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 Could it be possible? Or was it but an illusion of his own fantasy which had drawn her in such lively colours, or did she wish to share in those scenes which he had so presumptuously imagined?

Lidunka’s eye rested quietly on Vojtech and beamed yet more kindly than when he had seen her in the neighbouring room. But there was something in that eye which he had not seen before. With all its brightness there was expressed a kind of anxious deprecation, and if Vojtech could believe his own eyes he read in it, “You have been forming fallacious pictures to yourself.”

These words seemed so clearly traceable in her looks that Vojtech felt quite exasperated at them.

But Lidunka said, “I am come to you, Pan Vojtech, to thank you in the name of my mother for all the kindness and affectionate interest you have shown in my little brother. He cannot wait patiently for your coming and speaks of your kindness to him continually.”

Thereupon Vojtech attempted to say something but did not say anything.

And Lidunka continued, “If the day after to-morrow be promising, we intend to go to the Prokop valley, and mother invites you to come with us if you will.”

Lidunka said this almost constrainedly and with an effort, and awaited an answer.

Vojtech said something to the effect that the larger the company the merrier it was, and so forth.

“We shall be alone”, said Lidunka warmly, and with emphasis as though she wished to exhaust all further objections which Vojtech might make.

A sort of gleam of satisfaction must have illuminated Vojtech’s countenance for even Lidunka showed clear signs of pleasure. But what he said was but coldly pronounced: “I shall be delighted”, but he said it as though for that matter it was not really true that he would be delighted.

“I delight in going to St. Prokopius,” said Lidunka again with warmth—“darling mother goes there for my sake. Au revoir, Pan Vojtech!”

Thereupon she returned to the neighbouring room. Vojtech involuntarily heard here and there a few disconnected sentences—they talked about walks and expeditions; then he heard Lidunka say very loud that her little brother delighted to go out walking.