Volume Ii Part 11 (1/2)
”Why, instead of stealing--which is very, very wrong, even if it's only cherries--you should just come and ask for some; and I would never refuse to give them to you! Especially if I haven't heard of your doing any more naughty things, like throwing stones at a cow to make her run through the fields at the risk of hurting people, especially poor little children who might not have time to get out of the way. Oh! it is so wicked to hurt those who are weak and can't defend themselves; only cowardly hearts do that.”
”Oh! I fight with big boys, I do!”
”Don't fight at all; that will be much better.”
Then she made a sign to Agathe, who understood her and brought a little basket filled with cherries. Honorine took out two handfuls and handed them to the little boy.
”Here,” she said, ”since you are so fond of cherries, take these.”
The child stared at her in surprise, and said in a faltering voice:
”What! are you going to give me some?”
”Yes, I will give you these, on condition that you won't steal any more; do you promise?”
”Well! as long as you give 'em to me, I don't need to climb over the wall any more.”
And the boy, putting his hands together, received the cherries which she gave him and hugged them to his breast. Then he looked all about and asked:
”Can I go now?”
”To be sure--you are free. Go; but don't be so naughty any more, and instead of making everybody hate you, make them love you, and you will see how much happier that will make you.”
”And will everybody give me cherries?”
”I don't promise you that; but people will be kind to you when you are kind to them.”
Little Emile said nothing more; but he made a pirouette and scampered away, shouting at Poucette as he pa.s.sed her:
”The lady's better 'n you!”
”Thanks!” said the young peasant; ”if madame gives fruit to everybody who comes to steal it, they won't take the trouble to climb the wall!”
”Well! what would you have had me give the child?”
”It seems to me that he deserved a good licking instead of cherries!”
”He is said to be very naughty; but on the other hand everybody scolds him and treats him harshly.”
”Sometimes they beat him, and hard too!”
”Well, I propose to try another method of reforming him.”
”You are right,” said Agathe; ”_gentleness is better than violence_; I have read that somewhere in La Fontaine's fables.”
A few days later, Edmond having gone to Paris, the two friends knew that he would not come to see them; and so, immediately after dinner, Agathe proposed to Honorine that they should go for a long walk.
”I don't want to go in the direction of the Tower,” said Honorine; ”it would seem as if we were trying to meet the owner again; and as that gentleman has not thought fit to call to inquire whether my fright had any serious consequences, I should be sorry to have him think that we cared to see him again.”
There was a faint suggestion of irritation in Honorine's manner as she said this; but Agathe did not notice it.