Victoire alone stood motionless beside Madame de Fleury; her whole thoughts absorbed by the fear that her benefactress would be imprisoned.

"Oh, madame! dear, dear Madame de Fleury, don't stay! don't stay!" "Oh, children, never mind these things." "Don't stay, madame, don't stay! I will stay with them--I will stay--do you go." The children hearing these words, and recollecting Madame de Fleury's danger, abandoned all their little property, and instantly obeyed her orders to go home to their parents.

Victoire at last saw Madame de Fleury safe in her carriage.

The coachman drove off at a great rate; and a few minutes afterwards Tracassier's myrmidons arrived at the school- house.

Great was their surprise when they found only the poor children's little books, unfinished samplers, and half-hemmed handkerchiefs.