CHAPTER X.

stsidifficile,l’Anglais!” “Jedetesteladictee.” “Quelennuid’ecrirequelquechosequel’onnecomprendpas!” Someofthosebehindlaughed:adegreeofconfusionbegantopervadetheclassitwasnecessarytotakepromptmeasures. “Donnez-moivotrecahier,”saidItoEulalieinanabrupttoneandbendingover,Itookitbeforeshehadtimetogiveit. “Etvous,mademoiselle—donnez-moilevotre,”continuedI,moremildly,addressingalittlepale,plainlookinggirlwhosatinthefirstrowoftheotherdivision,andwhomIhadremarkedasbeingatoncetheugliestandthemostattentiveintheroomsheroseup,walkedovertome,anddeliveredherbookwithagrave,modestcurtsey.IglancedoverthetwodictationsEulalie’swasslurred,blotted,andfullofsillymistakes—Sylvie’s(suchwasthenameoftheuglylittlegirl)wasclearlywritten,itcontainednoerroragainstsense,andbutfewfaultsoforthography.Icoollyreadaloudbothexercises,markingthefaults—thenIlookedatEulalie: “C’esthonteux!”saidI,andIdeliberatelytoreherdictationinfourparts,andpresentedherwiththefragments.IreturnedSylvieherbookwithasmile,saying— “C’estbien—jesuiscontentdevous.” Sylvielookedcalmlypleased,Eulalieswelledlikeanincensedturkey,butthemutinywasquelled:theconceitedcoquetryandfutileflirtationofthefirstbenchwereexchangedforataciturnsullenness,muchmoreconvenienttome,andtherestofmylessonpassedwithoutinterruption. Abellclangingoutintheyardannouncedthemomentforthecessationofschoollabours.Iheardourownbellatthesametime,andthatofacertainpubliccollegeimmediatelyafter.Orderdissolvedinstantlyupstartedeverypupil,Ihastenedtoseizemyhat,bowtothemaitresse,andquittheroombeforethetideofexternatsshouldpourfromtheinnerclass,whereIknewnearahundredwereprisoned,andwhoserisingtumultIalreadyheard. Ihadscarcelycrossedthehallandgainedthecorridor,whenMdlle.Reutercameagainuponme. “Stepinhereamoment,”saidshe,andsheheldopenthedoorofthesideroomfromwhenceshehadissuedonmyarrivalitwasaSALLE-A-MANGER,asappearedfromthebeaufetandthearmoirevitree,filledwithglassandchina,whichformedpartofitsfurniture.Ereshehadclosedthedooronmeandherself,thecorridorwasalreadyfilledwithday-pupils,tearingdowntheircloaks,bonnets,andcabasfromthewoodenpegsonwhichtheyweresuspendedtheshrillvoiceofamaitressewasheardatintervalsvainlyendeavouringtoenforcesomesortofordervainly,Isay:disciplinetherewasnoneintheseroughranks,andyetthiswasconsideredoneofthebest-conductedschoolsinBrussels. “Well,youhavegivenyourfirstlesson,”beganMdlle.Reuterinthemostcalm,equablevoice,asthoughquiteunconsciousofthechaosfromwhichwewereseparatedonlybyasinglewall. “Wereyousatisfiedwithyourpupils,ordidanycircumstanceintheirconductgiveyoucauseforcomplaint?Concealnothingfromme,reposeinmeentireconfidence.” Happily,Ifeltinmyselfcompletepowertomanagemypupilswithoutaidtheenchantment,thegoldenhazewhichhaddazzledmyperspicuityatfirst,hadbeenagooddealdissipated.IcannotsayIwaschagrinedordowncastbythecontrastwhichtherealityofapensionnatdedemoisellespresentedtomyvagueidealofthesamecommunityIwasonlyenlightenedandamusedconsequently,Ifeltinnodisposition