But, when it came Auguste's turn to kiss Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, that young woman, despite her ingenuousness, raised her eyes, and a little shriek escaped her when she recognized the young man. "I am very awkward," said Auguste instantly, "to tread on your foot! I beg your pardon, fair fiancée!" "Oh! was that what made her cry?" said Cadet, laughingly; "when anyone treads on the feet of our girls about here, they don't yell; they know what it means. They ain't like Suzanne! By the way, monsieur, uncle says you make portraits; do you make faces too?" "What do you suppose that I make?" "Why, I mean a head, with eyes and a nose, et cetera." "I generally find nothing else to paint." "Pardi, monsieur, if you had time to catch the likeness of my bride, just the face alone, I'd like it mighty well." "I haven't anything but my pencils in my valise, but I can try to draw her." "Draw her! Will that be just the same?" "To be sure." "Mademoiselle Suzanne Tapotte, monsieur is going to make your portrait; he's going to catch you." The bride made some objection to allowing herself to be drawn; but Monsieur Cadet was obstinate about it, and she finally consented to lend her face to Auguste, who asked for a room where he could work quietly and without being disturbed. He was taken to a small room at the top of the house and furnished with all that he required. Monsieur Cadet brought his fiancée, who seated herself, with downcast eyes, beside the table at which Auguste was working. Monsieur Cadet was preparing to watch the process of catching his charmer's likeness when Auguste said to him: "I am very sorry to send you away, but I cannot draw before anybody. If you want your wife's portrait, you must leave me alone with her; indeed, that is the custom; a painter doesn't like to have anyone see his work before it's finished." "Oh, yes, that's right," said Cadet; "and then, if I watched you, I wouldn't have any surprise." "That's so." "All right, I'll go away. You needn't be afraid to stay alone with monsieur, Mamzelle Tapotte; he's an artist--he's going to catch you and surprise me. Ah! how nice that'll be!" Mademoiselle Tapotte smiled without raising her eyes, and Monsieur Cadet left her alone with Auguste, while he went to oversee all the preparations for the wedding. Bertrand was already at table with Père Rondin. They were soon joined by several farmers of the neighborhood. Neighbors, male and female, kindred and friends came to take up their quarters under Eustache's roof on the day before the wedding. Long tables were laid and covered with dishes and pitchers. They laughed and sang and shrieked and made a great uproar, for the hilarity of the peasant is exceedingly noisy. It seemed as if the wedding festivities had already begun; and Bertrand, who found the wine excellent and did not notice among the village girls any faces likely to inflame his master, concluded that they might safely pass a week at the farm.