When evening came I prepared to step over in order to seek a conference with Mademoiselle herself on the subject; I had not had time to pay the visit before, having been all day closely occupied in class. I remember very well that before quitting my chamber1, I held a brief debate with myself as to whether I should change my ordinary attire2 for something smarter. At last I concluded it would be a waste of labour. “Doubtless,” thought I, “she is some stiff old maid; for though the daughter of Madame Reuter, she may well number upwards3 of forty winters; besides, if it were otherwise, if she be both young and pretty, I am not handsome, and no dressing4 can make me so, therefore I’ll go as I am.” And off I started, cursorily5 glancing sideways as I passed the toilet-table, surmounted6 by a looking-glass: a thin irregular face I saw, with sunk, dark eyes under a large, square forehead, complexion7 destitute8 of bloom or attraction; something young, but not youthful, no object to win a lady’s love, no butt9 for the shafts10 of Cupid.
I was soon at the entrance of the pensionnat, in a moment I had pulled the bell; in another moment the door was opened, and within appeared a passage paved alternately with black and white marble; the walls were painted in imitation of marble also; and at the far end opened a glass door, through which I saw shrubs11 and a grass-plat, looking pleasant in the sunshine of the mild spring evening-for it was now the middle of April.
This, then, was my first glimpse of the garden; but I had not time to look long, the portress, after having answered in the affirmative my question as to whether her mistress was at home, opened the folding-doors of a room to the left, and having ushered12 me in, closed them behind me. I found myself in a salon13 with a very well-painted, highly varnished14 floor; chairs and sofas covered with white draperies, a green porcelain15 stove, walls hung with pictures in gilt16 frames, a gilt pendule and other ornaments17 on the mantelpiece, a large lustre18 pendent from the centre of the ceiling, mirrors, consoles, muslin curtains, and a handsome centre table completed the inventory19 of furniture. All looked extremely clean and glittering, but the general effect would have been somewhat chilling had not a second large pair of folding-doors, standing20 wide open, and disclosing another and smaller salon, more snugly21 furnished, offered some relief to the eye. This room was carpeted, and therein was a piano, a couch, a chiffonniere — above all, it contained a lofty window with a crimson22 curtain, which, being undrawn, afforded another glimpse of the garden, through the large, clear panes23, round which some leaves of ivy24, some tendrils of vine were trained
“Monsieur Creemsvort, n’est ce pas?” said a voice behind me; and, starting involuntarily, I turned. I had been so taken up with the contemplation of the pretty little salon that I had not noticed the entrance of a person into the larger room. It was, however, Mdlle. Reuter who now addressed me, and stood close beside me; and when I had bowed with instantaneously recovered sang-froid — for I am not easily embarrassed — I commenced the conversation by remarking on the pleasant aspect of her little cabinet, and the advantage she had over M. Pelet in possessing a garden.
“Yes,” she said, “she often thought so;” and added, “it is my garden, monsieur, which makes me retain this house, otherwise I should probably have removed to larger and more commodious25 premises26 long since; but you see I could not take my garden with me, and I should scarcely find one so large and pleasant anywhere else in town.”
I approved her judgment27.
“But you have not seen it yet,” said she, rising; “come to the window and take a better view.” I followed her; she opened the sash, and leaning out I saw in full the enclosed demesne28 which had hitherto been to me an unknown region. It was a long, not very broad strip of cultured ground, with an alley29 bordered by enormous old fruit trees down the middle; there was a sort of lawn, a parterre of rose-trees, some flower-borders, and, on the far side, a thickly planted copse of lilacs, laburnums, and acacias. It looked pleasant, to me — very pleasant, so long a time had elapsed since I had seen a garden of any sort. But it was not only on Mdlle. Reuter’s garden that my eyes dwelt; when I had taken a view of her well-trimmed beds and budding shrubberies, I allowed my glance to come back to herself, nor did I hastily withdraw it.
