hey strolled slowly toward the river.
"This is the payment I received for a milliner two days ago for designing a promotional card. Plus the change your aunt Mrs.Percy gave me for the sketch yesterday," replied Andre."It was just enough to cover my board expenses for the next few days, maybe a bit would be left to supplement some paint."
Edith grew silent for a moment.
"You are truly an oddball," she muttered.
"I feel guilty towards them," Andre said, his eyes downcast with a pained expression.
This surprised the young girl.
"Why would you feel guilty? If anyone should feel guilty, it''s those aristocrats. I once saw a noble lord publicly whipping a little girl who blocked his way. As for the lady wh-o just gave her alms, I''ve also seen a lot. But I''m well aware that it''s not a miracle. When they stoop down to hand money to those children, it''s nothing different from their carefully choreographed movements when dancing at a ball, just to show off their dainty figures." With a childish voice, she spoke these words.
The painter lowered his head to meet the girl''s gaze, his eyes filled with a myriad of emotions.
Was he amazed by her intelligence or her soul? He couldn''t tell.
"You''re right. What these children need, must not be pity," he turned his head and murmured.
"But I used to think a girl of your age would yearn for that kind of upper-class life. Don''t you ever envy them?"
"Me?" The petite tossed her head lightly. "I don''t envy anyone. I am just Edith, I only want to be Edith."
"And I envy you, Edith," it was the first time she heard Monsieur le painter speak in such a tender tone.
The girl''s chestnut hair was still mixed with puerile blonde strands, one mischievous lock flew onto her cheek. The artist gently pushed it behind her ear.
It was a gesture of an a-dult to a beloved child, but at that moment he truly regarded her as an equal.
"Hurry and set up your easel, or you''ll end up drawing stars," Edith stuck out her tongue.
The sunset was indeed coming to an end.
Andre began to work while idle Edith played by the river, splashing around, chasing after dragonflies.
After a while, when she ran past the painter, she slowed down and turned to him, coincidentally meeting his sight.
"Wait, Edith, stop moving!" the painter suddenly shouted.
"What''s wrong?"
"Please, just for a momen