Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/186

 be angry with him also. “Godfather” tried to pacify “his young lady”, “his dear young lady”, by saying that he had known her since she was in her cradle and added that he must tell them about just one thing more—why she cried. But now Vojtech was really angry and told “godfather” that he was certain the young lady had never cried from fright like him. But he somehow said the words “young lady” so unadroitly that when the children burst out laughing, he did not know whether they laughed at the way he had said those words or at the repartee which he had made to “godfather”. But one thing was clear from this little scene that Lidunka must not be called Lidunka any more but young lady. Yes, Lidunka was already a young lady, in full measure a young lady, and it was not proper to call her anything else, and Vojtech later on would even so have called her, but the recollection of his first attempt to give her that title fixed itself so unpleasantly in his memory that being always quick at discovering the most difficult turns of expression, he always avoided the word young lady and called her neither Lidunka nor young lady. But besides this there was yet matter for reflection. There had already once before been such; and in the slight respect, with which his pupils treated their French master, he saw the destiny of all domestic teachers, he saw his own destiny. Thereupon he renewed his determination always so to regulate his behaviour that he might not give the shadow of an excuse for the notion that he considered himself anything more than a man temporarily hired by the family and with whose instructions the parents could dispense whenever they chose.

He, therefore, said no more and when the shower was somewhat abated, he at once prepared to depart. Lidunka offered him an umbrella and at the same time hinted that she was sorry she had not a similar one to offer “godfather”. But from this courtesy Vojtech only gathered that Lidunka wished to revenge herself on the French master for his plain-spokenness, by letting him see the slight respect she felt for him. And as Vojtech wished Lidunka fully to understand his own sentiments, he did not accept the umbrella and begged her to give it to his older companion.

It was the first offer Lidunka had made, and when she saw it refused, she looked down on the ground.

Vojtech carried out his determination very consistently. It was a part of his character for which he had gained the reputation of being proud and self-conceited. Vojtech in all this really sought by a kind of pride still to preserve himself from change and to