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diff --git a/44939-0.txt b/44939-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2096c47 --- /dev/null +++ b/44939-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,29604 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44939 *** + +Transcriber's Note + +Certain typographical features such as italics and small capital letters +cannot be reproduced in this version. Italics are denoted using the +underscore character as a delimiter (e.g., _italic_). Any words printed +in small capitals have been simply shifted to all upper case. The 'oe' +ligature is rendered here as separate characters. + +Quoted text was printed in a smaller font. These passages are indented +here to indicate this. + +The few footnotes, which appeared at the bottom of the page containing +their references, have been moved to the end of each chapter. + +Please consult the notes at the end of this text for more detail about +the text and the resolution on any printing anomalies. + + + + + CHILDREN OF THE SOIL + + + + + WORKS OF + + Henryk Sienkiewicz + + + IN DESERT AND WILDERNESS + WITH FIRE AND SWORD + THE DELUGE. _2 Vols._ + PAN MICHAEL + CHILDREN OF THE SOIL + "QUO VADIS" + SIELANKA, A FOREST PICTURE + THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS + WITHOUT DOGMA + WHIRLPOOLS + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY + LET US FOLLOW HIM + + + + + CHILDREN OF THE SOIL. + + BY + + HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ, + + AUTHOR OF + + "WITH FIRE AND SWORD," "THE DELUGE," "PAN MICHAEL," + "WITHOUT DOGMA," "YANKO THE MUSICIAN," + "LILLIAN MORRIS," ETC. + + _AUTHORIZED AND UNABRIDGED TRANSLATION FROM + THE POLISH BY_ + + JEREMIAH CURTIN. + + BOSTON + LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY + 1917 + + + + + _Copyright, 1895_, + + BY JEREMIAH CURTIN. + + _All rights reserved._ + + Printers + S. J. PARKHILL & CO., BOSTON, U.S.A. + + + + + TO HIS EXCELLENCY, + + HON. FREDERIC T. GREENHALGE, + + Governor of Massachusetts. + + +SIR,--You are at the head of a Commonwealth renowned for +mental culture; you esteem the Slav Race and delight in good +literature;--to you I beg to dedicate this volume, in the hope +that it will give pleasure to you and to others in that State which +you govern so acceptably. + + JEREMIAH CURTIN + + WARREN, VERMONT, + April 19, 1895. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT. + + +The title of this book in the original is Rodzina Polanieckich +(The Family of the Polanyetskis); "Children of the Soil" has been +substituted, because of the difficulty of the Polish title for American +and English readers, because the Polanyetskis are called children +of the soil in the text of the volume, and because all the other +characters are children of the soil in the same sense. + +For most readers this book will have a double interest,--the interest +attaching to a picture of Polish life, and the general human interest +inseparable from characters like those presented in the narrative of +Pan Stanislav's fortunes. + +The Poles form a part of the great Slav race, which has played so +important a rôle in the world's history already, and which is destined +to play a far more important one yet in the future. + +The argument involved in the career and meditations of Pan Stanislav +is of interest to every person in civilized society; it is an argument +presented so clearly, and reinforced with such pointed examples, that +neither comment nor explanation is needed. + +Were it not for the change of title, I might escape even this brief +statement; but now I may add that the following translation was made +in many places, in different countries, at various intervals, and at +moments snatched from other work. I began "Children of the Soil" in +Cahirciveen, Ireland, and continued it in London, Edinburgh, Fort +William near the foot of Ben Nevis, Rome, Naples, and Florence, +Tsarskoe Selo, Russia, and South Uist, an island of the Outer Hebrides. +From the Outer Hebrides I was called home before I wished to come, and +left that little granite kingdom in the Atlantic with sincere regret. + +The translation was finished in Warren, Vermont, and revised carefully. +To new readers of Sienkiewicz I may state that Pan, Pani, and Panna, +when prefixed to names, mean Mr., Mrs., and Miss respectively. + + JEREMIAH CURTIN. + + + + + CHILDREN OF THE SOIL. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +It was the first hour after midnight when Pan Stanislav Polanyetski +was approaching the residence in Kremen. During years of childhood he +had been twice in that village, when his mother, a distant relative +of the present owner of Kremen, was taking him home for vacation. Pan +Stanislav tried to remember the place, but to do so was difficult. At +night, by the light of the moon, everything took on an uncertain form. +Over the bushes, fields, and meadows, a white mist was lying low, +changing the whole region about into a shoreless lake, as it were,--an +illusion increased by choruses of frogs in the mist. + +It was a July night, very calm and perfectly bright. At moments, when +the frogs became silent, landrails were heard playing in the dew; and +at times, from afar, from muddy ponds, hidden behind reeds, the call of +the bittern sounded as if coming from under the earth. + +Pan Stanislav could not resist the charm of that night. It seemed to +him familiar in some way; and that familiarity he felt all the more, +since he had returned only the previous year from abroad, where he had +spent his first youth and had become engaged afterward in mercantile +matters. Now, while entering that sleeping village, he recalled his +childhood, memorable through his mother, now five years dead, and +because the bitterness and cares of that childhood, compared with the +present, seemed perfect bliss to him. + +At last the brichka rolled up toward the village, which began with a +cross standing on a sand mound. The cross, inclining greatly, seemed +ready to fall. Pan Stanislav remembered it because in his time under +that mound had been buried a man found hanging from a limb in the +neighboring forest, and afterward people were afraid to pass by that +spot in the night-time. + +Beyond the cross were the first cottages, but the people were sleeping; +there was no light in any window. As far as the eye could reach, only +roofs of cottages were gleaming on the night background of the sky, +lighted up by the moon, and the roofs appeared silvery and blue. Some +cottages were washed with lime and seemed bright green; others, hidden +in plum orchards, in thickets of sunflowers or pole beans, barely came +out of the shadow. In the yards, dogs barked, but in their sleep, as it +were, accompanying the croaking of frogs, the calling of landrails and +bitterns, and all those sounds with which a summer night speaks, and +which strengthen the impression of silence still more. + +The brichka, moving slowly along the soft sandy road, entered at last a +dark alley, spotted only here and there by the moonlight, which pushed +in between the leaves. Beyond the alley, night watches whistled; and in +the open was seen a white dwelling, in which some windows were lighted. +When the brichka rattled up to the entrance, a serving-man hurried +out of the house and began to assist Pan Stanislav to alight; but in +addition the night watch appeared and two white dogs, evidently very +young and friendly, for, instead of barking, they began to fawn and to +spring on the guest, showing such delight at his coming that the watch +had to moderate their effusiveness with a stick. + +The man took Pan Stanislav's things from the brichka, and after a +moment the guest found himself in a dining-room where tea was waiting. +Nothing had changed from the time of his childhood. At one wall was +a sideboard in walnut; at one end of this a clock with heavy weights +and a cuckoo; at the other were two badly painted portraits of women +in robes of the eighteenth century; in the centre of the room stood a +table with a white cloth, and surrounded by chairs with high arms. That +room, lighted brightly, full of steam rising from a samovar, seemed +rather hospitable and gladsome. + +Pan Stanislav began to walk along the side of the table; but the +squeaking of his boots struck him in that silence, therefore he went +to the window and looked through the panes at the yard filled with +moonlight. Over this yard the two white dogs, which had greeted him so +effusively, were chasing each other. + +After a time the door of the next room opened, and a young lady entered +in whom Pan Stanislav divined the daughter of the master of Kremen by +his second wife; at sight of her he stepped from the window curtains, +and, approaching the table in his squeaking boots, bowed, and announced +his name. The young lady extended her hand, and said,-- + +"We learned of your arrival from the despatch. Father is a trifle ill, +and was obliged to lie down; but he will be glad to see you in the +morning." + +"I am not to blame for coming so late," answered Pan Stanislav; "the +train reaches Chernyov only at eleven." + +"And from Chernyov it is ten miles to Kremen. Father tells me that this +is not your first visit." + +"I came here with my mother when you were not in the world yet." + +"I know. You are a relative of my father." + +"I am a relative of Pan Plavitski's first wife." + +"Father esteems family connections very highly, even the most distant," +said the young lady; and she began to pour out tea, pushing aside from +time to time the steam, which, rising from the samovar, veiled her +eyes. When conversation halted, only the tick of the clock was heard. +Pan Stanislav, who was interested by young ladies, looked at Panna +Plavitski carefully. She was a person of medium height, rather slender; +she had dark hair, a face calm, but subdued, as it were, a complexion +sunburnt somewhat, blue eyes, and a most shapely mouth. Altogether it +was the face of a self-possessed and delicate woman. Pan Stanislav, +to whom she seemed not ill-looking, but also not beautiful, thought +that she was rather attractive; that she might be good; and that under +that exterior, not too brilliant, she might have many of those various +qualities which young ladies in the country have usually. Though he +was young, life had taught him one truth,--that in general women gain +on near acquaintance, while in general men lose. He had heard also +touching Panna Plavitski, that the whole management in Kremen--a place, +by the way, almost ruined--lay on her mind, and that she was one of the +most overworked persons on earth. With reference to those cares, which +must weigh on her, she seemed calm and unmoved; still he thought that +surely she must wish to sleep. This was evident, indeed, by her eyes, +which blinked in spite of her, under the light of the hanging lamp. + +The examination would have come out on the whole in her favor, were +it not that conversation dragged somewhat. This was explained by the +fact that they saw each other for the first time in life; besides, she +received him alone, which might be awkward for a young lady. Finally, +she knew that Pan Stanislav had not come to make a visit, but to ask +for money. Such was the case in reality. His mother had given, a very +long time before, twelve thousand and some rubles for a mortgage on +Kremen, which Pan Stanislav wished to have redeemed,--first, because +there were enormous arrears of interest, and second, since he was a +partner in a mercantile house in Warsaw, he had entered into various +transactions and needed capital. He had promised himself beforehand to +make no compromise, and to exact his own absolutely. In affairs of that +sort, it was a point with him always to appear unyielding. He was not +such by nature, perhaps; but he had made inflexibility a principle, and +therewith a question of self-love. In consequence of this, he overshot +the mark frequently, as people do who argue something into themselves. +Hence, while looking at that agreeable, but evidently drowsy young +lady, he repeated to himself, in spite of the sympathy which was roused +in him,-- + +"That is all well, but you must pay." + +After a while he said, "I have heard that you busy yourself with +everything; do you like land management?" + +"I love Kremen greatly," answered she. + +"I too loved Kremen when I was a boy; but I should not like to manage +the place,--the conditions are so difficult." + +"Difficult, difficult. We do what we can." + +"That is it,--you do what you can." + +"I assist father, who is often in poor health." + +"I am not skilled in those matters, but, from what I see and hear, +I infer that the greater number of agriculturists cannot count on a +future." + +"We count on Providence." + +"Of course, but people cannot send creditors to Providence." + +Panna Plavitski's face was covered with a blush; a moment of awkward +silence followed; and Pan Stanislav said to himself,-- + +"Since thou hast begun, proceed farther;" and he said,-- + +"You will permit me to explain the object of my coming." + +The young lady looked at him with a glance in which he might read, +"Thou hast come just now; the hour is late. I am barely alive from +fatigue: even the slightest delicacy might have restrained thee from +beginning such a conversation." She answered aloud,-- + +"I know why you have come; but it may be better if you will speak about +that with my father." + +"I beg your pardon." + +"But I beg pardon of you. People have a right to mention what belongs +to them, and I am accustomed to that; but to-day is Saturday, and on +Saturday there is so much work. Moreover, in affairs of this sort, you +will understand--sometimes, when Jews come, I bargain with them; but +this time I should prefer if you would speak with my father. It would +be easier for both." + +"Then till to-morrow," said Pan Stanislav, who lacked the boldness to +say that in questions of money he preferred to be treated like a Jew. + +"Perhaps you would permit me to pour you more tea?" + +"No, I thank you. Good-night." And, rising, he extended his hand; but +the young lady gave hers far less cordially than at the greeting, so +that he touched barely the ends of her fingers. In going, she said,-- + +"The servant will show you the chamber." + +And Pan Stanislav was left alone. He felt a certain discontent, and +was dissatisfied with himself, though he did not wish to acknowledge +that fact in his heart. He began even to persuade himself that he had +done well, since he had come hither, not to talk politely, but to get +money. What was Panna Plavitski to him? She neither warmed nor chilled +him. If she considered him a churl, so much the better; for it happens +generally that the more disagreeable a creditor, the more people hasten +to pay him. + +But his discontent was increased by that reasoning; for a certain +voice whispered to him that this time it was not merely a question of +good-breeding, but also in some degree of compassion for a wearied +woman. He felt, besides, that by acting so urgently he was satisfying +his pose, not his heart, all the more because she pleased him. As +in that sleeping village and in that moonlight night he had found +something special, so in that young lady he found something which +he had looked for in vain in foreign women, and which moved him more +than he expected. But people are often ashamed of feelings which are +very good. Pan Stanislav was ashamed of emotions, especially; hence he +determined to be inexorable, and on the morrow to squeeze old Plavitski +without mercy. + +Meanwhile the servant conducted him to the bed-chamber. Pan Stanislav +dismissed him at once, and was alone. That was the same chamber which +they gave him, when, during the life of Plavitski's first wife, he +came to Kremen with his mother; and remembrances beset him again. The +windows looked out on a garden, beyond which lay a pond; the moon was +looking into the water, and the pond could be seen more easily than +in former times, for it was hidden then by a great aged ash-tree, +which must have been broken down by a storm, since on that spot there +was sticking up merely a stump with a freshly broken piece at the +top. The light of the moon seemed to centre on that fragment, which +was gleaming very brightly. All this produced an impression of great +calm. Pan Stanislav, who lived in the city amid mercantile labors, +therefore in continual tension of his physical and mental powers, and +at the same time in continual unquiet, felt that condition of the +country around him as he would a warm bath after great toil. He was +penetrated by relief. He tried to reflect on business transactions, how +were they turning, would they give loss or profit, finally on Bigiel, +his partner, and how Bigiel would manage various interests in his +absence,--but he could not continue. + +Then he began to think of Panna Plavitski. Her person, though it +had made a good impression, was indifferent to him, even for this +reason, that he saw her for the first time; but she interested him as +a type. He was thirty years old and something more, therefore of the +age in which instinct, with a force almost invincible, urges a man +to establish a domestic hearth, take a wife, and have a family. The +greatest pessimism is powerless against this instinct; neither art nor +any calling in life protects a man against it. In consequence of this, +misanthropes marry in spite of their philosophy, artists in spite of +their art, as do all those men who declare that they give to their +objects not a half, but a whole soul. Exceptions confirm the principle +that, in general, men cannot live a conventional lie and swim against +the currents of nature. For the great part, only those do not marry +for whom the same power that creates marriage stands in the way of it; +that is, those whom love has deceived. Hence, celibacy in advanced +life, if not always, is most frequently a hidden tragedy. + +Stanislav Polanyetski was neither a misanthrope nor an artist; neither +was he a man proclaiming theories against marriage. On the contrary, +he wanted to marry, and he was convinced that he ought to marry. He +felt that for him the time had arrived; hence he looked around for the +woman. From that came the immense interest which women roused in him, +especially unmarried ones. Though he had spent some years in France +and Belgium, he had not sought love among married women, even among +those who were over giddy. He was an active and occupied person, who +contended that only idle men can romance with married women, and in +general that besieging other men's wives is possible only where men +have very much money, little honor, and nothing to do, consequently +in a society where there is a whole class long since enriched, sunk +in elegant idleness, and of dishonest life. He was himself, in truth, +greatly occupied, hence he wished to love in order to marry; therefore +only unmarried women roused in him curiosity of soul and body. When he +met a young lady, the first question he asked himself was, "Is she not +the woman?" or at least, "Is she not the kind of woman?" At present +his thoughts were circling around Panna Plavitski in this manner. +To begin with, he had heard much of her from her relative living in +Warsaw; and he had heard things that were good and even touching. Her +calm, mild face was before his eyes now. He recalled her hands, very +shapely, with long fingers, though somewhat sunburnt, her dark blue +eyes, then the slight shadow over her mouth. Her voice too pleased him. +Notwithstanding all this, he repeated his promise that he would make +no compromise and must have his own; still he was angry at the fate +which had brought him to Kremen as a creditor. Speaking to himself in +mercantile language, he repeated in spirit, "The quality is good, but I +will not 'reflect,' as I did not come for it." + +Still he "reflected," and that to such a degree that after he had +undressed and lain down, he could not sleep for a long time. The cocks +began to crow, the window panes were growing pale and green; but under +his closed eyelids he saw yet the calm forehead of Panna Plavitski, +the shadow over her mouth, and her hands pouring out the tea. Then, +when sleep became overpowering, it seemed to him as though he were +holding those hands in his own and drawing her toward him, and she was +pulling back and turning her head aside, as if to escape a kiss. In the +morning he woke late, and remembering Panna Plavitski, thought, "Ah, +she will look like that!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +He was roused by the servant, who brought coffee and took his clothes +to be brushed. When the servant brought them back, Pan Stanislav asked +if it were not the custom of the house to meet in the dining-room for +coffee. + +"No," answered the servant; "because the young lady rises early, and +the old gentleman sleeps late." + +"And has the young lady risen?" + +"The young lady is at church." + +"True, to-day is Sunday. But does not the young lady go to church with +the old gentleman?" + +"No; the old gentleman goes to high Mass, and then goes to visit the +canon, so the young lady prefers early Mass." + +"What do they do here on Sunday?" + +"They sit at home; Pan Gantovski comes to dinner." + +Pan Stanislav knew this Gantovski as a small boy. In those times they +nicknamed him "Little Bear," for he was a thick little fellow, awkward +and surly. The servant explained that Pan Gantovski's father had died +about five years before, and that the young man was managing his estate +in the neighboring Yalbrykov. + +"And does he come here every Sunday?" + +"Sometimes he comes on a week day in the evening." + +"A rival!" thought Pan Stanislav. After a while he inquired,-- + +"Has the old gentleman risen?" + +"It must be that he has rung the bell, for Yozef has gone to him." + +"Who is Yozef?" + +"The valet." + +"And who art thou?" + +"I am his assistant." + +"Go and inquire when it will be possible to see the old gentleman." + +The servant went out and returned soon. + +"The old gentleman sends to say that when he dresses he will beg you to +come." + +"Very well." + +The servant went out; Pan Stanislav remained alone and waited, or +rather was bored, a good while. Patience began to fail him at last; +and he was about to stroll to the garden, when Yozef came with the +announcement that the old gentleman begged him to come. + +Yozef conducted him then to a chamber at the other end of the house. +Pan Stanislav entered, and at the first moment did not recognize Pan +Plavitski. He remembered him as a person in the bloom of life and very +good-looking; now an old man stood before him, with a face as wrinkled +as a baked apple,--a face to which small blackened mustaches strove in +vain to lend the appearance of youth. Hair as black as the mustaches, +and parted low at the side of the head, indicated also pretensions as +yet unextinguished. + +But Plavitski opened his arms: "Stas! how art thou, dear boy? Come +hither!" And, pointing to his white shirt, he embraced the head of +Pan Stanislav, and pressed it to his bosom, which moved with quick +breathing. + +The embrace continued a long time, and for Pan Stanislav, much too +long. Plavitski said at last,-- + +"Let me look at thee, Anna, drop for drop! My poor beloved Anna!" and +Plavitski sobbed; then he wiped with his heart finger[1] his right +eyelid, on which, however, there was not a tear, and repeated,-- + +"As like Anna as one drop is like another! Thy mother was always for me +the best and the most loving relative." + +Pan Stanislav stood before him confused, also somewhat stunned by a +reception such as he had not expected, and by the odor of wax, powder, +and various perfumes, which came from the face, mustaches, and shirt of +the old man. + +"How is my dear uncle?" asked he at last, judging that this title, +which moreover he had given in years of childhood to Plavitski, would +answer best to the solemn manner of his reception. + +"How am I?" repeated Plavitski. "Not long for me now, not long! +But just for this reason I greet thee in my house with the greater +affection,--I greet thee as a father. And if the blessing of a man +standing over the grave, and who at the same time is the eldest member +of the family, has in thy eyes any value, I give it thee." + +And seizing Pan Stanislav's head a second time, he kissed it and +blessed him. The young man changed still more, and constraint was +expressed on his face. His mother was a relative and friend of +Plavitski's first wife: to Plavitski himself no affectionate feelings +had ever attracted her, so far as he could remember; hence the +solemnity of the reception, to which he was forced to yield, was +immensely disagreeable to him. Pan Stanislav had not the least family +feeling for Plavitski. "This monkey," thought he, "is blessing me +instead of talking money;" and he was seized by a certain indignation, +which might help him to explain matters clearly. + +"Now sit down, dear boy," said Plavitski, "and be as if in thy own +house." + +Pan Stanislav took a seat, and began, "Dear uncle, for me it is very +pleasant to visit uncle. I should have done so surely, even without +business; but uncle knows that I have come also on that affair which my +mother--" + +Here the old man laid his hand on Pan Stanislav's knee suddenly. "But +hast thou drunk coffee?" asked he. + +"I have," answered Pan Stanislav, driven from his track. + +"Marynia goes to church early. I beg pardon, too, that I have not given +thee my room; but I am old, I am accustomed to sleep here. This is my +nest." Then, with a circular sweep of the hand, he directed attention to +the chamber. + +Unconsciously Pan Stanislav let his eyes follow the motion of the hand. +On a time this chamber had been to him a ceaseless temptation, for +in it had hung the arms of Plavitski. The only change in it was the +wall, which in the old time was rose-colored, and represented, on an +endless number of squares, young shepherdesses, dressed _à la Watteau_, +and catching fish with hooks. At the window stood a toilet-table with +a white cover, and a mirror in a silver frame. On the table was a +multitude of little pots, vials, boxes, brushes, combs, nail files, +etc. At one side, in the corner, was a table with pipes and pipe-stems +with amber mouth-pieces; on the wall, above the sofa, was the head of +a wild boar, and under it two double-barrelled guns, a hunting-bag, +horns, and, in general, the weapons of hunting; in the depth was +a table with papers, open shelves with a certain number of books. +Everywhere the place was full of old furniture more or less needed and +ornamental, but indicating that the occupant of the chamber was the +centre around which everything turned in that house, and that he cared +greatly for himself. In one word, it was the chamber of an old single +man,--an egotist full of petty anxiety for his personal comfort, and +full of pretensions. Pan Stanislav did not need long reflection to +divine that Plavitski would not give up his chamber for anything, nor +to any man. + +But the hospitable host inquired further, "Was it comfortable enough +for thee? How didst thou spend the night?" + +"Perfectly; I rose late." + +"But thou wilt stay a week or so with me?" + +Pan Stanislav, who was very impulsive, sprang up from his chair. + +"Doesn't uncle know that I have business in Warsaw, and a partner, who +at present is doing all our work alone? I must go at the earliest; and +to-day I should like to finish the business on which I have come." + +To this Plavitski answered with a certain cordial dignity, "No, my +boy. To-day is Sunday; and besides, family feeling should go before +business. To-day I greet thee, and receive thee as a blood relative; +to-morrow, if thou wish, appear as a creditor. That is it. To-day +my Stas has come to me, the son of my Anna. Thus will it be till +to-morrow; thus should it be, Stas. This is said to thee by thy eldest +relative, who loves thee, and for whom thou shouldst do this." + +Pan Stanislav frowned a little, but after a while he answered, "Let it +be so till to-morrow." + +"Anna spoke through thee then. Dost smoke a pipe?" + +"No, only cigarettes." + +"Believe me, thou doest ill. But I have cigarettes for guests." + +Further conversation was interrupted by the rattle of an equipage at +the entrance. + +"That is Marynia, who has come from early Mass," said Plavitski. + +Pan Stanislav looked out through the window, and saw a young lady in a +straw hat stepping out of the equipage. + +"Hast made the acquaintance of Marynia?" asked Plavitski. + +"I had the pleasure yesterday." + +"She is a dear child. I need not tell thee that I live only for her--" + +At that moment the door opened, and a youthful voice asked, "May I come +in?" + +"Come in, come in; Stas is here!" answered Plavitski. + +Marynia entered the chamber quickly, with her hat hanging by ribbons +over her shoulder; and when she had embraced her father, she gave +her hand to Pan Stanislav. In her rose-colored muslin, she looked +exceedingly graceful and pretty. There was about her something of the +character of Sunday, and with it the freshness of that morning, which +was bright and calm. Her hair had been ruffled a little by her hat; her +cheeks were blooming; and youth was breathing from her person. To Pan +Stanislav, she seemed more joyous and more shapely than the previous +evening. + +"High Mass will be a little later to-day," said she to her father; +"for immediately after Mass the canon went to the mill to prepare Pani +Siatkovski; she is very ill. Papa will have half an hour yet." + +"That is well," said Plavitski; "during that time thou wilt become more +nearly acquainted with Stas. I tell thee, drop for drop like Anna! But +thou hast never seen her. Remember, too, Marynia, that he will be our +creditor to-morrow, if he wishes; but to-day he is only our relative +and guest." + +"Very well," answered the young lady; "we shall have a pleasant Sunday." + +"You went to sleep so late yesterday," said Pan Stanislav, "and to-day +you were at early Mass." + +She answered merrily, "The cook and I go to early Mass that we may have +time afterward to think of dinner." + +"I forgot to mention," said Pan Stanislav, "that I bring you +salutations from Pani Emilia Hvastovski." + +"I have not seen Emilia for a year and a half, but we write to each +other often. She is about to visit Reichenhall, for the sake of her +little daughter." + +"She was ready to start when I saw her." + +"But how is the little girl?" + +"She is in her twelfth year; she has grown beyond measure, and is pale. +It does not seem that she is very healthy." + +"Do you visit Emilia often?" + +"Rather often. She is almost my only acquaintance in Warsaw. Besides, I +like Pani Emilia very much." + +"Tell me, my boy," inquired Plavitski, taking a pair of fresh gloves +from the table, and putting them into a breast-pocket, "what is thy +particular occupation in Warsaw?" + +"I am what is called an 'affairist;' I have a commission house +in company with a certain Bigiel. I speculate in wheat and sugar, +sometimes in timber; in anything that gives profit." + +"I have heard that thou art an engineer?" + +"I have my specialty. But on my return I could not find occupation +at any factory, and I began at mercantile transactions, all the more +readily that I had some idea of them. But my specialty is dyeing." + +"How dost thou say?" inquired Plavitski. + +"Dyeing." + +"The times are such now that one must take up anything," said +Plavitski, with dignity. "I am not the man to take that ill of thee. If +thou wilt only retain the honorable old traditions of the family, no +occupation brings shame to a man." + +Pan Stanislav, to whom the appearance of the young lady had brought +back his good nature, and who was amused by the sudden "grandezza" of +the old man, showed his sound teeth in a smile, and answered,-- + +"Praise God for that!" + +Panna Plavitski smiled in like manner, and said, "Emilia, who likes you +very much, wrote to me once that you conduct your business perfectly." + +"The only difficulty in this country is with Jews; still competition +is easy. And with Jews it is possible to get on by abstaining from +anti-Semitic manifestoes. As to Pani Emilia, however, she knows as much +about business as does her little Litka." + +"Yes; she has never been practical. Had it not been for her husband's +brother, Pan Teofil Hvastovski, she would have lost all she has. But +Pan Teofil loves Litka greatly." + +"Who doesn't love Litka? I, to begin with, am dying about her. She is +such a marvellous child, and such a favorite; I tell you that I have a +real weakness for her." + +Panna Marynia looked attentively at his honest, vivacious face, and +thought, "He must be a little whimsical, but he has a good heart." + +Plavitski remarked, meanwhile, that it was time for Mass, and he began +to take farewell of Marynia in such fashion as if he were going on +a journey of some months; then he made the sign of the cross on her +head, and took his hat. The young lady pressed Pan Stanislav's hand +with more life than at the morning greeting; he, when sitting in the +little equipage, repeated in his mind, "Oh, she is very nice, very +sympathetic." + +Beyond the alley, by which Pan Stanislav had come the night before, the +equipage rolled over a road which was beset here and there with old and +decayed birches standing at unequal distances from one another. On one +side stretched a potato-field, on the other an enormous plain of wheat, +with heavy bent heads, which seemed to sleep in the still air and in +the full light of the sun. Before the carriage, magpies and hoopoes +flew among the birches. Moving along paths through the yellow sea of +wheat, and hidden in it to their shoulders, went village maidens with +red kerchiefs on their heads, which resembled blooming poppies. + +"Good wheat," said Pan Stanislav. + +"Not bad. What is in man's power is done, and what God gives He gives. +Thou art young, my dear, so I give thee a precept, which in future will +be of service to thee more than once, 'Do always that which pertains to +thee, and leave the rest to the Lord God.' He knows best what we need. +The harvest will be good this year; I know that beforehand, for when +God is going to touch me with anything, He sends a sign." + +"What is it?" asked Pan Stanislav, with astonishment. + +"Behind my pipe-table--I do not know whether thou hast noted where it +stands--a mouse shows himself to me a number of days in succession when +any evil is coming." + +"There must be a hole in the floor." + +"There is no hole," said Plavitski, closing his eyes, and shaking his +head mysteriously. + +"One might bring in a cat." + +"I will not bring in a cat, for if it is the will of God that that +mouse should be a sign to me, or forewarning, I shall not go against +that will. Nothing has appeared to me this year. I mentioned this to +Marynia; maybe God desires in some way to show that He is watching +over our family. Listen, my dear; people will say, I know, that we are +ruined, or at least in a very bad state. Here it is; judge for thyself: +Kremen and Skoki, Magyerovka and Suhotsin, contain about two hundred +and fifty vlokas of land; on that there is a debt of thirty thousand +rubles to the society, not more, and about a hundred thousand mortgage, +including thy sum. Therefore we have about a hundred and thirty +thousand. Let us estimate only three thousand rubles a vloka; that +will make seven hundred and fifty thousand,--altogether eight hundred +and eighty thousand--" + +"How is that?" asked Pan Stanislav, with astonishment; "uncle is +including the debt with the property." + +"If the property were worth nothing, no one would give me a copper for +it, so I add the debt to the value of the property." + +Pan Stanislav thought, "He is a lunatic, with whom it is useless to +talk;" and he listened further in silence. + +"I intend to parcel out Magyerovka. The mill I will sell; but in Skoki +and Suhotsin I have marl, and knowest thou at how much I have estimated +it? At two million rubles." + +"Has uncle a purchaser?" + +"Two years ago a certain Shaum came and looked at the fields. He went +away, it is true, without speaking of the business; but I am sure that +he will come again, otherwise the mouse would have appeared behind the +pipe-table." + +"Ha! let him come again." + +"Knowest thou another thing that comes to my head? Since thou art an +'affairist,' take up this business. Find thyself partners, that is all." + +"The business is too large for me." + +"Then find me a purchaser; I will give ten per cent of the proceeds." + +"What does Panna Marynia think of this marl?" + +"Marynia, how Marynia? She is a golden child, but still a child! She +believes that Providence watches over our family." + +"I heard that from her yesterday." + +Meanwhile they had drawn near Vantory and the church, on a hill among +linden-trees. Under the hill stood at number of peasant-wagons with +ladder-like boxes, some brichkas and carriages. Pan Plavitski made the +sign of the cross, and said, "This is our little church, which thou +must remember. All the Plavitskis lie here, and I, too, shall be lying +here soon. I never pray better than in this place." + +"There will be many people, I see," said Pan Stanislav. + +"Gantovski's brichka, Zazimski's coach, Yamish's carriage, and a +number of others are there. Thou must remember the Yamishes. She is +an uncommon woman; he pretends to be a great agriculturist and a +councillor, but he is an old dotard, who never did understand her." + +At that moment the bell began to sound in the church tower. + +"They have seen us, and are ringing the bell," said Plavitski; "Mass +will begin this moment. I will take thee, after Mass, to the grave of +my first wife; pray for her, since she was thy aunt. She was an honest +woman; the Lord light her." + +Here Plavitski raised his finger again to rub his right eye. Pan +Stanislav therefore asked, wishing to change the conversation,-- + +"But was not Pani Yamish once very beautiful? or is this the same one?" + +Plavitski's face gleamed suddenly. He thrust out for one moment the +end of his tongue from his blackened little mustaches, and patting Pan +Stanislav on the thigh, said,-- + +"She is worth a sin yet,--she is, she is." + +Meanwhile they drove in, and after walking around the church, entered +the sacristy at the side; not wishing to push through the crowd, they +sat on side seats near the altar. Plavitski occupied the collator's +place, in which were also the Yamishes. Yamish was a man very old in +appearance, with an intelligent face, but weighed down; she was a woman +well toward sixty, dressed almost like Panna Marynia,--that is, in a +muslin robe and a straw hat. The bows, full of politeness, which Pan +Plavitski made to her, and the kind smiles with which she returned +them, showed that between those two reigned intimate relations founded +on mutual adoration. After a while the lady, raising her glasses to +her eyes, began to observe Pan Stanislav, not understanding apparently +who could have come with Pan Plavitski. In the seat behind them one of +the neighbors, taking advantage of the fact that Mass had not begun +yet, was finishing some narrative about hunting, and repeated a number +of times to another neighbor, "My dogs, well--" then both stopped +their conversation, and began to speak to Plavitski and Pani Yamish so +audibly that every word reached the ears of Pan Stanislav. The priest +came out to the altar then. + +At sight of the Mass and that little church, Pan Stanislav's memory +went back to the years of his childhood, when he was there with his +mother. Wonder rose in him involuntarily when he thought how little +anything changes in the country, except people. Some are placed away in +consecrated earth; others are born. But the new life puts itself into +the old forms; and to him who comes from afar, after a long absence, +all that he saw long ago seems of yesterday. The church was the same; +the nave was filled, as of old, with flaxen-colored heads of peasants, +gray coats, red and yellow kerchiefs with flowers on the heads of the +maidens; it had precisely the same kind of odor of incense, of sweet +flag, and the exhalations of people. Outside one of the windows grew +the same birch-tree, whose slender branches, thrown against the panes +by the wind as it rose, cast shade which gave a green tinge to light in +the church. But the people were not the same: some of the former ones +were crumbling quietly into dust, or had made their way from beneath +the earth in the form of grass; those who were left yet were somehow +bent, as if going under ground gradually. Pan Stanislav, who plumed +himself on avoiding all generalizing theories, but who in reality had +a Slav head, which, as it were, had not emerged yet from universal +existence, occupied himself with them involuntarily; and all the time +he was thinking that there is still a terrible precipice between that +passion for life innate in people and the absoluteness of death. He +thought, also, that perhaps for this reason all systems of philosophy +vanish, like shadows; but Mass is celebrated, as of old, because it +alone promises further and unbroken continuity. + +Reared abroad, he did not believe in it greatly; at least, he was not +certain of it. He felt in himself, as do all people of to-day, the +very newest people, an irrestrainable repugnance to materialism; but +from it he had not found an escape yet, and, what is more, it seemed +to him that he was not seeking it. He was an unconscious pessimist, +like those who are looking for something which they cannot find. He +stunned himself with occupations to which he was habituated; and only +in moments of great excess in that pessimism did he ask himself, What +is this all for? Of what use is it to gain property, labor, marry, +beget children, if everything ends in an abyss? But that was at times, +and did not become a fixed principle. Youth saved him from this, not +the first youth, but also not a youth nearing its end, a certain mental +and physical strength, the instinct of self-preservation, the habit of +work, vivacity of character, and finally that elemental force, which +pushes a man into the arms of a woman. And now from the recollections +of childhood, from thoughts of death, from doubts as to the fitness of +marriage, he came to this special thought, that he had no one to whom +he could give what was best in him; and then he came to Panna Marynia +Plavitski, whose muslin robe, covering a young and shapely body, did +not leave his eyes. He remembered that when he was leaving Warsaw, +Pani Emilia, a great friend of his and of Panna Marynia's, had said +laughingly,-- + +"If you, after being in Kremen, do not fall in love with Marynia, I +shall close my doors against you." He answered her with great courage +that he was going only to squeeze out money, not to fall in love, but +that was not true. If Panna Plavitski had not been in Kremen, he would +surely have throttled Plavitski by letter, or by legal methods. On the +way he had been thinking of Panna Marynia and of how she would look, +and he was angry because he was going for money, too. Having talked +into himself great decision in such matters, he determined above all +to obtain what belonged to him, and was ready rather to go beyond the +mark than not to reach it. He promised this to himself, especially the +first evening, when Marynia, though she had pleased him well enough, +had not produced such a great impression as he had expected, or rather +had produced a different one; but that morning she had taken his eye +greatly. "She is like the morning herself," thought he; "she is nice +and knows that she is nice,--women always know that." + +This last discovery made him somewhat impatient, for he wished to +return as soon as possible to Kremen, to observe the young woman +further. In fact, Mass was over soon. Plavitski went out immediately +after the blessing, for he had two duties before him,--the first, to +pray on the graves of his two wives who were lying under the church; +the second, to conduct Pani Yamish to her carriage. Since he wished +to neglect neither of these, he had to count with time. Pan Stanislav +went with him; and soon they found themselves before the stone slabs, +erected side by side in the church wall. Plavitski kneeled and prayed +awhile with attention; then he rose, and wiping away a tear, which was +hanging really on his lids, took Pan Stanislav by the arm, and said, +"Yes, I lost both; still I must live." + +Meanwhile Pani Yamish appeared before the church door in the company +of her husband, of those two neighbors who had spoken to her before +Mass, and of young Gantovski. At sight of her Pan Plavitski bent to Pan +Stanislav's ear and said,-- + +"When she enters the carriage, take notice what a foot she has yet." + +After a while both joined the company; bows and greetings began. Pan +Plavitski presented Pan Polanyetski; then, turning to Pani Yamish, he +added, with the smile of a man convinced that he says something which +no common person could have hit upon,-- + +"My relative, who has come to embrace his uncle, and squeeze him." + +"We will permit only the first; otherwise he will have an affair with +us," said the lady. + +"But Kremen[2] is hard," continued Plavitski; "he will break his teeth +on it, though he is young." + +Pani Yamish half closed her eyes. "That ease," said she, "with which +you scatter sparks, _c'est inoui!_ How is your health to-day?" + +"At this moment I feel healthy and young." + +"And Marynia?" + +"She was at early Mass. We wait for you both at five. My little +housekeeper is breaking her head over supper. A beautiful day." + +"We shall come if neuralgia lets me, and my lord husband is willing." + +"How is it, neighbor?" asked Plavitski. + +"I am always glad to go," answered the neighbor, with the voice of a +crushed man. + +"Then, _au revoir_." + +"_Au revoir_," answered the lady; and turning to Pan Stanislav, she +reached her hand to him. "It was a pleasure for me to make your +acquaintance." + +Plavitski gave his arm to the lady, and conducted her to the carriage. +The two neighbors went away also. Pan Stanislav remained a while with +Gantovski, who looked at him without much good-will. Pan Stanislav +remembered him as an awkward boy; from the "Little Bear," he had grown +to be a stalwart man, somewhat heavy perhaps in his movements, but +rather presentable, with a very shapely, light-colored mustache. Pan +Stanislav did not begin conversation, waiting till the other should +speak first; but he thrust his hands into his pockets, and maintained a +stubborn silence. + +"His former manners have remained with him," thought Pan Stanislav, who +felt now an aversion to that surly fellow. + +Meanwhile Plavitski returned from Yamish's carriage. + +"Hast taken notice?" asked he of Pan Stanislav, first of all. "Well, +Gantos," said he then, "thou wilt go in thy brichka, for in the +carriage there are only two places." + +"I will go in the brichka, for I am taking a dog to Panna Marynia," +answered the young man, who bowed and walked off. + +After a while Pan Plavitski and Pan Stanislav found themselves on the +road to Kremen. + +"This Gantovski is uncle's relative, I suppose?