bytwelve
hours
for
your
numerous
duties
?
”
“
Not
often
.
Mdlle
.
Henri’s
departure
was
not
voluntary
,
I
presume
?
If
it
had
been
,
she
would
certainly
have
given
me
some
intimation
of
it
,
being
my
pupil
.
”
“
Oh
,
did
she
not
tell
you
?
that
was
strange
;
for
my
part
,
I
never
thought
of
adverting
to
the
subject
;
when
one
has
so
many
things
to
attend
to
,
one
is
apt
to
forget
little
incidents
that
are
not
of
primary
importance
.
”
“
You
consider
Mdlle
.
Henri’s
dismission
,
then
,
as
a
very
insignificant
event
?
”
“
Dismission
?
Ah
!
she
was
not
dismissed
;
I
can
say
with
truth
,
monsieur
,
that
since
I
became
the
head
of
this
establishment
no
master
or
teacher
has
ever
been
dismissed
from
it
.
”
“
Yet
some
have
left
it
,
mademoiselle
?
”
“
Many
;
I
have
found
it
necessary
to
change
frequently
—
a
change
of
instructors
is
often
beneficial
to
the
interests
of
a
school
;
it
gives
life
and
variety
to
the
proceedings
;
it
amuses
the
pupils
,
and
suggests
to
the
parents
the
idea
of
exertion
and
progress
.
”
“
Yet
when
you
are
tired
of
a
professor
or
maitresse
,
you
scruple
to
dismiss
them
?
”
“
No
need
to
have
recourse
to
such
extreme
measures
,
I
assure
you
.
Allons
,
monsieur
le
professeur
—
asseyons-nous
;
je
vais
vous
donner
une
petite
lecon
dans
votre
etat
d’instituteur
.
”
(
I
wish
I
might
write
all
she
said
to
me
in
French
—
it
loses
sadly
by
being
translated
into
English
.
)
We
had
now
reached
the
garden-chair
;
the
directress
sat
down
,
and
signed
to
me
to
sit
by
her
,
but
I
only
rested
my
knee
on
the
seat
,
and
stood
leaning
my
head
and
arm
against
the
embowering
branch
of
a
huge
laburnum
,
whose
golden
flowers
,
blent
with
the
dusky
green
leaves
of
a
lilac-bush
,
formed
a
mixed
arch
of
shade
and
sunshine
over
the
retreat
.
Mdlle
.
Reuter
sat
silent
a
moment
;
some
novel
movements
were
evidently
working
in
her
mind
,
and
they
showed
their
nature
on
her
astute
brow
;
she
was
meditating
some
chef
d’oeuvre
of
policy
.
Convinced
by
several
months’
experience
that
the
affectation
of
virtues
she
did
not
possess
was
unavailing
to
ensnare
me
—
aware
that
I
had
read
her
real
nature
,
and
would
believe
nothing
of
the
character
she
gave
out
as
being
hers
—
she
had
determined
,
at
last
,
to
try
a
new
key
,
and
see
if
the
lock
of
my
heart
would
yield
to
that
;
a
little
audacity
,
a
word
of
truth
,
a
glimpse
of
the
real
.
“
Yes
,
I
will
try
,
”
was
her
inward
resolve
;
and
then
her
blue
eye
glittered
upon
me
—
it
did
not
flash
—
nothing
of
flame
ever
kindled
in
its
temperate
gleam
.
“
Monsieur
fears
to
sit
by
me
?
”
she
inquired
playfully
.
“
I
have
no
wish
to
usurp
Pelet’s
place
,
”
I
answered
,
for
I
had
got
the
habit
of
speaking
to
her
bluntly
—
a
habit
begun
in
anger
,
but
continued
because
I
saw
that
,
instead
of
offending
,
it
fascinated
her
.
She
cast
down
her
eyes
,
and
drooped
her
eyelids
;
she
sighed
uneasily
;
she
turned
with
an
anxious
gesture
,
as
if
she
would
give
me
the
idea
of
a
bird
that
flutters
in
its
cage
,
and
would
fain
fly
from
its
jail
and
jailer
,
and
seek
its
natural
mate
and
pleasant
nest
.
“
Well
—
and
your
lesson
?
”
I
demanded
briefly
.
“
Ah
!
”
she
exclaimed
,
recovering
herself
,
“
you
are
so
young
,
so
frank
and
fearless
,
so
talented
,
so
impatient
of
imbecility
,
so
disdainful
of
vulgarity
,
you
need
a
lesson
;
here
it
is
then
:
far
more
is
to
be
done
in
this
world
by
dexterity
than
by
strength
;
but
,
perhaps
,
you
knew
that
before
,
for
there
is
delicacy
as
well
as
power
in
your
character
—
policy
,
as
well
as
pride
?
”
“
Go
on
,
”
said
I
;
and
I
could
hardly
help
smiling
,
the
flattery
was
so
piquant
,
so
finely
seasoned
.
She
caught
the
prohibited
smile
,
though
I
passed
my
hand
over
my
month
to
conceal
it
;
and
again
she
made
room
for
me
to
sit
beside
her
.
I
shook
my
head
,
though
temptation
penetrated
to
my
senses
at
the
moment
,
and
once
more
I
told
her
to
go
on
.
“
Well
,
then
,
if
ever
you
are
at
the
head
of
a
large
establishment
,
dismiss
nobody
.
To
speak
truth
,
monsieur
(
and
to
you
I
will
speak
truth
)
,
I
despise
people
who
are
always
making
rows
,
blustering
,
sending
off
one
to
the
right
,
and
another
to
the
left
,
urging
and
hurrying
circumstances
.
I’ll
tell
you
what
I
like
best
to
do
,
monsieur
,
shall
I
?
”
She
looked
up
again
;
she
had
compounded
her
glance
well
this
time
—
much
archness
,
more
deference
,
a
spicy
dash
of
coquetry
,
an
unveiled
consciousness
of
capacity
.
I
nodded
;
she
treated
me
like
the
great
Mogul
;
so
I
became
the
great
Mogul
as
far
as
she
was
concerned
.
“
I
like
,
monsieur
,
to
take
my
knitting
in
my
hands
,
and
to
sit
quietly
down
in
my
chair
;
circumstances
defile
past
me
;
I
watch
their
march
;
so
long
as
they
follow
the
course
I
wish
,
I
say
nothing
,
and
do
nothing
;
I
don’t
clap
my
hands
,
and
cry
out
‘Bravo
!
How
lucky
I
am
!
’
to
attract
the
attention
and
envy
of
my
neighbours
—
I
am
merely
passive
;
but
when
events
fall
out
ill
—
when
circumstances
become
adverse
—
I
watch
very
vigilantly
;
I
knit
on
still
,
and
still
I
hold
my
tongue
;
but
every
now
and
then
,
monsieur
,
I
just
put
my
toe
out
—
so
—
and
give
the
rebellious
circumstance
a
little
secret
push
,
without
noise
,
which
sends
it
the
way
I
wish
,
and
I
am
successful
after
all
,
and
nobody
has
seen
my
expedient
.
