“Eh bien, mauvais sujet!” said the voice of M. Pelet behind me, as I set my foot on the first step of the stair, “ou allez-vous? Venez a la salle-a-manger, que je vous gronde un peu.”
“I beg pardon, monsieur,” said I, as I followed him to his private sitting-room11, “for having returned so late — it was not my fault.”
“That is just what I want to know,” rejoined M. Pelet, as he ushered12 me into the comfortable parlour with a good wood-fire — for the stove had now been removed for the season. Having rung the bell he ordered “Coffee for two,” and presently he and I were seated, almost in English comfort, one on each side of the hearth13, a little round table between us, with a coffee-pot, a sugar-basin, and two large white china cups. While M. Pelet employed himself in choosing a cigar from a box, my thoughts reverted14 to the two outcast ushers, whose voices I could hear even now crying hoarsely15 for order in the playground.
“C’est une grande responsabilite, que la surveillance,” observed I.
“Plait-il?” dit M. Pelet.
I remarked that I thought Messieurs Vandam and Kint must sometimes be a little fatigued16 with their labours.
“Des betes de somme — des betes de somme,” murmured scornfully the director. Meantime I offered him his cup of coffee.
“Servez-vous mon garcon,” said he blandly17, when I had put a couple of huge lumps of continental18 sugar into his cup. “And now tell me why you stayed so long at Mdlle. Reuter’s. I know that lessons conclude, in her establishment as in mine, at four o’clock, and when you returned it was past five.”
“Mdlle. wished to speak with me, monsieur.”
“Indeed! on what subject? if one may ask.”
“Mademoiselle talked about nothing, monsieur.”
“A fertile topic! and did she discourse19 thereon in the schoolroom, before the pupils?”
“No; like you, monsieur, she asked me to walk into her parlour.”
“And Madame Reuter — the old duenna — my mother’s gossip, was there, of course?”
“No, monsieur; I had the honour of being quite alone with mademoiselle.”
“C’est joli — cela,” observed M. Pelet, and he smiled and looked into the fire.
“Honi soit qui mal y pense,” murmured I, significantly.
“Je connais un peu ma petite voisine — voyez-vous.”
“In that case, monsieur will be able to aid me in finding out what was mademoiselle’s reason for making me sit before her sofa one mortal hour, listening to the most copious20 and fluent dissertation21 on the merest frivolities.”
“She was sounding your character.”
“I thought so, monsieur.”
“Did she find out your weak point?”
“What is my weak point?”
“Why, the sentimental23. Any woman sinking her shaft24 deep enough, will at last reach a fathomless25 spring of sensibility in thy breast, Crimsworth.”
I felt the blood stir about my heart and rise warm to my cheek.
“Some women might, monsieur.”
“Is Mdlle. Reuter of the number? Come, speak frankly27, mon fils; elle est encore jeune, plus agee que toi peut-etre, mais juste asset pour unir la tendresse d’une petite maman a l’amour d’une epouse devouee; n’est-ce pas que cela t’irait superieurement?”
“No, monsieur; I should like my wife to be my wife, and not half my mother.”
“She is then a little too old for you?”
“No, monsieur, not a day too old if she suited me in other things.”
“In what does she not suit you, William? She is personally agreeable, is she not?”
“Very; her hair and complexion28 are just what I admire; and her turn of form, though quite Belgian, is full of grace.”
“Bravo! and her face? her features? How do you like them?”
“A little harsh, especially her mouth.”
“Ah, yes! her mouth,” said M. Pelet, and he chuckled29 inwardly. “There is character about her mouth — firmness — but she has a very pleasant smile; don’t you think so?”
“Rather crafty.”
“True, but that expression of craft is owing to her eyebrows30; have you remarked her eyebrows?”
I answered that I had not.
“You have not seen her looking down then?” said he.
“No.”
“It is a treat, notwithstanding. Observe her when she has some knitting, or some other woman’s work in hand, and sits the image of peace, calmly intent on her needles and her silk, some discussion meantime going on around her, in the course of which peculiarities31 of character are being developed, or important interests canvassed32; she takes no part in it; her humble33, feminine mind is wholly with her knitting; none of her features move; she neither presumes to smile approval, nor frown disapprobation; her little hands assiduously ply34 their unpretending task; if she can only get this purse finished, or this bonnet-grec completed, it is enough for her. If gentlemen approach her chair, a deeper quiescence35, a meeker36 modesty37 settles on her features, and clothes her general mien38; observe then her eyebrows, et dites-moi s’il n’y a pas du chat dans l’un et du renard dans l’autre.”
“I will take careful notice the first opportunity,” said I.
“And then,” continued M. Pelet, “the eyelid39 will flicker40, the light-coloured lashes41 be lifted a second, and a blue eye, glancing out from under the screen, will take its brief, sly, searching survey, and retreat again.”
