(Out in the hall a fiddle is heard accompanying her singing.)

Hanička sings on, not even turning around, and hangs a fresh wreath of thyme which she has brought with the flowers, in place of the faded one.)

Zajíček, fiddling away, enters from the hall, halts at the threshold, and continues to accompany her.

Hanička (Sings).—

(She stops suddenly, turns about to Zajíček, merrily saying.) Didn’t that go well!

Zajíček (Coming nearer). When I overheard you from without, Hanička, I simply had to join in; my fiddle leaped under my chin as if some one had thrust it there, and my bow into my hand. I just bubble over with joy when you sing! And even when you merely talk, I could do nothing but listen to you. Dornička also says you speak charmingly. When I’m with you, I feel at perfect ease; I’m somehow bolder, believe me, and my cares vanish. You—you are—(he strokes her shoulder) heavens, Hanička, how can I express myself—like a little sister—as sweet as a flower.

Hanička.—What do you say about the cares that are troubling you?

Zajíček.—O, dearest Hanička, if you only knew! Think of it! It is going on eight years already that I’ve been a teacher’s assistant, going on eight years, and I do want to be made a master so that my dearest Dornička may not have to wait any longer, so that we may be married. Going on eight years, Hanička, a teacher’s assistant! I can hardly save a thing any year, except what I make by playing and spinning. And if I worked in only one school! But no, I have to be in two! To run from one to the other, over fields, over hills, in the rain, in sleet,