Jesus would answer his
prayer? Petrik saw the lady only in the kitchen, but she took him into
her room. How beautifully she had things arranged there! A plush sofa
and arm-chair, and many such things as they had in the castle de Gemer
were in the room. He was permitted to sit with her on the sofa and
look over a large book with photographs, all of beautiful lands and
cities. She pointed them out and named them.

"And you have been in all these places?" he dared to ask.

A sad expression clouded her face. "Yes, I have, Ondrejko, but now I
have only one wish--to remain forever in these mountains and never
again have to look at that evil, deceitful world outside."

After a while Aunty brought breakfast. Ondrejko had to sit down at the
beautifully-covered table. He was used to praying before eating in the
hut, so he did it now also, and in the joy which overflowed his heart,
he added, "I thank Thee, dear Lord Jesus, that You have so kindly
answered me."

The lady had already lifted the cup to her lips, but she set it down
again, and as if ashamed, bowed her head too. A tear appeared on her
golden eyelashes. When the boy had finished eating, she asked him what
he had asked Jesus Christ for. He confessed how much he had desired
to see her, and that he almost envied his comrades. Then he asked
permission to look also into the other book which lay on a small
table. It was full of photographs of people. He looked at her out of
the corner of his eye, because about ten of them were pictures of
herself, but she was dressed in all kinds of strange costumes. In one
of the pictures she had on a loose dress like a cloak and a crown on
her head. Under the picture was printed, "Mary Slavkovsky as Marie
Stuart." The boy rested his curly head on his small palms, and
thought.

"Why do you look so much at that picture?" said the lady, stroking his
golden curls.

"Is this really you in all these pictures? Have you perhaps played in
a theatre?" said Ondrejko.

She was astonished. "What do you know about theatres? Have you perhaps
been in one of them?"

"No," he shook his head. "That could not be possible. I have not
been." The boy's face saddened.

"What do you mean, Ondrejko?" said the lady, drawing him nearer to
her.

"Oh, my mother also is pictured in photographs, but I shall never see
her again."

"Your mother?" said she, wonderingly. "Is she not a country woman?"

"Oh, no!" The eyes of the boy glowed. "She is a famous si