dthere,accordingtoNapoleonbutheperseveredinspiteofthelawsofwar,andwasvictoriousindefianceofmilitarytactics.Iwoulddoashedid.”
“I’llbeboundforityouwouldprobablyyouhavesomeofthesamesortofstubbornstuffinyou.”
“IshouldbesorryifIhadnotheandTellwerebrothers,andI’dscorntheSwiss,manorwoman,whohadnoneofthemuch-enduringnatureofourheroicWilliaminhissoul.”
“IfTellwaslikeWellington,hewasanass.”
“DoesnotASSmeanBAUDET?”askedFrances,turningtome.
“No,no,”repliedI,“itmeansanESPRIT-FORTandnow,”Icontinued,asIsawthatfreshoccasionofstrifewasbrewingbetweenthesetwo,“itishightimetogo.”
Hunsdenrose.“Goodbye,”saidhetoFrances“IshallbeoffforthisgloriousEnglandto-morrow,anditmaybetwelvemonthsormorebeforeIcometoBrusselsagainwheneverIdocomeI’llseekyouout,andyoushallseeifIdon’tfindmeanstomakeyoufiercerthanadragon.You’vedoneprettywellthisevening,butnextinterviewyoushallchallengemeoutright.Meantimeyou’redoomedtobecomeMrs.WilliamCrimsworth,Isupposepooryounglady?butyouhaveasparkofspiritcherishit,andgivetheProfessorthefullbenefitthereof.”
“Areyoumarried.Mr.Hunsden?”askedFrances,suddenly.
“No.IshouldhavethoughtyoumighthaveguessedIwasaBenedictbymylook.”
“Well,wheneveryoumarrydon’ttakeawifeoutofSwitzerlandforifyoubeginblasphemingHelvetia,andcursingthecantons—aboveall,ifyoumentionthewordASSinthesamebreathwiththenameTell(forassISbaudet,IknowthoughMonsieurispleasedtotranslateitESPRIT-FORT)yourmountainmaidwillsomenightsmotherherBreton-bretonnant,evenasyourownShakspeare’sOthellosmotheredDesdemona.”
“Iamwarned,”saidHunsden“andsoareyou,lad,”(noddingtome).“IhopeyettohearofatravestyoftheMoorandhisgentlelady,inwhichthepartsshallbereversedaccordingtotheplanjustsketched—you,however,beinginmynightcap.Farewell,mademoiselle!”Hebowedonherhand,absolutelylikeSirCharlesGrandisononthatofHarrietByronadding—“Deathfromsuchfingerswouldnotbewithoutcharms.”
“MonDieu!”murmuredFrances,openingherlargeeyesandliftingherdistinctlyarchedbrows“c’estqu’ilfaitdescompliments!jenem’ysuispasattendu.”Shesmiled,halfinire,halfinmirth,curtsiedwithforeigngrace,andsotheyparted.
NosoonerhadwegotintothestreetthanHunsdencollaredme.
“Andthatisyourlace-mender?”saidhe“andyoureckonyouhavedoneafine,ma