o one from the hut went to church. Very
early in the morning they read a part of the Word of God, sang a song,
prayed, and everybody went his way. Filina had an invitation from the
manager of the Gemer estate. He had to go to the castle, and the boys
said they would go to Palko's cottage, not to enter, because the
doctor had the key, but to see if the wood had been already brought
and where the draymen had stacked it. But who can describe their
surprise when they reached the cottage. They saw all the windows open
and on the kitchen-table sat a large white cat. The fur around her
head looked like a cap. Her eyes were blue and round like those of an
owl. Her long broad tail hung out of the window. Around her neck she
had a band decorated with small pearls, and a small gilt bell was
hanging from it. When they saw her they were glad they had not brought
the dogs along. Fido went with his master and Dunaj was somewhere
roaming in the woods.

"Someone must live here already," remarked the surprised Ondrejko.

"Really, so it is. The cat would not be sitting there by herself,"
added Palko. They walked carefully around the cottage. In the yard
they found the wood already cut and stacked. Then they took counsel
together. If the ladies had already come, they must find flowers for
them. The boys calculated that by the time they would return, the new
inhabitants of the cottage would be up.

When they returned, in about an hour, each one had a large bouquet of
flowers and foliage. Palko arranged them for all three. He was already
a master in that work. Ondrejko carried his bouquet before him with
both hands, so that he could hardly see the path in front. Petrik
carried his bouquet over his shoulder. He was the first to notice that
the door was open and smoke was coming from the chimney.

The next moment an elderly lady with a black dress and white cap
stepped into the doorway. Her otherwise good-looking face bore
evidence of much care, and she looked distressed, seeming to say,
"What shall I do now?"

"She certainly needs something," said Palko, as the boys ran toward
the cottage.

To their greeting, the lady answered in the Czech language. Her kind
face brightened as she looked at the boys and their large bouquets.

"Are you the nurse of the sick lady?" Palko began. "We promised the
doctor that we would bring flowers, so we have brought them now. They
are wilted, but if you put them in the brook they will freshen up."

"Th