Entering, he bade them all good evening, and laid his woollen cap upon the table.

Maria looked at him, a blush upon her cheek.

Custom ordains that on the first day of the year the young men shall kiss the women-folk, and Maria knew well enough that Eutrope, shy as he was, would exercise his privilege; she stood motionless by the table, unprotesting, yet thinking of another kiss she would have dearly welcomed.

But the young man took the chair offered him and sat down, his eyes upon the floor.
"You are the only visitor who has come our way to-day," said Chapdelaine, "and I suppose you have seen no one either.

I felt pretty certain you would be here this evening." "Naturally ...