The Upstarts: II

II

II

Bilo je petnajst let prej.

It was fifteen years earlier.

Pod nizkimi vrati enega onih gradičev, katere srečavamo v prelepih, z bukovino poraščenih dobravah dolenje Kranjske malone vsako četrtinko ure, zbrala se je precejšnja družba gospode s kmetov: tri postarne gospe, dva tudi že sivolasa gospoda, pet ali šest gospodičen, med njimi tri pod dvajset, ena pod trideset, ena ali dve pa nad trideset let; mimo tega pet ali šest gospodičev, katere je bilo skoro vse po dobi uvrščati med dvajseto in petindvajseto leto.

Beneath the low gateway of one of those little castles that we encounter almost every quarter of an hour in the beautiful beech-covered groves of Lower Carniola, a considerable company of country gentry had gathered: three elderly ladies, two gentlemen already grey-haired, five or six young ladies, three of them under twenty, one under thirty, and one or two over thirty; besides these, five or six young gentlemen, almost all of whom could be placed in the age group between twenty and twenty-five.

Na Veselki, tako imenujejo ta gradič, bilo je že dolgo obično, da se je tam zbirala sosedna gosposka mladež v prelepem poletnem času, ko je bila prilika uživati zlasti dijaške počitke.

At Veselka, as this little castle is called, it had long been customary for the young gentry from the neighbouring estates to gather there during the lovely summer season, when there was an opportunity to enjoy, above all, the students' holidays.

Studiozov je bilo povsod, bodisi v sosednjih gradovih ali pa v kmetskih hišah, in ženska mladina, kolikor je ni ostalo že leto in dan v domači hiši in šoli, prihajala je tudi iz mest k sorodnikom in znancem.

Students were everywhere, whether in neighbouring castles or in farmhouses, and the young ladies, insofar as they had not remained at home for the whole year attending school, also came from the towns to visit relatives and acquaintances.

Pri Orlovih na Veselki so bila vedno gostoljubna vrata odprta na stežaj.

At the Orl family estate at Veselka, the hospitable doors were always thrown wide open.

Lahka septembrska megla se je dvigala nad šentrupertsko dolino in od gosto obraščenih gozdnih robov so odmevali zadnji zvoki župnega zvona, ki je pel sedmo jutranjo uro.

A light September mist was rising over the Šentrupert Valley, and from the densely wooded edges of the forest came the final echoes of the parish church bell, which was striking seven in the morning.

» Tine, kje imaš Sivčka? « zavpije bradat gospod, kateri je za drugim, nekoliko sivolasim tovarišem ravnokar stopil iz veže.

"Tine, where is Sivček?" shouts a bearded gentleman who has just stepped out of the entrance hall behind another gentleman, his companion, who is somewhat grey-haired.

» Je že tukaj! « zakriči širokopleč hlapec, goneč od hleva sem dolgouha, osedlanega z dvema, na vsako stran pripetima košarama.

"He's already here!" shouts a broad-shouldered farmhand, driving a long-eared donkey from the stable, saddled with two baskets, one fastened to each side.

» Kje je vino? Kje je kruh, kje pečenka? « nadaljuje oni in nemirno maha z veliko gorjačo po zraku. Bil je, da ga takoj predstavimo, graščak z Veselke, gospod Orel.

"Where is the wine? Where is the bread, where is the roast?" the gentleman continues, restlessly waving a large cudgel in the air. To introduce him at once, he was the lord of the estate at Veselka, Mr Orel.

» Vse je pripravljeno, vse je tu, papa! « hiti ena izmed onih gospodičen, o katerih smo dejali, da so bile pod dvajsetimi leti. Pri tem že nosi steklenice, zavitke in razno drugo robo s klopi pred gradom ter vse sklada v košari na oslovem sedlu.

"Everything is ready, everything is here, Papa!" says one of those young ladies whom we mentioned as being under twenty, hurrying about. As she speaks, she is already carrying bottles, parcels and various other things from the bench in front of the castle, stacking them all in the baskets on the donkey's saddle.

» Jaz pomagam! « oglasi se poslužno eden izmed mladih gospodov.

"I'll help!" volunteers one of the young gentlemen, eagerly.

» Jaz tudi! « odzove se nekaj drugih. Vesela gneča se napravi okrog osla in klopi, vtem pa gospod Orel polagoma pozdravlja sedaj tega, sedaj onega.

