It was the
lady who broke the ice by alluding to a somewhat peculiar incident.
It happened to be market day, and Wilhelm had been watching with
interest the cheerful bustle in the High Street, and the new type of
country people: the men with their carts bringing in calves, pigs,
and grain, fine-looking fellows, with tall sturdy figures, and
shrewd, clean-shaven faces above the blue cotton white-embroidered
blouses and severely stiff snow-white shirt collars; and the women
in round dark-brown cloaks reaching to their feet; the drum-beating,
yelling tooth-drawers and patent medicine venders praising their
remedies against tapeworm and ague with incredible volubility, and
the couple of majestic gendarmes in their imposing uniforms, with
yellow leather belts and cocked hats, who found no occasion to
exhibit their stern official side to the noisy, laughing, but well-
behaved crowd. After strolling for awhile among the carts and
people, Wilhelm had caught sight of a large and handsome donkey, had
gone up to him and stroked him, and said a variety of friendly
things to him.
At dinner, noting that his neighbor was looking about in search of
something, he asked politely:
"Madame is in want of something?"
"The water, if you please," said she.
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