"You seem to have a lively temper," said Mr. Timm. "But that is all right; relieve yourself--that makes the heart lighter--but if the baroness has so much confidence in you, I suppose you are in high favor with her?" "_Au contraire!_ She me uses, because she me needs. She would give me my _congé_ rather to-day than to-morrow. She me likes, because I not need much sleep and I eat little." "Well, then, I shall never be in favor with her," said Mr. Timm. "But you, poor child, are in a horrible position here. Much work and no thanks; early rising, and, in return, late retiring; all day threshing corn, like the good-natured beast in the Bible, but no privileges granted, as there recorded--who can stand that? You ought to get married, mademoiselle?" Marguerite shrugged her shoulders. "Who will marry me? _Je suis si pauvre et si laide!_" "What is that?" "I say: I am poor and I am ugly!" "I grant the former," said Mr. Timm; "the other is vile slander. You ugly? _Au contraire_: you are pretty, mademoiselle, _très_ pretty, very _belle_----" "_Vouz plaisantez, monsieur_." "No jest," said Mr. Timm. "You are a strikingly handsome girl. In the first place, you have a charming figure----" "_Trop petite_," said Marguerite. "Not a bit," replied Mr. Timm; "secondly, you have prodigiously fine brown eyes, a charming hand, an enchanting little foot----" "_Mais, monsieur!_" "Well, what? It is true, and we can say what is true. I bet _monsieur le docteur_ Stein is of my opinion. Do you love the doctor?" "I him love?" said the little Frenchwoman, with much animation. "I him love? I him 'ate!" "Come, come!" laughed Mr. Timm; "why should you? He is a fine-looking man." "_C'est un bel homme, mais c'est un fat_." "_Un_ what?" "He is one fool, _oui_, one fool, _qui est monstrueusement amoureux de lui-même; mais avec toute sa fierté je me moque de lui, je me moque de sa fierté, oui, je m'en moque, moi._" "Pray, don't get excited, and above all speak German, if you wish me to understand you. What harm has the unfortunate man done you?" "_Lui malheureux? Il n'est pas malheureux, ce monsieur là! Tout le monde le flatte, le cajole_----" "But for Heaven's sake speak German, I say!" "Do you believe that he has ever spoken ten words to me since that he is here?" "That is abominable, to be sure. Ugh! there, I have hurt my foot once more against a miserable root. I am as blind in the dark as a mole. You would really do a work of charity if you would take my arm and help me a little." "_Très volontiers, monsieur_."