Villette (85 page)

Pious lecture.

Characters in Sir Walter Scott’s
Old Morality
(1816) .

In the Bible, Moses strikes a rock at Meribah and water appears for the children of Israel (Exodus 17).

Delicate green hat.

There’s nothing wrong with the pest, is there? ... Not much.

Ah, that! There isn’t anything behind it then, a mystery or a secret love affair? ... Nothing more than what is in my hand.... Too bad ... and I was beginning to have ideas.... Truly! you have something for your pains.

I know well that she doesn’t have principles, nor perhaps morals.... Her manner in class is always moral, and even full of a certain dignity: that is all that is expected. Neither the students nor the parents require more, and neither do I.

Large arbor.

Quickly.

Very well! Two or three silver spoons and forks.

Listen.

You are only dolls then? ... You have no passions, no feelings? Your flesh is snow, your blood is ice? I want all of that to be aflame, and wish it to have a life and a soul!

Tailor.

So sad, so unassuming.

Respectably, decently.

... mature women ... as for St. Pierre, she has the air of an old coquette who acts the ingenue.

That’s it! ... I know her! It’s the Englishwoman! Never mind. Though she is completely English and consequently completely prudish, she will do what I want or I will know why.

God knows, I hate them like the plague ordinarily.

Hurry to work!

I have heard everything. It’s good enough. Again! ... Again! And no pained faces! Away with your shyness!

At least she knows it.

Well, what is it, miss? ... I am very hungry.... What, you are hungry? What about the light meal?

Yes, that’s true.

Isn’t it beautiful? the first classe from the grande salle. This cabinet dazzled me, it was so full of light: it deafened me, it was so clamorous with voices: it stifled me, it was so hot, choking, thronged.

Courage, my friend! A bit of self-composure, a bit of nerve, M. Lucien, and all will go well.

It is perhaps finer than your model ... but it isn’t correct.

Young people.

Beautiful blonde ... pretty brunette ... that magnificent girl with jet-black hair.

Shut up! ... You won’t get past me unless it is over my dead body, and you’ll only dance with the nun of the garden.

Get out, get out, and immediately.

It is him.... oh, heavens!

That’s enough: I don’t want him.

So! ... You will be enthroned like a queen; tomorrow—enthroned by my side? Without a doubt you are savoring in advance the delights of authority. I think I see in you a kind of radiance, you ambitious little woman.

The sun, the moon, the stars—have I said it right?

Give me your hand.

Father, I am Protestant.

François Fénelon (1651-1715), French bishop and author who had liberal views on politics and education.

Character from the
The Arabian Nights
who while he is sleeping is carried by spirits to the gates of Damascus.

Angel of death in the Koran.

Excessive depression.

Characters from Shakespeare’s comedy A
Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, is tricked into falling in love with Nick Bottom, a weaver wearing the head of an ass.

Typical Englishman.

Joseph’s favorite brother in the Bible; he receives more from Joseph than anyone else (Genesis 43:34).

What are you doing here? ... But, sir, I am amusing myself.... You amuse yourself! and at what, if you please? But first, give me the pleasure of helping you up: take my arm and we’ll go to the other side.

Be quiet and sit down there! There! ... But monsieur.... But mademoiselle. Sit down and don’t move—are you listening? Stay there until someone comes to get you or until I give you permission.... What a sad corner! ... What ugly pictures!

A woman’s life, in four depicted stages:
Jeune Fille.
young girl;
Mariée:
young married woman;
Jeune Mère:
young mother; and
Veuve:
widow.

That is, cemetery. Père la Chaise is a famous cemetery in Paris.

Angel.

Truly! You aren’t worth much.

That doesn’t matter. A magnificent woman—the figure of an empress, Junoesque, but someone you would not want for a wife or a daughter or a sister. Also, you won’t cast one single look in her direction.

For the benefit of the poor.

In the Bible (Genesis 25), twin sons of Isaac.

Novel by Oliver Goldsmith (1766).

In Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and Europa; one of the three judges of the dead in the underworld.

Miss, you are sad.... Monsieur, I have the right to be.... You are ill in your heart and your mood.

Bluestocking; literary woman.

Giant step.

Wild angel.

Female bear.

That is, a wax seal.

Do you intend to insult me? anger—a kind of passion of emotion—that specially tended to draw tears. I was not unhappy, nor much afraid, yet I wept.

The young woman has nothing but time.

I understand, I understand: one knows what a friend is. Good day, miss.