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"The tenth water after a jelly. They are very much fallen. This Adolph +has one little farm and emptiness in his pocket." + +"But in his heart there is surely no emptiness?" + +Pan Plavitski pouted. "So much the worse for him, if he imagines +anything. He may be good, but he is simple. No breeding, no education, +no property. Marynia likes him, or rather she endures him." + +"Ah, does she endure him?" + +"See thou how it is: I sacrifice myself for her and stay in the +country; she sacrifices herself for me and stays in the country. There +is no one here; Pani Yamish is considerably older than Marynia; in +general, there are no young people; life here is tedious: but what's to +be done? Remember, my boy, that life is a series of sacrifices. There +is need for thee to carry that principle in thy heart and thy head. +Those especially who belong to honorable and more prominent families +should not forget this. But Gantovski is with us always on Sunday for +dinner; and to-day, as thou hast heard, he is bringing a dog." + +They dropped into silence, and drove along the sand slowly. The magpies +flew before them from birch to birch, this time in the direction of +Kremen. Behind Plavitski's little carriage rode in his brichka Pan +Gantovski, who, thinking of Pan Stanislav, said to himself,-- + +"If he comes as a creditor to squeeze them, I'll break his neck; if he +comes as a rival, I'll break it too." + +From childhood, he had cherished hostile feelings toward Polanyetski. +In those days they met once in a while. Polanyetski used to laugh at +him; and, being a couple of years older, he even beat him. + +Plavitski and his guest arrived at last, and, half an hour later, all +found themselves at table in the dining-room, with Panna Marynia. The +young dog, brought by Gantovski, taking advantage of his privilege of +guest, moved about under the table, and sometimes got on the knees of +those present with great confidence and with delight, expressed by +wagging his tail. + +"That is a Gordon setter," said Gantovski. "He is simple yet; but those +dogs are clever, and become wonderfully attached." + +"He is beautiful, and I am very grateful to you," answered Marynia, +looking at the shining black hair and the yellow spots over the eyes of +the dog. + +"Too friendly," added Plavitski, covering his knees with a napkin. + +"In the field, too, they are better than common setters." + +"Do you hunt?" asked Pan Stanislav of the young lady. + +"No; I have never had any desire to do so. And you?" + +"Sometimes. But I live in the city." + +"Art thou much in society?" inquired Plavitski. + +"Almost never. My visits are to Pani Emilia, my partner Bigiel, and +Vaskovski, my former professor, an oddity now,--those are all. Of +course I go sometimes to people with whom I have business." + +"That is not well, my boy. A young man should have and preserve good +social relations, especially when he has a right to them. If a man +has to force his way, the question is different; but as Polanyetski, +thou hast the right to go anywhere. I have the same story, too, with +Marynia. The winter before last, when she had finished her eighteenth +year, I took her to Warsaw. Thou'lt understand that the trip was not +without cost, and that for me it required certain sacrifices. Well, and +what came of it? She sat for whole days with Pani Emilia, and they read +books. She is born a recluse, and will remain one. Thou and she might +join hands." + +"Let us join hands!" cried Pan Stanislav, joyously. + +"I cannot, with a clear conscience," answered Marynia; "for it was not +altogether as papa describes. I read books with Emilia, it is true; but +I was much in society with papa, and I danced enough for a lifetime." + +"You have no fault to find?" + +"No; but I am not yearning." + +"Then you did not bring away memories, it seems?" + +"Evidently there remained with me only recollections, which are +something different." + +"I do not understand the difference." + +"Memory is a magazine, in which the past lies stored away, and +recollection appears when we go to the magazine to take something." + +Here Panna Marynia was alarmed somewhat at that special daring with +which she had allowed herself this philosophical deduction as to the +difference between memory and recollection; therefore she blushed +rather deeply. + +"Not stupid, and pretty," thought Pan Stanislav; aloud he said, "That +would not have come to my head, and it is so appropriate." + +He surveyed her with eyes full of sympathy. She was in fact very +pretty; for she was laughing, somewhat confused by the praise, and also +delighted sincerely with it. She blushed still more when the daring +young man said,-- + +"To-morrow, before parting, I shall beg for a place,--even in the +magazine." + +But he said this with such joyousness that it was impossible to be +angry with him; and Marynia answered, not without a certain coquetry,-- + +"Very well; and I ask reciprocity." + +"In such case, I should have to go so often to the magazine that I +might prefer straightway to live in it." + +This seemed to Marynia somewhat too bold on such short acquaintance; +but Plavitski broke in now and said,-- + +"This Stanislav pleases me. I prefer him to Gantos, who sits like a +misanthrope." + +"Because I can talk only of what may be taken in hand," answered the +young man, with a certain sadness. + +"Then take your fork, and eat." + +Pan Stanislav laughed. Marynia did not laugh: she was sorry for +Gantovski; therefore she turned the conversation to things which were +tangible. + +"She is either a coquette, or has a good heart," thought Pan Stanislav +again. + +But Pan Plavitski, who recalled evidently his last winter visit in +Warsaw, continued, "Tell me, Stas, dost thou know Bukatski?" + +"Of course. By the way, he is a nearer relative to me than to uncle." + +"We are related to the whole world,--to the whole world literally. +Bukatski was Marynia's most devoted dancer. He danced with her at all +the parties." + +Pan Stanislav began to laugh again; "And for all his reward he went +to the magazine, to the dust-bin. But at least it is not necessary to +dust him, for he is as careful of his person as uncle, for instance. +He is the greatest dandy in Warsaw. What does he do? He is manager of +fresh air, which means that when there is fair weather he walks out or +rides. Besides, he is an original, who has peculiar little closets in +his brain. He observes various things of such kind as no other would +notice. Once, after his return from Venice, I met him and asked what +he had seen there. 'I saw,' said he, 'while on the Riva dei Schiavoni, +half an egg-shell and half a lemon-rind floating: they met, they +struck, they were driven apart, they came together; at last, paf! the +half lemon fell into the half egg-shell, and away they went sailing +together. In this see the meaning of harmony.' Such is Bukatski's +occupation, though he knows much, and in art, for instance, he is an +authority." + +"But they say that he is very capable." + +"Perhaps he is, but capable of nothing. He eats bread, and that is +the end of his service. If at least he were joyous, but at bottom he +is melancholy. I forgot to say that besides he is in love with Pani +Emilia." + +"Does Emilia receive many people?" inquired Marynia. + +"No. Vaskovski, Bukatski, and Mashko, an advocate, the man who buys and +sells estates, are her only visitors. + +"Of course she cannot receive many people; she has to give much time to +Litka." + +"Dear little girl," said Pan Stanislav, "may God grant at least that +Reichenhall may help her." + +And his joyous countenance was covered in one moment with genuine +sadness. Marynia looked at him with eyes full of sympathy, and in her +turn thought a second time, "Still he must be kind really." + +But Plavitski began to talk as if to himself. "Mashko, Mashko--he too +was circling about Marynia. But she did not like him. As to estates, +the price now is such that God pity us." + +"Mashko is the man who declares that under such conditions it is well +to buy them." + +Dinner came to an end, and they passed into the drawing-room for +coffee; while at coffee Pan Plavitski, as his wont was in moments of +good-humor, began to make a butt of Gantovski. The young man endured +patiently, out of regard for Marynia, but with a mien that seemed to +say, "Ei! but for her, I would shake all the bones out of thee." After +coffee Marynia sat down at the piano, while her father was occupied +with patience. She played not particularly well, but her clear and +calm face was outlined pleasantly over the music-board. About five Pan +Plavitski looked at the clock and said,-- + +"The Yamishes are not coming." + +"They will come yet," answered Marynia. + +But from that moment on he looked continually at the clock, and +announced every moment that the Yamishes would not come. At last, about +six, he said with a sepulchral voice,-- + +"Some misfortune must have happened." + +Pan Stanislav at that moment was near Marynia, who in an undertone +said,-- + +"Here is a trouble! Nothing has happened, of course; but papa will be +in bad humor till supper." + +At first Pan Stanislav wished to answer that to make up he would be in +good-humor to-morrow after sleeping; but, seeing genuine anxiety on the +young lady's face, he answered,-- + +"As I remember, it is not very far; send some one to inquire what has +happened." + +"Why not send some one over there, papa?" + +But he answered with vexation, "Too much kindness; I will go myself;" +and ringing for a servant, he ordered the horses, then stopping for a +moment he said,-- + +"_Enfin_, anything may happen in the country; some person might come +and find my daughter alone. This is not a city. Besides, you are +relatives. Thou, Gantovski, may be necessary for me, so have the +kindness to come with me." + +An expression of the greatest unwillingness and dissatisfaction was +evident on the young man's face. He stretched his hand to his yellow +hair and said,-- + +"Drawn up at the pond is a boat, which the gardener could not launch. I +promised Panna Marynia to launch it; but last Sunday she would not let +me, for rain was pouring, as if from a bucket." + +"Then run and try. It is thirty yards to the pond; thou wilt be back in +two minutes." + +Gantovski went to the garden in spite of himself. Plavitski, without +noticing his daughter or Pan Stanislav, repeated as he walked through +the room,-- + +"Neuralgia in the head; I would bet that it is neuralgia in the head; +Gantovski in case of need could gallop for the doctor. That old mope, +that councillor without a council, would not send for him surely." And +needing evidently to pour out his ill humor on some one, he added, +turning to Pan Stanislav, "Thou'lt not believe what a booby that man +is." + +"Who?" + +"Yamish." + +"But, papa!" interrupted Marynia. + +Plavitski did not let her finish, however, and said with increasing ill +humor, "It does not please thee, I know, that she shows me a little +friendship and attention. Read Pan Yamish's articles on agriculture, do +him homage, raise statues to him; but let me have my sympathies." + +Here Pan Stanislav might admire the real sweetness of Marynia, who, +instead of being impatient, ran to her father, and putting her forehead +under his blackened mustaches, said,-- + +"They will bring the horses right away, right away, right away! Maybe +I ought to go; but let ugly father not be angry, for he will hurt +himself." + +Plavitski, who was really much attached to his daughter, kissed her +on the forehead and said, "I know thou hast a good heart. But what is +Gantovski doing?" + +And he called through the open gate of the garden to the young man, who +returned soon, wearied out, and said,-- + +"There is water in the boat, and it is drawn up too far; I have tried, +and I cannot--" + +"Then take thy cap and let's be off, for I hear the horses have come." + +A moment later the young people were alone. + +"Papa is accustomed to society a little more elegant than that in the +country," said Marynia; "therefore he likes Pani Yamish, but Pan +Yamish is a very honorable and sensible man." + +"I saw him in the church; to me he seemed as if crushed." + +"Yes; for he is sickly, and besides has much care." + +"Like you." + +"No, Pan Yamish manages his work perfectly; besides, he writes much on +agriculture. He is really the light of these parts. Such a worthy man! +She too is a good woman, only to me she seems rather pretentious." + +"An ex-beauty." + +"Yes. And this unbroken country life, through which she has become +rather rusty, increases her oddness. I think that in cities oddities +of character and their ridiculous sides efface one another; but in the +country, people turn into originals more easily, they grow disused +to society gradually, a certain old-fashioned way is preserved in +intercourse, and it goes to excess. We must all seem rusty to people +from great cities, and somewhat ridiculous." + +"Not all," answered Pan Stanislav; "you, for example." + +"It will come to me in time," answered Marynia, with a smile. + +"Time may bring changes too." + +"With us there is so little change, and that most frequently for the +worse." + +"But in the lives of young ladies in general changes are expected." + +"I should wish first that papa and I might come to an agreement about +Kremen." + +"Then your father and Kremen are the main, the only objects in life for +you?" + +"True. But I can help little, since I know little of anything." + +"Your father, Kremen, and nothing more," repeated Pan Stanislav. + +A moment of silence came, after which Marynia asked Pan Stanislav if +he would go to the garden. They went, and soon found themselves at the +edge of the pond. Pan Stanislav, who, while abroad, had been a member +of various sporting clubs, pushed to the water's edge the boat, which +Gantovski could not manage; but it turned out that the boat was leaky, +and that they could not row in it. + +"This is a case of my management," said Marynia, laughing; "there is a +leak everywhere. And I know not how to find an excuse, since the pond +and the garden belong to me only. But before it is launched I will have +the boat mended." + +"As I live, it is the same boat in which I was forbidden to sail when a +boy." + +"Quite possibly. Have you not noticed that things change less by far, +and last longer than people? At times it is sad to think of this." + +"Let us hope to last longer than this moss-covered boat, which is as +water-soaked as a sponge. If this is the boat of my childhood, I have +no luck with it. In old times I was not permitted to sail in it, and +now I have hurt my hand with some rusty nail." + +Saying this, he drew out his handkerchief and began to wind it around +a finger of his right hand, with his left hand, but so awkwardly that +Marynia said,-- + +"You cannot manage it; you need help;" and she began to bind up his +hand, which he twisted a little so as to increase the difficulty of +her task, since it was pleasant for him to feel her delicate fingers +touching his. She saw that he was hindering her, and glanced at +him; but the moment their eyes met, she understood the reason, and, +blushing, bent down as if tying more carefully. Pan Stanislav felt her +near him, he felt the warmth coming from her, and his heart beat more +quickly. + +"I have wonderfully pleasant memories," said he, "of my former +vacations here; but this time I shall take away still pleasanter ones. +You are very kind, and besides exactly like some flower in this Kremen. +On my word, I do not exaggerate." + +Marynia understood that the young man said that sincerely, a little +too daringly perhaps, but more through innate vivacity than because +they were alone; she was not offended, therefore, but she began to make +playful threats with her pleasant low voice,-- + +"I beg you not to say pretty things to me; if you do, I shall bind your +hand badly, and then run away." + +"You may bind the hand badly, but stay. The evening is so beautiful." + +Marynia finished her work with the handkerchief, and they walked +farther. The evening was really beautiful. The sun was setting; the +pond, not wrinkled with a breath of wind, shone like fire and gold. In +the distance, beyond the water, the alders were dozing quietly; the +nearer trees were outlined with wonderful distinctness in the ruddy +air. In the yard beyond the house, storks were chattering. + +"Kremen is charming, very charming!" said Pan Stanislav. + +"Very," answered Marynia. + +"I understand your attachment to this place. Besides, when one puts +labor into anything, one is attached to it still more. I understand too +that in the country it is possible to have pleasant moments like this; +but, besides, it is agreeable here. In the city weariness seizes men +sometimes, especially those who, like me, are plunged to their ears in +accounts, and who, besides, are alone. Pan Bigiel, my partner, has a +wife, he has children,--that is pleasant. But how is it with me? I say +to myself often: I am at work, but what do I get for it? Grant that +I shall have a little money, but what then?--nothing. To-morrow ever +the same as to-day: Work and work. You know, Panna Plavitski, when a +man devotes himself to something, when he moves with the impetus of +making money, for example, money seems to him an object. But moments +come in which I think that Vaskovski, my original, is right, and that +no one whose name ends in _ski_ or _vich_ can ever put his whole soul +into such an object and rest in it exclusively. He declares that there +is in us yet the fresh memory of a previous existence, and that in +general the Slavs have a separate mission. He is a great original, a +philosopher, and a mystic. I argue with him, and make money as I can; +but now, for example, when I am walking with you in this garden, it +seems to me in truth that he is right." + +For a time they walked on without speaking. The light became ruddier +every instant, and their faces were sunk, as it were, in that gleam. +Friendly, reciprocal feelings rose in them each moment. They felt +pleasant and calm in each other's society. Of this Pan Stanislav was +sensible seemingly, for, after a while, he remarked,-- + +"That is true, too, which Pani Emilia told me. She said that one has +more confidence, and feels nearer to you in an hour than to another in +a month. I have verified this. It seems to me that I have known you for +a long time. I think that only persons unusually kind can produce this +impression." + +"Emilia loves me much," answered Marynia, with simplicity; "that is why +she praises me. Even if what she says were true, I will add that I +have not the power to be such with all persons." + +"You made on me, yesterday, another impression, indeed; but you were +tired then and drowsy." + +"I was, in some degree." + +"And why did you not go to bed? The servants might have made tea for +me, or I might have done without it." + +"No; we are not so inhospitable as that. Papa said that one of us +should receive you. I was afraid that he would wait himself for you, +and that would have injured him; so I preferred to take his place." + +"In that regard thou mightst have been at ease," thought Pan Stanislav; +"but thou art an honest maiden to defend the old egotist." Then he +said, "I beg your pardon for having begun to speak of business at once. +That is a mercantile habit. But I reproached myself afterward. 'Thou +art this and that kind of man,' thought I; and with shame do I beg your +pardon." + +"There is no cause for pardon, since there is no fault. They told you +that I occupy myself with everything; hence you turned to me." + +Twilight spread more deeply by degrees. After a certain time they +returned to the house, and, as the evening was beautiful, they sat down +on the garden veranda. Pan Stanislav entered the drawing-room for a +moment, returned with a footstool, and, bending down, pushed it under +Marynia's feet. + +"I thank you, I thank you much," said she, inclining, and taking her +skirt with her hand; "how kind of you! I thank you much." + +"I am inattentive by nature," said he; "but do you know who taught me +a little carefulness? Litka. There is need of care with her; and Pani +Emilia has to remember this." + +"She remembers it," answered Marynia, "and we will all help her. If she +had not gone to Reichenhall, I should have invited her here." + +"And I should have followed Litka without invitation." + +"Then I beg you in papa's name, once and for all." + +"Do not say that lightly, for I am ready to abuse your kindness. For +me it is very pleasant here; and as often as I feel out of sorts in +Warsaw, I'll take refuge in Kremen." + +Pan Stanislav knew this time that his words were intended to bring +them nearer, to establish sympathy between them; and he spoke with +design, and sincerely. While speaking, he looked on that mild young +face, which, in the light of the setting sun, seemed calmer than usual. +Marynia raised to him her blue eyes, in which was the question, "Art +speaking by chance, or of purpose?" and she answered in a somewhat +lower voice,-- + +"Do so." + +And both were silent, feeling that really a connection between them was +beginning. + +"I am astonished that papa is not returning," said she, at last. + +The sun had gone down; in the ruddy gloaming, an owl had begun to +circle about in slow flight, and frogs were croaking in the pond. + +Pan Stanislav made no answer to the young lady's remark, but said, as +if sunk in his own thoughts: "I do not analyze life; I have no time. +When I enjoy myself,--as at this moment, for instance,--I feel that +I enjoy myself; when I suffer, I suffer,--that is all. But five or +six years ago it was different. A whole party of us used to meet for +discussions on the meaning of life,--a number of scholars, and one +writer, rather well known in Belgium at present. We put to ourselves +these questions: Whither are we going? What sense has everything, +what value, what end? We read the pessimists, and lost ourselves in +various baseless inquiries, like one of my acquaintances, an assistant +in the chair of astronomy, who, when he began to lose himself in +interplanetary spaces, lost his reason; and, after that, it seemed to +him that his head was moving in a parabola through infinity. Afterward +he recovered, and became a priest. We, in like manner, could come to +nothing, rest on nothing,--just like birds flying over the sea without +a place to light on. But at last I saw two things: first, that my +Belgians were taking all this to heart less than I,--we are more naïve; +second, that my desire for labor would be injured, and that I should +become an incompetent. I seized myself, then, by the ears, and began to +color cottons with all my might. After that, I said in my mind: Life +is among the rights of nature; whether wise or foolish, never mind, it +is a right. We must live, then; hence it is necessary to get from life +what is possible. And I wish to get something. Vaskovski says, it is +true, that we Slavs are not able to stop there; but that is mere talk. +That we cannot be satisfied with money alone, we will admit. But I +said to myself, besides money there are two things: peace and--do you +know what, Panna Plavitski?--woman. For a man should have some one with +whom to share what he has. Later, there must be death. Granted. But +where death begins, man's wit ends. 'That is not my business,' as the +English say. Meanwhile, it is needful to have some one to whom a man +can give that which he has or acquires, whether money or service or +fame. If they are diamonds on the moon, it is all the same, for there +is no one to learn what their value is. So a man must have some one to +know him. And I think to myself, who will know me, if not a woman, if +she is only wonderfully good and wonderfully reliable, greatly mine and +greatly beloved? This is all that it is possible to desire; for from +this comes repose, and repose is the one thing that has sense. I say +this, not as a poet, but as a practical man and a merchant. To have +near me a dear one, that is an object. And let come then what may. Here +you have my philosophy." + +Pan Stanislav insisted that he was speaking like a merchant; but he +spoke like a dreamer, for that summer evening had acted on him, as +had also the presence of that youthful woman, who in so many regards +answered to the views announced a moment earlier. This must have come +to Pan Stanislav's head, for, turning directly to her, he said,-- + +"This is my thought, but I do not talk of it before people usually. +I was brought to this somehow to-day; for I repeat that Pani Emilia +is right. She says that one becomes more intimate with you in a day +than with others in a year. You must be fabulously kind. I should have +committed a folly if I had not come to Kremen; and I shall come as +often as you permit me." + +"Come,--often." + +"I thank you." He extended his hand, and Marynia gave him hers, as if +in sign of agreement. + +Oh, how he pleased her with his sincere, manly face, with his dark +hair, and a certain vigor in his whole bearing and in his animated +eyes! He brought, besides, so many of those inspirations which were +lacking in Kremen,--certain new horizons, running out far beyond the +pond and the alders which hemmed in the horizon at Kremen. They had +opened in one day as many roads as it was possible to open. They sat +again a certain time in silence, and their minds wandered on farther in +silence as hastily as they had during speech. Marynia pointed at last +to the light, which was increasing behind the alders, and said, "The +moon." + +"Aha! the moon," repeated Pan Stanislav. + +The moon was, in fact, rising slowly from behind the alders, ruddy, and +as large as a wheel. Now the dogs began to bark; a carriage rattled on +the other side of the house; and, after a while, Plavitski appeared in +the drawing-room, into which lamps had been brought. Marynia went in, +Pan Stanislav following. + +"Nothing was the matter," said Plavitski. "Pani Hrometski called. +Thinking that she would go soon, they did not let us know. Yamish is a +trifle ill, but is going to Warsaw in the morning. She promised to come +to-morrow." + +"Then is all well?" asked Marynia. + +"Well; but what have you been doing here?" + +"Listening to the frogs," answered Pan Stanislav; "and it was pleasant." + +"The Lord God knows why He made frogs. Though they don't let me sleep +at night, I make no complaint. But, Marynia, let the tea be brought." + +Tea was waiting already in another room. While they were drinking it, +Plavitski described his visit at the Yamishes. The young people were +silent; but from time to time they looked at each other with eyes full +of light, and at parting they pressed each other's hands very warmly. +Marynia felt a certain heaviness seizing her, as if that day had +wearied her; but it was a wonderful and pleasant kind of weariness. +Afterward, when her head was resting on the pillow, she did not think +that the day following would be Monday, that a new week of common toil +would begin; she thought only of Pan Stanislav, and his words were +sounding in her ears: "Who will know me, if not a woman, if she is only +wonderfully good and wonderfully reliable, greatly mine and greatly +beloved?" + +Pan Stanislav, on his part, was saying to himself, while lighting a +cigarette in bed, "She is kind and shapely, charming; where is there +such another?" + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [1] Third, or ring finger. + + [2] Kremen means flint in Polish. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +But the following day was a gray one, and Panna Plavitski woke with +reproaches. It seemed to her that, the day before, she had let herself +be borne away on some current farther than was proper, and that she +had been simply coquetting with Pan Stanislav. She was penetrated +with special dissatisfaction, for this reason principally: that +Pan Stanislav had only come as a creditor. She had forgotten that +yesterday; but to-day she said to herself, "Undoubtedly it will come +to his head that I wanted to win him, or to soften him;" and at this +thought the blood flowed to her cheeks and her forehead. She had an +honest nature and much ambition, which revolted at every idea that she +might be suspected of calculation. Believing now in the possibility of +such a suspicion, she felt in advance as if offended by Pan Stanislav. +Withal, there was one thought which was bitter beyond every expression: +she knew that, as a rule, a copper could not overtake a copper in the +treasury of Kremen; that there was no money; and that if, in view of +the proposed parcelling of Magyerovka, there were hopes of having +some in future, her father would make evasions, for he considered +other debts more urgent than Pan Stanislav's. She promised herself, +it is true, to do all in her power to see him paid absolutely, and +before others; but she knew that she was not able to effect much. Her +father assisted her willingly in management; but in money matters +he had his own way; and it was rarely that he regarded her opinion. +His rôle consisted really in evading everything by all means,--by +promises never kept, by delays, by presenting imaginary calculations +and hopes, instead of reality. As the collection of debts secured by +mortgage on land is difficult and tedious, and defence may be kept up +almost as long as one wishes, Plavitski held on to Kremen, thanks to +his system. In the end, all this threatened ruin inexorable, as well +as complete; but, meanwhile, the old man considered himself "the head +of affairs," and listened the more unwillingly to the opinions and +counsels of his daughter, since he suspected at once that she doubted +his "head." This offended his self-esteem to the utmost. Marynia had +passed, because of this "head" and its methods, through more than one +humiliation. Her country life was only an apparent ideal of work and +household occupations. There was wanting to it neither bitterness nor +pain; and her calm countenance indicated, not only the sweetness of +her character, but its strength, and a great education of spirit. The +humiliation which threatened her this time, however, seemed harder to +bear than the others. + +"At least, let him not suspect me," said she to herself. But how could +she prevent his suspicion? Her first thought was to see Pan Stanislav +before he met her father, and describe the whole state of affairs to +him; treat him as a man in whom she had confidence. It occurred to her +then that such a description would be merely a prayer for forbearance, +for compassion; and hence a humiliation. Were it not for this thought, +Marynia would have sent for him. She, as a woman noting keenly +every quiver of her own heart and the hearts of others, felt half +consciously, half instinctively, that between her and that young man +something was foreshadowed; that something had begun, as it were; and, +above all, that something might and must be inevitable in the future, +if she chose that it should be; but, as affairs stood, it did not seem +to her that she could choose. Only one thing remained,--to see Pan +Stanislav, and efface by her demeanor yesterday's impressions; to break +the threads which had been fastened between them, and to give him full +freedom of action. Such a method seemed best to her. + +Learning from the servants that Pan Stanislav not only had risen, but +had drunk tea and gone out to the road, she decided to find him. This +was not difficult, since he had returned from his morning walk, and, +standing at the side wall of the entrance, which was grown over with +wild grape-vines, was talking with those two dogs which had fawned +on him so effusively at his arrival. He did not see her at once; and +Marynia, standing on the steps, heard him saying to the dogs,-- + +"These big dogs take pay for watching the house? They eat? They don't +bark at strangers, but fawn on them. Ei! stupid dogs, lazy fellows!" + +And he patted their white heads. Then, seeing her through the openings +of the grape-vines, he sprang up as quickly as if thrown from a sling, +and stood before her, glad and bright-faced. + +"Good-morning. I have been talking with the dogs. How did you rest?" + +"Thank you." And she extended her hand to him coldly; but he was +looking at her with eyes in which was to be seen most clearly how +great and deep a pleasure the sight of her caused him. And he pleased +poor Marynia not less; he simply pleased her whole soul. Her heart was +oppressed with regret that she had to answer his cordial good-morning +so ceremoniously and coldly. + +"Perhaps you were going out to look after affairs? In that case, if you +permit, I will go with you. I must return to the city to-day; hence one +moment more in your company will be agreeable. God knows if I could I +would remain longer. But now I know the road to Kremen." + +"We beg you to come, whenever time may permit." + +Pan Stanislav noticed now the coolness of her words, of her face; and +began to look at her with astonishment. But if Marynia thought that he +would do as people do usually,--accommodate himself to her tone readily +and in silence,--she was mistaken. Pan Stanislav was too vivacious and +daring not to seek at once for the cause; so, looking her steadfastly +in the eye, he said,-- + +"Something is troubling you." + +Marynia was confused. + +"You are mistaken," replied she. + +"I see well; and you know that I am not mistaken. You act toward me as +you did the first evening. But then I made a blunder: I began to speak +of money at a wrong time. Yesterday I begged your pardon, and it was +pleasant,--how pleasant! To-day, again, it is different. Tell me why!" + +Not the most adroit diplomacy could have beaten Marynia from her path. +It seemed to her that she could chill him and keep him at a distance +by this demeanor; but he, by inquiring so directly, rather brought +himself nearer, and he continued to speak in the tone of a man on whom +an injustice had been wrought:-- + +"Tell me what is the matter; tell me! Your father said I was to be +a guest yesterday, and a creditor to-day. But that is fol--that is +nothing! I do not understand such distinctions; and I shall never be +your creditor, rather your debtor. For I am already indebted to you, +and grateful for yesterday's kindness; and God knows how much I wish +to be indebted to you always." + +He looked into her eyes again, observing carefully whether there would +not appear in them yesterday's smile; but Marynia, whose heart was +oppressed more and more, went on by the way which she had chosen: +first, because she had chosen it; and second, lest by acknowledging +that to-day she was different, she might be forced to explain why she +was so. + +"I assure you," said she, at last, with a certain effort, "that either +you were mistaken yesterday, or you are mistaken to-day. I am always +the same, and it will always be agreeable to me if you bear away +pleasant memories." + +The words were polite, but uttered by a young woman so unlike her of +yesterday that on Pan Stanislav's face impatience and anger began to +appear. + +"If it is important for you that I should feign to believe this, let it +be as you wish. I shall go away, however, with the conviction that in +the country Monday is very different from Sunday." + +These words touched Marynia; for from them it seemed as if Pan +Stanislav had assumed certain rights by reason of her conduct with him +yesterday. But she answered rather with sadness than with anger,-- + +"How can I help that?" + +And after a while she went away, saying that she had to go and wish +good-day to her father. Pan Stanislav remained alone. He drove away the +dogs, which had tried to fawn on him anew, and began to be angry. + +"What does this mean?" asked he in his mind. "Yesterday, kind; to-day, +surly,--altogether a different woman. How stupid all this is, and +useless! Yesterday, a relative; to-day, a creditor! What is that to +her? Why does she treat me like a dog? Have I robbed any one? She knew +yesterday, too, why I came. Very well! If you want to have me as a +creditor--not Polanyetski--all right. May thunderbolts crush the whole +business!" + +Meanwhile Marynia ran into her father's chamber. Plavitski had risen, +and was sitting, attired in his dressing-gown, before a desk covered +with papers. For a while he turned to answer the good-day of his +daughter, then occupied himself again with reading the papers. + +"Papa," said Marynia, "I have come to speak of Pan Stanislav. Does +papa--" + +But he interrupted her without ceasing to look at the papers,-- + +"I will bend thy Pan Stanislav in my hand like wax." + +"I doubt if that will be easy. Finally, I should wish that he were paid +before others, even with the greatest loss to us." + +Plavitski, turning from the desk, gazed at her, and asked coolly,-- + +"Is this, I pray, a guardianship over him, or over me?" + +"It is a question of our honor." + +"In which, as thou thinkest, I need thy assistance?" + +"No, papa; but--" + +"What pathetic day has come on us? What is the matter with thee?" + +"I merely beg, papa, by all--" + +"And I beg thee also to leave me. Thou hast set me aside from the land +management. I yielded; for, during the couple of years that remain +to me in life, I have no wish to be quarrelling with my own child. +But leave me even this corner in the house,--even this one room,--and +permit me to transact such affairs as it is possible to transact here." + +"Dear papa, I only beg--" + +"That I should move out into a cottage, which, for the fourth time, +thou art choosing for me?" + +Evidently the old man, in speaking of the "pathetic day," wished merely +that no one should divide this monopoly with him. He rose now, in his +Persian dressing-gown, like King Lear, and grasped at the arm of his +chair; thus giving his heartless daughter to understand that, if he had +not done this, he should have fallen his whole length on the floor, +stricken down by her cruelty. But tears came to her eyes, and a bitter +feeling of her own helplessness flowed to her heart. For a while she +stood in silence, struggling with sorrow and a wish to cry; then she +said quietly, "I beg pardon of papa," and went out of the room. + +A quarter of an hour later, Pan Stanislav entered, at the request +of Plavitski, but ill-humored, irritated through striving to master +himself. + +Plavitski, after he had greeted his visitor, seated him at his side in +an armchair prepared previously, and, putting his palm on the young +man's knee, said,-- + +"Stas, but thou wilt not burn this house? Thou wilt not kill me, who +opened my arms to thee as a relative; thou wilt not make my child an +orphan?" + +"No," answered Pan Stanislav; "I will not burn the house, I will not +cut uncle's throat, and I will not make any child an orphan. I beg +uncle not to talk in this manner, for it leads to nothing, and to me it +is unendurable." + +"Very well," said Plavitski, somewhat offended, however, that his +style and manner of expression had found such slight recognition; "but +remember that thou didst come to me and to this house when thou wert +still a child." + +"I came because my mother came; and my mother, after the death of Aunt +Helen, came because uncle did not pay interest. All this is neither +here nor there. The money rests on a mortgage of twenty-one years. With +the unpaid interest, it amounts to about twenty-four thousand rubles. +For the sake of round numbers, let it be twenty thousand; but I must +have those twenty, since I came for them." + +Plavitski inclined his head with resignation. "Thou didst come for +that. True. But why wert thou so different yesterday, Stas?" + +Pan Stanislav, who half an hour earlier had put that same question to +Marynia, just sprang up in his chair, but restrained himself and said,-- + +"I beg you to come to business." + +"I do not draw back before business; only permit me to say a couple +of words first, and do not interrupt me. Thou hast said that I have +not paid the interest. True. But knowest thou why? Thy mother did not +give me all her property, and could not without permission of a family +council. Perhaps it was worse for you that the permission was not +given, but never mind. When I took those few thousand rubles, I said to +myself: The woman is alone in the world with one child; it is unknown +how she will manage, unknown what may happen. Let the money which she +has with me be her iron foundation; let it increase, so that at a given +moment she may have something for her hands to seize hold on. And +since then I have been in some fashion thy savings bank. Thy mother +gave me twelve thousand rubles; to-day thou hast in my hands almost +twenty-four thousand. That is the result. And wilt thou repay me now +with ingratitude?" + +"Beloved uncle," answered Pan Stanislav, "do not take me, I pray, for +a greater dunce than I am, nor for a madman. I say simply that I am +not caught with such chaff; it is too coarse. Uncle says that I have +twenty-four thousand rubles; where are they? I am asking for them, +without talk, and moreover such talk." + +"But be patient, I pray thee, and restrain thyself, even for this +reason, that I am older," answered Plavitski, offended and with dignity. + +"I have a partner, who in a month will contribute twelve thousand +rubles to a certain business. I must pay the same amount. I say clearly +and declare that, after two years of annoyance with letters, I cannot +and will not endure any longer." + +Plavitski rested his arm on the desk, his forehead on his palm, and +was silent. Pan Stanislav looked at him, waiting for an answer; he +gazed with increasing displeasure, and in his mind gave himself this +question: "Is he a trickster or a lunatic; is he an egotist, so blinded +to himself that he measures good and evil by his own comfort merely; or +is he all these together?" + +Meanwhile Plavitski held his face hidden on his palm, and was silent. + +"I should like to say something," began Pan Stanislav, at last. + +But the old man waved his hand, indicating that he wished to be alone +with his thoughts for a time yet. On a sudden he raised his face, which +had grown radiant,-- + +"Stas," said he, "why are we disputing, when there is such a simple way +out of it?" + +"How?" + +"Take the marl." + +"What?" + +"Bring thy partner, bring some specialist; we will set a price on my +marl, and form a company of three. Thy--what's his name? Bigiel, isn't +it? will pay me so much, whatever falls to him; thou wilt either add +something or not; and we'll all go on together. The profits may be +colossal." + +Pan Stanislav rose. "I assure you," said he, "that there is one thing +to which I am not accustomed, that is to be made sport of. I do not +want your marl; I want only my money; and what you tell me I regard +simply as an unworthy or stupid evasion." + +A moment of oppressive silence followed. Jove's anger began to gather +on the brows and forehead of Plavitski. For a while he threatened +boldly with his eyes, then, moving quickly to the hooks on which his +weapons were hanging, he took down a hunter's knife, and, offering it +to Pan Stanislav, said,-- + +"But there is another way, strike!" and he opened his dressing-gown +widely; but Pan Stanislav, mastering himself no longer, pushed away the +hand with the knife, and began to speak in a loud voice,-- + +"This is a paltry comedy, nothing more! It is a pity to lose words and +time with you. I am going away, for I have had enough of you and your +Kremen; but I say that I will sell my debt, even for half its value, to +the first Jew I meet. He will be able to settle with you." + +Then the right hand of Plavitski was stretched forth in solemnity. + +"Go," said he, "sell. Let the Jew into the family nest; but know this, +that the curse, both of me and of those who have lived here, will find +thee wherever thou art." + +Pan Stanislav rushed out of the room, white with rage. In the +drawing-room he cursed as much as he could, looking for his hat; +finding it at last, he was going out to see if the brichka had come, +when Marynia appeared. At sight of her he restrained himself somewhat; +but, remembering that she it was, precisely, who was occupied with +everything in Kremen, he said,-- + +"I bid farewell to you. I have finished with your father. I came for +what belonged to me; but he gave me first a blessing, then marl, and +finally a curse. A nice way to pay debts!" + +There was a moment in which Marynia wished to extend her hand to him +and say,-- + +"I understand your anger. A while ago I was with father also, and +begged him to pay you before all others. Deal with us and with Kremen +as may please you; but do not accuse me, do not think that I belong to +a conspiracy against you, and retain even a little esteem for me." + +Her hand was already extending, the words were on her lips, when Pan +Stanislav, rousing himself internally, and losing his balance still +more, added,-- + +"I say this because, when I spoke to you the first evening, you were +offended, and sent me to your father. I give thanks for the effective +advice; but, as it was better for you than for me, I will follow my own +judgment hereafter." + +Marynia's lips grew pale; in her eyes were tears of indignation, and, +at the same time, of deep offence. She raised her head, and said,-- + +"You may utter what injuries you like, since there is no one to take my +part;" then she turned to the door, with her soul full of humiliation +and almost despair, because those were the only returns she had +received for that labor in which she had put her whole strength and all +the zeal of her honest young soul. Pan Stanislav saw, too, that he had +exceeded the measure. Having very lively feelings, he passed in one +instant to compassion, and wished to hurry after her to beg her pardon; +but it was late: she had vanished. + +This roused a new attack of rage. This time, however, the rage included +himself. Without taking farewell of any one, he sat in the brichka, +which came up just then, and drove out of Kremen. In his soul such +anger was seething that for a time he could think of nothing but +vengeance. "I will sell it, even for a third of the value," said he to +himself, "and let others distrain you. I give my word of an honest man +that I will sell. Even without need, I will sell out of spite!" + +In this way his intention was changed into a stubborn and sworn +resolve. Pan Stanislav was not of those who break promises given to +others or themselves. It was now a mere question of finding a man to +buy a claim so difficult of collection; for to receive the amount of it +was, without exaggeration, to crack a flint with one's teeth. + +Meanwhile the brichka rolled out of the alley to the road in the open +field. Pan Stanislav, recovering somewhat, began to think of Marynia +in a form of mind which was a mosaic composed of the impressions which +her face and form had made on him,--of recollections of the Sunday +conversation; of repulsion, of pity, of offence, animosity; and, +finally, dissatisfaction with himself, which strengthened his animosity +against her. Each of these feelings in turn conquered the others, +and cast on them its color. At times he recalled the stately figure +of Marynia, her eyes, her dark hair, her mouth, pleasing, though too +large, perhaps; finally, her expression; and an outburst of sympathy +for her mastered him. He thought that she was very girlish; but in +her mouth, in her arms, in the lines of her whole figure, there was +something womanly, something that attracted with irresistible force. +He recalled her mild voice, her calm expression, and her very evident +goodness. Then, at thought of how harsh he had been to her before +going,--at thought of the tone with which he had spoken to her,--he +began to curse himself. "If the father is an old comedian, a trickster, +and a fool," said he to himself; "and if she feels all this, she is +the unhappier. But what then? Every man with a bit of heart would have +understood the position, taken compassion on her, instead of attacking +the poor overworked child. I attacked her. I!" Then he wanted to slap +his own face; for at once he imagined what might have been, what an +immeasurable approach, what an exceptional tenderness would have +arisen, if, after all the quarrels with her father, he had treated her +as was proper,--that is, with the utmost delicacy. She would have given +him both hands when he was leaving; he would have kissed them; and he +and she would have parted like two persons near to each other. "May +the devils take the money!" repeated he to himself; "and may they take +me!" And he felt that he had done things which could not be corrected. +This feeling took away the remnant of his equilibrium, and pushed him +all the more along that road, the error of which he recognized. And he +began a monologue again, more or less like the following,-- + +"Since all is lost, let all burn. I will sell the claim to any Jew; +let him collect. Let them fly out on to the pavement; let the old man +find some office; let her go as a governess, or marry Gantovski." Then +he felt that he would agree to anything rather than the last thought. +He would twist Gantovski's neck. Let any one take her, only not such a +wooden head, such a bear, such a dolt. Beautiful epithets began to fall +on the hapless Gantovski; and all the venom passed over on to him, as +if he had been really the cause of whatever had happened. + +Arriving in such a man-eating temper at Chernyov, Pan Stanislav might, +perhaps, like another Ugolino, have gnawed at once into Gantovski +with his teeth, "where the skull meets the neck," if he had seen him +at the station. Fortunately, instead of Gantovski's "skull," he saw +only some officials, some peasants, a number of Jews, and the sad, but +intelligent face of Councillor Yamish, who recognized him, and who, +when the train arrived soon, invited him--thanks to good relations with +the station-master--to a separate compartment. + +"I knew your father," said he; "and I knew him in his brilliant days. +I found a wife in that neighborhood. I remember he had then Zvihov, +Brenchantsa, Motsare, Rozvady in Lubelsk,--a fine fortune. Your +grandfather was one of the largest landowners in that region; but now +the estate must have passed into other hands." + +"Not now, but long since. My father lost all his property during his +life. He was sickly; he lived at Nice, did not take care of what he +had, and it went. Had it not been for the inheritance which, after his +death, fell to my mother, it would have been difficult." + +"But you are well able to help yourself. I know your house; I have had +business in hops with you through Abdulski." + +"Then Abdulski did business with you?" + +"Yes; and I must confess that I was perfectly satisfied with our +relations. You have treated me well, and I see that you manage affairs +properly." + +"No man can succeed otherwise. My partner, Bigiel, is an honest man, +and I am not Plavitski." + +"How is that?" asked Yamish, with roused curiosity. + +Pan Stanislav, with the remnant of his anger unquenched, told the whole +story. + +"H'm!" said Yamish; "since you speak of him without circumlocution, +permit me to speak in like manner, though he is your relative." + +"He is no relative of mine: his first wife was a relative and friend of +my mother,--that is all; he himself is no relative." + +"I know him from childhood. He is rather a spoiled than a bad man. He +was an only son, hence, to begin with, his parents petted him; later on +his two wives did the same. Both were quiet, mild women; for both he +was an idol. During whole years matters so arranged themselves that he +was the sun around which other planets circled; and at last he came to +the conviction that everything from others was due to him, and nothing +to others from him. When conditions are such that evil and good are +measured by one's own comfort solely, nothing is easier than to lose +moral sense. Plavitski is a mixture of pompousness and indulgence: of +pompousness, for he himself is ever celebrating his own glory; and +indulgence, for he permits himself everything. This has become almost +his nature. Difficult circumstances came on him. These only a man of +character can meet; character he never had. He began to evade, and +in the end grew accustomed to evasion. Land ennobles, but land also +spoils us. An acquaintance of mine, a bankrupt, said once to me, 'It is +not I who evade, but my property, and I am only talking for it.' And +this is somewhat true,--truer in our position than in any other." + +"Imagine to yourself," answered Pan Stanislav, "that I, who am a +descendant of the country, have no inclination for agriculture. I know +that agriculture will exist always, for it must; but in the form in +which it exists to-day I see no future for it. You must perish, all of +you." + +"I do not look at it in rose-colors either. I do not mention that the +general condition of agriculture throughout Europe is bad, for that is +known. Just consider. A noble has four sons; hence each of these will +inherit only one-fourth of his father's land. Meanwhile, what happens? +Each, accustomed to his father's mode of living, wishes to live like +the father; the end is foreseen easily. Another case: A noble has four +sons; the more capable choose various careers; you may wager that the +least capable remains on the land. A third case: what a whole series +of generations have acquired, have toiled for, one light head ruins. +Fourth, we are not bad agriculturists, but bad administrators. Good +administration means more than good cultivation of land; what is the +inference, then? The land will remain; but we, who represent it at +present under the form of large ownership, must leave it most likely. +Then, do you see, when we have gone, we may return in time." + +"How is that?" + +"To begin with, you say that nothing attracts you to land; that is a +deception. Land attracts, and attracts with such force that each man, +after he has come to certain years, to a certain well-being, is unable +to resist the desire of possessing even a small piece of land. That +will come to you too, and it is natural. Finally, every kind of wealth +may be considered as fictitious, except land. Everything comes out of +land; everything exists for it. As a banknote is a receipt for metallic +money in the State Bank, so industry and commerce and whatever else you +please is land turned into another form; and as to you personally, who +have come from it, you must return to it." + +"I at least do not think so." + +"How do you know? To-day you are making property; but how will you +succeed? And that, too, is a question of the future. The Polanyetskis +were agriculturists; now one of them has chosen another career. The +majority of sons of agriculturists must choose other careers also, +even because they cannot do otherwise. Some of them will fail; some +will succeed and return--but return, not only with capital, but with +new energy, and with that knowledge of exact administration which +is developed by special careers. They will return because of the +attraction which land exercises, and finally through a feeling of duty, +which I need not explain to you." + +"What you say has this good side, that then my +such-an-uncle-not-an-uncle Plavitski will belong to a type that has +perished." + +Pan Yamish thought a while and said,-- + +"A thread stretches and stretches till it breaks, but at last it must +break. To my thinking, they cannot hold out in Kremen, even though +they parcel Magyerovka. But do you see whom I pity?