第2章

Icouldn’tthinkwhatIhavedone，andIcan’tthinkyet。It’sasifshehadgotsomeideaaboutme，orhadheardsomeonesaysomething。

IfsomegirlsshouldbehavelikethatIshouldn’tmakeanyaccountofit；butthisoneissorefined，andlooksasifshemightbesointerestingifIoncegottoknowher，thatIthinkaboutitagooddeal。Iamboundtofindoutwhatherreasonis——forofcourseshehasgotsomereason；Iamrightdowncurioustoknow。

Iwentuptohertoaskherthedaybeforeyesterday；Ithoughtthatwasthebestway。ItoldherIwantedtoknowherbetter，andwouldliketocomeandseeherinherroom——theytellmeshehasgotalovelyroom——andthatifshehadheardanythingagainstme，perhapsshewouldtellmewhenIcame。Butshewasmoredistantthanever，andshejustturneditoff；saidthatshehadneverheardmementioned，andthatherroomwastoosmalltoreceivevisitors。I

supposeshespokethetruth，butIamsureshehasgotsomereason，allthesame。Shehasgotsomeidea，andIamboundtofindoutbeforeIgo，ifIhavetoaskeverybodyinthehouse。IAMrightdowncurious。Iwonderifshedoesn’tthinkmerefined——orifshehadeverheardanythingagainstBangor？Ican’tthinkitisthat。

Don’tyourememberwhenClaraBarnardwenttovisitNewYork，threeyearsago，howmuchattentionshereceived？AndyouknowClaraIS

Bangor，tothesolesofhershoes。AskWilliamPlatt——solongasheisn’tanative——ifhedoesn’tconsiderClaraBarnardrefined。

Apropos，astheysayhere，ofrefinement，thereisanotherAmericaninthehouse——agentlemanfromBoston——whoisjustcrowdedwithit。

HisnameisMr。LouisLeverett（suchabeautifulname，Ithink），andheisaboutthirtyyearsold。Heisrathersmall，andhelooksprettysick；hesuffersfromsomeaffectionoftheliver。Buthisconversationisremarkablyinteresting，andIdelighttolistentohim——hehassuchbeautifulideas。Ifeelasifitwerehardlyright，notbeinginFrench；but，fortunately，heusesagreatmanyFrenchexpressions。It’sinadifferentstylefromtheconversationofMr。

Verdier——notsocomplimentary，butmoreintellectual。Heisintenselyfondofpictures，andhasgivenmeagreatmanyideasaboutthemwhichIshouldneverhavegainedwithouthim；Ishouldn’thaveknownwheretolookforsuchideas。Hethinkseverythingofpictures；hethinkswedon’tmakenearenoughofthem。Theyseemtomakeagooddealofthemhere；butIcouldn’thelptellinghimtheotherdaythatinBangorIreallydon’tthinkwedo。

IfIhadanymoneytospendIwouldbuysomeandtakethemback，tohangup。Mr。Leverettsaysitwoulddothemgood——notthepictures，buttheBangorfolks。HethinkseverythingoftheFrench，too，andsayswedon’tmakenearlyenoughofTHEM。Icouldn’thelptellinghimtheotherdaythatatanyratetheymakeenoughofthemselves。

ButitisveryinterestingtohearhimgoonabouttheFrench，anditissomuchgaintome，solongasthatiswhatIcamefor。ItalktohimasmuchasIdareaboutBoston，butIdofeelasifthiswererightdownwrong——astolenpleasure。

IcangetalltheBostoncultureIwantwhenIgoback，ifIcarryoutmyplan，myhappyvision，ofgoingtheretoreside。IoughttodirectallmyeffortstoEuropeanculturenow，andkeepBostontofinishoff。ButitseemsasifIcouldn’thelptakingapeepnowandthen，inadvance——withaBostonian。Idon’tknowwhenImaymeetoneagain；butiftherearemanyotherslikeMr。Leverettthere，IshallbecertainnottowantwhenIcarryoutmydream。Heisjustasfullofcultureashecanlive。Butitseemsstrangehowmanydifferentsortsthereare。

TherearetwooftheEnglishwhoIsupposeareverycultivatedtoo；

butitdoesn’tseemasifIcouldenterintotheirssoeasily，thoughItryallIcan。Idolovetheirwayofspeaking，andsometimesI

feelalmostasifitwouldberighttogiveuptryingtolearnFrench，andjusttrytolearntospeakourowntongueastheseEnglishspeakit。Itisn’tthethingstheysaysomuch，thoughtheseareoftenrathercurious，butitisinthewaytheypronounce，andthesweetnessoftheirvoice。ItseemsasiftheymustTRYagooddealtotalklikethat；buttheseEnglishthatareheredon’tseemtotryatall，eithertospeakordoanythingelse。Theyareayoungladyandherbrother。Ibelievetheybelongtosomenoblefamily。I

havehadagooddealofintercoursewiththem，becauseIhavefeltmorefreetotalktothemthantotheAmericans——onaccountofthelanguage。ItseemsasifintalkingwiththemIwasalmostlearninganewone。

