V
LA GUILLETTE
Pere Maurice found in the house an elderly neighbor, who had come to
have a chat with his wife, and borrow some embers to light her fire.
Mere Guillette lived in a wretched hovel within two gunshots of the
farm. But she was a decent woman and a woman of strong will. Her poor
house was neat and clean, and her carefully patched clothes denoted
proper self-respect with all her poverty.
"You came to get some fire for the night, eh, Mere Guillette?" said the
old man. "Is there anything else you would like?"
"No, Pere Maurice," she replied; "nothing just now. I'm no beggar, you
know, and I don't abuse my friends' kindness."
"That's the truth; and so your friends are always ready to do you a
service."
"I was just talking with your wife, and I was asking her if Germain had
at last made up his mind to marry again."
"You're no gossip," replied Pere Maurice, "and one can speak before you
without fear of people talking; so I will tell my wife and you that
Germain has really made up his mind; he starts to-morrow for Fourche."
"Bless me!" exclaimed Mere Maurice; "the poor fellow! God grant that he
may find a wife as good and honest as himself!"
"Ah! he is going to Fourche?" observed La Guillette. "Just see how
things turn out! that helps me very much, and as you asked me just now,
Pere Maurice, if there was anything I wanted, I'll tell you what you can
do to oblige me.
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