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570 accident by which he had met with them, he desired, by his care of their education, to prove his gratitude to the gods for the present they had made him. So having rendered his dwelling more habitable, he attracted to it persons of talent, who taught the children various sciences, which they acquired with a facility surprising to all their great masters.

The Corsair and his wife had never told the story of the four children. They passed for their own, although they gave evidence by all their actions that they came of more illustrious blood. They were exceedingly united, unaffected, and courteous; but Prince Cheri entertained for Princess Belle-Etoile a more ardent and devoted affection than the other two. The moment she expressed a wish for anything, he would attempt even impossibilities to gratify her; he scarcely ever quitted her side. When she went hunting, he accompanied her: when she stayed at home he always found some excuse for not going out himself. Petit-Soleil and Heureux, who were her brothers, addressed her with less tenderness and less respect. She remarked the difference, and doing justice to Cheri, she loved him better than she did the others. As they grew up, their mutual affection increased with their age. At first it was productive of unalloyed pleasure. "My gentle brother," said Belle-Etoile to him, "if my wishes could render you happy, you should be one of the greatest kings on earth." "Alas, sister!" replied he, "do not begrudge me the happiness I enjoy in your society. I prefer passing one hour where you are to all the grandeur you desire for me." When she made a similar speech to her brothers, they answered frankly that they should be delighted, and when to prove them she added, "Yes, I would that ye sat on the highest thrones in the world, though I should never see ye more." They immediately answered, "You are right, sister, it would be well worth the sacrifice." "You would consent then, in that case," said she, "not to see me again?" "Certainly," they replied, "we should be satisfied with occasionally hearing of you."

When she was alone she reflected on these various modes of loving, and she found her own feelings corresponded exactly to theirs, for though Petit-Soleil and Heureux were dear to her, she had no desire to pass her life continually with them, while with regard to Cheri, she burst into tears whenever she contemplated the probability that their father might