Trip to Le Mans

I recall also the trip I made to Le Mans;¹⁵ it was my first train ride. What a joy to see myself on a trip alone with Mama. I don’t know why I began to cry, but poor little Mother had nothing to introduce to Aunt¹⁶ at Le Mans but a plain little girl all red with the tears she shed on the way. I remember nothing about the visit except the moment when Aunt handed me a little white toy mouse and a little cardboard basket filled with cadies, on top of which were enthroned two pretty sugar rings, just the right size for my finger. Immediately I exclaimed: “How wonderful! there will be a ring for Céline also!” I took my basket by the handle. I gave the other hand to Mama and we left. After a few steps, I looked at my basket and saw that my candies were almost all strewn out on the street like Tom Thumb’s pebbles. I looked again more closely and saw that one of the precious rings had undergone the awful fate of the candies. I had nothing now to give to Céline and so was filled with grief! I asked if I could retrace my steps, but Mama seemed to pay no attention to me. This was too much and my tears were followed by loud cries. I was unable to understand why she didn’t share my pain, and this only increased my grief.