"I am sorry," said the old caloyer, turning towards his guests, "but I have to dismiss you now; the bell you have just heard summons us to vecernjca. When our prayers are over, the doors of our house are closed for the night—no one comes in or goes out after evensong."
"But we two can surely remain with you to-night," said Kvekvic, pointing to Milenko.
"Surely Father Vjekoslav will readily give you permission to be our honoured guests as long as you like, if he has not already granted it; but——" (here the old man hesitated).
"But what?" asked Kvekvic.
"The gospa," said the monk, turning towards Mara, "must return home."
"Yes, I know," added Mara, sighing as she got up.
"Still," quoth the good caloyer, "we shall take great care of him, and to-morrow morning you can come as early as you like."
The poor mother thanked the good old man; she slightly brushed off the curls from her boy's forehead, kissed him with a deep-drawn sigh, and with tearful eyes rose to go.
"Thank you for all the care you have taken of my child; thank you, uncle Danko, for all your kindness," and she kissed the priest's and the monk's hands, according to the custom of the Slavs.
Just then, a young lay-monk came to inform Mara that someone was asking for her. It was Milenko's mother, who had come up to the convent door to ask how Uros was getting on, and to see if she could be of any use, for Milenko, with his usual thoughtfulness, had begged his mother to come in the evening and accompany her friend back home.