byAnthonyTrollopeThatBelgiumisnowoneoftheEuropeankingdoms，livingbyitsownlaws，restingonitsownbottom，withakingandcourt，palacesandparliamentofitsown，isknowntoalltheworld。Andaverynicelittlekingdomitis；fullofoldtowns，fineFlemishpictures，andinterestingGothicchurches。Butinthememoryofverymanyofuswhodonotthinkourselvesoldmen，Belgium，asitisnowcalled——inthosedaysitusedtobeFlandersandBrabant——wasapartofHolland；anditobtaineditsownindependencebyarevolution。InthatrevolutionthemostimportantmilitarystepwasthesiegeofAntwerp，whichwasdefendedonthepartoftheDutchbyGeneralChasse，withtheutmostgallantry，butneverthelessineffectually。
AfterthesiegeAntwerpbecamequiteashowplace；andamongthevisitorswhoflockedtheretotalkofthegallantgeneral，andtoseewhatremainedofthegreateffortwhichhehadmadetodefendtheplace，weretwoEnglishmen。Onewastheheroofthislittlehistory；andtheotherwasayoungmanofconsiderablylessweightintheworld。ThelessIsayofthelatterthebetter；butitisnecessarythatIshouldgivesomedescriptionoftheformer。
TheRev。AugustusHornewas，atthetimeofmynarrative，abeneficedclergymanoftheChurchofEngland。Theprofessionwhichhehadgracedsateasilyonhim。Itsexternalmarksandsignswereaspleasingtohisfriendsaswereitsinternalcomfortstohimself。
Hewasamanofmuchquietmirth，fullofpolishedwit，andonsomerareoccasionshecoulddescendtothemorenoisyhilarityofajoke。Lovedbyhisfriendshelovedalltheworld。Hehadknownnocareandseennosorrow。Alwaysintendedforholyordershehadenteredthemwithoutascruple，andremainedwithintheirpalewithoutaregret。Attwenty—fourhehadbeenadeacon，attwenty—
sevenapriest，atthirtyarector，andatthirty—fiveaprebendary；
andashisrectorywasrichandhisprebendalstallwellpaid，theRev。AugustusHornewascalledbyall，andcalledhimself，ahappyman。Hisstaturewasaboutsixfeettwo，andhiscorpulenceexceededeventhoseboundswhichsymmetrywouldhavepreferredasbeingmostperfectlycompatibleevenwithsuchaheight。ButneverthelessMr。Hornewasawell—mademan；hishandsandfeetweresmall；hisfacewashandsome，frank，andfullofexpression；hisbrighteyestwinkledwithhumour；hisfinely—cutmouthdisclosedtwomarvellousrowsofwell—preservedivory；andhisslightlyaquilinenosewasjustsuchaprojectionasonewouldwishtoseeonthefaceofawell—fedgood—natureddignitaryoftheChurchofEngland。WhenIaddtoallthisthatthereverendgentlemanwasasgenerousashewasrich——andthekindmotherinwhosearmshehadbeennurturedhadtakencarethatheshouldneverwant——IneedhardlysaythatIwasblessedwithaverypleasanttravellingcompanion。
Imustmentiononemoreinterestingparticular。Mr。Hornewasratherinclinedtodandyism，inaninnocentway。Hisclericalstarchedneckclothwasalwaysofthewhitest，hiscambrichandkerchiefofthefinest，hisbandsadornedwiththebroadestborder；hissablesuitneverdegeneratedtoarustybrown；itnotonlygaveonalloccasionsglossyevidenceoffreshness，butalsoofthetalentwhichtheartisanhaddisplayedinturningoutawell—dressedclergymanoftheChurchofEngland。Hishairwaseverbrushedwithscrupulousattention，andshowedinitsregularwavestheguardiancareofeachseparatebristle。AndallthiswasdonewiththateaseandgracewhichshouldbethecharacteristicsofadignitaryoftheestablishedEnglishChurch。
IhadaccompaniedMr。HornetotheRhine；andwehadreachedBrusselsonourreturn，justatthecloseofthatrevolutionwhichendedinaffordingathronetotheson—in—lawofGeorgetheFourth。