Ineversupposed，whenIleftBangor，thatIwascomingtoEuropetolearnENGLISH！IfIdolearnit，Idon’tthinkyouwillunderstandmewhenIgetback，andIdon’tthinkyou’lllikeitmuch。IshouldbeagooddealcriticisedifIspokelikethatatBangor。However，I

verilybelieveBangoristhemostcriticalplaceonearth；Ihaveseennothinglikeitoverhere。TellthemallIhavecometotheconclusionthattheyareAGREATDEALTOOFASTIDIOUS。ButIwasspeakingaboutthisEnglishyoungladyandherbrother。IwishI

couldputthembeforeyou。Sheislovelytolookat；sheseemssomodestandretiring。Inspiteofthis，however，shedressesinawaythatattractsgreatattention，asIcouldn’thelpnoticingwhenonedayIwentouttowalkwithher。Shewaseversomuchlookedat；butshedidn’tseemtonoticeit，untilatlastIcouldn’thelpcallingattentiontoit。Mr。Leverettthinkseverythingofit；hecallsitthe\"costumeofthefuture。\"Ishouldcallitratherthecostumeofthepast——youknowtheEnglishhavesuchanattachmenttothepast。

IsaidthistheotherdaytoMadamedoMaisonrouge——thatMissVanedressedinthecostumeofthepast。Del’anpasse，vousvoulezdire？

saidMadame，withherlittleFrenchlaugh（youcangetWilliamPlatttotranslatethis，heusedtotellmeheknewsomuchFrench）。

YouknowItoldyou，inwritingsometimeago，thatIhadtriedtogetsomeinsightintothepositionofwomaninEngland，and，beingherewithMissVane，ithasseemedtometobeagoodopportunitytogetalittlemore。Ihaveaskedheragreatdealaboutit；butshedoesn’tseemabletogivememuchinformation。ThefirsttimeI

askedhershetoldmethepositionofaladydependedupontherankofherfather，hereldestbrother，herhusband，etc。Shetoldmeherownpositionwasverygood，becauseherfatherwassomerelation——I

forgetwhat——toalord。Shethinkseverythingofthis；andthatprovestomethatthepositionofwomaninhercountrycannotbesatisfactory；because，ifitwere，itwouldn’tdependuponthatofyourrelations，evenyournearest。Idon’tknowmuchaboutlords，anditdoestrymypatience（thoughsheisjustassweetasshecanlive）tohearhertalkasifitwereamatterofcoursethatI

should。

IfeelasifitwererighttoaskherasoftenasIcanifshedoesn’tconsidereveryoneequal；butshealwayssaysshedoesn’t，andsheconfessesthatshedoesn’tthinksheisequalto\"LadySomething—or—other，\"whoisthewifeofthatrelationofherfather。

ItryandpersuadeherallIcanthatsheis；butitseemsasifshedidn’twanttobepersuaded；andwhenIaskherifLadySo—and—soisofthesameopinion（thatMissVaneisn’therequal），shelookssosoftandprettywithhereyes，andsays，\"Ofcoursesheis！\"WhenI

tellherthatthisisrightdownbadforLadySo—and—so，itseemsasifshewouldn’tbelieveme，andtheonlyanswershewillmakeisthatLadySo—and—sois\"extremelynice。\"Idon’tbelievesheisniceatall；ifshewerenice，shewouldn’thavesuchideasasthat。ItellMissVanethatatBangorwethinksuchideasvulgar；butthenshelooksasthoughshehadneverheardofBangor。Ioftenwanttoshakeher，thoughsheISsosweet。Ifsheisn’tangrywiththepeoplewhomakeherfeelthatway，Iamangryforher。Iamangrywithherbrothertoo，forsheisevidentlyverymuchafraidofhim，andthisgivesmesomefurtherinsightintothesubject。Shethinkseverythingofherbrother，andthinksitnaturalthatsheshouldbeafraidofhim，notonlyphysically（forthisISnatural，asheisenormouslytallandstrong，andhasverybigfists），butmorallyandintellectually。Sheseemsunable，however，totakeinanyargument，andshemakesmerealisewhatIhaveoftenheard——thatifyouaretimidnothingwillreasonyououtofit。

Mr。Vane，also（thebrother），seemstohavethesameprejudices，andwhenItellhim，asIoftenthinkitrighttodo，thathissisterisnothissubordinate，evenifshedoesthinkso，buthisequal，and，perhapsinsomerespectshissuperior，andthatifmybrother，inBangor，weretotreatmeashetreatesthispooryounggirl，whohasnotspiritenoughtoseethequestioninitstruelight，therewouldbeanindignation，meetingofthecitizenstoprotestagainstsuchanoutragetothesanctityofwomanhood——whenItellhimallthis，atbreakfastordinner，heburstsoutlaughingsoloudthatalltheplatesclatteronthetable。

