"If，"saidthegirlslowly，"hehadwalkedforonlyonedayhisbootswouldnothavelookedso；andif——"
"If！"saidtheGermanstartingupinhischair，irritatedthatanyoneshoulddoubtsuchirrefragableevidence——"if！Why，hetoldmehimself！
Lookhowheliesthere，"addedtheGermanpathetically，"wornout——poorfellow！Wehavesomethingforhimthough，"pointingwithhisforefingeroverhisshouldertothesaucepanthatstoodonthefire。"Wearenotcooks——notFrenchcooks，notquite；butit’sdrinkable，drinkable，Ithink；
betterthannothing，Ithink，"headded，noddinghisheadinajocundmannerthatevincedhishighestimationofthecontentsofthesaucepanandhisprofoundsatisfactiontherein。"Bish！bish！mychicken，"hesaid，asLyndalltappedherlittlefootupanddownuponthefloor。"Bish！bish！mychicken，youwillwakehim。"
Hemovedthecandlesothathisownheadmightintervenebetweenitandthesleeper’sface；and，smoothinghisnewspaper，headjustedhisspectaclestoread。
Thechild’sgrey—blackeyesrestedonthefigureonthebed，thenturnedtotheGerman，thenrestedonthefigureagain。
"Ithinkheisaliar。Goodnight，UncleOtto，"shesaidslowly，turningtothedoor。
LongaftershehadgonetheGermanfoldedhispaperupmethodically，andputitinhispocket。
Thestrangerhadnotawakenedtopartakeofthesoup，andhissonhadfallenasleepontheground。Takingtwowhitesheepskinsfromtheheapofsacksinthecorner，theoldmandoubledthemup，andliftingtheboy’sheadgentlyfromtheslateonwhichitrested，placedtheskinsbeneathit。
"Poorlambie，poorlambie！"hesaid，tenderlypattingthegreatroughbear—
likehead；"tiredishe！"
Hethrewanovercoatacrosstheboy’sfeet，andliftedthesaucepanfromthefire。Therewasnoplacewheretheoldmancouldcomfortablyliedownhimself，soheresumedhisseat。Openingamuch—wornBible，hebegantoread，andashereadpleasantthoughtsandvisionsthrongedonhim。
"Iwasastranger，andyetookmein，"heread。
Heturnedagaintothebedwherethesleeperlay。
"Iwasastranger。"
Verytenderlytheoldmanlookedathim。Hesawnotthebloatedbodynortheevilfaceoftheman；but，asitwere，underdeepdisguiseandfleshlyconcealment，theformthatlongyearsofdreaminghadmadeveryrealtohim。"Jesus，lover，andisitgiventous，weakandsinful，frailanderring，toserveThee，totakeTheein！"hesaidsoftly，asherosefromhisseat。Fullofjoy，hebegantopacethelittleroom。NowandagainashewalkedhesangthelinesofaGermanhymn，ormutteredbrokenwordsofprayer。Thelittleroomwasfulloflight。ItappearedtotheGermanthatChristwasverynearhim，andthatatalmostanymomentthethinmistofearthlydarknessthatcloudedhishumaneyesmightbewithdrawn，andthatmademanifestofwhichthefriendsatEmmaus，beholdingit，said，"ItistheLord！"
Again，andyetagain，throughthelonghoursofthatnight，astheoldmanwalkedhelookeduptotheroofofhislittleroom，withitsblackenedrafters，andyetsawthemnot。Hisroughbeardedfacewasilluminatedwitharadiantgladness；andthenightwasnotshortertothedreamingsleepersthantohimwhosewakingdreamsbroughtheavennear。
Soquicklythenightfled，thathelookedupwithsurprisewhenatfouro’clockthefirstgreystreaksofsummerdawnshowedthemselvesthroughthelittlewindow。Thentheoldmanturnedtoraketogetherthefewcoalsthatlayundertheashes，andhisson，turningonthesheepskins，mutteredsleepilytoknowifitweretimetorise。
