“No. We kep’ a ball in it and marbles.”
“What happened to it?”
“Farver popped it. I seen an airyoplane oncet.”
“Did you? Where?”
“In ve Park. A little boy ’ad it.”
“Right ho! We’ll send you an airyoplane like that.”
The children looked at each other, scared at this promised good fortune. Then they embraced and rocked each other to and fro.
René and Kurt took their leave and passed out into the mews.
“Well?” said René. “A bit of difference?”
“I don’t know about that. But I’m always finding that where other folk see only riches or poverty or manners or personal tricks and habits, I see only people, and they are much the same everywhere. I nearly always like them. I’m not like you. I don’t expect anything much.”