AtthatmomentGeneralChasse’snameandfamewereineveryman’smouth，and，likeothercuriousadmirersofthebrave，Mr。HornedeterminedtodevotetwodaystothesceneofthelateeventsatAntwerp。Antwerp，moreover，possessesperhapsthefinestspire，andcertainlyoneofthethreeorfourfinestpictures，intheworld。
OfGeneralChasse，ofthecathedral，andoftheRubens，Ihadheardmuch，andwasthereforewellpleasedthatsuchshouldbehisresolution。ThisaccomplishedweweretoreturntoBrussels；andthence，viaGhent，Ostend，andDover，ItocompletemylegalstudiesinLondon，andMr。HornetoenjoyoncemorethepeacefulretirementofOllertonrectory。AsweweretobeabsentfromBrusselsbutonenightwewereenabledtoindulgeinthegratificationoftravellingwithoutourluggage。Asmallsac—de—nuitwasprepared；brushes，combs，razors，strops，achangeoflinen，&c。&c。，werecarefullyputup；butourheavybaggage，ourcoats，waistcoats，andotherwearingapparelwereunnecessary。Itwasdelightfultofeeloneselfsolight—handed。Thereverendgentleman，withmyhumbleselfbyhisside，lefttheportaloftheHoteldeBelleVueat7a。m。，ingoodhumourwithalltheworld。Therewerenorailroadsinthosedays；
butacabriolet，bigenoughtoholdsixpersons，withropetracesandcorrespondingappendages，depositedusattheGoldenFleeceinsomethinglessthansixhours。Theinwardmanwasdulyfortified，andwestartedforthecastle。
Itbootsnotheretodescribetheeffectswhichgunpowderandgrape—
shothadhadonthewallsofAntwerp。LetthecuriousinthesemattersreadthehorrorsofthesiegeofTroy，orthehistoryofJerusalemtakenbyTitus。TheonemaybefoundinHomer，andtheotherinJosephus。OriftheypreferdoingsofalaterdatethereisthetakingofSebastopol，asnarratedinthecolumnsofthe"Times"newspaper。Theaccountsareequallytrue，instructive，andintelligible。InthemeantimeallowtheRev。AugustusHorneandmyselftoentertheprivatechambersoftherenownedthoughdefeatedgeneral。
Werambledforawhilethroughthecoveredway，overtheglacisandalongthecounterscarp，andlistenedtotheguideashedetailedtous，inalreadyaccustomedwords，howthesiegehadgone。Thenwegotintotheprivateapartmentsofthegeneral，and，havingdexterouslyshakenoffourattendant，wanderedatlargeamongthedesertedrooms。
"Itisclearthatnooneevercomeshere，"saidI。
"No，"saidtheRev。Augustus；"itseemsnot；andtotellthetruth，Idon’tknowwhyanyoneshouldcome。Thechambersinthemselvesarenotattractive。"
Whathesaidwastrue。Theywereplain，ugly，square，unfurnishedrooms，hereabigone，andtherealittleone，asisusualinmosthouses；——unfurnished，thatis，forthemostpart。Inoneplacewedidfindatableandafewchairs，inanotherabedstead，andsoon。
Buttomeitwaspleasanttoindulgeinthoseruminationswhichanytracesofthegreatorunfortunatecreateinsoftlysympathisingminds。Foratimewecommunicatedourthoughtstoeachotherasweroamedfreeasairthroughtheapartments；andthenIlingeredforafewmomentsbehind，whileMr。Hornemovedonwithaquickerstep。
AtlastIenteredthebedchamberofthegeneral，andthereI
overtookmyfriend。Hewasinspecting，withmuchattention，anarticleofthegreatman’swardrobewhichheheldinhishand。Itwaspreciselythatvirilehabilimenttowhichawell—knowngallantcaptainalludesinhisconversationwiththeposthumousappearanceofMissBailey，ascontainingaBankofEngland5poundnote。
