moment, and he would be flying downwards. . . . As that picture arose in his mind, he closed his eyes a little, with the resignation of a fatalist.
They continued their conversation. An hour later Jiří rose from his seat and bade them good-bye. He said he would look in at the tailor’s to order some gowns for Lucy, then he would buy a few things, and so forth,—in reality, ennui and his old habits drove him to the coffeehouse, to the Příkopi, and to his friends. . . .
The women sat down to work. The old lady started again on her recollections, all the time sewing, cutting and measuring. Lucy with dainty stitches was hemming some babies’ shirts. A gentle warmth filled their souls. Outside gleamed a bright spring day. The voices of chirping sparrows reached them from the street. . . .
Then Lucy burst out laughing,—for the first time here. The old lady was telling of her wedding: the bridegroom had arrived,
