the professor(教授)-第49节
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here I found her a visitor at the very house of whose locality she
had professed absolute ignorance！
Any comments I might have intended to make on my pupil’s
communication； were checked by the plashing of large rain…drops
on our faces and on the path； and by the muttering of a distant but
coming storm。 The warning obvious in stagnant air and leaden sky
had already induced me to take the road leading back to Brussels；
and now I hastened my own steps and those of my companion；
and； as our way lay downhill； we got on rapidly。 There was an
interval after the fall of the first broad drops before heavy rain
came on； in the meantime we had passed through the Porte de
Louvain； and were again in the city。
“Where do you live？” I asked； “I will see you safe home；”
“Rue Notre Dame aux Neiges；” answered Frances。
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It was not far from the Rue de Louvain； and we stood on the
doorsteps of the house we sought ere the clouds； severing with
loud peal and shattered cataract of lightning； emptied their livid
folds in a torrent； heavy； prone； and broad。
“Come in！ come in！” said Frances； as； after putting her into the
house； I paused ere I followed： the word decided me； I stepped
across the threshold； shut the door on the rushing； flashing；
whitening storm； and followed her upstairs to her apartments。
Neither she nor I were wet； a projection over the door had warded
off the straight…descending flood； none but the first； large drops
had touched our garments； one minute more and we should not
have had a dry thread on us。
Stepping over a little mat of green wool； I found myself in a
small room with a painted floor and a square of green carpet in the
middle； the articles of furniture were few； but all bright and
exquisitely clean； order reigned through its narrow limits—such
order as it soothed my punctilious soul to behold。 And I had
hesitated to enter the abode； because I apprehended after all that
Mdlle Reuter’s hint about its extreme poverty might be too well…
founded； and I feared to embarrass the lace…mender by entering
her lodgings unawares！ Poor the place might be； poor truly it was；
but its neatness was better than elegance； and had but a bright
little fire shone on that clean hearth； I should have deemed it more
attractive than a palace。 No fire was there； however； and no fuel
laid ready to light； the lace…mender was unable to allow herself
that indulgence； especially now when； deprived by death of her
sole relative； she had only her own unaided exertions to rely on。
Frances went into an inner room to take off her bonnet； and she
came out a model of frugal neatness； with her well…fitting black
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stuff dress； so accurately defining her elegant bust and taper waist；
with her spotless white collar turned back from a fair and shapely
neck； with her plenteous brown hair arranged in smooth bands on
her temples； and in a large Grecian plait behind： ornaments she
had none—neither brooch； ring； nor ribbon； she did well enough
without them—perfection of fit； proportion of form； grace of
carriage； agreeably supplied their place。 Her eye； as she re…entered
the small sitting…room； instantly sought mine； which was just then
lingering on the hearth； I knew she read at once the sort of inward
ruth and pitying pain which the chill vacancy of that hearth stirred
in my soul： quick to penetrate； quick to determine； and quicker to
put in practice； she had in a moment tied a holland apron round
her waist； then she disappeared； and reappeared with a basket； it
had a cover； she opened it； and produced wood and coal； deftly
and compactly she arranged them in the grate。
“It is her whole stock； and she will exhaust it out of hospitality；”
thought I。
“What are you going to do？” I asked： “not surely to light a fire
this hot evening？ I shall be smothered。”
“Indeed； monsieur； I feel it very chilly since the rain began；
besides； I must boil the water for my tea； for I take tea on Sundays；
you will be obliged to try and bear the heat。”
She had struck a light； the wood was already in a blaze； and
truly； when contrasted with the darkness； the wild tumult of the
tempest without； that peaceful glow which began to beam on the
now animated hearth； seemed very cheering。 A low； purring
sound； from some quarter； announced that another being； besides
myself； was pleased with the change； a black cat； roused by the
light from its sleep on a little cushioned foot…stool； came and
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rubbed its head against Frances’ gown as she knelt； she caressed
it； saying it had been a favourite with her “pauvre tante Julienne。”
The fire being lit； the hearth swept； and a small kettle of a very
antique pattern； such as I thought I remembered to have seen in
old farmhouses in England； placed over the now ruddy flame；
Frances’ hands were washed； and her apron removed in an instant
then she opened a cupboard； and took out a tea…tray； on which she
had soon arranged a china tea…equipage； whose pattern； shape；
and size； denoted a remote antiquity； a little； old…fashioned silver
spoon was deposited in each saucer； and a pair of silver tongs；
equally old…fashioned； were laid on the sugar…basin； from the
cupboard； too； was produced a tidy silver cream…ewer； not larger
then an egg…shell。 While making these preparations； she chanced
to look up； and； reading curiosity in my eyes； she smiled and
asked—
“Is this like England； monsieur？”
“Like the England of a hundred years ago；” I replied。
“Is it truly？ Well； everything on this tray is at least a hundred
years old： these cups； these spoons； this ewer； are all heirlooms；
my great…grandmother left them to my grandmother； she to my
mother； and my mother brought them with her from England to
Switzerland； and left them to me； and； ever since I was a little girl；
I have thought I should like to carry them back to England；
whence they came。”
She put some pistolets on the table； she made the tea； as
foreigners do make tea—i。e。； at the rate of a teaspoonful to half…a…
dozen cups； she placed me a chair； and； as I took it； she asked；
with a sort of exaltation—
“Will it make you think yourself at home for a moment？”
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“If I had a home in England； I believe it would recall it；” I
answered； and； in truth； there was a sort of illusion in seeing the
fair…complexioned English…looking girl presiding at the English
meal； and speaking in the English language。
“You have then no home？” was her remark。
“None； nor ever have had。 If ever I possess a home； it must be
of my own making； and the task is yet to begin。” And； as I spoke； a
pang； new to me； shot across my heart： it was a pang of
mortification at the humility of my position； and the inadequacy of
my means； while with that pang was born a strong desire to do
more； earn more； be more； possess more； and in the increased
possessions； my roused and eager spirit panted to include the
