Hescarcelyknewwhathewasfitfor，buthethought——tosolittleinhimcamethevictorieshehadhelpedtowinintheCrimea，inChina，andinIndia——thathecoaldtakecareofagentleman’shorseandworkabouthisplace。HelookedinquiringlyatBasil，asifhemightbeagentlemanwithahorsetobetakencareofandaplacetobeworkedabout，andmadehimregretthathewasnotamanofsubstanceenoughtoprovideforPrivateDrakesandMrs。DrakesandthebroodofDucklings，whohadbeenshowntohimstowedawayinoneofthosecavernousroomsintheearthworkswherethemarriedsoldiershavetheirquarters。HisregretenrichedtherewardofPrivateDrakes’service，——whichperhapsansweredoneofPrivateDrakes’purposes，ifnothischiefaim。HepromisedtocometotheStatesuponthepressingadviceofIsabel，who，speakingfromherownlargeexperience，declaredthateverybodygotonthere，——andhebadeourfriendsanaffectionatefarewellastheydroveawaytothePlainsofAbraham。
　　ThefashionablesuburbancottagesandplacesofQuebecareontheSt。
　　LouisRoadleadingnorthwardtotheoldbattle-groundandbeyondit；but，thesefacechieflytowardstheriversSt。LawrenceandSt。Charles，andloftyhedgesandshrubberyhidetheminanEnglishseclusionfromthehighway；sothatthevisitormayuninterruptedlymeditatewhateveremotionhewillforthesceneofWolfe’sdeathasheridesalong。Hisloftiestemotionwillwantthenobleheightofthatheroicsoul，whomustalwaysstandforthinhistoryafigureofbeautifulandsingulardistinction，admirablealikeforthesensibilityanddaring，thepoeticpensiveness，andthemartialardorthatmingledinhimandtaxedhisfeebleframewithtasksgreaterthanitcouldbear。ThewholestoryofthecaptureofQuebecisfullofromanticsplendorandpathos。HerfallwasatriumphforalltheEnglish-speakingrace，andtousAmericans，longscourgedbythecruelIndianwarsplottedwithinherwallsorsustainedbyherstrength，suchablessingaswashailedwithringingbellsandblazingbonfiresthroughouttheColonies；yetnowwecannotthinkwithoutpityofthehopesextinguishedandthelaborsbroughttonaughtinheroverthrow。Thatstrangecolonyofpriestsandsoldiers，ofmartyrsandheroes，ofwhichshewasthecapital，willingtoperishforanallegiancetowhichthemother-countrywasindifferent，andfightingagainstthearmieswithwhichEnglandwaspreparedtooutnumberthewholeCanadianpopulation，isamagnificentspectacle；andMontcalmlayingdownhislifetoloseQuebecisnotlessaffectingthanWolfedyingtowinher。Theheartopenstowardsthesoldierwhorecited，ontheeveofhiscostlyvictory，the“ElegyinaCountryChurchyard，“whichhewould“ratherhavewrittenthanbeattheFrenchto-morrow；“butitachesforthedefeatedgeneral，who，hurttodeath，answered，whentoldhowbriefhistimewas，“Somuchthebetter；thenIshallnotlivetoseethesurrenderofQuebec。“
　　Inthecityforwhichtheyperishedtheirfamehasneverbeendivided。
　　TheEnglishhaveshownthemselvesverygenerousvictors；perhapsnothingcouldbeallegedagainstthem，butthattheywerevictors。AshaftcommontoWolfeandMontcalmcelebratesthembothintheGovernor’sGarden；andintheChapeloftheUrsulineConventatabletisplaced，whereMontcalmdied，bythesameconquerorswhoraisedtoWolfe’smemorythecolumnonthebattle-field。
　　Adismalprisoncoversthegroundwheretheherofell，andthemonumentstandsonthespotwhereWolfebreathedhislast，ongroundlowerthantherestofthefield；thefriendlyhollowthatshelteredhimfromthefireoftheFrenchdwarfshismonument；yetitissufficient，andthesimpleinscription，“HerediedWolfevictorious，“givesitadignitywhichmanycubitsofaddedstaturecouldnotbestow。Anotherofthosebittershowers，whichhadinterspersedthemorning’ssunshine，drovesuddenlyacrosstheopenplain，andourtouristscomfortablysentimentalizedthescenebehindtheclose-drawncurtainsoftheircarriage。Hereawholeempirehadbeenlostandwon，BasilremindedIsabel；andshesaid，“Onlythinkofit！“andlookedtoawanderingfoldofherskirt，uponwhichtherainbeatthrougharentofthecurtain。
