Page:Poet Lore, volume 27, 1916.djvu/33

 Dušek (Violently).—You know I’m not going to run around with models to Glaubic’s any more, as you do. (A pause.) I don’t grasp in what way that lady has injured you that you talk about her so! You are always complaining that there is no understanding for art in our society—and when some one does appear who understands it, you scoff at him.

Šimr (Tosses his head).—My world suffices for me!

Dušek (Indicating with his thumb).—Do you hear, Láda? What did I say?

Hlaváček.—Don’t begin again, I beg of you!

Dušek (Crossses the studio and laughs contemptuously).—And the best thing about it all is that you call this artists’ life! You botch up some small order just enough so that you could get something to eat out of it

Šimr (With feigned gravity).—Ah—mainly—to drink!

Dušek (Shaking his finger).—Just own up! It is suffocating here among you just as in those ale houses! (Spreads out his hands.) Lord, lord, how gladly I’ll fly from here!

( looks at him amazedly.}}

Hlaváček (Surprised).—What—?

Šimr (Nudges ).—That’s on account of her, eh?

Hlaváček (Nodding to ).—Well, Kamilo—then those dogs and those geese—(Indicating the picture with a motion of his head) will remain for us after all?

Dušek.—That’s something different, you heard very well! What makes me wrathy is that you indulge in such coarseness. Especially Šimr here.

( grins.)

Dušek.—Well, laugh, laugh, you idiot!

Šimr.—And are you going to take Stáza there with you?

Dušek (Furiously).—Šimr! (Steps up to him and then stops.) As if I didn’t know you!

Hlaváček (Motioning to ).—Let him alone, Šimr! (To Dušek.) And you get a little sense, you childish man! What do you care, after all, for the Lindner? You’ll paint her, draw a few hundred—and enough! What are you getting excited about?

Dušek—No one mentioned money! You are only angry at society because you haven’t its money. (Angrily.) Oh, to be sure! Are you envious because I paint better portraits? Don’t hang around the ale-houses, don’t disgrace yourselves on the streets—and then people will notice you, too. (To .) You know very well no man is going to Thomas’s to hunt you up in