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day eaten the bread of sorrow。 He regulated his pace to the girl's；
and they went together towards the water in painful silence。 The good
man gazed at the fine forehead； the round red arms； the queen's waist；
the feet dusty； but made like those of a Virgin Mary； and the sweet
physiognomy of this girl； who was the living image of St。 Genevieve；
the patroness of Paris； and the maidens who live in the fields。 And
make sure that this Joseph suspected the pretty white of this sweet
girl's breasts； which were by a modest grace carefully covered with an
old rag； and looked at them as a schoolboy looks at a rosy apple on a
hot day。 Also； may you depend upon it that these little hillocks of
nature denoted a wench fashioned with delicious perfection； like
everything that the monks possess。 Now； the more it was forbidden our
silversmith to touch them； the more his mouth watered for these fruits
of love。 And his heart leaped almost into his mouth。
〃You have a fine cow；〃 said he。
〃Would you like a little milk？〃 replied she。 〃It is so warm these
early days of May。 You are far from the town。〃
In truth； the sky was a cloudless blue； and glared like a forge。
Everything was radiant with youth； the leaves； the air； the girls； the
lads； everything was burning； was green； and smelt like balm。 This
naive offer； made without the hope of recompense； though a byzant
would not have paid for the special grace of this speech； and the
modesty of the gesture with which the poor girl turned to him gained
the heart of the jeweller； who would have liked to be able to put this
bondswoman into the skin of a queen； and Paris at her feet。
〃Nay； my child； I thirst not for milk； but for you； whom I would have
leave to liberate。〃
〃That cannot be； and I shall die the property of the abbey。 For years
we have lived so； from father to son； from mother to daughter。 Like my
ancestors； I shall pass my days on this land； as will also my
children； because the abbot cannot legally let us go。〃
〃What！〃 said the Touranian； 〃has no gallant been tempted by your
bright eyes to buy your liberty； as I bought mine from the king？〃
〃It would cost too dear； thus it is those whom at first sight I
please； go as they came。〃
〃And you have never thought of gaining another country in company of a
lover on horseback on a fleet courser？〃
〃Oh yes。 But； monseigneur； if I were caught I should be hanged at
least； and my gallant； even were he a lord； would lose more than one
domain over it； besides other things。 I am not worth so much； besides；
the abbey has arms longer than my feet are swift。 So I live on in
perfect obedience to God； who has placed me in this plight。〃
〃What is your father？〃
〃He tends the vines in the gardens of the abbey。〃
〃And your mother？〃
〃She is a washerwoman。〃
〃And what is your name？〃
〃I have no name； dear sir。 My father was baptised Etienne； my mother
is Etienne； and I am Tiennette； at your service。〃
〃Sweetheart；〃 said the jeweller； 〃never has woman pleased me as you
please me； and I believe that your heart contains a wealth of
goodness。 Now； since you offered yourself to my eyes at the moment
when I was firmly deliberating upon taking a companion； I believe that
I see in you a sign from heaven！ And if I am not displeasing to you； I
beg you to accept me as your friend。〃
Immediately the maid lowered her eyes。 These words were uttered in
such a way； in so grave a tone； so penetrating a manner； that the said
Tiennette burst into tears。
〃No； monseigneur； I should be the cause of a thousand
unpleasantnesses； and of your misfortune。 For a poor bondsmaid； the
conversation has gone far enough。〃
〃Ho！〃 cried Anseau； 〃you do not know； my child； the man you are
dealing with。〃
The Touranian crossed himself； joined his hands； and said
〃I make a vow to Monsieur the Saint Eloi； under whose invocation are
the silversmiths； to fashion two images of pure silver； with the best
workmanship I am able to perform。 One shall be a statue of Madame the
Virgin； to this end； to thank her for the liberty of my dear wife； and
the other for my said patron； if I am successful in my undertaking to
liberate the bondswoman Tiennette here present； and for which I rely
upon his assistance。 Moreover； I swear by my eternal salvation； to
persevere with courage in this affair； to spend therein all I process；
and only to quit it with my life。 God has heard me；〃 said he。 〃And
you； little one；〃 he added； turning towards the maid。
〃Ha！ monseigneur； look！ My cow is running about the fields；〃 cried
she； sobbing at the good man's knees。 〃I will love you all my life；
but withdraw your vow。〃
〃Let us to look after the cow；〃 said the silversmith； raising her；
without daring yet to kiss her； although the maid was well disposed to
it。
〃Yes；〃 said she； 〃for I shall be beaten。〃
And behold now the silversmith； scampering after the cursed cow； who
gave no heed to their amours； she was taken by the horns； and held in
the grip of the Touranian； who for a trifle would have thrown her in
the air； like a straw。
〃Adieu； my sweet one！ If you go into the town； come to my house； over
against St Leu's Church。 I am called Master Anseau； and am silversmith
to the King of France； at the sign of St。 Eloi。 Make me a promise to
be in this field the next Lord's…Day； fail not to come； even should it
rain halberds。〃
〃Yes； dear Sir。 For this I would leap the walls； and； in gratitude；
would I be yours without mischief； and cause you no sorrow； at the
price of my everlasting future。 Awaiting the happy moment； I will pray
God for you with all my heart。〃
And then she remained standing like a stone saint； moving not； until
she could see the good citizen no longer； and he went away with
lagging steps； turning from time to time further to gaze upon her。 And
when he was far off； and out of her sight； she stayed on； until
nightfall； lost in meditation； knowing not if she had dreamed that
which had happened to her。 Then she went back to the house； where she
was beaten for staying out； but felt not the blows。 The good
silversmith could neither eat nor drink； but closed his workshop；
possessed of this girl； thinking of nothing but this girl； seeing
everywhere the girl； everything to him being to possess this girl。 Now
when the morrow was come； he went with great apprehension towards the
abbey to speak to the lord abbot。 On the road； however； he suddenly
thought of putting himself under the protection of one of the king's
people； and with this idea returned to the court； which was then held
in the town。 Being esteemed by all for his prudence； and loved for his
little works and kindnesses； the king's chamberlainfor whom he had
once made； for a present to a lady of the court； a golden casket set
with precious stones and unique of its kindpromised him assistance；
had a horse saddled for himself； and a hack for the silversmith； with