Indeed, everybody in the Rue Fossette held a superstition that "Meess Lucie" was learned, with the notable exception of M. Emanuel, who, by means peculiar to himself, and quite inscrutable to me, had obtained a not inaccurate inkling of my real qualifications, and used to take quiet opportunities of chuckling in my ear his malign glee over their scant measure. For my part, I never troubled myself about this penury, I dearly like to think my own thoughts; I had great pleasure in reading a few books, but not many—preferring always those on whose style or sentiment the writer's individual nature was plainly stamped—flagging inevitably over characterless books, however clever and meritorious, perceiving well that, as far as my own mind was concerned, God had limited its powers and its action—thankful, I trust, for the gift bestowed, but unambitious of higher endowments, not restlessly eager after higher culture.
The polite pupil was scarcely gone, when, unceremoniously, without tap, in burst a second intruder. Had I been blind I should have known who this was. A constitutional reserve of manner had by this time told with wholesome and, for me, commodious effect on the manners of my co-inmates; rarely did I now suffer from rude or intrusive treatment. When I first came, it would happen once and again that a blunt German would clap me on the shoulders, and ask me to run a race, or a riotous Labassecourienne, seize me by the arm and drag me towards the play-ground; urgent proposals to take a swing at the "Pas de Géant", or to join in a certain romping hide-and-seek game called "Un, deux, trois", were formerly also of hourly occurrence; but all these little attentions had ceased some time ago—ceased, too, without my finding it necessary to be at the trouble of point-blank cutting them short. I had now no familiar demonstration to dread or endure, save from one quarter, and as that was English I could bear it. Ginevra Fanshawe made no scruple of—at times—catching me as I was crossing the carré, whirling me round in a compulsory waltz, and heartily enjoying the mental and physical discomfiture her proceeding induced. Ginevra Fanshawe it was who now broke in upon my "learned leisure". She carried a huge music-book under her arm.
"Go to your practicing", said I to her at once;"away with you to the little saloon!"
