Page:Poet Lore, volume 21, 1910.djvu/472

 ceed, since you feel so strong.

Maya (awakening and rising).—My heart will be bleeding while I talk to Petr. It will be to me as though I were burying my youth for the second time. But I do not fear it. I will be strong. I will be feelingless.

Kocianova (looks up to her).

Maya.—Feelingless to him and to myself. And to myself mostly. (Decided.) Let us go to him.

Kocianova.—And do you want to tell him all that before the doctor?

Maya.—You are right. I would, perhaps, not be strong enough. Send him to me.

Kocianova (rising).—May the Lord strengthen you! (She goes away slowly into the parsonage.)

(Pause.)

Maya (erect, decided, goes after her. She stops near the doorway and looks forward, expecting ).

Petr (after a while appears on the threshold).

Maya (all decided, as soon as she sees him).—Mr. Petr, I have come to say good by to you.

Petr (Extremely surprised and confused).—Miss—you here?

Maya.—Did not Dr. Votava tell you?

Petr.—He did not. I thought he came alone.

Maya.—Mr. Petr, I did not mean to come to you any more. For your sake—and—for my sake. But I am coming again and for the last time, because it had to be. Give me your hand.

Petr (gives her his hand).—Did I do any harm to you?

Maya (she smiles slightly and sadly).—You—to me? (Shakes her head.) I—to you. And therefore, first of all, forgive me (stops, not finishing). Yes, forgive me. It is the last cordial and kind word I shall say to you. (Stops.) Will you forgive me?

Petr (confused).—Yes.

Maya (pretending calmness).—Thank you. And now, know why I have come again. I come to tell you, Mr. Petr, that you have sinned awfully against your mother. I will not mention your uncle, although you have also wounded him. But you have inexorably wronged your mother.

Petr (surprised).—I?

Maya.—You and I, both of us. But I want to be strong again.