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 “There, there, be quiet!” Bára consoled her. “Don’t worry! Just let’s be content if that cricket doesn’t come courting you again, and he’d have to be a man without any sense of honor at all if he’d dare come another time. The rest will right itself!”

“But you, poor dear, to have to spend the night in the charnel-house. Dear Lord, I’ll not have a moment’s peace!”

“Don’t have any anxiety on that score. I have slept near the cemetery more than once, and day and night it is before my eyes. Just you go to bed and to sleep! And please send word to father not to have any fears for me and to tie up Lišaj for the night so he won’t follow me. Then tomorrow I’ll tell you the whole affair and what a scare I gave the steward. You’ll have a good laugh over it. And soon you’ll get word from Mr. Hynek. But when you get away from this place, Elška, you’ll surely not leave me here, will you?” Bára asked sadly.

Elška only pressed her hand, whispering, “You and I belong to each other!” Softly she slipped away. Bára sang cheerfully to herself and felt a great peace.

When it had become quite dark the sexton and the night watchman came to lead Bára away to the cemetery. Miss Pepinka winked at her to plead with the priest, intending herself to intercede also. But Bára would not understand, and when the priest himself said that if she asked mercy and was penitent those who had passed the decree could be prevailed