the relics of general chasse-第5章
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view of making the evening pass agreeably to me； the single virile
being among them all。 I felt as though I were a sort of Mohammed in
Paradise； but I certainly felt also that the Paradise was none of my
own choosing。
In the centre of the amphitheatre which the ladies formed sat the
two Misses Macmanus；there； at least； they sat when they had
completed the process of shaking hands with me。 To the left of
them； making one wing of the semicircle； were arranged the five
pupils by attending to whom the Misses Macmanus earned their living；
and the other wing consisted of the five ladies who had furnished
themselves with relics of General Chasse。 They were my
〃compatriots。〃
I was introduced to them all； one after the other； but their names
did not abide in my memory one moment。 I was thinking too much of
the singularity of the adventure； and could not attend to such
minutiae。 That the red…rosed harpy was Miss Grogram； that I
remembered；that； I may say； I shall never forget。 But whether the
motherly lady with the somewhat blowsy hair was Mrs。 Jones； or Mrs。
Green； or Mrs。 Walker； I cannot now say。 The dumpy female with the
broad back was always called Aunt Sally by the young ladies。
Too much sugar spoils one's tea； I think I have heard that even
prosperity will cloy when it comes in overdoses； and a schoolboy has
been known to be overdone with jam。 I myself have always been
peculiarly attached to ladies' society； and have avoided bachelor
parties as things execrable in their very nature。 But on this
special occasion I felt myself to be that schoolboy；I was
literally overdone with jam。 My tea was all sugar； so that I could
not drink it。 I was one among twelve。 What could I do or say？ The
proportion of alloy was too small to have any effect in changing the
nature of the virgin silver； and the conversation became absolutely
feminine。
I must confess also that my previous experience as to these
compatriots of mine had not prejudiced me in their favour。 I
regarded them with；I am ashamed to say so； seeing that they were
ladies；but almost with loathing。 When last I had seen them their
occupation had reminded me of some obscene feast of harpies； or
almost of ghouls。 They had brought down to the verge of desperation
the man whom of all men I most venerated。 On these accounts I was
inclined to be taciturn with reference to them；and then what could
I have to say to the Misses Macmanus's five pupils？
My cousin at first made an effort or two in my favour； but these
efforts were fruitless。 I soon died away into utter unrecognised
insignificance； and the conversation； as I have before said； became
feminine。 And indeed that horrid Miss Grogram； who was； as it were；
the princess of the ghouls； nearly monopolised the whole of it。
Mamma Joneswe will call her Jones for the occasionput in a word
now and then； as did also the elder and more energetic Miss
Macmanus。 The dumpy lady with the broad back ate tea…cake
incessantly； the two daughters looked scornful； as though they were
above their company with reference to the five pupils； and the five
pupils themselves sat in a row with the utmost propriety； each with
her hands crossed on her lap before her。
Of what they were talking at last I became utterly oblivious。 They
had ignored me； going into realms of muslin； questions of maid…
servants； female rights； and cheap under…clothing； and I therefore
had ignored them。 My mind had gone back to Mr。 Horne and his
garments。 While they spoke of their rights； I was thinking of his
wrongs； when they mentioned the price of flannel； I thought of that
of broadcloth。
But of a sudden my attention was arrested。 Miss Macmanus had said
something of the black silks of Antwerp； when Miss Grogram replied
that she had just returned from that city and had there enjoyed a
great success。 My cousin had again asked something about the black
silks； thinking； no doubt； that Miss Grogram had achieved some
bargain； but that lady had soon undeceived her。
