the professor(教授)-第44节
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hair； soothed my temples like balm。 Its refreshing effect； however；
penetrated no deeper than the mere surface of the frame； for as I
walked by the side of Mdlle Reuter； my heart was still hot within
me； and while I was musing the fire burned； then spake I with my
tongue：—
“I understand Mdlle Henri is gone from hence； and will not
return？”
“Ah； true！ I meant to have named the subject to you some days
ago； but my time is so completely taken up； I cannot do half the
things I wish： have you never experienced what it is； monsieur； to
find the day too short by twelve hours for your numerous duties？”
“Not often。 Mdlle Henri’s departure was not voluntary； I
presume？ If it had been； she would certainly have given me some
intimation of it； being my pupil。”
“Oh； did she not tell you？ that was strange； for my part； I never
thought of adverting to the subject； when one has so many things
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to attend to； one is apt to forget little incidents that are not of
primary importance。”
“You consider Mdlle Henri’s dismission； then； as a very
insignificant event？”
“Dismission？ Ah！ she was not dismissed； I can say with truth；
monsieur； that since I became the head of this establishment no
master or teacher has ever been dismissed from it。”
“Yet some have left it； mademoiselle？”
“Many； I have found it necessary to change frequently—a
change of instructors is often beneficial to the interests of a school；
it gives life and variety to the proceedings； it amuses the pupils；
and suggests to the parents the idea of exertion and progress。”
“Yet when you are tired of a professor or maitresse； you scruple
to dismiss them？”
“No need to have recourse to such extreme measures； I assure
you。 Allons； monsieur le professeur—asseyons…nous； je vais vous
donner une petite lecon dans votre état d’instituteur。” （I wish I
might write all she said to me in French—it loses sadly by being
translated into English。） We had now reached the garden…chair；
the directress sat down； and signed to me to sit by her； but I only
rested my knee on the seat； and stood leaning my head and arm
against the embowering branch of a huge laburnum； whose golden
flowers； blent with the dusky green leaves of a lilac…bush； formed a
mixed arch of shade and sunshine over the retreat。 Mdlle Reuter
sat silent a moment； some novel movements were evidently
working in her mind； and they showed their nature on her astute
brow； she was meditating some chef d’oeuvre of policy。 Convinced
by several months’ experience that the affectation of virtues she
did not possess was unavailing to ensnare me—aware that I had
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read her real nature； and would believe nothing of the character
she gave out as being hers—she had determined； at last； to try a
new key； and see if the lock of my heart would yield to that； a little
audacity； a word of truth； a glimpse of the real。 “Yes； I will try；”
was her inward resolve； and then her blue eye glittered upon me—
it did not flash—nothing of flame ever kindled in its temperate
gleam。
“Monsieur fears to sit by me？” she inquired playfully。
“I have no wish to usurp Pelet’s place；” I answered； for I had
got the habit of speaking to her bluntly—a habit begun in anger；
but continued because I saw that； instead of offending； it
fascinated her。 She cast down her eyes； and drooped her eyelids；
she sighed uneasily； she turned with an anxious gesture； as if she
would give me the idea of a bird that flutters in its cage； and would
fain fly from its jail and jailer； and seek its natural mate and
pleasant nest。
“Well—and your lesson？” I demanded briefly。
“Ah！” she exclaimed； recovering herself； “you are so young； so
frank and fearless； so talented； so impatient of imbecility； so
disdainful of vulgarity； you need a lesson； here it is then： far more
is to be done in this world by dexterity than by strength； but；
perhaps； you knew that before； for there is delicacy as well as
power in your character—policy； as well as pride？”
“Go on。” said I； and I could hardly help smiling； the flattery was
so piquant； so finely seasoned。 She caught the prohibited smile；
though I passed my hand over my month to conceal it； and again
she made room for me to sit beside her。 I shook my head； though
temptation penetrated to my senses at the moment； and once
more I told her to go on。
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“Well； then； if ever you are at the head of a large establishment；
dismiss nobody。 To speak truth； monsieur （and to you I will speak
truth）； I despise people who are always making rows； blustering；
sending off one to the right； and another to the left； urging and
hurrying circumstances。 I’ll tell you what I like best to do；
monsieur； shall I？” She looked up again； she had compounded her
glance well this time—much archness； more deference； a spicy
dash of coquetry； an unveiled consciousness of capacity。 I nodded；
she treated me like the great Mogul； so I became the great Mogul
as far as she was concerned。
“I like； monsieur； to take my knitting in my hands； and to sit
quietly down in my chair； circumstances defile past me； I watch
their march； so long as they follow the course I wish； I say nothing；
and do nothing； I don’t clap my hands； and cry out ‘Bravo！ How
lucky I am！’ to attract the attention and envy of my neighbours—I
am merely passive； but when events fall out ill—when
circumstances become adverse—I watch very vigilantly； I knit on
still； and still I hold my tongue； but every now and then； monsieur；
I just put my toe out—so—and give the rebellious circumstance a
little secret push； without noise； which sends it the way I wish； and
I am successful after all； and nobody has seen my expedient。 So；
when teachers or masters become troublesome and inefficient—
when； in short； the interests of the school would suffer from their
retaining their places—I mind my knitting； events progress；
circumstances glide past； I see one which； if pushed ever so little
awry； will render untenable the post I wish to have vacated—the
deed is done—the stumbling…block removed—and no one saw me：
I have not made an enemy； I am rid of an incumbrance。”
A moment since； and I thought her alluring； this speech
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concluded； I looked on her with distaste。 “Just like you；” was my
cold answer。 “And in this way you have ousted Mdlle Henri？ You
wanted her office； therefore you rendered it intolerable to her？”
“Not at all； monsieur； I was merely anxious about Mdlle Henri’s
health； no； your moral sight is clear and piercing； but there you
have failed to discover the truth。 I took—I have always taken a real
interest in Mdlle Henri’s welfare； I did not like her going out in all
weathers； I thought it would be more advantageous for her to
obtain a permanent situation； besides； I considered her now
qualified to do something more than teach sewing。 I reasoned with
her； left the decision to herself； she saw the correctness of my
views； and adopted them。”
“Excellent！ and now； mademoiselle； you will have the goodness
to give me her address。”
“Her address！” and a sombre and stony change came over the
