Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/100

 Sharkan and his mother were making merry together when they saw him coming.

“Here he comes again!” the mother cried. “What shall I do? What shall I do?”

But Sharkan could think of nothing further to suggest. So without a word he hurried to the tenth chamber where he hid himself and the woman had to meet Vitazko as best she could.

She laid herself on the bed feigning still to be sick and when Vitazko appeared she greeted him most affectionately.

“My dear son, back again? And safe and sound? Thank God!”

Then when he gave her the Golden Apples she jumped up from the bed, pretending that the mere sight of them had cured her.

“Ah, my dear son!” she cried, petting him and caressing him as she used to when he was a child. “What a hero you are!”

She prepared food and feasted him royally and Vitazko ate and was very happy that his mother was herself again.

When he could eat no more she took a strong woolen cord and, as if in play, she said to him:

“Lie down, my son, and let me bind you with this