ButatsuchatimeasthisthereisalwaysonepersonwhoseemsinterestedinwhatIsay——aGermangentleman，aprofessor，whositsnexttomeatdinner，andwhomImusttellyoumoreaboutanothertime。Heisverylearned，andhasagreatdesireforinformation；heappreciatesagreatmanyofmyremarks，andafterdinner，inthesalon，heoftencomestometoaskmequestionsaboutthem。Ihavetothinkalittle，sometimes，toknowwhatIdidsay，orwhatIdothink。Hetakesyourightupwhereyouleftoff；andheisalmostasfondofdiscussingthingsasWilliamPlattis。Heissplendidlyeducated，intheGermanstyle，andhetoldmetheotherdaythathewasan\"intellectualbroom。\"Well，ifheis，hesweepsclean；Itoldhimthat。AfterhehasbeentalkingtomeIfeelasifIhadn’tgotaspeckofdustleftinmymindanywhere。It’samostdelightfulfeeling。Hesayshe’sanobserver；andIamsurethereisplentyoverheretoobserve。ButIhavetoldyouenoughforto—day。I

don’tknowhowmuchlongerIshallstayhere；IamgettingonsofastthatitsometimesseemsasifIshouldn’tneedallthetimeIhavelaidout。Isupposeyourcoldweatherhaspromptlybegun，asusual；

itsometimesmakesmeenvyyou。Thefallweatherhereisverydullanddamp，andIfeelverymuchasifIshouldliketobebracedup。

CHAPTERVI

FROMMISSEVELYNVANE，INPARIS，TOTHELADYAUGUSTAFLEMING，AT

BRIGHTON。

Paris，September30th。

DearLadyAugusta——IamafraidIshallnotbeabletocometoyouonJanuary7th，asyoukindlyproposedatHomburg。Iamsovery，verysorry；itisagreatdisappointmenttome。ButIhavejustheardthatithasbeensettledthatmammaandthechildrenarecomingabroadforapartofthewinter，andmammawishesmetogowiththemtoHyeres，whereGeorginahasbeenorderedforherlungs。Shehasnotbeenatallwellthesethreemonths，andnowthatthedampweatherhasbegunsheisverypoorlyindeed；sothatlastweekpapadecidedtohaveaconsultation，andheandmammawentwithheruptotownandsawsomethreeorfourdoctors。TheyallofthemorderedthesouthofFrance，buttheydidn’tagreeabouttheplace；sothatmammaherselfdecidedforHyeres，becauseitisthemosteconomical。

Ibelieveitisverydull，butIhopeitwilldoGeorginagood。Iamafraid，however，thatnothingwilldohergooduntilsheconsentstotakemorecareofherself；Iamafraidsheisverywildandwilful，andmammatellsmethatallthismonthithastakenpapa’spositiveorderstomakeherstopin—doors。Sheisverycross（mammawritesme）aboutcomingabroad，anddoesn’tseematalltomindtheexpensethatpapahasbeenputto——talksveryill—naturedlyaboutlosingthehunting，etc。SheexpectedtobegintohuntinDecember，andwantstoknowwhetheranybodykeepshoundsatHyeres。Fancyagirlwantingtofollowthehoundswhenherlungsaresobad！ButIdaresaythatwhenshegetsthereshewillhegladenoughtokeepquiet，astheysaythattheheatisintense。ItmaycureGeorgina，butIamsureitwillmaketherestofusveryill。

Mamma，however，isonlygoingtobringMaryandGusandFredandAdelaideabroadwithher；theotherswillremainatKingscoteuntilFebruary（aboutthe3d），whentheywillgotoEastbourneforamonthwithMissTurnover，thenewgoverness，whohasturnedoutsuchaveryniceperson。SheisgoingtotakeMissTravers，whohasbeenwithussolong，butwhoisonlyqualifiedfortheyoungerchildren，toHyeres，andIbelievesomeoftheKingscoteservants。ShehasperfectconfidenceinMissT。；itisonlyapityshehassuchanoddname。Mammathoughtofaskingherifshewouldmindtakinganotherwhenshecame；butpapathoughtshemightobject。LadyBattledownmakesallhergovernessestakethesamename；shegives？5moreayearforthepurpose。Iforgetwhatitisshecallsthem；Ithinkit’sJohnson（whichtomealwayssuggestsalady’smaid）。

Governessesshouldn’thavetooprettyaname；theyshouldn’thaveanicernamethanthefamily。

IsupposeyouheardfromtheDesmondsthatIdidnotgobacktoEnglandwiththem。WhenitbegantobetalkedaboutthatGeorginashouldbetakenabroad，mammawrotetomethatIhadbetterstopinParisforamonthwithHarold，sothatshecouldpickmeupontheirwaytoHyeres。ItsavestheexpenseofmyjourneytoKingscoteandback，andgivesmetheopportunityto\"finish\"alittleinFrench。

