and the purpose
which brought her here. To the last inquiry she gave the curt
information: "I am seeking justice from the king against an unjust
sentence." Then she received a card with a number and a date, and was
dismissed with the remark that she must be there again with her
petition a fortnight thence, on Thursday, punctually at twelve o'clock,
noon.

She had desired to keep her purpose a secret from every one in the
village; but this was now impossible, for she could not prepare the
petition alone. So she went to the gardener, who had obtained another
place, and initiated him into her plans. He eagerly dissuaded her from
the step, since nothing would come of it, but Panna remained immovable
in her confidence in the result.

"The king," she said, "will secure me justice. It is impossible that
he should hear of the atrocious sentence and not instantly overthrow
it." And when the gardener continued to try to show her the contrary,
she at last grew angry and said curtly: "Well, if you won't help me,
I'll go to a lawyer in the city who, for money and fair words, will
draw up the petition."

The gardener now relinquished any further opposition, and declared
himself ready to compose the document.

They were together two days to accomplish the great work with their
united powers. Evil tongues in the village sharpened themselves
eagerly on the remarkable fact, and the rumors about the pair were
endless. Some thought that the beautiful Panna had forgotten ugly
Pista very quickly, others thought that the gardener was by no means
amiss, though no longer very young; many said still more scandalous
things. The young widow did not trouble herself about this chatter in
the least; she had more important matters in her head and heart, and
therefore could not hear the malicious whispers of the gossips.

The petition was begun three times, and as often torn in pieces. Panna
wanted it to be very energetic, very vehement. The gardener softened
the passionate expressions and suppressed the violent appeals. Of
course he was not a practised writer, and he had serious difficulty in
putting his thoughts into the correct form. But at last the
composition was accomplished, and Panna read it ten times in succession
till she knew every letter by heart. Her influence had been more
dominant than the gardener's, and the petition was still very forcible.
In awkward, but simple, impressive language, it accused the judge of
partia