Belgian days

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. An Invasion of the Low Countries . 7

II. Belgian Youth .... 16

Chapter I. An Invasion Of The Low Countries

In the heart of Belgium, situated on the Meuse river, and near the large city of Liege, was the small town of Huy. The river divided it into two parts, and its ensemble presented the general aspect of a modern foreign town. On the one hand, crooked, narrow, ill- paved streets ran between many-windowed houses, with sloping roofs and fronts ornamented with a red-robed Saint Joseph, or a blue and gold image of Saint Michael, by way of sign; on the other hand, handsome modern dwelling-houses, with small, bright flower-gardens and gay awnings, lined broad asphalt-paved boulevards. The denizens of the new quarter of the town were mostly retired manufacturers, who had chosen Huy, long famed for its epicurean delights, as a suitable place in which to spend their fortunes, (7)

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while the old town proper, where every third house was a cafe, was left to the butchers, bakers, and candlestick-makers, who catered to their richer neighbors.

The station-master stood on the platform, awaiting the afternoon express from Paris, while a few porters in gray blouses hurried up to the scene of action, on the look-out for a job.

The express thundered into the station, and stopped. The window was lowered in a first class compartment, and a lady’s small, neatly gloved hand appeared over the side, making an ineffectual attempt to open the door from the outside.

This manoeuvre caught the guard’s eye; he sprang forward and swung the door wide open.

u Is this Iluy?” asked the lady, in French, with a decidedly foreign accent.

“Yes, be quick, madame,” answered the guard, hurrying off after the manner of railway officials when addressed by ladies traveling alone.

Once safely landed on the platform, Miss Belle Adams, for such was the traveler’s name, raised her veil and looked up and down for her trunk; there it stood, a leather-colored mountain surrounded by low, black hills; that was a comfort at all events, and giving a little sigh of relief, she gathered up her small bundles and walked forward in search of a porter. One or two heavy-faced Belgians gave a

AN INVASION OF THE LOW COUNTRIES. 9 glance at her bright young face, flushed with the excitement of arriving at a strange place, and then passed on to seek shelter from the driving rain.

The station-master rang his bell, much resembling an old-fashioned brass dinner-bell, and the train started off again. Belle looked after it with wistful eyes; it seemed like the severing of the last link that bound her to home and friends.

A few carriages had been waiting to take home their respective owners, and one remained. The big coachman standing by his horses, the reins gathered in his hand, accosted Belle coming out of the station with the question, “ Are you the dame aroglaise expected at Madame Masson’s ?”

“ Yes,” answered Belle.

“ Get- in, then,” returned the man with scant ceremony, and clambering upon the box he left Belle to help herself as best she could. She struggled with the carriage-door, but could not succeed in opening it, when a porter, standing near, perceived her embarrassment and came to her fescue, for which he was substantially rewarded, and a moment later our young lady was rattling over the small paving stones toward the Masson mansion.

Alone once more, Belle allowed her hands to fall dejectedly into her lap, the flush died out of her cheeks, her4 lips trembled, and the tears threatened to dim her eyes. Two large drops did finally fall

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upon her gloved hands; this seemed to arouse her from the reverie into which she had fallen; she gave herself a little mental shake, saying in a low voice: “ How foolish I am; but I am tired and hungry.” True child of the Nineteenth Century, she immediately connected, though in tears, the mental with the physical cause.

“ I am very foolish to allow a servant’s want of politeness to annoy me,” she continued. “ I have often boasted of my imperturbability to little things; now is the time to prove it.”

Not to be disturbed by small things is good philosophy, but that circumstances alter cases is also a sound precept. Had Belle just arrived in New York or Philadelphia, on a visit to one of her numerous dear friends, she would not have been much discomposed by the gruffness of a coachman, but the incivility of this foreign Jehu brought many things to her mind; it was, in fact, the first tangible reminder of the difficulties to be met with, and if possible, overcome, in the new phase of life on which she was entering. It reminded her that she was about to occupy, for a time at least, a dependent’s position; that the loving protection of friends that had always surrounded her was withdrawn, or rather that she had withdrawn herself- from it; but above all, that she was alone.' She lived over again the incidents of the last few eventful weeks; again

AN INVASION OF TIIE LOW COUNTRIES . 11 she was experiencing the delights of a holiday trip to Paris with kind friends; then came the letter from her brother Ralph, telling of change of fortune; her sudden resolve, with the opportunity of its almost immediate fulfillment; the leave-takings of the early morning, and finally the lonely arrival at her destination.

