the crime of sylvestre bonnard(西维斯特·博拉德的罪行)-第29部分
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And she assumed an attitude of lofty resignation； to symbolise the
difficult situation she was placed in by a pupil so hard to train。 Then； with
more calmness of manner； she added：
〃The young person is not unintelligent。 But she cannot resign herself
to learn things by rule。〃
What a strange old maid was this Mademoiselle Prefere！ She walked
without lifting her legs； and spoke without moving her lips！ Without；
however； considering her peculiarities for more than a reasonable instant； I
replied that principles were； no doubt； very excellent things； and that I
could trust myself to her judgement in regard to their value； but that； after
all； when one had learned something； it very little difference what method
had been followed in the learning of it。
Mademoiselle made a slow gesture of dissent。 Then with a sigh； she
declared；
〃Ah； Monsieur！ those who do not understand educational methods are
apt to have very false ideas on these subjects。 I am certain they express
their opinions with the best intentions in the world； but they would do
better； a great deal better； to leave all such questions to competent people。〃
I did not attempt to argue further； and simply asked her whether I
could see Mademoiselle Alexandre at once。
She looked at her pelerine； as if trying to read in the entanglements of
its fringes； as in a conjuring book； what sort of answer she ought to make；
then said；
〃Mademoiselle Alexandre has a penance to perform； and a class…lesson
to give； but I should be very sorry to let you put yourself to the trouble of
coming here all to no purpose。 I am going to send for her。 Only first allow
me； Monsieuras is our customto put your name on the visitors'
register。〃
She sat down at the table； opened a large copybook； and； taking out
Maitre Mouche's letter again from under her pelerine； where she had
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placed it； looked at it； and began to write。
〃'Bonnard'with a 'd；' is it not？〃 she asked。 〃Excuse me for being so
particular； but my opinion is that proper names have an orthography。 We
have dictation…lessons in proper names； Monsieur； at this school
historical proper names； of course！〃
After I had written down my name in a running hand； she inquired
whether she should not put down after it my profession； title； qualitysuch
as 〃retired merchant；〃 〃employe；〃 〃independent gentleman；〃 or something
else。 There was a column in her register expressly for that purpose。
〃My goodness； Madame！〃 I said； 〃if you must absolutely fill that
column of yours； put down 'Member of the Institute。'〃
It was still Mademoiselle Prefere's pelerine I saw before me； but it was
not Mademoiselle Prefere who wore it； it was a totally different person；
obliging； gracious； caressing； radiant； happy。 Her eyes； smiled； the little
wrinkles of her face （there were a vast number of them！） also smiled； her
mouth smiled likewise； but only on one side。 I discovered afterwards that
was her best side。 She spoke： her voice had also changed with her manner；
it was now sweet as honey。
〃You said； Monsieur； that our dear Jeanne was very intelligent。 I
discovered the same thing myself； and I am proud of being able to agree
with you。 This young girl has really made me feel a great deal of interest
in her。 She has what I call a happy disposition。。。。 But excuse me for thus
drawing upon your valuable time。〃
She summoned the servant…girl； who looked much more hurried and
scared than before； and who vanished with the order to go and tell
Mademoiselle Alexandre that Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard； Member of the
Institute； was waiting to see her in the parlour。
Mademoiselle Prefere had barely time to confide in me that she had
the most profound respect for all decisions of the Institutewhatever they
might bewhen Jeanne appeared； out of breath； red as a poppy； with her
eyes very wide open； and her arms dangling helplessly at her sides
charming in her artless awkwardness。
〃What a state you are in； my dear child！〃 murmured Mademoiselle
Prefere； with maternal sweetness； as she arranged the girl's collar。
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Jeanne certainly did present an odd aspect。 Her hair combed back； and
imperfectly held by a net from which loose curls were escaping； her
slender arms； sheathed down to the elbows in lustring sleeves； her hands；
which she did not seem to know what to do with； all red with chillblains；
her dress； much too short； revealing that she had on stockings much too
large for her； and shoes worn down at the heel； and a skipping…rope tied
round her waist in lieu of a belt；all combined to lend Mademoiselle
Jeanne an appearance the reverse of presentable。
〃Oh； you crazy girl！〃 sighed Mademoiselle Prefere； who now seemed
no longer like a mother； but rather like an elder sister。
Then she suddenly left the room； gliding like a shadow over the
polished floor。
I said to Jeanne；
〃Sit down； Jeanne； and talk to me as you would to a friend。 Are you
not better satisfied here now than you were last year？〃
She hesitated； then answered with a good…natured smile of resignation；
〃Not much better。〃
I asked her to tell me about her school life。 She began at once to
enumerate all her different studiespiano； style； chronology of the Kings
of France； sewing； drawing； catechism； deportment。。。 I could never
remember them all！ She still held in her hands； all unconsciously； the two
ends of her skipping…rope； and she raised and lowered them regularly
while making her enumeration。 Then all at once she became conscious of
what she was doing； blushed； stammered； and became so confused that I
had to renounce my desire to know the full programme of study adopted in
the Prefere Institution。
After having questioned Jeanne on various matters； and obtained only
the vaguest of answers； I perceived that her young mind was totally
absorbed by the skipping…rope； and I entered bravely into that grave
subject。
〃So you have been skipping？〃 I said。 〃It is a very nice amusement； but
one that you must not exert yourself too much at； for any excessive
exercise of that kind might seriously injure your health； and I should be
very much grieved about it JeanneI should be very much grieved；
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indeed！〃
〃You are very kind； Monsieur；〃 the young girl said； 〃to have come to
see me and talk to me like this。 I did not think about thanking you when I
came in； because I was too much surprised。 Have you seen Madame de
Gabry？ Please tell me something about her； Monsieur。〃
〃Madame de Gabry；〃 I answered； 〃is very well。 I can only tell you
about her； Jeanne； what an old gardener once said of the lady of the castle；
his mistress； when somebody anxiously inquired about her： 'Madame is in
her road。' Yes； Madame de Gabry is in her own road； and you know；
Jeanne； what a good road it is； and how steadily she can walk upon it。 I
went out with her the other day； very； very far away from the house； and
we talked about you。 We talked about you； my child； at your mother's
grave。〃
〃I am very glad；〃 said Jeanne。
And then； all at once； she began to cry。
I felt too much reverence for those generous tears to attempt in any
way to check the emotion that had evoked them。 But in a little while； as
the girl wiped her eyes； I asked her；
〃Will you not tell me； Jeanne； why you were thinking so much about
that skipping…rope a little while ago？〃
〃Why； indeed I will； Monsieur。 It was only because I had no right to
come into the parlour with a skipping…rope。 You know； of course； that I am
past the age for playing at skipping。 But when the servant said there was
an old gentleman。。。oh！。
