italimportance.
“Iamnotsatisfied,”returnedshe“youarenowearningeightthousandfrancsayear”(itwastruemyefforts,punctuality,thefameofmypupils’progress,thepublicityofmystation,hadsofarhelpedmeon),“whileIamstillatmymiserabletwelvehundredfrancs.ICANdobetter,andIWILL.”
“YouworkaslongandasdiligentlyasIdo,Frances.”
“Yes,monsieur,butIamnotworkingintherightway,andIamconvincedofit.”
“Youwishtochange—youhaveaplanforprogressinyourmindgoandputonyourbonnetand,whilewetakeourwalk,youshalltellmeofit.”
“Yes,monsieur.”
Shewent—asdocileasawell-trainedchildshewasacuriousmixtureoftractabilityandfirmness:Isatthinkingabouther,andwonderingwhatherplancouldbe,whenshere-entered.
“Monsieur,IhavegivenMinnie”(ourbonne)“leavetogoouttoo,asitissoveryfinesowillyoubekindenoughtolockthedoor,andtakethekeywithyou?”
“Kissme,Mrs.Crimsworth,”wasmynotveryappositereplybutshelookedsoengaginginherlightsummerdressandlittlecottagebonnet,andhermannerinspeakingtomewasthen,asalways,sounaffectedlyandsuavelyrespectful,thatmyheartexpandedatthesightofher,andakissseemednecessarytocontentitsimportunity.
“There,monsieur.”
“Whydoyoualwayscallme‘Monsieur’?Say,‘William.’”
“IcannotpronounceyourWbesides,‘Monsieur’belongstoyouIlikeitbest.”
Minniehavingdepartedincleancapandsmartshawl,we,too,setout,leavingthehousesolitaryandsilent—silent,atleast,butforthetickingoftheclock.WeweresoonclearofBrusselsthefieldsreceivedus,andthenthelanes,remotefromcarriage-resoundingCHAUSSEES.Erelongwecameuponanook,sorural,green,andsecluded,itmighthavebeenaspotinsomepastoralEnglishprovinceabankofshortandmossygrass,underahawthorn,offeredaseattootemptingtobedeclinedwetookit,andwhenwehadadmiredandexaminedsomeEnglish-lookingwild-flowersgrowingatourfeet,IrecalledFrances’attentionandmyowntothetopictouchedonatbreakfast.
“Whatwasherplan?”Anaturalone—thenextsteptobemountedbyus,or,atleast,byher,ifshewantedtoriseinherprofession.Sheproposedtobeginaschool.Wealreadyhadthemeansforcommencingonacarefulscale,havinglivedgreatlywithinourincome.Wepossessed,too,bythistime,anextensiveandeligibleconnection,inthesenseadvantageoustoourbusinessfor,thoughourcircleofvisitingacquaintancecontinuedaslimitedasever,wewerenowwidelyknowninschoolsandfamiliesasteachers.WhenFranceshaddevelopedherplan,sheintimated,insomeclosingsentences,herhopesforthefuture.Ifweonlyhadgoodhealthandtolerablesuccess,memight,shewassure,intimerealizeanindependencyandthat,perhaps,beforeweweretoooldtoenjoyitthenbothsheandIwouldrestandwhatwastohinderusfromgoingtoliveinEngland?EnglandwasstillherPromisedLand.
IputnoobstacleinherwayraisednoobjectionIknewshewasnotonewhocouldlivequiescentandinactive,orevencomparativelyinactive.Dutiesshemusthavetofulfil,andimportantdutiesworktodo—andexciting,absorbing,profitableworkstrongfacultiesstirredinherframe,andtheydemandedfullnourishment,freeexercise:minewasnotthehandevertostarveorcrampthemno,Idelightedinofferingthemsustenance,andinclearingthemwiderspaceforaction.
“Youhaveconceivedaplan,Frances,”saidI,“andagoodplanexecuteityouhavemyfreeconsent,andwhereverandwhenevermyassistanceiswanted,askandyoushallhave.”
Frances’eyesthankedmealmostwithtearsjustasparkleortwo,soonbrushedawayshepossessedherselfofmyhandtoo,andhelditforsometimeverycloseclaspedinbothherown,butshesaidnomorethan“Thankyou,monsieur.”
Wepassedadivineday,andcamehomelate,lightedbyafullsummermoon.
Tenyearsrushednowuponmewithdusty,vibrating,unrestingwingsyearsofbustle,action,unslackedendeavouryearsinwhichIandmywife,havinglaunchedourselvesinthefullcareerofprogress,asprogresswhirlsoninEuropeancapitals,scarcelyknewrepose,werestrangerstoamusement,neverthoughtofindulgence,andyet,asourcourseransidebyside,aswemarchedhandinhand,weneithermurmured,repented,norfaltered.Hopeindeedcheeredushealthkeptusupharmonyofthoughtanddeedsmoothedmanydifficulties,andfinally,