--Marynia. She is +an uncommonly honest girl. For you do not know that the old man wanted +to sell Kremen two years ago; and that that did not take place partly +through the prayers of Marynia. Whether this was done out of regard +to the memory of her mother, who lies buried there, or because so +much is said and written about the duty of holding to the soil, it is +sufficient that the girl did what she could to prevent the sale. She +imagined, poor thing, that if she would betake herself with all power +to work, she could do everything. She abandoned the whole world for +Kremen. For her it will be a blow when the thread breaks at last, and +break it must. A pity for the years of the girl!" + +"You are a kind person, councillor!" cried Pan Stanislav, with his +accustomed vivacity. + +The old man smiled. "I love that girl: besides, she is my pupil in +agriculture; of a truth it will be sad when she is gone from us." + +Pan Stanislav fell to biting his mustaches, and said at last, "Let her +marry some man in the neighborhood, and remain." + +"Marry, marry! As if that were easy for a girl without property. Who is +there among us? Gantovski. He would take her. He is a good man, and not +at all so limited as they say. But she has no feeling for him, and she +will not marry without feeling. Yalbrykov is a small estate. Besides, +it seems to the old man that the Gantovskis are something inferior to +the Plavitskis, and Gantovski too believes this. With us, as you know, +that man passes for a person of great family who is pleased to boast +himself such. Though people laugh at Plavitski, they have grown used +to his claim. Moreover, one man raises his nose because he is making +property, another because he is losing it, and nothing else remains to +him. But let that pass. I know one thing, whoever gets Marynia will get +a pearl." + +Pan Stanislav had in his mind at that moment the same conviction and +feeling. Sinking, therefore, into meditation, he began again to muse +about Marynia, or, rather, to call her to mind and depict her to +himself. All at once it even seemed to him that he would be sad without +her; but he remembered that similar things had seemed so to him more +than once, and that time had swept away the illusion. Still he thought +of her, even when they were approaching the city; and when he got out +at Warsaw, he muttered through his teeth,-- + +"How stupidly it happened! how stupidly!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +On his return to Warsaw, Pan Stanislav passed the first evening at the +house of his partner, Bigiel, with whom, as a former schoolmate, he was +connected by personal intimacy. + +Bigiel, a Cheh by descent, but of a family settled in the country for a +number of generations, had managed a small commercial bank before his +partnership with Pan Stanislav, and had won the reputation of a man not +over-enterprising, it is true, but honorable and uncommonly reliable +in business. When Pan Stanislav entered into company with him, the +house extended its activity, and became an important firm. The partners +complemented each other perfectly. Pan Stanislav was incomparably more +clever and enterprising; he had more ideas and took in a whole affair +with greater ease; but Bigiel watched its execution more carefully. +When there was need of energy, or of pushing any one to the wall, Pan +Stanislav was the man; but when it was a question of careful thought, +of examining interests from ten sides, and of patience, Bigiel's rôle +began. Their temperaments were directly opposite; and for that reason, +perhaps, they had sincere friendship for each other. Preponderance +was relatively on the side of Pan Stanislav. Bigiel believed in his +partner's uncommon capacity; and a number of ideas really happy for +the house, which Pan Stanislav had given, confirmed this belief. The +dream of both was to acquire in time capital sufficient to build +cotton-mills, which Bigiel would manage, and Pan Stanislav direct. +But, though both might count themselves among men almost wealthy, the +mills were in a remote future. Less patient, and having many relatives, +Pan Stanislav tried, it is true, immediately after his return from +abroad, to direct to this object local, so-called "our own," capital; +he was met, however, with a general want of confidence. He noticed at +the same time a wonderful thing: his name opened all doors to him, but +rather injured than helped him in business. It might be that those +people who invited him to their houses could not get it into their +heads that one of themselves, hence a man of good family and with a +name ending in _ski_, could conduct any business successfully. This +angered Polanyetski to such a degree that the clever Bigiel had to +quench his outburst by stating that such want of confidence was in fact +caused by years of experience. Knowing well the history of different +industrial undertakings, he cited to Pan Stanislav a whole series of +cases, beginning with Tyzenhaus, the treasurer, and ending with various +provincial and land banks, which had nothing of the country about them +except their names,--in other words, they were devoid of every home +basis. + +"The time has not come yet," said Bigiel; "but it will come, or, +rather, it is in sight. Hitherto there have been only amateurs and +dilettanti; now for the first time are appearing here and there trained +specialists." + +Pan Stanislav who, in spite of his temperament, had powers of +observation rather well developed, began to make strange discoveries +in those spheres to which his relatives gave him access. He was met +by a general recognition for having done something. This recognition +was offered with emphasis even; but in it there was something like +condescension. Each man let it be known too readily that he approved +Polanyetski's activity, that he considered it necessary; but no one +bore himself as if he considered the fact that Polanyetski was working +at some occupation as a thing perfectly common and natural. "They +all _protect_ me," said he; and that was true. He came also to the +conclusion that if, for example, he aspired to the hand of any of the +young ladies of so-called "society," his commercial house and his title +of "affairist" would, notwithstanding the above recognition, have +injured more than helped him. They would rather give him any of those +maidens if, instead of a lucrative business, he had some encumbered +estate, or if, while living as a great lord, he was merely spending the +interest of his capital, or even the capital itself. + +When he had made dozens of observations of this kind, Pan Stanislav +began to neglect his relatives, and at last abandoned them altogether. +He restricted himself to the houses of Bigiel and Pani Emilia +Hvastovski, and to those male acquaintances who were a necessity of +his single life. He took his meals at Francois's with Bukatski, old +Vaskovski, and the advocate Mashko, with whom he discussed and argued +various questions; he was often at the theatre and at public amusements +of all kinds. For the rest, he led rather a secluded life; hence he +was unmarried yet, though he had great and fixed willingness to marry, +and, besides, sufficient property. + +Having gone after his return from Kremen almost directly to Bigiel's, +he poured out all his gall on "uncle" Plavitski, thinking that he would +find a ready and sympathetic listener; but Bigiel was moved little by +his narrative, and said,-- + +"I know such types. But, in truth, where is Plavitski to find money, +since he has none? If a man holds mortgages, he should have a saint's +patience. Landed property swallows money easily, but returns it with +the greatest difficulty." + +"Listen, to me, Bigiel," said Pan Stanislav; "since thou hast begun to +grow fat and sleep after dinner, one must have a saint's patience with +thee." + +"But is it true," asked the unmoved Bigiel, "that thou art in absolute +need of this money? Hast thou not at thy disposal the money that each +of us is bound to furnish?" + +"I am curious to know what that is to thee, or Plavitski. I have money +with him; I must get it, and that is the end of the matter." + +The entrance of Pani Bigiel, with a whole flock of children, put a +curb on the quarrel. She was young yet, dark-haired, blue-eyed, very +kind, and greatly taken up with her children, six in number,--children +liked by Pan Stanislav uncommonly; she was for this reason his +sincere friend, and also Pani Emilia's. Both these ladies, knowing +and loving Marynia Plavitski, had made up their minds to marry her to +Pan Stanislav; both had urged him very earnestly to go to Kremen for +the money. Hence Pani Bigiel was burning with curiosity to know what +impression the visit had made on him. But as the children were present, +it was impossible to speak. Yas, the youngest, who was walking on his +own feet already, embraced Pan Stanislav's leg and began to pull it, +calling "Pan, Pan!" which in his speech sounded, "Pam, Pam!" two little +girls, Evka and Yoasia, climbed up without ceremony on the knees of +the young man; but Edzio and Yozio explained to him their business. +They were reading the "Conquest of Mexico," and were playing at this +"Conquest." Edzio, raising his brows and stretching his hands upwards, +spoke excitedly,-- + +"I will be Cortez, and Yozio a knight on horseback; but as neither Evka +nor Yoasia wants to be Montezuma, what can we do? We can't play that +way, can we? Somebody must be Montezuma; if not, who will lead the +Mexicans?" + +"But where are the Mexicans?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"Oh," said Yozio, "the chairs are the Mexicans, and the Spaniards too." + +"Then wait, I'll be Montezuma; now take Mexico!" + +An indescribable uproar began. Pan Stanislav's vivacity permitted him +to become a child sometimes. He offered such a stubborn resistance to +Cortez that Cortez fell to denying him the right to such resistance, +exclaiming, not without historic justice, that since Montezuma was +beaten, he must let himself be beaten. To which Montezuma answered that +he cared little for that; and he fought on. In this way the amusement +continued a good while. And Pani Bigiel, unable to wait for the end, +asked her husband at last,-- + +"How was the visit to Kremen?" + +"He did what he is doing now," answered Bigiel, phlegmatically: "he +overturned all the chairs, and went away." + +"Did he tell thee that?" + +"I had no time to ask him about the young lady; but he parted with +Plavitski in a way that could not be worse. He wants to sell his claim; +this will cause evidently a complete severance of relations." + +"That is a pity," answered Pani Bigiel. + +At tea, when the children had gone to bed, she questioned Pan Stanislav +plainly concerning Marynia. + +"I do not know," said he; "perhaps she is pretty, perhaps she is not. I +did not linger long over the question." + +"That is not true," said Pani Bigiel. + +"Then it is not true; and she is lovable and pretty, and whatever you +like. It is possible to fall in love with her, and to marry her; but a +foot of mine will never be in their house again. I know perfectly why +you sent me there; but it would have been better to tell me what sort +of a man her father is, for she must be like him in character, and if +that be true, then thanks for the humiliation." + +"But think over what you say: 'She is pretty, she is lovable, it is +possible to marry her,' and then again: 'She must be like her father.' +These statements do not hold together." + +"Maybe not; it is all one to me! I have no luck, and that is enough." + +"But I will tell you two things: first, you have come back deeply +impressed by Marynia; second, that she is one of the best young ladies +whom I have seen in life, and he will be happy who gets her." + +"Why has not some one taken her before now?" + +"She is twenty-one years old, and entered society not long since. +Besides, don't think that she has no suitors." + +"Let some other man take her." + +But Pan Stanislav said this insincerely, for the thought that some +other man might take her was tremendously bitter for him. In his soul, +too, he felt grateful to Pani Bigiel for her praises of Marynia. + +"Let that rest," said he; "but you are a good friend." + +"Not only to Marynia, but to you. I only ask for a sincere, a really +sincere, answer. Are you impressed or not?" + +"I impressed? to tell the truth,--immensely." + +"Well, do you see?" said Pani Bigiel, whose face was radiant with +pleasure. + +"See what? I see nothing. She pleased me immensely,--true! You have no +idea what a sympathetic and attractive person she is; and she must be +good. But what of that? I cannot go a second time to Kremen, I came +away in such anger. I said such bitter things, not only to Plavitski, +but to her, that it is impossible." + +"Have you complicated matters much?" + +"Rather too much than too little." + +"Then a letter might soften them." + +"I write a letter to Plavitski, and beg his pardon! For nothing on +earth! Moreover, he has cursed me." + +"How, cursed?" + +"As patriarch of the family; in his own name and the names of all +ancestors. I feel toward him such a repulsion that I could not write +down two words. He is an old pathetic comedian. I would sooner beg her +pardon; but what would that effect? She must take her father's part; +even I understand that. In the most favorable event, she would answer +that my letter is very agreeable to her; and with that relations would +cease." + +"When Emilia returns from Reichenhall we will bring Marynia here under +the first plausible pretext, and then it will be your work to let +misunderstandings vanish." + +"Too late, too late!" repeated Pan Stanislav; "I have promised myself +to sell the claim, and I will sell it." + +"That is just what may be for the best." + +"No, that would be for the worst," put in Bigiel; "but I will persuade +him not to sell. I hope, too, that a purchaser will not be found." + +"Meanwhile Emilia will finish Litka's cure." Here Pani Bigiel turned to +Pan Stanislav: "You will learn now how other young ladies will seem to +you after Marynia. I am not so intimate with her as Emilia is, but I +will try to find the first convenient pretext to write to her and find +out what she thinks of you." + +The conversation ended here. On the way home, Pan Stanislav saw that +Marynia had taken by no means the last place in his soul. To tell the +truth, he could hardly think of aught else. But he had at the same +time the feeling that this acquaintance had begun under unfavorable +conditions, and that it would be better to drive the maiden from +his mind while there was time yet. As a man rather strong than weak +mentally, and not accustomed to yield himself to dreams simply because +they were pleasant, he resolved to estimate the position soberly, and +weigh it on all sides. The young lady possessed, it is true, almost +every quality which he demanded in his future wife, and also she was +near his heart personally. But at the same time she had a father whom +he could not endure; and, besides the father, a real burden in the form +of Kremen and its connections. + +"With that pompous old monkey I should never live in peace; I could +not," thought Pan Stanislav. "For relations with him are possible only +in two ways: it is necessary either to yield to him (to do this I am +absolutely unable), or to shake him up every day, as I did in Kremen. +In the first case, I, an independent man, would enter into unendurable +slavery to an old egotist; in the second, the position of my wife would +be difficult, and our peace might be ruined." + +"I hope that this is sober, logical reasoning. It would be faulty only +if I were in love with the maiden already. But I judge that this is not +the case. I am occupied with her, not in love with her. These two are +different. _Ergo_, it is necessary to stop thinking of Marynia, and let +some other man take her." + +At this last idea, a feeling of bitterness burned him vividly, but he +thought, "I am so occupied with her that this is natural. Finally, I +have chewed more than one bitter thing in life; I will chew this one as +well. I suppose also that it will be less bitter each day." + +But soon he discovered that besides bitterness there remained in him +also a feeling of sorrow because the prospects had vanished which had +been opening before him. It seemed to him that a curtain of the future +had been raised, and something had shown him what might be; then the +curtain had fallen on a sudden, and his life had returned to its former +career, which led finally to nothing, or rather led to a desert. Pan +Stanislav felt in every ease that the old philosopher Vaskovski was +right, and that the making of money is only a means. Beyond that, we +must solve life's riddle in some fashion. There must be an object, +an important task, which, accomplished in a manner straightforward +and honorable, leads to mental peace. That peace is the soul of life; +without it life has, speaking briefly, no meaning. + +Pan Stanislav was in some sense a child of the age; that is, he bore in +himself a part of that immense unrest which in the present declining +epoch is the nightmare of mankind. In him, too, the bases on which life +had rested hitherto were crumbling. He too doubted whether rationalism, +stumbling against every stone at the wayside, could take the place +of faith; and faith he had not found yet. He differed, however, from +contemporary "decadents" in this,--that he had not become disenchanted +with himself, his nerves, his doubts, his mental drama, and had not +given himself a dispensation to be an imbecile and an idler. On the +contrary, he had the feeling, more or less conscious, that life as it +is, mysterious or not mysterious, must be accomplished through a series +of toils and exploits. He judged that if it is impossible to answer the +various "whys," still it behooves a man to do something because action +itself may, to a certain degree, be an answer. It may be inconclusive, +it is true; but the man who answers in that way casts from himself +at least responsibility. What remains then? The founding of a family +and social ties. These must, to a certain degree, be a right of human +nature and its predestination, for otherwise people would neither marry +nor associate in societies. A philosophy of this kind, resting on Pan +Stanislav's logical male instinct, indicated marriage to him as one +of the main objects of life. His will had for along time been turned +and directed to this object. A while before, Panna Marynia seemed to +him the pier "for which his ship was making in that gloomy night." But +when he understood that the lamp on that pier had not been lighted for +him, that he must sail farther, begin a new voyage over unknown seas, +a feeling of weariness and regret seized him. But his reasoning seemed +to him logical, and he went home with an almost settled conviction that +"it was not yet that one," and "not yet this time." + +Next day, when he went to dine, he found Vaskovski and Bukatski at +the restaurant. After a while Mashko also came in, with his arrogant, +freckled face and long side whiskers, a monocle on his eye, and wearing +a white waistcoat. After the greeting, all began to inquire of Pan +Stanislav touching his journey, for they knew partly why the ladies had +insisted on his personal visit, and, besides, they knew Marynia through +Pani Emilia. + +After they had heard the narrative, Bukatski, transparent as Sevres +porcelain, said with that phlegm special to him,-- + +"It is war, then? That is a young lady who acts on the nerves, and now +would be the time to strike for her. A woman will accept more readily +the arm offered on a stony path than on a smooth road." + +"Then offer an arm to her," said Pan Stanislav, with a certain +impatience. + +"See thou, my beloved, there are three hindrances. First, Pani Emilia +acts on my nerves still more; second, I have a pain in my neck every +morning, and in the back of my head, which indicates brain disease; +third, I am naked." + +"Thou naked?" + +"At least now. I have bought a number of Falks, all _avant la lettre_. +I have plucked myself for a month, and if I receive from Italy a +certain Massaccio, for which I have been bargaining, I shall ruin +myself for a year." + +Vaskovski, who from his features, or rather from the freckles on his +face, was somewhat like Mashko, though much older, and with a face full +of sweetness, fixed his blue eyes on Bukatski, and said,-- + +"And that too is a disease of the age,--collecting and collecting on +all sides!" + +"Oh, ho! there will be a dispute," remarked Mashko. + +"We have nothing better to do," said Pan Stanislav. + +And Bukatski took up the gauntlet. + +"What have you against collecting?" + +"Nothing," answered Vaskovski. "It is a kind of old-womanish method of +loving art, worthy of our age. Do you not think there is something +decrepit about it? To my thinking, it is very characteristic. Once +people bore within them enthusiasm for high art: they loved it where it +was, in museums, in churches; to-day they take it to their own private +cabinets. Long ago people ended with collecting; to-day they begin with +it, and begin at oddities: I am not talking at Bukatski; but to-day +the youngest boy, if he has a little money, will begin to collect--and +what? Not objects of art, but its oddities, or in every case its +trifles. You see, my dear friend, it has seemed to me always that love +and amateurism are two different things; and I insist that a great +amateur of women, for example, is not a man capable of lofty feeling." + +"Perhaps so. There is something in that," said Pan Stanislav. + +"How can this concern me?" inquired Mashko, passing his fingers through +his English side whiskers. "It contains, to begin with, the decree of +an ancient pedagogue about modern times." + +"Of a pedagogue?" repeated Vaskovski. "Why, since a morsel of bread +fell to me, as from heaven,[3] I renounced the slaughter of innocents +and the rôle of Herod; secondly, you are mistaken in saying that I +utter a decree. Almost with joy I see and note new proofs every hour +that we are at the end of an epoch, and that a new one will begin +shortly." + +"We are in the open sea, and will not turn to shore soon," muttered +Mashko. + +"Give us peace," said Pan Stanislav. + +But the unconquered Vaskovski continued,-- + +"Amateurism leads to refinement; in refinement great ideals perish, and +yield to desire for enjoyment. All this is nothing but paganism. No one +can realize to what a degree we are paganized. But is there something? +There is the Aryan spirit, which does not ossify, which never grows +cold,--a spirit which has within it the divine afflatus, hence creative +power; and this spirit feels hampered in pagan fetters. The reaction +has set in already, and a rebirth in Christ will begin in this field, +as in others. That is undoubted." + +Vaskovski, who had eyes like a child,--that is, reflecting only +external objects and ever fixed, as it were, on infinity,--fixed them +on the window, through which were visible gray clouds pierced here and +there by sun-rays. + +"It is a pity that my head aches, for that will be a curious epoch," +said Bukatski. + +But Mashko, who called Vaskovski "a saw," and was annoyed by his +discussions, begun from any cause or without cause, took from the +side-pocket of his coat a cigar, bit off the end, and, turning to Pan +Stanislav, said,-- + +"Here, Stas, wouldst thou really sell that claim on Kremen?" + +"Decidedly. Why dost thou ask?" + +"Because I might consider it." + +"Thou?" + +"Yes. Thou knowest that I consider this kind of business frequently. We +can talk about it. I cannot say anything certain to-day; but to-morrow +I will ask thee to send me the mortgage on Kremen, and I will tell thee +whether the thing is possible. Perhaps after dinner to-morrow thou wilt +come to me to drink coffee; we may settle something then." + +"Well. If anything is to be done, I should prefer it done quickly; for +the moment I finish with Bigiel, I wish to go abroad." + +"Whither art thou going?" asked Bukatski. + +"I do not know. It is too hot in the city. Somewhere to trees and +water." + +"Another old prejudice," said Bukatski. "In the city there is always +shade on one side of the street, which there is not in the country. I +walk on the shady side quietly and feel well; therefore I never go out +of the city in summer." + +"But Professor, art thou not going somewhere?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"Of course. Pani Emilia has been urging me to go to Reichenhall. +Perhaps I shall go." + +"Then let us go together. It is all one to me where I go. I like +Salzburg, and, besides, it will be pleasant to see Pani Emilia and +Litka." + +Bukatski stretched forth his transparent hand, took a tooth-pick from a +glass, and, picking his teeth, began to speak in his cool and careless +voice,-- + +"There is such a mad storm of jealousy raging within me that I am +ready to go with you. Have a care, Polanyetski, lest I explode, like +dynamite." + +There was something so amusingly contradictory between the words and +the tone of Bukatski that Pan Stanislav laughed, but after a while he +answered,-- + +"It had not occurred to me that it is possible to fall in love with +Pani Emilia. Thank thee for the idea." + +"Woe to you both!" said Bukatski. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [3] He had received an inheritance some time before. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Next day, after an early dinner at Bigiel's, Pan Stanislav betook +himself to Mashko's at the appointed hour. The host was waiting for +him evidently; for in the study he found an exquisite coffee service +ready, and glasses for liqueurs. Mashko himself did not appear at once, +however; for, as the servant said, he was receiving some lady. In fact, +his voice and the words of a woman came through the door from the +drawing-room. + +Meanwhile, Pan Stanislav fell to examining Mashko's ancestors, a number +of whose portraits were hanging on the walls. The authenticity of these +the friends of the young advocate doubted. A certain cross-eyed prelate +afforded Bukatski a special subject for witticisms; but Mashko was not +offended. He had determined, cost what it might, to force on the world +himself, his ancestors, his genius for business, knowing that, in the +society in which he moved, people would ridicule him, but no one would +have energy to attack his pretensions. Possessing energy, limitless +insolence, and a real turn for business besides, he determined to +force himself upward by those qualities. People who did not like him +called him shameless; and he was, but with calculation. Coming from +a family uncertain even as to its nobility, he treated people of +undoubted ancient families as if he were of incomparably better birth +than they, people who were of undoubted wealth, as if he were wealthier +than they. And this succeeded: those tactics of his were effective. +He was careful not to fall into complete ridicule; but he had marked +out for himself in this procedure uncommonly wide margins. At last he +reached the point which he sought: he was received everywhere, and had +established his credit firmly. Certain transactions brought him really +generous profits; but he did not hoard money. He judged that the time +for that had not come yet, and that he must invest more in the future, +with the intent that it would repay him in the way which he wanted. +He did not squander money, and was not over liberal, for he looked +on those as marks of a parvenu; but, when the need came, he showed +himself, to use his own phrase, "solidly munificent." He passed for +a very smooth man in business, and, above all, a man of his word. His +word rested on credit, it is true; but it kept him in a high position, +which in turn permitted him to make really important transactions. He +did not draw back before trifles. He possessed daring, and a certain +energy which excluded long hesitation; he had faith, too, in his own +fortune. Success strengthened that faith. He did not know, in fact, how +much property he had; but he handled large sums of money, and people +considered him wealthy. + +Finally, Mashko's life motive was vanity, rather than greed. He wanted +to be rich, it is true; but, beyond all, he wanted to pass for a great +lord in English fashion. He went so far as to adapt his exterior +thereto, and was almost proud of his personal ugliness: it seemed to +him even aristocratic. There was, indeed, a certain something, which, +if not uncommon, was at least peculiar, in his pouting mouth, in his +broad nostrils, and the red freckles on his face. There was a certain +power and brutality, such as the English have sometimes, and that +expression was increased by his monocle. To wear this, he had to rear +his head somewhat; and when he passed his fingers through his light +side whiskers, he reared it still more. + +Pan Stanislav could not endure the man at first, and concealed his +dislike even too slightly. Later on he became accustomed to him, +especially since Mashko treated him differently from others,--perhaps +through secret regard; perhaps because, wishing to gain in advance +a man so demanding, to act otherwise would be to expose himself to +an immediate account, disagreeable in the best case. At last, the +young men, by meeting often, grew used to each other's weaknesses, +and endured each other perfectly. On this occasion, for example, +when Mashko had conducted the lady to the door, he showed himself in +the study, set aside for the moment his greatness, and, greeting Pan +Stanislav, began to speak like an ordinary mortal, not like a great +lord or an Englishman. + +"With women! with women! _c'est toujours une mer à boire_ (there is +always a sea to drink). I have invested their little capital, and I pay +them the interest most regularly. Not enough! They come at least once a +week to inquire if there has not been some earthquake." + +"What wilt thou say to me?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"First of all, drink some coffee." + +And, igniting the alcohol under the lamp, he added,-- + +"With thee there will be no delay. I have seen the mortgage. The money +is not easy of recovery; but we need not look on it as lost. Evidently +the collection will involve costs, journeys, etc. Hence I cannot +give thee what the face of the mortgage indicates; but I will give +two-thirds, and pay in three instalments in the course of a year." + +"Since I have said to myself that I would sell the claim, even for less +than the face of it, I agree. When will the first instalment be paid?" + +"In three months." + +"Then I will leave my power of attorney with Bigiel in case I must go +on a journey." + +"But art thou going to Reichenhall?" + +"Possibly." + +"Ai! Who knows but Bukatski has given thee an idea?" + +"Every one has his own thoughts. Thou, for example. Why art thou buying +this claim on Kremen? The business is too small for thee, is it not?" + +"Among great affairs small ones too are transacted. But I will be +outspoken. Thou knowest that neither my position nor my credit belongs +to the lowest; both one and the other will increase when I have behind +me a piece of land, and that such a large one. I have heard myself +from Plavitski that he would sell Kremen. I will suppose that he is +still more inclined now, and that it will be possible to acquire all +that property cheaply, even very cheaply, for some payments, for some +unimportant ready money, with a life annuity in addition; I shall +see! Afterward, when it is put in order a little, like a horse for +the market, it may be sold; meanwhile I shall have the position of a +landholder, which, _entre nous_, concerns me very greatly." + +Pan Stanislav listened to Mashko's words with a certain constraint, and +said,-- + +"I must tell thee plainly that the purchase will not be easy. Panna +Plavitski is very much opposed to selling. She, in woman fashion, is in +love with her Kremen, and will do all she can to retain it in the hands +of herself and her father." + +"Then in the worst case I shall be Plavitski's creditor, and I do +not think that the money will be lost to me. First, I may sell it, +as thou hast; second, as an advocate, I can dispose of it with far +greater ease. I may myself find means of paying, and indicate them to +Plavitski." + +"Thou canst foreclose too, and buy it at auction." + +"I might if I were some one else, but to foreclose would be devilishly +unbecoming in Mashko. No; other means will be found, to which ready +consent may be given by Panna Plavitski herself, for whom, by the way, +I have great esteem and regard." + +Pan Stanislav, who at that moment was finishing his coffee, put his cup +suddenly on the table. "Ah," said he, "and it is possible in that way +to get at the property." Again a feeling of great anger and bitterness +seized him. At the first moment he wished to rise, say to Mashko, "I +will not sell the claim!" and go out. He restrained himself, however, +and Mashko, passing his fingers through his side whiskers, answered,-- + +"But if?--I can assure thee, on my word, that at this moment I have +no such plan; at least I have not placed it before myself definitely. +But if?--I made the acquaintance of Panna Plavitski once in Warsaw, in +the winter, and she pleased me much. The family is good, the property +ruined, but large, and can be saved. Who knows? Well, that is an idea +like any other. I am perfectly loyal with thee, as, for that matter, I +have been always. Thou didst go there as if for money, but I knew why +those ladies sent thee. Thou hast returned, however, as angry as the +devil; therefore I take it that thou hast no intentions. Say that I +am mistaken, and I will withdraw at once, not from the plan, for, as +I have assured thee, I have no plan yet, but even from thinking over +it as something possible. I give thee my word on that. In the opposite +case, however, do not hold to the position, 'Not for me, not for any +one,' and do not bar the lady's way. But now I listen to thee." + +Pan Stanislav, recalling his reasonings of yesterday, thought also that +Mashko was right when he said that in such a case he ought not to bar +any one's road to the lady, and after a certain time he said,-- + +"No, Mashko, I have no intentions touching Panna Plavitski. Thou art +free to marry her or not. I will say, nevertheless, openly, there is +one thing which does not please me, though for me it is profitable; +namely that thou art buying this claim. I believe that thou hast no +plan yet; but in case thou shouldst have one, it will seem somewhat +strange--But any pressure, any trap--this, however, is thy affair." + +"It is so much my affair that if some one else, and not thou, had said +this, I should have been quick to remind him. I may tell thee, however, +that should I form such a plan, which I doubt, I shall not ask the hand +of Panna Plavitski as interest for my money. Since I can say to myself +conscientiously that I would buy the debt in any case, I have the right +to buy it. Above all, as matters stand to-day, I wish to buy Kremen, +for I need it; hence I am free to use all honorable means which may +lead to that end." + +"Very well; I will sell. Give directions to write the contract, and +send it, or bring it thyself to me." + +"I have directed my assistant. It is ready, and needs only the +signatures." + +In fact, the contract was signed a quarter of an hour later. Pan +Stanislav, who spent the evening of that day at Bigiel's, was in such +anger as he had never been before; Pani Bigiel could not hide her +vexation; and Bigiel, thinking the whole over carefully said, toward +the end of the evening, with his usual balance and deliberation,-- + +"That Mashko has a plan is beyond doubt. The question is merely whether +he is deceiving thee by saying that he has no plan, or is deceiving +himself!" + +"God preserve her from Mashko!" answered Pani Bigiel. "We all saw that +she pleased him greatly." + +"I supposed," said Bigiel, "that a man like Mashko would look for +property, but I may be mistaken. It may be also that he wants to find +a wife of good stock, strengthen thereby his social position, become +related to numerous families, and at last take into his hands the +business of a certain whole sphere of society. That also is not badly +calculated, especially since, if he uses his credit, which will be +increased by Kremen, it may with his cleverness clear him in time." + +"And as you say," remarked Pan Stanislav, "Panna Plavitski pleases +him really. I remember now that Plavitski said something too on this +subject." + +"What then?" asked Pani Bigiel; "what will happen then?" + +"Panna Plavitski will marry Pan Mashko if she wishes," said Pan +Stanislav. + +"But you?" + +"Oh I am going to Reichenhall straightway." