with happiness, Passerose, astonished at the melancholy of the one and the joy of the other and ignorant of the cause of both.
All slept, however. Violette after weeping profusely. Ourson after having invoked the fairy Drolette; Agnella after smiling and thinking of Ourson handsome and attractive and Passerose after saying to herself a hundred times: "But what is the matter with them all to-day?"
Scarcely an hour after all at the farm were asleep, Violette was aroused by the smell of fire and smoke. Agnella awoke at the same moment.
"Mother," said Violette, "do you not smell some thing?"
"The house is on fire," said Agnella. "Look what a light is round about us!"
They sprang from their beds and ran to the parlor. The flames had already taken possession of it and of the neighboring chambers.
"Ourson! Passerose!" cried Agnella.
"Ourson! Ourson!" exclaimed Violette.
Passerose sprang half clothed into the parlor.
"We are lost, madam! The flames are all through the house. The doors and windows are firmly closed—it is impossible to open them."
"My son! my son!" cried Agnella.
"My brother! my brother!" exclaimed Violette.
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