Sophie did not want to be asked twice. She held up her frock with one hand, tucked it between her knees, and after she had replaced the red cherry blossoms by some white flowers, she gave the little boat such a hearty shove that it came back to the opposite side. Then the game began again. It was so amusing!
Madame Belenyi saw the pair from the window. She didn't disturb them, but let them amuse themselves until the sun went down and the air began to get chill. Then the most prudent of the two children—it was the girl, no doubt—suggested to the other that the grass was wet with dew, and that it would be well to go back to the house.
Arpad took his boat out of the water, and put it and the flute back in their hiding-place, and returned to his mother.
Madame Belenyi did not scold him. She did not, however, kiss him on his forehead, as she was wont to do. She showed him all she had done to settle the house while he had been amusing himself in the garden.
Arpad was very much pleased to find it so comfortable.
"Mother," he said, "we will live here always."
"I don't object to our living here, Arpad; only there is one condition. You must marry a good girl, and bring her here to help me."
"I, mother?" returned Arpad, half pleased and yet astonished.
"Yes, you. Why not? You are a young man. I cannot look after you always."
Arpad laughed again. "So, because I have grown a young man, and that you cannot keep me any longer at your apron-string, I must take a wife who will keep me in better order than you can. Is that it, mother?"