siinanition,havingtakensolittlethedaybefore.

    Therefectorywasagreat,low-ceiled,gloomyroom;ontwolongtablessmokedbasinsofsomethinghot,which,however,tomydismay,sentforthanodourfarfrominviting.Isawauniversalmaionofdistehefumesoftherepastmetthenostrilsofthosedestioswallowit;fromthevanoftheprocessioallgirlsofthefirstclass,rosethewhisperedwords—

    “Disgusting!Thepeisburntagain!”

    “Silence!”ejaculatedavoiotthatofMissMiller,butoheupperteachers,alittleanddarkpersonage,smartlydressed,butofsomewhatmoroseaspect,whoinstalledherselfatthetopofoable,whileamorebuxomladypresidedattheother.IlookedinvainforherIhadfirstseenthenightbefore;shewasnotvisible:MissMilleroccupiedthefootofthetablewhereIsat,andastrange,fn-looking,elderlylady,theFrenchteacher,asIafterwardsfound,tookthecorresponditheotherboard.Alonggracewassaidandahymnsung;thenaservantbroughtieafortheteachers,andthemealbegan.

    Ravenous,andnowveryfaint,Idevouredaspoonfulortwoofmyportionwithoutthinkingofitstaste;butthefirstedgeofhungerblunted,IperceivedIhadgotinhandanauseousmess;burntpeisalmostasbadasrottenpotatoes;famiselfsoonsisoverit.Thespoonsweremovedslowly:Isaweachgirltasteherfoodandtrytoswallowit;butinmostcasestheeffortwassoonrelinquished.Breakfastwasover,andnonehadbreakfasted.Thanksbeiurnedforwhatwehadnotgot,andasedhymnted,therefectorywasevacuatedfortheschoolroom.Iwasohelasttogoout,andinpassiables,Isawoeachertakeabasinofthepeandtasteit;shelookedattheothers;alltheirtenancesexpresseddispleasure,ahem,thestoutone,whis