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jamais vu aussi gai。 Que s’est…il donc passé？”
“Apparemment que j’aime les changements；” replied I。
“Ah！ je comprends—c’est cela…soyez sage seulement。 Vous êtes
bien jeune—trop jeune pour le role que vous allez jouer； il faut
prendre garde—savez…vous？”
“Mais quel danger y a…t…il？”
“Je n’en sais rien—ne vous laissez pas aller à de vives
impressions—voila tout。”
I laughed： a sentiment of exquisite pleasure played over my
nerves at the thought that “vives impressions” were likely to be
created； it was the deadness； the sameness of life’s daily ongoings
that had hitherto been my bane； my blouse…clad “élèves” in the
boys’ seminary never stirred in me any “vives impressions” except
it might be occasionally some of anger。 I broke from M。 Pelet； and
as I strode down the passage he followed me with one of his
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laughs—a very French； rakish； mocking sound。
Again I stood at the neighbouring door； and soon was re…
admitted into the cheerful passage with its clear dove…colour
imitation marble walls。 I followed the portress； and descending a
step； and making a turn； I found myself in a sort of corridor； a
side…door opened； Mdlle Reuter’s little figure； as graceful as it was
plump； appeared。 I could now see her dress in full daylight； a neat；
simple mousseline…laine gown fitted her compact round shape to
perfection—delicate little collar and manchettes of lace； trim
Parisian brodequins showed her neck； wrists； and feet； to
complete advantage； but how grave was her face as she came
suddenly upon me！ Solicitude and business were in her eye —on
her forehead； she looked almost stern。 Her “Bon jour； monsieur；”
was quite polite； but so orderly； so commonplace； it spread directly
a cool； damp towel over my “vives impressions。” The servant
turned back when her mistress appeared； and I walked slowly
along the corridor； side by side with Mdlle Reuter。
“Monsieur will give a lesson in the first class to…day；” said she；
“dictation or reading will perhaps be the best thing to begin with；
for those are the easiest forms of communicating instruction in a
foreign language； and； at the first； a master naturally feels a little
unsettled。”
She was quite right； as I had found from experience； it only
remained for me to acquiesce。 We proceeded now in silence。 The
corridor terminated in a hall； large； lofty； and square； a glass door
on one side showed within a long narrow refectory； with tables； an
armoire； and two lamps； it was empty； large glass doors； in front；
opened on the playground and garden； a broad staircase ascended
spirally on the opposite side； the remaining wall showed a pair of
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great folding…doors； now closed； and admitting： doubtless； to the
classes。
Mdlle Reuter turned her eye laterally on me； to ascertain；
probably； whether I was collected enough to be ushered into her
sanctum sanctorum。 I suppose she judged me to be in a tolerable
state of self…government； for she opened the door； and I followed
her through。 A rustling sound of uprising greeted our entrance；
without looking to the right or left； I walked straight up the lane
between two sets of benches and desks； and took possession of the
empty chair and isolated desk raised on an estrade； of one step
high； so as to command one division； the other division being
under the surveillance of a maitresse similarly elevated。 At the
back of the estrade； and attached to a moveable partition dividing
this schoolroom from another beyond； was a large tableau of wood
painted black and varnished； a thick crayon of white chalk lay on
my desk for the convenience of elucidating any grammatical or
verbal obscurity which might occur in my lessons by writing it
upon the tableau； a wet sponge appeared beside the chalk； to
enable me to efface the marks when they had served the purpose
intended。
I carefully and deliberately made these observations before
allowing myself to take one glance at the benches before me；
having handled the crayon； looked back at the tableau； fingered
the sponge in order to ascertain that it was in a right state of
moisture； I found myself cool enough to admit of looking calmly up
and gazing deliberately round me。
And first I observed that Mdlle Reuter had already glided away；
she was nowhere visible； a maitresse or teacher； the one who
occupied the corresponding estrade to my own； alone remained to
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keep guard over me； she was a little in the shade； and； with my
short sight； I could only see that she was of a thin bony figure and
rather tallowy complexion； and that her attitude； as she sat；
partook equally of listlessness and affectation。 More obvious； more
prominent； shone on by the full light of the large window； were the
occupants of the benches just before me； of whom some were girls
of fourteen； fifteen； sixteen； some young women from eighteen （as
it appeared to me） up to twenty； the most modest attire； the
simplest fashion of wearing the hair； were apparent in all； and
good features； ruddy； blooming complexions； large and brilliant
eyes； forms full； even to solidity； seemed to abound。 I did not bear
the first view like a stoic； I was dazzled； my eyes fell； and in a voice
somewhat too low I murmured—
“Prenez vos cahiers de dictée； mesdemoiselles。”
Not so had I bid the boys at Pelet’s take their reading…books。 A
rustle followed； and an opening of desks； behind the lifted lids
which momentarily screened the heads bent down to search for
exercise…books； I heard tittering and whispers。
“Eulalie； je suis prête à pamer de rire；” observed one。
“Comme il a rougi en parlant！”
“Oui； c’est un véritable blanc…bec。”
“Tais…toi； Hortense—il nous écoute。”
And now the lids sank and the heads reappeared； I had marked
three； the whisperers； and I did not scruple to take a very steady
look at them as they emerged from their temporary eclipse。 It is
astonishing what ease and courage their little phrases of flippancy
had given me； the idea by which I had been awed was that the
youthful beings before me； with their dark nun…like robes and
softly braided hair； were a kind of half…angels。 The light titter； the
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giddy whisper； had already in some measure relieved my mind of
that fond and oppressive fancy。 The three I allude to were just in
front； within half a yard of my estrade； and were among the most
womanly…looking present。 Their names I knew afterwards； and
may as well mention now； they were Eulalie； Hortense； Caroline。
Eulalie was tall； and very finely shaped： she was fair； and her
features were those of a Low Country Madonna； many a “figure de
Vierge” have I seen in Dutch pictures exactly resembling hers；
there were no angles in her shape or in her face； all was curve and
roundness—neither thought； sentiment； nor passion disturbed by
line or flush the equality of her pale； clear skin； her noble bust
heaved with her regular breathing； her eyes moved a little—by
these evidences of life alone could I have distinguished her