Section 105. THE DRAMA OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1848. V.
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Princes, peers[1], soldiers, and statesmen were all sneaking[2] in hiding places whilst the capital was[3] made over to the mercy of a few dozen incendiaries. The daughter-in-law, seeing (S. 55, N. 1) the King depart[4], carries[5] her child to the Chamber of Deputies[6], and[7] there, with womanly courage and queenly dignity, vindicates his rights. Her friends entreat her to withdraw. Firm[8] in her purpose, she does not move[9] an inch. She attempts to speak, but is interrupted; and[10] he who interrupts is himself silenced by an armed mob that pours[11] into the hall[12]. The Duchess is forced away[13], and in that terrible extremity is separated from her son. The child is seized by (S. 106, N. 23) a rough hand, which[14] is strong enough to strike[15], but[16] generous enough to save. The boy is brought[17] to his mother, and mother and son pass[18] from asylum to asylum, chased[19] by scythes, sabres, muskets, and, worse[20] than all, the[21] bloody passions of an infuriated “canaille”. For[22] four days they[23] creep into hiding places; on the fifth day they are beyond the frontier.