While Charles was still having dinner with the Duke of Treville, dinner had also begun at the Marquis de Treville's palace.

Although the meal was still held at the usual time, the chaotic situation still brought a lot of shocks to the Tréville family.

At the table, the men of the family were not listed—the old Marquis, with his servants and other neighbours, had organized a joint guard to keep the law and order here while the Army and the National Guard were busy suppressing the mob, so he was so busy that he had not yet returned; And the younger one, too, left home.

Therefore, there were only two girls left at the table, and they sat next to each other as usual, but their expressions were no longer as relaxed as before.

They eat very slowly, and they eat very little—normally they don't have much appetite, but at times like these, it's even more difficult for them to swallow when they're nervous.

At this moment, the incessant sound of gunfire reminded them that at this moment, their relatives, their fathers and brothers, and even their class, were all bearing the test of battle.

This bloody battle, far surpassing the revolution that overthrew the king in February, has terrified them and will be one of the moments they will never forget.

As she ate, Fran kept listening to the sounds coming from outside, as if she didn't think about it, and she kept scratching her spoon into the soup, but she never took a sip. In the flickering candlelight, the girl's expression was obscure, as if anxious and sad. Normally, she would talk to her friends for a while, but tonight she didn't speak.

Mademoiselle Marie-de-Léoltran, of course, knew that she was so depressed because of what she was doing. After a long silence, she sighed inwardly and decided to say something to comfort the Treville lady.

Although she was also very uneasy about her relatives being involved in danger. But at this time, she felt that she should give her friend a little unwavering support, so that she could be a little more relieved.

"Fran?" She shouted softly.

Fran's hand holding the spoon stopped suddenly, and she turned to look at Mary as if she had just been awakened.

"Mary? What's wrong? ”

"Nothing." Mary smiled, "I just saw that you seem to have a lot on your mind, so I'm going to call you." Fran, don't worry. Eat something first, shall we? ”

After hearing her friend's encouragement, Fran only sighed softly and did not answer.

"Alright. Don't worry so much, it'll be fine, God will take care of your grandfather and brother, just as He will take care of my loved ones. Mary took Fran's right hand tightly. Cheer up! Mr. Tréville wouldn't want you to be like that......"

Fran who was held by the hand. There was a hint of emotion in his eyes, but this emotion was soon re-covered by the original sorrow.

"Now, how can I still pull myself up?" Fran shook her head slightly, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Mary, I had another nightmare last night, dreaming of my brother...... I dreamed of my brother fighting with that mob. As a result, he was injured...... Oh God......" At this point, she quickly stopped. I can't go on anymore.

"Don't worry too much, it's just a dream." Although startled by Fran's words, Mary quickly regained her composure, "It's going to be fine." Don't think about it, Fran, everything will be fine! In the abyss of ninety-three years, didn't our ancestors also climb out? I'm sure I'll be able to get through it safely this time, but is it worse now than it was then? My uncle is now in the Self-Defense Army, and I'm just as worried about him. But the best thing we can do to help them in this situation is to stay at home and pray for them and not trouble them, isn't it? ”

"Of course I understand what you say...... But...... But......" Fran closed her eyes, "I just can't help but worry!" My brother is now risking his life, and I can only sit here and pray to the God who doesn't know what is going on......"

Her brother had joined the National Guard, had not been seen since the beginning of the riots in the city, and it was likely that he was still fighting the mob somewhere, perhaps at the risk of a hail of bullets—the thought of which made Flan panic - if he hadn't been favored by God for a moment, that would ...... That...... Every time she thought about it, she didn't dare to think about it anymore.

She didn't pay much attention to politics or any position, nor did she have any prejudices about the regular army and the insurgents, nor did she care too much about which side was at fault for the situation to this point, and she didn't even care if her brother could succeed in battle, she only hoped that his brother would escape all disasters and return safely.

She could never have imagined, never, that the person she was worried about at the moment was in Charlotte's bedroom with her cousin. If you can know the way, I'm afraid the girl's mood will be very different at the moment......

Mary couldn't help but take a deep breath when she heard Fran's blasphemous words, but she also knew in her heart that her friend was right—if praying to God would be useful, who would die on the battlefield?

At this moment, she also had the kind of "impermanence of the world" sigh in her heart, which originally belonged only to adults, and she didn't know what to say more, so she had to keep her mouth shut.

At this moment, she suddenly heard Fran say something in a sullen voice.

"It's all Charlotte's fault, it's all her fault!"

