ce.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