plus grande, 'increased,' notice its position

Il y avait... E.B. 267. Render étais 'had been.' Notice the difference between this and il y avail un mois 'a month ago.'

1. 26. compassée, 'studied,' 'formal.' The following passage of Fénelon will show the meaning, "On voit des gens sincères, qui sont toujours à s'étudier, à compasser toutes leurs paroles et toutes leurs

io2 LA CANNE DE JONC

pensées." The first meaning of the verb compasser is to measure with a pair of compasses. It comes from compas, not from con- and passer.

1. 27. C est à cela... E.B. 115. 'This makes us realize what it is to live among foreigners.'

1. 29. abjection, perhaps 'humiliation' is the best word. As the derivation implies, the word indicates a fall from a higher position.

1. 34. mes Jeux mains. It seems difficult to say why les is not used in this line {E.B. 60). There seems to be some uncertainty of usage. Thus Robert {Questions Grammaticales) quotes from V. Hugo "J'étais là, ma tète pesante et embrasée dans mes deux mains, ...mes coudes sur mes genoux, les pieds sur les barreaux de ma chaise."

1. 5. Tantale, Tantalus, who in the nether world was condemned to stand in water with luscious fruits before his eyes. Whenever he attempted to drink the water, or reach the fruits, they retreated from him. He was the founder of the unhappy line better known as the house of Pelops or Atreus. For the omission of the article with supplice see E.B. 19.