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dismal picture of universal corruption in order the better to bring out； by
contrast； the virtues of the schoolmistress。 I was further informed that the
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institution in the Rue Demours was well patronised； prosperous； and
enjoyed a high reputation with the public。 Maitre Mouche lifted up his
handwith a black woollen glove on itas if making oath to the truth of
these statements。 Then he added：
〃I am enabled； by the very character of my profession； to know a great
deal about people。 A notary is； to a certain extent； a father…confessor。
〃I deemed it my duty； Monsieur； to give you this agreeable information
at the moment when a lucky chance enabled you to meet Mademoiselle
Prefere。 There is only one thing more which I would like to say。 This lady…
…who is； of course； quite unaware of my action in the matterspoke to me
of you the other day in terms of deepest sympathy。 I could only weaken
their expression by repeating them to you； and furthermore； I could not
repeat them without betraying； to a certain extent； the confidence of
Mademoiselle Prefere。〃
〃Do not betray it； Monsieur； do not betray it！〃 I responded。 〃To tell
you the truth； I had no idea that Mademoiselle Prefere knew anything
whatever about me。 But since you have the influence of an old friend with
her； I will take advantage of your good will； Monsieur； to ask you to
exercise that influence in behalf of Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre。 The
childfor she is still a childis overloaded with work。 She is at once a
pupil and a mistressshe is overtasked。 Besides； she is punished in petty
disgusting ways； and hers is one of those generous natures which will be
forced into revolt by such continual humiliation。〃
〃Alas！〃 replied Maitre Mouche； 〃she must be trained to take her part in
the struggle of life。 One does not come into this world simply to amuse
oneself； and to do just what one pleases。〃
〃One comes into this world；〃 I responded； rather warmly； 〃to enjoy
what is beautiful and what is good； and to do as one pleases； when the
things one wants to do are noble； intelligent； and generous。 An education
which does not cultivate the will； is an education that depraves the mind。 It
is a teacher's duty to teach the pupil HOW to will。〃
I perceived that Maitre Mouche began to think me a rather silly man。
With a great deal of quiet self…assurance； he proceeded：
〃You must remember； Monsieur； that the education of the poor has to
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be conducted with a great deal of circumspection； and with a view to that
future state of dependence they must occupy in society。 Perhaps you are
not aware that the late Noel Alexandre died a bankrupt； and that his
daughter is being educated almost by charity？〃
〃Oh！ Monsieur！〃 I exclaimed； 〃do not say it！ To say it is to pay oneself
back； and then the statement ceases to be true。〃
〃The liabilities of the estate；〃 continued the notary； 〃exceeded the
assets。 But I was able to effect a settlement with the creditors in favour of
the minor。〃
He undertook to explain matters in detail。 I declined to listen to these
explanations； being incapable of understanding business methods in
general； and those of Maitre Mouche in particular。 The notary then took it
upon himself to justify Mademoiselle Prefere's educational system； and
observed by way of conclusion；
〃It is not by amusing oneself that one can learn。〃
〃It is only by amusing oneself that one can learn；〃 I replied。 〃The
whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of
young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards； and curiosity itself
can be vivid and wholesome only in proportion as the mind is contented
and happy。 Those acquirements crammed by force into the minds of
children simply clog and stifle intelligence。 In order that knowledge be
properly digested； it must have been swallowed with a good appetite。 I
know Jeanne！ If that child were intrusted to my care； I should make of her…
…not a learned woman； for I would look to her future happiness onlybut a
child full of bright intelligence and full of life； in whom everything
beautiful in art or nature would awaken some gentle responsive thrill。 I
would teach her to live in sympathy with all that is beautifulcomely
landscapes； the ideal scenes of poetry and history； the emotional charm of
noble music。 I would make lovable to her everything I would wish her to
love。 Even her needlework I would make pleasurable to her； by a proper
choice of fabrics； the style of embroideries； the designs of lace。 I would
give her a beautiful dog； and a pony to teach her how to manage animals； I
would give her birds to take care of； so that she could learn the value of
even a drop of water and a crumb of bread。 And in order that she should
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have a still higher pleasure； I would train her to find delight in exercising
charity。 And inasmuch as none of us may escape pain； I should teach her
that Christian wisdom which elevates us above all suffering； and gives a
beauty even to grief itself。 That is my idea of the right way to educate a
young girl。〃
〃I yield； Monsieur；〃 replied Maitre Mouche； joining his black…gloved
hands together。
And he rose。
〃Of course you understand；〃 I remarked； as I went to the door with
him； 〃that I do not pretend for a moment to impose my educational system
upon Mademoiselle Prefere； it is necessarily a private one； and quite
incompatible with the organisation of even the best…managed boarding
schools。 I only ask you to persuade her to give Jeanne less work and more
play； and not to punish her except in case of absolute necessity； and to let
her have as much freedom of mind and body as the regulations of the
institution permit。〃
It was with a pale and mysterious smile that Maitre Mouche informed
me that my observations would be taken in good part； and should receive
all possible con