back?’
‘Yes.’
‘Swear it.’
‘I – ’
‘
Swear
it.’
‘On my oath,’ I said.
Emily turned around and walked out through the half-open double doors into the garden. Had I betrayed my sister in order to feed my own wants? Great is Truth, and mighty above all things 3 and yet at that moment I was convinced that it was Madame’s idea and her idea alone that we stay on in Brussels. If I had instigated the moment, I had written it out of the story.
That was the truth; I was a liar.
Dear Ellen
– I wrote whilst sitting down at my desk. The schoolroom was quiet although a small group of students sat in a group at the far end of the room studying under the warm glow of a lamp.
I began seriously to think you had no particular intention of writing to me again – however let us have no reproaches, thank you for your letter.
I consider it doubtful whether I shall come home in September or not – Madame Heger has made a proposal for both me and Emily to stay another half year – offering to dismiss her English master and take me as English teacher – also to employ Emily some part of each day in teaching music to a certain number of pupils – for these services we are to be allowed to continue our studies in French and German – and to have board &c without paying for it – no salaries however are offered – the proposal is kind and in a great selfish city like Brussels and a great selfish school containing nearly ninety pupils (boarders & day-pupils included) implies a degree of interest which demands gratitude in return – I am inclined to accept it – what think you?
Here, I was momentarily interrupted by three students bursting into the classroom, amongst them Vertue Basompierre whose voice rose above those of her companions in a most regrettable manner. She was entertaining them with a story concerning one of her many admirers but on seeing me seated alone in the darkest part of the schoolroom – she lost no time in adding how she could think of no sadder predicament in the world than that of the middle-aged spinster. Here Vertue, turning her eyes towards the Heavens, made the sign of the cross while her companions giggled and I continued to write –
If the national character of the Belgians is to be measured by the character of most of the girls in this school, it is a character singularly cold, selfish, animal and inferior – they are besides verymutinous and difficult for the teachers to manage – and their principles are rotten to the core – we avoid them – which is not difficult to do – as we have the brand of Protestantism and Anglicism upon us
.
People talk of the danger which protestants expose themselves to in going to reside in Catholic countries-and thereby running the chance of changing their faith – my advice to all protestants who are tempted to do anything so besotted as turn Catholic – is to walk over the sea on to the continent – to attend mass sedulously for a time – to note well the mummeries thereof – also the idiotic, mercenary, aspect of all the priests - & then if they are still disposed to consider Papistry in any other light than a most feeble childish piece of humbug let them turn papists at once that’s all – I consider Methodism, Quakerism & the extremes of high & low Churchism foolish but Roman Catholicism beats them all.
At the same time allow me to tell you that there are some Catholics – who are as good as any Christians can be to whom the bible is a sealed book, and much better than scores of Protestants.
XI
‘What are you doing, Mademoiselle?’ Monsieur Heger’s voice broke the silence and made me jump. It was only a short while since Vertue and her companions had vacated the schoolroom leaving me in peace. Upon her departure I had decided to write a short piece of prose and – and as was my method – had closed my eyes whilst I wrote.
Monsieur Heger’s voice startled me. I had not heard him enter the room. Now I saw he was
‘Yes.’
‘Swear it.’
‘I – ’
‘
Swear
it.’
‘On my oath,’ I said.
Emily turned around and walked out through the half-open double doors into the garden. Had I betrayed my sister in order to feed my own wants? Great is Truth, and mighty above all things 3 and yet at that moment I was convinced that it was Madame’s idea and her idea alone that we stay on in Brussels. If I had instigated the moment, I had written it out of the story.
That was the truth; I was a liar.
Dear Ellen
– I wrote whilst sitting down at my desk. The schoolroom was quiet although a small group of students sat in a group at the far end of the room studying under the warm glow of a lamp.
I began seriously to think you had no particular intention of writing to me again – however let us have no reproaches, thank you for your letter.
I consider it doubtful whether I shall come home in September or not – Madame Heger has made a proposal for both me and Emily to stay another half year – offering to dismiss her English master and take me as English teacher – also to employ Emily some part of each day in teaching music to a certain number of pupils – for these services we are to be allowed to continue our studies in French and German – and to have board &c without paying for it – no salaries however are offered – the proposal is kind and in a great selfish city like Brussels and a great selfish school containing nearly ninety pupils (boarders & day-pupils included) implies a degree of interest which demands gratitude in return – I am inclined to accept it – what think you?
Here, I was momentarily interrupted by three students bursting into the classroom, amongst them Vertue Basompierre whose voice rose above those of her companions in a most regrettable manner. She was entertaining them with a story concerning one of her many admirers but on seeing me seated alone in the darkest part of the schoolroom – she lost no time in adding how she could think of no sadder predicament in the world than that of the middle-aged spinster. Here Vertue, turning her eyes towards the Heavens, made the sign of the cross while her companions giggled and I continued to write –
If the national character of the Belgians is to be measured by the character of most of the girls in this school, it is a character singularly cold, selfish, animal and inferior – they are besides verymutinous and difficult for the teachers to manage – and their principles are rotten to the core – we avoid them – which is not difficult to do – as we have the brand of Protestantism and Anglicism upon us
.
People talk of the danger which protestants expose themselves to in going to reside in Catholic countries-and thereby running the chance of changing their faith – my advice to all protestants who are tempted to do anything so besotted as turn Catholic – is to walk over the sea on to the continent – to attend mass sedulously for a time – to note well the mummeries thereof – also the idiotic, mercenary, aspect of all the priests - & then if they are still disposed to consider Papistry in any other light than a most feeble childish piece of humbug let them turn papists at once that’s all – I consider Methodism, Quakerism & the extremes of high & low Churchism foolish but Roman Catholicism beats them all.
At the same time allow me to tell you that there are some Catholics – who are as good as any Christians can be to whom the bible is a sealed book, and much better than scores of Protestants.
XI
‘What are you doing, Mademoiselle?’ Monsieur Heger’s voice broke the silence and made me jump. It was only a short while since Vertue and her companions had vacated the schoolroom leaving me in peace. Upon her departure I had decided to write a short piece of prose and – and as was my method – had closed my eyes whilst I wrote.
Monsieur Heger’s voice startled me. I had not heard him enter the room. Now I saw he was
Similar Books
