Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/375



Dr. Svoboda (Rising).—My children (Sinking into a chair.)

Anezka (Hurries to him).—You are agitated, father dear! Something has happened!

Dr. Svoboda.—Be composed. Nothing is the matter with me. Seat yourselves. (The ladies are seated; remains standing at one side, carelessly indifferent.) Heavy times are gathering you around me, and drawing the family circle together. Our entire future depends upon the present. And so, my children, listen to all I say to you most carefully, weigh it with deliberation, and then, each of you, (turning to his daughters,) answer as your own hearts, your own convictions, or the voice of conscience dictates.

Filipina (Turning to her mother).—Mamma!

Dr. Svoboda.—What my life has brought to me, I have dedicated to you, (addressing the group) from the fervent love of my heart, to the property which, years ago, I accumulated. Today, I love you, if possible, more than ever before. My whole existence and being is so completely wrapped up in you that I truly think life would be impossible without you. But our property is lost, destroyed!

Filipina.—Good Heavens!

Dr. Svoboda.—Half of our estate is gone, the remainder is threatened, and unless some extraordinary help is found, and found within a few days, all will be lost. I could help myself and thereby save you, but to do so, I would be driven to a disgraceful act.

KelementinaKlementina [sic], Jaroslav.—Not at all!

Dr. Svoboda. Yes, disgraceful

Anezka.—Then father, you cannot follow such acourse

Dr. Svoboda.— for the betrayal of one’s convictions and one’s nation is always disgraceful. And so now there is left us but one honorable source of help, and that depends, my Anezka, upon you.

Anezka.—Upon me? And how?

Dr. Svoboda.—Mr. Kytka has asked for your hand.

Anezka—And I and I should then be obliged to marry Mr. Kytka?