NAIVETY

be stigmatized; and then with some sarcasm, flavoured with contemptuous

bitterness for the ringleaders, and relieved with easy banter for the weaker

but less knavish followers, it seemed to me that one might possibly get

command over this wild herd, and bring them into training, at least. All I

could now do was to walk up to Blanche— Mademoiselle de Melcy, a

young baronne— the eldest, tallest, handsomest, and most vicious— stand

before her desk, take from under her hand her exercise-book, remount the

estrade, deliberately read the composition, which I found very stupid, and,

as deliberately, and in the face of the whole school, tear the blotted page in

two.

This action availed to draw attention and check noise. One girl alone,

quite in the background, persevered in the riot with undiminished energy. I

looked at her attentively. She had a pale face, hair like night, broad strong