318 THE VICARAGE. 



where he remained as an inmate during a period 

 of twenty years, beloved and respected by all who 

 knew him. He returned to France after the bat- 

 tle of Leipsic, and lived upon a small pension 

 granted to him by Louis XVIII., and the interest 

 of some money he had saved in England. His 

 gratitude to the English was unbounded; and 

 while on a visit to some relations at Bourdeaux, 

 he heard of the sick and neglected officer,, and, 

 like the good Samaritan, went to afford him all 

 the relief in his power. He had nursed him with 

 the tenderness of a mother, had dressed his 

 wounds, administered to his wants, and soothed 

 the perturbation and restlessness of his mind. No 

 night was too long, no day too tedious for the 

 benevolent Abbe. 



But we must describe him. He was apparently 

 about seventy or seventy-five years of age, tall, 

 somewhat stout, and with the appearance of a 

 highly-bred, gentlemanlike man. He made his 

 daily toilette with a precision and neatness which 

 were habitual to him. His clothes were nicely 

 brushed, his black silk stockings were without a 

 wrinkle, and kept so by silver buckles at his knees ; 

 his hair, though white, was powdered, and was 

 seen neatly rolled up behind. His countenance 

 beamed with benevolence. No bad passion had 

 ever disturbed it, for it bore the signs of purity, 

 Christian charity, and child-like simplicity. Poor 



