“Look, choose for yourself.”
Mistress Marghioala was beautiful, well-built and fascinating, that I knew; but never since I had known her—and I had known her for a long time, for I had passed Manjoala’s Inn many a time when my dead father was alive, as the road to the town led by it—had she appeared to me more attractive. I was young, smart and daring, much more daring than smart. I came up on her left side as she was bending over the hearth, and took her by the waist! with my hand I took hold of her right arm, which was as hard as iron, and the devil tempted me to give it a pinch.
“Have you got nothing to do?” said the woman, looking at me askance.
But I, to cover my blunder, said:
“What marvellous eyes you have, Mistress Marghioala!”
“Don’t try and flatter me; you had better tell me what to give you.”
“Give me—give me—give me yourself.”
“Really——”
“Indeed, you have marvellous eyes, Mistress Marghioala!” sighing.
“Supposing your father-in-law heard you?”