Kocianova (laughing loudly).—Is that possible, Miss!
Maya.—And believe me, Mrs. Kocianova, for such a slap I would gladly go back into the days of my childhood, even to-day. My childhood was not very long, but beautiful.
Petr.—The present must be even more beautiful.
Maya.—That only seems so to you, as to many others. But you, Mr. Petr, you must have enjoyed your young years even more than I.
Petr (slightly bitter).—Do you think so, Miss?
Kocianova.—Ach, my dear, golden soul! Petr had a very sad childhood. Even at the time when he was home. Brother did not know for a long while whether he would send him to the city to study. He was already fourteen when brother decided, and then, the poor thing, he fell sick, and we had to have him home for a long, long while. And how many times did Dr. Votava come here?
Matoush.—Yes, he was almost a goner.
Kocianova.—And then I used to kneel and pray many, many nights and call upon God to save him. It was at that time that I promised him to the Lord—and He accepted my promise and He saved him.
Maya (attentive, with interest).—And at that time you decided what Mr. Petr should be?
Kocianova.—The Lord Himself decided.
Maya (after a pause).—None of us knows where Fate will take us, I never thought of going on the stage. I wanted to be a teacher. And besides, did you know that I was also in a convent?
Kocianova (interested).—Were you, Miss?
Maya.—It was really a girlish whim. After my father’s death in all that loneliness and worry I longed for a quiet haven. In my seventeenth year I thought that my life was all spent and I had such a craving for solitude and peace. So I went to the Mother Abbess of Sacré Cœur.
Kocianova.—Well, and
Maya.—And a half a year after that I was on the stage. I have no idea how it all happened ! The convent did not quite come up to my expectations, and in the meantime one of my aunt's acquaintances met me and she was an amateur actress. For a year I played in German places—I knew German well, you know. My father used to send me to a German high school. So I played in Germany for some time, and as soon as I could I came back.
