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Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
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The Professor 158
stranger who rests half reclined on a bed of rushes near the
hearth； bids him mind the bread till her return。
“Take care； young man；” she continues； “that you fasten the
door well after us； and； above all； open to none in our absence；
whatever sound you hear； stir not； and look not out。 The night will
soon fall； this forest is most wild and lonely； strange noises are
often heard therein after sunset； wolves haunt these glades； and
Danish warriors infest the country； worse things are talked of； you
might chance to hear； as it were； a child cry； and on opening the
door to afford it succour； a greet black bull； or a shadowy goblin
dog； might rush over the threshold； or； more awful still； if
something flapped； as with wings； against the lattice； and then a
raven or a white dove flew in and settled on the hearth； such a
visitor would be a sure sign of misfortune to the house； therefore；
heed my advice； and lift the latchet for nothing。
Her husband calls her away； both depart。 The stranger； left
alone； listens awhile to the muffled snow…wind； the remote；
swollen sound of the river； and then he speaks。
“It is Christmas Eve；” says he； “I mark the date； here I sit alone
on a rude couch of rushes； sheltered by the thatch of a herdsman’s
hut； I； whose inheritance was a kingdom； owe my night’s
harbourage to a poor serf； my throne is usurped； my crown
presses the brow of an invader； I have no friends； my troops
wander broken in the hills of Wales； reckless robbers spoil my
country； my subjects lie prostrate； their breasts crushed by the
heel of the brutal Dane。 Fate！ thou hast done thy worst； and now
thou standest before me resting thy hand on thy blunted blade。
Ay； I see thine eye confront mine and demand why I still live； why
I still hope。 Pagan demon； I credit not thine omnipotence； and so
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The Professor 159
cannot succumb to thy power。 My God； whose Son； as on this
night； took on Him the form of man； and for man vouchsafed to
suffer and bleed； controls thy hand； and without His behest thou
canst not strike a stroke。 My God is sinless； eternal； all…wise—in
Him is my trust； and though stripped and crushed by thee—
though naked； desolate； void of resource—I do not despair； I
cannot despair： were the lance of Guthrum now wet with my
blood； I should not despair。 I watch； I toil； I hope； I pray； Jehovah；
in his own time； will aid。”
I need not continue the quotation； the whole devoir was in the
same strain。 There were errors of orthography； there were foreign
idioms； there were some faults of construction； there were verbs
irregular transformed into verbs regular； it was mostly made up；
as the above example shows； of short and somewhat rude
sentences； and the style stood in great need of polish and
sustained dignity； yet such as it was； I had hitherto seen nothing
like it in the course of my professorial experience。 The girl’s mind
had conceived a picture of the hut； of the two peasants； of the
crownless king； she had imagined the wintry forest； she had
recalled the old Saxon ghost…legends； she had appreciated Alfred’s
courage under calamity； she had remembered his Christian
education； and had shown him； with the rooted confidence of
those primitive days； relying on the scriptural Jehovah for aid
against the mythological Destiny。 This she had done without a hint
from me： I had given the subject； but not said a word about the
manner of treating it。
“I will find； or make； an opportunity of speaking to her；” I said
to myself as I rolled the devoir up； “I will learn what she has of
English in her besides the name of Frances Evans； she is no novice
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
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The Professor 160
in the language； that is evident； yet she told me she had neither
been in England； nor taken lessons in English； nor lived in English
families。”
In the course of my next lesson； I made a report of the other
devoirs； dealing out praise and blame in very small retail parcels；
according to my custom； for there was no use in blaming severely；
and high encomiums were rarely merited。 I said nothing of Mdlle
Henri’s exercise； and； spectacles on nose； I endeavoured to
decipher in her countenance her sentiments at the omission。 I
wanted to find out whether in her existed a consciousness of her
own talents。 “If she thinks she did a clever thing in composing that
devoir； she will now look mortified；” thought I。 Grave as usual；
almost sombre； was her face； as usual； her eyes were fastened on
the cahier open before her； there was something； I thought； of
expectation in her attitude； as I concluded a brief review of the last
devoir； and when； casting it from me and rubbing my hands； I
bade them take their grammars； some slight change did pass over
her air and mien； as though she now relinquished a faint prospect
of pleasant excitement； she had been waiting for something to be
discussed in which she had a degree of interest； the discussion was
not to come on； so expectation sank back； shrunk and sad； but
attention； promptly filling up the void； repaired in a moment the
transient collapse of feature； still； I felt； rather than saw； during
the whole course of the lesson； that a hope had been wrenched
from her； and that if she did not show distress； it was because she
would not。
At four o’clock； when the bell rang and the room was in
immediate tumult； instead of taking my hat and starting from the
estrade； I sat still a moment。 I looked at Frances； she was putting
Charlotte Bronte ElecBook Classics
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The Professor 161
her books into her cabas； having fastened the button； she raised
her head； encountering my eye； she made a quiet； respectful
obeisance； as bidding good afternoon； and was turning to
depart：—
“Come here；” said I； lifting my finger at the same time。 She
hesitated； she could not hear the words amidst the uproar now
pervading both school…rooms； I repeated the sign； she approached；
again she paused within half a yard of the estrade； and looked shy；
and still doubtful whether she had mistaken my meaning。
“Step up；” I said； speaking with decision。 It is the only way of
dealing with diffident； easily embarrassed characters； and with
some slight manual aid I presently got her placed just where
wanted her to be； that is； between my desk and the window； where
she was screened from the rush of the second division； and where
no one could sneak behind her to listen。
“Take a seat；” I said； placing a tabouret； and I made her sit
down。 I knew what I was doing would be considered a very
strange thing； and； what was more； I did not care。 Frances knew it
also； and； I fear； by an appearance of agitation and trembling； that
she cared much。 I drew from my pocket the rolled…up devoir。
“This it； yours； I suppose？” said I； addressing her in English； for
I now felt sure she could speak English。
“