"Yes, yes," he said, looking
into the cup admiringly; "like mother's milk that. White of my eye, but I
do love her!"
The mealman cocked his glance towards the open door. "Elise!" he said
sentimentally, and drank. The blacksmith kissed his daughter, and his
hand rested on her head as he lifted the cup, but he said never a word.
Parpon took one sip, then poured his liquor upon the ground, as though
down there was what he loved best; but his eyes were turned to Dalgrothe
Mountain, which he could see through the open door.
"France!" cried the old soldier stoutly, and tossed off the liquor.
CHAPTER VIII
That night Valmond and his three new recruits, to whom Garotte the
limeburner had been added, met in the smithy and swore fealty to the
great cause. Lajeunesse, by virtue of his position in the parish, and his
former military experience, was made a captain, and the others sergeants
of companies yet unnamed and unformed. The limeburner was a dry, thin man
of no particular stature, who coughed a little between his sentences, and
had a habit, when not talking, of humming to himself, as if in apology
for his silence.
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