At last he replied with a question in his
turn:
"Did your mamma send you to ask me?"
"No, I came of my own self."
"Then I don't know where the spout is."
"But, Battiste, I only want a little water from the spring; why can't I
have just that?"
"I know that kind of a little bird," said Battiste, grumblingly, "now a
little water, and now a little fire, and always mischief. Can't have it.
Can't give it to you."
"Oh well, I don't care," said Lili, and went straight to the kitchen,
where Trine was scouring pans.
"Trine, dear," said she coaxingly, "come and give me the water-spout.
Battiste won't let us have it. You'll get it for us, won't you?"
"Of course I will," said the maid, "a little water you might be allowed,
I'm sure. But you must wait till the old bear is out of the way; and then
I'll go and get you what you want."
After a while Trine saw Battiste coming from the barn; he went past the
house, down toward the meadows.
"Come along now," she said, and taking Lili's hand, she ran with her to
the wash-house, lifted the long wooden spout from its hiding-place, put
one end into the log, and the other into a small tub.
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