Note 1 — Chapter II · ROUMANIAN-GYPSY STORIES

There was an old woman in a village. And grown-up maidens met and span, and made a ‘bee.’1 And the young sparks came and laid hold of the girls, and pulled them about and kissed them. But one girl had no sweetheart to lay hold of her and kiss her. And she was a strapping lass, the daughter of wealthy peasants; but three whole days no one came near her. And she looked at the big girls, her comrades. And no one troubled himself with her. Yet she was a pretty girl, a prettier was not to be found. Then came a fine young spark, and took her in his arms and kissed her, and stayed with her until cock-crow. And when the cock crowed at dawn he departed. The old woman saw he had cock’s feet.2 And she kept looking at the lad’s feet, and she said, ‘Nita, my lass, did you see anything?’