The Milkmaid of Montfermeil Part 79

"That's doing pretty well, seems to me."

"Oh! but we must have some fun! I want to have some fun! and it takes a lot for that; for my part, I never laugh unless there's at least a dozen in company."

"I told you my nephew was a joker," said Pere Rondin to Auguste, who looked at Bertrand and smiled, while the latter muttered:

"This bridegroom impresses me as a big idiot."

"But take us into the house, Cadet; we're tired, and we want something to eat and drink."

"Oh! excuse me, uncle; you see, my wife that is to be is on my brain.--Ah! messieurs, you'll see, that's all I've got to say; you'll see such a fresh and blooming young woman! She's like a poppy! And a figure! oh! I tell you--round and plump everywhere!"

"Ah! you rascal! you seem to have found out about all this while you was bringing her home."

"Oh, uncle! I should never have thought of such a thing, because she's innocence itself, you see, and she'd have given me a good crack! and she's a strong one, my girl is. She's a good stout sample of virtue.

However, she's my choice, and as you've got here, we'll have the wedding to-morrow."

During this dialogue they had arrived at the farm-house, which was a substantial one and indicated that its owner was in comfortable circ.u.mstances.

"Jerome," said Monsieur Cadet to one of his men, "go and let everybody in the neighborhood know that the wedding will be to-morrow, and that we're getting everything ready for the supper and the ball; and go and tell the musicians I've engaged.--I'll go and get my bride that is to be; she and mother are at one of the neighbors', but I want you to see her right away, and these gentlemen too."

"The fellow's terrible far gone," said Pere Rondin as he escorted the travellers into the house and invited them to be seated.

Madame Eustache soon appeared; she kissed her brother, then proceeded to kiss the new arrivals; for that is the way acquaintances are made in the country.

"But where's the bride?" queried Pere Rondin; "ain't we going to see her?"

"In just a minute, brother; she's gone to prink up a bit for the company. Ah! my eye! she's a fine girl, and Cadet knows what's what!"

"Has she got any money?"

"She's got a nice little pile that the gentleman she worked for gave her; and he told my boy he was giving him a real _rosiere!_[G] And Cadet's a shrewd one, you know, and wouldn't let anybody take him in."

[G] _Rosiere_ is the name given to the maiden who is awarded the prize for virtue in a village compet.i.tion.

"Morbleu!" whispered Bertrand to Auguste, "if the rosiere corresponds with the bridegroom, I'll bet we're going to see some stout Pontoise cowherd."

At last they heard Cadet Eustache's voice introducing his chosen bride to the guests, and Auguste was not a little surprised to recognize Mademoiselle Tapotte, Monsieur de la Thoma.s.siniere's gardener.

Mademoiselle Tapotte had grown taller, and she was still very plump; she was, in truth, a fine figure of a girl, and, as formerly, she kept her eyes on the floor and bowed without looking at anybody.

"Superb!" cried Pere Rondin; "bravo! you've made a great find, Cadet, on my word! And it's a fact that you can still see on her cheeks the down of chast.i.ty."

Monsieur Cadet received these compliments with a smile and said:

"I have the honor to present Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, who will be Madame Eustache to-morrow if G.o.d lets us live."

Everyone kissed the bride--that is also the custom--and Bertrand, who knew nothing of Auguste's adventure at Fleury, was rea.s.sured at sight of the maiden and flattered himself that she would not lead his master into any fresh folly.

But, when it came Auguste's turn to kiss Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, that young woman, despite her ingenuousness, raised her eyes, and a little shriek escaped her when she recognized the young man.

"I am very awkward," said Auguste instantly, "to tread on your foot! I beg your pardon, fair fiancee!"

"Oh! was that what made her cry?" said Cadet, laughingly; "when anyone treads on the feet of our girls about here, they don't yell; they know what it means. They ain't like Suzanne! By the way, monsieur, uncle says you make portraits; do you make faces too?"

"What do you suppose that I make?"

"Why, I mean a head, with eyes and a nose, et cetera."

"I generally find nothing else to paint."

"Pardi, monsieur, if you had time to catch the likeness of my bride, just the face alone, I'd like it mighty well."

"I haven't anything but my pencils in my valise, but I can try to draw her."

"Draw her! Will that be just the same?"

"To be sure."

"Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, monsieur is going to make your portrait; he's going to catch you."

The bride made some objection to allowing herself to be drawn; but Monsieur Cadet was obstinate about it, and she finally consented to lend her face to Auguste, who asked for a room where he could work quietly and without being disturbed.

He was taken to a small room at the top of the house and furnished with all that he required. Monsieur Cadet brought his fiancee, who seated herself, with downcast eyes, beside the table at which Auguste was working. Monsieur Cadet was preparing to watch the process of catching his charmer's likeness when Auguste said to him:

"I am very sorry to send you away, but I cannot draw before anybody. If you want your wife's portrait, you must leave me alone with her; indeed, that is the custom; a painter doesn't like to have anyone see his work before it's finished."

"Oh, yes, that's right," said Cadet; "and then, if I watched you, I wouldn't have any surprise."

"That's so."

"All right, I'll go away. You needn't be afraid to stay alone with monsieur, Mamzelle Tapotte; he's an artist--he's going to catch you and surprise me. Ah! how nice that'll be!"

Mademoiselle Tapotte smiled without raising her eyes, and Monsieur Cadet left her alone with Auguste, while he went to oversee all the preparations for the wedding.

Bertrand was already at table with Pere Rondin. They were soon joined by several farmers of the neighborhood. Neighbors, male and female, kindred and friends came to take up their quarters under Eustache's roof on the day before the wedding. Long tables were laid and covered with dishes and pitchers. They laughed and sang and shrieked and made a great uproar, for the hilarity of the peasant is exceedingly noisy. It seemed as if the wedding festivities had already begun; and Bertrand, who found the wine excellent and did not notice among the village girls any faces likely to inflame his master, concluded that they might safely pa.s.s a week at the farm.

But everybody asked for the bride, and Monsieur Cadet said:

"Someone's catching her just at this minute, getting up a surprise for me, copying her face. I guess I'll go and see how it's coming on."

Monsieur Cadet went up to the room where he had left Auguste and Mademoiselle Tapotte. But the door was locked, doubtless so that they might not be disturbed. The groom tapped gently on the door, saying:

"It's me,--is it done?"

"No, not yet," Auguste replied.

"Is it coming on all right?"

"Yes, it's coming on well."