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for all the pupils to take their reading…books。 In general I hated the
reading…lesson； it was such a torture to the ear to listen to their
uncouth mouthing of my native tongue； and no effort of example
or precept on my part ever seemed to effect the slightest
improvement in their accent。 To…day； each in her appropriate key；
lisped； stuttered； mumbled； and jabbered as usual； about fifteen
had racked me in turn； and my auricular nerve was expecting with
resignation the discords of the sixteenth； when a full； though low
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voice； read out； in clear correct English—
“On his way to Perth； the king was met by a Highland woman；
calling herself a prophetess； she stood at the side of the ferry by
which he was about to travel to the north； and cried with a loud
voice； ‘My lord the king； if you pass this water you will never
return again alive！’”—（vide the History of Scotland）。
I looked up in amazement； the voice was a voice of Albion； the
accent was pure and silvery； it only wanted firmness； and
assurance； to be the counterpart of what any well…educated lady in
Essex or Middlesex might have enounced； yet the speaker or
reader was no other than Mdlle Henri； in whose grave； joyless face
I saw no mark of consciousness that she had performed any
extraordinary feat。 No one else evinced surprise either。 Mdlle
Reuter knitted away assiduously； I was aware； however； that at the
conclusion of the paragraph； she had lifted her eyelid and
honoured me with a glance sideways； she did not know the full
excellency of the teacher’s style of reading； but she perceived that
her accent was not that of the others； and wanted to discover what
I thought； I masked my visage with indifference； and ordered the
next girl to proceed。
When the lesson was over； I took advantage of the confusion
caused by breaking up； to approach Mdlle Henri； she was standing
near the window and retired as I advanced； she thought I wanted
to look out； and did not imagine that I could have anything to say
to her。 I took her exercise…book； out of her hand； as I turned over
the leaves I addressed her：—
“You have had lessons in English before？” I asked。
“No； sir。”
“No！ you read it well； you have been in England？”
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“Oh； no！” with some animation。
“You have been in English families？”
Still the answer was “No。” Here my eye； resting on the flyleaf of
the book； saw written； “Frances Evans Henri。”
“Your name？” I asked
“Yes； sir。”
My interrogations were cut short； I heard a little rustling
behind me； and close at my back was the directress； professing to
be examining the interior of a desk。
“Mademoiselle；” said she； looking up and addressing the
teacher； “Will you have the goodness to go and stand in the
corridor； while the young ladies are putting on their things； and
try to keep some order？”
Mdlle Henri obeyed。
“What splendid weather！” observed the directress cheerfully；
glancing at the same time from the window。 I assented and was
withdrawing。 “What of your new pupil； monsieur？” continued she；
following my retreating steps。 “Is she likely to make progress in
English？”
“Indeed I can hardly judge。 She possesses a pretty good accent；
of her real knowledge of the language I have as yet had no
opportunity of forming an opinion。”
“And her natural capacity； monsieur？ I have had my fears
about that： can you relieve me by an assurance at least of its
average power？”
“I see no reason to doubt its average power； mademoiselle； but
really I scarcely know her； and have not had time to study the
calibre of her capacity。 I wish you a very good afternoon。”
She still pursued me。 “You will observe； monsieur； and tell me
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what you think； I could so much better rely on your opinion than
on my own； women cannot judge of these things as men can； and；
excuse my pertinacity； monsieur； but it is natural I should feel
interested about this poor little girl （pauvre petite）； she has
scarcely any relations； her own efforts are all she has to look to；
her acquirements must be her sole fortune； her present position
has once been mine； or nearly so； it is then but natural I should
sympathize with her； and sometimes when I see the difficulty she
has in managing pupils； I reel quite chagrined。 I doubt not she
does her best； her intentions are excellent； but； monsieur； she
wants tact and firmness。 I have talked to her on the subject； but I
am not fluent； and probably did not express myself with clearness；
she never appears to comprehend me。 Now； would you
occasionally； when you see an opportunity； slip in a word of advice
to her on the subject； men have so much more influence than
women have—they argue so much more logically than we do； and
you； monsieur； in particular； have so paramount a power of
making yourself obeyed； a word of advice from you could not but
do her good； even if she were sullen and headstrong （which I hope
she is not）； she would scarcely refuse to listen to you； for my own
part； I can truly say that I never attend one of your lessons without
deriving benefit from witnessing your management of the pupils。
The other masters are a constant source of anxiety to me； they
cannot impress the young ladies with sentiments of respect； nor
restrain the levity natural to youth： in you； monsieur； I feel the
most absolute confidence； try then to put this poor child into the
way of controlling our giddy； high…spirited Brabantoises。 But；
monsieur； I would add one word more； don’t alarm her amour
propre； beware of inflicting a wound there。 I reluctantly admit that
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in that particular she is blamably—some would say ridiculously—
susceptible。 I fear I have touched this sore point inadvertently；
and she cannot get over it。”
During the greater part of this harangue my hand was on the
lock of the outer door； I now turned it。
“Au revoir； mademoiselle；” said I； and I escaped。 I saw the
directress’s stock of words was yet far from exhausted。 She looked
after me； she would fain have detained me longer。 Her manner
towards me had been altered ever since I had begun to treat her
with hardness and indifference： she almost cringed to me on every
occasion； she consulted my countenance incessantly； and beset me
with innumerable little officious attentions。 Servility creates
despotism。 This slavish homage； instead of softening my heart；
only pampered whatever was stern and exacting in its mood。 The
very circumstance of her hovering round me like a fascinated bird；
seemed to transform me into a rigid pillar of stone； her flatteries
irritated my scorn； her blandishments confirmed my reserve。 At
times I wondered what she meant by giving herself such trouble to
win me； when the more profitable Pelet was already in her nets；
and when； too； she was aware that I possessed her secret； for I had
not scrupled to tell her as much： but the fact is that as it was her
nature to doubt the reality and under…value the worth of modesty；
affection； disinterestedness—to regard these qua