All This, and Heaven Too

Isn't it extraordinary?

What is it, Elizabeth? Can't you read?

Didn't you hear what Emily found out about our teacher?

I think it's romantic.

You do? I don't. Neither will my mother

when she comes back from Europe.

She's "mademoiselle d".

Who's "mademoiselle d"?

Hurry up. Miss Haines is here.

The French teacher's name is...

No, silly. Her real name is desportes,

but over there, she was known as "mademoiselle d."

Shh. Girls, be quiet.

Miss Haines: Jane Van buren.

Margaret Van rensselaer.

Did you hear what Emily found out about our new teacher?

Everybody's in, miss Haines.

Thank you, Rebecca. This is Rebecca Jay.

Agnes brevoort.

Mary Simpson.

Marianna Van horn.

Rose Stanton.

Cara Parker and Elizabeth ward.

Dor... young ladies,

you may go to your seats.

Dora Vanderbilt.

Emily schuyler.

Louise durand. Helen Lexington...

Give me the paper. Here, be careful.

Did you see the look I gave her?

I don't think she'll like it here.

Miss Haines: You may sit down, young ladies.

Now I want to say that it gives me great pleasure

to introduce you to your new instructress in French...

Mademoiselle henriette desportes.

I'm glad to welcome her to our school,

and I trust you'll have the good sense to profit by her teaching.

You may take over, mademoiselle.

Thank you, miss Haines.

Good morning, young ladies.

Good morning, miss Haines.

Bonjour, mesdemoiselles.

Imagine, Emily, being involved in such a scandal

and teaching in our very class.

It's about time we had some excitement in this school.

And in your language, good morning, young ladies.

I've been appointed your teacher.

I hope before the year end, I shall have deserved to become your friend.

Well, so much for that.

Will you turn in your literature books to page one?

I will select at random from the roll.

Agnes brevoort.

Yes, mademoiselle?

Will you start reading, please?

Dora, give it to Emily.

Yes.

Emily.

Please, Emmy, the paper.

Now, Marianna Van horn will translate.

Mademoiselle Van horn, you will translate, please.

I... I don't know the place.

The top of page one.

Perhaps Helen Lexington has been paying more attention.

I, mademoiselle?

She'd better never jump on me like that. I'll show her...

Shh...

"George. No, let us go to the woods

to hunt for... Frais... fraises?"

You call them strawberries.

Fraises des bois... they're the little wild strawberries.

That grow in the woods.

How did you ever find out?

Mother's maid, Celeste, kept all the Paris papers.

I read them.

Are you sure? Am I sure?

She's the same person, and I think it's wicked.

Mademoiselle schuyler.

I believe that is your name, Emily schuyler.

Yes, mademoiselle.

You've been doing a lot of talking.

Would you like to ask a question?

Yes, mademoiselle, but I'm not sure

that you will like to answer.

Well, come here, will you?

Was there something you'd like to know?

Could you tell me how to spell conciergerie?

I beg your pardon?

I'm asking you how to spell conciergerie.

I think it's the name of a French prison.

Why do you want to know?

I mean, that particular word.

Well, you said yourself we're here to learn.

Yes. Of course.

C...

O...

N...

C...

I...

E...

R...

And then show us how you spell the name

praslin.

And now, if you will all excuse me, please.

Come in, please.

Miss Haines, I...

You?

Yes, it's I.

I came to welcome you to your new home.

I'm afraid you've come for nothing, Henry.

Miss Haines, I must leave at once. Please accept my resignation.

What are you saying? They have found out.

I was foolish to think they wouldn't.

What have they found out?

I should have told you before I accepted this post dishonourably.

I let you take me in as henriette desportes...

When you're also henriette deluzy,

the notorious "mademoiselle d." Is that it, my dear?

You knew?

Naturally, when Mr. Field recommended you, he told me everything.

We agreed that old scandals

might be forgotten in your case.

It was you, Henry.

Miss Haines, would you allow me to speak

to mademoiselle desportes alone, please?

Certainly, and I hope whatever you decide

will be for the best.

It isn't any use, Henry.

Though you've done me this last kindness,

even you must realize it is hopeless.

That girl asked me how to spell conciergerie.

That child. All that is past.

No, it's crossed the ocean and followed me. It's in that schoolroom now

the way that girl looked at me.

Henry, I've nothing left to fight with anymore.

Yes, you have.

If you could see yourself as I know you can be, henriette...

Proud, looking up with clear eyes,

ashamed of nothing.

If you can face your conscience, surely you can face those children.

Don't beg for their respect, demand it.

If I only had your courage.

Please. Please, henriette.

I suppose I owe it to you to try.

Mademoiselle deluzy. We'll teach her a lesson.

Why do they call her "mademoiselle d"?

Her real name is desportes or deluzy or something.

Shh!

Here she is.

The rest of today's lesson will be conducted in English.

Lay aside your books for it is to be entirely oral.

I am going to tell you a true story.

Perhaps I am wrong in telling it to you,

but in a few years,

you will be women of an age to love and suffer

and face difficult problems.

It will not hurt you to learn

that life is not always the pretty picture we might wish it to be.

If there are any of you who do not wish to hear my story,

you have my permission to leave now.

Very well, then.

All I ask is that you give me your whole attention.

For most of our story, we will be in Paris

in a large and beautiful house...

Which is the residence of the duc and duchesse de praslin.

It is of the governess in this household

which I will tell you.

On a February morning some years ago,

she had not yet arrived in Paris

when she was summoned for an interview.

It was a passenger on a steamer

which was making its way across the foggy English channel

from southampton toward le havre.

In the bag she carried was a letter of recommendation

from her last employer.

She could not know into what unexpected adventure

the letter would carry her.

And even more, how another letter

would one day bring her world down in ruins.

She only knew that one cycle of her life was past

and another beginning.

And she looked toward the distant invisible shores

of her native country

with mingled feelings of hope and apprehension.

She was traveling alone.

She had learned long since to look after herself.

And if she was lonely,

she hoped that nothing in her manner gave it away.

I beg your pardon.

Do you mind if I talk to you?

Since we seem to be the only ones Hardy enough to brave the deck.

I've never gone up to speak to a stranger before.

If I've offended you, if you want me to go away, I will.

I saw you first on the dock at southampton.

How sad those people were when they said goodbye to you.

After 5 years, it's difficult to part from those you have learned to love.

I was sad for them. I don't know why.

That little girl... how bitterly she wept.

That was Nina. I was her governess.

When the gentleman took your hand and wished you happiness,

the oddest feeling came over me.