United States or Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The doorkeepers, too, were to let no one in or out, not even Pirka. As if it were possible to keep a witch under lock and key! She was at Eperies before the vihodar and his company, although she did not set out till an hour later. Michal had told Pirka that she should not require her during her husband's absence, and might therefore leave her to herself.
Valentine was enchanted at the sight of the beautiful lady, and protested that if she had looked in the first dress like a bride, she looked in the second one like a saint on an altar screen. Pirka thereupon pulled a very wry face, for she did not like to hear tell of saints and altars.
With that she turned and left the room, and there was but time for the husband and wife to exchange a few words, whereby Michal learnt that Barbara Pirka was an old housekeeper of the Catsriders, when back she came again with a change of raiment on her arm.
During the cooking, Annie sang obscene flower songs, and Pirka kept on drawing her pan away from the fire and putting it on again. Annie asked her why she did that.
There she would bring a divorce suit against her husband on the plea that he had married her in a wrong name and under false pretenses, and that his marriage with her was consequently invalid. As soon then as the marriage was dissolved, Valentine must come forward and woo her, when she certainly would not send him away with a flea in his ear. At this Barbara Pirka burst into a peal of laughter.
When Barbara Pirka returned with the cold meat, flavored with garlic, and a flask of wine, Michal sat down at the table and took a long draught, and then she ate, and then she drank again. "Fill up!" she cried to the housekeeper. After she had eaten and drank her fill, she turned to Barbara Pirka and said: "What ought a wife to do who hates her husband?"
So hearken to me, my children! You go out, Annie! We don't want you prying here. You, Simplex, can stay where you are, for you know how to hold your tongue." So Annie went away, and as soon as she was out of hearing, Pirka, in a low whisper, began to expound her crafty scheme. "Listen now! Not far from here is a town called Bártfa. Every town, as you know, has its peculiar laws and customs.
The fire threw a frightful blood-red glare over mountain and forest, and gilded the white rocks in the distance as if they too were flaming. The stars twinkled faintly through the ruddy glow. "Now you may sleep in peace, my children," said Barbara Pirka. "By the time the young vihodar returns, he will find only the ruins of his house, and will fancy that his wife has been burnt likewise.
Pirka replied: "He has gone to town with his father." "And what is my husband doing in town?" asked pretty Michal once more. "He is helping his father to catch dogs." Wherein is shown what terrible perils befall women who are not resigned to their fate, and do not obey their lords and masters. Pretty Michal did not immediately expire on receiving this answer.
In which is shown how vain it is for womankind to murmur against the course and order of this world. Pretty Michal was trembling in all her limbs when the housekeeper undressed and put her to bed. Barbara Pirka went out of her way to be agreeable and obliging.
Word Of The Day