But a fallen reputation is so difficult to recover and always remains so fragile that, in spite of the shy reserve, La Blanchotte maintained they already gossiped in the neighborhood.
As for Simon, he loved his new Papa much, and walked with him nearly every evening when the day's work was done. He went regularly to school and mixed with great dignity with his school-fellows without ever answering them back.
One day, however, the lad who had first attacked him said to him:
"You have lied. You have not a Papa named Phillip."
"Why do you say that?" demanded Simon, much disturbed.
The youth rubbed his hands. He replied:
"Because if you had one he would be your mamma's husband."
Simon was confused by the truth of this reasoning, nevertheless he retorted:
"He is my Papa all the same."
"That can very well be," exclaimed the urchin with a sneer, "but that is not being your Papa altogether."