out to the door on seeing him; soon, without even having exchanged a
word they smiled at one another like acquaintances; and Boitelle felt
his heart moved when he saw suddenly glittering between the dark lips
of the girl her shining row of white teeth. At length he ventured one
day to enter and was quite surprised to find that she could speak
French like everyone else. The bottle of lemonade, of which she was
good enough to accept a glassful, remained in the soldier's
recollection, memorably delicious; and it grew into custom with him to
come and absorb in this little tavern on the quay all the agreeable
drinks which he could afford.

For him it was a treat, a happiness, on which his thoughts were
constantly dwelling, to watch the black hand of the little maid
pouring out something into his glass whilst her teeth, brighter than
her eyes, showed themselves as she laughed. When they had kept company
in this way for two months they became fast friends, and Boitelle,
after his first astonishment at discovering that this negress was in
her excellent principles as good as the best girls in the country,
that she exhibited a regard for economy, industry, religion, and good
conduct, loved her more on that account, and became so much smitten
with her that he wanted to marry her.

He told her about his intentions, which made her dance with joy.
Besides, she had a little money, left her by a female oyster-dealer,
who had picked her up when she had been left on the quay at Havre by
an American captain. This captain had found her, when she was only
about six years old, lying on bales of cotton in the hold of his ship,
some hours after his departure from New York. On his arrival in Havre,
he there abandoned to the care of this compassionate oyster-dealer
the little black creature, who had been hidden on board his vessel, he
could not tell how or why.

The oyster-woman having died, the young negress became a servant at
the Colonial tavern.

Antoine Boitelle added: "This will be all right if the parents don't
go against it. I will never go against them, you understand never! I'm
going to say a word or two to them the first time I go back to the
country."

On the following week, in fact, having obtained twenty-four hours'
leave, he went to see his family, who cultivate a little farm at
Tourteville near Yvetot.

He waited till the meal was finished, the hour when the coffee
baptized with brandy makes people more open-hearted, befo