Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/391



Klementina (With a frightened cry)—Oh! (Wheels around as though she would run away.)

Filipina (Holding her)—Mamma!

Jaroslav—What is happening?

Dr. Svoboda (Rising)—Klementina!

KlemintinaKlementina [sic] (Agitated)—You! (To herself) I must go away!

Dr. Svoboda (Firmly)—Stay! Be seated!

KlemintinaKlementina [sic] (Supported by and, who seat her in a chair. Painfully, in a lifeless and heavy voice.)—I did not wish to see you again! I only wanted to look about for the last time at these things. We are leaving now!

Dr. Svoboda—Leaving! Without my knowledge!

KlemintinaKlementina [sic]—I am leaving I will not return again! I did not know that you had come back. Had I known, I would not have seen you.

Dr. Svoboda—Yes, I came home to find a deserted court. No one in sight anywhere, and two people who saw me, fled as if they were afraid of meeting me.

KlemintinaKlementina [sic].—And I also would have fled before you in the same way. (Shortly, as she rises.) Goodbye we will never meet again.(Leaving.)

Dr. Svoboda—(Stepping before her.)—KlemintinaKlementina [sic]! Surely you are not going! You would not desert me now!

KlemintinaKlementina [sic] (trying to control her rising voice. In the deepest agitation.)—You deserted me and the children! You forgot to consider us! You would not look ahead to face the poverty, the misery we have fallen into! Therefore, in the sight of the Lord and all the world, I want to sever every tie that binds me to you, and consider yourself fortunate if I do not curse the very hour in which we two met!

Dr. Svoboda—Wife!

KlemintinaKlementina [sic]—Goodbye! (Without meeting his eyes, she walks slowly away.)

Dr. Svoboda—My children! Filipina!

Filipina—I must go with mother! I cannot leave her! (Kneels before her father, bursting into tears.) Father! Father!

Dr. Svoboda (Placing both hands on her head.)—I bless you, my child I will not keep you longer now  and if