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +In fact, Pan Stanislav went a week later to Reichenhall; but before +that he received a letter from Pani Emilia inquiring about his journey +to Kremen. He did not write in return, for he intended to answer the +letter orally. He heard too, but only on the eve of his departure, +that Mashko had gone to Kremen the day before; and that news touched +him more than he thought it would. He said to himself, it is true, +that he would forget the affair when no farther away than Vienna; but +he could not forget it, and he had his head so occupied with thinking +whether Panna Plavitski would marry Mashko or not, that he wrote to +Bigiel from Salzburg, as it were on business, but really asking him to +send news of Mashko. He listened without attention to the discussions +of his travelling companion, Vaskovski, about the mutual relations of +nationalities in Austria, and the mission of modern nations in general. +More than once he was so occupied with thinking about Marynia that he +simply did not answer questions. It astonished him, too, that at times +he saw her as clearly as if she had been standing before him, not +only as an exact image, but as a living person. He saw her pleasant, +mild face, with shapely mouth, and the little ensign on the upper +lip; the calm gaze of her eyes, in which were visible the attention +and concentration with which she listened to his words; he saw her +whole posture, lithe, supple, from which came the warmth of great and +genuine maiden youthfulness. He remembered her bright robe, the tips of +her feet, peeping from under it, her hands, delicate, though slightly +sunburnt, and her dark hair, moved by the breeze in the garden. He +had never thought that there could be a memory almost palpable, and +that the memory of a person seen during such a brief time. But he +understood this to be a proof of how deep an impression she had, in +truth, made on him; and when at moments it passed through his head +that all this, which had fixed itself thus in his memory, might be +possessed by Mashko, he could hardly believe it. In those moments his +first feeling, which was, moreover, in accord with his active nature, +was an irresistible impulse to hinder it. He had to remember then that +the affair was decided already, and that he had resolved to drop Panna +Plavitski. + +He and Vaskovski reached Reichenhall early in the morning; and that +very day, before they had learned the address of Pani Emilia, they +met her and Litka in the park. She had not expected to see either, +especially Pan Stanislav, and was sincerely delighted when she met +them; her delight was darkened only by this, that Litka, a child +exceptionally sensitive, and ailing with asthma and heart-disease, was +still more delighted, so much delighted, indeed, that she had a violent +palpitation of the heart, with stifling and almost a swoon. + +Such attacks were frequent with her; and, when this one passed, +calmness came back to all faces. On the way to the house, the child +held "Pan Stas" by the hand, and in her eyes, usually pensive, there +shone deep delight. From time to time she pressed his hand, as if to +convince herself that he had come really to Reichenhall and was near +her. Pan Stanislav had simply no time to speak to Pani Emilia, or to +make an inquiry, for Litka was showing him Reichenhall, and chattering +unceasingly; she wanted to show him all the nice places at once. Every +moment she said,-- + +"This is nothing yet. Thumsee is prettier; but we will go there +to-morrow." + +Then turning to her mother, "Mamma will let me go, isn't it true? I can +walk much now. It is not far. Mamma will let me go, will she not?" + +At moments again she pushed away from Pan Stanislav, and, without +dropping his hand, looked at him with her great eyes, repeating,-- + +"Pan Stas, Pan Stas!" + +Pan Stanislav showed her the greatest tenderness, or tenderness as +great as an elder brother might show; time after time he chided her +good-naturedly,-- + +"Let the kitten not run so; she will choke." + +And she nestled up to him, pouted, and answered, as if in anger,-- + +"Hush, Pan Stas!" + +Pan Stanislav glanced, however, frequently at the serene face of Pani +Emilia, as if desiring to let her know that he wished to converse with +her. But there was no opportunity, since she did not like to destroy +Litka's joyousness, and preferred to leave their mutual friend in her +possession exclusively. Only after dinner, which they ate in the garden +together, amid foliage and the twittering of sparrows, when Vaskovski +had begun to tell Litka about birds, and the love which Saint Francis +Assisi had felt for them, and the child, with her head on her hand, was +lost completely in listening, did Pan Stanislav turn to Pani Emilia and +ask,-- + +"Do you not wish to walk to the end of the garden?" + +"I do," answered she. "Litka, stay here a minute with Pan Vaskovski; we +will come back in that time." + +They walked along, and Pani Emilia asked immediately,-- + +"Well, what?" + +Pan Stanislav began to tell; but whether it was that he wished to +appear better before Pani Emilia, or that he determined to reckon with +that delicate nature, or, finally, that the last thoughts concerning +Marynia had attuned him to a note more sensitive than usual, it is +sufficient that he changed the affair altogether. He confessed, it is +true, to a quarrel with Plavitski, but he was silent touching this, +that before his departure from Kremen he had answered Marynia almost +with harshness; besides, he did not spare praises on her in his story, +and finally he finished,-- + +"Since that debt became a cause of misunderstanding at once between me +and Plavitski,--a thing which must be reflected on Panna Marynia,--I +chose to sell it; and just before I left Warsaw, I sold it to Mashko." + +Pani Emilia, who had not the slightest conception of business, and, +besides, was of a simplicity truly angelic, remarked,-- + +"You did well. There should be no such thing as money between you." + +Ashamed to deceive such a simple soul, he answered,-- + +"True! Or rather the contrary, I think I did badly. Bigiel, too, is of +the opinion that it was not well. Mashko may press them; he may put +various demands before them; he may offer Kremen for sale. No, that was +not a delicate act, nor one to bring us nearer; and I should not have +committed it, were it not that I came to the conviction that it was +necessary to drive all that out of my head." + +"But no; do not say so. I believe that there is predestination in +everything; and I believe, too, that Providence designed you for each +other." + +"I do not understand that. If that be true, then I need not do +anything, for in every case I must marry Panna Plavitski." + +"I have a woman's head, and say stupid things, perhaps; but it seems +to me that Providence wills and arranges everything for the best, but +leaves people freedom. Frequently they do not wish to follow that which +is predestined, and this is why so many are unhappy." + +"Maybe. It is difficult, however, to follow anything but one's own +convictions. Reason is like a lantern, which God puts in our hands. Who +will assure me meanwhile that Panna Marynia will marry me?" + +"I ought to have news from her of your visit to Kremen, and I wonder +that so far I have none. I think that a letter will come to-morrow at +latest, for we write every week to each other. Does she know of your +departure for Reichenhall?" + +"She does not. I did not know myself when in Kremen where I should go." + +"That is well; for she will be outspoken, though she would be so in any +case." + +The first day's conversation ended here. In the evening it was decided +at Litka's request to walk to Thumsee, and go in the morning so as +to dine at the lake, return in a carriage, or on foot, if Litka was +not tired and they could return before sunset. The two men presented +themselves at the lady's villa before nine in the morning. Pani Emilia +and Litka were dressed and waiting on the veranda; both were so like +visions that Vaskovski, the old pedagogue, was astonished at sight of +them. + +"The Lord God makes perfect flowers of people sometimes," said he, +pointing at mother and daughter from a distance. + +Indeed, Pani Emilia and Litka were admired by all Reichenhall. The +first, with her spiritualized, angelic face, appeared the incarnation +of love, motherly tenderness, and exaltation; the other, with her +great pensive eyes, yellow hair, and features that were almost too +delicate, seemed rather the idea of an artist than a living little +girl. Bukatski, the decadent, said that she was formed of mist made +just a trifle rosy by light. Indeed, there was something in the little +maiden, as it were, not of earth, which impression was heightened by +her illness and exceeding sensitiveness. Her mother loved her blindly; +those who surrounded her loved her also; but attention did not spoil +this child, exceptionally sweet by nature. + +Pan Stanislav, who visited Pani Emilia in Warsaw a number of times +every week, was sincerely attached to both mother and daughter. In a +city where woman's reputation is less respected than anywhere else in +the world, scandal was created by this, without the least cause, of +course; for Pani Emilia was as pure as an infant, and simply carried +her exalted head in the sky as if she knew not that evil existed. She +was even so pure that she did not understand the necessity of paying +attention to appearances. She received gladly those whom Litka loved; +but she refused a number of good offers of marriage, declaring that +she needed nothing on earth except Litka. Bukatski alone insisted that +Pani Emilia acted on his nerves. Pan Stanislav adapted himself to +those azure heights surrounding that crystal woman, so that he never +approached her with a thought dimmed by temptation. + +Now he answered with simplicity Vaskovski's remark,-- + +"In truth, they both seem marvellous." + +And, greeting them, he repeated more or less the same thing to +Pani Emilia, as something that in the given case had attracted his +attention. She smiled with pleasure,--likely because the praise +included Litka,--and, gathering up her skirt for the road, she said,-- + +"I received a letter to-day, and have brought it to you." + +"May I read it right away?" + +"You may; I beg you to do so." + +They set out by the forest road for Thumsee--Pani Emilia, Vaskovski, +and Litka in advance, Pan Stanislav a little behind them, his head bent +over the letter, which was as follows:-- + + MY DEAR EMILKA,--To-day I have received thy litany of + questions, and will answer at once, for I am in haste to share my + thoughts with thee. Pan Stanislav Polanyetski went from here on + Monday; hence, two days ago. The first evening I received him as I + receive every one, and nothing whatever came to my head; but the + next day was Sunday. I had time to spare; and almost the entire + afternoon we were not only together, but alone, for papa went + to the Yamishes. What shall I say? Such a sympathetic, sincere, + and, at the same time, honest man! From what he said of Litka + and of thee, I saw at once that he has a good heart. We walked + a long time by the pond in the garden. I bound up his hand, for + he cut himself with the boat. He spoke so wisely that I forgot + myself in listening to his words. Ah, my Emilka, I am ashamed to + confess it, but my poor head was turned a little by that evening. + Thou knowest, moreover, how alone I am and overworked, and how + rarely I see men like him. It seemed to me that a guest had come + from another world, and a better one. He not only pleased, but + captivated me with his heartiness, so that I could not sleep, and + was thinking all the time of him. It is true that in the morning + he quarrelled with papa, and even I received a little; though God + sees how much I would give that there might be no question of + that kind between us. At the first moment it touched me greatly; + and if that ugly man had known how much I cried in my chamber, he + would have pitied me. But, afterward, I thought that he must be + very sensitive; that papa was not right; and I am not angry now. + I will say, also, in thy ear, that a certain voice whispers to + me continually that he will not sell to any one the claim which + he has on Kremen, if only to be able to come here again. That he + parted in such anger with papa is nothing. Papa himself does not + take it to heart; for those are his ways, not his convictions + or feelings. Pan Stanislav has in me a true friend, who, after + the sale of Magyerovka, will do everything to end all causes of + misunderstanding, and in general all those nasty money questions. + He will have to come then, even to take what belongs to him,--is + it not true? It may be also that I please him a little. That a man + as quick as he is should say something bitter gives no cause for + wonder. Speak not of this when thou seest him, and do not scold + him; God keep thee from that. I know not why I feel a certain + confidence that he will do no injustice to me, or papa, or my + beloved Kremen; and I think it would be well in the world if all + were like him. + + My dear, I embrace thee and Litka most heartily. Write to me of + her health minutely, and love me as I do thee. + +When he had finished reading, Pan Stanislav put the letter in the +side-pocket of his coat, which he buttoned. Then he pushed his hat down +to the back of his head, and felt a certain intense desire to break his +cane into small bits and throw them into the river: he did not do this, +however; he only began to mutter, while gritting his teeth,-- + +"Yes; very well. Thou knowest Polanyetski! Be confident that he will +not injure thee! Thou wilt come out in safety." + +Then he addressed himself as follows,-- + +"Thou hast thy deserts; for she is an angel, and thou art not worthy of +her." And again a desire seized him to break his cane into bits. Now he +saw clearly that the soul of that maiden had been ready to give itself +with all faith and trust to him; and he prepared for her one of those +painful and wounding disillusions, the memory of which, fixed once and +forever, pains eternally. To sell the claim was nothing; but to sell +it to a man wishing to buy it with the intention which Mashko had, +was to say to the woman, "I do not want thee; marry him, if it please +thee." What a bitter disillusion for her, after all that he had said to +her on that Sunday,--after those words friendly, open, and at the same +time intended to enter her heart! They were chosen for that purpose, +and he felt that she had taken them in that sense. He might repeat as +often as he pleased that they bound him to nothing; that in the first +meeting and in the first conversation which a man has with a woman, he +merely pushes out horns, like a snail, and tries the ground to which he +has come. That would be no consolation to him now. Besides, he was not +merely not in humor for self-justification, but wished rather to give +himself a slap on the face. He saw for the first time so definitely +that he might have received Marynia's heart and hand; and the more real +that possibility was to him, the more the loss seemed irreparable. +Moreover, from the moment of reading that letter, a new change appeared +in him. His own reasoning that now he ought to let Marynia go, seemed +pitiful and paltry. With all his faults, Pan Stanislav had a grateful +heart; and that letter moved him to a high degree, by the kindness and +understanding, by the readiness to love, which were revealed in it. +Hence the remembrance of Marynia became rosy in his heart and mind all +at once,--became rosy even with such power that he thought,-- + +"As God is in heaven, I shall fall in love with her now!" And such a +tenderness seized him that in presence of it even anger at himself had +to yield. He joined the company after a while, and, pushing forward a +little with Pani Emilia, said,-- + +"Give me this letter." + +"With the greatest pleasure. Such an honest letter, is it not? And you +did not confess to me that she suffered somewhat at parting; but I will +not reprove, since she herself takes you under her protection." + +"If it would help, I would beg you to beat me; but there is nothing to +be said, for those are things incurable." + +Pani Emilia did not share this opinion; on the contrary, seeing Pan +Stanislav's emotion, she felt sure that an affair in which both +sides had such vivid feelings was in the best state and must end +satisfactorily. At that very thought her sweet face became radiant. + +"We shall see after some months," said she. + +"You do not even divine what we may see," said Pan Stanislav, thinking +of Mashko. + +"Remember," continued Pani Emilia, "that he who once wins Marynia's +heart will never be disappointed." + +"I am certain of that," answered he, gloomily; "but also such hearts, +when once wounded, do not return again." + +They could not speak further, for Litka and Pan Vaskovski caught up +with them. After a while the little girl took Pan Stanislav, as usual, +for her own exclusive property. The forest, sunk in the mild morning +light of a fair day, occupied her uncommonly; she began to inquire +about various trees; every little while she cried out with pleasure,-- + +"Mushrooms!" + +But he answered mechanically, thinking of something else,-- + +"Mushrooms, kitten, mushrooms." + +At last the road descended, and they beheld Thumsee under their +feet. In the course of half an hour they came down to a beaten path, +stretching along the shore, on which were visible here and there wooden +foot-piers, extending a few yards into the lake. Litka wished to look +from near by at big fish which were visible in the clear water. Pan +Stanislav, taking her by the hand, led her out on to one of the piers. + +The fish, accustomed to crumbs thrown by visitors, instead of fleeing, +approached still nearer, and soon a whole circle surrounded Litka's +feet. In the blue water were visible the golden-brown backs of the +carp, and the gray spotted scales of the salmon trout, while the round +eyes of these creatures were fixed on the little girl as if with an +expression of entreaty. + +"Coming back, we will bring lots of bread," said Litka. "How strangely +they look at us! What are they thinking of?" + +"They are thinking very slowly," said Pan Stanislav; "and only after an +hour or two will they say: 'Ah! here is some little girl with yellow +hair and rosy dress and black stockings.'" + +"And what will they think of Pan Stas?" + +"They will think that I am some gypsy, for I have not yellow hair." + +"No. Gypsies have no houses." + +"And I have no house, Litka. I had the chance of one, but I sold it." + +He uttered this last phrase in a certain unusual manner, and in +general there was sadness in his voice. The little girl looked at him +carefully; and all at once her sensitive face reflected his sadness, +just as that water reflected her form. When they joined the rest of the +company, from time to time she raised her sad eyes with an inquiring +and disturbed expression. At last, pressing more firmly his hand, which +she held, she asked,-- + +"What troubles Pan Stas?" + +"Nothing, little child; I am looking around at the lake, and that is +why I do not talk." + +"I was pleasing myself yesterday, thinking to show Pan Stas Thumsee." + +"Though there are no rocks here, it is very beautiful But what house is +that on the other side?" + +"We will take dinner there." + +Pani Emilia was talking merrily with Vaskovski, who, carrying his hat +in his hand, and seeking in his pockets for a handkerchief to wipe his +bald head, gave his opinions about Bukatski,-- + +"He is an Aryan," concluded he; "and therefore in continual unrest, +he is seeking peace. He is buying pictures and engravings at present, +thinking that thus he will fill a void. But what do I see? This, those +children of the century bear in their souls an abyss like this lake, +for example; besides, the abyss in them is bottomless, and they think +to fill it with pictures, strong waters, amateurship, dilettantism, +Baudelaire, Ibsen, Maeterlinck, finally dilettante science. Poor birds, +they are beating their heads against the sides of their cages! It is +just I tried to fill this lake by throwing in a pebble." + +"And what can fill life?" + +"Every sincere idea, all great feelings, but only on condition that +they begin in Christ. Had Bukatski loved art in the Christian way, it +would have given him the peace which he is forced to seek." + +"Have you told him that?" + +"Yes, that and many other things. I urge him and Pan Stanislav always +to read the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi. They are not willing to do +so, and laugh at me. Yet he was the greatest man and the greatest saint +of the Middle Ages,--a saint who renewed the world. If such a man were +to come now, a renewal in Christ would follow, still more sincerely and +with greater completeness." + +Midday approached, and with it heat. The forest began to have the odor +of resin; the lake became perfectly smooth in the calm air full of +glitter, and, while reflecting the spotless blue of the sky, seemed to +slumber. + +At last they reached the house and the garden, in which them was a +restaurant, and sat under a beech-tree at a table already laid. Pan +Stanislav called a waiter in a soiled coat, ordered dinner, then +looked about silently at the lake and the mountains around it. A +couple of yards from the table grew a whole bunch of iris, moistened +by a fountain fixed among stones. Pani Emilia, looking at the flowers, +said,-- + +"When I am at a lake and see irises, I think that I am in Italy." + +"For nowhere else are there so many lakes or so many irises," answered +Pan Stanislav. + +"Or so much delight for every man," added Vaskovski. "For many years I +go there in the autumn to find a refuge for the last days. I hesitated +long between Perugia and Assisi, but last year Rome gained the day. +Rome seems the anteroom to another life, in which anteroom light from +the next world is visible already. I will go there in October." + +"I envy you sincerely," said Pani Emilia. + +"Litka is twelve years old," began Vaskovski. + +"And three months," interrupted Litka. + +"And three months: therefore for her age she is very small and a great +little giddy-head; it is time to show her various things in Rome," +continued Vaskovski. "Nothing is so remembered as that which is seen in +childhood. And though childhood does not feel many things completely, +nor understand them, that comes later, and comes very agreeably, for it +is as if some one were to illuminate on a sudden impressions sunk in +shadow. Come with me to Italy in October." + +"In October I cannot; I have my woman's reasons, which detain me in +Warsaw." + +"What are they?" + +Pani Emilia began to laugh. + +"The first and most important, but purely womanly, reason, is to marry +that gentleman sitting there so gloomy," said she, pointing to Pan +Stanislav, "but really so much in love." + +He woke from thoughtfulness, and waved his hand. But Vaskovski inquired +with his usual naïveté of a child,-- + +"Always with Marynia Plavitski?" + +"Yes," replied Pani Emilia. "He has been in Kremen, and it would be +vain for him to deny that she took his heart greatly." + +"I cannot deny," answered Pan Stanislav. + +But further conversation was interrupted in an unpleasant manner, for +Litka grew weak on a sudden. In a moment she was choking, and had one +of her attacks of palpitation of the heart, which alarmed even doctors. +The mother seized her at once in her arms; Pan Stanislav ran to the +restaurant for ice; Vaskovski began to draw the garden bench with +effort toward the table, so that she might stretch on it and breathe +with more freedom. + +"Thou art wearied, my child, art thou not?" asked Pani Emilia, with +pale lips. "See, my love, it was too far--Still the doctor permitted. +So anxious! But this is nothing; it will pass, it will pass! My +treasure, my love!" And she began to kiss the damp face of the little +girl. + +Meanwhile Pan Stanislav came with ice, and after him the mistress of +the place hurried out with a pillow in her hand. They laid the little +girl on the bench, and while Pani Emilia was wrapping the ice in a +napkin, Pan Stanislav bent over the child and asked,-- + +"How art thou, kitten?" + +"I was only choking a little; but I am better," answered she, opening +her mouth, like a fish to catch breath. + +She was not much better, however, for even through her dress one could +see how violently the little sick heart was beating in her breast. But +under the influence of ice, the attack decreased gradually, and at last +ceased altogether, leaving behind only weariness. Litka began again +to smile at her mother, who also recovered from her alarm somewhat. +It was needful to strengthen the child before they returned home. Pan +Stanislav ordered dinner, which was scarcely touched by any one except +Litka, for all looked at her from moment to moment with secret fear +lest the choking might seize her a second time. An hour passed in this +way. Guests began now to enter the restaurant. Pani Emilia wished to +go home, but she had to wait for the carriage, which Pan Stanislav had +sent for to Reichenhall. + +The carriage came at last, but new alarm was in wait for them. On +the road, though they moved at a walk and the road was very smooth, +even light jolting troubled Litka, so that when they were just near +Reichenhall, a choking attacked her again. She begged permission to +get out of the carriage; but it appeared that walking wearied her. Then +Pani Emilia decided to carry the child. But Pan Stanislav, anticipating +that motherly devotion, which moreover was not at all in proportion to +the woman's strength, said,-- + +"Come, Litus, I will carry thee. If not, mamma will weary herself and +be sick." + +And without asking further, he lifted her lightly from the ground, +and carried her with perfect ease on one arm only; to assure both her +and Pani Emilia that it did not trouble him in the least, he said +playfully,-- + +"When such a kitten is walking on the ground, she seems not at all +heavy; but now, see where those great feet are hanging. Hold on by my +neck; thou wilt be steadier." + +And he went on, as firmly as he could, and quickly, for he wished the +doctor to attend her as soon as possible; as he went, he felt her heart +beating against his shoulder, and she, while grasping him with her +thin, meagre arms, repeated,-- + +"Let me down; I cannot--Let me down!" + +But he said,-- + +"I will not. Thou seest how bad it is to be tired out from walking. In +future we will take a big easy armchair on wheels; and when the child +is wearied, we will seat her in it, and I will push her." + +"No, no!" said Litka, with tears in her voice. + +He carried her with the tenderness of an elder brother or a father; and +his heart was overflowing: first, because really he loved that little +maid; and second, because this came to his head of which he had never +thought before,--or, at least, had never felt clearly,--that marriage +opens the way to fatherhood and to all its treasures of happiness. +While carrying that little girl, who was dear to him, though a +stranger, he understood that God had created him for a family; not only +to be a husband, but a father; also that the main object and meaning of +life were found specially in the family. And all his thoughts flew to +Marynia. He felt now with redoubled force that of women whom he had met +so far he would have chosen her for a wife before all, and would wish +her to be the mother of his children. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +During some days that succeeded the choking, Litka was not ill, but +she felt weak; she went out, however, to walk, because the doctor not +only ordered her to go, but recommended very urgently moderate exercise +up hill. Vaskovski went to the doctor to learn the condition of her +health. Pan Stanislav awaited the old man's return in the reading-room, +and knew at once from his face that he was not a bearer of good tidings. + +"The doctor sees no immediate danger," said Vaskovski; "but he condemns +the child to an early death, and in general gives directions to watch +over her, for it is impossible, he says, to foresee the day or the +hour." + +"What a misfortune, what a blow!" said Pan Stanislav, covering his eyes +with his hand. "Her mother will not be able to survive her. One is +unwilling to believe in the death of such a child." + +Vaskovski had tears in his eyes. "I asked whether she must suffer +greatly. 'Not necessarily,' said the doctor; 'she may die as easily as +if falling asleep.'" + +"Did he tell the mother anything about her condition?" + +"He did not. He said, it is true, that there was a defect of the heart; +but he added that with children such things often disappear without a +trace. He has no hope himself." + +Pan Stanislav did not yield to misfortune easily. + +"What is one doctor!" said he. "We must struggle to save the child +while there is a spark of hope. The doctor may be mistaken. We must +take her to a specialist at Monachium, or bring him here. That will +alarm Pani Emilia, but it is difficult to avoid it. Wait; we can avoid +it. I will bring him, and that immediately. We will tell Pani Emilia +that such and such a celebrated doctor has come here to see some one, +and that there is a chance of taking counsel concerning Litka. We must +not leave the child without aid. We need merely to write to him, so +that he may know how to talk to the mother." + +"But to whom will you write?" + +"To whom? Do I know? The local doctor here will indicate a specialist. +Let us go to him at once, and lose no time." + +The matter was arranged that very day. In the evening the two men went +to Pani Emilia. Litka was well, but silent and gloomy. She smiled, +it is true, at her mother and her friend; she showed gratitude for +the tenderness with which they surrounded her; but Pan Stanislav had +not power to amuse her. Having his head filled with thoughts of the +danger which threatened the child, he considered her gloom a sign of +increasing sickness and an early premonition of near death, and with +terror he said in his soul that she was not such as she had been; it +seemed as if certain threads binding her to life had been broken. His +fear increased still more when Pani Emilia said,-- + +"Litka feels well, but do you know what she begged of me to-day? To go +back to Warsaw." + +Pan Stanislav with an effort of will put down his alarm, and, turning +to the little one, said while feigning joyfulness,-- + +"Ah, thou good-for-nothing! Art thou not sorry for Thumsee?" + +The little maid shook her yellow hair. + +"No!" answered she, after a time, and in her eyes tears appeared; but +she covered these quickly with her lids, lest some one might see them. + +"What is the matter with her?" thought Pan Stanislav. + +A very simple thing was the matter. In Thumsee she had learned that her +friend, her "Pan Stas," her dearest comrade, was to be taken from her. +She had heard that he loved Marynia Plavitski; until then she had felt +sure that he loved only her and mamma. She had heard that mamma wanted +him to marry Marynia; but up to that time she, Litka, had looked on him +as her own exclusive property. Without knowing clearly what threatened +her, she felt that this "Pan Stas" would go, and that a wrong would +be done her, the first which she had experienced in life. She would +have suffered less if some one else had inflicted the wrong; but, +just think, her mamma and "Pan Stas" were wronging her! That seemed a +vicious circle out of which the child knew not how to escape and could +not. How could she complain to them of what they were doing! Evidently +they wanted this, wished it; it was necessary for them, and they +would be happy if it happened. Mamma said that "Pan Stas" loved Panna +Marynia, and he did not deny; therefore Litka must yield, must swallow +her tears, and be silent in presence of her mamma even. + +And she hid in herself her first disappointment in life. Yes, she had +to yield; but because grief is a bad medicine for a heart sick already, +this yielding might be more thoroughly and terribly tragic than any one +around her could imagine. + +The specialist came two days later from Monachium, and remaining two +days, confirmed fully the opinion of the doctor in Thumsee. He set Pani +Emilia at rest, though he told Pan Stanislav that the life of the child +might continue months and years, but would be always as if hanging on +a thread which might break from any cause. He gave directions to spare +the little girl every emotion, as well joyous as sad, and to watch over +her with the greatest alertness. + +They surrounded her therefore with care and attention. They spared her +even the slightest emotion, but they did not spare her the greatest, +which was caused by Marynia's letters. The echo of the one which came a +week later struck her ears, which were listening then diligently. True, +it might dispel her fears touching "Pan Stas," but it was a great shock +to her. Pani Emilia had hesitated all day about showing Pan Stanislav +that letter. He had been asking daily for news from Kremen; she had +to lie simply to conceal the arrival of the letter. Finally, she felt +bound to tell the truth, so that he might know the difficulties which +he had to encounter. + +The next evening after receiving the letter, when she had put Litka to +sleep, she began conversation herself on this subject. + +"Marynia has taken it greatly to heart that you sold the claim on +Kremen." + +"Then you have received a letter?" + +"I have." + +"Can you show it to me?" + +"No; I can only read you extracts from it. Marynia is crushed." + +"Does she know that I am here?" + +"It must be that she has not received my letter yet; but it astonishes +me that Pan Mashko, who is in Kremen, has not mentioned it to her." + +"Mashko went to Kremen before I left Warsaw; and he was not sure that +I would come here, especially as I told him that doubtless I should +change my plan." + +Pani Emilia went to her bureau for the package of letters. Returning to +the table, she trimmed the lamp, and, sitting opposite Pan Stanislav, +took the letter from the envelope. + +"You see," said she, "that for Marynia it is not a question of the sale +alone. You know that her head was a little imaginative, therefore this +sale had for her another meaning. A great disenchantment has met her +indeed!" + +"I should not confess to any other person," said Pan Stanislav, "but I +will to you. I have committed one of the greatest follies of my life, +but I have never been so punished." + +Pani Emilia raised her pale blue eyes to him with sympathy. + +"Poor man, are you so captivated, then, by Marynia? I do not ask +through curiosity, but friendship, for I should like to mend +everything, but wish to be certain." + +"Do you know what conquered me?" broke in Pan Stanislav, +excitedly,--"that first letter. In Kremen she pleased me; I began to +think about her. I said to myself that she would be more agreeable and +better than others. She is such precisely as I have been seeking. But +what next? Long before, I had said to myself that I would not be a +soft man, and yield what belongs to me. You understand that when a man +makes a principle of anything, he holds to it even for pride's sake. +Besides, in each one of us there are, as it were, two distinct persons; +the second of these criticises whatever is done by the first one. This +second man began to say to me: 'Drop this affair; you cannot live +with the father.' In truth, he is unendurable. I resolved to drop the +affair. I got rid of the claim. That is how it happened. Only later did +I find that I could not dismiss the thought of Panna Plavitski; I had +always this same impression: 'She is such as thou art seeking.' I saw +that I had committed a folly, and was sorry. When that letter came, and +I convinced myself that on her side there was a feeling that she could +love me and be mine, I loved her. And I give you my word that either +I am losing my head, or this is true. It is nothing while a man is +fancying something; but when he sees that there were open arms before +him, what a difference! That letter conquered me; I cannot help myself." + +"I prefer not to read you all this letter," said Pani Emilia, after a +while. "Naturally she writes that the brief dream ended by an awakening +more sudden than she had looked for. She writes that Pan Mashko is very +considerate in money questions, though he wishes them to turn to his +profit." + +"She will marry him, as God is in heaven!" + +"You do not know her. But of Kremen she writes: 'Papa has a wish to +dispose of his property, and settle in Warsaw. Thou knowest how I love +Kremen, how I grew up with it; but in view of what has happened, I +doubt whether my work can be of service. I shall make one more struggle +to defend the dear bit of land. Still papa says that his conscience +will not let him imprison me in the country, and this is all the more +bitter, since it is as if I were the question. Indeed, life seems at +times to be touching on irony. Pan Mashko offers papa three thousand +life annuity, and the whole amount for the parcelling of Magyerovka. I +do not wonder that he seeks his own profit, but through such a bargain +he would get the property for almost nothing. Papa himself said to +him, "In this way, if I live one year I shall get from Kremen three +thousand, for Magyerovka is mine anyhow." Pan Mashko answered that +in the present state of affairs the creditors would take the money +for Magyerovka; but if papa agrees to the conditions proposed he will +receive ready money and may live thirty years, perhaps longer. Which is +true also. I know that this project pleases papa in principle; the only +question with him is to get as much as he can. In all this there is one +consolation,--that if we live in Warsaw, I shall see thee, dear Emilia, +and Litka oftener. Sincerely and from my whole soul do I love you both, +and know that on your hearts at least I can count always.'" + +"So then I deprived her of Kremen, but sent her a suitor," said Pan +Stanislav, after a moment of silence. + +While saying this, he did not know that Marynia had put almost the same +words into the letter. Pani Emilia had omitted them purposely, not +wishing to wound him. + +During the last visit of the Plavitskis in Warsaw, Mashko had made +some advances for the hand of Marynia; she had no need, therefore, of +great keenness to divine his reason for buying the claim and coming to +Kremen. Just in this was the bitterness that filled her heart, and the +deep offence which she felt that Polanyetski had inflicted on her. + +"It is absolutely needful to explain all this," said Pani Emilia. + +"I have sent her a suitor!" repeated Pan Stanislav. "I cannot even make +the excuse that I did not know of Mashko's designs." + +Pani Emilia turned Marynia's letter in her delicate fingers some time, +and then said suddenly,-- + +"It cannot rest this way. I wanted to unite you with her because of my +friendship for both of you, but now there is a motive the more; to wit, +your suffering. It would be a reproach for me to leave you as you are, +and I cannot. Do not lose hope. There is a pretty French proverb, and a +very ugly Polish one, about woman's strength and will. In truth, I wish +greatly to help you." + +Pan Stanislav seized her hand and raised it to his lips. + +"You are the best and most honorable person that I have met in the +world." + +"I have been very happy," answered Pani Emilia; "and since I think that +there is only one road to happiness, I wish those who are near me to go +by it." + +"You are right. That road, or none! Since I have life, I wish that life +to be of use to some one else and to me." + +"As to me," said Pani Emilia, laughing, "since I have undertaken the +rôle of matchmaker for the first time in life, I wish to be of service. +But it is necessary to think what must be done now." + +Saying this, she raised her eyes. The light of the lamp fell directly +on her delicate face, which was still very youthful; on her light hair, +which was somewhat disarranged above her forehead. There was something +in her so bewitching and at the same time so virginal that Pan +Stanislav, though he had a head occupied with other things, recalled +the name, "maiden widow," which Bukatski had given her. + +"Marynia is very candid," said she, after a moment's thought, "and will +understand better if I write the pure truth to her. I will tell her +what you told me: that you went away much pleased with her; that what +you have done was done without reckoning with yourself, purely under +the influence of the thought that you could not come to an agreement +with her father; but at present you regret this most sincerely, you beg +her not to take it ill, and not to take away the hope that she will +yield to entreaty." + +"And I will write to Mashko that I will purchase the debt of him at +whatever profit he likes." + +"See," said Pani Emilia, smiling, "that sober, calculating Pan +Stanislav, who boasts that he has freed himself from the Polish +character and from Polish fickleness." + +"Yes, yes!" cried Pan Stanislav, with a more joyous tone. "Calculation +consists in this, to spare nothing on an object that is worth it." At +that moment, however, he grew gloomy and said, "But if she answers that +she is Mashko's betrothed?" + +"I will not admit that. Pan Mashko may be the most honorable of men, +but he is not for her. She will not marry without affection. I know +that Mashko did not please her at all. That will never take place; you +do not know Marynia. Only do, on your part, what you can, and be at +rest as to Mashko." + +"Then, instead of writing, I will telegraph to him to-day. He cannot +stop in Kremen long at one time, and must receive my despatch in +Warsaw." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +Mashko's answer, which Pan Stanislav received two days later, was, "I +bought Kremen yesterday." + +Though it might have been foreseen from Marynia's letter that affairs +would take this and no other turn, and the young man was bound to be +prepared for it, the news produced the impression of a thunder-clap. +It seemed to him that a misfortune had happened, as sudden as it was +incurable,--a misfortune for which the whole responsibility fell on +him. Pani Emilia, knowing better than any one else Marynia's attachment +to Kremen, had also a presentiment which she could not conceal, that by +this sale the difficulty of bringing these two young people nearer each +other would be increased greatly. + +"If Mashko does not marry Marynia," said Pan Stanislav, "he will strip +old Plavitski in such fashion as to save himself and leave the old man +without a copper. If I had sold my claim to the first usurer I met, +Plavitski would have wriggled out, paid something, promised more; and +the ruin of Kremen would have been deferred for whole years, in the +course of which something favorable might have happened; in every case +there would have been time to sell Kremen on satisfactory conditions. +Now, if they are left without a copper, the fault will be mine." + +But Pani Emilia looked on the affair from another side: "The evil is +not in this alone," said she, "that Kremen is sold. You have caused +this sale, and that immediately after seeing Marynia. If some one else +had done so, the affair would not have such a significance; but the +worst is just this, that Marynia was greatly confident that you would +not act thus." + +Pan Stanislav felt this as vividly as she; and since he was accustomed +to give himself a clear account of every position, he understood +also that Marynia was the same as lost to him. In view of this, one +thing remained,--to acknowledge the fact and seek another wife. But +Pan Stanislav's whole soul revolted against this. First, his feeling +for Marynia, though sudden, strengthened neither by time nor nearer +acquaintance, though resting mainly on the charm, almost exclusively +physical, which her form had wrought on him, had grown considerably +in recent days. Her letter effected this, and the conviction that +he had inflicted a wrong on her. Compassion for her seized him now, +and he could not think of her without emotion; in consequence of +this, the feeling itself increased through two causes, which play a +very important rôle in each masculine heart. First, that energetic, +muscular man could never yield passively to the course of events. His +nature simply could not endure this. The sight of difficulty roused +him to action particularly. Finally, his self-love also was opposed to +letting Marynia go. The thought which he must acknowledge to himself +sometimes,--that he was only a springe in the hand of that Mashko and +one of the means to his objects; that he had let himself be abused, or +at least used by the advocate,--filled him with rage. Though Mashko +should not receive Marynia's hand, though the affair should end with +Kremen, even that was more than Pan Stanislav could suffer. Now an +irrestrainable desire seized him to go and take the field against +Mashko, to throw a stone under his feet, to cross his further plans, +at least, and show him that his keenness of an advocate was not enough +in a meeting with real manly energy. All these, as well as the more +noble motives, urged Pan Stanislav with irresistible force to undertake +something, to do something. Meanwhile the position was such that there +remained well-nigh nothing to do. Precisely in this contradiction was +hidden the tragedy. To remain in Reichenhall, let Mashko carry out his +plans, extend his nets, work for the hand of Panna Plavitski--no! not +for anything! But what was he to do? To this last question there was +no answer. For the first time in life Pan Stanislav felt as if he were +chained; and the less he was accustomed to such a position, the more +did he bear it with difficulty. He learned too, for the first time, +what sleeplessness means, what excited nerves are. Since Litka, during +the days just preceding, felt worse again, there hung over the whole +society a leaden atmosphere in which life was becoming unendurable. + +After a week another letter came from Marynia. This time there was no +mention either of Pan Stanislav or Mashko. Marynia wrote only about the +sale of Kremen, without complaint, and without explanation of how the +affair had taken place. But from this alone he might infer how deeply +the sale had wounded her. + +It would have pleased Pan Stanislav more had she complained. He +understood clearly, too, that silence in the letter touching him +showed how far he had been excluded from the heart of that lady, while +silence touching Mashko might show directly the opposite. Finally, if +she valued that Kremen so much, she might return to it by giving her +hand to its present owner; perhaps she had become reconciled by that +thought. Old Plavitski had his prejudices of a noble, it is true, and +Pan Stanislav counted on them; but, considering the man as an egotist +above all, he admitted that in the present case he would sacrifice his +daughter and his prejudices. + +In the end of ends, to remain with folded arms at Reichenhall, and wait +for news as to whether Pan Mashko would be pleased to offer his hand +to Panna Plavitski, became for Pan Stanislav simply impossible. Litka, +too, from time to time begged her mother to return to Warsaw. Pan +Stanislav determined, therefore, to return, all the more as the time +was approaching when he and Bigiel had to begin a new affair. + +This decision brought him great solace at once. He would return; +he would examine the position with his own eyes, and perhaps +undertake something. In every case it would be better than sitting at +Reichenhall. Both Pani Emilia and Litka heard the news of his departure +without surprise. They knew that he had come only for a few weeks, +and they hoped to see him soon in Warsaw. Pani Emilia was to go in +the middle of August. For the rest of the month she decided to remain +with Vaskovski in Salzburg, and return then to Warsaw. Meanwhile she +promised to inform Pan Stanislav of Litka's health frequently, and +besides correspond with Marynia and learn what her thoughts really were +touching Mashko. + +On the day of his departure, Pani Emilia and Litka, with Vaskovski, +took farewell of him at the station. When in the compartment, he was +rather sorry to go. Happen what might, he knew not how things would +turn out at Warsaw; here he was surrounded by persons who were the +sincerest well-wishers that he had in the world. Looking out through +the window, he beheld the sad eyes of Litka raised toward him, and the +friendly face of Pani Emilia, with the same feeling as if they had +been his own family. And again that uncommon beauty of the young widow +struck him,--her features, delicate to the verge of excess, her angelic +expression of face, and her form perfectly maidenlike, dressed in +black. + +"Farewell," said Pani Emilia, "and write to us from Warsaw; we shall +see each other in three weeks or sooner." + +"In three weeks," repeated Pan Stanislav. "I will write certainly. Till +we meet again, Litus!" + +"Till we meet again! Bow from me to Evka and Yoasia." + +"I will do so." + +And he stretched out his hand through the window again: + +"Till our next meeting! Remember your friend." + +"We will not forget; we will not forget. Do you wish me to repeat a +novena for your intention?" asked Pani Emilia, smiling. + +"Thank you for that too. Do so. Till we meet again, Professor." + +The train moved that moment. Pani Emilia and Litka waved their parasols +till the more frequent puffing of the engine hid, with rolls of steam +and smoke, the window through which Pan Stanislav was looking. + +"Mamma," asked Litka, "is it really necessary to say a novena for Pan +Stas?" + +"Yes, Litus. He is so kind to us, we must pray to God to make him +happy." + +"But is he unhappy?" + +"No--that is--seest thou, every one has trouble, and he has his." + +"I know; I heard in Thumsee," said the little girl. And after a while +she added in a low voice,-- + +"I will say a novena." + +But Professor Vaskovski, who was so honest that he could not hold his +tongue, said after a time to Pani Emilia, when Litka had gone forward,-- + +"That is a golden heart, and he loves you both as a brother. Now that +the specialist has assured us that there is not the least fear, I can +tell everything. Pan Stanislav brought him here purposely, for he was +alarmed about the little girl in Thumsee." + +"Did he bring him?" asked Pani Emilia. "What a man!" And tears of +gratitude came to her eyes. After a while she said, "But I will reward +him, for I will give him Marynia." + +Pan Stanislav went away with a heart full of good wishes and gratitude +to Pani Emilia, for the man who has failed and for that reason falls +into trouble, feels the friendship of people more keenly than others. +Sitting in the corner of the compartment, with the image of Pani Emilia +fresh in his mind, he said to himself,-- + +"If I had fallen in love with her! What rest, what certainty of +happiness! An object in life would have been found; I should know +for whom I am working, I should know whose I am, I should know that +my existence has some meaning. She says, it is true, that she will +not marry, but me!