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Drezmal"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="Little, Brown, and Company"> +<meta name="Date" content="1910"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {margin: auto; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 5em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Whirlpools, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Whirlpools + A Novel of Modern Poland + +Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz + +Translator: Max A. Drezmal + +Release Date: September 15, 2011 [EBook #37426] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHIRLPOOLS *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/whirlpoolsnovelo00sien +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>WHIRLPOOLS</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="20" style="border:4px solid black; width:50%; margin-left:25%"> +<tr><td> +<h3>THE WORKS OF<br> +HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ.</h3> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Whirlpools</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">"Quo Vadis"</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">With Fire and Sword</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">The Deluge</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Pan Michael</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Children of the Soil</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Hania, and Other Stories</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Sielanka, a Forest Picture and Other Stories</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">The Knights of the Cross</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Without Dogma</span></p> +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">On the Field of Glory</span></p> +</td></tr></table> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h1>WHIRLPOOLS</h1> + +<h3>A Novel of Modern Poland</h3> +<br> +<br> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ</h3> + +<h5>Author of "With Fire and Sword," "The Deluge,"<br> +"Quo Vadis," "Children of the Soil,"<br> +"Without Dogma," Etc.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h4><i>TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH BY</i></h4> +<h3>MAX A. DREZMAL</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>BOSTON: + +LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY. + +1910.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<<p class="center" style="margin-bottom:5pt"><i>Copyright, 1910</i>,<br> + +<span class="sc">By Little, Brown, and Company</span></p> +<hr style="width:5%; color: black"> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top:5pt"><i>All rights reserved</i>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center">Published June, 1910</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>WHIRLPOOLS.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>PART FIRST.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>I</h3> + +<p class="normal">Gronski arrived at the Jastrzeb manor-house about midnight. In the +house all were asleep excepting an old servant and the young heir, +Ladislaus Krzycki, who awaited his guest with supper and greeted him +with great cordiality, for notwithstanding the disparity in their ages +they were bound by ties of an old intimacy. It continued from those +days when Gronski, as a university student, surrounded with a tutelary +friendship the youthful Krzycki, who was attending the gymnasium. Later +they met frequently and the closer friendly relations between Gronski +and the Krzycki family did not undergo any interruption.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therefore when, after the first greetings, they repaired to the +dining-room the young heir of Jastrzeb again began to embrace Gronski. +After a while, having seated him at the table, he shook from his eyes +the remnants of drowsiness which had oppressed him, became thoroughly +animated, and said with sincere happiness:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How immensely fortunate I am that at last we have you at Jastrzeb; and +Mother, how she has been expecting you! I, whenever I am in Warsaw, +always begin with you, but a year has passed since your last visit +here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski inquired about Pani Krzycki's health and that of the younger +members of the household, after which he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is, indeed, strange that I have not been out in the country, not +only with you but elsewhere. In summer time they dispatch me every year +to Carlsbad, and after Carlsbad one strays somewhere in the west. +Besides, in Warsaw matters are now seething as in a caldron, and it is +difficult to tear one's self from all this."</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation, which started with a lengthy discussion of public +affairs, was afterwards turned by Ladislaus towards private matters:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you," he said, "besides the notification of the death of Uncle +Zarnowski, receive a letter from Mother? I ask for this reason: I +mailed first the notification, and later in the day Mother decided to +write the letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I received both and for that reason I am here. I tell you candidly I +would not come merely to attend your uncle's funeral. It is true that a +year ago, when he was in Warsaw for medical treatment, we dined +together for several months at the same club, but that was all; though +people were astonished that such a misanthrope, who avoided everybody, +did not somehow run away from me. How were your relations? Were they +cool to the end?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rather, there were none. He would not receive anybody and did not wish +to see any one, not even his parish-priest. Extreme unction was +administered by the Canon of Olchowa. When he became seriously ill, we +visited him in Rzeslewo, but he received us with blunt discourtesy. +Mother did not mind it and repeated her visits, though at times he was +disagreeable towards her. As for myself, I confess that I did not call +there again until he was in a very critical state."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did he leave a large estate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rzeslewo is a huge patch of that kind of soil in which you can +anywhere plant at least onions. There is not one copper coin of +indebtedness. At one time Uncle had a house in Warsaw, to which he +removed the entire equipment from Rzeslewo, which was not, by any +means, despicable. We thought that he would reside permanently in the +city, but he later sold everything; from which I infer he must have +left funds. Some, as is customary with people who are fond of +exaggeration, say hundreds of thousands. The Lord only knows. But this +much is certain: he inherited a great deal from his brothers. I do not +know whether you have ever heard that there were three of them. One +perished, while yet a student, in a duel at Dorpat; the other died, +also young, from typhoid fever, and Uncle Adam got everything they +left."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is said that he lived very poorly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He stayed a great deal in Warsaw and abroad for his health. How he +lived there I do not know, but, after his return to Rzeslewo, very +wretchedly. I think, however, that this was more due to whimsicality +than to greed, for he was not greedy. You would not believe how that +manor appeared; how everything was denuded and abandoned. In every room +the roof was leaky, and if some unexpected guests or unknown relatives +arrive for the funeral, I will have to invite them to Jastrzeb, for +there I would not know where to house them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know of any other relatives?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, there are Pani Otocka and her sister; also Dolhanski, who +undoubtedly will come, and ourselves. I have not heard of others, +though in all probability they will be found, as in Poland everybody is +related. Mother insists that we are the nearest, but, to tell the +truth, we are not very close; as the deceased was a distant cousin of +Mother's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Pani Otocka and Panna Marynia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better ask Mother about that; yesterday for an hour she was expounding +to me as to who was born to whom; what he was to whom; whom did who's +sister marry, and what was who's relation to the deceased. I could not +grasp it all. Those ladies will be here to-morrow at one o'clock, and +with them an English lady, their friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know; they told me about that in Warsaw, not knowing that they would +chance upon the funeral. But that English lady speaks Polish almost as +well as we do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? How is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Her father owned a factory in which he employed many Polish workmen. +The young lady, while a child, had a Polish nurse, and later some +emigrant taught her Polish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that she should care for it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Among the English people you will find many odd characters, and this +Mr. Anney was an odd character in this respect, that he could, like +Lord Dudley, select for his heraldic device: '<i>Causas non fata +sequor</i>,' because, like him, he also loved Poland, Polish history, and +the Poles. The workmen were sometimes turbulent and caused him much +annoyance, but this did not dishearten him. He established schools for +them, procured priests, took charge of the orphans, etc."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was a righteous man. But Miss Anney, is she pretty?--young?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About Pani Otocka's age--a year younger or older--and they are very +fond of each other. How long is it since you have seen Pani Otocka and +Marynia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is six years. Pani Otocka was not yet married and Panna Marynia +Zbyltowska was a girl, perhaps ten years old, in short dresses. I well +remember her because even then she played the violin and was regarded +as a child-wonder. My mother drew nearer to them last summer in Krynica +and has become extraordinarily captivated with them. She insisted that +this winter I should renew their acquaintance, but they left Warsaw for +the winter. Even then she commanded me to invite them in my own name to +Jastrzeb, and a few days before the death of Uncle, she wrote to them +to come for a lengthy visit. Day before yesterday we received a +dispatch that they will come. You are on intimate terms with them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, on intimate and very sincere terms," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I wanted to speak with you a little about them, but the hour +is late and you are after a journey. Perhaps it would be better to +defer it until to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I slept on the train and it is not far from the station to your place. +Besides, I have the bad habit of not retiring to sleep before two +o'clock."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus' countenance bore slight traces of perplexity. He poured out +for himself a glass of wine, drank it, and then said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The matter is somewhat delicate. I am certain that Mother has +concocted some scheme. Perhaps she may have written to you about this +and, if not, she will speak about it, because she is much concerned +about your opinion, and in a certain contingency will ask your +assistance. Several times she incidentally spoke about your influence +with Pani Otocka. I believe that you have influence with everybody, not +excluding my mother. For that reason I would like to ask a favor of +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski glanced at the young nobleman and afterwards at the servant, as +if he wanted to say: "Why is this witness here?" Ladislaus understood +and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is very deaf, so we can speak quite freely. He wheezes because he +has the asthma."</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother for the past two years has been bent upon my getting married, +so she bustles about, writes voluminous letters, and sends me every +winter to Warsaw, and I am certain that last summer she was in Krynica +not so much for her own health, which, God be praised, she preserves so +well, but to look over the young ladies and make a selection. And there +these cousins of mine have so bewitched her that she returned, as I +surmise, with a prepared project."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must give you warning," interrupted Gronski, "that so far as Panna +Marynia is concerned you are building an edifice upon ice, as in the +first place she is but sixteen; and again she will, at the end of +autumn, return to the conservatory in Brussels; and thirdly her whole +soul is wrapped up in her violin and in all probability will always +remain there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May it stay there. You say 'you are building,' but I not only am not +building, but would prefer that Mother would not build, as it will be +unpleasant for her. After all, my dear mother is the most upright soul +in the world, and beyond doubt all she desires is that I should have a +good and estimable woman for a wife; but I would prefer that my future +spouse should not resemble too much a Grecian statue."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then, Panna Marynia is not involved but only an ideal and, at the +same time, a warm young widow: to which arrangement I cannot by any +means assent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will answer with a Lithuanian anecdote, according to which an old +woman, to a peasant's assertion that he did not fear the master, +replied, 'Because thou hast never seen him.' Likewise, you have never +seen Pani Otocka, or have forgotten how she looks."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Ladislaus repeated:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for the world, even if she looked like a sacred painting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then perhaps you love another?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, you yourself tormented me last winter about Panna Rose +Stabrowska, and I admit that she has made an impression upon my heart. +But I did not permit myself to fall in love with her, because I know +her parents would not give her to me. I am not and will not be rich +enough for them. For that reason I escaped from Warsaw before the close +of the carnival. I did not wish to envenom with vain feeling my life or +hers, if she should love me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in case of a will in your favor? Would you not rush into the smoke +like a Uhlan of old? Is it not true?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most assuredly; but as I cannot depend upon that, and as that will not +happen, there is no necessity of talking further about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You spoke, however, of asking a favor of me. In what can I serve you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wanted to beg you not to fortify my mother in her designs as to Pani +Otocka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How queer you are! Why, when your mother perceives your disinclination +towards her, she will banish the thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but there will remain a little regret for herself and for me. A +person is always disappointed when his plans miscarry, and Mother is so +eternally worried, though often without reason, because, after all, no +ruin is threatening us. But she has so much confidence in your judgment +that if you will explain to her that it is better to abandon those +thoughts, she will abandon them. However, you will have to contrive it +so that it will appear to her that she herself came to that conclusion. +I know you can do it, and I rely upon your friendship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Laudie," said Gronski, "in these affairs I have less +experience, and therefore less judgment, than the first female neighbor +on the border of your estate. In your mother's letter there appears, +word for word, the same expression: 'I rely upon your friendship.' In +view of this, there remains only one thing to do, and that is not to +meddle in the affair at all,--especially as I will candidly state to +you that I entertain for Pani Otocka no less friendship than I do for +you. Considering the matter from another light, it is peculiar that we +should speak of Pani Otocka without considering her. It is allowable +for your mother to believe that every woman, if you would but stretch +out your hand towards her, would grab it with alacrity; but not for +you. For you renounce things in such a way as if everything depended +upon you, and I assure you that it is not so, and that if Pani Otocka +should ever decide to marry, she will be exceedingly particular in her +choice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are perfectly right," answered Krzycki, "but I am not, of course, +so foolish or so vain as to imagine that the whole thing depends upon +me. If I have expressed myself in an unsuitable manner, it is because I +thought only of Mother and myself and not at all of Pani Otocka. All +that I care about is that Mother should not urge me to seek her hand, +as I conjecture I might, after all, get the mitten."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski scanned the shapely figure of the youth and answered with a +certain benevolent petulance:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is well, although I do not know whether you are talking +sincerely; for men like you, the deuce knows why, have great luck with +women and they know it perfectly well. What have you against Pani +Otocka? Why, you hardly know her. Let me tell you that both of those +ladies are of such high quality as you rarely find."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe it, I believe it; but, in the first place, Pani Otocka is +fully three years younger than myself, which means that she is +twenty-four, and yet she is a widow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you have a prejudice against widows?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I confess that I have. Let matrimony give me everything that it can +possibly give, but a marriage with a widow will not give me all that. A +widow!--To think that every word which the maiden blushingly and with +palpitating heart whispers, the widow has already told to some one +else: and that which in a maid is, as it were, a sacrifice to love, in +a widow is but a repetition. No, I thank you, for a flower which +somebody else has previously plucked. Good fortune is not inherited +with a heritage, nor procured at second hand. Let not only matrimony, +but also love, give me all they can give, and, if not, then I prefer +remaining an old bachelor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear," answered Gronski, "between the heart and a bag of money +there is, however, a vast difference. Money, after you once part with +it, you have no more, but the heart is a living organism which +regenerates and creates new forces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be,--in every case, however, the memory of the past remains. +Finally, I am not enunciating any general theories, but merely my +personal views. Plainly, I could not love a widow and I do want to love +my wife, even though slightly. Otherwise what enjoyment would I have in +life? A rural estate? Good! I am an agriculturist and I agree to plough +and sow until death. But whoever imagines that this will give peace and +happiness, simply has no conception of the load of care, bitterness, +affliction, deception, self reproach, and strife with the bad will of +mankind and nature which one must endure. There are, it is true, +brighter moments, but far oftener one must defend himself against +downright loathsomeness. Now I want at least this: that I shall return +willingly home from the field or barn; that in the home there shall +await me fresh, rosy, and tempting cheeks which I crave to kiss, and +eyes into which I would long to gaze. I want to have some one on whom I +can bestow all that is best in me. I speak of this, not as one who is +infatuated with the romantic, but as a sober man who can keep accounts +of expenditures and receipts, not only in husbandry but also in life."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski thought that in reality every matured masculine life should +bear two faces; one with wrinkled brow, expressive of intense mental +strain, turned towards the problems of humanity, and the other calm and +peaceable at the fireside in the home.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," he said, "I would be delighted with such a home as a refuge from +care and in it 'fresh, rosy and tempting cheeks' as an attraction."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, in his laughter, displayed his sound, shining teeth and +answered joyously:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, how it does delight me! the soul almost squeaks."</p> + +<p class="normal">And they both began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," said Gronski, "one must be lucky enough to find that and +courageous enough to win."</p> + +<p class="normal">To Krzycki there suddenly came the recollection of a certain ball in +Warsaw; of Panna Rose Stabrowska, her pensive eyes, and her white, +half-childlike shoulders protruding from the net-lace like watery foam. +He therefore sighed quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sometimes," he said, "courage also is necessary to bridle one's self."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the chamber for an interval could be heard only the measured +tick-tack of the cumbrous clock and the wheezing of the asthmatic +servant, who dozed, leaning against the sideboard.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hour was late, Gronski rose and, having roused himself from a +momentary revery, said, as if speaking to himself:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And those ladies will be here to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards he added with a touch of sadness:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, at your age it is not permissible to bridle one's self."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>II</h3> + +<p class="normal">The ladies did actually arrive at Jastrzeb the next day about noon, +followed immediately afterwards by Dolhanski, who did not, however, see +them on the road, because at the station he became occupied entirely +with the receipt of the baggage and therefore arrived in a separate +conveyance. The guests did not find Krzycki at home. As the burden of +the funeral, and all cares connected with it, fell upon him, he left an +hour earlier for Rzeslewo. The obsequies were to take place at three +o'clock. Ladislaus' mother arrived at the Rzeslewo church with Pani +Otocka, Panna Marynia, and their friend Miss Anney. In the second +carriage Gronski and Dolhanski came, while the third and last one +brought the younger members of the Krzycki family,--eleven-year-old +Anusia and Stas, who was a year younger, together with their French +instructress and the tutor, Laskowicz. Pani Krzycki reminded her son of +his feminine relatives and introduced him to Miss Anney, but he barely +had time to bow and cast a glance at her when he was summoned away on +some matter relating to the final funeral arrangements. Alighting from +the carriage, the ladies could scarcely press their way into the +church, although an effort was made to clear a path for them, for in +the church and adjacent enclosure an unusual throng held sway. The +greater landed gentry were represented in extremely scant numbers, as +the deceased Zarnowski did not associate with any one, and besides +Jastrzeb, Gorek, and Wiatrak, did not visit any of the manors in the +neighborhood. In their place, the Rzeslewo peasantry appeared as one +man, with their wives and children. The reason for this was that from +some unknown source and for some inexplicable reason, a rumor +circulated among them that the deceased had bequeathed to them his +entire fortune. Quite a number stood outside the church fence, and +their loud voices and anxious faces indicated the impression which the +rumor of the bequest had made upon them.</p> + +<p class="normal">After chanted vigils and a sufficiently long mass, white surpliced +priests, preceded by a cross, appeared at the church doorway. After +them the coffin was borne. The hearse stood ready to receive the +remains, but peasants, in implicit faith of the bequest, lifted it upon +their shoulders to carry to the cemetery, which was a verst distant and +in which was located the tomb of the Zarnowskis. Gronski gave his arm +to Pani Krzycki, Dolhanski to Pani Otocka, while the duty of escorting +the light-haired Miss Anney fell to Krzycki. After an interval, the +funeral cortege slowly proceeded in the direction of the cemetery.</p> + +<p class="normal">From under the shade of church lindens it soon advanced upon the +field-road, flooded with sunshine, and extended itself in a long line. +At the head went the priests; after them the coffin, swung high up on +the shoulders of the peasants; the relatives and guests followed, and +after them came swarms of gay peasant national dresses and feminine +handkerchiefs gaudily spotted with yellow and red colors, which +glaringly contrasted with the green, sprouting spring corn. Church +flags, with skulls and pictures of saints, floated heavily in the +golden air and at times heaved with a flap when assailed by the wind. +In this manner, glistening in the sun, the crowd approached the poplars +which shaded the cemetery. From time to time the chant of priests +resounded, breaking out suddenly and with great sadness. Nearer the +cemetery the peasants commenced the litany and gusts of wind seized +these Polish and Latin songs and carried them with the odor of candles, +which were continually blown out, and the scent of the drippings of the +torches to the forests.</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki, who escorted Miss Anney, observed that her hand, which rested +upon his arm, trembled considerably. It occurred to him that she +probably had tired it, holding her parasol on the road from Jastrzeb to +Rzeslewo, and he paid no more attention to it. In the conviction that +such a solemnity as a funeral exempted him from starting the usual +social conversation, he walked in silence. He was fatigued and hungry. +Disordered thoughts rushed into his head. He thought of his uncle, +Zarnowski, of his inability to mourn for him, of the funeral, of his +newly-arrived cousins, and of yesterday's conversation with Gronski. +At times he would gaze, abstractedly, at the near by fields and +half-consciously would note that the winter-corn on the fertile +Rzeslewo soil, as well as the spring grain, gave promise of a bountiful +harvest. After a certain time he recollected that it would be proper +for him to devote a little more attention to his companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Somehow, after a few stealthy glances, his curiosity, which thus far +had been deadened by fatigue, hunger, and ill-humor, was awakened. The +proximity of a woman, young and, as he observed, stately, began to +affect him. It seemed strange to him in the first place that he was +conducting over the Rzeslewo highway an Englishwoman, who came, the +Lord knew from where; that a short while before he was unacquainted +with her and at present felt the warmth of her arm and hand. He +observed also that her hand, tightly incased in a glove, though +shapely, was not at all small; and he thought that the reasons for this +were the English sports--tennis, rowing, archery, and the like. "Our +Polish women," he thought, "look differently." Under the influence of +these reflections upon English sports, it seemed to him that from this +quaintly attired form some peculiar power, healthiness, and energy +emanated. His companion began to interest him more and more. Leading +her on his arm, he could see only her profile, upon which he bestowed +increased attention. As a consequence of more exact observation, his +curiosity intensified. In the first moments he conceded only that she +was a comely and buxom person, but later he soliloquized in this +fashion: "How vastly more stately and, sincerely speaking, more +beautiful she is than Pani Otocka or that child, whose dresses reach to +her ankles and whose soul, as Gronski says, is in the violin!" But +this, however, was not the strict truth, for Pani Otocka, a slender +brunette with the expression of a blonde, was of a type more exquisite +and racial, and the "child" had a countenance simply angelic. But at +that particular moment, if a secret ballot had been taken upon this +question, Krzycki, owing perhaps to his opposition to his mother's +designs, would have cast his vote for Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a certain time, it seemed to him that Miss Anney also was casting +stealthy glances at him. He determined to catch her in the act and +looked at her more openly. And then he saw something which astonished +him in the highest degree. On the cheeks of the young Englishwoman tear +after tear coursed. Her lips were compressed as if she desired to +stifle her impressions and her hand, supported on his arm, did not +cease to tremble.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Either this is affected sensibility," Krzycki thought, "or else her +English nerves are jangled. Why the deuce should she weep over a man +whom she never saw in her life? Unless it reminded her of her father's +burial or that of some near relative?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney did not look at all like a person with jangled nerves. +Somehow, after a time, her emotion passed. She began to gaze with +particular interest and attention upon the throng of people, the +neighborhood, the fields, and the distant fringe of the forest as if +she desired to retain them all permanently in her memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She should have taken a kodak with her," thought Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were already not far from the cemetery gates. But in the meanwhile +a wind stronger than the former gusts broke loose. It swept suddenly +across the field of sprouting grain, raised a cloud of dust on the +highway, snuffed out the mendicant candles which were not extinguished +before, and entwined Krzycki's neck with Miss Anney's long boa.</p> + +<p class="normal">She relinquished his arm and, freeing him from his ties, said in Polish +with an almost imperceptible foreign accent:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon. The wind--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is nothing," answered Ladislaus. "Perhaps you would prefer to +take a carriage, for the squalls are breaking out more frequently."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, thank you," she replied; "I believe we are near the cemetery. I +will walk alone, because I must hold my boa and dress."</p> + +<p class="normal">During this conversation they stood opposite each other for a moment +and, although that moment was brief, Ladislaus made a new discovery. +Not only did he confirm his previous opinion that Miss Anney was, in +reality, very beautiful and had an extraordinarily transparent +complexion, set off with light hair, but above all else that her blue +eyes did not radiate with two separate beams, but rather with a single, +gentle, blue, slightly misty, soulful light. He was unable to explain +to himself in what lay the distinct and peculiar charm of that look, +but he felt it perfectly.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, they reached the cemetery. A short prayer detained all +at the gates, after which the funeral cortege moved between the +poplars, swung by the winds, and crosses overgrown by luxuriant grass +on the mounds, under which slept the Rzeslewo peasantry. The Zarnowski +tomb stood in the centre. In its front walls could be seen an opening, +knocked out for the reception of a new member of the family. At the +side there were two masons, with whitened aprons, having at their feet +prepared cement and a pile of new bricks. The coffin was placed upon +the sand near the opening and the priests began a long chant over it. +Their voices rose and then fell, like waves, in a rolling and dreamy +rhythm, which was accompanied by the roar of the poplars, the flapping +of the flags in the air, and the hum of prayers uttered, as if +mechanically, by the peasants. Then the parish-priest of Rzeslewo began +a discourse. As he did not live on good terms with the deceased, he +commended his soul to the divine mercy rather than praised him. About +could be seen the faces of the Zarnowski relatives, grave and +appropriately grouped for the occasion, but no grief, not a tear. They +were rather indifferent, with an expression of expectancy, and even +tedium. The coffin appeared to be only awaiting the close of the rites, +as if it was anxious to enter that vault and darkness, for which it was +appropriately designed. In the meantime, after the sermon, songs began +to ring. At moments they subsided, and then could be heard only the +revelry of wind among the poplars. At last a high voice, as if +startled, intoned "requiem aeternam" and fell suddenly like a pillar of +dust twirled by the storm; and after a momentary silence "eternal +repose," full of solace, resounded and the ceremony was over.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the coffin they threw a few handfulls of sand, and then pushed it +into the opening which the masons began to wall up, laying brick upon +brick and coating them with mortar. The barrier, which was to forever +separate Zarnowski from the world and light, grew with each moment. +Groups of peasants slowly left the cemetery. Two female neighbors from +Gorek, a Pani Wlocek, an old and pathetic dame, and her daughter, who +was not young, approached Pani Krzycki and felt it incumbent upon them +to offer a "few words of consolation," which nobody expected and which +were absolutely unnecessary. Gronski began to converse with Ladislaus:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Observe," he quietly said, looking at the work of the masons, "yet a +few more bricks and then, as Dante says, 'Aeterna silenza.' No sorrow, +not a tear; no one will ever come here expressly for him. Something +similar awaits me, and you remember that thus they bury old bachelors. +Your mother is quite right in wanting to have you married."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To tell the truth," answered Krzycki, "the deceased was not only an +old bachelor, but also was unsocial. But finally, is it not all the +same?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"After death, certainly. But during life, when you think of it, it is +not at all the same. This 'lust for posthumous grief' may be illogical +and foolish, but nevertheless it exists."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whence does it come?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From an equally unwise desire to outlive self. Look, the work is +finished and Zarnowski is sealed up. Let us go."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the gates the rattle of the approaching carriages was heard. The +party moved towards the exit. The ladies now were in the lead; after +them the priests and guests walked, with the exception of Dolhanski, +who was talking to the Englishwoman.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly Ladislaus turned to Gronski and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is Miss Anney's Christian name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"While we are in the cemetery you might have thought of something else. +Her Christian name is Agnes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A beautiful name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In England it is quite common."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she rich?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that question you could defer to another time, but if you are in a +hurry, ask Dolhanski. He knows those things best."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I ask you because I see him with her and hear him chattering in +English."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that is a play within a play! He is after Pani Otocka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Equally as old as it is fruitless. For it is yet difficult to +ascertain with any exactness how much Miss Anney possesses, while the +amount which the late Director Otocki left his wife is perfectly +known."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have a hope that my beautiful cousin will give him the mitten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which would increase a beautiful collection. But tell me, what do you +think of your cousins?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly--Pani Otocka--certainly--both have what the Galicians call +'something ennobling.' But Panna Marynia is still quite a child."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski directed his eyes at the slim and slender figure walking before +them and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a child who could as well fly in the air as walk on earth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"An aëroplane or what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I warn you that she is the object of my highest adoration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I have heard. It is already known to all men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only they do not know that that adoration is not of a red color, but +heavenly blue."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand that very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you are better acquainted with her you will understand me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki, who was more interested in Miss Anney, wanted to turn the +conversation to her, but they passed the gates, before which the horses +waited. The young man proceeded to assist the ladies to their seats, in +which operation he saw directed towards himself for a moment the +soulful eyes of the Englishwoman. Preparatory to her departure, his +mother asked him whether he had finished his duties connected with the +funeral and whether he would return immediately to Jastrzeb.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," he answered; "I have made an arrangement with the parish-priest +that he should permit me to invite the priests to the rectory, and I +must entertain them there. But as soon as I greet them and eat +something, I will excuse myself to the guests and return as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he bowed to the ladies, after which he removed his hands from the +carriage, cast a glance at the chestnut thill-horse to see if he did +not overreach, and shouted:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go ahead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage trundled over the road on which the funeral cortege had +passed. Of the participants who were dressed in surtouts, besides +Ladislaus, only Dolhanski remained. He felt that, as a relative of the +deceased, it was also his duty to entertain the priests who officiated +at the obsequies; and besides, he had other reasons which induced him +to remain in Ladislaus' company.</p> + +<p class="normal">They had barely settled in the britzska, when he began to look around +among the peasants, who still stood here and there in groups, and then +asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is the notary Dzwonkowski?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus smiled and replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He rode ahead with the priests, but to-night you will see him at +Jastrzeb, for he invited himself there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So; then I regret that I did not return with the ladies. I wanted to +wring from him some information regarding the will, and I thought that +later that might not be possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Patience. The notary told me that the will is to be opened the day +after to-morrow in his office and that we will have to drive over there +for that purpose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I wished to know to-day whether it will be worth while for me to +wait until to-morrow or the day after. If this precious uncle of ours +has let us drift, as the saying is, upon a swift current of water, then +Pani Wlocka was right in offering us words of consolation. I, at least, +will need them for a long time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can you talk that way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am saying aloud what you all secretly think. I am very anxious about +that will. I care more for Dzwonkowski at the present moment than for +the entire terrestial globe together with the five parts of the world; +and more particularly since I have seen that he brought a bundle of +papers with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to that you may rest at ease. He is the greatest musico-maniac that +I have ever met. He worships Panna Marynia, with whom he became +acquainted at Krynica. From Gronski I have learnt that in the moonlight +sonata, in the Benois arrangement for the violin, he arranged the notes +for the flute and sent them to her in Warsaw. Today he wants to see how +they will go. Therefore he invited himself to Jastrzeb, and he brought +with him, besides the sonata, a bundle of other notes. I assure you +that he will not want to talk or speak of anything else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case, may the devils carry off Dzwonkowski's flute, Panna +Marynia's violin, your Jastrzeb piano, and music in general."</p> + +<p class="normal">On this Ladislaus looked at him spitefully and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be careful about our Jastrzeb piano, because if you hear a trio +to-night, you will find Pani Otocka at the piano."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have a hope that it will be, at least, as much out of tune as I am +at present and, in that case, I will not envy either her or the +auditors. But I see that Gronski has filled you with idle gossip. +Good! Unlike him, I do not have an old bachelor's hankering after +boarding-house misses and I like young teals only on a platter. Let him +feast his eyes with his Marynia; let him pray to her, but let him leave +me alone. They all have gone crazy on music there, and are ready to +infect you in Jastrzeb. Only Miss Anney does not play on anything, and +has a little sense."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Miss Anney does not play on anything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. But that does not prevent her from playing, in a certain case, +upon me or on you, but much more easily upon you than me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why more easily upon me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I am that particular kind of instrument that wants to know in +advance how much the concert will bring."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, accustomed of old to Dolhanski's cynicism, shrugged his +shoulders, but did not have time to reply as they had in the meantime +arrived at the rectory.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>III</h3> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski, in fact, could not extract from the notary, anything but +testy replies. Immediately after his reception at the rectory the old +notary became very garrulous, but spoke with Ladislaus only about +Marynia, for whom he had an unbounded admiration. At present he feared +that Pani Krzycki might not consent to an evening musicale on the day +of the funeral of a relative, and that fear did not cease to disturb +him. Under this impression he began to demonstrate that music may as +well be associated with death as with life; that impressive music +always attends funerals, and that as mankind has not devised anything +better than music, not even for the worship of God, therefore it may be +taken for granted that music facilitates the flight of the soul to +heaven, and even salvation. Ladislaus bit his mustache and, without +qualification, concurred in this reasoning, knowing that the amiable +old gentleman was wont to berate his opponents unmercifully. With this +kind of talk, in which, to Dolhanski's great irritation, there was no +mention of the will, they passed their time on the way to Jastrzeb. +There they were served with tea. As the wind had subsided entirely +before the setting sun and the evening was delightful, the ladies, with +Gronski, were in the garden. When Ladislaus and his companions followed +them, they found Pani Krzycki and Pani Otocka on the bank of the pond, +while Miss Anney and Marynia were in a boat on the pond. A ruddy lustre +permeated the whole air; the scent of elders, which grew near the +water's edge, blended with the odor of the turf, duck-weed, and fish. +The water was dark green on the border from alders and willows which +hemmed it in, but in the centre, on the overflow, it was golden, with +reflections of purple and peacock feathers. The boat floated towards +the point, whose narrow girdle from the garden side served as a +landing-place. Marynia sat in the middle of the boat, but Miss Anney, +standing at the stern, manipulated it with a single oar, propelling and +at the same time steering with uncommon skill. On the background of +water and sky she loomed up from head to foot with strong and graceful +form, her rounded bosom moving in unison with the movements of the oar. +At moments she ceased to paddle and when the boat, gliding each moment +more slowly, at last stood still upon the smooth water, there could be +seen in the mirrored pellucidness another boat, another Marynia, and +another Miss Anney. In this picture there was great pastoral calm. The +lustre in the heavens grew ruddier as if the entire western world had +been embraced in a conflagration. High above the pond, under the +flaming cupola of heaven, strings of wild ducks appeared as if tied +together by black crosses.</p> + +<p class="normal">The trees stood motionless and the silence was broken only by the +sounds of the windmill, coming from the direction of the dam.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a while Miss Anney touched shore. Gronski, who was anxious that +his "adoration" should not wet her feet, hastened to assist her out of +the boat, while the Englishwoman leaped unassisted upon the sand and, +approaching the company, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How charming it is here in Jastrzeb!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because the weather is fine," said Ladislaus, drawing nearer. +"Yesterday it was cloudy, but to-night it is beautiful."</p> + +<p class="normal">And having scanned the heavens, he, like a true husbandman, added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it will continue thus, we will start mowing the hay."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Miss Anney gazed at him, as if she discovered something unusual in +the sounds of those words, and began to repeat them in the same fashion +that one repeats words which he desires to firmly implant in the +memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The hay--the hay."</p> + +<p class="normal">The party turned towards the house, which was being bleached, or rather +rouged, amidst the lime-trees, conversing a little about the funeral +and the late Zarnowski, but more about the village, the spring evening, +and music. Pani Krzycki assured the newly-arrived ladies that in +Jastrzeb before their arrival music was not wanting, as there were so +many nightingales in the park that at times they would not let any one +sleep. At this Gronski, who was a man of great erudition, began to +discourse upon country life; that, in truth, it was, from time +immemorial, considered the only real and normal life. He mentioned +incidentally the Homeric Kings, "who rejoiced in their hearts, counting +sheaves with the sceptre," and various Roman poets. In conclusion he +announced, as his opinion, that socialism will shatter to pieces upon +agriculture and the soil, because it considers them only as a value, +while they are also an affection, or, in other words, not only is a +price placed upon them, but they are also loved. Men know what cares +are coupled with country life, but in truth it is the only life they +prize, as if in it "even bird's milk was not lacking."<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">To Pani Krzycki, who, next to her children, loved, above everything +else in the world, Jastrzeb, the words of Gronski appealed very +convincingly, but Dolhanski, recalling a village he once owned and +squandered, replied, drawling his words as usual:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bird's milk may not be lacking, but money is lacking. Besides, it is +amusing to hear these eulogies upon country life pronounced by a rich +man who could buy for himself a tract of land and settle in the +country, but whom it is necessary to pull out of the city with hooks." +Then addressing Gronski:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Apropos of your Homeric Kings, and with them your Virgils and Horaces, +why, in their days there certainly were not such hotels on the Riviera +and such clubs in Nice as at present."</p> + +<p class="normal">But this observation was passed in silence, or rather it was +interrupted by a musical passage intoned to Marynia in an old wooden +voice by the notary who wanted in this manner to illustrate the +junction of two phrases in Bruch's concerto. Afterwards various other +phrases incessantly resounded until the party returned to the house. +Gronski knew the mania of the old man and envied him for having found +something in life which filled it out so completely for him. He was a +highly educated dilettante, but had settled upon nothing permanently in +life and did not consecrate all his spiritual powers to anything +exclusively. This was partly due to his environment, and partly to his +own fault. The profoundest essence of his soul was a sad scepticism. +One of his friends, Kloczewski, called him "an ecclesiastic in a +dress-suit." Somehow, the final result of Gronski's meditation upon the +future and human life, individual as well as collective, was the +conviction that the future and the human life may, with time, become +different, but never better. So he thought that it might be worth while +not to spare efforts to make them sometime better, but it would not be +worth while that they should be different only. This thought protected +him, however, from the bordering pessimism, as he understood that the +measure of happiness and misfortune rested not on the external, but in +the man himself, and that as long as otherwise did not mean <i>better</i>, +then by the same reasoning it did not also mean <i>worse</i>. At bottom he +was persuaded that the one and the other were only a mistake and a +delusion, and that everything, not excluding life, was one great +vanity. In this manner, he revered, across the sea of ages, the true +Ecclesia.</p> + +<p class="normal">But, being at the same time a man of sentiment, he fell in a continual +clash with himself, his sentiment always craving for something, while +his sad scepticism iterated that it was not worth while to desire +anything. His feelings were preyed upon by the thought that his views +were in conflict with life, while life was an imperative necessity. +Therefore, whoever with doubts corroded its roots injured humanity, and +Gronski did not desire to injure anybody, much less his own people. For +this reason the ecclesiastic, contending that all was vanity, wrangled +within him, with the patriot who said, for instance, that national +suffering was not in vain. But this state of affairs bred within him +such incessant discord that he envied men of action who journey through +life without any whys or wherefores, as well as people who absolutely +succumb to one great feeling.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the old notary and Marynia, such a great feeling was music; so that +as often as Gronski saw them together, so often did he have before his +eyes a living example that things do exist with which one can fill out +his life from dawn until the last moments,--if only one does not +subject them to a too close analysis.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p class="normal">At the supper the aged notary was occupied solely with music and +Marynia. To the others, with the exception of the lady of the house, +upon whom permission for the concert depended, he replied irascibly; +especially to Dolhanski, who several times tried to elicit from him +some information about the will. His angry and apoplectic face cleared +up only after Pani Krzycki announced that she would have no objections +to devoting the remainder of the evening to decorous music, and that +she herself would be glad to listen to Marynia, whom she had not heard +since the last charitable concert in Krynica.</p> + +<p class="normal">Towards the close of the supper the old gentleman again began to get +impatient, remarking that it was a pity to waste time in eating, and +discussing even music, if light and frivolous, with profane individuals +who had no conception of the real art. He became more interested after +listening to the reasonings of Gronski, who began to talk about the +origin of music and refute the Darwinian theory that songs and the +sounds of the primitive string instruments arose in some misty era of +the human race from the amorous declarations and calls of men and women +in the forests. Gronski shared the opinion of those who against these +views cited the fact that among the most savage tribes no traces of +love-songs exist, but in their place are found war-songs and martial +music. The theory of calling through the forests appeared to the ladies +more poetical. Gronski placated them with the statement that this did +not lessen the civilizing importance of music, that it, with the dance, +was one of the first factors which promoted among the scattered tribes +of men a certain organization.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Papuans," he said, "who gather together for the performance of a +war or ceremonial dance in accordance with the rhythm of even their +wildest music, by that act alone submit to something, introduce some +kind of order, and form the first social ties."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That means," observed Dolhanski, "that every nation owes its origin to +some primitive 'high-diddle-diddle, the cat and the fiddle.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it is so," angrily answered the old notary.</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards turning to Gronski, he said: "Please proceed. We can at +least learn something."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, please proceed," repeated Marynia.</p> + +<p class="normal">So Gronski began further to speak of the history of music; how through +the entire course of ages it served war, ceremonies of state, as well +as religious and secular, and how considerably later it outspread its +own wings, on which it soars as at present, like an eagle, over the +entire human race.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A strange art," he concluded; "the most primitive; yet to-day resting +more than any other upon science; the most precisely confined within +certain technical requirements, as if bound by dams and dykes; yet the +most illimitable, the most mystical; overflowing the borders of +existence and life. Perhaps this gives it such incomprehensible power +over the human soul; speaking the least expressive of tongues and at +the same time the most idealistic. It is the most powerful spur to +action. Yes, to the Polish regiments in the battle of Gravelotte the +Prussian bands played 'Poland is not yet lost,' and everywhere you may +behold the same. Play to the Frenchmen the 'Marseillaise,' the Germans +'Wacht am Rhein,' how their hands begin to quiver! Even the eyes of +phlegmatic Englishmen and Americans sparkle when they hear 'Rule +Britania' or 'Yankee Doodle.' Strange art!--the most cosmopolitan and +at the same time the most national,--universal and individual."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing you did not say and that is that of all arts it is the +purest," added Pani Otocka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Attempts have been made to illegitimatize it," answered Gronski, "but +licentiousness never can be rhythmical nor harmonical, and for that +reason from these attempts there was born an antichrist of music."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Ladislaus, who was a trifle bored and would have preferred to talk +with the light-haired Miss Anney, spoke out with the evident desire to +close the discussion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is plain that not only every nation but every man has his own +music. I, for instance, am always willing to hear a concert or an +opera, but I admit, that when sometimes the boys and girls at work in +the field sing until the pitchforks and harrows ring, that is the only +music for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Slavonian, Lechite, Piast--come to my arms," drawled Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus blushed a little from fear that the young Englishwoman and +his refined female relatives might judge him too rustical, but they +glanced at him with a certain sympathy. Only the beard of the old +classical notary drooped with his nose in a manner boding no good, and +from his lips he mumbled a half-distinct grumble:</p> + +<p class="normal">"To some folks it is sufficient, when anything jingles in their ears."</p> + +<p class="normal">But recollecting that it would not be agreeable to Pani Krzycki if +caustic remarks were directed against her son, he cast an uneasy look +at her and became silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">The supper was finished. The company went to the salon in which +prevailed coolness and the slight scent of jasmine blown in from the +garden by the light evening breezes before the windows were closed. In +the glass doors appeared the big full moon, which but recently arose +slowly in the heaven, still ruddy after a bath in the evening twilight. +Pani Otocka sat at the piano; beside her the notary began to blow, as +if with anger, into the flute; while behind them stood Marynia with a +violin at her shoulder. Gronski with rapture gazed at her luxuriant +dark hair; her peaceful, arched eyebrows under a forehead plainly +immaculate; her small countenance; her slender, growing, childlike +form, and thought that this sight alone would suffice for music, or at +least that such a violinist might pass for its incarnation and symbol. +Ladislaus, although he had previously enlisted in the ranks of the +English faction, could not remove his eyes from her. After completing +his university education, he had accompanied his mother on a journey to +Italy. He visited various galleries and, though he lacked solid +artistic culture, nevertheless the thought crossed his mind that this +maiden with the bright and peaceful countenance, bending over the +violin, might have served the old masters as a model for Saint Cecilia +or for one of those angelic violin-players which he had seen in the +paintings of Fra Angelico.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other listeners, like Pani Krzycki, her children, the instructress, +and Miss Anney, gazed at her as if at a miracle-working image. Only +one, Laskowicz, young Stas' tutor, did not share in the general +rapture. He was a medical student who, owing to the closing of the +university, was earning money by teaching for the further pursuit of +his studies, and he found himself, together with his inexorable hatred +for the "pampered" of this world, like Pilate in Credo, in this country +home. His convictions by this time were not a secret to anybody in +Jastrzeb; he was tolerated, however, with that improvident indulgence +of which the Polish nobility is only capable, upon the principle that +"the greatest radical must eat," and also in the hope that Stas was yet +too young to be infected with the "evil spirit" by his tutor.</p> + +<p class="normal">To Laskowicz, when he looked at the gentle young lady, it seemed that +she was a flower which grew higher than the hands of a proletaire could +reach; therefore she was bred to the injury of the proletariat. This +was sufficient for him to look on both sides with reluctance and a +readiness to hate.</p> + +<p class="normal">But, in the meanwhile, the moment for beginning the concert had +arrived. For some time Marynia had been drawing the bow over the +chords, turning the ringlets of the violin, and passing her fingers +over the notes, indicating something to her sister and the notary; +afterwards silence ensued, interrupted only by the indistinct talk of +the servants, assembled beyond the windows, who for the first time in +their lives were to hear the young lady play on the violin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>V</h3> + +<p class="normal">The first chords of the moonlight sonata are sounded and a vision +begins. Lo! a pale ray creeps stealthily through a crevice and touches +the forehead of a sleeper, as if it wanted to arouse thought; +afterwards the lips, as if it wished to waken words, and later the +bosom, as if it desired to stir the heart. But the weary body slumbered +in a heavy sleep. In its place the soul emerges from its embrace, like +a butterfly from a cocoon, and flies into space. The night is bright +and silent. Below, alders are dimly wrapped in muslin mists. On the +sylvan meadows nymphs dance their rites, accompanied by the playing of +a faun on a flute. About, stand with flaming azure eyes, stags, crowned +with antlers. On the heath, glow-worms glimmer; on the moss, +phosphorate toadstools, under whose canopies tiny elfs watch the +gambols. From the decaying vegetation and fens rise Jack-o'-lanterns +which flit about lightly and mysteriously, as if seeking something in +vain. The moon ascends each moment higher and higher, and bounteous dew +falls.</p> + +<p class="normal">Over the vast fields rivers wind in silvery ribbons and tracks of the +roadways can be seen leading to towns and castles. Through the narrow +Gothic windows the moon's lustre invades silent castle-halls, where +lurk the ghosts of dead knights and maidens. At the feet of the +castles, cities slumber. In the calm light the roofs of houses whiten +and crosses on the towers glitter. From the blossoming orchards, with +the vapors rises the fragrance of flowers and grass. But lighter than +the fragrance and the moonlight the winged soul soars higher and +farther. The lowly habitations of men vanish; likewise vanish the +forests, vales, sparkling shields of ponds, and the white threads of +streams. Gradually lofty regions are attained.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">And lo, the mountains! Amidst the crags sleeps the translucent buckler +of the lake. In the chasms lies concealed cool dusk. The needles of the +glaciers shine verdantly. On the declivities and rocky nests rest the +weary clouds and mists; and on the peaks, on the eternal snow the +moonlight reposes. Even the wind has fallen asleep. How still, +ethereal, and immense! Here the moon is the only sentinel of silence +and the human soul the only living entity. Free as a mountain eagle, +detached from the flesh, enamoured with the expanse, desolation, and +silence, happy, and sad with a supernal sorrow, dissolved in the +stillness, she hovers and courses above the precipices; and again flies +farther on, entirely abandoned to pleasure, flight, and speed.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">And the mountains have already disappeared beneath her and lo! some +voices rise and reach from below as if summoning her to them. It is the +sea. It, alone, never sleeps; restless and vast, it dashes wave after +wave against the shore, as if it were an immense pulsation of life. Its +monstrous lungs heave and fall eternally and at times groan in +complaint of endless toil.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ruffled expanse of the sea throbs with the opalescent lunar lustre +and the silvery laces of stars, and on those illuminated tracks, in the +distance appears, wakeful as the sea itself, a ship with sails and a +sanguinary light in the rounded windows.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">But thou, oh soul, mountest higher and higher. Already the earth is +left somewhere at the bottom of the abyss. Thou, light as down, dost +pass feathery clouds, which have strayed upon the heights and dost +pierce space flooded with splendor--empty and cool. There thou liest +upon thine own wings and floatest about in luminous nothingness; higher +and higher; and now doth scintillate and change color over thee, in +gold and purple, the jewels of heaven, and thou dost frolic and swing +in the unattainable ether, serene, freed from the dross of matter as +if, beyond the limits of time and space, thou wert already partly +admitted into heaven.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The firmament of heaven grows each moment darker, but the moon, great +as the world, shines more and more brightly. Already we behold her +glistening plains, mangled, wild, studded by mountain peaks, perforated +with the blackness of craters, bleak, frosty, and lifeless. Thus in the +abyss of space appears this silvery, corpse-like wanderer, who speeds +around the earth as if condemned by a divine command to a perpetual +race. Above and about her, an immensity which the swooning brain is +incapable of comprehending. A new galaxy of stars twinkle sanguinarily +and powerfully, like distant fire-places. The music of spheres is +heard. Here Eternity fans with her breath and a supernal chill +prevails.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Return, over-indulged swan, return, oh soul, before some occult rapids +and whirlpools seize thee and tear thee forever from the earth.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Thou returnest from the pinnacle of all-existence, bathed in the waves +of infinity, purer and more perfect. Lo, thou furlest thy wings! Look, +in the depths beneath are those downy, light clouds, which now thou +greetest as thine own and kin. Below, the earth. The protuberances of +the mountains flash to the moon; at their feet sobs the sea. And now +lower, the vague outlines of forests, enveloped in mist. Again whiten +the cities, silent towers and roofs of villages sunk in sleep. The +night grows pale. On the moors, ostlers build fires and play on fifes. +The roosters crow. The day breaks. It is dawn.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">The strains subsided and silence ensued. Marynia stood near the piano +with a countenance, composed as usual, but seemingly, awakened from a +dream.</p> + +<p class="normal">The aged notary sat for a while with bowed head, moving his toothless +jaws; afterwards he rose, and when the young maid placed the violin +beside the key-board, he ardently kissed her hands; after which he +threw a challenging look at those present as if he sought the person +who would dare to protest against that mark of homage or deem it a +superfluous act. Nobody, however, protested because under the +enchantment of that music that happened with the listeners which always +happens with mankind, when fanned by the breath of genius. As sometimes +in a dream it seems to a person that having shoved himself off the +earth with his feet, he afterwards reels a long time in the air, so, +too, their bodies became lighter, less material, as if deprived of +those heavy and gross elements which bound them to the earth. Their +nerves became more susceptible and subtle and their souls more +volatile, approaching more closely those boundaries on which eternity +begins. It was an unconscious feeling; after the passage of which the +daily life was to encompass and drag them down. But during this +momentary exaltation there awakened within them, unknown to themselves, +a power of apprehending, appreciating, and feeling beauty, and in +general such things as in their customary moods they had not felt and +did not know that they could have felt.</p> + +<p class="normal">Even the young and unfledged physician, Laskowicz, notwithstanding all +his prejudices, could not resist this influence. The moment when +Marynia stood up to play, he began to scrutinize her from his dark +corner in the salon and examine her form as an anatomist. He was +conscious that there was something brutal in this, but such a viewpoint +gave him satisfaction, as being proper for an investigator and a man of +his convictions. He started to persuade himself that this young lady of +the so called higher spheres was for him merely an object which one +should examine in the same manner as a corpse on the dissecting-table +is examined. So, when tuning her violin, she bent her head, he took a +mental inventory of the Latin names of all her cranial bones, repelling +the thought which, against his will, rushed to his head that this was, +however, an extraordinarily noble skull. Afterwards, during the first +moments after the beginning of the concert, he became occupied with the +nomenclature of the muscles of her hands, arms, breast, limbs, outlined +under her dress and whole figure. But as he was not only a medical +student and a socialist, but also a young man, this anatomical review +ended in the conclusion that this was a girl, not yet sufficiently +developed, but exceedingly pretty and attractive, resembling a spring +flower. From that moment he began, to a certain extent, to forgive her +connection with spheres living "from the wrongs of the proletariat," +and could not get rid of the thought that if, as a result of some +unheard-of social upheaval, such "a saintly doll" became dependent upon +his favor or disfavor, then such a state of affairs would bring to him +an indescribably coy delight.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when Beethoven placed his hands upon his head, there awakened +within him better and higher instincts. He saw during the performance +the lips and eyebrows of the young lady contract, and began to concede +that "she, however, felt something." In consequence of this, his +ill-will towards her began to melt away, although slowly and with +difficulty. He half confirmed, half conjectured that not only the hands +but also the soul played. He did not have sufficient culture for music +to appeal to him as it did, for instance, to Gronski, nevertheless +there awakened within him a certain dismal consciousness that this was +something, like the air, which all breasts can breathe, regardless of +whether they love or hate. Amazement seized him at the thought that +there were things lying beyond the swarm of human passions. At the +conclusion he so identified music with the figure of the playing girl +that when the old notary, at the end of the concert, kissed her hands, +he almost felt inclined to do the same.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile, Ladislaus said to Miss Anney:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As long as Jastrzeb has been Jastrzeb, never yet has such music been +heard. I am not a connoisseur, but must admit that this has captivated +me. Besides, though I am often in the city, it has always so happened +that I never have had an opportunity of seeing a woman play on the +violin. And this is so beautiful that I now have an impression that +only women should play the violin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One gets such an impression when he hears Marynia play."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Assuredly. I even begin to understand Pan Gronski. You, of course, +know that she is his adoration?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The greatest in the world. And mine and everybody's who knows +her,--and soon she will be yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not deny that she will be, only I doubt whether she will be the +greatest."</p> + +<p class="normal">A temporary pause in the conversation followed, after which Ladislaus, +not desiring that Miss Anney should take his words as an untimely +compliment, added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any event, I owe her gratitude for music which is slightly +different from that which we hear every evening in spring and summer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What kind of music is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From dusk to moon-rise the orchestra of frogs, and afterwards the +concert of nightingales, which, after all, I do not hear, as, after +daily toil, I am sound asleep. The frog band has already commenced. +This also has its charm. If you care to hear it, let us go out upon the +veranda. The night is almost as warm as in summer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney rose and together they went on the veranda, which the +servants, who listened under the windows to Marynia's performance, had +already left, and only in the distance the blooming jasmines, shaded by +the dusk, whitened. From the pond came the croakings of the +confederation of frogs, drowsy and, at the same time, resembling choral +prayers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney for a while listened to these sounds and afterwards said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, this also has its charm, particularly on a night like this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are not nights the same in England?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not as quiet. There is hardly a corner there to which the +whistling of locomotives or the factory noises do not reach. I like +your villages for their quiet and their distance from the cities."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, then, this is not the first time that you have seen a Polish +village?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. I have passed the last month with Zosia Otocka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish that our Jastrzeb would find favor in your eyes. It is too bad +that you chanced here upon a funeral. That is always sad. I saw that +you were even affected."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It reminded me of something," answered Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whereupon, evidently desiring to change the subject of the +conversation, she again began to peer into the depths of the garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How everything blooms and smells agreeably here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are jasmines and elders. Did you observe on the forest road, +riding to Jastrzeb, that the edges of the woods are planted with +elders? That is my work."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I only observed it at the bridge, where an old building stands. What +kind of building is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is an ancient mill. At one time there was a great deal of water +in the stream beside it, but later my uncle, Zarnowski, drained it off +to the fish-ponds in Rzeslewo and the mill stood still. Now it is a +ramshackle building in which for over ten years we have stored hay +instead of keeping it in hayricks. Folks say that the place is haunted, +but I myself circulated, in its time, that myth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"First, so that they should not steal the hay, and again because it was +of much concern to me that no one should pry in there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What an invention!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told them that near the bridge during night-time the horses get +frightened and that something in the mill laughs; which is true, +because owls laugh there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it would have been better to have told them that something in +there weeps."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For greater effect."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know. Laughter in the night in the solitude creates a greater +impression. People fear it more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And nobody peeps in there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a soul. Now, if they only would not steal the hay, it would be all +the same to me, but at that time I was anxious to screen myself from +the eyes of men--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Ladislaus bit his tongue, observing in the moonlight that Miss +Anney's eyebrows frowned slightly. He understood that in repeating +twice that it was important to him that no one should pry into the +mill, he committed a breach of etiquette and, what was worse, had +presented himself to the young English lady as some provincial boaster, +who gives the impression that often he has been forced to seek various +hiding-places. So desiring to erase the bad impression, he added +quickly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"When a student, I wrote verses and for that reason sought solitude. +But now all that has passed away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That usually passes away," answered Miss Anney. And she turned to the +doors of the salon, but without unnecessary haste, as if she desired to +show Ladislaus that she accepted as good coin his explanations and that +her return was not a manifestation of displeasure. He remained a while, +angry at himself and yet more angry at Miss Anney for the simple reason +that the indiscretion was committed solely by him and he could not +blame her for anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any case," he said to himself, "that is some deucedly penetrating +Puritan."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to repeat, with some indignation, her last words:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That usually passes away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did she," he thought, "intend to give me to understand that from such +grist as is in me nobody could bake any poetry. Perhaps it is true, and +I know that better than anyone else, but it is unnecessary for anybody +to corroborate the fact."</p> + +<p class="normal">Under the influence of these thoughts he returned to the salon in not +quite good humor, but there the duties of host summoned him to his +feminine cousins and that evening he did not converse any more with +Miss Anney.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VI</h3> + +<p class="normal">The notary left the same night because his official duties required his +presence in the city the following morning. On the day after, Gronski, +whom Pani Otocka requested to act as her representative, with Ladislaus +and Dolhanski departed for the notarial bureau. All three were troubled +and curious about the will, of which the notary did not drop a single +hint. Dolhanski feigned a jocose mien and displayed more sangfroid than +he really possessed. He was most anxious that something should "drop +off" for him. He was a man who had squandered a large fortune, but, not +having changed his habits, kept on living as if he had not lost +anything. Therefore he sustained himself upon the surface of life by +the aid of extraordinary, almost acrobatic, efforts, of which after all +he made no secret. In general, he was a sponger and possessed a million +faults, but also certain social qualities for which he was esteemed. +Belonging to an aristocratic club, he played cards with unusual good +luck, but irreproachably. He never borrowed money from people in his +own sphere; never gossiped, and was a tolerably loyal friend. Lack of +education he supplied with cleverness and a certain intellectual grasp. +He jested about himself, but it was unsafe to jest at him, because he +possessed, besides wit, a certain candor which bordered upon cynicism. +So he was not only countenanced but willingly received. Gronski, for +whom Dolhanski had such high regard that he permitted him alone to jest +about him, said that if Dolhanski only had as great a gift of making +money as he had of spending it, he would have been a millionaire.</p> + +<p class="normal">But while waiting for such a change, heavy moments fell upon Dolhanski, +particularly in spring when the play at the club slackened or when the +outing season began. Then he felt fatigued after the winter struggles +and sighed for something to turn up which would not require any labor. +The will of Zarnowski might be such a gratuity, although Dolhanski did +not expect much, as during the lifetime of the deceased he did nothing +to deserve it. He even frankly repeated that his precious uncle bored +him. He reckoned, however, that something might be sliced off for him; +enough for the temporary pacification of his creditors or, better +still, for a trip to a fashionable, aristocratic French seaside resort.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before leaving Warsaw he announced in the club that he would return +sitting upon a pillow stuffed with pawn-tickets. At present he +attempted, with a certain affected humor, to convince Gronski and +Ladislaus that by rights neither Pani Otocka with her sister, nor the +Krzyckis, but himself ought to be the chief beneficiary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One of the female cousins," he said, "is a warm widow, who has a fat +fortune from her husband, and the other is a budding muse, who ought to +be satisfied with ambrosia. What a pity, that I am not the sole +relative of the deceased!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he addressed Ladislaus:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Krzyckis, I think, need not be considered, because you have had, +as I heard, a dispute about the Rzeslewo boundary. I hope that you will +not get anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the use of your hoping?" said Gronski. "Limit, above all +things, your wants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You remind me of my lamented father," answered Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He certainly must have repeated that to you often."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too often, and besides, he set himself up as an example, but I +demonstrated to him, as plainly as two times two are four, that I could +and ought to live on a higher scale than he."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you tell him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I spoke to him thus: Firstly, Papa has a son, while I am childless, +and again, I am a better noble than he."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In what respect?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very plainly, since I can count one generation more in my line of +nobility."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo!" exclaimed Krzycki. "What did your father say to that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He called me a dunce, but I saw he was pleased with it. Ah, if my +conceits would only please Pani Otocka as they once did Papa. But I am +convinced that my constancy and my appetite will avail me naught. My +dear cousin is after all more practical than she seems. You would +imagine that both sisters live only on the fragrance of flowers; and +yet when they learned of a possible inheritance, they hastily arrived +at Jastrzeb."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can assure you that you are mistaken. Mother invited them last year +while in Krynica and now, at least a week before the death of Uncle +Zarnowski, she reminded them of their promise. They wrote back that +they could not come because they had a guest. Then mother invited the +guest also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is so, it is different. Now, not only do I understand your +mother, but as you are a shapely youth and, in addition, younger than +myself, I begin to fear for Cousin Otocka's fortune, which more justly +belongs to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need have no fear," answered Krzycki drily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does that mean that you prefer pounds to roubles? Considering the rate +of exchange, I would prefer them also, but I fear that too many of them +might have sunk in the Channel on the way from England."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you are so much concerned about that," said Gronski, "you might ask +Miss Anney about the precise amount. She is so sincere that she will +reply to a certainty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but it is necessary that I should believe her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you knew a little of human nature, you ought to believe her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any case, I would fear a misunderstanding; for if she answered me +in Polish, she could make a mistake, and if in English, I might not +understand her perfectly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She speaks better Polish than you do English."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admit that this astonishes me. Whence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Haven't I told you," answered Gronski, with some impatience, "that she +was taught from childhood, because her father was an Englishman who had +great sympathy for the Poles?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"De gustibus non est disputandem," answered Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And afterwards he again began to speak of the deceased and of the old +notary, mimicking the movements of his toothless jaws and the fury of +his look; and finally he announced that if something was not "sliced +off" for him he would either shoot himself upon Pani Otocka's threshold +or else would drive over to Gorek and offer himself for the hand of +Panna Wlocek.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Gronski was buried in thought about something else during the time +of this idle talk, while Ladislaus heard him distractedly as his +attention was attracted by the considerable number of peasant carts +which they were continually passing by. Supposing that he had forgotten +some market-day in the city, he turned to his coachman.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Andrew," he asked, "why are there so many carts on the road to the +city?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, those, please your honor, are Rzeslewo peasants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rzeslewo? What have they to do there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! please your honor, on account of the will of the deceased Pan +Zarnowski; it is to give them Rzeslewo."</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki turned to Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard," he said, "that somebody circulated among them such a story, +but did not think that they would believe it."</p> + +<p class="normal">And afterwards again to the coachman:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who told them that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old driver hesitated somewhat in his reply:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The people gossip that it was the Tutor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, stupid peasants!" he said. "Why, he never in his life saw Pan +Zarnowski. How would he know about the will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But after a moment of meditation he said, partly to his companions and +partly to himself:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything must have some object, so if Laskowicz did that, let some +one explain to me why he did it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you suspect him of it?" asked Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know, for heretofore I had assumed that one could be a +socialist and keep his wits in order."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, so he is a bird of that nest? Tell me how long has he been with +you and what manner of a man is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has been with us half a year. We needed an instructor for Stas and +some one recommended him to us. We were informed that he would have to +leave Warsaw for a certain time to elude the police and, in fact, for +that reason received him more eagerly, thinking that some patriotic +matter was involved. Later, when it appeared that he was of an entirely +different calibre, mother would not permit his dismissal in hope that +she might convert him. At the beginning she had lengthy heart-to-heart +talks with him and requested me to be friendly with him. We treated him +as a member of the family, but the result has been such that he hates +us, not only as people belonging to a sphere which he envies, but also, +as it seems, individually."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is evident," said Dolhanski, "he holds it evil of you that you are +not such as he imagined you would be; neither so wicked nor so stupid. +And you may rest assured that he will never forgive that in you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be so. In any case, he will shortly despise us from a +distance, for after a month we part. I understand that one can and +ought to tolerate all convictions, but there is something in him, +besides his principles and hatreds, which is so conflicting with all +our customs, and something so strange that we have had enough of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Laudie," answered Dolhanski, "do not necessarily apply this to +yourself, for I speak generally, but since you have mentioned +toleration, I will tell you that in my opinion toleration in Poland was +and is nothing else than downright stupidity, and monumental stupidity +at that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In certain respects Dolhanski is right," answered Gronski. "It may be +that in the course of our history we tolerated various ideas and +elements not only through magnanimous forbearance, but also because in +our indolence we did not care to contend with them."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Ladislaus, who did not like to engage in general argumentation, +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is all right, but all that does not explain why Laskowicz should +spread among the peasants the news that Uncle Zarnowski devised +Rzeslewo to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is, as yet, no certainty that he did," answered Gronski. "We +will very soon learn the truth at the notary's."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VII</h3> + +<p class="normal">The hour was five in the afternoon. The ladies sat on the veranda, at +tea, when the young men returned from the city. Miss Anney rose when +they appeared and, not wishing to be present, as a stranger, at the +family conversation, left on some pretext for her room. Pani Krzycki +greeted them with slightly affected calm, because in reality the +thought of the will did not leave her for a moment. She was not +greedier than the generality of common mortals, but she was immensely +concerned that, after her demise, at the distribution of the estate, +Ladislaus should have enough to pay off the younger members of the +family and to sustain himself at Jastrzeb. And some respectable bequest +would in a remarkable manner facilitate the making of such payments. +Besides, at the bottom of the noble soul of Pani Krzycki there lay +hidden the faith that Providence owed, to a certain extent, greater +obligations to the Krzycki family than to any ordinary family. For that +reason, even if the whole of Rzeslewo fell to the lot of that family, +she would with readiness and willingness submit to such a decree of +Providence. Finally, descending from the blood of a people who in +certain cases can sacrifice fortune, but love extraordinarily to +acquire it without any effort, she fondled all day the thought that +such an easy acquisition was about to occur.</p> + +<p class="normal">But in the countenances of Ladislaus and Gronski she could at once +discern that they brought specific intelligence. Dolhanski, who was the +first to alight from the carriage, was the first to begin the report.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I anticipate the question, what is the news?" he said, drawling his +expressions with cold irony, "and I answer everything is for the best, +for the Rzeslewo Mats and Jacks will have something with which they can +travel to Carlsbad."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki grew somewhat pale and, turning to Gronski, asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, in truth, gentlemen, have you brought with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The will in its provisions is peculiar," answered Gronski, "but was +executed in a noble spirit. Rzeslewo is devised for a peasants' +agricultural school and the interest of the funds is to be devoted to +sending the pupils of the school, who have finished their courses, for +a year's or two years' practice in country husbandry in Bohemia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or, as I stated, to Carlsbad, Marienbad, Teplitz, and other places of +the same character," explained Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed. Marynia, who was pouring the tea, began, +with teapot in hand, to gaze with inquiring look at those present, +desiring evidently to unriddle whether they praised or condemned it and +whether it gave them pleasure or annoyance. Pani Otocka looked at +Gronski with eyes which evinced delight; while Pani Krzycki leaned with +both hands upon the cane which she used owing to rheumatism in her +limbs, and after a certain time asked in a slightly hoarse voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, it is for a public purpose?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," answered Gronski, "the organization of the school and afterwards +the division of the funds for the stay in Bohemia is to be assumed by a +special Directory of the Trust Society of this province, and the +designated curator of the school is Laudie."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too bad it is not I," interposed Dolhanski. "I would arrange it very +quickly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are specific bequests," continued Gronski, "and these are very +strange. He bequeaths various small sums to the household servants and +ten thousand roubles to some Skibianka, daughter of a blacksmith at the +Rzeslewo manor, who in his time emigrated to America."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Skibianka!" repeated Pani Krzycki with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski bit off the ends of his mustache, smiled, and started to +grumble that the nobility was always distinguished for its love of the +common people, but Gronski looked at him severely; after which he drew +from his pocket a memorandum and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That provision of the will is worded as follows: Whereas the parents +of Hanka Skiba or Skibianka emigrated during my sojourn abroad for +medical treatment, and I have not had the opportunity of ascertaining +where they can be found, therefore I obligate my relative, Ladislaus +Krzycki, to cause to be published in all the Polish newspapers printed +in the United States and in Parana, advertisements. If the said legatee +does not within two years appear to receive the bequest, the entire sum +with interest becomes the property of the said Ladislaus Krzycki."