“Marry！ Will birds pair？ Of course it is both her intention and
resolution to marry when she finds a suitable match； and no one is
better aware than herself of the sort of impression she is capable
of producing； no one likes better to captivate in a quiet way。 I am
mistaken if she will not yet leave the print of her stealing steps on
thy heart； Crimsworth。”
“Of her steps？ Confound it； no！ My heart is not a plank to be
walked on。”
“But the soft touch of a patte de velours will do it no harm。”
“She offers me no patte de velours； she is all form and reserve
with me。”
“That to begin with； let respect be the foundation； affection the
first floor； love the superstructure； Mdlle Reuter is a skilful
architect。”
“And interest； M。 Pelet—interest。 Will not mademoiselle
consider that point ？”
“Yes； yes； no doubt； it will be the cement between every stone。
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And now we have discussed the directress； what of the pupils？
N’y…a…t…il pas de belles études parmi ces jeunes têtes？”
“Studies of character？ Yes； curious ones； at least； I imagine； but
one cannot divine much from a first interview。”
“Ah； you affect discretion； but tell me now； were you not a little
abashed before these blooming young creatures？
“At first； yes； but I rallied and got through with all due sang…
froid。”
“I don’t believe you。”
“It is true； notwithstanding。 At first I thought them angels； but
they did not leave me long under that delusion； three of the eldest
and handsomest undertook the task of setting me right； and they
managed so cleverly that in five minutes I knew them； at least； for
what they were—three arrant coquettes。”
“Je les connais！” exclaimed M。 Pelet。 “Elles sont toujours au
premier rang a l’église et à la promenade； une blonde superbe；
une jolie espiègle； une belle brune。”
“Exactly。”
“Lovely creatures all of them—heads for artists； what a group
they would make； taken together！ Eulalie （I know their names）；
with her smooth braided hair and calm ivory brow。 Hortense； with
her rich chesnut locks so luxuriantly knotted； plaited； twisted； as if
she did not know how to dispose of all their abundance； with her
vermilion lips； damask cheek； and roguish laughing eye。 And
Caroline de Blémont！ Ah； there is beauty！ beauty in perfection。
What a cloud of sable curls about the face of a houri！ What
fascinating lips！ What glorious black eyes！ Your Byron would have
worshipped her； and you—you cold； frigid islander！—you played
the austere； the insensible in the presence of an Aphrodite so
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exquisite？”
I might have laughed at the director’s enthusiasm had I
believed it real； but there was something in his tone which
indicated got…up raptures。 I felt he was only affecting fervour in
order to put me off my guard； to induce me to come out in return；
so I scarcely even smiled。 He went on：—
“Confess； William； do not the mere good looks of Zoraide
Reuter appear dowdyish and commonplace compared with the
splendid charms of some of her pupils？”
The question discomposed me； but I now felt plainly that my
principal was endeavouring （for reasons best known to himself—at
that time I could not fathom them） to excite ideas and wishes in
my mind alien to what was right and honourable。 The iniquity of
the instigation proved its antidote； and when he further added：—
“Each of those three beautiful girls will have a handsome
fortune； and with a little address； a gentlemanlike； intelligent
young fellow like you might make himself master of the hand；
heart； and purse of any one of the trio。”
I replied by a look and an interrogative “Monsieur？” which
startled him。
He laughed a forced laugh； affirmed that he had only been
joking； and demanded whether I could possibly have thought him
in earnest。 Just then the bell rang； the play…hour was over； it was
an evening on which M。 Pelet was accustomed to read passages
from the drama and the belles lettres to his pupils。 He did not wait
for my answer； but rising； left the room； humming as he went
some gay strain of Béranger’s。
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Chapter XII
aily； as I continued my attendance at the seminary of
Mdlle Reuter； did I find fresh occasions to compare the
D
ideal with the real。 What had I known of female character
previously to my arrival at Brussels？ Precious little。 And what was
my notion of it？ Something vague； slight； gauzy； glittering； now
when I came in contact with it I found it to be a palpable
substance enough； very hard too sometimes； and often heavy；
there was metal in it； both lead and iron。
Let the idealists； the dreamers about earthly angel and human
flowers； just look here while I open my portfolio and show them a
sketch or two； pencilled after nature。 I took these sketches in the
second…class schoolroom of Mdlle Reuter’s establishment； where
about a hundred specimens of the genus “jeune fille” collected
together； offered a fertile variety of subject。 A miscellaneous
assortment they were； differing both in caste and country； as I sat
on my estrade and glanced over the long range of desks； I had
under my eye French； English； Belgians； Austrians； and Prussians。
The majority belonged to the class bourgeois； but there were many
countesses； there were the daughters of two generals and of
several colonels； captains； and government employés； these ladies
sat side by side with young females destined to be demoiselles de
magasins； and with some Flamandes； genuine aborigines of the
country。 In dress all were nearly similar； and in manners there
was small difference； exceptions there were to the general rule；
but the majority gave the tone to the establishment； and that tone
was rough； boisterous； masked by a point…blank disregard of all
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forbearance towards each other or their teachers； an eager pursuit
by each individual of her own interest and convenience； and a
coarse indifference to the interest and convenience of every one
else。 Most of them could lie with audacity when it appeared
advantageous to do so。 All understood the art of speaking fair
when a point was to be gained； and could with consummate skill
and at a moment’s notice turn the cold shoulder the instant civility
ceased to be profitable。 Very little open quarrelling ever took place
amongst them； but backbiting and tale…bearing were universal。
Close friendships were forbidden by the rules of the school； and no
one girl seemed to cultivate more regard for another than was just
necessary to secure a companion when solitude would have been
irksome。 They were each and all supposed to have been reared in
utter unconsciousness of vice。 The precautions used to keep them
ignorant； if not innocent； were innumerable。 How was it； then； that
scarcely one of those girls having attained the age of fourteen
could look a man in the face with modesty and propriety？ An air of
bold； impudent flirtation； or a loose； silly leer； was sure to answer
the most ordinary glance from a masculine eye。 I know nothing of
the arcana of the Roman Catholic religion； and I am not a bigot in
matters of theology； but I suspect the root of this precocious
impurity； so obvious； so general in Popish countries； is to be found
in the discipline； if not the doctrines of the Church of Rome。 I
record what I have seen： these girls belonged to what are called
the respectable ranks of society； they had all been carefully
brought up； yet was the mass of them mentally depraved。 So much
for the general view： now for one or two selected specimens。
The first picture is a full length of Aurelia Koslow； a German
fraulein； or rather a half…breed between German and Russian。 She
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The Professor
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