This day was showery; yet, notwithstanding, about three o’clock, she issued from her chamber, and, requesting me to be present, she made the store-room man produce all the contents of his china-closet and spread them out on the pavement of the courtyard before her; where, seated with her stick in her hand to point and strike with, she examined, re-examined, and classed everything, until she had made up a breakfast and dinner service for the prince, as also one for his Turkish attendants, and one for his European servants.
It was on such occasions as these that Lady Hester infused activity into the most sluggish. A blunder, an act of stupidity, or a lie, was sure to be followed by a smart blow on the shoulders from her stick, which fell like a German corporal’s on a soldier at drill. The epithets of beast, rascal, stupid fellow, etcetera, were dealt out with much freedom and readiness in the Arabic language. An old blue and white teapot, two teacups and saucers, and two plates, one a little broken, were all she could muster of the same pattern for tea-things; and, for dinner, white plates and dishes composed a plain but decent set. In my own house, not five hundred yards off, I had a complete breakfast set in white French porcelain, and another in English ware, as also a spare dinner service: these I pressed her to make use of for the prince, but she would not listen to it:—“let him see what I am reduced to,” she said. Lastly, she sent for the two servants who were to wait at table on the prince, and ordered them to set out on the ground (for there was no table in her apartments, except the old card-table, which alternately went from her bed-room to her saloon, and from her saloon to her bed-room, as she moved from one to the other) all the plates and dishes as if for dinner, that they might take a lesson. But, as it was impossible to make them understand anything about order or symmetry, I suggested that one of my lads, who was accustomed to lay the cloth, should be promoted to that post during the prince’s stay. “Let me see first if he knows,” said Lady Hester: so Mahmôod, a Turkish lad of sixteen, was sent for. He had never seen Lady Hester, and, like all those who were shut out from her courtyard and garden, thought her some mysterious being: judge, therefore, of his fright when he came before her. Being told what he was called for, he set about it as he had been taught by Miss Longchamp, who, in the French fashion, and at a round table, had made him place the soup-terrine in the middle. This excited a loud exclamation from Lady Hester, and afforded her an opportunity of showing how a table was laid in fashionable houses. The scene lasted until sunset, and Mahmôod was duly promoted to the office of buffetier to the prince’s table!
FOOTNOTES:
[8] A collection of the Arabic letters which she had received from people of all classes and on all subjects would have been very valuable to the Oriental scholar: but these were also burned at various intervals.
[9] “There is perhaps not one mother in ten thousand, who, before becoming such, has ever inquired into the nature and wants of the newly-born infant, or knows on what principle its treatment ought to be directed.”—Physiology of Digestion, by Andrew Combe, M.D., p. 232, 2nd edition.
[10] It may be mentioned that Suliman Pasha is considered as the most efficient general in Syria, and, in difficult situations, he is supposed to direct the movements of the army. Ibrahim Pasha passes for being jealous of him, but unable to do without him.
[11] On returning to Europe, I discovered that this novel, although edited by Lady C. Bury, was the production of another lady, Mrs. C. Gore. Nevertheless, the observations made on it and on its supposed author are retained, in the hope that each of these highly-gifted persons, as well as the reader, will be amused in hearing Lady Hester’s comments, made in a different spirit from that which animates a critic in our periodical reviews.
[12] I have often thought it must have been Mr. Roberts, who, in his “Views of Syria,” has given such a beautiful drawing of Lady Hester’s house, notwithstanding that the surrounding scenery is somewhat embellished by the painter’s imagination; there being no river at the foot of the mount, but only a watercourse always dry, excepting after heavy rains.
CHAPTER IV.
Prince Pückler Muskau’s arrival at Jôon—His costume—Physiognomical doctrines—The Prince’s remarks on Lady Hester—Dr. Bowring—Lady Hester’s remarks on the Prince—Race of Abyssinian women—Remarks on public grants, &c.—The polytheistic school of Germany—Remarks on pensions, on Abyssinian slaves, &c.—Story of Sultan Abdallah, the negro—Excursion on horseback—Horse-jockeys in Syria—Servants’ vails—Lord M. and Captain G.—Talismanic charm about Lady Hester—Her visions of greatness.