Part 1 (2/2)
”I thought not. That is why I came to talk to you. I cannot tell what your future is to be, I do not know in what way you are destined to travel, but duty may not call upon you to wear the sword or ride in the forefront of a charge. This country has just had a glorious birth, a rebirth to freedom. Your father has helped to fight for it; you may be called upon to work peaceably for it.”
”I hope, sir, my duty will mean the sword and the charge.”
”Your countrymen are probably glad to have peace,” he answered.
”But this is not the only land where men are cruelly treated and would fight for freedom,” the boy returned. ”You came here to help us against the English. Some day may I not journey to help others?”
”Perhaps.”
”My mother is French, therefore I am partly French. I love my father, but I am more French than English. I should love to fight for France,”
and the boy looked up eagerly into his companion's face.
”So that is the real secret out at last,” said Lafayette, with a light laugh. ”You would love to fight for France.”
”Yes, sir; and it makes you laugh. I have not told it to any one else; I knew they would laugh.”
”But you expected better things of me. Forgive me, lad, I was not laughing at you; yet you must learn not to mind the laughter of others.
Whenever a man is in earnest there will always be some to ridicule what they term his folly. He is something of a hero who can stand being laughed at.”
”Sir, did you not say to my father only to-day as you sat at dinner in the hall, that France was groaning under oppression, and there was no knowing what would be the end of it?”
”I did, Richard, I did.”
”Then, Monsieur de Lafayette, it might be that some day I might cross the sea to help France.”
The Marquis laughed softly and patted the boy's head.
”So that is your dream. I hope freedom may be bought without blood, but--”
”But you do not think so, sir.”
”Why should you say that?”
”Partly because of the way you say it, partly because I have been told that you are fa.r.s.eeing. I have listened so eagerly to all the stories told about you.”
”If such a fight for freedom came in France, it would be far more terrible than the war here,” and the Marquis made the statement rather to himself than to the boy.
”Then it may be my duty to come and help you,” said Richard.
”If the opportunity should come, see that your adventurous spirit does not make it your duty whether it be so or not. There are some years to pa.s.s before these young limbs of yours are fit for fighting, or this brain of yours has to make a decision. You have a good father and mother, they will guide you. Dream your dreams, and I doubt not, my friend Richard Barrington will become a hero to many. Are you coming back to the house with me? Within an hour I am leaving.”
”You are going back to France?”
”Yes.”
”It is a wonderful land, isn't it?”
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