CHAPTER XXV.

INtwomonthsmoreFranceshadfulfilledthetimeofmourningforheraunt.OneJanuarymorning—thefirstofthenewyearholidays—Iwentinafiacre,accompaniedonlybyM.Vandenhuten,totheRueNotreDameauxNeiges,andhavingalightedaloneandwalkedupstairs,IfoundFrancesapparentlywaitingforme,dressedinastylescarcelyappropriatetothatcold,bright,frostyday.NevertillnowhadIseenherattiredinanyotherthanblackorsad-colouredstuffandthereshestoodbythewindow,cladallinwhite,andwhiteofamostdiaphanoustextureherarraywasverysimple,tobesure,butitlookedimposingandfestalbecauseitwassoclear,full,andfloatingaveilshadowedherhead,andhungbelowherkneealittlewreathofpinkflowersfastenedittoherthicklytressedGrecianplait,andthenceitfellsoftlyoneachsideofherface.Singulartostate,shewas,orhadbeencryingwhenIaskedherifshewereready,shesaid“Yes,monsieur,”withsomethingverylikeacheckedsobandwhenItookashawl,whichlayonthetable,andfoldeditroundher,notonlydidtearaftertearcourseunbiddendownhercheek,butsheshooktomyministrationlikeareed.IsaidIwassorrytoseeherinsuchlowspirits,andrequestedtobeallowedaninsightintotheoriginthereof.Sheonlysaid,“Itwasimpossibletohelpit,”andthenvoluntarily,thoughhurriedly,puttingherhandintomine,accompaniedmeoutoftheroom,andrandownstairswithaquick,uncertainstep,likeonewhowaseagertogetsomeformidablepieceofbusinessover.Iputherintothefiacre.M.Vandenhutenreceivedher,andseatedherbesidehimselfwedrovealltogethertotheProtestantchapel,wentthroughacertainserviceintheCommonPrayerBook,andsheandIcameoutmarried.M.Vandenhutenhadgiventhebrideaway. Wetooknobridaltripourmodesty,screenedbythepeacefulobscurityofourstation,andthepleasantisolationofourcircumstances,didnotexactthatadditionalprecaution.WerepairedatoncetoasmallhouseIhadtakeninthefaubourgnearesttothatpartofthecitywherethesceneofouravocationslay. Threeorfourhoursaftertheweddingceremony,Frances,divestedofherbridalsnow,andattiredinaprettylilacgownofwarmermaterials,apiquantblacksilkapron,andalacecollarwithsomefinishingdecorationoflilacribbon,waskneelingonthecarpetofaneatlyfurnishedthoughnotspaciousparlour,arrangingontheshelvesofachiffonieresomebooks,whichIhandedtoherfromthetable.Itwassnowingfastoutofdoorstheafternoonhadturnedoutwildandcoldtheleadenskyseemedfullofdrifts,andthestreetwasalreadyankle-deepinthewhitedownfall.Ourfireburnedbright,ournewhabitationlookedbrilliantlycleanandfresh,thefurniturewasallarranged,andtherewerebutsomearticlesofglass,china,books,&c.,toputinorder.Francesfoundinthisbusinessoccupationtilltea-time,andthen,afterIhaddistinctlyinstructedherhowtomakeacupofteainrationalEnglishstyle,andaftershehadgotoverthedismayoccasionedbyseeingsuchanextravagantamountofmaterialputintothepot,sheadministeredtomeaproperBritishrepast,atwhichtherewantedneithercandlesnorurn,firelightnorcomfort. Ourweek’sholidayglidedby,andwereaddressedourselvestolabour.BothmywifeandIbeganingoodearnestwiththenotionthatwewereworkingpeople,destinedtoearnourbreadbyexertion,andthatofthemostassiduouskind.Ourdayswerethoroughlyoccupiedweusedtoparteverymorningateighto’clock,andnotmeetagaintillfiveP.M.butintowhatsweetrestdidtheturmoilofeachbusydaydecline!Lookingdownthevistaofmemory,Iseetheeveningspassedinthatlittleparlourlikealongstringofrubiescirclingtheduskybrowofthepast.Unvariedweretheyaseachcutgem,andlikeeachgembrilliantandburning. Ayearandahalfpassed.Onemorning(itwasaFETE,andwehadthedaytoourselves)Francessaidtome,withasuddennesspeculiartoherwhenshehadbeenthinkinglongonasubject,andatlast,havingcometoaconclusion,wishedtotestitssoundnessbythetouchstoneofmyjudgment:— “Idon’tworkenough.” “Whatnow?”demandedI,lookingupfrommycoffee,whichIhadbeendeliberatelystirringwhileenjoying,inanticipation,awalkIproposedtotakewithFrances,thatfinesummerday(itwasJune),toacertainfarmhouseinthecountry,whereweweretodine.