返回

CHAPTER XII.

首頁
    softhatdeformityofpersonandimbecilityofintellectwhosefrequencyintheLowCountrieswouldseemtofurnishproofthattheclimateissuchastoinducedegeneracyofthehumanmindandbodythese,Isoonfound,werecompletelyunderherinfluence,andwiththeiraidshegotupandsustainedaswinishtumult,whichIwasconstrainedatlasttoquellbyorderingherandtwoofhertoolstorisefromtheirseats,and,havingkeptthemstandingfiveminutes,turningthembodilyoutoftheschoolroom:theaccomplicesintoalargeplaceadjoiningcalledthegrandssalletheprincipalintoacabinet,ofwhichIclosedthedoorandpocketedthekey.ThisjudgmentIexecutedinthepresenceofMdlle.Reuter,wholookedmuchaghastatbeholdingsodecidedaproceeding—themostseverethathadeverbeenventuredoninherestablishment.HerlookofaffrightIansweredwithoneofcomposure,andfinallywithasmile,whichperhapsflattered,andcertainlysoothedher.JuannaTristaremainedinEuropelongenoughtorepay,bymalevolenceandingratitude,allwhohadeverdoneheragoodturnandshethenwenttojoinherfatherinthe——Isles,exultinginthethoughtthatsheshouldtherehaveslaves,whom,asshesaid,shecouldkickandstrikeatwill. Thesethreepicturesarefromthelife.Ipossessothers,asmarkedandaslittleagreeable,butIwillsparemyreadertheexhibitionofthem. DoubtlessitwillbethoughtthatIoughtnow,bywayofcontrast,toshowsomethingcharmingsomegentlevirginhead,circledwithahalo,somesweetpersonificationofinnocence,claspingthedoveofpeacetoherbosom.No:Isawnothingofthesort,andthereforecannotportrayit.Thepupilintheschoolpossessingthehappiestdispositionwasayounggirlfromthecountry,LouisePathshewassufficientlybenevolentandobliging,butnotwelltaughtnorwellmanneredmoreover,theplague-spotofdissimulationwasinheralsohonourandprinciplewereunknowntoher,shehadscarcelyheardtheirnames.TheleastexceptionablepupilwasthepoorlittleSylvieIhavementionedoncebefore.Sylviewasgentleinmanners,intelligentinmindshewasevensincere,asfarasherreligionwouldpermithertobeso,butherphysicalorganizationwasdefectiveweakhealthstuntedhergrowthandchilledherspirits,andthen,destinedasshewasforthecloister,herwholesoulwaswarpedtoaconventualbias,andinthetame,trainedsubjectionofhermanner,onereadthatshehadalreadypreparedherselfforherfuturecourseoflife,bygivingupherindependenceofthoughtandactionintothehandsofsomedespoticconfessor.Shepermittedherselfnooriginalopinion,nopreferenceofcompanionoremploymentineverythingshewasguidedbyanother.Withapale,passive,automatonair,shewentaboutalldaylongdoingwhatshewasbidneverwhatsheliked,orwhat,frominnateconviction,shethoughtitrighttodo.Thepoorlittlefuturereligieusehadbeenearlytaughttomakethedictatesofherownreasonandcons
上一頁 章節目錄 下一頁
推薦內容