The Professor / Учитель. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Madame Pelet had her own society, her own circle of chosen visitors, whom, however, I seldom saw, as she generally entertained them in what she called her “cabinet,” a small den of a place adjoining the kitchen, and descending into it by one or two steps. On these steps, by-the-by, I have not unfrequently seen Madame Pelet seated with a trencher on her knee, engaged in the threefold employment of eating her dinner, gossiping with her favourite servant, the housemaid, and scolding her antagonist, the cook; she never dined, and seldom indeed took any meal with her son; and as to showing her face at the boys’ table, that was quite out of the question. These details will sound very odd in English ears, but Belgium is not England, and its ways are not our ways.

Madame Pelet’s habits of life, then, being taken into consideration, I was a good deal surprised when, one Thursday evening (Thursday was always a half-holiday), as I was sitting all alone in my apartment, correcting a huge pile of English and Latin exercises, a servant tapped at the door, and, on its being opened, presented Madame Pelet’s compliments, and she would be happy to see me to take my “goûter[139]” (a meal which answers to our English “tea”) with her in the dining-room.

“Plaît-il?[140]” said I, for I thought I must have misunderstood, the message and invitation were so unusual; the same words were repeated. I accepted, of course, and as I descended the stairs, I wondered what whim had entered the old lady’s brain; her son was out – gone to pass the evening at the Salle of the Grande Harmonie or some other club of which he was a member. Just as I laid my hand on the handle of the dining-room door, a queer idea glanced across my mind.

“Surely she’s not going to make love to me[141],” said I. “I’ve heard of old Frenchwomen doing odd things in that line; and the goûter? They generally begin such affairs with eating and drinking, I believe.”

There was a fearful dismay in this suggestion of my excited imagination, and if I had allowed myself time to dwell upon it, I should no doubt have cut there and then[142], rushed back to my chamber, and bolted myself in; but whenever a danger or a horror is veiled with uncertainty, the primary wish of the mind is to ascertain first the naked truth, reserving the expedient of flight for the moment when its dread anticipation shall be realized. I turned the door-handle, and in an instant had crossed the fatal threshold, closed the door behind me, and stood in the presence of Madame Pelet.

Gracious heavens! The first view of her seemed to confirm my worst apprehensions. There she sat, dressed out in a light green muslin gown, on her head a lace cap with flourishing red roses in the frill; her table was carefully spread; there were fruit, cakes, and coffee, with a bottle of something – I did not know what. Already the cold sweat started on my brow, already I glanced back over my shoulder at the closed door, when, to my unspeakable relief, my eye, wandering mildly in the direction of the stove, rested upon a second figure, seated in a large fauteuil[143] beside it. This was a woman, too, and, moreover, an old woman, and as fat and as rubicund as Madame Pelet was meagre and yellow; her attire was likewise very fine, and spring flowers of different hues circled in a bright wreath the crown of her violet-coloured velvet bonnet.

I had only time to make these general observations when Madame Pelet, coming forward with what she intended should be a graceful and elastic step, thus accosted me:

“Monsieur is indeed most obliging to quit his books, his studies, at the request of an insignificant person like me – will Monsieur complete his kindness by allowing me to present him to my dear friend Madame Reuter, who resides in the neighbouring house – the young ladies’ school.”

“Ah!” thought I, “I knew she was old,” and I bowed and took my seat. Madame Reuter placed herself at the table opposite to me.

“How do you like Belgium, Monsieur?” asked she, in an accent of the broadest Bruxellois. I could now well distinguish the difference between the fine and pure Parisian utterance of M. Pelet, for instance, and the guttural enunciation of the Flamands. I answered politely, and then wondered how so coarse and clumsy an old woman as the one before me should be at the head of a ladies’ seminary, which I had always heard spoken of in terms of high commendation. In truth there was something to wonder at. Madame Reuter looked more like a joyous, free-living old Flemish fermière[144], or even a maÎtresse d’auberge[145], than a staid, grave, rigid directrice de pensionnat. In general the continental, or at least the Belgian old women permit themselves a licence of manners, speech, and aspect, such as our venerable granddames would recoil from as absolutely disreputable, and Madame Reuter’s jolly face bore evidence that she was no exception to the rule of her country; there was a twinkle and leer in her left eye; her right she kept habitually half shut, which I thought very odd indeed. After several vain attempts to comprehend the motives of these two droll old creatures for inviting me to join them at their gouter, I at last fairly gave it up, and resigning myself to inevitable mystification, I sat and looked first at one, then at the other, taking care meantime to do justice to the confitures, cakes, and coffee, with which they amply supplied me. They, too, ate, and that with no delicate appetite, and having demolished a large portion of the solids, they proposed a “petit verre[146].” I declined. Not so Mesdames Pelet and Reuter; each mixed herself what I thought rather a stiff tumbler of punch, and placing it on a stand near the stove, they drew up their chairs to that convenience, and invited me to do the same. I obeyed; and being seated fairly between them, I was thus addressed first by Madame Pelet, then by Madame Reuter.

