“Id like to take her from under his very eyes, the dirty dog!” he muttered.
Across from Alfios house lived Master Cola, the vine-grower, who was rich as a porker, so they said, and had an unmarried daughter. Turridu said so much, and did so much, that Master Cola took him into his employ; then he began to haunt the house and make pretty speeches to the girl.
“Why dont you go and say all these fine things to Mistress Lola?” Santa answered him.
“Mistress Lola is a big lady! Mistress Lola is wife of one of the crowned heads now!”
“I suppose I am not good enough for the crowned heads.”
Patron saint
“You are worth a hundred such as Lola; and I know one fellow who would never so much as look at Mistress Lola or her patron saint when you are around. For she isnt fit even to carry your shoes for you, indeed she isnt!”
“When the fox found that he couldnt reach the grapes—”
“He said, How lovely you are, you sweet little grape! ”
“Oh! come, hands off, friend Turridu.”
“Are you afraid I am going to eat you?”
“No, I am not afraid of you nor of him you serve.”
“Ah! your mother was from Licodia, we all know that. Your blood boils quickly! Oh! I could eat you up with my eyes!”
“Then eat me up with your eyes, and leave no crumbs; but meanwhile pick up that bundle of twigs for me.”
“For your sake I would pick up the whole house, that I would!” To hide her blushes, she threw at him the fagot she happened to have in her hands, but for a wonder missed him.
“Cut it short! Talking doesnt bind fagots.”
“If I was rich, I should be looking for a wife just like you, Santa!” I shall not marry a crowned head, as Mistress Lola did; but I shall have my dower, as well as she, when the Lord sends me the right man.” “We know that you are rich, yes, we know that!”
“If you know so much, then stop talking, for my father will soon be here, and I dont care to have him catch me in the courtyard.”
The father began to make a wry face, but the girl pretended not to notice, for the tassel of the riflemans hat had set her heartstrings quivering and was forever dancing before her eyes. After the father had put Turridu out of the door, the daughter opened her window to him, and would stand chatting with him all the evening, until the whole neighborhood could talk of nothing else.
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