The two girls had been up in the
loft, sniffing at my sack; both the wine and the sewing-machine had put
fancies into their heads; they imagined all sorts of things, and began
throwing out hints. Wait a bit, thought I to myself; my time will come!
In the evening I sit with the family in the parlour, talking. We have just
finished supper, and the master of the house had put on his spectacles to
read the papers. Then some one coughs outside. "There's some one coming
in," I say. The girls exchange glances and go out. A little after they
open the door and show in two young men. "Come in and sit down," says the
wife.
It struck me just then that these two peasant lads had been invited on the
strength of my wine, and that they were sweethearts with the girls. Smart
young creatures--eighteen, nineteen years old, and already up to anything.
Well, if they reckoned on that wine now, they'd be mistaken! Not a
drop....
There was some talking of the weather; how it was no better than could be
looked for that time of year, but a pity the wet had stopped the
ploughing.
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