It cut me to the heart
to hear her say: _"C'est une vraie charite que vous me faites de venir
me voir."_
Mlle. Guemain was profoundly affected, like everyone else, by what we
were daily passing through during this time of heavy strain. As a woman,
she was impressed most by the seriousness which had seized even the most
frivolous people, and by the patriotic enthusiasm which was spreading in
ever wider circles. She regarded it as deeper and stronger than as a
rule it was.
XXVIII.
The temper prevailing among my Italian friends was very different. The
Italians, as their way was, were just like children, laughed at the
whole thing, were glad that the Prussians were "drubbing" the French, to
whom, as good patriots, they wished every misfortune possible. The
French had behaved like tyrants in Italy; now they were being paid out.
Besides which, the Prussians would not come to Paris. But if they did
come, they would be nice to them, and invite them to dinner, like
friends. Sometimes I attempted to reply, but came off badly. One day
that I had ventured a remark to a large and ponderous Roman lady, on the
ingratitude of the Italians towards the French, the good lady jumped as
if a knife had been stuck into her, and expatiated passionately on the
infamy of the French. The Romans were,--as everyone knew,--the first
nation on earth.
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