Page:Poet Lore, volume 36, 1925.pdf/409

 Princess (To herself).—The Count must have—

Dame Klásek.—She followed you.

Princess.—O!

Miller (Taken aback).—And I here!

Dame Klásek (Having ascended, stands at the door).—But when she had run off, they came for her to the mill.

Miller (Violently).—Who?

Dame Klásek.—The magistrate.

Miller (Turns to the ).—Do you hear?

Dame Klásek (With a smile).—But they came too late. Hanička was gone.—So they turned away and started directly for the linden.

Princess.—Impossible!

Miller.—How do you know that?

Dame Klásek.—That stupid water sprite told me. Your water sprite, the one from your mill. He was watching for Hanička under the old linden in the meadow, and there I caught him. I caught him; I am always croaking like a raven, a crow, as you did me the honor to say; but it’s a useful bird, the raven! I plucked at the water sprite, subdued him, and chased him on ahead of me on dry land through the pine woods all the way here; and I should even have brought him to you, but I happened to run up against three royal gentlemen below here, a sad spectacle indeed; the fourth of their number had lost himself, that first-class teacher’s assistant. I had hardly glanced at them when the little water sprite jerked away from me; just as soon as he caught sight of the water, he immediately gained more strength, jerked away from me and plumped into the water.

Miller.—Where is Hanička?

Dame Klásek.—That I don’t know.

Miller.—And what about the linden?

Dame Klásek.—As I have already said, they were on their way to it.

Miller (To the Princess).—Do you hear that, Your Grace? O for shame, shame! That you should have had your hand in this, that you should have led me here and kept me here. That is why you tried to entice me to the city, that is why you promised things, that they might carry away Hanička, that they might trample down my rights, overthrow the linden, mock at it and at us!

Princess.—You do me great injustice—I knew nothing of this.