To the health of my son Nicolas, his
wife, Lisbeth, and all who have been born from them! And to the health of
all who will follow, from generation to generation!"
And Marianne, who had likewise risen, in her turn said: "To the health of
your wives, and your daughters, your spouses and your mothers! To the
health of those who will love and produce the greatest sum of life, in
order that the greatest possible sum of happiness may follow!"
Then, the banquet ended, they quitted the table and spread freely over
the lawn. There was a last ovation around Mathieu and Marianne, who were
encompassed by their eager offspring. At one and the same time a score of
arms were outstretched, carrying children, whose fair or dark heads they
were asked to kiss. Aged as they were, returning to a divine state of
childhood, they did not always recognize those little lads and lasses.
They made mistakes, used wrong names, fancied that one child was another.
Laughter thereupon arose, the mistakes were rectified, and appeals were
made to the old people's memory. They likewise laughed, the errors were
amusing, but it mattered little if they no longer remembered a name, the
child at any rate belonged to the harvest that had sprung from them.
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