human
If you are not my daughters, said she, on one of these mornings,
gpt
I have none.
human
But you will have: they will return to you, said Afra.
gpt
Think of them as you did of your sons, when they were at Paris--as absent for a while to gain experience, and sure to return. You will find one of them, perhaps both, as happy on your bosom hereafter as we see your Placide by his father's side.
human
How can you say so, Afra? Which of my girls will ever come to me again, as they did at Breda?
gpt
Genifrede is better, said Euphrosyne;
human
Do not be hard, Euphrosyne, my love--`Sullen' is a hard word for my poor, unhappy child.
gpt
Nay, madam; no one can be more sorry for her than I am; as you will find, if you ask Father Gabriel. He will tell you how angry I was with L'Ouverture, how cruel I thought him on that dreadful day. But now, in these stirring times, when our whole world, our little world in the middle of the sea, is to be destroyed, or made free and glorious for ever, I do think it is being sullen to mope on the mountain as she does, and speak to nobody, care for nobody, but the Dessalines. However, I would not say a word about it, if I were not sure that she is getting better. And if she were growing worse, instead of better, there is nothing that I would not do to help or console her, though I must still think her sullen--not only towards her father here, but--
human
It is hard, sighed Madame L'Ouverture;
gpt
It can only be for a time,
human
Those who know best say that everything is for good, continued Margot.
gpt
If so, I wonder whether anyone can foretell what can be the good of a stranger, a man that we have never seen, and who has everything about him to make him great, thrusting himself between us and our children, to take their hearts from us. I asked L'Ouverture to foretell to me how this would be explained; and he put his hand upon my month, and asked me to kneel down, and pray with him that we might have patience to wait God's own time.
human
And could you do so?
gpt
I did: but I added a prayer that Bonaparte might be moved to leave us the glory and dominion which we value--the duty and the hearts of our children--and that he might be contented with gaining the homage of the French nation, and grasping the kingdoms of Europe.
human
I think God will hear that prayer,
gpt
And I am sure Bonaparte will thank you for it, said Euphrosyne,
human
One might expect, sighed Madame L'Ouverture,
gpt
Do you think it is for loyalty? asked Euphrosyne.
human
I should call Placide the most loyal of your children; and, next to him, Denis.
gpt
They think they are loyal and patriotic, my dear. I am sure I hope they will go on to think so; for it is the best excuse for them.
human
I wish I had a magic glass,
gpt
My dear, do not wish any such thing. It is very dangerous and wicked to have anything to do with that kind of people. I could tell you such a story of poor Moyse (and of many other unhappy persons, too) as would show you the mischief of meddling with charms, Euphrosyne.
human
Do not be afraid, dear madam. I was not thinking of any witchcraft; but only wishing your children the bright mirror of a clear and settled mind. I think such a mirror would show them that what they take for loyalty and patriotism in their own feelings and conduct, is no more loyalty and patriotism than the dancing lights in our rice-grounds are stars.
gpt
What is it, my dear, do you think?
human
I think it is weakness, remaining from their former condition. When people are reared in humiliation, there will be weakness left behind. Loyal minds must call Bonaparte's conduct to L'Ouverture vulgar. Those who admire it, it seems to me, either have been, or are ready to be, slaves.
gpt
One may pity rather than blame the first, said Afra;
human
They are not like your husband, indeed, Afra.
gpt
And they might all have been as right as he. They might all have known as well as he, what L'Ouverture is, and what he has done. Why do they not know that he might long ago have been a king? Why do they not tell one another that his throne might, at this day, have been visited by ambassadors from all the nations, but for his loyalty to France? Why do they not see, as my husband does, that it is for want of personal ambition that L'Ouverture is now an outlaw in the mornes, instead of being hand-in-hand, as a brother king, with George of England? They might have known whom to honour and whom to restrain, as my husband does, if they had had his clearness of soul, and his love of freedom.
human
And because they have not, said Euphrosyne,
gpt
Assuredly we do.
human
They will soon learn whom they have to deal with in this outlaw, said Madame.
gpt
I can tell you, my dears, that Rochambeau is drawing near us, and that there is likely soon to be a battle. Heigho!
human
Is that bad news or good?
gpt
My husband means it for good news, my dear--at least, if Maurepas arrives from the south as soon as Rochambeau from the north.
human
I wish Maurepas would come!
gpt
It has been a great mortification to my husband that there has been no fair battle yet. His people--those who are faithful--have had no opportunity of showing how they feel, and what they can do. The French have been busy spying, and bribing, and cajoling, and pretending to negotiate; and the one thing they will not do is fighting. But I tell you, my dears, the battle-day is coming on now. Heigho!
human
I suppose we shall hear the battle.