212520_The_Adve ... _Way_Through_The_World.pdf - OUDL Home

304 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
at the Tuileries or the Prefecture of the Seine ; that the English
were invited and respected everywhere ; that the Ambassador was
most hospitable ; that the clergymen were admirable ; and that at
their boarding-house, kept by Madame la Géné'rale Baronne de
Smolensk, at the " Petit Chateau d'Espagne," Avenue de Valmy,
Champs Elysées, they had balls twice a month, the most comfortable
apartments, the most choice society, and every comfort and
luxury at so many francs per month, with an allowance for children
—I say Mrs. Baynes was very greatly moved. " It is not," she
said, "in consequence of the balls at the Ambassador's or the
Tuileries, for I am an old woman ; and in spite of what you say,
Colonel, I can't fancy, after Government House, anything more
magnificent in any French palace. It is not for me, goodness
knows, I speak : but the children should have education, and my
Charlotte an entrée into the world; and what you say of the
invaluable clergyman, Mr. X _______ , I have been thinking of it all
night ; but above all, above all, of the chances of education for my
darlings. Nothing should give way to that—nothing ! " On this
a long and delightful conversation and calculation took place.
Bunch produced his bills at the Baroness de Smolensk's. The two
gentlemen jotted up accounts, and made calculations all through
the evening. It was hard even for Mrs. Baynes to force the
figures into such a shape as to make them accord with the General's
income ; but, driven away by one calculation after another, she
returned again and again to the charge, until she overcame the
stubborn arithmetical difficulties, and the pounds, shillings, and
pence lay prostrate before her. They could save upon this point ;
they could screw upon that ; they must make a sacrifice to educate
the children. " Sarah Bunch and her girls go to Court, indeed !
Why shouldn't mine go ?" she asked. On which her General said,
"By George, Eliza, that's the point you are thinking of." On
which Eliza said, "No," and repeated "No" a score of times,
growing more angry as she uttered each denial. And she declared
before Heaven she did not want to go to any Court. Had she not
refused to be presented at home, though Mrs. Colonel Flack went,
because she did not choose to go to the wicked expense of a train 1
And it was base of the General, base and mean of him to say so.
And there was a fine scene, as I am given to understand : not that
I was present at this family fight: but my informant was Mr.
Firmin; and Mr. Firmin had his information from a little person
who, about this time, had got to prattle out all the secrets of her
young heart to him; who would have jumped off the pier-head
with her hand in his if he had said " Come," without his hand if he
said " Go ": a little person whose whole life had been changed—