eu comme une pitié, *felt a sort of compassion

se sont... mieux, * competed with one another in spoiling him.*

Page 67.

10. savait plutôt gré, ' were more disposed to put it to his crédit.' The adverb plutôt qualifies the whole expression, savoir gré ; gréh^vag a uoun can of course only be qualified by an adjective, savoir bon gré à^ * to be pleased with.'