Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/261

 sobbed and wept as though she were broken-hearted, and looked as though she wished to tear her hair.

The peasant woman thus conducted herself, because she wished to efface the impression left by her previous behaviour. She deceived none, but she fancied that she deceived them.

Frank and Staza listened what sort of hymns were sung above the grave that they might learn them afterwards.

When the funeral was over, Frank said “Now that we are like brother and sister, thou must come to us at Frishetts that I may entertain thee at our house.”

Staza went with him: he led her by the hand and the neighbours pointed at Frank and said “Just look at that boy: he went to dig his grandfather’s grave and out of that grave he is leading Staza.”

The neighbours’ wives said: “Look! look! he is going about with Staza, with that she will be just like her mother.”

Frank said to Staza: “Staza, guess whom I love better than anybody else.”

“Who?”

“Thee.”

Staza said “I am so glad for thee to lead me about that I could walk by thy side for ever. I have never gone about with anyone before.”

And they went about together before everybody.