Villette

co-elevate almost with the clouds, I saw a solemn, orbed mass, dark blue and dim — the Dome. While I looked, my inner self moved; my spirit shook its always-fettered

rit of this great London which I feel around me. Who but a coward would pass his whole

he waiter came in with my breakfast, I managed to accost him sedately, yet cheerfully; we

ere. I mentioned their names; he recalled them perfectly, and with respect. Having intimated my connection, my position in his eyes was henceforth clear, and on a right footing. He said I was like my uncle Charles: I suppose he spoke

quiet, and not dirty: the few passengers were just such as one sees in provin

w — classic ground this. I entered a bookseller’s shop, kept by one Jones: I bought a little book — a piece of extravagance I could ill afford; but I thought I would on

I saw thence London, with its river, and its bridges, and its churches; I saw antique Westminster, and the green Temple Gard

ife passing along; I dared the perils of crossings. To do this, and to do it utterly alone, gave me, perhaps an irrational, but a real pleasure. Since those days, I have seen the West End, the parks, the fine squares; but I love the city far better. The cit

vegetables; both seemed excellent: how much better than the small, dainty messes Miss Marchmont’s cook used to send up to my kind, dead mistress and me, and to the discussion of which w

rate — line of action. I had nothing to lose. Unutterable loathing of a desolate existence past, forbade return. If I failed in what I now designed to

rors for me which it has for the softly reared. I had, ere this, looked on the though

ertain continental port, Boue-Marine. No time, I found, was to be lost: that very night I must take my berth. I

while pocketing the cash, he smiled a faint smile which intimated his opinion of the donor’s savoir-faire — he proceeded to call a coach. To the driver he also recommended me, giving at the same time an injunction about taking me, I think, to the whar

shook my philosophy more than did the night, or the isolation, or the strangeness of the scene. One laid hands on my trunk. I looked on and waited quietly; but when another laid hands on me, I spoke up, shook off hi

owed me up to several vessels; I read by lantern-light their names painted in great white letters on a dark ground. “The Ocean,”

clouds dropping rain above my head; with two rude rowers for companions, whose insane oaths still tortured my ear, I asked myself if I was wretched or terrified. I was neither. Often in my life h

the black night at last. —“Here you are!” said th

wards, was looking over the ship’s side; he grinned a smile in anticipation of the coming contest; to disappoint him, I paid the money. Three time

ltingly when I got on board. I answered phl

hard at me, muttered something about its being unusual for passengers to come on board at that hour, a

ainly stay here,” was my answer. “I w

of victory was won: my homeless, anchorless, unsupported mind had again leisure for a brief repose. Till the “Vivid” arrived in harbou

ps she believed me asleep. Several of these passages appeared to comprise family secrets, and bore special reference to one “Charlotte,” a younger sister who, from the bearing of the epistle, seemed to be on the brink of perpetrating a romantic and imprudent match; loud was the protest of this elder lady against the distasteful union. The dutiful son laughed his mother’s corre

assengers, known to her, it appeared, and by her much esteemed on account of the handsome profit real

aily, and absurdly out of character for the circumstances. Their bonnets with bright flowers, their velvet cloaks and silk dresses, seemed better suited for park or promenade than for a damp packet deck. The men were of low stature, plain, fat, and vulgar; the oldest, plainest, greasiest, broadest, I soon found was the husband — the bridegroom I suppose, for she was very young — of the beautiful girl. Deep was my amazement at this discovery; and deeper still when I perceived that, instead of being desperately wretched in such a union, she was gay even to giddiness. “Her laughter,” I reflected, “must be the mere frenzy

ing a glance of scrutiny over all the passengers, as if to ascertain in what company his charge would be left. With a most dissatisfied air did his eye turn from the ladies with the gay flowers; he looked at me, and then he spoke to his daughter, niece, or whatever she was: she also glanced in

them as the passive victims of an educational and theological system which wantonly dispenses with proper “surveillance.” Whether this particular young lady was of the sort that can the most safely be left unwatched, I do not know: or, rather did not then know; but it soon appear

a sea-voyage?”

ea-voyage had yet to undergo the tes

impressions, you know, are so pleasant. Now I have made so many, I q

not help

red, with a frank testiness that pl

o young to be blas

teen” (a li

ixteen. Do you lik

e Channel ten times, alone; but then I take care

think” (glancing at the Watson-group, who were now

aid she: “such people should be steera

N

are you

ea — beyond, at least, t

then carel

o mortified: he says it looks as if M. de Bassompierre — my godpapa, who pays all my school-bills — had thrown away all his money. And then, in matters of information — in history, geography, arithmetic, and so on, I am quite a baby; and I write English so badly — such spelling and grammar, they tell me. Into the bargain I have quite forgotten my religion; they call me a Protestant, you know, but really I am not sure whether I am on

re you now?”

chose,”

came in at every turn in her conversation — the convenient substitute for any missing word in any language she might chance at the time to be speaking. French girls often

ke Villett

are intensely stupid and vulgar; but

u in a

es

ood

urs, or the élèves, and send lessons au diable (one daren’t say that in English, you know, but it

y smiling at m

ting for an answer)—“Now, do

y business is to earn a li

nsternation) “are

oor a

in France, is the only one that helps us: he educates us girls. I have five sisters and three brothers. By-and-by we are to marry — rather elderly gentlemen, I suppose, with cash: papa and mamma manage that. My sister Augusta is married now to a man much older-looking than papa. Augusta is very beautiful — not in

not at

ng, speak three o

no m

u are clever” (a

ou be se

ll y

ndeed, to feel it already. I shall go below; and won’t I order about t

she

n I recall the tranquil, and even happy mood in which I passed those hours, and remember, at the same time, the

do not a p

n bars

long as the frame is healthy and the faculties are employed; so long, es

eclouded sky, overhanging all. In my reverie, methought I saw the continent of Europe, like a wide dream-land, far away. Sunshine lay on it, making the long coast one line of gold; tiniest tracery of clustered town and snow-gleaming tower, of woods deep massed, of he

der — or rather let it stand, and draw thenc

re delusions

y sick, I faltered

nded with shameless partiality, were stoics compared with her. Many a time since have I noticed, in persons of Ginevra Fanshawe’s light, careless temperament, and fair, fragile style of beauty, an entire incapacity to endure: they seem to sour in adversity, like small beer in thunder.

e round us, and to feel the ship ploughing straight on her pathless way, despite noise, billow, and rising gale. Articles of furniture began to fall a

n port.” Accordingly, in another quarter of an hour, a ca

eemed to rebuke me for my presumption in being where I was: the lights of the foreign sea-port town, glimmering round the foreign harbour, met me like unnumbered threatening eyes.

seemed surprised at receiving a coin of more value than, from such a quarter, her coarse calculations had probabl

d a commissionaire, and bid him take charge of me, and

, coming forward into the lamp-lit inn-passage, reminded me, in broken English, that my money was foreign money, not current here. I gave him a sovereign to change. This little matter settled, I asked for a bedroom; supper I could not take: I was still sea-sick and unnerved, and trembling all over. How deep