　　DoIpitchthepipetoolow？Wepoorhonestmenareatasaddisadvantage；andnowandthenIammindedtogivealoosetofancy，andattributesomethingreallygrandandfinetomypeople，inordertomakethemworthierthereader’srespectedacquaintance。Butagain，Iforbidmyselfinahigherinterest；andIamafraidthatevenifIwerelessvirtuous，Icouldnotexalttheirmooduponabattle-field；forofallthingsofthepastabattleistheleastconceivable。Ihaveheardmenwhofoughtinmanybattlessaythattherecollectionwaslikeadreamtothem；andwhatcanthemerelycivilianimaginationdoonthePlainsofAbraham，withthefactthatthere，morethanacenturyago，certainthousandsofFrenchmenmarchedout，onabrightSeptembermorning，tokillandmaimasmanyEnglishmen？Thisground，sogreenandoftwithgrassbeneaththefeet，wasitoncetornwithshotandsoakedwiththebloodofmen？Didtheyliehereinranksandheaps，themiserableslain，forwhomtenderheartsawayyonderovertheseaweretoacheandbreak？Didthewretchesthatfellwoundedstretchthemselveshere，andwrithebeneaththefeetoffriendandfoe，orcrawlarrayforshelterintolittlehollows，andbehindgushesandfallentrees！Didhe，whosesoulwassofullofnobleandsublimeimpulses，diehere，shotthroughlikesomeraveningbeast？Theloathsomecarnage，theshrieks，thehellishdinofarms，thecriesofvictory，——Ivainlystrivetoconjureupsomeimageofitallnow；andGodbethanked，horriblespectre！that，filltheworldwithsorrowasthouwilt，thoustillremainestincredibleinitsmomentsofsanityandpeace。Leastcredibleartthouontheoldbattle-fields，wherethemotheroftheracedeniestheewithbreezeandsunandleafandbird，andeverybladeofgrass！TheredstaininBasil’sthoughtyieldedtotherainsweepingacrossthepasture-landfromwhichithadlongsincefaded，andthewordsonthemonument，“HerediedWolfevictorious，“didnotproclaimhisbloodytriumphovertheFrench，buthisself-conquest，hisvictoryoverfearandpainandloveoflife。
　　Alas！whenshallthepoor，blind，stupidworldhonorthosewhorenounceselfinthejoyoftheirkind，equallywiththosewhodevotethemselvesthroughtheanguishandlossofthousands？Sooldaworldandgropingstill！
　　Thetouristswerebetterfittedforthenextoccasionofsentiment，whichwasattheHotelDieuwhithertheywentafterreturningfromthebattlefield。Ittookallthemal-addressofwhichtravellersaremasterstosecureadmittance，anditwasnottilltheyhadrungvariouswrongbells，andmisunderstoodmanysoftnun-voicesspeakingFrenchthroughgrateddoors，andsetdiverssympatheticspectatorsdoingineffectualservices，thattheyatlastfoundtheproperentrance，andwereansweredinEnglishthattheporterwouldaskiftheymightseethechapel。TheyhopedtofindtheretheskullofBrebeuf，oneofthoseJesuitmartyrswhoperishedlongagofortheconversionofaracethathasperished，andwhoserelicstheyhadcome，freshfromtheirreadingofParkman，withsomevagueandpatronizingintentiontorevere。Anelderlysisterwithapale，kindfaceledthemthroughawardofthehospitalintothechapel，whichtheyfoundintheexpectedtaste，andexquisitelyneatandcool，butlackingthemartyr’sskull。Theyaskedifitwerenottobeseen。
　　“Ah，yes，poorPereBrebeuf！“sighedthegentlesister，withthetoneandmannerofhavinglosthimyesterday；“wehaditdownonlylastweek，showingittosomeJesuitfathers；butit’sintheconventnow，andisn’ttobeseen。“AndtheremingledapparentlyinherregretforPereBrebeufaconfusingsenseofhisactualstateasaportablepieceoffurniture。
　　Shewouldnotletthempraisethechapel。Itwasveryclean，yes，buttherewasnothingtoseeinit。Shedeprecatedtheircomplimentswithmanyshrugs，butshewaspleased；forwhenwerenouncethepompsandvanitiesofthisworld，weareprettysuretofindtheminsomeother，——ifwearewomen。She，goodandpuresoul，whosewholelifewasgiventoself-denyingtoil，hadyetsomethingangelicallycoquettishinhermanner，aspiritual-worldlinesswhichwastheclarifiedlikenessofthis-
