The people showed a good deal of the _sans-culotte_ tendency
in their manners,--throwing themselves on the floor, yawning,
and going out when they had heard enough. Yet, as the majority
differ from me, to begin with,--that being the reason this
subject was chosen,--they showed, on the whole, more respect
and interest than I had expected. As I am accustomed to
deference, however, and need it for the boldness and animation
which my part requires, I did not speak with as much force as
usual. Still, I should like to have to face all this; it would
have the same good effects that the Athenian assemblies had on
the minds obliged to encounter them.
'Sunday. A glorious day;--the woods full of perfume. I was out
all the morning. In the afternoon, Mrs. R. and I had a talk.
I said my position would be too uncertain here, as I could not
work. ---- said:--"They would all like to work for a person of
genius. They would not like to have this service claimed from
them, but would like to render it of their own accord." "Yes,"
I told her; "but where would be my repose, when they were
always to be judging whether I was worth it or not.
Pages:
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111