Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/317

Rh greeted Grandmother very heartily, and brought a bouquet for Hortense, saying: "You are very fond of wild pinks! I gathered these for you along the way."

The Countess bowed, kissed the hand of the Princess, and put the pinks in her belt.

"These are tears," said Grandmother, looking at the bouquet.

"Tears?" wondered both the ladies.

"Yes, the tears of the Virgin. That's what these flowers are called. When the Jews led Christ to Calvary, the Virgin Mary followed, although her heart was breaking with grief. When she saw on the way the bloody tracks of Christ's wounds, she wept bitterly, and from those tears of Christ's mother and the blood of her son sprang forth, along the way to Calvary, such flowers as these," said Grandmother.

"Then they are the flowers of grief and love," said the Princess.

"Lovers never pick them for each other, lest they should bring them tears," returned Grandmother, at the same time offering the Princess a glass of cream and humbly begging her to partake of her hospitality.

The Princess did not refuse. Grandmother continued: "Indeed, they have enough to weep for, even if they gather no tears, for there is always much grief as well as joy. If they are happy in each other's love, envious people are sure to pour in some wormwood."

"Dearest Princess, Grandmother wants to intercede for two unhappy lovers. I beg you to listen and, dearest Princess, help!" The Countess clasped