Part 4 (1/2)
”You are a wise little fellow, boy. I didn't think of that. But wait!
I overheard when she bought oranges, she spoke in Czech. Then you will be able to understand each other. Do you want to help me, boys?”
”We would like to very much,” said Ondrejko.
”If Bacha will permit us,” added Petrik. Palko thought that nothing would hinder him as long as he was there.
In good spirits the boys returned to the sheepcote. The doctor left them at the ”Old Hag's Rock.” They took from him a closely-written note for Bacha Filina, who readily enough agreed to everything. He even sent Stephen to build the bench, and also gave permission to the boys to carry whey and flowers to the sick lady.
CHAPTER SIX
Again it was Sunday. That day no one from the hut went to church. Very early in the morning they read a part of the Word of G.o.d, sang a song, prayed, and everybody went his way. Filina had an invitation from the manager of the Gemer estate. He had to go to the castle, and the boys said they would go to Palko's cottage, not to enter, because the doctor had the key, but to see if the wood had been already brought and where the draymen had stacked it. But who can describe their surprise when they reached the cottage. They saw all the windows open and on the kitchen-table sat a large white cat. The fur around her head looked like a cap. Her eyes were blue and round like those of an owl. Her long broad tail hung out of the window. Around her neck she had a band decorated with small pearls, and a small gilt bell was hanging from it. When they saw her they were glad they had not brought the dogs along. Fido went with his master and Dunaj was somewhere roaming in the woods.
”Someone must live here already,” remarked the surprised Ondrejko.
”Really, so it is. The cat would not be sitting there by herself,”
added Palko. They walked carefully around the cottage. In the yard they found the wood already cut and stacked. Then they took counsel together. If the ladies had already come, they must find flowers for them. The boys calculated that by the time they would return, the new inhabitants of the cottage would be up.
When they returned, in about an hour, each one had a large bouquet of flowers and foliage. Palko arranged them for all three. He was already a master in that work. Ondrejko carried his bouquet before him with both hands, so that he could hardly see the path in front. Petrik carried his bouquet over his shoulder. He was the first to notice that the door was open and smoke was coming from the chimney.
The next moment an elderly lady with a black dress and white cap stepped into the doorway. Her otherwise good-looking face bore evidence of much care, and she looked distressed, seeming to say, ”What shall I do now?”
”She certainly needs something,” said Palko, as the boys ran toward the cottage.
To their greeting, the lady answered in the Czech language. Her kind face brightened as she looked at the boys and their large bouquets.
”Are you the nurse of the sick lady?” Palko began. ”We promised the doctor that we would bring flowers, so we have brought them now. They are wilted, but if you put them in the brook they will freshen up.”
”Thank you very kindly. My lady will be glad.”
Taking the flowers from the boys, the lady placed their ends in the brook.
”Since you are not familiar here, perhaps you will need something that you cannot find in the woods,” Palko said thoughtfully. ”We shall be glad to serve you; just let us know.”
”I shall be very thankful, boys, if you will help me. We have brought everything except salt and bread, which we do not have, because the bag in which the eatables were, must have been left in the coach. We came late last night instead of this morning, so the doctor did not accompany us, and my surroundings are still strange.”
”We will bring some salt and bread. Our hut is near by,” Petrik cried zealously. ”Also the whey will be ready. Come on, Ondrejko.”
”Are they to bring us milk and bread from the hut?” inquired the lady.
”That will be from us,” Ondrejko a.s.sured her. ”But we have to go at once so that we can return soon.”
”I will stay with you,” decided Palko, ”because the cottage belongs to my father. Although you may be used to having things arranged differently, I may be able to show you where you can put one thing and another.”
”So this is your cottage? Then you can advise me where to put everything that we have brought along. What shall we call you?”
”Palko Lesina. The other boy is Petrik Filina, and the third one is Ondrejko de Gemer.”