feminine keenness which knew well
enough that they were bashful. And she asked:

"What are you doing there? Are you trying to see the grass grow?"

Luc was cheered up by this, and smiled likewise: "Maybe we are."

"That's pretty slow work," said she.

He answered, still laughing: "Well, yes, it is."

She went on. But coming back with a milk-pail full of milk, she stopped
again before them, and said:

"Would you like a little? It will taste like home."

With the instinctive feeling that they were of the same peasant race as
she, being herself perhaps also far away from home, she had divined and
touched the spot.

They were both touched. Then with some difficulty, she managed to make
a little milk run into the neck of the glass bottle in which they
carried their wine. And Luc drank first, with little swallows, stopping
every minute to see whether he had drunk more than his half. Then he
handed the bottle to Jean.

She stood upright before them, her hands on her hips, her pail on the
ground at her feet, glad at the pleasure which she had given.

Then she departed, shouting: "Allons, adieu! Till next Sunday!"

And as long as they could see her at all, they followed with their eyes
her tall silhouette, which faded, growing smaller and smaller, seeming
to sink into the verdure of the fields.

When they were leaving the barracks the week after, Jean said to Luc:

"Oughtn't we to buy her something good?"

They were in great embarrassment before the problem of the choice of a
delicacy for the girl with the cow. Luc was of the opinion that a
little tripe would be the best, but Jean preferred some berlingots
because he was fond of sweets. His choice fairly made him enthusiastic,
and they bought at a grocer's two sous' worth of white and red candies.

They ate their breakfast more rapidly than usual, being nervous with
expectation.

Jean saw her first. "There she is!" he cried. Luc added: "Yes, there
she is."

While yet some distance off she laughed at seeing them. Then she cried:

"Is everything going as you like it?"

And in unison they asked:

"Are you getting on all right?"

Then she conversed, talked to them of simple things in which they felt
an interest--of the weather, of the crops, and of her master.

They were afraid to offer her the candies, which were slowly melting
away in Jean's pocket.

At last Luc grew bold, and murmured:

"We have brought you something."

She demanded, "What is it? T