houghtImaskedmyvisagewithindifference,andorderedthenextgirltoproceed.
Whenthelessonwasover,Itookadvantageoftheconfusioncausedbybreakingup,toapproachMdlle.HenrishewasstandingnearthewindowandretiredasIadvancedshethoughtIwantedtolookout,anddidnotimaginethatIcouldhaveanythingtosaytoher.Itookherexercise-bookoutofherhandasIturnedovertheleavesIaddressedher:—
“YouhavehadlessonsinEnglishbefore?”Iasked.
“No,sir.”
“No!youreaditwellyouhavebeeninEngland?”
“Oh,no!”withsomeanimation.
“YouhavebeeninEnglishfamilies?”
Stilltheanswerwas“No.”Heremyeye,restingontheflyleafofthebook,sawwritten,“FrancesEvanHenri.”
“Yourname?”Iasked
“Yes,sir.”
MyinterrogationswerecutshortIheardalittlerustlingbehindme,andcloseatmybackwasthedirectress,professingtobeexaminingtheinteriorofadesk.
“Mademoiselle,”saidshe,lookingupandaddressingtheteacher,“Willyouhavethegoodnesstogoandstandinthecorridor,whiletheyoungladiesareputtingontheirthings,andtrytokeepsomeorder?”
Mdlle.Henriobeyed.
“Whatsplendidweather!”observedthedirectresscheerfully,glancingatthesametimefromthewindow.Iassentedandwaswithdrawing.“Whatofyournewpupil,monsieur?”continuedshe,followingmyretreatingsteps.“IsshelikelytomakeprogressinEnglish?”
“IndeedIcanhardlyjudge.ShepossessesaprettygoodaccentofherrealknowledgeofthelanguageIhaveasyethadnoopportunityofforminganopinion.”
“Andhernaturalcapacity,monsieur?Ihavehadmyfearsaboutthat:canyourelievemebyanassuranceatleastofitsaveragepower?”
“Iseenoreasontodoubtitsaveragepower,mademoiselle,butreallyIscarcelyknowher,andhavenothadtimetostudythecalibreofhercapacity.Iwishyouaverygoodafternoon.”
Shestillpursuedme.“Youwillobserve,monsieur,andtellmewhatyouthinkIcouldsomuchbetterrelyonyouropinionthanonmyownwomencannotjudgeofthesethingsasmencan,and,excusemypertinacity,monsieur,butiti