--she might, who knows? That other is perfection, +perhaps, but she may have a very dry heart." + +Here he feels suddenly: "Still I can think calmly about Pani Emilia; +while at every recollection of that other a certain unquiet seizes me, +which is at once both bitter and agreeable. I am drawn by something +toward that other. I have just pressed Pani Emilia's hand, and that +pressure has left no sensation; while even now I remember the warm palm +of Marynia, and feel a certain species of quiver at the very thought of +it." + +As far as Salzburg, Pan Stanislav thought only of "that other." This +time his thoughts began to take the form, if not of resolves, at least +of questions,--how is he to act toward her, and what in this state of +affairs is his duty? + +"It is not to be denied that I caused the sale of Kremen," said he to +himself. "Kremen had for her not only the money value, which might +perhaps have been drawn from it had the sale not been hastened, but +also the value with which her heart was bound to the place. I have +deprived her of both. Briefly speaking, I have wronged her. I have +acted legally; but for a conscience made up of something more than +paragraphs, that is not sufficient. I have offended her, I confess, and +I must correct my fault in some way. But how? Buy Kremen from Mashko? +I am not rich enough. I might perhaps do so by dissolving partnership +with Bigiel and withdrawing all my capital; but that is materially +impossible. Bigiel might fail, should I do that; hence I will not +do it. There is one other way,--to keep up relations as best I can +with Plavitski, and propose later on for the hand of his daughter. If +rejected, I shall have done at least what behooves me." + +But here that second internal man, of whom Pan Stanislav made mention, +raised his voice and began,-- + +"Do not shield thyself with a question of conscience. If Panna +Plavitski were ten years older and ugly, thou mightst have caused in +the same way the sale of Kremen, and taken from her everything which +thou hast taken, and still it would not have come to thy head to ask +for her hand. Tell thyself straightway that Panna Plavitski draws thee, +as with nippers, by her face, her eyes, her lips, her arms, her whole +person, and do not tempt thyself." + +But, in general, Pan Stanislav held that second internal man firmly, +and treated him sometimes with very slight ceremony. Following this +method, he said to him,-- + +"First, thou knowest not, fool, that even in that case I should not +try to make good the injury. That at present I wish to make it good +by proposing for the lady is natural. Men always ask to marry women +who please them, not those for whom they feel repulsion. If thou hast +nothing better to say, then be silent." + +The internal man ventured a few more timid remarks, as, for instance, +that Plavitski might give command to throw Pan Stanislav downstairs; +that in the best case he might not permit him to cross the threshold. +But somehow Pan Stanislav was not afraid of this. "People," thought he, +"do not use such means now; and if the Plavitskis do not receive me, so +much the worse for them." + +He admitted, however, that if they had even a little tact they would +receive him. He knew that he would see Marynia at Pani Emilia's. + +Meditating in this way, he arrived at Salzburg. There was one hour +till the arrival of the train from Monachium, by which he was to go to +Vienna; hence he decided to walk about the town. That moment he saw in +the restaurant the bright-colored pea-jacket of Bukatski, his monocle, +and his small head, covered with a still smaller soft cap. + +"Bukatski or his spirit!" cried he. + +"Calm thyself, Pan Stanislav," answered Bukatski, phlegmatically, +greeting him as if they had parted an hour before. "How art thou?" + +"What art thou doing here?" + +"Eating a cutlet." + +"To Reichenhall?" + +"Yes. But thou art homeward?" + +"Yes." + +"Thou hast proposed to Pani Emilia?" + +"No." + +"Then I forgive thee. Thou mayst go." + +"Keep thy conceits for a fitter season. Litka is in very great danger." + +Bukatski grew serious, and said, raising his brows,--"Ai, ai! Is that +perfectly certain?" + +Pan Stanislav told briefly the opinion of the doctor. Bukatski listened +for a while; then he said,-- + +"And is a man not to be a pessimist in this case? Poor child and poor +mother! In the event of misfortune, I cannot imagine in any way how she +will endure it." + +"She is very religious; but it is terrible to think of this." + +"Let us walk through the town a little," said Bukatski; "one might +stifle here." + +They went out. + +"And a man in such straits is not to be a pessimist!" exclaimed +Bukatski. "What is Litka? Simply a dove! Every one would spare her; but +death will not spare her." + +Pan Stanislav was silent. + +"I know not myself now," continued Bukatski, "whether to go to +Reichenhall or not. In Warsaw, when Pani Emilia is there, even I can +hold out. Once a month I propose to her, once a month I receive a +refusal; and thus I live from the first of one month to the first of +the next. The first of the month has just passed, and I am anxious for +my pension. Is the mother aware of the little girl's condition?" + +"No. The child is in danger; but perhaps a couple of years remain yet +to her." + +"Ah! perhaps no more remain to any of us. Tell me, dost thou think of +death often?" + +"No. How would that help me? I know that I must lose the case; +therefore I do not break my head over it, especially before the time." + +"In this is the point,--we must lose, but still we keep up the trial +to the end. This is the whole sense of life, which otherwise would be +simply a dreary farce, but now it is a dull tragedy as well. As to me, +I have three things at present to choose from: to hang myself, go to +Reichenhall, or go to Monachium to see Boecklin's pictures once more. +If I were logical, I should choose the first; since I am not, I'll +choose Reichenhall. Pani Emilia is worth the Boecklins, both as to +outline and color." + +"What is to be heard in Warsaw?" asked on a sudden Pan Stanislav, who +had had that question on his lips from the first of the conversation. +"Hast thou seen Mashko?" + +"I have. He has bought Kremen, he is a great landholder, and, since +he has wit, he is using all his power not to seem too great. He is +polite, sensible, flattering, accessible; he is changed, not to my +advantage, it is true, for what do I care? but surely to his own." + +"Isn't he going to marry Panna Plavitski?" + +"I hear that he wants to. Thy partner, Bigiel, said something of this, +also that Mashko bought Kremen on conditions more than favorable. Thou +wilt find clearer news in the city." + +"Where are the Plavitskis at present?" + +"In Warsaw. They are living in the Hotel Rome. The young woman is not +at all ugly. I called on them as a cousin, and talked about thee." + +"Thou mightst have chosen a more agreeable subject for them." + +"Plavitski, who is glad of what has happened, told me that thou hadst +done them a service, without wishing it certainly, but thou hadst done +it. I asked the young lady how it was that she saw thee in Kremen for +the first time. She answered that during her visit in Warsaw thou must +have been in foreign countries." + +"In fact, I was gone then on business of the firm to Berlin, and I +remained there some time." + +"Indeed, I did not observe that they were offended at thee. I heard so +much, however, of the young lady's love of country life, that she must, +I admit, be a little angry at thee for having taken Kremen from her. In +every case, she does not show any anger." + +"Perhaps she will show it only to me; and the opportunity will not be +lacking, for I shall visit them immediately after my return." + +"In that case do me one little service: marry the lady, for of two +evils I prefer to be thy cousin rather than Mashko's." + +"Very well," replied Pan Stanislav, curtly. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +After his return to Warsaw, Pan Stanislav went first of all to Bigiel, +who told him minutely the conditions on which Kremen was sold. Those +conditions were very profitable for Mashko. He bound himself to pay at +the end of a year thirty-five thousand rubles, which were to come from +the parcelling of Magyerovka, and besides to pay three thousand yearly +till the death of Pan Plavitski. To Pan Stanislav the bargain did not +seem at first too unfavorable for Plavitski; but Bigiel was of another +opinion. + +"I do not judge people too hastily," said he; "but Plavitski is an +incurable old egotist who has sacrificed the future of his child to his +own comfort, and, besides, he is frivolous. In this case the annuity is +placed as it were on Kremen; but Kremen, as a ruined estate, on which +there is need to spend money, has a fictitious value. If Mashko puts it +in order, very well; if not, in the most favorable event he will fall +behind in payment, and Plavitski may not see a copper for years. What +will he do then? He will take Kremen back. But before that time Mashko +will contract new debts, even to pay the old ones; and, in case of his +bankruptcy, God knows how many creditors will stretch their hands after +Kremen. Finally, all depends on the honesty of Mashko, who may be a +correct man, but he is carrying on business riskily; if he takes one +false step, it may ruin him. Who knows if this very purchase of Kremen +be not such a step?--for, wishing to bring the estate into order, he +must draw on his credit to the utmost. I have seen men who succeeded a +long time until they turned to buying great estates." + +"The ready money for Magyerovka will remain with the Plavitskis +always," said Pan Stanislav, as if wishing to quiet his own fears for +their future. + +"If old Plavitski does not eat it up, or play it away, or waste it." + +"I must think of something. I caused the sale; I must help." + +"Thou?" asked Bigiel, with astonishment. "I thought that thy relations +were broken forever." + +"I shall try to renew them. I will visit the Plavitskis to-morrow." + +"I do not know that they will be glad to see thee." + +"And I myself do not know." + +"Dost wish I will go with thee? For it is a question of breaking the +ice. They may not receive thee alone. It is a pity that my wife is +not here. I sit by myself whole evenings and play on the violoncello. +During the day I have time enough too; I can go with thee." + +Pan Stanislav, however, refused, and next day he dressed himself with +great care and went alone. He knew that he was a presentable man; and +though usually he did not think much of this, he resolved now to omit +nothing which might speak in his favor. On the way he had his head full +of thoughts as to what he should say, what he should do in this case or +that one, and he tried to foresee how they would receive him. + +"I will be as simple and outspoken as possible," said he to himself; +"that is the best method absolutely." + +And, before he noted it, he found himself at the Hotel Rome. His heart +began to beat then more quickly. + +"It would not be bad," thought he, "if I should not find them at home. +I could leave a card and see later on if Plavitski would acknowledge my +visit." + +But straightway he said to himself, "Don't be a coward," and went +forward. Learning from the servant that Plavitski was at home, he sent +in his card, and after a while was invited to enter. + +Plavitski was sitting at a table writing letters, drawing at intervals +smoke from a pipe with a great amber mouthpiece. At sight of Pan +Stanislav he raised his head, and, looking at him through gold-rimmed +glasses, said,-- + +"I beg, I beg!" + +"I learned from Bigiel that you and Panna Plavitski were in Warsaw," +said Pan Stanislav, "and I came to pay my respects." + +"That was very pretty on thy part," answered Plavitski, "and, to tell +the truth, I did not expect it. We parted in a bitter manner and +through thy fault. But since thou hast felt it thy duty to visit me, I, +as the older, open my arms to thee a second time." + +The opening of the arms, however, was confined to reaching across the +table a hand, which Pan Stanislav pressed, saying in his own mind,-- + +"May the Evil One take me, if I come here to thee, and if I feel toward +thee any obligation!" After a while he asked, "You and your daughter +are coming to live in Warsaw?" + +"Yes. I am an old man of the country, accustomed to rise with the sun +and to work in the fields; it will be grievous for me in your Warsaw. +But it was not right to imprison my child; hence I made one sacrifice +more for her." + +Pan Stanislav, who had spent two nights in Kremen, remembered that +Plavitski rose about eleven in the forenoon, and that he labored +specially about the business of Kremen, not its fields; he passed this, +however, in silence, for he had a head occupied with something else at +that moment. From the chamber which Plavitski occupied, an open door +led to another, which must be Marynia's. It occurred to Pan Stanislav, +who was looking in the direction of that door from the time of his +entrance, that perhaps she did not wish to come out; therefore he +inquired,-- + +"But shall I not have the pleasure of seeing Panna Marynia?" + +"Marynia has gone to look at lodgings which I found this morning. +She will come directly, for they are only a couple of steps distant. +Imagine to thyself a plaything, not lodgings. I shall have a cabinet +and a sleeping-room; Marynia also a very nice little chamber,--the +dining-room is a trifle dark, it is true; but the drawing-room is a +candy-box." + +Here Plavitski passed into a narrative concerning his lodgings, with +the volubility of a child amused by something, or of an old lover of +comfort, who smiles at every improvement. At last he said,-- + +"I had barely looked around when I found myself at home. Dear Warsaw is +my old friend; I know her well." + +But at that moment some one entered the adjoining room. + +"That is Marynia, surely," said Plavitski. "Marynia, art thou there?" +called he. + +"I am," answered a youthful voice. + +"Come here; we have a guest." + +Marynia appeared in the door. At sight of Pan Stanislav, astonishment +shone on her face. He, rising, bowed; and when she approached the +table, he stretched out his hand in greeting. She gave him her own with +as much coldness as politeness. Then she turned to her father, as if no +one else were present in the room,-- + +"I have seen the lodgings; they are neat and comfortable, but I am not +sure that the street is not too noisy." + +"All streets are noisy," answered Plavitski. "Warsaw is not a village." + +"Pardon me; I will go to remove my hat," said Marynia. And, returning +to her room, she did not appear for some time. + +"She will not show herself again," thought Pan Stanislav. + +But evidently she was only arranging her hair before the mirror, after +removing her hat; she entered a second time, and asked,-- + +"Am I interrupting?" + +"No," said Plavitski, "we have no business now, for which, speaking +in parenthesis, I am very glad. Pan Polanyetski has come only through +politeness." + +Pan Stanislav blushed a little, and, wishing to change the subject, +said,-- + +"I am returning from Reichenhall; I bring you greetings from Pani +Emilia and Litka, and that is one reason why I made bold to come." + +For a moment the cool self-possession on Marynia's face vanished. + +"Emilia wrote to me of Litka's heart attack," said she. "How is she +now?" + +"There has not been a second attack." + +"I expect another letter, and it may have come; but I have not received +it, for Emilia addressed it very likely to Kremen." + +"They will send it," said Plavitski; "I gave directions to send all the +mail here." + +"You will not go back to the country, then?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"No; we will not," answered Marynia, whose eyes recovered their +expression of cool self-possession. + +A moment of silence followed. Pan Stanislav looked at the young lady, +and seemed to be struggling with himself. Her face attracted him with +new power. He felt now more clearly that in such a person precisely +he would find most to please him, that he could love such a one, that +she is the type of his chosen woman, and all the more her coldness +became unendurable. He would give now, God knows what, to find again +in those features the expression which he saw in Kremen, the interest +in his words, and the attention, the transparency in those eyes full +of smiles and roused curiosity. He would give, God knows what, to have +all this return, and he knew not by what method to make it return, by a +slow or a quick one; for this cause he hesitated. He chose at last that +which agreed best with his nature. + +"I knew," said he, suddenly, "how you loved Kremen, and in spite of +that, perhaps, it is I who caused its sale. If that be the case, I tell +you openly that I regret the act acutely, and shall never cease to +regret it. In my defence I cannot even say that I did it while excited, +and without intent. Nay, I had an intent; only it was malicious and +irrational. All the greater is my fault, and all the more do I entreat +your forgiveness." + +When he had said this, he rose. His cheeks were flushed, and from +his eyes shone truth and sincerity; but his words remained without +effect. Pan Stanislav went by a false road. He knew women in general +too slightly to render account to himself of how far their judgments, +especially their judgments touching men, are dependent on their +feelings, both transient and permanent. In virtue of these feelings, +anything may be taken as good or bad money; anything interpreted for +evil or good, recognized as true or false; stupidity may be counted +reason, reason stupidity, egotism devotion, devotion egotism, rudeness +sincerity, sincerity lack of delicacy. The man who in a given moment +rouses dislike, cannot be right with a woman, cannot be sincere, +cannot be just, cannot be well-bred. So Marynia, feeling deep aversion +and resentment toward Pan Stanislav from the time of Mashko's coming +to Kremen, took sincerity simply ill of him. Her first thought was: +"What kind of man is this who recognizes as unreasonable and bad that +which a few days ago he did with calculation?" Then Kremen, the sale +of the place, Mashko's visit and the meaning of that visit, which she +divined, were for her like a wound festering more and more. And now it +seemed to her that Pan Stanislav was opening that wound with all the +unsparingness of a man of rough nature and rude nerves. + +He rose, and with eyes fixed on her face, waited to see if a friendly +and forgiving hand would not be extended to him, with a clear feeling +that one such stretching forth of a hand might decide his fate; but her +eyes grew dark for a moment, as if from pain and anger, and her face +became still colder. + +"Let not that annoy you," said she, with icy politeness. "On the +contrary, papa is very much satisfied with the bargain and with the +whole arrangement with Pan Mashko." + +She rose then, as if understanding that Pan Stanislav wished to take +leave. He stood a moment stricken, disappointed, full of resentment and +suppressed anger, full of that feeling of mortification which a man has +when he is rejected. + +"If that is true, I desire nothing more." + +"It is, it is! I did a good business," concluded Plavitski. + +Pan Stanislav went out, and, descending a number of steps at a time +with hat pressed down on his head, he repeated mentally,-- + +"A foot of mine will not be in your house again." + +He felt, however, that, if he were to go home, anger would stifle him; +he walked on, therefore, not thinking whither his feet were bearing +him. It seemed to him at that moment that he did not love Marynia, +that he even hated her; but still he thought about her, and if he had +thought more calmly he would have told himself that the mere sight +of her had affected him deeply. He had seen her now a second time, +had looked on her, had compared that image of her which he had borne +in his memory with the reality; the image became thereby still more +definite, more really attractive, and acted the more powerfully on him. +And, in spite of the anger, in the depth of his soul an immense liking +for her raised its head, and a delight in the woman. There existed, +as it were, for him two Marynias,--one the mild, friendly Marynia of +Kremen, listening and ready to love; the other that icy young lady of +Warsaw, who had rejected him. A woman often becomes dual in this way +in the heart of a man, which is then most frequently ready to forgive +this unfriendly one for the sake of that loved one. Pan Stanislav did +not even admit that Marynia could be such as she had shown herself +that day; hence there was in his anger a certain surprise. Knowing his +own undeniable worth, and being conceited enough, he carried within +him a conviction, which he would not acknowledge to himself, that it +was enough for him to extend his hand to have it seized. This time it +turned out differently. That mild Marynia appeared suddenly, not only +in the rôle of a judge, who utters sentences and condemns, but also in +the rôle, as it were, of a queen, with whom it is possible to be in +favor or disfavor. Pan Stanislav could not accustom himself to this +thought, and he struggled with it; but such is human nature that, when +he learned that for that lady he was not so much desired as he had +thought, that she not only did not over-value him, but esteemed him +lower than herself, in spite of his displeasure, offence, and anger, +her value increased in his eyes. His self-love was wounded; but, on +the other hand, his will, in reality strong, was ready to rush to the +struggle with difficulties, and crush them. All these thoughts were +circling chaotically in his head, or, instead of thoughts, they were +rather feelings torn and tearing themselves. He repeated a hundred +times to himself that he would drop the whole matter, that he must +and wished to do so; and at the same time he was so weak and small +that somewhere in the most secret corner of his soul he was counting +that very moment on the arrival of Pani Emilia, and on the aid which +her arrival would bring him. Sunk in this mental struggle, he did not +recollect himself till he was halfway on the Zyazd, when he asked, "Why +the misery have I gone to Praga?" He halted. The day was fine and was +inclining toward evening. Lower down, the Vistula was flowing in the +gleam of the sun; and beyond it and beyond the nearer clumps of green, +a broad country was visible, covered on the horizon with a rosy and +blue haze. Far away, beyond that haze, was Kremen, which Marynia had +loved and which she had lost. Pan Stanislav, fixing his eyes on the +haze, said to himself,-- + +"I am curious to know what she would have done had I given Kremen to +her." + +He could not imagine that to himself definitely; but he thought +that the loss of that land was for her a great bitterness really, +and he regretted it. In this sorrow his anger began to scatter and +vanish as mist. His conscience whispered that he had received what he +earned. Returning, he said to himself, "But I am thinking of all this +continually." + +And really he was. Never had he experienced, in the most important +money questions, even half the disquiet, never had he been absorbed so +deeply. And again he remembered what Vaskovski had said of himself, +that his nature, like Pan Stanislav's, could not fix its whole power +on the acquisition of money. Never had he felt with such clearness +that there might be questions more important than those of wealth, and +simply more positive. For the second time a certain astonishment seized +him. + +It was nearly nine when he went to Bigiel's. Bigiel was sitting in a +spacious, empty house with doors opening on the garden veranda; he was +playing on a violoncello in such fashion that everything through the +house was quivering. When he saw Pan Stanislav he broke off a certain +tremolo and inquired,-- + +"Hast thou been at the Plavitskis' to-day?" + +"Yes." + +"How was the young lady?" + +"Like a decanter of chilled water. On such a hot day that is agreeable. +They are polite people, however." + +"I foresaw this." + +"Play on." + +Bigiel began to play "Träumerei," and while playing closed his eyes, +or turned them to the moon. In the stillness the music seemed to fill +with sweetness the house, the garden, and the night itself. When he had +finished, he was silent for a time, and then said,-- + +"Knowest what? When Pani Emilia comes, my wife will ask her to the +country, and with her Marynia. Maybe those ices will thaw then between +you." + +"Play the 'Träumerei' once more." + +The sounds were given out a second time, with calmness and imagination. +Pan Stanislav was too young not to be somewhat of a dreamer; hence he +imagined that Marynia was listening with him to the "Träumerei," with +her hand in his hands, with her head on his bosom, loving much, and +beloved above all in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +Pan Plavitski was what is called a well-bred man, for he returned +Pan Stanislav's visit on the third day. He did not return it on the +second, for such haste would have indicated a wish to maintain intimate +relations; and not on the fourth nor the fifth, for that would have +shown a want of acquaintance with the habits of society,--but only +within the period most specially and exclusively indicated by command +of _savoir vivre_. Plavitski prided himself all his life on a knowledge +of those commands, and esteemed them as his own; the observances of +them he considered as the highest human wisdom. It is true that, as +a man of sense, he permitted other branches of knowledge to exist, +on condition, however, that they should not be overestimated; and +especially, that they should not have the claim to force themselves on +to people who were truly well-bred. + +Pan Stanislav--for whom everything was desirable that would strengthen +in any way the thread of further relations with Marynia--was hardly +able to conceal his delight at the arrival of Plavitski. That delight +was evident in his agreeable reception, full of good-humor. He must +have been astonished, besides, at Plavitski, and the influence which +the city had exercised on him. His hair shone like the wing of a raven; +his little mustaches were sticking up, vying with the color of his +hair; his white shirt covered a slender form; his scarf-pin and black +vest gave a certain holiday brilliancy to his whole figure. + +"On my word, I did not recognize my uncle at the first moment!" cried +Pan Stanislav. "I thought that some youngster was coming." + +"_Bon jour, bon jour!_" answered Plavitski. "The day is cloudy; a +little dark here. It must be for that reason that thou didst mistake me +for a stripling." + +"Cloudy or clear, what a figure!" answered Pan Stanislav. + +And seizing Plavitski by the side, without ceremony, he began to turn +him around and say-- + +"A waist just like a young lady's! Would that I might have such a one!" + +Plavitski, offended greatly by such an unceremonious greeting, but +still more delighted at the admiration roused by his person, said, +defending himself,-- + +"_Voyons!_ Thou art a lunatic. I might be angry. Thou art a lunatic!" + +"But uncle will turn as many heads as he pleases." + +"What dost thou say?" asked Plavitski, sitting down in an armchair. + +"I say that uncle has come here for conquest." + +"I have no thought whatever of that. Thou art a lunatic!" + +"But Pani Yamish? or haven't I seen with my own eyes--" + +"What?" + +Here Plavitski shut one eye and thrust out the point of his tongue; but +that lasted only an instant, then he raised his brows, and said,-- + +"Well, as to Pani Yamish? She is well enough in Kremen. Between thee +and me, I cannot endure affectation,--it savors of the country. May the +Lord God not remember, for Pani Yamish, how much she has tortured me +with her affectation: a woman should have courage to grow old, then a +relation would end in friendship; otherwise it becomes slavery." + +"And my dear uncle felt like a butterfly in bonds?" + +"But don't talk in that way," answered Plavitski, with dignity, "and +do not imagine that there was anything between us. Even if there had +been, thou wouldst not have heard a word about it from me. Believe me, +there is a great difference between you of this and us of the preceding +generation. We were not saints, perhaps; but we knew how to be silent, +and that is a great virtue, without which what is called true nobility +cannot exist." + +"From this I infer that uncle will not confess to me where he is going, +with this carnation in his buttonhole?" + +"Oh, yes, yes! Mashko invited me to-day to dine with a number of other +persons. At first I refused, not wishing to leave Marynia alone. But +I have sat so many years in the country for her sake that in truth a +little recreation is due to me. But art thou not invited?" + +"No." + +"That astonishes me: thou art, as thou sayest, an 'affairist'; but thou +bearest a good family name. For that matter, Mashko is an advocate +himself. But, in general, I confess that I did not suspect in Mashko +the power to place himself as he has." + +"Mashko could place himself even on his head--" + +"He goes everywhere; all receive him. Once I had a prejudice against +him." + +"And has uncle none now?" + +"I must acknowledge that he has acted with me in all that business of +Kremen like a gentleman." + +"Is Panna Marynia of the same opinion?" + +"Certainly; though I think that Kremen lies on her heart. I got rid of +it for her sake, but youth cannot understand everything. I knew about +her views, however, and am ready to endure every bitterness with calm. +As to Mashko, in truth, she cannot cast reproach at him for anything. +He bought Kremen, it is true, but--" + +"But he is ready to give it back?" + +"Thou art of the family, so, speaking between us, I think that that is +true. Marynia occupied him greatly, even during our former visit to +Warsaw; but somehow the affair did not move. The maiden was too young; +he did not please her sufficiently; I was a little opposed myself, for +I was prejudiced as to his family. Bukatski sharpened his teeth at him, +so it ended in nothing." + +"It did not end, since it is beginning again." + +"It is, for I am convinced that he comes of a very good family, once +Italian and formerly called Masco. They came here with Queen Bona, and +settled in White Russia at that time. He, if thou hast noticed it, has +a face somewhat Italian." + +"No; he has a Portuguese face." + +"That is all one, however. But the plan to sell Kremen and still to +keep it--no common head could have worked that out. As to Mashko--yes I +think that such is his plan. Marynia is a strange girl, though. It is +bitter to say this, that a man understands a stranger sooner than his +own child. But if she will only say as Talleyrand did, '_Paris vaut la +messe_.'" + +"Ah, I thought that it was Henry IV. who said that." + +"Thou didst, for thou art an 'affairist,' a man of recent times. +History and ancient deeds are not to the taste of you young men, ye +prefer to make money. Everything depends, then, on Marynia; but I will +not hurry her. I will not, for, finally, with our connections, a better +match may be found. It is necessary to go out a little among people +and find old acquaintances. That is only toil and torment; but what is +necessary, is necessary. Thou thinkest that I go to this dinner with +pleasure. No! but I must receive young people sometimes. I hope too +that thou wilt not forget us." + +"No, no; I will not." + +"Dost know what they say of thee?--that thou art making money +infernally. Well, well, I don't know whom thou art like--not like thy +father! In every case, I am not the man to blame thee, no, no! Thou +didst throttle me without mercy, didst treat me as the wolf did the +lamb; but there is in thee something which pleases me,--I have for thee +a kind of weakness." + +"The feeling is mutual." said Pan Stanislav. + +In fact, Plavitski did not lie. He had an instinctive respect for +property, and that young man, who was gaining it, roused in him a +certain admiration, bordering on sympathy. He was not some poor +relative who might ask for assistance; and therefore Plavitski, though +for the moment he had no calculations in regard to Pan Stanislav, +resolved to keep up relations with him. At the end of the visit he +began to look around on the apartments. + +"Thou hast fine lodgings!" said he. + +That, too, was true. Pan Stanislav had a dwelling furnished as if he +were about to marry. The furnishing itself caused him pleasure, for it +gave a certain show of reality to his wishes. + +Plavitski, looking around at the drawing-room, beyond which was another +smaller apartment furnished very elegantly, inquired,-- + +"Why not marry?" + +"I will when I can." + +Plavitski smiled cunningly, and, patting Pan Stanislav on the knee, +began to repeat,-- + +"I know whom; I know whom." + +"Wit is needed in this case!" cried Pan Stanislav; "try to keep a +secret from such a diplomat." + +"Ah ha! whom? The widow, the widow--whom?" + +"Dear uncle!" + +"Well? May God bless thee, as I bless thee! But now I am going, for it +is time to dine, and in the evening there will be a concert in Dolina." + +"In company with Mashko?" + +"No, with Marynia; but Mashko too will be there." + +"I will go also, with Bigiel." + +"Then we shall see each other. A mountain cannot meet a mountain, but a +man may meet a man any time." + +"As Talleyrand said." + +"Till our next meeting, then!" + +Pan Stanislav liked music at times; he had had no thought, though, of +going to this concert; but when Plavitski mentioned it, a desire of +seeing Mashko seized him. After Plavitski had gone, he thought some +time yet whether to go or not; but it might be said that he did this +for form's sake, since he knew in advance that he would not hold out +and would go. Bigiel, who came to him for a business consultation in +the afternoon, let himself be persuaded easily, and about four o'clock +they were in Dolina. + +The day, though in September, was so warm and pleasant that people had +assembled numerously; the whole audience had a summer look. On all +sides were bright-colored dresses, parasols, and youthful women, who +had swarmed forth like many-colored butterflies, warmed by the sun. In +this swarm, predestined for love, or already the object of that feeling +and entertaining it, and assembled there for the pursuit of love +and for music, Marynia also was to appear. Pan Stanislav remembered +his student years, when he was enamoured of unknown maidens whom he +sought in throngs of people, and made mistakes every moment, through +similarity of hat, hair, and general appearance. And it happened now to +him, to mistake at a distance a number of persons for Marynia,--persons +more or less like her; and now, as before, whenever he said to himself, +"This is she!" he felt those quivers at the heart, that disquiet which +he had felt formerly. To-day, however, anger came on him, for this +seemed to him ridiculous; and, besides, he felt that such eagerness for +meetings and interviews, by occupying a man, and fixing his attention +on one woman, increases the interest which she excites, and binds him +all the more to her. + +Meanwhile the orchestra began to play before he could find her for whom +he was looking. It was necessary to sit down and listen, which he did +unwillingly, secretly impatient with Bigiel, who listened with closed +eyes. After the piece was ended, he saw at last Plavitski's shining +cylinder, and his black mustaches; beyond him the profile of Marynia. +Mashko sat third, calm, full of distinction, with the mien of an +English lord. At times he talked to Marynia, and she turned to him, +nodding slightly. + +"The Plavitskis are there," said Pan Stanislav. "We must greet them." + +"Where dost thou see them?" + +"Over there, with Mashko." + +"True. Let us go." + +And they went. + +Marynia, who liked Pani Bigiel, greeted Bigiel very cordially. She +bowed to Pan Stanislav not with such coolness as to arrest attention; +but she talked with Bigiel, inquiring for the health of his wife and +children. In answer, he invited her and her father very earnestly to +visit them on the following week, at his place in the country. + +"My wife will be happy, very happy!" repeated he. "Pani Emilia too will +come." + +Marynia tried to refuse; but Plavitski, who sought entertainment, +and who knew from his former stay in Warsaw that Bigiel lived well, +accepted. It was settled that they would dine, and return in the +evening. The trip was an easy one, for Bigiel's villa was only one +station distant from Warsaw. + +"Meanwhile sit near us," said Plavitski; "right here a number of seats +are unoccupied." + +Pan Stanislav had turned already to Marynia,-- + +"Have you news from Pani Emilia?" + +"I wished to ask if you had," answered she. + +"I have not; but to-morrow I shall inquire about Litka by telegram." + +Here the conversation stopped. Bigiel took the seat next to Plavitski, +Pan Stanislav on the outside. Marynia turned to Mashko again, so that +Pan Stanislav could see only her profile, and that not completely. +It seemed to him that she had grown somewhat thin, or at least her +complexion had become paler and more delicate during her stay of a few +weeks in Warsaw; hence her long eyelashes were more sharply defined and +seemed to cast more shade. Her whole form had become more exquisite, +as it were. The effect was heightened by a careful toilet and equally +careful arrangement of hair, the style of which was different from what +it had been. Formerly she wore her hair bound lower down, now it was +dressed more in fashion; that is, high under her hat. Pan Stanislav +noted her elegant form at a glance, and admired with his whole soul the +charm of it, which was evident in everything, even in the way in which +she held her hands on her knees. She seemed very beautiful to him. He +felt again with great force that if every man bears within him his own +type of female charm, which is the measure of the impression that a +given woman makes on him, Marynia is for him so near his type that she +and it are almost identical, and, looking at her, he said to himself,-- + +"Oh to have such a wife, to have such a wife!" + +But she turned to Mashko. Perhaps she turned even too often; and if +Pan Stanislav had preserved all his coolness of blood, he might have +thought that she did so to annoy him, and that was the case, perhaps. +Their conversation must have been animated, however, for, from time to +time, a bright blush flashed over her face. + +"But she is simply playing the coquette with him," thought Pan +Stanislav, gritting his teeth. And he wanted absolutely to hear what +they were saying; that was difficult, however. The audience, during +the long intervals, was noisy enough. Separated by two persons from +Marynia, Pan Stanislav could not hear what she said; but after a new +piece of music had been finished, he heard single words and opinions +from Mashko, who had the habit of speaking with emphasis, so as to give +greater weight to each word. + +"I like him," said Mashko. "Every man has a weakness; his weakness is +money--I am grateful to him, for he persuaded me--to Kremen--I think, +besides, that he is a sincere well-wisher of yours, for he has not +spared--I confess, too, that he roused my curiosity." + +Marynia answered something with great vivacity; then Pan Stanislav +heard again the end of Mashko's answer,-- + +"A character not formed yet, and intelligence perhaps less than energy, +but a nature rather good." + +Pan Stanislav understood perfectly that they were talking of him, and +recognized Mashko's tactics equally well. To judge, as it were, with +reason and impartially, rather, to praise, or at least to recognize +various qualities, and at the same time to strip them of every charm, +was a method well known to the young advocate. Through this he raised +himself to the exceptional, and, as it were, higher position of a +judge. Pan Stanislav knew, too, that Mashko spoke not so much with +intent to lower him, as to exalt himself, and that likely he would have +said the same thing of every other young man in whom he might suspect +a possible rival. + +They were finally the tactics which Pan Stanislav himself might +have used in a similar case; this did not hinder him, however, from +considering them in Mashko as the acme of perversity, and he determined +to pay him if the opportunity offered. + +Toward the end of the concert he was able to see how far Mashko was +assuming the rôle of suitor. When Marynia, wishing to tie her veil, had +removed her gloves and they had fallen from her knees, Mashko raised +them and held them, together with her parasol; at the same time he took +her wrap from the side of the chair and placed it across his arm, so +as to give it to her when they were leaving the garden,--in a word, he +was entirely occupied with the lady, though he preserved the coolness +and tact of a genuine man of society. He seemed also sure of himself +and happy. In fact, Marynia, beyond the brief conversation with Bigiel, +talked only with Mashko during the time when she was not listening +to the music. When they moved toward the gate, she went with him and +before her father. Again Pan Stanislav saw her smiling profile turning +to Mashko. While talking, they looked into each other's eyes. Her face +was vivacious, and her attention directed exclusively to what he was +saying. She was, in fact, coquetting with Mashko, who saw it himself, +without admitting, however, for a moment, in spite of his cleverness, +that she could do so merely to worry Pan Stanislav. + +Before the gate a carriage was waiting in which Mashko seated her and +her father. He began then to take leave of them; but Marynia, inclining +toward him, said,-- + +"How is this? Papa has invited you; is it not true, papa?" + +"He was to come with us," said Plavitski. + +Mashko took his seat in the carriage, and they drove away, exchanging +bows with Bigiel and Pan Stanislav. The two friends walked on a good +while in silence; at last Pan Stanislav said, feigning calmness in his +voice,-- + +"I am curious to know if they are betrothed." + +"I do not think they are," said Bigiel; "but it is tending that way." + +"I too see that." + +"I thought that Mashko would seek property. But he is in love, and that +may happen even to a man who is thinking only of a career. Mashko is +in love. Besides, by taking her he will free himself from paying for +Kremen. No, the business is not so bad as it seems, and the lady is +very pretty; what is true, is true." + +And they were silent again. But Pan Stanislav felt so oppressed that he +could not control himself. + +"This thought that she will marry him is simply a torment to me. And +this helplessness! I should prefer anything to such helplessness. I +speak to thee openly. What a stupid and ridiculous rôle I have played +in the whole affair!" + +"Thou hast gone too far,--that may happen to any one; that thou wert +her father's creditor is the fault of remarkable circumstances. Thy +understanding of such matters differs utterly from his: thou and he are +men from two different planets, hence the misunderstanding. Perhaps the +affair was too sharply put by thee; but when I think it all over, too +great mildness was not proper, even out of regard to Panna Marynia. By +making too great abatements thou wouldst have made them for her,--is it +not true? What would have resulted? This, that she helped her father in +exploiting thee. No; it was for thee to finish the matter." + +Here the prudent Bigiel checked himself, thought a moment, and said,-- + +"And as to thy rôle, there is one escape: to withdraw completely, leave +events to their course, and tell thyself that all is going according to +thy idea." + +"How will it help me," cried Pan Stanislav, violently, "to say that, +when all is going against my idea?--and since I feel foolish, there +is no help for it. How could there be? To begin with, I did all this +myself, and now I want to undo it. All my life I have known what I +wanted, but this time I have acted as if I didn't know." + +"There are passages in life to be forgotten." + +"That may be, my dear man, but meanwhile interest in life falls away. +Is the question whether I am well or ill, rich or naked, the same to +me now as it once was? I feel sick at the very thought of the future. +Thou art established and connected with life; but what am I? There was +a prospect; now there is none. That gives a great distaste for things." + +"But surely Panna Marynia is not the only woman on earth." + +"Why say that? She is the only one now; were there another, I should +think of that other. What is the use of such talk? In this lies the +question, in this the whole evil,--that she is the only one. A year +from now a tile may fall on my head, or I may find another woman: what +will happen to-morrow I know not; but that the deuce is taking me +to-day, I do know. This is connected in me with other things too, of +which to-day I do not care to speak. In external life it is necessary +to eat bread in peace,--is not that true? In internal life it is the +same. And this is an urgent affair; but I defer internal life till +after marriage, for I understand that new conditions work out a new way +of thinking, and moreover, I wish to finish one thing before beginning +another. But everything grows involved,--not only involved, but +vanishes. Barely has something appeared when it is gone. This is the +case now. I live in uncertainty. I would prefer if they were already +betrothed, for then all would end of itself." + +"I tell thee only this," said Bigiel: "when I was a boy, I got a thorn +in me sometimes; it pained much less to draw the thorn out myself than +to let some one else draw it." + +"In that thou art right," said Pan Stanislav, who added after a while, +"The thorn may be drawn if it has not gone in too deeply, and one can +seize it. But what are comparisons! When a thorn is drawn out, nothing +is lost; but my hope of the future is ruined." + +"That may be true; but if there is no help for it?" + +"To accept that view is just what grieves the man who is not an +imbecile." + +The conversation stopped here. At the moment of parting Pan Stanislav +said,-- + +"By the way, I should prefer not to be with you on Sunday." + +"Maybe thou wilt do well to stay away." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +A surprise was waiting at home for Pan Stanislav; he found the +following despatch from Pani Emilia, "I leave here for home to-morrow +evening; Litka is well." This return was unexpected, or at least +uncommonly hurried; but since the despatch contained an assurance +as to Litka's health, Pan Stanislav understood that Pani Emilia was +returning for the sole purpose of occupying herself with his affair, +and his heart rose in gratitude. "There is an honest nature," said he +to himself; "that is a friend." And with thankfulness there rose in +his heart such hope, as if Pani Emilia had the ring of an enchantress, +or a magic rod, with which she could change the heart of Panna Marynia +in an instant. Pan Stanislav did not know clearly how this could be +done; but he knew that one person at least wished him well with deep +sincerity, would speak for him, would justify him, would exalt his +heart and character and diminish prejudices, which the course of events +had accumulated against him. He calculated that Pani Emilia would be +very persevering, and that for her this would be a question of duty. A +man who is troubled by something is glad to find a person on whom to +put responsibility. So in moments of rising bitterness, especially, +it seemed to Pan Stanislav that Pani Emilia was responsible for his +relations with Marynia; for if she had not shown that letter from which +Marynia's readiness to love him was evident, he would have been able +to take his mind and heart from her. Perhaps this was true, since in +the history of his feelings this letter did in fact play a leading +part. It showed him how near happiness had been, almost secured; to +what extent in her own mind Marynia had given him heart and soul. It +is more difficult to throw away happiness which is not only desired, +but begun; and, had it not been for that letter, Pan Stanislav might +have regretted the past less, forgotten it more easily, and reconciled +himself to the position more readily. At present he thought it even +her duty to help him with all her power. Finally, he understood that +the affair would move, as it were, of itself; he hoped to see Marynia +often, and in conditions most favorable, since he would see her in a +house where he was loved and esteemed, and where like feelings must +be communicated to each guest. All this strengthened Pan Stanislav's +hope; but it added new links to those which bound his thoughts to +Marynia. Previously he had promised himself not to go to Bigiel's (on +Sunday); now he changed his decision, thinking that, if only health +permitted, Pani Emilia too would take part in the trip. Aside from +reasons connected with Marynia, he rejoiced from his whole soul to +see the beloved faces of Pani Emilia and Litka, who were his greatest +attachments in life so far. + +That same evening he wrote a few words to Plavitski touching the +arrival, supposing that Marynia would be thankful for that information; +he gave notice at Pani Emilia's, so that servants would be waiting in +the morning with tea; and he hired a commodious carriage to take her +and Litka to their home. + +Next morning at five he was at the station; while waiting for the +train, he began to run briskly along the platform to warm himself +somewhat, since the morning was cool. Remote objects, the station +buildings, and the cars standing on the near rails, were sunk in fog, +which, very dense near the ground, became rose-colored and shining +higher up, announcing that the day would be pleasant. Except officials +and servants, there was no one on the platform yet, because of the +early hour; gradually, however, people began to arrive. All at once +two forms came out of the fog; in one of these Pan Stanislav, with +beating heart, recognized Marynia, who was hastening, with her maid, to +greet Pani Emilia. As he had not expected the meeting, he was greatly +confused at the first moment. She stopped short, as if astonished or +troubled. After a while, however, he approached and extended his hand +to her,-- + +"Good-day!" said he. "And truly it will be a good day for us both if +our travellers arrive." + +"Then is it not certain?" asked Marynia. + +"Of course it is certain, unless something unlooked for prevents. I +received a despatch yesterday, and sent the news to Pan Plavitski, +thinking that you would be glad to hear it." + +"Thank you. The surprise was so pleasant!" + +"The best proof of that is that you have risen so early." + +"I have not lost the habit of early rising yet." + +"We came too soon. The train will arrive only in half an hour. +Meanwhile I advise you to walk, for the morning is cool, though the day +promises to be fine." + +"The fog is clearing," said Marynia, raising her blue eyes, which to +Pan Stanislav seemed violet in the light of the morning. + +"Do you wish to walk along the platform?" + +"Thank you; I prefer to sit in the waiting-room." + +And, nodding, she went away. Pan Stanislav began to fly with hurried +steps along the platform. It was somewhat bitter to think that she +would not remain; but he explained to himself that perhaps this was +not proper, and, besides, the bitterness was overcome by the pleasant +thought of how the coming of Pani Emilia would bring them nearer, +and how many meetings it would cause. A certain wonderful solace and +good-humor continued to rise in him. He thought of the violet eyes of +Marynia, and her face made rosy by the coolness of the morning; he +rushed past the windows of the hall in which she was sitting, and said +to himself almost joyfully,-- + +"Ah, ha! sit there, hide thyself! I will find thee." And he felt with +greater force than ever how dear she might become to him, if she +would be kind even in a small degree. Meanwhile bells sounded; and a +few minutes later, in the fog, still dense at the earth, though the +sky above was blue, appeared the dim outlines of the train, which, +as it approached, became more clearly defined. The engine, puffing +interrupted clumps of smoke, rolled in with decreasing movement, and, +stopping, began with noise and hissing to belch forth under its front +wheels the useless remnant of steam. + +Pan Stanislav sprang to the sleeping-car; the first face at the window +was Litka's, which at sight of him grew as radiant as if a sudden +sunbeam had fallen on it. The little girl's hands began to move +joyously, beckoning to Pan Stanislav, who was in the car in one moment. + +"My dearest little kitten!" cried he, seizing Litka's hand, "and hast +thou slept; art thou well?" + +"I am well; and we have come home. And we'll be together--and good-day, +Pan Stas!" + +Right behind the little girl stood Pani Emilia, whose hand "Pan Stas" +kissed very cordially; and he began to speak quickly, as people do at +time of greeting,-- + +"Good day to the dear lady. I have a carriage. You can go at once. +My servant will take your baggage; I ask only for the check. They are +waiting for you at home with tea. Pray give the check. Panna Plavitski +is here too." + +Panna Plavitski was waiting, in fact, outside the car; and she and +Pani Emilia shook hands, with faces full of smiles. Litka looked for a +moment at Marynia, as if hesitating; after a while, however, she threw +herself on her neck with her usual cordiality. + +"Marynia, thou wilt go with us to tea," said Pani Emilia. "It is ready, +and thou art fasting, of course." + +"Thou art tired, travelling all night." + +"From the boundary we slept as if killed; and when we woke, we had time +to wash and dress. In every case we must drink tea. Thou wilt go with +us?" + +"I will, with the greatest pleasure." + +But Litka began to pull at her mother's dress. + +"Mamma, and Pan Stas." + +"But, naturally, Pan Stas too,--he thought of everything. Thanks to +him, everything is ready. He must go with us, of course." + +"He must; he must!" cried Litka, turning to Pan Stanislav, who +answered, smiling,-- + +"Not he must; but he wants to." + +And after a moment all four took their places in the carriage. Pan +Stanislav was in excellent humor. Marynia was before him, and at +his side little Litka. It seemed to him that the morning brightness +was entering him, and that better days were beginning. He felt that +henceforth he would belong to an intimate circle of beings bound +together by comradeship and friendship, and in that circle would be +Marynia. Now she was sitting there before him, near his eye, and near +the friendship which both felt for Pani Emilia and Litka. Meanwhile all +four were talking joyously. + +"What has happened, Emilka," asked Marynia, "that thou hast come so +soon?" + +"Litka begged so every day to come home." + +"Dost not like to live abroad?