98 IN THE DAYS OP AUDUBON 



to time of how the great naturalists of Europe were ban- 

 queted by kings. 



" Don't let your heart sink," Mrs. Audubon would say 

 to him. " You have me and you have the prophecy of 

 your old home, and some day a prince may give you some- 

 thing. If he does, remember I was true to your purpose, 

 and true to you. Oh, what an hour that would be! But 

 suppose it were never to come, your worth and value would 

 be the same. But it will come, it will come; my soul tells 

 me that it will come. 



" But suppose it were never to come, your worth and 

 value would be the same. But it will come, it will come; 

 my soul tells me that it will come." 



" I hope it will, my true wife, for Victor's sake ! " 



Victor? He was his father's heart. 



In these dark days, when the family was separated, the 

 mother and boy met. They talked long. 



" Worth lies within, and happiness comes from within," 

 said she. " I know not what may happen to me, but what- 

 ever comes I want you to be true to your father, and to his 

 work, which is his life." 



" I will be true to him, mother, whatever may happen 

 to him or you. I love my father." 



" And I will be true to you, Victor, and we will all be 

 true to our own! " 



