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these evidences of life alone could I have distinguished her from
some large handsome figure moulded in wax。 Hortense was of
middle size and stout； her form was ungraceful； her face striking；
more alive and brilliant than Eulalie’s； her hair was dark brown；
her complexion richly coloured； there were frolic and mischief in
her eye： consistency and good sense she might possess； but none
of her features betokened those qualities。
Caroline was little； though evidently full grown； raven…black
hair； very dark eyes； absolutely regular features； with a colourless
olive complexion； clear as to the face and sallow about the neck；
formed in her that assemblage of points whose union many
persons regard as the perfection of beauty。 How； with the tintless
pallor of her skin and the classic straightness of her lineaments；
she managed to look sensual； I don’t know。 I think her lips and
eyes contrived the affair between them； and the result left no
uncertainty on the beholder’s mind。 She was sensual now； and in
ten years’ time she would be coarse—promise plain was written in
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her face of much future folly。
If I looked at these girls with little scruple； they looked at me
with still less。 Eulalie raised her unmoved eye to mine； and
seemed to expect； passively but securely； an impromptu tribute to
her majestic charms。 Hortense regarded me boldly； and giggled at
the same time； while she said； with an air of impudent freedom—
“Dictez…nous quelquechose de facile pour commencer；
monsieur。”
Caroline shook her loose ringlets of abundant but somewhat
coarse hair over her rolling black eyes； parting her lips； as full as
those of a hot…blooded Maroon； she showed her well…set teeth
sparkling between them； and treated me at the same time to a
smile “de sa facon。” Beautiful as Pauline Borghese； she looked at
the moment scarcely purer than Lucrèce de Borgia。 Caroline was
of noble family。 I heard her lady…mother’s character afterwards；
and then I ceased to wonder at the precocious accomplishments of
the daughter。 These three； I at once saw； deemed themselves the
queens of the school； and conceived that by their splendour they
threw all the rest into the shade。 In less than five minutes they had
thus revealed to me their characters； and in less than five minutes
I had buckled on a breast…plate of steely indifference； and let down
a visor of impassible austerity。
“Take your pens and commence writing；” said I； in as dry and
trite a voice as if I had been addressing only Jules Vanderkelkov
and Co。
The dictée now commenced。 My three belles interrupted me
perpetually with little silly questions and uncalled…for remarks； to
some of which I made no answer； and to others replied very
quietly and briefly。 “Comment dit…on point et virgule en Anglais；
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The Professor 102
monsieur？”
“Semi…colon； mademoiselle。”
“Semi…collong？ Ah； comme c’est drole！” （giggle。）
“J’ai une si mauvaise plume—impossible d’écrire！”
“Mais； monsieur—je ne sais pas suivre—vous allez si vite。”
“Je n’ai rien compris； moi！”
Here a general murmur arose； and the teacher； opening her lips
for the first time； ejaculated—
“Silence； mesdemoiselles！”
No silence followed—on the contrary； the three ladies in front
began to talk more loudly。
“C’est si difficile； l’Anglais！”
“Je déteste la dictée。”
“Quel ennui d’écrire quelquechose que l’on ne comprend pas！”
Some of those behind laughed： a degree of confusion began to
pervade the class； it was necessary to take prompt measures。
“Donnez…moi votre cahier；” said I to Eulalie in an abrupt tone；
and bending over； I took it before she had time to give it。
“Et vous； mademoiselle…donnez…moi le votre；” continued I；
more mildly； addressing a little pale； plain looking girl who sat in
the first row of the other division； and whom I had remarked as
being at once the ugliest and the most attentive in the room； she
rose up； walked over to me； and delivered her book with a grave；
modest curtsey。 I glanced over the two dictations； Eulalie’s was
slurred； blotted； and full of silly mistakes—Sylvie’s （such was the
name of the ugly little girl） was clearly written； it contained no
error against sense； and but few faults of orthography。 I coolly
read aloud both exercises； marking the faults—then I looked at
Eulalie：
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“C’est honteux！” said I； and I deliberately tore her dictation in
four parts； and presented her with the fragments。 I returned
Sylvie her book with a smile； saying—
“C’est bien—je suis content de vous。”
Sylvie looked calmly pleased； Eulalie swelled like an incensed
turkey； but the mutiny was quelled： the conceited coquetry and
futile flirtation of the first bench were exchanged for a taciturn
sullenness； much more convenient to me； and the rest of my lesson
passed without interruption。
A bell clanging out in the yard announced the moment for the
cessation of school labours。 I heard our own bell at the same time；
and that of a certain public college immediately after。 Order
dissolved instantly； up started every pupil； I hastened to seize my
hat； bow to the maitresse； and quit the room before the tide of
externats should pour from the inner class； where I knew near a
hundred were prisoned； and whose rising tumult I already heard。
I had scarcely crossed the hall and gained the corridor； when
Mdlle Reuter came again upon me。
“Step in here a moment；” said she； and she held open the door
of the side room from whence she had issued on my arrival； it was
a salle…à…manger； as appeared from the beaufet and the armoire
vitrée； filled with glass and china； which formed part of its
furniture。 Ere she had closed the door on me and herself； the
corridor was already filled with day…pupils； tearing down their
cloaks； bonnets； and cabas from the wooden pegs on which they
were suspended； the shrill voice of a maitresse was heard at
intervals vainly endeavouring to enforce some sort of order；
vainly； I say： discipline there was none in these rough ranks； and
yet this was considered one of the best…conducted schools in
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Brussels。
“Well； you have given your first lesson；” began Mdlle Reuter in
the most calm； equable voice； as though quite unconscious of the
chaos from which we were separated only by a single wall。
“Were you satisfied with your pupils； or did any circumstance
in their conduct give you cause for complaint？ Conceal nothing
from me； repose in me entire confidence。”
Happily； I felt in myself complete power to manage my pupils
without aid； the enchantment； the golden haze which had dazzled
my perspicuity at first； had been a good deal dissipated。 I cannot
say I was chagrined or downcast by the contrast which the reality
of a pensionnat de demoiselles presented to my vague ideal of the
same community； I was only enlightened and amused；
consequently； I felt in no disposition to complain to Mdlle Reuter；
and I received her considerate invitation to confidence with a
smile。
“A thousand thanks； mademoiselle； all has gone very