CHAPTER XXXI. THE DRYAD.

eisthesentimentbroughtintoaction,atthisverymomenthowever,Idisdaintobeworstedbyit.If,Mademoiselle,Iwereamarryingman(whichIamnotandyoumayspareyourselfthetroubleofanysneeryoumaybecontemplatingatthethought),andfounditnecessarytoaskaladywhethershecouldlookuponmeinthelightofafuturehusband,thenwoulditbeprovedthatIamasIsay—modest.” Iquitebelievedhimnowand,inbelieving,Ihonouredhimwithasincerityofesteemwhichmademyheartache. “AstotheSt.Pierre,”hewenton,recoveringhimself,forhisvoicehadalteredalittle,“sheonceintendedtobeMadameEmanuelandIdon’tknowwhitherImighthavebeenled,butforyonderlittlelatticewiththelight.Ah,magiclattice!whatmiraclesofdiscoveryhastthouwrought!Yes,”hepursued,“Ihaveseenherrancours,hervanities,herlevities—notonlyhere,butelsewhere:Ihavewitnessedwhatbucklersmeagainstallherarts:IamsafefrompoorZélie.” “Andmypupils,”hepresentlyrecommenced,“thoseblondesjeunesfilles—somildandmeek—Ihaveseenthemostreserved—romplikeboys,thedemurest—snatchgrapesfromthewalls,shakepearsfromthetrees.WhentheEnglishteachercame,Isawher,markedherearlypreferenceforthisalley,noticedhertasteforseclusion,watchedherwell,longbeforesheandIcametospeakingtermsdoyourecollectmyoncecomingsilentlyandofferingyoualittleknotofwhitevioletswhenwewerestrangers?” “Irecollectit.Idriedtheviolets,keptthem,andhavethemstill.” “Itpleasedmewhenyoutookthempeacefullyandpromptly,withoutprudery—thatsentimentwhichIeverdreadtoexcite,andwhich,whenitisrevealedineyeorgesture,Ivindictivelydetest.Toreturn.NotonlydidIwatchyoubutoften—especiallyateventide—anotherguardianangelwasnoiselesslyhoveringnear:nightafternightmycousinBeckhasstolendownyondersteps,andglidinglypursuedyourmovementswhenyoudidnotseeher.” “But,Monsieur,youcouldnotfromthedistanceofthatwindowseewhatpassedinthisgardenatnight?” “BymoonlightIpossiblymightwithaglass—Iuseaglass—butthegardenitselfisopentome.Intheshed,atthebottom,thereisadoorleadingintoacourt,whichcommunicateswiththecollegeofthatdoorIpossessthekey,andthuscomeandgoatpleasure.ThisafternoonIcamethroughit,andfoundyouasleepinclasseagainthiseveningIhaveavailedmyselfofthesameentrance.” Icouldnothelpsaying,“Ifyouwereawicked,designingman,howterriblewouldallthisbe!” Hisattentionseemedincapableofbeingarrestedbythisviewofthesubject:helithiscigar,andwhilehepuffedit,leaningagainstatree,andlookingatmeinacool,amusedwayhehadwhenhishumourwastranquil,Ithoughtpropertogoonsermonizinghim:heoftenlecturedmebythehourtogether—IdidnotseewhyIshouldnotspeakmymindforonce.SoItoldhimmyimpressionsconcerninghisJesuit-system. “Theknowledgeitbringsyouisboughttoodear,Monsieurthiscomingandgoingbystealthdegradesyourowndignity.” “Mydignity!”hecried,laughing“whendidyoueverseemetroublemyheadaboutmydignity?Itisyou,MissLucy,whoare‘digne.’Howoften,inyourhighinsularpresence,haveItakenapleasureintramplingupon,whatyouarepleasedtocall,mydignitytearingit,scatteringittothewinds,inthosemadtransportsyouwitnesswithsuchhauteur,andwhichIknowyouthinkveryliketheravingsofathird-rateLondonactor.” “Monsieur,Itellyoueveryglanceyoucastfromthatlatticeisawrongdonetothebestpartofyourownnature.Tostudythehumanheartthus,istobanquetsecretlyandsacrilegiouslyonEve’sapples.IwishyouwereaProtestant.” Indifferenttothewish,hesmokedon.Afteraspaceofsmilingyetthoughtfulsilence,hesaid,rathersuddenly—“Ihaveseenotherthings.” “Whatotherthings?” Takingtheweedfromhislips,hethrewtheremnantamongsttheshrubs,where,foramoment,itlayglowinginthegloom. “Look,atit,”saidhe:“isnotthatsparklikeaneyewatchingyouandme?” Hetookaturndownthewalkpresentlyreturning,hewenton:—“Ihaveseen,MissLucy,thingstomeunaccountable,thathavemademewatchallnightforasolution,andIhavenotyetfoundit.”