Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

THE ROBERTSES ON THEIR TRAVELS.

BY MRS. TROLLOPE.

From the New Monthly Magazine.

"Then what are we to do first, my dear?" demanded Mr. Roberts, a little fretfully. "This is a very gay looking room to be sure, and it has got a very pretty look-out; but that's no reason why we should sit up here all day with our hands before us."

"If you begin to grumble, Mr. Roberts, I give the thing up altogether. It is too bad, exerting myself as I do for you all, that I should be reproached so very bitter

"AND here we are then! actually in Paris! and in a very tolerably decent-looking hotel too," exclaimed Mrs. Roberts, looking round with great complacency upon the mirrors, alabaster, and ormolu, which adorned the room. "And I must say that from first to last I do think I have managed bet-ly because the things can't be unpacked ter than most people could have done. the very moment we arrive! I must see Here we are all just as gay and as fresh as the master or mistress of the house. Perthe morning we set out, without a single haps it will be better to see both of them, packet stolen or lost, and without one disa- and when I have asked them all particulars greeable accident, excepting, indeed, the respecting the rent of their rooms by the absurd whim of that fool, Stephen, taking month, or perhaps by the year, I shall be it into his head that he must go home again able to decide whether it will be better to because he could not get porter. That's remain here, or immediately seek for prithe only disagreeable thing that has hap-vate lodgings. Ring the bell, Mr. Robpened to us, isn't it?" erts, if you please. Every thing is so ex"And I don't call that disagreeable at all, cessively cheap in France, that I dare say my dear," replied her husband. Depend we shall find that we can very well afford upon it we shall do very well without him. to live at this comfortable hotel, if we like And you have brought us to a very beauti- it." ful room, that is certain, Mrs. Roberts. And now, my dear, what are we to do

next?"

[ocr errors]

"The first thing that I shall do will be to change my dress, and take a walk in these lovely Tuileries gardens," said the young Mr. Roberts.

"Yes, my dearest Edward! Those are the far-famed gardens of the Tuileries; I give you great credit for recognizing them so immediately. You are your mother's own son, Edward," said Mrs. Roberts, giving him a maternal tap upon the cheek.

[ocr errors]

"Do make haste about it, then, mamma!" exclaimed Miss Agatha, with a good deal of vivacity, "it is really too dull sitting here and doing nothing."'

"You are such a dear lively creature, Agatha, that I always excuse your being a little impatient. Ring the bell, Mr. Roberts, can't you?"

"I have rang it, my dear," replied her admirable partner, merely raising his brows little as she raised her voice.

a

"Then ring again, sir, if you please."

He did so, and after the interval of, what appeared to the impatient party, many minutes, a waiter answered the summons.

Why should not we go too, mamma?" demanded her eldest daughter. "The day is so very lovely that it would be a shame" Vous êtes une servante, je crois?" said to lose it." Mrs. Roberts, interrogatively-" seulement une servante?"

"I delight in your eagerness, my dear love, to enjoy the charming scenes to which I have brought you; for even the day is as much French as the Tuileries themselves. I knew very well what I was about, didn't I? But as to our all setting off to show ourselves in the gardens of the Tuileries before we have bought a single thing, or even unpacked what we have brought with us, I can't say that I think it a good plan at all. If we had Stephen with us, indeed, to walk behind you, it would not signify so much; but if I were Edward, I positively would not take you out in your travelling bonnets; they were very pretty when you set out, but they are a good deal the worse for the wear, I can tell you."

It is very rarely indeed that a French man or a French woman either is seen to laugh at the blunders made by foreigners. when attempting to speak their language; however much their pretty idiom, of which they are justly proud, may be spoken " à la vache espagnole," they contrive with admirable politeness, and most extraordinary command of muscle, to give no indication whatever of the amusement occasioned thereby. But the unfortunate waiter now addressed by Mrs. Roberts was not proof against this attack upon his dignity of sex, and in spite of all his efforts, he showed his teeth from ear to ear as he answered, " Pardon, madame, je suis un garçon."

stay in it. I certainly was very angry, because I so well know that the terms she asked were not only very high and very unreasonable, but totally cut of the common way; and that it was only Lecause she saw something about us which made her conclude we were people of consequence, that she did so. Now then, give me all your opinions; what must we do next?"

