Nevertheless, she had had her lesson, and was
careful not to lay herself open to any new affront. After some
consideration, she engaged a charming old lady, named Eleanore
Frahender, who had been companion in a Russian family, and was now
living in a convent in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, where only
trustworthy guests could be received. The old lady loved art and
poetry, and as soon as she had met Esperance, was full of enthusiasm
for her new duties. The young girl and she agreed in many tastes, and
very soon they were great friends.
M. Darbois was quite contented with the arrangement, and could now
attend to his work with complete tranquillity. Every morning the
family gathered in the dining-room at half-past eight to take their
coffee together. Esperance would recount all the little events of the
day before and her studies for the day to come. Whenever she felt any
doubt about an ambiguous phrase, she went at once to get her father's
advice upon it. Sometimes Genevieve Hardouin would drop in to talk
with her and Mlle. Frahender. Esperance adored Racine and refused to
study Corneille, before whom Genevieve bowed in enthusiastic
admiration.
"He is superhuman," she exclaimed, fervently.
"That is just what I reproach him for," returned Esperance. "Racine is
human, that is why I love him. None of Corneille's heroines move me at
all, and I loathe the sorrows of '_Phaedre_.'"
"And '_Chimene_'?" asked Genevieve Hardouin.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42