Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/314

308 plied the Countess. "I got permission to remain here so that I might sketch this vale, and make you a visit. She will stop for me on her way back."

"Really, it seems as if God himself sent her!" rejoiced Grandmother; "I must put on a clean apron; one gets all dusty from this flax. Excuse me, if you please, I will return presently!"

Grandmother hurried into the house, and before long returned with a clean apron, and clean kerchiefs both on her head and neck, and bringing white bread, honey, butter, and cream.

"Perhaps, your Grace would relish a piece of bread; it was baked yesterday. But let us go into the orchard, it is pleasanter there. When I am alone, I prefer to sit here under this linden, for I like to have the poultry about my feet."

"Then, let us remain here, I am quite comfortable," said the Countess, taking the refreshments Grandmother brought. She did not wait for Grandmother to urge her to eat, but took some bread and a glass of cream. She knew that if she accepted nothing, Grandmother would feel hurt. Then she opened the album and showed Grandmother what she had sketched.

"Oh, dear Lord!" exclaimed Grandmother, "here we have the whole country above the dam; the meadows, the hillside, the woods, and here is Victorka, too!"

"She suits this lovely region well. I met her on the hillside; she looked bad. Cannot anything be done for her?" asked the Countess in a voice full of pity.

"Oh your Grace, her body could be helped, but her trouble is not there. Her mind is wandering;