So
,
when
teachers
or
masters
become
troublesome
and
inefficient
—
when
,
in
short
,
the
interests
of
the
school
would
suffer
from
their
retaining
their
places
—
I
mind
my
knitting
,
events
progress
,
circumstances
glide
past
;
I
see
one
which
,
if
pushed
ever
so
little
awry
,
will
render
untenable
the
post
I
wish
to
have
vacated
—
the
deed
is
done
—
the
stumbling-block
removed
—
and
no
one
saw
me
:
I
have
not
made
an
enemy
,
I
am
rid
of
an
incumbrance
.
”
A
moment
since
,
and
I
thought
her
alluring
;
this
speech
concluded
,
I
looked
on
her
with
distaste
.
“
Just
like
you
,
”
was
my
cold
answer
.
“
And
in
this
way
you
have
ousted
Mdlle
.
Henri
?
You
wanted
her
office
,
therefore
you
rendered
it
intolerable
to
her
?
”
“
Not
at
all
,
monsieur
,
I
was
merely
anxious
about
Mdlle
.
Henri’s
health
;
no
,
your
moral
sight
is
clear
and
piercing
,
but
there
you
have
failed
to
discover
the
truth
.
I
took
—
I
have
always
taken
a
real
interest
in
Mdlle
.
Henri’s
welfare
;
I
did
not
like
her
going
out
in
all
weathers
;
I
thought
it
would
be
more
advantageous
for
her
to
obtain
a
permanent
situation
;
besides
,
I
considered
her
now
qualified
to
do
something
more
than
teach
sewing
.
I
reasoned
with
her
;
left
the
decision
to
herself
;
she
saw
the
correctness
of
my
views
,
and
adopted
them
.
”
“
Excellent
!
and
now
,
mademoiselle
,
you
will
have
the
goodness
to
give
me
her
address
.
”
“
Her
address
!
”
and
a
sombre
and
stony
change
came
over
the
mien
of
the
directress
.
“
Her
address
?
Ah
?
—
well
—
I
wish
I
could
oblige
you
,
monsieur
,
but
I
cannot
,
and
I
will
tell
you
why
;
whenever
I
myself
asked
her
for
her
address
,
she
always
evaded
the
inquiry
.
I
thought
—
I
may
be
wrong
—
but
I
thought
her
motive
for
doing
so
,
was
a
natural
,
though
mistaken
reluctance
to
introduce
me
to
some
,
probably
,
very
poor
abode
;
her
means
were
narrow
,
her
origin
obscure
;
she
lives
somewhere
,
doubtless
,
in
the
‘basse
ville.’
”
“
I’ll
not
lose
sight
of
my
best
pupil
yet
,
”
said
I
,
“
though
she
were
born
of
beggars
and
lodged
in
a
cellar
;
for
the
rest
,
it
is
absurd
to
make
a
bugbear
of
her
origin
to
me
—
I
happen
to
know
that
she
was
a
Swiss
pastor’s
daughter
,
neither
more
nor
less
;
and
,
as
to
her
narrow
means
,
I
care
nothing
for
the
poverty
of
her
purse
so
long
as
her
heart
overflows
with
affluence
.
”
“
Your
sentiments
are
perfectly
noble
,
monsieur
,
”
said
the
directress
,
affecting
to
suppress
a
yawn
;
her
sprightliness
was
now
extinct
,
her
temporary
candour
shut
up
;
the
little
,
red-coloured
,
piratical-looking
pennon
of
audacity
she
had
allowed
to
float
a
minute
in
the
air
,
was
furled
,
and
the
broad
,
sober-hued
flag
of
dissimulation
again
hung
low
over
the
citadel
.
I
did
not
like
her
thus
,
so
I
cut
short
the
tête-à-tête
and
departed
.
CHAPTER
XIX
.
NOVELISTS
should
never
allow
themselves
to
weary
of
the
study
of
real
life
.
If
they
observed
this
duty
conscientiously
,
they
would
give
us
fewer
pictures
chequered
with
vivid
contrasts
of
light
and
shade
;
they
would
seldom
elevate
their
heroes
and
heroines
to
the
heights
of
rapture
—
still
seldomer
sink
them
to
the
depths
of
despair
;
for
if
we
rarely
taste
the
fulness
of
joy
in
this
life
,
we
yet
more
rarely
savour
the
acrid
bitterness
of
hopeless
anguish
;
unless
,
indeed
,
we
have
plunged
like
beasts
into
sensual
indulgence
,
abused
,
strained
,
stimulated
,
again
overstrained
,
and
,
at
last
,
destroyed
our
faculties
for
enjoyment
;
then
,
truly
,
we
may
find
ourselves
without
support
,
robbed
of
hope
.
Our
agony
is
great
,
and
how
can
it
end
?
We
have
broken
the
spring
of
our
powers
;
life
must
be
all
suffering
—
too
feeble
to
conceive
faith
—
death
must
be
darkness
—
God
,
spirits
,
religion
can
have
no
place
in
our
collapsed
minds
,
where
linger
only
hideous
and
polluting
recollections
of
vice
;
and
time
brings
us
on
to
the
brink
of
the
grave
,
and
dissolution
flings
us
in
—
a
rag
eaten
through
and
through
with
disease
,
wrung
together
with
pain
,
stamped
into
the
churchyard
sod
by
the
inexorable
heel
of
despair
.
But
the
man
of
regular
life
and
rational
mind
never
despairs
.
He
loses
his
property
—
it
is
a
blow
—
he
staggers
a
moment
;
then
,
his
energies
,
roused
by
the
smart
,
are
at
work
to
seek
a
remedy
;
activity
soon
mitigates
regret
.
Sickness
affects
him
;
he
takes
patience
—
endures
what
he
cannot
cure
.
Acute
pain
racks
him
;
his
writhing
limbs
know
not
where
to
find
rest
;
he
leans
on
Hope’s
anchors
.
Death
takes
from
him
what
he
loves
;
roots
up
,
and
tears
violently
away
the
stem
round
which
his
affections
were
twined
—
a
dark
,
dismal
time
,
a
frightful
wrench
—
but
some
morning
Religion
looks
into
his
desolate
house
with
sunrise
,
and
says
,
that
in
another
world
,
another
life
,
he
shall
meet
his
kindred
again
.
