the professor(教授)-第32章
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found； were completely under her influence； and with their aid she
got up and sustained a swinish tumult； which I was constrained at
last to quell by ordering her and two of her tools to rise from their
seats； and； having kept them standing five minutes； turning them
bodily out of the schoolroom： the accomplices into a large place
adjoining called the grands salle； the principal into a cabinet； of
which I closed the door and pocketed the key。 This judgment I
executed in the presence of Mdlle Reuter； who looked much
aghast at beholding so decided a proceeding—the most severe that
had ever been ventured on in her establishment。 Her look of
affright I answered with one of composure； and finally with a
smile； which perhaps flattered； and certainly soothed her。 Juanna
Trista remained in Europe long enough to repay； by malevolence
and ingratitude； all who had ever done her a good turn； and she
then went to join her father in the — Isles； exulting in the thought
that she should there have slaves； whom； as she said； she could
kick and strike at will。
These three pictures are from the life。 I possess others； as
marked and as little agreeable； but I will spare my reader the
exhibition of them。
Doubtless it will be thought that I ought now； by way of
contrast； to show something charming； some gentle virgin head；
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circled with a halo； some sweet personification of innocence；
clasping the dove of peace to her bosom。 No： I saw nothing of the
sort； and therefore cannot portray it。 The pupil in the school
possessing the happiest disposition was a young girl from the
country； Louise Path； she was sufficiently benevolent and
obliging； but not well taught nor well mannered； moreover； the
plague…spot of dissimulation was in her also； honour and principle
were unknown to her； she had scarcely heard their names。 The
least exceptionable pupil was the poor little Sylvie I have
mentioned once before。 Sylvie was gentle in manners； intelligent
in mind； she was even sincere； as far as her religion would permit
her to be so； but her physical organization was defective； weak
health stunted her growth and chilled her spirits； and then；
destined as she was for the cloister； her whole soul was warped to
a conventual bias； and in the tame； trained subjection of her
manner； one read that she had already prepared herself for her
future course of life； by giving up her independence of thought
and action into the hands of some despotic confessor。 She
permitted herself no original opinion； no preference of companion
or employment； in everything she was guided by another。 With a
pale； passive； automaton air； she went about all day long doing
what she was bid； never what she liked； or what； from innate
conviction； she thought it right to do。 The poor little future
religieuse had been early taught to make the dictates of her own
reason and conscience quite subordinate to the will of her spiritual
director。 She was the model pupil of Mdlle Reuter’s establishment；
pale； blighted image； where life lingered feebly； but whence the
soul had been conjured by Romish wizard…craft！
A few English pupils there were in this school； and these might
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be divided into two classes。 1st。 The continental English—the
daughters chiefly of broken adventurers； whom debt or dishonour
had driven from their own country。 These poor girls had never
known the advantages of settled homes； decorous example； or
honest Protestant education； resident a few months now in one
Catholic school； now in another； as their parents wandered from
land to land—from France to Germany； from Germany to Belgium
—they had picked up some scanty instruction； many bad habits；
losing every notion even of the first elements of religion and
morals； and acquiring an imbecile indifference to every sentiment
that can elevate humanity； they were distinguishable by an
habitual look of sullen dejection； the result of crushed self…respect
and constant browbeating from their Popish fellow…pupils； who
hated them as English； and scorned them as heretics。
The second class were British English。 Of these I did not
encounter half a dozen during the whole time of my attendance at
the seminary； their characteristics were clean but careless dress；
ill…arranged hair （compared with the tight and trim foreigners）；
erect carriage； flexible figures； white and taper hands； features
more irregular； but also more intellectual than those of the
Belgians； grave and modest countenances； a general air of native
propriety and decency； by this last circumstance alone I could at a
glance distinguish the daughter of Albion and nursling of
Protestantism from the foster…child of Rome； the protégée of
Jesuistry： proud； too； was the aspect of these British girls； at once
envied and ridiculed by their continental associates； they warded
off insult with austere civility； and met hate with mute disdain；
they eschewed company…keeping； and in the midst of numbers
seemed to dwell isolated。
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The teachers presiding over this mixed multitude were three in
é é
number； all French—their names Mdlles。 Z phyrine； P lagie； and
Suzette； the two last were commonplace personages enough； their
look was ordinary； their manner was ordinary； their temper was
ordinary； their thoughts； feelings； and views were all ordinary —
were I to write a chapter on the subject I could not elucidate it
é
further。 Z phyrine was somewhat more distinguished in
é
appearance and deportment than P lagie and Suzette； but in
character genuine Parisian coquette； perfidious； mercenary； and
dry…hearted。 A fourth maitresse I sometimes saw who seemed to
come daily to teach needlework； or netting； or lace…mending； or
some such flimsy art； but of her I never had more than a passing
é
glimpse； as she sat in the carr ； with her frames and some dozen of
the elder pupils about her； consequently I had no opportunity o
