Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/186

180 "That lying scamp," exclaimed Grandmother, in her indignation supporting her hand on her hip. "It is a wonder he isn't afraid that God will punish him. I will tell your Grace how it was." Here she related what Christina had confided to her in the morning. "Not that I would approve of what those boys did; but they cannot be blamed much, for everybody guards his own. If any one had seen that fellow standing by Christina's window in the night, it would have been trumpeted over the whole neighborhood, and her good name and future would have been ruined; people would say: 'O, she shows favor to such lordlings, she is not for us.' But now she is afraid that he will revenge himself apon them," added Grandmother.

"She need not fear, I will manage that," said the Princess, and motioning to the Countess they mounted their horses, graciously bade the company good day, and galloped to the castle.

"Really, no one would venture to talk with the Princess as our Grandmother did," said Mrs. Proshek.

"It is often easier to speak with an emperor than with a secretary, and a word spoken in season may bear good fruit. Had I remained silent, who knows what would have come from it," said Grandmother.

"Now,I always said that our Princess was pale from the lies people told her," said the gamekeeper, re-entering the house with Mr. Proshek and the miller.

In the evening, Kuderna came over, with his hand organ, and as soon as he began to play, the children, Christina, Betsey, and Vorsa began to