"What does the idiot mean?" exclaimed [ all saw, never once telling her that I would Mrs. Roberts, with great indignation. "A see her and her house, and all the finery in boy indeed! Great fool! J'ai besoin de it, buried in the botton less pit, rather than votre maitre, et de votre maitresse. Dizez à eux de monter l'escalier à me parler." "Oui, madame," said the man, hurrying out of the room with less command of feature than is usually found in persons of his class and country, and which, if displayed before his employers, would have very properly ensured his instant dismissal as proving him utterly unfit for the situation of waiter at an hotel deriving its principal emoluments from the reception of English travellers. The mission with which he was charged was so far successful that it brought the mistress of the mansion to the presence of Mrs. Roberts. We will not follow the dialogue which ensued through all its verbal niceties; it is sufficient to say, that by the help of Miss Agatha it at length became evident to her mamma that their present gay abode must be exchanged for one considerably less costly, and that the sooner the movement was made the better chance there would be of her finding herself able to keep her often pledged promise, of living in an elegant style without running the slightest risk of exceeding their income. She dismissed the elegant land-ly know where to look for them. But where lady, therefore, with a very magnificent sort of nod, and the words "Je veux pénseray, madame, a tout cela."

No one seemed in haste to answer the question so condescendingly put, but after the pause of a minute or two both the young ladies spoke at the same moment, the eldest saying, “I am sure I don't know," and the youngest "I am sure I can't tell." The father of the family took still longer to reflect before he spoke, but then there was something like a valuable hint in what he said. "I wonder, my dear, if there are any such things as advertisements in Paris?" were the words he slowly and rather timidly uttered, by no means certain that he should not be chided for an absurdity.

66

Certainly, my dear, there are advertisements, you may be very sure of that, but the worst of it is, you see, that we do not exact

[ocr errors]

there is a will there is always a way," and Mrs. Roberts again rang the bell. It was now an older man who answered it, and one Mrs. Roberts would not have confessed who probably thought himself proof against the fact for much, but the truth is, that for any French the lady could speak, but ala few moments she felt considerably at a though his gravity was in no degree endanloss as to what she ought to do next. To gered, even this experienced personage felt have asked the opinion of her husband puzzled when she said, " Avez vous aucun would have been a sort of domestic innova-papier de nouvelles dans la maison ?" tion exceedingly unpalatable, and perhaps "Journal, mamma," whispered Agatha. dangerous; but, after a little reflection, she Nonsense, child! how can you fancy very cleverly hit upon a tone of general such a fellow as this keeps a journal? Or, consultation which, without the slightest if he did, what should I want with it?" said degradation, gave her the amiable appear- her mother sharply. But luckily for the ance of wishing to please every body."Now then," she said, with a gay and good-humored smile, now then let us put it to the vote. What are we to do next in order to settle ourselves permanently in the most agreeable manner. I am quite ready to hear every body's opinion; only observing, before any of you begin to speak, that I will not consent to stay here beyond one night. I believe I am pretty quick in finding out people's characters, and I will venture to say that the woman who has just left the room is one of the most audacious and unprincipled cheats that ever trod the earth. I kept my temper with her, as you

