Page:Poet Lore, volume 31, 1920.djvu/509

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and enter from the right by the walk in the foreground.

Frony.—The doctor and Lenka are probably there (Pointing to the left.)

Tyny (Noticing ).—Heavens! (Pokes .) Look!

Frony.—O! (Both quickly pass to the left and glance about.)

Valenta (Noticing the girls, carelessly).—That was Tyny Simek and Frony. (Again preoccupied, anxiously, to .) But Ančka dear, which way must I go? (Pointing to the left.) This way?

Ančka (Gravely).—Mr. Retainer, when a person is most happy—and has nothing to be happy about—

Valenta (Amazed).—What is this? What—?

Ančka.—Here (pointing to the left) you may find Lenka, and now already alone.

Valenta.—Alone? Why, wasn't she there by herself? Was she there with some one?

Ančka.—She was, and I think she couldn't help it. I don't know at all, but this is what I think: that no matter who is with her there—especially some old tom cat—and then the young fellow comes whom she loved with all her heart and still does—

Valenta.—But what on earth, Ančka? What has happened?

Ančka.—I will tell you nothing but what I know; how fond she was of you, how she used to catch hold of me: "Ančka, Ančka dear, he came this way, he went by; did you see him? Just look! Isn't that becoming? Do you like it?" And then when I brought a note from you, the same joy; again: "Ančka, Ančka dear; you are so good!" That much is sure, and the rest—Even if the old man could bring the dead to life, he couldn't accomplish anything here—neither aconite nor belladonna, nothing, no amount of learning—! The heart will have no prescriptions.