“Yes,—and might I venture to ask a favor of you; you would earn a reward from heaven, if you would take him as a servant. He would serve you faithfully.”
“Where is your brother?”
“There in the forest. He is at present a coal-burner.”
“We have little wood, and, indeed, no coalery. He would suit me better as a herdsman.”
“That he could easily be. But here is the house.”
“I will wait till you come out,” said John.
Amrie went in to place the water, lay up the fire again, and to make Mariann’s bed afresh for her. When she came out John was waiting for her, and the dog sprang to meet her. They stood long together under the service-tree, whose branches rocked, and whose leaves whispered above them, and they talked of many things. John praised her sense and prudence, and at length said, “If you wished to change your service, you would just suit my mother.”
“That is the greatest praise a man could give me,” said Barefoot. “I have already a remembrance from her.” She related to him the circumstance that took place in her childhood, and they both laughed, when she said, “Dami never would forget that his mother had promised him a pair of leather breeches.”
“He shall have them,” said John.
They walked back together into the village, and John gave her his hand when he wished her good-night! He went reflecting with confused thoughts to his lodgings in the Heathscock Inn.