Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/22

 sooner, the other a little later. She went to sleep and did not wake up again.’

‘God give her eternal rest.’

‘And a happy resurrection. We can’t say she had all the virtues, but she was not a wicked woman.’

‘Lukas won’t fret to death about it.’

‘Rather not! He only married her in obedience to his parents, who threatened him with their curse if he would not do as they wished.’

‘Bah! whoever saw her and Lukas together could not help thinking that those two should never have been married. Lukas holds his head high, and looks about him as though the whole world belonged to him; but she went about with a drooping head like a sick bird. She had no life and no spirits in her, and she wasn’t healthy.’

‘Well, now Lukas can choose as he pleases. I’m glad for his sake. I couldn’t help being sorry for him when I saw him going to his wedding past this lime tree; he was as pale as if the bridesmaids had led him to his death and not to the altar. Every one will wish him happiness and content. There are not many like him. He hurts nobody and will allow no one to be wronged. Where he can do you