` Oh , yes ! I always do it for the ladies , and you will find the milk quite fresh and warm , hey , Nannette ? ' and Marie laughed as she pulled the goat from the hedge where she was nibbling the young leaves . We followed the child as she went clattering down the stony path , and soon came into the narrow street bounded on one side by the row of low , stone houses , and on the other by the green wet meadow full of willows , and the rapid mill-stream . All along this side of the road sat women and children , stripping the bark from willow twigs to be used in basket-making . A busy sight and a cheerful one ; for the women gossiped in their high , clear voices , the children sang and laughed , and the babies crept about as freely as young lambs . We found Marie 's home a very poor one . Only two rooms in the little hut , the lower one with its earthen floor , beds in the wall , smoky fire , and single window where the loom stood . At it sat a pale , dark man who stopped work as we entered , and seemed glad to rest while we talked to him , or rather while Kate did , for I could not understand his odd French , and preferred to watch Marie during the making of the bargain . Yvon , a stout lad of twelve , was cutting up brush with an old sickle , and little Bebe , looking like a Dutch doll in her tiny round cap , tight blue gown , and bits of sabots , clung to Marie as she got the supper . I wondered what the children at home would have said to such a supper . A few cabbage leaves made the soup , and this , with the dry black bread and a sip of sour wine , was all they had . There were no plates or bowls , but little hollow places in the heavy wooden table near the edge , and into these fixed cups Marie ladled the soup , giving each a wooden spoon from a queer rack in the middle ; the kettle stood at one end , the big loaf lay at the other , and all stood round eating out of their little troughs , with Nannette and a rough dog close by to receive any crusts that might be left . Presently the mother came in , a true Breton woman ; rosy and robust , neat and cheery , though her poor clothes were patched all over , her hands more rough and worn with hard work than any I ever saw , and the fine hair under her picturesque cap gray at thirty with much care . I saw then where Marie got the brightness that seemed to shine in every feature of her little face , for the mother 's coming was like a ray of sunshine in that dark place , and she had a friendly word and look for every one . Our little arrangement was soon made , and we left them all smiling and nodding as if the few francs we were to pay would be a fortune to them . Early next morning we were wakened by Françoise , the maid , who came up to announce that the goat 's milk had arrived . Then we heard a queer , quick , tapping sound on the stairs , and to our great amusement , Nannette walked into the room , straight up to my bedside , and stood there looking at me with her mild yellow eyes as if she was quite used to seeing night-caps . Marie followed with a pretty little bowl in her hand , and said , laughing at our surprise , ` See , dear mademoiselle ; in this way I make sure that the milk is quite fresh and warm ; ' and kneeling down , she milked the bowl full in a twinkling , while Nannette quietly chewed her cud and sniffed at a plate of rolls on the table . The warm draught was delicious , and we drank each our portion with much merriment .
` It is our custom , ' said XXXXX ; who stood by with her arms folded , and looked on in a lofty manner .
Breton Dutch Françoise French Yvon basket-making crusts left night-caps sabots