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CHAPTER XIV.

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    IFIwaspunctualinquittingMdlle.Reuter’sdomicile,IwasatleastequallypunctualinarrivingthereIcamethenextdayatfiveminutesbeforetwo,andonreachingtheschoolroomdoor,beforeIopenedit,Iheardarapid,gabblingsound,whichwarnedmethatthe“prieredumidi”wasnotyetconcluded.Iwaitedtheterminationthereofitwouldhavebeenimpioustointrudemyhereticalpresenceduringitsprogress.Howtherepeateroftheprayerdidcackleandsplutter!Ineverbeforeorsinceheardlanguageenouncedwithsuchsteam-enginehaste.“NotrePerequietesauciel”wentofflikeashotthenfollowedanaddresstoMarie“viergeceleste,reinedesanges,maisond’or,tourd’ivoire!”andthenaninvocationtothesaintofthedayandthendowntheyallsat,andthesolemn(?)ritewasoverandIentered,flingingthedoorwideandstridinginfast,asitwasmywonttodonowforIhadfoundthatinenteringwithaplomb,andmountingtheestradewithemphasis,consistedthegrandsecretofensuringimmediatesilence.Thefolding-doorsbetweenthetwoclasses,openedfortheprayer,wereinstantlyclosedamaitresse,work-boxinhand,tookherseatatherappropriatedeskthepupilssatstillwiththeirpensandbooksbeforethemmythreebeautiesinthevan,nowwellhumbledbyademeanourofconsistentcoolness,saterectwiththeirhandsfoldedquietlyontheirkneestheyhadgivenupgigglingandwhisperingtoeachother,andnolongerventuredtoutterpertspeechesinmypresencetheynowonlytalkedtomeoccasionallywiththeireyes,bymeansofwhichorganstheycouldstill,however,sayveryaudaciousandcoquettishthings.Hadaffection,goodness,modesty,realtalent,everemployedthosebrightorbsasinterpreters,IdonotthinkIcouldhaverefrainedfromgivingakindandencouraging,perhapsanardentreplynowandthenbutasitwas,Ifoundpleasureinansweringtheglanceofvanitywiththegazeofstoicism.Youthful,fair,brilliant,asweremanyofmypupils,Icantrulysaythatinmetheyneversawanyotherbearingthansuchasanaustere,thoughjustguardian,mighth
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