CHAPTER X.THE SURPRISE.
The orphans, after reading the journal of their father, remained for some moments silent, sad, and pensive, contemplating the leaves yellowed by time.

Dagobert, also plunged in a reverie, thought of his wife and son, from whom he had been so long separated, and hoped soon to see again.
The soldier was the first to break the silence, which had lasted for several minutes.

Taking the leaves from the hand of Blanche, he folded them carefully, put them into his pocket, and thus addressed the orphans: "Courage, my children! you see what a brave father you have.

Think only of the pleasure of greeting him, and remember always the name of the gallant youth, to whom you will owe that pleasure--for without him your father would have been killed in India." "Djalma! we shall never forget him," said Rose.
"And if our guardian angel Gabriel should return," added Blanche, "we will ask him to watch over Djalma as over ourselves." "Very well, my children; I am sure that you will forget nothing that concerns good feeling.

But to return to the traveller, who came to visit your poor mother in Siberia, he had seen the general a month after the events of which you have read, and at a moment when he was about to enter on a new campaign against the English.