She
speaks
of
that
world
as
a
place
unsullied
by
sin
—
of
that
life
,
as
an
era
unembittered
by
suffering
;
she
mightily
strengthens
her
consolation
by
connecting
with
it
two
ideas
—
which
mortals
cannot
comprehend
,
but
on
which
they
love
to
repose
—
Eternity
,
Immortality
;
and
the
mind
of
the
mourner
,
being
filled
with
an
image
,
faint
yet
glorious
,
of
heavenly
hills
all
light
and
peace
—
of
a
spirit
resting
there
in
bliss
—
of
a
day
when
his
spirit
shall
also
alight
there
,
free
and
disembodied
—
of
a
reunion
perfected
by
love
,
purified
from
fear
—
he
takes
courage
—
goes
out
to
encounter
the
necessities
and
discharge
the
duties
of
life
;
and
,
though
sadness
may
never
lift
her
burden
from
his
mind
,
Hope
will
enable
him
to
support
it
.
Well
—
and
what
suggested
all
this
?
and
what
is
the
inference
to
be
drawn
therefrom
?
What
suggested
it
,
is
the
circumstance
of
my
best
pupil
—
my
treasure
—
being
snatched
from
my
hands
,
and
put
away
out
of
my
reach
;
the
inference
to
be
drawn
from
it
is
—
that
,
being
a
steady
,
reasonable
man
,
I
did
not
allow
the
resentment
,
disappointment
,
and
grief
,
engendered
in
my
mind
by
this
evil
chance
,
to
grow
there
to
any
monstrous
size
;
nor
did
I
allow
them
to
monopolize
the
whole
space
of
my
heart
;
I
pent
them
,
on
the
contrary
,
in
one
strait
and
secret
nook
.
In
the
daytime
,
too
,
when
I
was
about
my
duties
,
I
put
them
on
the
silent
system
;
and
it
was
only
after
I
had
closed
the
door
of
my
chamber
at
night
that
I
somewhat
relaxed
my
severity
towards
these
morose
nurslings
,
and
allowed
vent
to
their
language
of
murmurs
;
then
,
in
revenge
,
they
sat
on
my
pillow
,
haunted
my
bed
,
and
kept
me
awake
with
their
long
,
midnight
cry
.
A
week
passed
.
I
had
said
nothing
more
to
Mdlle
.
Reuter
.
I
had
been
calm
in
my
demeanour
to
her
,
though
stony
cold
and
hard
.
When
I
looked
at
her
,
it
was
with
the
glance
fitting
to
be
bestowed
on
one
who
I
knew
had
consulted
jealousy
as
an
adviser
,
and
employed
treachery
as
an
instrument
—
the
glance
of
quiet
disdain
and
rooted
distrust
.
On
Saturday
evening
,
ere
I
left
the
house
,
I
stept
into
the
salle-à-manger
,
where
she
was
sitting
alone
,
and
,
placing
myself
before
her
,
I
asked
,
with
the
same
tranquil
tone
and
manner
that
I
should
have
used
had
I
put
the
question
for
the
first
time
—
“
Mademoiselle
,
will
you
have
the
goodness
to
give
me
the
address
of
Frances
Evans
Henri
?
”
A
little
surprised
,
but
not
disconcerted
,
she
smilingly
disclaimed
any
knowledge
of
that
address
,
adding
,
“
Monsieur
has
perhaps
forgotten
that
I
explained
all
about
that
circumstance
before
—
a
week
ago
?
”
“
Mademoiselle
,
”
I
continued
,
“
you
would
greatly
oblige
me
by
directing
me
to
that
young
person’s
abode
.
”
She
seemed
somewhat
puzzled
;
and
,
at
last
,
looking
up
with
an
admirably
counterfeited
air
of
naivete
,
she
demanded
,
“
Does
Monsieur
think
I
am
telling
an
untruth
?
”
Still
avoiding
to
give
her
a
direct
answer
,
I
said
,
“
It
is
not
then
your
intention
,
mademoiselle
,
to
oblige
me
in
this
particular
?
”
“
But
,
monsieur
,
how
can
I
tell
you
what
I
do
not
know
?
”
“
Very
well
;
I
understand
you
perfectly
,
mademoiselle
,
and
now
I
have
only
two
or
three
words
to
say
.
This
is
the
last
week
in
July
;
in
another
month
the
vacation
will
commence
,
have
the
goodness
to
avail
yourself
of
the
leisure
it
will
afford
you
to
look
out
for
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
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
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
Allee
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
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
“
encadrees
”
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
—
an
old
and
quiet
street
.
I
remember
that
,
feeling
a
little
hungry
,
and
not
desiring
to
go
back
and
take
my
share
of
the
“
gouter
,
”
now
on
the
refectory-table
at
Pelet’s
—
to
wit
,
pistolets
and
water
—
I
stepped
into
a
baker’s
and
refreshed
myself
on
a
couc
(
?
)
—
it
is
a
Flemish
word
,
I
don’t
know
how
to
spell
it
—
A
corinthe
—
anglice
,
a
currant
bun
—
and
a
cup
of
coffee
;
and
then
I
strolled
on
towards
the
Porte
de
Louvain
.
Very
soon
I
was
out
of
the
city
,
and
slowly
mounting
the
hill
,
which
ascends
from
the
gate
,
I
took
my
time
;
for
the
afternoon
,
though
cloudy
,
was
very
sultry
,
and
not
a
breeze
stirred
to
refresh
the
atmosphere
.
No
inhabitant
of
Brussels
need
wander
far
to
search
for
solitude
;
let
him
but
move
half
a
league
from
his
own
city
and
he
will
find
her
brooding
still
and
blank
over
the
wide
fields
,
so
drear
though
so
fertile
,
spread
out
treeless
and
trackless
round
the
capital
of
Brabant
.
Having
gained
the
summit
of
the
hill
,
and
having
stood
and
looked
long
over
the
cultured
but
lifeless
campaign
,
I
felt
a
wish
to
quit
the
high
road
,
which
I
had
hitherto
followed
,
and
get
in
among
those
tilled
grounds
—
fertile
as
the
beds
of
a
Brobdignagian
kitchen-garden
—
spreading
far
and
wide
even
to
the
boundaries
of
the
horizon
,
where
,
from
a
dusk
green
,
distance
changed
them
to
a
sullen
blue
,
and
confused
their
tints
with
those
of
the
livid
and
thunderous-looking
sky
.
Accordingly
I
turned
up
a
by-path
to
the
right
;
I
had
not
followed
it
far
ere
it
brought
me
,
as
I
expected
,
into
the
fields
,
amidst
which
,
just
before
me
,
stretched
a
long
and
lofty
white
wall
enclosing
,
as
it
seemed
from
the
foliage
showing
above
,
some
thickly
planted
nursery
of
yew
and
cypress
,
for
of
that
species
were
the
branches
resting
on
the
pale
parapets
,
and
crowding
gloomily
about
a
massive
cross
,
planted
doubtless
on
a
central
eminence
and
extending
its
arms
,
which
seemed
of
black
marble
,
over
the
summits
of
those
sinister
trees
.
