They stopped the man to parley with him, and in a mixture of French and
Arabic he managed to inform Mr. Lawrence that his monkeys were well
trained and tamed, and that they came from the Vallee des Singes,[1]
not far away.
"Oh!" breathed Faith in an aside to her sister, as the men were
conferring, "aren't they the cunningest things? And so little! Hope,
I've a great mind to buy one in place of poor Hafiz. Don't you think
it would be fun?"
"Y-yes, of course. But aren't they dreadfully mischievous?"
"All the more fun, then! I certainly am going to buy one. Father said
the money he gave us was to be spent for fun, and there's nothing
funnier than a monkey."
Faith looked and felt like a naughty child. It was seldom she asserted
herself against the known inclinations of others, and when she did she
could be really obstinate. Hope's objections only increased her desire
to purchase.
"Mr. Lawrence," she cried eagerly, "do ask him the price of this wee
thing on the lowest branch--the one that has such a forsaken look. My
heart aches for him!"
"But I thought you wanted a funny one, Faith," put in her sister.
"Now, this looks much jollier; see how he jumps about and grimaces."
But Faith's tender heart was touched by the mournful look of the
smaller creature, and she felt, somehow, that she could better justify
her purchase if compassion helped to sway her, for, though no one
really opposed her, she felt denial in the air, and was quite certain
she might meet it from her father upon her return to the ship with this
new pet.
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