In the meantime the Masson carriage had crossed the stone bridge that spans the Meuse at Huy, had bowled smoothly down the promenade bordered by wide-spreading horse-chestnuts, coming to a halt before a large iron gate, which a portress hurried to open. The vehicle swept up the well-graveled path to a large stone house, long rather than high, with red silk window blinds, side balconies, and a stone front portico.

A trim bonus, in a black dress, white cap and apron, opened the door.

“ Oh ! it was the English Mees; would mademoiselle walk in ? ”

While bustling down the steps to relieve her of her wraps, the maid scanned the new-comer curiously, and, contrary to her usual custom, was rather at a loss to make up her mind concerning her.

Ho rusty bonnet or draggled waterproof cloak met her eye; the lady’s dress, though simple, was quite as stylish' as Madame’s own. She glanced at

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Belle’s traveling-bag, noted her handsome umbrella, and the quick-witted Abigail came to the conclusion that this was no ordinary person.

“ Madame said that I was to show Mees to her room. Will she have the goodness to follow me? We have a dinner-party to-night, and Madame is dressing. Madame receives a great deal of company.”

So, chatting, the girl led the way up an uncarpeted stair-case of polished oak, across a wide hall, where a window stood open, though it was November, stopping before a bed-room door, which she flung open with something of a flourish.

“ Here we are,” she continued, with a loquacity that was half conciliatory, half familiar; “ is it not a pretty room? And this is Mademoiselle Louise’s next to it, so you can the better have her under your surveillance . Are they not handsome sleepingrooms, Mees?”

It did occur to Belle to wonder what harm could befall Mademoiselle Louise in her blue- draped sleeping apartment to render constant watchfulness necessary. Belle dismissed the talkative maid, civilly refusing her profuse offers of assistance, shut the door opening into her charge’s room, and sat down to rest a moment, for her head was swimming with the fatigue of her journey.

She was about to divest herself of her hat and cloak,

AN INVASION OF THE LOW COUNTRIES. 13 when the rustle of voluminous skirts was heard just outside the door, a heavy step approached, then came a decided rap, the handle turned, and Madame Masson-Spierley entered the room, accompanied by her daughter, Louise. Madame was a tall, stout woman, with coarse, irregular features, black hair streaked with gray, and small, suspicious gray eyes. She was handsomely dressed in silk and lace; diamonds glittered in her ears and on her fat fingers.

Evidently Mademoiselle Louise was not to appear at the dinner party, for she wore a simple house dress.

“ So you are Mees Adams? ” began the lady of the house; “I am very glad to see you.”

Belle bowed her acknowledgments, but did not have time to do more, for Madame immediately resumed: “It is fortunate you came from Paris by the early train, for we are to have a large dinner-party this evening. I expect several young gentlemen, and I should have been embarrassed to know what to do with my big Loulou here, had you not arrived.”

Madame smiled, as though she intended to be gracious; Belle with difficulty repressed a stare at the sight of such calm, unfamiliar egotism.

“ One has to be so careful of a jeune fille” continued Madame, looking unutterable things at Belle; “is it not so, ma grosseV 9 she continued,

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turning to her daughter, who certainly deserved that appellation.

Louise was a stout, overgrown, heavy-featured girl, with a wonderfully fine complexion and abundant black hair. She stared at the stranger and commenced to giggle. Belle’s heart sank; recovering herself, though with an effort, she answered Madame’s smile and put out her hand .to Louise, with the winning grace that was natural to her, saying she trusted they soon would be good friends.

Carriage wheels were heard grating on the walk below ; Madame Masson said as she turned to leave the room: “You will have your supper here with Louise, Mees ; you are perhaps hungry; would you like some tea? ”

Louise chimed in with —

“Mamma, you promised that I should have some oysters, some vol-au-vent and des glaces ; and they will not be ready so early. I cannot take my supper yet.”

