CHAPTER XVII.

isofGeneva,nowIknowsomethingofthebourgeoisofBrusselsifIwenttoLondon,IwouldknowsomethingofthebourgeoisofLondon.CanyoumakeanysenseoutofwhatIsay,monsieur,orisitallobscure?” “Isee,Isee—nowletusadverttoanothersubjectyouproposetodevoteyourlifetoteaching,andyouareamostunsuccessfulteacheryoucannotkeepyourpupilsinorder.” Aflushofpainfulconfusionwastheresultofthisharshremarkshebentherheadtothedesk,butsoonraisingitreplied— “Monsieur,Iamnotaskilfulteacher,itistrue,butpracticeimprovesbesides,IworkunderdifficultieshereIonlyteachsewing,Icanshownopowerinsewing,nosuperiority—itisasubordinateartthenIhavenoassociatesinthishouse,IamisolatedIamtooaheretic,whichdeprivesmeofinfluence.” “AndinEnglandyouwouldbeaforeignerthattoowoulddepriveyouofinfluence,andwouldeffectuallyseparateyoufromallroundyouinEnglandyouwouldhaveasfewconnections,aslittleimportanceasyouhavehere.” “ButIshouldbelearningsomethingfortherest,thereareprobablydifficultiesforsuchasIeverywhere,andifImustcontend,andperhapsbeconquered,IwouldrathersubmittoEnglishpridethantoFlemishcoarsenessbesides,monsieur—” Shestopped—notevidentlyfromanydifficultyinfindingwordstoexpressherself,butbecausediscretionseemedtosay,“Youhavesaidenough.” “Finishyourphrase,”Iurged. “Besides,monsieur,IlongtoliveoncemoreamongProtestantstheyaremorehonestthanCatholicsaRomishschoolisabuildingwithporouswalls,ahollowfloor,afalseceilingeveryroominthishouse,monsieur,haseyeholesandear-holes,andwhatthehouseis,theinhabitantsare,verytreacheroustheyallthinkitlawfultotellliestheyallcallitpolitenesstoprofessfriendshipwheretheyfeelhatred.” “All?”saidI“youmeanthepupils—themerechildren—inexperienced,giddythings,whohavenotlearnttodistinguishthedifferencebetweenrightandwrong?” “Onthecontrary,monsieur—thechildrenarethemostsinceretheyhavenotyethadtimetobecomeaccomplishedinduplicitytheywilltelllies,buttheydoitinartificially,andyouknowtheyarelyingbutthegrown-uppeopleareveryfalsetheydeceivestrangers,theydeceiveeachother—” Aservanthereentered:— “Mdlle.Henri—Mdlle.ReutervouspriedevouloirbienconduirelapetitedeDorlodotchezelle,ellevousattenddanslecabinetdeRosalielaportiere—c’estquesabonnen’estpasvenuelachercher—voyez-vous.” “Ehbien!est-cequejesuissabonne—moi?”demandedMdlle.Henrithensmiling,withthatsamebitter,derisivesmileIhadseenonherlipsoncebefore,shehastilyroseandmadeherexit.