I
approached
,
wondering
to
what
house
this
well-protected
garden
appertained
;
I
turned
the
angle
of
the
wall
,
thinking
to
see
some
stately
residence
;
I
was
close
upon
great
iron
gates
;
there
was
a
hut
serving
for
a
lodge
near
,
but
I
had
no
occasion
to
apply
for
the
key
—
the
gates
were
open
;
I
pushed
one
leaf
back
—
rain
had
rusted
its
hinges
,
for
it
groaned
dolefully
as
they
revolved
.
Thick
planting
embowered
the
entrance
.
Passing
up
the
avenue
,
I
saw
objects
on
each
hand
which
,
in
their
own
mute
language
of
inscription
and
sign
,
explained
clearly
to
what
abode
I
had
made
my
way
.
This
was
the
house
appointed
for
all
living
;
crosses
,
monuments
,
and
garlands
of
everlastings
announced
,
“
The
Protestant
Cemetery
,
outside
the
gate
of
Louvain
.
”
The
place
was
large
enough
to
afford
half
an
hour’s
strolling
without
the
monotony
of
treading
continually
the
same
path
;
and
,
for
those
who
love
to
peruse
the
annals
of
graveyards
,
here
was
variety
of
inscription
enough
to
occupy
the
attention
for
double
or
treble
that
space
of
time
.
Hither
people
of
many
kindreds
,
tongues
,
and
nations
,
had
brought
their
dead
for
interment
;
and
here
,
on
pages
of
stone
,
of
marble
,
and
of
brass
,
were
written
names
,
dates
,
last
tributes
of
pomp
or
love
,
in
English
,
in
French
,
in
German
,
and
Latin
.
Here
the
Englishman
had
erected
a
marble
monument
over
the
remains
of
his
Mary
Smith
or
Jane
Brown
,
and
inscribed
it
only
with
her
name
.
There
the
French
widower
had
shaded
the
grave
of
his
Elmire
or
Celestine
with
a
brilliant
thicket
of
roses
,
amidst
which
a
little
tablet
rising
,
bore
an
equally
bright
testimony
to
her
countless
virtues
.
Every
nation
,
tribe
,
and
kindred
,
mourned
after
its
own
fashion
;
and
how
soundless
was
the
mourning
of
all
!
My
own
tread
,
though
slow
and
upon
smooth-rolled
paths
,
seemed
to
startle
,
because
it
formed
the
sole
break
to
a
silence
otherwise
total
.
Not
only
the
winds
,
but
the
very
fitful
,
wandering
airs
,
were
that
afternoon
,
as
by
common
consent
,
all
fallen
asleep
in
their
various
quarters
;
the
north
was
hushed
,
the
south
silent
,
the
east
sobbed
not
,
nor
did
the
west
whisper
.
The
clouds
in
heaven
were
condensed
and
dull
,
but
apparently
quite
motionless
.
Under
the
trees
of
this
cemetery
nestled
a
warm
breathless
gloom
,
out
of
which
the
cypresses
stood
up
straight
and
mute
,
above
which
the
willows
hung
low
and
still
;
where
the
flowers
,
as
languid
as
fair
,
waited
listless
for
night
dew
or
thunder-shower
;
where
the
tombs
,
and
those
they
hid
,
lay
impassible
to
sun
or
shadow
,
to
rain
or
drought
.
Importuned
by
the
sound
of
my
own
footsteps
,
I
turned
off
upon
the
turf
,
and
slowly
advanced
to
a
grove
of
yews
;
I
saw
something
stir
among
the
stems
;
I
thought
it
might
be
a
broken
branch
swinging
,
my
short-sighted
vision
had
caught
no
form
,
only
a
sense
of
motion
;
but
the
dusky
shade
passed
on
,
appearing
and
disappearing
at
the
openings
in
the
avenue
.
I
soon
discerned
it
was
a
living
thing
,
and
a
human
thing
;
and
,
drawing
nearer
,
I
perceived
it
was
a
woman
,
pacing
slowly
to
and
fro
,
and
evidently
deeming
herself
alone
as
I
had
deemed
myself
alone
,
and
meditating
as
I
had
been
meditating
.
Ere
long
she
returned
to
a
seat
which
I
fancy
she
had
but
just
quitted
,
or
I
should
have
caught
sight
of
her
before
.
It
was
in
a
nook
,
screened
by
a
clump
of
trees
;
there
was
the
white
wall
before
her
,
and
a
little
stone
set
up
against
the
wall
,
and
,
at
the
foot
of
the
stone
,
was
an
allotment
of
turf
freshly
turned
up
,
a
new-made
grave
.
I
put
on
my
spectacles
,
and
passed
softly
close
behind
her
;
glancing
at
the
inscription
on
the
stone
,
I
read
,
“
Julienne
Henri
,
died
at
Brussels
,
aged
sixty
.
August
10th
,
18
—
.
”
Having
perused
the
inscription
,
I
looked
down
at
the
form
sitting
bent
and
thoughtful
just
under
my
eyes
,
unconscious
of
the
vicinity
of
any
living
thing
;
it
was
a
slim
,
youthful
figure
in
mourning
apparel
of
the
plainest
black
stuff
,
with
a
little
simple
,
black
crape
bonnet
;
I
felt
,
as
well
as
saw
,
who
it
was
;
and
,
moving
neither
hand
nor
foot
,
I
stood
some
moments
enjoying
the
security
of
conviction
.
I
had
sought
her
for
a
month
,
and
had
never
discovered
one
of
her
traces
—
never
met
a
hope
,
or
seized
a
chance
of
encountering
her
anywhere
.
I
had
been
forced
to
loosen
my
grasp
on
expectation
;
and
,
but
an
hour
ago
,
had
sunk
slackly
under
the
discouraging
thought
that
the
current
of
life
,
and
the
impulse
of
destiny
,
had
swept
her
for
ever
from
my
reach
;
and
,
behold
,
while
bending
suddenly
earthward
beneath
the
pressure
of
despondency
—
while
following
with
my
eyes
the
track
of
sorrow
on
the
turf
of
a
graveyard
—
here
was
my
lost
jewel
dropped
on
the
tear-fed
herbage
,
nestling
in
the
messy
and
mouldy
roots
of
yew-trees
.
Frances
sat
very
quiet
,
her
elbow
on
her
knee
,
and
her
head
on
her
hand
.
I
knew
she
could
retain
a
thinking
attitude
a
long
time
without
change
;
at
last
,
a
tear
fell
;
she
had
been
looking
at
the
name
on
the
stone
before
her
,
and
her
heart
had
no
doubt
endured
one
of
those
constrictions
with
which
the
desolate
living
,
regretting
the
dead
,
are
,
at
times
,
so
sorely
oppressed
.
