the professor(教授)-第71节
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shot up strong； branched out broad； and quite altered the external
character of the plant。 Firmness； activity； and enterprise； covered
with grave foliage； poetic feeling and fervour； but these flowers
were still there； preserved pure and dewy under the umbrage of
later growth and hardier nature： perhaps I only in the world knew
the secret of their existence； but to me they were ever ready to
yield an exquisite fragrance and present a beauty as chaste as
radiant。
In the daytime my house and establishment were conducted by
Madame the directress； a stately and elegant woman； bearing
much anxious thought on her large brow； much calculated dignity
in her serious mien： immediately after breakfast I used to part
with this lady； I went to my college； she to her schoolroom；
returning for an hour in the course of the day； I found her always
in class； intently occupied； silence； industry； observance； attending
on her presence。 When not actually teaching； she was overlooking
and guiding by eye and gesture； she then appeared vigilant and
solicitous。 When communicating instruction； her aspect was more
animated； she seemed to feel a certain enjoyment in the
occupation。 The language in which she addressed her pupils；
though simple and unpretending； was never trite or dry； she did
not speak from routine formulas—she made her own phrases as
she went on； and very nervous and impressive phrases they
frequently were； often； when elucidating favourite points of
history； or geography； she would wax genuinely eloquent in her
earnestness。 Her pupils； or at least the elder and more intelligent
amongst them； recognized well the language of a superior mind；
they felt too； and some of them received the impression of elevated
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sentiments； there was little fondling between mistress and girls；
but some of Frances’ pupils in time learnt to love her sincerely； all
of them beheld her with respect； her general demeanour towards
them was serious； sometimes benignant when they pleased her
with their progress and attention； always scrupulously refined and
considerate。 In cases where reproof or punishment was called for
she was usually forbearing enough； but if any took advantage of
that forbearance； which sometimes happened； a sharp； sudden
and lightning…like severity taught the culprit the extent of the
mistake committed。 Sometimes a gleam of tenderness softened
her eyes and manner； but this was rare； only when a pupil was
sick； or when it pined after home； or in the case of some little
motherless child； or of one much poorer than its companions；
whose scanty wardrobe and mean appointments brought on it the
contempt of the jewelled young countesses and silk…clad misses。
Over such feeble fledglings the directress spread a wing of
kindliest protection： it was to their bedside she came at night to
tuck them warmly in； it was after them she looked in winter to see
that they always had a comfortable seat by the stove； it was they
who by turns were summoned to the salon to receive some little
dole of cake or fruit—to sit on a footstool at the fireside—to enjoy
home comforts； and almost home liberty； for an evening
together—to be spoken to gently and softly； comforted；
encouraged； cherished—and when bedtime came； dismissed with
a kiss of true tenderness。 As to Julia and Georgiana G—…；
daughters of an English baronet； as to Mdlle Mathilde de —；
heiress of a Belgian count； and sundry other children of patrician
race； the directress was careful of them as of the others； anxious
for their progress； as for that of the rest—but it never seemed to
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enter her head to distinguish then by a mark of preference； one
girl of noble blood she loved dearly—a young Irish baroness—lady
Catherine —…； but it was for her enthusiastic heart and clever
head； for her generosity and her genius； the title and rank went for
nothing。
My afternoons were spent also in college； with the exception of
an hour that my wife daily exacted of me for her establishment；
and with which she would not dispense。 She said that I must
spend that time amongst her pupils to learn their characters； to be
au courant with everything that was passing in the house； to
become interested in what interested her； to be able to give her my
opinion on knotty points when she required it； and this she did
constantly； never allowing my interest in the pupils to fall asleep；
and never making any change of importance without my
cognizance and consent。 She delighted to sit by me when I gave
my lessons （lessons in literature）； her hands folded on her knee；
the most fixedly attentive of any present。 She rarely addressed me
in class； when she did it was with an air of marked deference； it
was her pleasure； her joy to make me still the master in all things。
At six o’clock P。M。 my daily labours ceased。 I then came home；
for my home was my heaven； ever at that hour； as I entered our
private sitting…room； the lady…directress vanished from before my
eyes； and Frances Henri； my own little lace…mender； was magically
restored to my arms； much disappointed she would have been if
her master had not been as constant to the tryste as herself； and if
his truthful kiss had not been prompt to answer her soft； “Bon
soir； monsieur。”
Talk French to me she would； and many a punishment she has
had for her wilfulness。 I fear the choice of chastisement must have
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been injudicious； for instead of correcting the fault； it seemed to
encourage its renewal。 Our evenings were our own； that
recreation was necessary to refresh our strength for the due
discharge of our duties； sometimes we spent them all in
conversation； and my young Genevese； now that she was
thoroughly accustomed to her English professor； now that she
loved him too absolutely to fear him much； reposed in him a
confidence so unlimited that topics of conversation could no more
be wanting with him than subjects for communion with her own
heart。 In those moments； happy as a bird with its mate； she would
show me what she had of vivacity； of mirth； of originality in her
well…dowered nature。 She would show； too； some stores of raillery；
of “malice；” and would vex； tease； pique me sometimes about what
she called my “bizarreries anglaises；” my “caprices insulaires；”
with a wild and witty wickedness that made a perfect white demon
of her while it lasted。 This was rare； however； and the elfish freak
was always short： sometimes when driven a little hard in the war
of words—for her tongue did ample justice to the pith； the point；
the delicacy of her native French； in which language she always
attacked me—I used to turn upon her with my old decision； and
arrest bodily the sprite that teased me。 Vain idea！ no sooner had I
grasped hand or arm than the elf was gone； the provocative smile
quenched in the expressive brown eyes； and a ray of gentle
homage shone under the lids in its place。 I had seized a mere
