the professor(教授)-第25章
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view of the house； and some tall shrubs excluded M。 Pelet’s
mansion； and screened us momentarily from the other houses；
rising amphitheatre…like round this green spot； I gave my arm to
Mdlle Reuter； and led her to a garden…chair； nestled under some
lilacs near。 She sat down； I took my place at her side。 She went on
talking to me with that ease which communicates ease； and； as I
listened； a revelation dawned in my mind that I was on the brink
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of falling in love。 The dinner…bell rang； both at her house and M。
Pelet’s； we were obliged to part； I detained her a moment as she
was moving away。
“I want something；” said I。
“What？” asked Zoraide naively。
“Only a flower。”
“Gather it then—or two； or twenty； if you like。”
“No—one will do—but you must gather it； and give it to me。”
“What a caprice！” she exclaimed； but she raised herself on her
tip…toes； and； plucking a beautiful branch of lilac； offered it to me
with grace。 I took it； and went away； satisfied for the present； and
hopeful for the future。
Certainly that May day was a lovely one； and it closed in
moonlight night of summer warmth and serenity。 I remember this
well； for； having sat up late that evening； correcting devoirs； and
feeling weary and a little oppressed with the closeness of my small
room； I opened the often…mentioned boarded window； whose
boards； however； I had persuaded old Madame Pelet to have
removed since I had filled the post of professor in the pensionnat
de demoiselles； as； from that time； it was no longer “inconvenant”
for me to overlook my own pupils at their sports。 I sat down in the
window…seat； rested my arm on the sill； and leaned out： above me
was the clear…obscure of a cloudless night sky—splendid
moonlight subdued the tremulous sparkle of the stars—below lay
the garden； varied with silvery lustre and deep shade； and all fresh
with dew—a grateful perfume exhaled from the closed blossoms of
the fruit…trees—not a leaf stirred； the night was breezeless。 My
window looked directly down upon a certain walk of Mdlle
é é
Reuter’s garden； called “l’all e d fendue；” so named because the
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pupils were forbidden to enter it on account of its proximity to the
boys’ school。 It was here that the lilacs and laburnums grew
especially thick； this was the most sheltered nook in the enclosure；
its shrubs screened the garden…chair where that afternoon I had
sat with the young directress。 I need not say that my thoughts
were chiefly with her as I leaned from the lattice； and let my； eye
roam； now over the walks and borders of the garden； now along
the many…windowed front of the house which rose white beyond
the masses of foliage。 I wondered in what part of the building was
situated her apartment； and a single light； shining through the
é
persiennes of one crois e； seemed to direct me to it。
“She watches late；” thought I； “for it must be now near
midnight。 She is a fascinating little woman；” I continued in
voiceless soliloquy； “her image forms a pleasant picture in
memory； I know she is not what the world calls pretty—no matter；
there is harmony in her aspect； and I like it； her brown hair； her
blue eye； the freshness of her cheek； the whiteness of her neck； all
suit my taste。 Then I respect her talent； the idea of marrying a doll
or a fool was always abhorrent to me： I know that a pretty doll； a
fair fool； might do well enough for the honeymoon； but when
passion cooled； how dreadful to find a lump of wax and wood laid
in my bosom； a half idiot clasped in my arms； and to remember
that I had made of this my equal—nay； my idol—to know that I
must pass the rest of my dreary life with a creature incapable of
understanding what I said； of appreciating what I thought； or of
sympathizing with what I felt！ “Now； Zoraide Reuter；” thought I；
“has tact； caractère； judgment； discretion； has she heart？ What a
good； simple little smile played about her lips when she gave me
the branch of lilacs！ I have thought her crafty； dissembling；
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interested sometimes； it is true； but may not much that looks like
cunning and dissimulation in her conduct be only the efforts made
by a bland temper to traverse quietly perplexing difficulties？ And
as to interest； she wishes to make her way in the world； no doubt；
and who can blame her？ Even if she be truly deficient in sound
principle； is it not rather her misfortune than her fault？ She has
been brought up a Catholic： had she been born an Englishwoman；
and reared a Protestant； might she not have added straight
integrity to all her other excellences？ Supposing she were to
marry an English and Protestant husband； would she not； rational；
sensible as she is； quickly acknowledge the superiority of right
over expediency； honesty over policy？ It would be worth a man’s
while to try the experiment； to…morrow I will renew my
observations。 She knows that I watch her： how calm she is under
scrutiny！ it seems rather to gratify than annoy her。” Here a strain
of music stole in upon my monologue； and suspended it； it was a
bugle； very skilfully played； in the neighbourhood of the park； I
thought； or on the Place Royale。 So sweet were the tones； so
subduing their effect at that hour； in the midst of silence and
under the quiet reign of moonlight； I ceased to think； that I might
listen more intently。 The strain retreated； its sound waxed fainter
and was soon gone； my ear prepared to repose on the absolute
hush of midnight once more。 No。 What murmur was that which；
low； and yet near and approaching nearer； frustrated the
expectation of total silence？ It was some one conversing—yes；
evidently； an audible； though subdued voice spoke in the garden
immediately below me。 Another answered； the first voice was that
of a man； the second that of a woman； and a man and a woman I
saw coming slowly down the alley。 Their forms were at first in
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shade； I could but discern a dusk outline of each； but a ray of
moonlight met them at the termination of the walk； when they
were under my very nose； and revealed very plainly； very
unequivocally； Mdlle Zoraide Reuter； arm…in…arm； or hand…in…
hand （I forget which） with my principal； confidant； and counsellor；
M。 Francois Pelet。 And M。 Pelet was saying—
“A quand donc le jour des noces； ma bien…aimée？”
And Mdlle Reuter answered—
“Mais； Francois； tu sais bien qu’il me serait impossible de me
marier avant les vacances。”
“June； July； August； a whole quarter！” exclaimed the director。
“How can I wait so long？—I who am ready； even now； to expire at
your feet with impatience！”
“Ah！ if you die； the whole affair will be settled without any
trouble about notaries and contracts； I shall only have to order a
slight mourning dress； which will be much sooner prepared than
the nuptial trousseau。”
“Cruel Zoraide！ you laugh at the distress of one who loves you
so devotedly as I do： my torment is your sport； you scruple not to
stretch my soul on the rack of jealousy； for； deny it as you will； I
am certain you have cast encouraging glances on that school…boy；
Crimsworth； he has presumed to fall in love； which he dared not
have done unless you had given him room to hope。”
“What do you say； Francois？ Do you say Crimsworth is in love
with me？”
“Over head and ears。”
“Has he told you so？”
“No—but I see it in his face： he blushes whenever your name is
mentioned。” A little laugh of exulting coquetry announced Mdlle
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Reuter’s gratification at this piece of intelligence （which was a lie；
by…the…by—I had never been so far gone as that； after all）。 M。 Pelet
proceeded to ask what she intended to do with me； intimating
pretty plainly； and not very gallantly； that it was nonsense for her
to think of taking such a “blanc…bec” as a husband； since she must
be at least ten years older than I （was she then thirty…two？ I should
not have thought it）。 I heard her disclaim any intentions on the
subject—the director； however； still pressed her to give a definite
answer。
“Francois；” said she； “you are jealous；” and still she laughed；
then； as if suddenly recollecting that this coquetry was not
consistent with the character for modest dignity she wished to
establish； she proceeded； in a demure voice： “Truly； my dear
Francois； I will not deny that this young Englishman may have
made some attempts to ingratiate himself with me； but； so far from
giving him any encouragement； I have always treated him with as
much reserve as it was possible to combine with civility； affiance
