the professor(教授)-第55节
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warmly； and； as two of her younger daughters are pupils in the
house； her patronage availed to get me the place。 It was settled
that I am to attend six hours daily （for； happily； it was not required
that I should live in the house； I should have been sorry to leave
my lodgings）； and； for this； Mrs。 D。 will give me twelve hundred
francs per annum。
“You see； therefore； monsieur； that I am now rich； richer almost
than I ever hoped to be： I feel thankful for it； especially as my sight
was beginning to be injured by constant working at fine lace； and I
was getting； too； very weary of sitting up late at nights； and yet not
being able to find time for reading or study。 I began to fear that I
should fall ill； and be unable to pay my way； this fear is now； in a
great measure； removed； and； in truth； monsieur； I am very
grateful to God for the relief； and I feel it necessary； almost； to
speak of my happiness to some one who is kind…hearted enough to
derive joy from seeing others joyful。 I could not； therefore； resist
the temptation of writing to you； I argued with myself it is very
pleasant for me to write； and it will not be exactly painful； though
it may be tiresome to monsieur to read。 Do not be too angry with
my circumlocution and inelegancies of expression； and； believe
me； your attached pupil；
“F。 E。 HENRI。”
Having read this letter； I mused on its contents for a few
moments—whether with sentiments pleasurable or otherwise I
will hereafter note—and then took up the other。 It was directed in
a hand to me unknown—small； and rather neat； neither masculine
nor exactly feminine； the seal bore a coat of arms； concerning
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which I could only decipher that it was not that of the Seacombe
family； consequently the epistle could be from none of my almost
forgotten； and certainly quite forgetting patrician relations。 From
whom； then； was it？ I removed the envelope； the note folded
within ran as follows：—
“I have no doubt in the world that you are doing well in that
greasy Flanders； living probably on the fat of the unctuous land；
sitting like a black…haired； tawny…skinned； long…nosed Israelite by
the flesh…pots of Egypt； or like a rascally son of Levi near the brass
cauldrons of the sanctuary； and every now and then plunging in a
consecrated hook； and drawing out of the sea； of broth the fattest
of heave…shoulders and the fleshiest of wave…breasts。 I know this；
because you never write to any one in England。 Thankless dog
that you are！ I； by the sovereign efficacy of my recommendation；
got you the place where you are now living in clover； and yet not a
word of gratitude； or even acknowledgment； have you ever offered
in return； but I am coming to see you； and small conception can
you； with your addled aristocratic brains； form of the sort of moral
kicking I have； ready packed in my carpet…bag； destined to be
presented to you immediately on my arrival。
“Meantime I know all about your affairs； and have just got
information； by Brown’s last letter； that you are said to be on the
point of forming an advantageous match with a pursy； little
Belgian schoolmistress—a Mdlle Zénobie； or some such name。
Won’t I have a look at her when I come over！ And this you may
rely on： if she pleases my taste； or if I think it worth while in a
pecuniary point of view； I’ll pounce on your prize and bear her
away triumphant in spite of your teeth。 Yet I don’t like dumpies
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either； and Brown says she is little and stout—the better fitted for
a wiry； starved…looking chap like you。 “Be on the look…out； for you
know neither the day nor hour when your — （I don’t wish to
blaspheme； so I’ll leave a blank） —cometh。—Yours truly；
“HUNSDEN YORKE HUNSDEN。”
“Humph！” said I； and ere I laid the letter down； I again glanced
at the small； neat handwriting； not a bit like that of a mercantile
man； nor； indeed； of any man except Hunsden himself。 They talk
of affinities between the autograph and the character： what
affinity was there here？ I recalled the writer’s peculiar face and
certain traits I suspected； rather than knew； to appertain to his
nature； and I answered； “A great deal。”
Hunsden； then； was coming to Brussels； and coming I knew not
when； coming charged with the expectation of finding me on the
summit of prosperity； about to be married； to step into a warm
nest； to lie comfortably down by the side of a snug； well…fed little
mate。
“I wish him joy of the fidelity of the picture he has painted；”
thought I。 “What will he say when； instead of a pair of plump turtle
doves； billing and cooing in a bower of roses； he finds a single lean
cormorant； standing mateless and shelterless on poverty’s bleak
cliff？ Oh； confound him！ Let him come； and let him laugh at the
contrast between rumour and fact。 Were he the devil himself；
instead of being merely very like him； I’d not condescend to get
out of his way； or to forge a smile or a cheerful word wherewith to
avert his sarcasm。”
Then I recurred to the other letter： that struck a chord whose
sound I could not deaden by thrusting my fingers into my ears； for
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it vibrated within； and though its swell might be exquisite music；
its cadence was a groan。
That Frances was relieved from the pressure of want； that the
curse of excessive labour was taken off her； filled me with
happiness； that her first thought in prosperity should be to
augment her joy by sharing it with me； met and satisfied the wish
of my heart。 Two results of her letter were then pleasant； sweet as
two draughts of nectar； but applying my lips for the third time to
the cup； and they were excoriated as with vinegar and gall。
Two persons whose desires are moderate may live well enough
in Brussels on an income which would scarcely afford a
respectable maintenance for one in London： and that； not because
the necessaries of life are so much dearer in the latter capital； or
taxes so much higher than in the former； but because the English
surpass in folly all the nations on God’s earth； and are more abject
slaves to custom； to opinion； to the desire to keep up a certain
appearance； than the Italians are to priestcraft； the French to vain…
glory； the Russians to their Czar； or the Germans to black beer。 I
have seen a degree of sense in the modest arrangement of one
homely Belgian household； that might put to shame the elegance；
the superfluities； the luxuries； the strained refinements of a
hundred genteel English mansions。 In Belgium； provided you can
make money； you may save it； this is scarcely possible in England；
ostentation there lavishes in a month what industry has earned in
a year。 More shame to all classes in that most bountiful and
beggarly country for their servile following of Fashion； I could
write a chapter or two on this subject； but must forbear； at least
for the present。 Had I retained my ￡60 per annum I could； now
that Frances was in possession of ￡50； have gone straight to her
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