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I already have announced that I do not intend to accept that +specific bequest," cried the young man excitedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">All eyes were turned toward him; he added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would not think of it; I would not think of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not?" asked his mother after a while.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I cannot. Let us suppose that the legatee appears, say for +instance, within three years instead of two, what would happen? Would I +pocket the bequest and drive her away? No! I could not do that. +Finally, there are other considerations of which I do not wish to +speak."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, only by these "other considerations," could such a +considerable bequest to a simple village girl be explained; therefore +Pani Krzycki became silent. After a while she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Laudie, nobody will coerce, nor even try to persuade you to +accept."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Dolhanski asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me, is this some mythical disinterestedness or is it ill humor +caused by your not receiving a greater bequest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not judge by yourself," answered Krzycki; "but I will tell you +something which you certainly will not believe; since this estate is to +be devoted to such an object as a peasants' agricultural school, I am +highly delighted and have much greater esteem for the deceased. I give +you my word that I speak with entire sincerity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo!" exclaimed Pani Otocka, "it is pleasant to hear that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki looked with pride first upon her son, then upon Pani +Otocka; and, though a feeling of disappointment lingered in her heart, +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, let there be a peasants' school, if only our Jastrzeb peasants +will be permitted to send their sons to it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That does not admit of any doubt," explained Gronski. "There will be +as many pupils as accommodations can be provided for. They may come +from all parts, though preference is to be given to Rzeslewo peasants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do they say about the bequest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There were more than a dozen of them at the opening of the will, as +they expected a direct gift of all the manor lands to them. Somebody +had persuaded them that the deceased left everything to them to be +equally divided. So they left very much displeased. We heard them say +that this was not the genuine will and that they do not need any +schools."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Most fully do I share their opinion," said Dolhanski, "and in this +instance, contrary to my nature, I will speak seriously. For at present +there is raging an epidemic of founding schools and no one asks for +whom, for what, how are they to be taught in them, and what is the end +to be attained. I belong to that species of birds who do not toil, but +look at everything, if not from the top, then from the side, and, +perhaps for that very reason, see things which others do not observe. +So, at times, I have an impression that we are like those children, for +instance, at Ostend, who build on the sea-shore forts with the sand. +Every day on the beach they erect them and every day the waves wash +them away until not a trace of them remains."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In a way you are right," said Gronski; "but there, however, is this +difference: the children build joyfully and we do not."</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards he meditated and added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"However, the law of nature is such that children grow while the adults +rear dykes, not of sand, but of stone upon which the weaves dash to +pieces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let them be dashed to pieces as quickly as possible," exclaimed +Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Dolhanski would not concede defeat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me then," he said, "since we have not yet grown up and have not +yet started to build of stone, to remain a pessimist."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski gazed for a while into the depths of the garden like a man who +was pondering over something and then said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pessimism--pessimism! We hear that incessantly nowadays. But in the +meanwhile if there exists anything more stupid than optimism, which +often passes for folly, it is particularly pessimism, which desires to +pose as reason."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski smiled a trifle biliously and, turning to the ladies, said, +pointing to Gronski:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not take this ill of him, ladies. It often happens for him in +moments of abstraction to utter impertinences. He is a good--even +intelligent--man, but has the unbearable habit of turning over +everything, examining it from all sides, pondering over it, and +soliloquizing."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Marynia suddenly flushed with indignation in defence of her friend +and, shaking the teapot which at that moment she held in her hand, +began to speak with great ardor:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just right, that is just sensible; that is what everybody +ought to do--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski pretended to be awe-stricken and, bowing his head, cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am vanquished; I retreat and surrender arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, laughing, kissed her hand, while she, abashed at her own +vehemence and covered with blushes, began to ask:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not the truth? Am I not right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Dolhanski already recovered his presence of mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That does not prove anything," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because Gronski once promulgated this aphorism: It is never proper to +follow the views of a woman, especially if by accident she is right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I?" exclaimed Gronski. "Untangle yourself from me. I never said +anything like that. Do not believe him, ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe only you, sir," answered Marynia.</p> + +<p class="normal">But further conversation was interrupted by Pani Krzycki, who observed +that it was time for the May mass. In the Jastrzeb manor-house, there +was a room especially assigned for that purpose and known as the +chapel. At the main wall, opposite the windows, stood an altar with a +painting of the Divine Mother of Czestochowo. The walls, altar, +painting, and even the candles were decorated with green garlands. On +the side tables stood bouquets of elders and jasmines whose fragrance +filled the entire room. Sometimes, when the rector of Rzeslewo arrived, +he conducted the services; in his absence the lady of the house. All +the inmates of the house, with the exception of Laskowicz, during the +entire month of May met every evening in the chapel. At present the +gentlemen followed the ladies. On the way Ladislaus asked Gronski:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Miss Anney a Catholic?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To tell you the truth, I do not know," answered Gronski, "but it +seems--but look, she is entering also. So she must be a Catholic. +Perhaps her name is Irish."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the chapel the candles were already lit, though the sun had not +entirely set and stood in the windows, low, golden, and ruddy, casting +a lustre on the white cloth which covered the altar and on the heads of +the women. At the very altar the lady of the house knelt, behind her +the lady visitors; after them the female servants and the old asthmatic +lackey, while the gentlemen stood at the wall between the windows. The +customary songs, prayers, and litanies began. Their sweetness struck +Gronski. There was in them something of spring and at the same time of +the evening. The impression of the spring was created by the flowers, +and of the evening by ruddy lustre entering through the windows, and +the soft voices of the women who, repeating the choral words of the +litanies, reminded one of the last chirp of birds, subsiding before the +setting of the sun. "Healer of the sick. Refuge of sinners, Comforter +of the afflicted," repeated Pani Krzycki; and those soft, subdued +voices responded, "Pray for us,"--and thus did that country home pray +on that May evening. Gronski, who was a sceptic, but not an atheist, +like a man of high culture, at first felt the æsthetic side of this +childlike "good-night" borne by these women to a benign deity. +Afterwards, as if desiring to corroborate the truth of Dolhanski's +assertion that he was wont to turn over every subject on every side and +to ponder over every phenomenon, he began to meditate upon religious +manifestations. It occurred to him that this homage rendered to a deity +was an element purely ideal, possessed solely by humanity. He recalled +that as often as he happened to be in church and saw people praying, so +often was he struck by the unfathomable chasm which separates the world +of man from the animal world. As a matter of fact, religious +conceptions can only be formed by higher and more perfect organisms; +therefore he drew the conclusion that if there existed beings ten times +more intelligent than mankind, they would, in their own way, be ten +times more religious. "Yes, but in their own way," Gronski repeated, +"which perhaps might be very different." His spiritual drama (and he +often thought that there were many people like him) was this: that the +Absolute appeared to him as an abyss, as some synthetic law of all the +laws of existence. Thus he presumed that according to a degree of +mental development it was impossible to imagine that law in the form of +the kindly old man or in the eye on the radiant triangle, unless one +takes matters symbolically and assumes that the old man and the eye +express the all-basis of existence, as the horizontally drawn eight +denotes infinity. But in such case what will this all-basis be for him? +Always night, always an abyss, always something inscrutable; barely to +be felt by some dull sensation and not by any clear perception, from +whose power can be understood the phenomenon of existence and an answer +be made to the various whys and wherefores. "Mankind," mused Gronski, +"possesses at the same time too much and too little intelligence. For, +after all, to simply believe one must unreservedly shut the blinds of +his intellectual windows and not permit himself to peer through them; +and when he does open them he discovers only a starless night." For +this reason he envied those middle-aged persons, whose intelligence +reared mentally edifices upon unshaken dogmas, just as lighthouses are +built upon rocks in the sea. Dante could master the whole field of +knowledge of his time and yet, notwithstanding this, could traverse +hell, purgatory, and paradise. The modern man of learning could not +travel thus, for if he wished to pass in thought beyond the world of +material phenomenon, he would see that which we behold in Wuertz's +well-known painting, a decapitated head; that is, some element so +undefined that it is equivalent to nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the tragedy, according to Gronski, lay not only in the +inscrutability of the Absolute, in the impossibility of understanding +His laws, but also in the impossibility of agreeing on them and +acknowledging them from the view point of human life. There exist, of +course, evil and woe. The Old Testament explains them easily by the +state of almost continual rage of its Jah. "Domine ne in furore tuo +arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me," and afterwards "saggittae +tuae infixae sunt mihi et confirmasti super me manuo tuum." And once +having accepted this blind fury and this "strengthening of the right +hand," it is easy to explain to one's self in a simple manner +misfortune. But already in the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes doubts +whether everything in the world is in order. The New Testament sees +evil in matter in contraposition to the soul; and that is clear. +However, viewing the matter, in the abstract, as everything is a close +chain of cause and effect, therefore everything is logical, and being +logical it cannot per se be either evil or good, but may appear +propitious or unfavorable in its relation to man. Besides, that which +we call evil or misfortune may, according to the absolute laws of +existence, and in its profundity, be wise and essential principles of +development, which are beyond human comprehension, and therefore +something which in itself is an advantageous phenomenon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes, but in such case, whence does man derive the power to oppose his +individual thoughts and his concrete conceptions to this universal +logic? If everything is a delusion, why is the human mind a force, +existing, as it were, outside of the general laws of existence? There +is this something, unprecedented and at the same time tragical, that +man must be subjected to these laws and can protest against them. On +earth spiritual peace was enjoyed only by the gods, and is now only by +animals. Man is eternally struggling and crying veto, and such a veto +is every human tear.</p> + +<p class="normal">And here Gronski's thoughts assumed a more personal aspect. He began to +look at the praying Marynia and at first experienced relief. There came +to his mind the purely æsthetic observation that Carpaccio might have +placed such a maiden beside his guitar-player and Boticelli should have +foreseen her. But immediately afterwards he thought that even such a +flower must wither, and nothing withers or dies without pain. Suddenly +he was seized with a fear of the future, which in her traveling-pouch +carries concealed evil and woe. He recalled, indeed, the aphorism which +he had uttered, a short time before, about pessimism; but that gave him +no comfort, because he understood that the pessimism which flowed from +the exertions of the intellect is different from the worldling's +pessimism which Dolhanski, by shrugging his shoulders at everything, +permitted himself to indulge in when free from card-playing. He +moreover propounded to himself the question whether that debilitating +pessimism could in any manner be well founded, and here unexpectedly +there stood before his eyes another friend, entirely different from +Dolhanski, though also a sceptic and hedonist,--Doctor Parebski. He was +a college-mate of Gronski and in later years had treated him for a +nervous ailment; therefore he knew him perfectly. Once, after listening +to his various reflections and complaints about the impossibility of +finding a solution of the paramount questions of life, Doctor Parebski +said to him: "That is a pastime for which time and means are necessary. +If you had to work for your bread as I have, you would not upset your +own mind and the minds of others. All that reminds me of a dog chasing +his own tail. And I tell you, look at that which environs you and not +at your own navel; and if you want to be well, then--carpe diem!" +Gronski at that time deemed these words somewhat brutal and more in the +nature of medical than philosophical advice, but now when he recalled +them he said to himself: "In truth the road on which, as if from bad +habit, I am continually entering leads to nowhere; and who knows +whether these women praying this moment with such faith are not, +without question, more sensible than I am, not to say more at ease and +happier?"</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime Pani Kryzcki began to speak: "Under Thy protection we +flee. Holy Mother of God," and the women's voices immediately +responded: "Our entreaties deign not to spurn and from all evil deign +to preserve us forever." Gronski was swept by an intense longing for +such a sweet, tutelary divinity who does not deign to scorn entreaties +and who delivers us from evil. How well it would be with him if he +could enjoy such peace of mind, and how simple the thought! +Unfortunately he already had strayed too far away. He could, like +women, yearn, but, unlike them, he could not believe.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski mentally reviewed the whole array of his acquaintances and +noted that those who fervently believed, in the depths of their souls, +were very few in number. Some there were who did not believe at all; +others who wanted to believe and could not; some acknowledged from +social considerations the necessity of faith, and finally there were +those who were simply occupied with something else. To this latter +category belonged men who, for instance, observed the custom of +attending mass as they did the habit of eating breakfast every morning, +or of donning a dress-coat each evening or wearing gloves. Through +habit it entered into the texture of their lives. Here Gronski +unwillingly glanced at Ladislaus, for it seemed to him that the young +man was a bird from that grove.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such, in fact, was the case. Krzycki, however, was neither a dull nor +thoughtless person. At the university he, like others, philosophized a +little, but afterwards the current of his life carried him in another +direction. There existed, indeed, beside Jastrzeb and the daily affairs +connected therewith, other matters which deeply interested him. He was +sincerely concerned about his native land, her future, the events which +might affect her destiny, and finally--women and love. But upon faith +he reflected as much as he did upon death, upon which he did not +reflect at all, as if he was of the opinion that it was improper to +think of them, since they in the proper time will not forget anybody.</p> + +<p class="normal">At present, moreover, owing to the guests, he was more than a hundred +miles from thinking of such questions. At one time, while yet a +student, when during vacation time he drove over with his mother to +Rzeslewo to attend high mass, he cherished in the depths of his soul +the poetical hope that some Sunday the rattle of a carriage would +resound without the church doors and a young and charming princess, +journeying from somewhere beyond the Baltic to Kiev, would enter the +church; that he would invite her to Jastrzeb and later fall in love +with her and marry her. And now here unexpectedly those youthful dreams +were in some measure realized, for to Jastrzeb there came not one but +three princesses of whom he could dream as much as he pleased, for +behold, they were now kneeling before the family altar, absorbed in +prayer. He began to gaze--now at Pani Otocka and then at the form of +Marynia, which resembled a Tanagra figurine, and repeated to himself: +"Mother desires to give one of them to me as a wife." And he had +nothing against the idea, but thought of Pani Otocka, "That is a book +which somebody has already read, while the other is a fledgeling who +can play a violin." Ladislaus was of the age which does not take into +calculation any woman under twenty years. After a while, as if +unwillingly, he directed his eyes towards Miss Anney,--unwillingly +because she formed the most luminous object in the room, for the +setting sun, falling upon her light hair, saturated it with such lustre +that the whole head appeared aflame. Miss Anney from time to time +raised her hand and shaded her head with it as if she desired to +extinguish the lustre, but as the rays each moment became less warm, +she finally discontinued the action. At times she was hidden from view +by the figure of some dark-haired girl, whom Ladislaus did not know, +but who, he surmised, must be a servant of one of these ladies. Towards +the close of the services the girl bowed so low that she no longer +obscured the view of the light hair or the young and powerful +shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That," he said to himself, "would be the greatest temptation, but +mother would be opposed, as she is a foreigner."</p> + +<p class="normal">But suddenly, as if to rebuke his conscience, there came to his memory +the pensive eyes and slender shoulders of Panna Stabrowska. Ah! if only +Rzeslewo and the funds had fallen to his lot! But uncle bequeathed +Rzeslewo for educational purposes and the funds for trips to Carlsbad +by the Mats, as Dolhanski had said, and a few thousand for Hanka +Skibianka. At this recollection his brow clouded and he drew his hand +across his forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I unnecessarily became excited before mother and the ladies," he said +to himself, "but I must explain this matter to Gronski."</p> + +<p class="normal">Accordingly, at the close of the mass, he turned to him:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want to speak with you about various matters, but only in four eyes. +Is that satisfactory?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right," answered Gronski, "when?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not to-day, for I must first go to Rzeslewo to question the men, look +over the estate, and then attend to the guests. It will be best +to-morrow evening or the day after. We will take our rifles with us and +go to the woods. Now there is a flight of woodcocks. Dolhanski does not +hunt, so we will leave him with the ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right," repeated Gronski.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VIII</h3> + +<p class="normal">The very next day, towards evening, they strolled with their rifles and +a dog in the direction of the mill, and on the way Ladislaus began to +narrate all that he had learned the previous day.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was in Rzeslewo," he said, "but there you hear nothing good. The +peasants insist that the will was forged and that the gentry twisted it +about so that they could control, for their own benefit, the money and +the lands. I am almost certain that Laskowicz is pouring oil upon that +fire. But why? I cannot understand; nevertheless, that is the case. The +landless, in particular, are wrought up and say that if the fortune is +divided among them, they, themselves, will contribute for a school. In +reality, they have no conception of the kind of school Zarnowski +wanted, nor of the cost of establishing it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In view of this, what do you intend to do?" asked Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know. I will see. In the meantime I will try to convince +them. I also begged the rector to explain the matter to them and spoke +with a few of the older husbandmen. I seemed to have persuaded them; +but unfortunately with them it is thus: that everyone, taken singly, is +intelligent and even sensible, but when you talk to them together, it +is like trying to smash a stone wall with your head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is nothing strange," answered Gronski; "take ten thousand doctors +of philosophy together and they become a mob which is ruled by +gesticulations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be," said Ladislaus, "but I did not wish to speak of the will +only. I also saw the old Rzeslewo overseer and learned a great many, +intensely curious things. Figure to yourself that our guesses were +wrong and that Hanka Skibianka is not the daughter of Uncle Zarnowski."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that seemed so certain! But what kind of proof have you of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very simple. Skiba was a native of Galicia and emigrated to Rzeslewo +with his wife and daughter when the latter was five years old. As +Zarnowski, while well, stayed in the village like a wall, and at that +time for at least ten years had not travelled anywhere, it is evident +that he could not have been the father of that girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That decides the matter. I cannot understand why he bequeathed to her +ten thousand roubles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is an interesting history connected with that," replied +Ladislaus. "You must know that the deceased, though now it appears that +he loved the peasants, always kept them under very strict control. He +managed them according to the old system; that is, he abused them from +morning till night. They say that when he cursed in the corridor you +could hear him over half the village. A certain day he went into the +blacksmith's shop and, finding something out of order, began to berate +the blacksmith unmercifully. The smith bowed and listened in humility. +It happened that little Hanka at that time was in front of the smithy +and, seeing what was taking place, seized a little stick and started to +belabor Zarnowski with it all over the legs. 'You will scold Tata, will +you?' It is said that the deceased at first was dumbfounded, but +afterwards burst into such laughter that his anger against the +blacksmith passed away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That Hanka pleases me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So did she please Uncle. The very same day he sent a rouble to the +smith's wife and ordered her to bring the child to the manor-house. +From that time he became attached to her. He commanded the old +housekeeper to teach her to read, and attended to it himself. The child +likewise became devoted to him, and this continued for a number of +years. In the end people began to say that the master wanted to keep +the smith's daughter entirely at his residence and have her educated as +a lady, but this, it seems, was untrue. He wanted to bring her up as a +stout village lass and give her a dowry. The Skibas, whose only child +she was, declared that they would not surrender her for anything in the +world. Of course, I know only what the overseer told me, for our +relations with the deceased were broken on account of the mill from +which he drained the water for his ponds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And later the Skibas emigrated."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but before that time Zarnowski began to fail in health and moved +to Warsaw, and subsequently resided abroad; so that their relations +relaxed. When the Skibas emigrated, the girl was seventeen. Uncle, on +his return to Rzeslewo to die, longed for her and waited for some news +of her. But as he had previously removed even his furniture from +Rzeslewo to the city, she evidently assumed that he never would return +and did not know where to write."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The bequest proves best that he did not forget her," said Gronski, +"and from the whole will it appears that he was a man of better heart +than people thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely," answered Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">For an interval they walked in silence; then Krzycki resumed the +conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for myself, I prefer that she is not the daughter of the deceased."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? Has that any bearing on the bequest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. Under no circumstances will I accept that bequest. Never!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is all very well, but tell me, why did you renounce it with such +vehemence that everybody was astonished?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is one circumstance which neither Mother nor anybody else even +suspects, but which I will sincerely confess to you. In the proper time +I seduced that girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski stood still, gazed at Ladislaus, and ejaculated:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What's that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As he was not prone to treat such matters with levity and, besides, the +previous narrative of Krzycki had awakened within him a sympathy for +Hanka, he frowned and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the fear of God! You seduced a child? And you say it was done in +the proper time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Ladislaus replied quite calmly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us not stop, for the dog has gone too far ahead of us," and here +he pointed at the white spaniel running before them. "I did not seduce +a child, for at that time she was sixteen. It happened more than seven +years ago, while I was still a student and came to Jastrzeb on a +vacation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Were there any consequences?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As far as I know there were none. You will understand that having +returned the following vacation and not finding either her or the +Skibas, I did not ask about them, for on the thief's head the cap +burns.<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> But to-day I +casually asked the overseer whether the Skibas +had not probably emigrated because some mishap had befallen their +daughter. He answered, 'No.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is better for her and for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly it is much better; for otherwise the matter would have been +brought to light and would reach Mother's ears."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And in such case you would suffer much unpleasantness."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was irony in Gronski's voice, but Ladislaus, absorbed in his own +thoughts, did not notice it and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such case, I would have unpleasantness because Mother in such +matters is exceedingly severe. So, to-day, after mature deliberation, I +am like a wolf, who will commit no injury in the neighborhood where he +keeps his nest, but at that time I was more headstrong and less +careful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the deuce take you!" exclaimed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing; speak on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not much more to say. Recurring to the will, you now understand +why I could not accept it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I do, but tell me 'thy exquisite reason,' as Shakespeare +says."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, as to the seduction of a girl, that does happen in villages, but +to seduce a girl and appropriate to one's own use that which had been +provided for her,--why, that would be too much. And perhaps she may be +suffering, in want, somewhere in America."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything is possible," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that if the advertisements, which I will make, do not reach her +notice, in such case, I would be using her money, while she would die +of starvation. No. Everything has its limits. I am not extraordinarily +scrupulous, but there are some things which I plainly cannot do."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me, but sincerely, do you entertain towards her any sentiment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you candidly that I completely forgot her. Now I have +recalled her and, in truth, I cannot have any ill-will towards her. On +the contrary, that kind of recollection cannot, of course, be +disagreeable, unless it is linked with remorse. But we were mere +children--and a pure accident brought us together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then permit me to ask one more question. If the deceased bequeathed to +her the whole of Rzeslewo, and the funds, and if she did not within two +years appear to claim them, would you renounce such a bequest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot answer a question to which I have not given any +consideration. I would not want to represent myself to you any better +or any worse than I am. But this much is certain: I would publish the +advertisements, and would publish them for the two years. But after +all, of what importance to you can my answer be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And here he abruptly paused, for from the direction of the adjacent +birch grove some strange sound reached them, resembling a snort, and at +the same time, above the tops of the birch and the lime-trees, there +appeared upon the background of the twilight a gray bird, flying in a +straight line to the underwood on the opposite side of the meadow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Woodcock!" cried Krzycki, and he bounded forward.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, following him, thought:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He certainly never read Nietzsche, and yet in his veins, together with +the blood, there courses some noble super-humanity. If anybody betrayed +his sister, he would have shot him in the head like a dog, but as a +village girl is concerned, he does not feel the slightest uneasiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Later they stopped at the edge of the birch grove. For a time intense +silence prevailed; after which a strange voice resounded again above +their heads and another woodcock appeared. Gronski fired and missed; +Krzycki bettered--and they saw how, with descending flight, the fowl +fell in the underwood farther off. The white dog for a while lingered +in the dusk of the thicket and returned carrying the dead bird in his +mouth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was already wounded when I fired," said Ladislaus. "It is your +bird."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a gracious host," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And again silence ensued, which even the rustle of leaves did not +disturb, as there was not a breath of air. But after a time two +woodcocks snorted above their heads, one following the other, at which +Gronski could not shoot, but Ladislaus winged both cleanly. Finally a +more reckless one took pity on Gronski for she flew accommodatingly +over him, as if she desired to save him any inconvenience. He himself +felt ashamed at the thrill of pleasure he experienced when, after +firing, he saw the bird hit the ground; and agreeable to his +incorrigible habit of meditation upon every phenomenon, he came to the +conclusion that his strange sensation could be attributed to the +aboriginal times, when man and his family were dependent for +subsistence upon skill in hunting. Thanks to this reasoning, he did not +shoot at another bird that flew nearer the edge of the underwood and +with which the flight evidently ended, as they waited for others in +vain. In the meanwhile it grew dark, and after an interval the white +spaniel emerged from the nightfall, and after him came Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We had a bootless chase," he said, "but that is nothing. In any case, +there are four morsels for the ladies. Tomorrow we will try for more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This was but a slight interruption in your confessions," answered +Gronski, slinging his rifle over his shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My confessions?" said Ladislaus. "Aha!--yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said that a mere accident brought you together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That actually was the case. But we must now go ahead and you will +kindly follow in my footsteps, as it is damp here in some places. This +way we will reach the bridge and at the bridge we will have the road."</p> + +<p class="normal">Not until they were on the road did he commence his narrative:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It all began and ended in the mill, which even at that time served as +a storage place for hay; and it did not continue more than a fortnight. +It occurred thus: I once went out with a rifle to hunt for roebucks, +for here roebucks come out in the evening at the clearing on the +stream. It was very cloudy that day, but as it appeared to be clear in +the west, I thought that the clouds would pass away. I took a position +of a few hundred--and even more--steps from the mill, for nearer there +was lying on the meadow, linen, which might scare the bucks; and about +a half hour later I actually killed a buck. But in the meanwhile it +began to rain, and in a short while there was such a downpour as I had +never seen in Jastrzeb. I seized my buck by the hind legs and began to +scamper off with all my might for the mill. On the way I noticed that +some one had carried away the linen. I rushed into the mill and buried +myself up to the ears in the hay, when I heard somebody breathing close +by me. I asked: 'Who is that?' A thin voice answered me, 'I.' 'What +kind of an I?' 'Hanka.' 'What are you doing here?' 'I came for the +linen.' Then it began to thunder so much that I thought the mill would +fall to pieces;--and not until it had subsided somewhat did I learn by +the aid of continuous questions that my female companion was from +Rzeslewo; that her family name was Skibianka, and that she finished her +sixteenth year on St. Anne's Day. Then, and I give you my word, without +any sinister will or intent, but only as a jest and because it is +customary to talk that way with village maids, I said to her: 'Will you +give me a kiss?' She did not answer, but as at that moment a thunder +clap pealed, she nestled closer to me--perhaps from fright. And I +kissed her on the very lips and, as I live, I had the same impression +as if I had kissed a fragrant flower. So I repeated it twice, three +times, and so on, and she returned the tenth or twentieth. When the +storm passed away and it became necessary for us to part, I had her +arms about my neck and at the same time my cheeks were wet with her +tears,--for she cried, but I do not know whether from the loss of +innocence or because I was leaving."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here, in spite of himself, the song of Ophelia, when insane, flitted +through Krzycki's memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"On our departure she said that she knew I was the young lord of +Jastrzeb; that she saw me every Sunday in Rzeslewo and gazed upon me as +upon some miracle-working painting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you certainly are handsome to the point of nauseousness," +interrupted Gronski, with a certain irritation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah!--I have already three or four gray hairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely, from birth. How often did you meet thereafter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before I left her, I asked her whether she could not slip away the +following evening. She answered that she could, because in the evening +she always gathered the linen, which was being bleached upon the +meadow, for fear that some one might steal it, and that besides, in +summer time she did not sleep in the cabin with her parents, but on the +hay in the barn. After that we met every day. I had to conceal myself +from the night watch, so I slunk out of the window into the garden, +though this was an unnecessary precaution, for the watch slept so +soundly that one time I carried off the trumpet and staff belonging to +one of them. It was amusing also that, seeing Hanka only in the night +time, I did not know how she really looked; though in the moonlight she +appeared to me to be pretty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And in church?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our collator's pew is near the altar, while the girls knelt in the +rear. There are so many of the same red and yellow shawls, studded with +so many flowers, that it is difficult to distinguish one from the +other. At times it seemed to me that I saw her in the distance, but I +could not see her perfectly. The vacation soon ended, and when I +returned the following season the Skibas were gone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you bid her farewell?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admit that I did not. I preferred to avoid that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did you ever long for her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. In Warsaw I longed for her intensely, and during the first month +I was deeply in love with her. After my return to Jastrzeb, when I +again saw the mill the feeling revived, but at the same time I was +content that everything should drop, as it were, into the water and +that Mother should not know anything about it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Conversing in this manner, they turned from the side road to the shady +walk leading to the manor-house, whose low lights, from a distance of +about a verst, at times glistened through the boughs of the linden, and +then again hid themselves, screened by the thick foliage. The night was +starry and fair. It was, however, quite dark, for the moon had not yet +risen and the copper glow upon the eastern sky announced its near +approach. There was not the slightest breath of air. The great +nocturnal stillness was broken by the barks of dogs, barely audible, +from the distant slumbering village. Involuntarily, Gronski and +Ladislaus began to speak in lower tones. However, everything was not +asleep, for a few hundred paces from the walk, on the meadow near the +river, firelights were intermittingly flashing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are peasants pasturing the horses and catching crawfish by the +lights of the resinous wood," said Krzycki. "I even hear one of them +riding away."</p> + +<p class="normal">And in fact at that moment they heard on the meadows the clatter of the +horse's hoofs, deadened by the grass, and immediately afterwards the +loud voice of a herdsman resounded, who, amidst the nocturnal quiet, +shouted in a drawling tone:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wojtek--Bring with you some more fagots, for these are not +sufficient."</p> + +<p class="normal">The night rider, having reached the road, soon passed by the chatting +friends like a shadow. He, however, recognized the young heir, as in +riding by them he pulled off his cap and saluted:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Praised be the Lord!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now and forever."</p> + +<p class="normal">And for some time they walked in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus began to whistle quietly and to shout at the dog, but +Gronski, who was cogitating upon what had occurred in the mill, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know that if you were an Englishman, for instance, your idyl +would have ended, in all probability, differently, and you would +throughout your life have had a chaste remembrance, in which there +would be great poetry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We eat less fish, therefore have a temperament differing from the +Englishmen. As to poetry, perhaps there also was a little of it in our +affair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not so much different temperament as different usages, and in +that is the relief. They have a soul, healthier and at the same time, +more independent, and do not borrow their morality from French books."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he meditated for a while and then continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You say that in your relations there was a little poetry. Certainly, +but looking at it only from Hanka's side, not yours. In her, really, +there is something poetical, for, deducing from your own words, she +loved you truly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is certain," said Ladislaus. "Who knows whether I ever in my life +will be loved as much?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think that you will not. For that reason, I am astonished that this +stone should drop into the depth of your forgetfulness and that you +should have so completely effaced it."</p> + +<p class="normal">These words touched Krzycki somewhat, so he replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Candidly speaking, I related all this to you for the purpose of +explaining why I do not accept the bequest, and, in the naïveté of my +soul, I thought that you would praise me. But you are only seeking sore +spots. Indeed, I would, after all, have preferred that this had not +happened, but, since it happened, it is best not to think of it. For if +I had as many millions as there are girls seduced every year in the +villages, I could purchase not only Rzeslewo, but one half of the +county. I can assure you that they themselves do not look upon it as a +tragedy, neither do such things end in misfortune. It would plainly be +laughable if I took this to heart more than Hanka who in all +probability did not take it to heart and does not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is usually the case. But if it were the reverse, what can I do? +Surely I will not journey across the ocean to seek her. In a book that +might perhaps appear very romantic, but in reality I have an estate +which I cannot abandon and a family which it is not permissible for me +to sacrifice. Such a Hanka, with whom, speaking parenthetically, you +have soured me by recalling, may be the most honest girl, but to marry +her--of course I could not marry her; therefore what, after all, can I +do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know; but you must agree that there is a certain moral +unsavoriness in the situation in which a man, after committing a wrong, +afterwards asks himself or others, 'What can I do?'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that was only a façon de parler," replied Krzycki, "for, on the +whole, I know perfectly. I will publish the advertisements and with +that everything will end. The penance, which the priest at the proper +time imposed upon me, I have performed, and I do not intend to make any +further atonement."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Gronski said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sero molunt deorum molæ. Do you understand what that means in Polish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Having assumed the management of Jastrzeb, I sowed all my latinity +over its soil, but it has not taken root."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That means: The mills of the gods grind late."</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki began to laugh and, pointing his hand in the direction of the +old mill, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That one will not grind anything any more; I guarantee that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further conversation was interrupted by their meeting near the gates +two indistinct forms, with which they almost collided, for though the +moon had already ascended, in the old linden walk it was completely +dark.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus thought that they were the lady visitors enjoying an evening +stroll, but for certainty asked, "Who is there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We," answered an unknown feminine voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And who in particular?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Servants of Pani Otocka and Miss Anney."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man recalled the young girl whose dark head obstructed his +view of the lustrous hair of the English woman during the May mass.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aha!" he said. "Do not you young girls fear to walk in the darkness? A +were-wolf might carry off one of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are not scared," answered the same voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And perhaps I am a were-wolf?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A were-wolf does not look like that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Both girls began to laugh and withdrew a few steps; at the same time a +bright ray darted through the leaves and illumined the white forehead, +black eyebrows, and the whites of the eyes of one of them, which +glittered greenishly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki, who was flattered by the words that a werewolf did not look +like that, gazed at those eyes and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The ladies, with Dolhanski, were already in the dining-room, as the +service of the supper awaited only the hunters who, after their return, +withdrew to change their apparel. Marynia sat at one end of the table +with the children and conversed a little with them and a little with +Laskowicz, who was relating something to her with great animation, +gazing all the time at her with intense fixedness and also with +wariness that no one should observe him. Gronski, however, did observe +him and, as the young student had interested and disquieted him from +the time he learned of his agitation among the Rzeslewo peasants, he +desired to participate in the conversation. But Marynia at that moment +having heard the conclusion, joined the other ladies, who, having +previously heard from the balcony the shooting in the direction of the +old mill, inquired about the results of the hunt. It appearing that +neither Miss Anney nor the two sisters had ever seen woodcocks except +upon a platter, the old servant upon Krzycki's order brought the four +lifeless victims. They viewed them with curiosity, expressed tardy +commiseration for their tragic fate, and asked about their manner of +life. Ladislaus, whom the animal world had interested from early years, +began to relate at the supper the strange habits of those birds and +their mysterious flights. While thus occupied he paid particular +attention to Pani Otocka, for he was, for the first time, struck by her +uncommonly fine stature. On the whole, he preferred other, less subtile +kinds of beauty, and prized, above all else, buxom women. He observed, +however, that on that night Pani Otocka looked extraordinarily +handsome. Her unusually delicate complexion appeared yet more delicate +in her black lace-stitched dress, and in her eyes, in the outlines of +her lips, in the expression of her countenance, and in her whole form +there was something so maidenly that whoever was not aware of her +widowhood would have taken her for a maid of a good country family. +Ladislaus, from the first arrival of these ladies, had indeed enlisted +on the side of Miss Anney, but at the present moment he had to concede +in his soul that the Englishwoman was not a specimen of so refined a +race and, what was worse, she seemed to him that day less beautiful +than this "subtile cousin."</p> + +<p class="normal">But at the same time he made a strange discovery, namely: that this +observation not only did not lessen his sympathy for the light-haired +lady, but in some manner moved him strongly and inclined him to a +greater friendship for her; as if by that comparison with Pani Otocka +he had done an undeserved wrong to the Englishwoman, for which he ought +to apologize to her. "I must be on my guard," he thought, "otherwise I +will fall." He began to search for the celestial flow in her eyes and, +finding it, drank its dim azure, drop by drop.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime Pani Krzycki, desirous of learning the earliest plans +of the sisters, began to ask Pani Otocka whether they were going to +travel abroad, and where.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The doctor," she said, "sends me to mineral baths on account of my +rheumatism, but I would be delighted to spend one more summer with you +somewhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And to us your sojourn at Krynica left the most agreeable memories," +replied Pani Otocka; "particularly, as we are in perfect health, we +willingly would remain in the village and more willingly would invite +Aunt to us, with her entire household, were it not that the times are +so troublous and it is unknown what may happen on the morrow. But if it +will quiet down. Aunt, after her recovery, must certainly pay us a +visit."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, she ardently kissed the hand of Pani Krzycki who said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How good you are and how lovable! I would with all my heart go to you, +only, with my health, I must not obey the heart but various hidden +ailments. Besides, the times are really troublous and I understand it +is rather dangerous for ladies to remain alone in the villages. Have +you any reliable people in Zalesin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not fear my own people as they were very much attached to my +husband, and now that attachment has passed to me. My husband taught +them, above all things, patriotism, and at the same time introduced +improvements which did not exist elsewhere. We have an orphanage, +hospital, baths, stores, and fruit nurseries for the distribution of +small trees. He even caused artesian wells to be sunk to provide enough +healthful water for the village."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski, hearing this, leaned towards Krzycki and whispered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"A capitalist's fantasy. He regarded his wife and Zalesin as two +playthings which he fondled, and played the rôle of a philanthropist +because he could afford it."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pani Krzycki again began to ask:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who now is in charge of Zalesin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the young widow, having cast off a momentary sad recollection, +answered with a smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the neighborhood they say Dworski rules Zalesin.--He is the old +accountant of my husband and is very devoted to us.--I rule Dworski, +and Marynia rules me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that is the truth," interjected Miss Anney, "with this addition, +and me also."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Marynia shook her head and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Aunt, if you only knew how they sometimes twit me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Somehow I do not see that, but I think that the time will come when +somebody will rule you also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has already come," broke out Marynia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So? That is curious. Who is that despot?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the little violinist, pointing with a quick movement of her little +finger at Gronski, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That gentleman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I understand," said Dolhanski, "why, after our return from the +notary, he had a teapot full of hot water over his head."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski shrugged his shoulders, like a man who had been charged with +unheard-of things, and exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I? A despot? Why, I am a victim, the most hypnotized of all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Pan Laskowicz is the hypnotizer, not I," answered the young miss, +"for he himself at supper was telling me about hypnotism and explaining +what it is."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski looked toward the other end of the table, in the direction of +the student, and saw his eyes, strained, refractory, and glistening, +fastened upon Marynia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aha!" he thought, "he actually is trying his powers upon her."</p> + +<p class="normal">He frowned and, addressing her, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nobody in truth knows what hypnotism is. We see its manifestations and +nothing more. But how did Laskowicz explain it to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He told me what I already had heard before; that the person put to +sleep must perform everything which the operator commands, and even +when awakened must submit to the operator's will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is untrue," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I think likewise. He claimed also that he could put me to sleep +very easily, but I feel that he cannot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent! Do such things interest you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hypnotism a little. But if it is to be anything mysterious, then I +prefer to hear about spirits; especially do I like to hear the stories +which one of our neighbors relates about fairies. He says they are +called sprites, and indulge in all kinds of tricks in old houses, and +they can be seen at night time through the windows in rooms where the +fire is burning in the hearth. There they join hands and dance before +the fire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are gay fairies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And not malicious, though mischievous. Our aged neighbor piously +believes in them and quarrels about them with the rector. He says his +house is full of them and that they are continually playing pranks: +sometimes pulling the coils of the clock to make it ring; sometimes +hiding his slippers and other things; making noise during the night; +hitching crickets to nut-shells and driving with them over the rooms; +in the kitchen they skim the milk and throw peas into the fire to make +them pop. If you do not vex them, they are benevolent, driving away +spiders and mice, and watching that the mushrooms do not soil the +floor. This neighbor of ours at one time was a man of great education, +but in his old age has become queer, and he tells us this in all +seriousness. We, naturally, laugh at it, but I confess that I very much +wish that such a world did exist;--strange and mysterious! There would +be in it something so good and nice, and less sadness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here she began to look off with dreamy eyes and afterwards continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I remember also that whenever we discussed Boecklin's pictures, those +fauns, nymphs, and dryads which he painted, I always regretted that all +that did not exist in reality. And sometimes it seemed to me that they +might exist, only we do not see them. For, in truth, who knows what +happens in the woods at noontime or night time, when no one is there; +or in the mists during the moonlight or upon the ponds? Belief in such +a world is not wholly childish, since we believe in angels."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I also believe in fairies, nymphs, dryads, and angels," answered +Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really?" she asked, "for you always speak to me as to a child."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he answered her only mentally:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I speak as with a child, but I idolize."</p> + +<p class="normal">But further conversation was interrupted by the servant, who informed +Ladislaus that the steward of Rzeslewo had arrived and desired to see +the "bright young lord" on a very important matter. Krzycki apologized +to the company and with the expression, customary with country +husbandmen, "What is up now?" left the room. As the supper was almost +finished, they all began to move, after the example of the lady of the +house, who, however, for a while endeavored in vain to rise, for the +rheumatism during the past two days afflicted her more and more. +Similar attacks occurred often and in such cases her son usually +conducted her from room to room. But in this instance Miss Anney, who +sat nearest to her, came to her assistance and, taking her in her arms, +lifted her easily, skillfully, and without any exertion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, I thank you," said Pani Krzycki, "for otherwise I would +have to wait for Laudie. Ah, my God, how good it is to be strong!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, in me you have a veritable Samson," answered Miss Anney in her +pleasant, subdued voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at that moment Ladislaus, who evidently recalled that he had to +escort his mother, rushed into the room and, seeing what was taking +place, exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me, Miss Anney. That is my duty. You will fatigue yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not the least."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Laudie," said Pani Krzycki, "to tell the truth, I do not know +which one of you two is the stronger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it truly so?" he asked, looking with rapt eyes upon the slender +form of the girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she began to wink with her eyes in token that such was the fact, +but at the same time blushed as if ashamed of her unwomanly strength.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, however, assisted her to seat his mother at the table in the +small salon, at which she was accustomed to amuse herself in the +evenings by laying out cards to forecast fortunes. On this occasion he +unintentionally brushed his shoulder against Miss Anney's shoulder and, +when he felt those steel-like young muscles, a violent thrill suddenly +penetrated through him and at the same time he was possessed by a +perception of some elementary, unheard-of, blissful power. If he were +Gronski and ever in his life had read Lucretius' hymn to Venus, he +would have been able to know and name that power. But as he was only a +twenty-seven-year-old, healthy nobleman, he only thought that the +moments in which he would be free to hug such a girl to his bosom would +be worth the sacrifice of Jastrzeb, Rzeslewo, and even life.</p> + +<p class="normal">But in the meanwhile he had to return to the steward of Rzeslewo, who +waited for him in the office upon an urgent matter. Their talk lasted +so long that when Ladislaus reappeared in the small salon, the young +ladies had already withdrawn to their rooms. Only his mother, who was +purposely waiting, desirous of knowing what was the matter, remained, +with Gronski and with Dolhanski, who was playing baccarat with himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the news?" asked Pani Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Absolutely nothing good. Only let Mamma not get alarmed, for we are of +course here in Jastrzeb and not in Rzeslewo; and eventually we can +brush this aside with our hands. But nevertheless, strange things are +occurring there and Kapuscinski, in any event, did right to come here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the Lord's sake, who is Kapuscinski?" exclaimed Dolhanski, +dropping the monocle from his eye.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The steward of Rzeslewo. He says that some unknown persons, probably +from Warsaw, appeared there and are acting like gray geese in the +skies. They issue commands, summon the peasants, incite them, promising +them the lands and even order them to take possession of the stock. +They predict it will be the same in all Poland as it is in Rzeslewo--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what of the peasants? what of the peasants?" interrupted Pani +Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some believe them, while others do not. The more sensible, who attempt +to resist, are threatened with death. The manor farm-hands will not +obey Kapuscinski and say that they will only pasture and feed the +cattle, but will not touch any other work. About fifteen of the tenants +are preparing to go to the woods with hatchets and they declare that, +if the foresters interfere with their right to cut wood, they will give +them a good drubbing. Kapuscinski has lost his head completely and came +to me, as one of the executors of the will, for advice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what did you tell him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As he declared to me that he was not certain of his life in Rzeslewo, +I advised him by all means to pass the night with us in Jastrzeb. I +wanted first to consult Mother and you, for in fact, advice under the +circumstances is difficult to give and the situation is grave. Of +course such a situation cannot continue very long, and sooner or later +the peasants themselves will suffer the most by it. This we must +positively prevent. I will candidly state that for the past two days, I +have been considering whether it would not be better if I renounced the +curatorship of the new school and Rzeslewo matters in general. I +hesitated only because it is a public service, but in truth, I have so +much work to attend to here in Jastrzeb, that I do not know on what I +shall lay my hands first. But now, since it is necessary to rescue the +peasants, and since a certain amount of danger is connected with it, I +cannot retreat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will fear about you, but I understand you," said Pani Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think that by all means, I should drive over to-morrow morning to +Rzeslewo, but if I do not secure a hearing there, then what is to be +done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will not get any," said Dolhanski, not pausing in his distribution +of the cards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you go, I will go with you," announced Pani Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, that would be the only thing needful! Let Mamma only think that in +such a case I would be terribly hampered and certainly would not gain +anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he kissed her hand and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no! Mamma does not understand that matters would be worse and, if +Mamma insists, then I would rather not go at all."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski propped his head upon his hand and thought that it was easier +to analyze at a desk the various phases of life than to offer sound +advice in the presence of urgent events. Dolhanski at last stopped +playing baccarat with himself and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The position we are placed in passes all comprehension. But were we in +any other country, the police would be summoned and the matter would +end in a day."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Ladislaus replied with some anger:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for that, permit me! I will not summon the police; not only not +against those peasants, but not even against those forbidden figures +who now haunt Rzeslewo. No, never!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; long live an epoch of true freedom!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knows," said Gronski, "but that the summoning of the police would +just suit these gentlemen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In what way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because they themselves, at the proper season, would disappear, but +later would incite the people again and would cry all over Poland, +'Behold! who appeals to the police against peasants.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a pertinent observation," said Ladislaus; "now I understand +various things which I did not comprehend before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From the opening of the will," said Dolhanski, "Rzeslewo and its +inhabitants did not concern me in the least. However, one thought +occurred to me while dealing the cards. Laudie will drive over to +Rzeslewo to-morrow on a fruitless errand. He may receive only a sound +beating, without benefiting anybody--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has never yet come to that, and that is something I do not fear. +Our family has lived in Jastrzeb from time immemorial, and the peasants +of this neighborhood would not raise their hands against a Krzycki--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Above all, do not interrupt me," said Dolhanski. "If you do not get a +sound thrashing--and I assume that you may not--then you will not +secure a hearing, as you yourself foresaw a little while ago. If we +two, that is, Gronski and myself, went over there, we would not effect +anything because they have seen us at the funeral, and the estimable +Slavonians of Rzeslewo look upon us as men who have a personal interest +in the matter. It will be necessary that some one unknown go there, who +will not argue, but who will act as if he had the right and power and +will command the peasants to behave peaceably. Since you are so much +concerned about them, that will be the only way. So, then, since by +virtue of the unfathomable decrees of Providence there exist in this +beloved land of ours National Democrats, whom, parenthetically +speaking, I cannot endure any more than the seven-spot of clubs, but +who, in all probability, have fists as sweaty and as heavy as the +socialists,--could you not settle this matter with their assistance?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, naturally, naturally!" exclaimed Gronski; "the peasants, +after all, have great confidence in the National party."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I also belong to that party with my whole heart," said Krzycki, "but, +sitting, like a stone, in Jastrzeb, I do not know to whom to apply."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any case, not to me," said Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Gronski, though he did not belong to any faction, thoroughly knew +the city and easily suggested the addresses and the manner in which the +party could be notified. He afterwards said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now I will give you one word of advice, the same which you, +Laudie, gave Kapuscinski, namely, that we go to sleep, for you, +especially, madam,"--here he addressed the lady of the house--"were +entitled to that long ago. Is it agreed?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agreed," answered Ladislaus; "but wait a few minutes. After conducting +Mother, I will accompany you upstairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">Within a quarter of an hour he returned, but instead of bidding his +guests the promised "good-night" he drew closer to them and resumed the +interrupted conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not wish to relate everything before Mother," he said, "in order +not to alarm her. But in fact the matter is much worse. So, speaking +first of what concerns us, imagine for yourself that those strangers +immediately after their arrival asked first of all about Laskowicz, and +that Laskowicz was in Rzeslewo this afternoon and returned here an hour +before we came back from the hunt. Now it is positively certain that we +have in our midst an agitator."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then throw him out," interrupted Dolhanski. "If I were in your place, +I would have done that long ago, if only for the reason that he has +eyes set closely to each other, like a baboon. In a man that indicates +fanaticism and stupidity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unquestionably I will be done with him to-morrow, and I would end with +him even to-day, notwithstanding the late hour, were it not that I +desire first to calm down and not create any foolish disturbance. I do +not like this, and I would not advise those apostles to peer into +Jastrzeb. As I live, I would not advise it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have they any intention of paying you a visit?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly. If not to me personally, then to my farmhands. They +announced in Rzeslewo that they would cause an agrarian strike in the +entire vicinity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then my advice, to drive out one wedge with another, is the most +feasible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Assuredly. I will adopt that course without delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," said Gronski, "that they want to inaugurate agrarian strikes +throughout the whole country. They will not succeed as the peasant +element will repel their efforts. They, like most people from the +cities, do not take into account the relation of man to the soil. +Nevertheless, there will be considerable losses and the confusion will +increase, and this is what they chiefly care for. Ah! Shakespeare's +'sun of foolery' not only shines in our land, but is in the zenith."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we are talking of that kind of a sun, we can, like a former king of +Spain, say that it never sets in our possessions."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Gronski spoke farther:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Socialism--good! That, of course, is a thing more ancient than +Menenius Agrippa. That river has flown for ages. At times, when covered +by other ideas, it coursed underground, and later emerged into the +broad daylight. At times it subsides, then swells and overflows. At +present we have a flood, very menacing, which may submerge not only +factories, cities, and countries, but even civilization. Above all, it +threatens France, where comfort and money have displaced all other +ideas. Socialism is the inevitable result of that. Capital wedded to +demagogism cannot breed any other child; and if that child has the head +of a monster and mole, so much the worse for the father. It +demonstrates that superfluous wealth may be a national danger. But this +is not strange. Privilege is an injustice against which men have fought +for centuries. Formerly the princes, clergy, and nobility were vested +with it. To-day nobody has any; money possesses all. In truth, Labor +has stepped forth to combat with it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This begins to smell to me like an apology for socialism," observed +Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. It is not an apology. For, above all things, viewing this matter +from above, what is this new current but one more delusion in the human +chase after happiness? For myself, I only contend that socialism has +come, or rather, it has gathered strength, because it was bound to +grow. I care only about its looks and whether it could not have a +different face. And here my criticism begins. I do not deem socialism a +sin in the socialists, but only that the idea in their school assumes +the lineaments of an malignant idiot. I accuse our socialists of +incredible stupidity; like that of the ants who wrangled with and bit +the working ants, while the ant-eater was lying on the ant-hill and +swallowing them by thousands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," cried Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And, of course," concluded Gronski, "on our ant-hills there lie a +whole herd of ant-eaters."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Dolhanski again dropped the monocle from his eye.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you may not retire to sleep under a disagreeable impression," he +said, "I will tell you an anecdote which will illustrate what Gronski +has said. During the last exposition in Paris, one of the black kings +of French Congo, having heard of it, announced his wish to see it. The +Colonial government, which was anxious to send as many exotic figures +as possible to Paris, not only consented, but sent to this monarch a +few shirts with the information that in France such articles of attire +were indispensable. Naturally the shirts excited general admiration and +surprise. The King summoned ministers, priests, and leaders of parties +for a consultation as to how such a machine was to be put on. After +long debates, which undoubtedly could not be held without bitter +clashes between the native rationalists and the native nationalists and +progressionists, all doubts were finally set at rest. The king pulled +the sleeves of the shirt over his legs, so that the cuffs were at his +ankles. The bottom edge of the shirt, which in this instance became the +top, was fastened under his arm-pits by a string in such a manner that +the bosom was on his back and the opening was at his neck--somewhat +lower. Delighted with this solution of the difficulty, the ruler +acknowledged that the attire, if not entirely, was, at least in certain +respects, very practical and, above all, extraordinarily striking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good," said Gronski, laughing, "but what connection has that with what +I had previously said?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Greater than may appear to you," replied Dolhanski; "for the fact is +that the various Slavonians are prepared to bear liberty and the +socialists socialism in the same manner as that negro king wore his +European shirt."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he replaced the monocle in his eye and announced that as +in virtuous Jastrzeb and in such company there could not be any talk of +a "night card party," he would take his leave and go to sleep. The +others decided to follow his example. Ladislaus took the lamp and began +to light the way for the guests. On the stairs he turned to them with a +countenance which depicted ill humor and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the deuce take it, but all these disturbances must occur at a time +when we have in Jastrzeb such lovely ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beware," answered Dolkanski, "and know that nothing can be concealed +from my eyes. When you assisted Miss Anney to conduct your mother, you +looked like an electrical machine. If anybody drew a wire through +you, you could illuminate not only the mansion but the adjoining +out-buildings."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus raised the lamp higher so that the light would not fall upon +his countenance, for he felt at that moment that he blushed like a +student.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IX</h3> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus Krzycki possessed such a happy nature that, having once lain +down to sleep, he could a few minutes later fall into a deep slumber +which would continue until the morning. That night, however, he could +not fall asleep because the impressions of the day, together with the +parting words of Dolhanski, had led him into a state of exasperation +and anger. He was angry at Rzeslewo; at the disturbances which were +taking place there; at Dolhanski because he had observed the impression +which the young girl had made upon him--and particularly because he +himself had afforded him an opportunity to comment upon it--and finally +at the innocent Miss Anney. After a time, rolling from side to side, he +opened an imaginary conversation with her, in which he assumed the rôle +of a man, who, indeed, does not deny that he is deeply under the spell, +nevertheless, can view matters soberly and sanely. Therefore he +admitted to Miss Anney that she was handsome and amiable; that she had +an immensely sympathetic voice, a strange, fascinating look, and a body +like marble--ah, what a body! Nevertheless, he made the explicit +reservation that she must not think that he loved her to distraction, +or was even smitten with her. He would concede anything to her that she +desired, but to admit that he was in love with her was as far removed +from his thoughts as love is from matrimony, of which, of course, there +could not be any talk. Above all, she was a foreigner, and Mother in +that respect had her prejudices, justly so; and he himself would prefer +to have at his side during the remainder of his life a Polish soul and +not a foreign one. True, there was something homelike in her, but after +all, she was not a Pole. "Identical blood has its own meaning; it +cannot be helped," he further told Miss Anney. "So, since you are an +Englishwoman, marry some Englishman or Scotchman, provided, however, +you do not require me to form the acquaintance of such an ape and +become intimate with him, for that is something I can dispense with +perfectly." And at that moment he was seized with such a sudden, +unexpected antipathy to that eventual Englishman "with projecting jaw" +and Scotchman "with bare knees," that he felt that upon a trivial +misunderstanding he could flog them. But through this attack of rage he +roused himself completely from that half-drowsy, half-wakeful condition +in which whimsical fancies mingle, and having recovered his senses, he +experienced a great relief in the thought that the betrothed person +beyond the sea was only a figment of his imagination, and at the same +time a wave of gratitude towards Miss Anney surged in his heart. "Here +I am, quarrelling with her and making reservations," he thought, "while +she is snugly nestling her bright head upon a pillow and peacefully +slumbering." Here again his blood began to frisk, but soon the perverse +musings vanished. This became easier for him, as he was encompassed by +a yearning for honest affection and for that future being, yet unnamed, +who was to share his life. Again he resumed his imaginary conversation +with Miss Anney, but this time in a meek spirit. He assured her, with a +certain melancholy, that he was not solicitous about her, as he well +knew that even if there were no obstacles she certainly would not have +him, but that he was anxious that his future life-companion should +resemble her a little; that she should have the same look and the same +magnetic strength to which, if he did not succumb it would be a +miracle. As to Miss Anney personally, plainly speaking, he owed only +gratitude. Of course, nowhere was it so well with him as at his beloved +Jastrzeb, but nevertheless he could not deny that in that exclusive den +it became lively and bright after her arrival; and that after her +departure it would become darker, more dreary and monotonous than ever +before. So for those bright moments he would willingly kiss her hand +and, if that seemed insufficient to her, then her feet. In the meantime +he begged her pardon for the mad thoughts which passed through his +brain when he brushed against her shoulder in the salon, for though he +was always of the opinion that responsiveness upon her part was worth +the sacrifice of life, yet at the same time he had to contend that +Dolhanski was a blockhead and cynic who meddled with matters which did +not concern him and who was unworthy of notice. Here renewed rage +against Dolhanski possessed him, and he continued for some time to toss +from side to side until finally the late hour, youth, hungry for sleep, +and weariness sprinkled his eyes with poppy.<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">There was, however, in the Jastrzeb manor-house another who did not +sleep and who talked with a person not present, and that was Laskowicz. +After all that had taken place and what had been revealed in the past +few days, he was prepared for his farewell parting with the Krzycki +family, as he well knew that his further presence in Jastrzeb would be +intolerable. And nevertheless he desired at present to stay in it, even +though for a few days, in order that he might gaze longer upon Panna +Marynia and, as he called it, "further narcotize himself." Somehow, +from the first moment he had heard her play, she actually absorbed his +thoughts in a way that no woman up to that time had done. Foremost +among the prepared formulæ which he, with dogmatic faith, had adopted +to judge mankind with, was the precept that a woman belonging to the +so-called pampered class was a thoughtless creature. In the meantime he +had to dissent at once from that formula as a soul had spoken to him +through the violin. Later he was astonished to find in that young lady +two entities, one of which manifested itself in music as a finished +artist, concentrated, filled with exaltation within herself, dissolved +in the waves of tones and playing as if she drew the bow over her own +nerves; the other appeared in every-day life in her customary relations +with people. The latter seemed at the first glance of the eye, if not +an insignificant, a common girl, full of simplicity and even gaiety, +who screamed like a cat when Dolhanski, for instance, said things +disagreeable to her; who jested with Gronski, telling him absurdities +about spirits or, to the great alarm of Gronski and her older sister, +fled into the garden for a boat ride on the pond. Laskowicz did not +fully comprehend the world and was not a subtle person; nevertheless, +he observed in the "common girl" something which made her, as it were, +a little divinity, haloed with a quiet worship. Evidently she herself +did not appear to be conscious of this and, viewing such a state of +affairs as something which was self-understood, she lived the life of a +flower or a bird. Confident that she will not suffer any harm from any +one, gentle, bright, living beyond the misery and wretchedness of life, +beyond its cares, beyond its chilling winds which dim the eyes with +tears, beyond the dust which defiles, she resembled a pure spring which +people look upon as blessed and whose translucency they fear to muddy. +It seemed that the environment did not exact of her anything more than +that she should exist, just as nothing more is demanded of a +masterpiece.</p> + +<p class="normal">To Laskowicz, as often as he gazed at her, there came recollection of +his childhood days. He and his older brother, who, a few years before +falling into consumption had committed suicide on the Riviera, were the +sons of a woman who conducted near one of the churches in Warsaw a shop +for the sale of consecrated wax candles, medals, rosaries, and +pictures. Owing to this, both brothers were, in a way, bred upon the +church portals and were in constant relations with the priests. Once it +happened that the aged canon, the rector of the church, bought at an +auction an alabaster statuette of some saint, and for an unknown reason +took it for granted that it was not only the work, but the masterpiece +of Canova. The statuette, which, in reality, was pretty and finely +executed, after consecration, was placed in a separate niche near one +of the altars under the name of Saint Apollonia and from that time the +gentle old rector surrounded it with great worship as a holy relic and +with more particular care as the greatest church rarity. He led his +guests and more pious parishioners before it and commanded them to +admire the work and got angry if any one ventured to make any critical +observation. In fact, the admiration of the canon was shared by the +organist, the sexton, the church servants, and both boys. The thought +that Panna Marynia amidst her environment was such a Saint Apollonia +unwittingly suggested itself to Laskowicz. For that reason, after the +first impression he called her "a saintly doll." But he also recalled +that when in the course of time he lost his faith--and he lost it in +the gymnasium where, speaking parenthetically, he completed his studies +with the aid of the venerable canon--he often was beset with a desire +to demolish that alabaster statuette. At present he was consumed with a +greater desire, for it bordered upon a passion, to destroy this living +one. And yet he did not in the least bear her any hatred. On the +contrary, he could not resist the charm of this maiden, so loved by +all, any more than one can resist the charm of dawn or spring. It even +happened that what vexed and exasperated him also at the same time +attracted him towards her with an uncontrollable force. Consequently he +was drawn to her by her appurtenance to this world, the existence of +which he deemed a social injustice, crime, and wrong; she attracted him +in spite of his internal anguish, and even by the thought that beside +such a flower the proletariat was but manure. A lure for him was her +refined culture and her art, though he regarded such things as +superfluous and unnecessary for people of deflorated life; the +fascination was her utter dissimilarity to the women whom he met up to +the time of his arrival at the village, and her whole form was an +intoxication. Never before was he under the same roof with a being like +her; therefore he forgot himself and lost his head at the sight of her, +and though he had not yet familiarized himself with the power which +began to play in his bosom and had not christened it with the name of +love, the truth was that during the past few days he was aflame like a +volcano and loved her to distraction. He vaguely felt, however, that in +this passion there was something of the lust of a negro for a white +woman, and what was more, that in that particular love there was +apostasy to principles. So then in the same germ he poisoned her with +the virus of hatred and the wolfish propensity of annihilation.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now he was summoning this "saintly doll" to come to him. Accepting, +indiscriminately, and also with all that exaggeration peculiar to +fanaticism and youth, everything which the books published as the +results of the latest researches or phenomena in the domain of science, +he believed that hypnotism was a secret and gigantic power which, when +applied, would become invincible. Holding himself on the strength of +experiments tried among his classmates as a hypnotizer, and considering +the delicate and impressionable young girl an excellent medium, he was +most firmly convinced that he could put her to sleep and command her +from a distance. Conscience, indeed, whispered to him that what he +contemplated doing was an abuse of science, but he silenced that voice, +persuading himself that it would at the same time be a triumph of a +proletaire over this world, for which it is not permissible to have any +pity, and that a man belonging to the camp which had declared a war of +life and death on the entire social structure and "had appraised at +their true worth" all current ideas has the right to and must be +heedless.</p> + +<p class="normal">Above all, however, he yearned to subjugate this elegant and immaculate +maiden, to dominate not merely her body and soul, but also her will; to +transform her into something like himself; to draw her to himself, to +awaken within her the slumbering feminine instincts, to open before her +the closed doors of passion; to inflame her, to embrace her, to toy +with her, and afterwards keep her forever close to his bosom. And at +that thought he was beset by a strange joy like that which madmen feel +while profaning objects held in reverence and fear, and, +simultaneously, lust and love within him intensified. He felt that +after all that and for all of that, he would love this booty of his, +this sacrifice, to distraction.</p> + +<p class="normal">But as he was a madman only about the heart of a maid, and not a +depraved man, he was at times possessed by a tenderness so great that +if his summons were productive of any results he might not pass the +bounds of transgression. But these were transient moments; after which, +straining the whole strength of his will and the sight of his closely +set eyes in the direction of Marynia's sleeping chamber he said and +commanded: "Rise!--do not light the candles--do not awaken your +sister--open the door quietly and walk in darkness on the path of my +thoughts until you come to me, to my arms, to my bosom!" And he +imagined that at any moment he would behold her, resembling that +alabaster statuette, entering with the mechanical step of a +somnambulist in a single gown, silvery, dreamy, with head tilted +backward, with closed eyes and opened lips drinking the lustre of the +moon which shone in the windows. Afterwards he listened in the silence +and, concentrating yet more powerfully his will, he repeated again with +emphasis as if each word was chiselled out of stone: "Rise! do not +light the candles--do not waken your sister--open the door--go on the +path of my thoughts--and come!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Horrible indeed would have been the fate of the young lady were it not +for one fortunate circumstance, and that was that she never dreamt of +rising, opening the door, going on the path of his thoughts, etc. On +the contrary, she slept as peacefully as if an angel had bent over her +and with the movements of her wings had driven away from her +disquieting and feverish dreams. The little household fairies of +Jastrzeb, such as those about which she spoke to Gronski, also did not +disturb her repose. Perhaps some of them chased the moths from the +windows in order that they might not make any noise by striking the +window-panes; perhaps others, climbing the curtains and window sashes, +gazed at her from a distance with their keen little eyes and whispered +to each other: "Sleep, little maiden, who played for us on the +violin--sleep--hush--let us not waken her." And though a desire to turn +the pins of the violin and touch the chords with their tiny fingers may +have taken hold of them, they did not, however, do so, through honesty +and hospitality. Through the openings of the shutters the moonlight +streamed in, brightening the interior and slowly advancing on the +opposite wall. The silence was great; only somewhere beyond the house +the night-watch on the premises whistled; while within the house the +old standing clock, which measured the lives of several generations, +continued to speak with resignation the "Tick!--Tack!--Tick!" of the +seconds sinking into the past.</p> + +<p class="normal">And Laskowicz in the course of time issued further commands from his +room which reached no one's knowledge. A strange thing! Inwardly +something was telling him with sober, almost absolute certainty that +the maid would not come and he nevertheless believed that she ought to +have come. Not until a long time elapsed, did the consciousness dawn +upon him that if she did not come, then he, together with his +hypnotism, played the rôle of an addle-pated fool. Finally fatigue, +disaffection, and anger at himself gripped him. Sleep irrevocably left +him. Hour flew after hour. In the east the sky was deepening and it was +becoming green. Soon the rosy lower border was striped with the +transparent riband of dawn. The young student, not undressing himself +at all, opened the window to breathe the bracing morning air. In the +garden the first chirp of the birds began, and from the direction of +the not distant pond, with the odor of the acacias, came the cries of +herons and the subdued, as if yet sleepy, quacks of the wild ducks. +After a while the sweep of the well creaked in the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">It then occurred to Laskowicz that this was the last daybreak he was to +behold in Jastrzeb; that on the morrow he would wake in the city and +would not see either Panna Marynia or little Anusia whom only, of all +the inmates of that Jastrzeb mansion, he liked; and he felt a little +sorrow. But as he understood that, after the arrival of his party +associates at Rzeslewo and yesterday's visit of the steward Kapuscinski +to Krzycki, it was unavoidable, he preferred to tender his resignation +rather than suffer a dismissal. With this intention, he decided to +write a letter to Ladislaus and inform him that he had enough of +pedagogical work. He foresaw that eventually they would have to see +each other, if only at the payment of the salary, and as a dispute +about principles might arise which might go very far, he had a revolver +ready for certain contingencies. He deemed that, before that happened, +a dry, peremptory letter would be a step more consonant with his pride; +therefore, when it was quite bright, he sat down immediately to write.