Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/315



T drew nigh to Easter Day when old Loyka said to his wife, “For my part I no longer wish to be hospodar, but would fain retire altogether to the pension house.”

On this Loyka’s wife said “And are almost five years of our hospodarship to be so completely cancelled. That would be just as though we were to take flight from the farm house.”

“And what are we in the farm house? Dost think that we are still hospodars here?” enquired Loyka with a kind of angry fervour. And on this he began to explain how Joseph began to take everything upon himself. “And pray what value is set upouupon [sic] you as mistress, I wish to know,” he added. And when he had said all he meant to say, he spat. After this he added “Thou hast taught thy son these manners, that spoilt pet of thine.”

Loyka’s wife felt the bitterness of this reproach; she was silent and furtively wiped away a tear, and for a long time sought in vain for a reply. “At all events it was not I who taught the young bride, and she has corrupted Joseph,” said Loyka’s wife at last.