JONITZA GETS INTERESTED
Evidently the Doctor did see Jonitza's father, for before the week was
ended it had been definitely decided that as soon as the weather was a
little warmer Mrs. Popescu would leave with her son for a month's stay
in the country. Jonitza had been a trifle interested at first, then he
had grumbled, and, finally, he had resumed the languid air that was so
peculiarly trying to those about him.
There was one thing in particular that he rebelled against even in his
languid state and that was the fact that every afternoon he was now
bundled up and ordered out-of-doors for an hour.
"I don't want to go," he would say every time; and every time his
mother would kiss him and answer sweetly, "It is for your own good. We
must do what the Doctor orders."
Then he would go out into the garden with its lilac and acacia bushes
that were just beginning to show leaf buds and walk slowly up and
down or stand first on one foot and then on the other as if unable to
decide what to do. But one day things went differently. Whether it was
due to the air having a genuine spring flavor for the first time that
year, or to the fact that it was a holiday and he had been left at home
with a couple of servants, or to the fact that the departure for the
foot-hills had been definitely set for the first day of the following
week, or to some other entirely different cause, in any case there was
quite an alert look about the boy and even something of a sparkle in
his eyes.
Maritza, the maid, noticed it and remarked to the cook: "Master Jonitza
looks quite spry to-day. If he were well, I'd warrant he would get into
some mischief." Then she forgot all about him.
A group of boys that Jonitza knew slightly passed by and one seeing him
called out: "Come on with us. We're going to the marsh." To his own
surprise, Jonitza called back, "All right," and joined them.
When they reached a marshy plain bordering on the Danube some of the
boys left them, and Jonitza found himself alone with two boys, both
younger than himself. All three were tired from the walk, and finding
the stump of an old tree, sat down on it and amused themselves counting
the ducks that they saw. Suddenly something that his tutor had told
him occurred to Jonitza. "Do you know," he said, "that there are more
varieties of ducks on the Danube than in most parts of the world? Let's
see how many different ones we can make out."
The little boys did not take kindly to the suggestion. "I am hungry,"
one of them said; "let's go home."
So back the three began to trudge, now and then throwing a stone into
the air, or, when they could, into the water.
Jonitza felt more tired than he cared to confess to the two youngsters
and inwardly planned to lie down as soon as he came within doors. "I'll
be home in less than fifteen minutes, now!" he suddenly exclaimed,
thinking aloud.
"How can you and see me dance?" said a voice behind him so unexpectedly
that Jonitza jumped. Turning, he saw a laughing peasant all decorated
with tiny bells.
"Oh, jolly!" the other boys shouted. "There's going to be a dance! Come
on!"
Those little bells must have said "Come on" too, for Jonitza found
himself trying to keep up with the peasant's rapid strides.
Down in the Lower Town, before one of the old domed churches, they
found a crowd gathered. Although there was nothing unusual about such
a gathering, one could see from the faces that something unusual was
expected.
It was not a silent expectation, however. Everywhere people were
talking and laughing and a few young men were even singing. As soon as
the peasant with bells appeared, a shout arose. At the same instant a
troop of other peasants, all attired in their gay embroidered national
costumes, with bells at their girdles and on their sleeves, came in a
body into the square, and taking their places began to dance and shout
and sing and stamp their feet. Some one said this was the Pyrrhic
Dance that was sacred in ancient mythology, and that had come to the
Roumanians from their Roman forefathers; a dance to prevent Saturn
from hearing the voice of his infant son Jupiter, lest he devour him.
Whether this explained it or not there was no doubt of the audience
liking it, for at its conclusion all clapped their hands and burst
into boisterous exclamations of delight. Jonitza, feeling some of the
excitement, clapped too, and no longer conscious of any tired feeling
waited until almost every one had gone before he made his way slowly
home.