</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki awoke, though not in the dusk, nevertheless with the rise of +the sun, for in the country he thus habituated himself to wake, +regardless of whether he retired to bed early or late. He felt in his +bones that he had had too little rest and, stretching out his arms, he +said to himself that he would be repaid only in case Miss Anney at some +time would learn that he lost that sleep for her sake and would pity +him, though slightly. Meanwhile he recalled to his mind all that he was +to do that day and formulated the following plan; he would rouse +himself, drive out the lassitude in his bones; afterwards, before +breakfast, would drive over to Rzeslewo and "look a little in the eyes +of those worthies;" and if possible talk with the peasants; later he +would return; after breakfast he would finish with Laskowicz and send +him away with the team which was to bring the physician; the balance of +his time, he would devote to the guests, to writing letters, and to the +farm. He positively determined to go to Rzeslewo, because, though he +agreed in his heart with Dolhanski that for the nonce he would be +unable to accomplish anything, nevertheless, he did not wish the ladies +to think that he stayed away through fear.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having arranged everything in this manner, he carelessly put on his +clothes and, slipping his feet into his slippers, repaired to the +bath-room, without any foreboding that he would meet with an unusual +accident and that he was soon to see, not in truth such an alabaster +statuette as the one Laskowicz was raving about all night, but, at any +rate, something resembling Diana in a fountain. In the second in which +he opened the door he saw streams of water splashing and beheld under a +shower-sprinkler a nude, female figure, strewed with pearls of azure, +with head somewhat inclined, and hands raised to her hair, whose black +waves concealed her face. This lasted only a twinkle of the eye. A +suppressed scream and the slam of the closed door resounded +simultaneously. Krzycki rushed like the gale for his room; excited and +at the same time shocked, he clutched with shaking hand a decanter, +filled a glass of water, gulped it, and began to repeat confusedly: +"What has happened? Who is she? For God's sake, what has happened?" In +the first moments he conjectured that she might have been Pani Otocka, +or Marynia, and in such a case the misadventure would be appalling. +Those ladies would undoubtedly leave Jastrzeb at once and it would +perhaps be incumbent upon him to propose marriage to the one whom he +had seen in such paradisiacal shape. "But was it my fault?" he thought. +"Why didn't she lock the door? There was a bolt." He drank another +glass of water to cool his agitated blood and to think more calmly of +what he was to do and who that nymph was. Somehow after an interval he +reached the conclusion that she could not have been either of the +sisters. Firstly, why should they rise so early? and again, both were +slim, while this form was stouter and on the whole was built so, +that--Oh! Oh! Finally, he became satisfied that it surely must have +been no other than the brunette who obstructed his view of Miss Anney +during the mass and whom he met on the dark walk when returning with +Gronski from the hunt. If such was the case, nothing terrible had +happened, but rather the contrary. It occurred to his mind that those +blue window-panes were an excellent device, for in such a light the +spectacle was delightful. At the thought of this, he felt the necessity +of drinking a third glass of water. This, however, he did not do, but +instead, after an interval, went again to the bath-room, which now was +vacant, and after a cool bath dressed himself and hastened to the +stable. There he ordered a horse to be saddled and sped away on a +gallop for adjacent Rzeslewo.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day was mild; the hour very early. But all nature was already awake +and bedewed, bathed in the sun, she appeared to simply cry out with +joy, just as village maids from an excess of life and health sing unto +forgetfulness, "Oj dana! Oj dana!" Birds carolled until the leaves on +the trees trembled. In the distant oak grove resounded the coo-cooing +of the cuckoo; yellow thrushes whistled amidst the boughs of lofty +trees; from the depths of the forest, sounding like the noise of a +sawmill, came the outcries of an old raven, watching a crowded nest, +while from time to time the shrieks of a jay, resembling a laugh, burst +forth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus rode out of the woods onto the open roadway. Here on one side +was a stretch of waving grain; on the other a meadow--from which odors +of turf and spring were wafted,--all overgrown with marigold and +rose-campion, quivering in the solar warmth and under the gentle breath +of the wind, as if in delight. This delight, this widespread joy and +luxuriance of life overflowed in the breast of Ladislaus. He felt +within himself such a vigor of youth and strength that he was prepared +to challenge to a hand-to-hand combat full hundreds of socialists and +at the same time press the whole world to his heart, especially women +under the age of thirty. The white vision of that Diana, enveloped in a +shell of blue pearls, again began to glide before his eyes, but he now +thought that if, instead of dark tresses on the bowed head of that +goddess, he had seen golden, he would have probably toppled over.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amidst such sights and impressions he arrived at Rzeslewo, where, +however, in conformity with Dolhanski's prediction, he was unable to +accomplish anything. The "worthies" whom he wanted to look in the eyes +had left during the night time for the city; the husbandmen were in the +field, each upon his own patch of ground; the blinds of the rectory +were shut, as the rector for the last few days was feeling unwell. In +the manor out-building where the laborers dwelt there was not a sign of +a living soul. Later the old keeper of the stockyard informed him that +the hired help, after watering the stock, drove it out into the pasture +and went without asking the permission of any one to a church festival +at Brzesno, whither many of the husbandmen and tenants had also gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">So, then, here was a strike of farm-hands and open contumacy, but +Krzycki was helpless. He only ordered the aged keeper of the stockyard +to tell the hired help that there would come to Rzeslewo to establish +order certain gentlemen before whom the vagabonds, who were there the +previous day, would abscond as soon as they heard of them; after which +he turned back and in half an hour was in Jastrzeb.</p> + +<p class="normal">A servant told him that all were still asleep, excepting Laskowicz, who +had charged him with the delivery of a letter. Krzycki took it and went +with it to the office. Having read its contents, he rang for the +servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was he dressed when he gave you the letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, sir, and was packing his things."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ask him if he can come to my office, and if he can, request him to +step in."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a while, the young student entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki motioned to him to take a seat in the chair, which was near his +desk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good day, sir! I learn from your letter that you wish to leave +Jastrzeb and that, at once. I presume that you have cogent reasons for +this step. I therefore regard any discussion of them as superfluous, +and will not detain you. Here you have what is due to you and the +horses will be ready at any time you desire."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Laskowicz, who in money matters was extremely scrupulous, after +counting the money, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are paying me my whole salary, but as I am leaving before the +expiration of the term, I am not entitled to pay for the last month."</p> + +<p class="normal">And somewhat discourteously he flung the unearned balance upon the +desk.</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki's cheeks quivered slightly about the mustache, but as he had +pledged himself before Gronski that he would not create any disturbance +and had made the same promise to himself, he quietly replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for the departure," said Laskowicz, "I would prefer to leave at +once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please," repeated Krzycki. "In an hour I will send after the +physician for my mother and if it is convenient for you, you may go +with that team."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then the whole thing is settled. I will give orders at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he rose and closed the desk, as if he wished to intimate +that the interview was over. Laskowicz glared at him with eyes blazing +with hatred. He did not seek any broil, but anticipating one, he stood +before Krzycki, bent like a bow. Meanwhile nothing approaching an +altercation occurred and the revolver, which he had ready for a certain +contingency, was of no service to him. There was no reference even to +the letter, though that was indited in harsh and rude terms. +Nevertheless there was something offensive in the cold tones in which +Krzycki spoke, something insulting in the eagerness with which he +accepted his offer of departure. To Laskowicz, who viewed everything +from his own standpoint, it seemed that the icy conversation +accentuated something else, namely, the attitude of a wealthy man who +owned Jastrzeb, a desk filled with money, horses, and equipages, +towards a poor, homeless fellow. But it did not occur to him at that +moment that he on his part had done nothing to improve their relations, +but on the contrary had done a great deal to make them worse, and that +from the time of his arrival he had shut himself, like a turtle in a +shell, in a doctrine inimical to these people. Everything conduced to +stir the bile within him to such a degree that he actually regretted +that the matter did not end in a personal encounter. But as in the +words of Krzycki there was nothing which gave him a pretext for one, he +abruptly left the room without any leave-taking and with redoubled +rancor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus rang to have the horses ready within an hour, and as it +happened to be Friday, he ordered the gardener to catch some fish; +after which he began to consider whether the affair with Laskowicz had +terminated in a desirable way. He was pleased and displeased with +himself. He felt a certain satisfaction and even pride in the fact that +he could be laconic and firm, cold but polite, and that he did not +stoop to any ruffianly dispute. But at the same time, notwithstanding +his pride, a certain disrelish remained, for which he could not account +as he was not sufficiently developed psychologically. He kept repeating +to himself that such scenes are always disagreeable, and so was the +whole business. In reality there was another reason for it. His whole +behavior, which appeared to him so temperate, sensible, and well-nigh +diplomatic, did not emanate from his temperament, but in direct +opposition to his not too deep, but open and impulsive nature. If he +had acted in keeping with it, he either would have come to blows with +the young student or else would have said something like this: "You +have strewn our path with thorns and have upset the minds of our +people, but since you are leaving, give me your hand and may you fare +well." The one or the other act would have been more consistent with +his character, and he would not have experienced that jarring which he +could not understand, but felt none the less.</p> + +<p class="normal">But further reflections were interrupted by the servant with the +announcement that breakfast was ready and that the guests were at the +table. In fact, all had already assembled in the dining-room, through +which pervaded the odor of coffee and the hum of the samovar. At the +sight of the white dresses of the ladies and their fresh, well-rested +countenances, Ladislaus' soul gladdened to such an extent that he +immediately forgot all squabbles and vexations. By way of greeting, he +kissed Pani Otocka's hand; then, as if absent-mindedly, that of Miss +Anney, but so forcibly that she reddened like a cherry; after which he +squeezed Marynia's hand, saluted the gentlemen and began to cry +merrily:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Coffee! coffee! From the rise of the sun I drank only two glasses of +water and I am as hungry as a wolf."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was that a cure? Did you have a fever?" asked Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I did have a fever, but nevertheless I had a horseback ride to +Rzeslewo and transacted a thousand matters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it in 'rustic-angelic' Rzeslewo," interrupted Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is nothing further that is disturbing. Those trouble makers whom +I wished to look at, in the eyes, are gone. But now above all things, I +want coffee and will not answer any more questions."</p> + +<p class="normal">Marynia, as the substitute of Pani Krzycki, who remained in bed owing +to rheumatism, poured out the coffee for him, and he also kissed the +hand of his young cousin; whereat she was pleased as she fancied that +it added to her dignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is due me as a vice-hostess," she said, shaking her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And especially taking age into consideration," added Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not show him her tongue only because she was too well-bred.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Dolhanski, who suffered from catarrh of the stomach, gazed +enviously at Ladislaus, eating with such relish, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What an appetite! A genuine cannibal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go also over the road a mile before breakfast and you will have the +same appetite. But cannibal or no cannibal, when I entered this room, I +was ready to devour even this bouquet of flowers which is before me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The time will come when the country nobility will not have anything +else to eat," replied Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Marynia quickly seized the bouquet and, laughing, shoved it to the +other side of the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After coffee there is no fear," cried Ladislaus. "But what beautiful +field flowers! Did you ladies pick them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are sleepy-heads," answered Pani Otocka; "they were gathered by +Aninka's servant."</p> + +<p class="normal">Aninka was the pet name which both sisters gave Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus turned a sharp glance towards the ladies, but as their faces +were perfectly calm, he thought:</p> + +<p class="normal">"She gathered the flowers and did not mention the mishap."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Miss Anney, turning the bouquet about and examining it, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"An apple-blossom is in the middle,--the good-for-nothing girl plucked +it from some little tree, for which she must be reprimanded; these are +spearwort, those primroses, and those pennyroyal, which are now coming +out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is, however, astonishing that you speak Polish so well," observed +Dolhanski; "why, you even know the names of plants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard them from the lips of the village maids in Zalesin at +Zosia's," answered Miss Anney. "Besides, I evidently possess linguistic +abilities for I learned from them to speak in a rustic style."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Truly," cried Ladislaus, "could you say something in peasant fashion. +Say something, Miss Anney! Do!" he entreated, folding his hands as if +in prayer.</p> + +<p class="normal">She began to laugh and feigning shyness, bowed her head and putting the +back part of her hand to her forehead, as bashful peasants girls +usually do, said, drawling each word somewhat:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would do that only I do not dare--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Laughter and bravos resounded; only Pani Zosia glanced at her with a +peculiar look and she, by becoming confused, enhanced her beauty to +such an extent that Ladislaus was completely captivated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! now one could lose his head," he cried with unfeigned ardor. "I +pledge my word, one could lose his head."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Gronski, who in common with the others fell into good humor, said +in a low voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And even consummatum est."</p> + +<p class="normal">But further conversation was interrupted by the rattle of the carriage +wheels which could be heard in the courtyard and ceased at the balcony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is that?" asked Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sending for the doctor for Mother," answered Ladislaus, rising. +"Whoever has any errands in the city may speak."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski and Gronski also rose and went out with him into the +vestibule.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was about to ask you for a horse," said Gronski. "I know that you +have but one saddle for ladies in Jastrzeb, so I ordered another one +and must receive it in person at the post-office. I did not want to +speak about it before the ladies as it is to be a surprise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good!" answered Krzycki, "but I will give you another carriage, for +Laskowicz is leaving by this one and you surely would prefer not to +ride with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He?" cried Dolhanski. "You do not know him then. He is ready to ride +with old Aunt Beelzebub, if he could pull her by the tongue and do all +the talking and descanting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a little truth in that," said Gronski. "I am a veritable +chatterbox. Indeed, I will willingly go with Laskowicz and will try to +get him into a talkative mood for, after all, he does interest me. Did +you conclude with him this morning?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. I must see Mother for a while and tell her about it. I finished +with him and in addition finished peaceably. I, at least, was perfectly +calm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much the better. Go to your mother and I will go to my room for a +linen duster; for the dust on the road must be quite thick. I will be +back soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact he returned in a few minutes, dressed in a linen coat. About +the same time a servant brought down Laskowicz's trunk, and soon the +latter appeared, wrapped up in himself and gloomy as night, for the +thought that he would not behold his "alabaster statuette" filled him +with pain and sorrow; the more so, as after those hypnotic exertions, +when daylight restored him to his senses, he began to feel guilty of an +offence against her. Instead of swallowing with unnecessary haste his +breakfast in his room upstairs, he might have come downstairs and gazed +upon Pani Marynia for half an hour longer; but he had not wished to do +that because, in the first place, he had not cared to meet Krzycki and, +again, he felt that in such company he would enact the rôle of Pilate +in Credo. At that moment he regretted that he had not come down and +feasted his eyes with her form for the last time.</p> + +<p class="normal">But a pleasant surprise awaited him when the young ladies, in the +company of Dolhanski and Ladislaus, came out on the balcony; and +afterwards little Anusia, with whom he was always on friendly terms, +having learned that he was leaving, ran with eyes overflowing with +tears, pouting lips, and a bunch of flowers in her chubby fist to bid +him good-bye. The young student took the flowers from her, kissed her +hand, and with heavy heart sat in the carriage beside Gronski, who in +the meantime was chatting with Pani Otocka.</p> + +<p class="normal">Anusia descended the stairs of the balcony and stood close to the +carriage doors; upon perceiving which Marynia hastened after her and, +evidently fearing that the little girl might be jolted when the +carriage started to move, took her hand and began to comfort her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course he will not forget you," she said, bending over the little +girl, "he surely will write to you and when he becomes very lonesome, +will return."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, raising her eyes directly at Laskowicz:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not true, sir? You will not forget her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz gazed into the depths of the pellucid pupils of her eyes, as +if he wished to penetrate them to the bottom, and being really moved, +replied with emphasis:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not forget."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you see," and Marynia pacified Anusia.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at that moment Krzycki approached.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother directed me to bid you God-speed." And he immediately shouted +to the driver: "Drive on."</p> + +<p class="normal">The carriage moved, described a circle in the courtyard, and +disappeared on the avenue beyond the gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney and the two sisters now went to Pani Krzycki, desiring to +keep her company at breakfast, which she on the days of her painful +suffering ate in bed. Ladislaus, recalling that he ordered some fish to +be caught, walked directly across the garden towards the pond to see +whether the catch was successful.</p> + +<p class="normal">But before he reached the bank, at a turning of the shady yoked elm +lane, he unexpectedly met his morning's vision of "Diana in the +fountain."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the sight of him the maid stood still; at first her countenance +flushed as if a live flame passed through it; after which she grew so +pale that the dark down above her lips became more marked, and she +stood motionless, with downcast eyes and heaving breast, bewildered and +abashed.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he spoke out with perfect freedom:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-day! good-day! Ah, what is your name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pauline," she murmured, not raising her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A beautiful name." After which, he smiled somewhat roguishly and +added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Panna Pauly--the next time--there is a bolt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will drown myself," cried the maid in a hysterical voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to speak in persuasive tones:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? For what? Why, no one is to blame,--that was a pure accident. I +will not tell anybody about it and that I had seen such beauty; that +was only my luck."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he proceeded to the fishing place.</p> + +<p class="normal">She followed his shapely form with her tear-dimmed eyes and stood on +the spot for quite a while in reverie, for it seemed to her that by +reason of the secret known to them alone something had transpired +between them which would unite them forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">And afterwards when she recollected how that charming young heir of +Jastrzeb had seen her, she shuddered from head to foot.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>X</h3> + +<p class="normal">Gronski was a man of gentle and kindly disposition. Notwithstanding his +penchant for philosophical pessimism, he was not a pessimist in his +relations to men and life. Speaking in other words, in theory he often +thought like Ecclesiastes; in practice he preferred to tread in the +footsteps of Horace, or rather as Horace would have trodden had he been +a Christian. Continual communing with the ancient world gave him a +certain serenity, not divested indeed of melancholy, but peaceful and +harmonious. Owing to his high education and extensive reading, which +enabled him to come in contact with all ideas which found lodgment in +the human mind and familiarize himself with all forms of human life, he +was exceedingly tolerant, and the most extreme views did not lead him +into that condition which would cause him to screech like a frightened +peacock. This deep forbearance and this conviction that all that is +taking place has to occur, did not deprive him of energy of thoughts or +words; it deprived him, however, in some measure of the ability to act. +He was more of a spectator than an actor on the world's stage, but a +well-disposed spectator, acutely susceptible and extraordinarily +curious. He sometimes compared himself to a man sitting on the bank of +a river and watching its course, who knows indeed that it must roll on +and disappear in the sea, but who is nevertheless interested in the +movements of its waves, its currents, its whirlpools, mists rising from +its depths, and the play of light upon its waters. Besides his genuine +love of ancient languages and authors, Gronski was interested in +politics, science, literature, art, the contemporary social tendencies, +and finally in the private affairs of mankind; and this last to such an +extent that he was reluctantly charged with undue love of knowledge of +his fellow-men. From this general, lively curiosity flowed his +loquacity and desire to expatiate upon anything which passed before his +eyes. He was well aware of this, and jocosely justified himself before +his friends by citing Cicero, who according to him was one of the +greatest discoursers and meddlers whose memory is preserved by history. +Aside from these weaknesses, Gronski possessed a highly developed +capacity for sympathizing with human suffering and human thoughts, and +was on the whole a man of fine sentiment. Poland he loved sincerely as +he wished her to be; that is, noble, enlightened, cultured, as European +as possible, but not losing her Lechite traits, and holding in her hand +the flag with the white eagle. That eagle seemed to him to be one of +the noblest symbols on earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Within the compass of his personal feelings, as a man and æsthete, he +loved Marynia, but it was a love of a heavenly-blue hue, not scarlet. +At the beginning he admired within her, as he said, "the music and the +dove;" afterwards, not having any near relatives, he became attached to +her like an older brother to a little sister, or as a father to a +child. She, on her part, grateful for this attachment and at the same +time esteeming his mind and character, reciprocated with her whole +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the main, human sympathy and friendship encompassed Gronski, for +even strangers, even people separated from him by a chasm of belief and +convictions, even those whom he annoyed with his habit of pressing his +forefinger to his forehead and thinking aloud, esteemed him for his +ability to sympathize, his humanity and forbearance, which were like +the open doors of a hospitable house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz also felt this. If he was to ride with Dolhanski, for +instance, he would have preferred to go afoot and carry his luggage on +his back. But Dolhanski in Jastrzeb pretended not to see him at all, +while Gronski always greeted him amiably, and several times opened a +conversation with him which never was lengthy for the reason that +Laskowicz limited it and broke it off. Now, however, sitting beside +Gronski he was pleased with his company. He cherished in his soul a +hope that Gronski, speaking of the persons remaining in Jastrzeb, would +say something about Panna Marynia and he craved to hear her name. +Besides, he was moved by the leave-taking with little Anusia, for it +happened for the first time in his life that any one bidding him +farewell had tears in her eyes, and he was grateful to the chance which +afforded him an opportunity of exchanging a few words with Panna +Marynia before driving away. So his heart melted and he was willing to +talk sincerely, especially with a man against whom he felt no +antipathy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Somehow they did not wait long, for they had barely reached the end of +the avenue when Gronski, with the kind and confidential anxiety of an +older man who does not understand what has taken place and is ready to +grumble, placed his hand upon his knee and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear sir, what mischief have you stirred up in Rzeslewo? It may now +come to some serious collisions, and it is said that you people intend +to do the same everywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Rzeslewo we did what the good of our idea demanded," answered +Laskowicz.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But an agricultural school is involved and such schools are absolutely +necessary for the people. Why did you circulate the story among the +peasants that the land was to be divided among them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz hesitated as to whether to leave the question unanswered, but +he was disarmed by Gronski's countenance, at once benevolent and +worried, so he replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Every party must keep its eyes upon everything in order to know what +is occurring in the country and take advantage of its opportunities. In +the case of Rzeslewo I was the eye of the party, and in the further +course of time I acted in accordance with the directions sent to me. In +reality, we could not foresee how the deceased would dispose of his +estate. But that is all one. We do not need schools founded by the +classes with which we are at war and conducted in their spirit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not need them, but the people need them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The people can learn husbandry without the assistance of the nobility +as soon as they own something on which they can learn. The lands of the +nobles will be more beneficial to them than their schools. They have +tilled that soil of Rzeslewo for hundreds of years, and if you figure +at the rate of one penny for each day's labor, that land has been paid +for a hundred times more than it is worth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you arouse merely a desire for land; you cannot give it. Besides, +permit me, sir, to say that in respect to your doctrine you are +illogical. For, of course, your aim is to nationalize the land. Now +such land as that of Rzeslewo, for instance, donated for school +purposes is, in a manner, nationalized; but a partition of it among the +peasants would disintegrate it into individual ownership by a number of +small holders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The nationalization of land is our ultimate object, therefore distant. +In the meantime we want to get the people into our camp, so we use such +means as will lead to that end. We cannot give the land, but the people +themselves can take it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The most you can accomplish is to get them to take it. Assume that in +Rzeslewo the husbandmen, tenants, and hired hands seize the land and +divide it between them. What follows? Do you not see the clashes, the +knouting, the courts and sanguinary executions which will overtake +them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you not believe that this would be water for our mill? The more +there is of that, the sooner our end will be attained."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And so I guessed rightly," said Gronski, recalling his statement to +Ladislaus and Dolhanski that the summoning of the police would be +playing into the hands of the agitators.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz wanted to ask what Gronski had guessed rightly, but the +latter forestalled him and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is another singular thing. If misfortune overtakes any one of +you, whether imprisonment, deportation, or death, then we, that is, the +people who do not belong to your ranks, the people against whom you +have declared war to the death, say: 'Too bad! such zeal! what a +pity--such misguided sacrifice! how deplorable,--such a young head!' +and we grieve for you. But you do not regret those people whose +defenders you proclaim yourself to be. You arrange industrial strikes +and pull the string until it breaks and later, when the manufacturers +tie it again it becomes shorter than ever before. Already thousands are +dying of starvation. And now you want an agricultural strike, after +which bread becomes dearer and scarcer. Who suffers by this? Again the +people. Truly at times it is impossible to resist the thought that you +love your doctrines more than the people."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Laskowicz answered in a harsh, hollow voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is war. There must be sacrifices."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski involuntarily looked at him and, seeing his eyes set so closely +to each other, thought:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! Such eyes really can only look straight ahead and are incapable of +taking in a wider horizon."</p> + +<p class="normal">For some time they rode in silence. A light southern breeze rose and +bore with the cloud of dust the odor of the horses' sweat. From +thickets on the wayside flew swarms of horse-flies, which pestered the +horses so much that the coachman brushed their backs with the whip and +swore.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly Gronski asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sacrifices! But to what divinity do you offer those sacrifices? What +is your aim and what do you want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Daily bread and universal liberty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in the meantime, instead of bread, you give them stones. As to +liberty, you will please, sir, take into consideration two thoughts. +The first can be expressed thus: Woe to the nations that love liberty +more than fatherland! Naturally I am not speaking of subjugated +nations, for in such a situation the conceptions of liberty and +fatherland become almost identical. But consider, sir, what really +caused the political downfall of Poland and what is blighting France, +which before our eyes is falling apart like a barrel without hoops? A +second thought which often comes to my mind is that liberty crossing +the boundaries set by national prosperity and safety is necessary only +for rogues. You certainly will regard this last opinion as the acme of +retrogression, but it is none the less the truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz's face reflected suspicion and offence, but it was so +apparent that Gronski did not allude to him personally, and was only +enunciating a general view, that he did not break off further +conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Liberty of association and syndicates," he said, "by the aid of which +the proletariat is defending itself, do not endure any limitations. +You, sir, after all confuse the conceptions of the people and the +empire;--as a realist you are concerned above all about the empire."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Gronski began to laugh:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, a realist?" he said. "I do not belong to the realists. They are not +foolish people and on the whole act in good faith, but they commit one +error. They go out to plough for the spring sowing in December; that is +when the ploughshares cannot break the frozen ground. Or if you prefer +another comparison, they buy their summer clothing during the severest +winter season. I do not know; perhaps the sun will at some time shine +and it will be warm, as everything in this world is possible, but in +the meantime the ears are frost-bitten and the moths destroy the +clothes."</p> + +<p class="normal">And thinking only of the realists, he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Realists desire to reckon with this reality, which does not want to +reckon with them or anybody else. For assume, sir, for example, that +the name of a faction is Peter and this Peter in perfect sincerity +turns to Reality and says: 'Listen, oh Maiden! I am prepared to +acknowledge you and even love you, but in return permit me to stand on +my own feet, to breathe a little and stretch out my aching bones.' And +Reality with true Ural affability answers: 'Peter, my son Peter, you +are wandering from the subject, and I take away from you the right to +speak. I am not concerned about your acknowledging or loving me, but +only that you should unbutton yourself, divest yourself of certain +clothes which, speaking parenthetically, may be of service to me; that +you should again lie upon that bench and as to the rest trust in my +power and whip.' If any realist heard me he might dispute this, but in +his soul, he would concede the justness of the illustration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will admit, then," exclaimed Laskowicz, with a certain triumph, +"that we alone are hitting this Reality on the head?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are hitting her," answered Gronski, "but your fists rebound from +her stony head and land in the pit of your own community, which loses +its remnant of breath and swoons. By this, you even aid Reality."</p> + +<p class="normal">And here recollecting what he had said about the anthills and +ant-eaters, he repeated it to Laskowicz.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Laskowicz would not agree to the comparison, observing that it had +only a specious appearance of the truth, for the human conditions could +not be adjusted by conditions existing in an ant-hill.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whoever aspires to make the proletariat powerful by the same act gives +the nation new strength sufficient to repel all attacks and blows. Only +on this road can anything be gained, though only for the simple reason +that it will have allies in the proletariat of adjoining countries, who +from enemies will become friends."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would only be a coalition at the bottom," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And for that reason irrepressible and effectual. For we are +continually hearing of Poland! Poland! But those who all the time are +repeating that combine with Poland various things which have outlived +their usefulness, such as religion, church, and conservatism, which +cover her with mould or with corpses which already are rotting. We +alone unite Poland with an idea, powerful, young, and vital, if only +for the reason that all youth is with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the first place, not all youth, nor even one half," answered +Gronski; "and again, the church has survived and will survive many a +social movement; and thirdly, your idea is as ancient as poverty itself +on this earth. If you desire, sir, to contend that the form which La +Salle and Marx gave it is new, then I will answer you thus: Your modern +socialism has too thick tufts of hair on its scalp, but when it begins +to get bald, none will scoff at it so much as the young."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are continually speaking in aphorisms, but fortunately aphorisms +are like paper lanterns hung on the trees of dialectics; in the dark +they can be seen; in the broad daylight they are extinct."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Behold another aphorism, cut and dried," answered Gronski, laughing. +"No, sir, that which I said had another meaning. I wanted to say that +the socialist commonwealth, if you ever establish one, will be such a +surrender of human institutions, such a jamming of man into the +driving-wheels of the general mechanism, such a restraint and slavery +that even the present kingdom of Prussia, in comparison, would be a +temple of liberty. And in reality, a reaction would set in at once. The +press, literature, poetry, and art, in the name of individualism and +its freedom, would declare an inexorable war; and do you know, sir, who +would carry the banner of the opposition? Youth! That is as true as +that those lapwings are now flying over that meadow."</p> + +<p class="normal">And here he pointed at a flock of lapwings, hovering over a field on +which cattle were grazing. After which he added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"In France it is already beginning. Not long ago a few thousand +students paraded the streets of Paris, shouting: 'Down with the +Republic!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is merely swinging around in a circle," replied Laskowicz; "that +was a clash with radicalism and not with us. We also despise it. The +bourgeoisie imagine that radicalism in a certain emergency will shield +them from the revenge of the proletariat, but they are deceiving +themselves. In the meanwhile they are clearing the way for the +revolution."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this I admit you are right;" answered Gronski, "I saw in Cairo how +the <i>saïs</i> ran before the carriages of the pashas shouting, 'Out of the +way! Out of the way!' Radicalism is performing the same service for +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," corroborated Laskowicz, with a brightened countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski took off his spectacles to wipe off the dust and winked his +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But amongst you there are also differences. The French socialism is +different, so is the German, and the English, and in their midst we +find opposing camps. For that reason I shall not speak of socialism in +general. I am only interested in the home product, of which you are an +agent; for, from what you have said, I infer that you belong to the +so-called Polish Socialistic party."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," answered Laskowicz with energy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski replaced the cleaned spectacles and unfurled all his sails:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You claim, therefore, that in the name of Poland you have joined youth +with a powerful idea, through which you have infused into her veins new +blood. And I reply that this idea, whatever it may be, has degenerated +in your minds to the extent that it ceased to be a social idea and has +become a social disease. You have infected Poland with a disease and +nothing more. The new Polish edifice must be constructed with bricks +and stones and not with bombs and dynamite. And in you there is neither +brick nor stone. You are only a shriek of hatred. You have abandoned +the old gospels and are incapable of creating a new one; in consequence +of which you cannot offer any pledge of life. Your name is Error and +for that reason the resultant force of your activities will be contrary +to you presuppositions. By pulling the strings of strikes you lead the +people to naught else than to debility and wretchedness and from feeble +beggars you are not able to build a powerful Poland. That is the actual +fact. Besides, on one and the same head you cannot wear two caps unless +one is underneath. So I ask which is underneath? Is your socialism only +a means of building Poland? Or is your Poland only a bait and catchword +to gather the people into your camp? The socialists, who call +themselves socialists without any qualifications and do not insist that +the same entity can be fish and fowl at the same time, are, I admit, +more logical. But you mislead the people. The truth is that even if you +wanted to you could not do anything Polish, for there is nothing Polish +in you. The schools from which you graduated did not take away the +language, for they could not do that, but they molded your minds and +souls in such a manner that you are not Poles, but Russians despising +Russia. How Poland and Russia will fare by this is another matter, but +such is the case. To you it seems that you are making a revolution, but +it is an ape of a revolution, and in addition a foreign one. You are +the evil flower of a foreign spirit. It is enough to take your +periodicals, your writers, poets, and critics! Their whole mental +apparatus is foreign. Their real aim is not even socialism nor the +proletariat, but annihilation.--Firebrand in hand, and at the bottom of +their souls hopelessness and the great nihil! And of course we know +where it originated. The Galician socialism likewise is not an Apollo +Belvedere, but nevertheless it has different lineaments and less broad +cheek-bones. There is not in it this rabidness and also this despair +and sorrow which conflicts with the Latin culture. You are like certain +fruit: on one side green, on the other rotten. You are sick. That +sickness explains the limitless want of logic, based on this; that +crying against wars, you create war; decrying courts-martial, you +condemn without any trial; and denouncing capital punishment, you +thrust revolvers in the hands of the people and say, 'Kill.' This +disease also explains your insane outbreaks, your indifference to +consequences, and to the fate of those ill-fated men whom you make your +tools. Let them assassinate, let them rob the treasuries, but whether +later they will hang in the halter is a matter of little consequence to +you. Your nihil permits you to spit upon blood and ethics. You open +wide the doors to notorious scoundrels and allow them to represent not +their own villany, but your idea. You, generally speaking, carry ruin +with you and join Poland to that ruin. In your party there are, without +doubt, men of conviction and good faith, but blind, who in their +blindness are serving a different master than they imagine."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski knew that he was speaking in vain, but whether from habit, or +because he wanted to relieve himself of all that had accumulated within +him, he talked until the rattle of the wheels on the city pavements +drowned his words. They parted rather coldly before the hotel, for +Gronski's views touched the young medical student to the quick. He did +not admit that Gronski was in the least right, but that such views +should be entertained filled him with rage and indignation. He indeed +said to himself, "It is not worth while answering, but our minds are +not foreign, and our idea is new. Society is like a person who, having +for many years lived in a house, is always reluctant to move into +another though that other is much better." Nevertheless the words of +Gronski stung him so deeply that at that moment he hated him as much as +he did Krzycki and would have given a great deal if he could trample +upon and crush the charges, so odious to him. Unfortunately for him he +lacked time for it, and besides, weariness after a sleepless night +began to overpower him more and more.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski went to the post-office, received a package with the saddle, +and afterwards drove to the doctor's, but learning that the latter +would not be free for an hour, he left the carriage at his door and +went to visit the old notary and at the same time deliver to him an +invitation from Krzycki to visit Jastrzeb.</p> + +<p class="normal">The notary was pleased to receive the invitation, as he had decided to +visit the Krzyckis without one, in order, as he said, to behold the +"eyes of his head" and hear her miracle-working violin. In the meantime +he began to speak about the events which had occurred in the city and +neighborhood. He was so impressed and affected by them that his +customary choler left him, and in his words there was an undertone of +bitter sorrow and heavy anxiety for the future of the community, which +seemed to have lost its head. Factory strikes and to some extent +agricultural strikes were spreading. In the city the lime-kilns had +ceased to burn and the cement works were at a standstill. The +workingmen, who, not having any savings, formerly lived from hand to +mouth, in the first moments lacked bread. After the example of Warsaw, +a local committee was organized for the purpose of collecting funds to +prevent starvation. But as a result, this peculiar situation was +created: the people most opposed to the cessation of work encouraged it +by furnishing food to the idle. "A veritable round of errors!" said the +worried old gentleman. "Do not give; then starvation follows and +despair hurls the workingman into the arms of the socialists; give, and +you also are playing into their hands, because they have something with +which to support the strike and can convince the people of their +omnipotence." He further related that outside of the committee the +socialists were collecting money, or rather were extorting it from the +timid by threats; that they called upon him but he told them that he +would give for bread but not for bombs. They then threatened him with +death, for which he had them thrown out of his office.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a while he remained silent for the inborn choler assumed supremacy +over sorrow; he also began to roll his eyes angrily and moved his jaws +furiously, as if he wanted to eat all the socialists, together with +their red standard.</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards, when his rage had spent itself, he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Day before yesterday they sent me a sentence of death which they +surely will execute, as they have declared war against the government +and they butcher their own countrymen. Well, that is a small matter! +Three days ago they killed a master tinner and two workingmen in the +cement factory. In Wilczodola, a few versts from here, they waylaid and +maimed Pan Baezynski and robbed the branch office of the governmental +whiskey monopoly besides. Szremski, that doctor for whom you came and +whose optimism sticks like a bone in my throat, says that it is but a +passing storm! Yes, everything does pass away, individuals as well as +whole nations. I fear that ours too is passing away; for we have become +a nation of bandits and banditism never can be a permanent institution. +Well! The people, after these acts of violence, have in reality become +tired of robbing for the benefit of their party and now prefer to rob +on their own account. Do I know whether we will arrive alive at +Krzyckis to-day? Bah! Krzycki ought to be more on his guard than any +one else. He passes for a rich man and for that reason they will keep +him in their eye. I will go to Jastrzeb for if I am to be assassinated, +before it takes place I want to hear once more our child-wonder. But in +truth, Krzycki, instead of inviting more guests, should dismiss those +who are staying there now. The doctor, if he had any sense, would find +an excuse for dispersing them all to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard that he is an excellent man," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An excellent devil!" answered the notary. "You remember whom you have +among you, and it is only about her that I am concerned."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, though disquieted and distressed by Dzwonkowski's narrative, +could not refrain from laughing when he heard the last admonition, for +translated into plain words it meant, "May the deuce impale you all, if +only no evil befalls the little violinist." But whenever Marynia was +involved he himself was always willing to subscribe to similar +sentiments; therefore he began to pacify the aged official by telling +him that in Jastrzeb there were, counting the guests and manor people, +too many hands and too many arms to have any fears of an attack; and +that, besides, Pani Krzycki's probable departure would end the visit of +the guests. Further conversation was broken by the arrival of Doctor +Szremski who, having dashed in like a bomb, announced that he was free +for the remainder of the day and could ride with Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski gazed at him with great interest, for even in Warsaw he heard +of him as an original and prominent personality, in the favorable +meaning of those words.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was quite a young man, with tawny hair, swarthy like a gypsy, with a +countenance alive with fire, bubbling with health, somewhat loud and +brisk in his manners. In the city he played an uncommon rôle not only +because he had the largest medical practice, but because he belonged to +the most active men in any field. He entered into every project as if +to an attack, and thanks to a sober and an exceptional temper of mind, +whatever he did was done, on the whole, sensibly and well. He was, as +it were, a personification of that phenomenon, frequent in Poland, +where, when amidst a public not only trammelled but negligent and +indolent by nature, a man of energy and with an idea is found, he is +able to accomplish more than any German, Frenchman, or Englishman could +have done. He himself participated in every undertaking and compelled +others to work with such spirit that he was nicknamed "Doctor Spur." He +established secret schools, reading rooms, nurseries for the children, +economical associations, and for everything he gave money, of which he +earned a great deal, though he treated gratis throngs of the penniless. +The local socialists hated him, for by his popularity and influence +with the workingmen he frustrated their efforts. The authorities looked +at him with suspicion and with an evil eye. A man who loved his +country, organized life, spread enlightenment, and donated money for +public uses, must in their eyes be a suspicious character and deserved +at least deportation to a "distant province." Fortunately for him, the +governor's wife imagined that she was suffering from some nervous +ailment and the local captain of the gendarmery was actually troubled +with incipient aneurism of the aorta. So then the governor's wife, who +through her connections had made her husband governor and ruled the +province as she pleased, was of the opinion that if it were not for +this "l'homme qui rit" (as she called the doctor), eternal mourning +would have befallen the governor, and the captain of the gendarmes +feared alike the gubernatorial connections and the aneurism. He had +indeed prepared a report which he regarded as the masterpiece of his +life; and perhaps he became ill because he dared not send it to the +higher authorities. Sometimes in his dreams, he arrested the doctor, +subjected him to an examination, forced him to divulge his accomplices, +and dreamt also that the report might be used in case the governor and +himself were transferred to another province; but it was only a dream. +In reality the report reposed on the bottom of a drawer and the doctor, +who read it (for the captain showed it to him in proof of what he could +have done but did not do), laughed so ingenuously and was so confident +of himself that it occurred to the captain's mind that in reality there +was no joking with the governor's wife or the aneurism.</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor laughed because he was by nature unusually jovial. In +certain cases he could think and speak gravely, but at chance meetings +and at casual talks, in which there was no time for weighty discourse, +he preferred to slide over the surface of the subject, scatter jests, +and tell anecdotes, which later were repeated over the city, and which +he himself much enjoyed. His optimism and beaming countenance created +incurable optimism and hope and good thoughts wherever he appeared. He +joked with the sick about their sickness and with jokes dispelled their +fears. His mirth won the people and a well-grounded medical knowledge +and efficacious watchfulness over their health and lives assured him a +certain kind of sway over them. For this reason he did not mind the +"big fish," or in fact anybody. Such was the case with the notary whose +perpetual choler and irascibility were known all over the city, so that +social relations with him were maintained only by those who were +exceptionally interested in music. The doctor, who also cracked jokes +about music, sought his company, purposely to nettle him and afterwards +to tell about his outbreaks, to his own amusement and that of his +hearers.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now he rushed in with the crash of a squall, became acquainted with +Gronski, asked about the health of Pani Krzycki and about the pretty +ladies staying in Jastrzeb of whom he had already heard; after which, +observing the distressed face of the notary, he exclaimed merrily:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a mien! Is it so bad with us in this world, or what? Seventy-five +years! A great thing! Truly it is not the age of strength, but it is +the strength of the age! Please show your pulse!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here, without further asking the notary, he grabbed his hand, and +pulling out his watch, began to count:</p> + +<p class="normal">"One, two--one, two!--one, two! Bad! It is the pulse of one in love. +There are symptoms of a slight heartburn! Such is usually the case. +Such a machine cannot last more than twenty-five years,--at the most +thirty. Thank you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this he dropped the old man's hand, whose mien brightened in +expectation, for he thought that twenty-five years added to what he had +already lived would make quite a respectable age.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pretending, however, to scowl, he answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Always those jokes! The doctor thinks that I care for those wretched +twenty-five years. It is not worth while living now. Of course you know +what is taking place. I have such a mien because I was just talking +with Pan Gronski about it. I also have a heartburn. Well, I ask what +will become of us if all the people should follow the socialists?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But the doctor began to swing his arms and deny this categorically. Not +all the people, nor a half, nor a hundredth part. And even those who +say that they belong to the socialists say so under terror or through +misapprehension.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will give you gentlemen two examples," he said. "I live on a lower +floor and beneath me in the basement there is a locksmith's shop. This +morning I overheard fragments of a conversation between my servant and +the locksmith. The locksmith said, 'I am a socialist; there is nothing +more to be said about it.' 'Why is nothing more to be said?' said my +servant. 'Then you do not believe in God and do not love Poland.' 'And +why should I not believe in God and love Poland?' 'Because the +socialists do not believe in God and do not love Poland.' And the +locksmith replied, 'So? Then may sickness plague them.' That is the way +people belong to the socialists. I do not say all, but a great many. +Ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The doctor always finds an anecdote," grumbled the notary; "but let us +tell the truth, thousands belong to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then why do they not elect one deputy in the kingdom?" retorted the +doctor. "Bombs explode loudly, so they can be heard better than any +other work. But how many thousands participated in the national parade? +Do these also belong to them? When in a factory ten men manage to hang +a red flag on the chimney it seems that the whole factory is red, but +that is not true."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do not the others tear it down?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Simple reason! Because the police tear it down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And also because the socialists have revolvers and the others have +not," added Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Undoubtedly," continued the doctor. "I have ten times closer relations +with the workingmen than any manager of a factory. I go into their +dwellings and know their home life. I know them. Socialism is engaged +in a struggle with the bureaucracy; so it seems to many that they +belong to it. But, to the outrages only the worst and most ignorant +element assents. The latter soon change into bandits, and that is not +surprising. Their consciences have been taken away from them and +revolvers are given to them. But the majority--the better and more +honest majority--have under the ribs Polish hearts; and for that reason +this demon, who wants to snatch and carry them away, called himself, as +a bait, Polish. Ah! they only need schools, enlightenment, a knowledge +of Polish history, in order not to allow themselves to be hoodwinked! +Ay, that is what they need! Ay, ay!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And in his gesticulations, he seized the old man's arm and began to +turn him around.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Schools, Pan Notary, schools; for the Lord's mercy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Blood rushed to the notary's head from indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you crazy!" he yelled. "Why do you jolt me like a pear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," said the doctor, leaving him alone. "True, but the extent to +which these poor fellows misapprehend things is enough to cause one to +weep and laugh at the same time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not to laugh," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know, sir, that at times, yes," exclaimed the doctor; "for +listen to my second instance. Last Sunday, being tired as a dog, I +drove out to the Gorczynski woods, just outside of the city, for a +little airing. In the woods from the opposite direction came more than +a dozen of workingmen who evidently were enjoying a May outing. I saw +one of them carrying a red flag on a newly whittled stick. He probably +brought it in his pocket and fastened it when they got to the woods. +'Good!' I thought to myself, 'Socialists!' And now, when they were +near, the one who carried the flag sang lustily to the tune of +'Bartoszu! Bartoszu!' that which I will repeat to you, and I pledge my +word, I will not add or subtract anything.</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0"> +'Kosciuszko, though a cobbler,<br> +Oj, soundly thrashed the Germans,<br> +Oj, soundly thrashed the Germans;<br> +Only, it is a great pity<br> +For us, that he drowned.<br> +Only it is a great pity<br> +For us, that he drowned.'"</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, honest simplicity!" exclaimed Gronski. "I would embrace him and +present him with a history of Poland of recent times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait, sir," shouted the doctor. "I stopped my socialists of strange +rites. It appeared that almost all were known to me and I said: 'For +the fear of God, citizens, Kosciuszko was not a cobbler, he never +thrashed the Germans, and he did not drown, only Prince Joseph +Poniatowski did. Come to me and I will give you a book about +Kosciuszko, Kilinski,<a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> and +Prince Joseph Poniatowski, for you have +made of them a bigos.<a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a> +They began to thank me and then I asked: 'What +has become of the eagle on your flag? did he go hunting for mushrooms?' +They became confused. The flag-bearer started to explain why they had +no eagle. 'Why, may it please the doctor,' he said, 'they told us: Do +not take a flag with an eagle, for if they take the flag away from you, +they will insult the eagle and you will suffer shame and disgrace.' +Yes. In this manner they cheat the Polish heart of our own people."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the notary did not want to part with his black spectacles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what of it?" he asked. "Do you claim that if it was not for this +and that there would not be any socialism amongst us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is socialism over the entire world," rejoined the doctor, +"therefore there must be with us. Only if it was not for this and that, +there would not accompany it highway robbery, savagery, and blindness; +there would not be this modern socialism which has styled itself +Polish, though its pitch can be smelt a mile away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bravo!" cried Gronski. "I said the same thing in other words to +another person on the road from Jastrzeb."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, Jastrzeb," said the doctor looking at his watch. "Here we are +talking and it is time that we started."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps the notary can go with us," said Gronski. "The carriage has +seats for four."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can. Only I will take my flute with me. Well!" answered the notary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well!" repeated Szremski, mimicking him. "Aha, the flute! Then there +will be a serenade in Jastrzeb, while here the socialists will rob the +office."</p> + +<p class="normal">The notary who was going after his flute, suddenly turned around, +sniffed vehemently, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day they sent me a sentence of death."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! I already have received two of them," merrily answered the +doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">A quarter of an hour later they were on the road to Jastrzeb. On this +occasion, Gronski and the doctor drew so closely to each other and +talked so much, that, as Gronski said later, there was not a place in +which to stick a pin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XI</h3> + +<p class="normal">The distance between the city and Jastrzeb was not more than a mile and +a half. For this reason Gronski, the notary, and Szremski reached their +destination before four o'clock. They were expected for dinner but in +the meantime Ladislaus conducted the ladies over the sawmill; so the +doctor repaired to Pani Krzycki and Gronski ordered the saddle unpacked +and taken to Marynia's room. In a half hour the young company returned +and, greeting the notary, assembled in the salon to await the dinner. +The notary at the sight of Marynia forgot all about death sentences, +about the outrages perpetrated in the city, about socialism and the +whole world and, after kissing her hand, appropriated her exclusively +for himself. Gronski began to initiate Pani Otocka into the reasons of +his trip to the city, while Krzycki conversed with Miss Anney and +became as engrossed with her as if there were no one else in the room. +It was apparent that his exclamation on that morning that "one could +lose his head" was but a confirmation of a symptom which intensified +more and more with each moment. His uncommonly handsome young face +glowed as if from the dawn, for in his bosom he did have the dawn of a +new, happy feeling, which beamed through the eyes, the smile on the +lips, through every motion, and through the words he addressed to Miss +Anney. The spell held him more and more; a secret magnet drew him with +steadily increasing power to this light-haired maid, looking so young, +buxom, and alluring. He did not even attempt to resist that power. +Gronski observed that he evinced his rapture too plainly and that in +the presence of his mother he should have acted with more +circumspection. Miss Anney also felt this, as from time to time blushes +suffused her countenance and she pushed back her chair a little, +besides glancing about at those present as if in fear that the +excessive affability of the young host towards her might attract too +much attention. But the matter, however, was agreeable to her, for in +her eyes a certain joy flamed. Only Dolhanski gazed at her from time to +time; the others were mutually occupied.</p> + +<p class="normal">The appearance of the doctor ended the conversations. Krzycki, after +introducing him to the ladies, together with them began to inquire +about the health of the patient, but the doctor was evidently +disinclined to speak at any length, for he answered in a few words and +in accordance with his habit spoke so loudly that Dolhanski, in his +surprise, placed the monocle on his eye.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing serious! Monsummano! Monsummano! or something like that! I +will prescribe everything! Nothing serious! Nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what is Monsummano?" asked Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a warm hole in Italy in which rheumatism is boiled out. A kind +of purgatory after which salvation follows! Besides Italy, a delightful +journey! I will prescribe everything in detail."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, who often had travelled over Italy, also knew this place and +began to describe it to the curious ladies. In the meantime Ladislaus +talked about his mother's health with the doctor, who, however, +listened to him inattentively, repeating, "I will prescribe +everything," shaking his head, and looking about him, as if with +curiosity, at each of the ladies in rotation. Suddenly he slapped his +hand on his knee with a thwack which could be heard all over the room +and exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What marvellous faces there are in Jastrzeb and what skulls! Ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski dropped his monocle, the ladies looked amazed, but Krzycki +began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The doctor has a habit of thinking aloud," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And bawling out yet more loudly," grumbled the notary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is your flute?" the doctor replied, laughingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at that moment the servant announced that dinner was ready. Hearing +this, Pani Otocka turned with a peculiar smile to her sister and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Marynia, your hair is all disheveled. Look at yourself in a glass."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young lady raised her hands to her head, but as there were no +mirrors in the salon, she, a little confused, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beg pardon, I will return immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">She hastened to her room, but soon returned still more confused with +blushes and with a radiant countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A ladies' saddle!" she began to cry, "a most beautiful ladies' +saddle!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And passing her eyes over those present, she pointed at Gronski:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I confess," said Gronski, spreading out his hands and bowing his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">She, on her part, had such a desire to kiss his hand that if the doctor +and the notary had not been present, she certainly would have done so. +In the meanwhile she began to thank him with effusive and perfectly +childish glee.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see, Panna Marynia, that you are fond of horseback riding," said +Szremski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am fond of everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you have it," cried the amused doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only secure a gentle horse; otherwise it will not be hard to meet with +accidents," observed the notary.</p> + +<p class="normal">It soon became apparent that such a one could be procured, for on the +economical Jastrzeb estate horses were the only item of which a strict +account was not kept. Krzycki indeed maintained that they could be bred +profitably, but he did not breed them for gain but from that +traditional love of them, the immoderateness of which the reverend +Skarga,<a name="div2Ref_06" href="#div2_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a> a few centuries +before, censured in his ancestors in the +eloquent words: "Dearer to you is the offspring of a mare than the Son +of God!" Horses therefore were not wanting in Jastrzeb and the +conversation about them and horsemanship continued, to the great +dissatisfaction of the notary, throughout the whole dinner. Those +present learned that Marynia was not entirely a novice, for at Zalesin, +at her sister's, she rode in summer time almost daily in the company of +the old manager on a clumsy, lanky pony, named Pierog. Her sister would +not permit her to ride on any other horse and "what enjoyment could +there be riding on Pierog?" She stated that this Pierog had a nasty +habit of returning home, not when she wanted to, but when he desired +to, and no urging nor threats could swerve him from his purpose when +once formed. She also sincerely envied Miss Anney who rode so well and +had ridden all the horses in Zalesin, even those unaccustomed to the +saddle. But in England all the ladies ride on horseback, while with us +somebody is worrying about somebody else. She hoped, however, that in +Jastrzeb with so many skilled riders, "Zosia" will not have any fears +about her; and that immediately after dinner they will go on an +equestrian excursion and that she will be allowed to join the party, +without, thank God, Pierog.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, in whom expectations of distant horseback jaunts in Miss +Anney's company had excited fond hopes, and whom, as well as the +others, the story about Pierog had put into good humor, turned to +Marynia and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will give you a horse with iron legs, who is called 'Swimmer' +because he can swim excellently. As for an excursion, the day is long +and we could arrange one, if it were not that it is beginning to get +cloudy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will surely clear up," answered Marynia, "and I will dress myself +right after dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, after dinner the guests were barely able to finish their black +coffee before she appeared on the veranda, dressed in a black, +tight-fitting riding-habit. In it she was simply charming, but so +slender and tall that Gronski, gazing at her with his usual admiration, +was the first to begin jesting:</p> + +<p class="normal">"A real little flute," he said. "The wind will carry off such a +woodcock, especially since it is commencing to blow."</p> + +<p class="normal">And a strong blast of the western, warm wind really began to bend the +tree-tops and drive here and there over the heavens clouds which on the +azure background assumed large, ruddy, and globular forms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, however, gave orders to saddle the horses and soon +thereafter hastened to the stables to supervise the work. Miss Anney +went upstairs to change her clothes; Gronski and Dolhanski followed her +example. On the veranda remained only Pani Zosia, the doctor, the +notary, and, attired as an equestrienne, Marynia, who cast uneasy +glances alternately at the stables and at the sky, which was becoming +more and more cloudy. After a time the first drops of rain began to +fall and immediately thereafter a more important hindrance to their +excursion occurred, for unexpectedly neighbors from Gorek, Pani Wlocek +and daughter, the same who attended the funeral of Zarnowski, arrived +in a carriage. In view of this, the horseback jaunt had to be +abandoned.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Wlocek ladies came to ascertain the condition of Pani Krzycki's +health and at the same time to beg Ladislaus for advice and succor, for +in Gorek an agricultural strike had suddenly broke out among the manor +and farmhouse laborers. The old coachman could hardly be induced to +drive them to Jastrzeb for he was threatened with a beating. Both +ladies were much frightened, much powdered, and more pathetic than +ever. After the first greetings, mutual introductions, and a short talk +about Pani Krzycki's rheumatism, the mother, at the after-dinner tea, +addressed Ladislaus in doleful terms, adjuring him to hasten, like a +knight of old, to the defence of oppressed innocence. She said that she +was not concerned about herself, as after the losses she had survived +and the suffering she had undergone, "the silent grave" in the Rzeslewo +cemetery was the most appropriate refuge for her; but an orphan +remained who still had some claims upon life. Let him extend some +friendly protection and shield from blows and attacks this lone orphan +for whom she herself was ready to sacrifice her life. To this the +orphan replied that she too was not concerned about herself but about +the peace of Mamma;--and in this manner the conversation changed almost +exclusively in to a dialogue between these ladies in which the words, +"Allow me, child," "Permit me, Mamma," were repeated every minute and +in which the immoderate willingness of both parties to be immolated +became in the end almost tart. Ladislaus, knowing these ladies of old, +listened gravely; Pani Zosia looked at the bottom of her cup, not +daring to glance at Marynia, who contracted the corners of her mouth; +the notary sniffed and chewed; and the doctor ejaculated his "Ha!" with +such resonance that the flies whisked off the net mantle which covered +the butter and pastry.</p> + +<p class="normal">But, in the meanwhile, out-of-doors the storm and thunder began to rage +and interrupted the sacrificial dialogue between mother and daughter. +The rooms darkened; on the windows for a time the patter of the shower +was heard; and the lightning illuminated the cloudy firmament. But this +lasted a brief while; after which Ladislaus began to reply and promise +aid to the ladies, always with becoming gravity but at the same time +with a peculiar kind of expression on his face which portended that the +young wag had a surprise concealed in his bosom. He announced, +therefore, that he was ready to mount a horse and invest Gorek with his +care; afterwards he quieted the ladies with the assurances that the +manifestations which had so alarmed them were transient; that in +Rzeslewo, it was temporarily the same, but that undoubtedly within a +short time means of foiling that evil would be found. In conclusion he +turned to Pani Wlocek and, pointing at Dolhanski, unexpectedly said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know whether my protection will be effective for I must watch +at the same time over Rzeslewo and over Jastrzeb, in which at present +we have such agreeable guests. But here is Pan Dolhanski, a man well +known for his courage, energy, and sagacity, who has given me the best +advice about Rzeslewo. If he wished to aid you or if he agreed to take +into his hands the affairs of Gorek and Kwasnoborz, I am certain that +he would establish order there in the course of a few days, and under +his wings, ladies, no dangers could befall you."</p> + +<p class="normal">All eyes, and particularly the eyes of the mother and daughter, were +now directed at Dolhanski. But if Ladislaus, who wanted to revenge +himself on him for his "officiousness," calculated that he would get +him into an unexpected scrape, he was mistaken, for Dolhanski coolly +bowed to the ladies from Gorek and replied, drawling each word as +usual:</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the greatest pleasure, but we must wait until the rain stops."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, sir, you agree to be our knight?" cried Pani Wlocek, extending +her hands towards him and at the same time gazing at him with a +suddenly awakened curiosity and surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the greatest pleasure," repeated Dolhanski; "the strike will be +over to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">His complete self-assurance impressed everybody, particularly the +ladies from Gorek. At the same time, the cold tone in which he spoke +affected Pani Wlocek so much that for a while she lost her usual +pathetic volubility and after an interval she replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of an orphan, I thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the orphan apparently preferred to thank him herself, for she +stretched out both hands towards Dolhanski and after a brief silence, +which might be explained by her emotions, spoke in a voice resembling +the rustle of leaves:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am concerned about mamma."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So am I," Dolhanski assured her.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the mother and daughter now turned to each other:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Allow me, child; here I am nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me, Mamma; Mamma is everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I beg pardon, child--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me, Mamma,--"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the strife about the burnt offerings began anew. It did not, +however, last long, as, firstly, the doctor began to make so much noise +that they could be heard with difficulty and then, Pani Krzycki, whom +the young physician permitted to rise and move to an armchair, sent a +message asking the ladies to visit her. After their departure the +doctor went to the office to write out specifically where and how the +cure should be conducted; the notary became occupied with his flute in +the vestibule. Gronski, Dolhanski, and Ladislaus for a while remained +alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Dolhanski addressed Ladislaus:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are these Gorek and Kwasnoborz?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About fifteen hundred acres, and there is also Zabianka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I have heard. And the soil?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Almost the same as at Rzeslewo. In Zabianka it is said to be better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I have heard. The state of the fortune?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bad and good. Bad, because these ladies will not invest in anything. +Good, because they have no debts and every penny which flows from the +husbandry, after it gets into the stockings, never beholds daylight +again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is what I have been waiting for," said Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are as stingy as they are pathetic, and who knows whether they +are not stingier?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let them hoard."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Gronski began to laugh and quoted:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sic vos non vobis nidificatis aves--sic vos non vobis mellificates +apes--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which suddenly to Gronski:</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-morrow I will propose for the hand of Cousin Otocka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day you are full of surprises," replied Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait! And I will be given the mitten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Without any doubt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I want to have a clear conscience. After which I will drive over +to Gorek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is already known. And you will quell the agitated waves of a +strike."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the course of a day. As you see me here."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he pointed at Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That simplex servus Dei became unwittingly an instrument in the hands +of Providence. The Lord often avails Himself of pigmies. For this, when +you become bankrupt in Jastrzeb, apply to me at Gorek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Provided that before that time you are not reduced to the same level," +responded Ladislaus, laughing. "You are an excellent leveller."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We live in an age of universal levelling. But what is Panna Wlocek's +Christian name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kajetana."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Plait-il?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kajetana," repeated Krzycki. "Her father's christian name was Kajetan +and she was named in memory of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me then why that well-stocked Kajetana preserved herself in her +virgin state until the age of thirty or more?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thirty-five, to be accurate. That is what my mother said not long ago. +She remembers the day of her birth. As to why she is unmarried the +reason is plain. Parties were not wanting but those ladies looked too +high. In the neighborhood, we only have the common nobility; and among +the Krzyckis there was not a bachelor of suitable age. You, in this +respect, would correspond to their fantasy--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is well!" answered Dolhanski, "only that name! Kajetana! +Kajetana! That seems to be a kind of carriage or boat! Do I know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski and Ladislaus regarded Dolhanski's announcement as a joke, as +one of the sallies of wit which often crossed his mind. He, however, +kept his word, for on the following day he proposed to Pani Otocka with +due gravity and, after receiving an equally grave refusal, rode off to +Gorek and settled there for a time. The young ladies, and even Pani +Krzycki, were greatly amused and interested in all this, especially +when the news reached them that the agrarian strike in Gorek ended the +same day on which Dolhanski appeared. And it also ended a few days +later in Rzeslewo, partly from the force of circumstances, from the +conviction innate in the peasant soul that the "holy land" is not to be +trifled with, and partly owing to the news which spread over the +village that somebody from some kind of a committee was to come and +decide the whole matter. Such was the case with the manor servants. The +peasants and husbandmen did not want to agree to any school and would +not relinquish the possession of the manor lands, but awaited this +somebody in equal fear and hope, sacredly believing that not the will +nor the law but some unknown power would decide everything. In the +villages, in the meantime, more peaceful days ensued, and though the +daily papers brought intelligence of increased commotion in the cities, +Ladislaus believed that the local storm had passed away. This belief +was shared by the guests. As the doctor had announced that Pani +Krzycki's departure depended upon the first signs of alleviation of her +suffering, Ladislaus determined to take the best advantage he could of +the brief time the young ladies were to remain in Jastrzeb. The +horseback excursions began and unless prevented by rain took place +every morning. They were particularly agreeable to Ladislaus because +Gronski, riding leisurely, kept company with his "adoration," while he +could pass hours alone with Miss Anney. Both were expert riders; they +usually dashed ahead and most frequently disappeared from view in the +distance. At times, they set off at full gallop, and intoxicated +themselves with the mad speed, the air, the sun, and each other. At +other times they rode abreast, slowly, stirrup to stirrup, and then the +silence into which they fell, anxious, full of inexpressible delight, +linked them with ties yet stronger than those with which their +conversation bound them. With a glance Krzycki scanned the figure of +the golden-haired maiden, resembling on horseback the divine Grecian +forms or those on Etruscan vases, and feasted his eyes. He listened to +her voice and it seemed to him that it was music still nearer +perfection than that which poured forth from Marynia's violin. At times +when he assisted her to mount her horse, he had to exert the full +strength of his will to refrain from pressing her foot to his lips and +forehead. And often he thought that if he ever dared to do so, he would +desire to remain in that position as long as possible. To this feminine +being all his thoughts were impelled, and through the might and flight +of his feeling, his desires ceased to be like crawling serpents and +became like winged birds, capable of soaring unto heaven. His love each +day became more like a whirlpool which drags to itself and engulfs +everything. It seemed to Ladislaus that the air, the sun, the fields, +the forests, the meadows, the scent of the trees and flowers, the song +of birds and the evening playing of Marynia,--all these were only some +of the elements of that love which belonged to Miss Anney and entered +into her being and, without her, would be insignificant and without +essence. Moreover, the whirlpool seized him and plunged him more and +more deeply with a power to which each day he offered less resistance, +for the simple reason that the abyss appeared to him to be the abyss of +happiness. Ladislaus now did not surrender her to any Englishman "with +protruding jaw" or any Scot "with bare knees," and would not have given +her up for the whole of England and Scotland. He ceased trying to +persuade himself that this was a type of woman, which he might have +loved and, instead, he confessed to himself sincerely that she was a +woman whom he did love. Love generated in him a bright and determined +will; so now he thought, with the strict logic of feeling, that he +craved to win this, to him, most precious and most desired being, to +take and retain her for his whole life. There was only one road leading +to that: therefore he determined to enter upon it with that heedless +willingness which a man, who desires to be happy, evinces. Sometimes +also a confession quivered upon his lips. He restrained it however and +deferred it from day to day, at first owing to a timidity which every +enamoured heart feels, and again through calculation. For if Love is +blind, it certainly is not so to whatever may bring it benefits. It can +even weigh benefits and obstacles upon such delicate scales that in +this regard it is perhaps the most cautious, the most prescient, and +the shrewdest of human feelings. In fact Ladislaus observed that his +mother and Miss Anney were bound by a sympathy which, on the part of +youth, health, and strength was productive of a certain friendly care, +and on the part of weakness and old age, of gratitude. All three ladies +were solicitous about his mother, but neither the solicitude of Pani +Otocka, nor that of Marynia, was so vigilant or so efficacious as the +watchfulness of Miss Anney. Pani Krzycki candidly said that even +Ladislaus could not move from room to room with such dexterity the +armchair to which temporary disability had riveted her; that he could +not anticipate and humor her wants as could this light-haired "good +English diviner."</p> + +<p class="normal">To Krzycki, it frequently occurred that certainly this "good diviner" +did all that through kindness and sincere friendship, but also because +she wanted to conciliate his mother. And his heart trembled with joy at +the thought that the moment would arrive when the wishes of his mother +would coincide with that for which he, himself, most strongly yearned. +He feared that a premature avowal might sever the ties which were being +formed and for that reason he checked the word, which often burned his +lips like a flame.</p> + +<p class="normal">After all, there was an avowal in their silence and glances. Ladislaus +did not dare and, until that time, did not wish to tell her plainly +that he loved her; he wanted, however, with each word to clear the path +and approach that eagerly desired moment. In the meantime it happened +that, either from lack of breath he could not speak at all, or else he +said something entirely different from what he intended to say. Once +when they rode amidst luxuriant winter corn and when a light breeze +bent towards them the rye stalks, together with the red poppy and the +gray fescue-grass, he decided to tell her that all Jastrzeb bowed at +her feet; and he said, with a great beating of his heart, in a hollow +voice not his own, "that in places the grain is lying down." After +which, in his soul, he called himself an idiot and fretted at the +supposition that a similar opinion of him must have crossed her mind. +It seemed to him that she, beyond comparison, exercised a better +self-control and that she could always say just what she wished to say. +Consequently, even at times when partly through coquetry and partly +because of her habit of repeating his expressions like an echo, she +answered, for instance, "that in places the grain is lying down," he +discerned in her words an unheard-of significance and later pondered +over them for hours.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he also had, particularly in the morning, moments of greater +tranquillity of mind and greater peace, in which his words were not +like a disarrayed rank of soldiers, each one marching in a different +direction. At times, the themes for these quieter conversations were +furnished by some external objects, but oftener by anxiety occasioned +by the impending separation. Krzycki at such times hid behind his +mother and in her name expressed that which he did not dare to say in +his own.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can imagine," he said the day following the second visit of the +doctor, "how Mother will long for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the maiden, to whom it evidently occurred that not only the mother +but the son would long for her, looked at him a little teasingly, with +the hazy light of her strange eyes, and replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am such a bird of flight that your mother will soon become +disaccustomed to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I warrant you that she will not," exclaimed Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, he added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know Mother; she has fallen in love with you immensely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, hardly ten days have elapsed since we arrived. Is it possible to +fall in love so soon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Ladislaus replied with deep conviction:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is! I give you my word, it is!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was something so naïve in the manner and tone of the reply that +Miss Anney could not refrain from laughing. But he observed this and +began to speak rapidly as if he wished to explain and justify himself:</p> + +<p class="normal">"For do we know whence love comes? Often at the first glance of the eye +upon a human face we have such an impression as if we found some one +whom we were seeking. There are certain unalterable forces which +mutually attract people, although before that time they may have never +met and though they had lived far away from each other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And must such persons always meet each other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," he answered, "I think not always. But then perhaps they are +continually yearning, not knowing for what, and feel an eternal vacuity +in life."