I had thought to see a tall, meagre, yellow, conventual image in black, with a close white cap, bandaged under the chin like a nun’s head-gear; whereas, there stood by me a little and roundly formed woman, who might indeed be older than I, but was still young; she could not, I thought, be more than six or seven and twenty; she was as fair as a fair Englishwoman; she had no cap; her hair was nut-brown, and she wore it in curls; pretty her features were not, nor very soft, nor very regular, but neither were they in any degree plain, and I already saw cause to deem them expressive30. What was their predominant cast? Was it sagacity? — sense? Yes, I thought so; but I could scarcely as yet be sure. I discovered, however, that there was a certain serenity31 of eye, and freshness of complexion, most pleasing to behold32. The colour on her cheek was like the bloom on a good apple, which is as sound at the core as it is red on the rind.
Mdlle. Reuter and I entered upon business. She said she was not absolutely certain of the wisdom of the step she was about to take, because I was so young, and parents might possibly object to a professor like me for their daughters: “But it is often well to act on one’s own judgment,” said she, “and to lead parents, rather than be led by them. The fitness of a professor is not a matter of age; and, from what I have heard, and from what I observe myself, I would much rather trust you than M. Ledru, the music-master, who is a married man of near fifty.”
I remarked that I hoped she would find me worthy33 of her good opinion; that if I knew myself, I was incapable34 of betraying any confidence reposed35 in me. “Du reste,” said she, “the surveillance will be strictly36 attended to.” And then she proceeded to discuss the subject of terms. She was very cautious, quite on her guard; she did not absolutely bargain, but she warily37 sounded me to find out what my expectations might be; and when she could not get me to name a sum, she reasoned and reasoned with a fluent yet quiet circumlocution38 of speech, and at last nailed me down to five hundred francs per annum — not too much, but I agreed. Before the negotiation39 was completed, it began to grow a little dusk. I did not hasten it, for I liked well enough to sit and hear her talk; I was amused with the sort of business talent she displayed. Edward could not have shown himself more practical, though he might have evinced more coarseness and urgency; and then she had so many reasons, so many explanations; and, after all, she succeeded in proving herself quite disinterested40 and even liberal. At last she concluded, she could say no more, because, as I acquiesced41 in all things, there was no further ground for the exercise of her parts of speech. I was obliged to rise. I would rather have sat a little longer; what had I to return to but my small empty room? And my eyes had a pleasure in looking at Mdlle. Reuter, especially now, when the twilight42 softened43 her features a little, and, in the doubtful dusk, I could fancy her forehead as open as it was really elevated, her mouth touched with turns of sweetness as well as defined in lines of sense. When I rose to go, I held out my hand, on purpose, though I knew it was contrary to the etiquette44 of foreign habits; she smiled, and said —
“Ah! c’est comme tous les Anglais,” but gave me her hand very kindly45.
“It is the privilege of my country, Mademoiselle,” said I; “and, remember, I shall always claim it.”
She laughed a little, quite good-naturedly, and with the sort of tranquillity46 obvious in all she did — a tranquillity which soothed47 and suited me singularly, at least I thought so that evening. Brussels seemed a very pleasant place to me when I got out again into the street, and it appeared as if some cheerful, eventful, upward-tending career were even then opening to me, on that selfsame mild, still April night. So impressionable a being is man, or at least such a man as I was in those days.
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1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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2
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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3
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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4
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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5
cursorily
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| adv.粗糙地，疏忽地，马虎地 | |
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6
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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7
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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8
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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9
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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10
shafts
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| n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等） | |
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11
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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12
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
salon
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| n.[法]沙龙；客厅；营业性的高级服务室 | |
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14
varnished
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| 浸渍过的，涂漆的 | |
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15
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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16
gilt
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| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
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17
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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19
inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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20
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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21
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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22
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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23
panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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24
ivy
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| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
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25
commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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26
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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27
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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28
demesne
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| n.领域，私有土地 | |
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29
alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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30
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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31
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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32
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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33
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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34
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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35
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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37
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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38
circumlocution
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| n. 绕圈子的话，迂回累赘的陈述 | |
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39
negotiation
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| n.谈判，协商 | |
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40
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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41
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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43
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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44
etiquette
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| n.礼仪，礼节；规矩 | |
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45
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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46
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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47
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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