One day I gave, as a devoir, the trite28 little anecdote29 of Alfred tending cakes in the herdsman’s hut, to be related with amplifications. A singular affair most of the pupils made of it; brevity was what they had chiefly studied; the majority of the narratives32 were perfectly33 unintelligible34; those of Sylvie and Leonie Ledru alone pretended to anything like sense and connection. Eulalie, indeed, had hit, upon a clever expedient35 for at once ensuring accuracy and saving trouble; she had obtained access somehow to an abridged36 history of England, and had copied the anecdote out fair. I wrote on the margin37 of her production “Stupid and deceitful,” and then tore it down the middle.
Last in the pile of single-leaved devoirs, I found one of several sheets, neatly38 written out and stitched together; I knew the hand, and scarcely needed the evidence of the signature “Frances Evans Henri” to confirm my conjecture39 as to the writer’s identity.
Night was my usual time for correcting devoirs, and my own room the usual scene of such task — task most onerous40 hitherto; and it seemed strange to me to feel rising within me an incipient41 sense of interest, as I snuffed the candle and addressed myself to the perusal42 of the poor teacher’s manuscript.
“Now,” thought I, “I shall see a glimpse of what she really is; I shall get an idea of the nature and extent of her powers; not that she can be expected to express herself well in a foreign tongue, but still, if she has any mind, here will be a reflection of it.”
The narrative31 commenced by a description of a Saxon peasant’s hut, situated43 within the confines of a great, leafless, winter forest; it represented an evening in December; flakes44 of snow were falling, and the herdsman foretold45 a heavy storm; he summoned his wife to aid him in collecting their flock, roaming far away on the pastoral banks of the Thone; he warns her that it will be late ere they return. The good woman is reluctant to quit her occupation of baking cakes for the evening meal; but acknowledging the primary importance of securing the herds30 and flocks, she puts on her sheep-skin mantle46; and, addressing a stranger who rests half reclined on a bed of rushes near the hearth47, bids him mind the bread till her return.
“Take care, young man,” she continues, “that you fasten the door well after us; and, above all, open to none in our absence; whatever sound you hear, stir not, and look not out. The night will soon fall; this forest is most wild and lonely; strange noises are often heard therein after sunset; wolves haunt these glades48, and Danish warriors49 infest50 the country; worse things are talked of; you might chance to hear, as it were, a child cry, and on opening the door to afford it succour, a greet black bull, or a shadowy goblin dog, might rush over the threshold; or, more awful still, if something flapped, as with wings, against the lattice, and then a raven51 or a white dove flew in and settled on the hearth, such a visitor would be a sure sign of misfortune to the house; therefore, heed52 my advice, and lift the latchet for nothing.
Her husband calls her away, both depart. The stranger, left alone, listens awhile to the muffled53 snow-wind, the remote, swollen54 sound of the river, and then he speaks.
“It is Christmas Eve,” says he, “I mark the date; here I sit alone on a rude couch of rushes, sheltered by the thatch55 of a herdsman’s hut; I, whose inheritance was a kingdom, owe my night’s harbourage to a poor serf; my throne is usurped56, my crown presses the brow of an invader57; I have no friends; my troops wander broken in the hills of Wales; reckless robbers spoil my country; my subjects lie prostrate58, their breasts crushed by the heel of the brutal59 Dane. Fate! thou hast done thy worst, and now thou standest before me resting thy hand on thy blunted blade. Ay; I see thine eye confront mine and demand why I still live, why I still hope. Pagan demon60, I credit not thine omnipotence61, and so cannot succumb62 to thy power. My God, whose Son, as on this night, took on Him the form of man, and for man vouchsafed63 to suffer and bleed, controls thy hand, and without His behest thou canst not strike a stroke. My God is sinless, eternal, all-wise — in Him is my trust; and though stripped and crushed by thee — though naked, desolate64, void of resource — I do not despair, I cannot despair: were the lance of Guthrum now wet with my blood, I should not despair. I watch, I toil16, I hope, I pray; Jehovah, in his own time, will aid.”
