第59章

“No need to have recourse to such extreme measures， I assure you.Allons， monsieur le professeur—asseyons-nous； je vais vous donner une petite le？on dans votre état d’instituteur.” (I wish I might write all she said to me in French—it loses sadly by being translated into English.) We had now reached the garden-chair； the directress sat down， and signed to me to sit by her， but I only rested my knee on the seat， and stood leaning my head and arm against the embowering branch of a huge laburnum， whose golden flowers， blent with the dusky green leaves of a lilac-bush， formed a mixed arch of shade and sunshine over the retreat.Mdlle Reuter sat silent a moment； some novel movements were evidently working in her mind， and they showed their nature on her astute brow； she was meditating some chef d’oeuvre of policy.Convinced by several months’ experience that the affectation of virtues she did not possess was unavailing to ensnare me—aware that I hadread her real nature， and would believe nothing of the character she gave out as being hers—she had determined， at last， to try a new key， and see if the lock of my heart would yield to that； a little audacity， a word of truth， a glimpse of the real.“Yes， I will try，” was her inward resolve； and then her blue eye glittered upon me— it did not flash—nothing of flame ever kindled in its temperate gleam.

“Monsieur fears to sit by me？” she inquired playfully.

“I have no wish to usurp Pelet’s place，” I answered， for I had got the habit of speaking to her bluntly—a habit begun in anger， but continued because I saw that， instead of offending， it fascinated her.She cast down her eyes， and drooped her eyelids； she sighed uneasily； she turned with an anxious gesture， as if she would give me the idea of a bird that flutters in its cage， and would fain fly from its jail and jailer， and seek its natural mate and pleasant nest.

“Well—and your lesson？” I demanded briefly.

“Ah！” she exclaimed， recovering herself， “you are so young， so frank and fearless， so talented， so impatient of imbecility， so disdainful of vulgarity， you need a lesson； here it is then： far more is to be done in this world by dexterity than by strength； but， perhaps， you knew that before， for there is delicacy as well as power in your character—policy， as well as pride？”

“Go on.” said I； and I could hardly help smiling， the flattery was so piquant， so finely seasoned.She caught the prohibited smile， though I passed my hand over my month to conceal it； and again she made room for me to sit beside her.I shook my head， though temptation penetrated to my senses at the moment， and once more I told her to go on.

“Well， then， if ever you are at the head of a large establishment， dismiss nobody.To speak truth， monsieur (and to you I will speak truth)， I despise people who are always making rows， blustering， sending off one to the right， and another to the left， urging and hurrying circumstances.I’ll tell you what I like best to do， monsieur， shall I？” She looked up again； she had compounded her glance well this time—much archness， more deference， a spicy dash of coquetry， an unveiled consciousness of capacity.I nodded； she treated me like the great Mogul； so I became the great Mogul as far as she was concerned.