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hautain。”
And the jolly old dame laughed； and said she thought her
daughter was bewitched； for I had no point of a handsome man
about me； except being straight and without deformity。 “Pour
moi；” she continued； “il me fait tout l’effet d’un chat…huant； avec
ses bésicles。”
Worthy old girl！ I could have gone and kissed her had she not
been a little too old； too fat； and too red…faced； her sensible；
truthful words seemed so wholesome； contrasted with the morbid
illusions of her daughter。
When Pelet awoke on the morning after his frenzy fit； he
retained no recollection of what had happened the previous night；
and his mother fortunately had the discretion to refrain from
informing him that I had been a witness of his degradation。 He did
not again have recourse to wine for curing his griefs； but even in
his sober mood he soon showed that the iron of jealousy had
entered into his soul。 A thorough Frenchman； the national
characteristic of ferocity had not been omitted by nature in
compounding the ingredients of his character； it had appeared
first in his access of drunken wrath； when some of his
demonstrations of hatred to my person were of a truly fiendish
character； and now it was more covertly betrayed by momentary
contractions of the features； and flashes of fierceness in his light
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blue eyes； when their glance chanced to encounter mine。 He
absolutely avoided speaking to me； I was now spared even the
falsehood of his politeness。 In this state of our mutual relations；
my soul rebelled。 sometimes almost ungovernably； against living
in the house and discharging the service of such a man； but who is
free from the constraint of circumstances？ At that time； I was not：
I used to rise each morning eager to shake off his yoke； and go out
with my portmanteau under my arm； if a beggar； at least a
freeman； and in the evening； when I came back from the
pensionnat de demoiselles； a certain pleasant voice in my ear； a
certain face； so intelligent； yet so docile； so reflective； yet so soft； in
my eyes； a certain cast of character； at once proud and pliant；
sensitive and sagacious； serious and ardent； in my head； a certain
tone of feeling； fervid and modest； refined and practical； pure and
powerful； delighting and troubling my memory—visions of new
ties I longed to contract； of new duties I longed to undertake； had
taken the rover and the rebel out of me； and had shown endurance
of my hated lot in the light of a Spartan virtue。
But Pelet’s fury subsided； a fortnight sufficed for its rise；
progress； and extinction： in that space of time the dismissal of the
obnoxious teacher had been effected in the neighbouring house；
and in the same interval I had declared my resolution to follow
and find out my pupil； and upon my application for her address
being refused； I had summarily resigned my own post。 This last
act seemed at once to restore Mdlle Reuter to her senses； her
sagacity； her judgment； so long misled by a fascinating delusion；
struck again into the right track the moment that delusion
vanished。 By the right track； I do not mean the steep and difficult
path of principle—in that path she never trod； but the plain
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The Professor 221
highway of common sense； from which she had of late widely
diverged。 When there she carefully sought； and having found；
industriously pursued the trail of her old suitor； M。 Pelet。 She soon
overtook him。 What arts she employed to soothe and blind him I
know not； but she succeeded both in allaying his wrath； and
hoodwinking his discernment； as was soon proved by the
alteration in his mien and manner； she must have managed to
convince him that I neither was； nor ever had been； a rival of his；
for the fortnight of fury against me terminated in a fit of exceeding
graciousness and amenity； not unmixed with a dash of exulting
self…complacency； more ludicrous than irritating。 Pelet’s
bachelor’s life had been passed in proper French style with due
disregard to moral restraint； and I thought his married life
promised to be very French also。 He often boasted to me what a
terror he had been to certain husbands of his acquaintance； I
perceived it would not now be difficult to pay him back in his own
coin。
The crisis drew on。 No sooner had the holidays commenced
than note of preparation for some momentous event sounded all
through the premises of Pelet： painters； polishers； and
upholsterers were immediately set to work； and there was talk of
“la chambre de Madame；” “le salon de Madame。” Not deeming it
probable that the old duenna at present graced with that title in
our house； had inspired her son with such enthusiasm of filial
piety； as to induce him to fit up apartments expressly for her use； I
concluded； in common with the cook； the two housemaids； and the
kitchen…scullion； that a new and more juvenile Madame was
destined to be the tenant of these gay chambers。
Presently official announcement of the coming event was put
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The Professor 222
forth。 In another week’s time M。 Francois Pelet； directeur； and
Mdlle Zoraide Reuter； directrice； were to be joined together in the
bands of matrimony。 Monsieur； in person； heralded the fact to me；
terminating his communication by an obliging expression of his
desire that I should continue； as heretofore； his ablest assistant
and most trusted friend； and a proposition to raise my salary by an
additional two hundred francs per annum。 I thanked him； gave no
conclusive answer at the time； and； when he had left me； threw off
my blouse； put on my coat； and set out on a long walk outside the
Porte de Flandre； in order； as I thought； to cool my blood； calm my
nerves； and shake my disarranged ideas into some order。 In fact； I
had just received what was virtually my dismissal。 I could not
conceal； I did not desire to conceal from myself the conviction
that； being now certain that Mdlle Reuter was destined to become
Madame Pelet it would not do for me to remain a dependent
dweller in the house which was soon to be hers。 Her present
demeanour towards me was deficient neither in dignity nor
propriety； but I knew her former feeling was unchanged。 Decorum
now repressed； and Policy masked it； but Opportunity would be
too strong for either of these—Temptation would shiver their
restraints。
I was no pope—I could not boast infallibility： in short； if I
stayed； the probability was that； in three months’ time； a practical
modern French novel would be in full process of concoction under
the roof of the unsuspecting Pelet。 Now； modern French novels
are not to my taste； either practically or theoretically。 Limited as
had yet been my experience of life； I had once had the opportunity
of contemplating； near at hand； an example of the results
produced by a course of interesting and romantic domestic
Charlotte