the professor(教授)-第30章
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following my retreating steps。 “Is she likely to make progress in
English？”
“Indeed I can hardly judge。 She possesses a pretty good accent；
of her real knowledge of the language I have as yet had no
opportunity of forming an opinion。”
“And her natural capacity； monsieur？ I have had my fears
about that： can you relieve me by an assurance at least of its
average power？”
“I see no reason to doubt its average power； mademoiselle； but
really I scarcely know her； and have not had time to study the
calibre of her capacity。 I wish you a very good afternoon。”
She still pursued me。 “You will observe； monsieur； and tell me
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what you think； I could so much better rely on your opinion than
on my own； women cannot judge of these things as men can； and；
excuse my pertinacity； monsieur； but it is natural I should feel
interested about this poor little girl （pauvre petite）； she has
scarcely any relations； her own efforts are all she has to look to；
her acquirements must be her sole fortune； her present position
has once been mine； or nearly so； it is then but natural I should
sympathize with her； and sometimes when I see the difficulty she
has in managing pupils； I reel quite chagrined。 I doubt not she
does her best； her intentions are excellent； but； monsieur； she
wants tact and firmness。 I have talked to her on the subject； but I
am not fluent； and probably did not express myself with clearness；
she never appears to comprehend me。 Now； would you
occasionally； when you see an opportunity； slip in a word of advice
to her on the subject； men have so much more influence than
women have—they argue so much more logically than we do； and
you； monsieur； in particular； have so paramount a power of
making yourself obeyed； a word of advice from you could not but
do her good； even if she were sullen and headstrong （which I hope
she is not）； she would scarcely refuse to listen to you； for my own
part； I can truly say that I never attend one of your lessons without
deriving benefit from witnessing your management of the pupils。
The other masters are a constant source of anxiety to me； they
cannot impress the young ladies with sentiments of respect； nor
restrain the levity natural to youth： in you； monsieur； I feel the
most absolute confidence； try then to put this poor child into the
way of controlling our giddy； high…spirited Brabantoises。 But；
monsieur； I would add one word more； don’t alarm her amour
propre； beware of inflicting a wound there。 I reluctantly admit that
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in that particular she is blamably—some would say ridiculously—
susceptible。 I fear I have touched this sore point inadvertently；
and she cannot get over it。”
During the greater part of this harangue my hand was on the
lock of the outer door； I now turned it。
“Au revoir； mademoiselle；” said I； and I escaped。 I saw the
directress’s stock of words was yet far from exhausted。 She looked
after me； she would fain have detained me longer。 Her manner
towards me had been altered ever since I had begun to treat her
with hardness and indifference： she almost cringed to me on every
occasion； she consulted my countenance incessantly； and beset me
with innumerable little officious attentions。 Servility creates
despotism。 This slavish homage； instead of softening my heart；
only pampered whatever was stern and exacting in its mood。 The
very circumstance of her hovering round me like a fascinated bird；
seemed to transform me into a rigid pillar of stone； her flatteries
irritated my scorn； her blandishments confirmed my reserve。 At
times I wondered what she meant by giving herself such trouble to
win me； when the more profitable Pelet was already in her nets；
and when； too； she was aware that I possessed her secret； for I had
not scrupled to tell her as much： but the fact is that as it was her
nature to doubt the reality and under…value the worth of modesty；
affection； disinterestedness—to regard these qualities as foibles of
character—so it was equally her tendency to consider pride；
hardness； selfishness； as proofs of strength。 She would trample on
the neck of humility； she would kneel at the feet of disdain； she
would meet tenderness with secret contempt； indifference she
would woo with ceaseless assiduities。 Benevolence； devotedness；
enthusiasm； were her antipathies； for dissimulation and self…
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interest she had a preference—they were real wisdom in her eyes；
moral and physical degradation； mental and bodily inferiority； she
regarded with indulgence； they were foils capable of being turned
to good account as set…offs for her own endowments。 To violence；
injustice； tyranny； she succumbed—they were her natural
masters； she had no propensity to hate； no impulse to resist them；
the indignation their behests awake in some hearts was unknown
in hers。 From all this it resulted that the false and selfish called
her wise； the vulgar and debased termed her charitable； the
insolent and unjust dubbed her amiable； the conscientious and
benevolent generally at first accepted as valid her claim to be
considered one of themselves； but ere long the plating of
pretension wore off； the real material appeared below； and they
laid her aside as a deception。
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Chapter XVI
n the course of another fortnight I had seen sufficient of
Frances Evans Henri； to enable me to form a more definite
I
opinion of her character。 I found her possessed in a somewhat
remarkable degree of at least two good points； viz。； perseverance
and a sense of duty； I found she was really capable of applying to
study； of contending with difficulties。 At first I offered her the
same help which I had always found it necessary to confer on the
others； I began with unloosing for her each knotty point； but I
soon discovered that such help was regarded by my new pupil as
degrading； she recoiled from it with a certain proud impatience。
Hereupon I appointed her long lessons； and left her to solve alone
any perplexities they might present。 She set to the task with
serious ardour； and having quickly accomplished one labour；
eagerly demanded more。 So much for her perseverance； as to her
sense of duty； it evinced itself thus： she liked to learn； but hated to
teach； her progress as a pupil depended upon herself； and I saw
that on herself she could calculate with certainty； her success as a
teacher rested partly； perhaps chiefly； upon the will of others； it
cost her a most painful effort to enter into conflict with this foreign
will； to endeavour to bend it into subjection to her own； for in what
regarded people in general the action of her will was impeded by
many scruples； it was as unembarrassed as strong where her own
affairs were concerned； and to it she could at any time subject her
inclination； if that inclination went counter to her convictions of
right； yet when called upon to wrestle with the propensities； the
habits； the faults of others； of children especially； who are deaf to
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reason； and； for the most part； insensate to persuasion； her will
sometimes almost refused to act； then came in the sense of duty；
and forced the reluctant will into operation。 A wasteful expense of
energy and labour was frequently the consequence； Frances toiled
for and with her pupils like a drudge； but it was long ere her
conscientious exertions were rewarded by anything like docility
on their part； because they saw that they had power over her；
inasmuch as by resisting her painful attempts to convince；
persuade； control—by forcing her to the employment of coercive
measures—they could inflict upon her exquisite suffering。 Human
beings—human children especially—seldom deny themselves the
pleasure of exercising a power which they are conscious of
possessing； even though that power consist only in a capacity to
make others wretched； a pupil whose sensations are duller than
those of his instructor； while his nerves are tougher and his bodily
strength perhaps greater； has an immense advantage over that
instructor； and he will generally use it relentlessly； because the
very young； very healthy； very thoughtless； know neither how to
sympathize nor how to spare。 Frances； I fear； suffered much； a
continual weight seemed to oppress her spirits； I have said she did
not live in the house； and whether in her own abode； wherever
that might be； she wore the same preoccu