"Me too!" several others chime in. A cheerful bustle breaks out around the donkey and the bench, while Mr Orel leisurely greets first one person, then another.

» Kje pa je moja pipa, pa moj tobak? « vzklikne hipoma.

"But where is my pipe, and my tobacco?" he suddenly exclaims.

» Ah, pipa, tobak! Gori v sobi je še! « odgovori deklica, očitno najmlajša izmed vseh. Štela je morda komaj trinajst let. » No, glej — ti krempelj!

"Oh, the pipe, the tobacco! They're still upstairs in the room!" replies a girl, evidently the youngest of them all. She was perhaps barely thirteen. "Well, look at that—you little rascal!"

« zakriči graščak navidez nejevoljen, toda iz vseh besed mu vendarle zveni očetovska ljubezen in dobrodušnost. »

" he shouts, the lord of the estate pretending to be annoyed, although all his words nevertheless ring with fatherly affection and good humour. "

To je tvoj referat, Maruša, in ti —«

That's your responsibility, Maruša, and you—"

Vtem pa je bila nekoliko dolgopeta deklica že v veži in na stopnicah in za malo trenutkov tudi zopet pred gradom z očetovo pipo in velikim mehurjem, polnim tobaka.

Meanwhile, the rather long-legged girl was already in the entrance hall and hurrying up the stairs, and a few moments later she was back in front of the castle with her father's pipe and a large pouch full of tobacco.

» Kje pa je Pepe — stric Pepe? « vikne gospod Orel.

"But where is Pepe—Uncle Pepe?" cries Mr Orel.

» Odšel je že! Napové nas gori pri Slamarju, da bode mogoče kaj skuhati! « reče ona gospodična, ki je ravnokar spravila košari v red.

"He's already gone! He's gone ahead to let them know at Slamar's that they should prepare something for us to eat!" says the young lady who has just finished arranging the baskets.

» Tega tudi ni treba! Zakaj mu nisi velela, naj počaka? Ti, Julka, ti tudi ne misliš in ne veš, česa je treba! Stric bi nam lahko vodil Sivčka! «

"There was no need for that either! Why didn't you tell him to wait? You, Julka—you never think, and you don't know what needs doing! Uncle could have led Sivček for us!"

» Oh ne, tega bodem jaz! « zakliče takoj pet ali šest glasov.

"Oh no, I'll do that!" five or six voices immediately call out.

» Jaz ga bodem! « pravi najglasneje Maruša. Držala je osla že za brzdo. » No — kje pa je —?

"I'll lead him!" Maruša says the loudest. She is already holding the donkey by the bridle. "Well—where is—?"

« vzklikne graščak sedaj še enkrat polglasno in pogleda zamišljeno okoli sebe. »

" the lord of the estate exclaims once more, now in a subdued voice, looking thoughtfully around him. "

No, torej pa — odrinimo! «

Well, then—let's be off!"

Polovica družbe je že korakala vkreber proti obraščenim brdom, vstajajočim za gradičem.

Half the party had already begun climbing uphill towards the wooded hills rising behind the little castle.

