Page:Poet Lore, volume 27, 1916.djvu/74

 Hlaváček.—How is your “Psyche” getting along?

Dušek (Fretfully).—Don’t aggravate me! (Goes to the window and looks out.) Oh, Lord, Lord! (Turns around.) Do you know, Ládo, that it’s a half year since I’ve been in this studio? (Sorrowfully) And I really shouldn’t have come crawling up now!

Hlaváček.—Haven’t you gotten any wisdom, yet, Kamilo?

Dušek (Laughs mournfully).—Nowhere to put it, old pal! Can’t fill up with water a dish that’s full of holes.

Hlaváček (With warm open-heartedness).—Now what! You’re surely not going to make yourself miserable for ever!

Dušek (Sadly).—Ládo! Ládo! It’s easy for you to talk!

Hlaváček.—If you weren’t so hot-headed and would once in a while come among us, you wouldn’t have to think so much of things you can’t change

Dušek.—Oh, no, no, no—I don’t fit among you fellows any more. I’d just needlessly poison you all.

Hlaváček.—Such an idea! You must force yourself, then.

Dušek.—To work? Do you think I don’t try? Work, if you can, when you feel as I’ve felt for three solid months.

Hlaváček.—First of all, come back among us to your own world, don’t think, and do a few merry stunts with the boys—in a few days you’ll be in first rate condition.

Dušek (Impatiently).—Oh, I say—please (A pause. seats himself on the divan. After a while.) Ládo, tell me one thing.

(Hlaváček.—Well?

Dušek.—Did you tell that to anyone that time?

Hlaváček (Not comprehending).—What?

Dušek (With impatience).—You know, that evening—at Dr. Vlasák’s

Hlaváček (Recalling).—Oh, that? (Earnestly.)—Why, what do you think? We promised each other that we’d both keep still about it. Why, did someone—?

Dušek.—Doubtless I’m mistaken. But, they say, something was said not long ago at the coffee-house.

Hlaváček.—Who knows what you’ve heard!

Dušek.—And you know that—(In a lower voice) Miss ndnerLindner [sic] is married?

Hlaváček (Surprised).—You don’t say? After all?

Dušek (Bitterly).—She’s married to Vlasák, didn’t you hear about it? Yesterday, at the Dominican church, very quietly—