</p> + +<p class="normal">And here, in spite of his will, the sincere poetry of youth and +sentiment spoke through his lips:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You called yourself a bird of flight," he said. "Beloved also is that +bird, only not as a bird which flies away but rather as a bird which +flies hitherward. For it flies unexpectedly from somewhere in the +distance--from beyond the mountains, from beyond the sea, and nests in +the heart, and begins to sing such a song that one hearing it would +fain close his eyes and never waken again."</p> + +<p class="normal">And thus he spoke until he grew pale from emotion. For a time he was +agitated, like a whirlwind, by the desire to dismount from his horse +and embrace the feet of the maiden with his arms and cry: "Thou art +that beloved one: therefore do not fly away, my dear bird!" But +simultaneously he was seized by a prodigious fear of that night which +would encompass him if his entreaty should prove futile.</p> + +<p class="normal">So he merely uncovered his head, as if he wanted to display his heated +forehead. A long silence, which fell between them, was only interrupted +by the snorting of the horses, which now proceeded in an ambling pace, +emitting under the bridles a white foam.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which Miss Anney spoke in a subdued voice which sounded a little +like a warning:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hear Pan Gronski approaching with Marynia."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact the other couple soon approached, happy and animated. Marynia, +a few paces away, exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gronski was telling me such beautiful things about Rome. I am +sorry that you did not hear them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"More about the neighborhood of Rome, than Rome itself," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. I was in Tivoli. I was in Castel Gandolfo, in Nemi. Wonders! I +will tease Zosia until in truth we will go there and Pan Gronski with +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you take me along?" asked Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course! We will all go in the autumn or next spring. Did you folks +also talk about a trip?"</p> + +<p class="normal">For a time there was no response.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," Miss Anney finally replied. "We were talking about birds of +flight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, now it is spring and birds do not fly away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, you ladies are making preparations for flying away," +answered Ladislaus with a sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," rejoined Marynia; "but that is because Aunt is going away; and +she"--here she pointed at Miss Anney with her riding whip--"has urged +us all three to go where the doctor is sending Aunt."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which she said to Ladislaus:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would not believe, sir, how honest she is and how she loves Aunt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, not believe? I?" cried Ladislaus with ardor.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Miss Anney, who a short time before had asked him whether one could +fall in love so soon, became greatly confused and, dropping the reins, +began with both hands to set something right on her hat, wishing to +cover with them her countenance which glowed like the dawn.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus had heaven in his heart, and Marynia, for some time, gazed +with her pellucid eyes, now at him and then at Miss Anney, for it was +no secret to her that Krzycki was in love up to his ears, and this +aroused her curiosity and amused her indescribably.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XII</h3> + +<p class="normal">"See what I received to-day," said Ladislaus, handing Gronski a letter +which came with others in the morning mail.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski glanced at it and knit his brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" he said, "a death sentence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the seal of the P. P. S. They are distributing them quite +prodigally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, just like the opposite party."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Both are alike. The notary also has one and the doctor several. What +do you think of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Je m'en fiche! But the situation amuses me. I do not know whether you +have heard that the Provincial guards have unearthed a secret school in +Jastrzeb, which I founded a year ago because my conscience commanded me +to. It is a case which I greased but have not yet greased sufficiently. +As a result, I now have suspended over me the fists of the authorities +and the fists of the socialists. Enjoyable, is it not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has often occurred to me that elsewhere people could not live under +such conditions, and we not only live but laugh quite merrily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For such is our sinewy Lechite nature."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps that is so. You must, nevertheless, be on your guard and it +will be necessary to send the ladies away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be necessary, it will be necessary," repeated Ladislaus. "And +abroad too, for it is unsafe in Warsaw. But please do not say anything +about this foolish sentence to Mother or any one else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mother positively insists upon my accompanying her, and I do not try +to shun that--oh, no, not in the least! But summer is approaching and +after that there will be the harvest. The overseer is an honest man but +before my departure I must give him some specific instructions how and +what he is to do. After they all leave, I would like to stay yet for a +week or ten days. Mother will not be alone and without care, as in the +first place the younger members of the family will be with her, and +again you heard Cousin Marynia say that the ladies will go wherever +Mother would be. Through all my life I will ever be grateful to Miss +Anney for that proposal; for to Mother nothing could be better or more +agreeable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And for her son also, it seems to me," said Gronski, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus remained silent for a time; after which he began to press the +palms of his hands on his temples and replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. For why should I deny that which I confessed to myself and which +everybody sees but Mother, who has not observed it because she seldom +saw us together. But she also has fallen in love with Miss Anney. Who +would not love her? Such a dear, golden creature. I have not, as yet, +said anything to Mother because she has her mind set upon Pani Otocka +and it will be unpleasant for her to give up the thought. I fear she +might be offended. After all, I only know what is taking place within +me, and nothing more. I dare not even say that I have any reasons for +my illusion. I fear that it may all at once burst like a soap-bubble. +Ah! How unhappy I would be. Already I cannot see anything in this world +beyond her. Candidly speaking, I do not know what to do with myself, +Jastrzeb, and life."</p> + +<p class="normal">And grasping Gronski's hand, he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you would only speak with Pani Otocka and ascertain from her +whether I may have hope; for they are friends and certainly do not keep +any secrets from each other. If you would only do this for me; and in +due time speak with Mother! But with Pani Otocka as soon as possible! +Will you do it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have spoken with Pani Otocka about that," replied Gronski, "but +what, do you suppose, she answered? That she could not tell me anything +as Miss Anney confided to her a certain personal secret which she was +not at liberty to divulge. I admit that this surprised me. In reality, +the secret cannot be anything derogatory to Miss Anney, as otherwise +Pani Otocka would not be on such cordial and intimate terms with her. +They are like sisters, and in Warsaw they lived together, almost door +to door. After all, Pani Otocka, it seemed to me, was sincerely in your +favor and, at times, I received the impression that she was concerned +in having matters come to the pass which they have. As for Marynia, she +wriggles her little ears and with that it ends. In any case, be assured +that you have not enemies in those ladies and, if you want to know my +personal views, much less in Miss Anney."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would to God! Would to God!" answered Ladislaus. "You have given me a +little encouragement and I breathe more easily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you, I see, have fallen unto your ears," observed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word that I prefer one of her fingers or the ray of her +hair to all the women in the world. I never had a conception that one +could thus surrender himself. At times I do not know what is happening +to me or what will occur, for only think: I have Jastrzeb, the estate, +the Rzeslewo affairs, Mother's departure, and here I cannot think of +anything but her--but her--and to nothing else can I apply my mind. I +regret every moment in which I do not gaze upon her. To-day, for +instance, I received a summons from the Directory to come in reference +to the will and Rzeslewo, and I postpone the matter until tomorrow. I +cannot--plainly--I cannot! I would go at night were it not that the +Directory is closed for the night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Remember, however, the death sentence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the devil take them with their sentence, or let them finally shoot +me in the head. I would still be thinking of her, especially after what +you have told me. But how do you know that Pani Otocka is in my favor? +Those are honest, golden hearts, both of those cousins! How did you say +it? That they are not my enemies? Thank God, even for that! For, why +should they hate me? But please speak with Pani Otocka again. I am not +concerned about her betraying any secret but only that, knowing Miss +Anney, she should say something one way or the other--you know what I +want--certainty--even though a morsel--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," said Gronski, laughing, "I will seek an opportunity +to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you! Thank you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact an opportunity was easily found, as Pani Otocka also had some +news which she desired to impart to Gronski, and with this object she +sent her maid to him with an invitation to meet her on the yoked elm +walk, near the pond. When they met there she gave him, just as +Ladislaus had done a while before, a letter which arrived in the same +morning's mail and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please read it and advise me what to do with it."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a letter from Laskowicz to Marynia and its tenor was as follows:</p> + +<p class="normal">"A great idea is like a gigantic bird: her wings cast a shadow over the +earth, while she hovers in the sun.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whoever does not fly upwards with her is surrounded by darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And darkness is death.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that darkness, I behold Thee, like an alabaster statuette. This +night the sounds of thy music reach me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And lo, in my lonely chamber I think of Thee and grieve for Thee.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Thou couldst be a beam-feather in the wings of this gigantic bird +idea and inhale the pure air of the dizzy heights and play in glory to +the legions of the living; and Thou breathest the air of tombs and +playest to a life which is moribund and to souls that wither; and not +to people but to ghosts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I grieve for Thee, my silvery one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my thoughts fly to Thee like eagles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heretofore there was imbedded in my strength a part of human +happiness but there was not in it my own happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now Thou suddenly glidest before my eyes like a light, and through my +ears like music, and hast filled my bosom with a yearning for things I +had not known before, and hast filled me with Thine own indispensable +quintessence and a consciousness of my happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore I loved Thee the same night when I beheld Thee and heard +Thee for the first time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Henceforth, though Thou are not near me, I am with Thee and will +follow wherever Thou wilt be.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Thou art necessary to my existence and I am to Thee, in order to +resuscitate Thee.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In order to snatch Thee from destruction; from amidst those who are +about to die.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In order to surrender Thee to the great idea, and the exalted, and the +light, and the living hosts who suffer from a dearth of bread and +music.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thee and Thy music.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May extermination not fail upon you both.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, beloved one.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">"A certain night I summoned Thee but Thou didst not hear me and didst +not come. Now I extend my hands towards Thee and say unto Thee: Come +and slumber in my heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And when the time of awakening comes, I will wake Thee for a brief +moment of pleasure, which love gives for the toil without an end and +which the idea demands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For toil and perchance for martyrdom.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in that martyrdom for the dawn of a new life, there is greater +happiness than in the dusk, mephitic air, ashes and mould of graves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore come even for martyrdom.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And until our existence floats into the sea of nothingness, abide with +me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, beloved one."</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">Gronski's countenance reflected perturbation. For a time he and Pani +Otocka walked in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What shall I do with this, and what does it mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is a disagreeable and vexatious matter, and the letter means that +Laskowicz, who never in his life saw a being like Marynia, has fallen +in love with her from the first acquaintance, as he himself says. I +observed that after a few days and if I did not say anything to you +about it, it was because Laskowicz was soon to leave. But he has fallen +in love with his head and not his heart, for otherwise, instead of +high-flown expressions, borrowed, as it were, from some school of +literature, he would have found simpler and more sincere words. His +exaltation may be sincere, it may waste and destroy him like a fever; +it may last for whole years, but its chief source is the head and not +the heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pani Otocka, who at the moment was not in the least interested in +an analysis of Laskowicz's feelings, interrupted a further +disquisition:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what are we to do, in view of this? How are we to act? It is about +Marynia that I am concerned."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," answered Gronski. "Pardon my untimely reflections, but +it is always better to know with whom and with what one has to do. My +opinion is that it would be best not to do anything, just as if this +letter had not arrived. You may return it to Laskowicz, but that would +be exceedingly contemptuous: this letter deserves, perhaps, to be +thrown into a fireplace, but in my opinion it does not merit contempt. +It is, if you will permit me to thus express myself, nervous and +insolent, but it preserves a certain measure in its expressions and +there is nothing brutal in it. Besides it expresses rather the thoughts +which came to Laskowicz's mind than any actual hopes, and to that +extent it might be explained to Marynia that this is not a letter to +her but a poem for her, not quite felicitously conceived. And Marynia? +What impression did it make upon her and what does she say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Marynia," answered Pani Otocka with a certain comic uneasiness, "is a +little offended, a little worried and frightened, but in the innermost +recesses of her heart, she is a little proud that somebody should have +written such a letter to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I was certain of that," exclaimed Gronski, laughing involuntarily.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a while he began to speak seriously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No doubt other letters will come and as these maybe more glaring, we +will have to persuade the little one that she should not read them. If +you will permit, I will undertake that, after which, you ladies ought +to go to Warsaw, and, in a short time, journey abroad and the matter +will end of itself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To tell the truth," responded Pani Otocka, "I want to leave Jastrzeb +as soon as possible. We are not necessary for Aunt but are rather a +hindrance in the preparations for her departure, and I confess that I +am possessed by fear. Please read that letter again carefully. Why, +there are threats there against all the residents of Jastrzeb and even +against Marynia if she stays with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski thought of Ladislaus receiving at the same time a death +sentence, and in the first moments it occurred to him that it might +have some connection with Laskowicz's letter. But after a while he +recollected that similar sentences were sent to the doctor and even the +aged notary: therefore to pacify Pani Otocka, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are times of continual menaces and everybody receives them, but +I do not think that Laskowicz intended to warn Marynia of any imminent +attack threatening us in Jastrzeb. He undoubtedly wished to say that +the waves of socialism will sweep away all who do not float with it, +and therefore us. But as the peace of yourself and Marynia is involved, +as to leaving, why of course! Why should we not leave even to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I already thought of that, but Aunt urged us to wait for her and +Aninka promised her that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let her remain, and you ladies leave. Ah, so Miss Anney delays +the departure? Good news for Laudie! May I tell him that? A while ago, +he begged me to learn something from you,--for the poor fellow barely +lives. He is the most love-sick swain within the boundaries of the +Commonwealth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it has gone as far as that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has! Evidently there is something inflammatory in the atmosphere of +Jastrzeb. Here everybody falls in love, either openly or in secret."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hearing this, Pani Otocka unexpectedly blushed like a fifteen-year-old +girl, and though this happened often and upon the most trivial +provocation, Gronski being unable to surmise what had passed through +her mind, looked at her with a certain wonder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How then?" he said. "There are Laudie, Laskowicz, and Dolhanski. But +Dolhanski has the most energy, for, after his latest repulse, he +immediately decamps upon a new expedition, while Laudie fears."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?" asked Pani Otocka, raising her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"First, a repulse from which he thinks he could not recover, and, +again, a discussion with his mother which awaits him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps something else awaits Cousin Laudie, but he need not fear +about Aninka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will die from joy when I tell him that, but in my way, I, who am +known to you as a meddler, could die from curiosity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What of it, when I have no right to speak about it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not even when we leave Jastrzeb?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not even then. After all, everything will soon clear up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such case, I have procured enough for the nonce, and in the +meanwhile I will return to Laudie to tell him the good news and apprise +him of our departure. I will not mention anything about Laskowicz's +letter, for tomorrow he will set off for the city and, if they met, a +nasty encounter might result."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XIII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, however, did not go to the city on the day following his +conversation with Gronski, for he was notified that the meeting of the +executors of Zarnowski's will was postponed for one week. The reason +for this was that in two days a convention of the citizens of the +vicinity was to commence in reference to providing insurance for the +superannuated rural officials and manor-servants, and also in regard to +the more burning question of introducing the Polish language into the +communes,--a question in which the communal justices as well as the +villagers were interested. Ladislaus determined, by all means, to +participate in these debates, but as they were to take place in the +forenoons, he formulated a plan of going to them every morning and +returning home in the afternoon. In view of the proximity of Jastrzeb +to the city, this plan was quite feasible.</p> + +<p class="normal">However, he was disappointed in the hope that he could devote those two +days exclusively to the guests, or rather to the most precious of +guests in Jastrzeb, as the disorders in Rzeslewo broke out with renewed +virulence and they required almost all his time. The strike of the +manor help, indeed, ceased so completely that the intervention, which +Dolhanski advised, became superfluous and it was necessary to restrain +it. But in the meantime individual tenants and some of the husbandmen +began to commit depredations in the forest. Ladislaus, at the head of +the local and Jastrzeb foresters, sought these disorderly persons, who, +indeed, hid at the sight of him: nevertheless they assumed a very +threatening attitude towards the servants, promising to all swift +vengeance. The foresters received bulky letters, assuring them "that +they would get a bullet in the head, and the heir also would." But the +heir, who was not wanting in youthful energy and was not averse to +adventure, did not at all neglect the defence of the Rzeslewo forests, +and, what was more, he personally rushed over to Rzeslewo and summoning +the malefactors, declared that he would invoke courts and punishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">And afterwards, he repaired at the designated time to the conference. +It was to be the last day of the sojourn in Jastrzeb of Pani Otocka, +Marynia, and Gronski, who decided to leave on the following day for +Warsaw. Miss Anney, at Pani Krzycki's solicitation, agreed to remain +for a few days, and leave with her. Ladislaus announced that he would +return as soon as possible in order to spend the evening with all of +them and to listen for the last time to Marynia's bewitching violin. He +also said that he would induce the notary and the doctor to come with +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">As a result, they waited dinner for them. In the meantime, about four +o'clock, Gronski sat in his room writing a letter to Dolhanski, +Marynia, upstairs, played her daily exercises, Pani Otocka sat with the +patient, and Miss Anney went out on the balcony, ostensibly to +photograph the old and lofty trees which enclosed the courtyard on two +sides, but in reality to see whether he, whom they expected at home, +was returning. So instead of photographing, she began to lose her sight +and soul in the shady depths of the old linden roadway. Hope that soon +she would behold in that depth a cloud of dust, horses, and carriages, +and that afterwards the lively form of a youth would leap out, filled +her with a quiet joy. Lo, after a while she would see before her that +countenance, stately, sympathetic, and sincere; those eyes, whose every +glance spoke to her a hundred times more than the lips, and would hear +that voice which penetrated to her heart and thrilled it like music. At +this thought, Miss Anney was encompassed with such sweet, calm feeling, +as if she were a child and as if some loved hand were lightly rocking +her to sleep; as if she were resting in a boat, which the gentle waves +bore somewhere into a distance, unknown, but radiant. To permit herself +to be rocked, to allow herself to be borne, to confide in the waves, to +not think, for the time being, of where the boat will stop,--this was +all that the heart of the maiden, at such moments, desired. But at +other moments, when she propounded to herself the question, "What will +happen further?" she looked with faith into the future. Sometimes when +sleep refused to close her eyes, there flitted through her mind, like +dark butterflies, uncertainties and fears, but even then she said to +herself that the heaven may become cloudy in the future, but at present +she was enjoying charming, fair weather, and every day was like a +flower, and she plucked those flowers, one after another and laid them +upon her bosom. So she thought that for this it was worth while to live +and even to die.</p> + +<p class="normal">And at that moment, though her soul was dissolving in the sun, in the +serene atmosphere, in the rustle of leaves and in the great pastoral +calm, flooded with light, she had no desire to die, for it seemed to +her that, with the air, she inhaled joyful appeasement. Everything +about her began to lose the mark of reality and change into an azure +vision of happiness, half dreamy, half wakeful. From this revery she +was aroused by the sight, awaiting which she had sat for almost an hour +on the balcony. Lo, at the uttermost end of the roadway her eagerly +desired cloud of dust appeared and it approached with unusual rapidity. +Miss Anney recollected herself. In the first moments she wanted to +retire. "It is necessary, it is necessary," she said to herself, +"otherwise he will be apt to think that I was waiting for him." And she +would have been sincerely indignant had any one suggested to her that +such was the case. But suddenly her knees became so weak that she sat +again, clutching the camera in order that it might appear that when +found on the balcony she was taking photographs. In the meantime the +cloud drew nearer the gates of entry, continuing with the same speed. +Soon in harmony with the picture which the maiden had previously +formed, the gray heads of the fore horses emerged from the dust. Like +lightning, an impression of joy shook Miss Anney. "How he is flying and +how anxious he is!" But immediately afterwards, as she began to wonder +at the amazing speed, she thought that the horses were frightened. +They were already so close to the gates that she could perceive the +wind-tossed manes, the distended bloody nostrils and the frantic +motions of the horses' feet. Suddenly she rose and her eyes reflected +horror, for she observed that the coachman sat, bent so that only the +top of his head could be seen--without a cap. In the meantime the +intractable horses dashed through the gate; at the winding, the +coachman fell off and the carriage with slightly diminished speed swung +in a semi-circle along the border of the flower-bed. In the carriage, +on the rear seat, Ladislaus sat alone, with his head tilted upwards and +propped upon a carriage cushion. A cry of terror escaped from Miss +Anney's breast. The horses, in the twinkle of an eye, reached the +balcony and being accustomed to stop before it, implanted their hoofs +in the ground. Ladislaus moved and, pale as a corpse, with blood +streaming over his collar and coat sleeves, staggered from the +carriage; when the maiden hurried towards him, he cried, grasping the +air with his mouth:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing!... I am wounded, but it is nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he toppled to the ground at her feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she, in a moment raised him with a strength, amazing in a woman, +and supporting him with her arms and breast, began to shriek:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Save him! Help! Help!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>PART SECOND</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>I</h3> + +<p class="normal">When Miss Anney raised the wounded young man, the household servants +were in the other part of the house. Nearest to her--for they were in +the vestibule playing billiards--were Pani Zosia and Marynia. These +ladies rushed upon the balcony and, seeing Miss Anney supporting the +disabled youth, emulating her example, began to shout at the top of +their voices. She, in the meantime, placed him upon a bench on the +balcony and enclosing him in her arms, called for water. Both sisters +hurried to the sideboard for it and alarmed the whole house. Gronski +and everything living collected there. In the first moments Gronski +lost his head and when he recovered his senses he sent Pani Otocka to +Ladislaus' mother to apprise her of the occurrence. In the meanwhile +Miss Anney ordered the servants to carry the wounded man. She, herself, +was compelled for a while to attend to her maid, who at the sight of +Ladislaus, began to scream and then fell into hysterical convulsions. +Gronski hastened to the stable to dispatch horses for the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">But before the wounded man was borne to his room his mother came +precipitately. At the news of the misfortune, she forgot about her +rheumatism and assisted in the removal of her son, and in undressing +and laying him in bed. Afterwards she began to wash out the wounds with +a sponge. Ladislaus, owing to a copious flow of blood, fell into a long +faint, and, after regaining consciousness for a brief interval, fainted +again: in consequence of which he could not give any information about +the occurrence. He only repeated several times, "In the woods, in the +woods!" From which they could infer that the attack took place, not +upon the public highway but on the borders of Rzeslewo or Jastrzeb.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, the rattle of a britzka resounded before the balcony +and, a moment later, Gronski summoned Miss Anney from her room, where +she was hastily changing her clothes, which were covered with blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am riding alone," he said. "The coachman is on the sick list and the +housekeeper has taken charge of him. None of the grooms want to go. All +are scared and positively refuse. Only the old lackey is willing to +drive, but I think that he cannot drive any better than I can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is imperatively necessary to drive for the doctor at once," +answered Miss Anney, pressing the palms of her hands to her burning +cheeks, "but it is also necessary to prepare for the defence of the +house. Please hurry to the farmers' quarters and send for the forest +rangers to come with their arms. Otherwise those men will be apt to +break in here and administer the finishing blow to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she continued hurriedly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is necessary to send some one for the men in the sawmill and arm +them with firearms. The field hands will follow their example. In all +probability an assault will be made upon the manor-house and here are +only women. You must assume charge of the defence. Please go at once, +and do send for the forest rangers."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski admitted the propriety of the advice, and proceeded immediately +to the farmers' buildings. It was within the range of possibility that +the assailants, not knowing the result of their shooting, might wish to +ascertain and perhaps finish their work. This had happened in several +instances, and in view of this, all, and, more particularly, the women, +were concerned. Gronski was not an energetic man, but no coward, and +the thought of the being most precious to him in the world, Marynia, +infused him with energy. He immediately sent the field hands for the +forest rangers, as well as to the sawmill, where a dozen or more men +worked, of whom it was known in the manor, as well as in the village, +that they read "The Pole" and did not fear any one. The manor domestics +very quickly recovered from their consternation. The reason for this +was that the wounded coachman, though he did not see the assailants who +had fired from thickets, claimed with great positiveness that "the +Rzeslewo people attacked the young heir" on account of disputes about +the forest. This removed from the affair the awe of mystery; and a +peasant does not fear danger but mystery. Besides, as there existed +between the men of Jastrzeb and the men of Rzeslewo an ancient grudge, +dating from the time of the wrangle about bounding the stream, as soon +as the news of the attempt of the Rzeslewo men spread over the village, +those of Jastrzeb ceased not only to fear, but a desire for revenge was +bred in them. The manor servants began to feel ashamed now that they +had refused to drive for the doctor. Others, hearing that Rzeslewo +wished to make an onslaught on Jastrzeb manor, seized pitchforks and +pulled out pickets from the fences. Gronski, aware of the death +sentence received by Ladislaus, viewed the matter differently, but kept +his opinion to himself, understanding that a peasant, though he often +suddenly displays unusual terror, when once he starts to pull out +pickets from fences, does not fear anybody whatsoever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therefore delighted with this turn of affairs, he took with him a stout +groom, who undertook to convey him to the city. But here a surprise +awaited him, for before the balcony there was not a trace of the +britzka and on the balcony stood the old lackey Andrew, with dejected +face, and Marynia, pale, terror-stricken, with tears in her eyes, and +who seeing him began to cry:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could you, sir, permit her to ride alone? How could you do it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Anney drove alone to the city!" exclaimed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And his countenance reflected such amazement that it was easy to +perceive that it had happened without his knowledge or consent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" he said, "she sent me to the farmhouses to arrange the +defence, and it never occurred to me that in the meantime she would +jump into the britzka and drive away. It never occurred to me for a +moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Marynia did not stop her lamentations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will kill her in the woods; they will kill her," she repeated, +wringing her hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, in order to quiet her, assured her that he would send out +succor at once, but returning to the farmhouses, he began to reason +that if he, himself, set out after her on horseback he would accomplish +nothing and would leave the house without a masculine head, and if he +should send the field laborers, before they reached the forest Miss +Anney would outstrip them. It was possible for them to insure, fairly +well, her safe return, but to insure her safe passage through the woods +in the direction of the city it was absolutely too late.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was likewise acknowledged by Dolhanski, who not knowing of +anything, returned by chance a half an hour later from Gorek to +Jastrzeb. Hearing of the occurrence and Miss Anney's expedition, he +could not refrain from exclaiming:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But that is a brave girl. I wish I was Krzycki."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, going with Gronski to see the injured man, he added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will have to go out to meet her. I will attend to that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus was already completely conscious and wanted to rise. He did +not do so on account of his mother's entreaties and adjurations. His +two friends did not tell him who had gone after the doctor. They only +informed him that the doctor would arrive without delay and, after a +short while, left, having something else to attend to. Dolhanski now +assumed command over the improvised garrison which was to defend the +manor-house. Gronski did not expect to find in him such an +extraordinary supply of energy, sangfroid and self-confidence. He soon +imparted this feeling to the household servants and the foresters; and +the organization of the defence was not difficult. Two Jastrzeb forest +rangers and one from Rzeslewo, who came later, had their own firearms, +and in the manor-house were found Ladislaus' six fowling-pieces and, of +these, two were short rifles. Dolhanski distributed this entire arsenal +among men who knew how to use the weapons. A few servants from the +village, who had participated in the Japanese war, appeared. Under +these circumstances there was no fear of a sudden and unexpected +attack. The workingmen from the sawmill, being of the Nationalistic +persuasion, were anxious "that something should happen," so that they +could "show how the teeth of uninvited guests are cleaned."</p> + +<p class="normal">Having arranged everything in this manner, Dolhanski intrusted the +defence of the manor-house and the women to Gronski. Before that, +however, he calmed them as to Miss Anney with the assurance that he +returned from Gorek through the selfsame forest and rode in safety. +This was the actual fact. But what was stranger, he did not meet the +Englishwoman, from which they inferred that the courageous but prudent +young lady evidently drove on another side road. However, as the +distance to the city was not great and her return might be expected +soon, he proceeded to meet her, taking along with him two forest +rangers armed from head to foot. Gronski again was compelled to admire +the shrewdness and ingenuity with which he issued in the name of the +"Central Government" a command to the peasants of the village, that +they should, in case they heard shots in the forest, rush in a body to +their aid. The peasants did not know what this "Central Government" +was. Neither did Dolhanski. He only knew that the name alone would +create an impression, and the supposition that it was some Polish +authority would ensure it a willing obedience.</p> + +<p class="normal">But these were superfluous precautions, as it appeared that there was +no one in the Jastrzeb and Rzeslewo forests which extended along the +other side of the road. The miscreants who fired at Krzycki had +decamped with due haste, evidently from fear of pursuit; or else they +awaited the night, concealed in some distant underwood belonging to +other villages. One of the forest rangers, who had previously fully +questioned the coachman about the place of the ambush, found, while +beating the adjacent thickets, empty revolver cartridge shells, in +consequence of which the supposition arose that the attack was +perpetrated by Rzeslewo peasants. Dolhanski did not doubt that what +happened was a sequel of the death sentence, of which he learned from +Gronski. But this seemed to him "much more interesting." He thought +that to meet the assailants and settle the issue in a proper manner +would be a sort of hazard not devoid of a certain charm. And, in fact, +soon a few more empty shells were found, but further search was without +any results.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Dolhanski turned towards the highway leading to the city, and a +half an hour later met Miss Anney, driving the britzka as fast as the +horses could run; on the rear seat was the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was market-day in the city. It happened therefore that at that time +a dozen or more carts from Jastrzeb and Rzeslewo were returning +homeward, and there was considerable bustle on the road. In consequence +of this, Miss Anney did not become frightened at the sight of three +armed men approaching her from an opposite direction, and, after a +while, recognizing Dolhanski, she began to slacken the speed of the +horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is the wounded man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Conscious. Good."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it in the house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing new."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be praised."</p> + +<p class="normal">The britzka again rolled on and after an interval was hidden in a cloud +of dust, and Dolhanski, having naught else to do, returned also to +Jastrzeb.</p> + +<p class="normal">The forest rangers who were walking behind him began to converse with +each other and interchange their ideas of a lady "who drives as well as +the best coachman." But in Dolhanski's eyes there lingered also the +picture of a young and charming maiden, with reins in hand, glowing +countenance and wind-tossed hair. How much resolution and vivacity +there was in all this! Never before did Miss Anney appear to him so +enchanting. He knew from Gronski in what manner she had dashed to the +city, and he was sincerely captivated by her. "That is not one of our +transparent, jelly maidens who quiver at the slightest cause," he said +to himself, "that is life, that is bravery, that is blood." He always +admired everything which was English, beginning with the House of Lords +and ending with the manufactured products of yellow leather, but at the +present time his admiration waxed yet greater. "If her marriage portion +is reckoned not in Polish gold pieces but in guineas," he soliloquized +farther, "then Laudie was born with a caul." As he was an egotist, as +well as a man of courage, he, after a while, ceased to bother his head +about Krzycki and the danger which threatened all, and began to +ruminate over his own situation in the world. He recollected that at +one time he could have sold himself for a fat marriage settlement but +with such an appendage that he preferred to renounce all. But if he had +only found such an appendage as Miss Anney! And suddenly he was beset +by regret that, after making her acquaintance, he had not been more +attentive to her and had not tried to arouse in her an interest in +himself. "Who knows," he thought, "whether at the proper time, that was +not possible." But, in such case, it was proper for him to appear +before her as more knightly and romantic and less sardonic and fond of +club life. Evidently that was not her genre. Above all he could pot +delude himself as to Pani Otocka. Dolhanski, from a certain time, had +suspected his cousin of a secret attachment for Gronski, and at the +same time could not understand what there was in Gronski that a woman +could like. At the present time he was harassed by certain doubts about +himself, for he felt, contrary to the good opinion which he entertained +of himself, that there was something lacking in him; that in his +internal mechanism some kind of wheel was wanting, without which, the +entire mechanism did not go as it should. "For if," he cogitated +farther, "I can sustain myself upon the surface, only through a rich +marriage and my genre pleases neither Pani Otocka, nor Miss Anney, nor +women in general, then I am a twofold ass: first because I thought I +could please and again because I cannot afford to change." And he felt +that he could not afford to change because of his indolence and from a +fear that he would appear ridiculous.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In view of this it will perhaps be necessary to end with Kajetana with +her appurtenances."</p> + +<p class="normal">In a sour temper he returned to Jastrzeb and, having given orders to +the night watch, he went into the house where he received better news. +The doctor announced that Ladislaus had a lacerated left shoulder, but +as the shot was fired from below and went upwards, the bullet coursed +above the lungs. The second shot grazed over the ribs, tearing a +considerable portion of the flesh, while the third one carried off the +tip of the small finger. The wounds were painful but not dangerous. The +coachman received a scalp wound. The most severely injured was the left +forehorse, who, however, owing to the small calibre of the bullet was +able to gallop with the other horses, but died an hour after the +return.</p> + +<p class="normal">All of which, however, tended to prove that the attack was not the +swift revenge of the landless of Rzeslewo in defence of the forest +rights, but a premeditated attempt. For this reason Gronski was of the +opinion that Pani Otocka and Marynia ought to leave the following day. +He wanted to escort them himself to the railroad station and then +return. But both declared that they would remain until all were able to +leave. On this occasion Marynia, for the first time in her life, +quarrelled with Gronski and the matter actually ended in this, that +Gronski had to yield. After all, the departure was not delayed for a +long time, for the doctor promised that if great caution was observed, +they could transfer the injured man to Warsaw in the course of a week. +No one suggested an immediate departure to Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">The rest of the evening was passed in conference. About ten o'clock Dr. +Szremski, having performed all that was required of him, wanted to +leave for the city, but out of regard for Pani Krzycki he remained for +the night, and as he was much fatigued, he went to Gronski's room and +fell asleep at once. The ladies divided the work among themselves in +this manner: the two sisters were to watch Pani Krzycki, who after the +temporary excitement suffered severely from heart trouble and asthma. +Miss Anney in conjunction with Gronski undertook to pass the night with +the wounded young man.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>II</h3> + +<p class="normal">Out in the world the first glow of dawn was just visible when Ladislaus +awoke, after a fitful and slightly feverish sleep. He did not feel +badly; only a thirst was consuming him; he began to seek with his eyes +for some one near who could give him water, and espied Miss Anney +sitting at the window. She must have watched a long time for she dozed, +with her hands resting inertly upon her knees, and her head was bowed +so low that Ladislaus at first caught only a glimpse of her light hair, +illuminated by the light of the green lamp. She immediately started up +however, as if she had a premonition that the patient was awake, and it +seemed to him that she divined his thoughts, for, approaching +noiselessly, she asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish any water?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki did not answer; he only smiled and winked his eyes in sign of +assent; when she handed the drink to him, he eagerly drained the glass, +and afterwards gently taking her hand in his own, which was uninjured, +he pressed it to his lips and held it there a long time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dearest ... my guardian angel," he whispered.</p> + +<p class="normal">And again he pressed her hand to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney did not even withdraw her hand; only with the other one she +took the glass and placed it upon the small cupboard standing near the +bed. She bent over him and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is necessary for you to keep quiet.--I will be with you until you +get well, but now it is essential that you think only of your health; +only of your health."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice sounded in tones of quiet and gentle persuasiveness. +Ladislaus dropped her hand. For some time he moved his lips, but not a +word could be heard. Evidently, he was weakened from emotion, as he +grew pale and beads of perspiration stood upon his forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney began to wipe his face with a handkerchief and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please be calm. If I thought that I was harming you, I would not come +here, and I do want to be with you now. Not a word about anything until +the wounds are healed; not a word. Promise me that."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence ensued.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the lady retire for a rest," Krzycki said in a pleading voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go, I will go, but I am not at all tired. During the first half +of the night, Pan Gronski sat up at your side and I slept. Really, I am +not tired and I will sleep during the day. But you, sir, try to sleep. +All that is necessary is for you not to look at me, and close your +eyes. Then sleep will come of itself. Good-night, or rather good-day, +for the day is breaking in the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact the morning's dawn reddened and gilded the sky, and the sun was +about to rise at any moment. The light of the green lamp grew paler +each moment and was merging into the brightness of the day. Ladislaus, +desiring to show how he obeyed every word of his beloved guardian, +closed his eyes, pretending to sleep, but after a while footsteps were +heard in the hallway and the doctor entered accompanied by Miss Anney's +maid, whose turn it now was to attend to the patient. The doctor was so +terribly drowsy that instead of eyes he had two slits surrounded by +swollen eyelids, but he was as jovial and noisy as usual. He examined +the bandages, admitted that the dressing was in proper shape, felt the +pulse, and found everything in good order. Afterwards he opened the +windows to freshen the air which was saturated with iodoform.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A splendid morning," said he. "Health flows from the skies. Let the +windows remain open all day. As soon as they hitch the horses, I shall +return to the city for I have patients who cannot wait. But I will come +back in the evening and bring a nurse for our wounded friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, addressing Miss Anney, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only do not let it get into your head to drive for me, alone. The +injured man is getting along nicely--a slight fever, very slight. I +will see Pani Krzycki before I leave. Do not let her leave her bed all +day, and let her nieces watch her. To you, sir, I recommend the bed. It +is permissible to inhale but not to breathe one's last breath. Ha! I +will return about five in the evening, unless indeed, I am forced on +the road to swallow a few pills from the socialist pharmacy. That is a +stylish medicine and, it must be confessed, acts quickly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is Mother?" asked Ladislaus in alarm.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this the doctor again turned to Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Order him to lie quiet for he will not mind me. Your mother has more +than fifteen years. Yesterday she started up suddenly, forgetting her +rheumatism and weak heart action, laid you in bed, waited for my +arrival; was present at the dressing, and after learning that there was +no danger--at once! bah!--it was necessary to put her to bed. That is +always the way with our women. But nothing is the matter with your +mother; the usual reaction after a nervous strain. When she came to +herself, I ordered her to remain in bed and not to appear here under +the penalty of death--for you. With that, I restrained her. Otherwise +she would have stuck here all night. Now your filigree cousins are +watching her. They also almost turned topsyturvy; then I would have had +four patients in one house. That would be a harvest--ha? Luckily there +was to be found in this house one soul with different nerves, who did +not swoon poetically. Ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How he is chattering," thought Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the doctor began to gaze with great respect at Miss Anney and +continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rule Britannia! It is a pleasure to look at you, as I love God! What +health, what nerves! She sat up all night until the morning,--and +nothing! As if she freshly shook the dew off herself! I repeat once +more, it is a pleasure to behold you. I am going to the dining-room to +see if they will not give me some coffee before I leave, for I am +hungry."</p> + +<p class="normal">But before he left he said to Miss Anney and her maid:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the lady go with me and drink something warm before going to +sleep, and you, little miss, sit here beside Pan Krzycki. It will be +necessary to take his temperature and write it down. In case anything +happens let Pan Gronski know. I will tell him to look in here +occasionally. Good-by!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Allowing Miss Anney, who smiled at the wounded man and repeated +"Good-by," to pass before him, he followed her. In the dining-room, +they found not only coffee, but the two sisters with Gronski and +Dolhanski. The former had sat up all night with Pani Krzycki, whose +illness was much more serious than the doctor told the son. At one time +it was even so serious that it was doubtful whether she would revive +from a long faint. Both "filigree" sisters were almost worn out, and +Marynia had eyelids of actual lily color. Gronski, by all means, wanted +the doctor to examine her and prescribe something strengthening.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he, feeling her pulse for a while, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will prescribe for you, miss, as a medicine, a certain maxim of +Confucius, which says, 'If thou wouldst know the truth, it is better to +sit than stand, better to lie down than sit, and rather than lie down, +it is better to sleep.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is all very well," she answered, "but after all that has taken +place, I do not know whether I can sleep."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let some one sing to you the lullaby, 'Ah, ah! Two little +kittens'; but only not your sister, as for her I prescribe the +same--until it is effective."</p> + +<p class="normal">The rattle of the britzka interrupted further conversation. The doctor +swallowed the hot coffee and took his leave. Dolhanski followed him and +mounted a horse, held by a stable-boy. He announced that he would +accompany the doctor through the forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is for my safety, then it is absolutely unnecessary," said the +doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I ride on horseback daily," replied Dolhanski, "and besides I want to +see whether some May party has not again come to the Jastrzeb forest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," answered the doctor, laughing. "I do not think that they will +reappear so soon. They have in these matters a certain method. They +prefer to be the hunters rather than the quarry, and understand that +now it might come to a man hunt. In about a week or two, when they find +out that their attempt was unsuccessful, it will be necessary to be +more guarded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When will Krzycki be able to leave?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It all depends upon the purity of his blood; and I presume that it is +pure. After all, it will not be necessary to wait in Jastrzeb for a +complete cure. He had a pretty close call; that cannot be gainsaid. For +if I had not come the same day, infection might have set in. But the +antiseptic did its work. Ah, that Englishwoman who looks through a +heavenly mist. There is a woman for me. What? Would you believe that at +first I was upset with indignation at you gentlemen for permitting her +to drive under those circumstances? Only later did she tell me the +actual facts. If I do not fall in love with her, I am a marinated +herring without milt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would not advise it," said Dolhanski, "as it seems that in that +territory there already has appeared a William the Conqueror."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so? It may be possible! That also has occurred to my +mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it because the English prudery has disappeared in a corner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. Nursing a wounded man is a woman's duty and, in view of that, +prudery must retire to a corner. Even yesterday's expedition +demonstrated only courage and energy. But through that heavenly mist +there reach our wounded friend such warm rays that--oh! But that does +not prevent me from being in love. If old Dzwonkowski fell in love with +your little cousin why should not I indulge in the same pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the same way you might fall in love with Saint Cecilia," said +Dolhanski. "My cousin is not a woman on two feet, but a symbol."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he stopped abruptly for he heard some voices coming from the depth +of the forest and he sped his horse towards them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless this clubman does not carry his soul on his shoulder," +thought the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it was only a false alarm, as it was merely village boys tending +cattle. The doctor, who alighted from the britzka to rush to +Dolhanski's assistance in case of need, soon saw them among the forest +thickets. After a while Dolhanski reappeared and pressing on his eye +the monocle which some twigs had displaced, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is only an innocent rural picture; cowherds and cows trespassing +in other people's forests; nothing more."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he bade the doctor adieu and returned to the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney had not yet retired to sleep, for he found her conversing +with Gronski and engaged in winding iodoform gauze. At the sight of +him, she raised her eyes from her work and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anything new in the forest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, indeed; something has happened to the doctor. He has been shot."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this, both suddenly rose, startled:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? Where? In the forest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! In Jastrzeb," answered Dolhanski.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>III</h3> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus complied in every particular with Miss Anney's injunctions +for, immediately after she left, he dozed again and did not waken until +the rays of the sun, which had ascended high in the heaven, fell +on his head. He then knit his brows and, having partly shaken off +his drowsiness, requested that the roller-blinds be lowered. The +black-haired maid approached the window, wishing to lower them, but as +she did this too eagerly and did not retain her hold on the string, the +roller-blind dropped so suddenly that it loosened completely from the +fastenings and tumbled down on the window sill. Then the maid, ashamed +of her awkwardness, leaped upon the chair and from the chair to the +sill and began to place anew the rollers in the rings. Krzycki looked +at her bent form; at her upraised arms and at her black coiled hair, +with a not yet conscious gaze, blinking his eyes as if he could not +recall for the time being who that was; and not until she jumped from +the frame, displaying at the same time graceful and plump limbs in +black stockings, did he know who was before him; and he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! It is Panna Pauly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is I," answered the girl. "I beg your pardon for making so much +noise."</p> + +<p class="normal">She blushed like a rose under his glance, and he recollected how he +once saw her attired only in azure watery pearls; so he gazed at her +with greater curiosity and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That does not matter. I thank you, little Miss, for your solicitude."</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time, as a sign of gratitude, he moved the hand lying on +the bed-quilt but feeling simultaneously a piercing pain, he made a wry +face and hissed.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she sat on the edge of the bed, leaned over him, and asked with +intense anxiety:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does it pain?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I hand you anything? Shall I call any one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a certain time, silence followed. Ladislaus frowned and clinched +his teeth; after which, drawing a deep breath, he said, as if with a +certain rage:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This was done for me by those scoundrels."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, if they only fell into my hands," she replied through her set +teeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Such a fathomless hatred glistened in her eyes and her entire +countenance assumed such an expression of cruelty, that it might serve +as a model for a Gorgon face. Ladislaus was so astonished at this sight +that he forgot about his pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again silence ensued. The maid recollected herself after a while, but +her cheeks grew so pale that the dark down above her lips became more +marked:</p> + +<p class="normal">She then asked: "What can I do to relieve you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Her voice now rang with such cordial solicitude that Ladislaus smiled +and answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing, unless it be to commiserate with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And in a moment she was transported with spasmodic grief; she flung her +face at his feet, and, embracing them with her arms, began to kiss them +through the quilt. Her raven-like head and bent body shook from +sobbing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why little lady! Panna Pauly!" cried Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he was compelled to repeat this several times before she heard him. +Finally she rose and, covering her eyes with her hands, went to the +window, pressed her face against the pane, and for some time remained +motionless. Afterwards she began to wipe her eyes and readjust her +hair, as if in fear that somebody, entering unexpectedly, might surmise +what had taken place.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, all the moments in which he had come in contact with +her coursed through Ladislaus' mind, commencing with meeting her on the +dark path, when she told him that a were-wolf did not look like that, +and the vision in the bath-room, until his conversation with her, after +that vision, on the yoked elm grove near the pond. He recalled how from +that time she alternately reddened and grew pale at the sight of him; +how she drooped her eyes and how she sent them after him whenever it +seemed to her that he was not observing. From one view, Ladislaus +accepted this as the sequel of the incident in the bath-room; from +another as admiration for his shapeliness. This admiration, indeed, +flattered his masculine vanity, but he did not give it much thought, +as, having his mind absorbed with Miss Anney, her servant did not +concern him. Now, however, he understood that this was something more +than the blandishments of an artful chambermaid after a handsome young +heir, and that this maiden had become distractedly infatuated with him +and in a kind of morbid manner. His love for Miss Anney was too deep +and true for him to be pleased with such a state of affairs or for him +to think that after his wounds were healed he could take advantage of +the maiden's feelings in the fashion of a gallant. On the contrary, the +thought that he had unwittingly aroused such feelings appeared +disagreeable and irksome to him. He was seized by a fear of what might +result from it. There came to him, as if in a vision, troubles, scenes, +and entanglements, which such a passion might produce. He understood +that this was a fire with which he could not thoughtlessly play; that +he would have to be careful and not give her any encouragement. He +decided also, notwithstanding the pity and sympathy he felt in the +depth of his heart for the maiden, to avoid in the future all +conversations, all jests, and everything which might draw her nearer to +him, encourage intimacy, or provoke in the future outbursts similar to +the one of that day. It even occurred to him to request Miss Anney not +to send her to him any more, but he abandoned that resolution, +observing that it might cause sorrow or cast upon him a shadow of +ludicrousness. Finally he came to the conclusion that above all it was +incumbent upon him not to ask the maid about anything; not to demand +any explanation as to the meaning of that outbreak and those tears, and +to behave coolly and distantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the maiden, at the window, having regained her +composure, again approached the bed and spoke in a meek and hesitating +voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg your pardon, sir. Be not angry at me, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">He closed his eyes and only after an interval replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Little lady, I am not angry, but I need peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg pardon," she repeated yet more meekly.</p> + +<p class="normal">However she observed that he spoke in a different tone, drier and +colder than previously, and intense uncertainty was depicted upon her +countenance, for she did not know whether this was the momentary +dissatisfaction of the patient, who, in reality, did desire quiet or +whether it was the displeasure of the young heir at her--a servant +maid--having dared to betray her feelings. Fearing, however, to again +offend him, she became silent and seating herself upon the chair which +Miss Anney had occupied, she took from the commode the work which +previously had been brought and began to sew, glancing from time to +time with great uneasiness, and as if in fear, at Ladislaus. He also +cast stealthy glances at her, and seeing her regular features, as if +carved out of stone, her sharply outlined brows, the dark down above +her lips, and the energetic, almost inflexible, expression of her face, +he thought that it would be much easier for a man who could arouse the +thoughts and feelings of such a girl to form various ties than later to +be able to free himself from them.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p class="normal">Contrary to expectations, the doctor did not arrive that day, owing to +an unusual number of engagements and a few important operations which +he was compelled to perform without delay. Instead, he sent a young +hospital attendant, skilled in dressing wounds, with a letter in which +he requested Gronski to inform the ladies that they should consider his +postponed visit as proof that no danger actually threatened the wounded +man. Ladislaus, however was not pleased with this news, for the wounds +tormented him acutely; particularly the flesh torn by the bullet along +the ribs afflicted him painfully; and besides, his mother felt worse. +The asthmatic spell recurred, after which a general weakness followed, +so that notwithstanding her warmest wishes she was not able to rise +from her bed. Pani Otocka did not leave her for the entire day, and at +night her place was to be taken by Miss Anney, who, however, needing +rest after the recent events and, passing a sleepless night, was sent +to sleep by both sisters and Gronski. The rôle of the housekeeper of +Jastrzeb was assumed by Marynia, for she wanted by all means to be +useful, and was not permitted to attend to the patients. Instead, she +was intrusted with all the keys; the management of the house; with +conferring and taking an accounting with the cook whom she feared a +little and did not like, because he looked upon her as if she was a +child who was amusing herself rather than one upon whose shoulders +rested the responsibility of superintending everything. She adopted a +mien full of importance, but nevertheless "the dear gentleman," that is +Gronski, had to promise that he would be present, as if by chance, in +the room when the accounting was taking place.</p> + +<p class="normal">As, after the arrival of the doctor on the third day, it appeared that +Ladislaus' condition was quite favorable and Pani Krzycki's asthmatic +spells were leaving her and her nerves were getting in order, the +general aspect of Jastrzeb became calmer and happier. Dolhanski began +to fill with a certain humor the rôle of a generalissimo of all the +armed forces of Jastrzeb while Gronski played the part of military +governor. The doctor brought with him a second nurse, who thenceforth +was to alternate with the one who came previously. This relieved the +ladies of the house of the necessity of continual watchfulness and +unnecessary fatigue. Ladislaus alone was dissatisfied with the +arrangement, for he understood that now Miss Anney would not pass days +and nights in his chamber, and that in all probability he would not see +her until he was able to leave his bed. In fact, it happened that way. +Several times during the day she would come to the anteroom, send +through the attendants whatever was needed, inquire about his health +and also send a "good-night" or "good-day" but would not enter the +room. Ladislaus sighed, swore quietly, and made life miserable for his +attendants, and when he learned from Dolhanski of the enthusiasm with +which the doctor spoke of Miss Anney he began to suspect him of +purposely sending the attendants in order to make it more difficult for +him to see her. His mother rose the fourth day and, feeling much +better, visited him daily and sat up with him for hours. Ladislaus +often asked himself the question whether she surmised his feelings. +They were indeed known to all the guests in the house, but there was a +possibility that she did not suspect anything, as for a considerable +time before the occurrence in the forest she did not, in truth, leave +her room; in consequence of which she seldom saw her son and Miss Anney +together. Krzycki often deliberated over the question whether he should +speak with his mother at once about it or defer the matter to a later +date. In favor of the first thought, there was the consideration that +his mother, while he lay in bed wounded, would not dare to interpose +any strenuous objections from fear that his condition might grow worse. +But on the other hand, such calculation, in which his beloved one and +the whole happiness of his life were involved, appeared to him that day +as miserable craftiness. He thought besides that to extort an assent +from his mother through his sickness would be something derogatory to +Miss Anney, before whom the doors of the Jastrzeb manor-house and the +arms of the entire family should be widely and joyfully opened. But he +was restrained by another consideration. And this was that, +notwithstanding the conversation he at one time had with Gronski, +notwithstanding the words he exchanged with the lady, notwithstanding +her solicitude, her sacrifices, and the courage with which she did not +hesitate to drive for the doctor, and finally notwithstanding the +visible marks of feeling which could be discerned in every glance she +bestowed upon him, Ladislaus doubted and did not dare to believe in his +own good fortune. He was young, inexperienced, in love not only up to +his ears but like a student; therefore full of alternating +uncertainties, hopes, joys, and doubts. He doubted also himself. At +times he felt at his shoulders wings, as it were, and in his soul a +desire for lofty flights; a latent ability to perform acts clearly +heroic; and at other times he thought: "Who am I, that such a flower +should fall upon my bosom? There are people who are endowed with +talent; who possess education; and others who have millions, and I, +what? I am a mere nobleman farmer, who will all his life dig the soil, +like a mole. Have I then the right to pinion to such a life, or rather +to confine in a sort of cage such a paradisiacal bird, which soars +freely across the firmament for the delectation and admiration of +mankind?" And he was seized by despair. But when he pictured to himself +that the moment might arrive when this paradisiacal bird might fly away +forever from him, then he looked upon it with amazement as if upon a +calamity which he did not deserve. He also had his hours of hope, +especially in the morning when he felt better and stronger. Then he +recalled everything that had taken place between them, from her first +arrival at Jastrzeb and his meeting her at Zarnowski's funeral until +that last night when he pressed her hand to his lips and gained greater +confidence. Why, at that time, she told him "not a word about anything +until the wounds are healed." Therefore through that alone she gave to +him the right to repeat to her that she was dearer to him than the +whole world and to surrender into her hands his fate, his future, and +his entire life. Let her do with them what she will.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile his mother will accustom herself to her, will grow +more intimate, and become more attached to her. And her maternal heart +is so full of admiration and gratitude for what Miss Anney had done for +him that from her lips fell the words "God sent her here." Ladislaus +smiled at the thought that his mother, however, ascribed the sacrifices +and courage of the young maiden not to any ardent feeling but to an +exceptionally honest heart, as well as to English training, which was +conducive to energy alike in men and women. And she had likewise +repeated to Pani Otocka several times that she would like to bring up +her Anusia to be such a brave woman; give her such strength, health, +and such love for her "fellow-men." Pani Otocka smiled also, hearing +these praises, and Ladislaus thought that Miss Anney perhaps would not +have done the same for her fellow-men, and this thought filled him with +happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eventually he became quite certain that his mother would consent to his +marriage with Miss Anney, but he was anxious as to how she would agree. +And in this regard he was much distressed. His mother, judged by former +requirements and conceptions, was a person of more than medium +education. She possessed high social refinement, read a number of +books, and was proficient in the French and Italian languages. During +her younger days she passed considerable time abroad, but only her +closest friends could tell how many national and hereditary prejudices +were concealed in her and to what extent all that was not Polish, +particularly if it did not of necessity come from France, appeared to +her peculiar, outlandish, strange, and even shocking. This appeared +accidentally once before the attack upon Ladislaus when she saw Miss +Anney's English prayer-book and, opening it, noticed a prayer beginning +with "Oh Lord." Belonging to a generation which did not study English, +and having lived in retirement for many years in Jastrzeb, Pani Krzycki +could not imagine the Lord other than a being with yellow whiskers, +dressed in checkered clothes, and to Marynia's great amusement could +not by any means understand how the Divinity could be thus addressed. +In vain Ladislaus explained to her that in the French and Polish +languages analogical titles are given to God. She regarded that as +something different, and exacted a promise from Miss Anney that she +would pray from a Polish book, which she promised to buy for her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally the fact that Miss Anney was not in all probability a member of +the nobility would play an important part. Ladislaus feared that his +mother, having consented to the marriage, might in the depths and +secrecy of her soul, deem it a mésalliance. This thought irritated and +depressed him immeasurably and was one of the reasons why he postponed +his consultation with his mother until their arrival in Warsaw.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was angered yet more at his enforced confinement in his bed; so that +for three days he declared each evening that he would rise the +following morning, and when on the fourth day Miss Anney and Marynia +said to him through the doorway, "Good-day," he actually did get up, +but in his weakened condition, he suffered from dizziness and was +forced to lie down again. He was steadily improving, however; he +continued to sigh more and more and felt his inactivity most keenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have got enough of this loquacious doctor," he said to Gronski, +"enough of dressings and iodoform. I envy not only you, sir, but even +Dolhanski, who is roaming about on my horses all over creation, and +very likely reaches as far as Gorek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does," answered Gronski gayly, "and this leads me to think that he +makes a mystery of it, for he has ceased to talk about those ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">This was but a half truth for Dolhanski did actually go to Gorek but +did not remain entirely silent about the ladies, for returning the next +day, he entered Ladislaus' room, bearing with him still the odor of the +horse, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Imagine to yourself that the Wlocek ladies received a command from +some kind of committee from under a dark star to pay under the penalty +of death one thousand roubles for 'party' purposes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you have it!" cried Gronski. "Now that is becoming an every-day +occurrence. Who knows whether similar commands are not awaiting us upon +our desks in Warsaw?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what of it?" asked Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing," answered Dolhanski; "those ladies first argued as to who was +to first expose her breast to shield the other; then fainted; after +that they came to, then began to bid each other farewell, and finally +asked me my advice as to what was to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what advice did you give them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I advised them to tell the executors of the command, who would come +for the money, that their plenipotentiary and treasurer, Pan Dolhanski, +resided at such and such address in Warsaw."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, did you advise them to do that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such a case, they will undoubtedly call upon you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can imagine what rich booty they will get! I also will have some +recreation in these tedious times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me," said Gronski, "the times are trying; that is certain, but +no one can say that they are tedious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But for whom?" answered Dolhanski. "If I ever borrow money from you, +then I will have to conform to your inclination, but before that time +you cannot draw me into any political discussion. In the meantime I +will only tell you this much, that I am the only social microbe that +can remain at perfect peace. All that I require is that 'bridge' should +be going normally at the club and soon this will be impossible. These +times may be interesting to you but not for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At any rate," observed Gronski, "a certain ventilation of torpid +conditions is taking place, and since you compared yourself to a +microbe, by the same token, you admit that these are times for +disinfection."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Dolhanski turned to Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank Gronski," he said, "for the disinfection started with you; from +which the plain inference is to be drawn that you are a more harmful +microbe than I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Get married, get married," answered Ladislaus banteringly; "for you, a +good marriage settlement would be the best cure for pessimism."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be possible, as in that case, I may have something with which +I can leave this dear country and settle elsewhere. I once told you +that Providence speaks through the lips of little innocents. But I +should have thought of marriage when in the perspective there were no +Goreks, but instead, four million franks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you have such an opportunity?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you see me here. It happened in Ostend; an old Belgian relict of a +manufacturer of preserves, and having cash to the amount specified, +wanted to marry me and that for the waiting."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And nothing. I remember what Pan Birkowski, who at that time was in +Ostend, told me. 'Do business,' he said. 'At the worst, you may leave +the old woman two millions and leave her in the lurch, and you can take +two millions with you and enjoy yourself like a king.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what did you say to that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I said this to that: What is that? Am I to give from my own +hard-earned money two millions to an ugly old woman? For nothing! And +now I think that for a mere quibble, I permitted a fortune to slip away +from me and that the time may come when owing to a 'retirement from +business' I will have to sacrifice myself for a smaller price."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski and Ladislaus began to laugh, but Dolhanski, who spoke with +greater bitterness than they supposed, shrugged his shoulders and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amuse yourselves, amuse yourselves. One of you already has received a +taste of the times and the other, God grant, will not escape so easily. +Nice times, indeed! Chaos, anarchy, political orgy, lack of any kind of +authority, the dance of dynamite with the knout, and the downfall of +'bridge.' And you laugh!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>V</h3> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless that which Dolhanski said about a want of any kind of +authority appeared to be not exactly the truth, for, after an interval +of one week, the authorities did give signs of life.</p> + +<p class="normal">An imposing armed force, together with gendarmes and police, made its +appearance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of course the perpetrators of the attempt upon Krzycki did not wait a +whole week for the arrival at Jastrzeb of a military relief, as they +evidently had engagements in other parts of the county. As a result the +Jastrzeb, as well as the Rzeslewo, forests appeared to be deserted.</p> + +<p class="normal">In lieu of this, about a score of men in Jastrzeb, itself, were placed +under arrest. Among these were the two forest rangers, the old coachman +who was wounded at the time of the attack, and all the workingmen at +the sawmill.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the manor-house all the passports were verified with exceeding care, +reports were written, and the host, hostess, and guests, not excluding +the ladies, were subjected to a strict examination.</p> + +<p class="normal">From these examinations it developed that in reality they did not come +on account of the attempt upon the proprietor of Jastrzeb, but for the +purpose of apprehending a dangerous revolutionist, a certain Laskowicz, +who, according to the most reliable information secured by the police, +was hiding in Jastrzeb and was shielded by its denizens.</p> + +<p class="normal">The declaration of the Krzyckis to the police, that in due season the +passport of Laskowicz was forwarded, and if Laskowicz had left the city +he must have received it, as well as the assurances of all present that +Laskowicz was not in Jastrzeb did not find any credence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The authorities were too experienced and shrewd to believe such +nonsense and they detected in them "an evil design, and want of +sincerity and cordial candor."</p> + +<p class="normal">The house also was subjected to a most painstaking search, beginning in +the garret and ending in the cellar. They knocked on the walls to +ascertain whether there were any secret hiding places. They searched +among the dresses and linen of the women; in the hearth, under the +divans, in the drawers, in the boxes for phenicine pastilles, which +Gronski brought with him; and finally in the manor outbuildings, in the +mangers of the stable, in the milk churners, in the tar-boxes, and even +in the beehives, whose inmates, undoubtedly being permeated with the +evil-disposition prevalent in Jastrzeb, resisted the search in a manner +as evil disposed as it was painful.</p> + +<p class="normal">But as the search, notwithstanding its thoroughness and the +intelligence with which it was conducted, was not productive of any +results, they took a hundred and some tens of books, the farm register, +the entire private correspondence of the hosts as well as the guests, +the bone counters used in playing cards, a little bell with a +Napoleonic figure, a safety razor, a barometer, and, notwithstanding +the license which Krzycki possessed, all the fowling pieces, not +excepting a toy-gun with which corks were shot and which belonged to +little Stas.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus himself would have been undoubtedly arrested as an +accomplice, if the doctor, who treated the captain for his heart +trouble, had not arrived and if Dolhanski, growing impatient beyond all +endurance, had not shown the captain a message before sending it to the +city. It was addressed to the highly influential general W., with whom +Dolhanski played whist at the club, and it complained of the brutality +and the arbitrariness of the search.</p> + +<p class="normal">This to a considerable extent cooled off the ardor of the captain and +his subordinates, who previously, at the scrutiny of the passports, had +learned that Dolhanski was a member of the club.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this manner Ladislaus preserved his liberty, supplemented by police +surveillance, and little Stas regained his toy-gun for shooting corks. +The captain could not return the arms as he had peremptory orders in +black and white to confiscate even the ancient fowling-pieces of the +whole community.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Doux pays! Doux pays!" cried Dolhanski after the departure of the +police. "Revolvers now can be found only in the hands of the bandits. +In view of this I will submit to a demission as the commander-in-chief +of the Jastrzeb armed forces, land as well as naval. We are now +dependent upon the kindness or unkindness of fate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go to Warsaw, ladies and gentlemen, to-morrow," said the doctor; "here +there is no joking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us go to Warsaw," repeated Dolhanski, "and, not losing any time, +enroll in the ranks of the believers in expropriation. I regard social +revolutionists as the only insurance association in this country which +does really insure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From accidents," added Krzycki; "and we shall insure with my personal +friend and 'accomplice' Laskowicz."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Dolhanski replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That accomplice gave you a payment on account. In the future you will +receive yet more."</p> + +<p class="normal">To Gronski's mind came thoughts of the personal enmity of the young +medical student to Krzycki and the letter of Laskowicz to Marynia, of +which he among the men in Jastrzeb alone knew.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was quite probable that Laskowicz saw in Ladislaus a rival and +future aspirant for the hand of Panna Marynia who, besides, had nipped +in the bud his work in Rzeslewo and that he might have thought that he +actually could gratify his hatred from personal consideration, and in +the name of the "cause."</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz, himself, in his own way, might have been an honest man, but +the party ethics were, in relation to the antiquated morality, +revolutionary, and sanctioned such things.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at present there was not much time to ponder over that; so after a +while Gronski waved his hand and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whether or not the hand of Laskowicz is imbrued in this the future +will show. Now we must think of something else. I assert positively +that I will take away my ladies from here, but I wish that the entire +Jastrzeb family would follow my example."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, he addressed the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would it be safe for Ladislaus to travel to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He? Even as far as England," answered the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski and Dolhanski laughed at these words but Ladislaus blushed like +a student and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will be necessary to inform the ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And to-morrow the general exodus will take place," added Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he went to the ladies, who received the news of the decision with +evident relief. Both sisters decided to have Pani Krzycki at their +residence in Warsaw, but she, desiring to be with her son, would not +accept the invitation; and only consented when Gronski announced that +he would take Ladislaus to his home and guaranteed that he should not +suffer for want of care and comfort. Miss Anney, whose apartments were +directly opposite to those of Pani Otocka also offered her rooms for +the use of the younger members of the Krzycki family and their female +teachers. In the meanwhile the doctor permitted Ladislaus to get up, so +that he would not have to start on his journey directly from his bed. +In the evening the entire company assembled on the garden veranda. +There was missing only Dolhanski who rode off to Gorek, for he had +decided to advise Pani Wlocek and Panna Kajetana to remove to the city +likewise. Ladislaus, after a considerable loss of blood and a somewhat +lengthy confinement in bed, looked pale and miserable, but his +countenance had acquired a more subtile expression and actually become +handsome. At the present time the ladies were occupied with him, as an +invalid, with extraordinary watchfulness. He was a person who attracted +general sympathy; therefore, though from time to time his eyes grew +dim, he assured his mother that it was well with him, and he really was +delighted to breathe the fresh evening air. At times he was overcome by +a light drowsiness. Then he closed his eyelids and the conversation +hushed, but when he opened them again he saw directed towards himself +the eyes of his mother and, illuminated by the setting sun, the young +faces of the ladies, which appeared to him simply angelic. He was +surrounded by love and friendship; therefore it was well with him. His +heart surged with feelings of gratitude, and at the same time with +regret that those good Jastrzeb days would soon end. In his soul he +cherished a hope that he would not be absent from Jastrzeb long, and +promised himself a speedy return, and he promised this with all the +strength with which a person craves happiness. Nevertheless, the times +were so strange, so uncertain, and so many things might happen which it +was impossible to foresee, that involuntarily a fear generated in his +heart as to what turn the current of events would take; what the future +of the country would be, and what, in a year or two, would become of +Jastrzeb, which, indeed, became precious to him for it opened before +him the portals, beyond which he beheld the great brightness of +happiness. Love, as well as a bird, needs a nest. So Ladislaus plainly +could not conceive of himself and the light-haired lady being anywhere +else than at Jastrzeb. For this, his heart beat with redoubled force, +when glancing at her, he indulged in fancies and imagined that perhaps +after a year, or sooner, she will sit upon the same veranda, as the +lady of the house and as his wife. Then he turned towards her and asked +her with his soul and eyes: "Dost thou guess and perceive my thoughts?" +But she, perhaps because she was restrained by the presence of so many +witnesses, did not reply to his glances; sitting as if immersed in +thought and letting her gaze follow the swallows, which flitted so +nimbly above the trees of the garden and the pond. Ladislaus, when he +now looked at her was impressed, as if with certain admiration, at the +contrast between her full-grown form, powerful arms, and well developed +bosom and her small, girlish face. But he saw in all this only a new +charm and spell under whose powers there flew at times through his love +a burning desire similar indeed to pain and stifling the breath in his +breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the sun sank measurably and began to bathe in the ruddy +evening twilight. From the freshly mown lawns came a strong fragrance +of the little hay heaps, which were warmed by the daily summer heat. +Somehow the air with the approach of night became more bracing, for, +from the alder-trees bordering on the pond, came from time to time a +cool breath, so weak and light, however, that the leaves on the trees +did not stir. The swallows described curves higher and higher above the +reddened surface of the pond. In the lofty poplars with trimmed tops a +stork clattered in his nest, now stooping with his head backward and +then lowering it as if bowing to the setting sun or officiating at the +evening vespers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will play something as a farewell to Jastrzeb," Marynia suddenly +announced.