I need not continue the quotation65; the whole devoir was in the same strain. There were errors of orthography66, there were foreign idioms, there were some faults of construction, there were verbs irregular transformed into verbs regular; it was mostly made up, as the above example shows, of short and somewhat rude sentences, and the style stood in great need of polish and sustained dignity; yet such as it was, I had hitherto seen nothing like it in the course of my professorial experience. The girl’s mind had conceived a picture of the hut, of the two peasants, of the crownless king; she had imagined the wintry forest, she had recalled the old Saxon ghost-legends, she had appreciated Alfred’s courage under calamity67, she had remembered his Christian68 education, and had shown him, with the rooted confidence of those primitive69 days, relying on the scriptural Jehovah for aid against the mythological70 Destiny. This she had done without a hint from me: I had given the subject, but not said a word about the manner of treating it.
“I will find, or make, an opportunity of speaking to her,” I said to myself as I rolled the devoir up; “I will learn what she has of English in her besides the name of Frances Evans; she is no novice71 in the language, that is evident, yet she told me she had neither been in England, nor taken lessons in English, nor lived in English families.”
In the course of my next lesson, I made a report of the other devoirs, dealing72 out praise and blame in very small retail73 parcels, according to my custom, for there was no use in blaming severely74, and high encomiums were rarely merited. I said nothing of Mdlle. Henri’s exercise, and, spectacles on nose, I endeavoured to decipher in her countenance75 her sentiments at the omission76. I wanted to find out whether in her existed a consciousness of her own talents. “If she thinks she did a clever thing in composing that devoir, she will now look mortified,” thought I. Grave as usual, almost sombre, was her face; as usual, her eyes were fastened on the cahier open before her; there was something, I thought, of expectation in her attitude, as I concluded a brief review of the last devoir, and when, casting it from me and rubbing my hands, I bade them take their grammars, some slight change did pass over her air and mien77, as though she now relinquished78 a faint prospect79 of pleasant excitement; she had been waiting for something to be discussed in which she had a degree of interest; the discussion was not to come on, so expectation sank back, shrunk and sad, but attention, promptly80 filling up the void, repaired in a moment the transient collapse81 of feature; still, I felt, rather than saw, during the whole course of the lesson, that a hope had been wrenched82 from her, and that if she did not show distress83, it was because she would not.
At four o’clock, when the bell rang and the room was in immediate84 tumult85, instead of taking my hat and starting from the estrade, I sat still a moment. I looked at Frances, she was putting her books into her cabas; having fastened the button, she raised her head; encountering my eye, she made a quiet, respectful obeisance86, as bidding good afternoon, and was turning to depart:—
“Come here,” said I, lifting my finger at the same time. She hesitated; she could not hear the words amidst the uproar87 now pervading88 both school-rooms; I repeated the sign; she approached; again she paused within half a yard of the estrade, and looked shy, and still doubtful whether she had mistaken my meaning.
“Step up,” I said, speaking with decision. It is the only way of dealing with diffident, easily embarrassed characters, and with some slight manual aid I presently got her placed just where wanted her to be, that is, between my desk and the window, where she was screened from the rush of the second division, and where no one could sneak89 behind her to listen.
“Take a seat,” I said, placing a tabouret; and I made her sit down. I knew what I was doing would be considered a very strange thing, and, what was more, I did not care. Frances knew it also, and, I fear, by an appearance of agitation90 and trembling, that she cared much. I drew from my pocket the rolled-up devoir.
“This it, yours, I suppose?” said I, addressing her in English, for I now felt sure she could speak English.
“Yes,” she answered distinctly; and as I unrolled it and laid it out flat on the desk before her with my hand upon it, and a pencil in that hand, I saw her moved, and, as it were, kindled91; her depression beamed as a cloud might behind which the sun is burning.
