old man. "Is there anything else you would like?"

"No, Père Maurice," she replied; "nothing just now. I'm no beggar, you
know, and I don't abuse my friends' kindness."

"That's the truth; and so your friends are always ready to do you a
service."

"I was just talking with your wife, and I was asking her if Germain had
at last made up his mind to marry again."

"You're no gossip," replied Père Maurice, "and one can speak before you
without fear of people talking; so I will tell my wife and you that
Germain has really made up his mind; he starts to-morrow for Fourche."

"Bless me!" exclaimed Mère Maurice; "the poor fellow! God grant that he
may find a wife as good and honest as himself!"

"Ah! he is going to Fourche?" observed La Guillette. "Just see how
things turn out! that helps me very much, and as you asked me just now,
Père Maurice, if there was anything I wanted, I'll tell you what you can
do to oblige me."

"Tell us, tell us, we shall be glad to oblige."

"I would like to have Germain take the trouble to take my daughter with
him."

"Where? to Fourche?"