[ocr errors]

business in hand, the quick Frenchman had caught the word, and before Mrs. Roberts ceased speaking he had left the room. His return was almost as rapid as his exit, and greatly to the satisfaction of the party he brought several newspapers in his hand. Though unconscious of the value of the universal compendium which she seized upon, Mrs. Roberts instantly took possession of Galignani, the English title at once attracting her eye, civilly pushing across the table to her husband half-a-dozen French papers, unmindful of, or indifferent to, the fact that he could not read them. There was equal cleverness in the rapidity with

which, at a glance, Mrs. Roberts perceived
the invaluable nature of the publication she
held in her hand, and in the manner with
which she concealed her joy at the discov-
ery under the semblance of indifference.
"After all, my dear, I think the best thing
we can do will be to set off just in our trav-
elling dresses as we are, and look at some
lodgings," and as she spoke she rolled up
the precious paper and put it into her bag.
"Just let me have a look at that news-
paper first, my dear," said Mr. Roberts;
an English paper will be quite a treat."
"You can't stay to read papers now, Mr.
Roberts. I tell you we shall be ruined if
we stay in this horribly cheating house, and
if you will just trust to me, I'll answer for
it I will find out some lodgings that will do
for us before night."

[ocr errors]

Mr. Roberts must have been a much less wise man than he really was had he attempted any remonstrance. He knew his place better, and immediately answered, "I am quite ready, my dear."

"Come then, girls! I suppose you will like to come too? Let us go and put our bonnets on." While thus employed in the sanctuary of her own apartment it occurred to Mrs. Roberts that it would be impossible for her without a guide to find out the different streets referred to in the advertisements, and taking the Galignani from her bag she took her eldest daughter so far into her confidence as to point out the advertisements, and to say-" how in the world are we to find out all these streets, Agatha?"

lerity, that in the course of about two hours they had seen no less than eight sets of apartments, among which one was selected as being in all respects likely to suit them. The bargain for one month certain was speedily made, and the party drove back to their hotel in high spirits, and with the comfortable persuasion that all their difficulties were over.

"Pay the coachman, my dear," said Mrs. Roberts, addressing her husband.

"Ask him how much, Agatha," said that obedient functionary, addressing in his turn his accomplished eldest daughter; and "qu'est qu'il y a à payer?" demanded the young lady of the coacher.

The man put himself in the attitude of one who has a calculation to make, tucking his whip under his left arm, and extending the fingers of his left hand, while with the fore-finger of the right he began to mutter the name of a street over each extended finger. But these, though he included the thumb, were not sufficient for his purpose, and he therefore shifted his whip and recommenced the same process, only reversing the order of his hands; and having thus reached the fourth finger of his right hand, he made a French bow, and said with a French smile, "Treize francs et demi, mademoiselle, et puis, le petit pour boire."

Agatha translated the man's words very faithfully for the benefit of her papa, adding, however, that she thought it extravagantly dear.

"If I were you, mamma, I would take "Dear!" repeated her comely parent, a hackney-coach," replied the young lady. his florid complexion deepening to crimson "Certainly, I will take a hackney-coach,"-" dear! it is the most audacious imposireplied her mother, "if," she added with a little embarrassment, "if there are any."

tion that ever was attempted. Mrs. Roberts, my dear, step back for a minute," he "Oh! there are lots, mamma!" exclaimed added, raising his voice so as to overtake his both her daughters at once. "That was retreating lady. "For goodness' sake just one that brought us from the diligence. tell me what I am to do? This fellow here Did you not see the number?" said Maria. asks thirteen francs and a half, and someThus reminded, Mrs. Roberts, who at thing over for drink, though we have not that time did certainly feel a little overpow-been gone from this door above two hours ered by all she had undertaken, recovered by my watch at the very utmost." her composure, and wisely resigning the paper to Agatha, for the purpose of studying the names of the streets, she ordered a coach to be called, which was done as readily by the well initiated waiter as if she had asked for a fiacre instead of a " voiture avec un numéro."

Miss Agatha pronounced the names of the various streets and the numbers of various houses very distinctly, and the coachman obeyed the orders given with such ce

[ocr errors]

Asks, Mr. Roberts! How can you be so silly? What does it signify what he asks? Of course we know that the French are the greatest rogues upon earth. You will just pay him the proper fare, if you please, and not a farthing more. Something for drink indeed! Who ever heard an English hackney-coachman ask for such a thing? Yet these fellows are called sober, and ours the contrary! Pay him his fare, Mr. Roberts, I tell you, and no more."

