Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/49

 the old man, for his daughter dared not come out to meet her lover. He would have fetched her in with a hazel switch if he had suspected her of loitering outside the house. When she bade him good-night, he had always laid it down by his bedside with a significant look at her, as she turned to go towards her bedroom.

No, it was impossible! Lukas could no longer only look at these lips; he must feel how warm and sweet they were.

And before Vendulka knew what he was doing, he had jumped up, caught her in his arms and pressed his mouth upon her red lips so hard that he nearly drew blood.

In angry surprise Vendulka tore herself from him and pushed him away with all her strength. Lukas was not prepared for this; caught unawares, he reeled back into the room.—Every one knows how powerful our mountain-girls are. They easily lift their partners into the air at the ‘longest night’ dance during the contest after supper.

‘Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?’ she rounded upon him, and flushed scarlet, as though the evening sky had been reflected in her face.

‘Gracious, what a to-do about a kiss! As though to-day had been the first time I had