‘Get rid of your helmet,’ said the master, who was a bit of a wag. A neighbor knocked it down again with his elbow he picked it up once more. 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.

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.

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.’īut, 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. 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. His legs, in blue stockings, looked out from beneath yellow trousers, drawn tight by braces, He wore stout, ill-cleaned, hob-nailed boots. 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 hair was cut square on his forehead like a village chorister’s he looked reliable, but very ill at ease. 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. If his work and conduct are satisfactory, he will go into one of the upper classes, as becomes his age.’ ‘Monsieur Roger, here is a pupil whom I recommend to your care he’ll be in the second. Then, turning to the class-master, he said to him in a low voice– The head-master made a sign to us to sit down. Those who had been asleep woke up, and every one rose as if just surprised at his work. 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.

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