"This, however, becomes more and more interesting," said
Graham, after looking at the spot attentively. "Yes, this is
the very place, Madelon, where I first saw you with a doll in
your arms."
"Really!" she said.
"Yes, really; and then some one--your father, I think--called
you away."
They were silent for a minute, looking at the trees, the
shrubs, the grass growing all rough and tangled in the
deserted garden.
"We must go," Graham said at last; "it is getting late,
Madelon, and we have to drive back to Liege, remember, after
we have seen Jeanne-Marie."
They got into the carriage again, and drove on towards Le
Trooz, along the valley under the hills, all red and brown
with October woods, beside the river, gleaming between green
pastures in the low afternoon sun. They had arrived at Liege
the day before, and that morning was to have been devoted to
visiting the convent; but the convent was gone. On inquiry,
they learnt that the nuns had removed to another house ten
miles distant from Liege, and on the hills where the old farm-
house, the white, low-roofed convent had once stood so
peacefully, a great iron-foundry was smoking and spouting fire
day and night, covering field and garden with heaps of black
smouldering ashes.
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