324 A TOUR ROUND MY GARDEN. 



objection that might have been quickly overcome ; the sight 

 of a handsome uniform, a few ambitious sentences, and a 

 little music might have easily made an Achilles or a Caesar 

 of me. 



" But I was in love ! 



" On no consideration in the world would I have ventured 

 to say a word of this to my father; his only reply to my 

 confidence would have been to order me to set out that 

 very evening. 



" But I had an uncle. What an uncle he was ! 



" He was a man of nearly the same age that I am now ; 

 but he was still young, not for himself but for others; for 

 never did an old man resign to Satan his pomps, works, and 

 vanities with a better grace. He loved young people; he 

 understood them without being jealous of them. He did not 

 believe that infirmities were a progress, or that old age was 

 necessarily wisdom. By the force of goodness and reason, he 

 lived upon the happiness of others. He was mixed up with 

 all the generous follies, all the noble extravagances of youth ; 

 he was the confidant and protector of all lovers, the assistant 

 in cases of debt, the encourager of hopes. 



" I went to his house, and saluted him with, — 



" ' Dear uncle, I am very unfortunate.' 



" ' I will bet twenty louis you are not,' said he. 



" ' Dear uncle, don't joke. Besides, you would lose.' 



"' If I lose I will pay; and that perhaps wiU help to 

 console you.' 



" ' No, uncle ; money has nothing to do -with my grief.' 



« ' Well, tell it me, then.' 



" ' My father has just announced to me that I am a lieu- 

 tenant in the regiment of ' 



" ' Pretty misfortune that, to be sure. One of the hand- 

 somest uniforms in the army; the officers all gentlemen.' 



" ' But, uncle, I don't wish to be a soldier.' 



" ' What ! you don't wish to be a soldier ? Perhaps you 

 are deficient in courage 1 ' 



"'I scarcely know yet, uncle; nevertheless, you are the 

 only person I would allow to put such a question to me.' 



" ' Well, brave Cid ! and my very good friend, why are you 

 unwilling to be a soldier 1 ' 



