CHAPTER VII. VILLETTE.

Iawokenextmorningwithcouragerevivedandspiritsrefreshed:physicaldebilitynolongerenervatedmyjudgmentmymindfeltpromptandclear. JustasIfinisheddressing,atapcametothedoor:Isaid,“Comein,”expectingthechambermaid,whereasaroughmanwalkedinandsaid,— “Gifmeyourkeys,Meess.” “Why?”Iasked. “Gif!”saidheimpatientlyandashehalf-snatchedthemfrommyhand,headded,“Allright!hafyourtroncsoon.” Fortunatelyitdidturnoutallright:hewasfromthecustom-house.WheretogotogetsomebreakfastIcouldnottellbutIproceeded,notwithouthesitation,todescend. Inowobserved,whatIhadnotnoticedinmyextremewearinesslastnight,viz.thatthisinnwas,infact,alargehotelandasIslowlydescendedthebroadstaircase,haltingoneachstep(forIwasinwonderfullylittlehastetogetdown),Igazedatthehighceilingaboveme,atthepaintedwallsaround,atthewidewindowswhichfilledthehousewithlight,attheveinedmarbleItrod(forthestepswereallofmarble,thoughuncarpetedandnotveryclean),andcontrastingallthiswiththedimensionsoftheclosetassignedtomeasachamber,withtheextrememodestyofitsappointments,Ifellintoaphilosophizingmood. MuchImarvelledatthesagacityevincedbywaitersandchamber-maidsinproportioningtheaccommodationtotheguest.Howcouldinn-servantsandship-stewardesseseverywheretellataglancethatI,forinstance,wasanindividualofnosocialsignificance,andlittleburdenedbycash?Theydidknowitevidently:Isawquitewellthattheyall,inamoment’scalculation,estimatedmeataboutthesamefractionalvalue.Thefactseemedtomecuriousandpregnant:Iwouldnotdisguisefrommyselfwhatitindicated,yetmanagedtokeepupmyspiritsprettywellunderitspressure. Havingatlastlandedinagreathall,fullofskylightglare,Imademywaysomehowtowhatprovedtobethecoffee-room.ItcannotbedeniedthatonenteringthisroomItrembledsomewhatfeltuncertain,solitary,wretchedwishedtoHeavenIknewwhetherIwasdoingrightorwrongfeltconvincedthatitwasthelast,butcouldnothelpmyself.Actinginthespiritandwiththecalmofafatalist,Isatdownatasmalltable,towhichawaiterpresentlybroughtmesomebreakfastandIpartookofthatmealinaframeofmindnotgreatlycalculatedtofavourdigestion.ThereweremanyotherpeoplebreakfastingatothertablesintheroomIshouldhavefeltrathermorehappyifamongstthemallIcouldhaveseenanywomenhowever,therewasnotone—allpresentweremen.ButnobodyseemedtothinkIwasdoinganythingstrangeoneortwogentlemenglancedatmeoccasionally,butnonestaredobtrusively:Isupposeiftherewasanythingeccentricinthebusiness,theyaccountedforitbythisword“Anglaise!” Breakfastover,Imustagainmove—inwhatdirection?“GotoVillette,”saidaninwardvoiceprompteddoubtlessbytherecollectionofthisslightsentenceutteredcarelesslyandatrandombyMissFanshawe,asshebidmegood-by:“IwishyouwouldcometoMadameBeck’sshehassomemarmotswhomyoumightlookaftershewantsanEnglishgouvernante,orwaswantingonetwomonthsago.” WhoMadameBeckwas,whereshelived,IknewnotIhadasked,butthequestionpassedunheard:MissFanshawe,hurriedawaybyherfriends,leftitunanswered.IpresumedVillettetobeherresidence—toVilletteIwouldgo.Thedistancewasfortymiles.IknewIwascatchingatstrawsbutinthewideandwelteringdeepwhereIfoundmyself,Iwouldhavecaughtatcobwebs.HavinginquiredaboutthemeansoftravellingtoVillette,andsecuredaseatinthediligence,Idepartedonthestrengthofthisoutline—thisshadowofaproject.Beforeyoupronounceontherashnessoftheproceeding,reader,lookbacktothepointwhenceIstart