murad the unlucky and other tales-第17部分

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Not　minutes；　but　hours；　she　devoted　to　these　childrenshe　who
could　charm　by　the　grace　of　her　manners；　and　delight　by　the
elegance　of　her　conversation；　the　most　polished　circles　and　the
best…informed　societies　of　Paris；　preferred　to　the　glory　of　being
admired　the　pleasure　of　being　useful：…

〃Her　life；　as　lovely　as　her　face；
Each　duty　mark'd　with　every　grace；
Her　native　sense　improved　by　reading；
Her　native　sweetness　by　good　breeding。〃



CHAPTER　III



〃Ah　me！　how　much　I　fear　lest　pride　it　be；
But　if　that　pride　it　be　which　thus　inspires；
Beware；　ye　dames！　with　nice　discernment　see
Ye　quench　not　too　the　sparks　of　nobler　fires。〃
SHENSTONE。

By　repeated　observation；　and　by　attending　to　the　minute　reports　of
Sister　Frances；　Madame　de　Fleury　soon　became　acquainted　with　the
habits　and　temper　of　each　individual　in　this　little　society。　　The
most　intelligent　and　the　most　amiable　of　these　children　was
Victoire。　　Whence　her　superiority　arose；　whether　her　abilities　were
naturally　more　vivacious　than　those　of　her　companions；　or　whether
they　had　been　more　early　developed　by　accidental　excitation；　we
cannot　pretend　to　determine；　lest　we　should　involve　ourselves　in
the　intricate　question　respecting　natural　geniusa　metaphysical
point；　which　we　shall　not　in　this　place　stop　to　discuss。　　Till　the
world　has　an　accurate　philosophical　dictionary　（a　work　not　to　be
expected　in　less　than　half　a　dozen　centuries）；　this　question　will
never　be　decided　to　general　satisfaction。　　In　the　meantime　we　may
proceed　with　our　story。

Deep　was　the　impression　made　on　Victoire's　heart　by　the　kindness
that　Madame　de　Fleury　showed　her　at　the　time　her　arm　was　broken；
and　her　gratitude　was　expressed　with　all　the　enthusiastic　fondness
of　childhood。　　Whenever　she　spoke　or　heard　of　Madame　de　Fleury　her
countenance　became　interested　and　animated　in　a　degree　that　would
have　astonished　a　cool　English　spectator。　　Every　morning　her　first
question　to　Sister　Frances　was：　　〃Will　SHE　come　to…day？〃　　If　Madame
de　Fleury　was　expected；　the　hours　and　the　minutes　were　counted；　and
the　sand　in　the　hour…glass　that　stood　on　the　schoolroom　table　was
frequently　shaken。　　The　moment　she　appeared　Victoire　ran　to　her；
and　was　silent；　satisfied　with　standing　close　beside　her；　holding
her　gown　when　unperceived；　and　watching；　as　she　spoke　and　moved；
every　turn　of　her　countenance。　　Delighted　by　these　marks　of
sensibility；　Sister　Frances　would　have　praised　the　child；　but　was
warned　by　Madame　de　Fleury　to　refrain　from　injudicious　eulogiums；
lest　she　should　teach　her　affectation。

〃If　I　must　not　praise；　you　will　permit　me　at　least　to　love　her；〃
said　Sister　Frances。

Her　affection　for　Victoire　was　increased　by　compassion：　　during　two
months　the　poor　child's　arm　hung　in　a　sling；　so　that　she　could　not
venture　to　play　with　her　companions。　　At　their　hours　of　recreation
she　used　to　sit　on　the　schoolroom　steps；　looking　down　into　the
garden　at　the　scene　of　merriment　in　which　she　could　not　partake。

