There seems to be an admirable organisation of work
here in every department. I have been much amused today
by the lessons in theory that I have received from
my ancienne élève or chef. The pupils all sat round, and
the young instructress, furnished with some bones, gave
out an explanatory sentence, which was repeated by each
one in turn; I found it an excellent plan of learning
French. Of course, the repetition would have been
intolerable without the language, but to listen to a dozen
different voices and to repeat myself I found to be admirable
practice; indeed, being cut off from all English
communication is a great advantage in learning French.
July 3.—This morning I finish my letter in another situation. I wrote last night till it was dark, and the little lamp in our dortoir gave so much darkness that I went to bed for want of light. To day I am en service—that is to say, I shall spend the day from eight in the morning till eight in the evening in superintending the six rooms of the infirmary. I have been handling leeches for the first time (disgusting little things). I enter with an ancienne élève, who shows me all the ways of the house. At present the lectures have not commenced, but the visits of Madame Charrier and the physician take place every day; and nature is always here in great abundance to be studied. I feel I shall gain a great deal, and hitherto it has really not proved nearly so formidable an imprisonment as I supposed. The air is delightful this beautiful summer weather, the girls pleasant. There is much to interest in so large an establishment, and I suppose the three months will soon slip away, for I have entered, in my own mind, only for the three months, though I have been asked so often if I am going to stay two years that I have had to tell a great many—evasions. I shall have, doubtless, many weary moments, but I want you all to know that it will not be so utterly miserable as
