One day not long after that, there was a great outcry among the crowd
that was watching the rope-dan-cers. Wilhelm went down to find out
what was the matter. He saw that the master of the dancers was beating
little Mignon with a stick. He ran and held the man by the collar.
"Let the child alone!" he cried. "If you touch her again, one of us
shall never leave this spot."
The man tried to get loose; but Wilhelm held him fast. The child crept
away, and hid herself in the crowd.
"Pay me what her clothes cost," cried the ropedancer at last, "and you
may take her."
As soon as all was quiet, Wilhelm went to look for Mignon; for she now
belonged to him. But he could not find her, and it was not until the
ropedancers had left the town that she came to him.
"Where have you been?" asked Wilhelm in his kindest tones; but the
child did not speak.
"You are to live with me now, and you must be a good child," he said.
"I will try," said Mignon gently.
From that time she tried to do all that she could for Wilhelm and his
friends. She would let no one wait on him but herself. She was often
seen going to a basin of water to wash from her face the paint with
which the ropedancers had red-dened her cheeks: indeed, she nearly
rubbed off the skin in trying to wash away its fine brown tint, which
she thought was some deep dye.
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