CHAPTER XV.

SOMEtimeelapsedbeforeIagaingavealessoninthefirstclasstheholidayofWhitsuntideoccupiedthreedays,andonthefourthitwastheturnoftheseconddivisiontoreceivemyinstructions.AsImadethetransitoftheCARRE,Iobserved,asusual,thebandofsewerssurroundingMdlle.Henritherewereonlyaboutadozenofthem,buttheymadeasmuchnoiseasmighthavesufficedforfiftytheyseemedverylittleunderhercontrolthreeorfouratonceassailedherwithimportunaterequirementsshelookedharassed,shedemandedsilence,butinvain.Shesawme,andIreadinhereyepainthatastrangershouldwitnesstheinsubordinationofherpupilssheseemedtoentreatorder—herprayerswereuselessthenIremarkedthatshecompressedherlipsandcontractedherbrowandhercountenance,ifIreaditcorrectly,said—“IhavedonemybestIseemtomeritblamenotwithstandingblamemethenwhowill.”IpassedonasIclosedtheschool-roomdoor,Iheardhersay,suddenlyandsharply,addressingoneoftheeldestandmostturbulentofthelot— “AmelieMullenberg,askmenoquestion,andrequestofmenoassistance,foraweektocomeduringthatspaceoftimeIwillneitherspeaktoyounorhelpyou.” Thewordswereutteredwithemphasis—nay,withvehemence—andacomparativesilencefollowedwhetherthecalmwaspermanent,IknownottwodoorsnowclosedbetweenmeandtheCARRE. Nextdaywasappropriatedtothefirstclassonmyarrival,Ifoundthedirectressseated,asusual,inachairbetweenthetwoestrades,andbeforeherwasstandingMdlle.Henri,inanattitude(asitseemedtome)ofsomewhatreluctantattention.Thedirectresswasknittingandtalkingatthesametime.Amidstthehumofalargeschool-room,itwaseasysotospeakintheearofoneperson,astobeheardbythatpersonalone,anditwasthusMdlle.Reuterparleyedwithherteacher.Thefaceofthelatterwasalittleflushed,notalittletroubledtherewasvexationinit,whenceresultingIknownot,forthedirectresslookedveryplacidindeedshecouldnotbescoldinginsuchgentlewhispers,andwithsoequableamienno,itwaspresentlyprovedthatherdiscour