well。 I had gone about as usual all the time； and had said nothing
to anybody of what I felt； but I was glad when the evil spirit
departed from me； and I could again seek Frances； and sit at her
side； freed from the dreadful tyranny of my demon。
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Chapter XXIV
ne fine； frosty Sunday in November； Frances and I took a
long walk； we made the tour of the city by the Boulevards；
O
and； afterwards； Frances being a little tired； we sat down
on one of those wayside seats placed under the trees； at intervals；
for the accommodation of the weary。 Frances was telling me about
Switzerland； the subject animated her； and I was just thinking
that her eyes spoke full as eloquently as her tongue； when she
stopped and remarked—
“Monsieur； there is a gentleman who knows you。”
I looked up； three fashionably dressed men were just then
passing—Englishmen； I knew by their air and gait as well as by
their features； in the tallest of the trio I at once recognized Mr。
Hunsden； he was in the act of lifting his hat to Frances；
afterwards； he made a grimace at me； and passed on。
“Who is he？”
“A person I knew in England。”
“Why did he bow to me？ He does not know me。”
“Yes； he does know you； in his way。”
“How； monsieur？” （She still called me “monsieur”； I could not
persuade her to adopt any more familiar term。）
“Did you not read the expression of his eyes？”
“Of his eyes？ No。 What did they say？”
“To you they said； ‘How do you do； Wilhelmina Crimsworth？’
To me； ‘So you have found your counterpart at last； there she sits；
the female of your kind！’”
“Monsieur； you could not read all that in his eyes； He was so
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soon gone。”
“I read that and more； Frances； I read that he will probably call
on me this evening； or on some future occasion shortly； and I have
no doubt he will insist on being introduced to you； shall I bring
him to your rooms？”
“If you please； monsieur—I have no objection； I think； indeed； I
should rather like to see him nearer； he looks so original。”
As I had anticipated； Mr。 Hunsden came that evening。 The first
thing he said was：—
“You need not begin boasting； Monsieur le Professeur； I know
about your appointment to — College； and all that； Brown has told
me。” Then he intimated that he had returned from Germany but a
day or two since； afterwards； he abruptly demanded whether that
was Madame Pelet…Reuter with whom he had seen me on the
Boulevards。 I was going to utter a rather emphatic negative； but
on second thoughts I checked myself； and； seeming to assent；
asked what he thought of her？
“As to her； I’ll come to that directly； but first I’ve a word for you。
I see you are a scoundrel； you’ve no business to be promenading
about with another man’s wife。 I thought you had sounder sense
than to get mixed up in foreign hodge…podge of this sort。”
“But the lady？”
“She’s too good for you evidently； she is like you； but something
better than you—no beauty； though； yet when she rose （for I
looked back to see you both walk away） I thought her figure and
carriage good。 These foreigners understand grace。 What the devil
has she done with Pelet？ She has not been married to him three
months—he must be a spoon！”
I would not let the mistake go too far； I did not like it much。
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“Pelet？ How your head runs on Mons。 and Madame Pelet！ You
are always talking about them。 I wish to the gods you had wed
Mdlle Zoraide yourself！”
“Was that young gentlewoman not Mdlle Zoraide？”
“No； nor Madame Zoraide either。”
“Why did you tell a lie； then？”
“I told no lie； but you are is such a hurry。 She is a pupil of
mine—a Swiss girl。”
“And of course you are going to be married to her？ Don’t deny
that。”
“Married！ I think I shall—if Fate spares us both ten weeks
longer。 That is my little wild strawberry； Hunsden； whose
sweetness made me careless of your hothouse grapes。”
“Stop！ No boasting—no heroics； I won’t hear them。 What is
she？ To what caste does she belong？”
I smiled。 Hunsden unconsciously laid stress on the word caste；
and； in fact； republican； lord…hater as he was； Hunsden was as
proud of his old —…shire blood； of his descent and family standing；
respectable and respected through long generations back； as any
peer in the realm of his Norman race and Conquest…dated title。
Hunsden would as little have thought of taking a wife from a caste
inferior to his own； as a Stanley would think of mating with a
Cobden。 I enjoyed the surprise I should give； I enjoyed the
triumph of my practice over his theory； and leaning over the table；
and uttering the words slowly but with repressed glee； I said
concisely—
“She is a lace…mender。”
Hunsden examined me。 He did not say he was surprised； but
surprised he was； he had his own notions of good breeding。 I saw
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he suspected I was going to take some very rash step； but
repressing declamation or remonstrance； he only answered—
“Well； you are the best； judge of your own affairs。 A lace…
mender may make a good wife as well as a lady； but of course you
have taken care to ascertain thoroughly that since she has not
education； fortune or station； she is well furnished with such
natural qualities as you think most likely to conduce to your
happiness。 Has she many relations？”
“None in Brussels。”
“That is better。 Relations are often the real evil in such cases。 I
cannot but think that a train of inferior connections would have
been a bore to you to your life’s end。”
After sitting in silence a little while longer； Hunsden rose； and
was quietly bidding me good evening； the polite； considerate
manner in which he offered me his hand （a thing he had never
done before）； convinced me that he thought I had made a terrible
fool of myself； and that； ruined and thrown away as I was； it was
no time for sarcasm or cynicism； or indeed for anything but
indulgence and forbearance。
“Good night； William；” he said； in a really soft voice； while his
face looked benevolently compassionate。 “Good night； lad。 I wish
you and your future wife much prosperity； and I hope she will
satisfy your fastidious soul。”
I had much ado to refrain from laughing as I beheld the
magnanimous pity of his mien； maintaining； however； a grave air；
I said：—
“I thought you would have liked to have seen Mdlle Henri？”
“Oh； that is the name！ Yes—if it would be convenient； I should
like to see her—but—。” He hesitated。
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“Well？”
“I should on no account wish to intrude。”
“Come； then；” said I。 We set out。 Hunsden no doubt regarded
me as a rash； imprudent man； thus to show my poor little grisette
sweetheart； in her poor little unfurnished grenier； but he prepared
to act the real gentleman； having； in fact； the kernel of that
character； under the harsh husk it pleased him to wear by way of
mental mackintosh。 He talked affably； and even gently； as we went
along the street； he had never been so civil to me in his life。 We
reached the house； entered； ascended the stair； on gaining the
lobby； Hunsden turned to mount a narrower stair which led to a
higher story； I saw his mind was bent on the attics。
“Here； Mr。 Hunsden；” said I quietly； tapping at Frances’ door。
He turned； in his genuine politeness he was a little disconcerted at
having made the mistake； his eye reverted to the green mat； but he
said nothing。
We walked in； and Frances rose from her seat near the table to
receive us； her mourning attire gave her a recluse； rather
conventual； but withal very distinguished look； its grave simplicity
added nothing to beauty； but much to dignity； the finish of the
white collar and manchettes sufficed for a relief to the merino
gown of solemn black；
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