Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/191

 But the fourth day had not elapsed before Vojtech plunged into all his old faults more recklessly than ever. He quite forgot himself. He prolonged the hour even in face of Pani Horska’s hints and objections and carried himself as though no one had the right to measure out his time. He taught with vehemence, he lectured in an interesting manner, and seeing Lidunka contented, he set up her consentment as his only law.

But perhaps it was not altogether wise to act thus. Spring drew near and Pani Horska announced to Vojtech that in the summer Lidunka would abandon her lessons because they wished to spend their evenings outside the town. Lidunka did not again appear not even to thank Vojtech for his pains. Besides this Pani Horska begged Vojtech to teach the children in the forenoon. Vojtech collected all his eloquence and demonstrated to Pani Horska that Lidunka was doing excellently well and that it would be a shame to tear her from her lessons yet a while.

“She is diligent enough in the winter”, answered Pani Horska briefly to all his representations.

This event threw Vojtech into a feverish condition. He wondered whether he ought to leave the Horskas altogether, for what Lidunka’s mother gave as a reason was clearly only an excuse and the heart of the matter lay in this that Lidunka did not venture to take lessons with him. This was a brief summary of all his reflections: “For what have I made all these fine preparations?” he asked himself as he regarded the books which he had set in order for Lidunka’s reading.

That day he went again for the first time among his acquaintances to the hostinets. He did not yet comprehend his own condition thoroughly, and that his comrades might not divine it he talked much, made malicious sallies, drank more than usual, played at cards, and sang. If it had been any one’s lot to describe his state of mind, he would have said that Vojtech was in a very dissipated mood. In his language he was vehement, and feeling himself affronted he affronted every one.

He came home late at night, lighted a candle and went slowly to his room. A chill breath of night-air entered by the open window. He looked a long time out of the window, and then laid himself down to rest. When he thought over what happened all that night and whether he was asleep or awake he could not say himself for certain. If he had to point to any result of his reflections, he would not have known what name to give it. He only knew that on the following day he had to go to the Horskas’s