out: "But I accept both heart
and cup. Oh, thou little fool, how long wilt thou despise thy good
fortune! For whom dost thou tarry? Will a count of Provence make thee
his bride, that thou scornest the Justice of Napoule? I know better how
to look after my interests. Monsieur Hautmartin, I deem it an honor to
call thee my son-in-law."

Then Marietta went out and wept bitterly, and hated the beautiful cup
with all her heart.

But the justice, drawing the palm of his flabby hand over his nose,
spoke thus judiciously:

"Mother Manon, hurry nothing. The dove will at length, when it learns
to know me better, give way. I am not impetuous. I have some skill among
women, and before a quarter of a year passes by I will insinuate myself
into Marietta's good graces."

"Thy nose is too large for that," whispered Marietta, who listened
outside the door and laughed to herself. In fact, the quarter of a year
passed by and Monsieur Hautmartin had not yet pierced the heart even
with the tip of his nose.

THE FLOWERS.

During this quarter of a year Marietta had other affairs to attend to.
The cup gave her much vexation and trouble, and something else besides.

For a fortnight nothing else was talked of in Napoule, and every one
said it is a present from the justice, and the marriage is already
agreed upon. Marietta solemnly declared to all her companions that she
would rather plunge to the bottom of the sea than marry the justice,
but the maidens continued to banter her all the more, saying: "Oh, how
blissful it must be to repose in the shadow of his nose!" This was her
first vexation.

Then Mother Manon had the cruelty to force Marietta to rinse out the
cup every morning at the spring under the rock and to fill it with fresh
flowers. She hoped by this to accustom Marietta to the cup and heart of
the giver. But Marietta continued to hate both the gift and giver, and
her work at the spring became an actual punishment.

Second vexation.

Then, when in the morning, she came to the spring, twice every week she
found on the rock, immediately over it, some most beautiful flowers,
handsomely arranged, all ready for the decoration of the cup. And on the
flower-stalks a strip of paper was always tied, on which was written,
"Dear Marietta." Now no one need expect to impose upon little Marietta
as if magicians and fairies were still in the world. Consequently she
knew that both the flowers and papers must have come from Monsieur