“Why should we discuss the matter further,” said old Loyka, “it is all made out and signed in the lawyer’s books, and that is the agreement. What is there written is valid.”
“Undoubtedly”, said Joseph, and again his lip curled.
“I had further reserved the right to us old folk”, continued Loyka, “of dwelling in the farmhouse during the remainder of the six years and during that time Frank was to mess with you young people.”
“That is hard lines for the estate”, said Joseph again, just as if he wished to show that he was but trifling with his father, and that he had long ago preconcerted everything in his own mind. “No, no, that will not do at all. To manage the estate from the pension house in which we can scarce turn round will not do at all, and I am sure that as hospodar you will recognize as much yourself. As to Frank it will be time enough to settle who is to feed and lodge him when we have him at home again. For I certainly am not going to carry his victuals after him when I have no notion where he is.”
And thus old Loyka was practically chuzzled out of both his conditions, and felt little inclination to impose others. “And so you think we must be banished to the pension house”, he said, but only in order to make a remark. “Well, if you think so we will be banished to the pension house”, he added. “Dost hear, aged wife of my bosom, we are banished—ousted.” And he said it in a tone of voice which implied, “Misfortune begins from this moment.”
Loyka’s wife had turned away, and did not answer.
On this Loyka stepped close to his son’s side and began to speak again somewhat ceremoniously, as if to mark the importance of the present step of which, however, he was no longer master. “Thou seest, Joseph, thy mother: look at her. Her hair is already streaked with grey, just as my hair is streaked with grey. Thou wilt be hospodar here now, and if thou thinkest that thou canst safely wrong me, thy father, the Lord God forgive thee. But look that thou dost not wrong thy mother. She has suffered much for thy sake, she has loved thee all too dearly, and therefore wrong her not.”
At these words Loyka’s wife wiped her eyes (if it is possible to say so) out loud; that is to say she sobbed all the while as if she wished to demonstrate that her son had already frequently done her wrong, Loyka was meek and mild, and Joseph did not answer.