“We will now speak of business,” said Madame Pelet, and she went on to make an elaborate speech, which, being interpreted, was to the effect that she had asked for the pleasure of my company that evening in order to give her friend Madame Reuter an opportunity of broaching an important proposal, which might turn out greatly to my advantage.

“Pourvu que vous soyez sage,” said Madame Reuter, “et à vrai dire, vous en avez bien l’air[147]. Take one drop of the punch” (or ponche, as she pronounced it); “it is an agreeable and wholesome beverage after a full meal.”

I bowed, but again declined it. She went on:

“I feel,” said she, after a solemn sip – “I feel profoundly the importance of the commission with which my dear daughter has entrusted me, for you are aware, Monsieur, that it is my daughter who directs the establishment in the next house?”

“Ah! I thought it was yourself, madame.” Though, indeed, at that moment I recollected that it was called Mademoiselle, not Madame Reuter’s pensionnat.

“I! Oh, no! I manage the house and look after the servants, as my friend Madame Pelet does for Monsieur her son – nothing more. Ah! you thought I gave lessons in class – did you?”

And she laughed loud and long, as though the idea tickled her fancy amazingly.

“Madame is in the wrong to laugh,” I observed; “if she does not give lessons, I am sure it is not because she cannot;” and I whipped out a white pocket-handkerchief and wafted it, with a French grace, past my nose, bowing at the same time.

“Quel charmant jeune homme![148]” murmured Madame Pelet in a low voice. Madame Reuter, being less sentimental, as she was Flamand and not French, only laughed again.

“You are a dangerous person, I fear,” said she; “if you can forge compliments at that rate, Zoraïde will positively be afraid of you; but if you are good, I will keep your secret, and not tell her how well you can flatter. Now, listen what sort of a proposal she makes to you. She has heard that you are an excellent professor, and as she wishes to get the very best masters for her school (car Zoraïde fait tout comme une reine, c’est une veritable maîtresse-femme[149]), she has commissioned me to step over this afternoon, and sound Madame Pelet as to the possibility of engaging you. Zoraïde is a wary general; she never advances without first examining well her ground. I don’t think she would be pleased if she knew I had already disclosed her intentions to you; she did not order me to go so far, but I thought there would be no harm in letting you into the secret, and Madame Pelet was of the same opinion. Take care, however, you don’t betray either of us to Zoraïde – to my daughter, I mean; she is so discreet and circumspect herself, she cannot understand that one should find a pleasure in gossiping a little – ”

“C’est absolument comme mon fils![150]” cried Madame Pelet.

“All the world is so changed since our girlhood!” rejoined the other: “young people have such old heads now. But to return, Monsieur. Madame Pelet will mention the subject of your giving lessons in my daughter’s establishment to her son, and he will speak to you; and then to-morrow, you will step over to our house, and ask to see my daughter, and you will introduce the subject as if the first intimation of it had reached you from M. Pelet himself, and be sure you never mention my name, for I would not displease Zoraïde on any account.”

“Bien! bien![151]” interrupted I – for all this chatter and circumlocution began to bore me very much; “I will consult M. Pelet, and the thing shall be settled as you desire. Good evening, mesdames – I am infinitely obliged to you.”

“Comment! vous vous en allez déjà?” exclaimed Madame Pelet. “Prenez encore quelque chose, monsieur; une pomme cuite, des biscuits, encore une tasse de café?[152]”

“Merci, merci, madame – au revoir.[153]” And I backed at last out of the apartment.

Having regained my own room, I set myself to turn over in my mind the incident of the evening. It seemed a queer affair altogether, and queerly managed; the two old women had made quite a little intricate mess of it; still I found that the uppermost feeling in my mind on the subject was one of satisfaction. In the first place it would be a change to give lessons in another seminary, and then to teach young ladies would be an occupation so interesting – to be admitted at all into a ladies’ boarding-school would be an incident so new in my life. Besides, thought I, as I glanced at the boarded window, “I shall now at last see the mysterious garden: I shall gaze both on the angels and their Eden.”

