Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol3, 1919.djvu/407

 Vavřena also left gayly, but Špína, who followed him, growled like a bear.

Miss Elis did not leave the house all day. Forty seven philosophers had lived with her, and not a single one was thus punished! All were in influential positions already—and now three at once in the carcer!

This fact alone comforted her, that she was not the only one thus visited, and that her philosophers were after all among the foremost and knew something. She was pained at their punishment, but she did not have a word of praise for Mr. Zelenka, and did not even speak to him all day.

Everybody in town rejoiced that worse and stricter punishments were not meted out to the philosophers. Only Mrs. Roller thought that she would act quite differently with such rebellious young men. At first Mrs. Roubínek was disappointed, but then became satisfied with even this punishment.

Before a week had passed, another instructor was obtained for Fritz, a quiet, industrious philosopher, of whom the rector gave Mr. Roubínek assurance that he studied diligently, even beyond what was required in the college. Lottynka and her mother at first greeted him very kindly, and were extremely affable to him, but after a week Miss Lotty’s interest subsided.

What did it all avail—it was not Vavřena! This student equalled him in learning, but that had but little weight with the young lady. He was not so handsome, and above that it seemed that he was shy and bashful. When he came, he bowed, and when he went, he bowed again. They rarely heard a word from him.

“He is good, aber unbeholfen,” (but awkward) that was the sum of all the observation and opinion of Miss Lotty, and the mother concurred.

Lenka, however, would have protested against the accusation, and would have testified that the new instructor was very dangerous. Hardly a week had he taught at the house, when he delivered to her, very cleverly and carefully, a little book, in which she found a letter.

She read therein:

“Brož is a good patriot. Trust him. I often visit the grove. On the old tree everything is well. Only I have looked in vain for someone there, whom I hope and believe to find there soon. I long to speak with you. I hope that you will answer me at least with a line. Then I shall write more. Farewell! Yours,

She read it over not once or twice, but times without number; every evening in her room, and any other time when she was alone.

In a short time, Brož delivered the answer. Vavřena hurried to the castle park, and there in the shadow of the old fir-tree he read eagerly the longed for answer:

“Your letter gave me a great joy. I believe and hope. Remember me to the old tree and the grove.”

“I believe and hope!” repeated the young philosopher, and fell into blissful reverie.

The spring was ncaring its end and summer was approaching.

Frýbort was gay and happy and was beginning to study for the final yearly examinations. He saw Márinka often, spoke and joked with her, and not seldom brought home a bunch of fresh, fragrant flowers. The good natured Hanák was always jolly and in a state of bliss, whenever he brought the flowers, but he never told from whom he got them; Miss Elis did not betray him, and the landlady never again caught him with his coat covered with flour on the breast.

Only Špína could testify, but he never breathed a word. He was now more than ever taciturn and morose, smoked much, and applied himself to study till Miss Elis was amazed at his industry. Vavřena often spoke to her alone, and always about Lenka whom Miss Elis would have liked to see again. She became greatly attached to the young girl who was her George’s niece and she would have Hked to help her to leave the home of the registrar.

She knew Vavřena and trusted his character. Those two young people would be happy with each other all their life. In fact, she already calculated how much longer Vavřena must study, before he could gain a secure position which woud permit him to marry. She saw him at the altar with none other but Lenka.

Brož diligently taught Fritz, so that he gained high praise from the registrar, who remarked even to the recorder one Sunday afternoon during their “delightful” conversation that he liked this new instructor best because he was so humble and unsophisticated, and that he evidently did not pay any attention to those innovations and nonsense which do not belong to the sphere of youth. Lenka was also greatly obliged to Brož, who brought her not only books, but also letters from Vavřena.

Although the young philosopher often passed the old mansion in which Mr. Roubínek lived, he saw Lenka but seldom; for her aunt did not take her eyes from the young girl. Vavřena was satisfied and happy when he succeeded in catching a mere glimpse of the loved maiden; but gradually, this was not enough for him. To speak with her became a necessity. To this Miss Elis, after long conferences, helped him.

Lenka could not attend the philosophical mass, she had to attend at the castle. There she met Miss Elis, who was always glad to be able to exchange with her even but a few words, when they met on the gallery in front of the chapel. The third time, she brought with her Miss Márinka, and the young girls, who knew each other slightly before, now became friends. Márinka, of course, attended the philosophical mass, but after she had been initiated into Vavřena’s secret, she gladly made the little sacrifice of attending the castle chapel for the sake of the