abbey　very　distinctly；　but　which　he　did　not　wish　to　see。
  〃Monseigneur；　I　am　the　daughter　of　an　homme　de　corps；　thus　whoever
  unites　himself　to　me　by　marriage；　will　become　a　bondsman；　even　if　he
  were　a　citizen　of　Paris；　and　would　belong　body　and　goods　to　the　abbey。
  If　he　loved　me　otherwise；　his　children　would　still　belong　to　the
  domain。　For　this　reason　I　am　neglected　by　everyone；　abandoned　like　a
  poor　beast　of　the　field。　But　what　makes　me　most　unhappy　is；　that
  according　to　the　pleasure　of　monseigneur　the　abbot；　I　shall　be　coupled
  at　some　time　with　a　bondsman。　And　if　I　were　less　ugly　than　I　am；　at
  the　sight　of　my　collar　the　most　amorous　would　flee　from　me　as　from　the
  black　plague。〃
  So　saying；　she　pulled　her　cow　by　the　cord　to　make　it　follow　her。
  〃And　how　old　are　you？〃　asked　the　silversmith。
  〃I　do　not　know；　monseigneur；　but　our　master；　the　abbot；　has　kept
  account。〃
  This　great　misery　touched　the　heart　of　the　good　man；　who　had　in　his
  day　eaten　the　bread　of　sorrow。　He　regulated　his　pace　to　the　girl's；
  and　they　went　together　towards　the　water　in　painful　silence。　The　good
  man　gazed　at　the　fine　forehead；　the　round　red　arms；　the　queen's　waist；
  the　feet　dusty；　but　made　like　those　of　a　Virgin　Mary；　and　the　sweet
  physiognomy　of　this　girl；　who　was　the　living　image　of　St。　Genevieve；
  the　patroness　of　Paris；　and　the　maidens　who　live　in　the　fields。　And
  make　sure　that　this　Joseph　suspected　the　pretty　white　of　this　sweet
  girl's　breasts；　which　were　by　a　modest　grace　carefully　covered　with　an
  old　rag；　and　looked　at　them　as　a　schoolboy　looks　at　a　rosy　apple　on　a
  hot　day。　Also；　may　you　depend　upon　it　that　these　little　hillocks　of
  nature　denoted　a　wench　fashioned　with　delicious　perfection；　like
  everything　that　the　monks　possess。　Now；　the　more　it　was　forbidden　our
  silversmith　to　touch　them；　the　more　his　mouth　watered　for　these　fruits
  of　love。　And　his　heart　leaped　almost　into　his　mouth。
  〃You　have　a　fine　cow；〃　said　he。
  〃Would　you　like　a　little　milk？〃　replied　she。　〃It　is　so　warm　these
  early　days　of　May。　You　are　far　from　the　town。〃
  In　truth；　the　sky　was　a　cloudless　blue；　and　glared　like　a　forge。
  Everything　was　radiant　with　youth；　the　leaves；　the　air；　the　girls；　the
  lads；　everything　was　burning；　was　green；　and　smelt　like　balm。　This
  naive　offer；　made　without　the　hope　of　recompense；　though　a　byzant
  would　not　have　paid　for　the　special　grace　of　this　speech；　and　the
  modesty　of　the　gesture　with　which　the　poor　girl　turned　to　him　gained
  the　heart　of　the　jeweller；　who　would　have　liked　to　be　able　to　put　this
  bondswoman　into　the　skin　of　a　queen；　and　Paris　at　her　feet。
  〃Nay；　my　child；　I　thirst　not　for　milk；　but　for　you；　whom　I　would　have
  leave　to　liberate。〃
  〃That　cannot　be；　and　I　shall　die　the　property　of　the　abbey。　For　years
  we　have　lived　so；　from　father　to　son；　from　mother　to　daughter。　Like　my
  ancestors；　I　shall　pass　my　days　on　this　land；　as　will　also　my
  children；　because　the　abbot　cannot　legally　let　us　go。〃
