Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/199

 to her lessons when the rustling of her light step drove the colour from Vojtech’s cheeks.

When Vojtech entered this room to-day, he saw guests there. Besides Pani Horska sat her sisters, on her other side was Lidunka’s little sister and there were two young men whom Vojtech had known when they were at school, and he was aware that they had considerable means of their own. Finally there was Lidunka. She was dressed in a pink gown.

When Vojtech entered he bowed and the young men greeted him as an old acquaintance but in such a way as to make it apparent that in the greeting they had said everything they meant to say to him in that place. Immediately after this, the elder of the young men devoted himself to Lidunka and began a protracted and as it seemed lively and confidential conversation.

Lidunka’s cheeks were rosier than a freshly ripened raspberry.

Pani Horska hinted mechanically that Vojtech had chosen an unlucky hour for lessons and said she feared very little would be done that day.

Vojtech thereupon replied fugitively that they must do their best and led his young charges to the next apartment.

Pani Horska was right when she said that very few lessons would be done that day. The children began to frolic at his side—so long a pause occurred before Vojtech found the place in the book from which they read. Twice, thrice he turned over all the pages of the whole book, and when the little boy accidentally bounced against him and himself pointed out the place, Vojtech signed to him to begin reading.

It was a wonderful business that reading aloud and must, indeed, have penetrated to the neighbouring apartment and have somewhat disturbed the company there assembled. This, no doubt, Vojtech had never intended and, if I mistake not, wished to drown the sound of voices from the neighbouring apartment. Vojtech said “yes” to the children as they read, but of what they read he had no definite conception.

All that his imagination was capable of realizing during that period was the fact that Lidunka wore a pink dress, that her face beamed, her eyes sparkled, and that she was in lively conversation with a young man well known to him. But what he heard droning constantly in his ear was the beating of his own heart and a voice which seemed to keep repeating, “Lidunka’s afternoon walks”, so said the voice and added as if in answer, “She does not go very far.” Rh