'I suppose not,' answered Jean-Marie.

'Neither do I like you,' returned the Doctor, roughly. 'I hate all odd
people, and you are the most curious little boy in all the world.'

Jean-Marie seemed to ponder for a while, and then he raised his head
again and looked over at the Doctor with an air of candid inquiry. 'But
are not you a very curious gentleman?' he asked.

The Doctor threw away his stick, bounded on the boy, clasped him to his
bosom, and kissed him on both cheeks. 'Admirable, admirable imp!' he
cried. 'What a morning, what an hour for a theorist of forty-two! No,'
he continued, apostrophising heaven, 'I did not know such boys existed; I
was ignorant they made them so; I had doubted of my race; and now! It is
like,' he added, picking up his stick, 'like a lovers' meeting. I have
bruised my favourite staff in that moment of enthusiasm. The injury,
however, is not grave.' He caught the boy looking at him in obvious
wonder, embarrassment, and alarm. 'Hullo!' said he, 'why do you look at
me like that? Egad, I believe the boy despises me. Do you despise me,
boy?'

'O, no,' replied Jean-Marie, seriously; 'only I do not understand.'

'You must excuse me, sir,' returned the Doctor, with gravity; 'I am still
so young. O, hang him!' he added to himself. And he took his seat again
and observed the boy sardonically. 'He has spoiled the quiet of my
morning,' thought he. 'I shall be nervous all day, and have a febricule
when I digest. Let me compose myself.' And so he dismissed his
pre-occupations by an effort of the will which he had long practised, and
let his soul roam abroad in the contemplation of the morning. He inhaled
the air, tasting it critically as a connoisseur tastes a vintage, and
prolonging the expiration with hygienic gusto. He counted the little
flecks of cloud along the sky. He followed the movements of the birds
round the church tower--making long sweeps, hanging poised, or turning
airy somersaults in fancy, and beating the wind with imaginary pinions.
And in this way he regained peace of mind and animal composure, conscious
of his limbs, conscious of the sight of his eyes, conscious that the air
had a cool taste, like a fruit, at the top of his throat; and at last, in
complete abstraction, he began to sing. The Doctor had but one air--,
'Malbrouck s'en va-t-en guerre;' even with that he was on terms of mere
politeness; and his musical exploits were always reserved for moments
wh