Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/203

Rh stopped in their play for a moment, to feast their eyes on the sight of the grown-ups.

As long aS man could remember, the assembly of the people had been held on the same spot where the serdar's threshing-floor was now. Jovan's father, the serdar Mićun, had paved the place with flag-stones and provided it with an enclosure, and such an assembly-place was not to be found far and near.

After each had questioned the other as to how it fared with him, his family and his distant relatives, the serdar turned to the "little Latin boy."

He had been given the nickname of "Latin" because his face was fair and tender,—just like a Latin boy. But his real name was Luka Lipovac. He was the orphan son of the famous hero Kosta Lipovac.

He was sitting directly opposite the serdar.

"Well, how fares it with you, Luka?"

"Well, God be thanked!" replied the latter, blushing slightly.

"And tell me, pray, do these lads tease you, at all?"

"A little," answered Luka with a forced laugh.

"But from to-day onwards they have no more right to do so! observed one of the Kněžević family.

"Oh, why from to-day onwards?" came a shout from several sides.