For　those　who　know　how　to　find　it；　there　is　good　in　everything。
Sister　Frances　used　to　take　her　seat　on　the　steps；　sometimes　with
her　work　and　sometimes　with　a　book；　and　Victoire；　tired　of　being
quite　idle；　listened　with　eagerness　to　the　stories　which　Sister
Frances　read；　or　watched　with　interest　the　progress　of　her　work；
soon　she　longed　to　imitate　what　she　saw　done　with　so　much　pleasure；
and　begged　to　be　taught　to　work　and　read。　　By　degrees　she　learned
her　alphabet；　and　could　soon；　to　the　amazement　of　her
schoolfellows；　read　the　names　of　all　the　animals　in　Sister　Frances'
picture…book。　　No　matter　how　trifling　the　thing　done；　or　the
knowledge　acquired；　a　great　point　is　gained　by　giving　the　desire
for　employment。　　Children　frequently　become　industrious　from
impatience　of　the　pains　and　penalties　of　idleness。　　Count　Rumford
showed　that　he　understood　childish　nature　perfectly　well　when；　in
his　House　of　Industry　at　Munich；　he　compelled　the　young　children　to
sit　for　some　time　idle　in　a　gallery　round　the　hall；　where　others　a
little　older　than　themselves　were　busied　at　work。　　During
Victoire's　state　of　idle　convalescence　she　acquired　the　desire　to
be　employed；　and　she　consequently　soon　became　more　industrious　than
her　neighbours。　　Succeeding　in　her　first　efforts；　she　was　praised
was　pleased；　and　persevered　till　she　became　an　example　of　activity
to　her　companions。　　But　Victoire；　though　now　nearly　seven　years
old；　was　not　quite　perfect。　　Naturally；　or　accidentally；　she　was
very　passionate；　and　not　a　little　self…willed。

One　day　being　mounted；　horsemanlike；　with　whip　in　hand；　upon　the
banister　of　the　flight　of　stairs　leading　from　the　schoolroom　to　the
garden；　she　called　in　a　tone　of　triumph　to　her　playfellows；
desiring　them　to　stand　out　of　the　way；　and　see　her　slide　from　top
to　bottom。　　At　this　moment　Sister　Frances　came　to　the　schoolroom
door　and　forbade　the　feat；　but　Victoire；　regardless　of　all
prohibition；　slid　down　instantly；　and　moreover　was　going　to　repeat
the　glorious　operation；　when　Sister　Frances；　catching　hold　of　her
arm；　pointed　to　a　heap　of　sharp　stones　that　lay　on　the　ground　upon
the　other　side　of　the　banisters。

〃I　am　not　afraid；〃　said　Victoire。

〃But　if　you　fall　there；　you　may　break　your　arm　again。〃

〃And　if　I　do；　I　can　bear　it；〃　said　Victoire。　　〃Let　me　go；　pray　let
me　go：　　I　must　do　it。〃

〃No；　I　forbid　you；　Victoire；　to　slide　down　again。　　Babet　and　all
the　little　ones　would　follow　your　example；　and　perhaps　break　their
necks。〃

The　nun；　as　she　spoke；　attempted　to　compel　Victoire　to　dismount；
but　she　was　so　much　of　a　heroine；　that　she　would　do　nothing　upon
compulsion。　　Clinging　fast　to　the　banisters；　she　resisted　with　all
her　might；　she　kicked　and　screamed；　and　screamed　and　kicked；　but　at
last　her　feet　were　taken　prisoners；　then　grasping　the　railway　with
one　hand；　with　the　other　she　brandished　high　the　little　whip。

〃What！〃　said　the　mild　nun；　〃would　you　strike　me　with　that　ARM？〃

The　arm　dropped　instantlyVictoire　recollected　Madame　de　Fleury's
kindness　the　day　when　the　arm　was　broken；　dismounting　immediately；
she　threw　herself　upon　her　knees　in　the　midst　of　the　crowd　of　young
spectators；　and　begged　pardon　of　Sister　Frances。　　For　the　rest　of
the　day　she　was　as　gentle　as　a　lamb；　nay；　some　assert　that　the
effects　of　her　contrition　were　visible　during　the　remainder　of　the
week。

Having　thus　found　the　secret　of　reducing　the　little　rebel　to
obedience　by　touching　her　on　the　tender　point　of　gratitude；　the　nun
had　recourse　to　this　expedient　in　all　perilous　cases；　but　one　day；
when　she　was　boasting　of　the　infallible　operation　of　her　charm；
Madame　de　Fleury　advised　her　to　forbear　recurring　to　it　frequently；
lest　she　should　wear　out　the　sensibility　she　so　much　loved。　　In
consequence　of　this　counsel；　Victoire's　violence　of　temper　was
sometimes　reduced　by　force　and　sometimes　corrected　by　reason；　but
the　principle　and　the　feeling　of　gratitude　were　not　exhausted　or
weakened　in　the　struggle。　　The　hope　of　reward　operated　upon　her
generous　mind　more　powerfully　than　the　fear　of　punishment；　and
Madame　de　Fleury　devised　rewards　with　as　much　ability　as　some
legislators　invent　punishments。

