Part 7 (1/2)
”Bread! Bread!” was the answering shout.
”The women of Paris will lead you to it. Then you shall help yourselves.”
”Show us where it is and we'll take it fast enough,” was the answering cry.
”Where should it be but in the king's palace? There they are feasting while the people in Paris are starving. They shall give the people of their bread!”
”What if they have eaten it all?” asked another voice.
”Then shall the king bake more,” answered the girl--”enough for every one in his kingdom. He shall be the nation's baker, and his wife shall help him knead the dough, and their little boy shall give out the loaves.”
There was a laugh at this and cries of ”Good! Good!”
”My friends,” she continued, taking off her cap and swinging it by the ta.s.sel, ”this marching is hot work, and talking is dry business. Has any one a drink for La Demoiselle Liberte?”
A number of bottles were instantly proffered her.
”This _eau de vie_ puts new life into one,” she exclaimed, throwing back her head and putting a flask to her lips. With an easy gesture she took a deep draught of the liquor, to the increasing admiration of the bystanders. On removing the bottle from her lips, she said with a nod: ”How many of you men can beat that? Here goes one more.” She was on the point of repeating the act when she caught sight of Tournay, who had drawn near and stood by the wheel of the truck looking at her intently.
”Here, friend, you look at this liquor thirstily; take a good pull at it. You're a likely youth, and a sup of brandy will foster your strength! What! You will not drink? Bah, man! I would not have it said that I was a little boy, afraid of good liquor. But why do you stare at me like that, without speaking? Have you no tongue?” Tournay put aside the proffered bottle and said:--
”I stared at you because I know you. You are Marianne Froment, the miller's daughter, who left La Thierry a year ago. And you should remember Robert Tournay.”
The young woman shook her head with a decided gesture.
”You mistake, friend; my name is not Marianne Froment. I know no miller, and have never heard of the place you speak of.”
Tournay remembered when he had seen her last in the alley of the park.
He felt no animosity toward her; instead he felt compa.s.sion for the silly girl whose head had been turned by the flattery of a n.o.bleman who had already grown tired of her.
”It is you who are mistaken, Marianne,” he replied quietly, ”although when I knew you at La Thierry, drinking strong liquor was not one of your practices.”
”I am La Demoiselle Liberte,” replied the girl defiantly, throwing her brown curls back from her forehead and replacing her cap. ”I have drunk such liquor as this from my cradle. So here's to you! May you some day grow to be a man.”
Tournay stayed the bottle in its course to her lips, and took her hand in his.
”You are Marianne Froment,” he persisted, ”and it would be much better for you to be in the quiet country of La Thierry. Why not go back?”
”If Marianne did go back, who would speak to her? Who among all those who live there would take her by the hand?” she asked.
”Have I not taken you by the hand just now?” asked Tournay.
”I believe you would be the only one,” she replied, stifling a sigh.
”Not even my father would do that. But you are no longer at La Thierry.
What are you doing here, and what sent you away from home? Are you going back?”
Tournay shook his head. ”There are reasons,” he replied slowly, ”why I can never return.”
”Neither can Marianne Froment,” rejoined the girl. ”Therefore, compatriot, drink with me to our future good comrades.h.i.+p. And pa.s.s the bottle to your neighbor. Then let us go on together. _En avant_, my friends,” she cried out in a loud voice. ”The sooner we start again the earlier we shall reach our bakery. Follow the carriage of La Demoiselle Liberte, and she will lead you to it.”