AUDUBON 13 



for such things : but when he inquired what else I had done, and 

 I, like a culprit, hung my head, he left me without saying another 

 word. Dinner over he asked my sister for some music, and, on 

 her playing for him, he was so pleased with her improvement that 

 he presented her with a beautiful book. I was next asked to play 

 on my violin, but alas ! for nearly a month I had not touched it, 

 it was stringless ; not a word was said on that subject. " Had I 

 any drawings to show?" Only a few, and those not good. 

 My good father looked at his wife, kissed my sister, and humming 

 a tune left the room. The next morning at dawn of day my 

 father and I were under way in a private carriage ; my trunk, etc., 

 were fastened to it, my violin-case was under my feet, the pos- 

 tilion was ordered to proceed, my father took a book from his 

 pocket, and while he silently read I was left entirely to my own 

 thoughts. 



After some days' travelling we entered the gates of Rochefort. 

 My father had scarcely spoken to me, yet there was no anger ex- 

 hibited in his countenance ; nay, as we reached the house where 

 we alighted, and approached the door, near which a sentinel 

 stopped his walk and presented arms, I saw him smile as he raised 

 his hat and said a few words to the man, but so low that not a 

 syllable reached my ears. 



The house was furnished with servants, and everything seemed 

 to go on as if the owner had not left it. My father bade me sit 

 by his side, and taking one of my hands calmly said to me : " My 

 beloved boy, thou art now safe. I have brought thee here that I 

 may be able to pay constant attention to thy studies ; thou shalt 

 have ample time for pleasures, but the remainder must be em- 

 ployed with industry and care. This day is entirely thine own, 

 and as I must attend to my duties, if thou wishest to see the docks, 

 the fine ships-of-war, and walk round the wall, thou may'st accom- 

 pany me." I accepted, and off together we went ; I was pre- 

 sented to every officer we met, and they noticing me more or 

 less, I saw much that day, yet still I perceived that I was like a 

 prisoner-of-war on parole in the city of Rochefort. 



My best and most amiable companion was the son of Admiral, 

 or Vice-Admiral (I do not precisely recollect his rank) Vivien, 



