“I know how to read, I do!”

She eagerly seized a book which lay open on the table, and read with tolerable fluency:⁠—

“⁠—General Bauduin received orders to take the château of Hougomont which stands in the middle of the plain of Waterloo, with five battalions of his brigade.”

She paused.

“Ah! Waterloo! I know about that. It was a battle long ago. My father was there. My father has served in the armies. We are fine Bonapartists in our house, that we are! Waterloo was against the English.”

She laid down the book, caught up a pen, and exclaimed:⁠—

“And I know how to write, too!”

She dipped her pen in the ink, and turning to Marius:⁠—