Gospod Orel je bil le iz stare svoje navade ponovil tisti » Kje pa je? « in, ker ni imel v tem trenutku nobene želje več, nastopil je sedaj mirno z gospemi in svojim postarnim tovarišem pot za drugim mladim rodom, ki je hitel dalje z obloženim oslom na čelu. Vtem se mi lahko zložno seznanimo še z nekaterniki te družbe, katerih si vseh doslej še nismo mogli ogledati. Moški spremljevalec graščakov je bil umirovljen stotnik molčeč gospod, ki drugih ni niti kratkočasil niti vznemirjal. Stanoval in živel je več let pri Orlovih, udeleževal se kot »pasiven član« vseh zunanjih nastopov te družine, kazal se časih tudi koristnega pri nadziranju hlapcev v hlevu in skednju, sicer pa je bil bolj »samosvoj« gospod. Izmed gospa je bila ena soproga Orlova, tiha, drobna ženica, ki je že navsezgodaj v polnem miru preskrbela, da je stalo vse, česar je bilo treba naložiti Sivčku, pred gradom na klopi, naročila tudi hlapcu, da opravi dolgouha, in odposlala strica Pepeta. Potem pa je sprejemala v pritlični sobi poleg veže točno prihajajoče goste: gospo Golovo z dvema hčerama, gospo pl. Malijevo s hčerko in sinom in še več mladih gospodov, večinoma študentov, bivajočih na počitkih v bližnjem trgu ali sosednjih selih in gradičih. Namenili so se danes na Kremen, dokaj visok hrib na vzhodu domače doline, čigar vrhunec diči majhna podružnična cerkev. Tudi kaplan je bil naprošen, da jim bere mašo tam gori, toda obetal je, da jih že pričaka pi cerkvi, ker mu je bil z doma pot tja priležnejši. Počasi se je pomikala družba po gorskem kolovozu; bukev in kostanj sta širila košate svoje veje na desni in levi strani; pot pa je robilo leskovo in glogovo grmovje, iz katerega je sedaj tu, sedaj tam zletel vznemirjen kos ali pa vzplapotala plaha taščica. Mladi ljudje spredaj so hiteli naprej po dva, trije ali štirje skupaj, a sedaj in sedaj se je zaklicalo za njimi, da nikar tako urno. In potem so čakali sprednji, smejoč in glasno govoreč, da so starejši prikorakali za njimi. Maruša je tirala obloženega osla, kateremu so vrhu polnih košar nadeli še razne zavijače in vrhnje suknje. Poleg Maruše je stopal eden mladih gospodov, katerega bi bil vsakdo spoznal na sto korakov za vseučiliškega dijaka kmetskega rodu.

Mr Orel had merely repeated that familiar question, "But where is he?", out of long-standing habit. Having no further wishes at that moment, he now set off calmly with the ladies and his elderly companion, following the younger generation, who were hurrying ahead with the laden donkey at their head. Meanwhile, we can take the opportunity to become acquainted with some other members of the party whom we have not yet had a chance to examine. The gentleman accompanying the lord of the estate was a retired captain, a quiet man who neither entertained nor disturbed the others. He had lived with the Orels for several years, taking part as a "passive member" in all the family's public outings. At times he also proved useful in supervising the farmhands in the stable and barn, but otherwise he was a rather independent sort of gentleman. One of the ladies was Mrs Orel, a quiet, petite little woman who had calmly and efficiently made sure early that morning that everything to be loaded onto Sivček was laid out on the bench in front of the castle. She had also instructed the farmhand to see to the donkey and sent Uncle Pepe on ahead. She then received the guests as they arrived punctually in the ground-floor room beside the entrance hall: Mrs Gol with her two daughters, Mrs von Malija with her daughter and son, and several more young gentlemen, mostly students spending their holidays in the nearby market town or in neighbouring villages and little castles. Their destination that day was Kremen, a fairly high hill to the east of their home valley, whose summit was adorned by a small branch church. The curate had also been asked to celebrate Mass for them up there, but he had promised to meet them at the church, since the journey there was more convenient for him from his own home. The party moved slowly along the mountain track. Beech and chestnut trees spread their leafy branches on either side, while hazel and hawthorn bushes bordered the path. Here and there, a startled blackbird would dart out of the undergrowth, or a timid robin would flutter away. The young people at the front hurried on in groups of two, three or four, but every now and then someone called after them not to go so fast. The ones in front would then wait, laughing and talking loudly, until their elders caught up. Maruša was driving the laden donkey, which, in addition to its full baskets, had also been loaded with various bundles and outer garments. Walking beside Maruša was one of the young gentlemen, whom anyone could have recognised from a hundred paces as a university student of peasant origin.

» Gospodična, pustite vendar meni tega osla! « dejal je, ko se je po kratkem postanku družba zopet pomikala dalje.

"Miss, do let me take charge of this donkey!" he said as the party resumed its journey after a brief halt.

» Ah, kaj še! Ta je moj! Oh, ti Sivček, ti si moj! « zavrne deklica na pol nejevoljno, na pol šaljivo.

"Oh, not at all! He's mine! Oh, Sivček, you're mine!" the girl retorted, half crossly and half playfully.

» Utrudilo vas bode to tiranje! Glejte, saj ne sluša ta neumna žival in pot je čimdalje slabši! «

"Driving him will tire you out! Look, the stupid animal won't obey, and the path is getting worse and worse!"

