Vanity Fair - Page 251/573

Amelia's attendant was much less selfishly disposed. Few dependents

could come near that kind and gentle creature without paying their

usual tribute of loyalty and affection to her sweet and affectionate

nature. And it is a fact that Pauline, the cook, consoled her mistress

more than anybody whom she saw on this wretched morning; for when she

found how Amelia remained for hours, silent, motionless, and haggard,

by the windows in which she had placed herself to watch the last

bayonets of the column as it marched away, the honest girl took the

lady's hand, and said, Tenez, Madame, est-ce qu'il n'est pas aussi a

l'armee, mon homme a moi? with which she burst into tears, and Amelia

falling into her arms, did likewise, and so each pitied and soothed the

other.

Several times during the forenoon Mr. Jos's Isidor went from his

lodgings into the town, and to the gates of the hotels and lodging-houses

round about the Parc, where the English were congregated, and

there mingled with other valets, couriers, and lackeys, gathered such

news as was abroad, and brought back bulletins for his master's

information. Almost all these gentlemen were in heart partisans of the

Emperor, and had their opinions about the speedy end of the campaign.

The Emperor's proclamation from Avesnes had been distributed everywhere

plentifully in Brussels. "Soldiers!" it said, "this is the

anniversary of Marengo and Friedland, by which the destinies of Europe

were twice decided. Then, as after Austerlitz, as after Wagram, we

were too generous. We believed in the oaths and promises of princes

whom we suffered to remain upon their thrones. Let us march once more

to meet them. We and they, are we not still the same men? Soldiers!

these same Prussians who are so arrogant to-day, were three to one

against you at Jena, and six to one at Montmirail. Those among you who

were prisoners in England can tell their comrades what frightful

torments they suffered on board the English hulks. Madmen! a moment

of prosperity has blinded them, and if they enter into France it will

be to find a grave there!" But the partisans of the French prophesied

a more speedy extermination of the Emperor's enemies than this; and it

was agreed on all hands that Prussians and British would never return

except as prisoners in the rear of the conquering army.

These opinions in the course of the day were brought to operate upon

Mr. Sedley. He was told that the Duke of Wellington had gone to try

and rally his army, the advance of which had been utterly crushed the

night before.

"Crushed, psha!" said Jos, whose heart was pretty stout at

breakfast-time. "The Duke has gone to beat the Emperor as he has

beaten all his generals before."

"His papers are burned, his effects are removed, and his quarters are

being got ready for the Duke of Dalmatia," Jos's informant replied. "I

had it from his own maitre d'hotel. Milor Duc de Richemont's people

are packing up everything. His Grace has fled already, and the Duchess

is only waiting to see the plate packed to join the King of France at

Ostend."