‘A fine girl she is too,’ replied the landlord. ‘And I tell you what, miller, listen to me; give Nina to me, and I will not only forgive you the debt, but will make over the mill and the homestead to you, to be your own property for ever.’
‘Give me a proper document to that effect, duly signed by your own hand,’ replied the miller, with a twinkle in his eye, ‘and I will give you “Nina.”’
The landlord went back into the house, and taking two sheets of paper drew up first a formal quittance of the back rent, and then a conveyance of the mill and homestead absolutely to the miller and to his heirs for ever. These he handed to the miller; and then he said, ‘To-night, an hour before sundown, I will send for “Nina.”’
‘All right,’ said the miller; ‘you shall have “Nina,”’ and so they parted.
‘An hour before sundown a servant came with a carriage to fetch “Nina”’
‘Where’s “Nina”?’ said the servant. ‘Master has sent me to fetch “Nina.”’
‘In the stable—take her!’ answered the miller.
In the stable was nothing to be seen but a very lean old donkey.
‘There’s nothing here but an old donkey,’ exclaimed the servant.
‘All right, that’s “Nina,” so take her,’ replied the miller.