Page:Poet Lore, volume 21, 1910.djvu/435

 yard.) Where could that Barushka be

Matoush.—Let’s come, Petr. (Smiling.) Nunc est bibendum. (They both go into the house.)

Kocianova (in the yard).—But what a girl she is—(Crosses the yard.) Barushka! (Goes out through the gate.) Barushka,—can you hear me?

(The stage remains empty for a while. appears in the gate way. She is lightly dressed and carries a parasol which she shuts when she enters. She looks around meditatively.)

Kocianova (whose voice can be heard from a nearby house).—But Barushka, Barushka—where have you been?

Petr (comes out on the threshold and calls).—Maminka, maminka, where did you put? (Having seen he does not finish the sentence, but stops and greets her quietly.) Good afternoon.

Maya.—Ach! Pardon me, reverend sir, that I have come into your yard without permission.

Petr.—You are welcome. Are you looking for somebody?

Maya.—Oh no—mere inquisitiveness. I just wanted to see your parsonage from the outside, at least. Old memories, don’t you know. Would you permit me to look into the hall. There used to be some old blackened pictures there and I used to be so afraid of them.

Petr (steps off the threshold—he motions to her to enter).—If you please!

Maya (approaches the threshold, but stops).—Ach! Pardon. I must explain why I am interested. My name is Maya Zemanova and I come from Prague.

Petr (somewhat embarrassed).—Yes

Maya.—I used to live here—many, many years ago. And this year some vagabond spirit brought me again into your neighborhood. I am in Breskowitz for my vacation. (She looks around.) Wonderful! To my imagination your parsonage seemed a tremendous building, your yard according to my recollection was at least as big as a town square, even that tree there seems to me very much smaller than it was in my memory—and the tree must have grown since that time.

Petr.—You must have been away from here for a long time, madam.

Maya (laughing).—Years, many years. But, reverend sir, you were not here then.