The child stared at her in surprise, and said in a faltering voice:
“What! are you going to give me some?”
“Yes, I will give you these, on condition that you won’t steal any more; do you promise?”
“Well! as long as you give ‘em to me, I don’t need to climb over the wall any more.”
And the boy, putting his hands together, received the cherries which she gave him and hugged them to his breast. Then he looked all about and asked:
“Can I go now?”
“To be sure—you are free. Go; but don’t be so naughty any more, and instead of making everybody hate you, make them love you, and you will see how much happier that will make you.”
“And will everybody give me cherries?”
“I don’t promise you that; but people will be kind to you when you are kind to them.”
Little Emile said nothing more; but he made a pirouette and scampered away, shouting at Poucette as he passed her: