Page:Poet Lore, volume 21, 1910.djvu/451

 Votava.—Of course I will. But you will have to wait for me. Or would you rather come with me now?

Maya.—You will be passing here anyway, will you not?

Votava.—Certainly. I never go a different way.

Maya.—Then I would rather wait here for you. May I, reverend sir? I like it here so much.

Matoush.—Where else would you be going, Miss Maya? You can have supper with us and the doctor will be back by that time.

Votava (to ).—And how is your patient getting along?

Maya.—She fell asleep. That’s why I came out. That window? Ought I not shut it?

Votava.—No. Fresh air will not harm her. At night you may shut it. So please have patience, Miss Maya. I’ll be back soon. Au revoir. (Going away.)

Matoush (escorts him).—Well, I am so much obliged to you, doctor. (Returning.) You are a good girl, Miss Maya, to come to see us. You have given my sister much pleasure, and me, too.

Maya.—I would have come sooner, but I did not want to be forward. It is so beautiful here, so quiet; believe me, I like it here even better than I did years ago. I will be longing for this place in Prague. I am going Saturday, you know.

Matoush.—Already?

Maya.—Ach, yes, yes,—the holidays are over. Next Monday I will be playing again. It will all start again—and God only knows what will happen in a year. (After a while.) Do you know, reverend sir, that I am beginning to envy you?

Matoush.—Me?

Maya.—Yes, all of you. That is, at least, you and Mrs. Kocianova. I probably feel sorry for Petr.

Matoush (attentive).—Did he complain to you?

Maya.—Mr. Petr? What an idea! I don’t believe he would ever complain to any one even if something should oppress him. He is so self contained. And, anyway, how could he? This is only the second time that I have been here. The other day we did not do much talking and to-day there was no time for it.

Matoush.—I was just telling the doctor that he has changed suddenly. (Pointing to the parsonage.) He is by his mother?

Maya.—Yes. We did not want to talk there because she was falling asleep. And he stayed inside. (After a while.) He loves his mother very much, does he not?