"Thegeneralmusthavebeenalargeman，George，orhewouldhardlyhavefilledthese，"saidMr。Horne，holdinguptothelighttherespectableleathernarticlesinquestion。"Hemusthavebeenaverylargeman，——thelargestmaninAntwerp，Ishouldthink；orelsehistailorhasdonehimmorethanjustice。"
Theywerecertainlylarge，andhadaboutthemacharmingregimentalmilitaryappearance。Theyweremadeofwhiteleather，withbrightmetalbuttonsatthekneesandbrightmetalbuttonsatthetop。
Theyownednopockets，andwere，withtheexceptionofthelegitimateoutlet，continuousinthecircumferenceofthewaistband。
Nodanglingstringsgavethemanappearanceofsenileimbecility。
Wereitnotforacertainrigidity，sternness，andmentalinflexibility，——wewillcallitmilitaryardour，——withwhichtheywereimbued，theywouldhavecreatedenvyinthebosomofafox—
hunter。
Mr。Hornewasnofox—hunter，butstillheseemedtobeirresistiblytakenwiththelady—likepropensityofwishingtowearthem。
"Surely，George，"hesaid，"thegeneralmusthavebeenastoutermanthanIam"——andhecontemplatedhisownproportionswithcomplacency——"thesewhat’s—the—namesarequitebigenoughforme。"
Idifferedinopinion，andwasobligedtoexplainthatIthoughthedidthegoodlivingofOllertoninsufficientjustice。
"Iamsuretheyarelargeenoughforme，"herepeated，withconsiderableobstinacy。Ismiledincredulously；andthentosettlethematterheresolvedthathewouldtrythemon。Nobodyhadbeenintheseroomsforthelasthour，anditappearedasthoughtheywerenevervisited。Eventheguidehadnotcomeonwithus，butwasemployedinshowingotherpartiesaboutthefortifications。Itwasclearthatthisportionofthebuildingwasleftdesolate，andthattheexperimentmightbesafelymade。SothesportiverectordeclaredthathewouldforashorttimeweartheregimentalswhichhadoncecontainedthevalorousheartofGeneralChasse。
WithalldecorumtheRev。Mr。HornedivestedhimselfoftheworkoftheLondonartist’sneedle，and，carefullyplacinghisowngarmentsbeyondthereachofdust，essayedtofithimselfinmilitarygarb。
Atthatimportantmoment——atthecriticalinstantoftheattempt——
theclatteroffemalevoiceswasheardapproachingthechamber。
Theymusthavesuddenlycomeroundsomepassagecorner，foritwasevidentbythesoundthattheywerecloseuponusbeforewehadanywarningoftheiradvent。AtthisveryminuteMr。Hornewassomewhatembarrassedinhisattempts，andwasnotfullyinpossessionofhisusualactivepowersofmovement，norofhisusualpresenceofmind。
Heonlylookedforescape；andseeingadoorpartlyopen，hewithdifficultyretreatedthroughit，andIfollowedhim。Wefoundthatwewereinasmalldressing—room；andasbygoodluckthedoorwasdefendedbyaninnerbolt，myfriendwasabletoprotecthimself。
"Thereshallbeanothersiege，atanyrateasstoutasthelast，beforeIsurrender，"saidhe。
Astheladiesseemedinclinedtolingerintheroomitbecameamatterofimportancethattheabove—namedarticlesshouldfit，notonlyforornamentbutforuse。Itwasverycold，andMr。HornewasaltogetherunusedtomoveinaHighlandsphereoflife。Butalas，alas！GeneralChassehadnotbeennurturedintheclassicalretirementofOllerton。Theungivingleatherwouldstretchnopointtoaccommodatethedivine，thoughithadbeenwillingtoministertotheconvenienceofthesoldier。Mr。Hornewasvexedandchilled；
andthrowingthenowhatefulgarmentsintoacorner，andprotectinghimselffromthecoldasbesthemightbystandingwithhiskneestogetherandhisbodysomewhatbentsoastogivetheskirtsofhiscoatanopportunityofdoingextraduty，hebeggedmetoseeifthosejabberingfemaleswerenotgoingtoleavehiminpeacetorecoverhisownproperty。Iaccordinglywenttothedoor，andopeningittoasmallextentIpeepedthrough。