Victoire's　brother　Maurice；　who　was　now　of　an　age　to　earn　his　own
bread；　had　a　strong　desire　to　be　bound　apprentice　to　the　smith　who
worked　in　the　house　where　his　mother　lodged。　　This　most　ardent　wish
of　his　soul　he　had　imparted　to　his　sister；　and　she　consulted　her
benefactress；　whom　she　considered　as　all…powerful　in　this；　as　in
every　other　affair。

〃Your　brother's　wish　shall　be　gratified；〃　replied　Madame　de　Fleury；
〃if　you　can　keep　your　temper　one　month。　　If　you　are　never　in　a
passion　for　a　whole　month；　I　will　undertake　that　your　brother　shall
be　bound　apprentice　to　his　friend　the　smith。　　To　your　companions；
to　Sister　Frances；　and　above　all　to　yourself；　I　trust；　to　make　me　a
just　report　this　day　month。〃



CHAPTER　IV



〃You　she　preferred　to　all　the　gay　resorts；
Where　female　vanity　might　wish　to　shine；
The　pomp　of　cities；　and　the　pride　of　courts。〃
LYTTELTON。

At　the　end　of　the　time　prescribed；　the　judges；　including　Victoire
herself；　who　was　the　most　severe　of　them　all；　agreed　she　had　justly
deserved　her　reward。　　Maurice　obtained　his　wish；　and　Victoire's
temper　never　relapsed　into　its　former　bad　habitsso　powerful　is
the　effect　of　a　well…chosen　motive！　　Perhaps　the　historian　may　be
blamed　for　dwelling　on　such　trivial　anecdotes；　yet　a　lady；　who　was
accustomed　to　the　conversation　of　deep　philosophers　and　polished
courtiers；　listened　without　disdain　to　these　simple　annals。
Nothing　appeared　to　her　a　trifle　that　could　tend　to　form　the　habits
of　temper；　truth；　honesty；　order；　and　industry：　　habits　which　are
to　be　early　induced；　not　by　solemn　precepts；　but　by　practical
lessons。　　A　few　more　examples　of　these　shall　be　recorded；
notwithstanding　the　fear　of　being　tiresome。

One　day　little　Babet；　who　was　now　five　years　old；　saw；　as　she　was
coming　to　school；　an　old　woman　sitting　at　a　corner　of　the　street
beside　a　large　black　brazier　full　of　roasted　chestnuts。　　Babet
thought　that　the　chestnuts　looked　and　smelled　very　good；　the　old
woman　was　talking　earnestly　to　some　people；　who　were　on　her　other
side；　Babet　filled　her　work…bag　with　chestnuts；　and　then　ran　after
her　mother　and　sister；　who；　having　turned　the　corner　of　the　street；
had　not　seen　what　passed。　　When　Babet　came　to　the　schoolroom；　she
opened　her　bag　with　triumph；　displayed　her　treasure；　and　offered　to
divide　it　with　her　companions。　　〃Here；　Victoire；〃　said　she；　〃here
is　the　largest　chestnut　for　you。〃

But　Victoire　would　not　take　it；　for　she　staid　that　Babet　had　no
money；　and　that　she　could　not　have　come　honestly　by　these
chestnuts。　　She　spoke　so　forcibly　upon　this　point　that　even　those
who　had　the　tempting　morsel　actually　at　their　lips　forbore　to　bite；
those　who　had　bitten　laid　down　their　half…eaten　prize；　and　those
who　had　their　hands　full　of　chestnuts　rolled　them　back　again
towards　the　bag。　　Babet　cried　with　vexation。

〃I　burned　my　fingers　in　getting　them　for　you；　and　now　you　won't　eat
them！And　I　must　not　eat　them！〃　said　she：　　then　curbing　her
passion；　she　added；　〃But　at　any　rate；　I　won't　be　a　thief。　　I　am
sure　I　did　not　think