"I have only my mother."
"All right; but why didn't your mother come and settle this?"
"She is in the wagon, ill."
"Ill! Well, this isn't a hospital."
Perrine was afraid that he would not let her sick mother come in.
"I mean she's a little bit tired. We've come a long way."
"I never ask people where they come from," replied the man gruffly. He pointed to a corner of the field, and added: "You can put your wagon over there and tie up the donkey. And if it squashes one of my pups you'll pay me five francs, one hundred sous ... understand?"
As she was going he called out:
"Will you take a glass of wine?"
"No, thanks," she replied; "I never take wine."