第92章

Minnie having departed in clean cap and smart shawl， we， too，set out， leaving the house solitary and silent—silent， at least， but for the ticking of the clock.We were soon clear of Brussels； the fields received us， and then the lanes， remote from carriage- resounding chaussées.Ere long we came upon a nook， so rural， green， and secluded， it might have been a spot in some pastoral English province； a bank of short and mossy grass， under a hawthorn， offered a seat too tempting to be declined； we took it，and when we had admired and examined some English-looking wild-flowers growing at our feet， I recalled Frances’ attention and my own to the topic touched on at breakfast.

“What was her plan？” A natural one—the next step to bemounted by us， or， at least， by her， if she wanted to rise in her profession.She proposed to begin a school.We already had the means for commencing on a careful scale， having lived greatly within our income.We possessed， too， by this time， an extensive and eligible connection， in the sense advantageous to our business； for， though our circle of visiting acquaintance continued as limited as ever， we were now widely known in schools and families as teachers.When Frances had developed her plan， she intimated， in some closing sentences， her hopes for the future.If we only had good health and tolerable success， me might， she was sure， in time realize an independency； and that， perhaps， before we were too old to enjoy it； then both she and I would rest； and what was to hinder us from going to live in England？ England was still her Promised Land.

I put no obstacle in her way； raised no objection； I knew shewas not one who could live quiescent and inactive， or even comparatively inactive.Duties she must have to fulfil， and important duties； work to do—and exciting， absorbing， profitable work； strong faculties stirred in her frame， and they demanded full nourishment， free exercise： mine was not the hand ever to starve or cramp them； no， I delighted in offering them sustenance， and in clearing them wider space for action.

“You have conceived a plan， Frances，” said I， “and a good plan； execute it； you have my free consent， and wherever and whenever my assistance is wanted， ask and you shall have.”

Frances’ eyes thanked me almost with tears； just a sparkle or two， soon brushed away； she possessed herself of my hand too， and held it for some time very close clasped in both her own， but she said no more than “Thank you， monsieur.”

We passed a divine day， and came home late， lighted by a full summer moon.

Ten years rushed now upon me with dusty， vibrating， unrestingwings； years of bustle， action， unslacked endeavour； years in which I and my wife， having launched ourselves in the full career of progress， as progress whirls on in European capitals， scarcely knew repose， were strangers to amusement， never thought of indulgence， and yet， as our course ran side by side， as we marched hand in hand， we neither murmured， repented， nor faltered.Hope indeed cheered us； health kept us up； harmony of thought and deed smoothed many difficulties， and finally， success bestowed every now and then encouraging reward on diligence.Our school became one of the most popular in Brussels， and as by degrees we raised our terms and elevated our system of education， our choice of pupils grew more select， and at length included the children of the best families in Belgium.We had too an excellent connection in England， first opened by the unsolicited recommendation of Mr.Hunsden， who having been over， and having abused me for my prosperity in set terms， went back， and soon after sent a leash of young —-shire heiresses—his cousins； as he said “to be polished off by Mrs.Crimsworth.”

As to this same Mrs.Crimsworth， in one sense she was become another woman， though in another she remained unchanged.So different was she under different circumstances.I seemed to possess two wives.The faculties of her nature， already disclosedwhen I married her， remained fresh and fair； but other faculties shot up strong， branched out broad， and quite altered the external character of the plant.Firmness， activity， and enterprise， covered with grave foliage， poetic feeling and fervour； but these flowers were still there， preserved pure and dewy under the umbrage of later growth and hardier nature： perhaps I only in the world knew the secret of their existence， but to me they were ever ready to yield an exquisite fragrance and present a beauty as chaste as radiant.