Ourson was much moved--his eyes were moist. Violette perceived this and passing her hand over his eyes, she said, entreatingly: "I pray you don't cry, Ourson; if you cry, Violette must cry too." "No, no, dear little girl, I will cry no more. Let us eat our breakfast and then we will take a walk." They breakfasted with good appetites. Violette clapped her hands frequently and exclaimed: "Oh how good it is! I love it! I am very glad!" After breakfast, Ourson and Violette went out to walk while Agnella and Passerose attended to the house. Ourson played with Violette and gathered her flowers and strawberries. She said to him: "We will always walk with each other. You must always play with Violette." "I cannot always play, little girl. I have to help mamma and Passerose to work." "What sort of work, Ourson?" "To sweep, scour, take care of the cow, cut the grass and bring wood and water." "Violette will work with Ourson." "You are too little, dear Violette, but still you can try." When they returned to the house, Ourson started on his various tasks. Violette followed him everywhere, she did her best and believed that she was helping him but she was really too small to be useful. After some days had passed away, she began to wash the cups and saucers, spread the cloth, fold the linen and wipe the table. She went to the milking with Passerose, helped to strain the milk and skim it and wash the marble flag-stones. She was never out of temper, never disobedient and never answered impatiently or angrily. Ourson loved her more and more from day to day. Agnella and Passerose were also very fond of her and the more so because they knew that she was Ourson's cousin. Violette loved them but Ourson most of all. How could she help loving this good boy, who always forgot himself for her, who was constantly seeking to amuse and please her and who would indeed have been willing to die for his little friend? One day, when Passerose had taken Violette with her to market, Agnella related to Ourson the sad circumstances which had preceded his birth. She revealed to him the possibility of his getting rid of his hairy skin and receiving a smooth white skin in exchange if he could ever find any one who would voluntarily make this sacrifice from affection and gratitude. "Never," cried Ourson, "never will I propose or accept such a sacrifice. I will never consent to devote a being who loves me to that life of wretchedness which the vengeance of the fairy Furious has condemned me to endure; never, from a wish of mine, shall a heart capable of such a sacrifice suffer all that I have suffered and all that I still suffer from the fear and antipathy of men." Agnella argued in vain against this firm and noble resolve of Ourson. He declared that she must never again speak to him of this exchange, to which he would most assuredly never give his consent and that it must never be named to Violette or any other person who loved him.