Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/148

 Novak did not inquire for the daughter, for he at once recognized Betuska, when her mother signed to her to put bread and butter on the table.

“Thank you kindly, I will not eat; in fact, I have just risen from table.” And here he mentioned the name of grandfather, and said he had dined with him.

He was not at fault in mentioning grandfather’s name. By so doing he so far constrained Betuska at least to his purpose that she wished to listen to him. Passion is not particular about the messenger, but is very observant of the message.

Then Novak began jestingly to speak about betrothals, and weddings, and what a grand wedding had but lately been arranged by him, and how people thanked him wherever he went, and said he was like a father to young people; and indeed they almost everywhere called him father; and he ran on in the like strain about good deeds of his own that would have been sufficient to make a man glorious to the third generation.

“Oh! ho! little daughter”, he said, as if it slipped his tongue, and blinked at Betuska’s mother in a particular way which is vulgarly called “tipping the wink”.

Her mother smiled slightly, and Kubista said, “Come, Betuska, what do you say to that?” But he said it in a jesting tone of voice, and not as though he had anything in his mind.

“I have a husband on hand,” said Novak, and thereupon he snapped the fingers of his right hand, “of regular habits, comme il faut, spruce as a cedar, and with plenty of these.”

And he slapped the pocket in which his money jingled.

“Perhaps I might bring him to you next Sunday”, said Novak aiming straight to his purpose.

Betuska, seeing that he really meant something stayed in the room, and with imploring eyes looked at her father and mother.

“Come, come, you know,” said Kubista, “that might have been; but then you know, that cannot be, for there is a certain hitch in the affair.”

Could anything in the world have surprised Novak?

Novak put on an expression of countenance just as if he wished to say that he thought as much all along, but his eyes darkened with a peculiar venom, and around his mouth just such a sneer formed itself as though he wished to say frankly, “How I pity you for trusting him.”