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 It is true that Uncle John was merry enough. It was no secret even to the Brezinoffs where this merriment came from, but they did not look too nicely at that. Only let a young man have courage, what matter whether it comes from the heart or the pewter.

And old Brezinoff took further care that it should come so long from the pewter, that it reached the heart at last.

Uncle John jested, pinched Terinka’s cheek, and Novak winked slily at Brezinoff, who merely smiled in reply.

Uncle John asked Terinka, whether she wished to have him for a husband, adding that he had been sent to ask her to be his wife; and he said this without circumlocution.

Terinka blushed becomingly and then responded also becomingly.

Briefly, Uncle John made good progress. He was yet shouting on the road as they returned home long after nightfall.

In the house then at grandfather’s it was now a matter of certainty that there would be a wedding; the banns were sent at once to the parson and a day fixed on which the guests were to assemble.

Grandfather strongly insisted upon there being a large gathering of guests present. And Novak went with the young folk all one day the round of the neighbourhood to invite the whole of it.

Several hogsheads of beer were ordered at once from the brewery, and from Prague were brought about four dozen of the choicest rosolek for the ladies.

The wedding then was prepared.

And when it came everything went off according to the programme. The bride wept, as did her parents, and when they brought her to grandfather’s she had with her about a score of relations.

Evil tongues, and on such occasions some tongues never fail to be so, ran on in this wise:—

“All these relations are instead of furniture, you know; for the bride has not much of that, you know; and if it is a long time coming, that doubtless is because they want to get it cheap to the farm. But how odd! ’tis always such a long way off, you know; and after all ’tis possible the relations have brought it in their pockets.”

But at grandfather’s things went merrily enough. Grandfather was in his element. He at once made friends with all the bride’s relations, and told them all about his own history. Some of these