ewhatlengthened,thoughshrewdupperlip,nocowardshameonheraustereforehead!
“Thereismetalthere,”Isaid,asIgazed.“Wouldthattherewerefirealso,livingardourtomakethesteelglow—thenIcouldloveher.”
PresentlyIdiscoveredthatsheknewIwaswatchingher,forshestirrednot,sheliftednothercraftyeyelidshehadglanceddownfromhernettingtohersmallfoot,peepingfromthesoftfoldsofherpurplemerinogownthencehereyerevertedtoherhand,ivorywhite,withabrightgarnetringontheforefinger,andalightfrilloflaceroundthewristwithascarcelyperceptiblemovementsheturnedherhead,causinghernut-browncurlstowavegracefully.IntheseslightsignsIreadthatthewishofherheart,thedesignofherbrain,wastolurebackthegameshehadscared.Alittleincidentgavehertheopportunityofaddressingmeagain.
Whileallwassilenceintheclass—silence,butfortherustlingofcopy-booksandthetravellingofpensovertheirpages—aleafofthelargefolding-door,openingfromthehall,unclosed,admittingapupilwho,aftermakingahastyobeisance,ensconcedherselfwithsomeappearanceoftrepidation,probablyoccasionedbyherenteringsolate,inavacantseatatthedesknearestthedoor.Beingseated,sheproceeded,stillwithanairofhurryandembarrassment,toopenhercabas,totakeoutherbooksand,whileIwaswaitingforhertolookup,inordertomakeoutheridentity—for,shortsightedasIwas,Ihadnotrecognizedheratherentrance—Mdlle.Reuter,leavingherchair,approachedtheestrade.
“MonsieurCreemsvort,”saidshe,inawhisper:forwhentheschoolroomsweresilent,thedirectressalwaysmovedwithvelvettread,andspokeinthemostsubduedkey,enforcingorderandstillnessfullyasmuchbyexampleasprecept:“MonsieurCreemsvort,thatyoungperson,whohasjustentered,wishestohavetheadvantageoftakinglessonswithyouinEnglishsheisnotapupilofthehousesheis,indeed,inonesense,ateacher,forshegi