uted,coloured,swungtheirheelstheywerenotpleased,Isaw,buttheywereimpressed,andinthewayIwishedthemtobe.Havingthustakenthemdownapegintheirself-conceit,thenextstepwastoraisemyselfintheirestimationnotaveryeasything,consideringthatIhardlydaredtospeakforfearofbetrayingmyowndeficiencies.
“Ecoutez,messieurs!”saidI,andIendeavouredtothrowintomyaccentsthecompassionatetoneofasuperiorbeing,who,touchedbytheextremityofthehelplessness,whichatfirstonlyexcitedhisscorn,deignsatlengthtobestowaid.Ithenbeganattheverybeginningofthe“VicarofWakefield,”andread,inaslow,distinctvoice,sometwentypages,theyallthewhilesittingmuteandlisteningwithfixedattentionbythetimeIhaddonenearlyanhourhadelapsed.Ithenroseandsaid:—
“C’estassezpouraujourd’hui,messieursdemainnousrecommencerons,etj’esperequetoutirabien.”
WiththisoracularsentenceIbowed,andincompanywithM.Peletquittedtheschool-room.
“C’estbien!c’esttresbien!”saidmyprincipalasweenteredhisparlour.“Jevoisquemonsieuradel’adressecela,meplait,car,dansl’instruction,l’adressefaittoutautantquelesavoir.”
FromtheparlourM.Peletconductedmetomyapartment,my“chambre,”asMonsieursaidwithacertainairofcomplacency.Itwasaverysmallroom,withanexcessivelysmallbed,butM.PeletgavemetounderstandthatIwastooccupyitquitealone,whichwasofcourseagreatcomfort.Yet,thoughsolimitedindimensions,ithadtwowindows.LightnotbeingtaxedinBelgium,thepeoplenevergrudgeitsadmissionintotheirhousesjusthere,however,thisobservationisnotveryAPROPOS,foroneofthesewindowswasboardeduptheopenwindowslookedintotheboys’playground.Iglancedattheother,aswonderingwhataspectitwouldpresentifdisencumberedoftheboards.M.Peletread,Isuppose,theexpressionofmyeyeheexplained:—
“Lafenetrefermeedonnesurunjardinappartenantaunpensionnatdedemoiselles,”saidhe,“etlesconvenancesexigent—enfin,vouscomprenez—n’est-cepas,monsieur?”
“Oui,oui,”wasmyreply,andIlookedofcoursequitesatisfiedbutwhenM.Pelethadretiredandclosedthedoorafterhim,thefirstthingIdidwastoscrutinizecloselythenailedboards,hopingtofindsomechinkorcrevicewhichImightenlarge,andsogetapeepattheconsecratedground.Myresearcheswerevain,fortheboardswerewelljoinedandstronglynailed.ItisastonishinghowdisappointedIfelt.Ithoughtitwouldhavebeensopleasanttohavelookedoutuponagardenplantedwithflowersandtrees,soamusingtohavewatchedthedemoisellesattheirplaytohavest