Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/177

Rh my father,' I said, 'for I know you Zernov boys; when you get started, the deuce himself is to pay.' In the evening that blessed Italian came again, but in a few minutes he was followed by the boys; there were four of them, among them Milo and his comrade Tomesh,—you know Tomesh, don't you? He is going to marry Anna Ticanek, who is my best friend. When I saw them come I was as delighted as if some one had given me a new gown. With a merry heart I went to fill their glasses and drank with each one. The Italian's face grew dark. I never drink with him. Who can believe him? He could put in some love potion! The boys got round a table to play cards, but only for a blind; for they kept making cutting remarks about the Italian. Vitkov said: 'Look at him, he looks like a noodle owl!' Then Tomesh said: 'I am watching him constantly to see how soon he'll bite his nose off; that would not be difficult, for it reaches almost to his chin!' Thus it went on, he changed color, but did not lisp a syllable. Finally, he threw the money upon the table, left his beer standing, and went away without a word. I signed myself when he left, but the boys said: 'Could he have stabbed us with his looks, it would be all over with us now.' As soon as he left, I went about my work,—you know since mother has been ill, everything depends upon me. The boys left, too. I think it was after ten, when I was through with my work and went to my room. I began to undress, when tap, tap, tap, I heard some one rapping upon my window. I thought: 'Surely it is Milo, he probably forgot something.' He always forgets