rs.Hopesandfears,expectationsanddisappointments,descendedinglancingshowersfromzenithtohorizonbutallweretransient,anddarknessfollowedswifteachvanishingapparition.M.Vandenhutenaidedmefaithfullyhesetmeonthetrackofseveralplaces,andhimselfmadeeffortstosecurethemformebutforalongtimesolicitationandrecommendationwerevain—thedooreithershutinmyfacewhenIwasabouttowalkin,oranothercandidate,enteringbeforeme,renderedmyfurtheradvanceuseless.Feverishandroused,nodisappointmentarrestedmedefeatfollowingfastondefeatservedasstimulantstowill.Iforgotfastidiousness,conqueredreserve,thrustpridefromme:Iasked,Ipersevered,Iremonstrated,Idunned.ItissothatopeningsareforcedintotheguardedcirclewhereFortunesitsdealingfavoursround.Myperseverancemademeknownmyimportunitymademeremarked.Iwasinquiredaboutmyformerpupils’parents,gatheringthereportsoftheirchildren,heardmespokenofastalented,andtheyechoedtheword:thesound,bandiedaboutatrandom,cameatlasttoearswhich,butforitsuniversality,itmightneverhavereachedandattheverycrisiswhenIhadtriedmylasteffortandknewnotwhattodo,Fortunelookedinatmeonemorning,asIsatindrearandalmostdesperatedeliberationonmybedstead,noddedwiththefamiliarityofanoldacquaintance—thoughGodknowsIhadnevermetherbefore—andthrewaprizeintomylap.
InthesecondweekofOctober,18—,IgottheappointmentofEnglishprofessortoalltheclassesof——College,Brussels,withasalaryofthreethousandfrancsperannumandthecertaintyofbeingable,bydintofthereputationandpublicityaccompanyingtheposition,tomakeasmuchmorebyprivatemeans.Theofficialnotice,whichcommunicatedthisinformation,mentionedalsothatitwasthestrongrecommendationofM.Vandenhuten,negociant,whichhadturnedthescaleofchoiceinmyfavour.
NosoonerhadIreadtheannouncementthanIhurriedtoM.Vandenhuten’sbureau,pushedthedocumentunderhisnose,andwhenhehadperusedit,tookbothhishands,andthankedhimwithunrestrainedvivacity.MyvividwordsandemphaticgesturemovedhisDutchcalmtounwontedsensation.Hesaidhewashappy—gladtohaveservedmebuthehaddonenothingmeritingsuchthanks.Hehadnotlaidoutacentime—onlyscratchedafewwordsonasheetofpaper.
AgainIrepeatedtohim—
“Youhavemademequitehappy,andinawaythatsuitsmeIdonotfeelanobligationirksome,conferredbyyourkindhandIdonotfeeldisposedtoshunyoubecauseyouhavedonemeafavourfromthisdayyoumustconsenttoadmitmetoyourintimateacquaintance,forIshallhereafterrecuragainandagaintothepleasureofyoursociety.”
“Ainsisoit-il,”wasthereply,accompaniedbyasmileofbenignantcontent.Iwentawaywithitssunshineinmyheart.