Evidently Mademoiselle knew her own mind when it was a question of eating.

Belle was about to say that she could very well wait, when Madame saved her the trouble by remarking, “Well, I dare say Mees will not mind waiting until half-past seven. It is already six o’clock.” Madame then departed to receive her friends.

AN INVASION OF THE LOW COUNTRIES. 15

Now that Louise’s mind was at rest on the subject of her supper, she devoted her energies to making an agreeable impression on her new governess.

Not being troubled by shyness, Louise was soon extremely voluble. Belle heard the menu of the dinner going on down stairs, with the names of the guests. She was also favored with a sight of her pupil’s jewels, — the coral necklace her Aunt Louise had given her, and her new watch and chain.

Feeling unequal to much conversation, Belle took some books from her satchel, hoping the pictures would amuse the child; but Louise possessed the true Belgian restlessness — nothing but the sound of her own voice, or violent exercise, satisfied her for long at a time.

Chapter II. Belgian Youth

“Mees! Mees! are you awake?” called a loud voice at Belle’s bedside, on the morning that followed her arrival in Huy; and there, somewhat to the young governess’ dismay, stood Mademoiselle Louise Masson, still in undress.

Belle hastily arose, drove the young invader back into her own quarters, and commenced her toilette. Louise, having no liking for soap and water, had left her own room long before Belle was ready.

On descending to the dining-room, Belle found her pupil already seated at the breakfast table, and doing full justice to the viands before her. It appeared a singular morning repast to an American, accustomed as she was to a substantial breakfast; it consisted of coffee, pots of preserves, bread and butter, and several different kinds of cheese; the choice was limited to bread and butter and jam, or bread and butter and cheese.

Louise had made her selection, and held a long French roll filled with quince jelly in her strong (16)

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IV white hands. The young lady, dressed in a wrapper, minus collar or cuffs, sat forward on her chair, her elbows on the table, in anything but a graceful attitude.

As soon as Belle was seated at table, Louise opened upon her a running fire of conversation, jumping from subject to subject .with a rapidity that was slightly bewildering to a stranger.

The pair had nearly finished their meal, when a short, stout man, with a very red face, entered the room; he had a generally puffy appearance, in the style of the fabled frog who wished to emulate the ox in size. He had round, expressionless blue eyes, very wide open ; a pompous manner, and, like most short men who wish to appear taller, he walked with a strut.

“ Well, ma grosse” he said, laying his hand upon his daughter’s shoulder. Belle rose.

“Pray be seated; you are the new governess, I presume.” He favored Belle with a long stare, and then pursed up his mouth as though he would whistle. Like Josephine, he could come to no immediate conclusion about this new-comer; she certainly was not the sort of person he had expected to see.

“A very distinguee looking girl,” was his mental comment, “ and pretty, too.” He continued the conversation in his most affable manner.

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“ I hope yon are rested from the fatigue of your journey, Mees.”

“ Yes, quite, thank you; traveling does not tire me.”

“ Ah ! I know you Americaines are very intrepid; you go everywhere alone , all over the world. You see I know something about your compatriots, Mees.”

The singular expression in Monsieur Masson’s saucer eyes, as he made the above observation, rather mystified the young girl, for it left her in doubt as to whether the speech were complimentary or the reverse. However, she judged it best to take the remark in good part, and replied to it, as people usually do in such cases, by a vague smile. Monsieur Masson smiled too, highly pleased with himself (his normal condition), and commenced to put on his gloves.

“ I must be oflT,” he said, rather abruptly. “ I am going to Spa, to look at some horses — English horses,” he continued, with a confused idea that Belle must be especially interested in English horses, as she spoke English. “Do you know anything about horses, Mees ? ”

“ Very little.”

“ These will go at a high figure ; at eight thousand francs, at least. I shall buy them if I like the look of them. We have one span, but there is

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no reason why we should not have two,” and he slapped his pockets in a significant way, as much as to say, “ Plenty of money there.”

