SEPARATE BEDS. - A COUNTRY SCENE.

preparing for him; the principal architect requested of him to point out in what part of the palace he would wish to have his separate sleeping room. "I do not know what you mean," said the young imperial philosopher, crimes only divide

"the husband from his wife. Make as many bed rooms as

you please, but only one for me and Madame Bonaparte.

I must now quit the dazzling splendour of imperial virtues for the more tranquil, but not less fascinating appearance of retired and modest merit.

It was in the afternoon of one of the finest days in June, when Madame O, with her nephew, a very Oamiable young man, called in their carriage and took me to the chateau of her hushand, to whom I had letters of introduction. After passing through a charming country for nine miles, adorned on each side with gardens and country houses, we arrived at the pleasant village of la Reine. As soon as we entered it, the sight of the carriage, and of their benefactress, seemed to enliven the faces of the villagers, who were seated in picturesque groupes at the doors of their cottages. Such animated looks were not lighted up by curiosity, for they had seen Madame O a thousand and a thousand times, but because they had seldom seen her without experiencing some endearing proof of her bountiful heart. We left the village to the right, and proceeded through a private road, lined with stately walnut trees, of nearly a mile in length, which led to Monsieur O's.. It was evening; the sky was cloudless, the sun was setting in great glory, and covered the face of this romantic country with the richest glow. Near the gate

R

121

CHAP.

XII.

122

CHAP.
XII.

COUNTRY SCENE.

gate of a shrubbery I beheld a very handsome boy, whose appearance at once bespoke him to be the son of a gentleman, the animated smile of Madame O- immediately convinced

me that it was her son; "see," said the delighted mother, “it "is my little gardener;" the little graceful rustic had a small spade in his hand, which he threw down, and ran to us. We alighted at the entrance of the garden, into which we entered, under a beautiful covered treillage, lined with jessamine and honeysuckles. At the end were two elegant young women, waiting, with delight, to receive their mother, from whom they had been separated only a few hours. With this charming family I entered the house, which was handsome but plain. The hospitable owner rose from his sofa, and, after embracing his elegant lady with great affection, he received me with all the expressions and warmth of a long friendship. Soon afterwards his servant (a faithful indian) entered, and spread upon the table, Madeira, Burgundy, and dried fruits. It was intensely hot: the great window at the end of the room in which we were sitting, opened into the gardens, which appeared to be very beautiful, and abounded with nightingales, which were then most sweetly singing. They "are my little musicians," said Monsieur O "we have "made a pleasant bargain together, I give them crumbs of "bread and my bowers to range in, and they give me this charming music every evening."

་་

O

Monsieur O was an invalide, the revolution, poignant vexations, heavy losses, and a painful separation from his native country, for the preservation of his life, and that of his

family,

CONNUBIAL AFFECTION.

family, had undermined his health. Grief had made sad
inroads upon a delicate constitution. It was his good fortune
to be the husband of one of the finest, and most amiable
women in France, and the father of an affectionate, beau-
tiful, and accomplished family. His circumstances had been
once splendid; they were then respectable, but he had passed
through events which threatened his all. Those sufferings
which generous souls sustain for the sake of others, not for
themselves, had alone destroyed the resemblance which once
existed between this excellent man and his admirable portrait,
which, at the further end of the room, presented the healthy
glow, and fine proportions of manly beauty. He expressed
to me, in the most charming manner, his regret, that indis-
position confined him to the country, and prevented him from
receiving me in Paris suitable to his own wishes, and to those
claims which I had upon his attentions, by the letters of in-
troduction which I had brought to him; but added, that he
should furnish me with letters to some of his friends in town,
who would be happy to supply his absence, and to make Paris
agreeable to me. Monsieur O― was as good as his word.
O-

This amiable gentleman possessed a countenance of great genius, and a mind full of intelligence.

After an elegant supper, when his lady and daughters had withdrawn, he entered into a very interesting account of his country, of the revolution, and of his flight for the salvation of himself and family. A tolerably good opinion may be formed of the devastation which have been produced by the late republican government, by the following circumstance;

123

СНАР.

XII.

124

CONNUBIAL AFFECTION.

CHAP.
XII.

which Monsieur O
honour, was correct.

assured me, on the word of a man of

His section in Paris was composed of one thousand three hundred persons, of rank and fortune, of whom only five had escaped the slaughter of the guillotine!!

Madame O

O

and her charming family, seemed wholly to

occupy his heart and affections.

He spoke of his lady with all the tender eulogium of a young lover. lover. Their union was entirely from attachment, and had been resisted on the part of Madame O—, when he first Oaddressed her, only because her fortune was humble,.compared with his. He informed me, and I must not suppress the story, that in the time of blood, this amiable woman, who is remarkable for the delicacy of her mind, and for the beauty and majesty of her person, displayed a degree of coolness and courage, which, in the field of battle, would have covered the hero with laurels. One evening, a short period before the family left France, a party of those murderers, who were sent for by Robespierre, from the frontiers which divide France from Italy, and who were by that archfiend employed in all the butcheries, and massacres of Paris, entered the peaceful village of la Reine, in search of Monsieur OHis lady saw them advancing, and anticipating their errand, had just time to give her husband intelligence of their approach, who left his chateau by a back door, and secreted himself in the house of a neighbour. Madame Owith perfect composure, went out to meet them, and received them in the most gracious manner. They sternly demanded Mons. O

she

FEMALE BRAVERY.

she informed them that he had left the country, and after
engaging them in conversation, she conducted them into her
drawing room, and regaled them with her best wines, and
made her servants attend upon them with unusual deference
and ceremony.
Their appearance was altogether horrible,
they wore leather aprons, which were sprinkled all over with
blood, they had large horse pistols in their belts, and a dirk
and sabre by their sides. Their looks were full of ferocity,
and they spoke a harsh dissonant patois language. Over their
cups, they talked about the bloody business of that day's occu-
pation, in the course of which they drew out their dirks, and
wiped from their handles, clots of blood and hair. Madame
O sat with them, undismayed by their frightful deportment.
After drinking several bottles of Champaign and Burgundy,
these savages began to grow good humoured, and seemed
to be completely fascinated by the amiable and unembarrassed,
and hospitable behaviour of their fair landlady. After ca-
rousing till midnight, they pressed her to retire, observing that
they had been received so handsomely that they were con-
vinced Monsieur O- had been misrepresented, and was
no enemy to the good cause; they added that they found the
wines excellent, and after drinking two or three bottles more,
they would leave the house, without causing her any reason to
regret their admission.

Madame O- with all the appearance of perfect tranquillity and confidence in their promises, wished her unwelcome visitors a good night, and after visiting her children in their rooms, she threw herself upon her bed, with a loaded

125

CHAP.

XII.