Away flew Kesta, with the pages after her hooting and shouting, “Down with the impertinent hussy who wanted to marry the Duke, a common dairymaid who makes cheeses.”
On rushed Kesta till she came to the General’s house, and at his window he sat in his fine uniform. He sat waiting for her, but when he saw the pages behind her he called, “Hey-dey, what is all this fuss about?”
“It is nothing,” said Kesta. “See, I have come back to marry you as I promised.”
But here the pages shouted, “Away with the impertinent dairymaid, who thought herself good enough to marry the Duke.”
“And wouldn’t the Duke marry her?” asked the General.
“Of course not; she is nothing but a farm wench,” cried the pages, “and she is to be chased from the town for her impertinence.”
“And so she shall,” cried the General; “she thought she was fit for me too—it is disgraceful!” and he cried to some soldiers who stood by his door, “Here, my men, help to chase this good-for-nothing hussy out of the town.”
But before he had finished Kesta was running down the street with all her might to the banker’s. At last she came to the banker’s big square house standing beside the bank, and on the steps was the banker himself in his shiny black clothes with gold rings on his hands.
“Here I am,” cried Kesta; “and let me in quickly, for I am out of breath with running.”
“Why have you hurried so?” cried the banker, and as he spoke the pages and the soldiers came round the corner, “and what is all this shouting for?”
“Nay, how should I know?” cried Kesta, running into the house.
But up came her pursuers, crying, “Away with her! down with her!”
“Who is it you are calling after?” asked the banker.
“That wench in the yellow dress who has gone into your house.”
“Why, what has she done?” he asked.
“Why, she thought herself good enough to marry the Duke and the General, and she is to be hooted out of the town for her impudence!”
“But didn’t the General want to marry her?” asked the banker.
“Our General!” cried the soldiers angrily; “why, she’s only a dairymaid, and not fit for him.”
“Then I’m sure she can’t be good enough for me, for I’m quite as good as he,” said the banker, and he ran into the house in a great rage, crying, “Begone, you impertinent jade! how dare you think yourself good enough for me to marry!” It chanced at this moment that the clerks were coming out of the bank next door, and when he saw them he cried, “Here, my good fellows, help to chase this minx from the town; she wishes to be my wife, when she is nothing but a common dairymaid.” On this the clerks burst out laughing, and one and all ran after Kesta, who ran with all her might and main.
“It’s too hard,” sobbed she; “what have I done to be treated like this?” But run as fast as she might she could not reach the bailiff’s house before them, and the pages, soldiers, and clerks were all close to her, shouting and laughing.
“Why, what’s the matter?” cried the bailiff, “and why are you shouting at this poor maid?”
“Why,” said they, “she wanted to marry first the Duke, and the General, and the banker, and of course they would not have her, because she is only a common dairy wench.”
“What impertinence!” cried the bailiff; “and, now I come to think of it, she asked to marry me too; indeed she merits punishment for such behaviour,” and seeing some of his farm people close at hand, he bid them run after Kesta and drive her out of the town. But this time she had started first, and had got on to the mill before they could reach her, and she ran into the garden where the miller was. “Well, I’m glad to see you back,” said he, “but how hard you have run.”
“I was in such a hurry to get back. Now let’s go into the house,” she said.
“Come along,” said the miller; “but what are all those people shouting for?”
“ ’Tis only the farmers bringing home pigs from the market,” said Kesta, but she felt frightened, for she heard the people calling after her.
“Pigs don’t make a noise like that,” said the miller, “I will go and see what it is about.” And when he heard that they were all shouting at Kesta, he flew into a violent rage and cried, “If she wasn’t good enough for the bailiff I’m sure she’s not fit for me,” and he called to some of his men who were working at the mill, “See there, my men, do you see that girl? throw some flour at her, for she is an impudent hussy, and asked me to marry her.”
Away flew Kesta again, and after her came all the crowd in a long line. “How unfortunate I am,” she sobbed; “but anyhow I can go back to Adam; he’s sure to be glad to have me,” and on she sped, and at last she came to the farm and ran in, calling to Adam.
“Is that you, Kesta?” cried Adam, coming to meet her, and kissing her. “I’m glad to see you, but why are you so hot?”
“It is the sun, it was so strong,” said Kesta.
“Then sit down and grow cool,” said Adam. “But I wonder what all that shouting outside can be?”
“It is only people making holiday,” cried Kesta. But for all she could say Adam went out to ask the people what
