Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/180

174 "He said: 'Everything went on as we expected, and I am sure the fellow will trouble you no more.'

"All day yesterday I was amused thinking of the trick the boys had played, but in the evening Watchman Kohoutek came over,—he comes every day, and after drinking several glasses he is apt to tell all he knows. He said that the Italian came home that evening in a fearful condition, having been attacked and maltreated by some villains; that he looked so dreadful that all the dogs ran after him; and that Mrs. Kohoutek worked till morning before she got all the tar away. She got a silver dollar for her trouble, but she was to say nothing of it at the castle. He swore a fearful vengeance upon the boys. I fear for Milo now, for they say those Italians are very bad people. Besides, Kohoutek said that the Italian waits upon Mary, the steward's daughter, and that her folks do not object, since they think that he is likely to be promoted. Milo wanted to serve a year in the manor in order to escape the conscription, but if the Italian sets the steward against him, that plan may as well be given up at once. I have considered all this, and now I wish they had let the fellow alone. Last night's dream comforted me a little, but after all it was but a dream! What do you think of the whole affair, Grandma?"

"It was not a wise thing for them to do; but what can we expect of young men, especially when love is mixed up with their affairs? My George did something very similar and we paid for it dearly."

"What was it?" quickly asked Christina.