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, beloved creature!" said Gronski; "shall I go for the stand and +notes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. I will play something from memory."</p> + +<p class="normal">And saying this, she handed to Miss Anney an album with views of +Jastrzeb, and hurried upstairs. In a short time she returned with her +violin. For a time she kept it propped on her shoulder and raising her +eyes upwards, considered what she should play. She selected Schumann's +"Ich grolle nicht." The overflowing tones filled the quiet of the +garden. They began to sing, muse, long, and weep; oscillate, hush, and +slumber, and with them the human soul acted in unison. Sorrow became +more melancholy, yearning more longing, and love more tender and deeply +enamoured. And "the little divinity" continued playing--white in her +muslin dress--calm, with pensive eyes lost somewhere in the illimitable +distance, immaculate, and as if borne to heaven by music and her own +playing. To Gronski it seemed that he had before him some kind of +mystic lily, and he began in his soul to say to her, as it were, a +litany, in which every word was a worship of the little violinist, +because she was playing and she awoke in him a love as destitute of the +slightest earthly dross as if she were not a maiden composed of blood +and flesh, but in reality some kind of mystic lily.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marynia had ceased to play and her hand, with the violin, hung at her +side. No one thanked her; no one uttered a word, for the strains of +that music lingered with all and, echo-like, it was yet playing within +them. Pani Otocka unwittingly drew nearer to Gronski as if they were +attracted towards each other by their mutual worship of this beloved +child. In Pani Krzycki's eyes glittered tears, which under the spell of +the music were contributed and provoked by memories of former years and +the present suffering of her son and fresh worries about him, and the +uncertainty of the future. Miss Anney sat in reverie, holding +unknowingly between her knees the album, which during Marynia's playing +had dropped from her hands; and through the open doors, in the already +dimmed depths of the salon, could be seen the indistinct form of a +woman, who evidently also was listening to the music.</p> + +<p class="normal">A somewhat stronger breeze which blew from the alder-trees awoke all, +as if from a half-dream. Then Pani Krzycki turned towards her son:</p> + +<p class="normal">"A chill is coming from the pond. Perhaps you may wish to return to +your room."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," he answered, "I feel better than I have felt for a long time."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to assure her that he did not feel any chill and +afterwards appealed to the doctor, who, lulled to sleep by the music, +could not at once understand what was the matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can Laudie remain?" asked Pani Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He can, he can; only as soon as the sun disappears, it will be +necessary to cover him better."</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards the doctor looked at his watch and added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is time for me to go, but I have had so few evenings like this that +it is a hardship to leave. As God sees, it is a hardship."</p> + +<p class="normal">And here he began to rub his fatigued brow with the palm of his hand. +Pani Krzycki and Ladislaus declared that they would not permit him to +leave before supper. The doctor again looked at his watch, but before +he could make any reply there appeared upon the veranda the same +feminine figure that had been listening to the music in the depths of +the parlor, but this time with two plaids upon her arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that you, Pauly?" said Miss Anney. "Ah, how sensible you are."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Panna Pauly began to cover Ladislaus with the plaids. She placed +one over his shoulders and the other around his limbs. In doing this +she knelt and bent in such a way that for a moment her breast rested on +Krzycki's knee.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, little Miss, thank you," he said, somewhat confused.</p> + +<p class="normal">She glanced quickly into his eyes and then left without a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I have taken your plaids," Ladislaus said addressing Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That does not matter. I am dressed warmly. Only, you, sir, will have +to take care that the wounded shoulder is well covered."</p> + +<p class="normal">And approaching him, she began to push lightly and carefully a corner +of the plaid between the back of the chair and his shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not hurting you?" she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no. How can I thank you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he looked at her with such enamoured eyes that for the first time +it occurred to his mother that there might be something more than +gratitude in this.</p> + +<p class="normal">She glanced once or twice at Pani Zosia's delicate countenance, and +sighed, and her heart was oppressed with fear, disquiet, and regret. +This was her ideal for her son; this was her secret fancy. She, indeed, +had fallen in love with her whole soul with the young Englishwoman, and +if foreign blood did not course in her veins, she would not have had +any objections, but nevertheless this first fleeting suspicion that the +structure, which she, in her soul, had erected from the moment she +became intimate with Zosia, might crumble, was to her immeasurably +disagreeable. For a time she felt, as it were, a dislike for Miss +Anney. She determined also from that moment to observe them both more +carefully, and to speak with Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But in the further course of the evening her hopes revived, for when +the company returned to the salon it seemed to her after a time that +what she had seen on the veranda was an illusion. In fact that day did +not end for Ladislaus and Miss Anney as serenely as the setting sun had +augured. A cooler wind blew between them, and Pani Krzycki could not +know that the reason for it, on the part of her boy, was jealousy. Miss +Anney, after the return to the parlor, began, on the side, a +conversation with the doctor which continued so long that Ladislaus +became irritated. He observed that she spoke not only with animation, +but also with a desire to please. He saw the brightened visage of the +doctor, from which it was easy to read that the conversation afforded +him sincere pleasure, and a serpent stung Ladislaus' heart. He could +not overhear what Miss Anney was saying. It seemed to him only that she +was urging something. On the other hand, the doctor could not speak so +quietly, but to Krzycki's eavesdropping ears from time to time came +such fragmentary expressions as "I intended to do that, only after a +week"; "Ha!" "Some may object"; "If that is the case, very well"; "It +is well known how England conquers"; "Good, good."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus decided with all possible coolness to ask Miss Anney whom +England had now subjugated and whether the newspapers had made any +mention of it, but when Miss Anney and the doctor at the conclusion of +their tête-à-tête had rejoined the rest of the company, he changed his +plan and, with the offended dignity of a schoolboy who is ready not +only to spite those dear to him but also himself, he determined to +cover himself with the cloak of indifference. With this view he turned +to Zosia and began to inquire about the Zalesin estate and begged her +permission to inspect it; and she told him that it would give her great +pleasure. He thanked her so warmly that his mother was led into an +error. Miss Anney tried several times to participate in the +conversation, but receiving from him indifferent replies, surprised and +slightly touched, began to listen to what Gronski was saying.</p> + +<p class="normal">After supper the doctor announced that he would have to leave. For a +while he spoke with Gronski, and then took his leave of the ladies, +repeating, "Until to-morrow; at the railway station." He advised +Ladislaus to return immediately to his room and secure a good rest +before proceeding on his journey. Gronski, after escorting the doctor +to the gate, accompanied Ladislaus to his room, and when they found +themselves alone, perceiving his mien and easily surmising the cause +asked: "What ails you? You are so agreeable."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Krzycki answered with some irritation: "I am still feeling weak; +otherwise I am as usual."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Gronski shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These," said he, "are the usual misunderstandings of lovers, but you, +above all, are a child and caused her unpleasantness. And do you know +what for? Simply because she urged Szremski to accompany you to +Warsaw."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus' heart quivered, but he put a good face on a bad matter and +would not yet be reconciled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not feel at all weak and can get along without his assistance."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Gronski replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night to you and your logic."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Ladislaus when he was undressed and in bed, suddenly felt tears +welling in his eyes and began with extraordinary tenderness to beg +pardon of--the pillow.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VI</h3> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, who by nature was very obliging and devoted to his friends, +was at the same time a man of ample means and high culture; in +consequence of which Ladislaus found in his home not only such care as +sincere good will alone can bestow, and comforts, but also various +things which were lacking in Jastrzeb. He found, especially, books, a +few paintings, engravings, and various small objects of vertu; +moreover, the residence was spacious, well-ventilated, and not +over-crowded with unnecessary articles. Thanks to the host a highly +intellectual and esthetic atmosphere prevailed, in which the young heir +felt indeed smaller and less self-confident than in Jastrzeb, but which +he breathed with pleasure. He was seized, however, with a fear that by +a lengthy stay he would cause his older friend trouble, and on the +following evening he began to argue with Gronski about going to a +hotel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even the doctor considers me well," he said. "The best proof of it is +that he permits me to go about the city in three days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard something about five," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But that was yesterday; so, not counting to-day, three remain. You +have your habits which you must not change on my account. It is indeed +a pleasure to look at all these things; so I will come here, but it is +one thing to visit you for an hour, or even two, and another to +introduce confusion into your mode of life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will only say this," answered Gronski, "Pani Otocka and Panna +Marynia regard me as an old bachelor and promised to make a call +to-morrow, or the day after, as they have often done before, in the +company of Miss Anney. Do you see that armchair? On it, during the +music-playing, sat your light-haired beauty. Go, go to the hotel, and +we will see who, besides your mother, will visit you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are too good."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am an old egotist. You see that I have a few old household effects, +which, during the course of my life, I have collected; but one thing, +though I were as rich as Morgan and Jay Gould combined, I can +unfortunately never buy, and that is youth. And you have so much of it +that you could establish a bank and issue stock. From you rays plainly +emanate. Let them illuminate and warm me a little. In other words, do +not worry, and keep quiet if you are comfortable here with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I only do not desire to be spoiled by too much attention, for, +speaking sincerely, I feel I am strong enough now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much the better. Thank God, Miss Anney, and the doctor that the +journey did not injure you. That is what I feared a little."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It did not hurt me, neither did it help."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I had a hope that on the road I could tell my bright queen +that which I hid in my soul, but in the meantime it developed that this +was a foolish hope. We sat in the compartment like herrings. The doctor +hung over me continually, like a hangman over a good soul, and there +was not a chance, even for a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never, never make any avowals in a railway car, for in the rumble and +noise the most pathetic passages are lost. Finally, as Laskowicz has +not dispatched you to the other world, you will easily find an +opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you really think that it was the work of Laskowicz?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. But if ever I should ascertain that it was he, I would not be much +surprised; for such a situation, in which one could gratify self and +serve a good cause, occurs rarely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How gratify self and serve a good cause?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good in his judgment. Do you not live from human sweat and blood?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is very true. But why should my death afford him any +gratification personally?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because he has conceived a hatred for you; has fallen in love with +some one and regards you as a rival."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hearing this, Ladislaus jumped up as if scalded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, would he dare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I assure you that he would dare," replied Gronski quietly, "only he +made a mistake. But that he is not wanting in courage he gave proofs +when he wrote an avowal of love to Marynia."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus opened wide his eyes and began to wink:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What was that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not want to speak to you about it in Jastrzeb, as at that time +you often drove to the city. I feared that you might meet him and might +start a disagreeable brawl. But at present I can tell you every thing; +Laskowicz has fallen in love with Marynia and wrote a letter to her, +which of course remained unanswered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And he thought that I also am in love with Marynia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me; that would not be anything extraordinary. He might have +overheard something. Whoever is in love usually imagines that every one +is reaching after the object of his love. Understand that Laskowicz did +not confide in me, but that is my hypothesis which, if it is erroneous, +so much the better for Laskowicz. The party sent you a death sentence +in consequence of his reports and this was working in his hand for +personal reasons. After all, he may not have participated personally in +the attempt--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you see him after that letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could I see him, since he wrote after his departure. But it was +lucky that I advised Pani Otocka to burn that lucubration, for if the +letter had been found during the search at Jastrzeb, you can readily +understand what inferences the acuteness of the police might have +drawn."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anger glittered in Ladislaus' eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I prefer that Miss Anney be not involved," he said; "nevertheless I +would not advise Laskowicz to meet me. That such a baboon, as Dolhanski +says, should dare to lift his eyes to our female relative in our home +and, in addition thereto, write to her--this I regard plainly as an +insult which I cannot forgive."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In all probability you will never meet him; so you will not move a +finger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I? Then you do not know me. Why not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Among other reasons, out of consideration for our pleasant situation. +Consider; duels they will not accept and in this they are right. What +then? Will you cudgel him with a cane or pull his ears?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is quite possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait! In the first place there was nothing in the letter resembling an +insult and, again, what further? The police would take you both into +custody, and there they would discover that they had caught Laskowicz, +a revolutionary bird, whom they have been seeking for a long time and +would send him to Siberia, or even hang him. Can you take anything like +that upon your conscience?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the deuce take these times," cried Ladislaus. "A man is always in +a situation from which there is no escape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As is usual between two anarchies," answered Gronski. "After all, this +is a slight illustration."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further conversation was stopped by the entrance of a servant who +handed to Gronski a visiting card and he, glancing at it, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ask him to step in."</p> + +<p class="normal">Afterwards he asked Ladislaus:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know Swidwicki?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard the name, but am not acquainted with the man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a relative of Pani Otocka's deceased husband. A very peculiar +figure."</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment Swidwicki entered the room. He was a man of forty years, +bald, tall, lean, with an intelligent and sour face, and at the same +time impudent. He was attired carelessly in a suit which appeared to +fit him too loosely. He had, however, something which betrayed his +connection with the higher social spheres.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is Swidwa?" Gronski began.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he introduced him to Ladislaus and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened to you? I have not seen you for an age."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, you were out of the city."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; but before that time you did not show up for a month."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In my old age I have become an anchorite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I am wearied by the folly of men who pass for reasonable +beings and by the malice of men who pose as good. Finally, I now roam +all over the streets from morning until night. Ah! There exist 'Attic +Nights,' 'Florentine Nights,' and I have a desire to write about +'Warsaw Days.' Delightful days! Titles of the separate chapters 'Hands +up! The Rabble on Top.' 'Away with the Geese.' Do you know that at this +moment there are so many troops patrolling the streets that any one +else in my place would have been arrested ten times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, but how do you manage to avoid it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I walk everywhere as peacefully as if in my own rooms. The way I do it +is simple. As often as I am not drunk, I pretend to be drunk. You would +not believe what sympathy and respect an intoxicated person commands. +And in my opinion this is but just, for whoever is 'under the +influence' from morning till night is innocent and well thinking; upon +him the so-called social order can rely with confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely. But the social order which depended upon such people would not +stand upon steady legs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who, to-day, does stand on steady legs? Doctrines intoxicate more than +alcohol--therefore at this moment all are drunk. The empire is +staggering, the revolution is reeling, the parties are floundering, and +a third person stands on the side and looks on. Soon all will tumble to +the ground. Then there will be order, and may it come as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You ought to be that third person."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The third person is the German and we are fools. We begin by falling +to loggerheads, and have reached such a state that the only salvation +for our social soul would be a decent civil war."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he became silent and after a while turned to Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see that your eyes are wide open, but nevertheless it is so. A civil +war is a superb thing. Nothing like it to clarify the situation and +purify the atmosphere. But to be led to such a situation and not to be +able to create it is the acme of misfortune or folly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I confess that I do not understand," said Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski motioned with his hand and remarked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not attempt to, for after every fifteen minutes of conversation you +will not know what is black and what is white and your head will swim, +or you will get a fever, which as a wounded man you should try to +avoid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," said Swidwicki, "I had heard and even read in some newspaper of +the occurrence and paid close attention to it because in your home Pan +Gronski and Pani Otocka with her sister were being entertained. I am a +relative of the late aged Otocka. Those women must have been scared. +But if they think that they are safer here in the city they are +mistaken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Judging from what can be seen, it is really no safer here. Have you +seen those ladies yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I do not like to go there."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this, Ladislaus, who by nature was impetuous and bold, frowned, and +looking Swidwicki in the eyes, replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not ask the reason, for that does not interest me, but I give you +warning that they are my relatives."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whose cause a young knight would have to champion," answered +Swidwicki, gazing at Ladislaus. "Ah, no! If I had any intention of +saying anything against the ladies I would not say it, as Gronski would +throw me down the stairs and I have a favor to ask of him. What I said +is the highest praise for them and simply gall and wormwood for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beg pardon, again; I do not understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For you see that for the average Pole to have respect for any one and +not to be able to sharpen his teeth upon him is always annoying. I +cannot speak of the ladies as I would wish, that is, disparagingly. I +cannot endure ideal women; besides that, whenever it happens that I +pass an evening with them, I become a more decent man and that is a +luxury which in these times we cannot afford."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus began to laugh and Gronski said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you that surely your head would swim."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which to Swidwicki:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he should get any worse, I will induce him to send the doctor's and +apothecary's bill to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is the case, I will go," answered Swidwicki, "but you had +better come with me into another room for I have some business with you +which I prefer to discuss without witnesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">And, taking leave of Ladislaus, he stepped out. Gronski accompanied him +to the ante-room and after a while returned, shrugging his shoulders:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a strange gentleman," said Ladislaus. "I hope I am not +indiscreet, but did he want to borrow any money from you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Worse," answered Gronski. "This time it was a few Falk engravings. I +positively refused as he most frequently returns money or rather he +lets you take it out of his annuity, but books, engravings, and such +things he never gives back."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he making a collection?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the contrary he throws or gives them away; loans or destroys them. +Do I know? You will now have an opportunity of meeting him oftener, for +though I refused to loan them, I permitted him to come here to look +over and study them. He undoubtedly is writing a book about Falk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, so he is a literary man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He might have been one. As you will meet him, I must warn you a little +against him. I will describe him briefly. He is a man to whom the Lord +gave a good name, a large estate, good looks, great ability, and a good +heart, and he has succeeded in wasting them all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even a good heart?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Inasmuch as he is a rather pernicious person, it is better that he +does not write. For you see that it may happen that somebody's brains +decay, just as with people, sick with consumption, their lungs decay. +But no one has the right to feed the nation with the putrefaction of +his lungs or his brains. And there are many like him. He does not act +for the public weal but merely for his own private affairs. Do you know +how he accounts for not accomplishing anything in his life? In this +way: that to do so one must believe and to believe it is necessary to +have a certain amount of stupidity which he does not possess. I am not +speaking now of religious matters. He simply does not believe that +anything can be true or false, just or unjust, good or bad. But Balzac +wisely says: 'Qui dit doute, dit impuissance.' Swidwicki is irritated +and filled with bitterness by the fact that he is not anything; +therefore he saves himself by paradoxes and turns intellectual +somersaults. I once saw a clown who amused the public by giving his cap +various strange and ridiculous shapes. Swidwicki does the same with +truth and logic. He is also a clown, but an embittered and spiteful +one. For this reason he always holds an opinion opposite to that of the +person with whom he is speaking. This happens particularly when he is +drunk, and he gets drunk every night. Then to a patriot he will say +that fatherland is folly; in the presence of a believer he will scoff +at faith; to a conservative he will say that only anarchy and +revolution are worth anything; to the socialist that the proletariat +have 'snouts.' I have heard how he thus expressed himself, and only for +this reason, that he, 'a superman,' might have something to hit at when +the notion seizes him. And thus it is always. In discussion he shines +with paradoxes, but sometimes it chances that he says something +striking because in all criticism there is some justice. If you wish, I +will arrange such a spectacle, though for me he has a certain regard, +firstly, because he likes me, and again because I have rendered him a +few services in life. He promised to repay me with black ingratitude, +but in the meantime he does not molest me with such energy as the +others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And no one has yet broken his bones," observed Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does not, in the least, retreat from that. He himself seeks trouble +and there is not a year in which he does not provoke some encounter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the taverns?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not only there. For belonging by name and family connections to the so +called higher walks of life, he has many acquaintances there. Two years +ago, indeed, the artists gave him a good cudgelling in a tavern; and, +for instance, Dolhanski (their dislike is mutual) shot him last spring +in a duel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, that was when I heard his name; now I remember."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps you heard it before, for previously he had a few affairs about +women, as, in addition, he is a great ladies' man. Finally he is an +unbridled rogue."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to women? or up to date?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not an old man. For some time he has been in the state where he +likes not ladies but their maids. Fancy that not long ago he was so +smitten with Miss Anney's maid,--the same brunette who nursed you a +little in Jastrzeb,--that for a time he was continually dogging her +steps. He said that once she reviled him on the stairway but this +charmed him all the more."</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki at the mention of the brunette who nursed him in Jastrzeb +became so confused that Gronski noticed it, but not knowing what had +passed between him and Pauline, judged that the enamoured youth was +offended at the thought that such an individual as Swidwicki should +bustle about Miss Anney. So desiring to remove the impression, he +remarked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He says that he does not like to call upon those ladies, but Pani +Otocka does not welcome him at all with enthusiasm. She receives him +merely out of respect for the memory of her husband, who was his cousin +and who, at one time, was the conservator of his estate. After all, it +is probable that Swidwicki feels out of place among such ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For microbes do not love a pure atmosphere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This much is certain: there is within him 'a moral insanity.' I have +become accustomed to him, but there are certain things in him I cannot +endure. You have no idea of the contemptuous pity, the dislike, and the +downright hatred with which he expresses himself about everything which +is Polish. And here I call a halt. Notwithstanding our good relations, +it almost came to a personal encounter between us. For when he began to +squirt his bilious wit, a certain night, on all Poland, I said to him, +'That lion is not yet dead, and if he dies we know who alone is capable +of kicking at a dying lion.' He did not come here for over a month, but +was I not right? I understand how some great hero, who was repaid with +ingratitude, might speak with bitterness and venom of his country, but +Swidwicki is not a Miltiades or a Themistocles. And such an outpouring +of bile is directly pernicious, for he, with his immensely flashing +intellect, finds imitators and creates a fashion, in consequence of +which various persons who have never done anything for Poland whet +their rusty wits upon this whetstone. I understand criticism, though it +be inexorable, but when it becomes a horse or rather an ass from which +one never dismounts, then it is bad, for it takes away the desire to +live from those who, however, must live--and is vile, because it is +spitting upon society, is often sinful and, above all, unprecedentedly +unfortunate. Pessimism is not reason but a surrogate of reason; +therefore, a cheat, such as the merchant who sells chiccory for coffee. +And such a surrogate you now meet at every step in life and in +literature."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Gronski became silent for a while and raised his brows; and +Krzycki said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"From what you say, I see that Swidwicki is a big ape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At times, I think that he is a man incredibly wretched, and for that +reason I did not break off relations with him. Besides he has for me a +kind of attachment and this always disarms one. Finally, I confess +openly that I have the purely Polish weakness, which indulges and +forgives everything in people who amuse us. He at times is very +amusing, especially when in a talking mood and when he is tipsy to a +certain degree."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But finally, if he does not work but talks, from what does he live?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does not belong to the poor class. Once he was very wealthy; later +he lost a greater portion of his fortune. But in the end the late +Otocki who was a most upright man, and very practical besides, seeing +what was taking place, took the matter in his own hands, saved +considerable and changed the capital into an annuity. From this +Swidwicki receives a few thousand roubles annually, and though he +spends more than he ought to, he has something to live upon. If he did +not drink, he would have a sufficiency: one passion he does not +possess, namely, cards. He says that for cards one must have the +intellect of a negro. From just that arose the encounter with +Dolhanski. But after all, they could not bear each other of old. Both, +as some one had said, are commercial travellers, dealing in cynicism +and competing with each other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Between the two, I, however, prefer Dolhanski," said Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because he amuses you, and Swidwicki has not thus far had the +opportunity. Eternally, it is the same Polish weakness," answered +Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a while he added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Dolhanski it is easier to see the bottom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And at that bottom, Panna Kajetana."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At present it may, in truth, be so. Do you know that Dolhanski brought +those ladies with him on the train which followed ours? He told me also +that they would at once pay a visit to your mother and Pani Otocka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will really call upon them to-day?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I call there daily. But as you are not permitted to go out, I +will invite the ladies to come here to-morrow afternoon for tea."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you most heartily. I am not allowed to go out but I could +drive over."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My servant told me that by order of the Party a strike of the +hackdrivers will begin to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then how can those ladies ride over here to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the private carriages. Unless they are forbidden to ride in +private.--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case Mother will be unable to see me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it is quiet upon the streets, I will conduct her here and escort +her home. At times it is so that one day the streets are turbulent as +the sea, and the next, still and deserted. In reality it is a relative +security; for whoever goes out to-day in the city cannot feel certain +that he will return. If not these then the others may stick in your +side a knife or a bayonet. But for women it is comparatively safe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under these circumstances, it would be better if my mother did not +visit me at all. I prefer to stay out those three days which Szremski +has imposed upon me, to exposing her or any of those ladies to peril. +Please postpone that 'five o'clock.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps it will be necessary to do that. But your mother will not +consent to not seeing you for three days. Maybe some one else will +importune me that I should not defer the party."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus' face glowed with deep and tender joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell Mother that worry about her may harm me and cause a fever, and +tell that other one that I kiss the hem of her dress."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. Such things you must say yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that I could not only tell her that as soon as possible, but do +it. In the meantime I have a favor to ask of you. Please send your +servant to the city. If he is afraid let him call a messenger. I would +like to send that other one a few flowers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then send also some to your cousins, as otherwise your mother will be +prematurely surprised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely she would be astonished, for owing to her sickness she saw us +so little together that she could not take in the situation. But soon I +will confess all to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will only tell you what Pani Otocka said to me. She said this: 'Let +Ladislaus not speak with his mother before his final interview with +Aninka as otherwise he would be unable to tell her everything.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki looked Gronski quickly in the eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you not know what the matter is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know that I have never been accused of a lack of curiosity," +answered Gronski, "but I judged that Pani Otocka has sufficient reasons +for remaining silent, and, therefore, I did not question her about +anything."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Gronski actually did postpone his "five o'clock." Pani Krzycki, +however, visited her son, sometimes twice in a day, claiming justly +that less danger threatened an elderly woman than any one else. +Ladislaus passed long hours with her, speaking about everything, but +mostly about Miss Anney. After Gronski's admonition, he did not, +indeed, confess to his mother his feelings for the young Englishwoman +and did not mention a word about his intentions, but the fact, alone, +that her name was continually on his lips, that he ascribed his +preservation to her alone, and incessantly talked about the debt of +gratitude which he and his family owed to her, gave his mother much to +think about. The suspicion, which had flitted through her mind on the +eve of their departure from Jastrzeb, returned and became more and more +strongly fortified. She did not, indeed, take it for granted that +Ladislaus had already taken an unbreakable resolution but came to the +conclusion that he was "smitten" and finally that the light-haired +maiden had made a greater impression upon him than had his cousin +Otocka. This filled her with sorrow. During the journey and their few +days' sojourn in Warsaw she took a fancy to Miss Anney for her +demeanor, simplicity, and complaisance; but "Zosia Otocka" was the +little eye in her head. From the moment she met her in Krynica, she +never ceased dreaming of her for her son. She judged that, in respect +to nobility and delicacy of sentiment, no one could compare with her. +She regarded her as a chosen soul and the incarnation of womanly +angelicalness. She had awaited her arrival with palpitation of the +heart, not supposing for a moment that Ladislaus would not be +captivated by her figure, her sweet countenance, that maidenly charm, +which, notwithstanding her widowhood, she preserved in full bloom. And +until the end Pani Krzycki indulged in the hope that all would end +according to her desires, not taking into account the fleeting +impression in Jastrzeb; only during the journey to Warsaw and in the +course of the last few days did she note that it might happen +otherwise, and that Ladislaus' eyes were enraptured by another flower. +She preferred, however, not to question him for she thought that it +might yet pass away.</p> + +<p class="normal">He, in the meantime, chafed as if imprisoned, and would undoubtedly +have not observed those few days which the doctor stipulated, were it +not for the fact that he had made a promise to his mother in Miss +Anney's presence, and feared to create an opinion in her eyes that he +was a man who did not keep his word. After the advice which Pani +Otocka, through the instrumentality of Gronski, gave him that he should +first speak with Miss Anney, it became more unendurable for him to sit +in the house. From morning till night he racked his brain as to what +that could be and could arrive at no satisfactory solution. The day +following the conversation with Gronski, he decided to ask Pani Otocka +about it by letter and sat down with great ardor to write. But after +the first page he was encompassed by doubt. It seemed to him that he +could not express that which he wished. He understood that, under the +address of Pani Otocka, he was really writing to Miss Anney. So he +yearned to make it a masterpiece, and in the meantime came to the +conclusion that it was something so bungling and maladroit that it was +impossible to forward it. Finally he lost all faith in his stylistic +accomplishments, and this spoilt his humor so far that he again began +to ask himself in his soul whether such "an ass," who is unable to +indite three words, has the right to aspire to such an extraordinary +and in every respect perfect being as "She." Gronski, however, +comforted him with the explanation that the letter was not a success +because from the beginning the project was baffling and under such +circumstances no one could succeed. After which he also called his +attention to another circumstance, namely, that from Pani Otocka's +words and her advice that an interview with Miss Anney should precede +any talk with his mother could be drawn the inference that there +everything was prepared for an explosion, and all means preventative of +a heart-break had been provided. Mirth immediately returned to +Ladislaus and he began to laugh like a child and afterwards again sent +to the three ladies bouquets of the most magnificent roses which Warsaw +could provide.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day concluded yet more propitiously, for proofs of appreciation +arrived. They were brought to Gronski's house by Panna Pauly in the +form of a small and perfumed note, on which was written by the hand of +the light-haired divinity the following words: "We thank you for the +beautiful roses and hope for an early meeting." Further came the +signatures of Agnes Anney, Zosia Otocka, and Marynia Zbyltowska. +Krzycki pronounced the letter a masterpiece of simplicity and +eloquence. He certainly would have kissed each letter of it separately, +were it not for the fact that before him stood Panna Pauly, with +clouded face, and eyes firmly fixed upon him--uneasy and already full +of suspicious jealousy, though obviously not knowing against which one +of the three ladies it was to be directed. Krzycki, not concealing the +joy which the letter gave him, turned to her and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is new, little Miss? Are the ladies well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. My mistress instructed me to inquire about your health."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kindly thank her. It is excellent, and if I am not shot again, I will +not die from the first shooting."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she, not taking her bottomless eyes off him, replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be praised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But that you, little Miss, should not fear to go out in such turbulent +times!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The lackey was afraid, but I do not fear anything and wanted to see +for myself how you were."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a daring body for me! I am grateful to you, little Miss. +Since this stupid strike of hackmen ended to-day, it is better for you +to return by hack. Please accept this--for--"</p> + +<p class="normal">While saying this, he began to search for his purse, and taking a +five-rouble gold piece, he offered it to her. At the same time he felt +that he was doing something improper, and even terrible. It was so +disagreeable to him that he became confused and reddened, but it seemed +to him that any other method of showing his gratitude would be food for +the feeling which he perceived in her and which he wished to dispel, +because of some strange kind of fear intensified even by the fact that +the girl was Miss Anney's maid.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therefore he began to repeat with a forced and slightly silly smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please, Panna Pauly, take it, please--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But she withdrew her hand and her face darkened in a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you," she said. "I did not come for that."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she turned towards the door. To the dissatisfaction with himself +which Krzycki felt was joined pity for her. Therefore he followed her a +few steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let not the little lady be offended," he said; "here, of course, was +no other thought than of her safety. It was only about this that I was +concerned. Shall the servant summon a carriage?--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But she did not answer and left the house. Krzycki, walking to the +window, gazed for some time at her graceful form, disappearing in the +depths of the street; and suddenly again appeared before his eyes the +vision of the white statue in azure drops of water. There was, however, +something exasperating in her; and unwillingly there occurred to the +frail young gentleman the thought that if she were not Miss Anney's +maid, and if he had known her formerly, that as two and two are four he +would have succumbed to temptation.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at present another, greater power had snatched away his thoughts +and heart. After a while he returned to the letter and began to read it +anew: "We thank you for the beautiful roses and hope for an early +meeting." And so they want to see him over there. The day after +to-morrow he will not be sitting here, bound by the chains of his own +words, but will go there and gaze in those wonderful eyes, looking with +a heavenly stream, and will so press his lips to her beloved hands that +in one kiss he will tell everything which he has in his heart. Words +will be later only an echo. And imagination bore him like an +unmanageable horse. Perhaps that idolized maid may at once fall into +his arms; perhaps she may close those wonderful eyes and offer her lips +to him. At this thought a thrill passed through Krzycki from his feet +to his head and it seemed to him that all the love, all the impulses, +and all the desires which ever existed and exist in the world at +present were hoarded in him alone.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VIII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Gronski spent the entire next day in the city; at night he was at Pani +Otocka's, so that he did not return home until near midnight. Krzycki +was not yet asleep and as his mother, on account of the disturbances on +the streets could not visit him that day, he awaited with impatience +Gronski's return, and immediately began to question him about the news +in the city and of the ladies.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The news in the city is bad," answered Gronski; "about noon I heard +the firing of musketry in the factory district. Before calling upon +Pani Otocka, I was at a meeting in the Philharmonic at which +representatives of some of the warring factions met, and do you know +what kind of an impression I took away with me? Why, that, +unfortunately, Swidwicki in certain respects was right and that we have +come to the pass where only a civil war can clear the atmosphere. In +this would be the greater tragedy for it would, at the same time, be +the final extinction. But of this later. I have a head so tired and +nerves so shattered that to-day I cannot think of such things."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he rang for the servant, and notwithstanding the late hour +directed him to prepare tea. Then he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But from Pani Otocka I bring news. You would not believe your ears +when I tell you what happened. Why this afternoon, before my arrival, +Laskowicz called on those ladies."</p> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki dropped from his hand the cigar which he was smoking.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Laskowicz?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the police are looking for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are looking for him in the country and not in Warsaw. The police, +like all the rest, have lost their heads. After all, it is easier to +hide in a large city. But, really, if he himself flew into their hands, +they might clutch him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what did he want from Pani Otocka?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"According to my conjectures, he wanted to see Marynia, but came +ostensibly for a contribution for revolutionary purposes. After all, +they are now continually soliciting contributions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And did the ladies give?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. They told him that they would not give anything for the +revolution, and for the hungry and those deprived of employment they +had already sent as much as they could to a newspaper office. In fact, +this was the truth. Pani Otocka donated a considerable amount, and Miss +Anney also. Laskowicz attempted to explain to them that a refusal would +expose the refractory to dangers and for that reason he came to them +personally to shield them from it. He was very much displeased and +incensed, particularly as he saw only Pani Zosia and Miss Anney, for +Marynia did not appear. He announced however that he would come again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him try!" cried Ladislaus, clenching his fists.</p> + +<p class="normal">But afterwards he asked with surprise:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did he get in there, and why did they receive him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The male servants throughout the whole city are terror-stricken and +the words 'From the Party' everywhere open the doors like the best +pick-lock. But Laskowicz did not have to use even these means, as it +happened that Pani Otocka's footman was in the cellar and he was +admitted by Miss Anney's maid, who knew him from Jastrzeb and thought +that he came as a good acquaintance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In any case she acquitted herself foolishly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear sir, what could she know about him? Of course, no one told her +what he was and she saw him among us; she saw how he rode away to the +city with me and that he was the tutor of the younger members of your +family. That he participated in the attack upon you, also, could not +have occurred to her mind, for from our side that is only a supposition +which we did not confide to the ladies, in order not to disquiet them, +and much less to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps she herself is a socialist."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt it, for after the attempt, hearing that you were wounded, it +is said she wailed so bitterly that she could be heard all over +Jastrzeb; she invoked all the punishments of hades upon your would-be +assassins. Miss Anney was much affected by that. I remember also that +when it was rumored that the Rzeslewo people did it, she vowed to set +fire to Rzeslewo. Ah, you always have luck--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not care for such luck. But as to Laskowicz she, of course, saw +during the search at Jastrzeb that they were seeking him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what of it? Were you not persecuted for establishing a school? +In this country all sympathy is always on the side of the fugitive. +Imagine for yourself that when Miss Anney forbade her to admit +Laskowicz any more, she became indignant. Evidently it seemed to her +that Miss Anney did that from fear of the police."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Anney gave indisputable proofs that she does not fear anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So I also do not suspect her of fear, nor Pani Otocka. But, instead, I +confess to you what I fear. That madman, if he does not personally +appear there, will hover about them, and what is more will write +letters; all letters now travel undoubtedly through the black cabinets. +If I knew where I could find him, I would warn him above all things not +to dare to write any more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will warn him of that and something else, if I can only meet him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since he visited the ladies, he may come to see me. We had, while +riding together from Jastrzeb, a discussion which he has not forgiven +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he comes here, do you give me carte blanche?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would not think of it. Previously I had propounded to you the +question whether if, as a result of a personal encounter with you, he +was arrested you could take upon your soul his destruction, and you +answered 'No.' Now I will ask you differently: If Laskowicz, tracked +and pursued as a wild animal, hid in your house, would you not endeavor +to hide him or assist him in escaping?"</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Krzycki replied in anger, but without hesitation:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would help him--the dog's blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you see!" observed Gronski. "You curse, but admit. If they come to +me for a contribution--it is all the same whether with or without +Laskowicz--I will tell them that I will give for people destitute of +bread but will not give for bombs, dynamite, and strike propaganda. I +will tell them more: that in collecting contributions for a revolution +from people who do not want to give and who give only from fear, they +degrade their own citizens."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps that is of import to them. The more the higher strata become +cowardly, the easier it will be for them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be, but in such case they are the full brethren of all those +who purposely and of old have debased the community."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Krzycki pondered and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"With us these things are often done--from above and from below."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski glanced at him with a certain surprise as if he did not expect +from his lips such a remark.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right," he declared; "from above, a continual lowering of +great ideals, from below, because at present they are being directly +trampled upon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! There remain yet the solid multitude of country peasantry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Again you are right," replied Gronski. "Formerly Dabrowski's March<a name="div2Ref_07" href="#div2_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a> +was the watchword for a hundred thousand, to-day it is the watchword +for ten millions. Blessed be folk-lore!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They remained silent. Gronski for a time walked about the room, taking, +according to his custom, the eyeglasses off his nose and replacing +them. After which, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know what surprises me? This: that in such times and under such +conditions, people can think of their private happiness and their +private affairs. But nevertheless such is the law of life, which no +power can suppress."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you me in mind?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In theory, I am verifying a fact which in practice even you confirm. +For lo, at this moment it is as if an earthquake took place; the +buildings tumble, people perish, subterranean fires burst forth and you +and Miss Anney love each other and think of founding a new nest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you say it?" Krzycki asked with radiant countenance, "'you +love each other.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I said 'you love each other,' for such is the case. You, after all, +are more in love than she."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," answered Ladislaus, "there is nothing strange in that; but +what inference do you draw?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This, which you have not heretofore either directly or indirectly +asked and have not even tried to ascertain, namely, how much can Miss +Anney bring to you. In a rural citizen this is proof that the +thermometer shows the highest temperature of love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word, I would take her in a single dress," answered +Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you would rather she had something?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will answer sincerely that I would. There are many neighbors poorer +than I am and a piece of bread will never be lacking to us. But at +Jastrzeb there are three of us--counting Mother, four. I am heir of +one-fourth and the unsalaried manager of the three-fourths belonging to +my family and Mother. I would wish that Jastrzeb would solely belong to +myself and my wife, and in succession to my children, if we have any."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to that, I have no doubt; but as to a dowry, I am not tormented by +unnecessary fears," said Gronski. "Miss Anney lives, travels, dresses, +and resides in comfort, but she is not a person who would desire to +create false impressions. I assume that she does not possess millions, +but her fortune, particularly in comparison to our condition, may +appear even more considerable than we might have thought."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let her have it or not have it," exclaimed Krzycki, "if she only will +give herself to me. Whoever possesses that jewel can be crowned with it +like a king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I foresee a coronation soon," replied Gronski, laughing.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IX</h3> + +<p class="normal">On account of Marynia's birthday, Miss Anney with her maid went to buy +flowers. The day before, Gronski told her that he saw in one of the +stores Italian rosy lilies, such as are sold in whole bundles in the +vicinity of Lucca and Pisa, but which are cultivated but little in the +conservatories of Warsaw and seldom imported into the country. As +Marynia had inquired about them with great curiosity. Miss Anney +decided to purchase for her all that could be found in the store. The +previous evening she bantered Gronski, telling him that she would +forestall him in the purchase, for he, as a known sleepy-head, would be +unable to leave his home early enough. Determined to play a joke upon +him, she left the house at eight in the morning, so as to be present at +the opening of the store. She had, besides, a letter prepared, with the +words "They are already bought," which she intended to send to Gronski +by Pauly, and exulted at the thought that Gronski would receive it at +his morning coffee.</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact everything went according to her plans, for she was the first +buyer at the store. She was disappointed only in this: that there were +too few lilies. There was only one flower-pot, containing about a dozen +stalks with flowers. So the decoration of Marynia's whole room with +them was out of the question. But for just this reason Miss Anney +eagerly bought the one sample and, paying the price asked for it, +directed that it be sent to the Otocka residence. She was annoyed, +however, when informed in the store that the gardener delivering +flowers could not come until noon-time, for she desired that Marynia +should have them before she rose from bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case," she said, turning to Pauly, "call a hack and we will +take the flower-pot with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pauly, who, though she behaved quite indifferently and even +refractorily in respect to her mistress and also to Pani Otocka, had a +sort of exceptional adoration, bordering on sympathy, for Marynia, +replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let Madame permit me to carry these flowers alone. In the hack they +will be shaken up and may fall off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you are to go with the letter to Pan Gronski and, besides, you +will tire yourself with the flower-pot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gronski's residence is on the way; and what if I do tire myself a +little for the golden little lady. May I not do that much for her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney understood that a refusal would cause her great vexation, +therefore she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. You are an honest soul. But if it should be too heavy for +you, take a hack. I will go to church."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she went to church to pray for Ladislaus, who was that day to leave +the house for the first time and pass the evening at Pani Otocka's, +owing to Marynia's birthday. She expected that the following day he +would visit her and she wanted also to commit that day to divine +protection.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pauline, taking the lilies, went in an opposite direction towards +Gronski's residence. After a few score of steps the flower-pot filled +with earth began to grow heavy; so, shifting it from one arm to the +other, she thought:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it was for any one else, I would throw everything upon the ground, +but she is such a bird that it is hard not to love her--I would carry +for her even two such flowerpots and I would not do her any harm.--Even +in case--he loved her alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">And at this gloomy thought her countenance darkened yet more. In her +heart, capable only of extreme feelings, began a struggle between her +strange adoration for Marynia and her blind and passionate love for +Krzycki; it was accompanied by the terrible and hopeless consciousness +that under no circumstance could he be hers, as he was a young lord, +heir, almost prince royal, and she a simple girl for sewing, setting +the parlor in order, and household work. To this was added immediately +a feeling of a prodigious wrong. Why, she might have been born also a +"little lady" and not brought up in an orphan asylum, under the care of +sisters of charity, but in a rich lordly home. Why was it not so, +instead of the vile work of the servant's station awaiting her till +death?</p> + +<p class="normal">And here it occurred to her mind that there is now, however, a kind of +people, a kind of "party," which wants to take away property from the +rich, distribute it among the poor, level all people, so that there +will be no rich men and paupers, no servants and lords, no wrong of any +kind in the world; and in the place thereof, all ranks will be one and +the same, and liberty will be identical. She had heard of this from the +servants in the house, from the craftsmen, from the salesmen in the +stores to which she went to make purchases, and also through +overhearing the conversations of the "gentility." It surprised her that +these people were called socialists, for heretofore a "socialist" and a +madman roaming over the streets with knife in hand meant to her one and +the same thing. For a time after the attack upon Krzycki, when the +report was spread that the socialists did it, she even felt for them +such furious and blind hatred that she was willing to poison them or +bake them upon live fires. Later, when the servants in Jastrzeb began +to repeat that the young heir was waylaid not by them, but by people of +Rzeslewo, this hatred became extinguished. But subsequently, when the +girl learned more accurately what the socialists aimed at and who they +were, she was but little interested in them. She partly regarded their +ideas as foolish and partly thought of other things more personal, and +finally, she distinguished in Poland only "her own" and "not her own," +loving, not knowing why, the first, and hating indiscriminately all the +others. It was not until the last few days that it began to dawn in her +head that among her own there existed terrible and painful differences; +that for some there was wealth, for others poverty; that for a few +there was enjoyment and for others toil; for some, laughter, for +others, tears; for some, happiness, for others, woe and injury.</p> + +<p class="normal">This became clear to her, particularly at that moment when with greater +suffering than ever before she became aware that this young gentleman, +to whom her soul and body were urged, was simply an inaccessible star, +on which she was barely permitted to gaze. And although nothing had +happened that day which particularly irritated her and nothing had +altered, she was possessed by a despair such as she never felt before.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the course of her gloomy meditations was finally interrupted by an +external incident. Notwithstanding the early hour, she observed on the +corner of the precinct a large crowd of people, agitated by some +uneasiness. Their faces were turned towards the depth of a cross +street, as if something unusual was taking place there. Some rushed +forward while others retreated with evident fear. Some, arguing +heatedly and pointing at something with their hands, looked upwards to +the roofs of the houses. From all directions flocked new crowds of +workingmen and striplings. Among the hack-drivers standing on the +corner an unusual commotion prevailed: the drivers, in groups of +varying numbers, wheeled their horses about in different directions as +though they wished to blockade the street. Suddenly shrill cries +resounded and then shots. In one moment an indescribable confusion +arose. The throng swung to and fro and began to scamper; the cries +sounded shriller and shriller each moment. It was evident that they +were pursuing somebody. The girl, with her lilies, stood as if +thunderstruck, not knowing what to do. Then, suddenly from amidst the +hacks, a man dashed out, bent forward with lowered head, and at full +speed ran towards her. On the way he flung away his cap and snatched a +hat from the head of a stripling who, understanding the situation in +the twinkle of an eye, did not even quiver. The hack-drivers began yet +more zealously to block the street, evidently with a view to make the +pursuit more difficult. But right behind them again rattled the +revolver shots, and amidst the general cries and tumult already could +be heard the shrill sounds of the police whistles and the hoarse, +bellowing shouts of "Catch him! catch him!" A blind, excessive fright +now seized Pauly, and she began to run, squeezing unconsciously to her +bosom the flower-pot with the lilies, as if she wanted to save her own +child.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she had barely run a dozen or more steps when a panting, low voice +began to cry close behind her:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady, give me the flowers! For the mercy of God, lady, give me the +flowers! Save!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl turned about suddenly with consternation, and indescribable +amazement was reflected in her eyes, for she recognized Laskowicz.</p> + +<p class="normal">He, having violently wrested from her the flower-pot, to which, not +knowing what she was doing, she clung with all her strength, whispered +further:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps they will not recognize me. I will tell them that I am a +gardener. Save me, little lady! Perhaps they will not recognize. I am +out of breath!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She wanted to run farther but he restrained her.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime, from among the chaos of hacks, a dozen or more +policemen and civil agents emerged. The majority of the mob moved at a +running pace in a direction opposite to the one in which Laskowicz and +the girl were going, and undoubtedly they intentionally moved that way +in order to deceive the pursuers. To better hoodwink the police, cries +of "Catch him!" resounded among the laborers. Some workingman began to +whistle shrilly on his fingers, imitating the sound of a police +whistle. Accordingly the policemen and agents plunged headlong after +the dense mob. At the intersection of the streets only a few stood +still, and these, after a moment's irresolution, set off in the other +direction, but they ran at full speed by the girl and the man with the +light hat, carrying flowers. Rushing ahead they seized a few +workingmen, but other workingmen rescued them in a moment. Pauly and +Laskowicz walked farther.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They missed me," said the student. "Here no one would betray. They +missed! Those flowers and another's hat fooled them. I thank you, +little lady; I thank you from my whole soul, and until my death I will +never be able to sufficiently repay you."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she, not having yet entirely recovered from her amazement, began to +ask:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What happened? Where did you come from?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From the roof; they pounced upon us in a printing plant. The others +will get a year or two and nothing more will happen to them--but for +me, there would be the halter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you manage to escape?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When we got on the roof, I slid down the gutter-pipe. I might have +broken my neck. It was not until I reached the street that they +observed me. They fired shots at me, but luckily I was not hit, for the +blood would have betrayed me. Whoever was alive helped me, and I was +hidden by the hacks. They did not see how I changed a cap for a hat. +But if it was not for my female associate it would have been all over +with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What female associate?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I speak of you, little lady, thus. Amongst us such is the custom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then do not call me that, for I am no female associate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a pity. But this is not the time to speak of that. Once more I +thank you for the rescue, though it is for a short time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why for a short time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I do not know what to do with myself, where to go, and where +to hide. Every night I sleep in a different place but they are seeking +for me everywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true. They were searching for you in Jastrzeb. Do you know +that there was a police-search there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Gendarmes, police, and soldiers came. They almost put everybody +under arrest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, they would not arrest them--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The clatter of horses' hoofs and the rattle of the horseshoes over the +stony pavements interrupted for a while their conversation. From a side +street ahead rode out a Cossack patrol, consisting of several scores of +men. They rode slowly, with carabines resting upon their thighs and +looked about cautiously. At the sight of them, Pauly became somewhat +pale, while Laskowicz began to whisper:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is nothing. They see that I am carrying flowers from the store. +They will take me for a gardener and will ride by."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact they did pass by.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are now arresting every moment people on the streets in whole +crowds," said Laskowicz. "To some one else that would be a small +matter; but if I once fall into their clutches, I will never be able to +get out again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what do you intend to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Carry these flowers for you, little lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And after that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course you must have some acquaintances who will hide you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have, I have! But the police have their eyes upon all my +acquaintances. Every night there is a search. For the last two nights I +slept in a printing establishment, but today they discovered the +printing press."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which Laskowicz again spoke in a gloomy voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is now no help for me. I will deliver these flowers and go +wherever my eyes will take me."</p> + +<p class="normal">But in the heart of the girl suddenly there awoke a great pity for him. +Before that she was indifferent to him. At present she only saw in him +a Polish student hunted, like a mad dog, by people whom she of old +despised.</p> + +<p class="normal">Therefore on her energetic and obstinate countenance, inflexible +determination was depicted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come what may, I will not desert you," she said, knitting her dark +brows.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz was suddenly seized with a desire to kiss her hand and would +have done so if they were not on the street. He was moved not only by +the hope of escape, but also by the fact that this girl, who hardly +knew him, who did not belong to his camp, was ready to expose herself +to the greatest dangers in order to come to his aid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can the little lady do? Where will she hide me?" he asked +quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she walked on with brows knitted by the strain of continuous +thinking, and finally said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know. Let us go."</p> + +<p class="normal">He shifted the flower-pot to the left hand. "I must tell you," he said +with lowered voice, "that the least punishment for concealing me is +Siberia. I must tell you that! And I might cause your destruction, but +in the first moments--the little lady understands--the instinct of +preservation--there was no time for reflection."</p> + +<p class="normal">The little lady did not very well understand what the instinct of +preservation was, but instead understood something else. This was that +if she brought him, as she intended, to Gronski's, she would expose to +danger not only Gronski but also Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">And under the influence of this thought she stood as if stupefied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such a case, I do not know what I can do," she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you see, little lady," answered the student, as if in sorrow, +while she, on her part, again began to rack her brains. It never +occurred to her to conduct Laskowicz to Miss Anney's or Pani Otocka's. +She felt that here masculine help was necessary and that it was +imperative to find some one who would not fear and for whom she, +herself, did not care. Therefore she mentally reviewed the whole array +of Miss Anney's and Pani Otocka's acquaintances.--Pan Dolhanski? +No!--He might be afraid or else send them to the devil and sneer at +them. Dr. Szremski? He had probably left the city. Ah, were it not for +this "young lord" she would conduct this poor fellow to Pan Gronski, +for even if he did not receive him, at the worst he would give good +advice, or would direct them to somebody. And suddenly it came to her +mind that if Siberia threatened the person who concealed Laskowicz, Pan +Gronski would not direct them to anybody; but if he could, he would +direct them to only one man, whom she also knew. And on this thought, +she dusted her dress with her hands and, turning to Laskowicz, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know now! Let us try."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, standing for a while, she continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us enter this house, here, at once. You will wait with the flowers +in the hallway and I will deliver the letter upstairs and return. Do +not fear anything, for the doorkeeper here knows me and he is a good +man. After that I may lead you somewhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, she entered the gate and, leaving Laskowicz below, rang, +after a moment, Gronski's bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, rising that day earlier than usual, was already dressed and +sat with Krzycki having tea. When Pauly handed him the letter, he read +it and, laughing, showed it to Ladislaus; after which he rose and went +to his writing desk to write an answer. During this time Ladislaus +began to question her about the health of his mother and the younger +ladies.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, the ladies are well, but my lady has already gone down +town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So early? And is not your lady afraid to go alone about the city?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lady went with me and bought flowers for Panna Marynia and after +that she went to church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To what church did she go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Pauly knew well, but she was hurt by his asking her about her +mistress; while he, conjecturing this, ceased to question her further, +for he had previously resolved to converse with her as little as +possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">So, silence--a little embarrassing--ensued between them, and continued +until Gronski returned with the letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is the answer," he said; "let the little lady bow for us to the +ladies and say that to-day we both will be there, for Pan Krzycki's +imprisonment is now ended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you," replied Pauly, "but I have yet a favor,--I would like to +learn the address of Pan Swidwicki?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski looked at her with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did the ladies request you to ask?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No--I just wanted to know--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Pauly," said Gronski, "Pan Swidwicki lives at No. 5 Oboznej, but +it is not very safe for young girls to go to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">She colored to the ears from fear that the "young lord" might think +something bad about her.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she hesitated for a while whether she should tell that Laskowicz +was in the hallway and that it was necessary to hide him, as otherwise +destruction awaited him. But again she recollected that Laskowicz had +been sought in Jastrzeb and that Krzycki, on account of that had been +almost arrested. A fear possessed her that perhaps Gronski himself +might want to hide the student and in such case would jeopardize the +young lord. She looked once or twice at the shapely form of Krzycki and +decided to remain silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Gronski spoke further:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not advise you to go to him. I do not advise it. It is said that +you once gave him a tongue-lashing."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she, raising her head, answered at once haughtily and indignantly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will give him a tongue-lashing a second time; but I have some +business with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">And bowing, she left. Gronski shrugged his shoulders and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot understand what she is concerned about. There is something +strange in that girl, and I tell you that your future lady gives +evidence of holy patience, that she has not dismissed her before this. +She always says that she is a violent character but has a golden heart, +and that may be possible. I know, however, from Pani Otocka that the +golden heart enacts for her such scenes as no one else would tolerate."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>X</h3> + +<p class="normal">In the evening of Marynia's birthday, Ladislaus and Miss Anney for a +time found themselves at some distance from the rest of the company, at +a cottage piano, decorated with flowers. His eyes shone with joy and +happiness. He felt fortunate that his imprisonment had ended and that +he could again gaze upon this, his lady, whom he loved with the whole +strength of a young heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," he told her, "that you were this morning in the city and +bought flowers. I learned this from your maid, who brought the letter +to Pan Gronski. Afterwards you went to church. I asked her to which +one, as I wanted to go there, but the maid did not know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is strange, for she knows that I always go to the Holy Cross, and +at times I even take her with me. I am there, daily, at the morning +mass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She told me that she did not know," answered Ladislaus. "Will you be +there to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; unless the weather should be very inclement."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus lowered his voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I ask because I have a great and heartfelt prayer. Permit me to come +there at the same hour and before the same altar."</p> + +<p class="normal">Blushes suffused Miss Anney's countenance and her breast began to move +more quickly. She inclined her head somewhat and placing the edge of +the fan to her lips answered in a low voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not the right to forbid nor to permit. The church is open to +all the pious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. But I want to kneel a while beside you--together, and not with +customary humility; but for a special purpose. As to my piety, I will +candidly state that I believe in God, ah! especially now--I believe +in God and in His goodness; but heretofore I have not been very +pious--just like all others. When, however, a whole life is concerned, +then even a man, totally unbelieving, is ready to kneel and pray. To +kneel beside you, that alone is an immense boon, for it is as if one +had beside him an angel. And I want to beg for something else: and that +is that we should together, at the same time, say 'Under Thy protection +we flee, Holy Mother of God.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus became pale from emotion and on his forehead beads of +perspiration appeared. For a time he remained silent, to permit the too +violent beating of his heart to subside. After which he again spoke:</p> + +<p class="normal">"'We flee'--that will mean us both. Nothing more, dear, dearest lady, +nothing more. After that I will go, and in the afternoon, if you +permit, I will come to your residence and will tell you everything +which has collected within me from the time I first saw you in +Jastrzeb. In your hands, lady, lies my fate, but I must, I must divulge +it all; otherwise my bosom will burst. But if you, lady, will agree to +a joint prayer of 'Under Thy protection,' before that time, then I +shall be so happy that I do not know how I will survive until +to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she looked at him guilelessly and straight in his eyes with the +celestial streak of the hazy pupils of her eyes and answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come to church to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Ladislaus whispered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And not to be able to fall at your feet at this moment--not to be able +to fall at your feet!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Miss Anney tapped lightly, as if reluctantly, his hand, resting on +the piano with her own, which was incased in a white glove, and walked +away, for, not forgetting herself to the same extent as Ladislaus, she +noticed that they were observed. Owing to Marynia's birthday there +assembled that evening at Pani Otocka's quite a considerable gathering +of acquaintances. The notary, Dzwonkowski, appeared; also, an old +neighbor from the vicinity of Zalesin; and besides these Dolhanski and +both Wlocek ladies, who after a previous exchange of visits, were +invited by Pani Otocka. Gronski actually appeared the earliest and well +nigh played the rôle of host, in which part he was assisted by the +former teacher of Marynia, the violinist Bochener, not less in love +with her, and finally Swidwicki, who on that day was exceptionally +sober. Pani Otocka was occupied with the Wlocek ladies; Gronski +conversed with Swidwicki in so far as he did not direct his eyes after +Marynia, who, in her white dress, adorned with violets, slender, almost +lithesome, actually looked like an alabaster statuette. But she, and +with her Pani Krzycki, began to look with especial attention at +Ladislaus and Miss Anney. The little ears of Marynia reddened from +curiosity, while on Pani Krzycki's countenance there appeared +uneasiness, and, as if it were, a shadow of dissatisfaction.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Miss Anney, breaking off her conversation with Ladislaus, +approached directly towards his mother and sat down in a chair beside +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Ladislaus is so happy," she said, "that his confinement is ended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see," answered Pani Krzycki, "but I fear that conversation fatigues +him yet. What did he say to you with such animation?"</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment, Miss Anney inclined her head and began to smooth out with +her fingers the folds of her bright dress as if troubled, but later, +having evidently formed a sudden resolution, she raised her frank eyes +straight at Pani Krzycki, just as she had previously at Ladislaus, and +replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said such pleasant and loving things; that he wants to go to church +to-morrow and say 'Under Thy protection'--together with me--"</p> + +<p class="normal">In her eyes there were no interrogatories, nor uneasiness, nor +challenge, but great goodness and truth.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki, on the other hand, was put out of countenance by the +candor of the reply, so that at first she was silent. It seemed to her +that what heretofore was a doubtful, blurred, and indistinct +supposition, lightened up and plainly emerged upon the surface, but she +tried to disbelieve it; so, after a certain hesitation, she replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Laudie otherwise would be ungrateful. He owes you so much--and I +also."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney understood perfectly that Pani Krzycki wanted to give her to +understand that the motive of Ladislaus' words was only gratitude, but +she had no time to reply to the remark, as at that time across the arm +of her chair the slender form of Marynia was leaning:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aninka, may I trouble you to step over here for a moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly," answered Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">And rising, she left. Pani Krzycki eyed her and sighed. There was in +that beautiful form so much youth, health, radiance, so many golden +tresses, glances, so much bloom, warmth, and womanly fascination, that +an older and experienced woman, like Pani Krzycki, was forced to admit +in her soul that it would have been rather incomprehensible if +Ladislaus had remained indifferent to all those charms.</p> + +<p class="normal">And sighing for the second time, she thought:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why did Zosia bring her to Jastrzeb?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she began to seek with her eyes Pani Otocka, who at that moment was +approaching the door to greet an elderly gentleman with a white leonine +mane and the same kind of white beard who, evidently being almost +blind, stood on the threshold and gazed over the salon through his +gold-rimmed spectacles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally espying Pani Otocka, he seized both her hands and commenced to +kiss them with great ardor, while she greeted him with that shy grace, +peculiarly her own, which made her resemble a young village maid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How sweet she is and how lovable!" Pani Krzycki said to herself.</p> + +<p class="normal">But her further meditations and regrets were interrupted by Swidwicki, +who, taking the chair vacated by Miss Anney, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But your son, benefactress, is a genuine Uhlan from under Somo-Sierra. +What a race! what a type! I, who everywhere fancy beauty as a setter +does partridges, observed this at once to Gronski. Only put a sabre in +his hand and place him on horseback. Or at some exhibition! plainly on +exhibition, as a notable specimen of the race. Ah, what blood with +milk! The women must rave over him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki, notwithstanding her internal worries, was pleased to hear +these words, for Ladislaus' shapeliness was from his childhood days a +source of pride and joy for her. But in reality, she did not deem it +proper to admit this before Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not attach any importance to that," she answered, "and I thank +God that it is not the only thing that can be said of my son."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Swidwicki snapped his fingers and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do attach importance to it, madame, you do, and so do I, and those +ladies only pretend that they do not--that young Englishwoman as well +as even that translucent little porcelain maid; though apparently she +thinks of nought but music.... Perhaps the least of all Pani Zosia, but +only because from a certain time she too sedulously reads Plato."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Zosia--Plato!" exclaimed Pani Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suspect so, and even am certain for otherwise she would not be so +Platonic."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, she is not versed in Greek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Gronski is, and he can translate for her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki gazed with astonishment at Swidwicki and broke off the +conversation. Becoming acquainted with him only that evening and having +no idea that he was a man who, for a quip, for a wretched play on words +and from habit, was ready always and everywhere to talk stuff and +nonsense in the most reckless manner, she could not understand why he +said that to her. Nevertheless his words were for her, as it were, a +ray illuminating things which heretofore she had not observed. She +found new proofs that her heartfelt and secret wishes would always +remain a dream without substance--and she sighed for the third time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, then it is so," she thought to herself in her soul.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes," Swidwicki continued. "My cousin is very Platonic and in +addition a trifle anæmic."</p> + +<p class="normal">In his laughter there was a kind of bitterness and even malice, so that +Pani Krzycki again looked at him with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime Marynia led Miss Anney to another chamber. Her ears +each moment became redder and her eyes sparkled with a perfectly +childish curiosity. So pressing her little nose to Miss Anney's cheek, +she began to whisper:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me! Did he propose to you at the piano? Did he propose? Tell me +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Miss Anney, embraced her neck with her arms and kissing her +cordially, whispered in her ear:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Almost."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?--at the piano! I guessed it at once! Ho, ho! I am thoroughly +conversant with such matters. But how was that? Almost? How, almost?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For I know that he loves me--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Laudie? What did he say to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He did not even have to say it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, I understand perfectly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney, though her eyes were moist, began to laugh, and, hugging +the little violinist again, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us now return to the salon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us return," answered Marynia.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the way she said with delighted countenance:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You and Zosia, thought that I saw nothing, and I--oho!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In the salon they chanced upon a political discussion. The tall elderly +gentleman with the white mane, who was a colleague and friend of the +late Otocki and at the same time editor of one of the principal dailies +in Warsaw, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"They think that this is a new state of affairs, which henceforth is +bound to continue, but it is an attack of hysteria, after which +exhaustion and prostration will follow. I have lived long in the world +and often have witnessed similar phenomena. Yes, it is so. It is a +stupid and wicked revolution."</p> + +<p class="normal">If Swidwicki had heard from some madman that this was a wise and +salutary revolution, he undoubtedly would have been of the opinion of +the old editor, but, as he esteemed lightly journalists in general, he +was particularly angered at the thought that the amiable old gentleman +passed in certain circles as a political authority; so he began at once +to dispute.