Page:A Gentleman From France (1924).djvu/147

 "Here, here, go quietly," he admonished. "We must be respectable citizens," but he might have as well spoken to the wind. He gestured, threatened, scolded, and coaxed, but all to no avail. The imp of mischief had been set loose in Pierre, and the man was perfectly helpless.

The first thing he discovered on this walk was that Pierre was not used to children, and every time he saw one he started for it frantically, barking, and making a great fuss. He evidently considered it some new kind of playfellow made for his special amusement.

Although he intended the children no harm, yet he went with such seeming ferocity towards them, that with one accord they took to their heels, yelling with fright, and this pleased him prodigiously.

Time and again angry mothers asked