Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/202

178 folk were approaching as wedding guests, one after another. But that was as much as to say that they were coming to pay a visit toa chieftain. The serdar again stared angrily in front of him, for he was vexed with the man who had mocked at the arrivals by the name in question.

"Let them come, and make room for the people!" he cried, and rose up from his seat. The others present also rose up on one side when the first guests had advanced closer.

"Just look, by God, the little Latin boy is among them too, and not among the last ones, either!" exclaimed the same waggish lad who had given them all the name of wedding guests.

"Do not speak so, my children!" the serdar suddenly burst forth. "If he is among them, it is fitting for him to be among them. Surely you know whose son he is?"

"By God, he is a handsome lad, too," exclaimed the man with the big moustache, "and we only tease him because we like him But we will stop doing it."

"Welcome!" exclaimed the serdar. "Come, brothers, and the best of thanks for your visit!"

They all embraced and then sat down. About forty of them were now sitting down together on the threshing-floor. Dunja, her mother, and little Ivan watched the company from the threshold of the kitchen door. Women were leaning against the enclosure, and even little children