“Well, then, my little Julie, how is it that you happen to be going to America? America is a long way off, do you know it?”
“But no! is it, then? It cannot be far away where Julien is. Is it farther than Paris?”
“A good deal farther, Julie.”
“But what to do! No home, no friend. Only Julien.”
“No home, no friend!” repeated the captain, stroking the dark hair, pityingly. “Did the father fall in battle?”
“Yes, monsieur, many years ago, before I can remember.”
“And how long is it that little Julie has been without home or friends?”
“Since they took my dear mamma away to the burial,” answered the child, her eyes brimming with tears.
After awhile the captain asked: