May, 1914.

PREFACE AFTER THE WAR

When the War broke out this book was already printed and ready to appear, so I have left it untouched. The grandchildren of Colas Breugnon have just emerged as heroes and victims of a bloody epic, only to show an unquenchable flame to the world. Let me hope that the people of Europe, full of courage in spite of their sufferings, may find some solace in these reflections of “a little lamb caught between the wolf and the shepherd.”

R. R.

November, 1918.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
Foreword to the Reader[ v]
I The Lark of Candlemas-Day[ 3]
II The Siege; or, The Lamb, the Shepherd,and the Wolf[ 21]
III The Vicar of Brèves[ 50]
IV The Idler[ 75]
V Belette[ 103]
VI Birds of Passage; or, The Serenade atAsnois[ 136]
VII The Plague[ 152]
VIII My Old Woman’s Death[ 169]
IX The Fire[ 181]
X The Riot[ 200]
XI A Practical Joke[ 227]
XII Other People’s Houses[ 245]
XIII Plutarch’s Lives[ 262]
XIV Health to the King![ 278]

COLAS BREUGNON

COLAS BREUGNON

I
THE LARK OF CANDLEMAS-DAY