litter of rabbits for
Marie; and you will help me to make a hutch for them, behind the house.
I should say hereabouts."

"Do you know no better than that?" said Charles. "Your father could
have told you in a minute, if you had asked him, that it is against the
law for anybody to keep rabbits and pigeons except the nobles."

"Pigeons!" exclaimed Robin. "Why, that is too bad! I have the
prettiest pair of doves, from this wood, that ever was seen. I took
them from the nest, a month ago; and I tell Marie that their cooing will
set all the doves in the wood cooing, so that she will have music all
day long while you are away at work."

"No matter for all that," said Charles. "It would be a pretty treat for
Marie; and it is a pretty thought of yours: but Marie must be content to
hear the Count's pigeons coo; for the first day the bailiff finds any
tame ones, he will wring their necks, and make her or you suffer for
having them. I can't allow a rabbit or a pigeon here, boys, say what
you will. They will be my ruin. Ah! I see you are vexed with me: but
I did not make the law, and have no more liking to it than you: but I
can tell you, quick as the bailiff's eyes are upon everybody, they are
most so upon people who live, as I am going to do, with fish, and
pigeons, and rabbits all close round about them, and oftentimes wanting
a meal, as I fear Marie and I shall do."

The boys declared that if Charles would not take home their presents,
they would keep them, and bear the risk themselves. They might thus let
Marie have a rabbit or a bird to eat, now and then, if she could not
keep them in their live state, as a pleasure.

As the floor of the hut could not be too much trodden, in the absence of
planks and bricks, Charles and the boys gave it a first treading now, as
soon as the six biggest stakes were driven in. Like all their peasant
neighbours who were not barefoot, they wore wooden clogs; and with these
all three stamped and tramped with might and main.

They were so busy at this work, that they did not perceive that any one
was approaching, till Robin, happening to turn round, exclaimed--

"Why, here is Marie!"

Charles bounded out of the enclosure, threw his arms round Marie, and
covered her cheek with kisses; so delighted was he with her for coming,
as he thought, to see how the work went on, without even waiting till he
went for her.

"Stay, stay, Charles!" exclaimed she, as soon as he would let her spe