the professor(教授)-第17章
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“Monsieur is indeed most obliging to quit his books； his studies；
at the request of an insignificant person like me—will Monsieur
complete his kindness by allowing me to present him to my dear
friend Madame Reuter； who resides in the neighbouring house—
the young ladies’ school。”
“Ah！” thought I； “I knew she was old；” and I bowed and took
my seat。 Madame Reuter placed herself at the table opposite to
me。
“How do you like Belgium； Monsieur？” asked she； in an accent
of the broadest Bruxellois。 I could now well distinguish the
difference between the fine and pure Parisian utterance of M。
Pelet； for instance； and the guttural enunciation of the Flamands。 I
answered politely； and then wondered how so coarse and clumsy
an old woman as the one before me should be at the head of a
ladies’ seminary； which I had always heard spoken of in terms of
high commendation。 In truth there was something to wonder at。
Madame Reuter looked more like a joyous； free…living old Flemish
fermière； or even a maitresse d’auberge； than a staid； grave； rigid
directrice de pensionnat。 In general the continental； or at least the
Belgian old women permit themselves a licence of manners；
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speech； and aspect； such as our venerable grand…dames would
recoil from as absolutely disreputable； and Madame Reuter’s jolly
face bore evidence that she was no exception to the rule of her
country； there was a twinkle and leer in her left eye； her right she
kept habitually half shut； which I thought very odd indeed。 After
several vain attempts to comprehend the motives of these two
droll old creatures for inviting me to join them at their gouter； I at
last fairly gave it up； and resigning myself to inevitable
mystification； I sat and looked first at one； then at the other； taking
care meantime to do justice to the confitures； cakes； and coffee；
with which they amply supplied me。 They； too； ate； and that with
no delicate appetite； and having demolished a large portion of the
solids； they proposed a “petit verre。” I declined。 Not so Mesdames
Pelet and Reuter； each mixed herself what I thought rather a stiff
tumbler of punch； and placing it on a stand near the stove； they
drew up their chairs to that convenience； and invited me to do the
same。 I obeyed； and being seated fairly between them； I was thus
addressed first by Madame Pelet； then by Madame Reuter。
“We will now speak of business；” said Madame Pelet； and she
went on to make an elaborate speech； which； being interpreted；
was to the effect that she had asked for the pleasure of my
company that evening in order to give her friend Madame Reuter
an opportunity of broaching an important proposal； which might
turn out greatly to my advantage。
“Pourvu que vous soyez sage；” said Madame Reuter； “et à vrai
dire； vous en avez bien l’air。 Take one drop of the punch” （or
ponche； as she pronounced it）； “it is an agreeable and wholesome
beverage after a full meal。”
I bowed； but again declined it。 She went on：…
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“I feel；” said she； after a solemn sip—“I feel profoundly the
importance of the commission with which my dear daughter has
entrusted me； for you are aware； Monsieur； that it is my daughter
who directs the establishment in the next house？”
“Ah！ I thought it was yourself； madame。” Though； indeed； at
that moment I recollected that it was called Mademoiselle； not
Madame Reuter’s pensionnat。
“I！ Oh； no！ I manage the house and look after the servants； as
my friend Madame Pelet does for Monsieur her son—nothing
more。 Ah！ you thought I gave lessons in class—did you？”
And she laughed loud and long； as though the idea tickled her
fancy amazingly。
“Madame is in the wrong to laugh；” I observed； “if she does not
give lessons； I am sure it is not because she cannot；” and I
whipped out a white pocket…handkerchief and wafted it； with a
French grace； past my nose； bowing at the name time。
“Quel charmant jeune homme！” murmured Madame Pelet in a
low voice。 Madame Reuter； being less sentimental； as she was
Flamand and not French； only laughed again。
“You are a dangerous person； I fear；” said she； “if you can forge
compliments at that rate； Zoraide will positively be afraid of you；
but if you are good； I will keep your secret； and not tell her how
well you can flatter。 Now； listen what sort of a proposal she makes
to you。 She has heard that you are an excellent professor； and as
she wishes to get the very beet masters for her school （car Zoraide
fait tout comme une reine； c’est une véritable maitresse…femme）；
she has commissioned me to step over this afternoon； and sound
Madame Pelet as to the possibility of engaging you。 Zoraide is a
wary general； she never advances without first examining well her
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ground I don’t think she would be pleased if she knew I had
already disclosed her intentions to you； she did not order me to go
so far； but I thought there would be no harm in letting you into the
secret； and Madame Pelet was of the same opinion。 Take care；
however； you don’t betray either of us to Zoraide—to my daughter；
I mean； she is so discreet and circumspect herself； she cannot
understand that one should find a pleasure in gossiping a little—”
“C’est absolument comme mon fils！” cried Madame Pelet。
“All the world is so changed since our girlhood！” rejoined the
other： “young people have such old heads now。 But to return；
Monsieur。 Madame Pelet will mention the subject of your giving
lessons in my daughter’s establishment to her son； and he will
speak to you； and then to…morrow； you will step over to our house；
and ask to see my daughter； and you will introduce the subject as
if the first intimation of it had reached you from M。 Pelet himself；
and be sure you never mention my name； for I would not displease
Zoraide on any account。
“Bien！ bien！” interrupted I—for all this chatter and
circumlocution began to bore me very much； “I will consult M。
Pelet； and the thing shall be settled as you desire。 Good evening；
mesdames—I am infinitely obliged to you。”
“Comment！ vous vous en allez deja？” exclaimed Madame Pelet。
“Prenez encore quelquechose； monsieur； une pomme cuite； des
biscuits； encore une tasse de café？”
“Merci； merci； madame—au revoir。” And I backed at last out of
the apartment。
Having regained my own room； I set myself to turn over in my
mind the incident of the evening。 It seemed a queer affair
altogether； and queerly managed； the two old women had made
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quite a little intricate mess of it； still I found that the uppermost
feeling in my mind on the subject was one of satisfaction。 In the
first place it would be a change to give lessons in another
seminary； and then to teach young ladies would be an occupation
so interesting—to be admitted at all into a ladies’ boarding…school
would be an incident so new in my life。 Besides； thought I； as I
glanced at the boarded window； “I shall now at last see the
mysterious garden： I shall gaze both on the angels and their
Eden。”
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Chapter IX
。 Pelet could not of course object to the proposal made
by Mdlle Reuter； permission to accept such additional
M
employment； should it offer； having formed an article of
the terms on which he had engaged me。 It was； therefore；
arranged in the course of next day that I should be at liberty to
give lessons in Mdlle Reuter’s establishment four afternoons in
every week。
When evening came I prepared to step over in order to seek a
conference with Mademoiselle herself on the subject； I had not
had time to pay the visit before； having been all day closely
occupied in class。 I remember very well that before quitting my
chamber； I held a brief debate with myself as to whether I should
change my ordinary attire for something smarter。 At last I
concluded it would be a waste of labour。 “Doubtless；” thought I；
“she is some stiff old maid； for though the daughter of Madame
Reuter； she may well number upwards of forty winters； besides； if
it were otherwise； if she be both young and pretty； I am not
handsome； and no dressing can make me so； therefore I’ll go as I
am。” And off I started； cursorily glancing sideways as I passed the
toilet…table； surmounted by a looking…glass： a thin irregular face I
saw； with sunk； dark eyes under a large； square forehead；
complexion destitute of bloom or attraction； something young； but
not youthful； no object to win a lady’s love； no butt for the shafts of
Cupid。
