And it was there that he had the ambition of carving
out a kingdom for himself, and of founding with Lisbeth another dynasty
of Froments, and a new Chantebled, covering under the hot sun a tract ten
times as extensive as the old one, and peopled with the people of his own
children. And he spoke of all this with such joyous courage that Mathieu
and Marianne ended by smiling amid their tears, despite the rending of
their poor hearts.
"Go, my lad, we cannot keep you back. Go wherever life calls you,
wherever you may live with more health and joy and strength. All that may
spring from you yonder will still be health and joy and strength derived
from us, of which we shall be proud. You are right, one must not weep,
your departure must be a fete, for the family does not separate, it
simply extends, invades, and conquers the world."
Nevertheless, on the day of farewell, after the marriage of Nicolas and
Lisbeth there was an hour of painful emotion at Chantebled. The family
had met to share a last meal all together, and when the time came for the
young and adventurous couple to tear themselves from the maternal soil
there were those who sobbed although they had vowed to be very brave.
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