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Rh up at his master as he spoke, "it is possible that even I may marry."

"Heaven grant it!" cried the old servant joyfully. "But where are we to find our mistress?"

The master rose, went on tiptoe to the door leading to the travellers' apartments, and pointing with his finger, said in a whisper, "There!"

Stanislas nodded his head approvingly as he put some last logs of wood on the fire for the night. The master, deeply occupied with thought, went to bed. The old servant muttering to himself, "Heaven grant it may come to pass; but I am afraid that pears will never grow on a willow-tree," soon fell fast asleep.

In the morning, when the travellers arose, they found they could not continue their journey on account of the elder lady's illness. The master of the house heard with pleasure that they were likely to stay for a few days longer. Stanislas began to think that it was possible that pears might grow on a willow-tree.

The visitor was a gentleman in comparatively easy circumstances. It is true he was not rich, but he had means, and was upright and independent. He was pleased with the hospitable master of the house, and after a week's stay he said to his wife, whose health had greatly improved,—