Others there were admitted as spectators⁠—with (seeming) reluctance, through prayers, by influence, under restriction, by special and difficult exercise of Madame Beck’s gracious good-nature, and whom she all the evening⁠—with her own personal surveillance⁠—kept far aloof at the remotest, drearest, coldest, darkest side of the carré ⁠—a small, forlorn band of jeunes gens ; these being all of the best families, grown-up sons of mothers present, and whose sisters were pupils in the school. That whole evening was Madame on duty beside these jeunes gens ⁠—attentive to them as a mother, but strict with them as a dragon. There was a sort of cordon stretched before them, which they wearied her with prayers to be permitted to pass, and just to revive themselves by one dance with that belle blonde , or that jolie brune , or “