CHAPTER VIII.

atlineandthegouter?Theygenerallybeginsuchaffairswitheatinganddrinking,Ibelieve.” Therewasafearfuldismayinthissuggestionofmyexcitedimagination,andifIhadallowedmyselftimetodwelluponit,Ishouldnodoubthavecutthereandthen,rushedbacktomychamber,andboltedmyselfinbutwheneveradangerorahorrorisveiledwithuncertainty,theprimarywishofthemindistoascertainfirstthenakedtruth,reservingtheexpedientofflightforthemomentwhenitsdreadanticipationshallberealized.Iturnedthedoor-handle,andinaninstanthadcrossedthefatalthreshold,closedthedoorbehindme,andstoodinthepresenceofMadamePelet. Graciousheavens!Thefirstviewofherseemedtoconfirmmyworstapprehensions.Thereshesat,dressedoutinalightgreenmuslingown,onherheadalacecapwithflourishingredrosesinthefrillhertablewascarefullyspreadtherewerefruit,cakes,andcoffee,withabottleofsomething—Ididnotknowwhat.Alreadythecoldsweatstartedonmybrow,alreadyIglancedbackovermyshoulderatthecloseddoor,when,tomyunspeakablerelief,myeye,wanderingmildlyinthedirectionofthestove,resteduponasecondfigure,seatedinalargefauteuilbesideit.Thiswasawoman,too,and,moreover,anoldwoman,andasfatandasrubicundasMadamePeletwasmeagreandyellowherattirewaslikewiseveryfine,andspringflowersofdifferenthuescircledinabrightwreaththecrownofherviolet-colouredvelvetbonnet. IhadonlytimetomakethesegeneralobservationswhenMadamePelet,comingforwardwithwhatsheintendedshouldbeagracefulandelasticstep,thusaccostedme: “Monsieurisindeedmostobligingtoquithisbooks,hisstudies,attherequestofaninsignificantpersonlikeme—willMonsieurcompletehiskindnessbyallowingmetopresenthimtomydearfriendMadameReuter,whoresidesintheneighbouringhouse—theyoungladies’school.” “Ah!”thoughtI,“Iknewshewasold,”andIbowedandtookmyseat.MadameReuterplacedherselfatthetableoppositetome. “HowdoyoulikeBelgium,Monsieur?”askedshe,inanaccentofthebroadestBruxellois.IcouldnowwelldistinguishthedifferencebetweenthefineandpureParisianutteranceofM.Pelet,forinstance,andthegutturalenunciationoftheFlamands.Iansweredpolitely,andthenwonderedhowsocoarseandclumsyanoldwomanastheonebeforemeshouldbeattheheadofaladies’seminary,whichIhadalwaysheardspokenofintermsofhighcommendation.Intruththerewassomethingtowonderat.MadameReuterlookedmorelikeajoyous,free-livingoldFlemishfermiere,orevenamaitressed’auberge,thanastaid,grave,rigiddirectricedepensionnat.Ingeneralthecontinental,oratleasttheBelgianoldwomenpermitthemselvesalicence