Chapter IX

M. Pelet could not of course object to the proposal made by Mdlle. Reuter; permission to accept such additional employment, should it offer, having formed an article of the terms on which he had engaged me. It was, therefore, arranged in the course of next day that I should be at liberty to give lessons in Mdlle. Reuter’s establishment four afternoons in every week.

When evening came I prepared to step over in order to seek a conference with Mademoiselle herself on the subject; I had not had time to pay the visit before, having been all day closely occupied in class. I remember very well that before quitting my chamber, I held a brief debate with myself as to whether I should change my ordinary attire for something smarter. At last I concluded it would be a waste of labour. “Doubtless,” thought I, “she is some stiff old maid; for though the daughter of Madame Reuter, she may well number upwards of forty winters[154]; besides, if it were otherwise, if she be both young and pretty, I am not handsome, and no dressing can make me so, therefore I’ll go as I am.” And off I started, cursorily glancing sideways as I passed the toilet-table, surmounted by a looking-glass: a thin irregular face I saw, with sunk, dark eyes under a large, square forehead, complexion destitute of bloom or attraction; something young, but not youthful, no object to win a lady’s love, no butt for the shafts of Cupid[155]

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Примечания

1

Pylades and Orestes – Орест, в древнегреческой мифологии сын Агамемнона и Клитемнестры, убивший мать и ее возлюбленного, мстя за убитого ими отца; Пилад – лучший друг Ореста

2

how the world has wagged with me – (разг.) как у меня обстоят дела

3

Hon – сокр. от Honorable, достопочтенный, ставится перед именем младшего сына английского пэра или перед именем правительственного чиновника

4

if I would – (разг.) если я соглашусь

5

not an accomplishment, not a charm of theirs, touches a chord in my bosom – (разг.) их обаяние и прочие достоинства не затронули в моем сердце ни единой струны

6

said I should reflect – (разг.) сказал, что мне надо подумать

7

Croesus – Крез, царь Лидии (560–546 до н. э.), известен своими несметными сокровищами

8

had refused to minister to the necessities of my dying mother – (разг.) которые отказали в куске хлеба моей умирающей матери

9

in the way of furnishing me with work – (разг.) чтобы обеспечить меня работой

10

believed him to be doing well – (разг.) знал, что он процветает (дела его идут блестяще)

11

after the lapse of some minutes – (устар.) через несколько минут

12

doubted at first the accuracy of his information – (разг.) поначалу усомнился в его словах

13

remind you at the very outset of our connection – (устар.) хочу предупредить вас с самого начала

14

take voices into the account in judging of character – (разг.) когда я составляю представление о чьем-либо характере, голос и тембр его немаловажен

15

with a kind of lisp – (разг.) с легкой шепелявостью

16

watched in vain for a glimpse of soul – (разг.) душу ее я не смог увидеть

17

saved out of the sale of my father’s property – (разг.) спасенные от продажи с молотка вещи моего отца

18

shut out all intruders – (разг.) разом затворился от всех

19

A dense, permanent vapour brooded over this locality – (разг.) Густая неподвижная пелена нависала над местностью

20

Thus self-schooled – (разг.) Настроившись таким образом

21

As an animal – (устар.) В физическом развитии

22

seemed disposed to turn restive – (разг.) пытался выказать свой непокорный нрав

23

was all stir and bustle – (разг.) всюду царили оживление и суета

24

Have you made up your mind on the point? – (разг.) Вы твердо намерены заниматься именно этим делом?

25

and all that sort of humbug – (разг.) и прочей подобной чепухи

26

I wish you, however, to be aware – (разг.) Однако, да будет вам известно

27

for much parley – (разг.) для долгих разговоров

28

as if I had had on a casque with the visor down – (разг.) как будто на мне был шлем с опущенным забралом

29

it had ever been abhorrent to my nature to ask pecuniary assistance – (разг.) мне всегда претило просить о материальном вспомоществовании

30

Mammon – «золотой телец» (Новый Завет. Матф. 6:24; Лука 16:9, 11, 13)

31

I was, however, kept strictly in the background – (разг.) однако, держали меня строго в тени

32

that I was not, in short, a block, or a piece of furniture – (разг.) что я не какой-нибудь камень или предмет мебели

33

there’s some sense in that face – (разг.) в этом лице ощущается глубина

34

retroussé – (фр.) вздернутый

35

I now went about to shun his presence and eschew his conversation – (разг.) мне хотелось поскорее избавиться от его общества

36

amour-propre – (фр.) самолюбие

37

by way of temporary amusement – (разг.) чтобы слегка развлечься (перекинуться парой слов)

38

Patrician descent be hanged! – (разг.) К чертям благородное происхождение!

