human
I want to know what you think, exclaimed Madame L'Ouverture, as they emerged from a shaded walk upon a grass plot, on which the light lay, clear and strong--
gpt
I want to ask you --and as she spoke, she looked round to see that no one was at hand--
human
I think he does. I suspected it before, and to-day I am sure of it.
gpt
And are not you glad?
human
That partly depends on whether Aimee loves him. I doubt whether Vincent, who is usually a confident fellow enough, is so happy about the matter as you are.
gpt
Aimee is not one who will ever show herself too ready--Aimee is very quiet--
human
Well, but, is she ready in her heart? Does she care about Vincent?
gpt
I do not know that she does quite, yet--though I think she likes him very much, too. But surely she will love him--she must love him--so much as he loves her--and so delightful, so desirable a match as it is, in every way!
human
You think it so.
gpt
Why, do not you? Consider how many years we have known him, and what confidence you had in him when you sent him with our dear boys to Paris! And now he has done great things in the south. He comes, covered with glory, to ask us for our Aimee. What could be more flattering?
human
It was our child's future happiness that I was thinking of, when I seemed to doubt. Vincent is full of good qualities; but he is so wholly French that--
gpt
Not so French as Monsieur Pascal, who was born, brought up, and employed at Paris; and you are pleased that he should marry Afra.
human
Vincent is more French than Pascal, though he is a black. He is devoted to Bonaparte--
gpt
What of that? said Madame L'Ouverture, after a pause.
human
He is devoted to you also. And are you not yourself devoted to France and to Bonaparte? Do we not pray together for him every day of our lives?
gpt
Remember, Margot, to pray for him every day, as long as you live, if I am separated from you by death or otherwise. Pray that such a blessing may rest upon him as that he may be wise to see his duty, and strong to do it. If he injures us, pray that he may be forgiven.
human
I will, replied Margot, in a low voice;
gpt
As for Vincent, resumed Toussaint,
human
Vincent is ambitious, my dear husband; and, even if he did not love our child as he does, he might be anxious to ally himself with one so powerful--so full of honours--with so very great a man as you. I would not speak exactly so if we were not alone: but it is very true, now that the Central Assembly has declared you supreme in the colony. Consider what Vincent must think of that! And he has travelled so much in the island, that he must have seen how you deserve all that is said of you. He has seen how all the runaways have come down from the mountains, and the pirates in from the reefs and the coves; and how they are all honestly cultivating the fields, and fishing in the bays. He has seen how rich the whole island is growing; and how contented, and industrious, and honest, the people are, in this short time. He has seen that all this is your work: and he may well be ambitious to be your son-in-law.
gpt
Unless he has the foresight to perceive, with all this, that I am a doomed man.
human
I thought you said so--I thought I heard that word before, said Margot, in a trembling voice;