the professor(教授)-第46节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
another English master—at the close of August； I shall be under
the necessity of resigning my post in your establishment。”
I did not wait for her comments on this announcement； but
bowed and immediately withdrew。
That same evening； soon after dinner； a servant brought me a
small packet； it was directed in a hand I knew； but had not hoped
so soon to see again； being in my own apartment and alone； there
was nothing to prevent my immediately opening it； it contained
four five…franc pieces； and a note in English。
“MONSIEUR；—“I came to Mdlle Reuter’s house yesterday； at the
time when I knew you would be just about finishing your lesson；
and I asked if I might go into the schoolroom and speak to you。
Mdlle Reuter came out and said you were already gone； it had not
yet struck four； so I thought she must be mistaken； but concluded
it would be vain to call another day on the same errand。 In one
sense a note will do as well—it will wrap up the 20 francs； the price
of the lessons I have received from you； and if it will not fully
express the thanks I owe you in addition—if it will not bid you
good…bye as I could wish to have done—if it will not tell you； as I
long to do； how sorry I am that I shall probably never see you
more—why； spoken words would hardly be more adequate to the
task。 Had I seen you； I should probably have stammered out
something feeble and unsatisfactory—something belying my
feelings rather than explaining them； so it is perhaps as well that I
was denied admission to your presence。 You often remarked；
monsieur； that my devoirs dwelt a great deal on fortitude in
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 193…
The Professor 193
bearing grief—you said I introduced that theme too often： I find
indeed that it is much easier to write about a severe duty than to
perform it； for I am oppressed when I see and feel to what a
reverse fate has condemned me； you were kind to me； monsieur—
very kind； I am afflicted—I am heart…broken to be quite separated
from you； soon I shall have no friend on earth。 But it is useless
troubling you with my distresses。 What claim have I on your
sympathy？ None； I will then say no more。—Farewell； Monsieur。
“F。 E。 HENRI。”
I put up the note in my pocket…book。 I slipped the five…franc
pieces into my purse—then I took a turn through my narrow
chamber。
“Mdlle Reuter talked about her poverty；” said I； “and she is
poor； yet she pays her debts and more。 I have not yet given her a
quarter’s lessons； and she has sent me a quarter’s due。 I wonder of
what she deprived herself to scrape together the twenty francs—I
wonder what sort of a place she has to live in； and what sort of a
woman her aunt is； and whether she is likely to get employment to
supply the place she has lost。 No doubt she will have to trudge
about long enough from school to school； to inquire here； and
apply there—be rejected in this place； disappointed in that。 Many
an evening she’ll go to her bed tired and unsuccessful。 And the
directress would not let her in to bid me good…bye？ I might not
have the chance of standing with her for a few minutes at a
window in the schoolroom and exchanging some half…dozen of
sentences—getting to know where she lived—putting matters in
train for having all things arranged to my mind？ No address on
the note”—I continued； drawing it again from the pocket…book and
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 194…
The Professor 194
examining it on each side of the two leaves： “women are women；
that is certain； and always do business like women； men
mechanically put a date and address to their communications。
And these five…franc pieces？”—（I hauled them forth from my
purse）—“if she had offered me them herself instead of tying them
up with a thread of green silk in a kind of Lilliputian packet； I
could have thrust them back into her little hand； and shut up the
small； taper fingers over them—so—and compelled her shame； her
pride； her shyness； all to yield to a little bit of determined Will—
now where is she？ How can I get at her？”
Opening my chamber door I walked down into the kitchen。
“Who brought the packet ？” I asked of the servant who had
delivered it to me。
“Un petit commissionaire； monsieur。”
“Did he say anything？”
“Rien。”
And I wended my way up the back…stairs； wondrously the wiser
for my inquiries。
“No matter；” said I to myself； as I again closed the door。 “No
matter—I’ll seek her through Brussels。”
And I did。 I sought her day by day whenever I had a moment’s
leisure； for four weeks； I sought her on Sundays all day long； I
sought her on the Boulevards； in the Allée Verte； in the Park； I
sought her in Ste。 Gudule and St。 Jacques； I sought her in the two
Protestant chapels； I attended these latter at the German； French；
and English services； not doubting that I should meet her at one of
them。 All my researches were absolutely fruitless； my security on
the last point was proved by the event to be equally groundless
with my other calculations。 I stood at the door of each chapel after
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 195…
The Professor 195
the service； and waited till every individual had come out；
scrutinizing every gown draping a slender form； peering under
every bonnet covering a young head。 In vain； I saw girlish figures
pass me； drawing their black scarfs over their sloping shoulders；
but none of them had the exact turn and air of Mdlle Henri’s； I saw
pale and thoughtful faces “encadrées” in bands of brown hair； but
I never found her forehead； her eyes； her eyebrows。 All the
features of all the faces I met seemed frittered away； because my
eye failed to recognize the peculiarities it was bent upon； an ample
space of brow and a large； dark； and serious eye； with a fine but
decided line of eyebrow traced above。
“She has probably left Brussels—perhaps is gone to England；
as she said she would；” muttered I inwardly； as on the afternoon of
the fourth Sunday； I turned from the door of the chapel…royal
which the door…keeper had just closed and locked； and followed in
the wake of the last of the congregation； now dispersed and
dispersing over the square。 I had soon outwalked the couples of
English gentlemen and ladies。 （Gracious goodness！ why don’t they
dress better？ My eye is yet filled with visions of the high…flounced；
slovenly； and tumbled dresses in costly silk and satin； of the large
unbecoming collars in expensive lace； of the ill…cut coats and
strangely fashioned pantaloons which every Sunday； at the
English service； filled the choirs of the chapel…royal； and after it；
issuing forth into the square； came into disadvantageous contrast
with freshly and trimly attired foreign figures； hastening to attend
salut at the church of Coburg。） I had passed these pairs of Britons；
and the groups of pretty British children； and the British footmen
and waiting…maids； I had crossed the Place Royale； and got into
the Rue Royale； thence I had diverged into the Rue de Louvain—
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 196…
The Professor 196
