Page:Poet Lore, volume 27, 1916.djvu/77

 and the second one punished me for that first one!

Hlaváček (Shaking off the mood induced by ).—Thunderation, Dušek, cut out this sentiment business and get down to work! The devil took two girls and one picture that they turned back to you! If I were to torture myself this way on account of every woman

Dušek.—It isn’t the women, Ládo! I was caught in the abyss between two worlds. Each sprang back and I—descended. Don’t you suppose that when the crash came—you know that time in the winter—that I didn’t do my level best to get back to the world that had formerly disgusted me? I didn’t go to the studio for a week, I hung around the taverns, I cut away the new roots joining me to the new life just as energetically as I had torn up those which bound me to the old. And when, after a week, I came back to my studio to the cold and the dust and the disorder, when I again seized my palette and wanted to begin—(Bursts out)—Ugh! (Weariedly) Well, you heard how it turned out with my “Psyche.”

Hlaváček.—You began where you always falsely saw the peculiar life of the artist. Going to drinking taverns wasn’t the road, my boy, that led back to us.

Dušek (Provoked).—Oh, I know! (Crosses the studio gazing at the wall where a revolver hangs under the shelf.) But the longer it lasts the more I’ll get tangled up. (Looks around at to see if he is observed.) I’m an object fit only for under the earth anyway. (Reaches for the revolver.) Look! This would fix things most easily!

Hlaváček (Noticing that has taken down the revolver, springs forward quickly).—Silly madman! (Jerks the revolver out of his hand and stepping up to the table, tosses it into a drawer.) You didn’t give it to me last year to be haunted by it now! (Forces himself to be jocular.) No, my boy, this isn’t for shooting purposes. Unless I should happen to shoot it off myself before I went to the pawnshop. (A pause.) Sit down and let’s talk.

Dušek (Nervously).—Are you going to stay at home? I’d go with you if you’d want

Hlaváček.—Wait! We’re celebrating May Day today, you know—in the fashion on Střelák! The boys will come and Šimr has gone to bring in Réza and Bozena.

Dušek (Quickly).—No, no, no. I’m afraid of people and especially of the boys. (Resignedly.) I ran away from our own world—and they’ve kicked me out of the other one! (Tosses his