the professor(教授)-第17节
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having studied French under a Frenchman； I could speak the
language intelligibly though not fluently。 I could also read it well；
and write it decently。
“Then；” pursued Mr。 Brown； “I think I can promise you the
place； for Monsieur Pelet will not refuse a professor recommended
by me； but come here again at five o’clock this afternoon； and I
will introduce you to him。”
The word “professor” struck me。 “I am not a professor；” said I。
“Oh；” returned Mr。 Brown； “professor； here in Belgium； means
a teacher； that is all。”
My conscience thus quieted； I thanked Mr。 Brown； and； for the
present； withdrew。 This time I stepped out into the street with a
relieved heart； the task I had imposed on myself for that day was
executed。 I might now take some hours of holiday。 I felt free to
look up。 For the first time I remarked the sparkling clearness of
the air； the deep blue of the sky； the gay clean aspect of the white…
washed or painted houses； I saw what a fine street was the Rue
Royale； and； walking leisurely along its broad pavement； I
continued to survey its stately hotels； till the palisades； the gates；
and trees of the park appearing in sight； offered to my eye a new
attraction。 I remember； before entering the park； I stood awhile to
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contemplate the statue of General Belliard； and then I advanced to
the top of the great staircase just beyond； and I looked down into a
narrow back street； which I afterwards learnt was called the Rue
d’Isabelle。 I well recollect that my eye rested on the green door of
a rather large house opposite； where； on a brass plate； was
inscribed； “Pensionnat de Demoiselles。” Pensionnat！ The word
excited an uneasy sensation in my mind； it seemed to speak of
restraint。 Some of the demoiselles； externats no doubt； were at
that moment issuing from the door—I looked for a pretty face
amongst them； but their close； little French bonnets hid their
features； in a moment they were gone。
I had traversed a good deal of Brussels before five o’clock
arrived； but punctually as that hour struck I was again in the Rue
Royale。 Re…admitted to Mr。 Brown’s breakfast…room； I found him；
as before； seated at the table； and he was not alone—a gentleman
stood by the hearth。 Two words of introduction designated him as
my future master。 “M。 Pelet； Mr。 Crimsworth； Mr。 Crimsworth； M。
Pelet” a bow on each side finished the ceremony。 I don’t know
what sort of a bow I made； an ordinary one； I suppose； for I was in
a tranquil； commonplace frame of mind； I felt none of the agitation
which had troubled my first interview with Edward Crimsworth。
M。 Pelet’s bow was extremely polite； yet not theatrical； scarcely
French； he and I were presently seated opposite to each other。 In a
pleasing voice； low； and； out of consideration to my foreign ears；
very distinct and deliberate； M。 Pelet intimated that he had just
been receiving from “le respectable M。 Brown；” an account of my
attainments and character； which relieved him from all scruple as
to the propriety of engaging me as professor of English and Latin
in his establishment； nevertheless； for form’s sake； he would put a
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few questions to test； my powers。 He did； and expressed in
flattering terms his satisfaction at my answers。 The subject of
salary next came on； it was fixed at one thousand francs per
annum； besides board and lodging。 “And in addition；” suggested
M。 Pelet； “as there will be some hours in each day during which
your services will not be required in my establishment； you may；
in time； obtain employment in other seminaries； and thus turn
your vacant moments to profitable account。”
I thought this very kind； and indeed I found afterwards that the
terms on which M。 Pelet had engaged me were really liberal for
Brussels； instruction being extremely cheap there on account of
the number of teachers。 It was further arranged that I should be
installed in my new post the very next day； after which M。 Pelet
and I parted。
Well； and what was he like？ and what were my impressions
concerning him？ He was a man of about forty years of age； of
middle size； and rather emaciated figure； his face was pale； his
cheeks were sunk； and his eyes hollow； his features were pleasing
and regular； they had a French turn （for M。 Pelet was no Fleming；
but a Frenchman both by birth and parentage）； yet the degree of
harshness inseparable from Gallic lineaments was； in his case；
softened by a mild blue eye； and a melancholy； almost suffering；
expression of countenance； his physiognomy was ‘fine et
spirituelle’。 I use two French words because they define better
than any English terms the species of intelligence with which his
features were imbued。 He was altogether an interesting and
prepossessing personage。 I wondered only at the utter absence of
all the ordinary characteristics of his profession； and almost feared
he could not be stern and resolute enough for a schoolmaster。
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Externally at least M。 Pelet presented an absolute contrast to my
late master； Edward Crimsworth。
Influenced by the impression I had received of his gentleness； I
was a good deal surprised when； on arriving the next day at my
new employer’s house； and being admitted to a first view of what
was to be the sphere of my future labours； namely the large； lofty；
and well lighted schoolrooms； I beheld a numerous assemblage of
pupils； boys of course； whose collective appearance showed all the
signs of a full； flourishing； and well…disciplined seminary。 As I
traversed the classes in company with M。 Pelet； a profound silence
reigned on all sides； and if by chance a murmur or a whisper
arose； one glance from the pensive eye of this most gentle
pedagogue stilled it instantly。 It was astonishing； I thought； how so
mild a check could prove so effectual。 When I had perambulated
the length and breadth of the classes； M。 Pelet turned and said to
me—
“Would you object to taking the boys as they are； and testing
their proficiency in English？”
The proposal was unexpected。 I had thought I should have been
allowed at least a day to prepare； but it is a bad omen to
commence any career by hesitation； so I just stepped to the
professor’s desk near which we stood； and faced the circle of my
pupils。 I took a moment to collect my thoughts； and likewise to
frame in French the sentence by which I proposed to open
business。 I made it as short as possible：—
“Messieurs； prenez vos livres de lecture。”
“Anglais ou Francais； monsieur？” demanded a thickset； moon…
faced young Flamand in a blouse。 The answer was fortunately
easy：—
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“Anglais。”
I determined to give myself as little trouble as possible in this
lesson； it would not do yet to trust my unpractised tongue with the
delivery of explanations； my accent and idiom would be too open
to the criticisms of the young gentlemen before me； relative to
whom I felt already it would be necessary at once to take up an
advantageous
