第6章

There is another point, moreover, which, from a mother to a mother, it would be affectation not to touch upon.I remember the just satisfaction with which you announced to me the betrothal of your charming Cecile.You know with what earnest care my Aurora has been educated,--how thoroughly she is acquainted with the principal results of modern research.We have always studied together; we have always enjoyed together.It will perhaps surprise you to hear that she makes these very advantages a reproach to me,--represents them as an injury to herself."In this country," she says, "the gentlemen have not those accomplishments; they care nothing for the results of modern research; and it will not help a young person to be sought in marriage that she can give an account of the last German theory of Pessimism." That is possible; and I have never concealed from her that it was not for this country that I had educated her.If she marries in the United States it is, of course, my intention that my son-in-law shall accompany us to Europe.But, when she calls my attention more and more to these facts, I feel that we are moving in a different world.This is more and more the country of the many; the few find less and less place for them; and the individual--well, the individual has quite ceased to be recognised.He is recognised as a voter, but he is not recognised as a gentleman--still less as a lady.My daughter and I, of course, can only pretend to constitute a FEW! You know that I have never for a moment remitted my pretensions as an individual, though, among the agitations of pension-life, I have sometimes needed all my energy to uphold them."Oh, yes, I may be poor," I have had occasion to say, "I may be unprotected, I may be reserved, I may occupy a small apartment in the quatrieme, and be unable to scatter unscrupulous bribes among the domestics; but at least I am a PERSON, with personal rights." In this country the people have rights, but the person has none.You would have perceived that if you had come with me to make arrangements at this establishment.The very fine lady who condescends to preside over it kept me waiting twenty minutes, and then came sailing in without a word of apology.I had sat very silent, with my eyes on the clock; Aurora amused herself with a false admiration of the room,--a wonderful drawing-room, with magenta curtains, frescoed walls, and photographs of the landlady's friends--as if one cared anything about her friends! When this exalted personage came in, she simply remarked that she had just been trying on a dress--that it took so long to get a skirt to hang.

"It seems to take very long indeed!" I answered."But I hope the skirt is right at last.You might have sent for us to come up and look at it!" She evidently didn't understand, and when I asked her to show us her rooms, she handed us over to a negro as degingande as herself.While we looked at them I heard her sit down to the piano in the drawing-room; she began to sing an air from a comic opera.Ibegan to fear we had gone quite astray; I didn't know in what house we could be, and was only reassured by seeing a Bible in every room.