Père Rondin was overjoyed that he had induced the travellers to attend the wedding; he was even on the point of inviting the driver too, when the vehicle, which was moving at a snail's pace, was overturned into a ditch, the only one by the road at that time, and the travellers rolled over one another. Luckily they got off with a few bruises, and the driver calmly busied himself with getting his horses on their feet, informing his passengers that he was sorry that he had not warned them, but that ever since he had been driving over that road he rarely failed to be upset there, because his horses had fallen into that habit. That accident put the finishing touch to the travellers' disgust with the wretched _carriole_. "It ain't only a day's walk from here to our place," said Père Rondin; "let's foot it. We'll get there a blamed sight quicker if we walk." The peasant's suggestion was accepted. They left the _carriole_. Bertrand took one valise, Auguste absolutely insisting on taking the other, and they started. It was a lovely country. They were delighted that they were travelling on foot. Père Rondin was familiar with the roads. They halted only once for refreshment, and the next morning they arrived at Monsieur Cadet Eustache's farm. They were not a hundred yards away when a tall youth rushed out and threw himself on Père Rondin's neck, crying: "Here's uncle! come on, uncle! I'm only waiting for you to get married! and I tell you, I just long to be!" "Good-day, Cadet. See, I've brought along a couple of good fellows, my boy; this gentleman who makes pictures and music, and Monsieur Bertrand, who drinks straight, I warn you." Monsieur Cadet Eustache bowed low to the two travellers, then said to his uncle: "Haven't you brought anybody else?" "What do you mean by that, my boy?" "Why, if you'd had some more too, it would have been all the better, because we mean to have some fun, you see! But never mind--they make two more, anyway." "Haven't you got many people at your wedding?" "Oh! there's eighty of us already." "That's doing pretty well, seems to me." "Oh! but we must have some fun! I want to have some fun! and it takes a lot for that; for my part, I never laugh unless there's at least a dozen in company." "I told you my nephew was a joker," said Père Rondin to Auguste, who looked at Bertrand and smiled, while the latter muttered: "This bridegroom impresses me as a big idiot." "But take us into the house, Cadet; we're tired, and we want something to eat and drink." "Oh! excuse me, uncle; you see, my wife that is to be is on my brain.--Ah! messieurs, you'll see, that's all I've got to say; you'll see such a fresh and blooming young woman! She's like a poppy! And a figure! oh! I tell you--round and plump everywhere!" "Ah! you rascal! you seem to have found out about all this while you was bringing her home."