s to Blaise and Babette the
song says that their pangs of love were never-ending.

[Illustration: AND HERE ARE ALEXANDER AND ZAIRA, PYRRHUS AND MEROPE,
MAHOMET, HARLEQUIN, SCAPIN, AND THE PASTORAL BLAISE AND BABETTE. THEY
HAVE COME FROM EVERYWHERE, FROM GREECE AND ROME AND THE BLUE COUNTRIES,
TO DANCE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

_Printed in France_]

In the same way, if it comes to Pierrot and Scapin, you know as well as
I that they were perfect rascals, and that people more than once tweaked
their ears for them. No, glory comes very high, even the glory of an
Harlequin. On the other hand it's very nice to be a little boy or girl
and masquerade as these old characters. That's why there's no fun like a
fancy ball where the costumes are fine enough. You feel grand just by
wearing them. See how well all the pretty company wears its plumes and
cloaks. What a fine and gallant air they have, how well they look and
how much old time grace they can display.

[Illustration]

On the balcony, in the part that you don't see in the picture, the
musicians tune their violins with a sweet and plaintive sound. The music
of a quadrille in the grand style is open on the leader's desk. They are
going to strike up this piece. At the first notes of it our heroes and
masks will step forth and dance.

THE SCHOOL

I declare I believe Miss Genseigne's school is the best school for girls
anywhere in the world. I maintain that those who believe and say the
contrary are false and misleading. All Miss Genseigne's scholars are
well-behaved and diligent. There is nothing so pleasant as to see them,
with their little stiff bodies and their heads so erect. You would say
they were so many little bottles into which Miss Genseigne was pouring
knowledge.

[Illustration]

Miss Genseigne sits up perfectly straight on her platform; very grave
and sweet. Her braided head band and her black cape inspire respect and
sympathy.

Miss Genseigne, who is very well educated, is giving a lesson in
arithmetic to her little pupils. She says to Rose Benoit: "Rose Benoit,
if I take four from a dozen how many have I left?"

"Four!" replies Rose Benoit. Miss Genseigne is not quite satisfied with
this answer.

"And you, Emmeline Capel, if I take four from a dozen how many have I
left?"

"Eight," replies Emmeline Capel.

[Illustration: ALL MISS GISSING'S SCHOLARS ARE WELL-BEHAVED AND
DILIGENT. THERE IS NOTHING SO PLEASANT AS TO SEE THEM, WITH THEIR LITTLE
ST