Again Belle favored Monsieur Masson with a vague smile, which that gentleman’s vanity induced him to interpret as implying admiration of himself and his belongings. He walked before a long cheval glass, and there rearranged his necktie, assumed a “ conquering hero ” air, and then strutted jauntily out of the room, after having inquired of Belle if he could do anything for her in Spa, which was certainly a cheap civility.

“ Where are we to have lessons? ” inquired Belle of Louise; but before that young person could reply, the door , again opened, and Madame Masson replaced her lord on the scene.

She sailed in, her portly form draped in a wide purple wrapper, not over clean, its ample folds spreading out on either side of her like two fans. This garment had been a handsome one when new, for it was of the finest cashmere, and trimmed heavily with black velvet; but the velvet was worn and dusty, while several grease spots appeared on the front. This negligence in Madame’s attire did her femme de chambre but small credit, but that young woman had a theory according to which her duties only commenced with the afternoon toilette.

Madame’s feet were incased in large, list slippers,

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more easy than elegant; her head was covered by a bit of stringy looking black lace, to do duty as a cache-tout / jewels still glittered on her fingers, which carried, nevertheless, a certain amount of “ landed property ” beneath the nails.

Louise threw herself upon her mother, embracing her with much effusion. Belle rose to greet the lady of the house. Madame Masson flopped down into an arm-chair, drew a foot-stool towards herself with her foot, and requested a few words with Belle. Louise leaned against her mother’s chair, listening intently.

Belle’s heart began to beat quickly, though she maintained an outwardly smiling composure.

“I stipulated in my letter,” began Madame Masson, “ that I desired a well-bred person above all things; it is so necessary that whoever undertakes the education of a young girl of family should be perfectly well-bred.”

Belle glanced at the overgrown, slatternly child, lolling over her mother’s chair, and could with difficulty repress a smile.

“Can you draw?”

“ Yes, Madame.”

“Can you teach the German language?”

Again Belle answered in the affirmative.

“I shall expect you occasionally to assist my son, Gustave, with his English and German lessons.

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He attends the Liege Lyceum, but is, unfortunately, very backward in both those languages. I hope you are patient, Mees, and that you are a good walker ; exercise is so necessary for the young.” Belle replied that she was a good walker, and so she considered herself; but she little knew how impossible it was to satisfy Belgian young people on the subject of violent exercise. Join the mercurial spirits of the French to the robust health of the English, and you have la jeunesse beige.

A few more directions and stipulations followed.

Belle thought the moment had arrived when something should be conceded to her, so she ventured to ask:

“And Sundays, Madame?”

“What do you mean? Ah, you are a Protestant. I regret that there is no Protestant temple in Huy; but 1 suppose you will not object to accompany Louise to the Catholic Church?”

“Certainly not, occasionally; but,” continued Belle, becoming desperate, “ I wish to have some time to myself, so perhaps I would better take it on Sunday.”

“Why?” inquired Madame, more surprised than pleased; “you have no acquaintances here, and as to amusements, you will accompany me to the theater whenever Louise goes.”

“ It is not for amusement that I desire some

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hours of liberty,” answered Belle; “I have my home-letters to write, and on Sunday morning I should like to read my Church Service.”

Belle was determined not to give up this point, and the steady look in her gray eyes indicated as much.

Madame Masson thought discretion the better part of valor in this case, and consented to allow her young governess two hours of liberty on every Sunday morning.

Thankful to have saved this much from the general wreck, Belle’s heart grew lighter and the cloud passed from her eyes. Madame intimated that she considered the conversation at an end, by rising from her chair ; and Louise was told to fetch her lesson-books.

“ I am glad,” observed Madame Masson, when the child had left the room, “ to see that you have religious principles.”

Belle remaining silent, Madame continued :

“ My husband is very liberal in his religious beliefs; indeed, we are a Liberal family; but as a mother, Mees, I should have been unwilling to contide the education of my daughter to any person not possessing religious principles.”

This speech pleased Belle, who had tbe blessing of holding an earnest and practical faith in that “ power, not ourselves, that makes for righteous-

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ness.” Before she had been long in the Masson- Spierley family, she discovered that remarks of this kind amounted to very little : a certain regularity in the performance of her religious duties being part of the paraphernalia with which a young girl comme il faut was supposed to secure an eligible husband.