"But how am I to know, my dear, what his fare is?" demanded her husband. "Good gracious! Can't you ask the people of the house?"

of feelings she could nol onger control, exclaiming, "Vous êtes, une, et tout, de voleurs, et rascals, monsieur, et soyez sure que je disais tout cela a tout la monde."

Miss Agatha, notwithstanding that she fully shared the family reverence for her mother's powers as a woman of business, was a good deal shocked at this attack upon a gentleman who had comported himself with so much politeness, and she ventured to pronounce a gentle remonstrance in her mother's ear, concluding with an earnest request that, as the business was ended, she would withdraw.

Then turning fiercely towards the magistrate, she said in a voice that brought every eye upon her, and there were many in the office,

"Monsieur, nous suis pas si ignorant pour non savoir le raison pour votre manière à ma fille. Vous voulez faire de l'amour à elle, monsieur. Je sais comment comprendre tout cela parfaitement. Mais si vous venez prés de notre maison pour aucun excuse dans la monde, je prendre soin de dire tout ce histoire à l'ambassadeur de l'Angleterre." Having pronounced these words in a voice very peculiarly loud and distinct, she took her daughter's arm under her own, and stalked out of the room.

By the help of Agatha this was done; and the waiter she applied to, after exchanging a few words with the coachman, assured her that he was asking no more than his due. The anger and indignation of Mrs. Roberts were far too great to permit her making any inquiries respecting the nature of the charge, beyond the fact of its amount, and as she had twice in her life resisted with success an exorbitant charge from a London hackney-coachman, "Don't be impertinent, Agatha," replied she instantly determined to try her skill in the indignant Mrs. Roberts, shaking her the same manner in Paris. Neither the off. "I know quite as well as you do what coachman nor the waiter, whose judgment this audacious fellow means by his bows in the cause she had so vehemently reject- and his smiles, and he shall know that I do ed, appeared at all averse to her having too, before I stir a step." recourse to legal authority to settle the matter, but on the contrary, as soon as they became aware that such was her wish, they afforded all the information necessary for immediately making the application she desired. The process by which the question was decided was a very summary one, consisting of a question on her part, or rather on that of her daughter, and an answer on that of the magistrate to whom she had applied. Nothing could be more explicit than this answer, which assured her that the charge made was perfectly correct,-as, according to her own admission, conveyed by the lips of her fair daughter, she had been driven to eight different houses, where she had stopped, and finally to the hotel from whence she had set out. Nothing could exceed the explicitness of this sentence, unless it were the politeness with which it was pronounced. The magistrate obligingly took the trouble of making the calculation of nine times thirty sous for her satisfaction, and then told her that the petit pour boire was a matter of custom, but not of right, and that she might, if she chose it, refuse to give it. He then very goodnaturedly proceeded to point out to the ladies the blunder they had made in not taking the coach "à l'heure," as, without this precaution, every stoppage may be legally reckoned a separate fare. All this, though with studious civility addressed to both ladies, was understood only by the younger one, Mrs. Roberts listening with ears which helped her but little, but with eyes that flashed unmitigated indignation on the speaker; and when he ceased, or rather before, she burst forth with the expression

I must not attempt to follow my dear countrywoman and her family step by step, although, if I did so, I should find that there was scarcely a single transaction in which they were engaged, during the first few weeks of their residence in Paris, which would not recall some trait by which the generally received theory respecting English manners on the continent might be accounted for. But we must content ourselves by a specimen, taken here and there at intervals, which may suffice to enable an acute reader to guess at the rest.

