"And we? Shall not we love you also? Do you not know that you have cost us many tears?"
"I did not see you shed them; but I know that the old man has wept over me, and more than once I have seen his tears fall."
"We will take him away with us."
"He would not want to go," murmured Radionek.
At that moment, as though moved by some sad presentiment, Iermola arrived, having seen the carriage, and run till he was almost out of breath, trembling, half suffocated, fearing lest he should not find the child.
The husband and wife greeted him kindly, but with coldness and reserve; he returned them a glance of indifference.
"To-day," said Jan Druzyna, "you must make up your mind to give the child up to us. We cannot do without him; and he must be present at his grandfather's funeral."
"He can do as he pleases," answered the old man; "if he wishes to go with you, I shall not prevent him."
"You will come,--you will come!" cried the mother, rushing up to Radionek.
The child hesitated, turned pale, and burst into tears.