At last, when bedtime comes, the children retire--even the father and mother go to their room--and the girl is left alone at the fireside with the young man.
"They speak of this and that, and everything, but not a word of love is uttered.

If the girl lets the fire go down, it is a sign she does not care for the lad, and won't have him for a husband.

If, on the contrary, she heaps fuel on the fire, he knows that she loves him and means to accept him for her affianced husband.

In the first case, all the poor lad has to do is to open the door and retire, and never put his foot in the house again.

But, in the other, he knows it is all right, and from that day forward he is treated as if he belonged to the family.' "'And how long does the engagement last ?' "'Oh, about as long as everywhere else--two, three years, more or less, and that is the happiest time of their lives.