WhoshalldescribemyhorroratthesightwhichIthensaw？Thescene，whichhadhithertobeentintedwithcomiceffect，wasnowbecomingsodecidedlytragicthatIdidnotdareatoncetoacquaintmyworthypastorwiththatwhichwasoccurring，——and，alas！hadalreadyoccurred。
Fivecountry—womenofourown——itwaseasytoknowthembytheirdressandgeneralaspect——werestandinginthemiddleoftheroom；
andoneofthem，thecentreofthegroup，theseniorharpyofthelot，amaidenlady——Icouldhavesworntothat——witharednose，heldinonehandahugepairofscissors，andintheother——thealreadydevotedgoodsofmymostunfortunatecompanion！Downfromthewaistband，throughthatgoodlyexpanse，afellgashhadalreadygonethroughandthrough；andinuseless，unbecomingdisorderthebroadclothfellpendantfromherarmonthissideandonthat。AtthatmomentIconfessthatIhadnotthecouragetospeaktoMr。
Horne，——noteventolookathim。
Imustdescribethatgroup。OfthefigurenexttomeIcouldonlyseetheback。Itwasabroadbackdoneupinblacksilknotofthenewest。Thewholefigure，onemaysay，wasdumpy。Theblacksilkwasnotlong，asdressesnowareworn，norwideinitsskirts。Ineverywayitwasskimpy，consideringthebreadthithadtocover；
andbelowthesilkIsawtheheelsoftwothickshoes，andenoughtoswearbyoftwowoollenstockings。Abovethesilkwasaredandblueshawl；andabovethataponderous，elaboratebrownbonnet，astothematerialsofwhichIshouldnotwishtoundergoanexamination。OverandbeyondthisIcouldonlyseethebacksofhertwohands。Theywereheldupasthoughinwonderatthatwhichthered—nosedholderofthescissorshaddaredtodo。
Oppositetothislady，andwithherfacefullytamedtome，wasakindly—looking，fatmotherlywoman，withlight—colouredhair，notinthebestorder。Shewashotandscarletwithexercise，beingperhapstoostoutforthesteepstepsofthefortress；andinonehandsheheldahandkerchief，withwhichfromtimetotimeshewipedherbrow。Intheotherhandsheheldoneoftheextremitiesofmyfriend’sproperty，feeling——good，carefulsoul！——whatwasthetextureofthecloth。Asshedidso，Icouldseeaglanceofapprobationpassacrossherwarmfeatures。Ilikedthatlady’sface，inspiteofheruntidyhair，andfeltthathadshebeenalonemyfriendwouldnothavebeeninjured。
Oneithersideofhertherestoodaflaxen—hairedmaiden，withlongcurls，largeblueeyes，freshredcheeks，anundefinedlumpynose，andlargegood—humouredmouth。Theywereaslikeastwopeas，onlythatonewashalfaninchtallerthantheother；andtherewasnodifficultyindiscovering，atamoment’sglance，thattheywerethechildrenofthatover—heatedmatronwhowasfeelingthewebofmyfriend’scloth。
Buttheprincipalfigurewasshewhoheldthecentreplaceinthegroup。Shewastallandthin，withfierce—lookingeyes，renderedmorefiercebythespectacleswhichshewore；witharednoseasI
saidbefore；andaboutheranundescribablesomethingwhichquiteconvincedmethatshehadneverknown——couldneverknow——aughtofthecomfortsofmarriedlife。Itwasshewhoheldthescissorsandtheblackgarments。Itwasshewhohadgiventhatunkindcut。AsI
lookedathershewhiskedherselfquicklyroundfromonecompaniontotheother，triumphinginwhatshehaddone，andreadytotriumphfurtherinwhatshewasabouttodo。IimmediatelyconceivedadeephatredforthatQueenoftheHarpies。
"Well，Isupposetheycan’tbewantedagain，"saidthemother，rubbingherforehead。
"Ohdearno！"saidsheoftherednose。"Theyarerelics！"I
