t until all their confidences--exchanged as they sat in a row on
the edge of the two tubs--were over. Then something happened to the
boiler, and as all the plumbers were in the trenches, and ubiquitous
woman seemed to have stopped short in her new accomplishments at
mending pipes, I had to wait until a permissionnaire came home on his
six days' leave, and that was for five weeks. More than once I decided
to go back to the Crillon, where the bathrooms are the last cry in
luxury, for I detest the makeshift bath, but by this time I was too
fascinated by the Ecole to tear myself away.

Naturally out of thirty girls there were some antagonistic
personalities, and two or three I took such an intense dislike to that
I finally prevailed upon Mlle. Jacquier to keep them out of my room
and away from my table. But the majority of the students were "regular
girls." At first I was as welcome in the dining-room as a Prussian
sentinel, and they exchanged desultory remarks in whispers; but after
a while they grew accustomed to me and chattered like magpies. I could
hear them again in their dormitories until about half-past ten at
night. Mlle. Jacquier asked me once with some anxiety if I minded, and
I assured her that I liked it. This was quite true, for these girls,
all so eager and natural, and even gay, despite the tragedy in the
background of many, seemed to me the brightest spot in Paris.

It is true that I remonstrated, and frequently, against the terrific
noise they made every morning at seven o'clock when they clamped
across the uncarpeted hall and down the stairs. But although they
would tiptoe for a day they would forget again, and I finally resigned
myself. I also did my share in training them to wait on a guest in her
room! Not one when I arrived had anything more than a theoretical idea
of what to do beyond making a bed, sweeping, and dusting. I soon
discovered that the more exacting I was--and there were times when I
was exceeding stormy--the better Mlle. Jacquier was pleased.

She had her hands full. Her discipline was superb and she addressed
each with invariable formality as "Mademoiselle----"; but they were
real girls, full of vitality, and always on the edge of rebellion. I
listened to some stinging rebukes delivered by Mlle. Jacquier when she
would arise in her wrath in the dining-room and address them
collectively. She knew how to get under their skin, for they would
blush, hang their heads, and writhe.

VI