the professor(教授)-第21章
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！
in their hours of recreation； and； to speak the honest truth； my
sentimental reflections were occasionally a trifle disarranged by
the not quite silvery； in fact the too often brazen sounds； which；
rising from the unseen paradise below； penetrated clamorously
into my solitude。 Not to mince matters； it really seemed to me a
doubtful case whether the lungs of Mdlle Reuter’s girls or those of
M。 Pelet’s boys were the strongest； and when it came to shrieking
the girls indisputably beat the boys hollow。 I forgot to say； by…the…
by； that Reuter was the name of the old lady who had had my
window bearded up。 I say old； for such I； of course； concluded her
to be； judging from her cautious； chaperon…like proceedings；
besides； nobody ever spoke of her as young。 I remember I was
very much amused when I first heard her Christian name； it was
Zoraide—Mademoiselle Zoraide Reuter。 But the continental
nations do allow themselves vagaries in the choice of names； such
as we sober English never run into。 I think； indeed； we have too
limited a list to choose from。
Meantime my path was gradually growing smooth before me。 I；
in a few weeks； conquered the teasing difficulties inseparable from
the commencement of almost every career。 Ere long I had
acquired as much facility in speaking French as set me at my ease
with my pupils； and as I had encountered them on a right footing
at the very beginning； and continued tenaciously to retain the
advantage I had early gained； they never attempted mutiny； which
circumstance； all who are in any degree acquainted with the
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 79…
The Professor 79
ongoings of Belgian schools； and who know the relation in which
professors and pupils too frequently stand towards each other in
those establishments； will consider an important and uncommon
one。 Before concluding this chapter I will say a word on the
system I pursued with regard to my classes： my experience may
possibly be of use to others。
It did not require very keen observation to detect the character
of the youth of Brabant； but it needed a certain degree of tact to
adopt one’s measures to their capacity。 Their intellectual faculties
were generally weak； their animal propensities strong； thus there
was at once an impotence and a kind of inert force in their
natures； they were dull； but they were also singularly stubborn；
heavy as lead and； like lead； most difficult to move。 Such being the
case； it would have been truly absurd to exact from them much in
the way of mental exertion； having short memories； dense
intelligence； feeble reflective powers； they recoiled with
repugnance from any occupation that demanded close study or
deep thought。 Had the abhorred effort been extorted from them by
injudicious and arbitrary measures on the part of the Professor；
they would have resisted as obstinately； as clamorously； as
desperate swine； and though not brave singly； they were relentless
acting en masse。
I understood that before my arrival in M。 Pelet’s establishment；
the combined insubordination of the pupils had effected the
dismissal of more than one English master。 It was necessary then
to exact only the most moderate application from natures so little
qualified to apply—to assist； in every practicable way；
understandings so opaque and contracted—to be ever gentle；
considerate； yielding even； to a certain point； with dispositions so
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 80…
The Professor 80
irrationally perverse； but； having reached that culminating point
of indulgence； you must fix your foot； plant it； root it in rock—
become immutable as the towers of Ste。 Gudule； for a step —but
half a step farther； and you would plunge headlong into the gulf of
imbecility； there lodged； you would speedily receive proofs of
Flemish gratitude and magnanimity in showers of Brabant saliva
and handfuls of Low Country mud。 You might smooth to the
utmost the path of learning； remove every pebble from the track；
but then you must finally insist with decision on the pupil taking
your arm and allowing himself to be led quietly along the prepared
road。 When I had brought down my lesson to the lowest level of
my dullest pupil’s capacity—when I had shown myself the mildest；
the most tolerant of masters—a word of impertinence； a
movement of disobedience； changed me at once into a despot。 I
offered then but one alternative—submission and
acknowledgment of error； or ignominious expulsion。 This system
answered； and my influence； by degrees； became established on a
firm basis。 “The boy is father to the man；” it is said； and so I often
thought when looked at my boys and remembered the political
history of their ancestors。 Pelet’s school was merely an epitome of
the Belgian nation。
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
… Page 81…
The Professor 81
Chapter VIII
nd Pelet himself？ How did I continue to like him？ Oh；
Aextremely well！ Nothing could be more smooth；
gentlemanlike； and even friendly； than his demeanour to
me。 I had to endure from him neither cold neglect； irritating
interference； nor pretentious assumption of superiority。 I fear；
however； two poor； hard…worked Belgian ushers in the
establishment could not have said as much； to them the director’s
manner was invariably dry； stern； and cool。 I believe he perceived
once or twice that I was a little shocked at the difference he made
between them and me； and accounted for it by saying； with a quiet
sarcastic smile—
“Ce ne sont que des Flamands—allez！”
And then he took his cigar gently from his lips and spat on the
painted floor of the room in which we were sitting。 Flamands
certainly they were； and both had the true Flamand physiognomy；
where intellectual inferiority is marked in lines none can mistake；
still they were men； and； in the main； honest men； and I could not
see why their being aboriginals of the flat； dull soil should serve as
a pretext for treating them with perpetual severity and contempt。
This idea； of injustice somewhat poisoned the pleasure I might
otherwise have derived from Pelet’s soft affable manner to myself。
Certainly it was agreeable； when the day’s work was over； to find
one’s employer an intelligent and cheerful companion； and if he
was sometimes a little sarcastic and sometimes a little too
insinuating； and if I did discover that his mildness was
