CHAPTER XVI.

ehadneitherbeeninEngland,nortakenlessonsinEnglish,norlivedinEnglishfamilies.” Inthecourseofmynextlesson,Imadeareportoftheotherdevoirs,dealingoutpraiseandblameinverysmallretailparcels,accordingtomycustom,fortherewasnouseinblamingseverely,andhighencomiumswererarelymerited.IsaidnothingofMdlle.Henri’sexercise,and,spectaclesonnose,Iendeavouredtodecipherinhercountenancehersentimentsattheomission.Iwantedtofindoutwhetherinherexistedaconsciousnessofherowntalents.“Ifshethinksshedidacleverthingincomposingthatdevoir,shewillnowlookmortified,”thoughtI.Graveasusual,almostsombre,washerfaceasusual,hereyeswerefastenedonthecahieropenbeforehertherewassomething,Ithought,ofexpectationinherattitude,asIconcludedabriefreviewofthelastdevoir,andwhen,castingitfrommeandrubbingmyhands,Ibadethemtaketheirgrammars,someslightchangedidpassoverherairandmien,asthoughshenowrelinquishedafaintprospectofpleasantexcitementshehadbeenwaitingforsomethingtobediscussedinwhichshehadadegreeofinterestthediscussionwasnottocomeon,soexpectationsankback,shrunkandsad,butattention,promptlyfillingupthevoid,repairedinamomentthetransientcollapseoffeaturestill,Ifelt,ratherthansaw,duringthewholecourseofthelesson,thatahopehadbeenwrenchedfromher,andthatifshedidnotshowdistress,itwasbecauseshewouldnot. Atfouro’clock,whenthebellrangandtheroomwasinimmediatetumult,insteadoftakingmyhatandstartingfromtheestrade,Isatstillamoment.IlookedatFrances,shewasputtingherbooksintohercabashavingfastenedthebutton,sheraisedherheadencounteringmyeye,shemadeaquiet,respectfulobeisance,asbiddinggoodafternoon,andwasturningtodepart:— “Comehere,”saidI,liftingmyfingeratthesametime.Shehesitatedshecouldnothearthewordsamidsttheuproarnowpervadingbothschool-roomsIrepeatedthesignsheapproachedagainshepausedwithinhalfayardoftheestrade,andlookedshy,andstilldoubtfulwhethershehadmistakenmymeaning. “Stepup,”Isaid,speakingwithdecision.Itistheonlywayofdealingwithdiffident,easilyembarrassedcharacters,andwithsomeslightmanualaidIpresentlygotherplacedjustwhereIwantedhertobe,thatis,betweenmydeskandthewindow,whereshewasscreenedfromtherushoftheseconddivision,andwherenoonecouldsneakbehindhertolisten. “Takeaseat,”Isaid,placingatabouretandImadehersitdown.IknewwhatIwasdoingwouldbeconsideredaverystrangething,and,whatwasmore,Ididnotcare.Francesknewitalso,and,Ifear,byanappearanceofagitationandtrembling,thatshecaredmuch.Idrewfrommypockettherolled-updevoir. “Thisisyours,Isuppose?”saidI,addressingherinEnglish,forInowfe