lton)“weresuddenlystrippedofthefacultyofassociation,Ithinkhewouldsoonrushforthfrom‘theever-duringgates,’leaveheaven,andseekwhathehadlostinhell.Yes,intheveryhellfromwhichheturned‘withretortedscorn.’”
Frances’toneinsayingthiswasasmarkedasherlanguage,anditwaswhentheword“hell”twangedofffromherlips,withasomewhatstartlingemphasis,thatHunsdendeignedtobestowoneslightglanceofadmiration.Helikedsomethingstrong,whetherinmanorwomanhelikedwhateverdaredtoclearconventionallimits.Hehadneverbeforeheardaladysay“hell”withthatuncompromisingsortofaccent,andthesoundpleasedhimfromalady’slipshewouldfainhavehadFrancestostrikethestringagain,butitwasnotinherway.Thedisplayofeccentricvigournevergaveherpleasure,anditonlysoundedinhervoiceorflashedinhercountenancewhenextraordinarycircumstances—andthosegenerallypainful—forceditoutofthedepthswhereitburnedlatent.Tome,onceortwice,shehadinintimateconversation,utteredventurousthoughtsinnervouslanguagebutwhenthehourofsuchmanifestationwaspast,Icouldnotrecallititcameofitselfandofitselfdeparted.Hunsden’sexcitationssheputbysoonwithasmile,andrecurringtothethemeofdisputation,said—
“SinceEnglandisnothing,whydothecontinentalnationsrespectherso?”
“Ishouldhavethoughtnochildwouldhaveaskedthatquestion,”repliedHunsden,whoneveratanytimegaveinformationwithoutreprovingforstupiditythosewhoaskeditofhim.“Ifyouhadbeenmypupil,asIsupposeyouoncehadthemisfortunetobethatofadeplorablecharacternotahundredmilesoff,Iwouldhaveputyouinthecornerforsuchaconfessionofignorance.Why,mademoiselle,can’tyouseethatitisourGOLDwhichbuysusFrenchpoliteness,Germangood-will,andSwissservility?”Andhesneereddiabolically.
“Swiss?”saidFrances,catchingtheword“servility.”“Doyoucallmycountrymenservile?”andshestartedup.Icouldnotsuppressalowlaughtherewasireinherglanceanddefianceinherattitude.“DoyouabuseSwitzerlandtome,Mr.Hunsden?DoyouthinkIhavenoassociations?DoyoucalculatethatIampreparedtodwellonlyonwhatviceanddegradationmaybefoundinAlpinevillages,andtoleavequiteoutofmyheartthesocialgreatnessofmycountrymen,andourblood-earnedfreedom,andthenaturalgloriesofourmountains?You’remistaken—you’remistaken.”
“Socialgreatness?Callitwhatyouwill,yourcountrymenaresensiblefellowstheymakeamark