YouknowHaroldcameheresixweeksago，togetuphisFrenchforthosedreadfulexaminationsthathehastopasssosoon。HecametolivewithsomeFrenchpeoplethattakeinyoungmen（andothers）forthispurpose；it’sakindofcoachingplace，onlykeptbywomen。

Mammahadhearditwasverynice；soshewrotetomethatIwastocomeandstopherewithHarold。TheDesmondsbroughtmeandmadethearrangement，orthebargain，orwhateveryoucallit。PoorHaroldwasnaturallynotatallpleased；buthehasbeenverykind，andhastreatedmelikeanangel。HeisgettingonbeautifullywithhisFrench；forthoughIdon’tthinktheplaceissogoodaspapasupposed，yetHaroldissoimmenselycleverthathecanscarcelyhelplearning。IamafraidIlearnmuchless，but，fortunately，Ihavenottopassanexamination——exceptifmammatakesitintoherheadtoexamineme。ButshewillhavesomuchtothinkofwithGeorginathatIhopethiswon’toccurtoher。Ifitdoes，Ishallbe，asHaroldsays，inadreadfulfunk。

Thisisnotsuchaniceplaceforagirlasforayoungman，andtheDesmondsthoughtitEXCEEDINGLYODDthatmammashouldwishmetocomehere。AsMrs。Desmondsaid，itisbecausesheissoveryunconventional。ButyouknowParisissoveryamusing，andifonlyHaroldremainsgood—naturedaboutit，Ishallbecontenttowaitforthecaravan（that’swhathecallsmammaandthechildren）。Thepersonwhokeepstheestablishment，orwhatevertheycallit，isratherodd，andEXCEEDINGLYFOREIGN；butsheiswonderfullycivil，andisperpetuallysendingtomydoortoseeifIwantanything。TheservantsarenotatalllikeEnglishservants，andcomeburstingin，thefootman（theyhaveonlyone）andthemaidsalike，atallsortsofhours，intheMOSTSUDDENWAY。Thenwhenonerings，itishalfanhourbeforetheycome。Allthisisveryuncomfortable，andIdaresayitwillbeworseatHyeres。There，however，fortunately，weshallhaveourownpeople。

TherearesomeveryoddAmericanshere，whokeepthrowingHaroldintofitsoflaughter。Oneisadreadfullittlemanwhoisalwayssittingoverthefire，andtalkingaboutthecolourofthesky。Idon’tbelieveheeversawtheskyexceptthroughthewindow——pane。Theotherdayhetookholdofmyfrock（thatgreenoneyouthoughtsoniceatHomburg）andtoldmethatitremindedhimofthetextureoftheDevonshireturf。AndthenhetalkedforhalfanhourabouttheDevonshireturf；whichIthoughtsuchaveryextraordinarysubject。

Haroldsaysheismad。Itisverystrangetobelivinginthiswaywithpeopleonedoesn’tknow。Imeanthatonedoesn’tknowasoneknowstheminEngland。

TheotherAmericans（besidethemadman）aretwogirls，aboutmyownage，oneofwhomisrathernice。Shehasamother；butthemotherisalwayssittinginherbedroom，whichseemssoveryodd。IshouldlikemammatoaskthemtoKingscote，butIamafraidmammawouldn’tlikethemother，whoisrathervulgar。Theothergirlisrathervulgartoo，andistravellingaboutquitealone。Ithinksheisakindofschoolmistress；buttheothergirl（Imeanthenicerone，withthemother）tellsmesheismorerespectablethansheseems。

Shehas，however，themostextraordinaryopinions——wishestodoawaywiththearistocracy，thinksitwrongthatArthurshouldhaveKingscotewhenpapadies，etc。Idon’tseewhatitsignifiestoherthatpoorArthurshouldcomeintotheproperty，whichwillbesodelightful——exceptforpapadying。ButHaroldsayssheismad。Hechaffshertremendouslyaboutherradicalism，andheissoimmenselycleverthatshecan’tanswerhim，thoughsheisratherclevertoo。

ThereisalsoaFrenchman，anephew，orcousin，orsomething，ofthepersonofthehouse，whoisextremelynasty；andaGermanprofessor，ordoctor，whoeatswithhisknifeandisagreatbore。Iamsoverysorryaboutgivingupmyvisit。Iamafraidyouwillneveraskmeagain。

