What happens after is your affair . ' Petru asked no more , but went towards the house . By this time it was pitch dark , and there was only the ray of light that streamed through the windows to guide him , and at the sound of his footsteps two dogs began to bark loudly . ` Which of those dogs is barking ? Is he tired of life ? ' asked the goddess Venus . ` It is I , O goddess ! ' replied Petru , rather timidly . ' I have lost my way on the heath , and do not know where I am to sleep this night . ' ` Where did you leave your horse ? ' asked the goddess sharply . Petru did not answer . He was not sure if he was to lie , or whether he had better tell the truth . ` Go away , my son , there is no place for you here , ' replied she , drawing back from the window . Then Petru repeated hastily what the horse had told him to say , and no sooner had he done so than the goddess opened the window , and in gentle tones she asked him : ` Let me see this wreath , my son , ' and Petru held it out to her . ` Come into the house , ' went on the goddess ; ` do not fear the dogs , they always know my will . ' And so they did , for as the young man passed they wagged their tails to him . ` Good evening , ' said Petru as he entered the house , and , seating himself near the fire , listened comfortably to whatever the goddess might choose to talk about , which was for the most part the wickedness of men , with whom she was evidently very angry . But Petru agreed with her in everything , as he had been taught was only polite . But was anybody ever so old as she !
I do not know why Petru devoured her so XXXXX his eyes , unless it was to count the wrinkles on her face ; but if so he would have had to live seven lives , and each life seven times the length of an ordinary one , before he could have reckoned them up .
as at for from if in into through whether with