Pages 22–23

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Jean de Brunhoff
1899-1937

Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphant (The Story of Babar), Maquette

ca. 1930-1931
8 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches (21 x 16 cm)

Gift of Laurent, Mathieu, and Thierry de Brunhoff, and purchased with the assistance of The Florence Gould Foundation and the Acquisitions Fund, Fellows Endowment Fund, Gordon N. Ray Fund, and the Heineman Fund, 2004

MA 6304
Translation: 

Meanwhile, Celeste's and Arthur's mothers, feeling very worried, search everywhere for them, calling out their names. / After running and calling "Arthur, Celeste" for awhile, the mothers run into the giraffe. The giraffe tells them that he saw Babar go by a long time ago and that he was running toward town. Perhaps Arthur and Celeste have met up with him?

Transcription: 

Pendant ce temps, bien inquiètes, les mamans de Céleste et d'Arthur les cherchent partout [et] les appellent. / A force de courir en appellant [i.e., appelant] "Arthur, Céleste" les mamans rencontrent la girafe. La girafe leur dit avoir vu passer Babar il y a longtemps et qu'il courait vers la ville. Peut-être Arthur et Céleste l'ont-ils rejoint?

Published version: 

Pendant ce temps dans la forêt, les éléphants cherchent et appellent Arthur et Céleste, et leurs mamans sont bien inquiètes. Heureusement, en volant sur la ville, un vieux marabout les a vus. Vite il vient prévenir les éléphants.

Meanwhile, in the forest, the elephants are calling and hunting for Arthur and Celeste, and their mothers are very worried. Fortunately, in flying over the town, an old marabou has seen them. He comes back quickly to tell the elephants.