Oldal 53 [53]
YVON AND FINETITTE
bark in their language, " Here is the old woman with her
guieas ! "
A girl that amuses herself by filling milk-pails with gold
is not to be found every day. Even though she should be
something of a witch, such a girl would none the less be a
treasure in a family. The steward, who was a bachelor,
made this wise reflection that night on going to bed. Before
dawn he rose to make his rounds in the direction of the
stranger's cottage. By the first gleam of day he spied
something shining in the distance like a light among the
woods. On reaching the place, he was greatly surprised
to find a golden cottage instead of the wretched hut that
had stood there the day before. But, on entering the house,
he was much more surprised and delighted to find a beauti¬
ful young girl, with raven hair, sitting by the window
and spinning ou her distaff with the air of an empress.
Like all men, the steward did himself justice, and knew,
at the bottom of his heart, that there was not a woman in
the world that would not be too happy to give him her hand.
Without hesitating, therefore, he declared to Finette that
he had come to marry her. The young girl burst out
laughing, upon which the steward flew into a passion.
“Take care!" said he, in a terrible voice. “‘I am the mas¬
ter here. No one knows who you are or whence you came.
The gold that you gave the old woman has raised susp!¬
cions. There is magic in this house. If you do not accept
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