  〃What！〃　said　the　Touranian；　〃has　no　gallant　been　tempted　by　your
  bright　eyes　to　buy　your　liberty；　as　I　bought　mine　from　the　king？〃
  〃It　would　cost　too　dear；　thus　it　is　those　whom　at　first　sight　I
  please；　go　as　they　came。〃
  〃And　you　have　never　thought　of　gaining　another　country　in　company　of　a
  lover　on　horseback　on　a　fleet　courser？〃
  〃Oh　yes。　But；　monseigneur；　if　I　were　caught　I　should　be　hanged　at
  least；　and　my　gallant；　even　were　he　a　lord；　would　lose　more　than　one
  domain　over　it；　besides　other　things。　I　am　not　worth　so　much；　besides；
  the　abbey　has　arms　longer　than　my　feet　are　swift。　So　I　live　on　in
  perfect　obedience　to　God；　who　has　placed　me　in　this　plight。〃
  〃What　is　your　father？〃
  〃He　tends　the　vines　in　the　gardens　of　the　abbey。〃
  〃And　your　mother？〃
  〃She　is　a　washerwoman。〃
  〃And　what　is　your　name？〃
  〃I　have　no　name；　dear　sir。　My　father　was　baptised　Etienne；　my　mother
  is　Etienne；　and　I　am　Tiennette；　at　your　service。〃
  〃Sweetheart；〃　said　the　jeweller；　〃never　has　woman　pleased　me　as　you
  please　me；　and　I　believe　that　your　heart　contains　a　wealth　of
  goodness。　Now；　since　you　offered　yourself　to　my　eyes　at　the　moment
  when　I　was　firmly　deliberating　upon　taking　a　companion；　I　believe　that
  I　see　in　you　a　sign　from　heaven！　And　if　I　am　not　displeasing　to　you；　I
  beg　you　to　accept　me　as　your　friend。〃
  Immediately　the　maid　lowered　her　eyes。　These　words　were　uttered　in
  such　a　way；　in　so　grave　a　tone；　so　penetrating　a　manner；　that　the　said
  Tiennette　burst　into　tears。
  〃No；　monseigneur；　I　should　be　the　cause　of　a　thousand
  unpleasantnesses；　and　of　your　misfortune。　For　a　poor　bondsmaid；　the
  conversation　has　gone　far　enough。〃
  〃Ho！〃　cried　Anseau；　〃you　do　not　know；　my　child；　the　man　you　are
  dealing　with。〃
  The　Touranian　crossed　himself；　joined　his　hands；　and　said
  〃I　make　a　vow　to　Monsieur　the　Saint　Eloi；　under　whose　invocation　are
  the　silversmiths；　to　fashion　two　images　of　pure　silver；　with　the　best
  workmanship　I　am　able　to　perform。　One　shall　be　a　statue　of　Madame　the
  Virgin；　to　this　end；　to　thank　her　for　the　liberty　of　my　dear　wife；　and
  the　other　for　my　said　patron；　if　I　am　successful　in　my　undertaking　to
  liberate　the　bondswoman　Tiennette　here　present；　and　for　which　I　rely
  upon　his　assistance。　Moreover；　I　swear　by　my　eternal　salvation；　to
  persevere　with　courage　in　this　affair；　to　spend　therein　all　I　process；
  and　only　to　quit　it　with　my　life。　God　has　heard　me；〃　said　he。　〃And
  you；　little　one；〃　he　added；　turning　towards　the　maid。
  〃Ha！　monseigneur；　look！　My　cow　is　running　about　the　fields；〃　cried
  she；　sobbing　at　the　good　man's　knees。　〃I　will　love　you　all　my　life；
  but　withdraw　your　vow。〃
  〃Let　us　to　look　after　the　cow；〃　said　the　silversmith；　raising　her；
  without　daring　yet　to　kiss　her；　although　the　maid　was　well　disposed　to
  it。
  〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃for　I　shall　be　beaten。〃
  And　behold　now　the　silversmith；　scampering　after　the　cursed　cow；　who