39

in the three Ridings – Райдинги, три части, на которые исторически делился Йоркшир (северная Англия)

40

by long chalk – (разг.) далеко не такой; совершенно отличный

41

of his own accord – (разг.) по своей воле

42

in a jiffy – (разг.) вмиг

43

making up to her – (разг.) подбирается к ней

44

were of an old stem – (разг.) принадлежали к старинному роду

45

at times, an indescribable shade passed like an eclipse over his countenance – (разг.) временами лицо его как будто омрачалось какой-то тенью

46

I am baffled! – (разг.) Я проиграл!

47

I should long have borne with the nuisance – (разг.) я еще долго мог бы мириться с такой неприятностью

48

kept the padlock of silence on mental wealth in which he was no sharer – (устар.) держал под замком молчания интеллектуальные сокровища, ему недоступные

49

was a hard, grinding master – (разг.) был суровым, чрезмерно требовательным хозяином

50

That slut of a servant has neglected it as usual – (разг.) Эта растяпа служанка, как всегда, забыла разжечь камин

51

A famous excuse! – (разг.) Известная отговорка!

52

Alack and well-a-day! – (разг.) Увы и ах!

53

how down in the mouth you must be – (разг.) должно быть, пребываете в унынии

54

you’re just in luck – (разг.) вам повезло

55

I hate to bore any one. – (разг.) Терпеть не могу кому-либо навязываться.

56

You shall have something – (зд.) Вам надо чего-нибудь выпить

57

acid German nectar – (разг.) кислый немецкий нектар

58

as my sight is very short – (разг.) я очень близорук

59

incompatibilities of the “physique” with the “morale” – (разг.) несовместимость физического с духовным

60

you give way to no excess of an evening – (устар.) вечером ничего лишнего вы себе не позволяете

61

notwithstanding his tyranny, or perhaps by means of it – (разг.) вопреки его тирании, а то и воспользовавшись ею

62

Juggernaut – Джаггернаут, в индийской мифологии божество, воплощающее неумолимый рок; обычно изображается восседающим на колеснице

63

pity Fortune has baulked Nature – (разг.) жаль, что Фортуна обошла великую Природу

64

the string he struck was out of tune – (разг.) его занесло не туда; не надо было этого говорить

65

I had got a good way on my return to my lodgings – (разг.) Я проделал уже большую часть пути к дому

66

the fire there, but just lit, as yet only smoked – (разг.) огонь в камине едва горел, зато вовсю дымил

67

get a clear notion of what you would have, or what you would not have – (разг.) выясните же для себя, чего вы желаете, а чего нет

68

your hands are thawed – (устар.) руки согрелись

69

the bell rang for a suspension of labour – (разг.) звонок возвестил о перерыве

70

It is time you and I wound up accounts. – (разг.) Пора нам с вами подвести черту.

71

have neither inclination nor temptation to talk about you – (разг.) и в мыслях не было говорить о вас

72

Give your grounds – (разг.) Докажите

73

hounded on the people to hiss you – (разг.) натравливал на вас людей

74

A minute sufficed to wrest it from him – (устар.) Я мигом вырвал у него хлыст

75

or I’ll make you – (зд.) или я сам вас вышвырну

76

treasure it for future years – (зд.) чтобы хранить эти воспоминания долгие годы

77

considering the manner in which I had parted from him the night before – (устар.) учитывая то, как расстался с ним прошлым вечером

78

it was to him – (разг.) именно благодаря ему; из-за него 60

79

Poor thing! – (разг.) Бедолага!

80

order you to fast by way of punishment – (разг.) в наказание вас заставили поститься

81

turned me off at a minute’s notice – (разг.) вмиг вышвырнул меня с работы

82

proviso – (лат.) условие, оговорка

83

through your means – (разг.) с вашей помощью

84

I have cut them. – (разг.) Я порвал с ним отношения.

85

on condition of my entering the Church – (разг.) при условии, что я приму духовный сан