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only the bottomless naïvete of the conservatives," he said, "is +capable of demanding from a revolution reason and goodness. It +is the same as demanding, for instance, of a conflagration that it +should be gentle and sensible. Every revolution is the child of the +passions--unreason and rage--and not of love. Its aim is to blow up the +old forms of folly and evil and forcibly introduce into life the new."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how do you picture to yourself the new?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In reality as also foolish and wicked--but new. Upon such transitions +our history is based, and even the annals of mankind in general."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is the philosophy of despair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or of laughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If of laughter, then it is egoism."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that is so. My partisanship begins with me and ends with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski impatiently smacked his lips; while the editor took off his +spectacles and, winking with his eyes, began to wipe them with a +handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg pardon," he said with great phlegm. "Your party affiliations may +be very interesting but I wanted to speak of others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Less interesting--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But the old journalist turned to Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our socialists," he said, "have undertaken the reconstruction of a new +house, forgetting that we live huddled together in only a few rooms, +and that in the others dwell strangers who will not assent to it; or +rather, on the contrary, they will permit the demolition of those few +rooms, but will not allow their reconstruction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is better to blow up the whole structure with dynamite," +interjected Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">But this remark was passed over in silence; after which Gronski said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"One thing directly astonishes me, and that is that the conservatives +turn with the greatest rage not against the revolutionists, but against +the national patriots, who do not desire a revolution and who alone +have sufficient strength to prevent it. I understand that a foreign +bureaucracy does this, but why should our patres conscripti clear the +way in this for them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The editor replaced the spectacles, wetted his finger in the tea +seeking the cup, afterwards raised it to his lips, drank, and replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The reason of that is their greater blindness and sense."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please explain!" exclaimed Swidwicki, who was a little impressed by +this reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the neighbor from Zalesin, who eagerly listened to the words of the +journalist, asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that, sir benefactor? I do not understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is so," answered the editor. "Their greater blindness is due +to the narrower horizon, to the lack of ability to look ahead into the +future, into those times and ages which are yet to come, for which it +is a hundred times more important that the great Sacred Fire.<a name="div2Ref_08" href="#div2_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a> +should +not be extinguished than that any immediate paltry benefits should be +obtained. It is necessary to have a sense of coming events, and this +they do not possess. They are a little like Esau who relinquished his +heritage for a pot of lentils. And for us it is not allowable to +relinquish anything. Absolutely nothing! On the other hand, when +concerned about isolated moments, about ranks and connections in a +given instant of time, the conservatives are a hundred times more +sensible, adroit--commit far less errors in details and view matters +more soberly. I speak of this with entire impartiality for I myself am +a nonpartisan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is right neither in the present time nor will be in the future," +interposed Swidwicki. "After all, I agree that the difference between +the views of politicians favoring reconciliation and sentimental +patriots and zealots in general lies in this, that from political +moderation you can immediately coin money, though at times counterfeit, +but from sentimental politics,--only in the future. History confirms at +every stage that what one hundred, fifty, or twenty years ago appeared +to be political or social insanity, to-day has entered into being. And +it will be ever thus in the further course of time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be," said Gronski, "but it is only just so far as radicalism +of ideas or the furies of feeling do not strike terror in a great, +stupid, immediate act. For if this occurs a crime is perpetrated, and +error is born which menaces the future. This happens frequently."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I assume that this is just what the conservatives fear," answered +the journalist, "an excessively warm patriotism--and it must be +admitted, often improvident and absurd in its manifestations--strikes +them with terror. Formerly they feared that the peasants, who read 'The +Pole' might take to their scythes. At present they have gooseflesh when +some zealot breaks out with a word about the future kingdom of Poland."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kingdom of Poland!" said Swidwicki, snorting ironically. "I will tell +you gentlemen an anecdote. A certain Russian official became insane and +suffered from a mania of greatness. In reality his delusion lay in +this, that he attained the highest position in heaven as well as on +earth. And whom do you suppose that he imagined himself to be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! God?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"More."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I confess that my imagination reels," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, you see! In the meantime he invented a position still higher, for +he represented himself as the 'presiding officer' of the Holy Trinity. +Understand? That there was a committee consisting of God, the Father, +the Son, and the Holy Ghost--and he was its chairman. Is not that +more?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, but why do you cite that anecdote?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As a proof that for diseased brains there are no impossibilities and +that only such brains can think of a kingdom of Poland."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski remained silent for a while, and then said: "Twenty millions of +people are something tangible, and permit me to say that the +chairmanship of the Holy Trinity is a greater impossibility. What do +you know about the future and who can divine it? The most you can say +is that in view of the present conditions the thought of creating +anything like it by force, through revolution, would be a mistake, and +even a crime. But our nation will be devoured only when it allows +itself to be devoured. But if it does not? If through great and noble +efforts it shall bring forth enlightenment, social discipline, +prosperity, science, literature, art, wealth, sanitation, a quiet +internal strength, then what? And who to-day can tell what shape in the +future the political and social conditions will assume? Who can vouch +that the systems of government of the present day may not entirely +change, that they will not fall and will not be adjudged as idiotic and +criminal as to-day we regard tortures? Who can divine what governments +will arise in that great sea which is humanity? The man who, for +instance, in the time of Cicero would have said that social economy +could exist without slavery would have been deemed crazy, and, +nevertheless, to-day slavery does not exist. And in our political +relations something similar might take place. To-day's conditions of +coercion might change into voluntary and free unions. I do not know +whether it will be so, but you do not know that it will not be so. In +view of this, I see the necessity of quiet and iron labor, but I do not +see the necessity of the repudiation or renunciation of any ideals--and +I will tell you too that the Pole who does not bear that great ideal, +at the bottom of his soul, is in a measure a renegade; and I do not +understand why he does not renounce everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Write that in verse and in Latin," answered Swidwicki with impatience, +"for in that manner you will upset the heads of a less number of men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then our present day antagonists may themselves say to us: 'Arrange +matters to suit yourselves.' At the present moment it may seem a naïve +fancy, but the future carries in its bosom such surprises, as not only +the shortsighted politicians have not dreamed of, but even philosophers +who can look ahead."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, having evidently sufficient of this discussion, he added:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But enough of this. I suspend the argument and pause. To-day we must +occupy ourselves not with politics, but with the young lady whose +birthday we celebrate and whom undoubtedly such things weary."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he turned to Marynia, standing at Miss Anney's side, but +she, shaking her little head, replied at once with great ardor:</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the contrary! I am of the same opinion as Pan Gronski."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she blushed to her ears, for all began to laugh, while Swidwicki +replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is so, then everything is settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus smiled at Marynia's embarrassment, though in truth he did not +know what it all was about, as his whole soul surged in his enamoured +eyes, gazing at Miss Anney. She stood between two chairs, calm, +smiling, white in her light dress, cheery as the summer dawn, and only +after the close of the discussion rosier than usual, and he plainly +devoured her with his gaze. His thoughts and heart raged within him. He +looked at her radiant countenance, on her bare arms, chiseled as if out +of warm marble, at her developed strong breast, on the sinuous pliant +lines of her figure, on her knees turned towards him and outlined under +her light dress, and he was seized by a whirlwind of desires, which +struggled with the feeling of worship and respect which he entertained +for this maiden, pure as a tear. His pulse commenced to beat strangely +and on his forehead appeared a braid of veins. At the thought that she +was to be his wife and that all these treasures would be his, he was +enveloped by a fire of blood, and at the same time by some kind of +debility so great that at times he was uncertain whether he would be +able to lift the chair. At the same time he quarrelled with himself. He +became indignant from his whole soul at that "animal" which he could +not subdue within himself, and upbraided himself to the last words +because he did not love her--"that angel"--as he should love her, that +is with the love which only kneels and idolizes. So, in thought, he +fell on his knees before his loved one, embraced her limbs, and +implored forgiveness, but when he imagined that his lips kissed her +feet, again lust seized him by the hair. And in this struggle he felt +not only unworthy of her, not only "a beast," but at the same time a +half-baked and ludicrous blunderer, deprived of that reason, peace, and +self-control which a true man should possess.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was also possessed by astonishment that everything which could +promise delight should also at the same time torment him. Fortunately, +his further torments and meditations were interrupted by music, with +which an evening at Pani Otocka's had to conclude. Bochener sat at the +piano, the irascible notary began to blow in his flute, and Marynia +stood aside with the violin, and if those present were not accustomed +to the sight of her, they would have been astonished at the change +which took place in her. The beautiful but childish face of a delighted +and inquisitive girl assumed in a single moment an expression of +gravity and profound calm. Her eyes became thoughtful and sad. On the +red background of the salon her slim form appeared like a design of the +best style on a painted church window. There was something in her +plainly hieratic.</p> + +<p class="normal">A trio began. The gentle tones began to rock Ladislaus' agitated soul. +His senses gradually fell asleep and his desires were extinguished. His +love metamorphosed into a great winged angel who carried his loved one +in his arms as if a child, and soared with her in the immeasurable +space before an altar composed of the lustre of the evening twilight +and the nocturnal lights of stars.</p> + +<p class="normal">The hour was late, when Gronski, Swidwicki, and Ladislaus left Pani +Otocka's. On the streets they met few pedestrians, but every few paces, +they encountered the military and police patrol, which stopped them and +asked for passports. This time Swidwicki did not pretend to be +intoxicated, for he fell into a bad humor just because at Pani Otocka's +he had to content himself with two glasses of wine. So, showing the +policeman the passport, he pointed to his dress-suit and white cravat +and asked them surlily whether socialists or bandits dressed in that +manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If only lightning would smite the one and the other," he said, +striking the sidewalk with his cane. "In addition, everything is +closed, not only the restaurants in the hotels, but even the +pharmacies, in which in an extreme case, vin de coca or alcohol can be +procured. The pharmacies are striking! We have lived to see that! The +doctors also ought to strike and then the grave-diggers will +unwillingly have to strike also. May the devil seize all! At home I +have not a single bottle; so throughout the entire night I will not be +able to sleep a wink and to-morrow I will be as if taken off the +cross--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come with us," said Gronski, "perhaps we may find a bottle of +something and black coffee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have saved not only my life but that of my 'associate,' especially +if two bottles are found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will seek. But what kind of associate are you speaking of?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, you yet know nothing. I will relate it over a glass."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not far to Gronski's residence, so soon they were seated +around a table on which was found a bottle of noble Chambertin and a +coffee-percolator with black coffee, steaming in a delicious manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki regained his spirits.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those ladies," he said, "are real angels, and for the reason that it +is there, as if in Paradise, where happiness consists in gazing upon +eternal brightness and listening to the archangel choir."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he addressed Krzycki:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I observed that this suffices for you and Gronski--but for me it is +absolutely too little."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only do not begin to sharpen your tongue on those ladies," replied +Gronski, "for I shall order the bottle removed instanter."</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki hugged it with both hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I idolize--all three," he exclaimed with comic precipitancy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of what kind of associate were you speaking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki swallowed the wine and, closing his eyes, for a while +appraised its value.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have with me from this morning some kind of gallows-bird, for whom +the police are looking and, if they find him with me, they will +probably hang us both."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, however, have given him shelter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I gave him shelter because he was brought by one whom I could not +refuse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will wager that it was some woman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true. I can add that she is comely and one of those who excite +in me a responsive electric current. But I cannot tell you her name, as +she begged me to keep that secret."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not ask," said Gronski, "but as to the current I have no doubt, +as otherwise you would fear to place yourself in jeopardy."</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Swidwicki said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Know this, that I do not fear anything in the world, and this gives me +in this enslaved country such an unheard of independence as is not +enjoyed by any one else."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he drained the glass to the bottom and exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Long live liberty--but only my own."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, all this demonstrates that you have a little good in +your heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the least. I did that, firstly, because I expect a reward, +on which, after all, in such virtuous company, I prefer not to +dilate--unless after a second bottle--and again, because I will have +some one upon whom I can vent my spleen and assert my ascendency. I +assure you that my gallows-bird will not sleep upon roses--and who +knows whether after a week he will not prefer the gallows to my +hospitality?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is possible. But in the meantime?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the meantime I bought for him Allen's Waters in order to bleach the +black tufts of hair on his head into a light color. 'Are te +biondegiante'--as during Titian's time. I feel also a little +satisfaction at the thought that the police will stand on their heads +to find him and will not get him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if they find him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt it. Do you remember that for a certain time I had a footman, a +native of Bessarabia, whom you knew? Over two months ago he robbed me +and ran away. He has already written to me from New York with a +proposition which I will not repeat to you. A superb type! Perfectly +modern. But before his escape he begged me to return to him his +passport, as now they are asking about passports every moment. But I +mislaid it in some book and could not find it. But recently--two or +three days ago--I accidentally found it, so that my gallows-bird will +have not only blond hair but also a passport."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And will he not rob you like his predecessor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told him that he ought to do that, but he became indignant. It seems +to me that he is boiling with indignation from morning until night, and +if in the end he should steal from me it would be from indignation that +I could suppose anything like that of him. That little patroness who +shoved him on my neck vouches also that he is honest, but did not even +tell me his name. Clever girl! For she says thus: 'If they find him, +then you can excuse yourself on the plea that you did not know who he +was.' And she is right--though when some marks of gratitude are +concerned, she scratches like a cat. For her, I expose myself to the +halter, and when I wanted from her a little of that--then I almost got +it in the snout."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski knit his brows and began to sharply eye Swidwicki; after which, +he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Miss Anney's servant asked me this morning about your residence. Tell +me, what does that mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki again drank the wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, she also called--she was there. Pani Otocka sent through her an +invitation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pani Otocka sent you an invitation through Pauly. Tell that to some +one else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"About what are you concerned?" asked Swidwicki, with jovial +effrontery. "She ordered her to send the invitation through a messenger +but the messengers since last night are on a strike. Now everybody +strikes. Girls also,--with the exception of the 'female associates,' +particularly the old and ugly ones. These, if they strike, then sans le +vouloir."</p> + +<p class="normal">The reply appeared to Gronski to be satisfactory, as in reality +messengers had been absent from the streets since the previous day. +Then Swidwicki turned the conversation into another direction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I received him," he said, "not to save an ass, but because I am bored +and it just suited me. Some wise Italian once said that the divinity +which holds everything in this world in restraint is called la +paura,--fear; and the Italian was right. If the people did not fear, +nothing would remain--not a single social form of life! On this ladder +of fear there are numerous rounds and the highest is the fear of death. +Death! That is a real divinity! Reges rego, leges lego, judice judico! +And I confess that I, whose life has been passed in toppling from +pedestals various divinities, had the most difficulty in overcoming +this divinity. But I overcame it and so completely that I made it my +dog."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A dog, which as often as it pleases me, I stroke over the hair, +as for instance now, when I received that revolutionary booby. But that +is yet nothing! See under what terror people live: the executioner's +axe, the gallows, the bullet, cancer, consumption, typhoid fever, +tabes--suffering, pain, whole months and years of torture--and why? +Before the fear of death. And I jeer at that. Me, hangman will not +execute, cancer will not gnaw, consumption will not consume, pain will +not break, torture will not debase, for I shout, in a given moment, at +this divinity before which all tremble, as at a spaniel: 'Lie down!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he laughed and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that mad booby of mine, however, hid himself as if before death. +Tell me what would happen if people actually did not fear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They would not be themselves," answered Gronski. "They desire life, +not death."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XI</h3> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki did not lie when he said that he did not know the name of the +revolutionist to whom he promised an asylum, for in reality Pauly had +made a secret of it. She so arranged it with Laskowicz on the way. The +young student, learning that Swidwicki, to whom the girl was conducting +him, was an acquaintance of Gronski and Pani Otocka, in the first +moments became frightened inordinately. He recollected the letters +which he had written to Panna Marynia, and his odious relations with +Krzycki upon whom his party a short time previously perpetrated an +attack. Personally he did not participate in it and the suggestion did +not emanate from him, but on the other hand he did not have the +slightest doubt that the committee issued the death sentence as a +result of his reports designating Krzycki as the chief obstacle to +their propaganda, and he remembered that he did nothing to prevent the +attempt, and was even pleased in his soul that a man, hateful to him +and at the same time a putative rival, would be removed from his path.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a time he even felt, owing to this "washing of hands," a certain +internal disgust; at the intelligence, however, that the attack was +unsuccessful he experienced, as it were, a feeling of disappointment. +And now he was going to seek shelter with a man who was a relative of +Pani Otocka and who might have heard of the letters to Marynia and his +relations with Krzycki. This was a turn of affairs, clearly fatal, +which might frustrate the best intentions of Panna Pauly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Considering all this he began to beg the girl not to mention his name, +giving as a reason that in case the police should find him, Swidwicki +would be less culpable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pauly admitted the full justness of this; after a while, however, she +observed that if Pan Gronski should ever visit Swidwicki then +everything would be disclosed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," answered the student, "but I need that refuge for only a few +days; after which I will look for another, or else my chiefs may +dispatch me abroad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What chiefs?" asked Pauly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those who desire liberty and bread for all, and who will not tolerate +that some one should be raised above you, little lady, either in rank +or money."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand. How is that? I would not be a servant and would +not have a mistress?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pauly was struck by the thought that in that case she would be nearer +to her "young lord," but not having time to discuss this any longer, +she repeated:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand. Later, I will question you about it, but now let +us proceed."</p> + +<p class="normal">And they walked hurriedly ahead, in silence, until they reached +Swidwicki's door. On the ringing of the bell, he opened it himself. +With surprise but also with a smile he saw Pauly in the dark hallway +and afterwards catching sight of Laskowicz, he asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is he here for? Who is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May we enter and may I speak with you in private?" asked the girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please. The more private, the more agreeable it will be to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And they entered. The student remained in the first room. The master of +the house conducted Pauly to another and closed the door after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz began to examine the large room, full of disorder, with +books, and engravings, and an abundance of bottles with white and blue +labels. On the round table, near the window, piled with daily +newspapers, stood a bottle with the legend: "Vin de Coca; Mariani," and +a few ash trays with charred lighters for cigars and cigarettes. The +furniture in the room was heavy and evidently when new was costly but +it was now dirty. Hanging on the wall were pictures, among them a +portrait of Pani Otocka, while yet a young unmarried lady. In one +corner protruded the well known statue of the Neapolitan Psyche with +mutilated skull.</p> + +<p class="normal">The student placed the flower-pot with the Italian lilies on the table +and began to eavesdrop. His life was involved, for if shelter was +denied to him he undoubtedly would be arrested that day. Through the +closed door came to him from time to time Swidwicki's outbursts of +laughter, and the conversing voices, in which the voice of the girl +sounded at times as if entreating, and at other moments angry and +indignant. This lasted a long time. Finally the doors opened and the +first to enter was Pauly, evidently angry, and with burning cheeks; +after her came Swidwicki, who said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. Since the beautiful Pauly so wishes it, I will not tell any +one who brought to me this Sir Ananias, and will keep him under cover, +but on condition that Pauly will prove a little grateful to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am grateful," answered the girl with irritation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are the proofs," said Swidwicki, displaying marks on the back of +his hands. "A cat could not scratch any better. But to only look at +little Pauly, I will agree even to that. The next time we will have +some candy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-by till we meet again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Till we meet. May it be as frequent as possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl took the pot with the flowers and left. Then Swidwicki thrust +his hands into his pockets and began to stare at Laskowicz as if he had +before him, not a human being, but some singular animal. Laskowicz +looked at him in the same way, and during that short interval they +acquired for each other a mutual dislike.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally Swidwicki asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, esteemed Sir Benefactor, of what party? Socialist, anarchist, or +bandit? I beg of you! without ceremony! I do not ask your name, but it +is necessary to be acquainted somehow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I belong to the Polish Socialist Party," answered the student with a +certain pride.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aha! Then to the most stupid one. Excellent. That is as if some one +said: To the atheistic-Catholic or to the national-cosmopolitan? I am +truly delighted to bid you welcome."</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz was not in the least meek by nature, and besides he +understood in a moment that he had before him a man with whom he would +gain nothing by meekness; so, gazing straight into Swidwicki's eyes, he +replied almost contemptuously:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you, sir, can be a Catholic and Pole, I can be a socialist and +Pole."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Swidwicki laughed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Sir Chieftain," he said, "Catholicism is a smell. One can be a cat +and have a fainter or stronger odor, but one cannot be a cat and dog in +one and the same person."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am no chieftain; only a third-class agent," retorted Laskowicz. +"You, sir, have given me a refuge and yourself the right to mock me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly, exactly! But for that I shall not require any gratitude. We +can, after all, change the subject. Sit down, Sir Third-class Agent. +What is new? How is His Majesty, the king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What king?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why the one you serve and who to-day has the most courtiers; the one +who, most of all, cannot endure the truth and most easily gulps +adulation; the one, who in winter smells of whiskey and in summer of +sour sweat,--that mangy, lousy, scabby, stinking, gracious, or rather, +ungracious ruler of the day. King Rabble."</p> + +<p class="normal">If Laskowicz had heard the most monstrous blasphemies against a holy +object, which heretofore mankind venerated, he would not have been more +horrified than at the words which passed Swidwicki's lips. For him it +was as if he were struck on the head with a club, for it never crossed +his mind that any one would have dared to utter anything like that. His +eyes became dim, his jaws tightened convulsively, his hands began to +tremble. In the first moments he was possessed by an irrepressible +desire to shoot Swidwicki in the head with the revolver he carried with +him and afterwards slam the door and go wherever his eyes would take +him, or else to place the barrel to his ear and shatter his own head, +but he lacked the strength. All night long he had toiled in the +printing plant; after which he had fled over the roofs and through the +streets like a wild animal. He was fatigued, hungry, and exhausted with +the frightful experiences of that morning. So he suddenly staggered on +his feet, became as pale as a corpse, and would have tumbled upon the +ground if a chair had not stood close by, into which he sank heavily, +as if dead.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is this? What in the devil ails you?" asked Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to assist him. He poured out of a bottle the remainder of +the cognac and forced him to drink it; afterwards he lifted him from +the chair and led him to another room and almost forcibly put him in +his own bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What the devil!" he repeated; "how do you feel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better," answered Laskowicz.</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki glanced at his watch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In about ten minutes, the old woman who serves here ought to come. I +will order her to bring something to eat. In the meanwhile lie +quietly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz obeyed this advice, as he could not do otherwise. Lying +there, however, he for a time knit his brow, and evidently his mind was +laboring. Then he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That king--about whom you inquired--is--starving--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the devil take him!" replied Swidwicki. "The bourgeoisie will feed +him, and for this he at the first opportunity will cut their throats. +But do not take to heart too seriously whatever I say; for I say the +same and stronger things to all parties. All! Do you understand, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The bell interrupted further conversation. Laskowicz trembled like an +aspen leaf.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is my old woman. I recognize the ring," said Swidwicki. "She is +earlier to-day than usual. Very well. I will order her to bring food at +once."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, after a quarter of an hour, food was placed on the table. +Refreshed, Laskowicz came entirely to himself and did not think of +forsaking his new shelter. Swidwicki began to open and rummage through +various drawers. Finally, finding a passport, he handed it to Laskowicz +and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before you, Sir Benefactor, become dictator of all Poland you will +call yourself Zaranczko. You come from Bessarabia and have served with +me a year. If they should catch you and, with you, me, repeat only one +expression, '<i>Mamalyga</i>,<a name="div2Ref_09" href="#div2_09"><sup>[9]</sup></a> <i> +mamalyga</i>.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">In this manner Laskowicz was installed in Swidwicki's home.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XII</h3> + +<p class="normal">The morning after Marynia's birthday was unusually gloomy. The western +wind drove heavy black clouds, which hung over the city, foretelling a +storm. The atmosphere became oppressive and sultry. When Ladislaus +entered the church it was completely dark within. In the Chapel of the +Divine Mother a quiet votive mass commenced almost with his entry, and +the flickering little flames of the candles, lighted before the altar, +poorly illuminated the darkness. Ladislaus began to search with his +eyes for Miss Anney and he recognized her by the light hair protruding +from under her hat. She knelt in the first pew, her hands crossed in +prayer and resting upon an open book. Seeing Ladislaus, she nodded her +head and drew aside, to make room for him, not pausing in her prayers. +He wanted to speak to her but did not dare, and only kneeling, drew +somewhat towards himself the book so that they might pray from it +together. It was, however, so dark that he could read nothing and after +a while he became convinced that he could not pray at all. He was +seized by great emotion, for he understood that a new epoch in his life +had commenced, and that this moment, in which by the consent of Miss +Anney he knelt at her side before the altar to mutually entreat God for +blessing, signified more than any other avowals, and that it was the +first sanctification of their loves and their joint future lives. He +was possessed by a sense of his happiness, but at the same time by some +kind of solemn apprehension at the thought that everything would soon +cease to be only a dream, only a fancy, only a phantom of happiness, +and become realized and accomplished. Through his mind glided the +interrogatories,--How will he be able to bear this happiness, what will +he do with it, and how will he acquit himself,--and from these +questions there was bred in him a sense of immense responsibility, +surcharged with fear. It was like certain worries which hitherto, as a +free man, he had not known or at least had not met face to face. And he +saw before him cares more direct and immediate. The moment of his +interview with his mother was approaching; there were also some secret +obstacles, which Gronski mentioned, and it was incumbent upon him to +weigh everything, to plan, settle various matters, and set aside +anticipated difficulties. In truth, now, if ever, it was worth while +and necessary to trust to the Divine favor, invoke the All-provident +aid, and deliver her to the care of the Future. Ladislaus observed that +similar feelings and similar thoughts must have swayed Miss Anney as +her countenance was calm, composed, grave, and even sad. The little +flames of the candles were reflected in her upraised eyes and for a +while it seemed to Ladislaus that he saw tears in those eyes. +Apparently with the whole strength of her soul she committed him and +herself to God. And thus they knelt beside each other, shoulder to +shoulder, heart to heart, and already united, happy, and a little +timorous. Ladislaus, having suppressed the whirlwind of thoughts, at +last began to pray and said to God, "Do with me whatever Thou wilt, but +grant her happiness and peace." And a prodigious overflowing wave of +love deluged his bosom. His prayer became at the same time a solemn +espousal and internal oath that he would never wrong that most precious +being in the world, and that those eyes would never weep for his sake.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the votive mass was nearing its close. When the priest +turned from the altar, his words, in the half-empty chapel, were as if +dreamy and like whispering amidst sighs--as usually happens at the +early morning mass. But at times they were deafened by thunders, as the +storm began outside. The windows of the chapel darkened yet more, and +from time to time livid lightning illuminated the panes; after which +the darkness grew yet denser, and on the altar the little flames of the +candles twinkled uneasily. The priest turned around once more; "Dominus +vobiscum!" after which, "Ite missa est." Afterwards he blessed the +assembled and retired. The small number of faithful who heard the mass +followed his example. Only they two remained. Then she began to say in +a whisper, broken by emotion, "Under Thy protection we flee. Holy +Mother of God," and the further words "Our entreaties deign not to +spurn and from all evil deign to preserve us forever," were said +jointly with Ladislaus, and in this manner the entire prayer concluded.</p> + +<p class="normal">After this, silence fell between them, was broken only after a long +while by Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will have to wait," he said in a low voice. "The storm is yet +continuing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," answered Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear, dearest lady--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But she placed her finger to her lips and silence again ensued. They +did not, however, have to wait very long, for the summer storms come +and pass away like birds. After the lapse of a quarter of an hour they +left the church. The streets were flooded by the rain, but through the +rifts of the scattered and rent clouds the sun shone brightly and, it +seemed, moistly. Miss Anney's eyes winked under the flood of light and +her countenance was as if she was awakened from a dream. But her +composure and gravity did not pass away. Ladislaus, on the other hand, +at the sight of the sun, and the bustle and life on the streets, was at +once imbued with gayety and hope. He glanced once and again at his +companion and she seemed to him as wonderful as a dream, charming as +never before, and adorable simply beyond measure and bounds. He felt +that he was capable of seizing her at that moment in his arms; of +showing her to the sun, the clouds, the city, the human multitude, and +exclaiming: "Behold my wealth, my treasure; this is the joy of my +life!" But, conjecturing properly that Miss Anney would not assent to +any manifestations like that, he subdued this impulse and directed his +thoughts to more important matters.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My adored lady," said he, "I must give utterance to words which burn +my lips. When may I come to see you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day at four," she replied; "I also have to tell you something upon +which everything depends."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Everything depends upon you, lady, and upon nothing else."</p> + +<p class="normal">But her clear cheeks were suffused with confused blushes: her eyes +shone as if with disagreeable uneasiness; and she replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant--you do not know, sir--you do not know sir--" she repeated +with emphasis. "We will be alone.--But now we must part."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus escorted her to the carriage, kissed her hands and remained +alone. Her words, corroborating that which Gronski had intimated as a +result of his interviews with Pani Otocka, disquieted him, however, but +only for a short time, as he was too much in love to suppose that it +could change his love or swerve him from his purpose. At the mere +thought of this he shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Women," he said to himself, "are always full of scruples and to actual +difficulties they add chimerical ones."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, he returned home in the best of humor, and besides +Gronski, found there Dolhanski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Behold," exclaimed Gronski, "lo, here is Dolhanski the bachelor. +Congratulate him for he is going to marry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No?" Truly? asked Ladislaus, amused.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With Panna Kajetana Wlocek," added Dolhanski, with sangfroid and +extraordinary gravity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I tender my best wishes from the whole heart. When is the +wedding?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very soon, on account of the weather, famine, fire, and war, also +similar exceptional circumstances. In a week. Without publication of +the banns, on an <i>indult</i>. After the wedding, the same night a trip +abroad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you say all this seriously?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the greatest seriousness in the world. Observe the exquisite +consequences."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here Dolhanski spread out his fingers and began to enumerate:"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Primo, my credit is resurrected, as a Hindoo fakir, who, buried in the +ground for a whole month, awakes after exhumation to a new life; +secundo: Gorek is without a copper coin of indebtedness and without +society; tertio: my marriage settlement surpasses my expectations; +quarto: my fiancée from good luck has grown so beautiful that you would +not recognize her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you saying?" cried Ladislaus, ingenuously.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XIII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Promptly at four, Ladislaus appeared at Miss Anney's. She received him +feelingly and for a greeting offered both hands which he began to press +alternately to his lips and his forehead. Afterwards they sat beside +each other and for a long time heard only the quickened beating of +their own hearts and the faint sounds of the clock on the writing-desk. +They reciprocally glanced at each other but neither was able to say the +first word. After a while life could glow for them like a new dawn, +glistening with joy and happiness, but, for the time being, it was +heavy, embarrassing, the more embarrassing the longer the silence +continued.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally, Ladislaus from a feeling, that, if he kept silent much longer, +he would appear ridiculous, mustered enough courage and spoke in a +broken voice, whose sounds appeared strange to him!</p> + +<p class="normal">"From this morning I have a little hope--and nevertheless my heart +beats as if I did not have any--I could not say a single word until I +caught my breath--but that is nothing strange as my whole life is +concerned.--Lady, you long ago, of course, surmised how deeply--how +with my whole soul I love you,--you knew this long ago--is it not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he again inhaled the air, took a deep breath, and continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day in the church I said to myself this: 'If she will hear me, if +she does not spurn me, if she consents to be my own for my whole +life--my wife--then I vow solemnly to God before this altar that I will +love and honor her; that I will never wrong her and will give her all +the happiness which is in my power.' And I swear to you that this is +the truth--It only depends upon you, lady, that it shall be so--upon +your consent--upon your faith in me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he again raised Miss Anney's hands to his lips and +imprinted upon them a long imploring kiss and she leaned towards him so +that her hair lightly brushed his forehead, and quietly replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I consent and believe with my whole soul--but this does not depend +upon me alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only upon you, lady," exclaimed Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">And believing that Miss Anney had his mother in mind, he began to say +with a brightened face and deep joy in his voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My mother desires my happiness above all things and I assure you that +she will come here with me to beg of you; and with me she will thank +you for this great, this ineffable boon, and in the meantime I on my +knees thank--"</p> + +<p class="normal">He wanted to drop on his knees before her and embrace her limbs with +his arms, but she began to restrain him and say with feverish haste:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no. Do not kneel, sir,--you must first hear me. I consent, but I +must confess things upon which everything depends. Please calm +yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus rose, again sat beside her and said, with anxious surprise:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I listen, my dearest lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I must compose myself a little," replied Miss Anney.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which she rose, and approaching the window, pressed her forehead +against the pane.</p> + +<p class="normal">For some time silence again ensued.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?" spoke out Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney withdrew her forehead from the pane. Her countenance was +calmer, but her eyes were dimmed as if with tears. Approaching the +table, she sat down opposite to Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before I relate what it is now necessary for me to state," she said, +"I have a great favor to ask of you. And if you--love me truly--then +you will not refuse--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lady, if you demanded my life, I would not refuse it. I pledge you my +word," he exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. Give me your word. Then I will be certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pledge it in advance and swear upon our future happiness that I will +comply with your every wish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," repeated Miss Anney. "Then I first beg of you, by all you +hold most precious, not to feel at all bound by anything you have said +to me just now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I not feel bound? In what way? Of course, it may not be binding upon +you, lady--but on me--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, I release you from all obligations and consider that +nothing has been said. You promised me that you would not refuse me +anything, but this is not all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not all?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I am anxious that after what I shall tell you, you shall not give +me any answer--and for a whole week shall not return to me and shall +not try to see me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But in the name of God, what is it?" cried Ladislaus; "why should I +suffer a week of torments? What does this mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And for me it also will be a torment," she answered in a soft voice. +"But it is necessary, it is imperative. You will have to explain +everything to yourself; weigh everything, unravel and decide +everything--and form a resolution--afterwards you may return or may not +return--and a week for all that will be rather too little."</p> + +<p class="normal">And perceiving the agitation on Ladislaus' face, she hurriedly added, +as if alarmed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir, you promised--you pledged me your word!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus drew his hand across the hair of his head; after which he +began to rub his forehead with his palm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I gave the word," he said at last, "because you requested it, +lady--but why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And Miss Anney turned pale to the eyes; for a while her lips quivered +as though she struggled vainly to draw the words from her bosom, and +only after an interval did she reply:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because--atone time I--did not bear the name of Anney."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You did not bear the name of Anney?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--am--Hanka Skibianka."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus rose, staggered like a drunken man, and began to stare at her +with a bewildered look.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she added in almost a whisper:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Little master!--'tis I--of the mill."</p> + +<p class="normal">And tears coursed quietly over her pallid countenance.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>PART III</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>I</h3> + +<p class="normal">Krzycki left Miss Anney's with a sensation as if lightning had struck +directly in front of him and suddenly stunned him. He could neither +collect nor connect his thoughts; he was not even in a condition to +realize his situation nor reflect upon it. The only impression, or +rather feeling, which in the first moments remained was a feeling of +illimitable amazement. On the way he repeated every little while, +"Hanka Skibianka! Hanka Skibianka!" and seemed incapable of doing aught +else. He did not find Gronski at home, as the latter had left +immediately after the noon hour, telling the servant that he would +return late at night. So he went to his room, locked himself in without +knowing why; afterwards he flung himself into an armchair and sat +abstractedly for over an hour. After the lapse of that time, he opened +his trunk and began to pack things into it with excessive zeal, until +finally he propounded to himself the question: "Why am I doing this?" +Not being able to find an answer, he abandoned that work and only +resumed it when he came to the unexpected conclusion that in any case +he would have to move away from Gronski's.</p> + +<p class="normal">Having finished, he put on his hat and left, without any well-defined +object, for the city. For a while a desire rose in him to call upon his +mother and Pani Otocka, but he stifled it at once. For what? It seemed +to him that he had nothing to tell his mother about himself and his +intentions; and that he could talk with her only about this unheard-of +intelligence, the discussion of which would be for him, beyond all +expression, afflicting. Unconsciously, he reached the Holy Cross Church +and wanted to enter it, but the hour was late and the church was +locked. The morning of that day and the joint prayer with her stood +vividly before his eyes. Ah, how sincerely he prayed; how he loved her; +how he loved her! And now he could not resist the impression that this +light-haired, idolized lady, with whom he said in that chapel "Under +Thy Protection," and Hanka Skibianka were two different beings. And he +felt in his heart a kind of disenchantment with which he began to +contend. For why was he nevertheless so acutely affected by it? Was it +because Hanka was a peasant girl and he a nobleman? No! Miss Anney +never represented herself as an English noblewoman, and a Polish +peasant is no worse than an English commoner. He could not clearly +perceive that the reason of it lay in this: that Miss Anney through her +descent alone, foreign and distant, appeared to him a sort of princess, +and Hanka was a near and domestic girl from Zarnow. She aroused less +curiosity and therefore was less attractive. She was so much easier, +therefore, cheaper to him. In vain he recalled and repeated that this +Hanka is that same light-haired lady, charming as a dream, alluring, +genteel, womanly, responding in sentiment to every thought and every +word; the feeling of disenchantment was more powerful than those +thoughts, and that charm of exoticism, which suddenly was lacking in +the girl, minimized her worth in his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">But, besides this, there was something else, in view of which the +disenchantment and all unexpected impressions stood aside and became +matters of secondary importance. This was, that he had once possessed +that girl--body and soul. She was at that time almost a child--a flower +not yet in full bloom which he plucked and carried for some time at his +bosom. The memory of that could be a reproach only for him; no fault +whatever weighed on her. He recollected those moonlight nights on which +he stole to the mill; those whispers which were one quiet song of love +and intoxication, interrupted only by kisses; he recalled how he +clasped to his heart her girlish body, fragrant with the hay of the +fields; how he drank the tears from her eyes and how he said to her +that he would give up for her all the ladies of all the courts. The +idyl passed, but now there wafted upon him from her the breath of the +first youthful years, the first love, the first ecstasy, and the truly +great poetry of life. Besides, there was truth in what he had confided +to Gronski in Jastrzeb: that the girl loved him as no other woman in +the world surely would love him. And at the thought of this, his heart +began to melt. Together with the wave of recollection, Hanka returned +and again engaged his thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yes. But that was Hanka and she is Miss Anney. In Ladislaus, from the +time he fell in love with her, his senses leaped wildly towards her +like a pack of yelping hounds; but he held them in leash because at the +same time he knelt before his beloved. She was to him an object of +desire but at the same time a sacred relic; something so inaccessible, +exalted, pure, and mysterious in its virginity that at the thought that +the moment would arrive when he would be the master of those treasures +and secrets appeared to him a delight beyond all measure of delight; +all the more fathomless as it was, united, as it were, with a +sacrilege. And now he had to say to himself that this sacrilege he had +already committed; that the charm of something unknown was dispelled; +that in this vestal there were for him no mysteries and that he had +already drunk from that cup. And this again was one lure less; one +disenchantment more. In this manner Miss Anney muddied his recollection +of the field peasant-girl, Hanka,--Hanka depreciated the charm of Miss +Anney. Both were so different, so unlike each other, that, being unable +to merge them into one entity, he vainly intensified that jarring +impression with a feeling of disquietude and pain.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this vexation of spirit there occurred to him one wicked, low, and +ugly thought. In what manner did the poor and simple Hanka change into +the brilliant Miss Anney? In what manner could a gray sparrow from +under a village thatched hut be transformed into a paradisiacal bird? +Hanka was a betrayed girl; therefore the bridges had been burnt behind +her. Amidst the wealth of a foreign land, beautiful but poor girls have +before them only one road to the acquisition of affluence and even +polish, and that was the road of shame. Hanka found one patron who took +care of her in the appropriate manner; how many similar patrons and +protectors could Miss Anney find? At the thought of this Krzycki's head +swam. Conscience said to him, "You opened those gates before her," and +at the same time he was seized by such anger at Miss Anney and himself +that if the life or death of both rested in his hands, he would at that +moment have selected death. Something within him was rent asunder; +something crashed. It seemed to him that again, just above his head, +pealed lightning, which stunned him and burnt, within him, to a crisp, +the ability to think.</p> + +<p class="normal">He wandered a long time over the city. He himself did not know in what +manner he again found himself before Pani Otocka's home, but he did not +enter for he once more felt that at that time he could not speak with +his mother. He returned to his own house late at night. Gronski was +already at home, and for an hour had been waiting for him with the tea.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good evening," he said, "I have returned from your mother's."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Ladislaus asked him with blunt impetuosity, "Do you know who Miss +Anney is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do. Pani Otocka told me."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you say to this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could ask you that question."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus sat heavily in the chair, drew his palm over his forehead and +replied with bitter irony:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, I have time. I was given a week for consideration."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not too much," answered Gronski, looking at him questioningly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly. Does Mother also know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Pani Otocka told her everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again silence ensued.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Laudie," said Gronski, "I can understand that this must have +shocked you, and for that reason I will not speak with you of it until +you calm down and regain your equipoise. You must also become familiar +with and well weigh the reasons why Miss Anney told only Pani Otocka +who she was and why she came to Jastrzeb under her new name, to which, +after all, she has a perfect right. Here is a letter from her. She +requested me to deliver it to you to-morrow and that is why I did not +hand it to you as soon as you appeared. At present I do not think that +it would be proper to defer the matter. But do not open it at once nor +in my presence. Put it away and read it when alone, when you can ponder +over every word. Positively do this. That which has happened moved me +to such an extent that for the time being I could not speak of it +calmly. To-day I can only give you this advice: be a man and do not +allow yourself to be swept away by the current of impressions. Row!"</p> + +<p class="normal">To this Ladislaus, who sobered up a little under the influence of these +words, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, sir. I will read the letter in privacy. It is now so +indispensable to me that I trust, sir, that you will not take it ill of +me if I no longer abuse your hospitality. I am sincerely and cordially +grateful to you for everything, but I must lock myself up. How long--I +do not know. When I am myself again, I will come to you to discuss +everything, God grant, more calmly. Now in reality, I see that I was +justly given one week's time. But besides time, I feel the need of my +own den. I cannot get rid of various thoughts, immensely bitter and +even horrible. To-day they hold me by the head and it is necessary that +I should hold them by the head--and for that reason I want to have my +own den."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know how willing I am to please you," answered Gronski; "I +understand you, and though in advance I decided not to torment you with +any questions, nevertheless, do what is best for yourself. I must tell +you also that your mother is moving to a hotel, as she is offended with +Pani Otocka. She took umbrage because she did not tell her at once in +Jastrzeb who Miss Anney was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I confess that I do not understand that--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, that would have been directly contrary to what those +ladies desired. Pani Otocka's intentions were the noblest. Time will +elucidate and equalize everything. Even Marynia did not know anything, +not only because Pani Zosia was bound by her word, but also because she +did not deem it proper to acquaint her with your former behavior and +your relations with the Hanka of former days. With Hanka--Miss Anney! +That was an unheard-of turn of affairs. Do you remember our +conversation in Jastrzeb when we went hunting for woodcock? Do you +remember?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I remember, but I cannot speak of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, better not speak of it at this time. Miss Anney's letter +undoubtedly will clear up the dark sides of the affair and explain what +is now unintelligible. If you desire to read it at once, I will go and +leave you here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am very curious about it and for just that reason I will take my +leave of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you will pass this night with me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have packed my things and the hotels are always open."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such case good-by!--and remember what I told you. Row! Row!"</p> + +<p class="normal">After a moment Gronski remained alone. He also was agitated, +distressed, but curious to the highest degree. When after Ladislaus' +confessions in Jastrzeb, he said to him that "the mills of the gods +grind late," he spoke it in a way one utters, off-hand, any maxim to +which one does not attach any real significance. In the meantime life +verified it in a manner fabulous but nevertheless logical. For as a +fable only appeared the transformation of Hanka into Miss Anney, but +that Miss Anney desired to see the man, whom, as a child, she loved in +her first transports of love and the place which bound her with so many +memories, tender and sad, was a matter natural and intelligible. And, +of course, she could not return to Jastrzeb and stay under the Krzycki +roof-tree otherwise than under a changed name. And thus it happened; +and the later events rolled on with their own force until they reached +the moment when it was necessary to reveal the secret. Gronski knew +already from Pani Otocka everything which she could tell him and +absolved from all sin her as well as Miss Anney. Nevertheless, he +understood that an unprecedented situation was created, and such a knot +was twisted that the untangling of it was impossible to foresee. It +could only be untwined by Krzycki, and even he stood not only in the +presence of new difficulties but, as it were, in the presence of a new +person.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>II</h3> + +<p class="normal">The very next day after the escape from the police Pauly visited +Laskowicz and afterwards called to see him as often as she could find +leisure time, selecting, nevertheless, hours when Swidwicki was not at +home. But this did not present great difficulties as Swidwicki usually +rose about noon, after which he went away and did not return until late +at night. The girl was not induced to make these frequent visits by any +sentimentality nor exceptional benevolence for the young student. She +even felt, particularly in the first moments, that she could despise +him. But women love in general to look at close range at their good +deeds and to behold, even daily, the people for whom they have become +providential angels; and again Laskowicz, with every word, disclosed to +her worlds of whose existence she heretofore had never guessed. About +socialists thus far she knew almost nothing, except what a certain old +female cook once told her, that "they do not believe in God and do not +eat ducks"; and she only heard that they threw bombs and shot from +revolvers. After the attack upon Krzycki howsoever much she, together +with all the servants in Jastrzeb, was convinced that it was +perpetrated by Rzeslewo men, nevertheless, the supposition that it +might have been the socialists reached her ears, and then she was +inflamed against them with a temporary ungovernable hatred. But now she +was learning that they were people of an entirely different stamp. She +did not yet understand what in general they wanted, but understood in +particular that those people desired that she, Paulina Kielkowna, +should be a kind of lady like Miss Anney or Pani Otocka. And as a bee +sips juice from flowers, so she, from the words of the young fanatic, +extracted nourishment for her envy, her pain, her feelings. Her heart +began to draw her towards that "Party," which appeared to her as a +Providence and as a power; and to this was joined the purely feminine +curiosity of the awful secrets of that power. Laskowicz quickly +observed that the seed fell upon fit soil; and when once, for uttering +inadvertently a disparaging word against Krzycki, the girl almost +scratched out his eyes, he surmised her secret and determined to +exploit her, not only for the good of the cause but also for his own +personal ends.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although Pauly was not the servant of Pani Otocka but of Miss Anney, +she nevertheless dwelt in the same house; so he could, through her, +secure news of Marynia, which he craved with all his soul; he could +quiet his fears as to Krzycki's intentions, could speak of her and hear +her name; and finally could gain information as to when and where he +could see her, though from a distance. And he questioned Panna Pauly +about all this; at first cautiously and casually, afterwards more and +more, and at last so incessantly that this began to surprise and anger +her. Prone to extremes, and more capable of hatred than affection, she +worshipped, by way of exception, Marynia, regarding her as a sort of +supernal being, and this worship in her was as violent as was her +hatred. On the other hand, on the ideal path, in the direction of +universal equality and dislike of the higher classes she made in a +brief time considerable progress. She could not however, cast off at +once her former notions, and she frequently had sudden relapses to +them. Hence at one time, when Laskowicz as usual began to hurl +questions at her about Panna Marynia, she answered him testily:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why are you always talking about Panna Zbyltowska?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps I am in love with her," retorted the student, knitting his +brow.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this her eyes in a moment blazed with rage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What more yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to peer at her keenly and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why does the little lady say 'what more yet'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For you are as suited for her as I am--"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she paused abruptly, but he finished:</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Pan Krzycki, for instance."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she burst into a greater rage yet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you meddle in matters that do not concern you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not meddle in anything. I say only if the little lady fell in +love with him and if I, hearing of it, said 'What more yet?' that would +be disagreeable to the little lady? And it would be justly +disagreeable. For if the priests prate that it is permissible to love +even God, why not a human being? It is permissible for the little lady, +it is permissible for me, it is permissible for everybody, for that is +the law of nature and therefore our law."</p> + +<p class="normal">The words seconded that which was hidden in the girl's heart too much +for her anger to remain, so she only glanced at Laskowicz, as if in +sorrow, and replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh! Much good will come of that law!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will come or not come, in time. After all, if we adjusted the world +in our own way, no dog would bark at such things. Is not the little +lady worthy of Krzycki? Why not? Is it because he is richer? That is +just what we are trying to prevent. Then what? Education? Lady, spit +upon it. That education you can teach to a monkey. It is he, if the +little lady wanted him, who ought yet to kiss the little lady's feet."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she again became impatient and replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Idle talk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I also want only to say that in case I should fall in love with Panna +Marynia and the little lady with Krzycki, our lot would be identical +and the wrong the same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wrong in what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the vile institutions of this world; in this, that such riff-raff +as ourselves are permitted to love only to suffer, and we are not +allowed to raise our eyes even upon the bourgeoisie, even though the +hearts within should whine like dogs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," answered the girl through set teeth. "But what of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This: that we ought to give to each other our hands, as brother and +sister, and not be angry at each other, but assist one another. Who +knows whether one may not be of service to the other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh! In what way can we help each other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he again began to gaze fixedly at her with his eyes set so closely +to each other and said, uttering each word slowly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know whether Krzycki is in love with Panna Marynia or with +that Englishwoman whom the little lady serves; or perhaps with neither +of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">In one moment Pauly's face was covered with a pallor; afterwards a +flame passed over it, which in turn gave way to pallor. In her soul +there might have been dumb fears, but up to that time she had dared not +put to herself any questions. Those ladies were entertained in Jastrzeb +as guests. Pani Otocka and Panna Marynia were Krzycki's relatives; +therefore there was nothing unusual in their relations. On the other +hand, when the "Englishwoman" in Jastrzeb drove for the doctor and +later nursed the wounded man, that was a time when the heart of the +girl raged with jealousy and uneasiness. Afterwards she was placated by +the thought that such a young nobleman would not wed a foreign +"intruder," no matter how wealthy, but, at present, jealousy pierced +her like a knife.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The little lady asked in what way we can help one another, did she +not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least in--revenge,"</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, he changed the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the little lady come to me and, if I sometimes inquire about +anything, let her not get angry. If at times it is hard for her, it is +not easy for me. One lot, one wrong. Let the little lady come. I do not +want to live with Swidwicki any longer. He is a peculiar man. I know +that he did not take me out of the goodness of his heart, but as he +placed himself in peril on my account I must endure everything from +him. In the meantime he so maligns our party that I feel an impulse to +shoot him in the head or stab him with a knife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you argue with that old goat?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because he talks and I must listen. Often he goads me into a reply. +Somebody else for lesser things would get a knife under the ribs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I will not be able to hide you a second time, for I do not know +where."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. I myself will find some sort of hole; I have already thought of +that. Our people will help. I now have a passport and am bleached +yellow on the head. Some of my associates could not recognize me. Even +if I am caught they will not try me as Laskowicz but as Zaranczko of +Bessarabia, unless some one should betray me, but such there is not +among us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only be careful, sir, and when you know where to hide, let me know. I +will not betray."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, I know; such do not betray."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he suddenly asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why does not the little lady want to agree that we should call each +other 'associates'? Amongst us we all speak that way."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she rebuffed him at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I told you once I cannot endure that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, if it is so, then it is hard."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pauly began to prepare for home. Laskowicz on the leave-taking made a +second departure from the customs governing his associates, for he +kissed her hand. Previously he had noticed that this raised her in her +own eyes; that it flattered her and brought her into a good humor. +Although not by nature over-intelligent, he observed that the +principles of the Party alone would not entirely hold her, and that he +would have in that girl an aid capable of all extremes, but only so far +as her own personality entered into the play. This lowered the opinion +which he held of her and his gratitude to her. He nevertheless +submitted to this despotism, remembering that he owed to her his life.</p> + +<p class="normal">At present he had, besides, a favor to ask of her; so at the door he +kissed her hand a second time and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Pauly--the same lot, the same wrong. Let the little lady answer +yet one more question. Where can I see though from a distance--though +from a distance--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whom?" she asked, knitting her brows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Marynia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If from a distance, then I will tell," she replied reluctantly. "The +little lady is to play for the starving working people and at noon goes +to the rehearsals."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, with Pani Otocka or with my mistress; but sometimes with one of us +servants."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But only from a distance--do you understand, sir,--for otherwise you +will fare badly."</p> + +<p class="normal">And after these words, which sounded like a menace, she left him. The +next moment Laskowicz heard through the door Swidwicki's voice and +laughter, after which something resembling a scuffle, a suppressed +scream, and--the sound of hasty footsteps on the stairs; finally +Swidwicki stumbled into the room, drunk.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What were you doing here?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing," answered Laskowicz.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to scan the room, evidently desiring to satisfy himself +whether he could not detect some signs of disorder, and repeated:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word of honor," the student exclaimed with energy.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Swidwicki leered at him, fingering his disheveled beard and +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you are a fool!"</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he flung himself upon the sofa, for he had partaken of a +sumptuous breakfast and was sleepy.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>III</h3> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz's extreme fanaticism could not in reality harmonize with the +extreme cynical scepticism of Swidwicki, who in addition took advantage +of the situation not only beyond measure, but to the point of cruelty. +He himself spoke of it and boasted about it to Gronski, when he met him +in the restaurant, to which Gronski went after Krzycki's removal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have enough of my revolutionary maggot," he said, "I have enough of +him, especially since I have satisfied myself that personally he is +honest and will not pilfer any money from my pocket-book. From that +time he has bored me. As for harboring such a simpleton one might go to +Siberia. I regarded it in the beginning as a species of sport. I +thought I would have a permanent sensation of a certain anxiety and, in +the meantime, I have not experienced anything of the kind. The only +satisfaction which I have is to point out to him his own stupidity and +that of his party. By that I drive him to rabidness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But that he cares to argue with you--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does not want to but is unable to restrain himself. His temperament +and fanaticism carry him away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At one time I met a similar individual," answered Gronski, "and not +very long ago--out in the country, in Jastrzeb. He was a student, a +tutor of Stas, whom Krzycki later discharged because he incited the +field hands and was an agitator among peasants of the neighborhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah," ejaculated, with a strange smile, Swidwicki, to whom it occurred +that Pauly also was at Jastrzeb.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? Why do you smile?" asked Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, nothing. Speak further."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rode with him once to the city and on the way had quite a chat with +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"According to your habit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"According to my habit. Now among empty phrases, which only dull minds +would accept as genuine coin, he said some interesting things. I +learned a little about the angle from which they view the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My maggot at times says interesting things. Yesterday I led him into +the admission that socialists of the pure water regard as their +greatest enemies the peasants and the radical members of the +bourgeoisie. I began to pour oil on the fire and he unbosomed himself. +An unsophisticated peasant aspires to ownership, and that aspiration +the devil cannot eradicate, and as to the bourgeoisie he spoke thus: +'What harm,' he said, 'do these few nobles and priests who infest the +world do to us? Our enemy is the bourgeois, rich or poor. Our enemy is +the radical, who thinks that as soon as he shouts that he does not +believe in God and priests that he buys us. Our enemy is that boaster, +who speaks in the name of the common people and is ready to tickle us +under the armpits, so that we should smile on him. He is the one who +fawns on us, like a dog at a roll of butter, and preserves all the +instincts of a bourgeois.' And he chattered further until I said: 'Hold +on! Why, you are with the radicals "fratres Helenae!"' And he to this: +'That is not true! The radical, wealthy bourgeois, who from fear dyes +in red and borrows the standard and methods from us, introduces +confusion in minds and drabbles in the mud our idea; and the poor one, +if he annually saves even the smallest amount, injures us for he offers +to work at a lower price than the pure proletaire, who always is as +poor as Job. We,' he said, 'will put the knife, above all things, to +the throats of the bourgeois for latent treachery lurks in him.' Thus +he chattered and I was willing to concede justice to him, if in general +I believed in justice, but I did not concede it yet for another reason, +and that is, he is too stupid to have reasoned out such things. It was +evident that he repeated what others taught him. In fact I did not +neglect to tell him so."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Dolhanski who, +observing Gronski, approached him, although he disliked to meet +Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How are you?" he said, "My ladies took a trip to Czestochowo; so I am +free. Will you permit me to be seated with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, certainly. Why, these are your last days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be worth while even for that reason to drink a little +bottle," observed Swidwicki, "particularly as it is, besides, my +birthday."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the calendar was a wine-cellar and the dates in it bottles, then +your birthday would occur every day," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I swear to you upon everything at which I jeer, that, contrary to my +habit and inclination, this time I speak the truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he nodded to the waiter and ordered him to bring two +bottles, calculating that afterwards more would be forthcoming. In the +meantime Dolhanski said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I met Krzycki to-day. He looks poorly; somehow not himself, and he +told me that he does not live with you but in a hotel. Did you by +chance quarrel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. But he moved away from me and Pani Krzycki from Pani Otocka's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is some kind of epidemic," exclaimed Swidwicki, "for my +cutthroat is leaving me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps something has passed between Krzycki and Miss Anney," said +Dolhanski. "I supposed that they were getting quite intimate. Did they +part--or what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A marchpane, that Englishwoman," interrupted Swidwicki; "but her maid +has more electricity in her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski hesitated for a while; after which he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, they have not parted, but something has occurred. I do not know +why I should make a secret of that which, sooner or later, you will +find out. It has developed that Miss Anney is not the born, but +adopted, child of the rich English manufacturer, lately deceased, Mr. +Anney, and of his late wife."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, if the adoption gives her all the rights, and particularly the +right of inheritance, is it not all the same to Krzycki?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The adoption gives her all rights; nevertheless it is not entirely the +same to Krzycki, for it appears that Miss Anney is the daughter of a +blacksmith of Rzeslewo and is named Hanka Skibianka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" cried Swidwicki, "Perdita has been found but not the king's +daughter. What does the pretty Florizel say to this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Dolhanski began to stare at Gronski as if he saw him for the first +time in his life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you saying?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The actual fact."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sapristi! But that is a nursery tale. Sapristi! You are joking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word it is so. She herself told that to Krzycki."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I like that expression of astonishment on Dolhanski's face," exclaimed +Swidwicki. "Man, come to yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski restrained himself, for he always proclaimed that a true +gentleman never should be surprised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I remember now," he said, "that this is the Skibianka to whom Uncle +Zarnowski bequeathed a few thousand roubles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore his daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fancy to yourself otherwise. Skiba came from Galicia to Rzeslewo with +a wife and a child a few years old."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore of pure peasant blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Piast's,<a name="div2Ref_10" href="#div2_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a> a Piast's," +cried Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Absolutely pure," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what does Laudie say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He swallowed the tidings and is trying to digest them," again blurted +out Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That substantially is the case. He found himself in a new situation +and locked himself up. It dumfounded him a little, and he desires to +come to himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was enamoured to the point of ludicrousness but now he will +probably break off."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not admit that, but I repeat, that, in view of the changed +situation, he has fallen into a certain internal strife, which he must +first quell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I candidly confess that I would break off all relations +unconditionally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if Kaska or Hanka had a hundred thousand pounds?" asked Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such a case--I would have fallen into a strife," answered +Dolhanski, phlegmatically.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a while he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"For it seems that it is nothing, but in life it may appear to be +something. Omitting the various cousins, 'Mats' and 'Jacks,' who +undoubtedly will be found; there also will be found dissimilar +instincts, dissimilar dispositions, and dissimilar tastes. Why, the +deuce! I would not want a wife who suddenly might be ruled by an +unexpected passion for amber rosaries, for shelling peas, for swingling +flax, for picking fruit, or for gathering mushrooms, not to say berries +and nuts, and walking barefooted."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he turned to Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shrug your shoulders, but it is so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would not shock me," said Swidwicki, "only, if I were to marry +Miss Anney, I would just stipulate that she at times should go about +barefooted. When I am in the country, nothing affects me so much as the +sight of the bare feet of girls. It is true that they often have +erysipelas about the ankles, which comes from the prickle of the +stubblefields. But I assume that Miss Anney has not got erysipelas."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One cannot talk with you in a dignified manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?" replied Swidwicki. "Let Krzycki now clip coupons from his +dignity but not we. Did you say that he belongs to the National +Democrats?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, not I. But what connection has that with Miss Anney?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh,--oh, a nobleman--a National Democrat--has found out that his flame +has peasant blood in her veins and nevertheless his belly on that +account has begun to ache; nevertheless, he is stung by that deminutio +capitis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who told you that? Besides, it should be permutatio, not deminutio."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! The English wares take on the appearance of a domestic product +and fall in value. Justly, justly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know who could with perfect independence enter into a marriage +under such conditions?" asked Dolhanski. "A truly great gentlemen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But not Polish," exclaimed Swidwicki.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you are already beginning! Why not Polish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because a Polish gentleman has not sufficient faith in his own blood; +he plainly has not sufficient pride to believe that he will elevate a +woman to himself and not lower himself to her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski began to laugh:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not expect that charge from your lips," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why? I am an individualist, and in so far as I do not regard myself as +a specimen of the basest race, so far do I regard myself as a specimen +of the best. According to me one belongs to the aristocracy only +through lucky chance; that is, when one brings into the world a +suitable profile and corresponding brain. But Dolhanski, for instance, +in so far as he has not purchased portraits of ancestors at an +auction--and our other gentlemen--judge that blood constitutes that +appurtenance. Now granting these premises, I contend that our tories do +not know how to be proud of their blood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At home," said Gronski, "you vent your spleen upon the socialists, and +here you wish to vent it upon the aristocracy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That does not diminish my merits. I have a few pretty remarks for the +National Democracy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, I know. But how will you prove that which you said about the +Polish tories?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How will I prove it? By the Socratic method--with the aid of +questions. Did you ever observe when a Polish gentleman abroad becomes +acquainted with a Frenchman or Englishman? I, while I had money, passed +winters in Nice or in Cairo and saw a number of them. Now, every time I +propounded to myself the question which now I put to you: why the devil +it is not the Frenchman or Englishman who tries to please the Pole, but +the Pole them? Why is it that only the Pole fawns, only the Pole +coquets? Because he is almost ashamed of his descent; and if by chance +a Frenchman tells him that from his accent he took him for a Frenchman, +or an Englishman takes him for an Englishman, then he melts with joy, +like butter in a frying-pan! Ah, I have seen such coquettes by the +score--and it is an old story. Such coquetry, for instance, Stanislaus +Augustus<a name="div2Ref_11" href="#div2_11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> possessed. At +home, the Polish gentleman at times knows +how to hold his nose high. Before a foreigner he is on both paws. Is +not that a lack of pride in his own race, in his own blood, in his own +traditions? If you have the slightest grain of a sense of justice, even +though no larger than the grain of caviar, you must admit the justice +of my remarks. As to myself, I have been ashamed sometimes that I am a +Pole."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That means that you committed the same sin with which you charge +others," replied Gronski. "If the tips of the wings of our eagle +reached both seas, as at one time they did, perhaps Poles might be +different. But at present--tell me--of what are they to be proud?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are twisting things. I am speaking of racial pride only, not +political," answered Swidwicki. "After all, may the devils take them. I +prefer to drink."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say what you will," asserted Dolhanski, "but I will merely tell you +this: if internal affairs were exclusively in their hands, some +fooleries might take place, but we would not be fried in the sauce in +which we are fried to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki turned to him with eyes glistening already a little +abnormally.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear sir," he said, "in order to govern a country it is necessary +to have one of three things: either the greatest number, which +the canaille has behind it--I beg pardon, I should have said the +Democracy--or the greatest sound sense, which nobody amongst us +possesses, or the most money, which the Jews have. And as I have +demonstrated that our great gentlemen do not even have any sentiment of +traditions, therefore what have they?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At least good manners, which you lack," retorted Dolhanski with +aversion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. I will tell you what they have--if not all of them, then the +second or third one: but I will tell it to you in a whisper, so as not +to shock Gronski's virgin ears."</p> + +<p class="normal">And leaning over to Dolhanski, he whispered a word to him, after which +he snorted, maliciously:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not say that that is nothing, but it is not sufficient to govern +the country with."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Dolhanski frowned and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is so, then you surely belong to the highest aristocracy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course! certainly! I have a diploma certified a few years ago in +Aix-la-chapelle, the place of the coronation!