CHAPTERVII

FROMLEONVERDIER，INPARIS，TOPROSPERGOBAIN，ATLILLE。

September28th。

MyDearProsper——ItisalongtimesinceIhavegivenyouofmynews，andIdon’tknowwhatputsitintomyheadto—nighttorecallmyselftoyouraffectionatememory。Isupposeitisthatwhenwearehappythemindrevertsinstinctivelytothosewithwhomformerlywesharedourexaltationsanddepressions，andjet’euaitropdit，danslebontemps，mongrosProsper，andyoualwayslistenedtometooimperturbably，withyourpipeinyourmouth，yourwaistcoatunbuttoned，formenottofeelthatIcancountuponyoursympathyto—day。Nousensommesnousflanqueesdesconfidences——inthosehappydayswhenmyfirstthoughtinseeinganadventurepoindreal’horizonwasofthepleasureIshouldhaveinrelatingittothegreatProsper。AsItellthee，Iamhappy；decidedly，Iamhappy，andfromthisaffirmationIfancyyoucanconstructtherest。ShallIhelptheealittle？Takethreeadorablegirls……three，mygoodProsper——themysticnumber——neithermorenorless。TakethemandplacethyinsatiablelittleLeoninthemidstofthem！Isthesituationsufficientlyindicated，anddoyouapprehendthemotivesofmyfelicity？

Youexpected，perhaps，IwasgoingtotellyouthatIhadmademyfortune，orthattheUncleBlondeauhadatlastdecidedtoreturnintothebreastofnature，afterhavingconstitutedmehisuniversallegatee。ButIneedn’tremindyouthatwomenarealwaysforsomethinginthehappinessofhimwhowritestothee——forsomethinginhishappiness，andforagooddealmoreinhismisery。Butdon’tletmetalkofmiserynow；timeenoughwhenitcomes；cesdemoiselleshavegonetojointheserriedranksoftheiramiablepredecessors。

Excuseme——Icomprehendyourimpatience。Iwilltellyouofwhomcesdemoisellesconsist。

YouhaveheardmespeakofmycousinedeMaisonrouge，thatgrandebellefemme，who，afterhavingmarried，ensecondesnoces——therehadbeen，totellthetruth，someirregularityaboutherfirstunion——avenerablerelicoftheoldnoblesseofPoitou，wasleft，bythedeathofherhusband，complicatedbytheindulgenceofexpensivetastesonanincomeof17，000francs，onthepavementofParis，withtwolittledemonsofdaughterstobringupinthepathofvirtue。Shemanagedtobringthemup；mylittlecousinsarerigidlyvirtuous。Ifyouaskmehowshemanagedit，Ican’ttellyou；it’snobusinessofmine，and，afortiorinoneofyours。Sheisnowfiftyyearsold（sheconfessestothirty—seven），andherdaughters，whomshehasneverbeenabletomarry，arerespectivelytwenty—sevenandtwenty—three（theyconfesstotwentyandtoseventeen）。Threeyearsagoshehadthethrice—blessedideaofopeningasortofpensionfortheentertainmentandinstructionoftheblunderingbarbarianswhocometoParisinthehopeofpickingupafewstrayparticlesofthelanguageofVoltaire——orofZola。Theidealuiaportebonheur；theshopdoesaverygoodbusiness。Untilwithinafewmonthsagoitwascarriedonbymycousinsalone；butlatelytheneedofafewextensionsandembellishmentshascauseditselftohefelt。Mycousinhasundertakenthem，regardlessofexpense；shehasaskedmetocomeandstaywithher——boardandlodginggratis——andkeepaneyeonthegrammaticaleccentricitiesofherpensionnaires。Iamtheextension，mygoodProsper；Iamtheembellishment！Ilivefornothing，andIstraightenuptheaccentoftheprettiestEnglishlips。TheEnglishlipsarenotallpretty，heavenknows，butenoughofthemaresotomakeitagainingbargainforme。

Justnow，asItoldyou，Iamindailyconversationwiththreeseparatepairs。Theownerofoneofthemhasprivatelessons；shepaysextra。Mycousindoesn’tgivemeasouofthemoney；butImakebold，nevertheless，tosaythatmytroubleisremunerated。ButIamwell，verywell，withtheproprietorsofthetwootherpairs。OneofthemisalittleAnglaise，ofabouttwenty——alittlefiguredekeepsake；themostadorablemissthatyouever，oratleastthatI

everbeheld。Sheisdecoratedalloverwithbeadsandbraceletsandembroidereddandelions；butherprincipaldecorationconsistsofthesoftestlittlegrayeyesintheworld，whichrestuponyouwithaprofundityofconfidence——aconfidencethatIreallyfeelsomecompunctioninbetraying。Shehasatintaswhiteasthissheetofpaper，exceptjustinthemiddleofeachcheek，whereitpassesintothepurestandmosttransparent，mostliquid，carmine。Occasionallythisrosyfluidoverflowsintotherestofherface——bywhichImeanthatsheblushes——assoftlyasthemarkofyourbreathonthewindow—

pane。

LikeeveryAnglaise，sheisratherpinchedandpriminpublic；butitisveryeasytoseethatwhennooneislookingellenedemandequ’aselaisseraller！WhenevershewantsitIamalwaysthere，andI

havegivenhertounderstandthatshecancountuponme。Ihavereasontobelievethatsheappreciatestheassurance，thoughIamboundinhonestytoconfessthatwithherthesituationisalittlelessadvancedthanwiththeothers。Quevoulez—vous？TheEnglishareheavy，andtheAnglaisesmoveslowly，that’sall。Themovement，however，isperceptible，andoncethisfactisestablishedIcanletthepottagesimmer。Icangivehertimetoarrive，forIamover—