Many
tears
rolled
down
,
which
she
wiped
away
,
again
and
again
,
with
her
handkerchief
;
some
distressed
sobs
escaped
her
,
and
then
,
the
paroxysm
over
,
she
sat
quiet
as
before
.
I
put
my
hand
gently
on
her
shoulder
;
no
need
further
to
prepare
her
,
for
she
was
neither
hysterical
nor
liable
to
fainting-fits
;
a
sudden
push
,
indeed
,
might
have
startled
her
,
but
the
contact
of
my
quiet
touch
merely
woke
attention
as
I
wished
;
and
,
though
she
turned
quickly
,
yet
so
lightning-swift
is
thought
—
in
some
minds
especially
—
I
believe
the
wonder
of
what
—
the
consciousness
of
who
it
was
that
thus
stole
unawares
on
her
solitude
,
had
passed
through
her
brain
,
and
flashed
into
her
heart
,
even
before
she
had
effected
that
hasty
movement
;
at
least
,
Amazement
had
hardly
opened
her
eyes
and
raised
them
to
mine
,
ere
Recognition
informed
their
irids
with
most
speaking
brightness
.
Nervous
surprise
had
hardly
discomposed
her
features
ere
a
sentiment
of
most
vivid
joy
shone
clear
and
warm
on
her
whole
countenance
.
I
had
hardly
time
to
observe
that
she
was
wasted
and
pale
,
ere
called
to
feel
a
responsive
inward
pleasure
by
the
sense
of
most
full
and
exquisite
pleasure
glowing
in
the
animated
flush
,
and
shining
in
the
expansive
light
,
now
diffused
over
my
pupil’s
face
.
It
was
the
summer
sun
flashing
out
after
the
heavy
summer
shower
;
and
what
fertilizes
more
rapidly
than
that
beam
,
burning
almost
like
fire
in
its
ardour
?
I
hate
boldness
—
that
boldness
which
is
of
the
brassy
brow
and
insensate
nerves
;
but
I
love
the
courage
of
the
strong
heart
,
the
fervour
of
the
generous
blood
;
I
loved
with
passion
the
light
of
Frances
Evans’
clear
hazel
eye
when
it
did
not
fear
to
look
straight
into
mine
;
I
loved
the
tones
with
which
she
uttered
the
words
—
“
Mon
maitre
!
mon
maitre
!
”
I
loved
the
movement
with
which
she
confided
her
hand
to
my
hand
;
I
loved
her
as
she
stood
there
,
penniless
and
parentless
;
for
a
sensualist
charmless
,
for
me
a
treasure
—
my
best
object
of
sympathy
on
earth
,
thinking
such
thoughts
as
I
thought
,
feeling
such
feelings
as
I
felt
;
my
ideal
of
the
shrine
in
which
to
seal
my
stores
of
love
;
personification
of
discretion
and
forethought
,
of
diligence
and
perseverance
,
of
self-denial
and
self-control
—
those
guardians
,
those
trusty
keepers
of
the
gift
I
longed
to
confer
on
her
—
the
gift
of
all
my
affections
;
model
of
truth
and
honour
,
of
independence
and
conscientiousness
—
those
refiners
and
sustainers
of
an
honest
life
;
silent
possessor
of
a
well
of
tenderness
,
of
a
flame
,
as
genial
as
still
,
as
pure
as
quenchless
,
of
natural
feeling
,
natural
passion
—
those
sources
of
refreshment
and
comfort
to
the
sanctuary
of
home
.
I
knew
how
quietly
and
how
deeply
the
well
bubbled
in
her
heart
;
I
knew
how
the
more
dangerous
flame
burned
safely
under
the
eye
of
reason
;
I
had
seen
when
the
fire
shot
up
a
moment
high
and
vivid
,
when
the
accelerated
heat
troubled
life’s
current
in
its
channels
;
I
had
seen
reason
reduce
the
rebel
,
and
humble
its
blaze
to
embers
.
I
had
confidence
in
Frances
Evans
;
I
had
respect
for
her
,
and
as
I
drew
her
arm
through
mine
,
and
led
her
out
of
the
cemetery
,
I
felt
I
had
another
sentiment
,
as
strong
as
confidence
,
as
firm
as
respect
,
more
fervid
than
either
—
that
of
love
.
“
Well
,
my
pupil
,
”
said
I
,
as
the
ominous
sounding
gate
swung
to
behind
us
—
“
Well
,
I
have
found
you
again
:
a
month’s
search
has
seemed
long
,
and
I
little
thought
to
have
discovered
my
lost
sheep
straying
amongst
graves
.
”
Never
had
I
addressed
her
but
as
“
Mademoiselle
”
before
,
and
to
speak
thus
was
to
take
up
a
tone
new
to
both
her
and
me
.
Her
answer
suprised
me
that
this
language
ruffled
none
of
her
feelings
,
woke
no
discord
in
her
heart
:
“
Mon
maitre
,
”
she
said
,
“
have
you
troubled
yourself
to
seek
me
?
I
little
imagined
you
would
think
much
of
my
absence
,
but
I
grieved
bitterly
to
be
taken
away
from
you
.
I
was
sorry
for
that
circumstance
when
heavier
troubles
ought
to
have
made
me
forget
it
.
”
“
Your
aunt
is
dead
?
”
“
Yes
,
a
fortnight
since
,
and
she
died
full
of
regret
,
which
I
could
not
chase
from
her
mind
;
she
kept
repeating
,
even
during
the
last
night
of
her
existence
,
‘Frances
,
you
will
be
so
lonely
when
I
am
gone
,
so
friendless
:
’
she
wished
too
that
she
could
have
been
buried
in
Switzerland
,
and
it
was
I
who
persuaded
her
in
her
old
age
to
leave
the
banks
of
Lake
Leman
,
and
to
come
,
only
as
it
seems
to
die
,
in
this
flat
region
of
Flanders
.
Willingly
would
I
have
observed
her
last
wish
,
and
taken
her
remains
back
to
our
own
country
,
but
that
was
impossible
;
I
was
forced
to
lay
her
here
.
”
“
She
was
ill
but
a
short
time
,
I
presume
?
”
“
But
three
weeks
.
When
she
began
to
sink
I
asked
Mdlle
.
Reuter’s
leave
to
stay
with
her
and
wait
on
her
;
I
readily
got
leave
.
”
“
Do
you
return
to
the
pensionnat
!
”
I
demanded
hastily
.
“
Monsieur
,
when
I
had
been
at
home
a
week
Mdlle
.
