Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/153

 several streets which he threaded before debouching on Naplavka, and when he overtook her he said “Malka, let me give you and the dinner a lift.” “He said this with a touch of pride, for it was not everyone who could say “Malka, have a lift.” He took the basket out of her hands, placed it in the cart, then helped Malka to scramble up, pointed out to her how she was to sit, and drove the vehicle standing.

Lord! what a drive that was! All the time that Poldik held the reins he felt as though he was holding Malka and helping her into the cart. His features were quite playful, his eyes were quite beaming, then he confused “Hee” and “Heesta” together, smacked his whip as if he were off to the festival, and only swore when it was absolutely necessary. After which he always looked at Malka with a broad smile which seemed to enquire “There! what do you think of that now for a drive?” It was a delightful moment to him when Malka smilingly replied “Quite charming, Poldik dear, quite charming.” Here at last Poldik felt that he might allow himself a certain latitude; he incited his steeds and coaxed them with “Cl” “Cl” in such a way that it put them in mind of their youthful years; so that they exchanged their sluggish pace for a fresher step, so that in places they even frisked, so that the cart bumped over the cobble stones until Poldik had to skip from one foot to the other, and Malka was