the professor(教授)-第48章
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“Young ladies； such of you as have cloaks and umbrellas will
hasten to return home before the shower becomes heavier” （it was
raining a little）； “the remainder will wait till their respective
servants arrive to fetch them。” And the school dispersed； for it was
four o’clock。
“Monsieur； a word；” said Mdlle Reuter； stepping on to the
estrade； and signifying； by a movement of the hand； that she
wished me to relinquish； for an instant； the castor I had clutched。
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The Professor 179
“Mademoiselle； I am at your service。”
“Monsieur； it is of course an excellent plan to encourage effort
in young people by making conspicuous the progress of any
particularly industrious pupil； but do you not think that in the
present instance； Mdlle Henri can hardly be considered as a
concurrent with the other pupils？ She is older than most of them；
and has had advantages of an exclusive nature for acquiring a
knowledge of English； on the other hand； her sphere of life is
somewhat beneath theirs； under these circumstances； a public
distinction； conferred upon Mdlle Henri； may be the means of
suggesting comparisons； and exciting feelings such as would be far
from advantageous to the individual forming their object。 The
interest I take in Mdlle Henri’s real welfare makes me desirous of
screening her from annoyances of this sort； besides； monsieur； as I
have before hinted to you； the sentiment of amour…propre has a
somewhat marked preponderance in her character； celebrity has a
tendency to foster this sentiment； and in her it should be rather
repressed—she rather needs keeping down than bringing forward；
and then I think； monsieur—it appears to me that ambition；
literary ambition especially； is not a feeling to be cherished in the
mind of a woman： would not Mdlle Henri be much safer and
happier if taught to believe that in the quiet discharge of social
duties consists her real vocation； than if stimulated to aspire after
applause and publicity？ She may never marry； scanty as are her
resources； obscure as are her connections； uncertain as is her
health （for I think her consumptive； her mother died of that
complaint）； it is more than probable she never will。 I do not see
how she can rise to a position； whence such a step would be
possible； but even in celibacy it would be better for her to retain
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The Professor 180
the character and habits of a respectable decorous female。”
“Indisputably； mademoiselle；” was my answer。 “Your opinion
admits of no doubt；” and； fearful of the harangue being renewed； I
retreated under cover of that cordial sentence of assent。
At the date of a fortnight after the little incident noted above； I
find it recorded in my diary that a hiatus occurred in Mdlle Henri’s
usually regular attendance in class。 The first day or two I
wondered at her absence； but did not like to ask an explanation of
it； I thought indeed some chance word might be dropped which
would afford me the information I wished to obtain； without my
running the risk of exciting silly smiles and gossiping whispers by
demanding it。 But when a week passed and the seat at the desk
near the door still remained vacant； and when no allusion was
made to the circumstance by any individual of the class—when； on
the contrary； I found that all observed a marked silence on the
point—I determined； coute qui coute； to break the ice of this silly
reserve。 I selected Sylvie as my informant； because from her I
knew that I should at least get a sensible answer； unaccompanied
by wriggle； titter； or other flourish of folly。
“Où donc est Mdlle Henri？” I said one day as I returned an
exercise…book I had been examining。
“Elle est partie； monsieur。”
“Partie？ et pour combien de temps？ Quand reviendra…t…elle？”
“Elle est partie pour toujours； monsieur； elle ne reviendra
plus。”
“Ah！” was my involuntary exclamation； then after a pause：—
“En êtes…vous bien sure； Sylvie？”
“Oui； oui； monsieur； mademoiselle la directrice nous l’a dit elle…
même il y a deux ou trois jours。”
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The Professor 181
And I could pursue my inquiries no further； time； place； and
circumstances forbade my adding another word。 I could neither
comment on what had been said； nor demand further particulars。
A question as to the reason of the teacher’s departure； as to
whether it had been voluntary or otherwise； was indeed on my
lips； but I suppressed it—there were listeners all round。 An hour
after； in passing Sylvie in the corridor as she was putting on her
bonnet； I stopped short and asked：—
“Sylvie； do you know Mdlle Henri’s address？ I have some books
of hers；” I added carelessly； “and I should wish to send them to
her。”
“No； monsieur；” replied Sylvie； “but perhaps Rosalie； the
portress； will be able to give it you。”
Rosalie’s cabinet was just at hand； I stepped in and repeated
the inquiry。 Rosalie—a smart French grisette—looked up from her
work with a knowing smile； precisely the sort of smile I had been
so desirous to avoid exciting。 Her answer was prepared； she knew
nothing whatever of Mdlle Henri’s address—had never known it。
Turning from her with impatience—for I believed she lied and was
hired to lie—I almost knocked down some one who had been
standing at my back； it was the directress。 My abrupt movement
made her recoil two or three steps。 I was obliged to apologize；
which I did more concisely than politely。 No man likes to be
dogged； and in the very irritable mood in which I then was the
sight of Mdlle Reuter thoroughly incensed me。 At the moment I
turned her countenance looked hard； dark； and inquisitive； her
eyes were bent upon me with an expression of almost hungry
curiosity。 I had scarcely caught this phase of physiognomy ere it
had vanished； a bland smile played on her features； my harsh
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The Professor 182
apology was received with good…humoured facility。
“Oh； don’t mention it； monsieur； you only touched my hair with
your elbow； it is no worse； only a little dishevelled。” She shook
