Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/250

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On Condition: or Pensioned Off.

“your grandfather could just get under my chin, he was amongst the tallest men in the village, I know his measure. And where, pray, would you like the grave to be?” he enquired of Frank. “Take a look round, I will be with you almost immediately and set myself to delve the grave.”

Bartos departed into his house in quest of sundry other implements, and now Frank cast his eyes here and there in search of a suitable spot. But he saw none, because even a grown up person when overtaken by some real and sudden sorrow, is as one entranced so soon as anything is given him on which to come to a decision.

Here Staza led him by the hand, and said “Do you know what, Frank, the people from Frishetts lie by yonder wall, which faces Frishetts: take a peep, yonder in that corner is the highest spot of ground, you can see it from the gate, and if you were to stand upon the grave in that corner you could catch a glimpse of Frishetts.

It is hard to make out what internal connection these words had with one another; but they appeared to Frank to be so consecutive and reasonable that he agreed at once. “Well, then, there in the corner let the grave be,” he said.

“And if you put a cross there it will be visible as far as your house; and if you plant a sapling there it will soon grow big enough to be visible also as far as your house,” observed Staza, almost enthusiasti-