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Rh lighted home by the blaze of our whole village. It was midnight when I came down the hill; yet, by the firelight, I could see every tree for miles round. I could even distinguish the faces of the officers, who, at the head of the French troopers, were across the plain yonder. It had been well for them if the light had not been quite so strong." "Your friends—your relatives—had you any?" asked his hearer, hesitatingly. "Two orphan children; Minora—she that has just been dancing—and her brother. She was then but a little creature, yet so thoughtful, it was as if her dead mother watched and helped her. I never feared to leave Pedro, then a baby, with her. I came home, and saw my cottage, perhaps from being fired the last, burning the brightest of all. Well, the Virgin does work miracles for her servants. I ran down the steep, shouting my children's names from sheer misery—when I heard a low, little sweet voice whisper, 'Father.' I saw my pretty Minora, and her brother holding her hand, both frightened out of their senses, but safe and well. At the first alarm they had run out, and found safety in an old hollow oak-tree, which they had, in play, called their house. They little