Mrs. Hanka did not answer at once.
"You have suffered, then," she said; "you have lacked—I mean, you have had to apply like the others—"
"Well, good Lord," he answered, and laughed, "what are the subsidies for, anyway? I have not suffered want; but why not apply when one can do it without loss of prestige? And I did not humble myself; be sure of that. 'I hereby apply for the subsidy and enclose my last book'—that was all. There was no kowtowing whatever. And when I survey my fellow applicants I hardly think I shall be entirely eclipsed. What is your opinion?"
She smiled and said:
"No, you will not be eclipsed."
He put his arm around her and said:
"Now, Hanka, you must go back—I can endure it all as long as you are in town, but when you go away it will look very dark for me! I shan't know what to do with myself then."
"I am only going to the country," she said.
"Isn't that enough? We shall be separated just the same, for you know I cannot leave the city. When are you going?"
"I imagine in about a week."