Part 5 (2/2)
Zelie will play the organ, while you and Baby Rose sing.”
Philippe's heart pounded. Yes, why not? He looked at Zelie. He thought she must be delighted. But he was amazed to see a look of fear in her little dark face.
”What luck!” he cried. ”Are you not pleased, Zelie?”
”If you would come it might be jolly,” the girl answered.
”Why not?” again thought Philippe. He said, ”I'll ask my mother and father tonight. I shall tell you in the morning.”
”Good!” Tom smiled. ”Zelie and I can wait until the following day to start our journey. Then we four shall set out together.”
That night Philippe asked his parents if he might go traveling with Tom and Zelie.
”This is a strange man,” said Papa Pomme. ”How do you know that he may not be a wicked man? Besides, a wandering life is a hard one, and Baby Rose is too young.”
”But I am old and strong, Papa Pomme,” begged Philippe. ”I shall make great sums of money, too. Do, do let me go.”
”Not yet, little cabbage,” said Papa Pomme.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”NOT YET, LITTLE CABBAGE”]
Philippe's dream was shattered. He cried himself to sleep that night.
The next day in the market place Tom met the children with an eager question.
”Well? Do we start tomorrow?” he asked.
”My father will not let me go,” Philippe said.
The man scowled.
”Foolish,” he frowned, ”foolis.h.!.+ It would bring you money, and you could make your parents rich.”
Philippe scowled, too.
”Yes,” he agreed, ”I told my father. But still he refuses to allow me to go.”
”It is too bad,” the man said. He shrugged his shoulders. ”But Zelie and I must leave tomorrow. And maybe some day you will decide to join us.”
Philippe wondered what Tom meant.
”You know you are a big boy now,” Tom continued. ”It is a shame for you to waste your time sitting in a market place selling vegetables.”
He winked at Philippe slyly, and then started to whistle. Oh, how lucky was this Tom, thought Philippe; and the little girl, Zelie, too! But still Philippe noticed that Zelie's eyes were sad.
Chapter V
NEW FRIENDS
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