» Nič se ne bojte, gospod Vrbanoj,« odgovori deklica, »jaz ga že vem krotiti. « Rekši na lahko udari po oslovem hrbtu z leskovko, katero ji je nedolgo urezal spremljevalec. Dolgouhec res skoči nekoliko dalje, tako da ga dohitita šele po kratkem teku, dočim se smeje in kriči zaostala družba za njima. Vrbanoj, kakor ga je nazvala Maruša, prime uhanca za brzdo.

"Don't worry, Mr Vrbanoj," the girl replied. "I know how to handle him." As she spoke, she gave the donkey a light tap on the back with the hazel switch her companion had just cut for her. The long-eared creature promptly sprang forward, and they only caught up with him after a short run, while the party lagging behind laughed and shouted after them. Vrbanoj, as Maruša had called him, took the little donkey by the bridle.

» Pa bi bil res skoro ušel! « sopne Maruša. Potem korakata molče drug za drugim, Vrbanoj bolj skrbeč za žival, nego je očitno treba, Maruša pa polglasno pevajoč za njim. S šibico je dražila in gladila osla po hrbtu. Bila sta kakih petdeset korakov pred drugimi in za majhnim ovinkom pota, ko se zdajci oglasi Maruša:

"He really did nearly get away!" Maruša gasped. Then they walked on in silence, one behind the other. Vrbanoj seemed more concerned about the animal than was really necessary, while Maruša followed him, singing softly under her breath. With her little switch, she alternately teased and stroked the donkey's back. They were about fifty paces ahead of the others and had just passed a small bend in the path when Maruša suddenly spoke:

» Zakaj pa ne hodite z Julko, gospod Vrbanoj? «

"Why aren't you walking with Julka, Mr Vrbanoj?"

» Zakaj? « ponovi oni, ne da bi se obrnil.

"Why?" he repeated without turning around.

» Zakaj, da, zakaj? Sicer — do sedaj ste bili vedno z njo! «

"Why, yes, why? After all, you've always been with her until now!"

» Ako ni bilo drugih, ki so bolje kratkočasili gospodično Julko! « meni oni suhotno.

"Unless there were others who entertained Miss Julka better!" he remarked dryly.

» Hihi! Oh, ta Julka! « zasmeje se deklica.

"Hee-hee! Oh, that Julka!" the girl laughed.

» Zakaj? Sedaj zopet vprašam, zakaj? « nasmehne se tudi Vrbanoj in na pol obrne k mladi deklici svoje lice, kažoče lahko rdečico.

"Why? Now I'm asking you again: why?" Vrbanoj smiled too, turning his face halfway towards the young girl, a faint blush showing on his cheeks.

» Jaz bi ne povedala,« deje deklica nekoliko počasno, »ali ta Julka je poredna, zlobna — vi ne veste, kaj mi je storila! «

"I wouldn't tell you," the girl said rather slowly, "but that Julka is naughty, spiteful—you don't know what she did to me!"

» Ne, res ne! « deje Vrbanoj na pol začuden, na pol radoveden, kaj ima pač ta otrok na srcu.

"No, I really don't!" said Vrbanoj, half surprised and half curious to discover what the child had on her mind.

» Seveda ne veste! Toda povem vam: zapreti me je dala — tri ure zapreti! V gorenji sobi sem morala biti včeraj tri ure in ukazala je da moram tisto neumno nemško pravljico — oh, saj sama ne vem, kaj je — zapisati najprej francoski, potem pa slovenski. Pomislite — tri ure sem pisala — no, pa kako? Maščevala sem se — tako grdo sem pisala — oh, kako grdo! «

"Of course you don't know! But I'll tell you: she had me locked up—locked up for three whole hours! Yesterday I had to stay in the upstairs room for three hours, and she ordered me to write out that stupid German fairy tale—oh, I don't even know what it's about—first in French and then in Slovenian. Just imagine—three hours of writing! And how did I write? I got my revenge—I wrote so terribly badly—oh, how terribly badly!"

» Pa zakaj ste bili zaprti? « vpraša Vrbanoj obradoščen.

"But why were you locked up?" Vrbanoj asked, delighted.

