the professor(教授)-第41节
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even to me。”
“Well； mademoiselle—what then？ Proceed。”
“Mais； monsieur； vous me comprenez。”
“Not in the least； have the goodness to explain。”
“Why； monsieur； it is just so。 In Switzerland I have done but
little； learnt but little； and seen but little； my life there was in a
circle； I walked the same round every day； I could not get out of it；
had I rested—remained there even till my death； I should never
have enlarged it； because I am poor and not skilful； I have not
great acquirements； when I was quite tired of this round； I begged
my aunt to go to Brussels； my existence is no larger here； because
I am no richer or higher； I walk in as narrow a limit； but the scene
is changed； it would change again if I went to England。 I knew
something of the bourgeois of Geneva； now I know something of
the bourgeois of Brussels； if I went to London； I would know
something of the bourgeois of London。 Can you make any sense
out of what I say； monsieur； or is it all obscure？”
“I see； I see—now let us advert to another subject； you propose
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to devote your life to teaching； and you are a most unsuccessful
teacher； you cannot keep your pupils in order。”
A flush of painful confusion was the result of this harsh remark；
she bent her head to the desk； but soon raising it replied—
“Monsieur； I am not a skilful teacher； it is true； but practice
improves； besides； I work under difficulties； here I only teach
sewing； I can show no power in sewing； no superiority—it is a
subordinate art； then I have no associates in this house； I am
isolated； I am too a heretic； which deprives me of influence。”
“And in England you would be a foreigner； that too would
deprive you of influence； and would effectually separate you from
all round you； in England you would have as few connections； as
little importance as you have here。”
“But I should be learning something； for the rest； there are
probably difficulties for such as I everywhere； and if I must
contend； and perhaps： be conquered； I would rather submit to
English pride than to Flemish coarseness； besides； monsieur—”
She stopped—not evidently from any difficulty in finding words
to express herself； but because discretion seemed to say； “You
have said enough。”
“Finish your phrase；” I urged。
“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