　　worldliness。O，hadtheyseentheHotelDieuatMontreal？Thenwithavivaciouswaveofthehandstheywouldnotcaretolookatthis，whichbycomparisonwasnothing。Yetsheinvitedthemtogothroughthewardsiftheywould，andwasclearlyproudtohavethemseethewonderfulcleannessandcomfortoftheplace。Therewerenotmanypatients，buthereandthereawanorfeveredfacelookedatthemfromitspillow，oraweakformdroopedbesideabed，oragroupofconvalescentssoftlytalkedtogether。Theycamepresentlytothelasthall，attheendofwhichsatanothernun，besideawindowthatgaveaviewofthebusyport，andbeyonditthelandscapeofvillage-litplainandforest-darkenedheight。
　　Onatableatherelbowstoodarose-tree，onwhichhungtwoonlypaletea-roses，sofair，soperfect，thatIsabelcriedoutinwonderandpraise。Ereshecouldpreventit，thenun，towhomtherehadbeensomesortofpresentation，gatheredoneoftheroses，andwithashygraceofferedittoIsabel，whoshrankbackalittleasfromtoocostlyagift。
　　“Takeit，“saidthefirstnun，withherprettyFrenchaccent；whiletheother，whospokenoEnglishatall，beamedaplacidsmile；andIsabeltookit。Theflower，lyinglightinherpalm，exhaledadelicateodor，andathrillofexquisitecompassionforittrembledthroughherheart，asifithadbeenthewhite，cloisteredlifeofthesilentnun:withitspallidloveliness，itwasasaflowerthathadtakentheveil。Itcouldneverhaveutteredtheburningpassionofaloverforhismistress；thenightingalecouldhavefoundnothornonittopresshisachingpoet’sheartagainst；butsickandwearyeyeshaddweltgratefullyuponit；atmostitmighthaveexpressed，likeaprayer，thenun’sstainlessloveofsomefavoritesaintinparadise。Cold，andpale，andsweet，——wasitindeedonlyaflower，thiscloisteredroseoftheHotelDieu？
　　“Breatheit，“saidthegentleGraySister；“sometimestheairofthehospitaloffends。Notus，no；weareused；butyoucomefromtheoutside。“Andshegaveherroseforthishumbleuseaslovinglyasshedevotedherselftoherlowlytaxes。
　　“Itisverylittletosee，“shesaidattheend；“butifyouarepleased，Iamveryglad。Goodby，good-by！“Shestoodwithherarmsfolded，andwatchedthemoutofsightwithherkind，coquettishlittlesmile，andthenthemute，blanklifeofthenunresumedher。
　　FromHotelDieutoHotelMustyitwasbutastep；bothwereinthesamestreet；butourfriendsfanciedthemselvestohavecomeanimmensedistancewhentheysatdownatanearlydinner，amidsttheclashofcrockeryandcutlery，andlookedrounduponalltheprofanetravellingworldassembled。Theirregardpresentlyfixedupononecompanywhichmonopolizedawholetable，andweredefinedfromtheotherdinersbypeculiaritiesasmarkedasthoseoftheSoeursGrisesthemselves。Therewereonlytwomenamongsomeeightortenwomen；oneoftheformerhadabadamiableface，witheyesfullofamerrydeviltry；theother，clean。
　　shaven，anddark，wasdemureandsilentasapriest。Theladieswereofvarioustypes，butofoneeffect，withlargerollingeyes，andfacesthatsomehowregardedthebeholderasfromadistance，andwithanimpartialfeelingforhimasforanelementofpublicity。Oneofthem，whocaressedalapdogwithonehandwhilesheservedherselfwiththeother，was，assheseemedtobelieve，ablonde；shehadpaleblueeyes，andherhairwascutinfrontsoastocoverherforeheadwithastragglingsandy-coloredfringe。ShehadanEnglishlook，andthreeorfourothers，withdarkcomplexionandblack，unsteadyeyes，andvariousabandonofback-hair，lookedlikeCockneyhourisofJewishblood；whiletwoofthelovelycompanywereclearlyofourownnation，aswastheyoungmanwiththerecklesslaughingface。Theladiesweredressedandjeweledwithakindofbroadeffectiveness，whichwastotheordinarystyleofsocietywhatscene-paintingistopainting，andmighthavebornecloseinspectionnobetter。Theyseemedthebest-humoredpeopleintheworld，andonthekindliesttermswitheachother。Thewaiterssharedtheirpleasantmood，andservedthemaffectionately，andwerenowandtheninvitedtojoininthegaytalkwhichbabbledonoverdislocatedaspirates，andfilledtheairwithasentimentofvagabondenjoyment，oftheromanticfreedomofviolatedconvention，ofsomethingGilBlas-like，almostpicaresque。