stswhatagrouptheywouldmake,takentogether!Eulalie(Iknowtheirnames),withhersmoothbraidedhairandcalmivorybrow.Hortense,withherrichchesnutlockssoluxuriantlyknotted,plaited,twisted,asifshedidnotknowhowtodisposeofalltheirabundance,withhervermilionlips,damaskcheek,androguishlaughingeye.AndCarolinedeBlemont!Ah,thereisbeauty!beautyinperfection.Whatacloudofsablecurlsaboutthefaceofahouri!Whatfascinatinglips!Whatgloriousblackeyes!YourByronwouldhaveworshippedher,andyou—youcold,frigidislander!—youplayedtheaustere,theinsensibleinthepresenceofanAphroditesoexquisite?”
Imighthavelaughedatthedirector’senthusiasmhadIbelieveditreal,buttherewassomethinginhistonewhichindicatedgot-upraptures.Ifelthewasonlyaffectingfervourinordertoputmeoffmyguard,toinducemetocomeoutinreturn,soIscarcelyevensmiled.Hewenton:
“Confess,William,donotthemeregoodlooksofZoraideReuterappeardowdyishandcommonplacecomparedwiththesplendidcharmsofsomeofherpupils?”
Thequestiondiscomposedme,butInowfeltplainlythatmyprincipalwasendeavouring(forreasonsbestknowntohimself—atthattimeIcouldnotfathomthem)toexciteideasandwishesinmymindalientowhatwasrightandhonourable.Theiniquityoftheinstigationproveditsantidote,andwhenhefurtheradded:—
“Eachofthosethreebeautifulgirlswillhaveahandsomefortuneandwithalittleaddress,agentlemanlike,intelligentyoungfellowlikeyoumightmakehimselfmasterofthehand,heart,andpurseofanyoneofthetrio.”
Irepliedbyalookandaninterrogative“Monsieur?”whichstartledhim.
Helaughedaforcedlaugh,affirmedthathehadonlybeenjoking,anddemandedwhetherIcouldpossiblyhavethoughthiminearnest.Justthenthebellrangtheplay-hourwasoveritwasaneveningonwhichM.Peletwasaccustomedtoreadpassagesfromthedramaandthebelleslettrestohispupils.Hedidnotwaitformyanswer,butrising,lefttheroom,hummingashewentsomegaystrainofBeranger’s.