Martin’s Girl (Maupassant)
Benoist, a young farmer, found himself admiring Martin's daughter one Sunday after Mass. He became infatuated with her, thinking about her constantly and losing his appetite.
Dammit, she’s a rare fine wench after all, is Martin’s girl.
They began meeting secretly, and Benoist asked her to marry him, to which she agreed. However, she suddenly stopped meeting him and married another wealthy farmer, Vallin, instead.
Benoist was heartbroken and avoided her for months. One day, he heard that she was pregnant and felt a sense of relief, thinking that their relationship was truly over. Months later, he accidentally stumbled upon her in pain, going through childbirth alone. Overwhelmed with the desire to help her, he assisted her through the process and delivered a healthy baby girl.
Here I am, here I am, my lass.
When Vallin, the husband, arrived and saw what had happened, he was grateful to Benoist for helping his wife and offered his friendship. Benoist accepted, and the two men became friends, putting their past behind them.