Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/210

 from the bath. As if he had plunged into the waves of the Ganges and stepping out on the beach had felt himself in the company of lotus eyes. The breath of life breathed warm upon him, his soul won pinions, tearful thoughts froze to crystal and when he awoke something lingered on his lips which seemed to say, “I am not a lost member of society.”

When they had returned to Prague, Vojtech began once more to elaborate a system by which he might gain more frequent access to Lidunka. He chose her readings out of all sorts of books, brought them to her, and declared that he would willingly explain anything she did not understand. Perhaps Vojtech accidently picked out the readings which she understood the least or perhaps Lidunka purposely did not understand them, at any rate frequent and protracted explanations ensued.

An unfortunate event helped on the rest of Vojtech’s proceedings.

One night a ruddy glare illuminated the city of Prague. A fiery pillar of flame blazed to the firmament, mills burnt along the Upper Moldau.

People thronged to it and sparks flew in all directions. Close by the mills dwelt the Horskas. And when people ran to the conflagration, Vojtech hurried to the Horskas’s.

Their dwelling was in danger. In the house confusion reigned and the most needful articles were collected in case ill fate should drive the family to take flight. Vojtech helped them and stayed with them all night.

The next day passed without actual danger but it was as busy a day as the last, for everything had to be rearranged and replaced. But five days had not elapsed before the fire broke out again in neighbouring mills with as great a vehemence as before. A night of disquietude was again the lot of the Horskas. The furniture was piled together and they prepared each moment for flight. Vojtech was again on the spot the whole time and if he ran off now and then it was only that he might bring them word how the fire progressed and whether there was a greater or less danger.

Even the last fire passed without any mishap to the family which Vojtech aided. But indeed a panic now seized upon the whole neighbourhood as though in the course of a few days a third conflagration was fated to break forth. One row of mills was yet untouched and people said that threatening letters had