Page:The grandmother; a story of country life in Bohemia.pdf/79

Rh as she held the children so they would not lean too far out of the window.

Presently the Princess was up the hill. She dismounted, threw her long skirt across her arm, and entered the arbor. Grandmother arose quickly and welcomed her.

"Is this Proshek's family?" she asked, studying the children's faces.

"Yes, your Grace," replied Grandmother.

"And are you their Grandmother?"

"Yes your Grace, I am their mother's mother."

"I am sure you must be happy in having such healthy grandchildren, I suppose you are good, obedient children?" continued the lady turning to the children, whose eyes were fixed upon her. At her question they looked down and whispered: "yes ma'am!"

"Hm, it will pass;" said Grandmother, "though sometimes—but we were no better."

The Princess smiled. Seeing a basket of strawberries on the bench, she asked where they had gathered them.

Grandmother at once spoke to Barunka: "Go, my child, offer the fruit to the princess. They are fresh, the children gathered them on our way here; they may taste good to your Grace. When I was young, I was very fond of strawberries, but I have not tasted them since the death of my child."

"And why?" asked the Princess taking the basket from Barunka.

"O, your Grace, that is a custom among us. When a mother loses a child, she eats neither strawberries nor cherries till St. John the Baptist. It is said that at that time the Virgin goes about heaven