human
A leaden ring, he murmured,
gpt
Good-day, lad,
human
Good-day, Father Rameau.
gpt
Off to work already?
human
Yes, father. I'm just going over the master's fields for the last time before seed sowing; we shall begin next week. We're rather behind hand you know.
gpt
So you are; October's nearly over.
human
Can you guess what I was thinking of as I came along?
gpt
Well, yes, you're right. Madeleine is never out of my mind, answered George thoughtfully.
human
I was saying to myself that, if there are plenty of weeds over there (and he pointed to the uncultivated moor with his goad),
gpt
A gold ring!
human
How _did_ you guess what I meant? You don't come from Chêneau, where all the wizards live,
gpt
No witchcraft in that, nephew. The other day I saw how unhappy you were that you could only give Madeleine a leaden ring, and I was just as sorry myself that I couldn't buy her a better one ... and ever since I've been trying to think of a way....
human
And have you found one, father?
gpt
That's a task for stronger arms than yours, father, he said.
human
No one can beat you at cutting birch branches and making them into brooms. But that doesn't need so much muscle as digging up soil like this, pulling up the great roots out of it, or smashing and carrying away huge boulders of rock. Ah, if only I had not given my word to stay with my master till I am married!
gpt
You may laugh at me, lad, but I won't bear malice, said the old man.
human
If the old are not so strong as the young, they are more persevering. I shall clear a bit of the moor, and with the money from my first harvest we will go and buy the ring. Good-bye, lad.
gpt
Good-bye, father; we shall see you doing wonders before long, I know.
human
I shall be working for Madeleine, he said,