the professor(教授)-第72章
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why do you ask me？ You see nothing vehement or obtrusive in my
manner； am I not tranquil enough？”
“Ce n’est pas cela—” began Frances。
“English！” I reminded her。
“Well； monsieur； I wished merely to say； that I should like； of
course； to retain my employment of teaching。 You will teach still； I
suppose； monsieur？”
“Oh； yes！ It is all I have to depend on。”
“Bon！—I mean good。 Thus we shall have both the same
profession。 I like that； and my efforts to get on will be as
unrestrained as yours—will they not； monsieur？”
“You are laying plans to be independent of me；” said I。
“Yes； monsieur； I must be no incumbrance to you—no burden
in any way。”
“But； Frances； I have not yet told you what my prospects are。 I
have left M。 Pelet’s； and after nearly a month’s seeking； I have got
another place； with a salary of three thousand francs a year； which
I can easily double by a little additional exertion。 Thus you see it
would be useless for you to fag yourself by going out to give
lessons； on six thousand francs you and I can live； and live well。”
Frances seemed to consider。 There is something flattering to
man’s strength； something consonant to his honourable pride； in
the idea of becoming the providence of what he loves—feeding
and clothing it； as God does the lilies of the field。 So； to decide her
resolution； I went on：—
“Life has been painful and laborious enough to you so far；
Frances； you require complete rest； your twelve hundred francs
would not form a very important addition to our income； and what
sacrifice of comfort to earn it！ Relinquish your labours： you must
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The Professor 268
be weary； and let me have the happiness of giving you rest。”
I am not sure whether Frances had accorded due attention to
my harangue； instead of answering me with her usual respectful
promptitude； she only sighed and said；—
“How rich you are； monsieur！” and then she stirred uneasy in
my arms。 “Three thousand francs！” she murmured； “While I get
only twelve hundred！” She went on faster。 “However； it must be so
for the present； and； monsieur； were you not saying something
about my giving up my place？ Oh no！ I shall hold it fast；” and her
little fingers emphatically tightened on mine。
“Think of my marrying you to be kept by you； monsieur！ I could
not do it； and how dull my days would be！ You would be away
teaching in close； noisy school…rooms； from morning till evening；
and I should be lingering at home； unemployed and solitary； I
should get depressed and sullen； and you would soon tire of me。”
“Frances； you could read and study—two things you like so
well。”
“Monsieur； I could not； I like a contemplative life； but I like an
active life better； I must act in some way； and act with you。 I have
taken notice； monsieur； that people who are only in each other’s
company for amusement； never really like each other so well； or
esteem each other so highly； as those who work together； and
perhaps suffer together。”
“You speak God’s truth；” said I at last； “and you shall have your
own way； for it is the best way。 Now； as a reward for such ready
consent； give me a voluntary kiss。”
After some hesitation； natural to a novice in the art of kissing；
she brought her lips into very shy and gentle contact with my
forehead； I took the small gift as a loan； and repaid it promptly；
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The Professor 269
and with generous interest。
I know not whether Frances was really much altered since the
time I first saw her； but； as I looked at her now； I felt that she was
singularly changed for me； the sad eye； the pale cheek； the
dejected and joyless countenance I remembered as her early
attributes； were quite gone； and now I saw a face dressed in
graces； smile； dimple； and rosy tint； rounded its contours and
brightened its hues。 I had been accustomed to nurse a flattering
idea that my strong attachment to her proved some particular
perspicacity in my nature； she was not handsome； she was not
rich； she was not even accomplished； yet was she my life’s
treasure； I must then be a man of peculiar discernment。 To…night
my eyes opened on the mistake I had made； I began to suspect
that it was only my tastes which were unique； not my power of
discovering and appreciating the superiority of moral worth over
physical charms。 For me Frances had physical charms： in her
there was no deformity to get over； none of those prominent
defects of eyes； teeth； complexion； shape； which hold at bay the
admiration of the boldest male champions of intellect （for women
can love a downright ugly man if he be but talented）； had she been
either “édentée； myope； rugueuse； ou bossue；” my feelings
towards her might still have been kindly； but they could never
have been impassioned； I had affection for the poor little
misshapen Sylvie； but for her I could never have had love。 It is
true Frances’ mental points had been the first to interest me； and
they still retained the strongest hold on my preference； but I liked
the graces of her person too。 I derived a pleasure； purely material；
from contemplating the clearness of her brown eyes； the fairness
of her fine skin； the purity of her well…set teeth； the proportion of
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The Professor 270
her delicate form； and that pleasure I could ill have dispensed
with。 It appeared； then； that I too was a sensualist； in my
temperate and fastidious way。
Now； reader； during the last two pages I have been giving you
honey fresh from flowers； but you must not live entirely on food so
luscious； taste then a little gall—just a drop； by way of change。
At a somewhat late hour I returned to my lodgings： having
temporarily forgotten that man had any such coarse cares as those
of eating and drinking； I went to bed fasting。 I had been excited
and in action all day； and had tasted no food since eight that
morning； besides； for a fortnight past； I had known no rest either
of body or mind； the last few hours had been a sweet delirium； it
would not subside now； and till long after midnight； broke with
troubled ecstasy the rest I so much needed。 At last I dozed； but not
for long； i
