 general, inquiring how and where he
had been since the date of his letter, and how he had enjoyed himself in foreign
parts, and particularly and above all, to what extent he had become acquainted
with the great dukes, lords, viscounts, marquesses, duchesses, knights, and
baronets, in whom the people of those benighted countries had delight.
    »Well then, don't ask me,« said the general, holding up his hand. »I was
among 'em all the time, and have got public journals in my trunk with my name
printed:« he lowered his voice and was very impressive here: »among the
fashionable news. But, oh the conventionalities of that a-mazing Eu-rope!«
    »Ah!« cried Mr. Norris the father, giving his head a melancholy shake, and
looking towards Martin as though he would say, »I can't deny it, sir. I would if
I could.«
    »The limited diffusion of a moral sense in that country!« exclaimed the
general. »The absence of a moral dignity in man!«
    »Ah!« sighed all the Norrises, quite overwhelmed with despondency.
    »I couldn't have realised it,« pursued the general, »without being located
on the spot. Norris, your imagination is the imagination of a strong man, but
you couldn't have realised it, without being located on the spot!«
    »Never,« said Mr. Norris.
    »The ex-clusiveness, the pride, the form, the ceremony,« exclaimed the
general, emphasising the article more vigorously at every repetition. »The
artificial barriers set up between man and man; the division of the human race
into court cards and plain cards, of every denomination - into clubs, diamonds,
spades, anything but hearts!«
    »Ah!« cried the whole family. »Too true, general!«
    »But stay!« cried Mr. Norris the father, taking him by the arm. »Surely you
crossed in the Screw, general?«
    »Well! so I did,« was the reply.
    »Possible!« cried the young ladies. »Only think!«
    The general seemed at a loss to understand why his having come home in the
Screw should occasion such a sensation, nor did he seem at all clearer on the
subject when Mr. Norris, introducing him to Martin, said:
    »A fellow-passenger of yours, I think?«
    »Of mine?« exclaimed the general; »No!«
    He
