And we laughed at the anecdote about the sarcastic poet and the children laughed with us as well, not understanding, but simply with fellow-feeling. Meanwhile the time passed and instead of the landlord, his wife came in and announced with concern that extra urgent work would keep her husband in the mine until midday.
“Every obstacle is to the good!” said Paschális. “Come another day. But I must hurry, something’s going on down there.” And with a song on his lips he went out to look for his tools.
That unexpected cheerfulness and good humour, I don’t know why, seemed strange to me. It had been so many days since I had seen him cheerful and lively at all! Was it only the result of the weather?
“Goodbye! Till midday,” he said as he left a short while later. “And you be ready for our outin
