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 kept sacred. Besides, if you only knew Pepíc̓ek, you’d be sure to love him as well as I do. Every fibre trembles in me at the bare thought of putting him away; of sending the little innocent at random into the wide world.”

“Well, if you are determined to breast the stream, come what may, do so by all means; but you will want strong pair of arms and a heart of steel for that, I can tell you! If you feel that you have the power to do this, say again, do it by all means.”

”Cvok replied, “When I had read Neducha’s letter, my mind was rent in two, and I wavered like a weakling, to and fro; but now, thanks to your good advice, my mind has recovered its firmness, and is fortified against the wickedness of the world and against all possible accidents. The child I will not put away, whatever happens. The knowledge of doing what is right will be a sufficient reward for all the trouble and difficulties that may perhaps arise. I wonder now how I could have wavered for a moment. It was caused, no doubt, by Mathew’s letter. He cannot, of course, know how a man feels who of his own free will suffers for the innocent and the faulty, in order to do them good, and to shield them from the ill will of the world; more especially if it be in the cause of a helpless, defenceless child and a weak, deserted woman.”

At this moment spinster Regina tore open the garden gate in the utmost haste, and announced that Mr. Ferdinand from the castle had come with a message to the reverend father. Ledecký stood up, not overpleased, and went into the house. In about half an hour he returned to the garden, dressed in his best clerical garments, and said to Cvok,