The libretto is based on Jean Pierre Felicien Mallefille's one-act play Les deux veuves.

The opera was composed between June 1873 and January 1874, and its premiere took place on 27 March 1874 at the Prague Czech Theatre under the direction of Smetana.

[1] The US premiere took place in New York on 23 October 1949 and it was first given in the UK on 17 June 1963 at the Guildhall School of Music.

Karolina, the wealthy owner, is happy about her liberty and independence, while Anežka cannot make friends because she is still in mourning.

At the end of the act, Lidka (Mumlal's daughter) and her suitor Toník, with the chorus, sing about love.