”Thedoveyoulostoflate，Mightwarnyoubyherflight，Shesoughtinwoodshermate，Andhasforgotyouquite；ShehasbecomemorefairSincelovehasbeenhercare。
’Tislovemakesallthingsgay，Ohfollowwheresheleads——
Whenbeauteouslooksdecay，Whatdrearylifesucceeds！
Andah！believeme，perfectbliss，Ajoy，wherepeaceandtriumphreign，Iswhenamaiden，lovedlikethis，Haslearnt’tissweettoloveagain！”
Thesongsterfinished，andtheardentcrowdOflistenersclappedtheirhandsinpraisesloud。”Oh！whatalovelysong！”theycried。”Whoisthepoet?””’TisPascal，”answeredThomas，”thathasmadeit！””Bravo！LonglivePascal！”exclaimedtheferventcrowd。
NothingsaidFranconnette；butsherejoiced——wasproud——
Athavingsomuchloveevoked，Andinasongsotouching，Beforethiscrowdadmiring。
ThenshebecamemoreseriousasshethoughtofPascal；”Howbraveheis！’Tisallforhim；hehasnotgothisequal！
Howhepaintslove！Allpraisehimwithoutdoubt；
Andhissweetsong——sotouching！”fornowbyheartsheknowsit。”Butifhelovesatlast，whydoeshehideaway?”
Thenturningsuddenly，shesays——”Thomas，heisnothere，awayhestays；
Iwouldhimcompliment；canhenotcome?””Oh！nowhecannot；butremainsathome。”
ThenspokethejealousLawrence：”PascalknowsHecannotanyothersongscompose；
Poorfellow！almostruinedquiteheis；
Hisfather’smostinfirm——stretchedout，andcannotrise；
Thebakerwillnotgivehimbread，heisconstrainedtodebts。”
ThenFranconnettegrewpale，andsaid，”Andhesoverygood！
Poorlad！howmuchhesuffers；andnowhewantshisfood！””Myfaith！”saidLawrence，aheartofgoodnessaping，”Theysaythatnowhegoesa-begging！””Youlie！”criedThomas，”holdthyserpent’stongue！
Pascal，’tistrue，isworking，yetwithharm，Since，forthismaiden，hehassufferedinhisarm；
Butheiscured；heednotthisspitefulknave！
Heworksnowallalone，forheisstrongandbrave。”
Ifsomeoneonthegirlhiseyeshadset，HewouldhaveseentearsonthecheeksofFranconnette。”Let’s’HunttheSlipper！”’criedthemaids；
Roundawideringtheysat，thejades。
SlipperwasbidbyFranconnette，Butinatwinkle，Marionette——”Lawrence，hastthoumyslipper?””No，demoiselle！””Risethen，andseekitnow，ah，well！”
Lawrence，exultinginhisfeatures，Said，”Franconnette，hastthoumyslipper?””No，sir！””’Tisfalse！”Itwasbeneathherseat！”Thouhastit！Rise！Nowkissmeastheforfeit！”
Afinch，justtakeninanet，Firsttriessomegaptoflyat；
SoFranconnette，justlikeabird，escapedWithLawrence，whomshehated；
Incensedheturnedtokissher；
Heswiftlyran，butinhispursuitwarm，Themomentshewascaughthestumbled，Slipped，fell，andsuddenbrokehisarm。
Misfortunesne’ercomesingle，itissaid。
Thegloomynightwasnowfarspent；
Butinthatfrightoffrights，quiteinabreath，Thehouse-doorcreakedandope’d！Wasitawraith?
