Chapter 8 〇Under the Eight Great Oak Trees
Be patient, then, Germain, said little Marie, we are not bad on this little high slope.The rain doesn't get through the leaves of these great oaks, and we can make a fire, for I think some old, uninvolved roots are dry enough to kindle a fire.Do you have a fire, Germain?You just smoked a pipe.
I just had a fire!My fire scythe is in my pouch on the saddle, with the game I bring to the lady's house; the damned mare has taken everything, even my cloak, and she'll lose it , let the branches tear.
No, Germain; saddle, cloak, pockets, all on the ground at your feet.The little green horse broke the horse's girth and flung everything aside before running away.
God, it's true!The farmer said that if we could get some dry wood, we could dry our clothes and keep ourselves warm.
That's easy, said little Mary, the dry wood crackling everywhere underfoot; hand me the saddle first.
What are you doing?
Make a bed for the little one: no, no, turn it over; he won't roll out in the sunken place; there's the heat of the animal's back in it.You see the stones over there, pick them up and place them on both sides!
Me, I can't see the pebbles!You have cat eyes!
look!It's done, Germain.Pass me your cloak, and I will wrap his little feet, and my cloak over his body.look!Isn't it the same as being on his bed when he sleeps there!Touch it, he's hot!
really!You're such a good babysitter, Mary!
It's not difficult.Now get the fire scythe in your pocket, and I'll set the firewood.
The firewood won't burn, it's too wet.
You doubt everything, Germain!Don't you remember when it rained and you used to herd sheep and start a big fire in the field?
Yes, that's the way of a sheep-herder boy; and I'm a cow-herder when I can walk.
No wonder your arms are strong and your hands are not dexterous.Look, the firewood is piled up, and you'll see if it catches fire!Pass me the fire and a handful of dried ferns.good!Breathe now; you don't have consumptive disease?
I know no.said Germain, blowing on one side like a bellows.After a while, the flames flickered, red at first, and finally a pale blue flame rose under the oak tree, fighting against the thick fog, gradually drying up the air within ten paces.
Now, I'll sit next to the little one, and keep the sparks from falling on him, said the girl, add more wood and stir up the fire, Germain!We will neither catch a fever nor catch a cold here, I assure you.
In truth, you are a clever girl, Germain said, you are like a little witch of the night, and you can conjure fire.I felt refreshed and relieved; for my legs were wet to my knees, and the thought of staying like this till morning had made me very ill just now.
When a person is in a bad mood, he can't think of anything to do.said little Mary.
So you've never been in a bad mood?
Never had!Never had.What good is that?
oh!No good, indeed; but, when you are troubled, how can you avoid it?God knows, you are not immune to troubles, my poor girl: for you have not always been happy!
Yes, my poor mother and I have suffered.We have troubles, but we never lose our courage.
No matter what the job is, I will never lose my nerve, said Germain, but poverty makes me angry; I never want anything.My woman made me rich, and I still am rich, and I will be rich as long as I stay on the farm: I hope it always will be; but every man should have his pains!I have another pain.
Yes, you have lost your wife, and that is very pitiful.
Who said no?
oh!I did cry for her too, Germain!She is so good!Come, let us not talk of it any more; for I shall weep for her, and all my troubles will come to me to-day.
She really likes you very much, little Mary!She thinks highly of you and your mother.Huh!are you cryingcome on my girl i don't want to cry
But you are crying, Germain!You are crying too!What embarrassment is there in a man crying over his woman?Don't feel embarrassed!I have shared the pain with you equally!
You have a good heart, Mary, and I feel better crying with you.Put your feet closer to the fire; your skirts are all wet, poor girl!Come on, I'll take care of the little guy for you, and you can have a nice fire.
I'm warm enough, said Mary, and if you want to sit down, sit on a corner of your cloak, I'm comfortable that way.
It's not bad here, said Germain, sitting down next to her, but I'm a little bit hungry.It was already nine o'clock in the evening, and I was exhausted from walking on such a muddy road.Aren't you hungry, Mary?
me?Not hungry at all.Unlike you, I am used to eating four meals[Note], I often go to bed without dinner, and it is not unusual to have it again.
【Note】Breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.
A woman like you has an easy life and doesn't cost much.Germain smiled.
I'm not a woman, Mary said innocently, not realizing the subtle meaning of the farmer's tone, are you talking in your sleep?
Yes, I think I am dreaming, replied Germain, perhaps my hunger has made me slip up!
You have a big belly!It's her turn to be merry, and if you can't live five or six hours without food, don't you have game in your pocket and a fire to cook it?
Huh!That's a good idea!But what gift should I give my future father-in-law?
You have six partridges and a hare!I guess you don't need to eat to fill your stomach, do you?
But here, there is no iron fork, no oven, it will be burnt to charcoal!
No, said little Mary, I'll bury it in the ashes and cook it for you, so it won't smell of smoke.Have you never caught a lark in the field?Is it not sandwiched between stones and baked?ah!good!I forgot you didn't let go of the sheep!Come on, pluck the partridge!Don't try so hard!You will tear off its skin.
You can pluck the other one and make a show for me!
Would you like to eat two?How edible!Well, the plucking is done, and I'll cook the two partridges.
You'd make a fine army lady, little Mary; but you've got no locker, and I've got to drink from this pond.
You want to drink, really?Maybe you want coffee too?You thought you were under the arbor of the market place!Choke the shopkeeper, bring wine to Burrell's shrewd farmer!
ah!Little villain, are you making fun of me?You don't drink when you have wine?
me?I drank with you in the hotel at Lebec in the evening, for the second time in my life; if you will be good, I will give you a bottle of good wine that is almost full!
Why, Mary, are you really a witch?
Didn't you order two bottles of wine extravagantly at that hotel in Lebec?You drank a bottle with the little guy, and you put the other bottle in front of me, and I only took a few sips.You don't care, you pay the bill for both bottles.
and after?
Later, I put the unfinished bottle in my basket, because I thought, you or the little one will be thirsty on the way; the wine is here.
You are the most thoughtful girl I have ever met in my life.ah!The poor child was still crying when he left the hotel!That didn't stop her from thinking of others, not herself.Little Mary, the man who marries you will not be a fool.
I hope so, because I don't love a fool.Come, eat your partridges, they are well cooked; and have no bread, but some chestnuts.
Where the hell did you get the chestnuts from?
What's all the fuss about!Along the way I plucked them from trees and filled my pockets.
Are the chestnuts roasted too?
What's the use of my head, if the fire is on and I don't simmer the chestnuts in it?This is always done in the field.
Oh, little Mary, let's have dinner together!I would like to drink to your health and wish you a husband as good as you hoped.Let me know what you think about this!
It troubles me, Germain, because I haven't even thought about it.
What, never thought about it?Never thought about it?He began to eat, says Germain, with a peasant's appetite, but cut off the best part and presented it to his traveling companion, who obstinately refused, and took only a few chestnuts.Seeing that she did not wish to answer his question, he added: Tell me, little Mary, have you not thought of marriage?But you have reached the age!
Maybe, she said, but I'm so poor.It takes at least one hundred Aiju to get married and start a family, and I have to work for five or six years to save up the money.
Poor girl!I really want Papa Maurice to give me a hundred aicu and pass it on to you.
Thank you so much, Germain.So what will others say about me?
What will others say?Everyone knows that I am too old to marry you.So others won't guess I guess you
Say it, Germain!Voila, your child is awake.said little Mary.