Page:Czechoslovak stories.pdf/151

 were intent on the necessity of eating, which fact had not been before apparent to them becausewell, because—they had been in love.

But now for a number of days both had sipped their coffee to the last drop and afterwards carefully wiped their lips as if feeling the need of some occupation. The husband had arisen, taken his hat, cane and some documents (the young wife noticed that he always took some sort of papers) and, kissing her on the lips, he departed for his office, while she had called after him with a bright voice: “Bring me something in your pocket, Otto! Don’t forget! Perhaps you’ll see some of my favorite apples—some ‘Míšenská’ somewhere and you’ll bring them.”

He had answered briefly from the hallway, because he was in a hurry, “Why can’t you send Veronica?” (Veronica was the maid.)

“But I want the apples from you, dear Otto,” the young wife had cried after him sadly.

“I have many cares on my mind today,” he had replied.

“What are they?”

“Oh, you don’t understand such things.”

“But you will bring my apple? Do you hear? Don’t forget!”

Her last words reached her husband as his hand touched the knob of the house door and he did not reply to them because he did not wish to cause an unnecessary noise in the house.