JUNE
159
JENIK: Mother's just like Tolstoy. (Suddenly
to Lidka): Have you finished "Anna Karenina" yet?
LIDKA (with a start): Yes; do you want it?
JENIK: I want to lend it to somebody.
LIDKA (after a while): But there was a lot I didn't understand. You know, Jenik. . . (she stops short for a moment) one can scarcely altogether condemn Anna. (Shyly.)
JENIK: Why . . . who wants to condemn her, then. . .? Who would cast the first stone. . .?
LIDKA: But when—
JENIK (sharply): But when . . . that'll do, if you please. I oughtn't to have given you the thing to read. There they scatter ashes on the red blossom, instead of pressing it fervently to their lips. But you don't understand that.
LIDKA (softly): I don't understand? (Suddenly.) Well, perhaps I ought to, then. . .?
JENIK (bursting into laughter): Lidka, Lidka . . . You must wait,—some day I'll explain it all to you.
MRS. LEDYNSKA: Now I'll go and tidy up meanwhile. But . . . do you remember, Jenik, you were going to take me to the Variété to-day?
JENIK: Hm, so I was. Well, I suppose we can go. I've got time to-day. . .
MRS. LEDYNSKA: As long as you don't find some excuse again. I should like to go there for once. Lidka shall run down to Hořický's
