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The Professor 79
ongoings of Belgian schools； and who know the relation in which
professors and pupils too frequently stand towards each other in
those establishments； will consider an important and uncommon
one。 Before concluding this chapter I will say a word on the
system I pursued with regard to my classes： my experience may
possibly be of use to others。
It did not require very keen observation to detect the character
of the youth of Brabant； but it needed a certain degree of tact to
adopt one’s measures to their capacity。 Their intellectual faculties
were generally weak； their animal propensities strong； thus there
was at once an impotence and a kind of inert force in their
natures； they were dull； but they were also singularly stubborn；
heavy as lead and； like lead； most difficult to move。 Such being the
case； it would have been truly absurd to exact from them much in
the way of mental exertion； having short memories； dense
intelligence； feeble reflective powers； they recoiled with
repugnance from any occupation that demanded close study or
deep thought。 Had the abhorred effort been extorted from them by
injudicious and arbitrary measures on the part of the Professor；
they would have resisted as obstinately； as clamorously； as
desperate swine； and though not brave singly； they were relentless
acting en masse。
I understood that before my arrival in M。 Pelet’s establishment；
the combined insubordination of the pupils had effected the
dismissal of more than one English master。 It was necessary then
to exact only the most moderate application from natures so little
qualified to apply—to assist； in every practicable way；
understandings so opaque and contracted—to be ever gentle；
considerate； yielding even； to a certain point； with dispositions so
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irrationally perverse； but； having reached that culminating point
of indulgence； you must fix your foot； plant it； root it in rock—
become immutable as the towers of Ste。 Gudule； for a step —but
half a step farther； and you would plunge headlong into the gulf of
imbecility； there lodged； you would speedily receive proofs of
Flemish gratitude and magnanimity in showers of Brabant saliva
and handfuls of Low Country mud。 You might smooth to the
utmost the path of learning； remove every pebble from the track；
but then you must finally insist with decision on the pupil taking
your arm and allowing himself to be led quietly along the prepared
road。 When I had brought down my lesson to the lowest level of
my dullest pupil’s capacity—when I had shown myself the mildest；
the most tolerant of masters—a word of impertinence； a
movement of disobedience； changed me at once into a despot。 I
offered then but one alternative—submission and
acknowledgment of error； or ignominious expulsion。 This system
answered； and my influence； by degrees； became established on a
firm basis。 “The boy is father to the man；” it is said； and so I often
thought when looked at my boys and remembered the political
history of their ancestors。 Pelet’s school was merely an epitome of
the Belgian nation。
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Chapter VIII
nd Pelet himself？ How did I continue to like him？ Oh；
Aextremely well！ Nothing could be more smooth；
gentlemanlike； and even friendly； than his demeanour to
me。 I had to endure from him neither cold neglect； irritating
interference； nor pretentious assumption of superiority。 I fear；
however； two poor； hard…worked Belgian ushers in the
establishment could not have said as much； to them the director’s
manner was invariably dry； stern； and cool。 I believe he perceived
once or twice that I was a little shocked at the difference he made
between them and me； and accounted for it by saying； with a quiet
sarcastic smile—
“Ce ne sont que des Flamands—allez！”
And then he took his cigar gently from his lips and spat on the
painted floor of the room in which we were sitting。 Flamands
certainly they were； and both had the true Flamand physiognomy；
where intellectual inferiority is marked in lines none can mistake；
still they were men； and； in the main； honest men； and I could not
see why their being aboriginals of the flat； dull soil should serve as
a pretext for treating them with perpetual severity and contempt。
This idea； of injustice somewhat poisoned the pleasure I might
otherwise have derived from Pelet’s soft affable manner to myself。
Certainly it was agreeable； when the day’s work was over； to find
one’s employer an intelligent and cheerful companion； and if he
was sometimes a little sarcastic and sometimes a little too
insinuating； and if I did discover that his mildness was more a
matter of appearance than of reality—if I did occasionally suspect
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the existence of flint or steel under an external covering of
velvet—still we are none of us perfect； and weary as I was of the
atmosphere of brutality and insolence in which I had constantly
lived at X—； I had no inclination now； on casting anchor in calmer
regions； to institute at once a prying search after defects that were
scrupulously withdrawn and carefully veiled from my view。 I was
willing to take Pelet for what he seemed—to believe him
benevolent and friendly until some untoward event should prove
him otherwise。 He was not married； and I soon perceived he had
all a Frenchman’s； all a Parisian’s notions about matrimony and
women。 I suspected a degree of laxity in his code of morals； there
was something so cold and blasé in his tone whenever he alluded
to what he called “le beau sexe；” but he was too gentlemanlike to
intrude topics I did not invite； and as he was really intelligent and
really fond of intellectual subjects of discourse； he and I always
found enough to talk about； without seeking themes in the mire。 I
hated his fashion of mentioning love； I abhorred； from my soul；
mere licentiousness。 He felt the difference of our notions； and； by
mutual consent； we kept off ground debatable。
Pelet’s house was kept and his kitchen managed by his mother；
a real old Frenchwoman； she had been handsome—at least she
told me so； and I strove to believe her； she was now ugly； as only
continental old women can be； perhaps； though； her style of dress
made her look uglier than she really was。 Indoors she would go
about without cap； her grey hair strangely dishevelled； then； when
at home； she seldom wore a gown—only a shabby cotton camisole；
shoes； too； were strangers to her feet； and in lieu of them she
sported roomy slippers； trodden down at the heels。 On the other
hand； whenever it was her pleasure to appear abroad； as on
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Sundays and fête…days； she would put on some very brilliant…
coloured dress； usually of thin texture； a silk bonnet with a wreath
of flowers； and a very fine shawl。 She was not； in the main； an ill…
natured old woman； but an incessant and most indiscreet talker；
she kept chiefly in and about the kitchen；