"Liestill，liestill！Iwouldonlymakeafire，"saidtheoldman。
"Haveyoubeenupallnight？"askedtheboy。
"Yes；butithasbeenshort，veryshort。Sleepagain，mychicken；itisyetearly。"
Andhewentouttofetchmorefuel。
Chapter1。IV。BlessedisHeThatBelieveth。
BonaparteBlenkinssatonthesideofthebed。Hehadwonderfullyrevivedsincethedaybefore，heldhisheadhigh，talkedinafullsonorousvoice，andategreedilyofalltheviandsofferedhim。Athissidewasabasinofsoup，fromwhichhetookadeepdraughtnowandagainashewatchedthefingersoftheGerman，whosatonthemudfloormendingthebottomofachair。
Presentlyhelookedout，where，intheafternoonsunshine，afewhalf—grownostrichesmightbeseenwanderinglistlesslyabout，andthenhelookedinagainatthelittlewhitewashedroom，andatLyndall，whosatinthedoorwaylookingatabook。Thenheraisedhischinandtriedtoadjustanimaginaryshirt—collar。Findingnone，hesmoothedthelittlegreyfringeatthebackofhishead，andbegan：
"Youareastudentofhistory，Iperceive，myfriend，fromthestudyofthesevolumesthatliescatteredaboutthisapartment；thisfacthasbeenmadeevidenttome。"
"Well——alittle——perhaps——itmaybe，"saidtheGermanmeekly。
"Beingastudentofhistorythen，"saidBonaparte，raisinghimselfloftily，"youwilldoubtlesshaveheardofmygreat，ofmycelebratedkinsman，NapoleonBonaparte？"
"Yes，yes，"saidtheGerman，lookingup。
"I，sir，"saidBonaparte，"wasbornatthishour，onanAprilafternoon，three—and—fiftyyearsago。Thenurse，sir——shewasthesamewhoattendedwhentheDukeofSutherlandwasborn——broughtmetomymother。’Thereisonlyonenameforthischild，’shesaid：’hehasthenoseofhisgreatkinsman；’andsoBonaparteBlenkinsbecamemyname——BonaparteBlenkins。
Yes，sir，"saidBonaparte，"thereisastreamonmymaternalsidethatconnectsmewithastreamonhismaternalside。"
TheGermanmadeasoundofastonishment。
"Theconnection，"saidBonaparte，"isonewhichcouldnotbeeasilycomprehendedbyoneunaccustomedtothestudyofaristocraticpedigrees；
buttheconnectionisclose。"
"Isitpossible！"saidtheGerman，pausinginhisworkwithmuchinterestandastonishment。"NapoleonanIrishman！"
"Yes，"saidBonaparte，"onthemother’sside，andthatishowwearerelated。Therewasn’tamantobeathim，"saidBonaparte，stretchinghimself——"notamanexcepttheDukeofWellington。Andit’sastrangecoincidence，"addedBonaparte，bendingforward，"buthewasaconnectionofmine。Hisnephew，theDukeofWellington’snephew，marriedacousinofmine。Shewasawoman！Seeheratoneofthecourtballs——ambersatin——
daisiesinherhair。Worthgoingahundredmilestolookather！Oftenseenhertheremyself，sir！"
TheGermanmovedtheleatherthongsinandout，andthoughtofthestrangevicissitudesofhumanlife，whichmightbringthekinsmanofdukesandemperorstohishumbleroom。
Bonaparteappearedlostamongoldmemories。
"Ah，thatDukeofWellington’snephew！"hebrokeforthsuddenly；"many’sthejokeI’vehadwithhim。OftencametovisitmeatBonaparteHall。
GrandplaceIhadthen——park，conservatory，servants。Hehadonlyonefault，thatDukeofWellington’snephew，"saidBonaparte，observingthattheGermanwasdeeplyinterestedineveryword，"Hewasacoward——whatyoumightcallacoward。You’veneverbeeninRussia，Isuppose？"saidBonaparte，fixinghiscrosswiselookingeyesontheGerman’sface。
