themillerknowsallnow.everythinghascometoadelightfulend.rudycameherethisevening,andheandbabettehadmuchwhisperingandsecretconversationtogether.theystoodinthepathnearthemiller'sroom.ilayattheirfeet;buttheyhadnoeyesorthoughtsforme.

"'iwillgotoyourfatheratonce,'saidhe;'itisthemosthonorableway.'

"'shalligowithyou?'askedbabette;'itwillgiveyoucourage.'

"'ihaveplentyofcourage,'saidrudy;'butifyouarewithme,hemustbefriendly,whetherhesaysyesorno.'

"sotheyturnedtogoin,andrudytrodheavilyonmytail;hecertainlyisveryclumsy.imewed;butneitherhenorbabettehadanyearsforme.theyopenedthedoor,andenteredtogether.iwasbeforethem,andjumpedonthebackofachair.ihardlyknowwhatrudysaid;butthemillerflewintoarage,andthreatenedtokickhimoutofthehouse.hetoldhimhemightgotothemountains,andlookafterthechamois,butnotafterourlittlebabette."

"andwhatdidtheysay?didtheyspeak?"askedthekitchen-cat.

"whatdidtheysay!why,allthatpeoplegenerallydosaywhentheygoa-wooing-'iloveher,andshelovesme;andwhenthereismilkinthecanforone,thereismilkinthecanfortwo.'

"'butsheissofaraboveyou,'saidthemiller;'shehasheapsofgold,asyouknow.youshouldnotattempttoreachher.'

"'thereisnothingsohighthatamancannotreach,ifhewill,'answeredrudy;forheisabraveyouth.

"'yetyoucouldnotreachtheyoungeagle,'saidthemiller,laughing.'babetteishigherthantheeagle'snest.'

"'iwillhavethemboth,'saidrudy.

"'verywell;iwillgivehertoyouwhenyoubringmetheyoungeagletalive,'saidthemiller;andhelaughedtillthetearsstoodinhiseyes.'butnowithankyouforthisvisit,rudy;andifyoucometo-morrow,youwillfindnobodyathome.good-bye,rudy.'

"babettealsowishedhimfarewell;buthervoicesoundedasmournfulasthemewofalittlekittenthathaslostitsmother.

"'apromiseisapromisebetweenmanandman,'saidrudy.'donotweep,babette;ishallbringtheyoungeagle.'

"'youwillbreakyourneck,ihope,'saidthemiller,'andweshallberelievedfromyourcompany.'

"icallthatkickinghimoutofthehouse,"saidtheparlor-cat."andnowrudyisgone,andbabettesitsandweeps,whilethemillersingsgermansongsthathelearntonhisjourney;butidonottroublemyselfonthematter,-itwouldbeofnouse."