the professor(教授)-第29节
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soul had been conjured by Romish wizard…craft！
A few English pupils there were in this school； and these might
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be divided into two classes。 1st。 The continental English—the
daughters chiefly of broken adventurers； whom debt or dishonour
had driven from their own country。 These poor girls had never
known the advantages of settled homes； decorous example； or
honest Protestant education； resident a few months now in one
Catholic school； now in another； as their parents wandered from
land to land—from France to Germany； from Germany to Belgium
—they had picked up some scanty instruction； many bad habits；
losing every notion even of the first elements of religion and
morals； and acquiring an imbecile indifference to every sentiment
that can elevate humanity； they were distinguishable by an
habitual look of sullen dejection； the result of crushed self…respect
and constant browbeating from their Popish fellow…pupils； who
hated them as English； and scorned them as heretics。
The second class were British English。 Of these I did not
encounter half a dozen during the whole time of my attendance at
the seminary； their characteristics were clean but careless dress；
ill…arranged hair （compared with the tight and trim foreigners）；
erect carriage； flexible figures； white and taper hands； features
more irregular； but also more intellectual than those of the
Belgians； grave and modest countenances； a general air of native
propriety and decency； by this last circumstance alone I could at a
glance distinguish the daughter of Albion and nursling of
Protestantism from the foster…child of Rome； the protégée of
Jesuistry： proud； too； was the aspect of these British girls； at once
envied and ridiculed by their continental associates； they warded
off insult with austere civility； and met hate with mute disdain；
they eschewed company…keeping； and in the midst of numbers
seemed to dwell isolated。
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The teachers presiding over this mixed multitude were three in
é é
number； all French—their names Mdlles。 Z phyrine； P lagie； and
Suzette； the two last were commonplace personages enough； their
look was ordinary； their manner was ordinary； their temper was
ordinary； their thoughts； feelings； and views were all ordinary —
were I to write a chapter on the subject I could not elucidate it
é
further。 Z phyrine was somewhat more distinguished in
é
appearance and deportment than P lagie and Suzette； but in
character genuine Parisian coquette； perfidious； mercenary； and
dry…hearted。 A fourth maitresse I sometimes saw who seemed to
come daily to teach needlework； or netting； or lace…mending； or
some such flimsy art； but of her I never had more than a passing
é
glimpse； as she sat in the carr ； with her frames and some dozen of
the elder pupils about her； consequently I had no opportunity of
studying her character； or even of observing her person much； the
latter； I remarked； had a very English air for a maitresse；
otherwise it was not striking； of character I should think； she
é
possessed but little； as her pupils seemed constantly “en r volte”
against her authority。 She did not reside in the house； her name； I
think； was Mdlle Henri。
Amidst this assemblage of all that was insignificant and
defective； much that was vicious and repulsive （by that last epithet
many would have described the two or three stiff； silent； decently
behaved； ill…dressed British girls）； the sensible； sagacious； affable
directress shone like a steady star over a marsh full of Jack…o’…
lanthorns； profoundly aware of her superiority； she derived an
inward bliss from that consciousness which sustained her under
all the care and responsibility inseparable from her position； it
kept her temper calm； her brow smooth； her manner tranquil。 She
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liked—as who would not？—on entering the school…room； to feel
that her sole presence sufficed to diffuse that order and quiet
which all the remonstrances； and even commands； of her
underlings frequently failed to enforce； she liked to stand in
comparison； or rather—contrast； with those who surrounded her；
and to know that in personal as well as mental advantages； she
bore away the undisputed palm of preference—（the three teachers
were all plain。） Her pupils she managed with such indulgence and
address； taking always on herself the office of recompenser and
eulogist； and abandoning to her subalterns every invidious task of
blame and punishment； that they all regarded her with deference；
if not with affection； her teachers did not love her； but they
submitted because they were her inferiors in everything； the
various masters who attended her school were each and all in
some way or other under her influence； over one she had acquired
power by her skilful management of his bad temper； over another
by little attentions to his petty caprices； a third she had subdued
by flattery； a fourth—a timid man—she kept in awe by a sort of
austere decision of mien； me； she still watched； still tried by the
most ingenious tests—she roved round me； baffled； yet
persevering； I believe she thought I was like a smooth and bare
precipice； which offered neither jutting stone nor tree…root； nor
tuft of grass to aid the climber。 Now she flattered with exquisite
tact； now she moralized； now she tried how far I was accessible to
mercenary motives； then she disported on the brink of affection—
knowing that some men are won by weakness—anon； she talked
excellent sense； aware that others have the folly to admire
judgment。 I found it at once pleasant and easy to evade all these
efforts； it was sweet； when she thought me nearly won； to turn
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round and to smile in her very eyes； half scornfully； and then to
witness her scarcely veiled； though mute mortification。 Still she
persevered； and at last； I am bound to confess it； her finger；
essaying； proving every atom of the casket； touched its secret
spring； and for a moment the lid sprung open； she laid her hand
on the jewel within； whether she stole and broke it； or whether the
lid shut again with a snap on her fingers； read on； and you shall
know。
It happened that I came one day to give a lesson when I was
indisposed； I had a bad cold and a cough； two hours’ incessant
talking left me very hoarse and tired； as I quitted the schoolroom；
and was passing along the corridor； I met Mdlle Reuter； she
remarked； with an anxious air； that I looked very pale and tired。
“Yes；” I said； “I was fatigued；” and then； with i
