The little St. Hermangardes, of whom every one spoke¹ so often, arrived about the middle of September. Their castle was situated² in the north upon the bank of the Carreze, but they came every year to pass the autumn in their very old and dilapidated mansion³ near my uncle's house.  
Two boys, both a little older than I, came this time, and contrary to my expectation I took a fancy to them immediately. As they were in the habit of spending a part of each year at their country place they had guns and powder and often went hunting. Thus they brought an entirely⁴ new element into our games. Their estate of Bories became one of the centres of our operations. Everything there was at our disposal, the servants and all the animals in the stables. One of our favorite amusements was the construction of enormous balloons, nine or ten feet high, and these we inflated⁵ by burning under them sheaves of hay; we then watched them rise and sail away and away, until they were lost to our sight high above the distant fields and woods.
 
The little St. Hermangardes were unlike other children; they had had all their instruction from a tutor, and their ideas were different from those one imbibes⁶ at boarding schools. When there was any disagreement between us in regard to our games they always courteously⁷ gave in to me, and therefore my contact with them did not help me to meet the painful experiences of the future.
 
One day they came over and with much grace made me a present of a very rare butterfly. It was of a pale yellow color, almost

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