Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/192

 children in the forenoon and he half repudiated the idea of going at all. Then he thought that it would be strange if he did not go and that perhaps he would go after all. As to the rest of his cogitations, they were all transformed into tinder: he only traced here and there a few wandering sparks. He was sorrowful and felt with anguish that he was alone. Then again he was glad that he was alone. It had always tended to this from the beginning, it was with him at the Horskas’s as it had hitherto been in all his other situations. But why did they behave towards him just as others had done elsewhere? That was the thought which weighed on Voytech’s mind when he betook himself to their home in the forenoon, and he felt humiliated because he was dismissed from his post as Lidunka’s instructor. But he mastered this sentiment and began to play with the children as he used to do in the old times, so that he seemed once more to the children to be their old Pan Vojtech, whom they could trot along the landing to meet. It was impossible to detect any change in him. He was at the Horskas’s house and felt himself in the circle of its enchantments. When he saw those children, his heart smote him, because he had cheated them out of their lesson-time, and he felt glad that he had a chance to make it up to them. After the hour the children let him out through the kitchen in the passage. He did not see Lidunka in the kitchen, and why did he so particularly look out for her? He might have known that he would not see her again and he determined for the future to spare himself the trouble of looking.

One thing here also annoyed him. While casting his eyes over the kitchen he noticed that the servants glanced at one another and smiled, but that was also another reason for not looking any more in their direction.

When it drew towards evening, Vojtech felt restless at home. He felt as though he could not stay in the house—and then what was there to do at home? Everything irritated him which he so much as took into his hands, or even looked at. He would have been well content to drink and play at cards, if it had been the right time of day, but it was still far too early—and how to dispose of two whole hours?

He mechanically took his hat in his hand, the doors flew open as of their own accord, streets there seemed to be none in town save those which led along the Upper Moldau, and before Vojtech had recollected himself he stood among a group of children, who cried out, “Now he is coming, now he is coming!” “Throw us a