the professor(教授)-第20章
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monsieur。”
Caroline shook her loose ringlets of abundant but somewhat
coarse hair over her rolling black eyes； parting her lips； as full as
those of a hot…blooded Maroon； she showed her well…set teeth
sparkling between them； and treated me at the same time to a
smile “de sa facon。” Beautiful as Pauline Borghese； she looked at
the moment scarcely purer than Lucrèce de Borgia。 Caroline was
of noble family。 I heard her lady…mother’s character afterwards；
and then I ceased to wonder at the precocious accomplishments of
the daughter。 These three； I at once saw； deemed themselves the
queens of the school； and conceived that by their splendour they
threw all the rest into the shade。 In less than five minutes they had
thus revealed to me their characters； and in less than five minutes
I had buckled on a breast…plate of steely indifference； and let down
a visor of impassible austerity。
“Take your pens and commence writing；” said I； in as dry and
trite a voice as if I had been addressing only Jules Vanderkelkov
and Co。
The dictée now commenced。 My three belles interrupted me
perpetually with little silly questions and uncalled…for remarks； to
some of which I made no answer； and to others replied very
quietly and briefly。 “Comment dit…on point et virgule en Anglais；
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monsieur？”
“Semi…colon； mademoiselle。”
“Semi…collong？ Ah； comme c’est drole！” （giggle。）
“J’ai une si mauvaise plume—impossible d’écrire！”
“Mais； monsieur—je ne sais pas suivre—vous allez si vite。”
“Je n’ai rien compris； moi！”
Here a general murmur arose； and the teacher； opening her lips
for the first time； ejaculated—
“Silence； mesdemoiselles！”
No silence followed—on the contrary； the three ladies in front
began to talk more loudly。
“C’est si difficile； l’Anglais！”
“Je déteste la dictée。”
“Quel ennui d’écrire quelquechose que l’on ne comprend pas！”
Some of those behind laughed： a degree of confusion began to
pervade the class； it was necessary to take prompt measures。
“Donnez…moi votre cahier；” said I to Eulalie in an abrupt tone；
and bending over； I took it before she had time to give it。
“Et vous； mademoiselle…donnez…moi le votre；” continued I；
more mildly； addressing a little pale； plain looking girl who sat in
the first row of the other division； and whom I had remarked as
being at once the ugliest and the most attentive in the room； she
rose up； walked over to me； and delivered her book with a grave；
modest curtsey。 I glanced over the two dictations； Eulalie’s was
slurred； blotted； and full of silly mistakes—Sylvie’s （such was the
name of the ugly little girl） was clearly written； it contained no
error against sense； and but few faults of orthography。 I coolly
read aloud both exercises； marking the faults—then I looked at
Eulalie：
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“C’est honteux！” said I； and I deliberately tore her dictation in
four parts； and presented her with the fragments。 I returned
Sylvie her book with a smile； saying—
“C’est bien—je suis content de vous。”
Sylvie looked calmly pleased； Eulalie swelled like an incensed
turkey； but the mutiny was quelled： the conceited coquetry and
futile flirtation of the first bench were exchanged for a taciturn
sullenness； much more convenient to me； and the rest of my lesson
passed without interruption。
A bell clanging out in the yard announced the moment for the
cessation of school labours。 I heard our own bell at the same time；
and that of a certain public college immediately after。 Order
dissolved instantly； up started every pupil； I hastened to seize my
hat； bow to the maitresse； and quit the room before the tide of
externats should pour from the inner class； where I knew near a
hundred were prisoned； and whose rising tumult I already heard。
I had scarcely crossed the hall and gained the corridor； when
Mdlle Reuter came again upon me。
“Step in here a moment；” said she； and she held open the door
of the side room from whence she had issued on my arrival； it was
a salle…à…manger； as appeared from the beaufet and the armoire
vitrée； filled with glass and china； which formed part of its
furniture。 Ere she had closed the door on me and herself； the
corridor was already filled with day…pupils； tearing down their
cloaks； bonnets； and cabas from the wooden pegs on which they
were suspended； the shrill voice of a maitresse was heard at
intervals vainly endeavouring to enforce some sort of order；
vainly； I say： discipline there was none in these rough ranks； and
yet this was considered one of the best…conducted schools in
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Brussels。
“Well； you have given your first lesson；” began Mdlle Reuter in
the most calm； equable voice； as though quite unconscious of the
chaos from which we were separated only by a single wall。
“Were you satisfied with your pupils； or did any circumstance
in their conduct give you cause for complaint？ Conceal nothing
from me； repose in me entire confidence。”
Happily； I felt in myself complete power to manage my pupils
without aid； the enchantment； the golden haze which had dazzled
my perspicuity at first； had been a good deal dissipated。 I cannot
say I was chagrined or downcast by the contrast which the reality
of a pensionnat de demoiselles presented to my vague ideal of the
same community； I was only enlightened and amused；
consequently； I felt in no disposition to complain to Mdlle Reuter；
and I received her considerate invitation to confidence with a
smile。
“A thousand thanks； mademoiselle； all has gone very
smoothly。”
She looked more than doubtful。
“Et les trois demoiselles du premier banc？” said she。
“Ah！ tout va au mieux！” was my answer； and Mdlle Reuter
ceased to question me； but her eye—not large； not brilliant； not
melting； or kindling； but astute； penetrating； practical； showed she
was even with me； it let out a momentary gleam； which said
plainly； “Be as close as you like； I am not dependent on your
candour； what you would conceal I already know。”
By a transition so quiet as to be scarcely perceptible； the
directress’s manner changed； the anxious business…air passed
from her face； and she began chatting about the weather and the
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town； and asking in neighbourly wise after M。 and Madame Pelet。
I answered all her little questions； she prolonged her talk； I went
on following its many little windings； she sat so long； said so much；
varied so often the topics of discourse； that it was not difficult to
perceive she had a particular aim in thus detaining me。 Her mere
words could have afforded no clue to this aim； but her
countenance aided； while her lips uttered only affable
commonplaces； her eyes reverted continually to my face。 Her
glances were not given in full； but out of the corners； so quietly； so
stealthily； yet I think I lost not one。 I watched her as keenly as she
watched me； I perceived soon that she was feeling after my real
character； she was searching for salient points； and weak； points；
and eccentric points； she was applying now this test； now that；
hoping in the end to find some chink； some niche； where she could
put in her little firm foot and stand upon my neck—mistress of my
nature； Do not mistake me； reader； it was no amorous influence
she wished to gain—at that time it was only the power of the
politician to which she aspired； I was now installed as a professor
in her establishment； and she wanted to know where her mind
was superior to mine—by what feeling or opinion she could lead
me。
I enjoyed the game much； and did not hasten its conclusion；
sometimes I gave her hopes； beginning a sentence rather weakly；
when her shrewd eye would light up—she thought she had me；
having led her a little way； I delighted to turn round and finish
with sound； hard sense； whereat her countenance would fall。 At
last a servant entered to announce dinner； the conflict being thus
necessarily terminated； we parted without having gained any
advantage on either side： Mdlle Reuter had not even given me an
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opportunity of attacking her with feeling； and I had managed to
baffle her little schemes of craft。 It was a regular drawn battle。 I
again held out my hand when I left the room； she gave me hers； it
was a small and white hand； but how cool！ I met her eye too in
full—obliging her to give me a straightforward look； this last test
went against me： it left her as it found her —moderate； temperate；
tranquil； me it disappointed。
“I am growing wiser；” thought I； as I walked back to