welloccupiedwithherconcurrentes。Celles—cidon’tkeepmewaiting，parexemple！

TheseyoungladiesareAmericans，andyouknowthatitisthenationalcharactertomovefast。\"Allright——goahead！\"（IamlearningagreatdealofEnglish，or，rather，agreatdealofAmerican。）Theygoaheadataratethatsometimesmakesitdifficultformetokeepup。Oneofthemisprettierthantheother；butthishatter（theonethattakestheprivatelessons）isreallyunefileprodigieuse。Ah，parexemple，ellebrulesesvais—seuxcella—la！

Shethrewherselfintomyarmstheveryfirstday，andIalmostowedheragrudgeforhavingdeprivedmeofthatpleasureofgradation，ofcarryingthedefences，onebyone，whichisalmostasgreatasthatofenteringtheplace。

Wouldyoubelievethatattheendofexactlytwelveminutesshegavemearendezvous？ItistrueitwasintheGaleried’Apollon，attheLouvre；butthatwasrespectableforabeginning，andsincethenwehavehadthembythedozen；Ihaveceasedtokeeptheaccount。Non，c’estunefilequimedepasse。

Thelittleone（shehasamothersomewhere，outofsight，shutupinaclosetoratrunk）isagooddealprettier，and，perhaps，onthataccountelleymetplusdefacons。Shedoesn’tknockaboutPariswithmebythehour；shecontentsherselfwithlonginterviewsinthepetitsalon，withthecurtainshalf—drawn，beginningataboutthreeo’clock，wheneveryoneisalapromenade。Sheisadmirable，thislittleone；alittletoothin，thebonesratheraccentuated，butthedetail，onthewhole，mostsatisfactory。Andyoucansayanythingtoher。Shetakesthetroubletoappearnottounderstand，butherconduct，halfanhourafterwards，reassuresyoucompletely——oh，completely！

However，itisthetallone，theoneoftheprivatelessons，thatisthemostremarkable。Theseprivatelessons，mygoodProsper，arethemostbrilliantinventionoftheage，andarealstrokeofgeniusonthepartofMissMiranda！Theyalsotakeplaceinthepetitsalon，butwiththedoorstightlyclosed，andwithexplicitdirectionstoeveryoneinthehousethatwearenottobedisturbed。Andwearenot，mygoodProsper；wearenot！Notasound，notashadow，interruptsourfelicity。Mycousineisreallyadmirable；theshopdeservestosucceed。MissMirandaistallandratherflat；sheistoopale；shehasn’ttheadorablerougeursofthelittleAnglaise。

Butshehasbright，keen，inquisitiveeyes，superbteeth，anosemodelledbyasculptor，andawayofholdingupherheadandlookingeveryoneintheface，whichisthemostfinishedpieceofimpertinenceIeverbeheld。Sheismakingthetourdumondeentirelyalone，withoutevenasoubrettetocarrytheensign，forthepurposeofseeingforherselfaquois’entenirsurleshommesetleschoses—

—onleshommesparticularly。Disdonc，Prosper，itmustbeadroledepaysoverthere，whereyoungpersonsanimatedbythisardentcuriosityaremanufactured！Ifweshouldturnthetables，someday，thouandI，andgooverandseeitforourselves。Itisaswellthatweshouldgoandfindthemchezelles，asthattheyshouldcomeouthereafterus。Disdonc，mongrasProsper……

CHAPTERVIII

FROMDR。RUDOLFSTAUB，INPARIS，TODR。JULIUSHIRSCH，ATGOTTINGEN。

MydearbrotherinScience——Iresumemyhastynotes，ofwhichIsentyouthefirstinstalmentsomeweeksago。ImentionedthenthatI

intendedtoleavemyhotel，notfindingitsufficientlylocalandnational。ItwaskeptbyaPomeranian，andthewaiters，withoutexception，werefromtheFatherland。IfanciedmyselfatBerlin，UnterdenLinden，andIreflectedthat，havingtakentheseriousstepofvisitingthehead—quartersoftheGallicgenius，Ishouldtryandprojectmyself；asmuchaspossible，intothecircumstanceswhichareinparttheconsequenceandinpartthecauseofitsirrepressibleactivity。Itseemedtomethattherecouldbenowell—groundedknowledgewithoutthispreliminaryoperationofplacingmyselfinrelations，asslightlyaspossiblemodifiedbyelementsproceedingfromadifferentcombinationofcauses，withthespontaneoushome—

