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handelier； which was apparently destined； so far as I could discover； to attract the flies away from the gilded mirror…frames and the Tableau d'Honneur。
〃I have met Mademoiselle Jeanne Alexandre；〃 I observed； 〃at the residence of Madame de Gabry and had reason to appreciate the excellent character and quick intelligence of the young girl。 As I used to know her parents very well； the friendship which I felt for them naturally inclines me to take an interest in her。〃
Mademoiselle Prefere； in lieu of making any reply； sighed profoundly； pressed her mysterious pelerine to her heart； and again contemplated the paper spiral。
At last she observed；
〃Since you were once the friend of Monsieur and Madame Alexandre； I hope and trust that； like Monsieur Mouche and myself； you deplore those crazy speculations which led them to ruin； and reduced their daughter to absolute poverty！〃
I thought to myself； on hearing these words； how very wrong it is to be unlucky； and how unpardonable such an error on the part of those previously in a position worthy of envy。 Their fall at once avenges and flatters us； and we are wholly pitiless。
After having answered； very frankly； that I knew nothing whatever about the history of the bank； I asked the schoolmistress if she was satisfied with Mademoiselle Alexandre。
〃That child is indomitable！〃 cried Mademoiselle Prefere。
And she assumed an attitude of lofty resignation； to symbolise the difficult situation she was placed in by a pupil so hard to train。 Then； with more calmness of manner； she added：
〃The young person is not unintelligent。 But she cannot resign herself to learn things by rule。〃
What a strange old maid was this Mademoiselle Prefere！ She walked without lifting her legs； and spoke without moving her lips！ Without； however； considering her peculiarities for more than a reasonable instant； I replied that principles were； no doubt； very excellent things； and that I could trust myself to her judgement in regard to their value； but that； after all； when one had learned something； it very little difference what method had been followed in the learning of it。
Mademoiselle made a slow gesture of dissent。 Then with a sigh； she declared；
〃Ah； Monsieur！ those who do not understand educational methods are apt to have very false ideas on these subjects。 I am certain they express their opinions with the best intentions in the world； but they would do better； a great deal better； to leave all such questions to competent people。〃
I did not attempt to argue further； and simply asked her whether I could see Mademoiselle Alexandre at once。
She looked at her pelerine； as if trying to read in the entanglements of its fringes； as in a conjuring book； what sort of answer she ought to make； then said；
〃Mademoiselle Alexandre has a penance to perform； and a class…lesson to give； but I should be very sorry to let you put yourself to the trouble of coming here all to no purpose。 I am going to send for her。 Only first allow me； Monsieuras is our customto put your name on the visitors' register。〃
She sat down at the table； opened a large copybook； and； taking out Maitre Mouche's letter again from under her pelerine； where she had placed it； looked at it； and began to write。
〃'Bonnard'with a 'd；' is it not？〃 she asked。 〃Excuse me for being so particular； but my opinion is that proper names have an orthography。 We have dictation…lessons in proper names； Monsieur； at this schoolhistorical proper names； of course！〃
After I had written down my name in a running hand； she inquired whether she should not put down after it my profession； title； qualitysuch as 〃retired merchant；〃 〃employe；〃 〃independent gentleman；〃 or something else。 There was a column in her register expressly for that purpose。
〃My goodness； Madame！〃 I said； 〃if you must absolutely fill that column of yours； put down 'Member of the Institute。'〃
It was still Mademoiselle Prefere's pelerine I saw before me； but it was not Mademoiselle Prefere who wore it； it was a totally different person； obliging； gracious； caressing； radiant； happy。 Her eyes； smiled； the little wrinkles of her face （there were a vast number of them！） also smiled； her mouth smiled likewise； but only on one side。 I discovered afterwards that was her best side。 She spoke： her voice had also changed with her manner； it was now sweet as honey。
〃You said； Monsieur； that our dear Jeanne was very intelligent。 I discovered the same thing myself； and I am proud of being able to agree with you。 This young girl has really made me feel a great deal of interest in her。 She has what I call a happy disposition。。。。 But excuse me for thus drawing upon your valuable time。〃
She summoned the servant…girl； who looked much more hurried and scared than before； and who vanished with the order to go and tell Mademoiselle Alexandre that Monsieur Sylvestre Bonnard； Member of the Institute； was waiting to see her in the parlour。
Mademoiselle Prefere had barely time to confide in me that she had the most profound respect for all decisions of the Institutewhatever they might bewhen Jeanne appeared； out of breath； red as a poppy； with her eyes very wide open； and her arms dangling helplessly at her sidescharming in her artless awkwardness。
〃What a state you are in； my dear child！〃 murmured Mademoiselle Prefere； with maternal sweetness； as she arranged the girl's collar。
Jeanne certainly did present an odd aspect。 Her hair combed back； and imperfectly held by a net from which loose curls were escaping； her slender arms； sheathed down to the elbows in lustring sleeves； her hands； which she did not seem to know what to do with； all red with chillblains； her dress； much too short； revealing that she had on stockings much too large for her； and shoes worn down at the heel； and a skipping…rope tied round her waist in lieu of a belt；all combined to lend Mademoiselle Jeanne an appearance the reverse of presentable。
〃Oh； you crazy girl！〃 sighed Mademoiselle Prefere； who now seemed no longer like a mother； but rather like an elder sister。
Then she suddenly left the room； gliding like a shadow over the polished floor。
I said to Jeanne；
〃Sit down； Jeanne； and talk to me as you would to a friend。 Are you not better satisfied here now than you were last year？〃
She hesitated； then answered with a good…natured smile of resignation；
〃Not much better。〃
I asked her to tell me about her school life。 She began at once to enumerate all her different studiespiano； style； chronology of the Kings of France； sewing； drawing； catechism； deportment。。。 I could never remember them all！ She still held in her hands； all unconsciously； the two ends of her skipping…rope； and she raised and lowered them regularly while making her enumeration。 Then all at once she became conscious of what she was doing； blushed； stammered； and became so confused that I had to renounce my desire to know the full programme of study adopted in the Prefere Institution。
After having questioned Jeanne on various matters； and obtained only the vaguest of answers； I perceived that her young mind was totally absorbed by the skipping…rope； and I entered bravely into that grave