deep degradation--not to be exposed to the Oh brother, you saw we all
submitted to our fate without a murmur, and laboured cheerfully on the
fortifications, when compelled to do so, by that inhuman monster Davoust,
amidst the ribaldry of a licentious soldiery, merely because poor Janette
had helped to embroider a standard for the brave Hanseatic Legion you know
how we bore this"--here the sweet girl held out her delicate hands, galled
by actual and unwonted labour and many other indignities, until that awful
night, when--No, brother, we shall await the arrival of the Russians, even
should we see our once happy home converted into a field of battle; but
into the city we shall not go."

"Be it so, then, my dearest, sister.--Wilhehn, put up the stuhl wagen."

He had scarcely returned into the breakfast--room, when the door opened,
and the very handsome young officer, the aide--de--camp of the Prince,
whom I had seen the night I was carried before Davoust, entered, splashed
up to the eyes, and much heated and excited. I noticed blood on the hilt
of his sword. His orderly sat on his foaming steed, right opposite where
I stood, wiping his bloody sabre on his horse's mane. The women grew
pale; but still they had presence of mind enough to do the honours with
self--possession.

The stranger wished us a good morning; and on being asked to sit down to
breakfast, he unbuckled his sword, threw it from him with a clash on the
floor, and then, with all the grace in the world, addressed himself to
discuss the comestibles. He tried a slight approach to jesting now and
then; but seeing the heaviness of heart which prevailed amongst the women,
he, with the good breeding of a man of the world, forbore to press his
attentions.