Saying this, Alfred gave the charcoal burner a cordial embrace, and departed.
The thoughts of Michel, the guide, as he descended the mountain, were very different from those with which he had gone up. He was an altered man from that night.
Midnight had passed. The supper was waiting at Madame de Blénal's. The guests were beginning to be impatient, some from hunger, some from curiosity, but more from anxiety. Had he miscalculated the distance? Had he mistaken the way? Had he met with an accident? The former conjectures were spoken aloud; the latter was only whispered by some who were not within Madame de Blénal's hearing. She herself remained silent, but perfectly calm. We do not say that the mother's heart was free from anxiety, but there was a remedy within it which served as a preventive against all idle and unnecessary fears. The eye of God was upon her son, and she knew that his own trust was fixed upon His saving arm. She knew, too, that, although full of the spirit and buoyancy of youth, he would avoid the sin of running into needless danger. If an accident had detained him, it was permitted as a trial of her faith, and she was prepared to submit.
The impatience of the party was just beginning to reach its height, when the sound of a horse's hoofs was heard. Every eye was turned to the door, which was soon opened, and Alfred stood before them, smiling, cheerful, and uninjured, though in a condition that at first occasioned some alarm, but soon excited a burst of laughter.
"Here is ocular proof," cried one, "that he has seen the charcoal burner."
"And been at close quarters with him," said another. "He is covered with soot."
"Why, Mr. Alfred," said a young lady, "one would think you had embraced him!"
"I have, mademoiselle, and I am not ashamed of owning it. Had you seen what I have, you would have done the same, without considering your dress."
"Why, what have you seen?" was asked by more than one.
"I have found a preacher of righteousness, 'a teacher of babes,' in the forest—one who is an example to us all—and I have learned that, whatever our station in life may be, we may do good service to our Lord."