CHAPTER XVII.
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小
中
大
ce,withoutawordofthanksforthisofficiouswarning,Mdlle.Henricollectedherbooksshemovedtomerespectfully,endeavouredtomovetohersuperior,thoughtheendeavourwasalmostafailure,forherheadseemedasifitwouldnotbend,andthusdeparted.
Wherethereisonegrainofperseveranceorwilfulnessinthecomposition,triflingobstaclesareeverknownrathertostimulatethandiscourage.Mdlle.Reutermightaswellhavesparedherselfthetroubleofgivingthatintimationabouttheweather(by-the-byherpredictionwasfalsifiedbytheevent—itdidnotrainthatevening).AtthecloseofthenextlessonIwasagainatMdlle.Henri’sdesk.ThusdidIaccosther:—
“WhatisyourideaofEngland,mademoiselle?Whydoyouwishtogothere?”
Accustomedbythistimetothecalculatedabruptnessofmymanner,itnolongerdiscomposedorsurprisedher,andsheansweredwithonlysomuchofhesitationaswasrenderedinevitablebythedifficultysheexperiencedinimprovisingthetranslationofherthoughtsfromFrenchtoEnglish.
“Englandissomethingunique,asIhaveheardandreadmyideaofitisvague,andIwanttogotheretorendermyideaclear,definite.”
“Hum!HowmuchofEnglanddoyousupposeyoucouldseeifyouwentthereinthecapacityofateacher?Astrangenotionyoumusthaveofgettingaclearanddefiniteideaofacountry!AllyoucouldseeofGreatBritainwouldbetheinteriorofaschool,oratmostofoneortwoprivatedwellings.”
“ItwouldbeanEnglishschooltheywouldbeEnglishdwellings.”
“Indisputablybutwhatthen?Whatwouldbethevalueofobservationsmadeonascalesonarrow?”
“Monsieur,mightnotonelearnsomethingbyanalogy?An—echantillon—a—asampleoftenservestogiveanideaofthewholebesides,narrowandwidearewordscomparative,aretheynot?Allmylifewouldperhapsseemnarrowinyoureyes—allthelifeofa—thatlittleanimalsubterranean—unetaupe—commentdit-on?”
“Mole.”
“Yes—amole,whichlivesundergroundwouldseemnarroweventome.”
“Well,mademoiselle—whatthen?Proceed.”
“Mais,monsieur,vousmecomprenez.”
“Notintheleasthavethegoodnesstoexplain.”
“Why,monsieur,itisjustso.InSwitzerlandIhavedonebutlittle,learntbutlittle,andseenbutlittlemylifetherewasinacircleIwalkedthesameroundeverydayIcouldnotgetoutofithadIrested—remainedthereeventillmydeath,Ishouldneverhaveenlargedit,becauseIampoorandnotskilful,IhavenotgreatacquirementswhenIwasquitetiredofthisround,IbeggedmyaunttogotoBrusselsmyexistenceisnolargerhere,becauseIamnoricherorhigherIwalkinasnarrowalimit,butthesceneischangeditwouldchangeagainifIwenttoEngland.Iknewsomethingofthebourgeo