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"No." + +"Homesick for Warsaw?" + +"Yes." + +"And for me? Now tell quickly, or it will be bad." + +Litka looked at her mother, at Marynia, and then at Pan Stanislav; and +at last she said,-- + +"And for Pan Stas too." + +"Take this for that!" said Pan Stanislav, and he seized her little hand +to kiss it; but she defended herself as she could. At last she hid her +hand. He, turning to Marynia, and showing his sound white teeth, said,-- + +"As you see, we are always quarrelling; but we love each other." + +"That is the way generally," answered Marynia. + +And he, looking her straight and honestly in the eyes, said,-- + +"Oh that it were the way generally!" + +Marynia blushed slightly and grew more serious, but said nothing, and +began to converse with Pani Emilia. + +Pan Stanislav turned to Litka. + +"But where is Professor Vaskovski? Has he gone to Italy?" + +"No. He stopped at Chenstohova, and will come the day after to-morrow." + +"Is he well?" + +"He is." + +Here the little girl looked at her friend, and said,-- + +"But Pan Stas has grown thin; hasn't he, mamma?" + +"Indeed he has," answered Pani Emilia. + +Pan Stanislav was changed somewhat, for he had been sleeping badly, and +the cause of that sleeplessness was sitting before him in the carriage. +But he laid the blame on cares and labor in his business. Meanwhile +they arrived at Pani Emilia's. + +When the lady went to greet her servants, Litka ran after her. Pan +Stanislav and Marynia remained alone in the dining-room. + +"You have no nearer acquaintance here, I suppose, than Pani Emilia?" +said Pan Stanislav. + +"None nearer; none so beloved." + +"In life kindness is needed, and she is very kind and well-wishing. +I, for example, who have no family, can look on this as the house of +a relative. Warsaw seems different to me when they are here." Then he +added, with a voice less firm, "This time I comfort myself also with +their arrival, because there will be at last something mutual and +harmonious between us." + +Here he looked at her, with a prayer in his eyes, as if he wished to +say, "Give me a hand in conciliation; be kind to me, too, since a +pleasant day has come to us." + +But she, just because she could not be for him altogether indifferent, +went always farther in the direction of dislike. The more he showed +cordial kindness, the more sympathetic he was, the more his action +seemed to her unheard of, and the more offended she felt at heart. + +Having a delicate nature, and being, besides, rather timid, and feeling +really that a reply, if too ill-natured, might spoil the day's harmony, +she preferred to be silent; but he did not need an answer in words, +for he read in her eyes as follows: The less you try to improve our +relations, the better they will be; and they will be best if most +distant. His joy was quenched in one moment; anger took its place, and +regret, still stronger than anger,--for it rose from that charm which +nothing could conquer, and to which Pan Stanislav yielded himself with +the conviction, too, that the gulf between him and Marynia was in +reality growing deeper each day. And now, looking on her sweet and kind +face, he felt that she was as dear as she was lost irrecoverably. + +The arrival of Litka put an end to that interval, grievous to him +beyond description. The little girl ran in with great delight, her +hair in disorder, a smile on her lips; but seeing them, she stopped +suddenly, and looked now at one, now at the other, with her dark eyes. +At last she sat down quietly at a table with tea. Her joyousness had +vanished too, though Pan Stanislav, confining the pain in his heart, +strove to talk and be gladsome. + +But he turned scarcely any attention to Marynia; he occupied himself +only with Pani Emilia and Litka; and, wonderful thing! Marynia felt +that as an additional bitterness. To the series of offences still +another was added. + +On the following day Pani Emilia and Litka were invited to tea in the +evening at the Plavitskis'. Plavitski invited Pan Stanislav too, but he +did not go. And such is human nature that this again touched Marynia. +Dislike, as well as love, demands an object. Involuntarily Marynia +looked toward the door all the evening, till the hour struck in which +it was certain that Pan Stanislav would not come; then she began to +coquet so with Mashko that she transfixed Pani Emilia with amazement. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Mashko was a very clever man, but full of self-love; he had no reason, +however, not to take the kindness which Marynia showed him in good +earnest. The unequal degree of it he attributed a little to coquetting, +a little to the changing disposition of the young lady; and though the +latter filled him with a certain alarm, this alarm was not great enough +to restrain him from taking a decisive step. + +Bigiel divined the true state of affairs when he declared that Mashko +was in love. Such was the case really. At first Panna Plavitski pleased +him in a high degree; afterward, when he had thought the pros and cons +over, he came to the conviction that the pros had prevailed. The young +advocate valued property, it is true; but, gifted with great sobriety +of mind, and understanding perfectly the conditions in which he found +himself, he concluded that a very wealthy lady he could not find and +would not get. Richly dowered young ladies were found either among +the aristocracy of descent,--and for him their thresholds were too +lofty,--or among the world of financiers, who sought connections with +families bearing names more or less famous. Mashko knew perfectly that +his painted bishops and armored men, whom Bukatski ridiculed, would not +open bankers' safes to him. He understood that even if they had been +less fantastic, his profession of advocate would itself be a certain +_diminutio capitis_ in the eyes of great financial whales. On the other +hand, he had, in truth, a certain racial repugnance to that kind of +connection; while maidens of good descent had the uncommon attraction +which they have for parvenus generally. + +Panna Plavitski had no dower, or at least a very insignificant one. +In taking her, however, he would free himself from all obligations +to the Plavitskis created by the purchase of Kremen. Secondly, by +connecting himself with a good family, he would endeavor to bring in +a whole group of noble clients, and this might be a very real profit; +finally, through the family relations of Marynia, he might in time +manage the business of a number, or a number of tens, of really wealthy +families,--a thing which had long been the object of his efforts. + +The Plavitskis, like all who are a little above middling country +families, had indeed relatives whom they did not greatly recognize; +they had also others who did not greatly recognize them. This, however, +was done not so much from reasons of pride as involuntarily, by virtue +of a certain social selection, through which people seek in society +persons who are more or less in the same conditions of life as they +themselves are. Great family festivals united such separated relatives +temporarily; and Mashko not only found it agreeable to think that +at his wedding there would be perfectly well-sounding names, but he +foresaw various possible profits. The question would be merely one of +cleverness to give people of this kind an idea that it would be well +on their part, good and safe, to intrust their business to a man noted +for energy, and, more than all, one of their own class, since he is a +relative. That would be something like a dower given to a poor cousin. +Mashko, taking note of his own qualities, hoped to force himself on +them, and in time tower above them. He knew that this man or that would +come at first to him for such counsel as he might find in conversation +with an acquaintance, or a distant relative, who happened to understand +various questions; later on, as the counsels proved good, he would come +oftener, and at last put everything into the hands of the counsellor. +Helping others in this fashion, he could himself sail out into broad +waters, clear Kremen in time, advance to considerable property, throw +aside at last legal pursuits, which he did not like, and which he +considered only as a means of reaching his object, and fix himself +finally in lofty spheres of society as an independent man, and at the +same time a representative of superior landed property resting on a +firm basis. He had foreseen all this, calculated and counted, before he +determined to try for the hand of Panna Plavitski. + +He had not foreseen, however, one thing; to wit, that he would fall +in love to such a degree as he had. For the time this made him angry, +for he judged that too strong a feeling was something opposed to the +balance which a man of high society should preserve at all times. That +balance was one of his illusions. If he had had no need of forcing +himself into that society, or had been born in it, he might have +permitted himself to love to his heart's satisfaction. + +In spite of all his keenness, he had not understood that one of the +chief privileges of this society, which considers itself privileged, +is freedom. For this reason he was not altogether content when his +heart melted too much in presence of Marynia. But, on the other hand, +the object toward which he strove grew identified the more in him with +that personal happiness which was verging almost on intoxication. + +These were new things for him, so new that the brightness of those +unknown horizons blinded him. Mashko had arrived at thirty and some +years of his life without knowing what rapture is. Now he understood +what happiness and charms were described by that word, for he was +enraptured with Marynia to the depth of his soul. Whenever Plavitski +received him in his room, and she was in the adjoining one, Mashko was +with her in thought to such a degree that hardly could he understand +what the old man was saying. + +When she entered, there rose in his heart feelings utterly unknown to +him hitherto,--feelings tender and delicate, which made him a better +man than he was usually. His blue eyes changed their ordinary steel +and cold gleam to an expression of sweetness and delight; the freckles +on his face, by which he called to mind Professor Vaskovski, became +still more distinct; his whole form lost its marks of formality, and +he passed his fingers through his light side whiskers, not like an +English lord, but an ordinary love-stricken mortal. He rose at last so +high that he wished not only his own good, but her good, evidently not +understanding it otherwise than through him and in him. + +He was so much in love that, if rejected, he might become dangerous, +especially in view of his want of moral development, his great real +energy, and lack of scruples. Till then he had not loved, and Marynia +roused first in him all that was capable of loving. She was not a +brilliant beauty; but she possessed in the highest degree the charm of +womanliness, and that womanliness was the reason that she attracted +energetic natures specially. In her delicate form there was something +in common with a climbing plant; she had a calm face, clear eyes, and a +mouth somewhat thoughtful,--all this, taken together, did not produce a +mighty impression at the first glance, but after a time every man, even +the most indifferent, saw that there was in her something peculiar, +which made him remember that he had in his presence a woman who might +be loved. + +In so far as Mashko felt himself better than usual, and in reality +was so during that epoch of his life, in that far had the spiritual +level of Marynia sunk since the Plavitskis came to Warsaw. The sale of +Kremen had deprived her of occupation and a moral basis of life. She +lacked a lofty object. Besides, the course of events had accumulated in +her bitterness and dissatisfaction, which turn always to the injury of +the heart. Marynia felt this herself distinctly; and a few days after +that evening when Pan Stanislav did not come to them, she began first +to speak of this to Pani Emilia, when at twilight they were left by +themselves in the drawing-room adjoining Litka's chamber. + +"I see," said she, "that we are not so outspoken with each other as we +used to be. I have wished to speak with thee openly, and I cannot bring +myself to do so, for it has seemed to me that I am not worthy of thy +friendship." + +Pani Emilia brought her sweet face up to Marynia's head, and began to +kiss her on the temples. + +"Ai, thou Marynia, Marynia! What art thou saying, thou, always calm and +thoughtful?" + +"I say so, for in Kremen I was more worthy than I am now. Thou wilt not +believe how attached I was to that corner. I had all my days occupied, +and had some sort of wonderful hope that in time something very happy +would come to me. To-day all that has passed; and I cannot find myself +in this Warsaw, and, what is worse, I cannot find my former honesty. I +saw how astonished thou wert because I was coquetting with Pan Mashko. +Do not tell me that thou didst not see it. And dost thou think that I +myself know why I acted so? It must be because I am worse, or from some +anger at myself, at Pan Stanislav, at the whole world. I do not love +Mashko; I will not marry him. Therefore I act dishonestly, and with +shame I confess it; but moments come in which I should like to do an +intended injustice to some one. Thou shouldst break thy old friendship +with me, for in truth I am other than I have been." + +Here tears began to roll down Marynia's face, and Pani Emilia fell to +quieting her and fondling her all the more; at last she said,-- + +"Pan Mashko is striving for thee most evidently; and I thought, I +confess, that thou hadst the intention of accepting him. I tell thee +now sincerely that that pained me, for he is not the man for thee; but, +knowing thy love for Kremen, I admitted thy wish to return to it in +this way." + +"At first I had such thoughts, it is true. I wished to persuade myself +that Pan Mashko pleased me; I did not like to repulse him. It was a +question with me of something else too, but it was a question also of +Kremen. But I could not convince myself. I do not want even Kremen at +such a price; but precisely in this lies the evil. For, in such a case, +why am I leading Pan Mashko into error, why am I deluding him? Through +simple dishonesty." + +"It is not well that thou art deluding him; but it seems to me that +I understand whence that flows. From repugnance to some one else, +and from the offence given by him. Is it not true? Console thyself, +however, with this, that the evil is not beyond remedy; for thou +mayst change thy action with Pan Mashko to-morrow. And, Marynia, it +is needful to change it while there is time yet, while nothing is +promised." + +"I know, Emilia; I understand that. But see, when I am with thee I feel +as formerly, like an upright and honest woman; I understand, that not +only a word binds, but conduct. And he may say that to me." + +"Then tell him that thou hast tried to convince thyself that thou wert +in love with him, but could not. In every case, that is the only way." + +Silence followed; but both Marynia and Pani Emilia felt that they +had not begun yet to talk of that which, if it did not concern both, +concerned Pani Emilia most seriously. So, taking Marynia's hands, she +said,-- + +"Now confess, Marynia, thou art coquetting with Mashko because thou art +offended by Pan Stanislav?" + +"That is true," answered Marynia, in a low voice. + +"But does not this mean that the impression of his visit to Kremen, and +of thy first conversations with him, are not effaced yet?" + +"Better if it were." + +Pani Emilia began to stroke her dark hair. "Thou wilt not believe how +good, clever, and noble a man he is. For us he has some friendship. He +has liked Litka always; this makes me grateful from my whole soul to +him. But thou knowest what an unardent and lukewarm feeling friendship +is usually. He in this regard even is exceptional. When Litka was sick +in Reichenhall, wilt thou believe it, he brought a celebrated doctor +from Monachium; but, not wishing to alarm us, he said that the doctor +had come to another patient, and that we should take advantage of his +presence. Think what care and kindness! He is extremely reliable, a man +to be trusted; and he is energetic and just. There are intelligent men, +but without energy; others have energy, but lack delicacy of heart. +He unites one to the other. I forgot to tell thee that when Litka's +property was in danger, and when my husband's brother set about saving +it, he found the greatest aid in Pan Stanislav. If Litka were grown up, +I would give her to no one in the world with such confidence as to him. +I could not even recount to you how much kindness we have experienced +from him." + +"If as much as I have of evil, then very much." + +"Marynia, he did not intend that. If thou couldst but know how he +suffers for his rashness, and how sincerely he acknowledges his fault +touching thee." + +"He told me that himself," answered Marynia. "I, my Emilka, have +pondered much over this,--to tell the truth, I have not thought of +another thing; and I cannot find that he is to blame. In Kremen he was +so pleasant that it seemed to me--to thee alone will I say this; for +to thee I have written it already--that on the Sunday evening which he +passed in our house I went to sleep with my head and heart so filled +with him that I am ashamed to speak of it now. And I felt that one +day longer, one friendly word more on his part, and I should love him +for my lifetime. It seemed to me that he also-- The next day he went +away in anger. The fault was my father's; it was mine also. I was +able to understand that; and dost remember the letter I wrote thee at +Reichenhall? Precisely the same trust which thou hast in him, I too +had. He went away; I myself do not know why I thought, that he would +return, or would write to me. He did not return; he did not write. +Something told me that he would not take away Kremen; he took it. And +afterward--I know that Pan Mashko talked with him openly, and he urged +Pan Mashko, and assured him that he was thinking of nothing himself. +Oh, my Emilia! If it please thee, he is not to blame; but how much harm +has he done to me! Through him I have lost not only a beloved corner in +which I was working; but more, I have lost faith in life, in people, +in this,--that better and nobler things in this world conquer the low +and the evil. I have become worse. I tell thee sincerely that I cannot +find myself. He had the right to act as he has acted, I admit that; +I say so, and do not say that he is guilty. But he has broken some +vital spring in me. There is no cure for that; it cannot be mended. How +can it? What is it to me that a change rose in him afterward; that he +regrets what he did; that he would be ready even to marry me? What is +that to me, if I, who almost loved him, not only do not love him now, +but must guard against repugnance? That is worse than if I did not +care for him. I know what thy wish is; but life must be built on love, +not on repugnance. How can I give my hand to him with that feeling of +offence in my soul and with that regret, that through him, guilty or +not guilty, so much has been lost to me? Thou thinkest that I do not +see his charm; but what can I do, when the more I see him, the more I +am repulsed, and if I had to choose I should choose Pan Mashko, though +he is less worthy? To everything good which thou canst say of him I +agree; but to everything I answer: I do not love him; I never will love +him." + +Pani Emilia's eyes were filled with tears. "Poor Pan Stas," said she, +as if to herself. And after a moment of silence she asked, "And art +thou not sorry for him?" + +"I am sorry for him when I think of him as he was in Kremen; I am sorry +for him when I do not see him. But from the moment that I see him, I +feel nothing but--repulsion." + +"Yes; because thou knowest not how unhappy he was in Reichenhall, and +now he is still more unhappy. He has no one in the world." + +"He has thy friendship, and he loves Litka." + +"My Marynia, that is something different. I am thankful to him from my +whole soul for his attachment to Litka; but that is something different +altogether, and thou knowest thyself that he loves thee a hundred times +more than Litka." + +In the chamber it had grown dark already; but soon the servant brought +in a lamp, and, placing it on the table, went out. By the lamplight +Pani Emilia beheld a whitish form crouched on the sofa near the door +which led to Litka's room. + +"Who is there? Is that Litka?" + +"I, mamma." + +In her voice there was something; Pani Emilia rose and went hurriedly +toward her. + +"When didst thou come out? What is the matter?" + +"I feel so ill in some way." + +Pani Emilia sat down on the sofa, and, drawing the little girl up to +her, saw tears in her eyes. + +"Art thou crying, Litus? What is the matter?" + +"Oh, so sad, so sad!" + +And, inclining her head to her mother's shoulder, she began to cry. +She was in reality sad, for she had learned that "Pan Stas" was more +unhappy than in Reichenhall, and that he loves Marynia a hundred times +more than her. That evening, when going to sleep and in her nightdress, +she nestled up to her mother's ear and whispered,-- + +"Mamma, mamma, I have one very great sin on my conscience." + +"My poor little girl, what is troubling thee?" + +She whispered in a still lower voice, "I do not like Panna Marynia." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +Pani Emilia, with Litka and Marynia, and with them Plavitski, were +going to the Bigiels to dine at their country house, which stood in a +forest at the distance of one hour and a half from the city. It was a +fine day in September; there were myriads of glittering spider-webs +in the air and on the stubbles. Leaves still fresh and green adhered +to the trees yet; here and there, through leafy openings, were +visible as it were fountains and bouquets of red and yellow. That +pale and faded autumn brought to Marynia's mind her occupations in +the country, the odor of grain in the barns, the fields with stacks, +and the clear extent of the meadows, bounded way off somewhere on the +horizon by stretches of alder. She felt a yearning for that life and +that composure, in comparison with which the city, notwithstanding +the labor which seethed in its every-day existence, but which Marynia +was unable to appreciate, seemed to her idle and empty. She felt now +that that life in which she had found her own worth and merit was lost +beyond return to her, and on the other hand there was not outlined +before her anything that could take its place and redeem it. She +might, it is true, return by becoming Pani Mashko; but her heart was +filled with bitterness at that thought alone, and Mashko, with his +Warsaw self-confidence, with his freckles and his side whiskers, with +his aping an English lord, seemed to her simply repulsive. Never had +she felt withal a deeper feeling against Pan Stanislav, who had taken +Kremen from her, and put Mashko in place of it. She was disgusted +with Mashko at that moment, and it seemed to her that she hated Pan +Stanislav. She saw before her life with her father on the pavement of +Warsaw, without an object, without occupation, without an ideal, with +regret for the past and in view of the past, and with emptiness in +the future. For this reason that calm autumn day, instead of quieting +her, filled her with bitterness and sorrow. On the whole, the journey +was not joyous. Litka sat in gloom because "Pan Stas" was not with +them. Pani Emilia gave all attention to her, fearing lest that gloomy +feeling might be connected with her health. Plavitski alone was in +genuine good-humor, especially at the beginning of the journey. In +his buttoned frock-coat, with a red flower in the buttonhole, with +a light-colored overcoat, and with mustaches as pointed as needles, +he thought himself beautiful, and was sprightly, since rheumatism, +which he felt at times, was not troubling him, by reason of the good +weather; secondly, before him sat one of the most presentable women in +Warsaw, who, as he supposed, would not remain indifferent to so many +charms, or in any case would esteem them in so far as she would be able +to note them. Let her say at least to herself, "Oh, what a charming +man that must have been!" In the worst event, Plavitski would have +been satisfied with such a retrospective recognition. In this hope he +was really enchanting; for at one time he was lofty and fatherly, at +another sportive, setting out with the theory that young men of the +present do not know how to act politely with ladies. In politeness, as +he told Pani Emilia, he went as far as mythology, which was true under +a certain aspect, for he looked at her as would a satyr. + +But all this was received with a faint smile and with too little +attention, hence he grew offended at last and began to speak of +something else; namely, that, thanks to the relations of his daughter, +he would become acquainted with the bourgeoisie, of which he was glad, +however, for hitherto he had seen that society only on the stage, but +it is necessary in life to meet the most varied kinds of people, for +it is possible to learn something from each of them. He added finally, +that it is the duty of certain circles not to estrange the commonalty, +but on the contrary to gather them in, and thus plant in them sound +principles; therefore he who had striven always to fulfil his social +duties did not halt before that mission. Here the noble expression of +his face took on a certain style of pensiveness, and in that state of +feeling they drove up to the villa of the Bigiels. + +It stood in a forest of unmixed pines, in the neighborhood of other +villas, among old trees, which in places were felled, in places +standing in groups of a few, or of a few tens. They seemed to wonder +a little what such a new house was doing among them in the old forest +stillness; but they hospitably shielded it from the wind; on fine days +they surrounded it with balsamic air, permeated with the odor of gum +and resin. + +The Bigiels, with a row of children, came out to meet the guests. Pani +Bigiel, who liked Marynia much, greeted her very cordially, desiring, +besides, to prepossess her thereby for Pan Stanislav; she considered +that the better Marynia understood how pleasant it might be for her +among them, the less difficulty would she make. + +Plavitski, who, during his previous stay with Marynia in Warsaw, +had made the acquaintance of the Bigiels at Pani Emilia's, but had +limited himself to leaving cards with them simply, showed himself now +such a gracious prince as was possible only to the most refined man, +who at the same time was fulfilling his mission of gathering in the +"bourgeoisie." + +"At the present day it is agreeable for any man to find himself under +the roof of a person like you; but all the more for me, since my +cousin, Polanyetski, has entered the career of commerce and is your +partner." + +"Polanyetski is a strong man," answered Bigiel, with directness, +pressing the gloved hand of Plavitski. + +The ladies retired for a moment to remove their hats; then, the air +being quite warm, they returned to the veranda. + +"Is Pan Stanislav not here yet?" inquired Pani Emilia. + +"He has been here since morning," answered Bigiel; "but now he is +visiting Pani Kraslavski. The place is near by," added he, turning to +Marynia; "not even half a verst distant. There are summer residences +everywhere about, and those ladies are our nearest neighbors." + +"I remember Panna Terka Kraslavski since the time of the carnival," +said Marynia. "She was always very pale." + +"Oh, she is very pale yet. The past winter she spent in Pau." + +Meanwhile the little Bigiels, who loved Litka wonderfully, drew her +out to play in front of the house. The little girls showed her their +gardens, made in the sand among the pines, in which gardens, to tell +the truth, nothing would grow. These surveys were interrupted every +little while by the girls, who stood on their toes and kissed Litka's +cheeks; she, bending her beautiful flaxen head, returned these kisses +with tenderness. + +But the boys wanted their share as well. First, they stripped to the +stalk the georgina at the house, gathering for Litka the most beautiful +blossoms; then they disputed about this,--what play does Litka like; +and they went to Pani Emilia for information. Edzio, who had the habit +of speaking in a very loud voice, and closing his eyes at the same +time, called out,-- + +"Please, Pani, I say that she likes ball better, only I don't know that +you will let her play ball." + +"Yes; if she will not run, for that hurts her." + +"Oh, she will not, Pani; we will throw the ball so that it will go +straight to her every time, then she will not run any. And if Yozio +doesn't know how to throw that way, let her throw the ball." + +"I want to play with her," said Yozio, pitifully. And at the very +thought that he might be deprived of that pleasure, his mouth took the +form of a horseshoe and began to quiver; but Litka anticipated his +outburst of sorrow, saying,-- + +"I will throw to thee, Yozio; I'll throw to thee very often." + +Yozio's eyes, already moist, began to smile at once. + +"They will not hurt her," said Bigiel to Pani Emilia. "This is +remarkable: the boys are what is called regular tearers; but with her +they are wonderfully careful. It is Pan Stanislav who has trained them +in this devotion to her." + +"Such lovely children! there are few in the world like them," remarked +Pani Emilia. + +In a moment the children gathered in a group to arrange the play. In +the middle of the group stood Litka, the oldest and the tallest; and +though the little Bigiels were well-behaved children, she, with her +sweet, poetic face and features, almost over-refined, seemed, among +those ruddy, round faces, like a being from another planet. Pani Bigiel +turned attention to that first of all. + +"Is she not a real queen?" asked she. "I say truly that never can I +look at her sufficiently." + +"She is so noble in appearance," added Bigiel. + +And Pani Emilia looked at her only one with a glance in which there was +a sea of love. The children ran apart now, and stood in a great circle +forming, on the gray background of fallen pine needles, parti-colored +spots, which seemed as small under the immense pines as colored +mushrooms. + +Marynia went from the veranda and stood near Litka, to assist her in +catching the ball, for which it was necessary to run, and in that way +save her from exertion. + +On the broad forest road leading to the villa, Pan Stanislav appeared +at that moment. The children did not notice him at once; but he took +in with a glance the veranda, as well as the space in front; and, +seeing the bright robe of Marynia under a pine, he hastened his steps. +Litka, knowing her mamma's alarm at every more animated movement which +she made, and, not wishing to disquiet her for anything, stood almost +without stirring from her place, and caught on her club only those +balls which came directly toward her. Marynia ran after all that went +farther. By reason of that running, her hair was loosened so that she +had to arrange it; and, at the moment when Pan Stanislav was coming in +at the gate, she stood bent backward somewhat and with arms raised to +her head. + +He did not take his eyes from her, and saw no one save her. She +seemed to him on that broad space younger and smaller than usual, and +therewith so maidenlike, so unapproachably attractive, so created +for this, that a man should put his arms around her and press her +to his boson; she was so feminine, so much the dearest creature on +earth,--that never till that moment had he felt with such force how he +loved her. + +At sight of him, the children threw down their balls and clubs, and +ran with a cry to meet him. The amusement was stopped. Litka at the +first instant sprang also toward Pan Stas, but restrained herself on +a sudden, and looked with her great eyes, now toward him, now toward +Marynia. + +"But thou art not rushing to meet Pan Polanyetski," said Marynia. + +"No." + +"Why, Litus?" + +"Because--" + +And her cheeks flushed somewhat, though the child did not know and did +not dare to express her thought, which might be expressed in the words: +"Because he does not love me any more; he loves only thee, and looks +only at thee." + +But he approached, freeing himself from the children, and repeating,-- + +"Do not hang on, little rogues, or I'll throw you." + +And he extended his hand to Marynia, looking at her in the eyes, with +an entreaty for a pleasant smile and a greeting even a whit less +indifferent than usual; then he turned to Litka,-- + +"But is the dearest kitten well?" + +At sight of him, and under the influence of his voice, she, forgetting +all the suffering of her little heart, gave him both hands, saying,-- + +"Oh, yes, well; but yesterday Pan Stas did not come to us, and it was +sad. To-day I'll take Pan Stas to mamma to give account." + +After a while all were on the veranda. + +"How are Pani Kraslavski and her daughter?" asked Pani Emilia. + +"They are well, and are coming here after dinner," answered Pan +Stanislav. + +Just before dinner Professor Vaskovski came, bringing Bukatski, who had +returned to Warsaw the evening before. His intimacy with the Bigiels +permitted him to come without being invited; and the presence of Pani +Emilia was too great a temptation to be resisted. He met her, however, +without a trace of sentiment, in his usual jesting fashion; she was +glad to see him, for he amused her with his strange and original way of +uttering ideas. + +"Were you not going to Monachium and Italy?" asked she, when they had +sat down to dinner. + +"Yes; but I forgot a card-knife in Warsaw, and came back to get it." + +"Oh, that was a weighty reason." + +"It always makes me impatient that people do everything from weighty +reasons. What privilege have weighty reasons, that every man must +accommodate himself to them? Besides, I gave, without wishing it, +the last services to a friend, for yesterday I was at the funeral of +Lisovich." + +"What! that thin little sportsman?" inquired Bigiel. + +"The same. And imagine that to this moment I cannot escape astonishment +that a man who played the jester all his life could bring himself to +such a serious thing as death. Simply I cannot recognize my Lisovich. +At every step a man meets disappointment." + +"But," said Pan Stanislav, "Pani Kraslavski told me that Ploshovski, he +with whom all the women of Warsaw were in love, shot himself in Rome." + +"He was a relative of mine," said Plavitski. + +This news affected Pani Emilia mainly. She scarcely knew Ploshovski +himself, but she had often seen his aunt, for whom her husband's elder +brother was agent. She knew also how blindly this aunt loved her +sister's son. + +"My God, what a misfortune!" said she. "But is it true? A young man so +capable, so wealthy--poor Panna Ploshovski!" + +"And such a great estate will be without an heir," added Bigiel. "I +know their property, for it is near Warsaw. Old Panna Ploshovski +had two relatives: Pani Krovitski, though she was distant, and Leo +Ploshovski, who was nearer. Neither are living now." + +These words moved Plavitski again. He was indeed some sort of a distant +relative of Panna Ploshovski, and even had seen her two or three times +in his life; but there remained to him merely the remembrance of fear, +for she had told him the bitter truth each time without circumlocution, +or rather, speaking simply, had scolded him as much as he could hold. +For this reason, in the further course of his life he avoided her most +carefully, and all communication between them was stopped, though on +occasions he liked to say a word in society of his relationship with +a family so well known and important. He belonged to that category +of people, numerous in our country, who are convinced that the Lord +God created for their special use an easy road to fortune through +inheritance, and who consider every hope of that kind as certain. He +cast a solemn glance, therefore, on the assembly, and said,-- + +"Perhaps, too, Providence decided that those properties should pass to +other hands, which are able to make better use of them." + +"I met Ploshovski abroad once," said Pan Stanislav; "and on me he made +the impression of a man altogether uncommon. I remember him perfectly." + +"He was so brilliant and sympathetic," added Pani Bigiel. + +"May God show him mercy!" said Professor Vaskovski. "I too knew him; he +was a genuine Aryan." + +"Azoryan," said Plavitski. + +"Aryan," repeated the professor. + +"Azoryan," corrected Plavitski, with emphasis and dignity. + +And the two old men looked at each other with astonishment, neither +knowing what the other wanted, and this to the great delight of +Bukatski, who, raising his monocle, said,-- + +"How is that, Aryan or Azoryan?" + +Pan Stanislav put an end to the misunderstanding by explaining that +Azorya was the name of the family escutcheon of the Ploshovskis, that +therefore it was possible to be at once an Aryan and an Azoryan; to +which Plavitski agreed unwillingly, making the parenthetical remark +that whoso bears a decent name, need not be ashamed of it, nor modify +it. + +Bukatski, turning to Pani Emilia, began to converse in his usual frigid +tone,-- + +"One kind of suicide alone do I consider justifiable, suicide for love; +therefore I am persuading myself for a number of years to it, but +always in vain." + +"They say that suicide is cowardice," put in Marynia. + +"This is a reason too why I do not take my life: I am excessively +brave." + +"Let us not speak of death, but of life," said Bigiel, "and of that +which is best in it, health. To the health of Pani Emilia!" + +"And Litka," added Pan Stanislav. + +Then he turned to Marynia and said, "To the health of our mutual +friends!" + +"Most willingly," answered Marynia. + +Then he lowered his voice and continued, "For see, I consider them +not only as friends of mine, but also--how is it to be expressed?--as +advocates. Litka is a child yet, but Pani Emilia knows to whom +friendship may be offered. Therefore if a certain person had a +prejudice against me, even justly; if I had acted with that person not +precisely as I should, or simply ill, and if that person knew me to be +suffering from my act,--that person ought to think that I am not the +worst of men, since Pani Emilia has sincere good-will for me." + +Marynia was confused at once; she was sorry for him. He finished in a +still lower voice,-- + +"But in truth I am suffering. This is a great question for me." + +Before she had answered, Plavitski raised a health to Pani Bigiel, +and made a whole speech, the substance of which was that the Queen of +Creation is no other than woman; therefore all heads should incline +before woman, as the queen, and, for this reason, he had bowed down all +his life before woman in general, and at present he bowed before Pani +Bigiel in particular. + +Pan Stanislav from his soul wished him to choke, for he felt that he +might have received some kind word from Marynia, and he felt that the +moment had passed. In fact, Marynia went to embrace Pani Bigiel; on her +return she did not resume the interrupted conversation, and he dared +not ask her directly for an answer. + +Immediately after dinner came Pani and Panna Kraslavski: the mother, +a woman about fifty years old, animated, self-confident, talkative; +the daughter, the complete opposite of her mother, formal, dry, cold, +pronouncing "tek," instead of "tak," but for the rest with a full, +though pale face, reminding one somewhat of the faces of Holbein's +Madonnas. + +Pan Stanislav began out of malice to entertain her; but, looking from +time to time at the fresh face and blue eyes of Marynia, he said +to himself, "If thou hadst given even one kind word! thou,--thou, +the pitiless." And he grew more and more angry, so that when Panna +Kraslavski said "memme" instead of "mamma," he inquired harshly,-- + +"Who is that?" + +"Memme," however, displayed her whole supply of facts, or rather +suppositions, concerning the suicide of Ploshovski. + +"Imagine," said she, with warmth, "it came to my head at once that he +shot himself because of the death of Pani Krovitski. Lord light her +soul! she was a coquette, and I never liked her. She coquetted with +him so that I was afraid to take Terka to any place where they were +together, because her conduct was simply a bad example for such a young +girl. What is true, is true! Lord light her soul! Terka, too, had no +sympathy for her." + +"Ah, Pani," said Pani Emilia, "I have always heard that she was an +angel." + +And Bukatski, who had never seen Pani Krovitski in his life, turned to +Pani Kraslavski and said phlegmatically,-- + +"Madame, _je vous donne ma parole d'honneur_ that she was an archangel." + +Pani Kraslavski was silent a moment, not knowing what to answer; then, +flushing up, she would have answered something sharp, were it not that +Bukatski, as a man of wealth, might in a given event be a good match +for Terka. Pan Stanislav enjoyed the same consideration in her eyes; +and for these two exclusively she kept up summer relations with the +Bigiels, whom she did not recognize when they met her by chance on the +street. + +"With gentlemen," said she, "every presentable woman is an angel or an +archangel. I do not like this, even when they say it to me about Terka. +Pani Krovitski might be a good person, but she had no tact; that is the +whole question." + +In this way conversation about Ploshovski dropped, the more since the +attention of Pani Kraslavski was turned exclusively to Pan Stanislav, +who was entertaining Panna Terka. He was entertaining her a little out +of anger at himself, a little out of anger at Marynia, and he tried to +convince himself that it was pleasant for him near her; he tried even +to find in her a charm, and discovered that her neck was too slender +and her eyes as it were quenched eyes, which grew lively and turned +inquiringly at him when there was no place for a question. He observed, +too, that she might be a quiet despot, for when the mother began to +talk too loudly, Panna Terka put her glasses to her eyes and looked +at her attentively; and under the influence of that look the mother +lowered her voice, or grew silent altogether. In general, Panna Terka +annoyed him immensely; and if he occupied himself more with her than he +ever had before, he did so from sheer desperation, to rouse at least a +shade of jealousy in Marynia. Even people of sound sense grasp at such +vain methods when the misery of their feelings presses them too keenly. +These methods produce usually results opposite to those intended, for +they increase the difficulty of subsequent approach and explanations; +besides, they merely strengthen the feeling cherished in the heart of +the person using them. Toward the end Pan Stanislav longed so much for +Marynia that he would have agreed to listen even to an unpleasant word +from her, if he could only approach her and speak; and still it seemed +to him more difficult now than an hour before. He drew a deep breath +when the visit was over, and the guests were preparing to go. Before +that, however, Litka approached her mother, and, putting her arms +around her neck, whispered. Pani Emilia nodded, and then approached Pan +Stanislav,-- + +"Pan Stanislav," said she, "if you do not think of spending the night +here, ride with us. Marynia and I will take Litka between us, and there +will be room enough." + +"Very well. I cannot pass the night here; and I am very thankful," +answered he; and, divining easily who the author of this plan was, he +turned to Litka and said,-- + +"Thou, my best little kitten, thou." + +She, holding to her mother's dress, raised to him her eyes, half sad, +half delighted, asking quietly,-- + +"Is that good, Pan Stas?" + +A few minutes later they started. After a fine day there came a night +still finer, a little cool, but all bright and silvery from the moon. +Pan Stanislav, for whom the day had passed grievously and in vain, +breathed now with full breast, and felt almost happy, having before +him two beings whom he loved very deeply, and one whom he loved beyond +everything on earth. By the light of the moon he saw her face, and it +seemed to him mild and peaceful. He thought that Marynia's feelings +must be like her face in that moment; that perhaps her dislike of him +was softening amid that general quiet. + +Litka dropped into the depth of the seat, and appeared to be sleeping. +Pan Stanislav threw a shawl, taken from Pani Emilia, over her feet, and +they rode on a while in silence. + +Pani Emilia began to speak of Ploshovski, the news of whose death had +impressed her deeply. + +"There is hidden in all that some unusually sad drama," said Pan +Stanislav; "and Pani Kraslavski may be right in some small degree when +she insists that these two deaths are connected." + +"There is in suicide," said Marynia, "this ghastly thing, that one +feels bound to condemn it; and while condemning there is an impression +that there should be no sympathy for the misfortune." + +"Sympathy," answered Pan Stanislav, "should be had for those who have +feeling yet,--hence for the living." + +The conversation ceased, and they went on again for some time in +silence. After a while Pan Stanislav pointed to the lights in the +windows of a house standing in the depth of a forest park, and said,-- + +"That is Pani Kraslavski's villa." + +"I cannot forgive her for what she said of that unfortunate Pani +Krovitski," said Pani Emilia. + +"That is simply a cruel woman," added Pan Stanislav; "but do you know +why? It is because of her daughter. She looks on the whole world as a +background which she would like to make as black as possible, so that +Panna Terka might be reflected on it the more brightly. Perhaps the +mother had designs sometime on Ploshovski; perhaps she considered Pani +Krovitski a hindrance,--hence her hatred." + +"That is a nice young lady," said Marynia. + +"There are persons for whom behind the world of social forms begins +another and far wider world; for her nothing begins there, or rather +everything ends. She is simply an automaton, in whom the heart beats +only when her mother winds it with a key. For that matter, there +are in society very many such young ladies; and even those who give +themselves out for something different are in reality just like her. +It is the eternal history of Galatea. Would you believe, ladies, that +a couple of years since an acquaintance of mine, a young doctor, fell +in love to distraction with that puppet, that quenched candle. Twice he +proposed, and twice he was rejected; for those ladies looked higher. He +joined the Holland service afterwards, and died there somewhere, with +the fever doubtless; for at first he wrote to me inquiring about his +automaton, and later on those letters ceased to come." + +"Does she know of this?" + +"She does; for as often as I see her, I speak of him. And what is +characteristic is this,--that the memory of him does not ruffle her +composure for an instant. She speaks of him as of any one else. If he +expected from her even a posthumous sorrow, he was deceived in that +also. I must show you, ladies, sometime, one of his letters. I strove +to explain to him her feeling; he answered me, 'I estimate her coolly, +but I cannot tear my soul from her.' He was a sceptic, a positive +man, a child of the age; but it seems that feeling makes sport of all +philosophies and tendencies. Everything passes; but feeling was, is, +and will be. Besides, he said to me once, 'I would rather be unhappy +with her than happy with another.' What is to be said in this case? The +man looked at things soundly, but could not tear his soul away,--and +that was the end of it." + +This conversation ended also. They came out now on to a road planted +with chestnut-trees, the trunks of which seemed rosy in the light of +the carriage lamps. + +"But if any one has misfortune, he must endure it," said Pan Stanislav, +following evidently the course of his own thoughts. + +Meanwhile Pani Emilia bent over Litka,-- + +"Art sleeping, child?" inquired she. + +"No, mamma," answered Litka. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +"I have never run after wealth," said Plavitski; "but if Providence in +its inscrutable decrees has directed that even a part of that great +fortune should come to our hands, I shall not cross its path. Of this +not much will come to me. Soon I shall need four planks and the silent +tear of my child, for whom I have lived; but here it is a question of +Marynia." + +"I would turn your attention to this," said Mashko, coldly,--"that, +first of all, those expectations are very uncertain." + +"But is it right not to take them into consideration?" + +"Secondly, that Panna Ploshovski is living yet." + +"But sawdust is dropping out of the old woman. She is as shrivelled as +a mushroom!" + +"Thirdly, she may leave her property for public purposes." + +"But is it not possible to dispute such a will?" + +"Fourthly, your relationship is immensely distant. In the same way all +people in Poland are related to one another." + +"She has no nearer relatives." + +"But Polanyetski is your relative." + +"No. God knows he is not! He is a relative of my first wife, not mine." + +"And Bukatski?" + +"Give me peace! Bukatski is a cousin of my brother-in-law's wife." + +"Have you no other relatives?" + +"The Gantovskis claim us, as you know. People say that which flatters +them. But there is no need of reckoning with the Gantovskis." + +Mashko presented difficulties purposely, so as to show afterward a +small margin of hope, therefore he said,-- + +"With us people are very greedy for inheritances; and let any +inheritance be in sight, they fly together from all sides, as sparrows +fly to wheat. Everything in such cases depends on this: who claims +first, what he claims, and finally through whom he claims. Remember +that an energetic man, acquainted with affairs, may make something +out of nothing; while, on the other hand, a man without energy or +acquaintance with business, even if he has a good basis of action, may +effect nothing." + +"I know this from experience. All my life I have had business up to +this." Here Plavitski drew his hand across his throat. + +"Besides, you may become the plaything of advocates," added Mashko, +"and be exploited without limit." + +"In such a case I could count on your personal friendship for us." + +"And you would not be deceived," answered Mashko, with importance. +"Both for you and Panna Marynia I have friendship as profound as if you +belonged to my family." + +"I thank you in the name of the orphan," answered Plavitski; and +emotion did not let him speak further. + +Mashko put on dignity, and said, "But if you wish me to defend your +rights, both in this matter, which, as I said, may prove illusive, and +in other matters, then give me those rights." Here the young advocate +seized Plavitski's hand,-- + +"Respected sir," continued he, "you will divine that of which I wish to +speak; therefore hear me to the end patiently." + +He lowered his voice; and although there was no one in the room, he +began to speak almost in a whisper. He spoke with force, with dignity, +and at the same time with great self-command, as befitted a man who +never forgot who he was nor what he offered. Plavitski closed his eyes +at moments; at moments he pressed Mashko's hand; finally, at the end of +the conference, he said,-- + +"Come to the drawing-room; I will send in Marynia. I know not what she +will say to you; in every case, let that come which God wills. I have +at all times known your value; now I esteem you still more--and here!" + +The arms of Plavitski opened wide, and Mashko bent toward them, +repeating, not without emotion, but always with lofty dignity,-- + +"I thank, I thank--" + +After a while he found himself in the drawing-room. + +Marynia appeared with a face which had grown very pale; but she was +calm. Mashko pushed a chair toward her, seated himself in another, and +began,-- + +"I am here by the approval of your father. My words can tell you +nothing beyond what my silence has told already, and which you have +divined. But since the moment has come in which I should mention +my feelings explicitly, I do this then with all confidence in your +heart and character. I am a man who loves you, on whom you may lean; +therefore I put in your hands my life, and I beg you from the bottom of +my heart to consent to go with me." + +Marynia was silent for a moment, as if seeking words, then she said,-- + +"I ought to answer you clearly and sincerely. This confession is for me +very difficult; but I do not wish such a man as you to deceive himself. +I have not loved you; I do not love you, and I will not be your wife, +even should it come to me never to be any one's." + +Then a still more prolonged silence followed. The spots on Mashko's +face assumed a deeper hue, and his eyes cast cold steel gleams. + +"This answer," said he, "is as decided as it is painful to me and +unexpected. But will you not give yourself a few days to consider, +instead of rejecting me decisively at this moment?" + +"You have said that I divined your feelings; I had time then to make +my decision, and the answer which I gave you, I give after thorough +reflection." + +Mashko's voice became dry and sharp now,-- + +"Do you think that by virtue of your bearing with me, I had not the +right to make such a proposal?" + +And he was sure in that moment that Marynia would answer that he +understood her bearing incorrectly, that there was nothing in it +authorizing him to entertain any hope,--in one word, that she would +seek the crooked road taken usually by coquettes who are forced to +redeem their coquetry by lying; but she raised her eyes to him and +said,-- + +"My conduct with you has not been at times what it should have been; I +confess my fault, and with my whole soul I beg pardon for it." + +Mashko was silent. A woman who evades rouses contempt; a woman who +recognizes her fault dashes the weapon from the hand of every opponent +in whose nature, or even in whose education, there lies the least spark +of knightly feeling. Besides this, there is one final method of moving +the heart of a woman in such a ease, and that is to overlook her fault +magnanimously. Mashko, though he saw before him a precipice, understood +this, and determined to lay everything on this last card. Every nerve +in him quivered from anger and offended self-love; but he mastered +himself, took his hat, and, approaching Marynia, raised her hand to his +lips. + +"I knew that you loved Kremen," said he; "and I bought it for one +purpose only, to lay it at your feet. I see that I went by a mistaken +road, and I withdraw, though I do so with endless sorrow; I beg you to +remember that. Fault on your part there has not been, and is not. Your +peace is dearer to me than my own happiness; I beg you, therefore, as +an only favor, not to reproach yourself. And now farewell." + +And he went out. + +She sat there motionless a long time, with a pale face and a feeling +of oppression in her soul. She had not expected to find in him so many +noble feelings. Besides, the following thought came to her head, "That +one took Kremen from me to save his own; this one bought it to return +it to me." And never before had Pan Stanislav been so ruined in her +thoughts. At that moment she did not remember that Mashko had bought +Kremen, not from Pan Stanislav, but from her father; second, that he +had bought it profitably; third, that though he wished to return it, +he intended to take it again with her hand, thus freeing himself from +the payments which weighed on him; and finally, to take the matter as +it was in reality, neither Pan Stanislav nor any one else had taken +Kremen from her,--Plavitski had sold it because he was willing and +found a purchaser. But at that moment she looked on the matter in woman +fashion, and compared Mashko with Pan Stanislav, exalting the former +beyond measure, and condemning the latter beyond his deserts. Mashko's +action touched her so much that if she had not felt for him simply a +repulsion, she would have called him back. For a while it seemed to her +even that she ought to do so, but strength failed her. + +She did not know either that Mashko went down the stairs with rage and +despair in his soul; in fact, a precipice had opened before him. All +his calculations had deceived him: the woman whom he loved really did +not want him, and rejected him; and though she had striven to spare him +in words, he felt humbled as never before. Whatever he had undertaken +in life hitherto, he had carried through always with a feeling of his +own power and reason, with an unshaken certainty of success. Marynia's +refusal had taken that certainty from him. For the first time he +doubted himself; for the first time he had a feeling that his star was +beginning to pale, and that perhaps an epoch of defeats was beginning +for him on all fields on which he had acted hitherto. That epoch had +begun even. Mashko had bought Kremen on conditions exceptionally +profitable, but it was too large an estate for his means. If Marynia +had not rejected him, he would have been able to manage; he would not +have needed to think of the life annuity for Plavitski, or the sum +which, according to agreement, came to Marynia for Magyerovka. At +present he had to pay Marynia, Pan Stanislav, and the debts on Kremen, +which must be paid as soon as possible, for, by reason of usurious +interest, they were increasing day by day, and threatening utter ruin. +For all this he had only credit, hitherto unshaken, it is true, but +strained like a chord; Mashko felt that, if that chord should ever +snap, he would be ruined beyond remedy. + +Hence at moments, besides sorrow for Marynia, besides the pain which a +man feels after the loss of happiness, anger measureless, almost mad, +bore him away, and also an unbridled desire for revenge. Therefore, +when he was entering his residence, he muttered through his set teeth,-- + +"If thou do not become my wife, I'll not forgive thee for what thou +hast done to me; if thou become my wife, I'll not forgive thee either." + +Meanwhile Plavitski entered the room in which Marynia was sitting, and +said,-- + +"Thou hast refused him, or he would have come to me before going." + +"I have, papa." + +"Without hope for the future?" + +"Without hope. I respect him as no one in the world, but I gave him no +hope." + +"What did he answer?" + +"Everything that such a high-minded person could answer." + +"A new misfortune. Who knows if thou hast not deprived me of a morsel +of bread in my old age? But I knew that no thought of this would come +to thee." + +"I could not act otherwise; I could not." + +"I have no wish to force thee; and I go to offer my sufferings there +where every tear of an old man is counted." + +And he went to Lour's to look at men playing billiards. He would have +consented to Mashko; but at the root of the matter he did not count him +a very brilliant match, and, thinking that Marynia might do better, he +did not trouble himself too much over what had happened. + +Half an hour later Marynia ran in to Pani Emilia's. + +"One weight at least has fallen from my heart," began she. "I refused +Pan Mashko to-day decisively. I am sorry for him; he acted with me as +nobly and delicately as only such a man could act; and if I had for him +even a small spark of feeling, I would return to him to-day." + +Here she repeated the whole conversation with Mashko. Even Pani Emilia +could not reproach him with anything; she could not refuse a certain +admiration, though she had blamed Mashko for a violent character, and +had not expected that, in such a grievous moment for himself, he would +be able to show such moderation and nobleness. But Marynia said,-- + +"My Emilka, I know thy friendship for Pan Stanislav, but judge these +two men by their acts, not their words, and compare them." + +"Never shall I compare them," answered Pani Emilia, "comparison is +impossible in this case. For me, Pan Stanislav is a nature a hundred +times loftier than Mashko, but thou judgest him unjustly. Thou, +Marynia, hast no right to say, 'One took Kremen from me; the other +wished to give it back.' Such was not the case. Pan Stanislav did not +take it from thee at any time; but to-day, if he could, he would return +it with all his heart. Prepossesion is talking through thee." + +"Not prepossession, but reality, which nothing can change." + +Pani Emilia seated Marynia before her, and said, "By all means, +Marynia, prepossession, and I will tell thee why. Thou art not +indifferent to Pan Stanislav now." + +Marynia quivered as if some one had touched a wound which was paining +her; and after a while she replied, with changed voice,-- + +"Pan Stanislav is not indifferent to me; thou art right. Everything +which in me could be sympathy for him has turned to dislike; and hear, +Emilka, what I will tell thee. If I had to choose between those two +men, I should choose Mashko without hesitation." + +Pani Emilia dropped her head; after a while Marynia's arms were around +her neck. + +"What suffering for me, that I cause thee such pain! but I must tell +truth. I know that in the end thou, too, wilt cease to love me, and I +shall be all alone in the world." + +And really something like that had begun. The young women parted with +embraces and kisses; but still, when they found themselves far from +each other, both felt that something between them had snapped, and that +their mutual relations would not be so cordial as hitherto. + +Pani Emilia hesitated for a number of days whether to repeat Marynia's +words to Pan Stanislav; but he begged her so urgently for the whole +truth that at last she thought it necessary, and that she would better +tell it. When all had been told, he said,-- + +"I thank you. If Panna Plavitski feels contempt for me, I must endure +it; I cannot, however, endure this,--that I should begin to despise +myself. As it is, I have gone too far. My dear lady, you know that +if I have done her a wrong, I have tried to correct it, and gain her +forgiveness. I do not feel bound to further duties. I shall have +grievous moments; I do not hide that from you. But I have not been an +imbecile, and am not; I shall be able to bring myself to this,--I shall +throw all my feelings for Panna Plavitski through the window, as I +would something not needed in my chamber, I promise that sacredly." + +He went home filled with will and energy. It seemed to him that he +could take that feeling and break it as he might break a cane across +his knee. This impulse lasted a number of days. During that time he did +not show himself anywhere, except at his office, where he talked with +Bigiel of business exclusively. He worked from morning till evening and +did not permit himself even to think about Marynia in the daytime. + +But he could not guard himself from sleepless nights. Then came to him +the clear feeling that Marynia might love him, that she would be the +best wife for him, that he would be happy with her as never with any +one else, and that he would love her as his highest good. The regret +born of these thoughts filled his whole existence, and did not leave +him any more, so that sorrow was consuming his life and his health, +as rust consumes iron. Pan Stanislav began to grow thin; he saw that +the destruction of a feeling gives one sure result,--the destruction +of happiness. Never had he seen such a void before him, and never had +he felt, with equal force, that nothing would fill it. He saw, too, +that it was possible to love a woman not as she is, but as she might +be; therefore his heart-sickness was beyond measure. But, having great +power over himself, he avoided Marynia. He knew always when she was to +be at Pani Emilia's, and then he confined himself at home. + +It was only when Litka fell ill again that he began to visit Pani +Emilia daily, passing hours with the sick child, whom Marynia attended +also. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +But poor Litka, after a new attack, which was more terrible than any +preceding it, could not recover. She spent days now lying on a long +chair in the drawing-room; for at her request the doctor and Pani +Emilia had agreed not to keep her in bed the whole time. She liked +also to have Pan Stanislav sitting near her; and she spoke to him +and her mother about everything that passed through her mind. With +Marynia she was silent usually; but at times she looked at her long, +and then raised her eyes to the ceiling, as if wishing to think out +a thought, and give herself an account of something. More than once +these meditations took place when she was left alone with her mother. +On a certain afternoon she woke as if from a dream, and turning to her +mother, said,-- + +"Mamma, sit near me here on the sofa." + +Pani Emilia sat down; the child put her arms around her neck, and, +resting her head on her shoulder, began to speak in a caressing voice, +which was somewhat enfeebled. + +"I wanted to ask mamma one thing, but I do not know how to ask it." + +"What is thy wish, my dear child?" + +Litka was silent a moment, collecting her thoughts; then she said,-- + +"If we love some one, mamma, what is it?" + +"If we love some one, Litus?" + +Pani Emilia repeated the question, not understanding well at first what +the little girl was asking, but she did not know how to inquire more +precisely. + +"Then what is it, mamma?" + +"It is this,--we wish that one to be well, just as I wish thee to be +well." + +"And what more?" + +"And we want that person to be happy, want it to be pleasant in the +world for that person, and are glad to suffer for that person when in +trouble." + +"And what more?" + +"To have that one always with us, as thou art with me; and we want that +one to love us, as thou lovest me." + +"I understand now," said Litka, after a moment's thought; "and I think +myself that that is true,--that it is that way." + +"How, kitten?" + +"See, mamma, when I was in Reichenhall, mamma remembers? at Thumsee I +heard that Pan Stas loves Panna Marynia; and now I know that he must be +unhappy, though he never says so." + +Pani Emilia, fearing emotion for Litka, said,-- + +"Does not this talk make thee tired, kitten?" + +"Oh, no, not a bit, not a bit! I understand now: he wants her to love +him, and she does not love him; and he wants her to be near him always, +but she lives with her father, and she will not marry him." + +"Marry him?" + +"Marry him. And he is suffering from that, mamma; isn't it true?" + +"True, my child." + +"Yes, I know all that; and she would marry him if she loved him?" + +"Certainly, kitten; he is such a kind man." + +"Now I know." + +The little girl closed her eyes, and Pani Emilia thought for a while +that she was sleeping; but after a time she began to inquire again,-- + +"And if he married Marynia, would he cease to love us?" + +"No, Litus; he would love us always just the same." + +"But would he love Marynia?" + +"Marynia would be nearer to him than we. Why dost thou ask about this +so, thou kitten?" + +"Is it wrong?" + +"No, there is nothing wrong in it, nothing at all; only I am afraid +that thou wilt weary thyself." + +"Oh, no! I am always thinking of Pan Stas anyhow. But mamma mustn't +tell Marynia about this." + +With these words ended the conversation, after which Litka held silence +for a number of days, only she looked more persistently than before at +Marynia. Sometimes she took her hand and turned her eyes to the young +woman, as if wishing to ask something. Sometimes when Marynia and Pan +Stanislav were near by, she gazed now on her, now on him, and then +closed her lids. Often they came daily, sometimes a number of times +in the day, wishing to relieve Pani Emilia, who permitted no one to +take her place in the night at Litka's bedside; for a week she had +been without rest at night, sleeping only a little in the day, when +Litka herself begged her to do so. Still Pani Emilia was not conscious +of the whole danger which threatened the little girl; for the doctor, +not knowing what that crisis of the disease would be, whether a step +in advance merely, or the end, pacified the mother the more decisively +because Pan Stanislav begged him most urgently to do so. + +She had a feeling, however, that Litka's condition was not favorable, +and, in spite of assurances from the doctor, her heart sank more than +once from alarm. But to Litka she showed always a smiling and joyous +face, just as did Pan Stanislav and Marynia; but the little girl had +learned already to observe everything, and Pani Emilia's most carefully +concealed alarm did not escape her. + +Therefore on a certain morning, when there was no one in her room but +Pan Stanislav, who was occupied with inflating for her a great globe of +silk, which he had brought as a present, the little girl said,-- + +"Pan Stas, I see sometimes that mamma is very anxious because I am +sick." + +He stopped inflating the globe, and answered,-- + +"Ai! she doesn't dream of it. What is working under thy hair? But it is +natural for her to be anxious; she would rather have thee well." + +"Why are all other children well, and I alone always sick?" + +"Nicely well! Weren't the Bigiel children sick, one after another, with +whooping-cough? For whole months the house was like a sheepfold. And +didn't Yozio have the measles? All children are eternally sick, and +that is the one pleasure with them." + +"Pan Stas only talks that way, for children are sick and get well +again." Here she began to shake her head. "No; that is something +different. And now I must lie this way all the time, for if I get up my +heart beats right away; and the day before yesterday, when they began +to sing on the street, and mamma wasn't in the room, I went to the +window a little while, and saw a funeral. I thought, 'I, too, shall die +surely.'" + +"Nonsense, Litus!" cried Pan Stanislav; and he began to inflate the +globe quickly to hide his emotion, and to show the child how little +her words meant. But she went on with her thought,-- + +"It is so stifling for me sometimes, and my heart beats so--mamma +told me to say then 'Under Thy protection,' and I say it always, for +I am terribly afraid to die! I know that it is nice in heaven, but +I shouldn't be with mamma, only alone in the graveyard; yes, in the +night." + +Pan Stanislav laid down the globe suddenly, sat near the long chair, +and, taking Litka's hand, said,-- + +"My Litus, if thou love mamma, if thou love me, do not think of such +things. Nothing will happen to thee; but thy mother would suffer if she +knew what her little girl's head is filled with. Remember that thou art +hurting thyself in this way." + +Litka joined her hands: "My Pan Stas, I ask only one thing, not more." + +He bent his head down to her: "Well, ask, kitten, only something +sensible." + +"Would Pan Stas be very sorry for me?" + +"Ah! but see what a bad girl!" + +"My Pan Stas, tell me." + +"I? what an evil child, Litus! Know that I love thee, love thee +immensely. God preserve us! there is no one in the world that I should +be so sorry for. But be quiet at least for me, thou suffering fly! thou +dearest creature!" + +"I will be quiet, kind Pan Stas." + +And in the moment when Pani Emilia came, and he was preparing to go, +she asked,-- + +"And Pan Stas is not angry with me?" + +"No, Litus," answered Pan Stanislav. + +When he had gone to the antechamber he heard a light knocking at the +door; Pani Emilia had given orders to remove the bell. He opened it and +saw Marynia, who came ordinarily in the evening. When she had greeted +him, she asked,-- + +"How is Litka to-day?" + +"As usual." + +"Has the doctor been here?" + +"Yes. He found nothing new. Let me help you!" + +Saying this, he wished to take her cloak, but she was unwilling to +accept his services, and refused. Having his heart full of the previous +talk with Litka, he attacked her most unexpectedly,-- + +"What I offer you is simple politeness, nothing more; and even if it +were something more, you might leave your repugnance to me outside +this threshold, for inside is a sick child, whom not only I, but you, +profess to love. Your response lacks not merely kindness, but even +courtesy. I would take in the same way the cloak of any other woman, +and know that at present I am thinking of Litka, and of nothing else." + +He spoke with great passionateness, so that, attacked suddenly, Marynia +was a little frightened; indeed, she lost her head somewhat, so that +obediently she let her cloak be taken from her, and not only did not +find in herself the force to be offended, but she felt that a man +sincerely and deeply affected by alarm and suffering might talk so, +therefore a man who was really full of feeling and was good at heart. +Perhaps, too, that unexpected energy of his spoke to her feminine +nature; it is enough that Pan Stanislav gained on her more in that +moment than at any time since their meeting at Kremen, and never till +then was she so strongly reminded of that active young man whom she had +conducted once through the garden. The impression, it is true, was a +mere passing one, which could not decide their mutual relations; but +she raised at once on him her eyes, somewhat astonished, but not angry, +and said,-- + +"I beg your pardon." + +He had calmed himself, and was abashed now. + +"No; I beg pardon of you. Just now Litka spoke of her death to me, and +I am so excited that I cannot control myself; pray understand this, and +forgive me." + +Then he pressed her hand firmly, and went home. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +On the following day Marynia offered to stay at Pani Emilia's till +Litka should recover perfectly. Litka supported this offer, which Pani +Emilia, after a short opposition, was forced to accept. In fact, she +was dropping down from weariness; the health of the sick girl demanded +unceasing and exceptional watchfulness, for a new attack might come at +any instant. It was difficult to calculate or be sure that a servant, +even the most faithful, would not doze at the very moment in which +speedy assistance might save the child's life; hence the presence of +Marynia was a real aid to the anxious mother, and calmed her. + +As to Plavitski, he preferred to eat at the restaurant, and made no +trouble. Marynia, moreover, went in every day to inquire about his +health and bring domestic accounts into order; then she returned to +Pani Emilia to sit half the night by the little girl. + +In this way Pan Stanislav, who passed at Pani Emilia's all the time +free from occupation, and received, or rather dismissed with thanks, +those who came to inquire for Litka's health, saw Marynia daily. And +she in truth amazed him; Pani Emilia herself did not show more anxiety +for the child, and could not nurse her more carefully. In a week +Marynia's face had grown pale from watching and alarm; there were dark +lines beneath her eyes; but her strength and energy seemed to grow +hourly. There was in her also so much sweetness and kindness, something +so calm and delicate in the services which she rendered Litka, that +the child, despite the resentment which she cherished in her little +soul, began to be kind to her; and when she went for some hours to her +father, Litka looked for her with yearning. + +Finally the little girl's health seemed to improve in the last hours. +The doctor permitted her to walk in the chamber and sit in an armchair, +which on sunny days was pushed to the door opening on the balcony, so +that she might look at the street and amuse herself with the movement +of people and carriages. + +At such times Pan Stanislav, Pani Emilia, and Marynia stood near her +frequently; their conversation related to what was passing on the +street. Sometimes Litka was wearied, and, as it were, thoughtful; +at other times, however, her child nature got the upper hand, and +everything amused her,--hence the October sun, which covered the roofs, +the walls, and the panes of the shop windows with a pale gold; the +dresses of the passers-by; the calling of the hucksters. It seemed +that those strong elements of life, pulsating in the whirl of the +city, entered the child and enlivened her. At times wonderful thoughts +came to her head; and once, when before the balcony a heavy wagon was +pushing past which carried lemon-trees in tubs, and these, though tied +with chains, moved with the motion of the wagon, she said,-- + +"Their hearts do not palpitate." And then, raising her eyes to Pan +Stanislav, she asked,-- + +"Pan Stas, do trees live long?" + +"Very long; some of them live a thousand years." + +"Oh, I would like to be a tree. And which does mamma like best?" + +"The birch." + +"Then I would like to be a little birch; and mamma would be a big +birch, and we should grow together. And would Pan Stas like to be a +birch?" + +"If I could grow somewhere not far from the little birch." + +Litka looked at him shaking her head somewhat sadly, said,-- + +"Oh, no! I know all now; I know near what birch Pan Stas would like to +grow." + +Marynia was confused, and dropped her eyes on her work; Pan Stanislav +began to stroke lightly with his palm the little blond head, and said,-- + +"My dear little kitten, my dear, my--my--" + +Litka was silent; from under her long eyelids flowed two tears, and +rolled down her cheeks. After a while, however, she raised her sweet +face, radiant with a smile,-- + +"I love mamma very much," said she, "and I love Pan Stas, and I love +Marynia." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Professor Vaskovski inquired every day about the health of the little +one; and though most frequently they did not receive him, he sent her +flowers. Pan Stanislav, meeting him somewhere at dinner, began thanking +him in Pani Emilia's name. + +"Asters, only asters!" said Vaskovski. "How is she to-day?" + +"To-day not ill, but, in general, not well; worse than in Reichenhall. +Fear for each coming day seizes one; and at the thought that the child +may be missing--" + +Here Pan Stanislav stopped, for further words failed him; at last he +burst out,-- + +"What is the use in looking for mercy? There is nothing but logic, +which says that whoso has a sick heart must die. And may thunderbolts +split such existence!" + +Now came Bukatski, who, when he had learned what the conversation was, +attacked the professor; even he, as he loved Litka, rebelled in his +soul at thought of that death which was threatening her. + +"How is it possible to deceive oneself so many years, and proclaim +principles which turn into nothing in view of blind predestination?" + +But the old man answered mildly: "How, beloved friends, estimate with +your own measure the wisdom of God and His mercy? A man under ground is +surrounded by darkness, but he has no right to deny that above him are +sky, sun, heat, and light." + +"Here is consolation," interrupted Pan Stanislav; "a fly couldn't live +on such doctrines. And what is a mother to do, whose only and beloved +child is dying?" + +But the blue eyes of the professor seemed to look beyond the world. For +a time he gazed straightforward persistently; then he said, like a man +who sees something, but is not sure that he sees it distinctly, "It +appears to me that this child has fixed herself too deeply in people's +hearts to pass away simply, and disappear without a trace. There +is something in this,--something was predestined to her; she must +accomplish something, and before that she will not die." + +"Mysticism," said Bukatski. + +But Pan Stanislav interrupted: "Oh, that it were so, mysticism or no +mysticism! Oh, that it were so! A man in misfortune grasps even at a +shadow of hope. It never found place in my head that she had to die." + +But the professor added, "Who knows? she may survive all of us." + +Polanyetski was in that phase of scepticism in which a man recognizes +certainty in nothing, but considers everything possible, especially +that everything which at the given time his heart yearns for; he +breathed therefore more easily, and received certain consolation. + +"May God have mercy on her and Pani Emilia!" said he. "I would give +money for a hundred Masses if I knew they would help her." + +"Give for one, if the intention be sincere." + +"I will, I will! As to the sincerity of intention, I could not be more +sincere if the question involved my own life." + +Vaskovski smiled and said, "Thou art on the good road, for thou knowest +how to love." + +And all left relieved in some way. Bukatski, if he was thinking of +something opposed to what Vaskovski had said, did not dare mention it; +for when people in presence of real misfortune seek salvation in faith, +scepticism, even when thoroughly rooted, pulls its cap over its ears, +and is not only cowardly, but seems weak and small. + +Bigiel, who came in at that moment, saw more cheerful faces, and said,-- + +"I see by you that the little one is not worse." + +"No, no," said Pan Stanislav; "and the professor told us such wholesome +things that he might be applied to a wound." + +"Praise be to God! My wife gave money for a Mass to-day, and went then +to Pani Emilia's. I will dine with you, for I have leave; and, since +Litka is better, I will tell you another glad news." + +"What is it?" + +"Awhile ago I met Mashko, who, by the way, will be here soon; and when +he comes, congratulate him, for he is going to marry." + +"Whom?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"My neighbor's daughter." + +"Panna Kraslavski?" + +"Yes." + +"I understand," said Bukatski; "he crushed those ladies into dust with +his grandeur, his birth, his property, and out of that dust he formed a +wife and a mother-in-law for himself." + +"Tell me one thing," said the professor; "Mashko is a religious man--" + +"As a conservative," interrupted Bukatski, "for appearance' sake." + +"And those ladies, too," continued Vaskovski. + +"From habit--" + +"Why do they never think of a future life?" + +"Mashko, why dost thou never think of a future life?" cried Bukatski, +turning to the advocate, who was coming in at that moment. + +Mashko approached them and asked, "What dost thou say?" + +"I will say Tu felix, Mashko, nube!" (Thou, Mashko, art fortunate in +marriage!) + +Then all began to offer congratulations, which he received with full +weight of dignity; at the end he said,-- + +"My dear friends, I thank you from my whole heart; and, since ye all +know my betrothed, I have no doubt of the sincerity of your wishes." + +"Do not permit thyself one," said Bukatski. + +"But Kremen came to thee in season," interjected Pan Stanislav. + +Indeed, Kremen had come to Mashko in season, for without it he might +not have been accepted. But for that very cause the remark was not +agreeable; hence he made a wry face, and answered,-- + +"Thou didst make that purchase easy; sometimes I am thankful to thee, +and sometimes I curse thee." + +"Why so?" + +"For thy dear Uncle Plavitski is the most annoying, the most +unendurable figure on earth, omitting thy cousin, who is a charming +young lady; but from morning till evening she rings changes on her +never to be sufficiently regretted Kremen, through all the seven notes, +adding at each one a tear. Thou art seldom at their house; but, believe +me, to be there is uncommonly wearisome." + +Pan Stanislav looked into his eyes and answered, "Listen, Mashko: +against my uncle I have said everything that could hit him; but it +does not follow, therefore, that I am to listen patiently if another +attacks Plavitski, especially a man who has made profit by him. As to +Panna Marynia, she is sorry, I know, for Kremen; but this proves that +she is not an empty puppet, or a manikin, but a woman with a heart; +dost understand me?" + +A moment of silence followed. Mashko understood perfectly whom Pan +Stanislav had in mind when he mentioned the empty doll and manikin; +hence the freckles on his face became brick-colored, and his lips began +to quiver. But he restrained himself. He was in no sense a coward; +but even the man who is most daring has usually some one with whom he +has no wish to quarrel, and for Mashko Polanyetski was such a one. +Therefore, shrugging his shoulders, he said,-- + +"Why art thou angry? If that is unpleasing to thee--" + +But Pan Stanislav interrupted, "I am not angry; but I advise thee to +remember my words." And he looked him in the eyes again. + +Mashko thought, "If thou wilt have an adventure anyhow, thou canst have +it." + +"Thy words," said he, "I can remember; only do thou take counsel also +from me. Permit not thyself to speak in that tone to me, else I might +forget myself also, and call thee to reckoning." + +"What the deuce--?" began Bukatski. "What is the matter with thee?" + +But Pan Stanislav, in whom irritation against Mashko has been gathering +for a long time, would beyond doubt have pushed matters to extremes had +not Pani Emilia's servant rushed into the room at that moment. + +"I beg," said he, with a panting voice; "the little lady is dying!" + +Pan Stanislav grew pale, and, seizing his hat, sprang to the door. A +long, dull silence followed, which Mashko interrupted at last. + +"I forgot," said he, "that everything should be forgiven him at +present." + +Vaskovski, covering his eyes with his hands, began to pray. At length +he raised his head and said,-- + +"God alone has bridled death, and has power to restrain it." + +A quarter of an hour later, Bigiel received a note from his wife with +the words, "The attack has passed." + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Pan Stanislav hurried to Pani Emilia's, fearing that he would not find +Litka living; for the servant told him on the way that the little lady +was in convulsions, and dying. But when he arrived, Pani Emilia ran to +meet him, and from the depth of her breast threw out in one breath the +words, "Better! better!" + +"Is the doctor here?" + +"He is." + +"But the little one?" + +"Is sleeping." + +On the face of Pani Emilia the remnants of fear were struggling with +hope and joy. Pan Stanislav noticed that her lips were almost white, +her eyes dry and red, her face in blotches; she was mortally wearied, +for she had not slept for twenty-four hours. But the doctor, a young +man, and energetic, looked on the danger as passed for the time. +Pani Emilia was strengthened by what he told her in presence of Pan +Stanislav, especially this: "We should not let it come to a second +attack, and we will not." + +There was real consolation in these words, for evidently the doctor +considered that they were able to ward off another attack; still there +was a warning that another attack might be fatal. But Pani Emilia +grasped at every hope, as a man falling over a precipice grasps at the +branches of trees growing out on the edge of it. + +"We will not; we will not!" repeated she, pressing the doctor's hand +feverishly. + +Pan Stanislav looked into his eyes unobserved, wishing to read in them +whether he said this to pacify the mother, or on the basis of medical +conviction, and asked as a test,-- + +"You will not leave her to-day?" + +"I do not see the least need of staying," answered he. "The child +is exhausted, and is like to sleep long and soundly. I will come +to-morrow, but to-day I can go with perfect safety." Then he turned to +Pani Emilia,-- + +"You must rest, too. All danger has passed; the patient should not see +on your face any suffering or alarm, for she might be disturbed, and +she is too weak to endure that." + +"I could not fall asleep," said Pani Emilia. + +The doctor turned his pale blue eyes to her, and, gazing into her face +with a certain intensity, said slowly,-- + +"In an hour you will lie down, and will fall asleep directly; you will +sleep unbrokenly for six or eight hours,--let us say eight. To-morrow +you will be strong and refreshed. And now good-night." + +"But drops to the little one, if she wakes?" asked Pani Emilia. + +"Another will give the drops; you will sleep. Good-night." And he took +farewell. + +Pan Stanislav wished to follow him to inquire alone about Litka, but he +thought that a longer talk of that kind might alarm Pani Emilia; hence +he preferred to omit it, promising himself that in the morning he would +go to the doctor's house and talk there with him. After a while, when +he was alone with Pani Emilia, he said,-- + +"Do as the doctor directed; you need rest. I promise to go to Litka's +room now, and I will not leave her the whole night." + +But Pani Emilia's thoughts were all with the little girl; so, instead +of an answer, she said to him directly,-- + +"Do you know, after the attack, she asked several times for you +before she fell asleep. And for Marynia too. She fell asleep with the +question, 'Where is Pan Stas?'" + +"My poor beloved child, I should have come anyhow right after dinner. I +flew here barely alive. When did the attack begin?" + +"In the forenoon. From the morning she was gloomy, as if foreboding +something. You know that in my presence she says always that she is +well; but she must have felt ill, for before the attack she sat near me +and begged me to hold her hand. Yesterday, I forgot to tell you that +she put such strange questions to me: 'Is it true,' inquired she, 'that +if a sick child asks for a thing it is never refused?' I answered that +it is not refused unless the child asks for something impossible. Some +idea was passing through her head evidently, for in the evening, when +Marynia ran in for a moment, she put like questions to us. She went to +sleep in good humor, but this morning early she complained of stifling. +It is lucky that I sent for the doctor before the attack, and that he +came promptly." + +"It is the greatest luck that he went away with such certainty that +the attack would not be repeated. I am perfectly sure that that is his +conviction," answered Pan Stanislav. + +Pani Emilia raised her eyes: "The Lord God is so merciful, so good, +that--" + +In spite of all her efforts, she began to sob, for repressed alarm and +despair were changed to joy in her, and she found relief in tears. +In that noble and spiritualized nature, innate exaltation disturbed +calm thought; by reason of this, Pani Emilia never gave an account to +herself of the real state of affairs; now, for example, she had not +the least doubt that Litka's illness had ended once for all with this +recent attack, and that thenceforth a time of perfect health would +begin for the child. + +Pan Stanislav had neither the wish nor the heart to show her a middle +road between delight and despair; his heart rose with great pity for +her, and there came to him one of those moments in which he felt +more clearly than usually how deeply, though disinterestedly, he was +attached to that enthusiastic and idealistic woman. If she had been his +sister, he would have embraced her and pressed her to his bosom; as it +was, he kissed her delicate, thin hands, and said,-- + +"Praise be to God; praise be to God! Let the dear lady think now of +herself, and I will go to the little one and not stir till she wakes." +And he went. + +In Litka's chamber there was darkness, for the window-blinds were +closed, and the sun was going down. Only through the slats did some +reddish rays force their way; these lighted the chamber imperfectly and +vanished soon, for the sky began to grow cloudy. Litka was sleeping +soundly. Pan Stanislav, sitting near her, looked on her sleeping face, +and at the first moment his heart was oppressed painfully. She was +lying with her face toward the ceiling; her thin little hands were +placed on the coverlid; her eyes were closed, and under them was a +deep shadow from the lashes. Her pallor, which seemed waxen in that +reddish half-gloom, and her open mouth, finally, the deep sleep,--gave, +her face the seeming of such rest as the faces of the dead have. But +the movement of the ruffles on her nightdress showed that she was +living and breathing. Her respiration was even calm and very regular. +Pan Stanislav looked for a long time at that sick face, and felt +again, with full force, what he had felt often, when he thought of +himself,--namely, that nature had made him to be a father; that, +besides the woman of his choice, children might be the immense love of +his life, the chief object and reason of his existence. He understood +this, through the pity and love which he felt at that moment for Litka, +who, a stranger to him by birth, was as dear to him then as would have +been his own child. + +"If she had been given to me," thought he; "if she lacked a mother,--I +would take her forever, and consider that I had something to live for." + +And he felt also that were it possible to make a bargain with death, +he would have given himself without hesitation to redeem that little +"kitten," over whom death seemed then to be floating like a bird of +prey over a dove. Such tenderness seized him as he had not felt till +that hour; and that man, of a character rather quick and harsh, was +ready to kiss the hands and head of that child, with a tenderness of +which not even every woman's heart is capable. + +Meanwhile it had grown dark. Soon Pani Emilia came in, shading with her +hand a blue night-lamp. + +"She is sleeping?" asked she, in a low voice, placing the lamp on the +table beyond Litka's head. + +"She is," answered Pan Stanislav, in an equally low voice. + +Pani Emilia looked long at the sleeping child. + +"See," whispered Pan Stanislav, "how regularly and calmly she breathes. +To-morrow she will be healthier and stronger." + +"Yes," answered the mother, with a smile. + +"Now it is your