Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/143

Rh themselves to dainties, else they would soon be at the end of their means. Besides, such things are not nourishing."

"There you are mistaken. Such victuals are very nourishing, and if those people could have a little meat each day and some good drink, they would gain more strength than all those other things put together could give them," replied the Princess.

"Well, well, one learns something new every day. I always imagined that the wealthy classes were so thin and pale because they lived on delicacies that were not nourishing."

The Princess smiled, but said nothing. She handed Grandmother a small glass of sweet wine saying as she did so: "Drink, good woman, drink, this will warm you and do you good."

Grandmother raised the glass, saying: "To your Grace's health!" and drank a little; she also took some pastry so her hostess should not be offended.

"What is that the Princess is eating out of those shells?" asked John in a whisper of Hortense.

They are little creatures from the sea and are called oysters," was the reply. "I don't think Cilka would eat them," added John.

"Various things are good for food, and there are various tastes," explained the Countess. While they were thus talking, Barunka slipped something into Grandmother's pocket, whispering: "Hide it for me, Grandma; it's money. Miss Hortense gave it to me for Kuderna's children. I might lose it, you see."

The Princess overheard what Barunka said and her eye rested upon the Countess with inexpressible