Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/164

 little Magda? What pretext could she find? Two kinds of love were ever struggling within her, but the stronger, the mother-love always won the day.

‘You are so kind, Ivan,’ she answered, ‘but I don’t think we shall persuade them. They are too old; they had better stay in the surroundings in which they have lived all their lives; they would hardly get used to the life in Prague. If anything happened to them they would be sure to think it was because they had left their old home. Besides, it would mean greater expense for you; as it is you are showing them so much kindness that I don’t know how I can ever be grateful enough to you.’

She warmly pressed his hand.

Ivan Hron was unspeakably happy. He kept her hand in his and said gently: ‘Be fond of me always, Magda. It is the sweetest gratitude you can give me.’

They were both silent after that for the few minutes which it took to reach their home.

Two days later the couple left Prague.

Ivan was restless, but not because he wanted a change of scene. He was almost unwilling