Ernest Pérochon

“ Back at the pond, Michael stood, all reason swept from his brain, following her with his eyes as far as he could, drinking in exultantly the strong spring air that was still charged with the fragrance of her.
"My youth is not gone, since the loveliest of them all does not repulse me!" ”

“ He went on, pointing to the road:
"You say you are from Chantepie, but you came from the other direction——"
"That's because I've got two new customers at Saint-Ambroise. I went there Wednesday evening; now my work is done and I'm on my way home. Passing by your place, I thought I'd buy some fish for mamma, who isn't very well."
She drawled the last words sweetly and sadly and it gladdened Michael's heart to find that she was as good as she was beautiful. He spoke quickly:
"There are very few fish left; every day people from all around have been coming for some. ”

“ The other day you ran off without telling me."
"My name? Don't you sell fish to people unless you know their names? My name is Violette, and I'm a dressmaker at Chantepie."
"Violette, you're the prettiest dressmaker in all the world!" ”