As the result of a short but careful examination, Belle found that though her new pupil was not what is called in the States “ advanced for her age,” she enjoyed a more substantial advantage, in that she had been thoroughly grounded in what she knew; so, whatever other misfortune befell her governess, she would not be required to raise an elegant superstructure on no foundation.

Lessons over, Belle sallied forth, accompanied by Louise, to take her first walk on Belgian soil.

When the family were assembled for dinner that evening, Madame Masson said, placing her plump hand on a young lad’s shoulder, “ This is my son Gustave, Mees.”

Gustave Masson “favored his father,” as old-fashioned people say; he was short and thick set, with round, astonished blue eyes, and an inch of liffht hair standing* out all around his head — something between a halo and bristles. He had also a habit of blushing continually, so his face and large ears were very often suffused with a scarlet glow,

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which made him appear very sheepish. Louise resembled her mother in form and feature; though still unformed, she was straight as a young poplar tree, strong of back and limb, and gave promise of becoming what is called a “fine woman,” a distinction quite as much valued in Belgium as beauty of face. iNor was she otherwise destitute of good looks; no fault could be found with her hair, teeth or complexion. The expression of her features was not harmonious; the chin and mouth were heavy and good-tempered, while the eyes and eyebrows indicated slyness, with even a spice of malice.

Whatever else was justly open to criticism in the Masson family, their table was not; and at every meal the conversation ran for the most part on topics dear to the gastronomer. During dinner this favorite subject was introduced by Louise, who was herself a very fair cook — a wonderfully good cook for a child. This peculiarity she inherited from her father, who could do any mortal thing with a saucepan.

“ Mamma, this white sauce is a little thick, and I find that Babette has put a trifle too much celery in it.”

“ You are right, ma grosse ,” replied her mother.

“ Louise is never very far out when it is a question of her stomach,” responded her father, laugh-

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Louise laughed good-naturedly, showing her strong white teeth.

Madame Masson frowned. uAt all events, she comes honestly by her culinary skill,” she said tartly.

“ Nay; as to that, we both of us ply a good knife and fork.”

Madame was about to retort, when Louise chimed in : “Maes and I went for a walk to the convent, mamma.”

“Did you pay your respects to her Black Ladyship?” demanded M. Masson, with renewed hilarity.

“We had not time to go into the convent,” answered Louise.

“The Black Virgin brings in a pretty penny to aer lazy keepers, and she will continue to do so as .ong as there are fools enough left in the world for priests to gull,” resumed the master of the house, regardless of the presence of children and servants. “ She brings us one piece of good fortune, however — a grand fete every seven years, when this miraculous virgin is brought down on the shoulders of four priests and paraded through the town with great j>omp. The ladies sport fine toilettes from Brussels and Paris; we have balls, races and pigeon shooting-matches, and the priests are good enough to invest our three gala days with the dignity of a 4 religious festival.’ ”

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M. Masson closed liis speech with a violent tirade against priests, monks, nuns, the Church and the Pope — which resolved itself into wholesale and often scurrilous abuse of everything ecclesiastical. Madame Masson appeared calmly indifferent to her lord’s vehemence, and allowed him to talk himself into a very angry frame of mind without the slightest interference from her.

Belle listened in pained silence, glancing uneasily from time to time at her new pupils. She tried to imagine her uncle Gray, in whose house she had always lived, reviling missionary meetings and prayer meetings, the elders and the minister, before his eager, bright-eyed sons; what would not have been her aunt Sarah’s amazement and grief! she wTould have thought “father” had gone mad.

M. Masson- Spierley was a Liberal in politics, and chairman of several Liberal Associations, chosen partly on account of his wealth and social position, and partly because his easy-going ways made him popular with the men of his set. He considered he had fulfilled his duty to the cause when he had roundly abused the opposite party; his notion of defending his friends was abusing their enemies; he hoped also by this line of conduct to convince people that he was an enlightened man and weaned from superstitious vanities.

