Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/155

 was that Kubista should recognize that he was worthy of his daughter.

And Kubista did indeed stand to him in place of a father, at least according to sorrow.

Whenever they saw one another afield they always came together, and their first salutation was dedicated to the memory of Betuska.

Only sometimes uncle came here alone, alone, and then complained to heaven and earth, fell on his face, and drowned his grief in tears. Aye, he could not see this place without shuddering, but his eyes in vain sought the village, to see whether Betuska would come from it, to make all clear to him as none else could.

Coming home again he was so variable that neither grandfather nor grandmother could understand him.

Sometimes indeed quite affable, and at other times again he shut himself like a monastic in his cell.

He did not speak much with people, and if he spoke he touched on matters entirely indifferent, so that it might appear to others as if this misfortune had not so very deeply affected him.

Sometimes also he jested with them—even cruelly. He said, “So! I told you to laugh at me when I was no more Kubista’s boy. Laugh now, you have a right to do so.”

And he began himself to laugh, as though he wished to give them a taste for laughing.

Who saw him thus found his taste for laughing with him soon gone.

And after that again he was so leaden-hearted that grandmother felt grave concern about him, lest, perhaps, he should attempt his own life. Meek and gentle sometimes like a child, and sometimes again he dealt out his words as though he would speak daggers.

“You know excellently how to take care of children,” he said to grandfather, “not only of your own but even of Kubista’s—for you have taken care of Betuska better than he himself did. No one could have provided for her better. Faith ’tis quite a peculiar talent when a man can so prettily blast another’s happiness.”

Grandfather was scared at these words. There lay in them an enormous weight of accusation and yet they were pronounced with as much coldness as if he had said, “My pipe has gone out.”

Grandfather, however, did not dare evade the charge implied, but began to consider how he might divert Uncle John to other pursuits. He sought counsel of grandmother, but with her he did