She once talked to me about her, with an odd mixture of discrimination, indifference, and antipathy.

I asked why she kept her in the establishment.

She answered plainly, "because it suited her interest to do so;" and pointed out a fact I had already noticed, namely, that Mademoiselle St.
Pierre possessed, in an almost unique degree, the power of keeping order amongst her undisciplined ranks of scholars.

A certain petrifying influence accompanied and surrounded her: without passion, noise, or violence, she held them in check as a breezeless frost-air might still a brawling stream.

She was of little use as far as communication of knowledge went, but for strict surveillance and maintenance of rules she was invaluable.