After exchanging a few words with his father, the little harlequin went through still another trick: erect upon a galloping horse, he appeared in four characters--as a pilgrim, a sailor, a soldier, and an acrobat; and every time that he passed near me, he looked at me. And when he dismounted, he began to make the tour of the circus, with his harlequin's cap in his hand, and everybody threw soldi or sugar-plums into it. I had two soldi ready; but when he got in front of me, instead of offering his cap, he drew it back, gave me a look and passed on. I was mortified. Why had he offered me that affront? The performance came to an end; the proprietor thanked the audience; and all the people rose also, and thronged to the doors. I was confused by the crowd, and was on the point of going out, when I felt a touch on my hand. I turned round: it was the little harlequin, with his tiny brown face and his black curls, who was smiling at me; he had his hands full of sugar-plums. Then I understood.
那孩子和他父亲谈说了一会儿，又来献种种的技艺。他立在飞奔的马上，装出参神、水手、兵士及走绳的样子来，每次经过我面前时，总向我看。一下了马，就手执了小丑的帽子 在场内走，视客有的投钱在里面，也有投给果物的。我正预备着两个铜元想等他来时给他，不料他到了我近旁，不但不把帽子擎出，反缩了回去，眼睛注视着我走过去了。我很不快活，心想，他为什么如此呢？表演完毕，班头向观众道谢后，大家都起身挤出场外。我被挤在群众中，正出场门的时候，觉得有人触我的手。回头去看，原来就是那小艺人。小小的黑脸孔上垂着黑发，向我微笑，手里满捧着果子。我见了他那样子，方才明白他的意思。

"Will you accept these sugar-plums from the little harlequin?" said he to me, in his dialect.
“你不肯取些果子吗？”他用他的土音说。
I nodded, and took three or four.
我点了点头，取了两三个。
"Then," he added, "please accept a kiss also."
“请让我吻你一下！”他又说。
"Give me two," I answered; and held up my face to him. He rubbed off his floury face with his hand, put his arm round my neck, and planted two kisses on my cheek, saying:--"There! take one of them to your father."
“请吻我两下！”我抬过头去。他用手拭去了自己脸上的白粉，把手勾住了我的项颈，在我颊上接了两次吻，且说：“这里有一个，请带给你的父亲！”