It faired as the night went on, and the moon came
out of the clouds. We sat in front of the door,
talking softly with Bazin. At the guard-house
opposite, the guard was being for ever turned out,
as trains of field artillery kept clanking in out of
the night, or patrols of horsemen trotted by in their
cloaks. Madame Bazin came out after a while;
she was tired with her day’s work, I suppose;
and she nestled up to her husband and laid her head
upon his breast. He had his arm about her, and
kept gently patting her on the shoulder. I think
Bazin was right, and he was really married.
Of how few people can the same be said!
Little did the Bazins know how much they served us.
We were charged for candles, for food and drink,
and for the beds we slept in. But there was
nothing in the bill for the husband’s pleasant
talk; nor for the pretty spectacle of their married
life. And there was yet another item unchanged.
For these people’s politeness really set us
up again in our own esteem. We had a thirst
for consideration; the sense of insult was still hot
in our spirits; and civil usage seemed to restore
us to our position in the world.
How little we pay our way in life! Although
we have our purses continually in our hand, the better
part of service goes still unrewarded. But I
like to fancy that a grateful spirit gives as good
as it gets. Perhaps the Bazins knew how much
I liked them? perhaps they also were healed of some
slights by the thanks that I gave them in my manner?
DOWN THE OISE
THROUGH THE GOLDEN VALLEY
Below La Fere the river runs through a piece of open
pastoral country; green, opulent, loved by breeders;
called the Golden Valley. In wide sweeps, and
with a swift and equable gallop, the ceaseless stream
of water visits and makes green the fields. Kine,
and horses, and little humorous donkeys, browse together
in the meadows, and come down in troops to the river-side
to drink. They make a strange feature in the
landscape; above all when they are startled, and you
see them galloping to and fro with their incongruous
forms and faces. It gives a feeling as of great,
unfenced pampas, and the herds of wandering nations.
There were hills in the distance upon either hand;
and on one side, the river sometimes bordered on the
wooded spurs of Coucy and St. Gobain.
The artillery were practising at La Fere; and soon
the cannon of heaven joined in that loud play.
Two continents of cloud met and exchanged salvos
overhead; while all round the horizon we could see
sunshine and clear air upon the hills. What with
the guns and the thunder, the herds were all frightened
in the Golden Valley. We could see them tossing
their heads, and running to and fro in timorous indecision;
and when they had made up their minds, and the donkey
followed the horse, and the cow was after the donkey,
we could hear their hooves thundering abroad over
the meadows. It had a martial sound, like cavalry
charges. And altogether, as far as the ears
are concerned, we had a very rousing battle-piece
performed for our amusement.
