of Chrysantheme to come round in this way,
and to bring Bambou-San to the festival; though it savors somewhat of
her low breeding, to tell the truth, to have tacked him on to her
back, as the poorer Japanese women do with their little ones.

However, let her sit down between Yves and myself: and let them bring
her those iced beans she loves so much; and we will take the jolly
little _mousko_ on our knees and cram him with sugar and sweetness to
his heart's content.

* * * * *

The evening over, when we begin to think of leaving, and of going down
again, Chrysantheme replaces her little Bambou astride upon her back,
and sets forth, bending forward under his weight and painfully
dragging her Cinderella slippers over the granite steps and
flagstones. Yes, decidedly low this conduct! but low in the best sense
of the word: nothing in it displeases me; I even consider
Chrysantheme's affection for Bambou-San engaging and attractive in its
simplicity.

One cannot deny this merit to the Japanese,--a great love for little
children, and a talent for amusing them, for making them laugh,
inventing comical toys for them, making the morning of their life
happy; for a specialty in dressing them, arranging their heads, and
giving to the whole little personage the most diverting appearance
possible. It is the only thing I really like about this country: the
babies and the manner in which they are understood.

* * * * *

On our way we meet our married friends of the _Triomphante_, who, much
surprised at seeing me with this _mousko_, chaffingly exclaim:

"What! a son already?"

Down in the town, we make a point of bidding good-by to Chrysantheme
at the turning of the street where her mother lives. She smiles
undecided, declares herself well again, and begs to return to our
house on the heights. This did not precisely enter into my plans, I
confess. However, it would look very ungracious to refuse.

So be it! But we must carry the _mousko_ home to his mamma, and then
begin, by the flickering light of a new lantern bought afresh from
Madame Tres-Propre, our weary homeward ascent.

Here, however, we find ourselves in another predicament: this
ridiculous little Bambou insists upon coming with us! No, he will take
no denial, we must take him with us. This is out of all reason, quite
impossible!

However, it will not do to make him cry, on the night of a great
festival