CHAPTER XVIII.

ourwhichsunlessdroughtandblightingblasthadhithertoforbiddentoexpand.Constancyofattention—akindnessasmuteaswatchful,alwaysstandingbyher,cloakedintheroughgarbofausterity,andmakingitsrealnatureknownonlybyarareglanceofinterest,oracordialandgentlewordrealrespectmaskedwithseemingimperiousness,directing,urgingheractions,yethelpinghertoo,andthatwithdevotedcare:thesewerethemeansIused,forthesemeansbestsuitedFrances’feelings,assusceptibleasdeepvibrating—hernatureatonceproudandshy. Thebenefitsofmysystembecameapparentalsoinheraltereddemeanourasateachershenowtookherplaceamongstherpupilswithanairofspiritandfirmnesswhichassuredthematoncethatshemeanttobeobeyed—andobeyedshewas.Theyfelttheyhadlosttheirpoweroverher.Ifanygirlhadrebelled,shewouldnolongerhavetakenherrebelliontoheartshepossessedasourceofcomforttheycouldnotdrain,apillarofsupporttheycouldnotoverthrow:formerly,wheninsulted,sheweptnow,shesmiled. ThepublicreadingofoneofherdevoirsachievedtherevelationofhertalentstoallandsundryIrememberthesubject—itwasanemigrant’slettertohisfriendsathome.Itopenedwithsimplicitysomenaturalandgraphictouchesdisclosedtothereaderthesceneofvirginforestandgreat,New-Worldriver—barrenofsailandflag—amidstwhichtheepistlewassupposedtobeindited.Thedifficultiesanddangersthatattendasettler’slife,werehintedatandinthefewwordssaidonthatsubject,Mdlle.Henrifailednottorenderaudiblethevoiceofresolve,patience,endeavour.Thedisasterswhichhaddrivenhimfromhisnativecountrywerealludedtostainlesshonour,inflexibleindependence,indestructibleself-respecttheretooktheword.Pastdayswerespokenofthegriefofparting,theregretsofabsence,weretoucheduponfeeling,forcibleandfine,breathedeloquentineveryperiod.Attheclose,consolationwassuggestedreligiousfaithbecametherethespeaker,andshespokewell. Thedevoirwaspowerfullywritteninlanguageatoncechasteandchoice,inastylenervedwithvigourandgracedwithharmony. Mdlle.ReuterwasquitesufficientlyacquaintedwithEnglishtounderstanditwhenreadorspokeninherpresence,thoughshecouldneitherspeaknorwriteitherself.Duringtheperusalofthisdevoir,shesatplacidlybusy,hereyesandfingersoccupiedwiththeformationofa“riviere”oropen-workhemroundacambrichandkerchiefshesaidnothing,andherfaceandforehead,clothedwithamaskofpurelynegativeexpression,wereasblankofcommentasherlips.Asneithersurprise,pleasure,approbation,norinterestwereevincedinhercountenance,sonomoreweredisdain,envy,annoyance,wearinessifthatinscrutablemiensaidanything,itwassimplythis— “Thematteristootritetoexciteanemotion,orcallforthanopinion.” AssoonasIhaddone,ahumroseseveralofthepupils,pressingroundMdlle.Henri,begantobesetherwithcomplimentsthecomposedvoiceofthedirectresswasnowheard:— “Youngladies,suchofyouashavecloaksandumbrellaswillhastentoreturnhomebeforetheshowerbecomesheavier”(itwasrainingalittle),“theremainderwillwaittilltheirrespectiveservantsarrivetofetchthem.”Andtheschooldispersed,foritwasfouro’clock. “Monsieur,aword,”saidMdlle.Reuter,steppingontotheestrade,andsignifying,byamovementofthehand,thatshewishedmetorelinquish,foraninstant,thecastorIhadclutched. “Mademoiselle,Iamatyourservice.” “Monsieur,itisofcourseanexcellentplantoencourageeffortinyoungpeoplebymakingconspicuoustheprogressofanyparticularlyindustriouspupilbutdoyounotthinkthatinthepresentinstance,Mdlle.Henricanhardlybeconsideredasaconcurrentwiththeotherpupils?Sheisolderthanmostofthem,andhashadadvantagesofanexclusivenatureforacquiringaknowledgeofEnglishontheotherhand,hersphereoflifeissomewhatbeneaththeirsunderthesecircumstances,apublicdistinction,conferreduponMdlle.Henri,maybethemeansofsuggestingcomparisons,andexcitingfeelingssuchaswouldbefarfromadvantageoustotheindividualformingtheirobject.TheinterestItakeinMdlle.Henri’srealwelfaremakesmedesirousofscreeningherfromannoyancesofthissortbesides,monsieur,asIhavebeforehintedtoyou,thesentimentofAMOUR-PROPREhasasomewhatmarkedpreponderanceinhercharactercelebrityhasatendencytofosterthissentiment,andinheritshouldberatherrepressed—sheratherneedskeepingdownthanbringingforwardandthenIthink,monsieur—itappearstomethatambition,LITERARYambitionespeciall