Reuter
called
one
evening
,
just
after
I
had
got
my
aunt
to
bed
;
she
went
into
her
room
to
speak
to
her
,
and
was
extremely
civil
and
affable
,
as
she
always
is
;
afterwards
she
came
and
sat
with
me
a
long
time
,
and
just
as
she
rose
to
go
away
,
she
said
:
“
Mademoiselle
,
I
shall
not
soon
cease
to
regret
your
departure
from
my
establishment
,
though
indeed
it
is
true
that
you
have
taught
your
class
of
pupils
so
well
that
they
are
all
quite
accomplished
in
the
little
works
you
manage
so
skilfully
,
and
have
not
the
slightest
need
of
further
instruction
;
my
second
teacher
must
in
future
supply
your
place
,
with
regard
to
the
younger
pupils
,
as
well
as
she
can
,
though
she
is
indeed
an
inferior
artiste
to
you
,
and
doubtless
it
will
be
your
part
now
to
assume
a
higher
position
in
your
calling
;
I
am
sure
you
will
everywhere
find
schools
and
families
willing
to
profit
by
your
talents.’
And
then
she
paid
me
my
last
quarter’s
salary
.
I
asked
,
as
mademoiselle
would
no
doubt
think
,
very
bluntly
,
if
she
designed
to
discharge
me
from
the
establishment
.
She
smiled
at
my
inelegance
of
speech
,
and
answered
that
‘our
connection
as
employer
and
employed
was
certainly
dissolved
,
but
that
she
hoped
still
to
retain
the
pleasure
of
my
acquaintance
;
she
should
always
be
happy
to
see
me
as
a
friend
;
’
and
then
she
said
something
about
the
excellent
condition
of
the
streets
,
and
the
long
continuance
of
fine
weather
,
and
went
away
quite
cheerful
.
”
I
laughed
inwardly
;
all
this
was
so
like
the
directress
—
so
like
what
I
had
expected
and
guessed
of
her
conduct
;
and
then
the
exposure
and
proof
of
her
lie
,
unconsciously
afforded
by
Frances
:
—
“
She
had
frequently
applied
for
Mdlle
.
Henri’s
address
,
”
forsooth
;
“
Mdlle
.
Henri
had
always
evaded
giving
it
,
”
etc.
,
etc.
,
and
here
I
found
her
a
visitor
at
the
very
house
of
whose
locality
she
had
professed
absolute
ignorance
!
Any
comments
I
might
have
intended
to
make
on
my
pupil’s
communication
,
were
checked
by
the
plashing
of
large
rain-drops
on
our
faces
and
on
the
path
,
and
by
the
muttering
of
a
distant
but
coming
storm
.
The
warning
obvious
in
stagnant
air
and
leaden
sky
had
already
induced
me
to
take
the
road
leading
back
to
Brussels
,
and
now
I
hastened
my
own
steps
and
those
of
my
companion
,
and
,
as
our
way
lay
downhill
,
we
got
on
rapidly
.
There
was
an
interval
after
the
fall
of
the
first
broad
drops
before
heavy
rain
came
on
;
in
the
meantime
we
had
passed
through
the
Porte
de
Louvain
,
and
were
again
in
the
city
.
“
Where
do
you
live
?
”
I
asked
;
“
I
will
see
you
safe
home
.
”
“
Rue
Notre
Dame
aux
Neiges
,
”
answered
Frances
.
It
was
not
far
from
the
Rue
de
Louvain
,
and
we
stood
on
the
doorsteps
of
the
house
we
sought
ere
the
clouds
,
severing
with
loud
peal
and
shattered
cataract
of
lightning
,
emptied
their
livid
folds
in
a
torrent
,
heavy
,
prone
,
and
broad
.
“
Come
in
!
come
in
!
”
said
Frances
,
as
,
after
putting
her
into
the
house
,
I
paused
ere
I
followed
:
the
word
decided
me
;
I
stepped
across
the
threshold
,
shut
the
door
on
the
rushing
,
flashing
,
whitening
storm
,
and
followed
her
upstairs
to
her
apartments
.
Neither
she
nor
I
were
wet
;
a
projection
over
the
door
had
warded
off
the
straight-descending
flood
;
none
but
the
first
,
large
drops
had
touched
our
garments
;
one
minute
more
and
we
should
not
have
had
a
dry
thread
on
us
.
Stepping
over
a
little
mat
of
green
wool
,
I
found
myself
in
a
small
room
with
a
painted
floor
and
a
square
of
green
carpet
in
the
middle
;
the
articles
of
furniture
were
few
,
but
all
bright
and
exquisitely
clean
;
order
reigned
through
its
narrow
limits
—
such
order
as
it
soothed
my
punctilious
soul
to
behold
.
And
I
had
hesitated
to
enter
the
abode
,
because
I
apprehended
after
all
that
Mdlle
.
Reuter’s
hint
about
its
extreme
poverty
might
be
too
well-founded
,
and
I
feared
to
embarrass
the
lace-mender
by
entering
her
lodgings
unawares
!
Poor
the
place
might
be
;
poor
truly
it
was
;
but
its
neatness
was
better
than
elegance
,
and
had
but
a
bright
little
fire
shone
on
that
clean
hearth
,
I
should
have
deemed
it
more
attractive
than
a
palace
.
No
fire
was
there
,
however
,
and
no
fuel
laid
ready
to
light
;
the
lace-mender
was
unable
to
allow
herself
that
indulgence
,
especially
now
when
,
deprived
by
death
of
her
sole
relative
,
she
had
only
her
own
unaided
exertions
to
rely
on
.
Frances
went
into
an
inner
room
to
take
off
her
bonnet
,
and
she
came
out
a
model
of
frugal
neatness
,
with
her
well-fitting
black
stuff
dress
,
so
accurately
defining
her
elegant
bust
and
taper
waist
,
with
her
spotless
white
collar
turned
back
from
a
fair
and
shapely
neck
,
with
her
plenteous
brown
hair
arranged
in
smooth
bands
on
her
temples
,
and
in
a
large
Grecian
plait
behind
:
ornaments
she
had
none
—
neither
brooch
,
ring
,
nor
ribbon
;
she
did
well
enough
without
them
—
perfection
of
fit
,
proportion
of
form
,
grace
of
carriage
,
agreeably
supplied
their
place
.
Her
eye
,
as
she
re-entered
the
small
sitting-room
,
instantly
sought
mine
,
which
was
just
then
lingering
on
the
hearth
;
I
knew
she
read
at
once
the
sort
of
inward
ruth
and
pitying
pain
which
the
chill
vacancy
of
that
hearth
stirred
in
my
soul
:
quick
to
penetrate
,
quick
to
determine
,
and
quicker
to
put
in
practice
,
she
had
in
a
moment
tied
a
holland
apron
round
her
waist
;
then
she
disappeared
,
and
reappeared
with
a
basket
;
it
had
a
cover
;
she
opened
it
,
and
produced
wood
and
coal
;
deftly
and
compactly
she
arranged
them
in
the
grate
.
