rentice my boys to some trade that
would give them a chance of a better living than their father had before
them, and take them a little from under the Count's hand, for that is
very heavy upon us. If my boys have nothing better before them than to
divide my poor field, and live as peasants under the Count, I don't know
that I should cry to lay them in their graves before I lie down myself."

"And cannot you apprentice one of them, at least?" inquired Jerome.

"How can I? Besides the transaction between the artisan and me, there
is a great sum to be paid to the king upon the indenture, and another
and a larger before the lad begins his trade. What can a poor peasant
do with his boys but make them poorer peasants than himself, if that is
possible? But it is not possible. Is there coarser woollen than this
that I wear? Is there a tougher leather than my belt is made of? And
is there anything for the feet poorer than our wooden clogs? And as for
food, we are as far from health and strength on the one hand, as we are
from the grave on the other--just half-way. So my boys will be poor
peasants, like their father, if they can make his field yield double;
and if not, they will be in their graves."

The boys trembled, and would have cried if they dared. Their mother
wept outright: and the good-natured Jerome could only shake his head and
sigh, and mutter that he feared that was the plight of millions more in
France. His smoking comrade again gave out, between two puffs, that
before these boys were men, everything might be changed, and the nobles
might chance to find their mouths stuffed with boiled nettles, for once,
just to show what they were like. This speech made the boys laugh.
Their mother wiped her eyes, and gave notice that supper, such as it
was, was ready. She knew there was nothing that could satisfy three
men, if they happened to be very hungry; she could only say that here
was all she had.

Her guests answered her with a civil nod, and sat down at her board with
alacrity, saying that the fowls looked savoury, and the bowl of milk
good for a thirsty man after a march. Some of their comrades in the
village had wine, they knew: but nothing was said about it; for the
soldiers' pockets were empty, like those of their host.

It was growing dark. Randolphe made what blaze he could by throwing
light wood upon the fire. By law, he was bound to furnish candles to
his guests; and some soldiers whom he had