Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/220

214 and as I cannot accept that distinction her father will be angry, and when spring comes I suppose I shall sing:

As Milo began to sing, the girls joined in, but Christina burst into tears.

"Never mind, my girl; it is long before spring, and who knows what God has in store for us," said Grandmother, trying to comfort her.

She wiped her eyes, but remained sad the rest of the evening.

"Don't worry about it; perhaps, after all, father will be able to manage the matter," said Milo, sitting down beside her.

"Could you not be that king without compromising yourself?" asked Grandmother.

"Of course I could, Grandma; some fellows wait on two and even three girls at the same time, before they select one for good, and girls do the same. I should not be Lucie's first admirer, and should not be obliged to be the last; and yet among us it is an unheard-of thing that a fellow should woo two girls at once, and when one is the 'King,' it is almost the same as if he went to the wedding."

"In that case you do well not to go," replied Grandmother.

"What has possessed Lucie, that she wants only you, as if there were not plenty of other boys in the village," scolded Christina.

"The miller would say 'There is no accounting for tastes,'" replied Grandmother smiling.

When the Christmas holidays were drawing near, the conversation was varied with talks about