nofobservingherpersonmuchthelatter,Iremarked,hadaveryEnglishairforamaitresse,otherwiseitwasnotstrikingofcharacterIshouldthinkshepossessedbutlittle,asherpupilsseemedconstantly“enrevolte”againstherauthority.Shedidnotresideinthehousehername,Ithink,wasMdlle.Henri.
Amidstthisassemblageofallthatwasinsignificantanddefective,muchthatwasviciousandrepulsive(bythatlastepithetmanywouldhavedescribedthetwoorthreestiff,silent,decentlybehaved,ill-dressedBritishgirls),thesensible,sagacious,affabledirectressshonelikeasteadystaroveramarshfullofJack-o’-lanthornsprofoundlyawareofhersuperiority,shederivedaninwardblissfromthatconsciousnesswhichsustainedherunderallthecareandresponsibilityinseparablefromherpositionitkepthertempercalm,herbrowsmooth,hermannertranquil.Sheliked—aswhowouldnot?—onenteringtheschool-room,tofeelthathersolepresencesufficedtodiffusethatorderandquietwhichalltheremonstrances,andevencommands,ofherunderlingsfrequentlyfailedtoenforceshelikedtostandincomparison,orrather—contrast,withthosewhosurroundedher,andtoknowthatinpersonalaswellasmentaladvantages,sheboreawaytheundisputedpalmofpreference—(thethreeteacherswereallplain.)Herpupilsshemanagedwithsuchindulgenceandaddress,takingalwaysonherselftheofficeofrecompenserandeulogist,andabandoningtohersubalternseveryinvidioustaskofblameandpunishment,thattheyallregardedherwithdeference,ifnotwithaffectionherteachersdidnotloveher,buttheysubmittedbecausetheywereherinferiorsineverythingthevariousmasterswhoattendedherschoolwereeachandallinsomewayorotherunderherinfluenceoveroneshehadacquiredpowerbyherskilfulmanagementofhisbadtemperoveranotherbylittleattentionstohispettycapricesathirdshehadsubduedbyflatteryafourth—atimidman—shekeptinawebyasortofausteredecisionofmienme,shestillwatched,stilltriedbythemostingenioustests—sherovedroundme,baffled,yetperseveringIbelieveshethoughtIwaslikeasmoothandbareprecipice,whichofferedneitherjuttingstonenortree-root,nortuftofgrasstoaidtheclimber.Nowsheflatteredwithexquisitetact,nowshemoralized,nowshetriedhowfarIwasaccessibletomercenarymotives,thenshedisportedonthebrinkofaffection—knowingthatsomemenarewonbyweakness—anon,shetalkedexcellentsense,awarethatothershavethefollytoadmirejudgment.Ifounditatoncepleasantandeasytoevadealltheseeffortsitwassweet,whenshethoughtmenearlywon,toturnroundandtosmileinherveryeyes,halfscornfully,andthentowitnessherscarcelyveiled,thoughmutemortification.Stillshepersevered,andatlast,Iamboundtoconfessit,herfinger,essaying,provingeveryatomofthecasket,toucheditssecretspring,andforamomentthelidsprungopenshelaidh