erhandonthejewelwithinwhethershestoleandbrokeit,orwhetherthelidshutagainwithasnaponherfingers,readon,andyoushallknow.
IthappenedthatIcameonedaytogivealessonwhenIwasindisposedIhadabadcoldandacoughtwohours’incessanttalkingleftmeveryhoarseandtiredasIquittedtheschoolroom,andwaspassingalongthecorridor,ImetMdlle.Reutersheremarked,withananxiousair,thatIlookedverypaleandtired.“Yes,”Isaid,“Iwasfatigued”andthen,withincreasedinterest,sherejoined,“Youshallnotgoawaytillyouhavehadsomerefreshment.”Shepersuadedmetostepintotheparlour,andwasverykindandgentlewhileIstayed.Thenextdayshewaskinderstillshecameherselfintotheclasstoseethatthewindowswereclosed,andthattherewasnodraughtsheexhortedmewithfriendlyearnestnessnottoover-exertmyselfwhenIwentaway,shegavemeherhandunasked,andIcouldnotbutmark,byarespectfulandgentlepressure,thatIwassensibleofthefavour,andgratefulforit.MymodestdemonstrationkindledalittlemerrysmileonhercountenanceIthoughtheralmostcharming.Duringtheremainderoftheevening,mymindwasfullofimpatiencefortheafternoonofthenextdaytoarrive,thatImightseeheragain.
Iwasnotdisappointed,forshesatintheclassduringthewholeofmysubsequentlesson,andoftenlookedatmealmostwithaffection.Atfouro’clocksheaccompaniedmeoutoftheschoolroom,askingwithsolicitudeaftermyhealth,thenscoldingmesweetlybecauseIspoketooloudandgavemyselftoomuchtroubleIstoppedattheglass-doorwhichledintothegarden,tohearherlecturetotheendthedoorwasopen,itwasaveryfineday,andwhileIlistenedtothesoothingreprimand,Ilookedatthesunshineandflowers,andfeltveryhappy.Theday-scholarsbegantopourfromtheschoolroomsintothepassage.
“Willyougointothegardenaminuteortwo,”askedshe,“tilltheyaregone?”
Idescendedthestepswithoutanswering,butIlookedbackasmuchastosay—
“Youwillcomewithme?”
InanotherminuteIandthedirectresswerewalkingsidebysidedownthealleyborderedwithfruit-trees,whosewhiteblossomsweretheninfullblowaswellastheirtendergreenleaves.Theskywasblue,theairstill,theMayafternoonwasfullofbrightnessandfragrance.Releasedfromthestiflingclass,surroundedwithflowersandfoliage,withapleasing,smiling,affablewomanatmyside—howdidIfeel?Why,veryenviably.Itseemedasiftheromanticvisionsmyimaginationhadsuggestedofthisgarden,whileitwasyethiddenfrommebythejealousboards,weremorethanrealizedand,whenaturninthealleyshutouttheviewofthehouse,andsometallshrubsexcludedM.Pelet’smansion,andscreenedusmomentarilyfromtheotherhouses,risingamphitheatre-likeroundthisgreenspot,IgavemyarmtoMdlle.Reuter,andledhertoagarden-chair,nestledundersomelilacsnear.ShesatdownItookmyplaceatherside.Shewentontalking