When she saw this festive company, each child sitting between her parents, and all at her entrance looking up with affectionate pleasure, a faint smile enlivened her countenance for a moment; but she did not speak to them with her usual ease.

Her mind seemed preoccupied by some disagreeable business of importance.

It appeared that it had some connection with them; for as she walked round the table with Sister Frances, she said, with a voice and look of great tenderness, "Poor children! how happy they are at this moment!--Heaven only knows how soon they may be rendered, or may render themselves, miserable!" None of the children could imagine what this meant; but their parents guessed that it had some allusion to the state of public affairs.

About this time some of those discontents had broken out which preceded the terrible days of the Revolution.

As yet, most of the common people, who were honestly employed in earning their own living, neither understood what was going on nor foresaw what was to happen.