CHAPTER XLIII.
The day after my arrival at my uncle's I met some children named
Peyrals who became my playmates. According to the fashion of that part
of the country their baptismal names were spoken preceded by the
definite article. The two little girls respectively ten and twelve
years old were called "the Marciette" and "the Titi," and their
younger brother, still a little chap, who did not, therefore, figure
so largely in our plays, was called "the Medon."
As I was younger in my ways than most boys of twelve,--in spite of my
understanding of some things usually beyond the comprehension of
children,--we immediately became a congenial little band, and for
several summers we came together and enjoyed each other's
companionship.
The father of the little Peyrals owned all the forests and vineyards
upon the hillsides about us. We had the freedom of them, were
absolutely our own masters, and no one controlled or restrained us in
any way, no matter how absurd we were.
In that mountain village our relatives were so esteemed by the
peasants living around them, that it was perfectly proper for us to
wander any where and every where in search of adventures. We would
start out very early in the morning upon mysterious expeditions, or we
went to distant vineyards to have picnics or to chase butterflies that
we never caught. Sometimes a little peasant would enlist in our ranks
and follow submissively wherever we led. After the espionage to which
I had been accustomed I found this liberty a delicious change. An
altogether novel and independent life in the mountains; I might with
some show of reason call it a continuation of my solitude, for I was
the senior of these children who merely participated in my fantastic
plays: between us there were abysmal differences springing from the
quality of our minds and imaginations.
I was always the undisputed chief of the band; Titi, the only one who
ever revolted, was easily brought to terms; the children seemed to
wish to please me in everything, and that made it very easy for me to
manage them.
That was the first little band I led. Later, other ones, less easy to
cope with, came under my dominion; but I always preferred to have them
composed of persons younger than myself, younger in mental development
especially, and more simple in every way than I, so that they would
not interfere with my whims, nor laugh at my childishness.
