CHAPTER I

My mother and I take refuge with my grandfather--Madame Darcourt's house--My first books and my first terrors--The park at Villers-Cotterets--M. Deviolaine and his family--The swarm of bees--The old cloister

## CHAPTER II The two snakes--M. de Valence and Madame de Montesson--Who little Hermine was--Garnier the wheelwright and Madame de Valence--Madame Lafarge--Fantastic apparition of Madame de Genlis

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