CHAPTER XXIV.

ishand(athinghehadneverdonebefore),convincedmethathethoughtIhadmadeaterriblefoolofmyselfandthat,ruinedandthrownawayasIwas,itwasnotimeforsarcasmorcynicism,orindeedforanythingbutindulgenceandforbearance. “Goodnight,William,”hesaid,inareallysoftvoice,whilehisfacelookedbenevolentlycompassionate.“Goodnight,lad.IwishyouandyourfuturewifemuchprosperityandIhopeshewillsatisfyyourfastidioussoul.” IhadmuchadotorefrainfromlaughingasIbeheldthemagnanimouspityofhismienmaintaining,however,agraveair,Isaid:— “IthoughtyouwouldhavelikedtohaveseenMdlle.Henri?” “Oh,thatisthename!Yes—ifitwouldbeconvenient,Ishouldliketoseeher—but——.”Hehesitated. “Well?” “Ishouldonnoaccountwishtointrude.” “Come,then,”saidI.Wesetout.Hunsdennodoubtregardedmeasarash,imprudentman,thustoshowmypoorlittlegrisettesweetheart,inherpoorlittleunfurnishedgrenierbuthepreparedtoacttherealgentleman,having,infact,thekernelofthatcharacter,undertheharshhuskitpleasedhimtowearbywayofmentalmackintosh.Hetalkedaffably,andevengently,aswewentalongthestreethehadneverbeensociviltomeinhislife.Wereachedthehouse,entered,ascendedthestairongainingthelobby,HunsdenturnedtomountanarrowerstairwhichledtoahigherstoryIsawhismindwasbentontheattics. “Here,Mr.Hunsden,”saidIquietly,tappingatFrances’door.Heturnedinhisgenuinepolitenesshewasalittledisconcertedathavingmadethemistakehiseyerevertedtothegreenmat,buthesaidnothing. Wewalkedin,andFrancesrosefromherseatnearthetabletoreceiveushermourningattiregaveherarecluse,ratherconventual,butwithalverydistinguishedlookitsgravesimplicityaddednothingtobeauty,butmuchtodignitythefinishofthewhitecollarandmanchettessufficedforarelieftothemerinogownofsolemnblackornamentwasforsworn.Francescurtsiedwithsedategrace,looking,asshealwaysdid,whenonefirstaccostedher,moreawomantorespectthantoloveIintroducedMr.Hunsden,andsheexpressedherhappinessatmakinghisacquaintanceinFrench.Thepureandpolishedaccent,thelowyetsweetandratherfullvoice,producedtheireffectimmediatelyHunsdenspokeFrenchinreplyIhadnotheardhimspeakthatlanguagebeforehemanageditverywell.Iretiredtothewindow-seatMr.Hunsden,athishostess’sinvitation,occupiedachairnearthehearthfrommypositionIcouldseethemboth,andtheroomtoo,ataglance.Theroomwassocleanandbright,itlookedlikealittlepolishedcabinetaglassfilledwithflowersinthecentreofthetable,afreshroseineachchinacuponthemantelpiecegaveitanairofFETE.Franceswasserious,andMr.Hunsdensubdued,butbothmutuallypolitetheygotonattheFrenchswimmingly:ordinarytopicswerediscussedwithgreatstateanddecorumIthoughtIhadneverseentwosuchmodelsofpropriety,forHunsden(thankstotheconstraintoftheforeigntongue)wasobligedtoshapehisphrases,andmeasurehissentences,withacarethatforbadeanyeccentricity.AtlastEnglandwasmentioned,andFrancesproceededtoaskquestions.Animatedbydegrees,shebegantochange,justasagravenight-skychangesattheapproachofsunrise:firstitseemedasifherforeheadcleared,thenhereyesglittered,herfeaturesrelaxed,andbecamequitemobilehersubduedcomplexiongrewwarmandtransparenttome,shenowlookedprettybefore,shehadonlylookedladylike. ShehadmanythingstosaytotheEnglishmanjustfreshfromhisisland-country,andsheurgedhimwithanenthusiasmofcuriosity,whicherelongthawedHunsden’sreserveasfirethawsacongealedviper.Iusethisnotveryflatteringcomparisonbecausehevividlyremindedmeofasnakewakingfromtorpor,asheerectedhistallform,rearedhishead,beforealittledeclined,andputtingbackhishairfromhisbroadSaxonforehead,showedunshadedthegleamofalmostsavagesatirewhichhisinterlocutor’stoneofeagernessandlookofardourhadsufficedatoncetokindleinhissoulandelicitfromhiseyes:hewashimselfasFranceswasherself,andinnonebuthisownlanguagewouldhenowaddressher. “YouunderstandEnglish?”wastheprefatoryquestion. “Alittle.” “Well,then,youshallhaveplentyofitandfirst,Iseeyou’venotmuchmoresensethansomeothersofmyacquaintance”(indicatingmewithhisthumb),“orelseyou’dneverturnrabidaboutthatdirtylittlecountrycalledEnglandforrabid,IseeyouareIreadAnglophobiainyourlooks,andhearitinyourwords.Why,mademoiselle,isitpossiblethatanybodywithagrainofrationalityshouldfeelenthusiasmaboutamerename,andthatnameEngland?Ithoughtyouwerealady-abbessfiveminutesago,andrespectedyouaccordinglyandnowIseeyouareasortofSwisssibyl,withhighToryandhighChurchprinciples!” “Englandisyourcountry?”askedFrances. “Yes.” “Andyoudon’tlikeit?” “I’dbesorrytolikeit!Alittlecorrupt,venal,lord-and-king-cursednation,fullofmuckypride(astheysayi