the professor(教授)-第52章
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revelation of the inward glow—to seek； demand； elicit an
answering ardour。 While musing thus； I thought that the grass on
Hermon never drank the fresh dews of sunset more gratefully
than my feelings drank the bliss of this hour。
Frances rose； as if restless； she passed before me to stir the fire；
which did not want stirring； she lifted and put down the little
ornaments on the mantelpiece； her dress waved within a yard of
me； slight； straight； and elegant； she stood erect on the hearth。
There are impulses we can control； but there are others which
control us； because they attain us with a tiger…leap； and are our
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masters ere we have seen them。 Perhaps； though； such impulses
are seldom altogether bad； perhaps Reason； by a process as brief
as quiet； a process that is finished ere felt； has ascertained the
sanity of the deed Instinct meditates； and feels justified in
remaining passive while it is performed。 I know I did not reason； I
did not plan or intend； yet； whereas one moment I was sitting
solus on the chair near the table； the next； I held Frances on my
knee； placed there with sharpness and decision； and retained with
exceeding tenacity。
“Monsieur！” cried Frances； and was still： not another word
escaped her lips； sorely confounded she seemed during the lapse
of the first few moments； but the amazement soon subsided； terror
did not succeed； nor fury： after all； she was only a little nearer than
she had ever been before； to one she habitually respected and
trusted； embarrassment might have impelled her to contend； but
self…respect checked resistance where resistance was useless。
“Frances； how much regard have you for me？” was my
demand。 No answer； the situation was yet too new and surprising
to permit speech。 On this consideration； I compelled myself for
some seconds to tolerate her silence； though impatient of it：
presently； I repeated the same question—probably； not in the
calmest of tones； she looked at me； my face； doubtless； was no
model of composure； my eyes no still wells of tranquillity。
“Do speak；” I urged； and a very low； hurried； yet still arch voice
said—
“Monsieur； vous me faites mal； de grace lachez un peu ma main
droite。”
In truth I became aware that I was holding the said “main
droite” in a somewhat ruthless grasp： I did as desired； and； for the
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third time； asked more gently—
“Frances； how much regard have you for me？”
“Mon maitre； j’en ai beaucoup；” was the truthful rejoinder。
“Frances； have you enough to give yourself to me as my wife？—
to accept me as your husband？”
I felt the agitation of the heart； I saw “the purple light of love”
cast its glowing reflection on cheeks； temples； neck； I desired to
consult the eye； but sheltering lash and lid forbade。
“Monsieur；” said the soft voice at last；—“Monsieur désire savoir
si je consens—si—enfin； si je veux me marier avec lui？”
“Justement。”
“Monsieur sera…t…il aussi bon mari qu’il a été bon maitre？”
“I will try； Frances。”
A pause； then with a new； yet still subdued inflexion of the
voice—an inflexion which provoked while it pleased me—
accompanied； too； by a “sourire a la fois fin et timide” in perfect
harmony with the tone：—
“C’est…à…dire； monsieur sera toujours un peu entêté exigeant；
volontaire—？”
“Have I been so； Frances？”
“Mais oui； vous le savez bien。”
“Have I been nothing else？”
“Mais oui； vons avez été mon meilleur ami。”
“And what； Frances； are you to me？”
“Votre dévouée élève； qui vous aime de tout son coeur。”
“Will my pupil consent to pass her life with me？ Speak English
now； Frances。”
Some moments were taken for reflection； the answer；
pronounced slowly； ran thus：—
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“You have always made me happy； I like to hear you speak； I
like to see you； I like to be near you； I believe you are very good；
and very superior； I know you are stern to those who are careless
and idle； but you are kind； very kind to the attentive and
industrious； even if they are not clever。 Master； I should be glad to
live with you always；” and she made a sort of movement； as if she
would have clung to me； but restraining herself she only added
with earnest emphasis—“Master； I consent to pass my life with
you。”
“Very well； Frances。”
I drew her a little nearer to my heart； I took a first kiss from her
lips； thereby sealing the compact； now framed between us；
afterwards she and I were silent； nor was our silence brief。
Frances’ thoughts； during this interval； I know not； nor did I
attempt to guess them； I was not occupied in searching her
countenance； nor in otherwise troubling her composure。 The
peace I felt； I wished her to feel； my arm； it is true； still detained
her； but with a restraint that was gentle enough； so long as no
opposition tightened it。 My gaze was on the red fire； my heart was
measuring its own content； it sounded and sounded； and found the
depth fathomless。
“Monsieur；” at last said my quiet companion； as stirless in her
happiness as a mouse in its terror。 Even now in speaking she
scarcely lifted her head。
“Well； Frances？” I like unexaggerated intercourse； it is not my
way to overpower with amorous epithets； any more than to worry
with selfishly importunate caresses。
“Monsieur est raisonnable； n’est…ce pas？”
“Yes； especially when I am requested to be so in English： but
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why do you ask me？ You see nothing vehement or obtrusive in my
manner； am I not tranquil enough？”
“Ce n’est pas cela—” began Frances。
“English！” I reminded her。
“Well； monsieur； I wished merely to say； that I should like； of
course； to retain my employment of teaching。 You will teach still； I
suppose； monsieur？”
“Oh； yes！ It is all I have to depend on。”
“Bon！—I mean good。 Thus we shall have both the same
profession。 I like that； and my efforts to get on will be as
unrestrained as yours—will they not； monsieur？”
“You are laying plans to be independent of me；” said I。
“Yes； monsieur； I must be no incumbrance to you—no burden
in any way。”
“But； Frances； I have not yet told you what my prospects are。 I
have left M。 Pelet’s； and after nearly a month’s seeking； I have got
another place； with a salary of three thousand francs a year； which
I can easily double by a little additional exertion。 Thus you see it
would be useless for you to fag yourself by going out to give
lessons； on six thousand francs you and I can live； and live well。”
Frances seemed to consider。 There is something flattering to
man’s strength； something consonant to his honourable pride； in
the idea of becoming the providence of what he loves—feeding
and clothing it； as God does the lilies of the field。 So； to decide her
resolution； I went on：—
“Life has been painful and laborious enough to you so far；
Frances； you require complete rest； your twelve hundred francs
would not form a very important addition to our income； and what
sacrifice of comfort to earn it！ Relinquish your labours： you must
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be weary； and let me have the happiness of giving you rest。”
I am not sure whether Frances had accorded due attention to
my harangue； instead of answering me with her usual respectful
promptitude； she only sighed and said；—
“How rich you are； monsieur！” and then she stirred uneasy in
my arms。 “Three thousand francs！” she murmured； “While I get
only twelve hundred！” She went on faster。 “However； it must be so
for the present； and； monsieur； were you not saying something
about my giving up my place？ Oh no！ I shall hold it fast；” and her
little fingers emphatically tightened on mine。
“Think of my marrying you to be kept by you； monsieur！ I could
not do it； and how dull my days would be！ You would be away
teaching in close； noisy school…rooms； from morning till evening；
and I should be lingering at home； unemployed and solitary； I
should get depressed and sullen； and you would soon tire of me。”
“Frances； you could read and study—two things you like so
well。”
“Monsieur； I could not； I like a contemplative life； but I like an
active life better； I must act in some way； and act with you。 I have
taken notice； monsieur； that people who are only in each other’s
company for amusement； never really like each other so well； or
esteem each other so highly； as those who work together； and
perhaps suffer together。”
“You speak God’s truth；” said I at last； “and you shall have your
own way； for it is the best way。 Now； as a reward for such ready
consent； give me a volunt
