CHAPTER VIII.
PERSECUTED, YET NOT FORSAKEN.
"My father!" exclaimed the girls, and flew into his arms.

The next instant the bellowing recommenced.
"What is that ?" cried M.Bourdinave, starting.
"One of the bulls intended for baiting," said my father.
"Ah, what a vicinity to find you in ?" said M.Bourdinave.
"Better, my dear friend, than the captives of old had in this very dungeon.

And now, what news?
Where have you been ?" "I'd better go; I'm not wanted." muttered La Croissette, heard only by me, and then retiring.
"I bring the worst of news," returned M.Bourdinave, sitting down.

"The Edict of Nantes is revoked." "Ah!" and a general cry broke from us.
"What signifies it," said my mother, bitterly, "when already its provisions have been set at nought?
Are we any the better for it ?" "We may be yet worse for losing it," said M.Bourdinave.

"Every Reformed meeting-house in France is to be demolished; no private assemblages for devotional purposes are to be allowed on any pretext whatever.