“This devoir has numerous faults,” said I. “It will take you some years of careful study before you are in a condition to write English with absolute correctness. Attend: I will point out some principal defects.” And I went through it carefully, noting every error, and demonstrating why they were errors, and how the words or phrases ought to have been written. In the course of this sobering process she became calm. I now went on:-
“As to the substance of your devoir, Mdlle. Henri, it has surprised me; I perused92 it with pleasure, because I saw in it some proofs of taste and fancy. Taste and fancy are not the highest gifts of the human mind, but such as they are you possess them — not probably in a paramount93 degree, but in a degree beyond what the majority can boast. You may then take courage; cultivate the faculties94 that God and nature have bestowed95 on you, and do not fear in any crisis of suffering, under any pressure of injustice96, to derive97 free and full consolation98 from the consciousness of their strength and rarity.”
“Strength and rarity!” I repeated to myself; “ay, the words are probably true,” for on looking up, I saw the sun had dissevered its screening cloud, her countenance was transfigured, a smile shone in her eyes — a smile almost triumphant99; it seemed to say —
“I am glad you have been forced to discover so much of my nature; you need not so carefully moderate your language. Do you think I am myself a stranger to myself? What you tell me in terms so qualified100, I have known fully27 from a child.”
She did say this as plainly as a frank and flashing glance could, but in a moment the glow of her complexion101, the radiance of her aspect, had subsided102; if strongly conscious of her talents, she was equally conscious of her harassing103 defects, and the remembrance of these obliterated104 for a single second, now reviving with sudden force, at once subdued105 the too vivid characters in which her sense of her powers had been expressed. So quick was the revulsion of feeling, I had not time to cheek her triumph by reproof106; ere I could contract my brows to a frown she had become serious and almost mournful-looking.
“Thank you, sir,” said she, rising. There was gratitude107 both in her voice and in the look with which she accompanied it. It was time, indeed, for our conference to terminate; for, when I glanced around, behold108 all the boarders (the day-scholars had departed) were congregated109 within a yard or two of my desk, and stood staring with eyes and mouths wide open; the three maitresses formed a whispering knot in one corner, and, close at my elbow, was the directress, sitting on a low chair, calmly clipping the tassels110 of her finished purse.
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1
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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perseverance
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| n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠 | |
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knotty
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| adj.有结的，多节的，多瘤的，棘手的 | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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propensities
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| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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wasteful
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| adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的 | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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drudge
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| n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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docility
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| n.容易教，易驾驶，驯服 | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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trite
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| adj.陈腐的 | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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narratives
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| 记叙文( narrative的名词复数 )； 故事； 叙述； 叙述部分 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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unintelligible
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| adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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abridged
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| 削减的，删节的 | |
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margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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40
onerous
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| adj.繁重的 | |
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incipient
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| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
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perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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43
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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45
foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
mantle
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| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
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47
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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glades
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| n.林中空地( glade的名词复数 ) | |
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49
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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50
infest
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| v.大批出没于；侵扰；寄生于 | |
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51
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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52
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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53
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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54
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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55
thatch
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| vt.用茅草覆盖…的顶部；n.茅草(屋) | |
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56
usurped
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| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
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57
invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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58
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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omnipotence
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| n.全能，万能，无限威力 | |
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62
succumb
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| v.屈服，屈从；死 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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64
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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65
quotation
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| n.引文，引语，语录；报价，牌价，行情 | |
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orthography
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| n.拼字法，拼字式 | |
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67
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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69
primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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mythological
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| adj.神话的 | |
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novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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72
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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73
retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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75
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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76
omission
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| n.省略，删节；遗漏或省略的事物，冗长 | |
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77
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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78
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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80
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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81
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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82
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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83
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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84
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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86
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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87
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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88
pervading
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 ) | |
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89
sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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90
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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91
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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94
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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95
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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97
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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98
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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99
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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100
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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101
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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102
subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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103
harassing
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| v.侵扰，骚扰( harass的现在分词 )；不断攻击（敌人） | |
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104
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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105
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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106
reproof
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| n.斥责，责备 | |
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107
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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108
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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109
congregated
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| （使）集合，聚集( congregate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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110
tassels
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| n.穗( tassel的名词复数 )；流苏状物；（植物的）穗；玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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