"No，no，"saidtheoldmanhumbly。"France，England，Germany，alittleinthiscountry；itisallIhavetravelled。"
"I，myfriend，"saidBonaparte，"Ihavebeenineverycountryintheworld，andspeakeverycivilisedlanguage，exceptingonlyDutchandGerman。I
wroteabookofmytravels——noteworthyincidents。Publishergotit——
cheatedmeoutofit。Greatrascalsthosepublishers！UpononeoccasiontheDukeofWellington’snephewandIweretravellinginRussia。Allofasuddenoneofthehorsesdroppeddowndeadasadoornail。Therewewere——
coldnight——snowfourfeetthick——greatforest——onehorsenotbeingabletomovethesledge——nightcomingon——wolves。
"’Spree！’saystheDukeofWellington’snephew。
"’Spree，doyoucallit？saysI。’Lookout。’
"There，stickingoutunderabush，wasnothinglessthanthenoseofabear。TheDukeofWellington’snephewwasupatreelikeashot；Istoodquietlyontheground，ascoolasIamatthismoment，loadedmygun，andclimbedupthetree。Therewasonlyonebough。
"’Bon，’saidtheDukeofWellington’snephew，’you’dbettersitinfront。’
"’Allright，’saidI；’butkeepyourgunready。Therearemorecoming。’
He’dgothisfaceburiedinmyback。
"’Howmanyarethere？’saidhe。
"’Four，’saidI。
"’Howmanyaretherenow？’saidhe。
"’Eight，’saidI。
"’Howmanyaretherenow？’saidhe。
"’Ten，’saidI。
"’Ten！ten！’saidhe；anddowngoeshisgun。
"’Wallie，’Isaid，’whathaveyoudone？We’redeadmennow。’
"’Bon，myoldfellow，’saidhe，’Icouldn’thelpit；myhandstrembledso！’
"’Wall，’Isaid，turningroundandseizinghishand，’Wallie，mydearlad，good—bye。I’mnotafraidtodie。Mylegsarelong——theyhangdown——thefirstbearthatcomesandIdon’thithim，offgoesmyfoot。WhenhetakesitIshallgiveyoumygunandgo。Youmayyetbesaved；buttell，oh，tellMaryAnnthatIthoughtofher，thatIprayedforher。’
"’Good—bye，oldfellow，’saidhe。
"’Godblessyou，’saidI。
"Bythistimethebearsweresittinginacircleallaroundthetree。
Yes，"saidBonaparteimpressively，fixinghiseyesontheGerman，"aregular，exact，circle。Themarksoftheirtailswereleftinthesnow，andImeasureditafterward；adrawing—mastercouldn’thavedoneitbetter。
Itwasthatsavedme。Ifthey’drushedonmeatonce，pooroldBonwouldneverhavebeenheretotellthisstory。Buttheycameon，sir，systematically，onebyone。Alltherestsatontheirtailsandwaited。
Thefirstfellowcameup，andIshothim；thesecondfellow——Ishothim；
thethird——Ishothim。Atlastthetenthcame；hewasthebiggestofall——
theleader，youmaysay。
"’Wall，’Isaid，’givemeyourhand。Myfingersarestiffwiththecold；
thereisonlyonebulletleft。Ishallmisshim。Whileheiseatingmeyougetdownandtakeyourgun；andlive，dearfriend，livetorememberthemanwhogavehislifeforyou！’Bythattimethebearwasatme。Ifelthispawonmytrousers。
"’Oh，Bonnie！Bonnie！’saidtheDukeofWellington’snephew。ButIjusttookmygunandputthemuzzletothebear’sear——overhefell——dead！"
BonaparteBlenkinswaitedtoobservewhateffecthisstoryhadmade。Thenhetookoutadirtywhitehandkerchiefandstrokedhisforehead，andmoreespeciallyhiseyes。
"Italwaysaffectsmetorelatethatadventure，"heremarked，returningthehandkerchieftohispocket。"Ingratitude——base，vileingratitude——isrecalledbyit！Thatman，thatman，whobutformewouldhaveperishedinthepathlesswildsofRussia，thatmaninthehourofmyadversityforsookme。"TheGermanlookedup。"Yes，"saidBonaparte，"Ihadmoney，Ihadlands；Isaidtomywife：’ThereisAfrica，astrugglingcountry；theywantcapital；theywantmenoftalent；theywantmenofabilitytoopenupthatland。Letusgo。’
