Page:Poet Lore, volume 35, 1924.pdf/376
Dr. Svoboda.—Yes.
Anezka.—That is impossible!
Dr. Svoboda.—Impossible! Anezka, listen calmly, then make your decision!
Anezka.—I am fully decided.
Dr. Svoboda.—Upon your decision, depends your entire future, with material comfort, peace and good fortune, or else your necessary resignation to a life of penury and misfortune. The future happiness of your sister hinges upon it, of your mother, and lastly, of your brother, who has never understood the meaning of the word, Work!
Jaroslav.—And now you would expect it of me!
Anezka.—And how is it, father, that you have not thought of yourself?
Dr. Svoboda.—My future must be devoted to my practice. I am a physician, and should I lose everything, I will strive to earn my own bread and yours, if necessary, by the practice of medicine.
Klementina.—What crazy idea is this? For twenty years, you have neglected your practice, except for your occasional amateurish attempts! Now, at your advanced age, do not expect to have any professional summons!
Anezka.—What then, am I to do?
Dr. Svoboda.—If you could decide to marry Mr. Kytka . .
Anezka (Rising)—Father . . . ask of me anything else—work, poverty, even my life . . . for my mother, my sister and my brother, but Mr. Kytka, happen what may, I cannot and will not marry!
Klementina.—Agnes!
Filipina.—Anezka!
Jaroslav.—And this we could anticipate!
Klementina (Terribly aroused).—Agnes, you do not wish to profit by the advantages of this union . . . and do you, then, want to meet the misery and poverty into which we all must fall if you and your father persist in your defiance?
Anezka.—I do not wish to, I cannot marry him!
Klementina—And why, pray?
Anezka.—First, because Mr. Kytka is personally repulsive to me, secondly because he is a man without a soul, without a spark of warmth—and because I can never, never become his wife . . . (Sinks weeping into a chair and covers her face with her hands.)