No！butanoldmanbeardedtothewaist，AndnowtherestoodbeforethethrongtheBlackWoodGhaist！”Imprudentyouths！?hecried；”Icomefromgloomyrocksupyonder，Youreyestoope：I’mfilledwithwrathandwonder！
YoualladmirethisFranconnette；
Learnwhosheis，infatuate！
Fromverycradleshe’sallevil；
Herwretchedfather，miserable，PassedtotheHugnenotsandsoldhertotheDevil；
Hermotherdiedofshame——
Andthusthedemonplayshisgame。
Nowhehasboughtthiswomanbase，Hetracksherinherhiding-place。
YouseehowhehaspunishedPascalandLawrenceBecausetheygaveherlightembrace！
Bewarned！Forwhosodaresthismaidtowed，Amidthebriefdelightoftheirfirstnuptialnight，Willsuddenhearathunder-pealo’erhead！
ThedemoncomethinhismightTosnatchthebrideawayinfright，Andleavetheill-starredbridegroomdead！”
TheWizardsaidnomore；butangry，fieryrays，Fromscarshisvisagebore，seemedsuddenlytoblaze。
Fourtimesheturnedhisheelupon，Thenbadethedoorstandwide，orerehisfoothestayed；
Withonelongcreakthedoorobeyed，Andlo！thebeardedghaistwasgone！
Heleftgreathorrorinhiswake！Nonestirredinallthethrong；
Theylookednorleftnorright，whenheawayhadgone，Theyseemedallchangedtostone——
Onlythestrickenmaidherselfstoodbraveagainstherwrong；
Andinthehopeforlornthatallmightpassforjest，Withtremuloussmile，halfbright，halfpleading，Shesweptthemwithhereyes，andtwostepsforwardpressed；
Butwhenshesawthemallreceding，Andheardthemcry”Avaunt！”thendidsheknowherfate；
ThendidhersaddenedeyesdilateWithspeechlessterrormoreandmore，Thewhileherheartbeatfastandloud，TillwithacryherheadshebowedAndsankinswoonuponthefloor。
SuchwasthecloseofBuskingnight，Thoughitbegansogayandbright；
ThemorrowwastheNewYear’sday，Itshouldhavebeenatimemostgay；
Butnowtherewentabroadafearfulrumour——
ItwasrememberedlongtimeafterIneveryhouseandcottagehomethroughouttheland——
Though’twasafictionandasuperstition，——
Itwas，”TheDe’il’sabroad！He’snowa-roaming；
Howdreadful！Heisnowforlostsoulsseeking！”
ThefolkswererousedandeachonecalledtomindThatsome，intimesofyore，hadheardthesoundOfDevil’schainsthatclanked；
Howsoonthefathervanished，Themother，bentinagony，Amaniacshedied！
Thatthenallsmiled；theyfeltnorhurtnorharm，Theylivedquitehappyontheircottagefarm，Andwhenthefieldswerespoiltwithhailorrain，Theirgroundwascoveredo’erwithplumsandgrain。
Itwasenough；thegirlsbelieveditall，Grandmothers，mothers——thoughtsdidthemappal——
Eveninfantstrembledatthedemon’sname；
Andwhenthemaidenhungherheadinpain，。
Andwentabroad，theyscarcewouldgiveherpassage；
Theycalledtoher，”Away！Avaunt！thouimpofevil，BeholdthecrimeofdealingwiththeDevil！”
THIRDPART。
TheMaidatEstanquet——ABadDream——TheGrandmother’sAdvice——
BlessedBread——SatisfactionandAffection——FirstThoughtofLove——Sorrowfulness——TheVirgin。
BesideacotatEstanquet，Downbyaleafybrooklet，ThelimpidstreamEnshadowedsheen，Lappedo’erthepebblesmurmuring。
Lastsummersatamaid，withgatheredflowers，Shewasengagedinsetting，Withinhergrassybowers；
Shesanginjoyhernotessothrilling，Asmadethebirds，theirsweetsongstrilling，Mostjealous。
Whydoesshesingnomore?midstfieldsandhedgerowsverdant；
’Thenightingalesthatcamewithinhergarden，Withtheirloud”jug！jug！”warbling，Andtheirsweetquaverssinging；
Canshehavelefthercottagehome?
No！There’sherprettyhatofstrawLaidonthebench；butthentheysawTherewasnoribbonroundit；
Thegardenallneglected；