human
There is a Mr. Merry-man, who does not get up in a good temper every day.
gpt
What do you want?
human
This is our girl Adelaide, and I have come to ask you to take her as servant, as Monsieur le curé told us you wanted one. Maître Omont looked at the girl, and then he said roughly:
gpt
How old is the great she-goat?
human
Twenty last Michaelmas-Day, Monsieur Omont.
gpt
That is settled, she will have fifteen francs a month and her food. I shall expect her to-morrow, to make my soup in the morning.
human
Adelaide! She came immediately, saying:
gpt
Here I am, master. As soon as she was opposite him, with her red and neglected hands, and her troubled looks, he said:
human
Now just listen to me, so that there may be no mistake between us. You are my servant, but nothing else; you understand what I mean. We shall keep our shoes apart.
gpt
Yes, master.
human
Each in our own place, my girl, you in your kitchen; I in my dining room, and with that exception, everything will be for you just as it is for me. Is that settled?
gpt
Yes, master.
human
Very well; that is all right, and now go to your work.
gpt
Dinner is ready, master.
human
Adelaide! She rushed in terribly frightened, for he had shouted as if he meant to murder her.
gpt
Well, in heaven's name, where is your place?
human
But, ... master ...
gpt
I do not like to eat alone, he roared;
human
Here I am, master, and then sat down opposite to him, and he grew jovial; clinked glasses with her, rapped the table, and told her stories to which she listened with downcast eyes, without daring to say a word, and from time to time she got up to fetch some bread, cider or plates. When she brought in the coffee she only put one cup before him, and then he grew angry again, and growled:
gpt
Well, what about yourself?
human
I never take any, master.
gpt
Why not?
human
Because I do not like it.
gpt
I am not fond of having my coffee by myself, confound it! If you will not take it here, you can go to the devil. Go and get a cup, and make haste about it.
human
Adelaide! She opened her door, and replied from her attic:
gpt
Here I am, master.
human
Where are you?
gpt
In bed, of course, master. Then he roared out:
human
Will you come downstairs, in heaven's name? I do not like to sleep alone, and by G---- and if you object, you can just go at once.
gpt
I will come, master, as she looked for her candle, and he heard her small clogs pattering down the stairs, and when she had got to the bottom steps, he seized her by the arm, and as soon as she had left her light wooden shoes by the side of her master's heavy boots, he pushed her into his room, growling out:
human
Quicker than that, confound it!
gpt
Here I am, here I am, master.
human
Are you not in the family way? She remained thunderstruck, and looked at her waist, and then said:
gpt
No, I do not think so.
human
Just tell me, didn't you mix your clogs together, one night?
gpt
Yes, I mixed them the first night, and then every other night.
human
Well, then you are full, you great tub!
gpt
How could I know? How was I to know? Old Malandain looked at her knowingly, and appeared very pleased, and then he asked:
human
What did you not know? And amid tears she replied:
gpt
How was I to know that children were made in that way? And when her mother came back, the man said, without any anger:
human
There, she is in the family way, now.
gpt
and
human
Then, however, the old man made her hold her tongue, and as he took up his cap to go and talk the matter over with Master Césaire Omont, he remarked:
gpt
She is actually more stupid than I thought she was; she did not even know what he was doing, the fool!