Only that as we passed near the house of good old Monsieur de Laccassagne, we could hear the abominable uproar of drums within it, and it would seem as if all the drummers in Nismes must have been congregated to drive the poor old gentleman to distraction.

We had also seen in the distance, floods of light streaming from the windows of the cathedral, and heard a strange murmur of cries, and we afterwards learnt that multitudes of poor people of the baser sort had been driven like oxen or silly sheep into the church, pricked on by the dragoons' swords and shouts of "Kill! kill!" to be present at mass.
But now, as we gained a spot where, at the end of a street, we could gain a distant glimpse of our factory, we perceived the sky red with flurid flames bursting from it.
"The factory is on fire!" I exclaimed.
Then my mother wrung her hands, crying, "Oh, my husband! you are ruined, perhaps sacrificed! I must go in quest of thee, and leave my son with a faithful friend." Then she hastened off towards the factory, and I could not blame her nor wonder at her, though my heart misgave me that she might fall into mischief.
Madeleine's support was insufficient for me now; but I set my teeth like a flint, and commanded the pain I was in every time I set foot to the ground.

Was it not alleviation enough to have her dear arm for my stay, and her tender hand wiping from my brow the drops forced forth by my suffering?
Then we came to some steps.

These gave me much trouble to descend, especially as we were so nearly in the dark, but Madeleine seemed to know them pretty well.
"I have often been here already," whispered she, "only not after dark, and have laid in stores of many things necessary for our subsistence." We were now groping along a chill stone passage, and were presently brought up by a wall right in front, against which we violently hit our heads.
"I fear I have missed the way," said Madeleine, in alarm.

"Hark! I hear the children laughing.