restrain himself and goes hastily towards her. He stops directly in front of her. Lenka gives a stifled scream, surprised for the moment. Then she seems about to depart. Valenta seizes her by the hand.
Valenta.—Again! You are driving me away again!
Lenka (In anguish).—And will you reproach me again that it is only for profit, for a name, that I may become—?
Valenta (Interrupting).—What else could I think; how else could I explain it? But now I know how you wish to sacrifice yourself; Mrs. Rettig has told me. Lenka dear, am I to speak here with you for the last time; am I to part with you forever? I would give up my place for you, everything, and you could—! And this has happened—it had to happen just at the time when I can move into my own hunter's lodge? You do not know how happy I was yesterday when the count told me of the good news. My first thought was of you, of you! O, how I pictured it to myself, that I should carry you away—
(Hunter's horns are heard on the right, indistinctly, with an echo, still less distinct, in the rear.)
how we should arrange everything in the lodge, the home and the care of it; how you would be waiting for me on my return from the forest; how on Sundays we should ride here to town in our own carriage, and in winter by sleigh to attend the balls; how I should carry you back to our lodge among the snowdrifts as to a nest; O—I thought too that we would take in with us your youngest sister, and of what would become of František, and that your daddy would live with us—
Lenka.—O heavens!
Valenta (Sitting down beside her).—Lenka, my precious Lenka!
Mrs. Roller and Mrs. Roubinek peer out.
Scene XIX
The same; Dr. Plavec, Mrs. Rettig.
Mrs. Rettig, who towards the end of Valenta's speech has come in with Dr. Plavec at the rear on the left, passes unseen along the rear of the stage behind the temple on the right. When Valenta sits down by Lenka, she comes forward from the right, cautiously looking about. Dr. Plavec follows her, noticeably irritated and ill at ease. Mrs. Roller and Mrs. Roubínek, noticing them, disappear.
