the professor(教授)-第34章
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“Besides； monsieur； I long to live once more among
Protestants； they are more honest than Catholics； a Romish school
is a building with porous walls； a hollow floor； a false ceiling； every
room in this house； monsieur； has eyeholes and ear…holes； and
what the house is； the inhabitants are； very treacherous； they all
think it lawful to tell lies； they all call it politeness to profess
friendship where they feel hatred。”
“All？” said I； “you mean the pupils—the mere children—
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inexperienced； giddy things； who have not learnt to distinguish the
difference between right and wrong？”
“On the contrary； monsieur—the children are the most sincere；
they have not yet had time to become accomplished in duplicity；
they will tell lies； but they do it inartificially； and you know they
are lying； but the grown…up people are very false； they deceive
strangers； they deceive each other—”
A servant here entered：—
“Mdlle Henri—Mdlle Reuter vous prie de vouloir bien conduire
la petite de Dorlodot chez elle； elle vous attend dans le cabinet de
Rosalie la portière—c’est que sa bonne n’est pas venue la
chercher—voyez…vous。”
“Eh bien！ est…ce que je suis sa bonne—moi？” demanded Mdlle
Henri； then smiling； with that same bitter； derisive smile I had
seen on her lips once before； she hastily rose and made her exit。
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Chapter XVIII
he young Anglo…Swiss evidently derived both pleasure and
profit from the study of her mother…tongue。 In teaching
T
her I did not； of course； confine myself to the ordinary
school routine； I made instruction in English a channel for
instruction in literature。 I prescribed to her a course of reading；
she had a little selection of English classics； a few of which had
been left her by her mother； and the others she had purchased
with her own penny…fee。 I lent her some more modern works； all
these she read with avidity； giving me； in writing； a clear summary
of each work when she had perused it。 Composition； too； she
delighted in。 Such occupation seemed the very breath of her
nostrils； and soon her improved productions wrung from me the
avowal that those qualities in her I had termed taste and fancy
ought rather to have been denominated judgment and
imagination。 When I intimated so much； which I did as usual in
dry and stinted phrase； I looked for the radiant and exulting smile
my one word of eulogy had elicited before； but Frances coloured。
If she did smile； it was very softly and shyly； and instead of looking
up to me with a conquering glance； her eyes rested on my hand；
which； stretched over her shoulder； was writing some directions
with a pencil on the margin of her book。
“Well； are you pleased that I am satisfied with your progress？” I
asked。
“Yes；” said she slowly； gently； the blush that had half subsided
returning。
“But I do not say enough； I suppose？” I continued。 “My praises
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are too cool？”
She made no answer； and； I thought； looked a little sad。 I
divined her thoughts； and should much have liked to have
responded to them； had it been expedient so to do。 She was not
now very ambitious of my admiration—not eagerly desirous of
dazzling me； a little affection—ever so little—pleased her better
than all the panegyrics in the world。 Feeling this； I stood a good
while behind her； writing on the margin of her book。 I could
hardly quit my station or relinquish my occupation； something
retained me bending there； my head very near hers； and my hand
near hers too； but the margin of a copy…book is not an illimitable
space—so； doubtless； the directress thought； and she took
occasion to walk past in order to ascertain by what art I prolonged
so disproportionately the period necessary for filling it。 I was
obliged to go。 Distasteful effort—to leave what we most prefer！
Frances did not become pale or feeble in consequence of her
sedentary employment； perhaps the stimulus it communicated to
her mind counterbalanced the inaction it imposed on her body。
She changed； indeed； changed obviously and rapidly； but it was
for the better。 When I first saw her； her countenance was sunless；
her complexion colourless； she looked like one who had no source
of enjoyment； no store of bliss anywhere in the world； now the
cloud had passed from her mien； leaving space for the dawn of
hope and interest； and those feelings rose like a clear morning；
animating what had been depressed； tinting what had been pale。
Her eyes； whose colour I had not at first known； so dim were they
with repressed tears； so shadowed with ceaseless dejection； now；
lit by a ray of the sunshine that cheered her heart； revealed irids of
bright hazel—irids large and full； screened with long lashes； and
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pupils instinct with fire。 That look of wan emaciation which
anxiety or low spirits often communicates to a thoughtful； thin
face； rather long than round； having vanished from hers； a
clearness of skin almost bloom； and a plumpness almost
embonpoint； softened the decided lines of her features。 Her figure
shared in this beneficial change； it became rounder； and as the
harmony of her form was complete and her stature of the graceful
middle height； one did not regret （or at least I did not regret） the
absence of confirmed fulness； in contours； still slight； though
compact； elegant； flexible—the exquisite turning of waist； wrist；
hand； foot； and ankle satisfied completely my notions of symmetry；
and allowed a lightness and freedom of movement which
corresponded with my ideas of grace。
Thus improved； thus wakened to life； Mdlle Henri began to take
a new footing in the school； her mental power； manifested
gradually but steadily； ere long extorted recognition even from the
envious； and when the young and healthy saw that she could smile
brightly； converse gaily； move with vivacity and alertness； they
acknowledged in her a sisterhood of youth and health； and
tolerated her as of their kind accordingly。
To speak truth； I watched this change much as a gardener
watches the growth of a precious plant； and I contributed to it too；
even as the said gardener contributes to the development of his
favourite。 To me it was not difficult to discover how I could best
foster my pupil； cherish her starved feelings； and induce the
outward manifestation of that inward vigour which sunless
drought and blighting blast had hitherto forbidden to expand。
Constancy of attention—a kindness as mute as watchful； always
standing by her； cloaked in the rough garb of austerity； and
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making its real nature known only by a rare glance of interest； or a
cordial and gentle word； real respect masked with seeming
imperiousness； directing； urging her actions； yet helping her too；
and that with devoted care： these were the means I used； for these
means best suited Frances’ feelings； as susceptible as deep
vibrating—her nature at once proud and shy。
The benefits of my system became apparent also in her altered
demeanour as a teacher； she now took her place amongst her
pupils with an air of spirit and firmness which assured them at
once that she meant to be obeyed—and obeyed she was。 They felt
they had lost their power over her。 If any girl had rebelled； she
would no longer have taken her rebellion to heart； she possessed a
source of comfort they could not drain； a pillar of support they
could not overthrow： formerly； when insulted； she wept； now； she
smiled。
The public reading of one of her devoirs achieved the revelation
of her talents to all and sundry； I remember the subject—it was an
emigrant’s letter to his friends at home。 It opened with simplicity；
some natural and graphic touches disclosed to the reader the
scene of virgin forest and great； New…World river—barren of sail
and flag—amidst which the epistle was supposed to be indited。
The difficulties and dangers that attend a settler’s life； were hinted
at； and in the few words said on that subject； Mdlle Henri failed
not to render audible the voice of resolve； patience； endeavour。
The disasters which had driven him from his native country were
alluded to； stainless honour； inflexible independence；
indestructible self…re
