baby is in her way, and she thinks to herself, ‘My old aunt is a priest’s housekeeper; she can take much better care of the poor little worm than I can. I will ask her to keep it for me for some time.’ Now, I will not hear of keeping it till I get your leave, and so send young Kozman after you to Suchdol in a hurry. Before you came back, however, my sister’s daughter has vanished. She was afraid we would not receive the child, and took herself off when my back was turned, leaving the baby behind her. What were you to do? Were you to drive our faithful old servant out of the house along with the child, or out of charity and indulgence allow me to keep the forsaken innocent? You were not long at a loss what to do; you did what you considered your duty; you allowed the baby to stay here until its mother would be able to fetch it again.”
“But, Naninka, I hardly know you in all this!”
“Because you don’t know what a woman is capable of doing, if she is not exactly an ill-natured person; and if she can do a good turn to the forsaken child of her unfortunate niece. You must say all this to the warden, and not mention a word about anything else. If I am leading you to do wrong in this, I am ready to take all the blame on myself, and to answer for it all before God, who knows that I only do it for the best.”
“Give me Pepíc̓ek,” said Father Cvok; “and go, prepare a bed for him in the kitchen, near your own. It is time to go to bed.”
The housekeeper got up, laid the baby in her master’s arms; kissed his hand humbly and heartily, and gathered up the baby-things which were spread about on the table and bed. Then she took her candle and went to the kitchen. The good priest pressed the child to his heart,
