Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/121

Rh "Whither bound, a wedding or a festival?" he asked.

"There is no wedding, sir; we are going to the castle," replied Grandmother.

"To the castle! Well that's something? What will you do there?" wondered the miller.

"The princess invited us," explained the children, and Grandmother added how she had met that lady in the arbor.

"Well, well!" said the miller, taking a pinch of snuff;" when you return, Adelka must tell me what she saw there; and, John, if the Princess should ask you where the finch goes when she follows her nose, you won't know, will you?"

"She won't ask me," replied John, running away to escape further questioning. The miller smiled mischievously, said good bye, and turned toward the dam.

When they reached the inn, they saw Kuderna's children playing with paper mills. Celia held the baby.

"What are you doing here?" asked Barunka.

"Nothing," they replied, curiously eyeing the children's pretty clothes.

"We are going to the castle," began John in a boasting manner.

"Hm, what of it!" replied Lawrence with a toss of the head.

"And we'll see the parrot!" chimed in Willie.

"When I grow up, I shall see parrots and many other things; father says I am to travel and see the world," said the bold Lawrence; but Wenzel and Celia said, "If we could go to!"

"Never mind, I'll bring you something and tell