the life of charlotte bronte-1-第42节
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ing costumes。 Every spot told an historic tale； extending back into the fabulous ages when Jan and Jannika； the aboriginal giant and giantess； looked over the wall； forty feet high； of what is now the Rue Villa Hermosa； and peered down upon the new settlers who were to turn them out of the country in which they had lived since the deluge。 The great solemn Cathedral of St。 Gudule； the religious paintings； the striking forms and ceremonies of the Romish Churchall made a deep impression on the girls； fresh from the bare walls and simple worship of Haworth Church。 And then they were indignant with themselves for having been susceptible of this impression； and their stout Protestant hearts arrayed themselves against the false Duessa that had thus imposed upon them。
The very building they occupied as pupils； in Madame Heger's pensionnat； had its own ghostly train of splendid associations； marching for ever； in shadowy procession； through and through the ancient rooms； and shaded alleys of the gardens。 From the splendour of to…day in the Rue Royale； if you turn aside； near the statue of the General Beliard； you look down four flights of broad stone steps upon the Rue d'Isabelle。 The chimneys of the houses in it are below your feet。 Opposite to the lowest flight of steps； there is a large old mansion facing you； with a spacious walled garden behindand to the right of it。 In front of this garden； on the same side as the mansion； and with great boughs of trees sweeping over their lowly roofs； is a row of small； picturesque； old…fashioned cottages； not unlike； in degree and uniformity； to the almshouses so often seen in an English country town。 The Rue d'Isabelle looks as though it had been untouched by the innovations of the builder for the last three centuries； and yet any one might drop a stone into it from the back windows of the grand modern hotels in the Rue Royale； built and furnished in the newest Parisian fashion。
In the thirteenth century； the Rue d'Isabelle was called the Fosse…aux…Chiens； and the kennels for the ducal hounds occupied the place where Madame Heger's pensionnat now stands。 A hospital （in the ancient large meaning of the word） succeeded to the kennel。 The houseless and the poor； perhaps the leprous； were received； by the brethren of a religious order； in a building on this sheltered site； and what had been a fosse for defence； was filled up with herb…gardens and orchards for upwards of a hundred years。 Then came the aristocratic guild of the cross…bow men that company the members whereof were required to prove their noble descentuntainted for so many generations； before they could be admitted into the guild； and； being admitted； were required to swear a solemn oath； that no other pastime or exercise should take up any part of their leisure； the whole of which was to be devoted to the practice of the noble art of shooting with the cross…bow。 Once a year a grand match was held； under the patronage of some saint； to whose church…steeple was affixed the bird； or semblance of a bird； to be hit by the victor。 ｛5｝ The conqueror in the game was Roi des Arbaletriers for the coming year； and received a jewelled decoration accordingly； which he was entitled to wear for twelve months； after which he restored it to the guild； to be again striven for。 The family of him who died during the year that he was king； were bound to present the decoration to the church of the patron saint of the guild； and to furnish a similar prize to be contended for afresh。 These noble cross…bow men of the middle ages formed a sort of armed guard to the powers in existence； and almost invariably took the aristocratic； in preference to the democratic side； in the numerous civil dissensions of the Flemish towns。 Hence they were protected by the authorities； and easily obtained favourable and sheltered sites for their exercise…ground。 And thus they came to occupy the old fosse； and took possession of the great orchard of the hospital； lying tranquil and sunny in the hollow below the rampart。
But； in the sixteenth century； it became necessary to construct a street through the exercise…ground of the 〃Arbaletriers du Grand Serment；〃 and； after much delay； the company were induced by the beloved Infanta Isabella to give up the requisite plot of ground。 In recompense for this； Isabellawho herself was a member of the guild； and had even shot down the bird； and been queen in 1615 made many presents to the arbaletriers； and； in return； the grateful city； which had long wanted a nearer road to St。 Gudule； but been baffled by the noble archers； called the street after her name。 She； as a sort of indemnification to the arbaletriers； caused a 〃great mansion〃 to be built for their accommodation in the new Rue d'Isabelle。 This mansion was placed in front of their exercise…ground； and was of a square shape。 On a remote part of the walls； may still be read …
