And at last one day they told Marcelline what it was they were so anxious to find.

She shook her head.
There was no such toy in _this_ country, she said, but she did not laugh at them, or seem to think them silly.

And she advised them to be content with the prettiest balls they _could_ get, which were of nice smooth buff-coloured leather, very well made, and neither too soft nor too hard.

And in the sunlight, said Jeanne, they really had rather a shiny, goldy look.
For several days to come these balls were a great interest to the children.

Early and late they were practising at them, and, with patience and perseverance, they before long arrived at a good deal of skill.