〃Oh no；〃 said Miss Grogram； 〃it was at the castle。 We got such
beautiful relics of General Chasse！ Didn't we； Mrs。 Jones？〃
〃Indeed we did；〃 said Mrs。 Jones； bringing out from beneath the
skirts of her dress and ostensibly displaying a large black bag。
〃And I've got such a beautiful needle…case；〃 said the broad…back；
displaying her prize。 〃I've been making it up all the morning。〃
And she handed over the article to Miss Macmanus。
〃And only look at this duck of a pen…wiper；〃 simpered flaxen…hair
No。 2。 〃Only think of wiping one's pens with relics of General
Chasse！〃 and she handed it over to the other Miss Macmanus。
〃And mine's a pin…cushion；〃 said No。 1； exhibiting the trophy。
〃But that's nothing to what I've got；〃 said Miss Grogram。 〃In the
first place； there's a pair of slippers；a beautiful pair；they're
not made up yet； of course； and then〃
The two Misses Macmanus and their five pupils were sitting open…
eared； open…eyed； and open…mouthed。 How all these sombre…looking
articles could be relics of General Chasse did not at first appear
clear to them。
〃What are they； Miss Grogram？〃 said the elder Miss Macmanus； holding
the needle…case in one hand and Mrs。 Jones's bag in the other。 Miss
Macmanus was a strong…minded female； and I reverenced my cousin when
I saw the decided way in which she intended to put down the greedy
arrogance of Miss Grogram。
〃They are relics。〃
〃But where do they come from； Miss Grogram？〃
〃Why； from the castle； to be sure；from General Chasse's own
rooms。〃
〃Did anybody sell them to you？〃
〃No。〃
〃Or give them to you？〃
〃Why； no；at least not exactly give。〃
〃There they were； and she took 'em；〃 said the broad…back。 Oh； what
a look Miss Grogram gave her！ 〃Took them！ of course I took them。
That is； you took them as much as I did。 They were things that we
found lying about。〃
〃What things？〃 asked Miss Macmanus； in a peculiarly strong…minded
tone。
Miss Grogram seemed to be for a moment silenced。 I had been
ignored； as I have said； and my existence forgotten； but now I
observed that the eyes of the culprits were turned towards me；the
eyes； that is； of four of them。 Mrs。 Jones looked at me from
beneath her fan； the two girls glanced at me furtively； and then
their eyes fell to the lowest flounces of their frocks。
Miss Grogram turned her spectacles right upon me； and I fancied that
she nodded her head at me as a sort of answer to Miss Macmanus。 The
five pupils opened their mouths and eyes wider； but she of the broad
back was nothing abashed。 It would have been nothing to her had
there been a dozen gentlemen in the room。 〃We just found a pair of
black。〃 The whole truth was told in the plainest possible
language。
〃Oh； Aunt Sally！〃 〃Aunt Sally； how can you？〃 〃Hold your tongue；
Aunt Sally！〃
〃And then Miss Grogram just cut them up with her scissors；〃
continued Aunt Sally； not a whit abashed； 〃and gave us each a bit；
only she took more than half for herself。〃 It was clear to me that
there had been some quarrel； some delicious quarrel； between Aunt
Sally and Miss Grogram。 Through the whole adventure I had rather
respected Aunt Sally。 〃She took more than half for herself；〃
continued Aunt Sally。 〃She kept all the〃
〃Jemima；〃 said the elder Miss Macmanus； interrupting the speaker and
addressing her sister； 〃it is time； I think； for the young ladies to
retire。 Will you be kind enough to see them to their rooms？〃 The
five pupils thereupon rose from their seatsand courtesied。 They
then left the room in file； the younger Miss Macmanus showing them
the way。
〃But we haven't done any harm； have we？〃 asked Mrs。 Jones； with some
tremulousness in her voice。
〃Well； I don't know；〃 said Miss Macmanus。 〃What I'm thinking of now
is this；to whom； I wonder； did the garments properly belong？ Who
had been the owner and wearer of them？〃
〃Why； General Chasse of course；〃 said Miss Grogram。
〃They were the general's；〃 repeated the two young ladies； blushing；
however； as they alluded to the subject。
〃Well； we thought they were the general's； certainly； and a very
excellent article they were；〃 said Mrs。 Jones。
〃Perhaps they
