the professor(教授)-第16章
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utmost the path of learning； remove every pebble from the track；
but then you must finally insist with decision on the pupil taking
your arm and allowing himself to be led quietly along the prepared
road。 When I had brought down my lesson to the lowest level of
my dullest pupil’s capacity—when I had shown myself the mildest；
the most tolerant of masters—a word of impertinence； a
movement of disobedience； changed me at once into a despot。 I
offered then but one alternative—submission and
acknowledgment of error； or ignominious expulsion。 This system
answered； and my influence； by degrees； became established on a
firm basis。 “The boy is father to the man；” it is said； and so I often
thought when looked at my boys and remembered the political
history of their ancestors。 Pelet’s school was merely an epitome of
the Belgian nation。
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Chapter VIII
nd Pelet himself？ How did I continue to like him？ Oh；
Aextremely well！ Nothing could be more smooth；
gentlemanlike； and even friendly； than his demeanour to
me。 I had to endure from him neither cold neglect； irritating
interference； nor pretentious assumption of superiority。 I fear；
however； two poor； hard…worked Belgian ushers in the
establishment could not have said as much； to them the director’s
manner was invariably dry； stern； and cool。 I believe he perceived
once or twice that I was a little shocked at the difference he made
between them and me； and accounted for it by saying； with a quiet
sarcastic smile—
“Ce ne sont que des Flamands—allez！”
And then he took his cigar gently from his lips and spat on the
painted floor of the room in which we were sitting。 Flamands
certainly they were； and both had the true Flamand physiognomy；
where intellectual inferiority is marked in lines none can mistake；
still they were men； and； in the main； honest men； and I could not
see why their being aboriginals of the flat； dull soil should serve as
a pretext for treating them with perpetual severity and contempt。
This idea； of injustice somewhat poisoned the pleasure I might
otherwise have derived from Pelet’s soft affable manner to myself。
Certainly it was agreeable； when the day’s work was over； to find
one’s employer an intelligent and cheerful companion； and if he
was sometimes a little sarcastic and sometimes a little too
insinuating； and if I did discover that his mildness was more a
matter of appearance than of reality—if I did occasionally suspect
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the existence of flint or steel under an external covering of
velvet—still we are none of us perfect； and weary as I was of the
atmosphere of brutality and insolence in which I had constantly
lived at X—； I had no inclination now； on casting anchor in calmer
regions； to institute at once a prying search after defects that were
scrupulously withdrawn and carefully veiled from my view。 I was
willing to take Pelet for what he seemed—to believe him
benevolent and friendly until some untoward event should prove
him otherwise。 He was not married； and I soon perceived he had
all a Frenchman’s； all a Parisian’s notions about matrimony and
women。 I suspected a degree of laxity in his code of morals； there
was something so cold and blasé in his tone whenever he alluded
to what he called “le beau sexe；” but he was too gentlemanlike to
intrude topics I did not invite； and as he was really intelligent and
really fond of intellectual subjects of discourse； he and I always
found enough to talk about； without seeking themes in the mire。 I
hated his fashion of mentioning love； I abhorred； from my soul；
mere licentiousness。 He felt the difference of our notions； and； by
mutual consent； we kept off ground debatable。
Pelet’s house was kept and his kitchen managed by his mother；
a real old Frenchwoman； she had been handsome—at least she
told me so； and I strove to believe her； she was now ugly； as only
continental old women can be； perhaps； though； her style of dress
made her look uglier than she really was。 Indoors she would go
about without cap； her grey hair strangely dishevelled； then； when
at home； she seldom wore a gown—only a shabby cotton camisole；
shoes； too； were strangers to her feet； and in lieu of them she
sported roomy slippers； trodden down at the heels。 On the other
hand； whenever it was her pleasure to appear abroad； as on
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Sundays and fête…days； she would put on some very brilliant…
coloured dress； usually of thin texture； a silk bonnet with a wreath
of flowers； and a very fine shawl。 She was not； in the main； an ill…
natured old woman； but an incessant and most indiscreet talker；
she kept chiefly in and about the kitchen； and seemed rather to
avoid her son’s august presence； of him； indeed； she evidently
stood in awe。 When he reproved her； his reproofs were bitter and
unsparing； but he seldom gave himself that trouble。
Madame Pelet had her own society； her own circle of chosen
visitors； whom； however； I seldom saw； as she generally
entertained them in what she called her “cabinet；” a small den of a
place adjoining the kitchen； and descending into it by one or two
steps。 On these steps； by…the…by； I have not unfrequently seen
Madame Pelet seated with a trencher on her knee； engaged in the
threefold employment of eating her dinner； gossiping with her
favourite servant； the housemaid； and scolding her antagonist； the
cook； she never dined； and seldom indeed took any meal with her
son； and as to showing her face at the boys’ table； that was quite
out of the question。 These details will sound very odd in English
ears； but Belgium is not England； and its ways are not our ways。
Madame Pelet’s habits of life； then； being taken into
consideration； I was a good deal surprised when； one Thursday
evening （Thursday was always a half…holiday）； as I was sitting all
alone in my apartment； correcting a huge pile of English and Latin
exercises； a servant tapped at the door； and； on its being opened；
presented Madame Pelet’s compliments； and she would be happy
to see me to take my “gouter” （a meal which answers to our
English “tea”） with her in the dining…room。
“Plait…il？” said I； for I thought I must have misunderstood； the
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message and invitation were so unusual； the same words were
repeated。 I accepted； of course； and as I descended the stairs； I
wondered what whim had entered the old lady’s brain； her son
was out—gone to pass the evening at the Salle of the Grande
Harmonie or some other club of which he was a member。 Just as I
laid my hand on the handle of the dining…room door； a queer idea
glanced across my mind。
“Surely she’s not going to make love to me；” said I。 “I’ve heard
of old Frenchwomen doing odd things in that line； and the gouter？
They generally begin such affairs with eating and drinking； I
believe。”
There was a fearful dismay in this suggestion of my excited
imagination； and if I had allowed myself time to dwell upon it； I
should no doubt have cut there and then； rushed back to my
chamber； and bolted myself in； but whenever a danger or a horror
is veiled with uncertainty； the primary wish of the mind is to
ascertain first the naked truth； reserving the expedient of flight for
the moment when its dread anticipation shall be realized。 I turned
the door…handle； and in an instant had crossed the fatal threshold；
closed the door behind me； and stood in the presence of Madame
Pelet。
Gracious heavens！ The first view of her seemed to confirm my
worst apprehensions。 There she sat； dressed out in a light green
muslin gown； on her head a lace cap with flourishing red roses in
the frill； her table was carefully spread； there were fruit； cakes；
and coffee； with a bottle of something—I did not know what。
Already the cold sweat started on my brow； already I glanced back
over my shoulder at the closed door； when； to my unspeakable
relief； my eye； wandering mildly in the direction of the stove；
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rested upon a second figure； seated in a large fauteuil beside it。
This was a woman； too； and； moreover； an old woman； and as fat
and as rubicund as Madame Pelet was meagre and yellow； her
attire was likewise very fine； and spring flowers of different hues
circled in a bright wreath the crown of her violet…coloured velvet
bonnet。
I had only time to make these general observations when
Madame Pelet； coming forward with what she intended should be
a graceful and elastic step； thus accosted me：…
“Monsieur is indeed most obliging to quit his books； his studies；
at the request of an ins
