Mrs. Roller is short and slight, middle-aged; Mrs. Roubínek is quite young in her appearance: both are in Sunday attire. Roubínek is short and slight, with a pale, cold face; he wears a dark brown coat, blue-gray trousers, and a beaver hat, and carries a cane; he follows the ladies in frigid dignity.
Mrs. Roller (Still laughing).—As I just said, Frau von Roubínek, it is the truth. This morning they found on the sign, so grosse Lettern:[1] (with a gesture) "Franz Chadima, scoundrel."
Mrs. Roubinek (Turning to her husband).—Do you hear, Roubínek?
Roubínek (Approaches gravely and while still walking begins to speak with chill precision).—That's the way it goes when one tries needless innovations. Such things are absolutely needless. Shop signs have always been in German. Emperor Joseph and Zizka were patriots too; we have this church as a memorial of them, and
Mrs. Roubínek (Breaking in hurriedly).—Frau von Roller, I should not entrust my Lotty to Mrs. Rettig. It isn't necessary to learn Bohemian.
Mrs. Roller.—Of course; that is only for the common people. And what else could she learn there—possibly to gossip a little. As for instance—
Mrs. Roubínek (Hastily).—Was there anything of that sort?
Mrs. Roller.—Haven't you hear about my Máli?
Mrs. Roubínek (Looking her in the eye).—No. What is it?
Mrs. Roller.—That talk! It surely came from there, since they gather so often at Mrs. Rettig's. And what about! They say that when the academy was in session here and our Máli was about to speak her piece, she first painted the corners of her mouth with white of egg, so that her mouth shouldn't look so large.
Mrs. Roubínek (With feigned exasperation).—Nein, das ist unverschämt![2] Fraulein Máli is as pretty as picture and has a small mouth..
Mrs. Roller.—I think that the gossip came from there, wie ich sag.[3]
Mrs. Roubínek.—They should be careful themselves. It is a rendezvous, they say. The young ladies go on the pretext of learning literary Bohemian and cooking, and—the students follow them (maliciously) to Mrs. Rettig's for Bohemian books.
Mrs. Roller.—If it were only the students—but the Rettig