Page:Ballads of a Bohemian.djvu/24

22 “Ah, yes,” said Julot the apache, “we’ve something to impart. When such things come to folks like us, it isn’t very gay… It’s Gigolette—she tells me that a gosse is on the way.” Then Gigolette, she looked at me with eyes like stones of gall: “If we were honest folks,” said she, “I wouldn’t mind at all. But then… you know the life we lead; well, anyway I mean (That is, providing it’s a girl) to call her Angeline.” “Cheer up,” said I; “It’s all in life. There’s gold within the dross. Come on, we’ll drink another verre to Angeline the gosse.”

And so the weary winter passed, and then one April morn The worthy Julot came at last to say the babe was born. “I’d like to chuck it in the Seine,” he sourly snarled, “and yet I guess I’ll have to let it live, because of Gigolette.” I only laughed, for sure I saw his spite was all a bluff, And he was prouder than a prince behind his manner gruff. Yet every day he’d blast the brat with curses deep and grim, And swear to me that Gigolette no longer thought of him.