Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/280

256 entrance of the Escal-Vigor park, a band of girls crossed his path, coming out of a side alley, and, calling him by name, enclosed him in their toils.

"Look here now at this great booby wandering about all alone on the road!"

"Oh, the pretty boy trying to hook it off!"

"Fie for shame! On a Fair day too!"

"By Saint Olfgar! Why the boy has got some down on his upper-lip and has never yet touched a girl! Ask his own sister!" exclaimed one of the party, who pressed upon him, using much inflammatory language with great volubility. They threatened to fumble him, they rubbed against him with significant movements of their buttocks, throwing their busts backwards; with loosened bodices and half-open mouth they resembled the corolla of a flower swooning beneath the sun.

"They are right, brotherkin," struck in Claudie, in a horribly wheedling manner, as she came to the front. "Thou hast long been a man. Fulfil thy duty as a gallant and make thy choice. What more is wanted to make thee decide. Here are ten sturdy companions who have waited for thee, the best looking in all these parts. Yet they're