The Household of the Lafayettes

mpulsory occasion for a trip abroad. He was maliciously regaling the table, at the King's expense, by a humorous account of America's affront to England and the scene with the tea- chests in Boston Harbour. His sympathy was all with the rebels, and he dwelt on their need of recruits. This was the first that France had heard of American Independence. Amongst his numerous audience?officers in blue and silver, Strassburg grandees in gold lace and velvet, exclaiming, laughing, gesticulating?was one silent, solemn-faced young soldier. He was lean, red-haired, hook-nosed, very awkward. He might have seemed insignificant, had it not been for his eager eyes ; and indifferent, had he not kept them intent on the speaker's face. Nobody noticed him. After dinner he strode across the room to the Duke and opened his lips for the first time. His manner was calm, almost cold. " I will join the Americans?I will helpthem fight for Freedom!" he cried, and as he spoke his face was illuminated?"Tell me how to set about it." This was the Marquis de Lafayette, now nineteen years old (he was born in 1757), the adoring husband of a lady who returned his attachment; already the father of one child, and now expecting another. The anecdote is an epitome of the man. He was ruled by two passions?the one for his wife, the other for Freedom; and the latter was the stronger of the two. In his amorous pursuit of Liberty under all her Protean forms?a pursuit sometimes stern, always sanguine, and m...