Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/108

 The streets lay open before her, she might drag herself along them as far as the threshold; what was behind the threshold even her looks outraged and yet what was to forbid her from knocking at the doors and beseeching for relief in her necessity?

She descended the staircase and determined that she would not go to a house again. But whither was she to turn? The rain lashed her face and her clothes scarcely somewhat dried began to be wetted afresh.

Opposite the house, which she had just left, stood a church. From it she heard the sound of the organ and singing. She used often to go to church because it was the fashion. She went in the same spirit as she took a drive, to look at people or to show her clothes. Nothing drew her to church and her religion was only a pretext. But as she now looked at the open doors, it seemed as though a new world was drawing her to itself. She saw at least some aim in life, some shelter which the street and rain denied her.

She entered the church. By the doorway stood a group of beggar women, brawling their paternosters, and as Karla went past them they involuntarily stretched out their hands, Karla knelt close by the doorway. She did not pray in words for her soul was overflowing like a stream of fire. Karla rejoiced that doors were not closed against her here also, and though she comprehended not the peace which reigned within them, she did at least comprehend that she had found some shelter from the wind and rain. When she knelt she did not see people nor did she hear what they sung: but yet it seemed to her as though the organ spoke for them even from their very soul. Its tones rolled along in as full a stream as the song from their hearts. Both were without definite words but they filled her whole existence with new courage.

When the service was over, people jostled out of the church and as Karla was close to the door, she was also obliged to follow the stream. She came to the porch and because outside the rain did not greatly tempt her, she involuntarily ranged herself among the beggars. These paid little heed to her, for their eyes were directed and their hands stretched out to the people who were leaving the church.

The beggar women prayed their paternosters in chorus and when they came to the passage “Give us this day our daily bread”, Karla shivered all over, the tears streamed down her face and she