bominable manner." And then she caught my hand, that was holding hers,
between both her own, and said half laughing and half in earnest--

'"Did you ever realise that I don't know any single language besides my
own--not even French? That I can't read any French book or any French
play?"

'"Well," I said, half laughing too, "it is very astonishing. And you know
it can't go on if you are to do what I think you will do. French you
positively must learn, and learn quickly. I don't mean to say that we
haven't good plays and a tradition of our own; but for the moment France
is the centre of your art, and you cannot remain at a distance from it!
The French have organised their knowledge; it is available for all who
come. Ours is still floating and amateurish--"

'And so on. You may imagine it, my dear Eustace; I spare you any more of
it verbatim. After I had talked away for a long time and brought it all
back to the absolute necessity that she should know French and become
acquainted with French acting and French dramatic ideals, she pulled me
up in the full career of eloquence, by demanding with a little practical
air, a twinkle lurking somewhere in her eyes--

'"Explain to me, please; how is it to be done?"

'"Oh," I said, "nothing is easier. Do you know anything at all?"

'"Very little. I once had a term's lessons at Kingston."

'"Very well, then," I went on, enjoying this little comedy of a neglected
education; "get a French maid, a French master, and a novel: I will
provide you with _Consuelo_ and a translation to-morrow."

'"As for the French maid," she answered dubiously, shaking her head, "I
don't know. I expect my old black woman that I brought with me from
Jamaica would ill-treat her--perhaps murder her. But the master can be
managed and the novel. Will none of you laugh at me if you see me
trailing a French grammar about?"

'And so she has actually begun to-day. She makes a pretence of keeping
her novel and a little dictionary and grammar in a bag, and hides them
when any one appears. But Paul has already begun to tease her about her
new and mysterious occupation, and I foresee that he will presently spend
the greater part of his mornings in teaching her. I never saw anybody
attract him so much; she is absolutely different from anything he has
seen before; and, as he says, the mixture of ignorance and genius in
her--yes, genius; don't be startled!--is most stimulating to the
imagination.'

*