I smiled, and so did Pelet, and after a few minutes’ silence, I asked:-
“Will she ever marry, do you think?”
“Marry! Will birds pair? Of course it is both her intention and resolution to marry when she finds a suitable match, and no one is better aware than herself of the sort of impression she is capable of producing; no one likes better to captivate in a quiet way. I am mistaken if she will not yet leave the print of her stealing steps on thy heart, Crimsworth.”
“Of her steps? Confound it, no! My heart is not a plank42 to be walked on.”
“But the soft touch of a patte de velours will do it no harm.”
“She offers me no patte de velours; she is all form and reserve with me.”
“That to begin with; let respect be the foundation, affection the first floor, love the superstructure; Mdlle. Reuter is a skilful43 architect.”
“And interest, M. Pelet — interest. Will not mademoiselle consider that point?”
“Yes, yes, no doubt; it will be the cement between every stone. And now we have discussed the directress, what of the pupils? N’y-a-t-il pas de belles44 etudes parmi ces jeunes tetes?”
“Studies of character? Yes; curious ones, at least, I imagine; but one cannot divine much from a first interview.”
“Ah, you affect discretion46; but tell me now, were you not a little abashed47 before these blooming young creatures?
“At first, yes; but I rallied and got through with all due sang-froid.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It is true, notwithstanding. At first I thought them angels, but they did not leave me long under that delusion48; three of the eldest49 and handsomest undertook the task of setting me right, and they managed so cleverly that in five minutes I knew them, at least, for what they were — three arrant50 coquettes.”
“Je les connais!” exclaimed M. Pelet. “Elles sont toujours au premier51 rang a l’eglise et a la promenade52; une blonde superbe, une jolie espiegle, une belle45 brune.”
“Exactly.”
“Lovely creatures all of them — heads for artists; what a group they would make, taken together! Eulalie (I know their names), with her smooth braided hair and calm ivory brow. Hortense, with her rich chesnut locks so luxuriantly knotted, plaited, twisted, as if she did not know how to dispose of all their abundance, with her vermilion lips, damask cheek, and roguish laughing eye. And Caroline de Blemont! Ah, there is beauty! beauty in perfection. What a cloud of sable53 curls about the face of a houri! What fascinating lips! What glorious black eyes! Your Byron would have worshipped her, and you — you cold, frigid54 islander! — you played the austere55, the insensible in the presence of an Aphrodite so exquisite56?”
I might have laughed at the director’s enthusiasm had I believed it real, but there was something in his tone which indicated got-up raptures57. I felt he was only affecting fervour in order to put me off my guard, to induce me to come out in return, so I scarcely even smiled. He went on:-
“Confess, William, do not the mere22 good looks of Zoraide Reuter appear dowdyish and commonplace compared with the splendid charms of some of her pupils?”
The question discomposed me, but I now felt plainly that my principal was endeavouring (for reasons best known to himself — at that time I could not fathom26 them) to excite ideas and wishes in my mind alien to what was right and honourable58. The iniquity59 of the instigation proved its antidote60, and when he further added:—
“Each of those three beautiful girls will have a handsome fortune; and with a little address, a gentlemanlike, intelligent young fellow like you might make himself master of the hand, heart, and purse of any one of the trio.”
I replied by a look and an interrogative “Monsieur?” which startled him.
He laughed a forced laugh, affirmed that he had only been joking, and demanded whether I could possibly have thought him in earnest. Just then the bell rang; the play-hour was over; it was an evening on which M. Pelet was accustomed to read passages from the drama and the belles lettres to his pupils. He did not wait for my answer, but rising, left the room, humming as he went some gay strain of Beranger’s.
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1
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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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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ushers
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| n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 ) | |
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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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scout
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| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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15
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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18
continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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19
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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dissertation
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| n.（博士学位）论文，学术演讲，专题论文 | |
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22
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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fathomless
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| a.深不可测的 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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28
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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29
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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31
peculiarities
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| n. 特质, 特性, 怪癖, 古怪 | |
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32
canvassed
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| v.（在政治方面）游说( canvass的过去式和过去分词 )；调查（如选举前选民的）意见；为讨论而提出（意见等）；详细检查 | |
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33
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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34
ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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35
quiescence
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| n.静止 | |
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36
meeker
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的比较级 ) | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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38
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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eyelid
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| n.眼睑，眼皮 | |
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40
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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41
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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42
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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43
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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44
belles
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| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
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45
belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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46
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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47
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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49
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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50
arrant
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| adj.极端的；最大的 | |
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51
premier
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| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
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52
promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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53
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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54
frigid
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| adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的 | |
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55
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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56
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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57
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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58
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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59
iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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antidote
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| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
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