"What is the matter, Francois? you look so sad!" said Amandine.
"Brother has taken my handkerchief; and, besides, did you not hear?"
"What?"
"He wants to make us apprentices."
"Are you not glad?"
"Faith, no!"
"You would rather remain here, and be beaten every day?"
"I am beaten; but I don't have to work. I am all day in the boat, or fishing or playing, or serving the company, who sometimes give me something for drink, as the lame man did; it is much more amusing than to be shut up from morning till night in a shop, to work like a dog."
"But did you not hear brother say, if we remained here any longer we would become bad?"
"All the same to me, since other children call us already little thieves. Work is too tiresome."