We were in class when the head-master came in, followed by a "new

fellow," not wearing the school uniform, and a school servant carrying a

large desk. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if

just surprised at his work.

The head-master made a sign to us to sit down. Then, turning to the

class-master, he said to him in a low voice-"Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care; he'll be

in the second. If his work and conduct are satisfactory, he will go into

one of the upper classes, as becomes his age."

The "new fellow," standing in the corner behind the door so that he

could hardly be seen, was a country lad of about fifteen, and taller

than any of us. His hair was cut square on his forehead like a village

chorister's; he looked reliable, but very ill at ease. Although he was

not broad-shouldered, his short school jacket of green cloth with black

buttons must have been tight about the arm-holes, and showed at the

opening of the cuffs red wrists accustomed to being bare. His legs, in

blue stockings, looked out from beneath yellow trousers, drawn tight by

braces, He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots.

We began repeating the lesson. He listened with all his ears, as

attentive as if at a sermon, not daring even to cross his legs or lean

on his elbow; and when at two o'clock the bell rang, the master was

obliged to tell him to fall into line with the rest of us.

When we came back to work, we were in the habit of throwing our caps on

the ground so as to have our hands more free; we used from the door to

toss them under the form, so that they hit against the wall and made a

lot of dust: it was "the thing."

But, whether he had not noticed the trick, or did not dare to attempt

it, the "new fellow," was still holding his cap on his knees even after

prayers were over. It was one of those head-gears of composite order, in

which we can find traces of the bearskin, shako, billycock hat, sealskin

cap, and cotton night-cap; one of those poor things, in fine, whose

dumb ugliness has depths of expression, like an imbecile's face. Oval,

stiffened with whalebone, it began with three round knobs; then came in

succession lozenges of velvet and rabbit-skin separated by a red band;

after that a sort of bag that ended in a cardboard polygon covered with

complicated braiding, from which hung, at the end of a long thin cord,

small twisted gold threads in the manner of a tassel. The cap was new;

its peak shone.




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