Page:Our Grandfather by Vítězslav Hálek (1887).pdf/14

 wall. This game diverted us most of all, for it touched our pockets and our livelihood. And he who lost most was very glad if he had not vexed his father too much in the previous battle, for uncles don’t give coppers twice and so father must make up deficiencies.

Having then quite exhausted in the forenoon all the amusement the farm-yard could furnish, we were not at all sorry when grandfather summoned us to dinner. On this occasion he always presented himself in company with his sons, our uncles and fathers, and reviewed us, his grandchildren. He who had a bruise concealed it; he who had lost sidled up to his father, and he who was safe and sound continued to play with Vorjech.

We distributed ourselves in the corners of the room and sat in silence. But even our fathers did not carry on the conversation, and grandfather who was a confirmed smoker, continually ruffed away at his pipe, and did not seem to wish to notice us. Grandmother hovered about the kitchen range, plates and spoons jingled, and we increased the clatter with our forks. But she wouldn’t so much as smile at us. A child has an instinctive feeling about the sort of look she wore. He very soon discovers when it is in earnest, and when it is feigned, and thus we children had no need to ask questions in order to discover that something very much out of the common was brewing at the old folks’.

After a short time grandfather said, “Come, set the dinner on the table.”

Grandfather, be it understood, always nagged at grandmother. Grandmother began to excuse herself, saying that supper was not so easily served up as he seemed to