Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/148

124 for her, too, because I felt that she was fond of me and I of her. We made plans for the future, but we saw no escape from the present, for duty bound her to that house and to that life

About three o'clock in the morning, somebody knocked on the match-wood wall of the room and whispered: "Are you asleep, Vlasta?" It was her friend. Vlasta opened the door and let her in. Valerie, a stout girl, introduced herself to me ceremoniously, gave me her hand, and sat down wearily upon the bed Valerie propped her head in her hand and softly lamented: "How can I get away from here how can I get away from here?" "You," remarked Valerie, "only owe fifty gulden but I've got a hundred and twenty against me" "Yes, fifty gulden, but where am I to get them from?" "Don't shout, Vlasta,”’ said Valerie, soothingly, "we'll get something together for you. I've got seven gulden, Elsa has three " and she recounted a whole string of poetical names with a complete total of thirty-five gulden.

"T will get together the rest," I announced.

"Now let's celebrate the occasion," suggested Valerie, and from her room she brought in a bottle of wine and seven gulden, wrapped up in a handkerchief, which she gave to Vlasta. They kissed each other; then we drank, got into a festive mood and made plans. Valerie knew of an office where they provided situations. Vlasta