"Iboughteightthousandpounds’worthofmachinery——winnowing，plowing，reapingmachines；Iloadedashipwiththem。NextsteamerIcameout——
wife，children，all。GottotheCape。Whereistheshipwiththethings？
Lost——gonetothebottom！Andtheboxwiththemoney？Lost——nothingsaved！
"MywifewrotetotheDukeofWellington’snephew；Ididn’twishherto；
shediditwithoutmyknowledge。
"WhatdidthemanwhoselifeIsaveddo？Didhesendmethirtythousandpounds？say，’Bonaparte，mybrother，hereisacrumb？’No；hesentmenothing。
"Mywifesaid，’Write。’Isaid，’MaryAnn，NO。Whilethesehandshavepowertowork，NO。Whilethisframehaspowertoendure，NO。NevershallitbesaidthatBonaparteBlenkinsaskedofanyman。’"
Theman’snobleindependencetouchedtheGerman。
"Yourcaseishard；yes，thatishard，"saidtheGerman，shakinghishead。
Bonapartetookanotherdraughtofthesoup，leanedbackagainstthepillows，andsigheddeeply。
"Ithink，"hesaidafterawhile，rousinghimself，"Ishallnowwanderinthebenignair，andtastethegentlecoolofevening。Thestiffnesshoversovermeyet；exerciseisbeneficial。"
Sosaying，headjustedhishatcarefullyonthebaldcrownofhishead，andmovedtothedoor。AfterhehadgonetheGermansighedagainoverhiswork：
"Ah，Lord！Soitis！Ah！"
Hethoughtoftheingratitudeoftheworld。
"UncleOtto，"saidthechildinthedoorway，"didyoueverhearoftenbearssittingontheirtailsinacircle？"
"Well，notoftenexactly：butbearsdoattacktravellerseveryday。Itisnothingunheardof，"saidtheGerman。"Amanofsuchcourage，too！
Terribleexperiencethat！"
"Andhowdoweknowthatthestoryistrue，UncleOtto？"
TheGerman’sirewasroused。
"ThatiswhatIdohate！"hecried。"Knowthatistrue！Howdoyouknowthatanythingistrue？Becauseyouaretoldso。Ifwebegintoquestioneverything——proof，proof，proof，whatwillwehavetobelieveleft？HowdoyouknowtheangelopenedtheprisondoorforPeter，exceptthatPetersaidso？HowdoyouknowthatGodtalkedtoMoses，exceptthatMoseswroteit？
ThatiswhatIhate！"
Thegirlknitherbrows。PerhapsherthoughtsmadealongerjourneythantheGermandreamedof；for，markyou，theolddreamlittlehowtheirwordsandlivesaretextsandstudiestothegenerationthatshallsucceedthem。
Notwhatwearetaught，butwhatwesee，makesus，andthechildgathersthefoodonwhichtheadultfeedstotheend。
WhentheGermanlookedupnexttherewasalookofsupremesatisfactioninthelittlemouthandthebeautifuleyes。
"Whatdostsee，chicken？"heasked。
Thechildsaidnothing，andanagonizingshriekwasborneontheafternoonbreeze。
"Oh，God！myGod！Iamkilled！"criedthevoiceofBonaparte，ashe，withwideopenmouthandshakingflesh，fellintotheroom，followedbyahalf—
grownostrich，whoputitsheadinatthedoor，openeditsbeakathim，andwentaway。
"Shutthedoor！shutthedoor！Asyouvaluemylife，shutthedoor！"criedBonaparte，sinkingintoachair，hisfaceblueandwhite，withagreenishnessaboutthemouth。"Ah，myfriend，"hesaidtremulously，"eternityhaslookedmeintheface！Mylife’sthreadhunguponacord！
Thevalleyoftheshadowofdeath！"saidBonaparte，seizingtheGerman’sarm。
"Dear，dear，dear！"saidtheGerman，whohadclosedthelowerhalfofthedoor，andstoodmuchconcernedbesidethestranger，"youhavehadafright。
