Whenever Nelitchka cries—and she never cries except from pain—
all that one has to do is to start ‘Malbrook s’en va-t-en guerre.’
She cannot resist the attraction; she is drawn through her sobs into the air;
and in a moment there is Nelly singing, with the glad look that comes into her face
always when she sings, and all the tears and pain forgotten.
all that one has to do is to start ‘Malbrook s’en va-t-en guerre.’
She cannot resist the attraction; she is drawn through her sobs into the air;
and in a moment there is Nelly singing, with the glad look that comes into her face
always when she sings, and all the tears and pain forgotten.
It is wonderful, before I shut this up, how that child remains ever
interesting to me. Nothing can stale her infinite variety; and yet it is
not very various.
You see her thinking what she is to do or to say next, with a funny grave air
of reserve, and then the face breaks up into a smile, and it is probably
‘Berecchino!’ said with that sudden little jump of the voice that one knows
in children, as the escape of a jack-in-the-box, and, somehow, I am quite
happy after that!
interesting to me. Nothing can stale her infinite variety; and yet it is
not very various.
You see her thinking what she is to do or to say next, with a funny grave air
of reserve, and then the face breaks up into a smile, and it is probably
‘Berecchino!’ said with that sudden little jump of the voice that one knows
in children, as the escape of a jack-in-the-box, and, somehow, I am quite
happy after that!