next and this lasted a long time. It was five o’clock when Vojtech went out before the building to look at the road, but he soon returned with the news that the road was broken up and that it was impossible to go just yet.
After a short time Pani Horska went out and returned with piteous tidings. A dilatory discussion next ensued as to whether they could not send to Prague for a carriage. That was certainly possible, but the carriage could not drive over the rocks and could it have done so it would not have arrived until after nightfall.
Then Pani Horska went again into the hall and there held a long consultation with the landlady. She asked her whether the party could pass the night at the hostinets: the ladies in the room which they now occupied and whether Vojtech and the little boy could not be housed somewhere or other. After a long discussion it was decided that these two should sleep in the hall. The landlady kept protesting that she had plenty of counterpanes and feather-beds and that they would sleep as comfortably as in their own home. Similar mishaps had occurred more than once before she said and she had to be prepared for them.
When Pani Horska returned to the room she said determinedly: “We must stop here for the night, we will return in the morning to Prague.”
It was wonderful with what delight this news was received. The children began to skip about and congratulated themselves on sleeping away from home for once in their lives. Vojtech and Lidunka smiled but did not say why they laughed. After this ensued a lovely evening. The air was fresh as after a bath, the turf smelt sweet, the trees sparkled with the rain, the swallows frolicked in the air, the cuckoos called to one another, and the thrushes piped as when they played at hide-and-seek.
Vojtech felt as though he had been at home here all his life: though once or twice the thought came into his head, “How ever did I get here?” Something fidgeted him and he felt as though he still ought to introduce himself by some pretty speech. But these ideas did not strike very deeply and vanished of their own accord.
In the evening Pani Horska said: “Our guests of the day before yesterday expected me to invite them to the expedition. To-day I am glad that I did not do so, we are more at home as it is.”
Vojtech understood that Pani Horska meant his two acquaintances whom he had seen with Lidunka when she wore a pink
