ourwhichsunlessdroughtandblightingblasthadhithertoforbiddentoexpand.Constancyofattention—akindnessasmuteaswatchful,alwaysstandingbyher,cloakedintheroughgarbofausterity,andmakingitsrealnatureknownonlybyarareglanceofinterest,oracordialandgentlewordrealrespectmaskedwithseemingimperiousness,directing,urgingheractions,yethelpinghertoo,andthatwithdevotedcare:thesewerethemeansIused,forthesemeansbestsuitedFrances’feelings,assusceptibleasdeepvibrating—hernatureatonceproudandshy.
Thebenefitsofmysystembecameapparentalsoinheraltereddemeanourasateachershenowtookherplaceamongstherpupilswithanairofspiritandfirmnesswhichassuredthematoncethatshemeanttobeobeyed—andobeyedshewas.Theyfelttheyhadlosttheirpoweroverher.Ifanygirlhadrebelled,shewouldnolongerhavetakenherrebelliontoheartshepossessedasourceofcomforttheycouldnotdrain,apillarofsupporttheycouldnotoverthrow:formerly,wheninsulted,sheweptnow,shesmiled.
ThepublicreadingofoneofherdevoirsachievedtherevelationofhertalentstoallandsundryIrememberthesubject—itwasanemigrant’slettertohisfriendsathome.Itopenedwithsimplicitysomenaturalandgraphictouchesdisclosedtothereaderthesceneofvirginforestandgreat,New-Worldriver—barrenofsailandflag—amidstwhichtheepistlewassupposedtobeindited.Thedifficultiesanddangersthatattendasettler’slife,werehintedatandinthefewwordssaidonthatsubject,Mdlle.Henrifailednottorenderaudiblethevoiceofresolve,patience,endeavour.Thedisasterswhichhaddrivenhimfromhisnativecountrywerealludedtostainlesshonour,inflexibleindependence,indestructibleself-respecttheretooktheword.Pastdayswerespokenofthegriefofparting,theregretsofabsence,weretoucheduponfeeling,forcibleandfine,breathedeloquentineveryperiod.Attheclose,consolationwassuggestedreligiousfaithbecametherethespeaker,andshespokewell.
Thedevoirwaspowerfullywritteninlanguageatoncechasteandchoice,inastylenervedwithvigourandgracedwithharmony.
Mdlle.ReuterwasquitesufficientlyacquaintedwithEnglishtounderstanditwhenreadorspokeninherpresence,thoughshecouldneitherspeaknorwriteitherself.Duringtheperusalo