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remarked； with an anxious air； that I looked very pale and tired。
“Yes；” I said； “I was fatigued；” and then； with increased interest；
she rejoined； “You shall not go away till you have had some
refreshment。” She persuaded me to step into the parlour； and was
very kind and gentle while I stayed。 The next day she was kinder
still； she came herself into the class to see that the windows were
closed； and that there was no draught； she exhorted me with
friendly earnestness not to over…exert myself； when I went away；
she gave me her hand unasked； and I could not but mark； by a
respectful and gentle pressure； that I was sensible of the favour；
and grateful for it。 My modest demonstration kindled a little merry
smile on her countenance； I thought her almost charming。 During
the remainder of the evening； my mind was full of impatience for
the afternoon of the next day to arrive； that I might see her again。
I was not disappointed； for she sat in the class during the whole
of my subsequent lesson； and often looked at me almost with
affection。 At four o’clock she accompanied me out of the
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schoolroom； asking with solicitude after my health； then scolding
me sweetly because I spoke too loud and gave myself too much
trouble； I stopped at the glass…door which led into the garden； to
hear her lecture to the end； the door was open； it was a very fine
day； and while I listened to the soothing reprimand； I looked at the
sunshine and flowers； and felt very happy。 The day…scholars began
to pour from the schoolrooms into the passage。
“Will you go into the garden a minute or two；” asked she； “till
they are gone？”
I descended the steps without answering； but I looked back as
much as to say—
“You will come with me？”
In another minute I and the directress were walking side by
side down the alley bordered with fruit…trees； whose white
blossoms were then in full blow as well as their tender green
leaves。 The sky was blue； the air still； the May afternoon was full of
brightness and fragrance。 Released from the stifling class；
surrounded with flowers and foliage； with a pleasing； smiling；
affable woman at my side—how did I feel？ Why； very enviably。 It
seemed as if the romantic visions my imagination had suggested of
this garden； while it was yet hidden from me by the jealous boards；
were more than realized； and； when a turn in the alley shut out the
view of the house； and some tall shrubs excluded M。 Pelet’s
mansion； and screened us momentarily from the other houses；
rising amphitheatre…like round this green spot； I gave my arm to
Mdlle Reuter； and led her to a garden…chair； nestled under some
lilacs near。 She sat down； I took my place at her side。 She went on
talking to me with that ease which communicates ease； and； as I
listened； a revelation dawned in my mind that I was on the brink
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of falling in love。 The dinner…bell rang； both at her house and M。
Pelet’s； we were obliged to part； I detained her a moment as she
was moving away。
“I want something；” said I。
“What？” asked Zoraide naively。
“Only a flower。”
“Gather it then—or two； or twenty； if you like。”
“No—one will do—but you must gather it； and give it to me。”
“What a caprice！” she exclaimed； but she raised herself on her
tip…toes； and； plucking a beautiful branch of lilac； offered it to me
with grace。 I took it； and went away； satisfied for the present； and
hopeful for the future。
Certainly that May day was a lovely one； and it closed in
moonlight night of summer warmth and serenity。 I remember this
well； for； having sat up late that evening； correcting devoirs； and
feeling weary and a little oppressed with the closeness of my small
room； I opened the often…mentioned boarded window； whose
boards； however； I had persuaded old Madame Pelet to have
removed since I had filled the post of professor in the pensionnat
de demoiselles； as； from that time； it was no longer “inconvenant”
for me to overlook my own pupils at their sports。 I sat down in the
window…seat； rested my arm on the sill； and leaned out： above me
was the clear…obscure of a cloudless night sky—splendid
moonlight subdued the tremulous sparkle of the stars—below lay
the garden； varied with silvery lustre and deep shade； and all fresh
with dew—a grateful perfume exhaled from the closed blossoms of
the fruit…trees—not a leaf stirred； the night was breezeless。 My
window looked directly down upon a certain walk of Mdlle
é é
Reuter’s garden； called “l’all e d fendue；” so named because the
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pupils were forbidden to enter it on account of its proximity to the
boys’ school。 It was here that the lilacs and laburnums grew
especially thick； this was the most sheltered nook in the enclosure；
its shrubs screened the garden…chair where that afternoon I had
sat with the young directress。 I need not say that my thoughts
were chiefly with her as I leaned from the lattice； and let my； eye
roam； now over the walks and borders of the garden； now along
the many…windowed front of the house which rose white beyond
the masses of foliage。 I wondered in what part of the building was
situated her apartment； and a single light； shining through the
é
persiennes of one crois e； seemed to direct me to it。
“She watches late；” thought I； “for it must be now near
midnight。 She is a fascinating little woman；” I continued in
voiceless soliloquy； “her image forms a pleasant picture in
memory； I know she is not what the world calls pretty—no matter；
there is harmony in her aspect； and I like it； her brown hair； her
blue eye； the freshness of her cheek； the whiteness of her neck； all
suit my taste。 Then I respect her talent； the idea of marrying a doll
or a fool was always abhorrent to me： I know that a pretty doll； a
fair fool； might do well enough for the honeymoon； but when
passion cooled； how dreadful to find a lump of wax and wood laid
in my bosom； a half idiot clasped in my arms； and to remember
that I had made of this my equal—nay； my idol—to know that I
must pass the rest of my dreary life with a creature incapable of
understanding what I said； of appreciating what I thought； or of
sympathizing with what I felt！ “Now； Zoraide Reuter；” thought I；
“has tact； caractère； judgment； discretion； has she heart？ What a
good； simple little smile played about her lips when she gave me
the branch of lilacs！ I have thought her crafty； dissembling；
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interested sometimes； it is true； but may not much that looks like
cunning and dissimulation in her conduct be only the efforts made
by a bland temper to traverse quietly perplexing difficulties？ And
as to interest； she wishes to make her way in the world； no doubt；
and who can blame her？ Even if she be truly deficient in sound
principle； is it not rather her misfortune than her fault？ She has
been brought up a Catholic： had she been born an Englishwoman；
and reared a Protestant； might she not have added straight
integrity to all her other excellences？ Supposing she were to