CHAPTER X.

uprisinggreetedourentrancewithoutlookingtotherightorleft,Iwalkedstraightupthelanebetweentwosetsofbenchesanddesks,andtookpossessionoftheemptychairandisolateddeskraisedonanestrade,ofonestephigh,soastocommandonedivisiontheotherdivisionbeingunderthesurveillanceofamaitressesimilarlyelevated.Atthebackoftheestrade,andattachedtoamoveablepartitiondividingthisschoolroomfromanotherbeyond,wasalargetableauofwoodpaintedblackandvarnishedathickcrayonofwhitechalklayonmydeskfortheconvenienceofelucidatinganygrammaticalorverbalobscuritywhichmightoccurinmylessonsbywritingituponthetableauawetspongeappearedbesidethechalk,toenablemetoeffacethemarkswhentheyhadservedthepurposeintended. Icarefullyanddeliberatelymadetheseobservationsbeforeallowingmyselftotakeoneglanceatthebenchesbeforemehavinghandledthecrayon,lookedbackatthetableau,fingeredthespongeinordertoascertainthatitwasinarightstateofmoisture,Ifoundmyselfcoolenoughtoadmitoflookingcalmlyupandgazingdeliberatelyroundme. AndfirstIobservedthatMdlle.Reuterhadalreadyglidedaway,shewasnowherevisibleamaitresseorteacher,theonewhooccupiedthecorrespondingestradetomyown,aloneremainedtokeepguardovermeshewasalittleintheshade,and,withmyshortsight,Icouldonlyseethatshewasofathinbonyfigureandrathertallowycomplexion,andthatherattitude,asshesat,partookequallyoflistlessnessandaffectation.Moreobvious,moreprominent,shoneonbythefulllightofthelargewindow,weretheoccupantsofthebenchesjustbeforeme,ofwhomsomeweregirlsoffourteen,fifteen,sixteen,someyoungwomenfromeighteen(asitappearedtome)uptotwentythemostmodestattire,thesimplestfashionofwearingthehair,wereapparentinallandgoodfeatures,ruddy,bloomingcomplexions,largeandbrillianteyes,formsfull,eventosolidity,seemedtoabound.IdidnotbearthefirstviewlikeastoicIwasdazzled,myeyesfell,andinavoicesomewhattoolowImurmured— “Prenezvoscahiersdedictee,mesdemoiselles.” NotsohadIbidtheboysatPelet’staketheirreading-books.Arustlefollowed,andanopeningofdesksbehindtheliftedlidswhichmomentarilyscreenedtheheadsbentdowntosearchforexercise-books,Iheardtitteringandwhispers. “Eulalie,jesuispreteapleuerderire,”observedone. “Commeilarougienparlant!” “Oui,c’estunveritableblanc-bec.” “Tais-toi,Hortense—ilnousecoute.” AndnowthelidssankandtheheadsreappearedIhadmarkedthree,thewhisperers,andIdidnotscrupletotakeaverysteadylookatthemastheyemergedfromtheirtemporaryeclipse.ItisastonishingwhateaseandcouragetheirlittlephrasesofflippancyhadgivenmetheideabywhichIhadbeenawedwasthattheyouthfulbeingsbeforeme,withtheirdarknun-likerobesandsoftlybraidedhair,wereakindofhalf-angels.Thelighttitter,thegiddywhisper,hadalreadyinsomemeasurerelievedmymindofthatfondandoppressivefancy. ThethreeIalludetowerejustinfront,withinhalfayardofmyestrade,andwereamongthemostwomanly-lookingpresent.TheirnamesIknewafterwards,andmayaswellmentionnowtheywereEulalie,Hortense,Caroline.Eulaliewastall,andveryfinelyshaped:shewasfair,andherfeatureswerethoseofaLowCountryMadonnamanya“figuredeVierge”haveIseeninDutchpictur