lifeofthecountry。

IaccordinglyengagedaroominthehouseofaladyofpureFrenchextractionandeducation，whosupplementstheshortcomingsofanincomeinsufficienttotheever—growingdemandsoftheParisiansystemofsense—gratification，byprovidingfoodandlodgingforalimitednumberofdistinguishedstrangers。Ishouldhavepreferredtohavemyroomaloneinthehouse，andtotakemymealsinabrewery，ofverygoodappearance，whichIspeedilydiscoveredinthesamestreet；butthisarrangement，thoughverylucidlyproposedbymyself；wasnotacceptabletothemistressoftheestablishment（awomanwithamathematicalhead），andIhaveconsoledmyselffortheextraexpensebyfixingmythoughtsupontheopportunitythatconformitytothecustomsofthehousegivesmeofstudyingthetable—mannersofmycompanions，andofobservingtheFrenchnatureatapeculiarlyphysiologicalmoment，themomentwhenthesatisfactionoftheTASTE，whichisthegoverningqualityinitscomposition，producesakindofexhalation，anintellectualtranspiration，which，thoughlightandperhapsinvisibletoasuperficialspectator，isneverthelessappreciablebyaproperlyadjustedinstrument。

Ihaveadjustedmyinstrumentverysatisfactorily（ImeantheoneI

carryinmygoodsquareGermanhead），andIamnotafraidoflosingasingledropofthisvaluablefluid，asitcondensesitselfupontheplateofmyobservation。ApreparedsurfaceiswhatIneed，andI

havepreparedmysurface。

Unfortunatelyhere，also，Ifindtheindividualnativeintheminority。ThereareonlyfourFrenchpersonsinthehouse——theindividualsconcernedinitsmanagement，threeofwhomarewomen，andoneaman。Thispreponderanceofthefeminineelementis，however，initselfcharacteristic，asIneednotremindyouwhatanabnormally——developedpartthissexhasplayedinFrenchhistory。

Theremainingfigureisapparentlythatofaman，butIhesitatetoclassifyhimsosuperficially。Heappearstomelesshumanthansimian，andwheneverIhearhimtalkIseemtomyselftohavepausedinthestreettolistentotheshrillclatterofahand—organ，towhichthegambolsofahairyhomunculusformanaccompaniment。

Imentionedtoyoubeforethatmyexpectationofroughusage，inconsequenceofmyGermannationality，hadprovedcompletelyunfounded。Nooneseemstoknowortocarewhatmynationalityis，andIamtreated，onthecontrary，withthecivilitywhichistheportionofeverytravellerwhopaysthebillwithoutscanningtheitemstoonarrowly。This，Iconfess，hasbeensomethingofasurprisetome，andIhavenotyetmadeupmymindastothefundamentalcauseoftheanomaly。MydeterminationtotakeupmyabodeinaFrenchinteriorwaslargelydictatedbythesuppositionthatIshouldbesubstantiallydisagreeabletoitsinmates。IwishedtoobservethedifferentformstakenbytheirritationthatIshouldnaturallyproduce；foritisundertheinfluenceofirritationthattheFrenchcharactermostcompletelyexpressesitself。Mypresence，however，doesnotappeartooperateasastimulus，andinthisrespectIammateriallydisappointed。Theytreatmeastheytreateveryoneelse；whereas，inordertobetreateddifferently，Iwasresignedinadvancetobetreatedworse。Ihavenot，asIsay，fullyexplainedtomyselfthislogicalcontradiction；butthisistheexplanationtowhichItend。TheFrencharesoexclusivelyoccupiedwiththeideaofthemselves，thatinspiteoftheverydefiniteimagetheGermanpersonalitypresentedtothembythewarof1870，theyhaveatpresentnodistinctapprehensionofitsexistence。TheyarenotverysurethatthereareanyGermans；theyhavealreadyforgottentheconvincingproofsofthefactthatwerepresentedtothemnineyearsago。AGermanwassomethingdisagreeable，whichtheydeterminedtokeepoutoftheirconceptionofthings。Ithereforethinkthatwearewrongtogovernourselvesuponthehypothesisoftherevanche；theFrenchnatureistooshallowforthatlargeandpowerfulplanttobloominit。

TheEnglish—speakingspecimens，too，Ihavenotbeenwillingtoneglecttheopportunitytoexamine；andamongtheseIhavepaidspecialattentiontotheAmericanvarieties，ofwhichIfindhereseveralsingularexamples。Thetwomostremarkableareayoungmanwhopresentsallthecharacteristicsofaperiodofnationaldecadence；remindingmestronglyofsomediminutiveHellenisedRomanofthethirdcentury。Heisanillustrationoftheperiodofcultureinwhichthefacultyofappreciationhasobtainedsuchapreponderanceoverthatofproductionthatthelattersinksintoakindofranksterility，andthementalconditionbecomesanalogoustothatofamalariousbog。IlearnfromhimthatthereisanimmensenumberofAmericansexactlyresemblinghim，andthatthecityofBoston，indeed，isalmostexclusivelycomposedofthem。（Hecommunicatedthisfactveryproudly，asifitweregreatlytothecreditofhisnativecountry；littleperceivingthetrulysinisterimpressionitmadeuponme。）

