Page:Poet Lore, volume 21, 1910.djvu/441

 at that girl there I begin to believe it. Only she must be better, more open hearted than the others—Well! I don’t know how I should say it. When one hears a goodly creature like that one feels better and the world grows brighter.

Petr.—And what must the men of their world be if a woman can be so free and independent—how those men must live! Does it not seem to you, maminka, that they are entirely different people of a different world than ours? And that world is so far away.

Kocianova (softly).—Well, let it be far away. As long as we can love some one. If God wills it, neither are you living in vain. Did I not pray to Him for you?

Petr (somewhat moved).—And I also thank Him daily that I still have you. (Cordially.) Let His will be done, maminka, as long as you find joy in me.

Kocianova (pats him lightly).—My good, my only Petrichek.

Petr (after a while).—Well, I daresay that uncle was surprised when he saw her. I wonder if she has told him yet who she is.

Maya (running out of the house).—Well, you should have seen it! You should have seen it!

Kocianova.—Did brother know you, Miss?

Maya.—No, not at all. (To the priest who is coming after her.) He made so many guesses, did you not,—but never guessed right!

Matoush.—What do you think of that, Marianka? And you, Petr?

Petr.—I did not know Miss Preisova, either, uncle.

Matoush.—And do you know who I thought she was when she entered. The Countess of Herstein. I was reading without my glasses, when she knocked and came in. That figure and that light dress.

Maya.—And I of course played my little part and the reverend sir started off, “Your Grace.” Only that as soon as he put on his glasses he saw

Matoush.—But still I did not know where to place her

Maya.—See, see, reverend sir. To-day you would hardly call me “you over-patted cry baby.” Really, that’s what he called me once when I began to whimper for no reason and he was in a hurry.

Matoush.—But I am afraid that it was a little worse than you tell us.

Maya.—Yes, it was. At the end I got a good slap from you because I would not stop.