stand gazing at us, anxious to know how their joke will be taken.

[Footnote I: _Mousko_ is the masculine of _mousmé_, and signifies
little boy. Excessive politeness makes it _mousko-san_ (Mr. little
boy).]

For my part, I have not the least idea of giving them a cold
reception; on the contrary, the meeting amuses me. It even strikes me
that it is rather pretty of Chrysanthème 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, Chrysanthème 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
Chrysanthème's affection for Bambou-San engaging and attractive in its
simplicity.

One cannot deny this merit to the Japanese,--a great love for little