Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/167

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We liked the song very much, and the tune was good, too. The girls of Zernov will wonder; they have not heard it yet," added Christina.

Manchinka and Barunka were humming the new song, and just then they rode past the castle. Before the gate stood the youngest chamberlain dressed in black, a fellow not tall and of a sallow complexion. With one hand he smoothed his black whiskers; the other was hung by the thumb in his gold watch-chain, in such a manner as to display all the rings that shone upon his fingers.

When the carriage drove by, his eyes gleamed like a tomcat's watching a sparrow; he smiled graciously upon Christina and waved his hand. The women barely looked at him, and Milo, with much reluctance, slightly raised his otter cap.

"Really, I should prefer to meet Satan himself than that Italian," said Christina. "Now he is again on the lookout for game, and should a few girls come along alone, he would fly among them like a hawk."

"Well, not long ago he got a dressing at Zliki," began Wenzel; "he came there to the dance, and at once took possession of some of the prettiest girls, as if they had been brought there expressly for him, and the fellow doesn't even know how to speak Bohemian. Still he readily learned to say: 'Pretty girls, I like.'

"Yes, and when he comes to our house he repeats it to me constantly," said Christina; "even