The Song of Songs

a new and gayer existenc

time was short, why spend it over that disgusting se

re on credit, and have a plate hung on the outside of the house inscribed: "

ion of Mrs. Czepanek's poor brain, riddled like a

had besieged their home after papa's departure were still fresh in her shuddering memory. Then she did not see quite clearly where so many students,

would listen to

the mayor, I will-" and the attic room r

could tell at the bottom of the stairs that the machine, whose industrious clatter had greete

r an admixture of scorn, was like the smile parents wear before Christmas. She painted her cheeks more carefully than eve

Mrs. Czepanek went about calculating and speculating. She put her foot to the treadle only on rare occasions, when Lilly pled with her urgently

gth threatened to give out. Yet this

l turn up,"

essed on the edge of the bed from two to six in the morning, she would n

etween her and the world, between her and the thoughts she wa

me for the new

a hot, dra

furniture smelling of fresh varnish. Even before she set foot on the lowest step she

look of amusement was on their red faces. Mrs. Czepanek was tripping to and fro, running her fingers through her freshly-curled hair and screaming all

natch the bill from the man's hand. He refused to giv

ght desperately, and called to the men to leave, telling them

rath now desce

hing would have been all right. Now I have to go there to-morrow again, while if you had

ew apar

be so stupid? Did she think her mother

late had already been made. When hung it would act like magic. So much for the outside. But hadn't she self-sacrificingly strain

sh basins with gold flowers, the pattern exactly matching the pattern of the ten stands. Unfortunately the dishes were not ready for delivery because it always took three or four weeks to have the monogram burnt in. But the

g shambling steps. Her small eyes, with the traces of many sleepless hours upon them, g

sy, ventured to inquire concerning the pa

a lady. I think that I, the wife of Kilian Czepanek, conductor of th

ings at the

anek laug

ted and papered." Then with the graceful gesture which only the ability to pay bestows upon a pe

ike being in doubt as to whether or n

annoyances nothing had

n the table. Well, then, they would simply skip a meal again.

drink. No time must be lost, she said

was seized by anot

ave had that lovely furniture in its place by to-morrow morning. As it is, we sha

espairingly brandished the bread-knife

eves of her blouse, and sa

bottom of the bed. The underwear and linen, the conten

d arms jerked, the sweat

ed the score of the Song of Songs, the home's greatest treasure, lying on the fl

ped to p

ongs?" screamed the mother. She had be

surprise. "I was just goi

hing. You want to steal it, the way you stole th

her eyes, and felt a pain at her throat, felt some

realise it was the bread-knife she was holding in her hand.

ld probably have succumbed in the struggle that ensued, ha

d-knife in a tight clutch, which the strongest man could not relax, and did not drop

se they did not know what else to do with her. While at the hospital she learned that her mother ha

eft alone i