the professor(教授)-第21章
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tranquil； me it disappointed。
“I am growing wiser；” thought I； as I walked back to M。 Pelet’s。
“Look at this little woman； is she like the women of novelists and
romancers？ To read of female character as depicted in Poetry and
Fiction； one would think it was made up of sentiment； either for
good or bad—here is a specimen； and a most sensible and
respectable specimen； too； whose staple ingredient is abstract
reason。 No Talleyrand was ever more passionless than Zoraide
Reuter！” So I thought then； I found afterwards that blunt
susceptibilities are very consistent with strong propensities。
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Chapter XI
had indeed had a very long talk with the crafty little
politician； and on regaining my quarters； I found that dinner
I
was half over。 To be late at meals was against a standing rule
of the establishment； and had it been one of the Flemish ushers
who thus entered after the removal of the soup and the
commencement of the first course； M。 Pelet would probably have
greeted him with a public rebuke； and would certainly have
mulcted him both of soup and fish； as it was； that polite though
partial gentleman only shook his head； and as I took my place；
unrolled my napkin； and said my heretical grace to myself； he
civilly despatched a servant to the kitchen； to bring me a plate of
“purée aux carottes” （for this was a maigre…day）； and before
sending away the first course； reserved for me a portion of the
stock…fish of which it consisted。 Dinner being over； the boys
rushed out for their evening play； Kint and Vandam （the two
ushers） of course followed them。 Poor fellows！ if they had not
looked so very heavy； so very soulless； so very indifferent to all
things in heaven above or in the earth beneath； I could have pitied
them greatly for the obligation they were under to trail after those
rough lads everywhere and at all times； even as it was； I felt
disposed to scout myself as a privileged prig when I turned to
ascend to my chamber； sure to find there； if not enjoyment； at least
liberty； but this evening （as had often happened before） I was to be
still farther distinguished。
“Eh bien； mauvais sujet！” said the voice of M。 Pelet behind me；
as I set my foot on the first step of the stair； “où allez…vous？ Venez
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à la salle…à…manger； que je vous gronde un peu。”
“I beg pardon； monsieur；” said I； as I followed him to his private
sitting…room； “for having returned so late—it was not my fault。”
“That is just what I want to know；” rejoined M。 Pelet； as he
ushered me into the comfortable parlour with a good wood…fire—
for the stove had now been removed for the season。 Having rung
the bell he ordered “Coffee for two；” and presently he and I were
seated； almost in English comfort； one on each side of the hearth； a
little round table between us； with a coffee…pot； a sugar…basin； and
two large white china cups。 While M。 Pelet employed himself in
choosing a cigar from a box； my thoughts reverted to the two
outcast ushers； whose voices I could hear even now crying
hoarsely for order in the playground。
“C’est une grande responsabilite； que la surveillance；” observed
I。
“Plait…il？” dit M。 Pelet。
I remarked that I thought Messieurs Vandam and Kint must
sometimes be a little fatigued with their labours。
“Des bêtes de somme；—des bêtes de somme；” murmured
scornfully the director。 Meantime I offered him his cup of coffee。
“Servez…vous mon garcon；” said he blandly； when I had put a
couple of huge lumps of continental sugar into his cup。 “And now
tell me why you stayed so long at Mdlle Reuter’s。 I know that
lessons conclude； in her establishment as in mine； at four o’clock；
and when you returned it was past five。”
“Mdlle wished to speak with me； monsieur。”
“Indeed！ on what subject？ if one may ask。”
“Mademoiselle talked about nothing； monsieur。”
“A fertile topic！ and did she discourse thereon in the
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schoolroom； before the pupils？”
“No； like you； monsieur； she asked me to walk into her
parlour。”
“And Madame Reuter—the old duenna—my mother’s gossip；
was there； of course？”
“No； monsieur； I had the honour of being quite alone with
mademoiselle。”
“C’est joli—cela；” observed M。 Pelet； and he smiled and looked
into the fire。
“Honi soit qui mal y pense；” murmured I； significantly。
“Je connais un peu ma petite voisine—voyez…vous。”
“In that case； monsieur will be able to aid me in finding out
what was mademoiselle’s reason for making me sit before her sofa
one mortal hour； listening to the most copious and fluent
dissertation on the merest frivolities。”
“She was sounding your character。”
“I thought so； monsieur。”
“Did she find out your weak point？”
“What is my weak point？”
“Why； the sentimental。 Any woman sinking her shaft deep
enough； will at last reach a fathomless spring of sensibility in thy
breast； Crimsworth。”
I felt the blood stir about my heart and rise warm to my cheek。
“Some women might； monsieur。”
“Is Mdlle Reuter of the number？ Come； speak frankly； mon fils；
elle est encore jeune； plus agée que toi peut…être； mais juste asset
pour unir la tendresse d’une petite maman à l’amour d’une épouse
dévouée； n’est…ce pas que cela t’irait supérieurement？”
“No； monsieur； I should like my wife to be my wife； and not half
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my mother。”
“She is then a little too old for you？”
“No； monsieur； not a day too old if she suited me in other
things。”
“In what does she not suit you； William？ She is personally
agreeable； is she not？”
“Very； her hair and complexion are just what I admire； and her
turn of form； though quite Belgian； is full of grace。”
“Bravo！ and her face？ her features？ How do you like them？”
“A little harsh； especially her mouth。”
“Ah； yes！ her mouth；” said M。 Pelet； and he chuckled inwardly。
“There is character about her mouth—firmness—but she has a
very pleasant smile； don’t you think so？”
“Rather crafty。”
“True； but that expression of craft is owing to her eyebrows；
have you remarked her eyebrows？”
I answered that I had not。
“You have not seen her looking down then？” said he。
“No。”
“It is a treat； notwithstanding。 Observe her when she has some
knitting； or some other woman’s work in hand； and sits the image
of peace； calmly intent on her needles and her silk； some
discussion meantime going on around her； in the course of which
peculiarities of character are being developed； or important
interests canvassed； she takes no part in it； her humble； feminine
mind is wholly with her knitting； none of her features move； she
neither presumes to smile approval； nor frown disapprobation； her
little hands assiduously ply their unpretending task； if she can
only get this purse finished； or this bonnet…grec completed； it is
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enough for her。 If gentlemen approach her chair； a deeper
quiescence； a meeker modesty settles on her features； and clothes
her general mien； observe then her eyebrows； et dites…moi s’il n’y a
pas du chat dans l’un et du renard dans l’autre。”
“I will take careful notice the first opportunity；” said I。
“And then；” continued M。 Pelet； “the eyelid will flicker； the
light…coloured lashes be lifted a second； and a blue eye； glancing
out from under the screen； will take its brief； sly； searching survey；
and retreat again。”
I smiled； and so did Pelet； and after a few minutes’ silence； I
asked：…
“Will she ever marry； do you think？”
“Marry！ Will birds pair？ Of course it is both her intention and
resolution to marry when she finds a suitable match； and no one is
better aware than herself of the sort of impression she is capable
of producing； no one likes better to captivate in a quiet way。 I am
mistaken if she will not yet leave the print of her stealing steps on
thy heart； Crimsworth。”
“Of her steps？ Confound it； no！ My heart is not a plank to be
walked on。”
“But the soft touch of a patte de velours will do it no harm。”
“She offers me no patte de velours； she is all form and reserve
with me。”
“That to begin with； let respect be the foundation； affection the
first floor； love the superstructure； Mdlle Reuter is a skilful
architect。”
“And interest； M。 Pelet—interest。 Will not mademoiselle
consider that point ？”
“Yes； yes； no doubt； it will be the cement between every stone。
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