CHAPTER XVI.

InthecourseofanotherfortnightIhadseensufficientofFrancesEvansHenri,toenablemetoformamoredefiniteopinionofhercharacter.Ifoundherpossessedinasomewhatremarkabledegreeofatleasttwogoodpoints,viz.,perseveranceandasenseofdutyIfoundshewasreallycapableofapplyingtostudy,ofcontendingwithdifficulties.AtfirstIofferedherthesamehelpwhichIhadalwaysfounditnecessarytoconferontheothersIbeganwithunloosingforhereachknottypoint,butIsoondiscoveredthatsuchhelpwasregardedbymynewpupilasdegradingsherecoiledfromitwithacertainproudimpatience.HereuponIappointedherlonglessons,andlefthertosolvealoneanyperplexitiestheymightpresent.Shesettothetaskwithseriousardour,andhavingquicklyaccomplishedonelabour,eagerlydemandedmore.Somuchforherperseveranceastohersenseofduty,itevinceditselfthus:shelikedtolearn,buthatedtoteachherprogressasapupildependeduponherself,andIsawthatonherselfshecouldcalculatewithcertaintyhersuccessasateacherrestedpartly,perhapschiefly,uponthewillofothersitcostheramostpainfulefforttoenterintoconflictwiththisforeignwill,toendeavourtobenditintosubjectiontoherownforinwhatregardedpeopleingeneraltheactionofherwillwasimpededbymanyscruplesitwasasunembarrassedasstrongwhereherownaffairswereconcerned,andtoitshecouldatanytimesubjectherinclination,ifthatinclinationwentcountertoherconvictionsofrightyetwhencalledupontowrestlewiththepropensities,thehabits,thefaultsofothers,ofchildrenespecially,whoaredeaftoreason,and,forthemostpart,insensatetopersuasion,herwillsometimesalmostrefusedtoactthencameinthesenseofduty,andforcedthereluctantwillintooperation.AwastefulexpenseofenergyandlabourwasfrequentlytheconsequenceFrancestoiledforandwithherpupilslikeadrudge,butitwaslongereherconscientiousexertionswererewardedbyanythinglikedocilityontheirpart,becausetheysawthattheyhadpoweroverher,inasmuchasbyresistingherpainfulattemptstoconvince,persuade,control—byforcinghertotheemploymentofcoercivemeasures—theycouldinflictuponherexquisitesuffering.Humanbeings—humanchildrenespecially—seldomdenythemselvesthepleasureofexercisingapowerwhichtheyareconsciousofpossessing,eventhoughthatpowerconsistonlyinacapacitytomakeotherswretchedapupilwhosesensationsaredullerthanthoseofhisinstructor,whilehisnervesaretougherandhisbodilystrengthperhapsgreater,hasanimmenseadvantageoverthatinstructor,andhewillgenerallyuseitrelentlessly,becausetheveryyoung,veryhealthy,verythoughtless,knowneitherhowtosympathizenorhowtospare.Frances,Ifear,sufferedmuchacontinualweightseemedtooppressherspiritsIhavesaidshe