renthuescircledinabrightwreaththecrownofherviolet-colouredvelvetbonnet.
IhadonlytimetomakethesegeneralobservationswhenMadamePelet,comingforwardwithwhatsheintendedshouldbeagracefulandelasticstep,thusaccostedme:
“Monsieurisindeedmostobligingtoquithisbooks,hisstudies,attherequestofaninsignificantpersonlikeme—willMonsieurcompletehiskindnessbyallowingmetopresenthimtomydearfriendMadameReuter,whoresidesintheneighbouringhouse—theyoungladies’school.”
“Ah!”thoughtI,“Iknewshewasold,”andIbowedandtookmyseat.MadameReuterplacedherselfatthetableoppositetome.
“HowdoyoulikeBelgium,Monsieur?”askedshe,inanaccentofthebroadestBruxellois.IcouldnowwelldistinguishthedifferencebetweenthefineandpureParisianutteranceofM.Pelet,forinstance,andthegutturalenunciationoftheFlamands.Iansweredpolitely,andthenwonderedhowsocoarseandclumsyanoldwomanastheonebeforemeshouldbeattheheadofaladies’seminary,whichIhadalwaysheardspokenofintermsofhighcommendation.Intruththerewassomethingtowonderat.MadameReuterlookedmorelikeajoyous,free-livingoldFlemishfermiere,orevenamaitressed’auberge,thanastaid,grave,rigiddirectricedepensionnat.Ingeneralthecontinental,oratleasttheBelgianoldwomenpermitthemselvesalicenceofmanners,speech,andaspect,suchasourvenerablegranddameswouldrecoilfromasabsolutelydisreputable,andMadameReuter’sjollyfaceboreevidencethatshewasnoexceptiontotheruleofhercountrytherewasatwinkleandleerinherlefteyeherrightshekepthabituallyhalfshut,whichIthoughtveryoddindeed.Afterseveralvainattemptstocomprehendthemotivesofthesetwodrolloldcreaturesforinvitingmetojointhemattheirgouter,Iatlastfairlygaveitup,andresigningmyselftoinevitablemystification,Isatandlookedfirstatone,thenattheother,takingcaremeantimetodojusticetotheconfitures,cakes,andcoffee,withwhichtheyamplysuppliedme.They,too,ate,andthatwithnodelicateappetite,andhavingdemolishedalargeportionofthesolids,theyproposeda“petitverre.”Ideclined.NotsoMesdamesPeletandReutereachmixedherselfwhatIthoughtratherastifftumblerofpunch,andplacingito