mercy on your Dornička. She is waiting and waiting, would like to get married, right off if she could, if you could obtain a school in town. And you would obtain it too—but you would have to tell where that foundling is, who really belongs to the nobility. You ought to remember Dornička!

Zajíček (In a low voice, to himself).—To have Dornička, to sit at an organ—

Braha.—You’d be the most miserable scamp ever hatched!

Magistrate (Storms at him).—Be still! (To Zajíček.) Well, then, if you tell, you shall be promoted to the office of choirmaster the first thing tomorrow.

Zajíček.—Good-Lord!—And what will happen to Hanička if I tell? What will become of her?

Magistrate.—As the law and our authority see fit: she will go to court as a maid of honor.

Zajíček (Quickly and decisively, bursts forth violently).—No, not that! I’ll not tell!

Braha (Joyfully).—O, kind sir!

Magistrate (Furiously).—Does a starving teacher’s assistant dare speak in such a manner, in such a manner! An accomplice! But things will not continue thus; this moment they shall change: I will discharge you from duty!

Zajíček.—My place lost!

Magistrate.—I will discharge you and send you off to the army if you do not tell.

Zajíček is silent.

Magistrate.—Then you refuse to tell?

Zajíček.—Yes. Rather than permit such an outrage, that Hanička be humbled, disgraced!

Braha.—O Lord, reward him!

Magistrate.—Then you refuse? (To the servants.) Now for the linden. Fell it at once, without delay.

Zajíček (Becomes frightened and reluctantly leans against the linden).—Fell it!

Magistrate.—Hurry, make haste!

First and second servant walk around the linden with axes. The third servant holds a saw.

Zajíček involuntarily thinks of Hanička’s song and mumbles to himself in a trembling voice.)