thoughttoleapforth；butforwhatpurposeshouldIhaveleaped？
Theaccursedscissorshadalreadydonetheirwork；andthesymmetry，nay，eventheutilityofthevestmentwasdestroyed。
"GeneralChasseworeaverygoodarticle；——Iwillsaythatforhim，"
continuedthemother。
"Ofcoursehedid！"saidtheQueenHarpy。"Whyshouldhenot，seeingthatthecountrypaidforitforhim？Well，ladies，who’sforhavingabit？"
"Ohmy！youwon’tgofortocutthemup，"saidthestoutback。
"Won’tI，"saidthescissors；andsheimmediatelymadeanotherincision。"Who’sforhavingabit？Don’tallspeakatonce。"
"Ishouldlikeamorselforapincushion，"saidflaxen—hairedMissNo。1，ayoungladyaboutnineteen，actuatedbyageneralaffectionforallsword—bearing，fire—eatingheroes。"Ishouldliketohavesomethingtomakemethinkofthepoorgeneral！"
Snip，snipwentthescissorswithprofessionalrapidity，andaroundpiecewasextractedfromthebackofthecalfoftheleftleg。I
shudderedwithhorror；andsodidtheRev。AugustusHornewithcold。
"Ihardlythinkit’spropertocutthemup，"saidMissNo。2。
"Ohisn’tit？"saidtheharpy。"ThenI’lldowhat’simproper！"Andshegotherfingerandthumbwellthroughtheholesinthescissors’
handles。Asshespokeresolutionwasplainlymarkedonherbrow。
"Well，iftheyaretobecutup，Ishouldcertainlylikeabitforapen—wiper，"saidNo。2。No。2wasaliteraryyoungladywithaperiodicalcorrespondence，ajournal，andanalbum。Snip，snipwentthescissorsagain，andthebroadpartoftheupperrightdivisionaffordedamplematerialsforapen—wiper。
Thentheladywiththeback，seeingthatthedesecrationofthearticlehadbeencompleted，pluckedupheartofcourageandputinherlittlerequest；"IthinkImighthaveaneedle—caseoutofit，"
saidshe，"justasasuvneerofthepoorgeneral"——andalongfragmentcutrapidlyoutofthewaistbandaffordedherunqualifieddelight。
Mamma，withthehotfaceanduntidyhair，camenext。"Well，girls，"
shesaid，"asyouareallserved，Idon’tseewhyI’mtobeleftout。Perhaps，MissGrogram"——shewasanoldmaid，yousee——
"perhaps，MissGrogram，youcouldgetmeasmuchaswouldmakeadecent—sizedreticule。"
Therewasnottheslightestdifficultyindoingthis。Theharpyinthecentreagainwenttowork，snip，snip，andextractingfromthatportionoftheaffairswhichusuallysustainedthegreaterportionofMr。Horne’sweighttwolargeroundpiecesofcloth，presentedthemtothewell—pleasedmatron。"Thegeneralknewwellwheretogetabitofgoodbroadcloth，certainly，"saidshe，againfeelingthepieces。
"AndnowforNo。1，"saidshewhomIsoabsolutelyhated；"Ithinkthereisstillenoughforapairofslippers。There’snothingsoniceforthehouseasgoodblackclothslippersthatarewarmtothefeetanddon’tshowthedirt。"Andsosaying，shespreadoutonthefloorthelaceratedremainders。
"There’sanicebitthere，"saidyoungladyNo。2，pokingatoneofthepocketswiththeendofherparasol。
"Yes，"saidtheharpy，contemplatingherplunder。"ButI’mthinkingwhetherIcouldn’tgetleggingsaswell。Ialwayswearleggingsinthethickofthewinter。"Andsosheconcludedheroperations，andtherewasnothingleftbutamelancholyskeletonofseamsandbuttons。
Allthishavingbeenachieved，theypocketedtheirplunderandpreparedtodepart。Therearepeoplewhohaveawonderfulappetiteforrelics。AstonewithwhichWashingtonhadbrokenawindowwhenaboy——withwhichhehaddonesoorhadnot，forthereislittledifference；abuttonthatwasonacoatofNapoleon’s，oronthatofoneofhislackeys；abulletsaidtohavebeenpickedupatWaterlooorBunker’sHill；these，andsuchlikethingsaregreattreasures。