“Whatnow?”andIsawatonce,intheseriousardourofherface,aprojectofvitalimportance. “Iamnotsatisfied,”returnedshe“youarenowearningeightthousandfrancsayear”(itwastruemyefforts,punctuality,thefameofmypupils’progress,thepublicityofmystation,hadsofarhelpedmeon),“whileIamstillatmymiserabletwelvehundredfrancs.ICANdobetter,andIWILL.” “YouworkaslongandasdiligentlyasIdo,Frances.” “Yes,monsieur,butIamnotworkingintherightway,andIamconvincedofit.” “Youwishtochange—youhaveaplanforprogressinyourmindgoandputonyourbonnetand,whilewetakeourwalk,youshalltellmeofit.” “Yes,monsieur.” Shewent—asdocileasawell-trainedchildshewasacuriousmixtureoftractabilityandfirmness:Isatthinkingabouther,andwonderingwhatherplancouldbe,whenshere-entered. “Monsieur,IhavegivenMinnie”(ourbonne)“leavetogoouttoo,asitissoveryfinesowillyoubekindenoughtolockthedoor,andtakethekeywithyou?” “Kissme,Mrs.Crimsworth,”wasmynotveryappositereplybutshelookedsoengaginginherlightsummerdressandlittlecottagebonnet,andhermannerinspeakingtomewasthen,asalways,sounaffectedlyandsuavelyrespectful,thatmyheartexpandedatthesightofher,andakissseemednecessarytocontentitsimportunity. “There,monsieur.” “Whydoyoualwayscallme‘Monsieur’?Say,‘William.’” “IcannotpronounceyourWbesides,‘Monsieur’belongstoyouIlikeitbest.” Minniehavingdepartedincleancapandsmartshawl,we,too,setout,leavingthehousesolitaryandsilent—silent,atleast,butforthetickingoftheclock.WeweresoonclearofBrusselsthefieldsreceivedus,andthenthelanes,remotefromcarriage-resoundingCHAUSSEES.Erelongwecameuponanook,sorural,green,andsecluded,itmighthavebeenaspotinsomepastoralEnglishprovinceabankofshortandmossygrass,underahawthorn,offeredaseattootemptingtobedeclinedwetookit,andwhenwehadadmiredandexaminedsomeEnglish-lookingwild-flowersgrowingatourfeet,IrecalledFrances’attentionandmyowntothetopictouchedonatbreakfast. “Whatwasherplan?”Anaturalone—thenextsteptobemountedbyus,or,atleast,byher,ifshewantedtoriseinherprofession.Sheproposedtobeginaschool.Wealreadyhadthemeansforcommencingonacarefulscale,havinglivedgreatlywithinourincome.Wepossessed,too,bythistime,anextensiveandeligibleconnection,inthesenseadvantageoustoourbusinessfor,thoughourcircleofvisitingacquaintancecontinuedaslimitedasever,wewerenowwidelyknowninschoolsandfamiliesasteachers.WhenFranceshaddevelopedherplan,sheintimated,insomeclosingsentences,herhopesforthefuture.Ifweonlyhadgoodhealthandtolerablesuccess,memight,shewassure,intimerealizeanindependencyandthat,perhaps,beforeweweretoooldtoenjoyitthenbothsheandIwouldrestandwhatwastohinderusfromgoingtoliveinEngland?EnglandwasstillherPromisedLand. IputnoobstacleinherwayraisednoobjectionIknewshewasnotonewhocouldlivequiescentandinactive,orevencomparativelyinactive.Dutiesshemusthavetofulfil,andimportantdutiesworktodo—andexciting,absorbing,profitableworkstrongfacultiesstirredinherframe,andtheydemandedfullnourishment,freeexercise:minewasnotthehandevertostarveorcrampthemno,Idelightedinofferingthemsustenance,andinclearingthemwiderspaceforaction. “Youhaveconceivedaplan,Frances,”saidI,“andagoodplanexecuteityouhavemyfreeconsent,andwhereverandwhenevermyassistanceiswanted,askandyoushallhave.” Frances’eyesthankedmealmostwithtearsjustasparkleortwo,soonbrushedawayshepossessedherselfofmyhandtoo,andhelditforsometimeverycloseclaspedinbothherown,butshesaidnomorethan“Thankyou,monsieur.” Wepassedadivineday,andcamehomelate,lightedbyafullsummermoon. Tenyearsrushednowuponmewithdusty,vibrating,unrestingwingsyearsofbustle,action,unslackedendeavouryearsinwhichIandmywife,havinglaunchedourselvesinthefullcareerofprogress,asprogresswhirlsoninEuropeancapitals,scarcelyknewrepose,werestrangerstoamusement,neverthoughtofindulgence,andyet,asourcourseransidebyside,aswemarchedhandinhand,weneithermurmured,repented,norfaltered.Hopeindeedcheeredushealthkeptusupharmonyofthoughtanddeedsmoothedmanydifficulties,andfinally