第40章

I descended the steps without answering， but I looked back asmuch 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 brinkof 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 Zora？de 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 hertip-toes， and， plucking a beautiful branch of lilac， offered it to mewith 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 inmoonlight 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 Reuter’s garden， called “l’allée défendue，” so named because thepupils 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 persiennes of one croisée， seemed to direct me to it.