The Devil's Pool

and champing her bit like the proud, high-spirited mare she was. As they rode by the long pasture,

er; then, seeing that she started off at a fast trot, she neighed in her turn, and stood looking after her, pe

ed. The bad boy wasn't there. Last night, he strove to make me promise to take him along, and he cried a good hour in his bed. This morning again he tried everything to persuade

d been away for some time, for he was hungry, and was eating wild plums and blackberries off the bushes. I gave him some bread from my luncheon,

replied. "If his grandmother hadn't had more sense than I, I couldn't have kept from taki

he wouldn't have been in the way; he's s

contrary, that we ought to see how he would be received, and that nobody could help taking kindly to such a dear child.-But they say at the house

told me, and bade me not mention it to any one, either at home or

n't settled; perhaps I shan'

, Germain. Pray, why s

en, and that's a heavy load for

ur children aren't l

u thin

s, and so well brought up that you can

vain, he's n

't be anything but terri

afraid of cows or bulls, and if I would permit him, he

the older one. Your having such a beautiful chi

d of children; but suppos

en who don't l

there are some, and th

't know this

e seen her. I am not suspicious. When any one says pleasant words to me, I believ

she's a fi

so? Père

ur fathe

; but he doesn't

be very careful, and it's to be hoped

fore going on to Ormeaux: you're a shrewd girl, you have always shown that you have a keen mind, an

s, if a word spoken thoughtlessly should disgust you with this marriage, your people would blame

ere there was something which had frightened her at first, but which she now began to recognize. Germain looked at t

ad one, for it doesn't move. Perhaps s

tle Marie; "it's a child asl

t see the little imp lying there asleep, so far from

eyes and smiled at him, saying, as

you're going to

song! what were you doi

pass; I was looking out on the road,

ou, you would have stayed out all nig

e me!" rejoined Peti

by, and run back to the house if you don

u?" cried the child, beginning to rub hi

Germain, taking refuge behind the authority of the old pe

cked animals there that ate little children, that Grise would not carry three, that she said so when they started, and that in the country they were going to there was no bed or supper for little monkeys. All these excellen

gle took place within him, especially as he was ashamed of his weakness, and tried to conceal his distress from little Marie, that the perspiration stood out on his forehead and his eyes were bordered with red as if they, too, were all ready to shed tears. Finally, he tried to

him along. Your mare is used to carrying two grown people and a child, for your brother-in-law and his wife, who is much heavier than I am, go to market every Saturd

ne. But what shall we do with the child on the way? he will be cold and hungry-and who will look after him to-night and to-morrow, put him to bed, wash him and dress

and at all events, if she doesn't take to your Pierre, I will take charge of him. I will go to her house to dr

girl! He'll be a burden to you!

me, and make me less unhappy the first day I shall have t

hurt him to take it away. When he saw that his father was yielding, he took Marie's hand in both his little sunburned ones and

bird's, and if you feel cold when night comes, my Pierre, just tell me, and I'll wrap you in my cloak. Kiss your little fa

for me!-And really, little Marie, you're too good. I don't know why you didn't come to us as shepherdess last midsummer. You could have taken care of my children, and I wou

pte

eyes and smiled at him, saying, as

ou are going to t

ain placed his son on the front of the heavy goat-skin-covered saddle; "if your wife doesn't like children