» Prav po nedolžnem! Včeraj zjutraj sem bila doli na tratini pod gradom in Sivček, tale osel, pasel se je tamkaj, tako lepo je bilo pa sem ga zdajci zajahala in zdirjala sva po cesti proti vasi. Tam naju pa je srečal naš župnik, jaz sem se smejala, on pa ne, on je šel prav tedaj k nam — no, in potem me je Julka zaprla. No, pa le počakajte, še nekaj vam povem! «

"For absolutely nothing! Yesterday morning I was down in the meadow below the castle, and Sivček, this donkey here, was grazing there. It was such a lovely morning that I suddenly climbed onto his back, and off we galloped along the road towards the village. Then our parish priest met us there. I was laughing, but he wasn't. He happened to be on his way to our house—and then Julka had me locked up. But wait, there's something else I must tell you!"

» Kaj pa še? « reče Vrbanoj z glasnim smehom.

"What else?" Vrbanoj asked with a hearty laugh.

» Nič več se ne bodete smejali! Vi ste tudi tako neumni, da Julki vse verjamete —«

"You won't be laughing any more! You're so foolish too, believing everything Julka tells you—"

» Hvala lepa! « zine Vrbanoj in zopet zardi.

"Much obliged!" Vrbanoj blurted out, blushing again.

» Da, da, vse verujete in da — oh, kaj mislite da ne vem? Da ste najrajši blizu nje? Ali neumni ste, ko mislite, da je res tako dobra, kakor se hlini! Tri ure zaprta za nič in tisočkrat nič! «

"Yes, yes, you believe everything, and what's more—oh, do you think I don't know? That you'd rather be near her than anyone else? But you're foolish if you think she's really as good as she pretends to be! Locked up for three hours for absolutely nothing—not even the slightest reason!"

» Hej, halo, ho! « kriče zadaj.

"Hey, halloo, ho!" people shouted from behind.

» Hej, halo! « odgovori Vrbanoj, ne da bi ustavil Sivčka. » Naj le vpijejo,

"Hey, halloo!" Vrbanoj called back without stopping Sivček. "Let them shout all they like,"

« zasmeje se Maruša. »

" Maruša laughed. "

Čakajte, da vam vse povem! «

Wait until I tell you everything!"

Vrbanoj je bil resnično radoveden in zato je gonil osla naprej.

Vrbanoj was genuinely curious, and so he urged the donkey onwards.

» Se li spominjate, ko smo bili zadnjič v Rakitni, tam v onem gozdiču — slepo miš smo lovili — in potem ko smo šli domov, bili ste vi z Julko — jaz sem vse videla — saj je šla z menoj samo ona stara Golova gospodična, ki tako slabo vidi — nihče drug ne hodi z menoj — in tam sem videla, da ste vi dali Julki rdeč nagelj — kajne? Recite, da ne! «

"Do you remember when we were last in Rakitna, there in that little wood—we were hunting dormice—and then, when we went home, you were with Julka. I saw everything! The only person who went with me was that old Miss Gol, who can hardly see a thing. Nobody else ever walks with me. And there I saw you give Julka a red carnation—didn't I? Tell me you didn't!"

Vsi trije, Sivček na sredi, stopali so sedaj drug poleg drugega, ker je bil pot širok, in Vrbanoj se ni mogel obrniti tako, da bi ne bilo videti izdajalne rdečice na njega licu.

All three of them were now walking side by side, with Sivček in the middle, since the path was wide enough. Vrbanoj could not turn without revealing the telltale blush on his cheeks.

» Menda, menda! « reče glasno, sileč se na smeh.

"I suppose so, I suppose so!" he replied loudly, forcing a laugh.

» No, vidite, tako je! Dali ste ji rdeč nagelj, zvečer pri slovesu pa ji je gospod Pavel, ta, ki je pri Malijevih na počitkih, vaš prijatelj, dal tudi nagelj, toda — belega. In veste li, kaj je storila ta Julka, katero imate za tako dobro? Tisti beli nagelj je vtaknila v kozarec vode in ga ima še vedno na oknu ter ga hodi duhat vsak večer, preden gre spat. Vašega pa ni nikjer! «

"Well, you see, that's exactly what happened! You gave her a red carnation, and then, that evening, when you were saying goodbye, Mr Pavel, the one staying with the Malijas, your friend, gave her a carnation too—but a white one. And do you know what that Julka, whom you think so good, did? She put that white carnation in a glass of water and still keeps it on her windowsill. Every evening, before going to bed, she goes and smells it. But yours is nowhere to be seen!"

» Kam ga je dela? « vpraša Vrbanoj skoro nehote.

