Canst thou not choose thee a husband from among so many pretty fellows ?" "My dear father----" stammered the girl, without raising her eyes.
"Oh, so thou dost want thy dear father to choose for thee, eh ?" inquired Master Jock, interpreting her desire.

"Where is the girl's father, then ?" A greyish-haired man lurched forward, holding his cap in his hand.
"Come, sirrah! look sharp and choose your daughter a husband." The boor seemed inclined, however, to take his time.

He began to tick off the candidates one by one.
"One--two--three! Not one of you has much to bless himself with." At last he pitched upon a son-in-law agreeable to him--a short, thick-set lout who happened to have a well-to-do father.
"Well, are you content to have him ?" inquired Master Jock of the girl.
Susie blushed up to the ears and replied in a scarcely audible voice-- "I would rather have Martin!" At this the whole company laughed heartily.
"Then why send for your father ?" said they.
Martin did not wait to think the matter over, but rushed forward and took the girl's hand.

Master Jock gave them his blessing and fifty ducats, and advised Martin to look well after his consort.
"Oh, I'll look after her," cried Martin, and he glanced defiantly in the direction of the gentlemen.
"Why, what's come to the old chap ?" murmured the guests among themselves; "he has grown very virtuous all at once!" Then there was another flourish of trumpets, the noble guests ascended into the castle, the peasants looked after their own pastimes, the youths and maidens played at blindman's-buff, kiss-in-the-ring, and other artless games, for the old men there was wine and spirits, and the old women had enough to do to talk of old and young alike.
On reaching the castle a fresh amusement awaited Master Jock.

Bandi Kutyfalvi, whom every one had given up, had just leaped from his horse, and a few moments later they were in each other's arms.
"So it is only you, then!" cried the worthy old gentleman, involuntarily drying the tears from his eyes.
"Yes, but it is only by the merest chance that another whom you expect least of all has not arrived also." "Who is that ?" asked Master Jock, with a face beaming with joy.
"Come, guess now!" "My little brother Bela!" said the old man.
"Why, what the devil is the matter with you ?" cried Bandi Kutyfalvi.