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whom I felt already it would be necessary at once to take up an
advantageous position； and I proceeded to employ means
accordingly。
“Commencez！” cried I； when they had all produced their books。
The moon…faced youth （by name Jules Vanderkelkov； as I
afterwards learnt） took the first sentence。 The “livre de lecture”
was the “Vicar of Wakefield；” much used in foreign schools
because it is supposed to contain prime samples of conversational
English； it might； however； have been a Runic scroll for any
resemblance the words； as enunciated by Jules； bore to the
language in ordinary use amongst the natives of Great Britain。 My
God！ how he did snuffle； snort； and wheeze！ All he said was said in
his throat and nose； for it is thus the Flamands speak； but I heard
him to the end of his paragraph without proffering a word of
correction； whereat he looked vastly self…complacent； convinced；
no doubt； that he had acquitted himself like a real born and bred
“Anglais。” In the same unmoved silence I listened to a dozen in
rotation； and when the twelfth had concluded with splutter； hiss；
and mumble； I solemnly laid down the book。
“Arrêtez！” said I。 There was a pause； during which I regarded
them all with a steady and somewhat stern gaze； a dog； if stared at
hard enough and long enough； will show symptoms of
embarrassment； and so at length did my bench of Belgians。
Perceiving that some of the faces before me were beginning to
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look sullen； and others ashamed； I slowly joined my hands； and
ejaculated in a deep “voix de poitrine”—
“Comme c’est affreux！”
They looked at each other； pouted； coloured； swung their heels；
they were not pleased； I saw； but they were impressed； and in the
way I wished them to be。 Having thus taken them down a peg in
their self…conceit； the next step was to raise myself in their
estimation； not a very easy thing； considering that I hardly dared
to speak for fear of betraying my own deficiencies。
“Ecoutez； messieurs！” said I； and I endeavoured to throw into
my accents the compassionate tone of a superior being； who；
touched by the extremity of the helplessness； which at first only
excited his scorn； deigns at length to bestow aid。 I then began at
the very beginning of the “Vicar of Wakefield；” and read； in a slow；
distinct voice； some twenty pages； they all the while sitting mute
and listening with fixed attention； by the time I had done nearly an
hour had elapsed。 I then rose and said：—
“C’est assez pour aujourd’hui； messieurs； demain nous
recommencerons； et j’espere que tout ira bien。”
With this oracular sentence I bowed； and in company with M。
Pelet quitted the school…room。
“C’est bien！ c’est très bien！” said my principal as we entered his
parlour。 “Je vois que monsieur a de l’adresse； cela； me plait； car；
dans l’instruction； l’adresse fait tout autant que le savoir。”
From the parlour M。 Pelet conducted me to my apartment； my
“chambre；” as Monsieur said with a certain air of complacency。 It
was a very small room； with an excessively small bed； but M。 Pelet
gave me to understand that I was to occupy it quite alone； which
was of course a great comfort。 Yet； though so limited in
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dimensions； it had two windows。 Light not being taxed in Belgium；
the people never grudge its admission into their houses； just here；
however； this observation is not very à propos； for one of these
windows was boarded up； the open windows looked into the boys’
playground。 I glanced at the other； as wondering what aspect it
would present if disencumbered of the boards。 M。 Pelet read； I
suppose； the expression of my eye； he explained：—
“La fenêtre fermée donne sur un jardin appartenant à un
pensionnat de demoiselles；” said he； “et les convenances exigent
—enfin； vous comprenez—n’est…ce pas； monsieur？”
“Oui； oui；” was my reply； and I looked of course quite satisfied；
but when M。 Pelet had retired and closed the door after him； the
first thing I did was to scrutinize closely the nailed boards； hoping
to find some chink or crevice which I might enlarge； and so get a
peep at the consecrated ground。 My researches were vain； for the
boards were well joined and strongly nailed。 It is astonishing how
disappointed I felt。 I thought it would have been so pleasant to
have looked out upon a garden planted with flowers and trees； so
amusing to have watched the demoiselles at their play； to have
studied female character in a variety of phases； myself the while
sheltered from view by a modest muslin curtain； whereas； owing
doubtless to the absurd scruples of some old duenna of a
directress； I had now only the option of looking at a bare gravelled
court； with an enormous “pas de géant” in the middle； and the
monotonous walls and windows of a boys’ school…house round。 Not
only then； but many a time after； especially in moments of
weariness and low spirits； did I look with dissatisfied eyes on that
most tantalizing board； longing to tear it away and get a glimpse of
the green region which I imagined to lie beyond。 I knew a tree
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grew close up to the window； for though there were as yet no
leaves to rustle； I often heard at night the tapping of branches
against the panes。 In the daytime； when I listened attentively； I
could hear； even through the boards； the voices of the demoiselles
in their hours of recreation； and； to speak the honest truth； my
sentimental reflections were occasionally a trifle disarranged by
the not quite silvery； in fact the too often brazen sounds； which；
rising from the unseen paradise below； penetrated clamorously
into my solitude。 Not to mince matters； it really seemed to me a
doubtful case whether the lungs of Mdlle Reuter’s girls or those of
M。 Pelet’s boys were the strongest； and when it came to shrieking
the girls indisputably beat the boys hollow。 I forgot to say； by…the…
by； that Reuter was the name of the old lady who had had my
window bearded up。 I say old； for such I； of course； concluded her
to be； judging from her cautious； chaperon…like proceedings；
besides； nobody ever spoke of her as young。 I remember I was
very much amused when I first heard her Christian name； it was
Zoraide—Mademoiselle Zoraide Reuter。 But the continental
nations do allow themselves vagaries in the choice of names； such
as we sober English never run into。 I think； indeed； we have too
limited a list to choose from。
Meantime my path was gradually growing smooth before me。 I；
in a few weeks； conquered the teasing difficulties inseparable from
the commencement of almost every career。 Ere long I had
acquired as much facility in speaking French as set me at my ease
with my pupils； and as I had encountered them on a right footing
at the very beginning； and continued tenaciously to retain the
advantage I had early gained； they never attempted mutiny； which
circumstance； all who are in any degree acquainted with the
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ongoings of