"What did she do with it?" Vrbanoj asked almost involuntarily.

» Kam? Zavrgla ga je, kaj drugega — jaz ne vem, nisem je videla. Vem le to, da vsak večer duha tisti beli nagelj. «

"What did she do with it? She threw it away, what else could she have done? I don't know; I didn't see her. All I know is that she smells that white carnation every evening."

Vrbanoj stopa tako hitro, da ga Sivček in Maruša komaj dohajata.

Vrbanoj walked so fast that Sivček and Maruša could barely keep up with him.

» I — gospodična Maruša, — povzame naposled,« vaša gospodična sestra vendar lahko stori s takim nageljnom, kar hoče! In morda so ji beli — ljubši? «

"Well—Miss Maruša," he finally replied, "your sister is surely free to do whatever she likes with a carnation! And perhaps she prefers white ones?"

» Diše vsi enako. Zakaj ni takisto vašega dela v kozarec ali pa — samo vašega? «

"They all smell the same. Why didn't she put yours in a glass as well, or perhaps keep yours—and yours alone?"

To zadnje je rojilo po glavi menda tudi Vrbanoju. » Danes ji ne smete dati nobene cvetice!

That last thought had evidently crossed Vrbanoj's mind too. "You mustn't give her any flowers today!"

« veli Maruša. Spremljevalec bi bil skoro odgovoril: »

" Maruša declared. Her companion almost replied, "

Saj jih ne bodem! « Toda dejal je po kratkem molku in z nasmehom:

I certainly won't!" But after a brief silence, he said with a smile:

» Oh — danes ne bode nikjer dobiti nageljnov! «

"Oh, there won't be any carnations to be had anywhere today!"

Maruša je izlila očitno ves žolč in vso jezo, kar se ji je bilo kuhalo v srcu. » Počakajva drugih!

Maruša had evidently poured out all the bitterness and anger that had been simmering in her heart. "Let's wait for the others!"

« menila je in trgala kraj pota šopek rdečih korčkov. Vrbanoj pa je, kakor bi ne znal drugače dati duška nekemu tesnemu čustvu, jel klicati nazaj. »

" she suggested, picking a small bunch of red flowers by the roadside. Vrbanoj, as though unable to give vent to some pent-up feeling in any other way, began calling back to the others. "

Hoj, hola, hoj! «

"Hey, halloo, hey!"

» Vama se pa tudi nekam čudno mudi! « povzame spremljevalec Julkin, ki ju je došel prvi. » Vam se pač nič, gospod Pavel!

"You two seem to be in an awful hurry!" remarked Julka's companion, who was the first to catch up with them. "You certainly aren't in any hurry, Mr Pavel!"

« zavrne ga Maruša jezično. »

" Maruša retorted sharply. "

Nate, gospod Vrbanoj! «

"Here you are, Mr Vrbanoj!"

Rekši, mu ponudi nabrane cvetice.

With that, she offered him the flowers she had picked.

» Hoho, to je zato, ker Sivčka goniš, Andrej! « zasmeje se Pavel. » Da, da,

"Ho-ho! That's because you're driving Sivček along, Andrej!" Pavel laughed. "Yes, yes,"

« pohiti Vrbanoj in vtakne šopek za klobuk. »

" Vrbanoj hastily replied, tucking the bunch behind his hat. "

Jako hvaležno delo to, kakor vidiš — hvala lepa, gospodična Marušica; midva se pač umejeva in poznava — kaj li? «

A very rewarding business, as you can see—many thanks, dear Miss Maruša. We understand each other rather well, don't we?"

S to šalo je zatrl svojo zadrego in okornost, ki ga je obšla ob prihodu onih dveh.

With this joke, he concealed the embarrassment and awkwardness that had overcome him when the other two arrived.

» Ali nimate nobenega nageljna, gospod Pavel? « zasmeje se Maruša z otroško-zlobnim izrazom.

"Don't you have a carnation, Mr Pavel?" Maruša laughed, wearing a childishly mischievous expression.

» Maruša! Primi Sivčka in pazi na pot! « veli Julka, ki se je vtem sklonila v breg ob kolovozu, utrgala nekaj korčkovih cvetov in jih vtaknila za pas. Vsa družba je bila tudi že skupaj in Maruša je zaklicala:

"Maruša! Take hold of Sivček and watch the path!" ordered Julka, who had meanwhile bent down towards the slope beside the track, picked a few red flowers and tucked them into her waistband. The whole party had now caught up with them, and Maruša called out:

» Hi, Sivček! «

"Gee up, Sivček!"