Whatstrikesoneinitisthatitisaphenomenontothebestofmyknowledge——andyouknowwhatmyknowledgeis——unprecedentedanduniqueinthehistoryofmankind；thearrivalofanationatanultimatestageofevolutionwithouthavingpassedthroughthemediateone；thepassageofthefruit，inotherwords，fromcruditytorottenness，withouttheinterpositionofaperiodofuseful（andornamental）ripeness。WiththeAmericans，indeed，thecrudityandtherottennessareidenticalandsimultaneous；itisimpossibletosay，asintheconversationofthisdeplorableyoungman，whichisoneandwhichistheother；theyareinextricablymingled。IpreferthetalkoftheFrenchhomunculus；itisatleastmoreamusing。

Itisinterestinginthismannertoperceive，solargelydeveloped，thegermsofextinctionintheso—calledpowerfulAnglo—Saxonfamily。

IfindtheminalmostasrecognisableaforminayoungwomanfromtheStateofMaine，intheprovinceofNewEngland，withwhomIhavehadagooddealofconversation。ShedifferssomewhatfromtheyoungmanIjustmentioned，inthatthefacultyofproduction，ofaction，is，inher，lessinanimate；shehasmoreofthefreshnessandvigourthatwesupposetobelongtoayoungcivilisation。Butunfortunatelysheproducesnothingbutevil，andhertastesandhabitsaresimilarlythoseofaRomanladyofthelowerEmpire。Shemakesnosecretofthem，andhas，infact，elaboratedacompletesystemoflicentiousbehaviour。Astheopportunitiesshefindsinherowncountrydonotsatisfyher，shehascometoEurope\"totry，\"asshesays，\"forherself。\"Itisthedoctrineofuniversalexperienceprofessedwithacynicismthatisreallymostextraordinary，andwhich，presentingitselfinayoungwomanofconsiderableeducation，appearstometobethejudgmentofasociety。

Anotherobservationwhichpushesmetothesameinduction——thatoftheprematurevitiationoftheAmericanpopulation——istheattitudeoftheAmericanswhomIhavebeforemewithregardtoeachother。

Thereisanotheryoungladyhere，whoislessabnormallydevelopedthantheoneIhavejustdescribed，butwhoyetbearsthestampofthispeculiarcombinationofincompletenessandeffeteness。Thesethreepersonslookwiththegreatestmistrustandaversionuponeachother；andeachhasrepeatedlytakenmeapartandassuredme，secretly，thatheorsheonlyisthereal，thegenuine，thetypicalAmerican。Atypethathaslostitselfbeforeithasbeenfixed——whatcanyoulookforfromthis？

AddtothisthattherearetwoyoungEnglandersinthehouse，whohatealltheAmericansinalump，makingbetweenthemnoneofthedistinctionsandfavourablecomparisonswhichtheyinsistupon，andyouwill，Ithink，holdmewarrantedinbelievingthat，betweenprecipitatedecayandinternecineenmities，theEnglish—speakingfamilyisdestinedtoconsumeitself；andthatwithitsdeclinetheprospectofgeneralpervasiveness，towhichIalludedabove，willbrightenforthedeep—lungedchildrenoftheFatherland！

CHAPTERIX

MIRANDAHOPETOHERMOTHER。

October22dDearMother——Iamoffinadayortwotovisitsomenewcountry；I

haven’tyetdecidedwhich。IhavesatisfiedmyselfwithregardtoFrance，andobtainedagoodknowledgeofthelanguage。IhaveenjoyedmyvisittoMadamedeMaisonrougedeeply，andfeelasifI

wereleavingacircleofrealfriends。Everythinghasgoneonbeautifullyuptotheend，andeveryonehasbeenaskindandattentiveasifIweretheirownsister，especiallyMr。Verdier，theFrenchgentleman，fromwhomIhavegainedmorethanIeverexpected（insixweeks），andwithwhomIhavepromisedtocorrespond。SoyoucanimaginemedashingoffthemostcorrectFrenchletters；and，ifyoudon’tbelieveit，IwillkeeptheroughdrafttoshowyouwhenI

goback。

TheGermangentlemanisalsomoreinteresting，themoreyouknowhim；

itseemssometimesasifIcouldfairlydrinkinhisideas。IhavefoundoutwhytheyoungladyfromNewYorkdoesn’tlikeme！ItisbecauseIsaidonedayatdinnerthatIadmiredtogototheLouvre。

Well，whenIfirstcame，itseemedasifIDIDadmireeverything！

TellWilliamPlatthisletterhascome。Iknewhewouldhavetowrite，andIwasboundIwouldmakehim！Ihaven’tdecidedwhatcountryIwillvisityet；itseemsasifthereweresomanytochoosefrom。ButIshalltakecaretopickoutagoodone，andtomeetplentyoffreshexperiences。

Dearestmother，mymoneyholdsout，anditISmostinteresting！