Page:Selected Czech tales - 1925.djvu/84

 ought or ought not to have said. Your wrath will go up in smoke when your blood has cooled. You will be reasonable, and the old love will come back all the more strongly.’

‘Never—never!’ Vendulka cried with all her might. She had hardly been able to contain herself to the end of her aunt’s admonition. ‘I don’t deny that I loved Lukas more than my life, but now—now I hate him like death. Oh God! What a dreadful thing to say! I cannot think how I can bear the pain of saying it. He was not like this formerly; his dead wife has spoilt him. Yes, it is her fault, she has spoilt him for me. He says himself that he could do as he liked to her. She didn’t mind what he did. That is bad for a man. A girl like me needn’t put up with everything. She was careless, and didn’t do a thing well, but I am a first-rate worker in the house and on the farm. Every farthing I take for milk and butter is booked, and I can read every book in the old spelling or in the new. And I demand nothing but what is right and fair! You think I shall change my mind by sitting here and thinking things over till to-morrow morning? You mean to say you are going off and leaving me here alone? For Heaven’s sake, don’t do such a thing, I should