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exertion； and that of the most assiduous kind。 Our days were
thoroughly occupied； me used to part every morning at eight
o’clock； and not meet again till five p。m。； but into what sweet rest
did the turmoil of each busy day decline！ Looking down the vista；
of memory； I see the evenings passed in that little parlour like a
long string of rubies circling the dusk brow of the past。 Unvaried
were they as each cut gem； and like each gem brilliant and
burning。
A year and a half passed。 One morning （it was a fête ； and we
had the day to ourselves） Frances said to me； with a suddenness
peculiar to her when she had been thinking long on a subject； and
at last； having come to a conclusion； wished to test its soundness
by the touchstone of my judgment：—
“I don’t work enough。”
“What now ？” demanded I； looking up from my coffee； which I
had been deliberately stirring while enjoying； in anticipation； a
walk I proposed to take with Frances； that fine summer day （it was
June）； to a certain farmhouse in the country； where we were to
dine。 “What now？” and I saw at once； in the serious ardour of her
face； a project of vital importance。
“I am not satisfied” returned she： “you are now earning eight
thousand francs a year” （it was true； my efforts； punctuality； the
fame of my pupils’ progress； the publicity of my station； had so far
helped me on）； “while I am still at my miserable twelve hundred
francs。 I can do better； and I will。”
“You work as long and as diligently as I do； Frances。”
“Yes； monsieur； but I am not working in the right way； and I am
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convinced of it。”
“You wish to change—you have a plan for progress in your
mind； go and put on your bonnet； and； while we take our walk； you
shall tell me of it。”
“Yes； monsieur。”
She went—as docile as a well…trained child； she was a curious
mixture of tractability and firmness： I sat thinking about her； and
wondering what her plan could be； when she re…entered。
“Monsieur； I have given Minnie” （our bonne） “leave to go out
too； as it is so very fine； so will you be kind enough to lock the
door； and take the key with you？”
“Kiss me； Mrs。 Crimsworth；” was my not very apposite reply；
but she looked so engaging in her light summer dress and little
cottage bonnet； and her manner in speaking to me was then； as
always； so unaffectedly and suavely respectful； that my heart
expanded at the sight of her； and a kiss seemed necessary to
content its importunity。
“There； monsieur。”
“Why do you always call me ‘Monsieur？’ Say； ‘William。’”
“I cannot pronounce your W； besides； ‘Monsieur’ belongs to
you； I like it best。”
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；
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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 be
mounted 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 she
was 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。”
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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； unresting
wings； 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 disclosed
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when I married her； remained fresh and fair； but other faculties
shot up strong； branched out broad； and quite altered the external
character of th