India 2001 books

"I know, Victorine," said he, when they were alone together in the
evening, when not even his own dear sister Marie was there to mar the
sacred sweetness of their conference, "I know that I am doing right, and
that gives me strength to leave you, and our darling child. I know that
I am about to do my duty; and you would not wish that I should remain
here in safety, when my King and my country require my services."
"No, Charles; I would never wish that you should be disgraced in your
own estimation. I could perfectly disregard what all others said of you,
as long as you were satisfied with your own conduct; but I would not for
any worldly happiness, that you should live a coward in your own
esteem."
"My own, own Victorine," said he, "how right you are! What true
happiness could we have ever had, if we attempted to enjoy it at the
expense of our countrymen! Every man owes his life to his country; in
happy, quiet times, that debt is best paid by the performance of homely
quiet duties; but our great Father has not intended that lot for us.


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