sequenceofhersedentaryemploymentperhapsthestimulusitcommunicatedtohermindcounterbalancedtheinactionitimposedonherbody.Shechanged,indeed,changedobviouslyandrapidlybutitwasforthebetter.WhenIfirstsawher,hercountenancewassunless,hercomplexioncolourlessshelookedlikeonewhohadnosourceofenjoyment,nostoreofblissanywhereintheworldnowthecloudhadpassedfromhermien,leavingspaceforthedawnofhopeandinterest,andthosefeelingsroselikeaclearmorning,animatingwhathadbeendepressed,tintingwhathadbeenpale.Hereyes,whosecolourIhadnotatfirstknown,sodimweretheywithrepressedtears,soshadowedwithceaselessdejection,now,litbyarayofthesunshinethatcheeredherheart,revealediridsofbrighthazel—iridslargeandfull,screenedwithlonglashesandpupilsinstinctwithfire.Thatlookofwanemaciationwhichanxietyorlowspiritsoftencommunicatestoathoughtful,thinface,ratherlongthanround,havingvanishedfromhers,aclearnessofskinalmostbloom,andaplumpnessalmostembonpoint,softenedthedecidedlinesofherfeatures.Herfiguresharedinthisbeneficialchangeitbecamerounder,andastheharmonyofherformwascompleteandherstatureofthegracefulmiddleheight,onedidnotregret(oratleastIdidnotregret)theabsenceofconfirmedfulness,incontours,stillslight,thoughcompact,elegant,flexible—theexquisiteturningofwaist,wrist,hand,foot,andanklesatisfiedcompletelymynotionsofsymmetry,andallowedalightnessandfreedomofmovementwhichcorrespondedwithmyideasofgrace.
Thusimproved,thuswakenedtolife,Mdlle.Henribegantotakeanewfootingintheschoolhermentalpower,manifestedgraduallybutsteadily,erelongextortedrecognitionevenfromtheenviousandwhentheyoungandhealthysawthatshecouldsmilebrightly,conversegaily,movewithvivacityandalertness,theyacknowledgedinherasisterhoodofyouthandhealth,andtoleratedherasoftheirkindaccordingly.
Tospeaktruth,Iwatchedthischangemuchasagardenerwatchesthegrowthofapreciousplant,andIcontributedtoittoo,evenasthesaidgardenercontributestothedevelopmentofhisfavourite.TomeitwasnotdifficulttodiscoverhowIcouldbestfostermypupil,cherishherstarvedfeelings,andinducetheoutwardmanifestationofthatinwardvig