Page:Halek's Stories and Evensongs.pdf/213

 sufficed to explain them. What was discovered was faithfully reported to Pani Horska.

“You are sad, Lidunka”, said Vojtech.

“I am vexed because people busy themselves about us in the most unworthy manner.”

“She was here I know it.”

“She said you were a debauchee and that you drank and played at cards. I do not like such calumnies.”

Vojtech remained thoughtful a moment and then said: “It was true once, Lidunka. When I had no where to go in the evening I went where no one would drive me away.”

Lidunka’s eyes glistened—she knew to what he alluded.

“Our further fate belongs to no one but ourselves, Lidunka”, said Vojtech. “It will be a happy one if we so wish it.”

“We do wish it”, said Lidunka.

When Pani Horska came into the room she found Vojtech and Lidunka in a fond embrace. They paid slight heed to the mother’s entrance.

Pani Horska said: “I had to defend you just now, Pan Vojtech.”

Vojtech took Lidunka by the hand and leading her to her mother said: “Let me not receive warning if I ask for the future to be Lidunka’s pupil—I wish to be apprenticed to her for life.”

“Love one another”, said the mother. “I was constrained to separate my daughter from the teacher; from the son I cannot. Love one another now and henceforth.”

“From this day begin our walks together”, cried Vojtech and both kissed the mother’s hand with heart-felt sincerity.

In the streets along the Upper Moldau in Prague walked once more at evening a fair-haired man. He did not hurry and his face was blithe. The children were grown older and begged and formed yet more noisy gatherings. When the young man drew near his blithe appearance seemed a happy omen.

When he was still a long way off they cried, “Throw us a kreuzer!” But there was the difference: that when they caught sight of him they called out, “Now they are coming.” Vojtech in reality did not go alone, he led by the hand his wife. But in the plural number which the children made of him there was no doubt this advantage that two hands throw them kreuzers. And so they formed two parties. One party remained faithful to Rh