Ineverknewsoyoungabirdtochasebefore；buttheywilltakedislikestocertainpeople。Isentaboyawayoncebecauseabirdwouldchasehim。
Ah，dear，dear！"
"WhenIlookedround，"saidBonaparte，"theredandyawningcavitywasaboveme，andthereprehensiblepawraisedtostrikeme。Mynerves，"saidBonaparte，suddenlygrowingfaint，"alwaysdelicate——highlystrung——arebroken——broken！Youcouldnotgivealittlewine，alittlebrandymyfriend？"
TheoldGermanhurriedawaytothebookshelf，andtookfrombehindthebooksasmallbottle，halfofwhosecontentshepouredintoacup。
Bonapartedrainediteagerly。
"Howdoyoufeelnow？"askedtheGerman，lookingathimwithmuchsympathy。
"Alittle，slightly，better。"
TheGermanwentouttopickupthebatteredchimneypotwhichhadfallenbeforethedoor。
"Iamsorryyougotthefright。Thebirdsarebadthingstillyouknowthem，"hesaidsympathetically，asheputthehatdown。
"Myfriend，"saidBonaparte，holdingouthishand，"Iforgiveyou；donotbedisturbed。Whatevertheconsequences，Iforgiveyou。Iknow，I
believe，itwaswithnoill—intentthatyouallowedmetogoout。Givemeyourhand。Ihavenoill—feeling；none！"
"Youareverykind，"saidtheGerman，takingtheextendedhand，andfeelingsuddenlyconvincedthathewasreceivingmagnanimousforgivenessforsomegreatinjury，"youareverykind。"
"Don’tmentionit，"saidBonaparte。
Heknockedoutthecrownofhiscaved—inoldhat，placeditonthetablebeforehim，leanedhiselbowsonthetableandhisfaceinhishands，andcontemplatedit。
"Ah，myoldfriend，"hethusapostrophizedthehat，"youhaveservedmelong，youhaveservedmefaithfully，butthelastdayhascome。Nevermoreshallyoubeborneupontheheadofyourmaster。Nevermoreshallyouprotecthisbrowfromtheburningraysofsummerorthecuttingwindsofwinter。Henceforthbare—headedmustyourmastergo。Good—bye，good—bye，oldhat！"
AttheendofthisaffectingappealtheGermanrose。Hewenttotheboxatthefootofhisbed；outofithetookablackhat，whichhadevidentlybeenseldomwornandcarefullypreserved。
"It’snotexactlywhatyoumayhavebeenaccustomedto，"hesaidnervously，puttingitdownbesidethebatteredchimneypot，"butitmightbeofsomeuse——aprotectiontothehead，youknow。"
"Myfriend，"saidBonaparte，"youarenotfollowingmyadvice；youareallowingyourselftobereproachedonmyaccount。Donotmakeyourselfunhappy。No；Ishallgobare—headed。"
"No，no，no！"criedtheGermanenergetically。"Ihavenouseforthehat，noneatall。Itisshutupinthebox。"
"ThenIwilltakeit，myfriend。Itisacomforttoone’sownmindwhenyouhaveunintentionallyinjuredanyonetomakereparation。Iknowthefeeling。Thehatmaynotbeofthatrefinedcutofwhichtheoldonewas，butitwillserve，yes，itwillserve。Thankyou，"saidBonaparte，adjustingitonhishead，andthenreplacingitonthetable。"Ishallliedownnowandtakealittlerepose，"headded；"Imuchfearmyappetiteforsupperwillbelost。"
"Ihopenot，Ihopenot，"saidtheGerman，reseatinghimselfathiswork，andlookingmuchconcernedasBonapartestretchedhimselfonthebedandturnedtheendofthepatchworkquiltoverhisfeet。
"Youmustnotthinktomakeyourdeparture，notformanydays，"saidtheGermanpresently。"TantSanniegivesherconsent，and——"
"Myfriend，"saidBonaparte，closinghiseyessadly，"youarekind；butwereitnotthattomorrowistheSabbath，weakandtremblingasIliehere，Iwouldproceedonmyway。Imustseekwork；idlenessbutforadayispainful。Work，labour——thatisthesecretofalltruehappiness！"
