baron’s own son. It is a long story. The baron didn’t marry for a long time after. Then at last he tried it, but had reason to be sorry soon enough for taking the step, and thanked God when, after about two years and a half, he was mercifully delivered from his precious better half. Then, as he did not wish to be the last male branch of the ancient and renowned family, he made Pepíc̓ek his heir and successor; and Heavens has the charge of bringing him up and making a good honest fellow of him. And there is no doubt of his success; the boy is wide awake, and, what is more, he is educated in a natural and sensible manner.”
“And what about Miss Naninka?”
“Oh,that’s a long story too, I tell you. She makes no more nudles nor plum-dumplings now; she only prays piously, and lives in the fear of God, looking after Baron Pepi in all his ways and doings, and taking snuff on common days from a silver box, on holidays from a gold one. Both snuff-boxes are presents from the baron. If she has nothing else to do, she sits at the window and looks at a corner in the churchyard, where she has found and marked out a little spot for herself.”
“Why, this is almost like poetry!”
“Heavens turns everything into poetry.”
“Were you ever staying with him?”
“Last year about midsummer I was there. We talked far past midnight about all sorts of things and subjects. It is marvellous to see him! He is quite an old man, and yet he is never sleepy—never plagued with gout or such things. Smiles never leave his eyes. He does not smoke or take snuff, and never touches cards, though they say he understands most games better than the most proficient at them. In the morning I heard him
