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I wondered within myself whether Maitre Mouche had called upon me only for the purpose of expressing his virtuous misanthropy； but all at once I heard words of a more consoling character issue from his lips。 Maitre Mouche began to speak to me of Virginie Prefere as a person worthy of respect； of esteem； and of sympathy；highly honourable； capable of great devotedness； cultivated； discreet；able to read aloud remarkably well； extremely modest； and skillful in the art of applying blisters。 Then I began to understand that he had only been painting that 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 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 ladywho 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 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 hernot 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 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 consideration。
Therewith he made me a little bow； and took his departure； leaving me with a peculiar feeling of discomfort and uneasiness。 I have met a great many strange characters in my time； but never any at all resembling either this notary or this schoolmistress。
July 6。
Maitre Mouche has so much delayed me by his visit that I gave up going to see Jeanne that day。 Professional duties kept me very busy for the rest of the week。 Although at the age when most men retire altogether from active life； I am still attached by a thousand ties to the society in which I have lived。 I have to reside at meetings of academies； scientific congresses； assemblies of various learned bodies。 I am overburdened with honorary functions； I have seven of these in one governmental department alone。 The bureaux would be very glad to get rid of them