;
t-) givo Madame Morren their most respectful compliments,
and without waiting any longer went their way.
"
Maltdctto Papallno !" cried Maso, clenching
" He shall pay for it, Ernest; yes, he shall pay for it, I i
to you." And -while he spoke, his eyes gleamed with li
fury, like those of the tiger greedy of carnage a^d re;
his Ii-nid.
mother, sobbing; "but Victor, oh! Victor shall I see you
"
again t
" Let us linpe so, mother. The Lord is omnipotent, and
t ikes care of His own. Don't afflict yourself with vain
alarms."
"
No, my dear son have no fears of me. I've ; already told
you I'll not give way to a culpable despair, an unworthy weakness
; and, even if the greatest of all sorrows should be reserved
. ftod, ! hope, will give me grace and strength to say
that I -am happy to bo the mother of a martyr. Xo, my son,
my vision will not be bounded fling
by the narrow horiaoii of this
itself on its timid prey.
As to Victor, when he rejoined the young Pontifical Volunteers
-
ut the Brussels Station tiie same evening, he was al one
saluted with & chorus of joyful acclamations.
"Hurrah ! hurraii ! here's Victor," they cried in a transport
of joy, surprise, r.nd enthusiasm.
"Welcome!" repealed Joseph, joyfully, and moved evr-u to
"
tears. My dear Victor, something told me you wouldn't
abandon us here. "
And ti;e t\vo young cousins, mustered under the standard of
the same God, were clasped in a fraternal embrace.
CHAPTER VI.
1! O 31 K.
A few months had passed since the departure of (.lie young
volunteers. The Morrens had, as usual, retired for the summer
to their beautiful seat at Schramneck, where M
Morren cou d observe the progress o. her sister's coi .
Since Victor's departure, M. Morren was singularly res:
d;i 1 and d-.-jecied, oi'ten passing whole days in his li; rury,
where no one wa;, .ed to intrude. He
a word to hi-t wife when they met at meals: au 1 even th
dropped were extremely few and frigid, and tinctured w.th a
secret bitterness.
It was certainly very painful for this loving spouse, this
afflicted mother, to meet with nothing but coldness and injust-
, ice; but she -was resolved topcrseve.. ml in her generous
sacrifice, ai.d strove to be calm and courageous, laying
her burden and her cross every day at the bleeding feet of
Christ and the Mother of Sorr
M. Morreu, despite all, was too upright and L
heart, Do; to perceive the injustice, the foliy