“
It
is
her
whole
stock
,
and
she
will
exhaust
it
out
of
hospitality
,
”
thought
I
.
“
What
are
you
going
to
do
?
”
I
asked
:
“
not
surely
to
light
a
fire
this
hot
evening
?
I
shall
be
smothered
.
”
“
Indeed
,
monsieur
,
I
feel
it
very
chilly
since
the
rain
began
;
besides
,
I
must
boil
the
water
for
my
tea
,
for
I
take
tea
on
Sundays
;
you
will
be
obliged
to
try
and
bear
the
heat
.
”
She
had
struck
a
light
;
the
wood
was
already
in
a
blaze
;
and
truly
,
when
contrasted
with
the
darkness
,
the
wild
tumult
of
the
tempest
without
,
that
peaceful
glow
which
began
to
beam
on
the
now
animated
hearth
,
seemed
very
cheering
.
A
low
,
purring
sound
,
from
some
quarter
,
announced
that
another
being
,
besides
myself
,
was
pleased
with
the
change
;
a
black
cat
,
roused
by
the
light
from
its
sleep
on
a
little
cushioned
foot-stool
,
came
and
rubbed
its
head
against
Frances’
gown
as
she
knelt
;
she
caressed
it
,
saying
it
had
been
a
favourite
with
her
“
pauvre
tante
Julienne
.
”
The
fire
being
lit
,
the
hearth
swept
,
and
a
small
kettle
of
a
very
antique
pattern
,
such
as
I
thought
I
remembered
to
have
seen
in
old
farmhouses
in
England
,
placed
over
the
now
ruddy
flame
,
Frances’
hands
were
washed
,
and
her
apron
removed
in
an
instant
;
then
she
opened
a
cupboard
,
and
took
out
a
tea-tray
,
on
which
she
had
soon
arranged
a
china
tea-equipage
,
whose
pattern
,
shape
,
and
size
,
denoted
a
remote
antiquity
;
a
little
,
old-fashioned
silver
spoon
was
deposited
in
each
saucer
;
and
a
pair
of
silver
tongs
,
equally
old-fashioned
,
were
laid
on
the
sugar-basin
;
from
the
cupboard
,
too
,
was
produced
a
tidy
silver
cream-ewer
,
not
larger
then
an
egg-shell
.
While
making
these
preparations
,
she
chanced
to
look
up
,
and
,
reading
curiosity
in
my
eyes
,
she
smiled
and
asked
—
“
Is
this
like
England
,
monsieur
?
”
“
Like
the
England
of
a
hundred
years
ago
,
”
I
replied
.
“
Is
it
truly
?
Well
,
everything
on
this
tray
is
at
least
a
hundred
years
old
:
these
cups
,
these
spoons
,
this
ewer
,
are
all
heirlooms
;
my
great-grandmother
left
them
to
my
grandmother
,
she
to
my
mother
,
and
my
mother
brought
them
with
her
from
England
to
Switzerland
,
and
left
them
to
me
;
and
,
ever
since
I
was
a
little
girl
,
I
have
thought
I
should
like
to
carry
them
back
to
England
,
whence
they
came
.
”
She
put
some
pistolets
on
the
table
;
she
made
the
tea
,
as
foreigners
do
make
tea
—
i.e.
,
at
the
rate
of
a
teaspoonful
to
half-a-dozen
cups
;
she
placed
me
a
chair
,
and
,
as
I
took
it
,
she
asked
,
with
a
sort
of
exaltation
—
“
Will
it
make
you
think
yourself
at
home
for
a
moment
?
”
“
If
I
had
a
home
in
England
,
I
believe
it
would
recall
it
,
”
I
answered
;
and
,
in
truth
,
there
was
a
sort
of
illusion
in
seeing
the
fair-complexioned
English-looking
girl
presiding
at
the
English
meal
,
and
speaking
in
the
English
language
.
“
You
have
then
no
home
?
”
was
her
remark
.
“
None
,
nor
ever
have
had
.
If
ever
I
possess
a
home
,
it
must
be
of
my
own
making
,
and
the
task
is
yet
to
begin
.
”
And
,
as
I
spoke
,
a
pang
,
new
to
me
,
shot
across
my
heart
:
it
was
a
pang
of
mortification
at
the
humility
of
my
position
,
and
the
inadequacy
of
my
means
;
while
with
that
pang
was
born
a
strong
desire
to
do
more
,
earn
more
,
be
more
,
possess
more
;
and
in
the
increased
possessions
,
my
roused
and
eager
spirit
panted
to
include
the
home
I
had
never
had
,
the
wife
I
inwardly
vowed
to
win
.
Frances’
tea
was
little
better
than
hot
water
,
sugar
,
and
milk
;
and
her
pistolets
,
with
which
she
could
not
offer
me
butter
,
were
sweet
to
my
palate
as
manna
.
The
repast
over
,
and
the
treasured
plate
and
porcelain
being
washed
and
put
by
,
the
bright
table
rubbed
still
brighter
,
“
le
chat
de
ma
tante
Julienne
”
also
being
fed
with
provisions
brought
forth
on
a
plate
for
its
special
use
,
a
few
stray
cinders
,
and
a
scattering
of
ashes
too
,
being
swept
from
the
hearth
,
Frances
at
last
sat
down
;
and
then
,
as
she
took
a
chair
opposite
to
me
,
she
betrayed
,
for
the
first
time
,
a
little
embarrassment
;
and
no
wonder
,
for
indeed
I
had
unconsciously
watched
her
rather
too
closely
,
followed
all
her
steps
and
all
her
movements
a
little
too
perseveringly
with
my
eyes
,
for
she
mesmerized
me
by
the
grace
and
alertness
of
her
action
—
by
the
deft
,
cleanly
,
and
even
decorative
effect
resulting
from
each
touch
of
her
slight
and
fine
fingers
;
and
when
,
at
last
,
she
subsided
to
stillness
,
the
intelligence
of
her
face
seemed
beauty
to
me
,
and
I
dwelt
on
it
accordingly
.
Her
colour
,
however
,
rising
,
rather
than
settling
with
repose
,
and
her
eyes
remaining
downcast
,
though
I
kept
waiting
for
the
lids
to
be
raised
that
I
might
drink
a
ray
of
the
light
I
loved
—
a
light
where
fire
dissolved
in
softness
,
where
affection
tempered
penetration
,
where
,
just
now
at
least
,
pleasure
played
with
thought
—
this
expectation
not
being
gratified
,
I
began
at
last
to
suspect
that
I
had
probably
myself
to
blame
for
the
disappointment
;
I
must
cease
gazing
,
and
begin
talking
,
if
I
wished
to
break
the
spell
under
which
she
now
sat
motionless
;
so
recollecting
the
composing
effect
which
an
authoritative
tone
and
manner
had
ever
been
wont
to
produce
on
her
,
I
said
—
“
Get
one
of
your
English
books
,
mademoiselle
,
for
the
rain
yet
falls
heavily
,
and
will
probably
detain
me
half
an
hour
longer
.
