Baroness Orczy

“ An anxious crowd had gathered round the master, all eager to gain some sort of comfort from him, for next to Pater Ambrosius, no one, not even my lord, was thought to possess as much learning as András; young men and old crowded round him, eager, excited, glad of a chance to pour forth their anxiety into their master’s ever-sympathising ears. ”

“ The lord of Bideskút owes me much; he must be grateful, if he is a man, for the loan of my money, which he has almost got at a gift, and which keeps him out of the clutches of the Jews. He must render me service for service and sell me his fad, so that I may destroy it. Send word round to the fields that the men can go quietly back to work. To-morrow we will begin to pull down that mill of the devil, and send the machinery back to hell. ”

“ It is all right ... you will soon get used to seeing many things done by machinery, which you used to do with your hands. They are harmless enough, I know, and if the lord of Bideskút does not give you all enough wage to last you, through the winter, why I can always find work for those extra hands who do not want to remain idle. Now then all of you, look me straight in the face, instead of at that black smoke which is far away. Will you do your duty by me, and go back to your work? It is the best way I assure you to keep the devil from your doors. ”

“ András had entered very dejectedly, he threw his hat on one side, then having kissed his mother:
“1 can do nothing with the fellows, mother, to-day. They seem unable to work; hardly is my back turned, when all eyes stare straight across the puszta to where a column of black smoke reminds them of that accursed steam-mill. I am thankful you have closed the shutters so that I can see nothing more of that invention of the devil.” ”

“ Give me your blessing, mother, I will ride to Bideskút at once, it is not too late yet, to drive the devil to the other side of the Tarna.”
“God bless you, my son,” said Etelka, but she shook her head. “The lord of Bideskút is a proud man, he will not listen to a peasant,” she urged.
“A peasant! who could buy every foot of land he owns, even after he had lent him the purchase money twice over already,” retorted András proudly. “Mother, do not discourage me. ”

“ It almost broke his heart to see his sturdy lads, standing defiant, idle and cursing, so different to the usual, merry lightheartedness with which they invariably worked for him, and which is the essence of the Hungarian character. He had neither the learning, the eloquence, nor the conviction of Pater Ambrosius, which perhaps might have quietened these superstitious terrors, he had only a great fondness for his fellow men, and this he exerted heartily, and with many a: “Now then Panna, my soul I don’t take it to heart,” and “Erzsi, my pretty one, your father is quite safe. Come! come! ”

“ It is all very well, András, but you cannot employ every able-bodied man this side of the Tarna. I wish you could, for then my brother would not have to work for the lord of Bideskút, which he does, in fear and trembling, lest the devil should make a pick-a-back of him, every time he stoops down to mow. ”

“ András was about to reply, when his mother placed a warning Anger on her mouth. The two pretty peasant girls came in who did Etelka’s household work, two little orphan girls, who had lost their father and mother a few years back, in the last cholera epidemic, and whom Etelka had brought to Kisfalu, and taught to cook, to wash and to spin. ”

“ CHAPTER XI THE GATHERING STORM One of the busiest times on the Hungarian lowlands is this gathering in of the second harvest, which has to be done quickly before the early autumn rains set in, leaving plenty of margin for threshing before the vintage time commences. ”