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Before the cloth was removed, the family adjourned to a small conservatory, or winter garden, as it is called in Belgium, where coffee and liqueurs were served, which brought the long dinner fairly to a close.

Monsieur went off to smoke; Madame took a nap in her arm-chair, while Gustave and Louise found a vent for their superabundant spirits in a lively skirmish. Their loud and angry voices awaked Madame, who lost no time in sending them both off to bed. Gustave, though fifteen years of age, was still well under petticoat government; indeed, his mother was the only being in the world of whom he stood in awe. M. Masson was far too lazy to exercise any authority over his children.

“ As you look tired, Mees, I suppose you wish to retire also ? ” It was Madame’s way to pretend that people wanted to do what she intended they should do. Belle bowed her aquiescence, and followed Louise up stairs.

It was a work of time and patience to get Mademoiselle into her bed; her quarrel with Gustave, to say nothing of the heavy dinner she had eaten, had “ agitated ” her, as her mother would have said.

After an hour’s exertion, Belle had the satisfaction of seeing Louise finally settled for the night in her little white bed with its dainty blue hangings:

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the night-lamp was lighted, for all foreign girls are ofraid of the dark, and the door left wide open between the two rooms.

Tired Belle sat down in her own room to enjoy a few pages of an interesting book before betaking herself to rest ; for reading was one of her favorite safeguards against sad thoughts. Hardly had she enjoyed a moment’s quiet when the sound of violent and ostentatious sobbing reached her dismayed ears.

“Louise, are you ill?” inquired she, going to the door of her pupil’s room.

No answer was vouchsafed, but the sobs redoubled in violence. Louise, bent on making a scene, was beginning to show signs of becoming hysterical. Belle, who hated comedies in private life, sat down by her bedside overpowered by a sense of helpless vexation.

“ Will you please bring me a glass of eau sucree ? ” gasped the interesting invalid.

Belle did as she was requested, and, in spite of her annoyance, could hardly repress a smile, as Louise sat up in bed to partake of her calming draught. It certainly was a funny sight — this strong, healthy girl, with cheeks like roses and lips like coral, indulging in nervous attacks, and drinking eau sucree to calm them.

Louise kept her governess by her side until she wtis overmastered by sleep.

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“ I wonder,” thought Miss Adams, as she returned to her own room, “ if my new pupil often treats her friends to such scenes? I, for one, should soon weary of them.”

Next morning, Louise’s round, smooth cheeks showed no trace of last night’s emotion. Belle, on the contrary, was paler than usual.

CHAPTEE III.

A FAMILY DINNER.

The first weeks of Belle’s sojourn in Huy passed but slowly for her. Madame Masson began by watching her very closely, but finding her always the same — quiet, composed and well-bred — she ceased, little by little, to make stealthy pilgrimages to the school-room.

Gustave wras very rough, and the rudeness of his manners caused Belle much annoyance, accustomed as she had hitherto been to receiving a certain deference from all men, and even from boys.

“ Cousin Belle” was a great personage with her Aunt Gray’s sons, and they considered it rather a privilege to be asked to render her any small service, while she, in her turn, had always been careful not to tax their willingness too far. If her little knights manifested occasionally the rough heedlessness of boyhood, Belle took it in good part, knowing the kind and chivalrous feeling that lay at the bottom of all that they did for her or for their mother.

*

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Brought up in a family of boys, she understood them too well to take umbrage at every rough or thoughtless word; but what tried her so much in Gustave was that his impertinences seemed to spring from a settled contempt for women and girls. Belle found, indeed, in most cases, that Belgian lads, who are kept very strictly under petticoat government as long as it is possible so to keep them, and are watched and followed about by their mothers to an extent which an American girl would resent, first asserted their independence from that yoke by sneers leveled at the virtue of -women. On entering the university, where they outdo their German confreres in dogmatism, no easy matter, they commence upon a second phase, and become aggressive atheists. They keep' up this fierce dogmatism until they are called upon to face the realities of life. As young men in Belgium do not complete their university career before their twentyfourth year, the “ Sturm und Drang” period lasts longer than is comfortable for their friends.