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, he again quaffed his wine and continued with a kind of +feverish gayety:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, permit me to rail, permit me to scoff at men and things! I always +do that internally but at times I must expectorate the gall. Permit me! +For after all, I am a Pole, and for a Pole there perhaps cannot be a +greater pleasure than defacing, belittling, pecking at, calumniating, +spitting on, and pulling down statues from the pedestals. Republican +tradition, is it not? In addition Providence so happily arranged it +that a Pole loves that the most, and when he himself is concerned, he +feels it most acutely. A delightful society!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mistaken," replied Gronski, "for in that respect we have +changed prodigiously and in proof of it, I will cite one instance: When +the painter Limiatycki received for his 'Golgotha' a grand medal in +Paris, all the local little brushes at once fumed at him. So meeting +him, I asked him whether he intended to retaliate, and he replied to me +with the greatest serenity: 'I am serving my fatherland and art, but +only stupidity cannot understand that, while only turpitude will not +understand it.' And he was right, for whoever has any kind of wings at +his shoulders and can raise himself a little in the air, need not pay +attention to the mud of the streets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tut, tut; mud is a purely native product, the same as other symptoms +of your national culture, namely: filth, scandals, envy, folly, +indolence, big words and little deeds, cheap politics, brawling, a +relish for mass-meetings, banditism, revolvers, and bombs; if I wanted +to mention everything I would not finish until late at night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will throw in for you a few more things," said Gronski; +"drunkenness, cynicism, a stupid pose of despair, thoughtless +hypercriticism, scoffing at misfortune, fouling one's own nest, +spitting at blood and suffering, undermining faith in the future, and +blasphemy against the nation. Have you yet enough?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not enough of wine. Order some more, order some more!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not order any more wine, but I will tell yet more, that you err +in claiming that these are native products. They are brought by a +certain wind which evidently has fanned you."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Swidwicki, who this time had no desire to quarrel but did have a +desire to drink, evidently wishing to change the subject of the +conversation, unexpectedly exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Apropos of winds, what a pity that such sensible people as the +Prussians commit one gross blunder."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, who had already risen to bid him farewell, was overcome +temporarily by curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What blunder?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That they assume super-villeiny to be superhumanity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this you are right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feel a contempt for myself as often as I am right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we will leave you with your wine and your contempt."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, Gronski nodded to Dolhanski and they departed. Swidwicki's +last words, however, caused him to reflect; so after a while he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now people's minds are haunted by the Prussians and they are reminded +of them by the slightest cause. After all, Swidwicki's description of +them was apposite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you knew how little I am interested in Swidwicki's descriptions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nevertheless, you vie with him and talk in a similar strain," answered +Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, pursuing further the train of his thoughts, he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nietzsche also did not perceive that the susceptibility and +appreciation of other people's woes becomes manifest only upon the +culmination of the creative ..."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good, good, but at this moment I am more interested in what Krzycki is +going to do about Miss Anney."</p> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski, who could not endure Swidwicki, would have been sorely +afflicted, if he had suspected that the same question occurred to the +latter's mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Remaining alone, Swidwicki recalled Gronski's recital and began to +laugh, as the thought of such unusual complications amused him +immensely. He imagined to himself what excitement must have prevailed +at Krzycki's and at Pani Otocka's, and how far the affair would agitate +the circles of their relatives and acquaintances. And suddenly he began +to soliloquize in the following manner:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if I paid Miss Anney a visit? It even behooves me to leave her a +card. That would be eminently proper. I may not find her in--that does +not matter much, but if I should find her in, I will try to see whether +her legs are not too bulky at the ankles. For culture, education, even +polish may be acquired, but delicate ligaments of the legs and hands it +is necessary to inherit through a whole series of generations. That +furious Pauly, nevertheless, has a sufficiently thin ligature. The +devil, however, knows who her father was, I will go. If I do not find +one, I shall find the other."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he went. He was admitted not by the man-servant but by Pauly; so he +smiled at her in his most ingratiating manner and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-day, pretty fennel-flower! Is Panna Hanka Skibianka at home?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What Hanka Skibianka?" she asked in surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, the little lady does not know the great tidings?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What great tidings? I do not know any."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That the mistress of the little lady is not named Miss Anney?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not upset our heads."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give the little lady my word of honor. Ask Pan Gronski, or Pan +Krzycki, who is chewing off his fingers from mortification. I give you +my word of honor. I also could tell you more, but if the little lady is +not curious I will go. Here is my card for Panna Ski-bian-ka."</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of the girl sparkled with curiosity. She took the card +mechanically.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not say that you should go, but I do not believe," she said +hurriedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I know yet more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will whisper it in your ear."</p> + +<p class="normal">It did not occur to Pauly that there was no necessity for Swidwicki +speaking in a whisper. She leaned towards him with a palpitating heart +and, though he flooded her with his breath, saturated with the odor of +wine, she did not withdraw her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?" she repeated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That Panna Skibianka is a peasant woman from Zarnow!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is untrue!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As I love God."</p> + +<p class="normal">And, saying this, he suddenly smacked her ear with a broad kiss.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IV</h3> + +<p class="normal">Miss Anney's letter bore the impress of extraordinary simplicity. At +the beginning she said that from the moment when he proposed for her +hand she was compelled to reveal her former name; while in the +continuation it contained an equally simple account of herself and her +family from the time of their departure from Rzeslewo. This sad course +of events she related in the following words:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father came from Galicia and had in America relatives of whom he +heard that through labor they had amassed fortunes. Learning of this, +he decided to settle there also and seek his fortune beyond the ocean. +We left Rzeslewo at a time when you were in Warsaw. I knew how to write +as I was taught that in the manor-house, and would have informed you +about this if I had known your address. We went, not saying anything to +anybody, to Hamburg, and at that place there occurred what often +happens to peasant emigrants. The agent tricked us, defrauded us of our +money, and placed us on a vessel bound not for America but for England. +Thrown upon the pavements of London, we soon fell into dire want. For +the passage to America there now was no means. My mother died of +typhoid fever in a hospital and father, from despair and nostalgia, +declined rapidly in health. Under these circumstances we were found by +Mr. Anney, one of the best and noblest men in the world, a friend and +patron of the Poles, who gave us employment. But the succor came too +late, and my father died in the course of a year. I remained in the +factory and worked in it until the accident which changed my status +entirely. The Anney family had only one child, a daughter, whom they +loved beyond everything in the world and surrounded with a solicitude +all the greater because she was threatened by a pulmonary ailment. Once +it happened that Miss Anney, while visiting the factory, was almost +carried away by the driving-wheel of the machinery. I rushed to her +assistance, imperilling a little my own life, and from that time the +gratitude of the Anney family for me had no bounds. They took me from +the factory to themselves, and in this manner I became the companion +and afterwards the bosom friend of their daughter. A Pole, an emigrant +of the year '63, a friend of Mr. Anney and a man well educated, taught +us both, and me, separately, in Polish. I endeavored to benefit, as +much as lay in my power, from these lessons, and after two years was +able to approach a little the intellectual plane of my friend and my +environment. But Agnes--for such was the Christian name of Miss +Anney--began to fail in her health. Then Mr. Anney sold his factory and +we all, including our instructor, removed to Italy. There about three +years were passed in a search for the best climate for our dearest +patient. All efforts proved unavailing, however, as God took His angel +unto Himself. After Agnes' death, the Anneys, remembering that I loved +with my whole soul our dead one, adopted me as their own child and gave +me not only their family name, but desiring to overcome their despair, +suffering, and sorrow, even the Christian name of the deceased. +Nevertheless, the sorrow could not be overcome, and though I tried with +my whole heart to be to them some sort of comfort in life, in the +course of two years both followed their greatest love.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this is the end of my history. And after that came those events +which brought me nearer to you; therefore I desire to justify my +conduct in your eyes. I have a right to the name which I bear, and my +life from the time of the departure from Rzeslewo has been pure. +Conscience reproaches me with only one new error. This was that I did +not confess to the Anneys that I already was unworthy of their care. +But for such a confession I lacked strength. I loved too much my Agnes +and feared that they would separate me from her. Later I did not want +to add to their affliction. I did not have the strength. At times, +also, I think that now when they look upon me from heaven and see +everything, they forgive me for keeping that secret. Beyond this I once +more repeat and swear that my life has been pure. But in my memory I +have only coffins and coffins, and of my Rzeslewo days there remains to +me only the recollection of you. I could not forget either my sin or my +happiness. Often during the life of my adopted sister, while gazing +into her chaste eyes, I struggled with remorse, and at the same time I +wept from intense longing. After that, being left alone in the world, I +had nothing to cherish in my heart, and I began to yearn yet more. +When, after the death of the Anneys, I became acquainted and grew +intimate with Zosia Otocka in Brussels, I accidentally learned from a +conversation that she was your relative. Then I related to her my +entire life, not concealing anything, and she not only did not spurn +me, but loved me yet more. Emboldened by her goodness, I confessed to +her my longing for the old days and Rzeslewo. Perhaps it may be a new +fault on my part that I confided to Zosia my insurmountable desire of +seeing yet once more in my life, Jastrzeb, Rzeslewo, and--why should I +not state the whole truth?--and you. Then Zosia said to me: 'I +understand you; ride with me to Jastrzeb as Miss Anney, as you cannot +do otherwise. Nobody will recognize you and you will take a reckoning +with your own heart. Perhaps reality may extinguish the rainbow of +recollections. If they are assuaged forever, so much the better for +you; if he should fall in love with you, so much the worse for him; if +your former echoes reawaken, then we will assume that this was +predestination.' Such was Zosia's advice, and for that reason, when +your mother invited her and Marynia, I also accompanied them to +Jastrzeb. But I do not wish to pass for any better than I am. I confess +that on the road I always had in mind Zosia's words: 'If he falls in +love with you, so much the worse for him,' and I wished that to happen. +I was certain that you had entirely forgotten me, and I thought that if +now you fell in love with me without any requital, that it would be a +sort of condign punishment for your forgetfulness and a kind of triumph +for myself and--if not such a womanly revenge as books tell of,--at +least a great solace to my self-love. But it happened otherwise, for I +forgot to take into account that I had a heart, not of foreign books, +but of a Polish village--simple and faithful. When I saw Rzeslewo, +Jastrzeb, and you, I wanted only to weep and weep, as I wept at Pan +Zarnowski's funeral, and I discovered within me that Hanka, who years +before loved you with her first childish love and afterwards with such +affection, did not love any one else. You know, sir, what happened +further. If you do not return, I will not bear any resentment towards +you, but do not harbor any ill-will against me. I, too, merely skirted +along the rim of happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">The signature was "Hanka." Ladislaus' chin quivered from time to time +while he was reading the letter and his eyes grew dim. He began to +repeat the signature "Hanka, Hanka." He rose abruptly and paced over +the room with big steps. His thoughts rolled into a ball in his head +like clouds in the heavens; they collected and scattered in all +directions like a startled stud of horses on the wild steppes of the +Ukraine. He read the letter a second and third time, and under its +influence there began to glide before his eyes pictures of the past as +distinct as if all that which occurred some time ago had happened but +yesterday. He recalled those bright moonlight nights when he stole away +to the mill, and that village girl, fragrant with the hay, who, to the +question of whether she loved him, whispered in reply, "Of course," and +threw her yet half-childish arms around his neck and hugged him to her +breast with such strength that no other love could make a sincerer +avowal. He recollected that he nevertheless loved her at that time, and +when he missed her, longed for her, and even inquired of the people +about the blacksmith's family--but with reserve and faint-heartedly, as +fear closed his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Subsequently that girl was erased from his memory so completely that +even the light pangs of conscience which he felt on her account +vanished; nothing remained. It was well with him in the world and he +sought new sensations, while she was seized by the whirlwind of life +and was hurled like a wretched leaf upon a foreign land, where she +suffered from sheer starvation. Nevertheless, neither at that time, nor +later, when good people took care of her, did she forget him nor did +she cease to long for him. Ladislaus was not a deep connoisseur of the +human soul; he felt, nevertheless, that what for him was simply a love +adventure, a shallow enjoyment of the senses, a transient impression +which disperses to the winds like the fragrance of flowers, for her +became a new life; a surrender of her whole being and whole soul, too +pure and too noble for her to seek a new happiness upon new paths. And +now he understood why that coveted Miss Anney of to-day, charming as a +dream, brilliant, surrounded by affluence and arousing admiration, +wrote to him that she had a heart not of foreign books but of a Polish +village--simple and faithful. He understood also why the letter was +signed "Hanka." Suddenly and irrevocably were banished all his +suspicions, and her words, "my life from the moment of the departure +from Rzeslewo has been pure," touched him to the extent that he began +to upbraid himself that he should for a moment have thought that it +could have been otherwise. At once he seemed to himself to be little, +mean, and unworthy of that noble and exalted soul. But through his +heart and head there coursed during the last moments so many thoughts, +impressions, and feelings that he was uncertain whether the final +sensibility of his own shortcomings and wretchedness would be lasting. +Nevertheless, he was seized with an ever-increasing tenderness, and +more and more became obliterated that difference between Hanka and Miss +Anney which was so irritating to him in the first moments. Now, on the +contrary, the recollection that this simple girl of old and that +fascinating lady of to-day were one and the same woman penetrated him +with a kind of thrill, resembling a thrill of joy. The memory that at +one time he possessed the other began to waken in him, as it were, a +hunger and a new passion for the present one, and the thought of her +charms intensified the play of his young blood. But he strove to stifle +within him those impressions with the consciousness of the +responsibilities which were imposed upon him. Above all things he +propounded to himself the question. What should a man of honor do who +had betrayed and therefore wronged a girl, almost a child, who was in +love with him, and later, after a few years, met her under a changed +name and fell in love with her? There was only one answer; even if he +did not fall in love, if her love continued, he ought to assume all the +consequences of his acts. If she remained a simple-minded rustic who +never could understand him, or if she had deviated from the path of +rectitude, even in such a case, it would not, for his vexed soul, be +sufficient reason for washing his hands and withdrawing from the +affair; and so much the more, since the girl had bridged the +intellectual and social chasm which separated them, and in addition +ennobled her own soul and had not ceased to love. "Yes it is so. I +would spit in my own eyes," said Ladislaus (not thinking at that moment +that in practice an act like that would be a trifle difficult to +perform), "if I hesitated any longer. There is only one thing to do and +I will do that at once." Having formed this resolution, he took a deep +breath like a man, from whose heart a heavy load has fallen--and as +much as he at first became little in his own eyes, so now he began to +gain in stature. He did not, however, propound the question, what would +happen if Miss Anney did not have such wondrous eyes, gazing with a +heavenly streak, nor such a countenance, whose color reminded him of +the petals of a white rose, nor those other charms which attracted his +eyes. He said to himself that many of his acquaintances could not +afford to form a similar resolution; he was pleased with himself; and +that it was easier for him to do so because he was impelled thereto by +his heart and senses, he deemed not as lessening the worthiness of the +act itself, but as his own good fortune. He foresaw, however, that he +would yet have to do with his mother as well as with the so called +opinion of society, which is not concerned about principles but only +about gossip, and which seeks, above all things, food for its own +stupid malice. But he expected to reconcile his mother, and as to the +malicious, smiling ironically upon the slightest provocation, his +nostrils, distended at the very thought, and his clenched teeth boded +them no good. But this anticipated knightly action was a matter of the +future; in the meantime his impetuous nature urged him to immediate +action. He determined to go to his mother at once and definitely come +to an understanding with her. Glancing, however, at his watch, he +became aware of the fact that it was almost three o'clock in the +morning. In view of this, that was impossible. Not feeling, however, +the least need of sleep, and desiring absolutely to do something, he +sat down to write letters. First, he inclosed Miss Anney's letter in an +envelope, because he wanted to send it to his mother before the +decisive interview took place; after which he started to write to Miss +Anney, but soon stopped, as it occurred to him that since he gave his +word that he would remain silent for a week, he did not have the right +to do it. Instead, after a brief deliberation, he wrote a few words to +Pani Otocka, praying that she would permit him to visit her that day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally, when the dawn began to peer into the room and mingle with the +light of the lamps, he thought of repose, but though he felt great +weariness, he could not fall asleep, and mentally he conversed with his +mother and Miss Anney until sunrise. He fell into a sound slumber only +when the morning bustle in the hotel began and did not awake until +late. Dressing himself, he rang for the servant and ordered him to +deliver Miss Anney's letter to his mother, but at the last minute he +made up his mind to take it to her himself. But in the rooms engaged by +his mother he found only the younger members of the family and the +French governess, who informed him that "madame" went to church early +in the morning.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>V</h3> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki had indeed gone to church and confession, for in the grief +which befell her, she needed consolation and advice. And her grief was +real and profound. She lived in times in which various ancient +prejudices and prepossessions clashed, and were becoming more and more +obliterated, yielding place to new democratic ideas. As she often heard +that the wave of these new ideas might bring benefit and salvation to +the country, she, notwithstanding that her habits and former +conceptions conflicted with them, not only did not struggle against +them, but quietly acquiesced in them in a passive manner. This was +easier for her as it never occurred to her that personally she would +ever have anything to do with them. For her it was the same as if +somebody had installed modern furniture in a few rooms in Jastrzeb, +which were not continually occupied. Let them stay there since fashion +requires it and since in the other rooms there are old armchairs, +heirlooms, in which one can rest comfortably. And now, suddenly she was +ordered to move to that new part of the house; suddenly she was +confronted by the fact that her son was in love with a peasant woman +from Rzeslewo and was about to marry her. Then in the first moments +everything within her was stirred up; the old instincts and customs +began to cry out. That silent and passive acquiescence in the new ideas +crumbled like a building of sand, and the whole course of events +appeared to the indignant citizeness-noblewoman as an unworthy intrigue +in which the victim to be sported with was her son and with him, the +entire Krzycki family. Amazement that the chief partner and almost +author of this intrigue could be a being whom she regarded as the +incarnation of all feminine virtues, and whom she desired her son +should marry, only aggravated her anger. In vain did Zosia explain to +her that her son was the betrayer of an innocent child and Miss Anney +was an angel, and that in bringing her to Jastrzeb, she did not have +any sinister designs and did only that which every other woman in her +place, sympathizing with a wronged and longing woman, would have done. +"If the most fervent wish of Miss Anney was to behold once more in her +life the place in which her life was undone, and the man whom she could +not forget and who was the author of her undoing, then it was due to +her; and everybody who has the slightest heart ought to understand +this. And let Aunt say," she continued, "whether I could betray her +secret and whether an impossible situation would not have been created +for her." The usually quiet and gentle Zosia became so wrought up in +defence of her friend that she plainly told Pani Krzycki that even if +Laudie fell in love with Miss Anney without any requital that it would +be only what he deserved and, besides, since "Aninka" did not accept +his proposal and gave him a week's time for consideration, he could +withdraw it; in such case, however, "Aninka" would not be the only one +whose respect he forfeited. But all this was pouring oil upon fire and +only increased the ire of Pani Krzycki who declared that, at any rate, +she and her son were victims of a plot. After which she moved to a +hotel, announcing at the time of her departure that her feet would +never again cross the threshold of that house.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless, the bitterness and anger which accumulated in her heart +were not directed against Pani Otocka alone. Her son also had wounded +her heart deeply and awakened a whole series of painful recollections, +connected with the memory of her husband. For her husband, a man +worshipped by her during the first years of their marital life for his +manifold good qualities and extraordinary beauty, had caused her not a +little mortification through his immoral life in relation to women in +general and the female residents of Jastrzeb and its vicinity in +particular. To Pani Krzycki it was no secret, that, in the course of +long years, cows were led continually from the manor cow-houses as +gifts or rather as rewards to various Kates and Marys and that +in Jastrzeb could be found quite a number of step-brothers and +step-sisters of her children. So she shed copious tears over this state +of affairs until almost the last year of her husband's life. In her +time she suffered in her own self-love and her womanly dignity as a +wife and mother. Afterwards she forgave everything, but after the death +of her husband, as a woman deeply religious, she lived in continual +fear at the thought of the Divine Tribunal, before which the deceased +appeared. For whole years she tried to supplicate for him forgiveness +through tears, fasts, alms, and prayers. Above all she determined to +bring up her son in such a manner that he would never fall into the +errors of his father. She watched him in his boyhood days, like the eye +in her head; she shielded him from all evil influences. After sending +him to school she confided the care of him to her relative, a priest, +and to Gronski, in whose morality she justly believed. And when the son +grew up, when after finishing school, he attended the university, and +afterwards assumed the management of the Jastrzeb estate, she had that +bottomless, naïve faith, usual with women, upright and pious but +unacquainted with the depravity of the world, that up to that time +"Laudie" was as pure as a lily. And now unexpectedly the film over her +eyes dropped. The son was following in the footsteps of his father. At +this thought she was beset by despair. In her soul a protest truly +vehement poured forth against the alliance of her son with a peasant +woman, but having a very sensitive conscience she felt, after her +conversation with Zosia, that Miss Anney had some claim on Ladislaus. +Once or twice, this manner of extricating themselves from an onerous +situation suggested itself to her mind; that Ladislaus in pursuance of +a prearranged compact should propose to Miss Anney and she should +refuse him. "But do I know," she said to herself, "how many similar +Hankas may already be found in Jastrzeb?" And a horror penetrated to +the marrow of her bones at the thought that among those Hankas might be +Ladislaus' step-sisters, for it seemed to her that the crimes of the +father fatally dragged after them the yet greater crimes of the son and +with them must follow damnation. "Ah, Laudie! ah, Laudie!" she repeated +despondently, and she felt besides fear, such pain, such disappointment +of heart and such profound resentment, that however much she understood +that it was necessary to summon Ladislaus as soon as possible and +ascertain how he had received the news that Miss Anney is Hanka and +what he intended to do, nevertheless she could not persuade herself to +see him at once. After removing from Pani Otocka's, the information +that he was not at the hotel afforded her true relief. She immediately +locked herself up in her room and determined, if he called, not to +admit him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The following morning she went to church and to confession and after +confession she begged her relative, the prelate, the same who in his +time had charge of Ladislaus, for advice. Already she was calmer. The +aged prelate received her and began with extraordinary particularity to +question her about Miss Anney, her stay at Jastrzeb, about the course +of events after the attempt on Ladislaus' life, and about the details +in Hanka's life, of which Pani Krzycki had learned from Zosia: +afterwards about the fears of Pani Krzycki herself, and finally after a +long silence he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to the sins, which Ladislaus, after this, the first sin of his +youth, might have committed, that is only a conjecture, and a fear, and +as we have no irrefutable proofs of them, we should not take them into +account at all. There only remains the former Hanka and the Miss Anney +of to-day. It is only with this one case that we have to do. So I +desire to know how you, as a mother, regard her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki replied that she knew perfectly well that all people in +the sight of God were equal, but she was concerned about the happiness +of her son. Similar marriages were not usually happy. It may be that +the reason for this is the malice of the world: it may be that the wife +met with humiliation on the part of vain and malicious persons, but the +husband must feel that also, in consequence of which irritation ensues +and the relations grow from bad to worse even without any ill-will on +either side. As to her son he is ambitious and sensitive as but few +are, and even if he loved his wife most strongly, he would suffer if +any one evinced towards her even a shade of disdain. Whoever lives in +the world must reckon with everything, even with stupidity, even with +malice, not to say with other considerations upon which marital +happiness often depends.</p> + +<p class="normal">The aged prelate listened, folding and unfolding according to his habit +a silk handkerchief, and finally said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Reckoning with stupidity and malice may only mean guarding against +them, not making any concessions to them."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he began to look at Pani Krzycki with a penetrating gaze +and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Permit me to put one question to you: Why should your son necessarily +be happy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him with surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, I am his mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but there are things more important than happiness, particularly +temporal,--is it not true?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," she answered quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That which you said in respect to temporal matters may be more or less +just and may actually be the reasons which make such marriages less +happy than others, but it is necessary above all things to propound to +one's self the question. What in life is greater and what is less, what +is more important and what is less important, and to act according to +the dictates of conscience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, how am I to act?" asked Pani Krzycki.</p> + +<p class="normal">The aged prelate looked at the crucifix hanging on the wall and +quietly, but with emphasis, answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"As a Christian."</p> + +<p class="normal">A momentary silence followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am satisfied with the advice," said Pani Krzycki, "and I thank you."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VI</h3> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, while his mother was in church and consulting the prelate, +repaired, notwithstanding the early hour, to Pani Otocka. At the very +beginning he raised to his lips both of her hands and kissed them so +long that she, from that act alone, perceived his intentions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew it would be so! I knew it!" she cried with emotion and joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">While he replied in a soft quivering voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not require a week to perceive that I cannot live without her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew it," Zosia once more repeated. "Have you spoken with your +mother, yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. Yesterday, I ran about the city senselessly, after which I rushed +to Gronski's and went to the hotel very late, and this morning I was +informed that Mother was in church."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Otocka again became anxious.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yesterday," she said, "she was very angry and God grant that she may +be reconciled, for on this all depends."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not all," answered Ladislaus; "not to speak of my great attachment for +Mother, I esteem her immensely; and God sees that I would be pleased +always to conform to her will. But that has its limits; when the +happiness, not only of myself, but of the being most precious to me in +the world, is concerned, then I cannot sacrifice that under any +circumstances; I have pondered over this all night. I have a hope that +Mother will consent; as I trust in her character and in that love which +she has always shown to me. If, however, contrary to my hopes, it +should appear otherwise, then I will tell her that this is a resolution +which cannot now be and will not be revoked."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maybe there is no necessity for that," said Pani Otocka, "for Aninka +also is concerned. Yesterday, after the letter which she wrote to you +and after Pan Gronski's departure, we talked until late at night. She +was very nervous and cried, but spoke thus: 'If he returns to me, not +joyfully and with entire good-will, but only because he did not want to +withdraw his word, then I will never consent to it. There is no pride +in me. I did not even reckon with my own self-love, and wrote to him +sincerely what was in my heart, but even if it should break I would not +wed him, if it shall seem to him that he is lowering himself for me.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The dear, lovely creature!" interrupted Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Otocka continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"After that she began to cry, and added that she would not consent to +be the cause of an estrangement between mother and son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I repeat once more that my resolution cannot and shall not be +revoked. Here my whole life is involved--and even if now Mother cannot +find in her heart sufficient good-will, she will find it later. In the +meantime I will do everything in order that my future wife should have +in her also a mother, affectionate and grateful for her son's +happiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I repeat that to Miss Anney?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just what I came for. But I have yet one more prayer. She took +my word that for a week I would not return to her and she alone can +release me from it. But in view of what I came here for, this would be +downright, needless torture. Neither a week nor a year can change +anything. Nothing, absolutely! Will Cousin deign to tell her that and +beg of her from me, but beg very cordially, that she release me from my +word?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the greatest pleasure, and I have a hope this will not be a too +difficult matter to adjust."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you with my whole soul and now I will hurry to Mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">But before he left the room, Marynia rushed in and began to gaze +sharply, now at her sister, then at Ladislaus. In reality she was not +apprized of the secrets of the former relations between Ladislaus and +Hanka, but she already knew that Miss Anney is the former Hanka; she +knew everything which transpired afterwards and, loving Miss Anney very +much, she was dying from uneasiness and curiosity as to what turn the +affair would take. She was so pretty with that wistful gaze and uneasy +face and, besides, she had such an amusing mien that Ladislaus, in +spite of his emotions, at the sight of her, fell into a good humor. +Zosia remained silent, not knowing whether he wished to speak of his +affair of the heart before Marynia, while he, purposely, for sometime +did not break the silence; finally he approached his little cousin and +squeezing her hand, announced in a sepulchral voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too late!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How too late," she asked alarmed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is going to marry some one else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna--Kajetana."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he burst out into a sincere, jolly laugh. Marynia conjectured that +matters could not stand so badly since Ladislaus was jesting. Desiring, +however, to learn fully the good news, she began to stamp with her foot +and importune like a child.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how?--now, honestly. I could not sleep to-day! How? now, honestly. +How?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Honestly, that hope and joy and happiness--there!" answered Ladislaus, +pointing in the direction of Miss Anney's quarters.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, kissing his cousins' hands, he rushed out like a stone +whirled from a sling, for he was in a great hurry.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the way he grew grave and even gloomy at the thought that the moment +for his decisive interview with his mother was approaching.</p> + +<p class="normal">He found her in the hotel, where she awaited him in her own room. The +sight of his mother's face, serene and filled with an unusual kind of +sweetness, gave him, for the time being, encouragement, but at the same +time he thought that gentle persuasion, entreaties, and perhaps tears, +would be heavier to bear than anger--and he asked in an uncertain +voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did Mamma read her letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did," she answered, "but even before that I learned almost +everything from Zosia, whom Miss Anney herself begged not to conceal +anything from me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gronski told me that Mamma became angry at Zosia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that is so, but that can be rectified. Now I want above all +things to talk with you sincerely."</p> + +<p class="normal">So Ladislaus began to narrate how in the first moments he was struck as +if by a thunderbolt and how he could not reconcile himself to the +thought that Hanka and Miss Anney were one and the same person. He +confessed his vacillation, his doubts, suspicions, and the pain, which +pierced him; and the internal strife and accounting with his conscience +and everything through which he passed. But only after reading her +letter, did he perceive that this pain had its origin in his love for +her and that the struggle was a struggle with his own heart and +happiness; then he ceased to waver; he could not imagine happiness +otherwise than with that most precious being in the world, and without +her he did not desire it.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he said that when he became acquainted with her at +Jastrzeb, as Miss Anney, from almost the first moment he was attracted +to her by some incomprehensible force and she engrossed all his +thoughts. He, of course, esteemed Zosia Otocka highly, and Marynia he +regarded as a bright phenomenon. But admiration and love are two +different things. Besides, he did not owe anything either to Zosia or +to Marynia. They were kind while he was wounded and that was all. But +to Miss Anney he probably owed his life, and he remembered that she for +his sake placed herself in peril. With what could he repay her for +that, and how could he make reparation for the former wrong, committed +while she was still almost a child? Who was the worthier of the two? +Was it he, who forgot and lived from day to day an easy, thoughtless, +and spiritually slothful life, or she whom no new attachments could +reconcile to their separation and who ennobled her mind and heart +through suffering, yearning, and labor? "I scarcely dare to believe. +Mother," said he, "that she not only absolves my injury, but has not +ceased to love me. Perhaps it happened thus, because it was I who, for +the first time in her life opened for her the doors to the world of +happiness, but undoubtedly it was because hers is a totally exceptional +nature. Yes, Mother! She is one of those who, in a pristine state even +at the time when they are unable to realize things, possess that noble +instinct, that sort of elevation of feeling that love ennobles indeed +everything, but only when it is great, when it is for a whole lifetime; +and those who love have such strength, such a depth of affection, that +they are incapable of any other affection. But when such a one is +found, then we can only thank God on our knees, and, in plain terms, my +head is confused at the thought that for my transgression I meet with, +not punishment, but fabulously good fortune. It may be that there are +in the world more such women who can make a man happy, but I want to be +happy only with this one; maybe there are others who ennoble and +elevate everything about them, but I feel that through this one I will +be better and better. Finally, this is a question not only of my +happiness but also of my honor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here, folding his hands, he began to gaze into her eyes with a pleading +look; after which he continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"All this I intrust to Mamma's hands; my whole life, my entire future, +and the peace of my conscience, and happiness and honor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki placed both of his palms to her temples and kissed his +forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Laudie," she said, "I am an old woman and have various prejudices: +so I will not tell you that from the first moments it was easy for me +to assent to your intentions. Do you know that yesterday I became +enraged at Zosia and until this morning, I persisted in my +determination to oppose as far as it lay in my power your marriage. Be +not surprised at this, since you admit that you were struck as if by +lightning; then think, how it must have affected me, I, as is usual +with a mother, had at the bottom of my soul the conviction that for you +even a king's daughter would not be too high a mate. But it was not +only the old mode of thought, not only a maternal vanity, and not only +prejudices which inflamed my opposition. I feared also for your +happiness. I would not have had anything against the person of Miss +Anney herself, were it not for these other circumstances. I became +acquainted with her at Jastrzeb and loved her sincerely; often I said, +God grant that all our ladies could be like her. But learning who she +is and what took place between you, I became alarmed at first at the +thought that you might have committed similar offences in Jastrzeb."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Mamma," answered Krzycki; "I give my word for that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For you see I thought you were absolutely pure; so think what a blow +it was to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus bowed to her hands, in order to hide his face, for +notwithstanding the gravity of the moment, notwithstanding his sincere +emotion and anxiety, the naïvete of his mother seemed to him something +so unheard-of that he feared he might betray himself by an expression +of astonishment, or what was worse, a smile. "Ah," he thought, "it is +lucky that I have to swear only as to Jastrzeb, for I could not tell +mother what I told Gronski, that a wise wolf never takes from that +village where he keeps his lair." But simultaneously it occurred to him +that one must be an angel to have such a delusion, and his adoration of +his mother increased yet more.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I took into consideration the world and the people among whom you +must live. I knew that not a few would commend your conduct, but in +reality you would have to endure a thousand petty annoyances and stings +which would irritate and exasperate you until they caused a pain and +bitterness even in your feeling towards your wife. I was concerned +about your happiness which, in my blindness I craved above all things +for you. And only to-day was the film taken off my eyes. Apparently +such things we know and proclaim, but, nevertheless, with real surprise +and as if it was something new, I heard that happiness is not the most +important thing in life and that it ought not to be the greatest +concern of a mother. And before that my heart was cleansed of its pride +and I was commanded to be guided by my conscience: therefore, my +Laudie, I cannot dissuade you from this marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus, hearing this, again bowed his head to his mother's hands and +began to cover them with kisses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Mamma, dear," he repeated, "ah, Mamma, how happy I am!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I," she answered; "for I feared that your feeling might be +superficial, founded upon a delusion and fancy; but, after this +conversation, I see that you love Aninka truly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! That is imbedded so deeply that it could only be torn from me +with my life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe, I believe."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus mutually assuring each other, they both spoke with absolute +sincerity, and both at the same time deluded themselves. For Ladislaus +had an inflammable head, greedy senses, and soft heart, but he lived +principally on the exterior, and none of his feelings could spring from +great depths as, on the whole, he was not a deep man.</p> + +<p class="normal">But his mother, believing every one of his words as she believed in the +gospel, said with great confidence:</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God bless you, my child. Let us at present speak of what is to +come. I, of course, understand that once having agreed, it is necessary +to agree not with half but with the whole heart: it is necessary to +receive Aninka with open arms and give her to understand that it is she +who is conferring a favor upon us for which we should be grateful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, for she does," exclaimed Ladislaus with ardor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, very well," answered Pani Krzycki, with a smile, "now it +becomes me to go to her and thank her myself. I assume also that Aninka +will withdraw the condition that you should not call upon her for a +week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Zosia is to attend to that, but naturally Mamma's words will be more +effective."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When do you want me to go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus again folded his palms:</p> + +<p class="normal">"At once, Mother dear, at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well; will you wait for me here, or at Zosia's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here; for Zosia might be with Marynia at the rehearsal. She sometimes +accompanies her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki rose heavily from the chair, as that day, from the +morning, had been trying for her and the rheumatism held her more and +more strongly. Having, however, straightened out her limbs, she moved +briskly ahead. The thought that she was troubling herself for her boy +made it an agreeable task and exertion.</p> + +<p class="normal">But on the way she began to think of matters of which thus far there +had been no mention between herself and her son. She belonged to that +type of women, often found among the country nobility, who know +perfectly well how to line the ideal cloak with a real lining. In her +time the entire management of the Jastrzeb estate rested on her head, +and on that account she had a multitude of worries and had habituated +herself to struggle continually with them. So at the present time her +mind turned to the material side of the affair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would consent to this marriage" (she thought as if to justify +herself to herself), "even though Aninka did not have anything, but I +am curious to know how much she can have." After which she began to +fondle the hope that while Aninka might not have millions and for an +Englishwoman might not be very rich, she might have what in Poland +might be regarded as great opulence, though in England it might be +deemed a modest fortune.</p> + +<p class="normal">And amidst such meditations she rang Miss Anney's door-bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">The visit passed off as could be expected. Pani Krzycki was honest, +grateful, motherly and, at the moment when she surrendered the life and +happiness of her son to the hands of Miss Anney, "her dear daughter," +she was, in a measure, pathetic. Miss Anney, too was in a measure, +pathetic, also cordial and simple, quiet and collected as well, but she +seemed to be acting with caution, though nothing whatever was said of +the past. With Pani Krzycki there even remained an impression that +there was by a hairbreadth too much of this "reserve." She understood +perfectly that it would be want of tact on Miss Anney's part if she +displayed too much enthusiasm and conceded that she acted properly, but +nevertheless she carried away at the bottom of her heart a little +disappointment as it were, for there was hidden in her the conviction +that the woman who would get "Laudie" and would bear his name, could be +excused even though she went insane from joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Returning to the hotel, she did not, however, confess to her son this +thought, but began to load "Aninka" with praises and speak of her so +warmly that tears stood in the eyes of both. Ladislaus, above all else, +was anxious to know whether the "taboo" was removed and the prohibition +recalled; having learned that such was the case, a quarter of an hour +later, he was at Hanka's feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My beloved, my angel, my wife!" he said, embracing her knees.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VII</h3> + +<p class="normal">A few days later, the old notary, Dzwonkowski, and Dr. Szremski came to +visit Gronski. The latter, to whom this was an agreeable surprise, as +he liked both, and, besides, esteemed the doctor highly, greeted them +with great cordiality and began to ask the news of the city, the +vicinity, and of themselves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! We live, we live," answered the boisterous doctor. "In these +times, that is an art. But the police so far have not arrested us, the +bandits have not shot us, the socialists have not blown us up into the +air; so we not only live, but have come to Warsaw. I, because I must +ride farther,--as far as Volhynia, and this gentleman," pointing to the +notary, "on account of the concert and Panna Marynia's participation in +it. Having read of it in the daily newspapers he fell into such a state +that at any moment I looked for an attack of apoplexy or aneurism. +There was no help for it. I had to prescribe a stay in Warsaw as a +cure. Finally, he cannot at all endure our little town any more, and is +thinking only of giving up his office to some one and of moving here +permanently. In his heart a fire is burning, and the snow melts, and +ice melts and so forth. Ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">During these words, the old notary moved his jaws so furiously that his +chin almost touched his nose; finally he declared:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The head splits! The head splits!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same old quarrel?" asked Gronski, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quarrel?" repeated the notary. "It is not I who quarrel. He has shaken +up my brain, shattered my nerves, stupefied me, torn to pieces, +exhausted, cleaned out, sucked, and outtalked the remnants of strength +within me. From yesterday, sir, on the whole road--a continual din and +roar in the ears--and after that in the hotel; to-day, since morning, +and now here. No, I cannot stand it, no, I cannot!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tut, tut. And who daily summons me? Who every day hangs out his tongue +until it reaches the first button on his vest and orders me to examine +it? Wait, sir. I will ride away and you will have to examine it +yourself before a mirror."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you are really going to Volhynia? How about your patients?" asked +Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fear that in the meantime they may get well; but it can't be helped, +I must go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And for how long?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know, but do not think very long. I am a Volhynian Mazur, +from the minor nobility of that place, or as they say there of the +single-manor nobles. They are mostly settled there as tenants of +various petty nobles, but I have my own seat in partnership with a +brother, an ex-judge, who has charge of the estate and to whom I am now +riding."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, of course, not because he is sick?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly, sir; he has become insane."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God! Since when?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not long ago. From the time he became a 'local rights' man.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is so. The indigent, haughty noble took a notion to pose as a +landed proprietor, hankered after the society of gentlemen, and got +water on the brain. A month ago I sent him two thousand primers for our +impoverished shabby gentility, of whom no one thinks and who +involuntarily or rather in spite of their will, are there losing their +Polish spirit. And would you believe it, sir, that he sent back to me +the whole package, together with a letter in which he announced that he +would not distribute the primers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?" asked Gronski, whom the narrative of the doctor began to +interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He wrote to me in the first place that they have decided to live and +labor only for their own province and occupy themselves only with local +or provincial affairs, and again they aim at some kind of synthesis of +all nationalities, and thirdly they will Polonize nobody."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you were only concerned about primers for the children of the +petty nobility, who are Polish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By them this is already styled Polonization, for it interferes with +their 'synthesis.' We know in what that synthesis must end. May the +devils take them, together with their diplomacy. But that is not +enough! In the end, my ingenious brother informs me that he does not +regard himself as a Pole, but only as a Volhynian with Polish culture +and that this is his political position. Ah, sir, Stanczyk was wrong +when he said that in Poland there are the most doctors. In Poland there +are the most politicians. Every average Pole is a second Talleyrand, a +second Metternich, a second Bismarck. He never participated in +political life, is unacquainted with history, never passed through any +schools, and never studied. That is nothing! He is by grace of God! He +from nature has a pastille in his brain, of which he thinks that if he +only lights it, then all the horse-flies and gnats, which suck our +blood will be so hoaxed that they will cease to molest us. And every +one is convinced that he alone sees clearly, that he alone has the +exclusive measures, and that his diplomacy, county, local, provincial, +or whatever you may call it, is a panacea. It never occurs to him, that +with such county or local polities, this fatherland, as Yan Casimir +said, would go into direptium gentium."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," said the aged notary to Gronski, pointing to the doctor, "you +have pressed in him such a button, that now he will not stop talking +until we shall not be able to move hand or limb."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not a button, that is a sore," answered Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And evidently it was a sore for the doctor, as he was so absorbed that +he did not hear what was said about him, and began the following +dialogue with his absent brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! So you are not a Pole but only a Volhynian with Polish culture? +Very well! Then, in the first place I will tell you that you have +repudiated your father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; that you +have spat upon their graves; that you have renounced your traditions, +your right of existence, that you have grown smaller, that you have +deserted your own people and have gone to those who do not want you, +who do not invite you and who treat you with contempt; that you hang in +the air and you will look prettily under such conditions in your +Volhynia. Again, I will tell you that you are not yet a turncoat, since +that which you are doing, you do through stupid politics which in +consequence of your ignorance you regard as wise, but you have paved +the way for future turncoats. Your grandson or great-grandson will +renounce Polish culture. And finally, if you say that you are not a +Pole, but only a Volhynian, why do you not go back farther, even as far +as Darwin? You could with equal justice say that you are not a Pole, +but an orang-outang or a pithecanthrope with Polish culture? What? Bah! +But you still say that you do not want to Polonize any one? How can you +Polonize? Whether with a whip, with prison, by religious compulsion, +with school, or with a gag on the native tongue? Tell me! But, if not +denying your nationality you would shine with the example of your +public Polish virtues, if you would give someone your Polish hunger for +liberty, your Polish ability to understand the sufferings of others, +your Polish love, your Polish hope, your faith in a better future, and +through these reconcile him to Poland, then would you regard such a +Polonization as premature, and bad politics? But in such case, I ask +you, you dunce, have you anything better to offer, and why are you +staying there where you settled? You don't know? And in the end you +will not even know who you are. That I will tell you. You, Brother, are +a weak character and above all have a weak head."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he turned to Gronski:</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is what I have to say to my brother and why I am riding to him. +There is to be some kind of an assembly there, so I will say this, in +other words, publicly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you would only go as quickly as possible," exclaimed the notary.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the doctor began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But as I have yet time, I will first attend Panna Marynia's concert."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By all means," said Gronski, "ride, sir. Poland is not only being cut +from the outside by inimical scissors, but she is beginning to be rent +asunder internally. Ride, sir, and tell them that publicly. Perhaps +some may be found who will be frightened at their amenableness to the +future."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think that such will be found. For, in the main, I assume that they, +or at least a majority of them, thus far feel in the old way, and only +speak as they do in order to loosen, even though for a moment, the +noose which presses on their throats. But in this they are mistaken. +The result will be that they will be despised and trampled upon, both +from above and below."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The assembly meets in about ten days, so I actually will stay here +about a week, for I have various matters to attend to in Warsaw. In the +meantime, I will visit my acquaintances, and among others Pani Otocka, +and the Krzyckis. How is Krzycki?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As well as a fish--and he is going to marry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, well. I will wager that it is with that beautiful Englishwoman? +A pure flower!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. But it seems that this is not an English flower, only genuinely +Polish, from a village meadow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the Lord's sake. What are you saying?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is no longer any secret. Her name is Hanka Skibianka."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Gronski related the whole history of Miss Anney, omitting only +that Ladislaus knew her while she was Hanka.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they listened with astonishment, while the doctor slapped his knees +with his palms and cried:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! If I had known that; ah, if I had known that!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what would have happened? asked the notary testily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would have happened? I would have been in love with her not only +under the ears but above. As it was, I only missed by a hair being in +love with her. Ah, lucky but undeserving Krzycki! But such is my +ill-luck. Let only one catch my fancy--lackaday! either some one takes +her, or she is in love with somebody else. But it cannot be helped! I +must see Miss Anney and tender her my best wishes. For after all +Krzycki is a good boy. Such as he will not rebuild Poland, but a good +boy, nevertheless. And such a comely rascal, that he ravishes the eye. +I would like to see them together. That will be a couple--what!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you wish to see them, and have the time," said Gronski, "then it +will not be difficult, for we arranged yesterday at Pani Otocka's that +to-day we will all be present at the rehearsal for the concert. I can +take you gentlemen to-day to the rehearsal, and afterwards, the whole +party can go to breakfast."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly," exclaimed the notary, "that is just what I came to ask you +to do. I have dropped out of the old relations and I did not know to +whom to apply--well!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski glanced at his watch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is the case, all right; but we have still time. In the hall at +this moment there is some kind of meeting or lecture, and such meetings +usually drag beyond the designated time. After that, before they +ventilate the hall and replace the chairs, a half hour will elapse. I +have not omitted any rehearsal, so I know how things go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I will not omit any," said the notary.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless, he grew so impatient that they left too early. Before the +building stood about a dozen persons, evidently waiting for those in +the hall; while from within there reached them a buzzing noise, at +times shouts, applause, and the sound of the stamping of feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What kind of meeting is it?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really, I do not know," answered Gronski. "Now we are full of that. +There are political meetings, social conferences, literary lectures, +and God knows what else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I envy Warsaw," exclaimed the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is not much to envy. At times it chances that something deserves +attention, but oftener such absurdities take place that one feels +ashamed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, they are already leaving," observed the notary; "but why are they +shouting so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us wait; that is some kind of a brawl," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact it evidently was a brawl, for from the roomy vestibule there +rushed out on the wide stairs between ten, and twenty men, without caps +or hats, who in the twinkling of an eye, formed a disorderly heap. In +this heap, hands, canes, and umbrellas moved violently, and these +motions were accompanied by a shrill shriek. Afterwards from the +gyrating mob, shoved by tens of arms, shot out, as if from a sling, +somebody, with bare head and tattered coat, who, leaping from the +stairs, turned a somersault at the doctor's feet in such a manner as +almost to tumble him and the notary on the ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Swidwicki!" exclaimed Gronski with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki rose, and shaking his fist menacingly at the crowd, which, +having ejected him outdoors, was again returning to the hall, began to +say with a panting voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, it is you! They have warmed my hide--they have warmed my hide! +They have broken my ribs a little, and torn my coat. But that is +nothing! I also have crooked a few straight noses and have straightened +out a few crooked ones. This is the second time that this has happened +to me--ouch!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come with me. You cannot stay thus, with bare head and in such a +coat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no!" answered Swidwicki. "Ouch! Let me recover my breath. Hey! +Messenger!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And beckoning to a messenger, he said to him:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Citizen! Here are two pieces of coin and a wardrobe check. Go to the +vestibule and fetch me my hat and topcoat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But for the Lord's sake what happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Directly, directly," said Swidwicki; "but let me first dress. After +that we will go to some confectioner's shop--ouch! For as soon as the +meeting closes, they will begin to go out and, finding me here, they +will be ready to administer a new drubbing to me and to you gentlemen +to boot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that was a meeting?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A meeting, conference, discussion, lecture--whatever you wish. Panna +Sicklawer spoke on 'Imparting knowledge.' On the platform sat Pan +Citronenduft, Panna Bywalkiewicz, Panna Anserowicz, Panna Kostropacka, +the editor Czubacki, and others. The hall was packed to suffocation. +Ouch! I enjoyed myself like a king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We see," observed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You think not? But introduce me to these gentlemen. For I am the hero +of the day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hero Swidwicki, gentlemen; Notary Dzwonkowski and Dr. Szremski," said +Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki squeezed the palms of Gronski's astonished companions; after +which when the messenger brought the hat, cane, and top-coat he dressed +himself and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"With this cane I would be ready to wait for them here--but for to-day +I have had enough. The meeting will last twenty minutes or longer. Let +us go to some confectioner's shop, for I feel a pain in my legs and +cannot stand."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went to a confectioner's. Swidwicki ordered for himself one and +then a second glass of cognac, after which he began to talk:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was an instructive meeting. Panna Sicklawer, I tell you +gentlemen, is a Cicero in petticoats. When she started to impart +knowledge to various meek creatures of the masculine gender and various +magpies of fourteen years, of whom the audience mainly consisted, even +I grew warm. The meek creatures applauded or else cried 'shame' when +there was a talk of parents, and the magpies blushed so violently and +fidgeted in their seats so much, that they seemed to sit on needles, +and everything went along smoothly. Remarks were made by Pan +Citronenduft, Panna Gotower and some maid, a native of far away Kars, +whose name as well as I could hear it, had a Grecian or Spanish +sound,--Nieodtego. The maturer portion of the auditors was also carried +away by the enthusiasm, and I, though Gronski doubts it, enjoyed myself +like a king. For you see, gentlemen, that I, from principle, have +nothing against imparting knowledge,--nothing. Quite the reverse! Only, +I am of the opinion, if an affair is to be jolly let it be really +jolly. So then, after a few addresses, I rose, asked leave to speak and +announced that I desired to recite a poem in honor of the gathering. +They agreed to it and I received applause in advance. Then I began to +declaim--indeed, not an original poem, but my own parody on the fable: +'Once wanton little Thad.' But this did not continue long; it appeared +that my Thaddy proved himself to be so wanton, that he was too wanton, +even for them. They did not like also this; that in staring at Panna +Nieodtego, I closed one eye. They began to shout 'Silence!' 'Fie!' +'Away with him! This is jeering!' And here my ideal fable began to +change into a real epic. For when in reply to the shout 'This is +jeering,' I said, 'Well what did you think it was?' there was a +universal roar of 'Put him out!' At least fifty hands grappled my +shoulders and neck; a nice rumpus followed. They struck me, I struck +back. Finally, they dumped me into the corridor: from the corridor on +to the stairs, and into the street. The rest you gentlemen know. I +repeat for the third time that I enjoyed myself like a king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That to me is at least courage," said the doctor; "it is necessary to +stop such things, even by a scandal; so you did well, sir; you are a +brave nationalist."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, a nationalist," exclaimed Swidwicki, "why, the day before yesterday +I was thrown out of a meeting of the National Democrats. Indeed, a +little more politely, but I was ejected."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So this is your new sport?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But with this their conversation ended as their attention was attracted +by the crowd returning from the lecture. Before the window flowed a +black human stream, among which were a large number of striplings, and +young girls with cheeks covered with blushes.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the stream finally passed by, there appeared after an interval the +bright, vernal forms of Hanka, Marynia, and Pani Otocka, in the company +of Krzycki.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>VIII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Upon the so called "happiest period" in Krzycki's life certain small +shadows fell, and this for various reasons. If on the one hand his love +for Hanka grew with each day, on the other there began various petty +annoyances which his mother had foreseen. They were things almost +imperceptible, about which one could not pick a quarrel, but which +nevertheless stung. Thus it happened that the ladies of Gorek came to +Pani Krzycki to invite her to the wedding of Kajetana to Pan Dolhanski, +which wedding through a special dispensation of the church was to take +place in a few days. Pani Krzycki in tendering them her good wishes +announced that they could also do the same to her, owing to the +betrothal of her son to Miss Anney. Then both, one after the other, +began to heartily embrace her, which, though apparently a sign of their +good wishes, looked more like condolence, the more so as Pani Wlocek +did not utter anything besides the words, "It is God's will," while +Kajetana raised her eyes as piously as if she wanted to supplicate the +Powers on high to comfort the heartbroken mother. Ladislaus laughed +after their departure, but in his soul he wished that both would break +their necks. When, however, a few days later it appeared that out of +the entire circle of acquaintances only Hanka did not receive an +invitation from these ladies, he wanted to start a brawl with +Dolhanski: and his mother was barely able to restrain him with the +declaration that neither she herself, nor Zosia, nor Marynia would +attend the wedding. Krzycki was even angered because some of his +acquaintances, in contrast to the ladies of Gorek, tendered to him +their good wishes with excessive ardor, as if he had performed an +heroic act. His marriage, as well as the antecedents of Hanka, became +the subject of every conversation in "society." Out in the world, great +political changes could take place, bombs could explode, strikes could +break out, but in the salons for a few days only Hanka was spoken of, +various flabby dames, with eyes half closed, in a questioning tone, +drawling through their teeth, "Anka--Skubanka<a name="div2Ref_12" href="#div2_12"><sup>[12]</sup></a>--n'est +ce pas?" But +while the good wishes of those who tendered them to Krzycki with such +excessive ardor sprang from appreciation of the heroism with which he +dared to take as wife "Skubanka," Hanka's marriage settlement and the +hope of "plucking" the millionaire in the future played an important +rôle. This marriage settlement, which, agreeably with Pani Krzycki's +anticipations, was, for local conditions, quite considerable, but by no +means reached the millions, grew in public opinion with almost every +hour, so that it attained almost fabulous proportions, and intensified +the universal curiosity to the extent that when Hanka in the company of +her two young female friends together with Pani Krzycki and her fiancé +appeared at the races, all the lorgnettes were directed at their +carriage. The flabby dames from "high life," gazing at her radiant +countenance, sparkling with happiness and health, indeed said that they +could at once surmise that "this is something a little different," and +contended that in the present days this "high life" ought to open its +delicate bosom to a person possessing such means for "doing good." As +to her comeliness, however, the opinion prevailed that she was not +sufficiently pretty for one to lose his head and that Krzycki was +marrying for money. His defence was undertaken only by the ladies from +Gorek, who, meeting now many people, made it everywhere understood that +their young neighbor did not always seek merely money, and that only +when he was disappointed in other fancies, did he come to the +conclusion that it was better to have money than nothing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus did things shape themselves externally. But on the sky of the +betrothed pair appeared tiny clouds which, as Ladislaus' love became +inflamed, appeared even with greater frequency. Hanka, habituated to +English customs, did not at all hesitate to receive her fiancé at her +home and pass with him long hours alone; to stroll with him over the +city, to drive from the city without a chaperon, and even call him by +his Christian name. She said to herself that in great and sincere love +there also should be room for friendship and that it was necessary +before one became a wife to be a sincere friend and comrade. She +thought that Ladislaus would understand this and not only would love +her all the more but also cherish her all the more. Once she had read +in an English book that one might love and not cherish, and that in +such a case love grows embittered to the degree that it may become +perpetual unhappiness. So, desiring to avoid this and place her future +life upon immovable foundations, she wished to win, besides love, the +deepest possible friendship.</p> + +<p class="normal">But here the misunderstandings between the engaged couple began. That +golden-hair, that good friend, gazing with a heavenly light, that +rose-colored, gay comrade who dressed herself in a light dress and +spring hat, was so charming that Ladislaus cherished indeed without +limit, but at every tête-à-tête lost his head. To Hanka it appeared +that her betrothed, though he was enamoured to distraction and at the +same time was a friend, should be the kind of a man upon whose +shoulders she could at every moment press her head with perfect +confidence that he would not abuse her trust and would not take +advantage of their seclusion nor of any temporary weakness, nor of the +gray hour, nor of the fact that love disarms and weakens a woman. He, +on the contrary, perhaps because he lost his head, acted as if he +thought that friendship and the relations of a comrade only added to +the rights of betrothal. From this there was generated a mutual +vigilance; in him a watchfulness for everything of which he might take +advantage; in her a wariness of that which she ought to avoid. This +vigilance, at first silent, soon lapsed into quarrels. They were +followed by apologies, which would have intensified the love of both +were it not that Ladislaus apologized too passionately. And this +misunderstanding was in reality deeper than both thought, for when +Hanka, remembering what once had taken place between them, believed +that he should on that account be more continent, he, in moments when +blinded by desire, seemed to fancy that very past, together with the +burnt bridges, justified him in everything. From these causes, the +enchanted edifice of their happiness from time to time became defaced +and would have been defaced yet more strongly were it not for this, +that in Ladislaus there was material for everything and there came upon +him moments entirely different. Sometimes on clear nights when they sat +on the balcony leading to the garden of Hanka's residence, and when +from the neighboring balcony came the song of Marynia's violin, +and the moonlight seemed to sleep quietly on the opposite walls, it +also put to slumber Ladislaus' senses. His soul, lulled to sleep by +the sight of the beloved being, bleaching like a white angel in the +dusk,--intoxicated with the fragrance of leaves and flowers, winged by +music, was dissolved into a kind of universal but sweet and chaste +feeling, which enveloped Hanka and bore her towards the stars. The +impressionable soul of the girl at such times was susceptible of this +and was simply submerged in happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">But these were transitory moments of tranquillity of mind. A moment +later, while Ladislaus was bidding her good-night and when he kissed +her hands and forehead, quickly there was awakened in him the eternal +hungry desire, and he sought her lips and hugged her breast to his own; +he lost his memory, and, when she broke away from his arms, he said +that he did not promise her that he would be an English Quaker; and +they parted, if not angry, as if both were humiliated and sad.</p> + +<p class="normal">And that sadness fraternized with love.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it often happened that Ladislaus disarmed Hanka with his great +frankness which in reality was his chief attribute.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, my Hanusia," he said to her once, after serious quarrel, "would +want that I should mount a ladder and stay on the highest round, for a +time--Good!--I can! But to stay there forever I could not do any more +than I could walk on stilts all the time. Do not imagine that I am +something more than I am. I am an ordinary mortal, who only differs +from others in this, that he loves you above everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, Laudie," answered Hanka, "I do not at all desire that you should +be some great personage, for I remember that the Englishmen say that an +honest man is the noblest work of God."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did a little mischief once, but I think I am honest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, but remember that not he is honest who does not do evil, but he +who does good. In that everything is contained."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree to that. You will teach me that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha I we will keep house in Jastrzeb and will do all we can. There is +much work to be done there and of the kind for which I am fitted. To be +a good husbandman, to be good to the people, to instruct them; to +teach, love, and enlighten; to be also a good citizen of the country +and in case of necessity to die for it--for this, I give my word I am +fit. Yes, it is so. And now you have me. But taking everything +together, no evil will befall you with me, Hanusia,--I love you too +much for any evil to befall you. Only, my golden one, my love, my rosy +lady, do not command me to sit on the ladder, for that I cannot do."</p> + +<p class="normal">His simplicity and sincerity propitiated Hanka. The thought of a joint +life in Jastrzeb, of loving the folks whose child she was, of +instructing them, of laboring over and for them, cheered and allured +her more powerfully than anything else could do. To return to Poland +and take charge of a Polish village was the plan which she formulated +immediately after the death of the Anney family. And now just such a +horizon was opened to her by this former "young lord" whom she loved +while yet a simple girl. Therefore she was grateful to him: she was +ready in her soul to exalt his good qualities, to exculpate his faults, +to love him, and to persevere faithfully at his side, but in exchange +she wanted nothing more than that he should love her not only with his +senses, but with a true and chaste love, and that he should regard her +above all things as his life companion, "for better or for worse."</p> + +<p class="normal">And, for that reason, whenever there came to her moments in which it +seemed to her that he saw in her principally an object for his desires +and was unable to find, in himself strength to struggle with them and +elevate his feelings to noble heights, doubt seized her heart and she +could not resist the thought that he was not such as she would wish him +to be.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But nevertheless," she consoled herself in her soul, "that is a +sincere and true nature, and where there is sincerity and truth, +everything may be brought to light."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus on the contrary was in reality sincere to the degree that one +could see through him--through and through, as though he were made of +glass. The proof of this was the opinion which Dr. Szremski expressed +about him in a conversation with Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To me," he said, "the present-day Hanka Skibianka is ten times more +interesting than the former Miss Anney, and I wish her happiness from +my whole soul. But if she bases that happiness upon the feeling which +Krzycki entertains for her, I fear that she will be disappointed. I do +not wish to say anything bad of him. On the contrary, to me he is a +sympathetic type, for he is immensely ours, immensely domestic. If he +had lived a hundred years ago and been a Uhlan, he would have charged +at Samo-Sierra no worse than Kozietulski and Niegolewski. Only he +belongs to that species of men for whom it is easier to die for some +idea or for some feeling than to live for them and to persevere in +them. To turn to one idea or to one feeling, as a magnetic needle turns +to the north, is not within their power nor their concern. They require +distraction, amusement. And there is nothing strange in this. Consider +only that for entire ages nobody was better off than the various +Krzyckis and Gronskis--nobody. So they sucked of the pleasures of life, +like juice of grapes. They ate, drank, played, dissipated--bah! they +even fought for the pleasure of it. They were not vicious nor terrible, +for a happy man cannot be totally vicious. They had in their hearts a +certain feeling of humanity. They were indulgent to people who were +subject to them, but above all things they were indulgent to +themselves. Hence at the bottom of the Polish soul always lies +indulgence. Then came the time of penance and that indulgence by right +of inheritance, particularly in the spheres to which Krzycki belongs, +remains. For him, neither love for woman nor for fatherland will +suffice. He will love them and, in a given case, will perish for them, +but in life he will indulge himself. And you see, sir, that it was just +for this reason that I said that such as he will not rebuild Society."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And who will?" asked Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The future generations--not the pot-bellied, not the easy-natured, not +the chatterboxes, not the indulgers in sensual delights and the +pleasures of life--no--apparently they are good for everything and fit +for nothing--but only the hardy, the persistent, the quiet, and the +practical. For them, misfortune and slavery have tilled the ground for +a hundred years."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the present day manures the ground," said Gronski, "only it is a +pity that this manure has such a rank smell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not manure; that is sand blown from abroad which renders the +soil sterile," replied the doctor with energy.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to curse.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>IX</h3> + +<p class="normal">Dolhanski, however, completely subdued his fiancée and his future +mother-in-law, inasmuch as he prevailed upon them to call personally +upon Hanka and invite her to the wedding. They were prompted to this by +the consideration that at any rate it behooved them to preserve the +outward semblance of good relations with their future neighbors from +Jastrzeb, and they were persuaded in particular by the news, which he +brought from the high spheres, that "high life" was reconciled to the +idea of admitting Hanka into its fold, while he, on the other hand, +wanted to see her at a close range in the church. After their visit, +during which the mother and daughter, under the watchful eye of +Dolhanski, acted not only properly but quite amiably, Pani Krzycki +revoked her resolution, of not attending the nuptial rites.</p> + +<p class="normal">These took place early in the week at the Church of the Order of +Visitation in the presence of a great concourse of dames from the +"grand world" and Dolhanski's titled colleagues from the club. In this +the desire to take a close view of the peasant-millionairess played as +important a part as the wish to see Dolhanski. Those of his +acquaintances who knew the ladies from Gorek had previously stated that +he was taking a lady of wealth, but old and ludicrous; in consequence +of which these good colleagues wanted to see what kind of mien he +would have, so that they might afterwards have a subject for their +gibes and jests. But in this respect they met with the most complete +disappointment. Dolhanski, escorted on one side by Gronski, on +the other by Count Gil, walked through the church with such +self-confidence, such sangfroid, and with such a smile on his lips, as +though he had the right and desire to jeer at his colleagues. The tall +and gaunt young lady did not, after all, look so badly in her lace +wedding dress. She had too much powder on her face; her veil was too +long, and too much did she "tremble like a leaf," which created an +impression that this leaf did that a little purposely.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was nothing in her, however, to excite ridicule, and, when the +two knelt before the altar, the dames and beaux, looking from the depth +of the church, had to admit that in her slender white form there was +some charm. But the eyes of those present were directed principally at +Hanka who glided through the nave on Ladislaus' arm, like a light +spring cloud. To the gentlemen of the club it seemed that from the +moment of her entrance the church grew brighter. Count Gil, who found +himself near her, behind the stalls, later stated in a certain salon +that a rosy warmth radiated from her. Others at once corroborated this +and to the mot of a dame that in order to find favor in men's eyes it +was necessary that one must not only be a woman but also a radiator, +they replied that it was absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile they envied Ladislaus Mr. Anney's millions and Hanka, +who so absorbed to herself the general attention that Pani Otocka and +Marynia passed by almost unobserved. Neither appeared to the best +advantage that day. In Pani Otocka, Dolhanski's marriage aroused a +certain disgust, which was reflected in her countenance, and Marynia +opened her lips too widely out of curiosity, and besides, her bared +arms were so thin and, as usual with immature girls, were so red that, +they could only excite compassion. The ladies of the "grand world," +besides, did not look at one or the other for the further reason that +Ladislaus, with his stature and visage of a Uhlan of the time of the +Duchy of Warsaw, became the focus upon which the rays of their +tortoise-shell lorgnettes were converged.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the appearance of the priest silence fell and the rites began. The +lorgnettes were now directed towards the altar. In the distance could +be seen floating under the orange blossoms the bridal veil and +Dolhanski's head, somewhat bald at the summit, over which crept the +reflexes of the candles flickering in the dusk. Krzycki, bending +towards Hanka, began to whisper: "And we will soon--" and she dropped +her eyelids in sign of assent; after which when their eyes met, she +blushed violently and raised her lace handkerchief to her lips, and +later fixed her gaze upon the altar, for she recalled to her mind how, +not long before, the candles flickered in the same manner in the Church +of the Holy Cross, when together they prayed for their future +happiness. Yes, soon they would kneel there again in order not to be +separated for life, and this thought, so full of sweetness and at the +same time of uneasiness of feeling, expanded her breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile in the silence could be heard the voice of the priest: +"Edward, do you take Kajetana, whom you see before you, for wife?" and +when Dolhanski firmly confirmed this and Kajetana mumbled that she +wanted this Edward, their hands were bound by the stole and the rites +rapidly approached an end; then the hymeneal party left the church. The +bridal couple were to leave for a tour abroad within two hours, but +before that in the dining-hall of the hotel a dinner awaited them, to +which, of the relatives of the groom, only Pani Krzycki, Ladislaus, +Hanka, as his betrothed, and the sisters were invited; of the more +distant, Gronski and Count Gil, as groomsmen attended. The dinner with +the inevitable toasts did not last long; after it the newly-married +pair repaired to their separate apartments and after a certain time +reappeared attired in their travelling clothes. Then began the usual +bustle preceding a journey; trunks, small luggage, and bright +travelling paraphernalia were hauled out. Dolhanski during the dinner +and these last moments displayed such sangfroid and such phlegm that +all the lords of England might envy him. Without the least haste he +conversed with the gentlemen; he expressed his regrets to Marynia that +he could not be at the concert; to Pani Otocka he said that he owed to +her in a great measure his happiness of that day; and afterwards +intrusted Gorek to the neighborly care of Krzycki, and bantered with +Gronski, trying to persuade him to follow in his footsteps.</p> + +<p class="normal">This superb calmness of his contrasted strangely with the uneasiness +and distraction of the bride. For a half hour before the departure and +immediately after donning her travelling robe, she began to stare at +her mother with an inquiring look as if awaiting from her something +which was overlooked or forgotten and which under no circumstances +ought to be overlooked. This continued so long that it attracted +general attention, and when Pani Wlocek did not appear to understand +the inquiring look, Kajetana beckoned her for a confidential talk in a +room adjoining the dining-hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">To the ears of the guests there began to reach for a quarter of an hour +some alarming though muffled cries of, "Ah!" and "Oh!" and after an +interval the bride entered with her eyes covered by her palms. But +after a while she dropped her hands alongside her dress and gazing at +Dolhanski with the look of an antelope at a lion, she asked in an +almost inaudible voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Edward, perhaps it is already time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski, Krzycki, and Count Gil bit their lips, while Dolhanski glanced +at his watch and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have yet five minutes."