Page:Poet Lore, volume 26, 1915.djvu/313

 what has bewitched you—I alone. Don’t say anything. None of the other people suspect, but I am able to read in your eyes and I know—that you look—high—high up! ’Tis well. What is the wild thyme on the mere to the blossom from the noble garden!

Jeroným. Bětuška! I must go to the castle.

Bětuška.—Go, go, and don’t be angry—if you should ever meet me anywhere again. (Sobbing.) Jeroným! Jeroným!

Jeroným.—Bětuška, I cannot stay. God bless you! (Hastens into castle.)

Václav (In a subdued voice).—He goes and she is left in tears. (Threateningly.) If he were only anyone else but my brother! (Aloud, challengingly.) So you two have met! He has thoughts who knows where, and your thoughts are on him—a fine gentleman. Václav Výrava is too common for you, but Jeroným Výrava who is to become a lord—he is the right lad for you.

Bětuška.—How you speak of him.

Václav.—Not otherwise than he himself desires and as our father desires. Jeroným is everything everywhere and I not anything—to anyone—not even to you! The painted dandy! I’ve been swallowing bitter pills for several years, God help me if I should some day forget myself! Are you going to the harvest festival?

( steps out of the castle and hastens past.)

Bětuška.—I shall not go. I am going home.

Václav.—Then go—there’ll be other girls down on the meadow. (With a challenge in his voice.) Because of one girl to break my heart! Today I’ll be gay, today I’ll shout! ( runs away timidly. to himself bitterly.) But more likely with wrath and not with merriment! (A soldier’s bugle sounds playing a cavalry march. departing, pauses.) What’s that? Our band? No, those are soldiers. (Runs towards the rear.)

People running out of the forest.. Later