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"What means this?" said he. "For what are these rejoicings? What

joyful event has taken place?" He rose from his bed of thorns,

and opened the window.

The mountains were still half veiled in darkness, the heavens

appeared enveloped in a heavy and vast cloud; but he

distinguished, through the faint dawn of the morning, crowds

passing towards the opening on the right of the castle, villagers

in their holyday garments. "What are those people doing? what has

happened to cause all this joy?" And calling a bravo, who slept

in the adjoining room, he asked him the cause of the commotion.

The man replied that he was ignorant of it, but would go

immediately and enquire. His master remained at the window,

contemplating the moving spectacle, which increasing day rendered

more distinct every moment. He saw crowds passing in succession;

men, women, and children, as guided by one impulse, directing

their steps in one direction. They appeared animated by a common

joy; and the bells, with their united sound of merriment, seemed

to be an echo of the general hilarity.