Part 6 (1/2)
The lady stretched out her hands towards him imploringly. ”What can I do? They took him away from me and adjudged him to De Gemer. My lawyer did everything that he could, but in vain.”
”But would you love him, would you like to take care of him as it behooves a decent mother, if my lord would return him to you?”
”Why would I not! I deserve that you ask me that. Whether you believe me or not, Bacha Filina, I would give everything if I could only get him back again. I see he loves me, unworthy though I am.”
”Yes, he loves you as only forsaken children know how to do. Therefore I came to you, lady--today or never G.o.d gives you an opportunity to get your treasure back again. Your former husband fell deeply into debt. His administrator received the order to sell the estate of the De Gemer family. If you have enough money--the doctor told me that you have--buy it out of the first hands before the Jews get hold of it.
When your lawyer writes him that you will have the estate turned over to the boy, if Lord de Gemen will give it to you in black and white, he will be glad to do so, I know, and will give you the boy. He always boasted that the 'De Gemer' estate shall belong to Ondrejko, his first-born. Everybody in the neighborhood knows about it. It would not be such a great shame on the family, that they had to sell the family castle, if, after all, the property remained in his son's hands. It is a beautiful estate, and it is wisely managed. It will bring a much larger income later on, than it does today. Even if you had to borrow some money to purchase it, it would be worthwhile to do so.”
”Oh, Bacha Filina!” The lady took the man's hard right hand into her small ones. ”How can I thank you enough for this good and beautiful advice? I don't know if my ready money will suffice, but I have beautiful jewelry, and when I sell that, we will have something to start with at least. I am not altogether so unfamiliar with managing as you may think; I am the daughter of a farmer. But who will buy this for me? My lawyer is not here.”
”Leave Ondrejko with the doctor. Ride to the administrator's office and buy the estate yourself. He has orders to sell it. Do not begin to deal about the boy before the estate is yours. At least, that is what I think. But today let Ondrejko know that you are his mother, that the boy may not suffer longer. Come to us in the afternoon. I will send Palko for you.”
Filina arose. ”I would not have come to you while you are still weak, but we must hurry with the buying, and Ondrejko cared so much that he shook all over, thinking that surely he had said something bad to you so that you fainted. The boy is very tender. He needs not only strengthening with me--that is only for the body--but his heart needs a mother. The G.o.d in the heavens has become his Father. Good-bye, then.”
”Bacha Filina,” the lady stopped the man. ”Do you know why I parted with De Gemer? Or do you think that because I am a singer, I have left him like an unfaithful wife?”
”The doctor told me that my lord had wronged you. I do not ask more.
Everyone of us has enough of his own sins. G.o.d sees us and knows us.
Do not judge that ye be not judged.” The deep voice of Filina sounded almost gentle. He shook her hand and left.
”Uncle Filina! Did you already return from the city?” sounded a voice from the clearing where he went to look at the flock. Palko ran to meet him. In his hand he carried a basket full of beautiful mushrooms.
”I was not in the city, Palko; but what are you doing here?” Filina was cheered with Palko's presence and sat down on an old log overgrown with moss. The boy joyfully threw himself down on the deep mossy cus.h.i.+ons.
”I carried a letter to Stephen which the forester's boy brought for him from his mother. It cheered him very much. She had been sick, but now she writes to him herself. Praise the Lord!”
”I am very glad of that; she is a good woman. And the son which has no mother has no home anywhere,” said Filina. ”Where did you find these mushrooms?”
”They are beautiful, aren't they? Oh, I just happened to see them. Joe said he would cook the stew for supper. They will fit in well.”
”Yes, they will. Pick out the best ones, and take them to the ladies this afternoon, in your cabin. Perhaps they will like them.”
”Shall I really go for the lady? Will it not be too far for her yet?”
thoughtfully asked the boy.
”I think not, but you must go slowly.”
”But she is still so weak, Uncle.”
”I know it; I have just left her.”
”Is that so? You saw her? And you just came from there? Did you stop there on the way from town?”
Bacha was silent for a moment as if deciding something. Then he fastened his eagle eyes on the boy's face. ”Palko, I am going to tell you something. G.o.d grant that you may help me in a very difficult thing.”
”I would love to, Uncle. Just tell me.”