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citizen； this son of the she…wolf leaves me no quiet for sleep。
Lately； in the night； he kneeled down in the bed and began to pray
with a loud voice； so as to wake both my wife and myself。〃
〃From that night on I have been sick and miserable；〃 moaned Jeanne
Marie； 〃from that night I have not been able to sleep。〃
〃You hear； citizen doctor； my wife was so terrified with that； that
it made her sick； and now you shall have a proof of the disobedience
of the little viper。 Capet； come here。〃
The boy rose slowly from his chair； and stole along with drooping
head to his master。
〃Capet； we will sing；〃 said Simon。 〃You shall show the doctor that
you are a good republican； and that you have entirely forgotten that
you are the son of the Austrian； the rascally Madame Veto。 Come； we
will sing the song about Madame Veto。 Quick； strike in； or I will
beat you into pulp。 The song about Madame Veto； do you hear？ Sing！〃
A short pause ensued。 Then the boy raised his swollen face and fixed
his great blue eyes with a defiant； flaming expression upon the face
of the cobbler。
〃Citizen；〃 he said； with clear； decided tones； 〃I shall not sing the
song about Madame Veto； for I have not forgotten my dear mamma； and
I can sing nothing bad about her； for I love my dear mamma so much；
so much； and〃
The voice of the boy was drowned in his tears； he let his head fall
upon his breast； ready to receive the threatened chastisement。 But；
before the fist of Simon； already raised； could fall upon the poor
head of the little sufferer； a thrilling cry of pain resounded from
the bed。
〃Simon； come to me；〃 gasped Jeanne Marie。 〃Help me draw the dagger
out of my breast； I am dyingoh； I am dying！〃
〃What kind of a dagger？〃 cried Simon； rushing to the bed and taking
the convulsed form of his wife in his arms。
〃Hush！〃 whispered the doctor； who also had gone to the bed of the
sick woman〃hush！ she is speaking in her fever； and the dagger of
which she talks she feels in her heart and conscience。 You must
spare her； citizen； if you do not want her to die。 Every thing must
be quiet around her； and you must be very careful not to agitate her
nerves； lest she have an acute typhoid fever。 I will send her some
cooling medicine at once； and to…morrow morning I will come early to
see how it fares with her。 But； above every thing else； Simon；
remember to have quiet； that your good wife may get well again。〃
〃Who would have told me two weeks ago that Jeanne Marie had nerves？〃
growled Simon。 〃The first knitter of the guillotine； and now all at
once nerves and tears； but I must be careful of her。 For it would be
too bad if she should die and leave me all alone with this tedious
youngster。 I could not hold out。 I should run away。 Go； Capet； get
into your room； and do not get in my way again to…day； else I will
strangle you before you can make a sound。 Come； scud； clear； and do
not let me see you again； if your life is worth any thing to you。〃
The child stole into his room again； sat down upon the floor； folded
his little hands in one another； fixed his great blue eyes on the
ceiling above； and held his breath to listen to every little sound；
every footfall that came from the room above。
All at once he heard plainly the steps of some one walking up and
down； and a pleased smile flitted across the face of the boy。
〃That is certainly my dear mamma；〃 he whispered to himself。 〃Yes；
yes； it is my mamma queen； and she is taking her walk in the
sitting…room； just as she has done since she has not been allowed to
go out upon the platform。 Oh； mamma； my dear mamma； I love you so
much！〃
And the child threw a kiss up to the ceiling； not knowing that she
to whom he sent his greeting had long been resting in the silent
grave； and that with the very hand which was throwing kisses to her；
he had himself signed the paper which heaped upon his mother the
most frightful calumnies。
Even Simon had not had the cruel courage to tell the boy of the
death of his mother； and of the unconscious wrong that he； poor
child； had done to her memory； and in his silent chamber his longing
thoughts of her were his only consolation。
And so he sat there that day looking up to the ceiling； greeting his
dear mamma with his thoughts； and seeing her in spirit greeting him
again； nodding affectionately to him and drawing her dear little
Louis Charles to her arms。
These were the sweet； transporting fancies which made the child
close his eyes so as not to lose them。 Immovably he sat there； until
gradually thoughts and dreams flowed into each other； and not only
his will； but sleep as well； kept his eyes closed。 But the dreams
remained； and were sweet and refreshing； and displayed to the
sleeping child； so harshly treated in his waking hours； only scenes
of love and tenderness。 And it was not his mother alone who embraced
him in his happy slumbers； no； there were his aunt and his sister as
well； and at last evenoh how strange dreams are！at last he even
saw Simon's wife advancing toward him with kindly and tender mien。
She stooped down to him； took him up in her arms； kissed his eyes；
and begged him in a low； trembling voice to forgive her for being so
cruel and bad。 And while she was speaking the tears streamed from
her eyes and flowed over his face。 She kissed them away with her hot
lips； and whispered； 〃Forgive me； poor； unhappy angel； and do not
bring me to judgment。 I will treat you well after this； I will
rescue you from this hell； or I will die for you。 Oh； how the bad
man has beaten your dear angel face！ But believe me； I have felt
every blow in my own heart； and when he treated you so abusively I
felt the pain of hell。 Oh； forgive me； dear boy； forgive me！〃 and
again the tears started from her eyes and flowed hot over his locks
and forehead。 All at once Jeanne Marie quivered convulsively； laid
the boy gently down； and ran hastily away。 A door was furiously
opened now； and Simon's loud and angry voice was heard。
The tones awakened the little Louis。 He opened his eyes and looked
around。 Yes； it had really all been only a dreamhe had heard
neither his mother nor Simon's wife； and yet it had been as natural
as if it had all really transpired。 He had felt arms tenderly
embracing him and tears hot upon his forehead。
Entirely unconscious he raised his hand to his brow and drew it back
affrighted； for his hair and his temples were wet； as if the tears
of which he dreamed had really fallen there。
〃What does this mean； Jeanne Marie？〃 asked Simon； angrily； 〃Why have
you got out of bed while I was away； and what have you had to do in
the room of the little viper？〃
〃If you leave me alone with him I have to watch him； sick as I am；〃
moaned she。 〃I had to see whether he was still there； whether he had
not run away； and gone to report to the Convention that we have left
him alone and have no care for him。〃
〃Oh； bah！ he will not complain of us；〃 laughed Simon； 〃but keep
quiet； Jeanne Marie； I promise you that I will not leave you alone
again with the wolf's cub。 Besides； here is the medicine that the
doctor has sent； and to…morrow he will come himself again to see how
you get on。 So keep up a