Andtheirmostdesirablecharacteristicistheeasewithwhichtheyareattained。Anybulletoranybuttondoesthework。Faithaloneisnecessary。Andnowtheseladieshadmadethemselveshappyandgloriouswith"Relics"ofGeneralChassecutfromtheill—usedhabilimentsofanelderlyEnglishgentleman！
Theydepartedatlast，andMr。Horne，foronceinanillhumour，followedmeintothebedroom。HereImustbeexcusedifIdrawaveiloverhismanlysorrowatdiscoveringwhatfatehaddoneforhim。Rememberwhatwashisposition，unclothedintheCastleofAntwerp！ThenearestsuitablechangeforthosewhichhadbeendestroyedwaslockedupinhisportmanteauattheHoteldeBelleRueinBrussels！Hehadnothinglefttohim——literallynothing，inthatAntwerpworld。TherewasnootherwretchedbeingwanderingtheninthatDutchtownsoutterlydenudedofthegoodsoflife。Forwhatisamanfit，——forwhatcanhebefit，——whenleftinsuchaposition？Therearesomeevilswhichseemutterlytocrushaman；
andiftherebeanymisfortunetowhichamanmaybeallowedtosuccumbwithoutimputationonhismanliness，surelyitissuchasthis。HowwasMr。Hornetoreturntohishotelwithoutincurringthedispleasureofthemunicipality？Thatwasmyfirstthought。
Hehadacloak，butitwasattheinn；andIfoundthatmyfriendwasoppressedwithagreathorrorattheideaofbeingleftalone；
sothatIcouldnotgoinsearchofit。Thereisanoldsaying，thatnomanisaherotohisvaletdechambre，thereasondoubtlessbeingthis，thatitiscustomaryforhisvalettoseetheherodivestedofthosetrappingsinwhichsomuchoftheheroicconsists。
Whoreverencesaclergymanwithouthisgown，orawarriorwithouthisswordandsabre—tasche？WhatwouldevenMinervabewithoutherhelmet？
IdonotwishittobeunderstoodthatInolongerreverencedMr。
Hornebecausehewasinanundress；buthehimselfcertainlylostmuchofhiscomposed，well—sustaineddignityofdemeanour。Hewasfearfulandquerulous，cold，andrathercross。When，forgettinghissize，Iofferedhimmyown，hethoughtthatIwaslaughingathim。
Hebegantobeafraidthatthestorywouldgetabroad，andhethenandthereexactedapromisethatIwouldnevertellitduringhislifetime。Ihavekeptmyword；butnowmyoldfriendhasbeengatheredtohisfathers，fullofyears。
AtlastIgothimtothehotel。Itwaslongbeforehewouldleavethecastle，cloakedthoughhewas；——not，indeed，tilltheshadesofeveninghaddimmedtheoutlinesofmenandthings，andmadeindistincttheoutwardgarnitureofthosewhopassedtoandfrointhestreets。Then，wrappedinhiscloak，Mr。Hornefollowedmealongthequaysandthroughthenarrowestofthestreets；andatlength，withoutventuringtoreturnthegazeofanyoneinthehotelcourt，hemadehiswayuptohisownbedroom。
Dinnerlessandsupperlesshewenttohiscouch。Butwhentherehedidconsenttoreceivesomeconsolationintheshapeofmuttoncutletsandfriedpotatoes，asavoryomelet，andabottleofclaret。
ThemuttoncutletsandfriedpotatoesattheGoldenFleeceatAntwerpare——orwerethen，forIamspeakingnowofwell—nighthirtyyearssince——remarkablygood；theclaret，also，wasofthebest；andso，bydegrees，thelookofdespairingdismaypassedfromhisface，andsomescintillationsoftheoldfirereturnedtohiseyes。
"Iwonderwhethertheyfindthemselvesmuchhappierforwhattheyhavegot？"saidhe。
"Agreatdealhappier，"saidI。"They’llboastofthosethingstoalltheirfriendsathome，andweshalldoubtlessseesomeaccountoftheirsuccessinthenewspapers。"
"Itwouldbedelightfultoexposetheirblunder，——toshowthemup。