the professor(教授)-第35章
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alluded to； stainless honour； inflexible independence；
indestructible self…respect there took the word。 Past days were
spoken of； the grief of parting； the regrets of absence； were
touched upon； feeling； forcible and fine； breathed eloquent in
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every period。 At the close； consolation was suggested； religious
faith became there the speaker； and she spoke well。
The devoir was powerfully written in language at once chaste
and choice； in a style nerved with vigour and graced with
harmony。
Mdlle Reuter was quite sufficiently acquainted with English to
understand it when read or spoken in her presence； though she
could neither speak nor write it herself。 During the perusal of this
devoir； she sat placidly busy； her eyes and fingers occupied with
the formation of a “rivière” or open…work hem round a cambric
handkerchief； she said nothing； and her face and forehead； clothed
with a mask of purely negative expression； were as blank of
comment as her lips。 As neither surprise； pleasure； approbation；
nor interest were evinced in her countenance； so no more were
disdain； envy； annoyance； weariness； if that inscrutable mien said
anything； it was simply this—
“The matter is too trite to excite an emotion； or call forth an
opinion。”
As soon as I had done； a hum rose； several of the pupils；
pressing round Mdlle Henri； began to beset her with compliments；
the composed voice of the directress was now heard：—
“Young ladies； such of you as have cloaks and umbrellas will
hasten to return home before the shower becomes heavier” （it was
raining a little）； “the remainder will wait till their respective
servants arrive to fetch them。” And the school dispersed； for it was
four o’clock。
“Monsieur； a word；” said Mdlle Reuter； stepping on to the
estrade； and signifying； by a movement of the hand； that she
wished me to relinquish； for an instant； the castor I had clutched。
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“Mademoiselle； I am at your service。”
“Monsieur； it is of course an excellent plan to encourage effort
in young people by making conspicuous the progress of any
particularly industrious pupil； but do you not think that in the
present instance； Mdlle Henri can hardly be considered as a
concurrent with the other pupils？ She is older than most of them；
and has had advantages of an exclusive nature for acquiring a
knowledge of English； on the other hand； her sphere of life is
somewhat beneath theirs； under these circumstances； a public
distinction； conferred upon Mdlle Henri； may be the means of
suggesting comparisons； and exciting feelings such as would be far
from advantageous to the individual forming their object。 The
interest I take in Mdlle Henri’s real welfare makes me desirous of
screening her from annoyances of this sort； besides； monsieur； as I
have before hinted to you； the sentiment of amour…propre has a
somewhat marked preponderance in her character； celebrity has a
tendency to foster this sentiment； and in her it should be rather
repressed—she rather needs keeping down than bringing forward；
and then I think； monsieur—it appears to me that ambition；
literary ambition especially； is not a feeling to be cherished in the
mind of a woman： would not Mdlle Henri be much safer and
happier if taught to believe that in the quiet discharge of social
duties consists her real vocation； than if stimulated to aspire after
applause and publicity？ She may never marry； scanty as are her
resources； obscure as are her connections； uncertain as is her
health （for I think her consumptive； her mother died of that
complaint）； it is more than probable she never will。 I do not see
how she can rise to a position； whence such a step would be
possible； but even in celibacy it would be better for her to retain
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the character and habits of a respectable decorous female。”
“Indisputably； mademoiselle；” was my answer。 “Your opinion
admits of no doubt；” and； fearful of the harangue being renewed； I
retreated under cover of that cordial sentence of assent。
At the date of a fortnight after the little incident noted above； I
find it recorded in my diary that a hiatus occurred in Mdlle Henri’s
usually regular attendance in class。 The first day or two I
wondered at her absence； but did not like to ask an explanation of
it； I thought indeed some chance word might be dropped which
would afford me the information I wished to obtain； without my
running the risk of exciting silly smiles and gossiping whispers by
demanding it。 But when a week passed and the seat at the desk
near the door still remained vacant； and when no allusion was
made to the circumstance by any individual of the class—when； on
the contrary； I found that all observed a marked silence on the
point—I determined； coute qui coute； to break the ice of this silly
reserve。 I selected Sylvie as my informant； because from her I
knew that I should at least get a sensible answer； unaccompanied
by wriggle； titter； or other flourish of folly。
“Où donc est Mdlle Henri？” I said one day as I returned an
exercise…book I had been examining。
“Elle est partie； monsieur。”
“Partie？ et pour combien de temps？ Quand reviendra…t…elle？”
“Elle est partie pour toujours； monsieur； elle ne reviendra
plus。”
“Ah！” was my involuntary exclamation； then after a pause：—
“En êtes…vous bien sure； Sylvie？”
“Oui； oui； monsieur； mademoiselle la directrice nous l’a dit elle…
même il y a deux ou trois jours。”
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And I could pursue my inquiries no further； time； place； and
circumstances forbade my adding another word。 I could neither
comment on what had been said； nor demand further particulars。
A question as to the reason of the teacher’s departure； as to
whether it had been voluntary or otherwise； was indeed on my
lips； but I suppressed it—there were listeners all round。 An hour
after； in passing Sylvie in the corridor as she was putting on her
bonnet； I stopped short and asked：—
“Sylvie； do you know Mdlle Henri’s address？ I have some books
of hers；” I added carelessly； “and I should wish to send them to
her。”
“No； monsieur；” replied Sylvie； “but perhaps Rosalie； the
portress； will be able to give it you。”
Rosalie’s cabinet was just at hand； I stepped in and repeated
the inquiry。 Rosalie—a smart French grisette—looked up from her
work with a knowing smile； precisely the sort of smile I had been
so desirous to avoid exciting。 Her answer was prepared； she knew
nothing whatever of Mdlle Henri’s address—had never known it。
Turning from her with impatience—for I believed she lied and was
hired to lie—I almost knocked down some one who had been
standing at my back； it was the directress。 My abrupt movement
made her recoil two or three steps。 I was obliged to apologize；
which I did more concisely than politely。 No man likes to be
dogged； and in the very irritable mood in which I then was the
sight of Mdlle Reuter thoroughly incensed me。 At the moment I
turned her countenance looked hard； dark； and inquisitive； her
eyes were bent upon me with an expression of almost hungry
curiosity。 I had scarcely caught this phase of physiognomy ere it
had vanished； a bland smile played on her features； my harsh
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apology was received with good…humoured facility。
“Oh； don’t mention it； monsieur； you only touched my hair with
your elbow； it is no worse； only a little dishevelled。” She shook it
back； and passing her fingers through her curls； loosened them
into more numerous and flowing ringlets。 Then she went on with
vivacity：—
Rosalie； I was coming to tell you to go instantly and close the
windows of the salon； the wind is rising； and the muslin curtains
will be covered with dust。”
Rosalie departed。 “Now；” thought I； “this will not do； Mdlle
Reuter thinks her meanness in eaves…dropping is screened by her
art in devising a pretext； whereas the muslin curtains she speaks
of are not more transparent than this same pretext。” An impulse
came over me to thrust the flimsy screen aside； and confront her
craft boldly with a word or two of plain truth。 “The rough…shod
foot treads most firmly on slippery ground；” thought I； so I
began：—
“Mademoiselle Henri has left your es
