Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/42

 would go to Lukas’s house immediately after the betrothal, to put his bereaved and neglected household in order. His first wife had been known to be a bad housekeeper; then she had died so suddenly and everything had been at sixes and sevens. Every one was now looking forward to Vendulka’s management of his affairs, and, taking all things into consideration, thought the brother-in-law’s request a natural and inevitable part of the suit.

The most indifferent person among the onlookers was the bride’s father, who took no notice of such trifling things. Let his daughter and her lover do about them as they pleased. He now looked upon her as belonging to Lukas’s family more than her own, and he was thankful that she would soon be leaving his house altogether. He was hoping confidently for the return of those quiet days in which he would be able to prepare himself at leisure for his journey from the valley of tears to a better land. Hitherto he had been disturbed and hindered in this important duty by the constant contemplation of his daughter’s misfortune; her frequent and passionate outbursts of despair had embittered his mind. In addition to this he had had to deal with