4. Grand-mere Bouqui's Bath.


 Cric ?
 Crac !

 WHEN Bouqui and Malice were boys they lived with
Grand-Mere Bouqui who practically brought them up.
 At that particular time Grand-Mere Bouqui was so
old that her limbs were crooked. She could scarcely walk.
Because of her helplessness Bouqui had to remain in the
little grocery store she owned to sell kerosene oil, salt, and
tobacco leaves to the neighbors. Malice was the one who
did all the shopping and other errands.
 In those days Bouqui was more stupid than anyone
can imagine. Everything he was to do had to be explained
to him over and over in the simplest words, and in spite
of that he would often get confused. This was the reason
why Grand-Mare Bouqui kept an eye on him as much as
she was able. Malice on the contrary was very smart. He
could quickly outwit anybody in the countryside or at the
market place.
 One day Grand-Mere Bouqui became very ill. That
 happened on a Friday, and the next day she was getting
 worse; so Malice had to go to town for the usual Saturday
 marketing.