  gave　no　heed　to　their　amours；　she　was　taken　by　the　horns；　and　held　in
  the　grip　of　the　Touranian；　who　for　a　trifle　would　have　thrown　her　in
  the　air；　like　a　straw。
  〃Adieu；　my　sweet　one！　If　you　go　into　the　town；　come　to　my　house；　over
  against　St　Leu's　Church。　I　am　called　Master　Anseau；　and　am　silversmith
  to　the　King　of　France；　at　the　sign　of　St。　Eloi。　Make　me　a　promise　to
  be　in　this　field　the　next　Lord's…Day；　fail　not　to　come；　even　should　it
  rain　halberds。〃
  〃Yes；　dear　Sir。　For　this　I　would　leap　the　walls；　and；　in　gratitude；
  would　I　be　yours　without　mischief；　and　cause　you　no　sorrow；　at　the
  price　of　my　everlasting　future。　Awaiting　the　happy　moment；　I　will　pray
  God　for　you　with　all　my　heart。〃
  And　then　she　remained　standing　like　a　stone　saint；　moving　not；　until
  she　could　see　the　good　citizen　no　longer；　and　he　went　away　with
  lagging　steps；　turning　from　time　to　time　further　to　gaze　upon　her。　And
  when　he　was　far　off；　and　out　of　her　sight；　she　stayed　on；　until
  nightfall；　lost　in　meditation；　knowing　not　if　she　had　dreamed　that
  which　had　happened　to　her。　Then　she　went　back　to　the　house；　where　she
  was　beaten　for　staying　out；　but　felt　not　the　blows。　The　good
  silversmith　could　neither　eat　nor　drink；　but　closed　his　workshop；
  possessed　of　this　girl；　thinking　of　nothing　but　this　girl；　seeing
  everywhere　the　girl；　everything　to　him　being　to　possess　this　girl。　Now
  when　the　morrow　was　come；　he　went　with　great　apprehension　towards　the
  abbey　to　speak　to　the　lord　abbot。　On　the　road；　however；　he　suddenly
  thought　of　putting　himself　under　the　protection　of　one　of　the　king's
  people；　and　with　this　idea　returned　to　the　court；　which　was　then　held
  in　the　town。　Being　esteemed　by　all　for　his　prudence；　and　loved　for　his
  little　works　and　kindnesses；　the　king's　chamberlainfor　whom　he　had
  once　made；　for　a　present　to　a　lady　of　the　court；　a　golden　casket　set
  with　precious　stones　and　unique　of　its　kindpromised　him　assistance；
  had　a　horse　saddled　for　himself；　and　a　hack　for　the　silversmith；　with
  whom　he　set　out　for　the　abbey；　and　asked　to　see　the　abbot；　who　was
  Monseigneur　Hugon　de　Sennecterre；　aged　ninety…three。　Being　come　into
  the　room　with　the　silversmith；　waiting　nervously　to　receive　his
  sentence；　the　chamberlain　begged　the　abbot　to　sell　him　in　advance　a
  thing　which　was　easy　for　him　to　sell；　and　which　would　be　pleasant　to
  him。
  To　which　the　abbot　replied；　looking　at　the　chamberlain
  〃That　the　canons　inhibited　and　forbade　him　thus　to　engage　his　word。〃
  〃Behold；　my　dear　father；〃　said　the　chamberlain；　〃the　jeweller　of　the
  Court　who　has　conceived　a　great　love　for　a　bondswoman　belonging　to
  your　abbey；　and　I　request　you；　in　consideration　of　my　obliging　you　in
  any　such　desire　as　you　may　wish　to　see　accomplished；　to　emancipate
  this　maid。〃
  〃Which　is　she？〃　asked　the　abbot　of　the　citizen。
  〃Her　name　is　Tiennette；〃　answered　the　silversmith；　timidly。
  〃Ho！　ho！〃　said　the　good　old　Hugon；　smiling。　〃The　angler　has　caught　us
  a　good　fish！　This　is　a　grave　busin