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nature to doubt the reality and under…value the worth of modesty；
affection； disinterestedness—to regard these qualities as foibles of
character—so it was equally her tendency to consider pride；
hardness； selfishness； as proofs of strength。 She would trample on
the neck of humility； she would kneel at the feet of disdain； she
would meet tenderness with secret contempt； indifference she
would woo with ceaseless assiduities。 Benevolence； devotedness；
enthusiasm； were her antipathies； for dissimulation and self…
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interest she had a preference—they were real wisdom in her eyes；
moral and physical degradation； mental and bodily inferiority； she
regarded with indulgence； they were foils capable of being turned
to good account as set…offs for her own endowments。 To violence；
injustice； tyranny； she succumbed—they were her natural
masters； she had no propensity to hate； no impulse to resist them；
the indignation their behests awake in some hearts was unknown
in hers。 From all this it resulted that the false and selfish called
her wise； the vulgar and debased termed her charitable； the
insolent and unjust dubbed her amiable； the conscientious and
benevolent generally at first accepted as valid her claim to be
considered one of themselves； but ere long the plating of
pretension wore off； the real material appeared below； and they
laid her aside as a deception。
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Chapter XVI
n the course of another fortnight I had seen sufficient of
Frances Evans Henri； to enable me to form a more definite
I
opinion of her character。 I found her possessed in a somewhat
remarkable degree of at least two good points； viz。； perseverance
and a sense of duty； I found she was really capable of applying to
study； of contending with difficulties。 At first I offered her the
same help which I had always found it necessary to confer on the
others； I began with unloosing for her each knotty point； but I
soon discovered that such help was regarded by my new pupil as
degrading； she recoiled from it with a certain proud impatience。
Hereupon I appointed her long lessons； and left her to solve alone
any perplexities they might present。 She set to the task with
serious ardour； and having quickly accomplished one labour；
eagerly demanded more。 So much for her perseverance； as to her
sense of duty； it evinced itself thus： she liked to learn； but hated to
teach； her progress as a pupil depended upon herself； and I saw
that on herself she could calculate with certainty； her success as a
teacher rested partly； perhaps chiefly； upon the will of others； it
cost her a most painful effort to enter into conflict with this foreign
will； to endeavour to bend it into subjection to her own； for in what
regarded people in general the action of her will was impeded by
many scruples； it was as unembarrassed as strong where her own
affairs were concerned； and to it she could at any time subject her
inclination； if that inclination went counter to her convictions of
right； yet when called upon to wrestle with the propensities； the
habits； the faults of others； of children especially； who are deaf to
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reason； and； for the most part； insensate to persuasion； her will
sometimes almost refused to act； then came in the sense of duty；
and forced the reluctant will into operation。 A wasteful expense of
energy and labour was frequently the consequence； Frances toiled
for and with her pupils like a drudge； but it was long ere her
conscientious exertions were rewarded by anything like docility
on their part； because they saw that they had power over her；
inasmuch as by resisting her painful attempts to convince；
persuade； control—by forcing her to the employment of coercive
measures—they could inflict upon her exquisite suffering。 Human
beings—human children especially—seldom deny themselves the
pleasure of exercising a power which they are conscious of
possessing； even though that power consist only in a capacity to
make others wretched； a pupil whose sensations are duller than
those of his instructor； while his nerves are tougher and his bodily
strength perhaps greater； has an immense advantage over that
instructor； and he will generally use it relentlessly； because the
very young； very healthy； very thoughtless； know neither how to
sympathize nor how to spare。 Frances； I fear； suffered much； a
continual weight seemed to oppress her spirits； I have said she did
not live in the house； and whether in her own abode； wherever
that might be； she wore the same preoccupied； unsmiling；
sorrowfully resolved air that always shaded her features under the
roof of Mdlle Reuter； I could not tell。
One day I gave； as a devoir； the trite little anecdote of Alfred
tending cakes in the herdsman’s hut； to be related with
amplifications。 A singular affair most of the pupils made of it；
brevity was what they had chiefly studied； the majority of the
narratives were perfectly unintelligible； those of Sylvie and Léonie
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Ledru alone pretended to anything like sense and connection。
Eulalie； indeed； had hit； upon a clever expedient for at once
ensuring accuracy and saving trouble； she had obtained access
somehow to an abridged history of England； and had copied the
anecdote out fair。 I wrote on the margin of her production “Stupid
and deceitful；” and then tore it down the middle。
Last in the pile of single…leaved devoirs； I found one of several
sheets； neatly written out and stitched together； I knew the hand；
and scarcely needed the evidence of the signature “Frances Evans
Henri” to confirm my conjecture as to the writer’s identity。
Night was my usual time for correcting devoirs； and my own
room the usual scene of such task—task most onerous hitherto；
and it seemed strange to me to feel rising within me an incipient
sense of interest； as I snuffed the candle and addressed myself to
the perusal of the poor teacher’s manuscript。
“Now；” thought I； “I shall see a glimpse of what she really is； I
shall get an idea of the nature and extent of her powers； not that
she can be expected to express herself well in a foreign tongue； but
still； if she has any mind； here will be a reflection of it。”
The narrative commenced by a description of a Saxon peasant’s
hut； situated within the confines of a great； leafless； winter forest；
it represented an evening in December； flakes of snow were
falling； and the herdsman foretold a heavy storm； he summoned
his wife to aid him in collecting their flock； roaming far away on
the pastoral banks of the Thone； he warns her that it will be late
ere they return。 The good woman is reluctant to quit her
occupation of baking cakes for the evening meal； but
acknowledging the primary importance of securing the herds and
flocks； she puts on her sheep…skin mantle； and； addressing a
Charlotte Bronte