Love of Seven Dolls Read Online Free PDF Page B

to them.
    Carrot Top piped, “Go get yourself some bread and cheese for your breakfast,” and handed her the note. “There’s an Epicerie just down the street. I’ve still got a lot to do to get the show ready. And bring back the change.”
    As she turned to go, somebody behind her went “Psssssst!” She looked around and saw Mr. Reynardo in a corner of the booth motioning to her with his head. She went to him and he stretched his snout up to her ear and whispered hoarsely, “There needn’t be any change.”
    Mouche asked, “What do you mean, Mr. Reynardo?”
    The fox contrived a wicked leer. “Call me Rey. Shhh . . . Everybody knows prices are up. Say breakfast cost more and keep the difference. But remember, it was my idea. Fifty-fifty, kid . . .”
    Mouche shook her head as earnestly as though she were reproving a child. “But Rey . . . Really! That isn’t honest.”
    “Ha, ha!” yipped the fox. “Maybe not, but it’s the only way you’ll get any money out of this outfit. Don’t say I didn’t tip you.”
    When Mouche returned from her breakfast and with thirty francs left over, Carrot Top and Gigi the ingenue were holding the stage. The leprechaun was trying to comb her hair, the angle of his head giving a worried and concentrated expression to his face. A half-dozen people were standing about watching.
    Carrot Top looked up. “Oh, back again, Mouche? Had your breakfast?”
    Mouche replied politely, “Yes, thank you. And here’s your change.”
    Carrot Top nodded absently, took the money, disappeared beneath the counter with it and reappeared almost immediately saying, “I’m trying to do Gigi’s hair. It’s full of mares’ nests.”
    Gigi whined sulkily, “It is not. He’s hurting me.”
    “Birds’ nests, you mean,” Mouche corrected. “Here, let me help. Girls know how to do that ever so much better.”
    Carrot Top looked severe. “Men make the best hair-dressers . . .” he announced, but surrendered the comb to Mouche who applied herself gently to reducing the snarls in Gigi’s golden wig.
    Gigi commanded, “I want braids. I’m tired of all that hair in my eyes. Braid my hair, Mouche.”
    “Certainly, Gigi,” Mouche acquiesced. “And then we’ll wind it about your ears in two buns, Bretonne fashion.”
    Unselfconsciously as though there were no one else watching, she set about combing and separating the hair into strands and then began to weave the braids, singing as she did so, an ancient Breton hair-braiding song that for centuries mothers had sung to their little daughters to keep them quiet during the ceremony. It went:
“First,
    One and three
    then
    Three and two
    then
    Two and one,
    NOW—
    One and two
    and
    Three and one
    and
    Two and one . . .”
    It had a simple, repetitive, hypnotic melody and Golo appearing from behind the booth with his guitar, fingered the strings softly for a moment and picked it up. Doctor Duclos appeared with some sheet music which he read earnestly through the pince-nez affixed to his beak and contributed basso “poom-pooms.” Gigi beat time with her hands. In no time there was a fascinated and enchanted crowd, ten deep, gathered about the booth.
    When the hair was braided and bunned, Gigi and Dr. Duclos went away and Carrot Top taking the empty stage explained the plot of their play. He is in love with Gigi, but the girl is being compelled by her greedy mother, Mme. Muscat, to marry wealthy windy old Dr. Duclos. Carrot Top’s friend Reynardo sends the giant Alifanfaron to abduct Gigi, but being likewise in the employ of Dr. Duclos, the double-crossing fox arranges for the giant to steal Mme. Muscat while he makes love to Gigi instead.
    Into this plot, without further preparation, Mouche was drawn by the puppets to explain, guide, mother, scold, keeping their secrets, sharing others with the audience, while playing a variety of roles, a maid, Mr. Reynardo’s secretary, Dr. Duclos’ sister, a friend of Mme. Muscat’s . . .
    She had a quick