Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/105

Rh powered her with some deadly charm, that is it!" Such were her reflections night and day, and when one night she happened to look out of the window of the sick chamber and saw in the orchard the muffled form of a man, whose eyes glowed like burning coals,—she would have taken her oath they did,—she was then sure that her suspicions were correct.

But she was greatly rejoiced, when one day Mikesh brought the news that the chasseurs had received orders to leave.

"They could have all remained for aught I care, all but that one; his departure gives me more satisfaction than if some one gave me a hundred in gold. The devil himself brought him here. It has been my impression for some time that since he has been here our Victorka is not what she used to be, and that, after all, he has used some black art against her," said the father, and the mother and the blacksmith's wife agreed with him. The latter, however, hoped that after the removal of the evil influence, all would be well again.

The soldiers marched away. That same night Victorka was so much worse that they thought they must send for the priest. Towards morning she grew better, and continued improving until she was able to sit up. The blacksmith's wife herself accounted for this by the departure of the satanic power, but still she was not displeased when people said: "That blacksmith's wife, she is a trump; if it were not for her, Victorka never would have walked again." And when she heard this again and again, she at last believed that her skill had saved the grirl.