Anxious to judge instantly of the effect which her appearance would produce on Dénès, she decked herself out in her finest dress, her worsted stockings, and her buckled shoes, and took her way towards the new barn.
But just as she reached the cross-road, she met a young lord in his coach, who, the instant he caught sight of her, desired the coachman to stop.
"By my life," cried he, in admiration, "I had no idea there was such a beautiful creature as this in the country; and if it were to cost me my life, she must bear my name."
But Tephany replied, "Go on, good sir, go on your way; I am but a poor peasant-girl, accustomed to winnow, milk, and mow."
"But I will make a noble lady of you," cried the young lord; and taking her hand, he tried to lead her to his coach.
"I will only be the bride of Dénès, the Plover labourer," said she, with resolution.
The lord still insisted; but when he found that she went towards the ditch to fly away across the meadows, he desired his footmen to seize her, and put her by force into the coach, which then set off at full gallop.
In about an hour's time they reached the castle, which was built of carved stone, and was covered with slate, like all noble mansions. The young lord ordered them to go and fetch a priest to perform the marriage ceremony; and as meanwhile Tephany would not hear a word he had to say, and kept trying to run away, he made them shut her up in a great hall closed by three doors well bolted, and desired his servants to guard her well. But by means of her pin Tephany sent them all into the garden to count cabbages; by her feather she discovered a fourth door concealed in the panneling, whereby she escaped; and then fervently committing herself to Providence, she scampered away through the woods like a hare who hears the dogs behind her.
As long as she had any strength left, on she went, until the night began to close around her. Then, perceiving the turret of a convent, she went up to the little grated door, and ringing the bell, begged for a night's shelter; but on seeing her the portress shook her head.
"Go away, go away," said she; "there is no place here for young girls so beautiful as you, who wander all alone at this hour of night along the roads."