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>X</h3> + +<p class="normal">The cloudlets looming between Hanka and Ladislaus began by degrees to +be transformed into clouds. At times they ceased to mutually understand +each other. Hanka was more and more disturbed by the thought whether +Ladislaus, notwithstanding his good heart and his ability to appreciate +everything which is exalted and noble, was not a weak character, that +in a moment of sudden impulse or passionate ecstasy is unable to resist +and cannot muster within himself sufficient strength, even though his +own worth is involved, and at this thought she was oppressed by a deep +sorrow. But she was yet more painfully nettled on another side of the +matter. This was that she arrived at the conviction that his feelings +towards her were better, purer and, as it were, more shy at the time +when he thought that she was Miss Anney. She remembered various +moments, both in Jastrzeb and in Warsaw, in which she was certain that +this burning flame of love, which glowed in his heart, was at the same +time a sacrificial flame of esteem. And now when she had told him that +she is the former Hanka that pure fire has changed into an ignition of +the senses. Why? Was the cause of this their former sin; was it that +she was a peasant? In the answer to those questions lay the pain, for +Hanka felt that whatever happened was the result of these causes.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she was mistaken in thinking that Ladislaus did not understand that +just for these two reasons he ought to act directly contrary, in order +to efface in her the memory of sin and to raise her in her own eyes and +to respect her as his future wife. He understood this quite clearly, +and often it happened that after parting from her he upbraided himself, +not mincing words, and in his soul made a solemn promise of +reformation. But as in his easy life he had not accustomed himself to +contend with anything and, above all, with himself, therefore this +lasted but a short time--as long only as he was away from her, as long +as he was not enveloped by the warmth emanating from her; only when he +was not absorbed with her eyes; did not feel her hand in his own, and +did not intoxicate himself with her feminine attractions. Then reason +blinded in him and darkened; he became the slave of blood, full of +sophisms, the agent of senses, and the recollection of the former +Hanka, instead of repressing the temptation, only increased it the +more.</p> + +<p class="normal">Under such conditions, sooner or later, the storm had to break above +the heads of both and create desolation. Accordingly it burst sooner +than Krzycki could have foreseen.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day, coming at the twilight hour to Hanka, he found her in a +strange and unusual condition. She was agitated, her countenance was +suffused with blushes, her eyes were red, and the hand which she +tendered to him, palpably trembled. At the beginning she did not want +to tell him what was the matter, but when they sat beside each other, +he began to beg of her that she would not make anything a secret with +him, but to tell him what occurred, not only as a fiancé, but as her +best friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hanka was always conciliated by an appeal to friendship. Therefore +after a while she said, smiling sadly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was not concerned about any secret but I preferred to keep to myself +an unpleasantness. Did you, sir, ever notice my servant, Pauly?"</p> + +<p class="normal">(Hanka from a certain time addressed her fiancé as "sir," believing +that in this manner she would hold him more easily at a proper +distance.)</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pauly?" repeated Ladislaus, and though, after all, he thus far had +done nothing with which to reproach himself, a sudden disquiet arose in +him. "Pauly? Why of course! Why, she was at Jastrzeb and I saw her here +everyday. What happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She created for me a horribly disagreeable scene and has left me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just what I do not know. She always was very violent and +nervous, but very honest. So I was attached to her and I thought that +she would be attached to me. But for some time I have observed in her +something like a dislike to me, with each day greater. Really, I never +was harsh to her; even the contrary. So I attributed everything to the +nerves. In the meantime, to-day, it came to an outburst and it is so +disagreeable to me! so disagreeable!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Hanka's voice faltered, and it could be seen that she felt the whole +occurrence deeply. So Ladislaus pressed her hand to his lips and asked +with sympathy:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What kind of outburst was it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This afternoon, or rather after Marynia's return from the rehearsal, +we were to ride up town with Zosia. So, desiring to change my dress, I +ordered her to hand it to me. Pauly went after it as usual and brought +it, but suddenly she threw it upon the ground and began to trample upon +it, and in addition screamed in a loud, shrill voice that she would +serve me no longer. At first I was stupefied, for it occurred to me +that she had become insane."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She surely is insane!" interrupted Ladislaus; "but what further?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She slammed the door and left. I did not see her any more. About an +hour later somebody came for her things and wages."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Hanka began to shake her head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And nevertheless when I recall her dislike and what she told me in the +last moments, I do not think that it was an attack of insanity; it was +only an outburst of hatred, which she could no longer restrain in +herself. And for me this is such a disappointment, such a +disappointment!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lady--Hanus," said Ladislaus, seizing both of her hands, "is it +worth while to take to heart the deed of a foolish vixen? For she is a +foolish vixen--nothing more. It is enough to look at her. Calm +yourself, Hanus,--this is only a momentary matter which it is necessary +to forget as soon as possible. Remember who you are and who she is! +Such times have come that everything is turned topsy-turvy. Such +occurrences now take place everywhere. But they will pass away. In the +meantime we two have so many reasons for joy that in view of them such +wretched smarts ought to disappear."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to press alternately her hands to his lips and to his +breast and gaze in her eyes, but this increased her grief; for Hanka +desiring to spare unnecessary disagreeableness to her betrothed and +herself did not confess everything to him. She was particularly +reticent about this, that the infuriated servant, on leaving, screamed +at her in her eyes, "You base peasant. You ought to serve me, not I +you! Your place is with cows, not in the palace!" Perhaps Hanka might +not have taken these words so much to heart were it not for the +previous friction in her relations with Ladislaus, and were it not for +the thought that he transgressed certain bounds perhaps because she was +his former sweetheart and a peasant. But just this reason caused the +thorn to be imbedded in her heart more deeply and bred in her a fear as +to future life in which similar scenes might be repeated more +frequently.</p> + +<p class="normal">So, also, his words about the happiness awaiting them were only drops +overflowing the cup of bitterness, and his caresses affected the +aggrieved girl like a child, who the more she is consoled the more +disconsolate she becomes. There came to her a moment of weakness and +exhaustion. The usual strength deserted her, her nerves were unstrung, +and she began to sob, but feeling at the same time ashamed of her tears +she buried her face in his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hanus, my Hanus!" repeated Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to kiss her light hair. Afterwards clasping her temples +with his palms, he raised her tear-stained face and kissed off her +tears. She did not defend herself; so after a while he sought with his +mouth her quivering lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hanus! Hanus!" he whispered in a panting voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">The ferment of desire more and more obscured his reason, obscured his +heart, his memory. He drank from the girl's lips while his breath held +out, he forgot himself like a drunkard and finally seized her in his +arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hanus! Hanus!"</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">And it happened that he offended her grievously, that to the +humiliation, which she had met that day, he added a new humiliation; to +insult, a new insult--that an abyss plainly separated them!</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XI</h3> + +<p class="normal">When on the morning of the following day Ladislaus awoke after a brief +feverish sleep, he was seized by grief and an insane rage at himself. +He recalled everything which had taken place. He remembered that his +parting with Hanka the day before was equivalent to being shown the +door; there returned to him as a wicked echo his own wretched and +dreadful words said in his passion at the time of separation, that if +her resistance flowed from fear that later he might break their +engagement, then let her know that it was an idle fear. And so he +imputed this resistance to miserable motives. And he, a man who prided +himself not only upon his good breeding but also upon a subtile sense +of honor and personal worthiness--he, Krzycki, could act the way he did +and say what he said. In the first moments after opening his eyes, it +seemed to him that this was a point-blank impossibility; some kind of a +continuation of the nightmare which throttled his slumber, which ought +to disappear with the light of day.</p> + +<p class="normal">But that nightmare was a heavy reality. It was incumbent upon him to +take it into account and remedy it in some manner. He sat down to write +a letter, in which he smote himself upon the breast, complained, and +apologized. He said that no one was able to condemn him as he had +condemned himself, and if he dared to beg for forgiveness it was only +in hope that perhaps some voice, some echo of the better moments would +intercede for him in her heart and would procure for him forgiveness. +At the close he begged for an opportunity of repeating in person the +words of the letter and for an answer, even in case the sentence +pronounced against him was final.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when the messenger who took the letter informed him upon his return +that there was no answer, he fell into genuine despair. As a really +spoiled child of life, unaccustomed to opposition and obstacles, and +one convinced that everything was due him, it began to appear to him +that this was more than he deserved; that he was the injured party. He +would not admit, however, that all was lost. He indulged in the hope +that Hanka might, before opening the letter, have announced that there +was no answer and that after reading it she would be moved, would +relent, and rescind her resolution. Sustained by this hope, he dressed +himself, strolled over the city for an hour in order to give Hanka time +to reckon with her heart, and afterwards rang the bell of her +residence.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was not received. Then it occurred to him to apply to Pani +Otocka. After a while, he nevertheless perceived that the causes of his +rupture with Hanka were of such a nature that it was impossible to +discuss them either with Pani Otocka or his mother. In his soul he now +began to accuse Hanka of downright cruelty, but at the same time the +greater the difficulties interposed between them the greater was his +grief. He could not, in any measure, be reconciled to the thought that +whatever he regarded as his own should be taken away from him; and as +is usual with weak persons, he began to commiserate himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">From Pani Otocka he went to Gronski, regarding him as the only person +with whom he could speak frankly and whose mediation would be +effective. And here disappointment awaited him. Gronski had suffered +for several days with his eyes and was not allowed to read; this put +him into a bad humor, and for this reason he received Ladislaus more +indifferently than usual. Ladislaus became convinced that it was +difficult to speak of the rupture not only with Pani Otocka and his +mother, but even with a man and old friend who knew of his former +relations with Hanka. A feeling of shame plainly choked the words in +his throat, and he began to beat about the bush and palliate things, +talk in empty phrases about a misunderstanding and the necessity of a +friendly mediation, so that Gronski at last asked, with a shade of +impatience:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me plainly about what you had a falling out, and then I can tell +whether I will undertake to bring you together again."</p> + +<p class="normal">And evidently he did not attach much importance to the matter for he +waved his hand and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be best if you made it up between yourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied Ladislaus; "this is more serious than you think, and we +ourselves cannot come to any agreement."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, finally, what was it about?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Shame, exertion, and constraint were depicted upon Ladislaus' face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In a moment of forgetfulness and ecstasy," he said, "I passed--that +is--I wanted to pass--certain limits--"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he stopped abruptly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski began to look at him with amazed eyes and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"And she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, if anything had happened there would not have been any rupture +and I surely would not speak of it now. She ordered me to the door and +not to show myself there any more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God bless her," exclaimed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Silence ensued. Gronski walked with big paces over the room repeating +every little while, "It is unbelievable!" and again, "An unheard-of +thing!" and in addition his face became more and more severe and cold.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he sat down and, looking at Ladislaus, began to speak +deliberately:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have known many people even among our aristocracy, in whom beneath +the veneer of society, beneath high descent and all the pretensions of +elegant breeding were concealed the ordinary coarse, low, peasant +instincts. If this observation can be applied to you as a comfort, +accept it, for I have no other for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">A sudden wave of anger swept over Ladislaus' heart and brain. For a +while he struggled with himself in order not to explode and answer +insult with insult; in the end he subdued himself and replied in a +hollow voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I deserve it."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Gronski, not disarmed by this confession, continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, my dear sir, I will not undertake your defence, for I should act +contrary to my convictions. To you less than to any one else was it +allowable to indulge yourself, even out of regard for the past. And +your fiancée must have so understood it, and besides she did not forget +her extraction. To you it was less permissible! She was a hundred times +right in showing you the door. The matter is really more serious than I +thought, and so serious that I do not see any help for it. You did not +respect Hanka, your future wife, and therefore yourself and your own +honor. In view of this how can she honor you and what can she think of +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know," said Ladislaus in the same hollow voice, "and I have said all +this to myself in almost the same words. I wrote a letter to her +this morning, begging for forgiveness--there was no answer. I went to +her personally--I was not received. So I came to you as the last +refuge--for--for me there pleads only one thing--I acted badly, +brutally, and scurvily, but I have not ceased to love her. There is no +life for me without her, and though you may not believe it, +nevertheless it is so that under the frenzy which possessed me, under +that froth which blinded me and under which I to-day sink, lies the +feeling not only deep but pure--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski again began to measure with great steps the room for he was +somewhat touched by Ladislaus' words.</p> + +<p class="normal">While the latter continued:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If she will not read my letters and will not receive me, then I will +not be able to tell her that. Hence it is imperative that some one +should speak to her in my name. I cannot apply either to Mother or Pani +Zosia in this. I thought that you, sir--but since you decline, I now +have no one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look, however, into the eyes of reality," said Gronski more gently, +"for it may be that her love for you was at once torn into shreds. In +such case from where will she take it when she no longer possesses it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let her tell me so; that at least is yet due to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again silence fell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen," Gronski finally said, "I always was a friend of yours and of +your mother, but this mission which you want to intrust to me I cannot +undertake. I cannot among other reasons, because if your fiancée does +not reply to you, so likewise she may not reply to me. One look, one +word, will close my mouth and with this it would end. But try another +method. Panna Hanka comes quite often with Marynia to the rehearsals, +at which I am always present, and afterwards I escort both home. Come +with me. You may find an opportunity to speak with her. During the +return home I will take Marynia and you will remain with her. I think +that she will not repel you even though out of regard for Marynia, to +whom she would not wish to divulge what had passed between you.--Then +tell her what you have said to me and also beg her for an interview, +which, if it cannot be otherwise--will be final. It will be necessary +somehow to give to the world some plausible excuse for your rupture; so +I presume she will agree to that. If not, we will think of something +else."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus began to wring his hands and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps through Zosia we could ascertain whether this is forever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You understand that she may not have wished to discuss the cause of +your rupture even with Pani Zosia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, I understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you now have a fever," said Gronski, "your hands are burning. Go, +try to cool off and calm yourself."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz now beheld Marynia, indeed from a distance, but daily. Even +on rainy days, when she did not walk to the rehearsals, but rode, he +lay in wait on the stairway of the edifice, in order to see her alight +from the carriage. On fair days he usually waited near her home, and +afterwards followed after her to the hall. As among the employees in +the building were found a few "associates," these facilitated his +admittance to the rehearsals. To hide in the boxes or in the seats at +the end of the rows was easy, as during the rehearsals only the stage +was fully lit up and in the auditorium itself the dusk was illumined by +only a few lamps, which were lit in order that the handful of +privileged lovers of music, who occupied the seats behind the +orchestra, might not be plunged in complete darkness. Amidst these +privileged ones, Laskowicz often recognized acquaintances,--Gronski, +Pani Otocka, the old notary. Miss Anney, sometimes Krzycki, and two or +three times, Dr. Szremski. But notwithstanding his hatred of Ladislaus +and dislike of the doctor and Gronski, he was little occupied by them +and thought of them very little, as his eyes could not even for a +moment be torn from Marynia. He encompassed with his gaze her girlish +form, standing out on the edge of the stage, bathed in a lustre of +electricity, luminous of her own accord, and involuntarily she reminded +him of that alabaster statuette, which the venerable canon deemed his +greatest treasure. Laskowicz was not an educated man. His one-sided +study of physics had contracted his intellectual horizon and he was +incapable of rendering to himself a clear account of certain +impressions. Nevertheless, when he gazed on that maid, with violin in +hand, on her pure calm countenance, on the elongated outlines of her +figure and dress, there awakened in him a half conscious feeling that +in her there was something of poetry, and something of the church. She +seemed to him an artless supernal vision, to which one might pray.</p> + +<p class="normal">Accordingly he deified her in his wild, fanatical soul. But there raged +within him a revolt against all divinities, therefore he fought with +his own feelings and struggled to depress and weed them out to the last +extremity. Intentionally he plucked off the wings of his own thoughts: +intentionally he imposed fetters upon his vagaries and unchained his +concupiscence. He discomfited himself, tortured himself, and suffered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Often he stood on the brink of madness--and in such cases he was ready +to annihilate, slaughter, and set fire to the whole city in order to +seize, amidst the bloodshed and conflagration, this silvery maid and +possess her,--and afterward perish with her and all others. He imagined +that during the revolutionary storm, which the waves of the proletariat +would stir up, such an universal hour of annihilation might strike. But +when reality scattered these dreams, when moments occurred in which it +became plain that the people themselves put a muzzle upon the jaws of +the revolutionary dragon, then the gory vision evaporated into vacuous +smoke, and only exhaustion and confusion remained, for this gloomy +proletaire felt that as long as he had strength the storm would rage, +and that when it passed away he would sink into complete nothingness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hence, in his heart bitterness and jealousy accumulated more and more. +He loved Marynia and at the same time he hated her, for he thought that +she looked upon him as a worm which squirms at her feet, unworthy of a +glance. He was confirmed in this conviction by the fact that his +letters evidently did not make the slightest impression upon her and +did not disturb her usual tranquillity. Laskowicz had given his word to +Pauly that he would see Marynia only from a distance, and he could not +approach her, because she was never out alone. But in reality he could +not conjecture that those letters were received and burnt by Pani +Otocka and that Marynia knew nothing about them. It appeared to him +that his passionate appeals in which the words, "Beloved! beloved!" +were repeated every little while, and those fiery outbursts in which he +prostrated himself in humility at her adored feet must have represented +him to her as the ruling king-soul shoving the human wave into the +unknown future, and ought to have evoked some result. "Let it be anger, +let it be hatred," he said to himself in his soul, "but here there is +nothing! She passes by me as if I was a street cur; she does not see +me; she does not deign to recognize me."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact it was so. In the moments when they passed each other on the +street, Marynia did not and could not recognize Laskowicz, for after +his departure from Jastrzeb he allowed his youthful beard to grow, and +afterwards, Swidwicki, in order to disguise him in the eyes of the +police, bleached his beard, together with his mustache and the hair on +his head, a light yellow. His clothes and spectacles also changed his +appearance but he forgot about that, and he fretted with the +supposition that her eyes do not see him or do not recognize him, +firstly, because a recollection of him never comes to her mind, and +again because she belongs to some kind of social Olympus and he to the +"proletarian garbage-box."</p> + +<p class="normal">Under such impressions his anguish changed into fury. With savage +satisfaction, he thought of this: that there might come a time when the +fate of this "sacred doll" and all her kin would be in his hands. He +persuaded himself that that moment would be a triumph for himself +personally and for the "good cause," and therefore he rejoiced at this +conjunction. He pictured to himself what would happen when Marynia came +to him to beg for a favor for herself and her relatives. Whether, at +that time, he would prostrate himself on the ground before her and tell +her to plant her foot on his head, or whether he would seize her in his +arms and afterwards pass time away shamelessly--he did not know. He +only had a feeling that he could do one or the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime he often said to himself that he ought not to see her +any more, and decided to seek her no more, but on the following day he +rushed to the place where he could meet her. He struggled with himself, +he was torn inwardly, and became exhausted to such an extent that he +began to fail in health. Want of such air as he breathed in Jastrzeb, +the necessity of hiding from the police, uneasiness, lack of sleep, +sudden and painful spiritual changes sapped his strength. He became +haggard, swarthy, and at times he thought that death threatened not on +the gallows but in a hospital.</p> + +<p class="normal">In such a disposition was he found by Pauly, who after her scene with +Hanka, dashed like a whirlwind into his little garret room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her face was so changed, so pale, so sickly and malignant, and her eyes +glittered so feverishly that at the first glance he knew that she was +driven to him by some extraordinary accident and he asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am no longer with that low peasant."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she remained silent for she could not catch her breath, and only +her face was twitching nervously.</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz understood only that she had abandoned her employment and +looked at her with a questioning gaze, awaiting further explanations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, sir, you do not know," she broke out after a while, "then you do +not know that he is to marry her? And that she is no Englishwoman, but +only a low peasant! And such a one I served! He is to marry her--a low +peasant!--a low peasant!--he!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And her voice changed into a shrill nervous hiccough. Laskowicz was +frightened at her transports, but at the same time breathed easily. +Howsoever he might long since have conjectured that Krzycki's +affections were directed towards Miss Anney and not towards Marynia, he +was nevertheless pleased in his soul that reality corroborated those +conjectures.</p> + +<p class="normal">Living, however, in a world which no echoes of the higher social sphere +reach, and knowing nothing of the transformation of Miss Anney into a +Polish peasant woman, he began to interrogate Pauly minutely because +the affair aroused his curiosity; he wished also to give time to the +excited girl to calm herself. But this last was not an easy matter, and +he long had to put questions to her to elicit the news which Swidwicki +had first told her that Miss Anney was a simple peasant woman, but +which, however, she did not at first believe, as he said it while under +the influence of intoxicants. Only from the conversations which she +overheard did she become convinced not only of the truth of the +statement but also that Krzycki was to wed Miss Anney. Afterwards she +peeped through the keyhole and saw him kneel before her and kiss her +hands. Then she could not restrain herself any longer and at the first +opportunity flung at the feet of her mistress her "linen frock," and, +reviling her as a base peasant, left her service.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here again indignation began to seize her so that Laskowicz from fear +that she might have an attack of convulsions, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will consult together about this, but only let the lady be +pacified."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she replied with increasing irritation:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not come here for you to pacify me. You, sir, have prated about +our mutual wrongs and now you order me to be pacified. I want help and +not your chatter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are anxious that he should not marry her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what else do you suppose?"</p> + +<p class="normal">In any case Laskowicz would have sided with the girl for he was +obligated to do that by gratitude to her for saving his life, by the +similarity of their lot, and those "joint wrongs" of which he himself +had previously spoken to Pauly, and of which she now reminded him. But +the existence of Krzycki at present ceased to stand in his way and Miss +Anney's existence less so. Only one thing he could not forgive in her:</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was a peasant woman, she was a wage-earner, and afterwards became +a female bourgeois. In this is the crime."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In it or not in it, it is now I or she! Do you understand, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, but what is to be done?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you ran away from the police, I did not ask what was to be done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I remember."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you said at Swidwicki's that your people could accomplish +everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For it is so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So if he only does not marry her, then even let the world end."</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz began to look at her with his closely set eyes and after a +moment commenced to speak slowly and with emphasis:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Krzycki was once already condemned and lives, thanks to you, lady, but +if he gets a bullet in his head, then he will marry no one."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she, hearing this, turned pale as a corpse; in the same moment she +sprang at him with her finger-nails!</p> + +<p class="normal">"What!" she cried in a hoarse voice; "what! he! Let but a hair fall +from his head, then, I will have you all--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Laskowicz's patience, however, was exhausted. He was irritated, torn +internally and sick; hence, after her threat, a wave of bitterness and +rage flooded his brains. He started up and, glaring in her eyes, +shouted!</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not threaten with betrayal, for that is death!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Death?" she screamed. "Death! this is what life is to me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And shoving her palm close to his face, she blew on it so that her +breath moistened him, and repeated:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look! This is what life is to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And to me," exclaimed Laskowicz.</p> + +<p class="normal">For an interval they stared in each other's eyes like two odious and +despairing souls. He recovered his wits first, and clasping his head +with both hands, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how unfortunate we are! oh!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! yes!" reiterated Panna Pauly.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she began to sob hysterically.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he commenced to quiet her. He promised her that nothing should +befall Krzycki and that his marriage would not under any circumstances +take place. He said that at that moment he could not indeed disclose to +her what measures would be adopted, but he assured her that neither he +nor his party would show any consideration to a mere female bourgeois, +as here was involved a higher social justice, which does not need to +take into account any particular individual. Pauly only understood that +that "low peasant" would not wed the young master of Jastrzeb, and +became appeased in some measure: and afterwards, both, from necessity, +became occupied with other matters. It was imperative that some kind of +shelter be found for the young girl: so Laskowicz placed her with "a +female associate" residing in the neighborhood, who immediately went +for her wages and belongings. He himself returned to his own rooms and +began to revolve in his mind how he could repay Panna Pauly for saving +his life.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in this feeling of gratitude lay the first reason why he took the +matter to heart. A second reason was his own ill-luck and ill-fated +love for Marynia which made him sensitive to similar strifes; and the +third was that "social justice" which he mentioned to Pauly. As to the +third reason he felt, however, the necessity of deliberating with his +own soul in order that when the time for action arrived his hands would +be untied, and under the pressure of this necessity he began to reason +in the following fashion:</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the background of the general concern of the proletariat, personal +affairs will appear. It might be said that the general concern is the +sum-total of them all. In this respect whoever stands in defence of the +personal affair of a proletaire by that act alone defends universal +principles. But here comes the question of ethics. Whither are we +tending? To universal justice. Ergo, our principle is moral for it is +only the sum-total of personal affairs: therefore these personal +affairs also must be moral. From this it follows that the proletaire, +who is in the wrong in a controversy with a bourgeois, nevertheless has +justice on his side simply because he is a proletaire. In this world +everything is relative. A soldier, slaying his opponent in a war, +commits manslaughter; therefore the act itself is not ethical. But as +he commits it in defense of Fatherland, therefore, from the viewpoint +of national welfare he acts ethically. If in addition thereto he has +the spur of personal hatred to an antagonist, his act would gain in +energy and would not lose its additional significance for Fatherland. +For us, the Polish proletariat is the nation and the idea of their +emancipation, the Fatherland. For this we wage war and if there is war, +then murder and injuries are inflicted upon the antagonists; and even +though the motives for them might be personal, they nevertheless are +not only justifiable but are covered a hundred-fold by the universal +welfare."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Besides,"--he reasoned further--, "the quintessence of our existence +is unhappiness; and from unhappiness as well as, inversely, from +happiness must blossom corresponding deeds. This is a necessity flowing +from the nature of things; and with this ethics have nothing to do. I +and that rabid girl are luckless, like homeless dogs; in view of which +it is all one whether a wrong was perpetrated upon us intentionally or +unintentionally; just as it is all one to the wolf whether the forester +who shoots him in the head, hunted him purposely or whether they met by +chance. The wolf has teeth to defend himself. That is his right. The +moment has come when our fangs have grown; therefore we have the right +to mangle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As to that girl, she is mangled by despair which can only be assuaged +by revenge. Is it just? Will it be beneficial to the girl? That is all +one. The wage-earners without work and bread drown their woes in +alcohol; the bourgeois in case of pain injects morphine into himself, +and for her, revenge will be alcohol and morphine. Whatever may be the +consequences, she will destroy the happiness of the pampered; she will +change their joy into tears; she will break their lives and raze a +particle of that world, which lies heavily, like a nightmare, upon the +breasts of the proletariat. So it is necessary to aid that revenge, for +so does gratitude for saving life command; likewise common wrong, also +the good of the cause."</p> + +<p class="normal">In view of this, it already seemed to Laskowicz a matter of minor +importance whether in that aid a rôle would be played by a knife, or by +a revolver, or by casting upon Hanka some ignominy, after which nothing +would remain for her to do but to fly and hide herself forever from +human eyes. Neither opportunity nor willing hands were wanting. It was +only necessary to deliberate upon the choice: and afterwards to act +promptly and decisively.</p> + +<p class="normal">With this he went to Pauly who agreed to everything. As a compensation +he demanded that she should release him from his promise to see Marynia +only from a distance, and he secured that with ease. He evidently +wanted to have his hands untied also in that regard.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XIII</h3> + +<p class="normal">"Here is the answer which I finally received," said Ladislaus, handing +a letter to Gronski; "I could not expect anything else."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew that you would receive it," replied Gronski, blinking with his +ailing eyes and searching for his binocle, "I was already informed of +it by Pani Otocka, who from the beginning insisted that Miss Anney +ought to answer you, and in the end prevailed upon her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus reddened and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! So Zosia Otocka knows everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She does and does not know. Miss Anney told her only this much; 'He +did not forget that he is a young lord and I a peasant woman and we +ceased to understand each other.' For her it was yet harder to speak of +this than for you and that difficulty festers all the more the wound +which, without it, is deep enough--But I cannot find the binocle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here it is," said Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski placed it on his nose and began to read:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, yourself, sir, rent and trampled upon our joy, our happiness, my +trust, and that deep attachment which I had for you. To your query of +whether I can ever recover those feelings, I answer that I seek for +them in vain. If ever I recover them I will inform you with the same +sincerity with which I to-day say that I have in my heart only grief +and sadness which for a joint life will not suffice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only so much!" said Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My foresight," answered Gronski, "is verified only too perfectly. The +spring for the time being has dried up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the bottom, to the bottom, not a drop for refreshment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski remained silent for a while; after which he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think otherwise, nevertheless. This is not entirely hopeless. There +remains sadness, grief and, as it were, the anticipation of the +recurring swell. In reality, it will not flow to-day nor to-morrow.--In +view of this, for you there remains either to persevere patiently and +win anew that which you lost, or else, if you have not sufficient +strength, to take some shears and sever the remaining threads."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such shears I will not find. Do you remember, sir, what she did for me +when I was wounded? I will not forget that."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Gronski shaded his eyes with his hand, gazed at Ladislaus +intently and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear sir, did you ever propound to yourself one question?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What pains you the more,--the loss of Miss Anney or your wounded +self-love?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, sir," answered Ladislaus, with irony. "In reality, only +self-love. Through it, I do not sleep, do not eat; through it, in the +course of a few days, I have grown lean like a shaving and were it not +for this living wound, life for me would be one perpetual round of +pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to laugh bitterly, while Gronski continued to gaze at him, +not removing his hand from his ailing eyes, and thought:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That girl has an honest heart, and let her only see him; then she will +forgive everything through compassion alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which he said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen, after a quarter of an hour, I will put on those dark +spectacles and go to the rehearsal. Come with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How will that help me, now?" exclaimed Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not know. I do not even guarantee that we will meet Miss Anney, +for Marynia sometimes goes with a servant. But, in any event, you will +not lose anything by it; so come."</p> + +<p class="normal">But further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of the doctor, +the more unexpected, as he had announced, upon leaving Warsaw, that he +would stay with his brother at least ten days.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is this? You have already returned!" exclaimed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A surprise, hey?" vociferated the doctor. "Yes! And for me it was a +surprise! One medical visit, afterwards a fee supplemented with the +amiable advice, 'Get out of here, while you are whole!' Lo, here I am. +Oh, what a delightful journey!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did this happen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did it happen? I will tell you immediately. But no! I know that at +this hour you leave for that rehearsal: so I will go with you, +gentlemen, and relate it to you on the way. That is such an amusing +thing that it is worth while to hear it. Ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Accordingly after a while they went and the jovial doctor began to +recite his Odyssey.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I arrived," he said, "a little fatigued, for that is a distant +journey, and besides it is necessary to change cars, wait for trains at +the stations, and so forth--the usual order with us. I reached the +country-seat late and after greeting my brother, I went to bed at once. +But the following day I had barely unpacked the primers--you remember, +gentlemen?--those I brought with me for the petty nobility--and I had +barely reproved my 'provincial' brother, when an emergency call came +summoning me to a high official who has an estate adjoining our seat +and in summer resides with his family in the country. Ha! there was no +help for it--I ride! And what appears? Why, a thimble stuck in a +child's throat. I found the child already livid, but the moment I +pulled the thimble out, the infant went away playing and everything was +in the best order. There was nothing else to do. I saved a future +dignitary to the empire, and to the parents an only son, as the +other children were daughters. So the gratitude was immense. They +pay--certainly! I wanted to ride away and iterated that there is +nothing more to do. They would not let me go. Gratitude, breakfast, +cordiality, friendship, overflowing of Slavonic feelings, and a chat +which after a time passed into a political discussion. 'There is not,' +says the dignitary, 'harmony amidst brothers. And what a pity! Religion +and tongue divide their languages. But what is religion, if not only an +outward form? God is one. It is the same to Him whether He is glorified +in the Latin or the Slavonic language. Why, for Slavonians it is more +seemly if in the Slavonic. And as to the tongue, then the various +dialects could be limited to conversations at home. Why, however, +should not one language be adopted, not only officially, but in +literature? The convenience would be greater, the control easier. +Then you would abandon your Catholicism and your dialects and accept +ours--the one and the other,--but heartily and voluntarily. And harmony +would immediately follow. The times for you would be better. There +would be downright delight.'--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He mistook his man," interrupted Gronski, laughing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that he should chance upon me," replied the doctor. "I, gentlemen, +am a deist, a philosopher, but a passable Catholic. Often it happens +that I assail the church just as I assail Poland whenever anything +occurs which displeases me. Only if some stranger does the same thing +in my presence then--a strange thing!--I have a desire to knock out his +teeth. Therefore I began to defend the Church as if I never in my life +crawled out of a sacristy; bah, even better, in a way as if I was a +Catholic apologist. 'If,' I said, 'religion is only an external form +tell me just why should we abandon this form of ours, which is the most +spiritualized, the most cultural, and the most beautiful. That +Catholicism, with which you advise us to take our leave, has +encompassed the entire West, organized society, produced European +civilization, preserved learning, has founded universities, reared +churches, which are masterpieces, gave us Saint Augustine, Dante, +Petrarch, Saint Francis, and Saint Thomas, created the Renaissance, +created Leonardo da Vinci's; "Lord's Supper," Michelangelo's "Tombs of +the Medici," Raphael's "School of Athens" and "Disputa," erected such +temples as Saint Peter's, not counting others scattered throughout +Italy and all over Europe. That Catholicism made us partakers of the +universal culture, united us with the West, imprinted a European stamp +upon our Polish soul, etc., etc.' And I talked in this strain until he +interrupted me and said. 'In this is the misfortune, that it has united +you with the West.' And I replied to that, 'A misfortune to whom, and +to whom not a misfortune? But now we will speak of your proposition of +renouncing the tongue and therefore the nationality. Know, sir, that +this is an empty and foolish dream. That never will take place. I +proclaim and insist in advance--never! But assuming for a moment an +impossible thing, that a pestilence will so blight us, that our hearts +will be so debilitated that we will say to ourselves "Enough!--we can +no longer be Poles!" then what? Reflect, sir, objectively, like a man +who has not lost the ability to think, what could restrain us from +becoming Germans? Our Slavonic extraction? But we are Slavonians, just +because we are Poles. You are a people who do not know how to live and +do not permit anybody else to live. So what motive would keep us with +you? Is it your peace? Your welfare? Your morality? Your +administration? Your science? Your learning? Your wealth? Your power? +Learn to look in the eyes of reality; cultivate in yourselves the +ability to reckon with it, and you will understand that by +denationalizing us you labor for some one else. But I reiterate yet +once more that this is only a foolish dream; that the moment of +renunciation will never come and if I spoke of it, it was only to +answer those things which you suggested.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"With this our conversation ended. They, in a yet higher degree than +we, cannot endure unpleasant truths, so my dignitary changed into a +decanter of iced water, and on the leave-taking merely said to me: +'Well, you are too candid, young man, but I thank you for the child.' A +half an hour later I was at home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can surmise what happened afterwards," said Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. As the thimble was removed, that same night I received an order +to leave the next day by the first train."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be satisfied that it ended with that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am satisfied. I will stay a few days in Warsaw; I will see the +notary; I will attend Panna Zbyltowska's concert. Certainly! +Certainly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he addressed Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is your mother and your fiancée?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you. Mother is not badly, but will soon have to leave."</p> + +<p class="normal">And desiring to hide his confusion, he began to gaze intently into the +depths of the street, and after a while exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But look! I see Panna Marynia with a maid-servant, and with them some +third person is walking."</p> + +<p class="normal">In reality about a hundred paces down the street Marynia could be seen +approaching, accompanied by a maidservant, with the violin in a case. +On the other side, though somewhat behind, walked a young man with a +yellowish beard, who, leaning towards Marynia, appeared to speak to her +in an earnest and vehement manner. She hastened her steps, turning her +head aside, evidently not desiring to listen to him, while he, keeping +pace with her, gesticulated violently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God! Some one is molesting her!" said the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">And all three rushed at full speed towards her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is that? Who are you, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And Marynia, seeing Gronski, seized his arm and trembling all over, +began to cry:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Home! Take me home, sir!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski understood in a moment that nothing else could be done and that +it was necessary to hurry, as otherwise Marynia might be embroiled in a +vulgar street row. He was certain that Ladislaus in whom was +accumulated an enormous supply of spleen and irritation, with his +impulsive nature, would not permit the offence of the assailant to pass +unpunished. So taking the girl aside, he placed her as soon as possible +in a hackney-coach, which was passing by and ordered the coachman to +drive to Pani Otocka's house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is nothing now. Everything is all right," he said on the way, to +pacify the affrighted Marynia. "From home we will send a message that +there will be no rehearsal to-day, and with that it will end. It is +nothing, nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to press her hand; after a while, he asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"But who was that and what did he want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Laskowicz," answered Marynia. "I did not recognize him at first, +but he told me who he was."</p> + +<p class="normal">Gronski became distressed when he heard the name of the student, for it +occurred to him that if the encounter with Ladislaus ended with the +police, then the consequences for Laskowicz might prove fatal directly. +But not desiring to betray his uneasiness before Marynia, and at the +same time wishing to better quiet her, he spoke to her half jokingly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that was Laskowicz? Then I already know what he wanted. Ah! +Ah!--Some one begins to play not only on the violin but on the +soul.--Only why did you allow yourself to be so frightened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For he also threatened," answered Marynia. "He threatened all +terribly--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such bugbears only children fear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True! Especially as I am to play for the hungry; they will not do any +wrong to me or any of us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Assuredly not," confirmed Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Conversing thus, they reached home. Gronski surrendered Marynia to Pani +Otocka's care and when, after a moment, Hanka appeared, he related to +them everything which had occurred. He likewise had to quiet Pani +Otocka, who, knowing of the letters, took the whole occurrence very +much to heart and announced that immediately after the concert they +would leave for Zalesin, and afterwards go abroad. After the lapse of a +half hour he left and on the stairs met Ladislaus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be praised," he said, "I see that it did not end with the police. +Do you know that the man was Laskowicz?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And it seemed so to me," said Ladislaus with animation; "but this one +had light hair. How is Marynia?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was frightened a little but now is well. Both ladies are at her +side and dandle her like a little chicken. They are so occupied with +her that Pani Otocka certainly will not receive you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I thought so; especially, if she is there," answered Ladislaus, +with bitterness; "so I will only leave my card and will return at once. +Do you care to wait for me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">Accordingly, he returned after a while, and when they were on the +street, he began to say:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! and to me it seemed that he was Laskowicz but I was puzzled by +the light tuft of hair on his head and the spectacles. After all there +was no time for thinking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen--you undoubtedly cudgelled him?" asked Gronski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And Ladislaus answered reluctantly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Far too much, for he is an emaciated creature, and he evidently did +not have a revolver."</p> + +<p class="normal">For some time they walked in silence; after which Gronski said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your mother needs a cure; the ladies will depart from here immediately +after the concert and Miss Anney undoubtedly with them. I would advise +you also to think about yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ladislaus waved his hand.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">At the same time in a garret in the quarters of the "female associate," +Laskowicz said to Pauly:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Krzycki is a true gentleman. He battered me a while ago because I +dared to approach her."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to laugh through his set teeth.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XIV</h3> + +<p class="normal">The day of the concert arrived. On the sofa in the sisters' +dressing-room lay, ready at an early hour, Marynia's evening dress, +white as snow, light as foam, transparent as the mist, and fragrant +with violets which were to form her sole adornment. Previously, Pani +Otocka and Gronski held a long and grave consultation over that dress, +for both craved warmly that their beloved "divinity" should captivate +not only the ears but the eyes. In the meanwhile the "divinity" bustled +about all the rooms, now seizing the violin and repeating the more +difficult passages, now taking the boxes of bon-bons which Gronski had +sent to her; then joking with her sister and predicting fright at her +first public appearance. This fright also possessed Pani Otocka who +consoled herself only with the thought that Marynia indeed would +tremble upon entering on the stage, but from the moment she began to +play would forget everything. She knew also that a warm ovation awaited +the beloved violinist, likewise numerous baskets of flowers, from the +"Committee for aiding the hungry," and from acquaintances. +Notwithstanding their uneasiness both sisters felt a great joy in their +souls, as the concert, owing to the arrivals during the racing season, +promised to be highly successful, and it was already known that the +receipts would be extraordinary. Marynia besides found a cure for her +fright: "When I think," she said to her sister, "that so many eyes will +gaze at me, my heart is in my mouth, but when I recollect that I am not +concerned but only the poor, then I cease to fear. So I will save +myself in this manner: entering upon the stage, I will repeat quietly, +''Tis for the poor! 'tis for the poor!' and everything will come off in +the best possible way!" And when she spoke, her voice quivered with +honest emotion as her young heart felt deeply the woes of the +unfortunate who did not have any bread, and at the same time she felt +proud and happy at the thought that she would be instrumental in their +relief. She even experienced certain pangs of conscience on account of +the new dress and the new satin shoes, as it occurred to her that this +outlay might have been expended for bread.</p> + +<p class="normal">About noon Hanka came and took both sisters to her apartments for +breakfast. Gronski, who was invited, did not appear, as at that time he +was to meet a few journalists. Marynia took her violin with her with +the intention of playing after the breakfast the first part of the +programme, and in the meanwhile, waiting before they were seated at +table, she began to look out from Hanka's salon through the open window +on the street.</p> + +<p class="normal">The day was fair and clear. During the night an abundant rain had +fallen which settled the dust, washed the city's stone pavements, +refreshed the grass plots, and laved the leaves on the trees. The air +became fresh and bracing. From the two acacias, growing under the +windows of Hanka's residence, which strewed the walk near them with +petals white as snow, came a sweet scent, strong and intoxicating as if +from a censer. Marynia partly closed her eyes and, moving her delicate +nostrils, sated herself with the perfume with delight, after which she +turned to the depth of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It smells so sweet," she said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It does, little kitten," answered Hanka, interrupting a conversation +with Pani Otocka. "I purposely ordered the window to be opened."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the acacias not only smelt sweet but seemed to sing, for both were +cumbered by a countless diet of sparrows so that the leaves and flowers +quivered from their chirping.</p> + +<p class="normal">The maiden watched for some time with delighted eyes the small, nimble +birds; after which her attention was directed to something entirely +different. On the walk before the house, in the middle of the street +and on the sidewalk on the opposite side, there began to gather and +stand clusters of people who, raising their heads, gazed intently at +the windows of Hanka's residence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some wretchedly dressed people spoke with the doorkeeper standing at +the gate, evidently questioning him about something. The clusters each +moment became more numerous and, together with the passers-by, who +remained out of curiosity, changed into a mob of several hundred heads. +Marynia jumped back from the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look," she cried, "what is taking place on the street. Oh! oh! Perhaps +they are the poor coming to thank me in advance? What shall I do if +they come here? what shall I answer? I am not able.--Come, see!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And saying this, she drew her sister and Hanka to the window. The three +young heads leaned out of the window on to the street, but in that +moment an incomprehensible thing happened. A ragged stripling pulled +out of his pocket a stone and hurled it with all his strength into the +open window. The stone flew over Pani Otocka's head, rebounded on the +opposite wall, and fell with noise upon the floor. Hanka, Marynia, and +Zosia drew back from the window and began to look at each other with +inquiring and startled eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime on the street resounded savage outcries; the rabble +battered down the gate; on the stairs sounded the stamping of feet, +after which in the twinkling of an eye the doors leading to the room +burst open with a crash, and a mob, composed of Christians and some +Jews, filled the residence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Away with the kept mistress! Strike! tear! smash!" howled hoarse +voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the mercy of God! People, what do you want here?" cried Hanka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Away with the kept mistress! away with the kept mistress! through the +window! on to the street!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In a moment a young man-servant, who rushed to the assistance of the +ladies, was thrown upon the ground and trampled upon. Amidst the +dreadful commotion, which the mob increased more and more, the human +beasts became unfettered. Women with disheveled hair, filthy striplings +with the marks of crime upon their degenerate features, and all manner +of ragamuffins with drunken faces, rushed at the furniture, divans, bed +curtains, and everything which fell into their hands. In the residence +an orgy of destruction prevailed. The rooms were filled with the stench +of sweat and whiskey. The mob became infuriated; it broke, smashed, +stole. On the street, under the windows piles of splintered furniture +were formed. They threw out even the piano. Finally some ruffian, with +a pock-marked visage, seized Marynia's violin and brandished it, +desiring to shatter it on the wall.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she jumped to its aid and seized his fist with both hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is mine! that is mine!--I am to play for the poor--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let go!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not let go!--that is mine!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let go, carrion!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is mine!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A shot was fired, and, simultaneously, Pani Otocka's scream pierced the +air. Marynia stood for a moment with upraised hands and head inclined +backwards; afterwards she reeled and fell back into Hanka's arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">The shot and the murder overawed the crowd. The mob became silent, and +after a moment began to scamper away, panic-stricken.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XV</h3> + +<p class="normal">Pani Krzycki, Zosia, and Hanka, and with them Gronski, Ladislaus, and +Dr. Szremski surrounded the bed on which Marynia lay, after the +operation and the extraction of the bullet. A second surgeon and his +assistant sat aloof, awaiting the awakening of the patient. In the +room, filled with the odor of iodoform, a profound stillness prevailed. +Marynia had previously awoke immediately after the operation was +performed, but stupefied still by the chloroform and weakened by the +loss of blood, she soon sank again into a slumber. Her beautiful head +lay motionless upon the pillow, her eyes were closed, and her +countenance was waxen and transparent, as if she were already dead. In +Pani Otocka and in Gronski, who but now sounded within himself the +immensity of his affection for that child, despair whimpered with that +quiet, terrible whimper, which lacerates, tugs and rends the bosom but +fears to emerge on the surface. Both glanced time and again with alarm +at Dr. Szremski who from time to time examined Marynia's pulse, but +evidently he himself was uncertain whether that sleep would be final: +he only nodded his head and placed his finger to his lips in sign of +silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless, their fears for the time being were vain, as after the +lapse of an hour Marynia's eyebrows commenced to rise, quiver, and +after a moment she opened her eyes. Her look, at the beginning, was +dull and unconscious. Slowly, however, the stupefaction left her and +consciousness of what had occurred as well as of the present moment +returned. On her countenance appeared an expression of amazement and +affliction, such as a child feels who has been punished cruelly and +unjustly. Finally her pupils darkened and two tears coursed down her +cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For what?--for what?" she whispered with her pallid lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Otocka sat at her side and placed her palm on her hand. Gronski +was seized with a desire to throw himself on the ground and beat his +head on the floor, while the patient asked further in an amazed and +mournful whisper:</p> + +<p class="normal">"For what?--for what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">God alone could answer that question. But in the meantime the doctor +approached and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not speak, child, for that harms."</p> + +<p class="normal">So she became silent, but the expression of affliction did not +disappear from her countenance, and tears continued to flow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her sister began to wipe them off; repeating in a subdued voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Marynia, Marynia, calm yourself--you will be well--you are not +dangerously wounded--no, no--the doctor guarantees that--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Marynia raised her eyes at her as if she desired to divine whether she +was telling the truth. It appeared, however, that she listened to her +sister's words with a certain hope.</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, she said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is sultry.--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor opened the window of the room. Out in the open air the night +was fair and starry. Waves of fresh air brought the scent of the +acacias.</p> + +<p class="normal">The patient lay for some time calm, but suddenly she began again to +seek somebody with her eyes and asked:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Pan Gronski here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am, dear, I am--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, sir--will not--let me?--Truly--"</p> + +<p class="normal">To Gronski it seemed at that moment that he was enveloped by a deep +night and that amidst that impenetrable darkness he answered in a +strange voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she spoke with terror, her countenance growing more and more +pallid:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not want to die--I am afraid--"</p> + +<p class="normal">And again tears began to trickle from her eyes--tears inconsolable, +tears of a wronged child.</p> + +<p class="normal">The entrance of a priest relieved the harrowing moment. It was the same +old prelate, a relative of the Krzyckis and the Zbyltowskis, who +previously shrived Pani Krzycki. Drawing nearer, he sat beside +Marynia's bed and bending over her with a cheering smile, full of hope, +said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How are you, dear child? Ah, the wretches!--But God is more powerful +than they and everything will end well. I only came to ask about your +health. God be praised the bullet is already extracted.--Now only +patience is necessary and you will be patient--will you not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Marynia winked her eyes as a token of acquiescence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The amiable old man continued in a more genial and as if jubilant +voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! I knew that you would. Now I will tell you that there is something +which often is more efficacious than all the medicines and bandages. Do +you know what it is? The Sacrament! Ho! how often in life have I seen +that people, who were separated from death by a hair, became at once +better after confession, communion, and anointment, and after that +recovered their health entirely. You, my dove, are surely far from +death, but since it is a Christian duty, which helps the soul and body, +it is necessary to perform it. Well, child?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Marynia again winked her eyes in sign of assent.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those present retired from the room and returned only upon the sound of +the little bell to be witnesses to the Communion. The patient, after +receiving it, lay for some time with closed eyelids and a quiet +brightness in her countenance, after which the moment of extreme +unction arrived.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the room assembled, besides those previously present, the servants +of the house; suppressing their sobs, they heard the customary prayers +before the rite.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lord, Jesus Christ, who hast said through Thy apostle Saint James, 'Is +any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the Church and +let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the +Lord.' We implore Thee, Lord God, our Redeemer, for the grace of The +Holy Ghost: have mercy upon this sick one, heal her wounds, pardon her +sins, and banish from her all pains of soul and body and in Thy mercy +return health completely to her, in order that, restored to life, she +may again give herself up to good deeds. Oh Thou, who being God, livest +and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, now and forever. Amen."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest appeared to hurry. Quickly he took the vessel standing +between two candles under the crucifix and approaching the patient he +whispered the second, brief prayer required by the ritual, and at the +same time began to administer extreme unction. He first touched the +girl's eyelids, saying, "Through this holy unction and His own most +tender mercy, may the Lord pardon thee whatever sins or faults thou +hast committed by sight"; after that he anointed her ears to purge the +sins which she might have committed through the sense of hearing; after +that the lips; after that the hands, resembling two white lilies, which +that day were to have played for the poor; and finally he blessed her +whole body from head to feet--already purified of all blemish and +already as truly angelic and immaculate as a lily in the field.</p> + +<p class="normal">A half hour passed. To those present it seemed that the patient again +succumbed to slumber. But unexpectedly she opened her eyes wide, and +cried in a stronger, as if joyful, voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"How much bread!--How much bread!--"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she expired calmly.</p> +<br> + +<p class="normal">During the depth of the night, a young man came to the gate and asked +the doorkeeper whether the little lady was still alive and, hearing +that she had died, he left in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later in the garret of one of the houses near the Vistula a +shot from a revolver was fired, and, filled with consternation, the +inmates suddenly awakened from their sleep. The people in the +neighboring rooms flocked to the place of the accident. The locked +doors of the room were battered down but all aid was futile. On the bed +lay the dead body of the student with his breast perforated by a shot.</p> + +<p class="normal">The gloomy, tragic soul had already flown into darkness.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XVI</h3> + +<p class="normal">The room in which Marynia died was changed into a funeral chamber. The +coffin stood in the middle, high, amidst burning candles and a whole +forest of plants and flowers, of which such a number were amassed that +they filled not only the chamber but even the anteroom and the +stairway. The coffin was still open and in the brightness of the day, +blended with the light of the wax-candles, Marynia could be seen +dressed in that same dress in which she was to have appeared at the +concert. The little metal cross which she held in her folded hands +glittered like a sparkling spot on a dark background of plants. Her +face was pensive, but without the slightest trace of suffering,--and at +the same time as if she was absorbed in listening to voices, sounds, +and tones, which were inaudible and incomprehensible to mortals.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though the open windows there blew in from time to time a breeze, +extinguishing here and there the unsteady flames of the candles and +causing the leaves of the plants to rustle. On the acacias in front of +the house the sparrows chirped boisterously; one would think that they +were relating to each other feverishly what had happened; while at the +side of the catafalque a human stream flowed. There came with wreaths, +workingmen, for whose benefit the concert was to have been given, and +at the sight of the barbarously slain little lady, they left with fire +in their eyes and clenched fists. The intelligence of the monstrous and +reckless crime attracted whole throngs of students, who determined to +carry the coffin on their shoulders. In the meantime they moved slowly +and quietly about the catafalque, gazing with bosoms swelling with +sympathy and grief at the silvery profile of the girl, turned towards +heaven, and unconsciously they recalled the words of the poet:</p> +<div class="poem2"> + +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">"And now in pale satin enshrouded,<br> +In silence, hands folded, she lies."</p> +</div> + +<p class="continue">Horror, indignation, and at the same time curiosity aroused the city +from centre to circumference. Even the streets in front of the house +were thronged by great crowds--uneasy, being unable to explain to +themselves how such a thing happened--and, as if, alarmed by the +thought of what the future might bring forth, what other crimes might +be committed and what other victims the uncertain morrow might devour.</p> + +<p class="normal">The remains of Marynia were to be conveyed to the railway and from +there to Zalesin where the tombs of the Otockis were located. +Immediately after noon the coffin was taken off the stretchers and +then, before its sealing, came for Pani Otocka and for Gronski the +dreadful moment of viewing for the last time in life that beloved being +who was for them a light and sun. If she had died of some sickness +their despair might not have been less, but it would have been more +intelligible to them. But she was murdered! They murdered this sweet +and innocent child, just at a time when she wanted to aid people and +when she rejoiced at the thought of that aid. Murdered was that +incarnate song, that fragrant flower, sent by God for the joy of +mankind! And in just this there was something which could not be +confined within the limits of despair, but reached into the borders of +madness. For lo, this is the last moment for beholding that love, that +youth, that maidenly charm, that white victim of crime and mistake; and +after that nothingness, darkness,--solitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">But overstrained pain kills itself like a scorpion, it covers the +intellect with darkness, and commands the blood to congeal in the +veins. That happened with the sister of the slain. For a long time Dr. +Szremski was uncertain whether he would be able to restore her to life. +In the consternation and confusion it was hardly observed that into the +chamber there rushed an insane woman and, whining mournfully, she flung +herself upon the ground. Swidwicki led her away with the aid of the +students and intrusted her to their care.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the coffin was sealed; the youths placed it on their +shoulders and the funeral party moved towards the railway. After them +marched a long procession, at the end of which empty carriages jogged +along. The ever-increasing swarm flowed along the middle of the streets +and sidewalks; and not until they reached the bridge did those who +joined the procession only through curiosity begin to return home.</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki approached Dr. Szremski, and for some time both walked in +silence, not perceiving that they were remaining more and more behind +the procession.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You knew the deceased?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Otocki was my relative."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, what a horrible mistake it was?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Swidwicki blurted out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was no mistake. That is the logical result of the times, and in +those that are coming such accidents will become a customary, every-day +occurrence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you understand that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The way it should be understood. That coffin has greater meaning than +it seems. That is an announcement! A mistake? No! That was only an +incident. Lo, to-day we are burying a harp, which wanted to play for +the people, but which the rabble trampled upon with their filthy +feet.--Wait, sir! Let things continue to proceed thus, and who knows +whether, after ten or twenty years, we will not thus bury learning, +art, culture, bah! even the entire civilization. And that not only here +but everywhere. There will be an endless series of such events.--To me, +after all, it is all one, but absolutely it is possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">The doctor ruminated for some time in silence over Swidwicki's words; +finally he exclaimed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, knowledge, knowledge, knowledge."</p> + +<p class="normal">Swidwicki stood still, seized the doctor by the flap of his coat and +shaking his goat-like beard, said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hear, sir, an atheist, or at least, a man who has nothing to do with +any religion: knowledge without religion breeds only thieves and +bandits."</p> + +<p class="normal">The procession paused for a while on account of an obstruction on the +road; so conversing, they drew nearer to the coffin; nevertheless, +Swidwicki, though lowering his voice, did not cease to talk:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, sir--a great many people think the same as I do; only they +have not the courage to say it aloud. After all, I reiterate it is all +one to me,--we are lost past all help. With us there are only +whirlpools.--And these, not whirlpools upon a watery gulf, beneath +which is a calm depth, but whirlpools of sand. Now the whirlwind blows +from the East and the sterile sand buries our traditions, our +civilization, our culture--our whole Poland--and transforms her into a +wilderness upon which flowers perish and only jackals can live."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he pointed to Marynia's coffin:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lo, there is a flower which has withered. Do you know, sir, why I, +though a relative, seldom visited them? Because I felt ashamed before +her eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">They reached the station and went upon the roadway, from which could be +seen the coach, decorated with flowers and fir-tree boughs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you riding to Zalesin?" asked the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am. I want to gaze at Pani Otocka. God knows what now will become of +her. And see, sir, how Gronski looks. An old man--what? Now his Latin +and books will not help him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who would not have felt this," answered the doctor. "Krzycki also +looks as if he were taken off the cross."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Krzycki? But perhaps it is because his matrimonial plans are broken."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further conversation was interrupted by the orchestra which began to +play Chopin's "Funeral March."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>XVII</h3> + +<p class="normal">Dr. Szremski upon his return to the hotel began to ponder over +Swidwicki's words, which were imbedded deeply in his memory. Before his +eyes there glided a picture of the funeral procession and that coffin, +with the victim, murdered by those to whom she wanted to do good. "Yes, +yes!" he said to himself, "that apparently was a mistake, but similar +mistakes are the logical consequences of the unbridled, blind, animal +instincts. We must admit that we are flying at break-neck speed into +some bottomless abyss. And not only we. But is it allowable to conclude +from this, that, as to-day we conducted song, murdered by the rabble, +so after ten, twenty, or fifty years we will witness the burial of +learning, culture, and civilization? Apparently--yes. It is high time +that God, Who rules the world, should give new proofs that He in +reality rules. It ought to thunder so that the earth would tremble--or +what? Mankind are entering upon a road which is directly opposite to +entire nature. For the whole endeavor of nature is to create as perfect +beings as possible and through them to ennoble the species; and +humanity perversely kills them as it did that angelic child, or else +seizes them by the hair to drag them from the heights to the general +level. And nevertheless this is but a specious appearance. If the +engineers determined to excavate all the mountains and make the earth +as smooth and even as a billiard ball, some convulsions would take +place, some eruptions of volcanoes would occur, which would create new +abysses and new heights. Of the Aryan spirit can be said that which the +Grecians, enamoured with the soothing architectonical lines, said of +the Roman arches: 'The arch will never fall asleep.' Likewise the Aryan +spirit. The humanity, which possesses it, is incapable of drifting into +infinity on one wave, thinking one thought and living in one idea. That +which is to-day--will pass away. On the summits of reason, feeling, and +will, new whirlwinds will generate and they will raise new waves."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the doctor's thoughts were apparently directed nearer to matters +lying more on his heart, for he began to clench his fist and pace with +big, uneasy steps about the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will we," he said to himself, "however, remain amidst these +convulsions, waves, and whirlwinds? Whirlpools? Whirlpools!--and of +sand! Sand is burying the whole of Poland and transforming her into a +wilderness, on which jackals live. If this is so, then it would be best +to put a bullet in the head.--I am curious as to what Gronski would say +to this--but lightning has struck his head and it is of no use to speak +to him.--We are lost past all help? That is untrue! Beneath these +whirlpools which are whirling upon the surface of our life is something +which Swidwicki did not perceive. There is more than elsewhere, for +there is a bottomless depth of suffering. There plainly is not in the +world greater misfortune than ours. With us the people awake in the +morning and follow the plough in the field, go to the factory, to the +offices, behind the benches in the shops, and all manner of labor--in +pain. They go to sleep in pain. That suffering is as boundless as the +expanse of the sea while the whirlpools are but ripples upon that +expanse. And why do we suffer thus? Of course, we might, at once, +to-morrow, breathe more freely and be happier. It would be sufficient +for every one to say to Her, that Poland, of whom Swidwicki says that +she is perishing, 'Too much dost Thou pain me, too much dost Thou +vex me; therefore I renounce Thee and from this day wish to forget +Thee.'--And nevertheless nobody says that; not even such a Swidwicki, +who prevaricated when he said it is all one to him; not even they who +throw bombs, and murder sisters and brothers!--And if it is so that we +prefer to suffer than renounce Her, then where are the jackals and +where is Her destruction? Jackals seek carrion, not suffering! So She +lives in every one of us, in all of us together, and will survive all +the whirlpools in the world. And we will set our teeth and will +continue to suffer for Thee, Mother, and we--and if God so wills +it,--and our children and grandchildren will not renounce neither Thee +nor hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Szremski was touched by his own thoughts, but dawn brightened his +countenance. He found an answer to the question which Swidwicki thrust +into his soul. Walking, he began to repeat: "For nothing, nobody would +consent to suffer thus." After which it occurred to his mind that to +suffer for Her was not yet sufficient, for he began to rub his hands +and turn up his rumpled sleeves, as if he wanted at once to do some +important and urgent work. But, after a while, he observed that he was +in the hotel, so he smiled, with his sincere, peculiar smile, and said +aloud:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! It cannot be helped. To-morrow I must return to my hole and push +the wheelbarrow along."</p> + +<p class="normal">And suddenly he sighed:</p> + +<p class="normal">"To my solitary hole."</p> + +<p class="normal">After which, he, himself, not knowing why, recollected what Swidwicki +had told him about the breaking of Krzycki's matrimonial engagement, +and his thoughts, like winged birds, began to fly to Zalesin.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: "Even +bird's milk is not lacking," a Polish proverbial +expression signifying "abundance," "living in clover."</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: "On the +thief's head the cap burns:" a Polish +proverb meaning that persons, conscious of guilt, always fear +detection.--Translator.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: "Sprinkled +his eyes with poppy:" proverbial expression +denoting "lulled to sleep."--Translator.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: Kilinski +was one of the bravest and most popular +heroes who fought under Kosciuszko. He was a shoe-maker by +trade.--Translator.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: Bigos: a +Polish dish of hashed meat and +cabbage.--Translator.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_06" href="#div2Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: Peter +Skarga was the most famous pulpit orator in the +history of Poland.--Translator.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_07" href="#div2Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: "Poland is +not yet lost."</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_08" href="#div2Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: Referring +to the Sacred Fire of pagan Lithuanians.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_09" href="#div2Ref_09">Footnote 9</a>: Mamalyga, +a kind of porridge in Bessarabia, made +principally of corn.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_10" href="#div2Ref_10">Footnote 10</a>: Piast; +the name of the first King of Poland, who was a +peasant.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_11" href="#div2Ref_11">Footnote 11</a>: +Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski, the last king of +Poland.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_12" href="#div2Ref_12">Footnote 12</a>: +"Skubanka," a pun upon the word, "skubac," to pluck.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE END</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><i>THE ZAGLOBA ROMANCES</i><br> +<i>by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from</i><br> +<i>the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin</i>.</h2> + +<h3>WITH FIRE AND SWORD</h3> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. Illustrated. Crown +8vo. $1.50 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang2">The first of the famous trilogy of historical romances of +Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Their publication has been received as an event in +literature. Charles Dudley Warner, in <i>Harper's Magazine</i>, affirms that the +Polish author has in Zagloba <i>given a new creation to literature</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>A capital story</i>. The only modern romance with which it +can be compared for fire, sprightliness, rapidity of action, swift changes, and +absorbing interest is "The Three Musketeers" of Dumas.--<i>New York Tribune</i>.</p> + + +<h3>THE DELUGE</h3> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. A Sequel to +"With Fire and Sword." With map. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. $3.00 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marvellous in its grand descriptions.--<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Has the humor of a Cervantes and the grim vigor of Defoe.--<i>Boston +Gazette</i>.</p> + + +<h3>PAN MICHAEL</h3> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Novel of Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine. A +Sequel to "With Fire and Sword" and "The Deluge." Crown 8vo. $1.50 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The interest of the trilogy, both historical and romantic, is +splendidly sustained.--<i>The Dial</i>, Chicago.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>QUO VADIS</h2> + +<p class="hang1">A Narrative of the Time of Nero. By <span class="sc">Henryk +Sienkiewicz</span>. Translated from the Polish by <span class="sc">Jeremiah +Curtin</span>. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.50 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the greatest books of our day.--<i>The Bookman</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The book is like a grand historical pageant.--<i>Literary +World</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of intense interest to the whole Christian civilization.--<i>Chicago +Tribune</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Interest never wanes; and the story is carried through its +many phases of conflict and terror to a climax that enthralls.--<i>Chicago +Record</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">As a study of the introduction of the gospel of love into the +pagan world typified by Rome, it is marvellously fine.--<i>Chicago Interior</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The picture here given of life in Rome under the last of the +Caesars is one of unparalleled power and vividness.--<i>Boston Home Journal</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the most remarkable books of the decade. It burns upon +the brain the struggles and triumphs of the early church.--<i>Boston Daily +Advertiser</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">It will become recognized by virtue of its own merits as the +one heroic monument built by the modern novelist above the ruins of decadent +Rome, and in honor of the blessed martyrs of the early Church.--<i>Brooklyn +Eagle</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Our debt to Sienkiewicz is not less than our debt to his +translator +and friend, Jeremiah Curtin. The diversity of the language, the rapid +flow of thought, the picturesque imagery of the descriptions are all +his.--<i>Boston Transcript</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS</h3> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Romance of Poland and Germany. By <span class="sc"> +Henryk Sienkiewicz</span>. Translated from the Polish +by <span class="sc">Jeremiah Curtin</span>. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $2.00 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The greatest work Sienkiewicz has given us.--<i>Buffalo +Express</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">It seems superior even to "Quo Vadis" in strength and +realism.--<i>The +Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The construction of the story is beyond praise. It is +difficult +to conceive of any one who will not pick the book up with +eagerness.--<i>Chicago Evening Post</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are some scenes in the book that for power and +excitement +remind one of the great encounter between Ursus and the bull in "Quo +Vadis."--<i>Minneapolis Tribune</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Vivid, dramatic, and vigorous.... His imaginative power, his +command of +language, and the picturesque scenes he sets combine to fascinate the +reader.--<i>Philadelphia Bulletin</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">A book that holds your almost breathless attention as in a +vise from +the very beginning, for in it love and strife, the most thrilling of +all worldly subjects, are described masterfully.--<i>The Boston Journal</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Another remarkable book. His descriptions are tremendously +effective; +one can almost hear the sound of the carnage; to the mind's eye the +scene of battle is unfolded by a master artist.--<i>The Hartford +Courant</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thrillingly dramatic, full of strange local color and very +faithful to +its period, besides having that sense of the mysterious and weird that +throbs in the Polish blood and infects alike their music and +literature.--<i>The St. Paul Globe</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2><i>OTHER NOVELS AND ROMANCES</i><br> +<i>by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from</i><br> +<i>the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin</i>.</h2> + +<h3>CHILDREN OF THE SOIL</h3> + +<p class="continue">Crown 8vo. $1.50 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">It must be reckoned among the finer fictions of our time, and +shows its author to be almost as great a master in the field of the domestic +novel as he had previously been shown to be in that of imaginative historical +romances.--<i>The Dial</i>, Chicago.</p> + + +<h3>HANIA, AND OTHER STORIES</h3> + +<p class="continue">With portrait. Crown 8vo. $1.50 <i>net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the highest level of the author's genius.--<i>The Outlook</i>.</p> + + +<h3>SIELANKA, A FOREST PICTURE</h3> + +<p class="continue">And Other Stories. With frontispiece. Crown 8vo. $1.50 <i> +net</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">They exhibit the masterly genius of Sienkiewicz even better +than his longer romances. They abound in fine character-drawings and beautiful +descriptions.--<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean</i>.</p> + +<h3>ON THE FIELD OF GLORY</h3> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Romance of Poland in the Reign of King John +Sobieski. 12mo. cloth. $1.50 <i>net</i>.</p> + + +<h3>WITHOUT DOGMA</h3> + +<p class="hang1">A Novel of Modern Poland. (Translated from the Polish by Iza +Young.) Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">A human document read in the light of a great imagination.--<i>Boston +Beacon</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Whirlpools, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHIRLPOOLS *** + +***** This file should be named 37426-h.htm or 37426-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/2/37426/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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