Stranica 54 [54]
OCR
LABOULAYE 5 PA NVRX BOOK me for a husband this very instant, I will arrest you, and before night, perhaps, a witch will be burned before Kerver Castle" ‘You are very amiable,” said Finette, with a charming grimace; "you have a peculiar way of paying court to ladies. Even when they have decided not to refuse, a gallant man spares their blushes.”’ "We Bretons are plain-spoken people,” replied the steward; "we go straight to the pomt. Marriage or prison, which do you choose?” "Oh!" cried Finette, laying down the distaff, "there are the firebrands falling all over the room." ‘Don’t trouble yourself,” said the steward; "I will pick them up." "Lay them carefully on the top of the ashes,” returned Finette. "Have you the tongs?” “Yes,” said the steward, picking up the crackling coals. ‘ Abracadabra!” cried Finette, rising. " Villain, may the tongs hold you, and may you hold the tongs till sunset!” No sooner said than done. The wicked steward stood there all day with the tongs in his hand, picking up and throwing back the burning coals that snapped in his face and the hot ashes that flew into his eyes. It was useless for him to shout, pray, weep, and blaspheme; no one heard him. If Finette had stayed at home, she would doubtless have taken pity on him; but after putting the 30
