CHAPTER XXXI. THE DRYAD.

oneyofhistemperitwasthebalmofhismellowmoodheimpartedit,astheripefruitrewardswithsweetnesstheriflingbeehediffuseditabouthim,assweetplantsshedtheirperfume.Doesthenectarineloveeitherthebeeorbirditfeeds?Isthesweetbriarenamouredoftheair? “Good-night,Dr.Johnyouaregood,youarebeautifulbutyouarenotmine.Good-night,andGodblessyou!” ThusIclosedmymusings.“Good-night”leftmylipsinsoundIheardthewordsspoken,andthenIheardanecho—quiteclose. “Good-night,Mademoiselleor,rather,good-evening—thesunisscarcesetIhopeyousleptwell?” Istarted,butwasonlydiscomposedamomentIknewthevoiceandspeaker. “Slept,Monsieur!When?where?” “Youmaywellinquirewhen—where.Itseemsyouturndayintonight,andchooseadeskforapillowratherhardlodging—?” “Itwassoftenedforme,Monsieur,whileIslept.Thatunseen,gift-bringingthingwhichhauntsmydesk,rememberedme.NomatterhowIfellasleepIawokepillowedandcovered.” “Didtheshawlskeepyouwarm?” “Verywarm.Doyouaskthanksforthem?” “No.Youlookedpaleinyourslumbers:areyouhome-sick?” “Tobehome-sick,onemusthaveahomewhichIhavenot.” “Thenyouhavemoreneedofacarefulfriend.Iscarcelyknowanyone,MissLucy,whoneedsafriendmoreabsolutelythanyouyourveryfaultsimperativelyrequireit.Youwantsomuchchecking,regulating,andkeepingdown.” Thisideaof“keepingdown”neverleftM.Paul’sheadthemosthabitualsubjugationwould,inmycase,havefailedtorelievehimofit.Nomatterwhatdiditsignify?Ilistenedtohim,anddidnottroublemyselftobetoosubmissivehisoccupationwouldhavebeengonehadIlefthimnothingto“keepdown.” “Youneedwatching,andwatchingover,”hepursued“anditiswellforyouthatIseethis,anddomybesttodischargebothduties.Iwatchyouandothersprettyclosely,prettyconstantly,nearerandoftenerthanyouortheythink.Doyouseethatwindowwithalightinit?” Hepointedtoalatticeinoneofthecollegeboarding-houses. “That,”saidhe,“isaroomIhavehired,nominallyforastudy—virtuallyforapostofobservation.ThereIsitandreadforhourstogether:itismyway—mytaste.Mybookisthisgardenitscontentsarehumannature—femalehumannature.Iknowyouallbyheart.Ah!Iknowyouwell—St.Pierre,theParisienne—cettema?tresse-femme,mycousinBeckherself.” “Itisnotright,Monsieur.” “Comment?itisnotright?Bywhosecreed?DoessomedogmaofCalvinorLuthercondemnit?Whatisthattome?IamnoProtestant.Myrichfather(for,thoughIhaveknownpoverty,andoncestarvedforayearinagarretinRome—starvedwretchedly,oftenonamealaday,andsometimesnotthat—yetIwasborntowealth)—myrichfatherwasagoodCatholicandhegavemeapriestandaJesuitforatutor.Iretainhislessonsandtowhatdiscoveries,grandDieu!havetheynotaidedme!” “Discoveriesmadebystealthseemtomedishonourablediscoveries.” “Puritaine!Idoubtitnot.YetseehowmyJesuit’ssystemworks.YouknowtheSt.Pierre?” “Partially.” Helaughed.“Yousayright—‘partially’whereasIknowherthoroughlythereisthedifference.Sheplayedbeforemetheamiableofferedmepattedevelourscaressed,flattered,fawnedonme.Now,Iamaccessibletoawoman’sflattery—accessibleagainstmyreason.Thoughneverpretty,shewas—whenIfirstknewher—young,orknewhowtolookyoung.Likeallhercountrywomen,shehadtheartofdressing—shehadacertaincool,easy,socialassurance,whichsparedmethepainofembarrassment—” “Monsieur,thatmusthavebeenunnecessary.Ineversawyouembarrassedinmylife.” “Mademoiselle,youknowlittleofmeIcanbeembarrassedasapetitepensionnairethereisafundofmodestyanddiffidenceinmynature—” “Monsieur,Ineversawit.” “Mademoiselle,itisthere.Yououghttohaveseenit.” “Monsieur,Ihaveobservedyouinpublic—onplatforms,intribunes,beforetitlesandcrownedheads—andyouwereaseasyasyouareinthethirddivision.” “Mademoiselle,neithertitlesnorcrownedheadsexcitemymodestyandpublicityisverymuchmyelement.Ilikeitwell,andbreatheinitquitefreely—but—but,inshort,her