Assuming an attitude, she began “ La Ligue des Rats: fable de La Fontaine .” 3 She then declaimed the little piece with an attention to punctuation and emphasis, a flexibility of voice and an appropriateness of gesture, very unusual indeed at her age, and which proved she had been carefully trained.

“Was it your mama who taught you that piece?” I asked.

“Yes, and she just used to say it in this way: ‘ Qu’avez vous donc? lui dit un de ces rats; parlez! ’ 4 She made me lift my hand⁠—so⁠—to remind me to raise my voice at the question. Now shall I dance for you?”

“No, that will do: but after your mama went to the Holy Virgin, as you say, with whom did you live then?”