Volume II Part 100 (1/2)
”What do you mean to say?”
”I never wish to leave you again. Neither do I wish to leave Francois and Amandine.”
”Your little brother and sister?”
”Yes; from this day I must be to them a father--you comprehend. This gives me duties to perform, and tames me. I am obliged to take charge of them. They wished to make finished thieves of them; to save them, I shall take them away.”
”Where?”
”I don't know; but certainly far from Paris.”
”And me?”
”You? I will take you also.”
”Take me also?” cried La Louve, in a joyous delirium. She could not believe in so much happiness. ”I shall not leave you?”
”No, my brave Louve, never. You shall aid me to bring up these children. I know you. On saying to you, I wish that my poor little Amandine should be a virtuous girl, I know what you will be for her; a good mother.”
”Oh! thank you, Martial, thank you!”
”We will live as honest work-folks; be easy, we will find work; we will toil like negroes. At least, these children shall not be gallows'
birds, like their father and mother. I shall not hear myself called any more the son and brother of a _guillotine_; in fine, I shall no more pa.s.s through the streets where I am known. But what is the matter?”
”Martial, I am afraid I shall become crazy.”
”Crazy?”
”Crazy with joy!”
”Why?”
”Because this is too much.”
”What?”
”What you ask me. Oh! it is too much. Saving the Goualeuse, this has brought me this happiness; it must be so.”
”But once more, what is the matter?”
”What you have just said. Oh, Martial, Martial!”
”Well?”
”I came to ask you!”
”To leave Paris?”
”Yes,” answered she, quickly; ”to go with you in the woods, where we would have a nice little house, children whom I should love; oh! how I should love them! how your Louve would love the children of her Martial; or, rather, if you wished it,” said La Louve, trembling, ”I would call you my husband; for we shall not have the place unless you consent to this,” she hastened to add, quickly.
Martial, in his turn, looked at La Louve with astonishment, not in the least understanding her words. ”Of what place do you speak?”