Baron Mundy in some way–I don’t remember now in what connection. Taken all together, Ledecký must have heard some distant ringing of bells, and thought I had been at the service.”
“Well, we need not bother our heads about it. Miss Jenny was a wise girl, and if she has not been able to resist the snares of love, she has, at least, evaded gossips. Baron Mundy will certainly not post up his secret on the market cross, nor we either; and as it seems that the old baroness knows nothing at all about the affair as you, I’d bet my gold piece here, and a silver one along with it, that she never will find it out. So from those parts out there are no clouds gathering for us, and in good time we shall hear all the particulars. But there is another thing, your reverence, that is much worse.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why you see, it can not be hidden that we have got a baby in the house; and we must announce the fact to the village warden, at the latest, to-morrow.”
Now, this was a hard nut for the priest and his old housekeeper to crack. What were they to say to the warden? Cvok had never uttered even a “white lie” in all his life; but if he told the simple truth now, the secret would be out—Jenny’s reputation ruined, and the child exposed to all the harm and danger from which it was to have been sheltered in his house.
After a long consultation, Naninka said, “I have it. I know the way out of the maze. I’ll take the whole thing upon my shoulders. You were at Suchdol this afternoon—the whole world knows that. Now, in your absence the daughter of my sister came to me and brought me the baby. She is very badly off, and must go after her husband to Austria to look for work. The
