A good-featured countrywoman and some young children were seated at the table, where a large dish of potatoes and some fresh fish were smoking, a huge jug of milk occupying the middle of the board. The woman blushed as she heard that her husband had invited a gentleman to partake of his humble meal; but the honest fellow cared little for the simple fare he offered with so good a grace, and placed my chair beside his own with the air of one who was more anxious for his guest's comfort than caring what impression he himself might make upon him.
After some passing words about the season and the state of the tides,—for my host was a fisherman,—I turned the conversation on the political condition of the country, avowing frankly that I had been for some years absent, and was ignorant of what had occurred meantime.
“'Twas that same I was thinking, sir,” said he, replying to the first and not the latter part of my remark. “When I saw your honor's face, and the beard you wore, I said to myself you wor a Frenchman.”
“You mistook there, then; I am your countryman, but have passed a good many years in France.”
“Fighting for Boney?” said he, as his eyes opened wide with surprise to behold one actually before him who might have served under Napoleon.
“Yes, my good friend, even so; I was in the army of the Emperor.”
“Tare an ages! then, are they coming over here now?” cried he, almost gasping in his eagerness.
“No, no,” replied I, gravely; “and be thankful, too, for it, for your own and your children's sakes, that you see not a war raging in the fields and cities of your native land. Be assured, whatever wrongs you suffer,—I will not dispute their existence, for, as I told you, I am ignorant of the condition of the country,—but whatever they may be, you can pay too dearly for their remedy.”
“But sure they 'd be on our side, would n't they?”
“Of course they would; but think you that they 'd fight your battles without their price? Do you believe that Frenchmen so love you here that they would come to shed their blood in your cause without their own prospect of advantage?”