But at the same time his voice was heard in the corridors, crying: "Mother! wake up; it is Roland! Sister! wake up; it is the big brother!" Then, clad only in his night robe and his little slippers, he ran down the steps, crying: "Don't be impatient, Roland; here I am." An instant later the key grated in the lock, and the bolts slipped back in their sockets.

A white figure appeared in the portico, and flew rather than ran to the gate, which an instant later turned on its hinges and swung open.

The child sprang upon Roland's neck and hung there.
"Ah, brother! Brother!" he exclaimed, embracing the young man, laughing and crying at the same time.

"Ah, big brother Roland! How happy mother will be; and Amelie, too! Every body is well.

I am the sickest--ah! except Michel, the gardener, you know, who has sprained his leg.