Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/71

 into a flood of tears: ‘I must leave you, because I held your mother’s memory in high honour,’ she whispered, kissing her, ‘tell her that, when she comes to see you. I wanted to make up to her for the happiness she gave up when she made room for me. Happiness indeed! I am now running away from him to whom I was so eager to come. I hope that whoever will come in my place to take care of you will be as good to you as I have been. But poor, poor thing, if it is one of those he is now caressing!’

Then Vendulka roused one of the best and most faithful maid-servants from her sleep, gave her all the keys of the house and made her responsible for the child, about whom she gave her the most minute instructions.

‘Where are you going so late in the night, and why do you talk as if you were leaving us?’ the maid asked in astonishment and alarm.

‘I am going away for ever,’ Vendulka answered sadly. ‘I am going to the town to look for a place.’

Before the maid, who was speechless with fright, could regain her composure, Vendulka was gone. She had run off hastily, so the weeping girl had not even heard her footfalls,