Page:Poet Lore, volume 31, 1920.djvu/499

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Frony (Rising quickly).—There now, are you convinced!

Tyny.—I am stupified.

Frony.—Such an old grandfather!

Tyny.—Why does she do it!

Frony.—Why! Because the old man has gone crazy and wants to make her a doctor's wife. She will have a title, be a gentlewoman.

Tyny.—I don't think so. That isn't a bit like Lenka.

Frony.—You won't give her up. Just ask Mrs. Rettig, "auntie;" she will tell you. Besides, at her house Lenka was embroidering something for him, for the doctor, with hair, on white silk, and with a Bohemian motto.

Tyny.—Yes, that's true; she was embroidering:

Frony.—Mrs. Rettig made that up.

Tyny.—But we all thought that Lenka was embroidering that for the doctor for his Saint's day, out of gratitude to him for having saved her father from death. And the children were ill too; and there was the tax-collector with his small salary, you know—and after such an illness—

Frony.—And she was embroidering it for her future husband! But now I'm going to the chapel to watch that old man gazing on Lenka with verliebt eyes. And you (tauntingly) you will stay here until Mr—

Tyny.—No; and to be sure that you don't think so, I will go with you.

Frony (Going).—No, such an old man und so (Laughs.)

Tyny.—But to think that Lenka! What has happened!

Frony (Recollecting something).—And the retainer—

Tyny.—Gracious! And he has come home to see this!

Frony (Sympathetically).—Well, the poor fellow. (They go out on the right.)