At the Market-place

We have nothing to do this morning. How shall we kill time 6? Let us follow those farm wagons. They are all going in the same direction. That must be the market-place before us. What a noisy and excited crowd ! Let us look at it from here. Later on we shall make our way through.

1 Present subjunctive. 2 one of them.

3 See Grammar Review, Section 84, b.

4 See Grammar Review, Section^, note 1.

5 See Grammar Review, note to sentence 16 of Exercise IX.

6 Use definite article.

I can't understand what the venders are announcing, but they are selling all kinds of things. Their voices are shrill and yet they don't rise above the din of the crowd. This is a real French crowd. They are yelling with all their might and elbowing each other.

The housewives are bargaining with the venders, but very often the latter do not accept the offers. However, there are so many farm wagons that are displaying the same kind of merchandise that generally they buy at their own price.

A few of the farm wagons have brought vegetables, that is to say, cabbages, string beans, and green peas ; others 1 display baskets of pears, cherries, or other fruits of the season. The largest crowd, however, is 2 before the cases of eggs and the butter patties. A few workmen are examining those wooden shoes which the French peasants use when they are working in the fields or in the gardens.

Some of the women have baskets in which3 they put the articles which they have just bought. The others remain near the farm wagons, handling or looking at the different articles as if they had plenty of time. Many others quickly buy what they need and then they hurry to return 4 home.