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 bit. I have some coffee left from breakfast; refresh yourself.”

The eyes of the bricklayer’s wife sparkled. For a good cup of coffee she was ready to tell news till the next morning. She praised the fine smell of the coffee, took a sip, and began a litany that was enough to put all the saints into a fever. Miss Regina listened till her chin trembled, and presently was so much astonished that her eyes seemed ready to start from their sockets.

Seeing that her news produced such an effect, the bricklayer’s wife did not spare her lungs, but added so much from her own invention that there appeared no end to the story. At last she finished her coffee, stroked the pot with her left hand, thanked Miss Regina, and said—

“My goodness me! Here I am talking away, and forgetting completely what I came to Suchdol for!”

After begging Miss Regina for her life not to mention a word to any one of what she had confided to her, lest trouble might arise, if it became known, the bricklayer’s wife took her departure.

Regina went that moment straight into the garden to Ledecký, who was sitting in an arbour covered with wild hops, preparing his Sunday’s sermon.

“Do you see,” she called out, even while at some distance, “that it is all true what I told you!”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean! What does Záluz̓í mean? what Labutín? What does the whole country round mean? Just now the bricklayer’s wife from Záluz̓í was with me.”

“The bricklayer’s wife is a gossip.”

“Oh! with you every woman is a gossip. But what is true is true, and can’t be whitewashed over. That imp in the priest’s house at Záluz̓í is no such thing as the