Page:Poet Lore, volume 36, 1925.pdf/375

 it be in the shade of the woods near the water, or in the sun in the quiet of noon day. To breathe, to breathe, to warm myself, and then in case of rain to sit behind the thick shrubbery of alder, moss, and beechwood; to sit cuddled up cosily and listen to the pattering of the rain on the tree tops and to the burdock dripping from its broad leaves, and to watch the bubbles bob up and down on the water, to see circles widening on the smooth surface near the banks at dusk, beneath the shrubbery and sloping stumps. To listen to that music when in the grayness of the rain, in the shadow of the tree, your little pipe glows red; and at the same time to feel that you are alone, entirely alone, and that no one will come.

Míchal.—You’ll get tired of that soon enough.

Ivan.—Indeed not. Well, to vary the monotony and for the sake of some fun, once in a while I will give some old woman who is gathering mushrooms, or some girl picking strawberries, or some late traveler, a sudden, awful scare. But who would wander into that place! Except perhaps a herd of deer! It is an enchanted corner of the world, where there will reign peace and quiet—quiet!

, in wooden shoes, appears on the threshold; steps on the bench near the door and, shading her eyes with her hand, looks toward the left.

Míchal (Disturbed, quietly).—It is she, the lovely flower!

Ivan.—It is she! Well, then—then leap after her!

Míchal (Crying).—To the herb room! And she has motherwort in her belt!

Hanička (Calls).—Libor! Libor!

Míchal (With enthusiasm).—Do you hear! Do you hear! Isn’t that a voice for you!

Ivan.—Well, well, it is a voice; but it is better not to hear it. You have human weakness; that is why you are so ludicrous.

steps off the bench during the foregoing speech and walks toward the right, behind the mill.

Ivan.—And you will suffer even more when you return with a black and blue back. There is no help for you. Withdraws and disappears among the trees. growls after him, then crouches into the bushes.