PHILLIPPO IIII。 HISPAN。 REGE。 ISABELLA…CLARA…EUGENIA HISPAN。 INFANS。 MAGNAE GULDAE REGINA GULDAE FRATRIBUS POSUIT。
In that mansion were held all the splendid feasts of the Grand Serment des Arbaletriers。 The master…archer lived there constantly； in order to be ever at hand to render his services to the guild。 The great saloon was also used for the court balls and festivals； when the archers were not admitted。 The Infanta caused other and smaller houses to be built in her new street； to serve as residences for her 〃garde noble；〃 and for her 〃garde bourgeoise；〃 a small habitation each； some of which still remain； to remind us of English almshouses。 The 〃great mansion；〃 with its quadrangular form； the spacious saloononce used for the archducal balls； where the dark； grave Spaniards mixed with the blond nobility of Brabant and Flandersnow a school…room for Belgian girls； the cross…bow men's archery…groundall are there the pensionnat of Madame Heger。
This lady was assisted in the work of instruction by her husband a kindly； wise； good； and religious manwhose acquaintance I am glad to have made； and who has furnished me with some interesting details； from his wife's recollections and his own； of the two Miss Bronte during their residence in Brussels。 He had the better opportunities of watching them； from his giving lessons in the French language and literature in the school。 A short extract from a letter； written to me by a French lady resident in Brussels； and well qualified to judge； will help to show the estimation in which he is held。
〃Je ne connais pas personnellement M。 Heger； mais je sais qu'il est peu de caracteres aussi nobles； aussi admirables que le sien。 Il est un des membres les plus zeles de cette Societe de S。 Vincent de Paul dont je t'ai deje parle； et ne se contente pas de servir les pauvres et les malades； mais leur consacre encore les soirees。 Apres des journees absorbees tout entieres par les devoirs que sa place lui impose； il reunit les pauvres； les ouvriers； leur donne des cours gratuits； et trouve encore le moyen de les amuser en les instruisant。 Ce devouement te dira assez que M。 Heger est profondement et ouvertement religieux。 Il a des manieres franches et avenantes； il se fait aimer de tous ceux qui l'approchent； et surtout des enfants。 Il a la parole facile； et possde e un haut degre l'eloquence du bon sens et du coeur。 Il n'est point auteur。 Homme de zele et de conscience； il vient de se demettre des fonctions elevees et lucratives qu'il exercait e l'Athenee； celles de Prefet des Etudes； parce qu'il ne peut y realiser le bien qu'il avait espere； introduire l'enseignement religieux dans le programme des etudes。 J'ai vu une fois Madame Heger； qui a quelque chose de froid et de compasse dans son maintien； et qui previent peu en sa faveur。 Je la crois pourtant aimee et appreciee par ses eleves。〃
There were from eighty to a hundred pupils in the pensionnat； when Charlotte and Emily Bronte entered in February 1842。
M。 Heger's account is that they knew nothing of French。 I suspect they knew as much （or as little）； for all conversational purposes； as any English girls do； who have never been abroad； and have only learnt the idioms and pronunciation from an Englishwoman。 The two sisters clung together； and kept apart from the herd of happy； boisterous； well…befriended Belgian girls； who； in their turn； thought the new English pupils wild and scared…looking； with strange； odd； insular ideas about dress； for Emily had taken a fancy to the fashion； ugly and preposterous even during its reign； of gigot sleves； and persisted in wearing them long after they were 〃gone out。〃 Her petticoats； too； had not a curve or a wave in them； but hung down straight and long； clinging to her lank figure。 The sisters spoke to no one but from necessity。 They were too full of earnest thought； and of the exile's sick yearning； to be ready for careless conversation or merry game。 M。 Heger； who had done little but observe； during the few first weeks of their residence in the Rue d'Isabelle； perceived that with their unusual characters； and extraordinary talents； a different mode must be adopted from that in which he generally taught French to English girls。 He seems to have rated Emily's genius as something even higher than Charlotte's； and her estimation of thei
