fthisdevoir,shesatplacidlybusy,hereyesandfingersoccupiedwiththeformationofa“riviere”oropen-workhemroundacambrichandkerchiefshesaidnothing,andherfaceandforehead,clothedwithamaskofpurelynegativeexpression,wereasblankofcommentasherlips.Asneithersurprise,pleasure,approbation,norinterestwereevincedinhercountenance,sonomoreweredisdain,envy,annoyance,wearinessifthatinscrutablemiensaidanything,itwassimplythis—
“Thematteristootritetoexciteanemotion,orcallforthanopinion.”
AssoonasIhaddone,ahumroseseveralofthepupils,pressingroundMdlle.Henri,begantobesetherwithcomplimentsthecomposedvoiceofthedirectresswasnowheard:—
“Youngladies,suchofyouashavecloaksandumbrellaswillhastentoreturnhomebeforetheshowerbecomesheavier”(itwasrainingalittle),“theremainderwillwaittilltheirrespectiveservantsarrivetofetchthem.”Andtheschooldispersed,foritwasfouro’clock.
“Monsieur,aword,”saidMdlle.Reuter,steppingontotheestrade,andsignifying,byamovementofthehand,thatshewishedmetorelinquish,foraninstant,thecastorIhadclutched.
“Mademoiselle,Iamatyourservice.”
“Monsieur,itisofcourseanexcellentplantoencourageeffortinyoungpeoplebymakingconspicuoustheprogressofanyparticularlyindustriouspupilbutdoyounotthinkthatinthepresentinstance,Mdlle.Henricanhardlybeconsideredasaconcurrentwiththeotherpupils?Sheisolderthanmostofthem,andhashadadvantagesofanexclusivenatureforacquiringaknowledgeofEnglishontheotherhand,hersphereoflifeissomewhatbeneaththeirsunderthesecircumstances,apublicdistinction,conferreduponMdlle.Henri,maybethemeansofsuggestingcomparisons,andexcitingfeelingssuchaswouldbefarfromadvantageoustotheindividualformingtheirobject.TheinterestItakeinMdlle.Henri’srealwelfaremakesmedesirousofscreeningherfromannoyancesofthissortbesides,monsieur,asIhavebeforehintedtoyou,thesentimentofAMOUR-PROPREhasasomewhatmarkedpreponderanceinhercharactercelebrityhasatendencytofosterthissentiment,andinheritshouldberatherrepressed—sheratherneedskeepingdownthanbringingforwardandthenIthink,monsieur—itappearstomethatambition,LITERARYambitionespeciall