Page:Magdalen by J S Machar.pdf/53

 Jiří was for a whole evening drowned in the glitter of Lucy’s eyes. For a whole evening he felt within himself a sense of moral rectitude, and he chid and pitied her. He spoke impassionately, and he spoke much. At midnight he pressed her hand, and went home through the damp night.

As he walked, the icy calm returned to him. He called himself an ideal ass and fool, to allow himself to be seduced by treacherously clear eyes to play a stupid comedy. He swore he would never put his foot again in that house On reaching home, he retired and slept a peaceful sleep, as ever, until nine.

So passed five or six days. Jiří became a target for the jokes of his friends. They teased him in the coffeehouse and in the street. They asked for his “Manon,” his “charming Manon.” They told him how the old madam was cursing him. They said that Lucy had for several days been as coy