This rather ambiguous explanation was quite satisfactory, and after a great many caresses Pepsie went on to tell that Tante Modeste had been there very early, and that she had invited Lady Jane to go in her milk-cart, that afternoon, up on Canal Street to see the King of the Carnival arrive. The cans were to be taken out of the cart, and an extra seat was to be put in, so that all the young ones could take part in the glorious spectacle.
Then Pepsie waited for Lady Jane to get her breath before she finished telling her of Tante Modeste’s plans for the next day, the long-looked-for Mardi-gras.
The little Paichoux wanted Lady Jane to see everything; by some means she must take an active part in the festivities; she must be on Canal Street not as a spectator, but as an actor in the gay scene.
“Children don’t enjoy it half as well, at least mine don’t,” said Tante Modeste, “if they’re cooped up in a cart, or on a gallery, so the best way is to put a domino on them, and turn them in with the crowd.”
“But I’m afraid for Lady,” demurred Pepsie, “she might get frightened in such a crowd, or she might get lost.”
“You needn’t be afraid of that; Tiburce is going to take care of my young ones, and I’ve told him that he must hold fast to the child all the time. Then, Tite can go too; I’ve got an old domino that’ll do for her, and she can keep the child’s hand fast on the other side. If they keep together, there’s no danger.”
“But perhaps Madame Jozain won’t allow her to go on Canal Street.”
“Yes, she will, she’ll be glad to get rid of the care of the child. I just met her coming from market, she had a cream cheese for the little one. I guess she’s pretty good to her, when it doesn’t put her out. She says Madame Hortense, the milliner, on Canal Street, is an old friend of hers, and she’s invited her to come and sit on her gallery and see the show, and there’s no room for children, so she’ll be very glad to have her niece taken care of, and it’s so good of me, and all that. Oh dear, dear! I can’t like that woman. I may be wrong, but she’s a dose I can’t swallow,” and Tante Modeste shrugged her shoulders and laughed.
“But Lady’s got no domino,” said Pepsie ruefully, “and I’m afraid Madame Jozain won’t make her one.”
“Never mind saying anything to her about it. Here’s two bits. Send Tite for some cambric, and I’ll cut you a pattern in a minute. I’ve made so many I know all about it, and, my dear, you can sew it up through the day. Have her ready by nine o’clock. I’ll be here by nine. I’m going to take them all up in the cart and turn them out, and they can come back to me when they’re tired.”