”
Released
,
and
set
at
ease
,
up
she
rose
,
got
her
book
,
and
accepted
at
once
the
chair
I
placed
for
her
at
my
side
.
She
had
selected
“
Paradise
Lost
”
from
her
shelf
of
classics
,
thinking
,
I
suppose
,
the
religious
character
of
the
book
best
adapted
it
to
Sunday
;
I
told
her
to
begin
at
the
beginning
,
and
while
she
read
Milton’s
invocation
to
that
heavenly
muse
,
who
on
the
“
secret
top
of
Oreb
or
Sinai
”
had
taught
the
Hebrew
shepherd
how
in
the
womb
of
chaos
,
the
conception
of
a
world
had
originated
and
ripened
,
I
enjoyed
,
undisturbed
,
the
treble
pleasure
of
having
her
near
me
,
hearing
the
sound
of
her
voice
—
a
sound
sweet
and
satisfying
in
my
ear
—
and
looking
,
by
intervals
,
at
her
face
:
of
this
last
privilege
,
I
chiefly
availed
myself
when
I
found
fault
with
an
intonation
,
a
pause
,
or
an
emphasis
;
as
long
as
I
dogmatized
,
I
might
also
gaze
,
without
exciting
too
warm
a
flush
.
“
Enough
,
”
said
I
,
when
she
had
gone
through
some
half
dozen
pages
(
a
work
of
time
with
her
,
for
she
read
slowly
and
paused
often
to
ask
and
receive
information
)
—
“
enough
;
and
now
the
rain
is
ceasing
,
and
I
must
soon
go
.
”
For
indeed
,
at
that
moment
,
looking
towards
the
window
,
I
saw
it
all
blue
;
the
thunder-clouds
were
broken
and
scattered
,
and
the
setting
August
sun
sent
a
gleam
like
the
reflection
of
rubies
through
the
lattice
.
I
got
up
;
I
drew
on
my
gloves
.
“
You
have
not
yet
found
another
situation
to
supply
the
place
of
that
from
which
you
were
dismissed
by
Mdlle
.
Reuter
?
”
“
No
,
monsieur
;
I
have
made
inquiries
everywhere
,
but
they
all
ask
me
for
references
;
and
to
speak
truth
,
I
do
not
like
to
apply
to
the
directress
,
because
I
consider
she
acted
neither
justly
nor
honourably
towards
me
;
she
used
underhand
means
to
set
my
pupils
against
me
,
and
thereby
render
me
unhappy
while
I
held
my
place
in
her
establishment
,
and
she
eventually
deprived
me
of
it
by
a
masked
and
hypocritical
manoeuvre
,
pretending
that
she
was
acting
for
my
good
,
but
really
snatching
from
me
my
chief
means
of
subsistence
,
at
a
crisis
when
not
only
my
own
life
,
but
that
of
another
,
depended
on
my
exertions
:
of
her
I
will
never
more
ask
a
favour
.
”
“
How
,
then
,
do
you
propose
to
get
on
?
How
do
you
live
now
?
”
“
I
have
still
my
lace-mending
trade
;
with
care
it
will
keep
me
from
starvation
,
and
I
doubt
not
by
dint
of
exertion
to
get
better
employment
yet
;
it
is
only
a
fortnight
since
I
began
to
try
;
my
courage
or
hopes
are
by
no
means
worn
out
yet
.
”
“
And
if
you
get
what
you
wish
,
what
then
?
what
are
your
ultimate
views
?
”
“
To
save
enough
to
cross
the
Channel
:
I
always
look
to
England
as
my
Canaan
.
”
“
Well
,
well
—
ere
long
I
shall
pay
you
another
visit
;
good
evening
now
,
”
and
I
left
her
rather
abruptly
;
I
had
much
ado
to
resist
a
strong
inward
impulse
,
urging
me
to
take
a
warmer
,
more
expressive
leave
:
what
so
natural
as
to
fold
her
for
a
moment
in
a
close
embrace
,
to
imprint
one
kiss
on
her
cheek
or
forehead
?
I
was
not
unreasonable
—
that
was
all
I
wanted
;
satisfied
in
that
point
,
I
could
go
away
content
;
and
Reason
denied
me
even
this
;
she
ordered
me
to
turn
my
eyes
from
her
face
,
and
my
steps
from
her
apartment
—
to
quit
her
as
dryly
and
coldly
as
I
would
have
quitted
old
Madame
Pelet
.
I
obeyed
,
but
I
swore
rancorously
to
be
avenged
one
day
.
“
I’ll
earn
a
right
to
do
as
I
please
in
this
matter
,
or
I’ll
die
in
the
contest
.
I
have
one
object
before
me
now
—
to
get
that
Genevese
girl
for
my
wife
;
and
my
wife
she
shall
be
—
that
is
,
provided
she
has
as
much
,
or
half
as
much
regard
for
her
master
as
he
has
for
her
.
And
would
she
be
so
docile
,
so
smiling
,
so
happy
under
my
instructions
if
she
had
not
?
would
she
sit
at
my
side
when
I
dictate
or
correct
,
with
such
a
still
,
contented
,
halcyon
mien
?
”
for
I
had
ever
remarked
,
that
however
sad
or
harassed
her
countenance
might
be
when
I
entered
a
room
,
yet
after
I
had
been
near
her
,
spoken
to
her
a
few
words
,
given
her
some
directions
,
uttered
perhaps
some
reproofs
,
she
would
,
all
at
once
,
nestle
into
a
nook
of
happiness
,
and
look
up
serene
and
revived
.
The
reproofs
suited
her
best
of
all
:
while
I
scolded
she
would
chip
away
with
her
pen-knife
at
a
pencil
or
a
pen
;
fidgetting
a
little
,
pouting
a
little
,
defending
herself
by
monosyllables
,
and
when
I
deprived
her
of
the
pen
or
pencil
,
fearing
it
would
be
all
cut
away
,
and
when
I
interdicted
even
the
monosyllabic
defence
,
for
the
purpose
of
working
up
the
subdued
excitement
a
little
higher
,
she
would
at
last
raise
her
eyes
and
give
me
a
certain
glance
,
sweetened
with
gaiety
,
and
pointed
with
defiance
,
which
,
to
speak
truth
,
thrilled
me
as
nothing
had
ever
done
,
and
made
me
,
in
a
fashion
(
though
happily
she
did
not
know
it
)
,
her
subject
,
if
not
her
slave
.
After
such
little
scenes
her
spirits
would
maintain
their
flow
,
often
for
some
hours
,
and
,
as
