the professor(教授)-第39章
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kindly action； would be reported by her to her confessor； and by
him misinterpreted and poisoned。 Once I laid my hand on her
head； in token of approbation； I thought Sylvie was going to smile；
her dim eye almost kindled； but； presently； she shrank from me； I
was a man and a heretic； she； poor child！ a destined nun and
devoted Catholic： thus a four…fold wall of separation divided her
mind from mine。 A pert smirk； and a hard glance of triumph； was
Léonie’s method of testifying her gratification； Eulalie looked
sullen and envious—she had hoped to be first。 Hortense and
Caroline exchanged a reckless grimace on hearing their names
read out somewhere near the bottom of the list； the brand of
mental inferiority was considered by them as no disgrace； their
hopes for the future being based solely on their personal
attractions。
This affair arranged； the regular lesson followed。 During a brief
interval； employed by the pupils in ruling their books； my eye；
ranging carelessly over the benches； observed； for the first time；
that the farthest seat in the farthest row—a seat usually vacant—
was again filled by the new scholar； the Mdlle Henri so
ostentatiously recommended to me by the directress。 To…day I had
on my spectacles； her appearance； therefore； was clear to me at
the first glance； I had not to puzzle over it。 She looked young； yet；
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The Professor 145
had I been required to name her exact age； I should have been
somewhat nonplussed； the slightness of her figure might have
suited seventeen； a certain anxious and pre…occupied expression
of face seemed the indication of riper years。 She was dressed； like
all the rest； in a dark stuff gown and a white collar； her features
were dissimilar to any there； not so rounded； more defined； yet
scarcely regular。 The shape of her head too was different； the
superior part more developed； the base considerably less。 I felt
assured； at first sight； that she was not a Belgian； her complexion；
her countenance； her lineaments； her figure； were all distinct from
theirs； and； evidently； the type of another race—of a race less
gifted with fullness of flesh and plenitude of blood； less jocund；
material； unthinking。 When I first cast my eyes on her； she sat
looking fixedly down； her chin resting on her hand； and she did
not change her attitude till I commenced the lesson。 None of the
Belgian girls would have retained one position； and that a
reflective one； for the same length of time。 Yet； having intimated
that her appearance was peculiar； as being unlike that of her
Flemish companions； I have little more to say respecting it； I can
pronounce no encomiums on her beauty； for she was not beautiful；
nor offer condolence on her plainness； for neither was she plain； a
careworn character of forehead； and a corresponding moulding of
the mouth； struck me with a sentiment resembling surprise； but
these traits would probably have passed unnoticed by any less
crotchety observer。
Now； reader； though I have spent more than a page in
describing Mdlle Henri； I know well enough that I have left on
your mind’s eye no distinct picture of her； I have not painted her
complexion； nor her eyes； nor her hair； nor even drawn the outline
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The Professor 146
of her shape。 You cannot tell whether her nose was aquiline or
retroussé； whether her chin was long or short； her face square or
oval； nor could I the first day； and it is not my intention to
communicate to you at once a knowledge I myself gained by little
and little。
I gave a short exercise： which they all wrote down。 I saw the
new pupil was puzzled at first with the novelty of the form and
language； once or twice she looked at me with a sort of painful
solicitude； as not comprehending： at all what I meant； then she
was not ready when the others were； she could not write her
phrases so fast as they did； I would not help her； I went on
relentless。 She looked at me； her eye said most plainly； “I cannot
follow you。” I disregarded the appeal； and； carelessly leaning back
in my chair； glancing from time to time with a nonchalant air out of
the window； I dictated a little faster。 On looking towards her again；
I perceived her face clouded with embarrassment； but she was still
writing on most diligently； I paused a few seconds； she employed
the interval in hurriedly re…perusing what she had written； and
shame and discomfiture were apparent in her countenance； she
evidently found she had made great nonsense of it。 In ten minutes
more the dictation was complete； and； having allowed a brief
space in which to correct it； I took their books； it was with a
reluctant hand Mdlle Henri gave up hers； but； having once yielded
it to my possession； she composed her anxious face； as if； for the
present she had resolved to dismiss regret； and had made up her
mind to be thought unprecedentedly stupid。 Glancing over her
exercise； I found that several lines had been omitted； but what was
written contained very few faults； I instantly inscribed “Bon” at
the bottom of the page； and returned it to her； she smiled； at first
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The Professor 147
incredulously； then as if reassured； but did not lift her eyes； she
could look at me； it seemed； when perplexed and bewildered； but
not when gratified； I thought that scarcely fair。
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Chapter XV
ome time elapsed before I again gave a lesson in the first
class； the holiday of Whitsuntide occupied three days； and
S
on the fourth it was the turn of the second division to
receive my instructions。 As I made the transit of the carré； I
observed； as usual； the band of sewers surrounding Mdlle Henri；
there were only about a dozen of them； but they made as much
noise as might have sufficed for fifty； they seemed very little under
her control； three or four at once assailed her with importunate
requirements； she looked harassed； she demanded silence； but in
vain。 She saw me； and I read in her eye pain that a stranger shou
