CHAPTER IX.

ussthesubjectofterms.Shewasverycautious,quiteonherguardshedidnotabsolutelybargain,butshewarilysoundedmetofindoutwhatmyexpectationsmightbeandwhenshecouldnotgetmetonameasum,shereasonedandreasonedwithafluentyetquietcircumlocutionofspeech,andatlastnailedmedowntofivehundredfrancsperannum—nottoomuch,butIagreed.Beforethenegotiationwascompleted,itbegantogrowalittledusk.Ididnothastenit,forIlikedwellenoughtositandhearhertalkIwasamusedwiththesortofbusinesstalentshedisplayed.Edwardcouldnothaveshownhimselfmorepractical,thoughhemighthaveevincedmorecoarsenessandurgencyandthenshehadsomanyreasons,somanyexplanationsand,afterall,shesucceededinprovingherselfquitedisinterestedandevenliberal.Atlastsheconcluded,shecouldsaynomore,because,asIacquiescedinallthings,therewasnofurthergroundfortheexerciseofherpartsofspeech.Iwasobligedtorise.IwouldratherhavesatalittlelongerwhathadItoreturntobutmysmallemptyroom?AndmyeyeshadapleasureinlookingatMdlle.Reuter,especiallynow,whenthetwilightsoftenedherfeaturesalittle,and,inthedoubtfuldusk,Icouldfancyherforeheadasopenasitwasreallyelevated,hermouthtouchedwithturnsofsweetnessaswellasdefinedinlinesofsense.WhenIrosetogo,Iheldoutmyhand,onpurpose,thoughIknewitwascontrarytotheetiquetteofforeignhabitsshesmiled,andsaid— “Ah!c’estcommetouslesAnglais,”butgavemeherhandverykindly. “Itistheprivilegeofmycountry,Mademoiselle,”saidI“and,remember,Ishallalwaysclaimit.” Shelaughedalittle,quitegood-naturedly,andwiththesortoftranquillityobviousinallshedid—atranquillitywhichsoothedandsuitedmesingularly,atleastIthoughtsothatevening.BrusselsseemedaverypleasantplacetomewhenIgotoutagainintothestreet,anditappearedasifsomecheerful,eventful,upward-tendingcareerwereeventhenopeningtome,onthatselfsamemild,stillAprilnight.Soimpressionableabeingisman,oratleastsuchamanasIwasinthosedays.