Page:Poet Lore, volume 31, 1920.djvu/496

476

The action takes place at, in the year 1836.

''A section of the castle park at Litomyšl. An abundance of beech, ironwood, linden, and maple trees; also bushes. In the foreground a wide gravel walk. A curving path runs from this to the rear. Alongside the path, at the rear, under a spreading ironwood, is a little bench that can easily be seen from the walk in the foreground. On the spectators' right a part of a renaissance castle can be seen through the trees and bushes. A golden glow plays on the trunks and branches of the trees. It is Sunday morning. From the castle chapel, which cannot be seen, the sound of chimes and the muffled voice of an organ break the silence.''

, ''a girl of eighteen, dressed in light summer clothes, is absorbed in reading. At her waist is a knot of ribbons. She wears slippers and white stockings, with ribbon cross-lacings that extend above her ankles. , a girl of twenty similarly dressed, appears from the background among the trees. She stands unobserved, at a distance from the bench, toward which she then steals on tiptoe. Smiling, she glances eagerly over 's shoulder.''

Frony.—That must be beautiful!