» Sedaj pa jaz pomagam! « oglasi se eden izmed gospodov, ki so stopali z drugimi zadaj, in zapusti svojo družico, eno Golovih póstarnih gospodičen.

"Now I'll help!" called one of the gentlemen walking behind with the others. He left his companion, one of the elderly Miss Gol's daughters, and came forward.

» Ne, ne, Tinče,« brani mu Maruša, »vi ste preneusmiljeni! Vam ga ne pustim! «

"No, no, Tinče," Maruša protested, "you're far too rough! I won't let you have him!"

Tinče, sin pl.

Tinče, the son of the von

Malijeve, tudi dijak in sošolec omenjenih študentov, pa si ni dal braniti.

Malija family, also a student and classmate of the students mentioned earlier, would not be dissuaded.

Kot sosedni otroci — Malijevi so imeli tudi gradič blizu Veselke — bili so si on, sestra njegova Veronika, ki je šetala zadaj z mlajšo Golovo, in Orlovi hčeri od mladih let sem prav tako domači kakor njih roditelji.

As children of neighbouring families—the Malijas also owned a little castle near Veselka—he, his sister Veronika, who was walking behind with the younger Miss Gol, and the Orel daughters had been as familiar with one another since childhood as their parents were.

Oče mu je umrl šele pred nekaj leti. » Kako so veseli! Da, taki smo bili mi nekdaj! Pa če treba, tudi smo še sedaj, kajne, kapitanuš?

His father had died only a few years earlier. "How merry they are! Yes, we were just like that once! And when the occasion calls for it, we still are, aren't we, Captain?"

« reče gospod Orel, korakajoč v zadnji vrsti. Stotnik odgovori samo nalahko. »

" said Mr Orel, walking in the last group. The captain gave only a faint response. "

Da, da! «

"Yes, yes!"

» Kajne, Lizika? « ponovi Orel in s kljuko svoje gorjače potrka na rame svoji gospe, stopajoči s pl. Malijevo in Golovo pred njim. Gospe so baš razmotrivale zadnje novosti, ki so krožile o malem življenju v njih soseščini.

"Isn't that so, Lizika?" Orel repeated, tapping his wife's shoulder with the hooked end of his cudgel. She was walking ahead of him with Mrs von Malija and Mrs Gol. The ladies were just discussing the latest gossip circulating about the small world of their neighbourhood.

» Oh, ti pa ti, Mate! Pa ne tepi me tako kruto! «

"Oh, you rascal, Mate! Don't hit me so hard!"

» To je zgolj ljubezen! « reče gospod Mate in se obrne v breg, čudeč se košatemu kostanju, ki je ravno tu s silnimi vejami kipel čez kolovoz.

"It's nothing but affection!" said Mr Mate, turning towards the hillside and admiring the magnificent chestnut tree whose enormous branches spread over the track at that very spot.

» Ali je to drevo, kapitanuš, ali je to drevo! «

"Now that's a tree, Captain, that's a tree!"

Oba nekoliko postaneta, gospod Orel pa seže z levico pazno pod desno pazduho in potegne iz žepa ploščato, vendar obilo steklenico in, obrnivši vso pozornost od kostanja na skrbno zamašeno steklenico, šepne tovarišu: » Ti, kapitanuš! «

Both men paused for a moment. Mr Orel carefully reached with his left hand beneath his right arm, drew a flat but generously sized bottle from his pocket and, shifting all his attention from the chestnut tree to the tightly stoppered bottle, whispered to his companion: "Here, Captain!"

Oba nekolikokrat dobro potegneta.

Both men took several hearty swigs.

» Izvrstna slivovka! « pohvali se Orel polglasno, stotnik pa le molče prikima. In tako so potovali v hladnem jutru proti vrhu. S posameznih ovinkov pota se je že videlo skozi gosto vejevje gor na belo cerkvico kremensko.

"Excellent plum brandy!" Orel remarked in a low voice, while the captain merely nodded silently. And so they continued through the cool morning towards the summit. From certain bends in the path, they could already glimpse the little white church on Kremen through the dense branches.