eoneglanceatthebenchesbeforemehavinghandledthecrayon,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,hadalreadyinsomem