Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/298

 in her way, that she allowed it to float out of the house.”

Barushka paid not the slightest heed to her father-in-law, and let fly straight at Vena. “Clear out of the house, thou impudent rogue! It were indeed a disgrace, if fellows like thee should be admitted even into our best drawing room.”

Loyka laughed. “Meseems, Vena, she doth not appreciate thee. But seat thyself, boy, here by me. You shall see, I will not let them bundle thee out just as they are bundling out yonder packing cases. Just seat thyself, thou art at my house. The dear young folk have already made a clean sweep of a good many things both from the farm house and from the two chambers, but none shall dare to brush thee off, no one, you understand, no one.

At this Barushka, turning to her father-in-law, remarked “For my part I thought that we had enough to do with one fool in the house; but you, pantata, must e’en bring in another one.”

“So! I am a fool! possibly, young lady, possibly,” said old Loyka with a curse, took the chair on which he was sitting in his hands and would, perhaps, have hurried after Barushka and, perhaps, have struck her a heavy blow. But at that moment he stopped short, and said “No, just because we are at home and she is our guest, I do not dare to forget myself.”

For that time, at any rate, the old Loykas were left in peace in their farm house.