the professor(教授)-第33节
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ornamental needle…work。 She very properly proposes to qualify
herself for a higher department of education； and has asked
permission to attend your lessons； in order to perfect her
knowledge of English； in which language she has； I believe；
already made some progress； of course it is my wish to aid her in
an effort so praiseworthy； you will permit her then to benefit by
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your instruction—n’est ce pas； monsieur？” And Mdlle Reuter’s
eyes were raised to mine with a look at once naive； benign； and
beseeching。
I replied； “Of course；” very laconically； almost abruptly。
“Another word；” she said； with softness： “Mdlle Henri has not
received a regular education； perhaps her natural talents are not
of the highest order： but I can assure you of the excellence of her
intentions； and even of the amiability of her disposition。 Monsieur
will then； I am sure； have the goodness to be considerate with her
at first； and not expose her backwardness； her inevitable
deficiencies； before the young ladies； who； in a sense； are her
pupils。 Will Monsieur Creemsvort favour me by attending to this
hint？” I nodded。 She continued with subdued earnestness—
“Pardon me； monsieur； if I venture to add that what I have just
said is of importance to the poor girl； she already experiences
great difficulty in impressing these giddy young things with a due
degree of deference for her authority； and should that difficulty be
increased by new discoveries of her incapacity； she might find her
position in my establishment too painful to be retained； a
circumstance I should much regret for her sake； as she can ill
afford to lose the profits of her occupation here。”
Mdlle Reuter possessed marvellous tact； but tact the most
exclusive； unsupported by sincerity； will sometimes fail of its
effect； thus； on this occasion； the longer she preached about the
necessity of being indulgent to the governess pupil； the more
impatient I felt as I listened。 I discerned so clearly that while her
professed motive was a wish to aid the dull； though well…meaning
Mdlle Henri； her real one was no other than a design to impress
me with an idea of her own exalted goodness and tender
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considerateness； so having again hastily nodded assent to her
remarks； I obviated their renewal by suddenly demanding the
compositions； in a sharp accent； and stepping from the estrade； I
proceeded to collect them。 As I passed the governess…pupil； I said
to her—
“You have come in too late to receive a lesson to…day； try to be
more punctual next time。”
I was behind her； and could not read in her face the effect of my
not very civil speech。 Probably I should not have troubled myself
to do so； had I been full in front； but I observed that she
immediately began to slip her books into her cabas again； and；
presently； after I had returned to the estrade； while I was
arranging the mass of compositions； I heard the folding…door again
open and close； and； on looking up； I perceived her place vacant。 I
thought to myself； “She will consider her first attempt at taking a
lesson in English something of a failure；” and I wondered whether
she had departed in the sulks； or whether stupidity had induced
her to take my words too literally； or； finally； whether my irritable
tone had wounded her feelings。 The last notion I dismissed almost
as soon as I had conceived it； for not having seen any appearance
of sensitiveness in any human face since my arrival in Belgium； I
had begun to regard it almost as a fabulous quality。 Whether her
physiognomy announced it I could not tell； for her speedy exit had
allowed me no time to ascertain the circumstance。 I had； indeed；
on two or three previous occasions； caught a passing view of her
（as I believe has been mentioned before）； but I had never stopped
to scrutinize either her face or person； and had but the most vague
idea of her general appearance。 Just as I had finished rolling up
the compositions； the four o’clock bell rang； with my accustomed
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alertness in obeying that signal； I grasped my hat and evacuated
the premises。
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Chapter XIV
f I was punctual in quitting Mdlle Reuter’s domicile； I was at
least equally punctual in arriving there； I came the next day at
I
five minutes before two； and on reaching the schoolroom
door； before I opened it； I heard a rapid； gabbling sound； which
warned me that the “prière du midi” was not yet concluded。 I
waited the termination thereof； it would have been impious to
intrude my heretical presence during its progress。 How the
repeater of the prayer did cackle and splutter！ I never before or
since heard language enounced with such steam…engine haste。
“Notre Père qui êtes au ciel” went off like a shot； then followed an
address to Marie “vierge céleste； reine des anges； maison d’or；
tour d’ivoire！” and then an invocation to the saint of the day； and
then down they all sat； and the solemn （？） rite was over； and I
entered； flinging the door wide and striding in fast； as it was my
wont to do now； for I had found that in entering with aplomb； and
mounting the estrade with emphasis； consisted the grand secret of
ensuring immediate silence。 The folding…doors between the two
classes； opened for the prayer； were instantly closed； a maitresse；
work…box in hand； took her seat at her appropriate desk； the
pupils sat still with their pens and books before them； my three
beauties in the van； now well humbled by a demeanour of
consistent coolness； sat erect with their hands folded quietly on
their knees； they had given up giggling and whispering to each
other； and no longer ventured to utter pert speeches in my
presence； they now only talked to me occasionally with their eyes；
by means of which organs they could still； however； say very
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audacious and coquettish things。 Had affection； goodness；
modesty； real talent； ever employed those bright orbs as
interpreters； I do not think I could have refrained from giving a
kind and encouraging； perhaps an ardent reply now and then； but
as it was； I found pleasure in answering the glance of vanity with
the gaze of stoicism。 Youthful； fair； brilliant； as were many of my
pupils； I can truly say that in me they never saw any other bearing
than such as an austere； though just guardian； might have
observed towards them。 If any doubt the accuracy of this
assertion； as inferring more conscientious self…denial or Scipio…like
self…control than they feel disposed to give me credit for； let them
take into consideration the following circumstances； which； while
detracting from my merit； justify my veracity。
Know； O incredulous reader！ that a master stands in a
somewhat
