The Pomp of the Lavilettes, Complete

the head of the procession as had done many a forefather of his, with ribbons on his hat and others at his button-hole. After stopping for exchange of courtesies at several houses

nner of man the Englishman was, well prepared to resent his overbearing snobbishness-they were inclined to believe every Englishman snobbish. But Ferrol was so entirely affable, and he drank so freely with everyone that came to say "A votre sante, M'sieu' le Baron

tality, sending down hampers of eatables. She preened with pleasure when she saw Ferrol walking up and down in very confidential conversation with Christine. If she had been really observant she would have seen that Ferrol's tendency w

came monotonously lilting down the street; yet it was not a song, it was only a sort of humming or chanting.

bear, it's a danci

ito?" as

ienne?" cr

as neither of these. The man's voice was not unpleasant; it had a rolling, crooning sort of sound, a

man of sixty who had lived a hard life; his eyes were small, black and piercing. He wore a thick, short coat, a red sash about his waist, a blue flannel shirt, and a loose red scarf, like a handkerchief, a

d legs, was dancing sideways along the road, keep

nced round and round in a ring, his eyes rolling savagely

ied out: "It's Vanne

n Christine took a few steps forward where she could see the man's

ort of smile on his lips. He kept a vigilant eye on the bear, however, and his pole was pointed constantly towards it. After about five minutes of this entertainment he moved along up the road. He spoke no word to anybody though there were some cries of greeting, but passed on, sti

r's eye, and he knew that he was stumbling upon a story. Her eye met his, then swiftly turned away. When her look

ce with me?"

ere?" she respond

ittle laugh, as he ran his arm round he

" he asked as they swung a

saw these two appear in the ring-th

iately. They danced a li

d frie

ll, and a hard laugh, she answered in Engl

' of an o

ted. She did not answer at all, but sudde

ently withdrew also. In five minutes the crowd had scatter

of the bear-leader came floating along the air and through the voice