Hedoubledthepillarunderhishead，andwatchedhowtheGermandrewtheleatherthongsinandout。
AfterawhileLyndallsilentlyputherbookontheshelfandwenthome，andtheGermanstoodupandbegantomixsomewaterandmealforroaster—cakes。
Ashestirredthemwithhishandshesaid：
"ImakealwaysadoublesupplyonSaturdaynight；thehandsarethenfreeasthethoughtsforSunday。"
"TheblessedSabbath！"saidBonaparte。
Therewasapause。Bonapartetwistedhiseyeswithoutmovinghishead，toseeifsupperwerealreadyonthefire。
"YoumustsorelymisstheadministrationoftheLord’swordinthisdesolatespot，"addedBonaparte。"Oh，howloveIThinehouse，andtheplacewhereThinehonourdwelleth！"
"Well，wedo；yes，"saidtheGerman；"butwedoourbest。Wemeettogether，andI——well，Isayafewwords，andperhapstheyarenotwhollylost，notquite。"
"Strangecoincidence，"saidBonaparte；"myplanalwayswasthesame。WasintheFreeStateonce——solitaryfarm——oneneighbour。EverySundayI
calledtogetherfriendandneighbour，childandservant，andsaid，’Rejoicewithme，thatwemayservetheLord，’andthenIaddressedthem。Ah，thosewereblessedtimes，"saidBonaparte；"wouldtheymightreturn。"
TheGermanstirredatthecakes，andstirred，andstirred，andstirred。Hecouldgivethestrangerhisbed，andhecouldgivethestrangerhishat，andhecouldgivethestrangerhisbrandy；buthisSundayservice！
Afteragoodwhilehesaid：
"ImightspeaktoTantSannie；Imightarrange；youmighttaketheserviceinmyplace，ifit——"
"Myfriend，"saidBonaparte，"itwouldgivemetheprofoundestfelicity，themostunboundedsatisfaction；butintheseworn—outhabiliments，inthesedeterioratedgarments，itwouldnotbepossible，itwouldnotbefittingthatIshouldofficiateinserviceofOnewhom，forrespect，weshallnotname。No，myfriend，Iwillremainhere；and，whileyouareassemblingyourselvestogetherinthepresenceoftheLord，I，inmysolitude，willthinkofandprayforyou。No；Iwillremainhere！"
Itwasatouchingpicture——thesolitarymanthereprayingforthem。TheGermanclearedhishandsfromthemeal，andwenttothechestfromwhichhehadtakentheblackhat。Afteralittlecarefulfeelingabout，heproducedablackclothcoat，trousers，andwaistcoat，whichhelaidonthetable，smilingknowingly。Theywereofnewshiningcloth，worntwiceayear，whenhewenttothetowntonachtmaal。Helookedwithgreatprideatthecoatasheunfoldeditandhelditup。
"It’snotthelatestfashion，perhaps，notaWestEndcut，notexactly；butitmightdo；itmightserveatapush。Tryiton，tryiton！"hesaid，hisoldgreyeyestwinklingwithpride。
Bonapartestoodupandtriedonthecoat。Itfittedadmirably；thewaistcoatcouldbemadetobuttonbyrippinguptheback，andthetrouserswereperfect；butbelowweretheraggedboots。TheGermanwasnotdisconcerted。Goingtothebeamwhereapairoftop—bootshung，hetookthemoff，dustedthemcarefully，andputthemdownbeforeBonaparte。Theoldeyesnowfairlybrimmedoverwithsparklingenjoyment。
"Ihaveonlywornthemonce。Theymightserve；theymightbeendured。"
Bonapartedrewthemonandstoodupright，hisheadalmosttouchingthebeams。TheGermanlookedathimwithprofoundadmiration。Itwaswonderfulwhatadifferencefeathersmadeinthebird。
Chapter1。V。SundayServices。
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