A hard life, harder even than that of a soldier.

Who is this lad ?" "He is my brother, who, if I go as a soldier, intends to volunteer as a drummer." "_Pauvre enfant! c'est dommage_." The cabaret was full of conscripts and other people, so that the hostess had enough to do.

At night, we were shown by her into a small bed-room, adjoining the room we occupied.

"You are quite alone here; the conscripts are to muster to-morrow, I find, in the _Place d'Armes_, at two o'clock; do you intend to go ?" "No," replied O'Brien: "they will think that I am behind.

It is of no consequence." "Well," replied the woman, "do as you please, you may trust me: but I am so busy, without any one to assist me, that until they leave the town, I can hardly find time to speak to you." "That will be soon enough, my good hostess," replied O'Brien: "_au revoir_." The next evening, the woman came in, in some alarm, stating that a conscript had arrived whose name had been given in before, and that the person who had given it in, had not mustered at the place.