Page:Czechoslovak stories.pdf/196

 each other regularly as before, although they no longer played with dolls in the space over the oven.

But the friendship of the two girls did not suit the neighbor women. They began to gossip that it was odd that Elška should associate with the shepherd’s daughter, that it was not fitting for her, that she should rather seek the society of the daughters of the mayor, the justice and others. Purposely, they said these things openly so that they would be carried to Miss Pepinka’s ears. The talk vexed Miss Pepinka. It was not wise to irritate the neighbor women, yet Miss Pepinka did not like to send Elška among the local young people. Somehow it did not seem proper to invite the village girls to the parsonage when Elška did not herself seek them. She talked to Elška about it, and the latter briefly decided that she would some times go to visit the village girls, but that Bára would remain the dearest friend of her choice.

Miss Pepinka did not oppose this plan, for she liked Bára herself for many reasons. She thought that Bára would hardly be likely to marry and that later on she would become her right hand, after Elška married. Miss Pepinka had a suitor for Elška up her sleeve, so to speak, but no one knew of it, not even the priest. This suitor was the manager or steward on a nearby noble estate, who was pleasing to Miss Pepinka, and it seemed to her that it would be a very convenient arrangement for Elška’s future. The manorial fields bordered on the parish lands and the steward,