Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/105

 would understand her difficulties without the need of long speeches, he would aid her without entreaties for aid.

Karla in her strength grew young again at these thoughts. She cast a longing look after them, just as a child after the bubbles which it has formed, as in glittering colours they hovered before her and when one burst she quickly formed a second and a third. Suddenly her visions gave place to the thought: If Havel had encountered a similar fate, she would not have tarried longer than was needed to pass from thought to action. She would have sought him out and offered him her assistance. Havel without doubt already knew of her distress; he would undoubtedly have sought her out if he had been disposed to help her. She quickly determined that it would be easier to beg than to be an incubus upon Havel. With his love and means, she would have sought him out, she would never hang about his door with prayers for help.

In this decision Karla felt her mind strengthened and elevated. She felt herself free as a bird which left its lowly nest and wings its way aloft. It looks on well-known objects from a height: it is not subject to them, it is above them, it can leave them, it can return to them. She did not dispute his love for her, but she felt that she must be free.

Evening approached, night came, and the moon arose to greet it like as a virgin lights herself to her secret bed-chamber. Karla had a hard couch and felt with anguish that now it was too late to seek assistance. The child cried for hunger and Karla discovered to her surprise that she was already too weak to afford it its wanted nourishment. She started up, and like as the kid searches the parched rocks to find some green root that it may satisfy its bleating young, so Karla looked about by the light of the moon for the sustenance she so sorely needed. She went along the wall, her whole attention concentrated on a search for food. She looked on the road as if food might have been placed there purposely. She dragged herself along with difficulty and paced the lane several times without finding a morsel of food. All at once her eyes fell on the wall. Behind it were gardens: it was August and the ripe fruit hung, so that she needed only to stretch out her hand to gather it. Karla shook some plums into her lap. According to law she committed a theft; according to instinct she preserved herself and child. For that day she was saved, for the morrow poverty takes no thought. It has no to-morrow.