Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/64

 at her side, and spoke no more than was necessary; when he went out every evening, staying away till daybreak, it dawned on her that with all her good intentions she had taken the wrong turning. She realized that it was wicked to drive him further on his downward path, that she must save him from ruining himself. He might in the end make a habit of things to which he had at first only turned from vexation and ill temper.

‘Don’t forget that you have a child, Lukas,’ she at last warned him, when she saw him take another florin from the drawer, after he had put one in his pocket the night before only.

‘You do as you like, and so do I.’

‘We should always listen to well-meant advice.’

‘I never once listened to advice my wife gave me who was fond of me, and would not think of following yours, who are not.’

‘What in the name of Heaven do you mean? I—you say—I not fond of you? Who was it told me in this very place three weeks ago how unspeakably happy he was in being certain of my affection?’

‘I did not know you then as I know you now. I should have expected death rather