The oldest cried out, He who held the tool (Listen to the nightingale), The oldest cried aloud, When I love I rule. The third sang to her, Bearing the almond spray (Listen to the nightingale), The third sang in her ear, I love thee and I pray. Friend shall never be You who bear the flower (Listen to the nightingale), Friend shall never be A coward, or I cower. Master will I none, You who hold the tool (Listen to the nightingale), No master thou of mine, Love obeys no rule. Lover thou shalt be Who bear the almond spray (Listen to the nightingale), My lover shalt thou be, Gifts are for those who pray. I liked the air when joined to the words better than the first time I heard it; and I was so pleased that I asked to hear it again; but Père Bastien, who had no vanity about his compositions, declared it was not worth while, and went on playing other airs, sometimes in the major, sometimes in the minor, and even employing both modes in the same song, teaching Joseph, as he did so, how to pass from one to the other and then back again. The stars were casting their light long before we wanted to retire; even the townspeople assembled in numbers at the foot of the ravine to listen, with much satisfaction to their ears. Some said: "That's one of the Bourbonnais bagpipers, and what is more, he is a master; he knows the art, and not one of us can hold a candle to him." On our way back to the inn Père Bastien continued to instruct Joseph, and the latter, never weary of such talk, lagged a little behind us to listen and question him. So I walked in front with Thérence, who, useful and energetic as ever, helped me to carry the baskets. Brulette walked alone between the pairs, dreaming of I don't know what,--as she had taken to doing of late; and Thérence sometimes turned round as if to look at her, but really to see if Joseph were following. "Look at him well, Thérence," I said to her, at a moment when she seemed in great anxiety, "for your father said truly, 'When we part for a day it may be for life.'" "Yes," she replied, "but on the other hand, when we think we are parting for life it may be for only a day." "You remind me," said I, "that when I first saw you you floated away like a dream and I never expected to see you again." "I know what you mean," she exclaimed. "My father reminded me of it yesterday, in speaking of you. Father really loves you, Tiennet, and has great respect for you." "I am glad and honored, Thérence; but I don't know what I have done to deserve it, for there is nothing in me that is different from the common run of men." "My father is never mistaken in his judgment, and what he says, I believe; why should that make you sigh, Tiennet?" "Did I sigh, Thérence? I didn't mean to." "No, of course you did not," she replied; "but that is no reason why you should hide your feelings from me. You love Brulette and are afraid--"