“Nay, but she will take a husband, humble in rank, and like ourselves a hunter,” glancing at the same time at the lover.
“How is it then that you wait?” inquired the stranger. “Do you expect him from the village?”
“No,” answered the father, “he is not far off; and so soon as we can fix upon a fortunate day the nuptials will be celebrated.”
“And by what do you judge of a fortunate day?”
“The moon must be approaching the full, the weather fair, and the atmosphere transparent.”
“And is the youth in reality an able hunter?”
“I am,” said the young man, answering for himself, “in the chase of the stag or boar, as you yourself, if you please, shall judge to-morrow.”[to-morrow.”]
“And did you take this hare, my friend?”
“I did,” replied he with a smile, “having set a gin for him by night;[[1839]] the weather being surpassing beautiful, and the moon larger than it ever was before.”
Upon this both the old men laughed, and the lover abashed held his peace.