house, where he passed the night in great uneasiness.  He rose very early the next morning, and ran to his shop, in hopes of seeing his mistress again; but he was no happier than the day before, for the miller’s wife did not appear at the window above one moment all the day; but that moment made the tailor the most amorous that ever lived.  The third day he had some more ground of satisfaction; for the miller’s wife cast her eyes upon him by chance, and surprised him as he was gazing at her, of which she presently knew the reason.

No sooner did the miller’s wife perceive my brother’s mind, continued the barber, but, instead of being vexed at it, she resolved to make it her diversion.  She looked upon him with a smiling countenance, and my brother looked upon her in the same manner; but his looks were so very whimsical and singular, that the miller’s wife was obliged to shut her window, lest her loud laughter should have made him sensible that she only ridiculed him.  Poor Bacbouc interpreted her behaviour on this occasion to his own advantage, and flattered himself that she had looked upon him with pleasure.

The miller’s wife resolved to make sport with my brother.  She had a piece of very fine stuff, with which she had for a long time designed to make herself a suit; she therefore wrapped it up in a fine embroidered silk handkerchief, and sent it to him by a young slave; who, having been first taught her lesson, came to the tailor’s shop, and said, My mistress gives you her service; and prays you to make her a suit with this stuff according to the pattern:  she changes her clothes often, so that her custom will be profitable to you.  My brother doubted not but the miller’s wife loved him, and therefore concluded that she sent him work so soon after what had passed betwixt them only to signify that she knew his mind, and to convince him that he had obtained her favour.  Confirmed in this opinion, my brother charged the slave to tell her mistress that he would lay aside all other work for her’s, and that the suit should be ready by next morning.  In effect, he laboured at it with so much diligence, that he finished it the same day.

Next morning, the young slave coming to see if the suit was ready, Bacbouc gave it to her neatly folded up; and said, I am too anxious to please your mistress to neglect her suit:  I would engage her by my diligence to employ no other but myself for the future.  The young slave went some steps, as if she had intended to go away; and then coming back, whispered to my brother, I had forgot part of my commission; my mistress charged me to compliment you in her name, and to ask you how you passed the night:  for her part, poor woman, she loves you so mightily, that she could not sleep.  Tell her, answered my silly brother, that I have so violent a passion for her, that I have not closed my eyes in sleep these four nights.  After such a compliment from the miller’s wife, my brother thought she would not let him languish in expectation of her favour.