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 her because she insisted on marrying me when she knew I hated her, and insisted although I cared for another, and did not rest till she had got round my parents. I held out on account of the old people, so that they should not say shame had killed them sooner than God had meant to call them to Him.’

‘Let wife and parents rest in peace,’ his uncle timidly warned him, ‘do not call their shades from the grave with your unnecessary talk, or they might come to my bedside and demand an answer from me why we have disturbed their peace. The dead to the dead, the living to the living! I have told you already that I have nothing against you; I know you for a good, law-abiding and obedient son, and a kind neighbour. If my words, tentatively said, are displeasing to you, you have only yourself to blame for having urged me to speak out. I said them to satisfy my conscience and to warn you, so that you should not blame me when you have come round to my opinion. But enough of this, we will now talk business. I shall give my daughter Vendulka a thousand florins. When you take her to the altar, I will pay you the money down on this table in silver currency. She shall also have an outfit such as becomes a