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第23章 the t len（第1页）

AlhonseDaudet

Istartedforschoolverylatethatmorningandwasingreatdreadofascolding，eseciallybecauseM。Hamelhadsaidthathewouldquestionusonarticiles，andIdidnotknowthefirstwordaboutthem。ForamomentIthoughtofrunningawayandsendingthedayoutofdoors。Itwassowarm，sobright!Thebirdswerechiringattheedgeofthewoods;andintheoenfieldbackofthesawmillthePrussiansoldiersweredrilling。Itwasallmuchmoretemtingthantheruleforarticiles，butIhadthestrengthtoresist，andhurriedofftoschool。

WhenIassedthetownhalltherewasacrowdinfrontofthebulletin-board。Forthelasttwoyearsallourbadnewshadcomefromthere-thelostbattles，thedraft，theordersofthecommandingofficer-andIthoughttomyself，withoutstoing:

"Whatcanbethematternow?

"

Then，asIhurriedbyasfastasIcouldgo，theblacksmith，Wachter，whowasthere，withhisarentice，readingthebulletin，calledafterme:

"Don&aos;tgosofast，bub;you&aos;llgettoyourschoolinlentyoftime!

"

Ithoughthewasmakingfunofme，andreachedM。Hamel&aos;slittlegardenalloutofbreath。

Usually，whenschoolbegan，therewasagreatbustle，whichcouldbeheardoutinthestreet，theoeningandclosingofdesks，lessonsreeatedinunison，veryloud，withourhandsoverourearstounderstandbetter，andtheteacher&aos;sgreatrulerraingonthetable。

"Alittlemorequite!

"Butnowitwasallsostill!Ihadcountedonthecommotiontogettomydeskwithoutbeingseen;but，ofcourse，thatdayeverythinghadtobeasquietasSundaymorning。ThroughthewindowIsawmyclassmates，alreadyintheirlaces，andM。Hamelwalkinguanddownwithhisterribleironrulerunderhisarm。Ihadtooenthedoorandgoinbeforeeverybody。YoucanimaginehowIblushedandhowfrightenedIwas。

Butnothinghaened。M。Hamelsawmeandsaidverykindly:

"Gotoyourlacequickly，littleFranz。Wewerebeginningwithoutyou。

"

Ijumedoverthebenchandsatdownatmydesk。Nottillthen，whenIhadgotalittleovermyfright，didIseethatourteacherhadonhisbeautifulgreencoat，hisfrilledshirt，andthelittleblacksilkca，allembroidered，thatheneverworeexcetoninsectionandrizedays。Besides，thewholeschoolseemedsostrangeandsolemn。Butthethingthatsurrisedmemostwastosee，onthebackbenchesthatwerealwaysemty，thevillageeolesittingquietlylikeourselves;oldHauser，withhisthree-corneredhat，theformermayor，theformerostmaster，andseveralothersbesides。Everybodylookedsad;andHauserhadbroughtanoldrimer，thumbedattheedges，andhehelditoenonhiskneeswithhisgreatsectacleslyingacrosstheages。

WhileIwaswonderingaboutitall，M。Hamelmountedhischair，and，inthesamegraveandgentletonewhichhehadusedtome，said:

"Mychildren，thisisthelastlessonIshallgiveyou。TheorderhascomefromBerlintoteachonlyGermanintheschoolsofAlsaceandLorraine。Thenewmastercomestomorrow。ThisisyourlastFrenchlesson。Iwantyoutobeveryattentive。

"

Whatathunderclathesewordsweretome!

Oh，thewretches;thatwaswhattheyhadutuatthetownhall!

MylastFrenchlesson!Why，Ihardlyknewhowtowrite!Ishouldneverlearnanymore!Imuststothere，then!Oh，howsorryIwasfornotlearningmylessons，forseekingbirds&aos;eggs，orgoingslidingontheSaar!Mybooks，thathadseemedsuchanuisanceawhileago，soheavytocarry，mygrammar，andmyhistoryofthesaints，wereoldfriendsnowthatIcouldn&aos;tgiveu。AndM。Hamel，too;theideathathewasgoingaway，thatIshouldneverseehimagain，mademeforgetallabouthisrulerandhowcrankyhewas。

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