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The question discomposed me； but I now felt plainly that my
principal was endeavouring （for reasons best known to himself—at
that time I could not fathom them） to excite ideas and wishes in
my mind alien to what was right and honourable。 The iniquity of
the instigation proved its antidote； and when he further added：—
“Each of those three beautiful girls will have a handsome
fortune； and with a little address； a gentlemanlike； intelligent
young fellow like you might make himself master of the hand；
heart； and purse of any one of the trio。”
I replied by a look and an interrogative “Monsieur？” which
startled him。
He laughed a forced laugh； affirmed that he had only been
joking； and demanded whether I could possibly have thought him
in earnest。 Just then the bell rang； the play…hour was over； it was
an evening on which M。 Pelet was accustomed to read passages
from the drama and the belles lettres to his pupils。 He did not wait
for my answer； but rising； left the room； humming as he went
some gay strain of Béranger’s。
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Chapter XII
aily； as I continued my attendance at the seminary of
Mdlle Reuter； did I find fresh occasions to compare the
D
ideal with the real。 What had I known of female character
previously to my arrival at Brussels？ Precious little。 And what was
my notion of it？ Something vague； slight； gauzy； glittering； now
when I came in contact with it I found it to be a palpable
substance enough； very hard too sometimes； and often heavy；
there was metal in it； both lead and iron。
Let the idealists； the dreamers about earthly angel and human
flowers； just look here while I open my portfolio and show them a
sketch or two； pencilled after nature。 I took these sketches in the
second…class schoolroom of Mdlle Reuter’s establishment； where
about a hundred specimens of the genus “jeune fille” collected
together； offered a fertile variety of subject。 A miscellaneous
assortment they were； differing both in caste and country； as I sat
on my estrade and glanced over the long range of desks； I had
under my eye French； English； Belgians； Austrians； and Prussians。
The majority belonged to the class bourgeois； but there were many
countesses； there were the daughters of two generals and of
several colonels； captains； and government employés； these ladies
sat side by side with young females destined to be demoiselles de
magasins； and with some Flamandes； genuine aborigines of the
country。 In dress all were nearly similar； and in manners there
was small difference； exceptions there were to the general rule；
but the majority gave the tone to the establishment； and that tone
was rough； boisterous； masked by a point…blank disregard of all
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The Professor 115
forbearance towards each other or their teachers； an eager pursuit
by each individual of her own interest and convenience； and a
coarse indifference to the interest and convenience of every one
else。 Most of them could lie with audacity when it appeared
advantageous to do so。 All understood the art of speaking fair
when a point was to be gained； and could with consummate skill
and at a moment’s notice turn the cold shoulder the instant civility
ceased to be profitable。 Very little open quarrelling ever took place
amongst them； but backbiting and tale…bearing were universal。
Close friendships were forbidden by the rules of the school； and no
one girl seemed to cultivate more regard for another than was just
necessary to secure a companion when solitude would have been
irksome。 They were each and all supposed to have been reared in
utter unconsciousness of vice。 The precautions used to keep them
ignorant； if not innocent； were innumerable。 How was it； then； that
scarcely one of those girls having attained the age of fourteen
could look a man in the face with modesty and propriety？ An air of
bold； impudent flirtation； or a loose； silly leer； was sure to answer
the most ordinary glance from a masculine eye。 I know nothing of
the arcana of the Roman Catholic religion； and I am not a bigot in
matters of theology； but I suspect the root of this precocious
impurity； so obvious； so general in Popish countries； is to be found
in the discipline； if not the doctrines of the Church of Rome。 I
record what I have seen： these girls belonged to what are called
the respectable ranks of society； they had all been carefully
brought up； yet was the mass of them mentally depraved。 So much
for the general view： now for one or two selected specimens。
The first picture is a full length of Aurelia Koslow； a German
fraulein； or rather a half…breed between German and Russian。 She
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is eighteen years of age； and has been sent to Brussels to finish her
education； she is of middle size； stiffly made； body long； legs short；
bust much developed but not compactly moulded； waist
disproportionately compressed by an inhumanly braced corset；
dress carefully arranged； large feet tortured into small bottines；
head small； hair smoothed； braided； oiled； and gummed to
perfection； very low forehead； very diminutive and vindictive grey
eyes； somewhat Tartar features； rather flat nose； rather high…
cheek bones； yet the ensemble not positively ugly； tolerably good
complexion。 So much for person。 As to mind； deplorably ignorant
and ill…informed： incapable of writing or speaking correctly even
German； her native tongue； a dunce in French； and her attempts
at learning English a mere farce； yet she has been at school twelve
years； but as she invariably gets her exercises； of every
description； done by a fellow pupil； and reads her lessons off a
book； concealed in her lap； it is not wonderful that her progress
has been so snail…like。 I do not know what Aurelia’s daily habits of
life are； because I have not the opportunity of observing her at all
times； but from what I see of the state of her desk； books； and
papers； I should say she is slovenly and even dirty； her outward
dress； as I have said； is well attended to； but in passing behind her
bench； I have remarked that her neck is grey for want of washing；
and her hair； so glossy with gum and grease； is not such as one
feels tempted to pass the hand over； much less to run the fingers
through。 Aurelia’s conduct in class； at least when I am present； is
something extraordinary； considered as an index of girlish
innocence。 The moment I enter the room； she nudges her next
neighbour and indulges in a half…suppressed laugh。 As I take my
seat on the estrade； she fixes her eye on me； she seems resolved to
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attract； and； if possible； monopolize my notice： to this end she
launches at me all sorts of looks； languishing； provoking； leering；
laughing。 As I am found quite proof against this sort of artillery—
for we scorn what； unasked； is lavishly offered—she has recourse
to the expedient of making noises； sometimes she sighs；
sometimes groans； sometimes utters inarticulate sounds； for which