than your driving me from home and enjoying what you are doing.’
Vendulka found no words to reply to these unjust reproaches. She felt she would lower herself in arguing with him. She suppressed the bitter feelings that were rising in her heart, and turned away in silence, but he only saw another proof of her pride in this. He decided to revenge himself by another visit to the inn, and stayed away even longer than usual.
Vendulka spent the night in great excitement, and prayed to God to illumine the Bishop, so that he should make haste and send them the dispensation. These continual bickerings and quarrels filled her with great apprehension for the future. How differently she had pictured to herself the life at his side! How they had longed for each other; how many tears they had shed for each other, looked forward to the moment of reunion—and now? Now everything went wrong, and for absolutely no reason. But this was just why Vendulka would not give in, nor Lukas either, who became more embittered and unmanageable every day.
Sometimes they both felt their heads reel at the thought of what was to be the end of
288 C
