第30章

“But you have not seen it yet,” said she, rising; “come to the window and take a better view.” I followed her; she opened the sash, and leaning out I saw in full the enclosed demesne which had hitherto been to me an unknown region.It was a long, not very broad strip of cultured ground, with an alley bordered by enormous old fruit trees down the middle; there was a sort of lawn, a parterre of rose-trees, some flower-borders, and, on the far side, a thickly planted copse of lilacs, laburnums, and acacias.It looked pleasant, to me—very pleasant, so long a time had elapsed since I had seen a garden of any sort.But it was not only on Mdlle Reuter’s garden that my eyes dwelt; when I had taken a view of her well-trimmed beds and budding shrubberies, I allowed my glance to come back to herself, nor did I hastily withdraw it.

I had thought to see a tall, meagre, yellow, conventual image in black, with a close white cap, bandaged under the chin like a nun’s head-gear; whereas, there stood by me a little and roundly formedwoman, who might indeed be older than I, but was still young; she could not, I thought, be more than six or seven and twenty; she was as fair as a fair Englishwoman; she had no cap; her hair was nut-brown, and she wore it in curls; pretty her features were not, nor very soft, nor very regular, but neither were they in any degree plain, and I already saw cause to deem them expressive.What was their predominant cast? Was it sagacity?—sense? Yes, I thought so; but I could scarcely as yet be sure.I discovered, however, that there was a certain serenity of eye, and freshness of complexion, most pleasing to behold.The colour on her cheek was like the bloom on a good apple, which is as sound at the core as it is red on the rind.

Mdlle Reuter and I entered upon business.She said she was notabsolutely certain of the wisdom of the step she was about to take, because I was so young, and parents might possibly object to a professor like me for their daughters: “But it is often well to act on one’s own judgment,” said she, “and to lead parents, rather than be led by them.The fitness of a professor is not a matter of age; and, from what I have heard, and from what I observe myself, I would much rather trust you than M.Ledru, the music-master, who is a married man of near fifty.”

I remarked that I hoped she would find me worthy of her goodopinion; that if I knew myself, I was incapable of betraying any confidence reposed in me.“Du reste,” said she, “the surveillance will be strictly attended to.” And then she proceeded to discuss the subject of terms.She was very cautious, quite on her guard; she did not absolutely bargain, but she warily sounded me to find out what my expectations might be; and when she could not get me to name a sum, she reasoned and reasoned with a fluent yet quietcircumlocution of speech, and at last nailed me down to five hundred francs per annum—not too much, but I agreed.Before the negotiation was completed, it began to grow a little dusk.I did not hasten it, for I liked well enough to sit and hear her talk; I was amused with the sort of business talent she displayed.Edward could not have shown himself more practical, though he might have evinced more coarseness and urgency; and then she had so many reasons, so many explanations; and, after all, she succeeded in proving herself quite disinterested and even liberal.At last she concluded, she could say no more, because, as I acquiesced in all things, there was no further ground for the exercise of her parts of speech.I was obliged to rise.I would rather have sat a little longer; what had I to return to but my small empty room? And my eyes had a pleasure in looking at Mdlle Reuter, especially now, when the twilight softened her features a little, and, in the doubtful dusk, I could fancy her forehead as open as it was really elevated, her mouth touched with turns of sweetness as well as defined in lines of sense.When I rose to go, I held out my hand, on purpose, though I knew it was contrary to the etiquette of foreign habits; she smiled, and said—“Ah! c’est comme tous les Anglais,” but gave me her hand very kindly.

“It is the privilege of my country, Mademoiselle,” said I; “and, remember, I shall always claim it.”

She laughed a little, quite good-naturedly, and with the sort oftranquillity obvious in all she did—a tranquillity which soothed and suited me singularly, at least I thought so that evening.Brussels seemed a very pleasant place to me when I got out again into the street, and it appeared as if some cheerful, eventful,upward-tending career were even then opening to me, on that selfsame mild, still April night.So impressionable a being is man, or at least such a man as I was in those days.