CHAPTER VIII.

ofmanners,speech,andaspect,suchasourvenerablegranddameswouldrecoilfromasabsolutelydisreputable,andMadameReuter’sjollyfaceboreevidencethatshewasnoexceptiontotheruleofhercountrytherewasatwinkleandleerinherlefteyeherrightshekepthabituallyhalfshut,whichIthoughtveryoddindeed.Afterseveralvainattemptstocomprehendthemotivesofthesetwodrolloldcreaturesforinvitingmetojointhemattheirgouter,Iatlastfairlygaveitup,andresigningmyselftoinevitablemystification,Isatandlookedfirstatone,thenattheother,takingcaremeantimetodojusticetotheconfitures,cakes,andcoffee,withwhichtheyamplysuppliedme.They,too,ate,andthatwithnodelicateappetite,andhavingdemolishedalargeportionofthesolids,theyproposeda“petitverre.”Ideclined.NotsoMesdamesPeletandReutereachmixedherselfwhatIthoughtratherastifftumblerofpunch,andplacingitonastandnearthestove,theydrewuptheirchairstothatconvenience,andinvitedmetodothesame.Iobeyedandbeingseatedfairlybetweenthem,IwasthusaddressedfirstbyMadamePelet,thenbyMadameReuter. “Wewillnowspeakofbusiness,”saidMadamePelet,andshewentontomakeanelaboratespeech,which,beinginterpreted,wastotheeffectthatshehadaskedforthepleasureofmycompanythateveninginordertogiveherfriendMadameReuteranopportunityofbroachinganimportantproposal,whichmightturnoutgreatlytomyadvantage. “Pourvuquevoussoyezsage,”saidMadameReuter,“etavraidire,vousenavezbienl’air.Takeonedropofthepunch”(orponche,asshepronouncedit)“itisanagreeableandwholesomebeverageafterafullmeal.” Ibowed,butagaindeclinedit.Shewenton: “Ifeel,”saidshe,afterasolemnsip—“Ifeelprofoundlytheimportanceofthecommissionwithwhichmydeardaughterhasentrustedme,foryouareaware,Monsieur,thatitismydaughterwhodirectstheestablishmentinthenexthouse?” “Ah!Ithoughtitwasyourself,madame.”Though,indeed,atthatmomentIrecollectedthatitwascalledMademoiselle,notMadameReuter’spensionnat. “I!Oh,no!Imanagethehouseandlookaftertheservants,asmyfriendMadamePeletdoesforMonsieurherson—nothingmore.Ah!youthoughtIgavelessonsinclass—didyou?” Andshelaughedloudandlong,asthoughtheideatickledherfancyamazingly. “Madameisinthewrongtolaugh,”Iobserved“ifshedoesnotgivelessons,Iamsureitisnotbecauseshecannot”andIwhippedoutawhitepocket-handkerchiefandwaftedit,withaFrenchgrace,pastmynose,bowingatthesametime. “Quelcharmantjeunehomme!”murmuredMadamePeletinalowvoice.MadameReuter,beinglesssentimental,asshewasFlamandandnotFrench,onlylaughedagain. “Youa