"Oh, uncle! I should never have thought of such a thing, because she's innocence itself, you see, and she'd have given me a good crack! and she's a strong one, my girl is. She's a good stout sample of virtue. However, she's my choice, and as you've got here, we'll have the wedding to-morrow." During this dialogue they had arrived at the farm-house, which was a substantial one and indicated that its owner was in comfortable circumstances. "Jérôme," said Monsieur Cadet to one of his men, "go and let everybody in the neighborhood know that the wedding will be to-morrow, and that we're getting everything ready for the supper and the ball; and go and tell the musicians I've engaged.--I'll go and get my bride that is to be; she and mother are at one of the neighbors', but I want you to see her right away, and these gentlemen too." "The fellow's terrible far gone," said Père Rondin as he escorted the travellers into the house and invited them to be seated. Madame Eustache soon appeared; she kissed her brother, then proceeded to kiss the new arrivals; for that is the way acquaintances are made in the country. "But where's the bride?" queried Père Rondin; "ain't we going to see her?" "In just a minute, brother; she's gone to prink up a bit for the company. Ah! my eye! she's a fine girl, and Cadet knows what's what!" "Has she got any money?" "She's got a nice little pile that the gentleman she worked for gave her; and he told my boy he was giving him a real _rosière!_[G] And Cadet's a shrewd one, you know, and wouldn't let anybody take him in." [G] _Rosière_ is the name given to the maiden who is awarded the prize for virtue in a village competition. "Morbleu!" whispered Bertrand to Auguste, "if the rosière corresponds with the bridegroom, I'll bet we're going to see some stout Pontoise cowherd." At last they heard Cadet Eustache's voice introducing his chosen bride to the guests, and Auguste was not a little surprised to recognize Mademoiselle Tapotte, Monsieur de la Thomassinière's gardener. Mademoiselle Tapotte had grown taller, and she was still very plump; she was, in truth, a fine figure of a girl, and, as formerly, she kept her eyes on the floor and bowed without looking at anybody. "Superb!" cried Père Rondin; "bravo! you've made a great find, Cadet, on my word! And it's a fact that you can still see on her cheeks the down of chastity." Monsieur Cadet received these compliments with a smile and said: "I have the honor to present Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, who will be Madame Eustache to-morrow if God lets us live." Everyone kissed the bride--that is also the custom--and Bertrand, who knew nothing of Auguste's adventure at Fleury, was reassured at sight of the maiden and flattered himself that she would not lead his master into any fresh folly.