I see clearly that you scoff at me and my things.

Candle.

But of course, darling, you can have two if you want.

Daughter of Zeus, wife of Hercules, goddess of everlasting youth and cup-bearer to the gods.

There is someone for you in the salon.

The brightest star in the night; associated with summer.

Character in Sir Walter Scott’s novel
The Talisman
(1825), set in the time of the Crusades. Saladin proves his facility with the scimitar by slicing a down cushion in half with one stroke.

Seventeenth-century painter known for his depictions of large, fleshy women.

Or Asclepius; Greco-Roman god of medicine.

Poppy.

Regarding big Jean.

Yes, yes, my good friend: I give you permission willingly and from my heart. Your work in my house has always been admirable, full of prudence and warmth: you certainly have the right to amuse yourself. Go out and do as you please. Regarding your choice of company, I am happy; it is wise, dignified, and commendable.

There is something remarkable in the English character.... I’m not sure how to tell you “how”; but in short, the English have their own ideas on friendship, on love, on everything. But at least there is no need to watch them.

Biblical character associated with an expression of regret; the name means “Where is the glory?”

That is what I will do.

Dévouement:
self-devotion;
recueillement:
meditation;
juron:
curse, swearword;
sacré:
sacred;
mille:
thousand.

Friedrich von Schiller’s “The Maiden’s Lament”: “Oh holy one, call your child back. / I have enjoyed earthly happiness. / I have lived and loved.” should thus view me; but
you
know and shall learn to acknowledge that I am verging on my nineteenth year.’

What do you say about it?

Little cat, sweetness, coquette! ... You seem very sad, submissive, dreamy, but you are not; it is I who tells you: Savage! your soul is aflame, your eyes on fire.... Yes, my soul is ablaze, and it has a right to be.

Look, the dawn is breaking. Say then that you are my friend.... I forgive you, M. Paul.

Knox (c.1514-1572) was famous for his harsh attacks against Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (1542-1587).

My god! ... What will become of me? Monsieur means to kill me, I’m sure, because he is in a rage.

From this moment!—the classroom is forbidden. The first person who opens that door or passes that division will be hanged—even if it is Madame Beck herself!

I can’t take it anymore!

What do you want with me?

I want the impossible, extraordinary things.

There I am, bereft of my spectacles.

A strong woman—a dreadful English woman—a little break-it-all.

An expression that suggests that Lucy wants Ginevra to go. In the Bible, David’s servants, whose beards had been shaved off, were told to wait at Jericho until their beards had grown again (2 Samuel 10:4-5).

Don’t move.

You don’t want me for a neighbor.... You put on airs, you treat me like a pariah! ... So be it! I’m going to manage things! ... Stand up ladies!

Is this enough of a distance? ... Monsieur will be the judge of that.... You know that’s not true. It is you who have created this immense gulf. It isn’t my doing.

A play by William Shakespeare, the false god ... of these pagan English.

Fire, ardor.

Quiet! this instant!

Quick to spark.

Anger.

Heat.

Doll colors, a nose more or less well made.

Embroidered collars.

Extra trinket.

Worldly fashions.

Homespun.

Dusty gray.

Go for the ribbon!

Silk dress.

To enjoy pleasures a little.

Is that all?

World map.

Long live England, history and heroes! Down with France, fiction and fops!

Then I will not be there.... So be it! desk open, his nose was lost to view amongst my papers. His back was towards me, but there could not be a moment’s question about identity. Already was the attire of ceremony discarded: the cherished and ink-stained paletôt was resumed; the perverse bonnet-grec lay on the floor, as if just dropped from the hand, culpably busy.

I hate you, my boy!

God protect you from it! assure you, is alien to my whole life and views. It died in the past—in the present it lies buried—its grave is deep-dug, well-heaped, and many winters old: in the future there will be a resurrection, as I believe to my soul’s consolation; but all will then be changed—form and feeling: the mortal will have put on immortality—it will rise, not for earth, but heaven. All I say to
you,
Miss Lucy Snowe, is—that you ought to treat Professor Paul Emanuel decently.’

Sugar almonds.

At present it is an accomplished task.

Queen of the Amazons.

Fortunate man in the Bible (Acts 20:9).

Firmly.

He is truly handsome, miss, this young doctor! What eyes, what a look! See, my heart has been completely taken! ... That impudent girl! That shameless creature!

She only tells the truth.... You think so? ... But without a doubt.

Mountain range southeast of Athens.