The apartment hired by Mrs. Roberts was really very handsome, and though not quite so cheap as she had anticipated, she speedily discovered, not only that it was cheaper than a London house, but that three servants in Paris did quite as well as four in London, nay, as well as four and a

[ocr errors]

half, or in other words, as four and a page, | was out of the question that our poor dear which was the extent of their London estab-girls, with all their beauty and accomplishlishment. The use of a carriage, too, if ments, would ever have a fair chance skilfully managed, so as to make half days there." do instead of whole ones, appeared now to Quite true, my dear, quite true. I cerbe within reach of their income, which it tainly do enjoy the seeing you make one had never been before, even when that in- gay acquaintance after another, without come was considerably larger than at pres- ever hearing the old tune you know, Sarah ent; so that, on the whole, the Roberts' Mr. Roberts, we must have a dinnerfamily were exceedingly well contented party.' It certainly is a good relief, I won't with the change they had made. Mrs. Rob- deny it." erts, in particular, who had certainly not obtained her high renown as an excellent manager without deserving at least a part of it, very soon became aware of one very important feature in the organization of English society abroad.

"And I am not going to deny it either, I promise you," returned the lady;" and, moreover, I think we are getting on admirably. Lady Morton and Lady Foreton both told me last night at the embassy, that they hoped to have the pleasure of making our acquaintance. Did not my scheme about the letter answer beautifully, Mr. Roberts?"

"It is easy enough," said she to her admiring husband-"it is easy enough, my dear, to see why and how it is that people contrive to get so much more into company "What? the letter that our good apothabroad than at home. The moment, you ecary got for you to the embassy? Yes, know, that one made a good new acquaint- faith did it, my dear. We have been here ance in London, one I mean that was worth but six weeks, and we have got to two magcultivating and keeping up, one had to send nificent parties there already; and then them an invitation to dinner; and here, you again, the not being obliged to ask the givhave but to open your eyes a little in order ers in return makes a monstrous difference to perceive that no such expense is neces- in my judgment in the pleasure of being sary. This makes an immense difference, invited." Mr. Roberts."

[ocr errors]

"No doubt about it, Mr. Roberts. It is Immense, indeed, my dear!" replied not, I am sure, that there is any want of Mr. Roberts, very cordially. "Do you re-hospitality in either of us and as for the member the fishmonger's bills, Sarah? mer- dear girls, and Edward too, they never used cy on me! How I hated the sight of to enjoy any parties so much as those given them!" at home, so that we have no cause, any of us, to reproach ourselves on that score. But the truth is, that where there are young people to be set off to the best advantage, the dress, and the carriage, and the hair-dressers, and all the rest of it, do run away with an immense deal of money."

"And then the poulterer, and the greengrocer, and all those horrid bills at the confectioner's, because we could not afford to keep a cook good enough to make the soups and things at home; even the very cream bills were horrid to think of-and, ah! that hateful grocer!"

[blocks in formation]

"But you forget the worst of all, Mrs. "Pray, mamma, did Lady Morton and Roberts-just think of the wine bill!-Lady Foreton really say they hoped to make getting worse and worse, too, every year! our acquaintance?" demanded Maria, as For when we first married, no one in our soon as her father was out of the way. station ever thought it necessary to have" Because, if they did, I think it is exceedFrench wines; and now I should like to ingly wrong to let to-day pass over without hear what any body, just in our own style leaving cards." of life, you know, would say to a dinner where there was not champagne and claret too. That was the real ruination, my dear,

after all."

"They certainly did say it, Maria, and I know why too. I have found out that they are both widows, that they are cousins, and that they live together. More"Yes, to be sure; but it was all ruin, over, I know into the bargain that Lady that is the real truth; and I saw plainly Foreton, who they say has been beautiful, enough, before I ever thought of coming has been a good deal talked of, and that abroad, that as nothing but dinner parties Lady Morton did not live with her husband ever will bring decent men to one's during the last year or two of his life; house at least, in England, I mean-it and now they have taken very beautiful

« VorigeDoorgaan »