Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/420

 the green, and saluted each other just as they had spoken at home—“So it will be at once.”

All were dressed in holiday attire, even their faces were in holiday attire, the whole village. was in holiday attire. Down the middle of the village green were posted branches of may with pennons streaming, the whole forming an arcade which stretched from the Loykas’ farm to the chapel. Even the Loykas’ house itself was smothered in pine branches and looked as spick and span as on a high festival.

On this occasion Vena again marched with a basket in his hand, he had rosolek in the basket, and poured out and gave to drink to any one who desired. On this occasion he was in good humour as though he was going to be wed himself. He poured out the liquor very briskly and continually invited the good folk to drink “now to their health, neighbours!”

“How, then, do you greet your new mistress, Vena,” they enquired.

“I greet her well,” said Vena, “and verily I say as thus, look you, “The Lord God grant you as many little dears for me to carry across the green as there are flasks here! That’s how I greet her!”

“And how many may that be,” said the neighbours laughing.

“How can I tell until you have drunk out the lot,” said Vena, and constantly invited them to imbibe.