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“Mdlle wished to speak with me； monsieur。”
“Indeed！ on what subject？ if one may ask。”
“Mademoiselle talked about nothing； monsieur。”
“A fertile topic！ and did she discourse thereon in the
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schoolroom； before the pupils？”
“No； like you； monsieur； she asked me to walk into her
parlour。”
“And Madame Reuter—the old duenna—my mother’s gossip；
was there； of course？”
“No； monsieur； I had the honour of being quite alone with
mademoiselle。”
“C’est joli—cela；” observed M。 Pelet； and he smiled and looked
into the fire。
“Honi soit qui mal y pense；” murmured I； significantly。
“Je connais un peu ma petite voisine—voyez…vous。”
“In that case； monsieur will be able to aid me in finding out
what was mademoiselle’s reason for making me sit before her sofa
one mortal hour； listening to the most copious and fluent
dissertation on the merest frivolities。”
“She was sounding your character。”
“I thought so； monsieur。”
“Did she find out your weak point？”
“What is my weak point？”
“Why； the sentimental。 Any woman sinking her shaft deep
enough； will at last reach a fathomless spring of sensibility in thy
breast； Crimsworth。”
I felt the blood stir about my heart and rise warm to my cheek。
“Some women might； monsieur。”
“Is Mdlle Reuter of the number？ Come； speak frankly； mon fils；
elle est encore jeune； plus agée que toi peut…être； mais juste asset
pour unir la tendresse d’une petite maman à l’amour d’une épouse
dévouée； n’est…ce pas que cela t’irait supérieurement？”
“No； monsieur； I should like my wife to be my wife； and not half
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my mother。”
“She is then a little too old for you？”
“No； monsieur； not a day too old if she suited me in other
things。”
“In what does she not suit you； William？ She is personally
agreeable； is she not？”
“Very； her hair and complexion are just what I admire； and her
turn of form； though quite Belgian； is full of grace。”
“Bravo！ and her face？ her features？ How do you like them？”
“A little harsh； especially her mouth。”
“Ah； yes！ her mouth；” said M。 Pelet； and he chuckled inwardly。
“There is character about her mouth—firmness—but she has a
very pleasant smile； don’t you think so？”
“Rather crafty。”
“True； but that expression of craft is owing to her eyebrows；
have you remarked her eyebrows？”
I answered that I had not。
“You have not seen her looking down then？” said he。
“No。”
“It is a treat； notwithstanding。 Observe her when she has some
knitting； or some other woman’s work in hand； and sits the image
of peace； calmly intent on her needles and her silk； some
discussion meantime going on around her； in the course of which
peculiarities of character are being developed； or important
interests canvassed； she takes no part in it； her humble； feminine
mind is wholly with her knitting； none of her features move； she
neither presumes to smile approval； nor frown disapprobation； her
little hands assiduously ply their unpretending task； if she can
only get this purse finished； or this bonnet…grec completed； it is
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enough for her。 If gentlemen approach her chair； a deeper
quiescence； a meeker modesty settles on her features； and clothes
her general mien； observe then her eyebrows； et dites…moi s’il n’y a
pas du chat dans l’un et du renard dans l’autre。”
“I will take careful notice the first opportunity；” said I。
“And then；” continued M。 Pelet； “the eyelid will flicker； the
light…coloured lashes be lifted a second； and a blue eye； glancing
out from under the screen； will take its brief； sly； searching survey；
and retreat again。”
I smiled； and so did Pelet； and after a few minutes’ silence； I
asked：…
“Will she ever marry； do you think？”
“Marry！ Will birds pair？ Of course it is both her intention and
resolution to marry when she finds a suitable match； and no one is
better aware than herself of the sort of impression she is capable
of producing； no one likes better to captivate in a quiet way。 I am
mistaken if she will not yet leave the print of her stealing steps on
thy heart； Crimsworth。”
“Of her steps？ Confound it； no！ My heart is not a plank to be
walked on。”
“But the soft touch of a patte de velours will do it no harm。”
“She offers me no patte de velours； she is all form and reserve
with me。”
“That to begin with； let respect be the foundation； affection the
first floor； love the superstructure； Mdlle Reuter is a skilful
architect。”
“And interest； M。 Pelet—interest。 Will not mademoiselle
consider that point ？”
“Yes； yes； no doubt； it will be the cement between every stone。
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And now we have discussed the directress； what of the pupils？
N’y…a…t…il pas de belles études parmi ces jeunes têtes？”
“Studies of character？ Yes； curious ones； at least； I imagine； but
one cannot divine much from a first interview。”
“Ah； you affect discretion； but tell me now； were you not a little
abashed before these blooming young creatures？
“At first； yes； but I rallied and got through with all due sang…
froid。”
“I don’t believe you。”
“It is true； notwithstanding。 At first I thought them angels； but
they did not leave me long under that delusion； three of the eldest
and handsomest undertook the task of setting me right； and they
managed so cleverly that in five minutes I knew them； at least； for
what they were—three arrant coquettes。”
“Je les connais！” exclaimed M。 Pelet。 “Elles sont toujours au
premier rang a l’église et à la promenade； une blonde superbe；
une jolie espiègle； une belle brune。”
“Exactly。”
“Lovely creatures all of them—heads for artists； what a group
they would make； taken together！ Eulalie （I know their names）；
with her smooth braided hair and calm ivory brow。 Hortense； with
her rich chesnut locks so luxuriantly knotted； plaited； twisted； as if
she did not know how to dispose of all their abundance； with her
vermilion lips； damask cheek； and roguish laughing eye。 And
Caroline de Blémont！ Ah； there is beauty！ beauty in perfection。
What a cloud of sable curls about the face of a houri！ What
fascinating lips！ What glorious black eyes！ Your Byron would have
worshipped her； and you—you cold； frigid islander！—you played
the austere； the insensible in the presence of an Aphrodite so
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exquisite？”
I might have laughed at the director’s enthusiasm had I
believed it real； but there was something in his tone which
indicated got…up raptures。 I felt he was only affecting fervour in
order to put me off my guard； to induce me to come out in return；
so I scarcely even smiled。 He went on：—
“Confess； William； do not the mere good looks of Zoraide
Reuter appear dowdyish and commonplace compared with the
splendid charms of some of her pupils？”
The question discomposed me； but I now felt plainly that my
principal was