six o’clock P.M.
She said that I must spend that time amongst her pupils to learn their characters , to be AU COURANT with everything that was passing in the house , to become interested in what interested her , to be able to give her my opinion on knotty points when she required it , and this she did constantly , never allowing my interest in the pupils to fall asleep , and never making any change of importance without my cognizance and consent . She delighted to sit by me when I gave my lessons -LRB- lessons in literature -RRB- , her hands folded on her knee , the most fixedly attentive of any present . She rarely addressed me in class ; when she did it was with an air of marked deference ; it was her pleasure , her joy to make me still the master in all things . At six o'clock P.M. my daily labours ceased . I then came home , for my home was my heaven ; ever at that hour , as I entered our private sitting-room , the lady-directress vanished from before my eyes , and Frances Henri , my own little lace-mender , was magically restored to my arms ; much disappointed she would have been if her master had not been as constant to the tryst as herself , and if his truthfull kiss had not been prompt to answer her soft , `` Bon soir , monsieur . '' Talk French to me she would , and many a punishment she has had for her wilfulness . I fear the choice of chastisement must have been injudicious , for instead of correcting the fault , it seemed to encourage its renewal .