"Huh?" Mary didn't turn a corner for a moment. "The ...... The Mademoiselle de Treville? ”

"Who else could it be but her?" Fran's face was full of displeasure and anger, "It's all Charlotte, it's all because of her demagoguery that my brother joined the National Guard and participated in some kind of suppression...... At the beginning, I felt terrified, it was too late to escape at this time, how could I go in again? Now, Charlotte should be satisfied! My brother...... My brother ......" Fran became more and more agitated the more she spoke. There was a sudden mist in his eyes, "He, he could have stayed at home safely." I didn't have to risk my life! I don't want him to take care of any obligation, isn't it good to live safely by our side? Isn't it good! ”

Fran's rare venting accusations and curses made Mary a little overwhelmed for a while, and she looked at Fran blankly, wanting to appease but not knowing how to appease her.

After the last, she sighed in her heart and did not persuade again. To make Miss Treville, who has always been reserved, lose her temper like this. What a level of tension it must be.

Hey, maybe it would be better for her to vent and relieve her stress.

After complaining for a while. Fran finally stopped, reluctantly regaining her composure.

"I'm sorry, Mary......" she looked at Mademoiselle Marquis a little apologetically, "I was so excited. ”

"It's fine." Mademoiselle Marquis shook her head. "I'm so impressed! You and your brother are the most sincere feelings, and I envy them. ”

Speaking of this, a hint of gloom passed over her face, "Actually, it would be nice if I could experience it too." It's a pity that my brother ......" At this point, she lowered her voice and did not say any more, so as not to make herself and her friend feel even more depressed.

She barely laughed again. Took another sip of the soup with a spoon, "Oops." What a waste of time! Let's move on to dinner, Fran, it's getting cold......"

Fran listened to her, nodded silently, and then started again.

It was as if they had finished what they wanted to say just now, and when they started again, no one spoke, only the sound of the clash of utensils and the faint sound of gunfire outside, casting an irresolvable shadow on the hearts of the two girls again.

After eating for a while, Fran put all the utensils back on the table.

"I'm done."

I could see that she was still in a bad mood.

"I'm done too." Mademoiselle Marquis hurriedly replied, and then she whispered to the cook to clean up the dishes.

"This battle," Fran couldn't help but glance out the window again, "it should be over soon, right?" ”

"Yes, I've heard that it's going to be over soon." Mary nodded, "They all said that the army was facing us, and they were far outnumbered by the mob in equipment and numbers, so ...... The army was soon able to extinguish the mob and bring calm back to all. It will definitely be so. ”

Speaking of this, she secretly clenched her fists, "My uncle also said that this time we must not make any more concessions to the mob, otherwise we will face another catastrophe...... So, Fran, the sacrifices of our relatives are all meaningful, they are for us in World War II! Oh, God...... God will surely care for us, and He will destroy the lawless mob by our hand......"

"Fight for me......" After hearing the Marquis's words, Fran suddenly muttered and repeated, her eyes filled with light again, as if she had thought of something. yes, it's for me...... My brother is fighting for me......"

"What's wrong, Fran?" Mary was a little surprised by the magical effect of her comforting words.

"Nothing." Fran hurriedly replied, a smile on her face that she hadn't seen in many days, "Mary, thank you for your comfort......"

"It's okay, isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" Mary laughed too.

Fran suddenly seemed to have made up her mind.

"Mary, I want to ask you a question."

"Just ask."

"Do you know how to use a gun? That kind of pistol ......," Fran asked in a low voice.

"Huh?" Mary was taken aback, but quickly replied, "Yes, yes, but it's a shotgun." I learned that when I went hunting with my family, I should have used a shotgun in a similar way to a pistol...... I think I'll be able to use it...... But what is this for, you ask? ”

"Teach me......," said Flan with a hint of pleading in her voice, "I want to learn how to use a gun." ”

"Huh?!" Mary was even more surprised, "Fran, what are you thinking?" A gun isn't a paintbrush, it's not a toy! ”

"Of course I know what I'm talking about." Fran nodded slightly, "A few months ago, my brother gave me a gift for fear of chaos...... Yes, he gave me a pistol, intended for me to use in case of danger to defend myself. However, even if I have a gun now, I won't use it when I'm in danger...... Later, the mess slowly subsided, and he seemed to have forgotten about it and never remembered to teach me, so he ...... So I would like to ask you to teach me. ”

"I see." Miss Marquis finally knew it in her heart. "It doesn't matter, it's easy to use a gun, and it won't take long for you to learn how smart you are. But ......" she suddenly thought of something. "Fran, don't think that you are great with a gun, run out of the way, don't think so!"

"Of course not, now, how can I risk causing trouble for him? I just want to learn first. Fran shook her head, reassuring her friend, "But maybe one day...... Maybe one day...... I can help him. Even if you learn how to defend yourself, that's not bad......"

Looking at her friend's expectant eyes, Mary nodded unexpectedly.

"Well, in that case, I'll teach you. We'll go to the courtyard and practice later. As she spoke, she suddenly made a joke: "Fortunately, at this time, no one will protest that we are too noisy because of the gunshots......" (To be continued......)