The Fire That Burns

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THE FIRE THAT BURNS

A new school term brings anxiety.

Will our boys have changed?

A good year so far.

God blesses our work.

As a whole, the standard is high.

Behavior is good.

The comfort this school brings...

must not allow us to forget that...

in spite of an increase

of 17 communions on last October...

faith is, as always, our weak spot.

Know what I'm doing.

Want, and until now have had,

a healthy academy.

Healthy not only morally

but also in the mind...

for a Christian cannot

compromise high-mindedness.

We are a family...

We must feel at ease.

If Fires

but one fly, dying in the perfume...

"will spoil its fine aroma."

Sevrais!

I'm waiting for Souplier, Sir.

Friends from another section

are forbidden.

And he's bad company.

Everybody complains.

His teachers, classmates, parents.

He promised to change.

He promised you.

So you did see each other?

Briefly, at my father's funeral.

I'm a boarder now.

Oh, no!

We won't see each other much.

Only on Sundays at 10 o'clock,

when school breaks.

When I'm away

this is what miss...

the smell of the school.

Guess what?

You know Maisonfort.

The one we call Warbler.

He said:
"Scratch my barnet."

"Your what?"

"My hair."

..Why?..

"Because it makes me purr."

you purr?"

"Yes, purr inside."

His legs are fat.

You're no judge.

He has great legs.

Like the Romans had.

- No, he's clumsy.

- Clumsy!

He's winning the race!

Sevrais, Linsbourg,

what about your Greek class?

These ink stains!

Always hot and grubby paws!

Hair never combed, never!

It's my knee that hurts.

It's nothing. Just a graze.

Use your handkerchief.

Is it clean'?

Not very.

Ink-stained, of course.

Take mine.

Give it back to me after prep.

But don't tell anyone

lent it to you.

There'd be a fuss.

Wash your knee in the fountain.

He must learn.

It won't happen again, will it'?

No, Sir.

Good evening.

Monsieur Prial. Someone will call...

for this tomorrow, it's the article

they want for The Living God.

Look forward to reading it.

Well, answering the question

"Who is God?"

in 9 pages of double spacing...

But metaphysics allow one

to say many things.

Good night, Monsieur Prial.

It will be cold tonight.

Your handkerchief, Sir.

Your friendship with Sevrais

must end.

But sir, no one says anything

to the other boys.

Never mind why we occasionally

turn a blind eye on...

All right, I'll explain.

As everyone knows,

take an interest in you.

Why should my efforts be spoiled

by this boy hardly know?

Know him by repute.

- Sevrais's the best!

- The best?

He's intelligent, bright...

they say he's noble-minded,

but he boasts...

he is independent, sure of himself.

As for you, you're trouble.

You met Sevrais in the hall today.

Only for a moment, know.

It was when the day-boys go home.

What did you talk about?

- Nothing.

- Naturally.

Twice this year,

you were to be expelled...

twice persuaded the Superior

to keep you with us.

My intervening constantly

makes me look foolish...

Are you listening?

Yes, Sir.

Repeat what said.

You said... that don't

pay attention during mass.

Said nothing of the sort.

Please stop fiddling

with the things on my desk.

You know I'm badly brought up.

Yes, know that.

I'm tired of you, Souplier...

terribly tired of you.

You are a pitiful soul.

Wonder

if you're worth the trouble.

Promise this time...

I'm tired of your promises too.

Say that I'm with the headmaster...

and cannot be disturbed at present.

Where were we'?

Yes, I'm tired

of your promises.

The other times, just promised.

Now swear it.

Know only too well.

If you know only too well.

No, you mustn't think...

your word means nothing.

Think about you a great deal.

Even last June...

when my father was dying...

and you faced expulsion...

you were uppermost

in my thoughts...

even then.

Told you that, you remember?

You don't'?

Don't want to be tactless.

You don't care, do you?

When thinking of you lately...

told myself...

knew you

as though you were my own son.

You smile?

No, I'm not.

One of your little smiles.

Something silly made me smile.

What silly thing?

Please, one moment of sincerity.

Smiled

because you were doodling.

Yes, was doodling

on my blotting-pad...

thinking of you.

Why are you so good to me'?

Because you deserve it.

How is your work going'?

Have German homework.

Leave it, and tomorrow

I'll help you with your German.

Not doing too well

at the choir, are you?

You have a nice voice,

yet you spoil even that.

Is it so difficult for you

to be polite?

Yes, it's very difficult.

At times,

wonder what you think of me...

how you judge me...

if in that obstinate head,

you are in favor or not.

Sir, in favor.

All right, then.

Run along to the dormitory.

Here's a note for the master.

Look at the time!

From Monsieur DE Pradts.

Go to bed!

There's a note under your pillow.

Sevrais gave it to Denis

in Physics...

and Denis gave it to me at supper.

Dear Serge...

2' don'?

mind your being a boarder,

Anything destined to be good

for you can only be good.

Haw am to know you better,

understand you better...

and be a good influence,

seeing you once a Week?

If you're not kept

in an Sunday...

came to the Cave and

paddle inside.

Do not read, "Piddle. "

have a cold.

You always have colds.

Do you hide my letters?

In my desk, under my books.

- If DE Pradts looks...

- He won't!

Wouldn't mind

if he did find them.

Hope no one else does, though.

He lectured us today.

Everyone in my section.

And he named names.

"There will be no more

of those friendships."

"Linsbourg-Denis,

Sevrais-Souplier."

All the names, all the incidents.

So what will you do'?

Say we go on. And you?

It's forbidden, so I'll go on too.

Just once more before we go.

In line!

Well, what is it'?

Sir?

I'm listening.

Know you think my influence

on Souplier goes against yours.

If my influence is bad,

I'm prepared to break up with him.

Sit down.

So, you offer to break up

with Souplier.

If it's to put us at ease,

we are not meant to be at ease.

But if you feel it's for the best...

I'll admit that agree.

Has he talked about me'?

What does he think of me'?

He speaks well of you.

But tell me, what has he said?

You don't want to say.

How long have you been friends?

Since January 14th.

January 14th.

And we're in April.

Congratulate you.

You fooled us.

No, we didn't. We behaved.

You behaved.

Marvel at your discretion.

Boys can be so discreet.

Just as discreet as women...

if not more so.

Had no other choice.

January 14th.

There must have been something

very special about that day...

for you to remember

the date so well.

We had a misunderstanding.

He said didn't care for him.

Told him...

" do care for you."

And that was all'?

Yes, that was all.

One moment.

Come in.

Your surplice, Father.

My wife starched and ironed it...

but the lace is fraying

and in her opinion...

It can wait.

Thank your wife for her trouble.

We won't be disturbed now.

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