Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/81

 I don’t wish to go into service in the town either. I should die with home-sickness among strangers, and with longing for our mountains and our speech. Then in my trouble it occurred to me that you were in need of an assistant. You won’t find one who is more devoted to you than I am, and you will soon teach me the rest. You know that I am not timid or spoilt, and I am not stupid either; I would rather be with you than anywhere else. The neighbours know that you are either asleep or on the roads, so they don’t come to see you. Nobody will know that I am with you, and if you ask the smugglers not to tell, none of them will gossip. Lukas will think I have gone into service, and leave me in peace. I need not fear to be bothered either by him or by father; neither of them will trouble about me, they will be glad to be rid of me.’

She could not go on, her face betrayed her despair.

‘What frights you give people, you young devil!’ Martinka scolded her niece. ‘I really thought something dreadful had happened.’

‘What? Is that nothing? Didn’t I tell you how Lukas has put me to shame before the whole village, and why?’

But Martinka only shook her head, annoyed