Meanwhile, through the open door appeared the watch-dog, wagging his tail, and going to the herdsman, he rubbed his nose against his legs, and then lay down near him, yawning with great affability.
"Even Bodri knows you," said the girl.
"Yes, dogs are faithful. It is only girls who forget."
"Sándor, Sándor," she cried. "What a pity it was you could not tell that one little lie when it was so needful! Then they would not have taken you as a soldier to Mezöhegyes. It is not wise to leave a girl to herself. It is not wise to let a lilac-bush in blossom overhang the paling, because then every passer-by who chooses can break off a piece!"
At these words the very morsel of bread fell from the herdsman's mouth, and he cast it to the dog.
"Is this truth that you are saying?"
"Truth? Don't you know the song about 'When the girl's out in the storm, under his cloak the boy keeps her warm'?"
"Yes, and how it goes on too. 'The maid keeps near to the lad in the showers, his cloak being worked with silken flowers.' Get away, dog! Even you only wag your tail when there is a question of bacon!"
Just then the horse in the yard outside began to neigh, and the girl went out, reappearing in a few minutes.
"Where have you been?" asked the man.