turn. Sleep, sleep! otherwise I shall begin to command +without pity." + +Her eyes continued to smile at him thankfully. In the mild blue light +of the night-lamp she seemed like an apparition. She had a perfectly +angelic face; and Pan Stanislav thought in spite of himself that she +and Litka looked really like forms from beyond the earth, which by pure +chance had wandered into this world. + +"Yes," answered she; "I will rest now. Marynia has come, and Professor +Vaskovski. Marynia wishes absolutely to remain." + +"So much the better. She manages so well near the little girl. +Good-night." + +"Good-night." + +Pan Stanislav was alone again, and began to think of Marynia. At the +very intelligence that he would see her soon he could not think of +aught else; and now he put the question to himself: "In what lies +this wonderful secret of nature in virtue of which I, for example, +did not fall in love with Pani Emilia, decidedly more beautiful than +Marynia, likely better, sweeter, more capable of loving,--but with +that girl whom I know incomparably less, and, justly or unjustly, +honor less?" Still with every approach of his to Marynia there rose in +him immediately all those impulses which a man may feel at sight of +a chosen woman, while a real womanly form, like that of Pani Emilia, +made no other impression on him than if she had been a painting or a +carving. Why is this, and why, the more culture a man has, the more +his nerves become subtile, and his sensitiveness keener, the greater +difference does he make between woman and woman? Pan Stanislav had +no answer to this save the one which that doctor in love with Panna +Kraslavski had given him: "I estimate her coolly, but I cannot tear my +soul from her." That was rather the description of a phenomenon than an +answer, for which, moreover, he had not the time, since Marynia came in +at that moment. + +They nodded in salutation; he raised a chair then, and put it down +softly at Litka's bed, letting Marynia know by a sign that she was to +sit there. She began to speak first, or rather, to whisper. + +"Go to tea now. Professor Vaskovski is here." + +"And Pani Emilia?" + +"She could not sit up. She said that it was a wonder to her, but she +must sleep." + +"I know why: the doctor hypnotized her, and he did well. The little +girl is indeed better." + +Marynia gazed into his eyes; but he repeated,-- + +"She is really better--if the attack will not return, and there is hope +that it will not." + +"Ah! praise be to God! But go now and drink tea." + +He preferred, however, to whisper to her near by and confidentially, so +he said,-- + +"I will, I will; but later. Let us arrange meanwhile so that you may +rest. I have heard that your father is ill. Of course you have been +watching over him." + +"Father is well now, and I wish to take Emilia's place absolutely. She +told me that the servants had not slept either all last night, for the +child's condition was alarming before the attack. It is needful now +that some one be on the watch always. I should wish, therefore, so to +arrange that we--that is, I, you, and Emilka--should follow in turn." + +"Very well; but to-day I will remain. If not here, I shall be at call +in the next chamber. When did you hear of the attack?" + +"I did not hear of it. I came as I do usually in the evening to learn +what was to be heard." + +"Pani Emilia's servant hurried to me while I was dining. You can +imagine easily how I flew hither. I was not sure of finding her alive. +What wonder, since during dinner I talked almost all the time of Litka +with Bukatski and Vaskovski, till Mashko came with the announcement of +his marriage." + +"Is Mashko going to marry?" + +"Yes. The news has not gone around yet; but he announced it himself. He +marries Panna Kraslavski; you remember her?" + +"She who was at the Bigiels that evening. She is a good match for +Mashko, Panna Kraslavski." + +There was silence for a moment. Marynia, who, not loving Mashko, had +rejected his hand, but who more than once had reproached herself for +her conduct with regard to him, thinking that she had exposed him to +deception and suffering, could find only comfort in the news that the +young advocate had borne the blow so easily. Still the news astonished +her for the time, and also wounded her. Women, when they sympathize +with some one, wish first that some one to be really unhappy, and, +secondly, they wish to alleviate the misfortune themselves; when it +turns out that another is able to do that, they undergo a certain +disillusion. Marynia's self-love was wounded also doubly. She had +not thought that it would be so easy to forget her; hence she had to +confess that her idea of Mashko as an exceptional man had no basis. +He had been for her hitherto a kind of ace in the game against Pan +Stanislav; now he had ceased to be that. She felt, therefore, let +matters be as they might, somewhat conquered. This did not prevent her, +it is true, from informing Pan Stanislav, with a certain accent of +truth, that his news caused her sincere and deep joy, but at bottom she +felt in some sort offended by him because he had told her. + +For a certain time Pan Stanislav had acted with her very reservedly, +and in nothing had he betrayed what was happening within him. He did +not feign to be too cool, for they had to meet; therefore, in meeting +her he maintained even a certain kindly freedom, but for this very +reason she judged that he had ceased to love her, and such is human +nature, that though the old offence was existing yet, and had even +increased in the soul of the young woman, though her first disillusion +had changed as it were into a spring, giving forth new bitterness +continually, still the thought that her repugnance was indifferent to +him irritated Marynia. Now it seemed to her that Pan Stanislav must +even triumph over her mistake as to Mashko; and at this, that in every +case she, who shortly before had the choice between Mashko and him, +has that choice no longer, and will fall, as it were, into a kind of +neglect somewhat humiliating. + +But he was far from such thoughts. He was glad, it is true, that +Marynia should know that, by exalting Mashko above him, she had been +mistaken fundamentally; but he had not dreamed even of taking pleasure +in this or triumphing because of her isolation, for at every moment +and at that time more than any other he was ready to open his arms +to her, press her to his bosom, and love her. He was working, it is +true, continually and even with stubbornness to break in himself those +feelings; but he did this only because he saw no hope before him, and +considered it an offence against his dignity as a man to put all the +powers of his soul and heart into a feeling which was not returned. +To use his own expression, he wished to avoid surrender, and he did +avoid surrender, to the best of his power; but he understood perfectly +that such a struggle exhausts, and that even if it ends with victory +it brings a void, instead of happiness. Besides, he was far yet from +victory. After all his efforts he had arrived at this only,--that his +feeling was mingled with bitterness. Such a ferment dissolves love, it +is true, for the simple reason that it poisons it; and in time this +bitterness might have dissolved love in Pan Stanislav's heart. But +what an empty result! Sitting then near Marynia and looking at her +face and head, shone on by the light of the lamp, he said to himself, +"If only she wished!" That thought made him angry; but since he wanted +to be sincere with himself, he had to confess that if only she wished +he would bend to her feet with the greatest readiness. What an empty +result, then, and what a position without escape! For he felt that +the misunderstanding between them had increased so much that even if +Marynia desired a return of those moments passed in Kremen, self-love +and fear of self-contradiction would close her lips. Their relations +had become so entangled that they might fall in love more easily a +second time than come to an understanding. + +After a short conversation there was silence between them, interrupted +only by the breathing of the sick child and the slight, but mournful, +sounds of the window-panes, on which fine rain was striking. Outside, +the night had grown wet; it was autumnal, bringing with it oppression, +gloom, pessimism, and discontent. Equally gloomy seemed that chamber, +in whose dark corners death appeared to be lurking. Hour followed hour +more slowly. All at once forebodings seized Pan Stanislav. He looked +at Litka on a sudden, and it seemed to him madness to suppose that +she could recover. Vain was watching! vain were hopes and illusions! +That child must die! she must all the more surely, the dearer she was. +Pani Emilia will follow her; and then there will be a desert really +hopeless. What a life! See, he, Polanyetski, has those two, the only +beings in the world who love him,--beings for whom he is something; +therefore it is clear that he must lose them. With them there would +be something in life to which he could adhere; without them there +will be only nothingness and a certain kind of future, blind, deaf, +unreasoning, with the face of an idiot. + +The most energetic man needs some one to love him. Otherwise he feels +death within, and his energy turns against life. A moment like that had +come now to Pan Stanislav. "I do not know absolutely why I should not +fire into my forehead," thought he, "not from despair at losing them, +but because of the nothing without them. If life must be senseless, +there is no reason to permit this senselessness, unless through +curiosity to learn how far it can go." But this thought did not appear +in him as a plan; it was rather the effort of a man writhing at the +chain of misfortune, a burst of anger in a man seeking some one against +whom to turn. In Pan Stanislav this anger turned suddenly on Marynia. +He did not know himself why; but it seemed to him at once that all the +evil which had happened, had happened through her. She had brought into +their circle a dislike not there before, suffering not there before, +and had thrown, as it were, some stone into their smooth water; and +now the wave, which was spreading more and more widely, covered not +only him, but Pani Emilia and Litka. As a man governing himself by +judgment, not by nerves, he understood how vain were reproaches of this +sort; still he could not put down the remembrance that before Marynia +came it was better in every way, and so much better even, that he might +consider that as a happy period of his life. He loved then only Litka, +with that untroubled, fatherly feeling, which did not and could not +bring bitterness for a moment. Who knows, besides, if in time he might +not have been able to love Pani Emilia? She, it is true, had not for +him other feelings than those of friendship, but perhaps only because +he did not desire other feelings. High-minded women frequently refuse +themselves feelings which go beyond the boundary of friendship, so as +not to render difficult and involved the life of some one who might, +but does not wish to become dear. Meanwhile in the depth of the soul +lies a calm secret melancholy; they find sweetness and consolation in +the tenderness permitted by friendship. + +Pan Stanislav, by becoming acquainted with Marynia, gave her at once +the best part of his feelings. Why? for what purpose? Only to give +himself suffering. Now, to complete the misfortune, that Litka, the +one ray of his life, had died, or might die any moment. Pan Stanislav +looked again at her, and said in his soul,-- + +"Remain even, thou dear child; thou knowst not how needful thou art to +me and to thy mother. God guard thee; what a life there will be without +thee!" + +Suddenly he saw that the eyes of the child were looking at him. For a +while he thought himself mistaken, and did not dare to stir; but the +little maiden smiled, and finally she whispered,-- + +"Pan Stas." + +"It is I, Litus. How dost thou feel?" + +"Well; but where is mamma?" + +"She will come right away. We had a great struggle to make her go to +bed to sleep, and we hardly persuaded her." + +Litka turned her head, and, seeing Marynia, said,-- + +"Ah! is that Aunt Marynia?" + +For some time she had called her aunt. + +Marynia rose, and, taking the vial which stood on the shelf, poured +drop after drop into a spoon; then she gave them to Litka, who, when +she had finished drinking, pressed her lips to Marynia's forehead. + +A moment of silence followed; then the child said, as if to herself,-- + +"There is no need of waking mamma." + +"No; no one will wake her," answered Pan Stanislav. "All will be as +Litus wishes." + +And he began to stroke her hand, which was lying on the coverlid. She +looked at him, repeating, as was her wont,-- + +"Pan Stas, Pan Stas!" + +For a while it seemed that she would fall asleep; but evidently the +child was thinking of something with great effort, for her brows rose. +At last, opening widely her eyes, she looked now at Pan Stanislav, and +now at Marynia. In the room nothing was heard save the sound of rain on +the windows. + +"What is the matter with the child?" asked Marynia. + +But she, clasping her hands, whispered in a voice barely audible, "I +have a great, great prayer to Aunt Marynia, but--I am afraid to say it." + +Marynia bent her mild face toward the little girl. + +"Speak, my love; I will do everything for thee." + +Then the little girl, seizing her hand, and pressing it to her lips, +whispered,-- + +"I want Aunt Marynia to love Pan Stas." + +In the silence which followed after these words was to be heard only +the somewhat increased breathing of the little girl. At last the calm +voice of Marynia was heard,-- + +"Very well, my love." + +A spasm of weeping seized Pan Stanislav suddenly by the throat; +everything, not excluding Marynia, vanished from his eyes before that +child, who, at such a moment, sick, powerless, and in the face of +death, thought only of him. + +Litka asked further,-- + +"And will aunt marry Pan Stas?" + +In the light of the blue lamp Marynia's face seemed very pale; her lips +quivered, but she answered without hesitation,-- + +"I will, Litus." + +The little girl raised Marynia's hand to her lips a second time; +her head fell on the pillow, and she lay for a while with closed +lids; after some time, however, two tears flowed down her cheeks. +Then followed a longer silence; the rain was beating against the +window-panes. Pan Stanislav and Marynia were sitting motionless +without looking at each other; both felt, however, that their fates +had been decided that night, but they were as if dazed by what had +happened. In the chaos of thought and feelings neither of them knew +how to note or indicate what was passing within them. In that silence, +which was kept instinctively, lest perchance they might look each other +in the eyes, hour followed hour. The clock struck midnight, then one; +about two Pani Emilia slipped in like a shadow. + +"Is she sleeping?" inquired she. + +"No, mamma," answered Litka. + +"Art thou well?" + +"Well, mamma." + +And when Pani Emilia sat near her bed, the little one embraced her +neck; and, nestling her yellow head at her breast, she said,-- + +"I know now, mamma, that when a sick child begs for anything, people +never refuse." + +And she nestled up to her mother some time yet; then, drawing out each +word as sleepy children do, or very tired ones, she said,-- + +"Pan Stas will not be sad any more; and I will tell mamma why--" + +But here her head became heavy on her mother's breast, and Pani Emilia +felt the cold sweat coming on the hands of the child, as well as on her +temples. + +"Litus!" exclaimed she, with a suppressed, frightened voice. + +And the child began,-- + +"I feel so strange, so weak--" + +Her thoughts grew dim; and after a while she continued,-- + +"Oh, the sea is rolling--such a big sea!--and we are all sailing on it. +Mamma! mamma!" + +And a new attack came, dreadful, pitiless. The little girl's body was +drawn in convulsions, and her eyesight turned toward the back of her +head. There was no chance of illusion this time; death was at hand, and +visible in the pale light of the lamp, in the dark corner of the room, +in the sound of the window-panes, stricken by the rain, and in the +noise of the wind, full of terrified voices and cries. + +Pan Stanislav sprang up and ran for the doctor. In a quarter of an +hour both appeared before the closed doors of the room, uncertain +whether the child was living yet, and they disappeared through it +immediately,--first Pan Stanislav, then the doctor, who, from the +moment that they had pulled him out of bed, kept repeating one phrase, +"Is it fear or emotion?" + +Some of the servants, with sleepy and anxious faces, were gathered at +the door, listening; and in the whole house followed a silence, long +continued, which weighed down like lead. + +It was broken at last by Marynia, who was the first to come out of the +closed chamber, her face as pale as linen, and she said hurriedly,-- + +"Water for the lady! the little lady is living no longer." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +Autumn, in its last days, smiles on people at times with immense +sadness, but mildly, like a woman dying of decline. It was on such a +mild day that Litka's funeral took place. There is pain mingled with +a certain consolation in this,--that those left behind think of their +dead and feel the loss of them. Pan Stanislav, occupied with the +funeral, was penetrated by that calm and pensive day with still greater +sadness; but, transferring Litka's feelings to himself, he thought +that the child would have wished just such a day for her burial, and +he found in this thought a certain solace. Till that moment he had not +been able simply to measure his sorrow; such knowledge comes later, +and begins only when the loved one is left in the graveyard, and a man +returns by himself to his empty house. Besides, preparations for the +funeral had consumed Pan Stanislav's whole time. Life has surrounded +with artificial forms, and has complicated, such a simple act as death. +Pan Stanislav wished to show Litka that last service, which, moreover, +there was no one else to perform. All those springs of life through +which man thinks, resolves, and acts, were severed in Pani Emilia by +the death of her child. This time the wind seemed too keen for the +fleece of the lamb. Happily, however, excessive pain either destroys +itself, or benumbs the human heart. This happened with Pani Emilia. Pan +Stanislav noticed that the predominant expression of her face and eyes +was a measureless, rigid amazement. As in her eyes there were no tears, +so in her mouth there were no words,--merely a kind of whisper, at +once tragic and childish, showing that her thought did not take in the +misfortune, but hovered around the minutiæ accompanying it; she seized +at these, and attended to them with as much carefulness as if her child +were alive yet. In the room, now turned into a chamber of mourning, +Litka, reposing on a satin cushion amid flowers, could want nothing; +meanwhile the heart of the mother, grown childish from pain, turned +continually to this: what could be lacking to Litka? When they tried +to remove her from the body, she offered no resistance; she merely +lost the remnant of her consciousness, and began to groan, as if pained +beyond endurance. + +Pan Stanislav and her husband's brother, Pan Hvastovski, who had come +just before the funeral, strove to lead her away at the moment Litka +was covered with the coffin-lid; but when Pani Emilia began to call the +little one by name, courage failed the two men. + +The procession moved at last with numerous torches, and drew after +it a train of carriages, preceded by priests, chanting gloomily, and +surrounded by a crowd of the curious, who in modern cities feed their +eyes with the sorrow of others, as in ancient times they fed them in +the circus with the blood of people. + +Pani Emilia, attended by her husband's brother, and having Marynia at +her side, walked also behind the caravan with dry and expressionless +face. Her eyes saw only one detail, and her mind was occupied with +that alone. It had happened that a lock of Litka's flaxen, immensely +abundant hair was outside the coffin. Pani Emilia did not take her eyes +from it the whole way, repeating again and again, "O God, O God! they +have nailed down the child's hair!" + +In Pan Stanislav's sorrow, weariness, nervous disturbance, resulting +from sleeplessness, became a feeling of such unendurable oppression +that at moments he was seized by an invincible desire to turn back +when he had gone halfway,--return home, throw himself on a sofa, not +think of anything, not wish anything, not love any one, not feel +anything. At the same time this revulsion of self-love astounded him, +made him indignant at himself: he knew that he would not return; that +he would drain that cup to the bottom, that he would go to the end, +not only because it would happen so, but because sorrow for Litka, and +attachment to her, would be stronger than his selfishness. He felt, +too, at that moment, that all his other feelings were contracted and +withered, and that for the whole world he had in his heart merely +nothing, at least, at that moment. For that matter his thoughts and +feelings had fallen into perfect disorder, composed of external +impressions received very hastily, observations made, it was unknown +why, and mixed all together mechanically with a feeling of sorrow and +pain. At times he looked at the houses past which the procession was +moving, and he distinguished their colors. At times some shop sign +caught his eye; this he read, not knowing why he did so. Then again he +thought that the priests had ceased to sing, but would begin directly; +and he was waiting for that renewed continuance of sad voices, as +if in a kind of dread. At times he reasoned like a man who, waking +from sleep, wishes to give himself an account of reality: "Those are +houses," said he to himself; "those are signs; that is the odor of +pitch from the torches; and there on the bier lies Litka; and we are +going to the graveyard." And all at once there rose in him a wave of +sorrow for that sweet, beloved child, for that dear face which had +smiled so many times at him. He recalled her from remoter and from +recent days; remembered her in Reichenhall, where he carried her when +returning from Thumsee; and later at Bigiel's, in the country; and in +Pani Emilia's house, when she said that she wanted to be a birch-tree; +and finally, when, a few hours before her death, she entreated Marynia +to marry him. Pan Stanislav did not say directly to himself that Litka +loved him as a grown woman loves, and that, in betrothing him to +Marynia, she had performed an act of sacrifice, for the feelings of the +little girl were not known, and could not be defined with precision; +he felt perfectly, however, that there was something like that love in +her, and that the sacrifice took place, flowed, in fact, from that deep +and exceptional attachment which Litka had felt for him. Since the loss +of even those who are dearest is felt most of all through the personal +loss which we suffer, Pan Stanislav began to repeat to himself: "That +was the one soul that loved me truly; I have no one in the whole world +now." And, raising his eyes to the coffin, to that tress of blond hair +which was waving in the wind, he cried out in spirit to Litka with all +those tender expressions with which he had spoken to her while in life. +Finally, he felt that tears were choking him, because that was a call +without echo. There is something heart-rending in the indifference +of the dead. When the one who reflected every word and glance has +become indifferent, when the loving one is icy, the one who was near +in daily life, and next the heart, is full of solemnity, and far away, +it avails not to repeat to one's self: "Death, death!" In addition to +all pain connected with the loss, there is a harrowing deception, as +if an injustice to the heart had been wrought by that lifeless body, +which remains deaf to our pain and entreaty. Pan Stanislav had, in +this manner, at the bottom of his soul, a feeling that Litka, by +taking herself from him, and going to the region of death, had done an +injustice; and from being one who is near, she had become one remote; +from being a confidant, she had become formal, far away, lofty, sacred, +and also perfectly indifferent to the despair of her mother and the +deep loneliness of her nearest friend. There was much selfishness in +those feelings of Pan Stanislav; but were it not for that selfishness, +which, first of all, has its own loss and loneliness in mind, people, +especially those who believe in life beyond the grave and its +happiness, would feel no grief for the dead. + +The procession passed out at last from the city to clearer and more +open spaces, and beyond the barrier advanced along the cemetery wall, +which was fronted with a garland of beggars, and with garlands of +immortelles and evergreens intended for grave mounds. The line of +priests in white surplices, the funeral procession with torches, the +hearse with the coffin, and the people walking behind it, halted +before the gate; there they removed Litka. Pan Stanislav, Bukatski, +Hvastovski, and Bigiel bore her to the grave of her father. + +That silence, and the void which, after each funeral, is waiting for +people at home when they return from fresh graves, seemed this time to +begin even at the cemetery. The day was calm, pale, with here and there +the last yellowed leaves dropping from the trees without a rustle. The +funeral procession was belittled amid these wide, pale spaces, which, +studded with crosses, seemed endless,--as if, in truth, that cemetery +opened into infinity. The black, leafless trees with tops formed of +slender branches, as it were, vanishing in the light, gray and white +tombstones resembling apparitions, the withered leaves on the ground, +covering long and straight alleys,--all these produced at once a +genuine impression of Elysian fields of some sort, fields full of deep +rest, but full also of deep, dreamy melancholy, certain "cold and sad +places" of which the gloomy head of Cæsar dreamed, and to which now was +to come one more "animula vagula." + +The coffin stopped at last above the open grave. The piercing "Requiem +æternam" was heard, and then "Anima ejus." Pan Stanislav, through the +chaos of his thoughts and impressions, and through the veil of his own +sorrow, saw, as in a dream, the stony face and glassy eyes of Pani +Emilia, the tears of Marynia, which irritated him at that moment, the +pale face of Bukatski, on whose features the expression was evident +that his philosophy of life, having no work to do at that graveyard, +had left him and Litka's coffin at the gate. When each threw a handful +of sand on the coffin-lid, he followed the example of others; when they +lowered the coffin on straps into the depth of the grave, and closed +the stone doors, something seized him anew by the throat, so that all +of which he had been thinking, and had learned hitherto, was changed +into one nothingness. He repeated in his soul the simple words: "Till +we meet, Litus!"--words which, when he recalled them afterwards, seemed +to have no relation to the torturing mental storm within him. This was +the end. The funeral procession began to decrease and melt away. After +a time Pan Stanislav was roused by the wind, which came from afar from +between the crosses. He saw now at the grave Pani Emilia with Marynia, +Pani Bigiel, Vaskovski, and Litka's uncle; he said to himself that he +would go out last, and waited, repeating in his soul, "Till we meet, +Litus!" He was thinking of death, and of this,--that he, too, would +come to this place of monuments, and that it is an ocean into which all +thoughts, feelings, and efforts are flowing. It seemed to him then as +if he and all who were there at the grave, or had returned home, were +on a ship sailing straight to the precipice. Of life beyond the grave +he had no thought at that moment. + +Meanwhile the short autumn twilight came on; the crosses grew still +less distinct. The old professor and Pan Hvastovski conducted Pani +Emilia to the cemetery gate without resistance on her part. Pan +Stanislav repeated once more, "Till we meet, dear child!" and passed +out. + +Beyond the gate he thought: "It is fortunate that the mother is +unconscious, for what a terrible thought to leave a child there alone. +The dead forsake us, but we too forsake them." + +In fact, he saw from a distance the carriage in which Pani Emilia was +riding away, and it seemed to him that such an order of things in the +world has in it something revolting. Still when he had sat down alone +in his droshky, he felt a moment of selfish relief, flowing from the +feeling that a certain torturing and oppressive act had been ended, +after which would come rest. On returning to his own dwelling, it +appeared empty, without a ray of gladness, without consolation or +hope; but when at tea, he stretched himself on the sofa, an animal +delight in repose after labor took possession of him, with a feeling +of solace, and even as it were of satisfaction, that the funeral was +over and Litka was buried. He remembered then the opinion of a certain +thinker: "I know no criminals; I know only honest people, and they are +disgusting." Pan Stanislav seemed to himself repulsive at that moment. + +In the evening he remembered that it was needful to inquire about Pani +Emilia, whom Marynia was to take for some weeks to her own house. While +going out, he saw a photograph of Litka on the table, and kissed it. A +quarter of an hour later he rang the bell at the Plavitskis'. + +The servant told him that Plavitski had gone out, but that Professor +Vaskovski and Father Hylak were there beside Pani Emilia. Marynia +received him in the drawing-room; her hair was badly dressed, her eyes +red; she was almost ugly. But her former way of meeting him had changed +entirely, as if she had forgotten all offences in view of more unhappy +subjects. + +"Emilia is with me," whispered she, "and is in a bad state; but it +seems that at least she understands what is said. Professor Vaskovski +is with her. He speaks with such feeling. Do you wish to see Emilia +absolutely?" + +"No. I have come merely to inquire how she feels, and shall go away +directly." + +"I do not know--she might like to see you. Wait a moment; I will go +and say that you are here. Litka loved you so; for that reason alone +perhaps it would be pleasant for Emilia to see you." + +"Very well." + +Marynia went to the next chamber; but evidently did not begin +conversation at once, for to Pan Stanislav there came from the +door, not her voice, but that of Vaskovski, full of accents of deep +conviction, and also, as it were, of effort, striving to break through +the armor of insensibility and suffering. + +"It is as if your child had gone to another room after play," said +the old professor; "and as if she were to return at once. She will +not return, but you will go to her. My dear lady, look at death, not +from the side of this world, but from the side of God. The child +lives and is happy; for, being herself in eternity, she considers +this separation from you as lasting one twinkle of an eye. Litka is +living," continued he, with emphasis; "she is living and happy. She +sees that you are coming to her, and she stretches forth her hands to +you; she knows that in a moment you will come, for from God's point +of view life and pain are less than the twinkle of an eye,--and then +eternity with Litka. Think, dearest lady, with Litka in peace, in +joy,--without disease, without death. Worlds will pass away, and you +will be together." + +"It would be well were that certain," thought Pan Stanislav, bitterly. +But after a while he thought, "If I felt that way, I should have some +cause to go in; otherwise not." + +Still in spite of this thought he went in, not waiting even for +Marynia's return; for it seemed to him that if he had no cause, he had +a duty, and he was not free to be cowardly in presence of the suffering +of others. Selfishness is "cotton in the ears against human groans," +and excuses itself in its own eyes by saying that nothing can be said +to great suffering to relieve it. Pan Stanislav understood that this +was the case, and was ashamed to withdraw comfortably instead of going +to meet the sorrow of a mother. When he entered, he saw Pani Emilia +sitting on the sofa; above the sofa was a lamp, and lower than the +lamp a palm, which cast a shadow on that unhappy head, as if gigantic +fingers were opened above it. Near Pani Emilia sat Vaskovski, who was +holding her hands and looking into her face. Pan Stanislav took those +hands from him, and, bending down, began to press them to his lips in +silence. + +Pani Emilia blinked a while, like a person striving to rise out of +sleep; then she cried suddenly, with an unexpected outburst,-- + +"Remember how she--" + +And she was borne away by a measureless weeping, during which her +hands were clasped, her lips could not catch breath, and her bosom +was bursting from sobs. At last strength failed her, and she fainted. +When she recovered, Marynia led her to her own chamber. Pan Stanislav +and Vaskovski went to the adjoining reception-room, where they were +detained by Plavitski, who had come in just that moment. + +"Such a sad person in the house," said he,--"it spoils life terribly. +A little peace and freedom should be due to me; but what is to be +done, what is to be done? I must descend to the second place, and I am +ready." + +At the end of half an hour Marynia came with the announcement that at +her request Pani Emilia had gone to bed, and was a little calmer. Pan +Stanislav and Vaskovski took leave, and went out. + +They walked along in a dense fog, which rose from the earth after a +calm day, hiding the streets and forming parti-colored circles around +the lamps. Both were thinking of Litka, who was passing her first night +among the dead, and at a distance from her mother. To Pan Stanislav +this seemed simply terrible, not for Litka, but for Pani Emilia, +who had to think of it. He meditated also over the words spoken by +Vaskovski, and said at last,-- + +"I heard thy words. If they gave her solace, it is well; but if that +were true, we should make a feast now, and rejoice that Litka is dead." + +"But whence dost thou know that we shall not be happy after death?" + +"Wilt thou tell me whence thou hast the knowledge that we shall?" + +"I do not know; I believe." + +There was no answer to this; therefore Pan Stanislav said, as if to +himself, "Mercy, empyrean light, eternity, meeting; but what is there +in fact? The corpse of a child in the grave, and a mother who is +wailing from pain. Grant that death has produced thy faith at least; +yet it brings doubt, because thou art grieving for the child. I am +grieving still more; and this grief casts on me directly the question, +'Why did she die? Why such cruelty?' I know that this question is a +foolish one, and that milliards of people have put it to themselves; +but, if this knowledge is to be my solace, may thunderbolts split it! +I know, too, that I shall not find an answer, and for that very reason +I want to gnash my teeth and curse. I do not understand, and I rebel; +that is all. That is the whole result, which thou canst not recognize +as the one sought for." + +Vaskovski answered also, as if speaking to himself, "Christ rose from +the dead, for He was God; but He rose as man, and He passed through +death. How can I, poor worm, do otherwise than magnify the Divine Will +and Wisdom in death?" + +To this Pan Stanislav answered.-- + +"It is impossible to talk with thee!" + +"It is slippery," answered Vaskovski; "give me thy arm." And, taking +Pan Stanislav by the arm, he leaned on him, and said, "My dear friend, +thou hast an honest and a loving heart; thou didst love that little +girl greatly, thou wert ready to do much for her. Do this one thing +now,--whether thou believest or not,--say for her, 'Eternal rest!' If +thou think that that will be no good to her, say to thyself, 'I can do +no more, but I will do that.'" + +"Give me peace!" answered Pan Stanislav. + +"That may not be needful to her, but thy remembrance of her will be +dear; she will be grateful, and will obtain the grace of God for thee." + +Pan Stanislav remembered how Vaskovski, at news of Litka's last attack, +said that the life of the child could not be purposeless, and that +if she had to die she was predestined to do something before death; +and now he wished to attack Vaskovski on this point, when the thought +flashed on him that, before her death, Litka had united him with +Marynia; and it occurred to him that perhaps she had lived for this +very purpose. But at that moment he rebelled against the thought. Anger +at Marynia seized him; he was full of stubbornness, and almost contempt. + +"I do not want Marynia at such a price!" thought he, gritting his +teeth; "I do not! I have suffered enough through her. I would give ten +such for one Litka." + +Meanwhile Vaskovski, trotting near him, said,-- + +"Nothing is to be seen at a step's distance, and the stones are +slippery from fog. Without thee I should have fallen long ago." + +Pan Stanislav recovered himself, and answered,-- + +"Whoso walks on the earth, professor, must look down, not up." + +"Thou hast good legs, my dear friend." + +"And eyes which see clearly, even in a fog like this which surrounds +us. And it is needful, for we all live in a fog, and deuce knows what +is beyond it. All that thou sayest makes on me such an impression +as the words of a man who would break dry twigs, throw them into a +torrent, and say, Flowers will come from these. Rottenness will come, +nothing more. From me, too, this torrent has torn away something from +which I am to think that a flower will rise? Folly! But here is thy +gate. Good-night!" + +And they separated. Pan Stanislav returned to his own house barely +alive, he was so weary; and, when he had lain down in bed, he began +to torture himself with thoughts further continued, or rather with +visions. To begin with, before his eyes appeared the figure of Pani +Emilia, powerless from pain; she was sitting in Marynia's parlor, +under the palm-leaf, which was hanging over her head like an immense +ill-omened hand, with outspread, grasping fingers, and it cast a shadow +on her face. "I might philosophize over that till morning," muttered +he. "Everything out of which life is constructed is a hand like that, +from which a shadow falls,--nothing more. But if there were a little +mercy besides, the child would not have died; but with what Vaskovski +says, you couldn't keep life in a sparrow." + +Here he remembered, however, that Vaskovski not only spoke of death, +but begged him also to say "eternal rest" for Litka. Pan Stanislav +began now to struggle with himself. His lips were closed through lack +of a deep faith that Litka might hear his "eternal rest," and that it +might be of good to her. He felt, besides, a kind of shame to speak +words which did not flow from the depth of his conviction, and felt +also the same kind of shame not to say the "eternal rest." "For, +finally, what do I know?" thought he. "Nothing. Around is fog and fog. +Likely nothing will come to her from that; but, let happen what may, +that is in truth the only thing that I can do now for my kitten,--for +that dear child,--who was mindful of me on the night that she died." + +And he hesitated for a time yet; at last he knelt and said, "eternal +rest." It did not bring him, however, any solace, for it roused only +the more sorrow for Litka, and also anger at Vaskovski, because he +had pushed him into a position in which he had either to fall into +contradiction with himself or be, as it were, a traitor to Litka. He +felt, finally, that he had had enough of that kind of torment, and he +determined to go early in the morning to his office and occupy himself +with Bigiel on the first commercial affair that presented itself, if it +were only to tear away his thought from the painful, vicious circle in +which for some days he had been turning. + +But in the morning Bigiel anticipated him, and came to his house; +maybe, too, with the intent to occupy him. Pan Stanislav threw himself +with a certain interest into the examination of current business; but +he and Bigiel were not long occupied, for an hour later Bukatski came +to say farewell to them. + +"I am going to Italy to-day," said he, "and God knows when I shall +return. I wish to say to you both, Be in good health. The death of +that child touched me more than I thought it would." + +"Art thou going far?" + +"Oh, there would be much talk in the answer. With us, this is how it +happens: Be a Buddhist, or whatever may please thee, the kernel of the +question is this: one believes a little, trusts a little in some sort +of mercy, and thus lives. Meanwhile, what happens? Reality slaps us +daily in the face, and brings us into mental agony and anguish, into +moral straits. With us, one is always loving somebody, or is tormented +with somebody's misfortune; but I do not want this. It tortures me." + +"How will the Italians help thee?" + +"How will they help me? They will, for in Italy I have the sun, which +here I have not; I have art, which here I have not, and I feel for +it a weakness; I have chianti,[4] which does good to the catarrh of +my stomach; and finally, I have people for whom I care nothing and +nothing, and who may die for themselves in hundreds without causing me +any bitterness. + +"I shall look at pictures, buy what I need, nurse my rheumatism, my +headache; and I shall be for myself a more or less elegant, a more or +less well nourished, a more or less healthy animal,--which, believe me, +is still the kind and condition of life most desired. Here I cannot be +that beast which, from my soul, I wish to be." + +"Thou art right, Bukatski. We, as thou seest, are sitting with our +accounts, also somewhat for this,--to become more idiotic, and not +think of aught else. When we acquire such a fortune as thou hast, I +don't know how it is with Bigiel, but I will follow in thy steps." + +"Then till we see each other again in time and space!" said Bukatski. + +A while after his departure, Pan Stanislav said,-- + +"He is right. How happy I should be, for example, if I had not +become attached to that child and Pani Emilia! In this respect we +are incurable, and we spoil our lives voluntarily. He is right. In +this country one is always loving some person or something; it is an +inherited disease. Eternal romanticism, eternal sentimentalism,--and +eternally pins in the heart." + +"Old Plavitski bows to thee," said Bigiel. "That man loves nobody but +himself." + +"In reality, this is perhaps true; but he lacks the courage to tell +himself that that is permissible and necessary. Nay, what is more, he +is convinced that it is needful to act otherwise; and through this +he is in continual slavery. Here, though a man have a nature like +Plavitski's, he must feign even to himself that he loves some one or +something." + +"But will you visit Pani Emilia to-day?" asked Bigiel. + +"Of course! If I were to say, for example, 'I have the malaria,' I +should not cure myself by saying so." + +And, in fact, not only was he at Pani Emilia's that day, but he was +there twice; for at his first visit he did not find the ladies at home. +To the question where his daughter was, Plavitski answered, with due +pathos and resignation, "I have no daughter now." Pan Stanislav, not +wishing to tell him fables, for which he felt a sudden desire, went +away, and returned only in the evening. + +This time Marynia herself received him, and informed him that Pani +Emilia had slept for the first time since Litka's funeral. While saying +this, she left her hand a certain time in his. Pan Stanislav, in +spite of all the disorder in which his thoughts were, could not avoid +noticing this; and, when he looked at last with an inquiring glance +into her eyes, he discovered that the young lady's cheeks flushed +deeply. They sat down, and began to converse. + +"We were at Povanzki," said Marynia, "and I promised Emilia to go there +with her every day." + +"But is it well for her to remember the child so every day, and open +her wounds?" + +"But are they healed?" answered Marynia, "or is it possible to say to +her, 'Do not go'? I thought myself that it would not be well, but grew +convinced of the contrary. At the graveyard she wept much, but was the +better for it. On the way home she remembered what Professor Vaskovski +had told her, and the thought is for her the only consolation,--the +only." + +"Let her have even such a one," answered Pan Stanislav. + +"You see, I did not dare to mention Litka at first, but she speaks of +her all the time. Do not fear to speak to her of the child, for it +gives her evident solace." + +Here the young lady continued in a lower, and, as it were, an uncertain +voice, "She reproaches herself continually for having listened to the +assurances of the doctor the last night, and gone to sleep; she is +sorry for those last moments, which she might have passed with Litka, +and that thought tortures her. To-day, when we were returning from +the graveyard, she asked about the smallest details. She asked how +the child looked, how long she slept, whether she took medicine, what +she said, whether she spoke to us; then she implored me to remember +everything, and not omit a single word." + +"And you did not omit anything?" + +"No." + +"How did she receive it?" + +"She cried very, very much." + +Both grew silent, and were silent rather long; then Marynia said,-- + +"I will go and see what is happening to her." + +After a while she returned. + +"She is sleeping," said the young lady. "Praise be to God!" + +Indeed, Pan Stanislav did not see Pani Emilia that evening; she +had fallen into a kind of lethargic slumber. At parting, Marynia +pressed his hand again long and vigorously, and inquired almost with +submission,-- + +"You do not take it ill of me that I repeated to Pani Emilia Litka's +last wish?" + +"At such moments," answered Pan Stanislav, "I cannot think of myself: +for me it is a question only of Pani Emilia; and if your words caused +her solace, I thank you for them." + +"Till to-morrow, then?" + +"Till to-morrow." + +Pan Stanislav took farewell, and went out. While descending the steps, +he thought,-- + +"She considers herself my betrothed." + +And he was not mistaken; Marynia looked on him as her betrothed. She +had never been indifferent to him; on the contrary, the greatness of +his offence had been for her the measure of that uncommon interest +which he had roused in her. And though, during Litka's illness +and funeral, he could discover in himself unfathomable stores of +selfishness, he seemed to her so good that she was simply unable to +compare him with any one. Litka's words did the rest. In real truth, +her heart desired love first of all; and now, since before Litka's +death she had made her a promise, since she had bound herself to love +and to marry, it seemed to her that even if she had not loved, it was +her duty to command herself, and that she was not free at present not +to love. Pan Stanislav had entered the sphere of her duty; she belonged +to those straightforward, womanly natures, not at all rare even now, +for whom life and duty mean one and the same thing, and who for this +reason bring good-will to the fulfilment of duty, and not only good, +but persistent will. + +Such a will brings with it love, which lights like the sun, warms like +its heat, and cherishes like the blue, mild sky. In this way life does +not become a dry, thorny path, which pricks, but a flowery one, which +blooms and delights. This country maiden, straightforward in thought, +and at once simple and delicate in feelings, possessed that capacity +for life and happiness in the highest degree. So, when Pan Stanislav +had gone, she, in thinking about him, did not name him in her mind +otherwise than "Pan Stas," for he had indeed become her "Pan Stas." + +Pan Stanislav, on his part, when lying down to sleep, repeated to +himself somewhat mechanically, "She considers herself my betrothed." + +Litka's death, and the events of the last days, had pushed Marynia, +not only in his thoughts, but in his heart, to more remote, and even +very remote places. Now he began to think of her again, and at the +same time of his future. All at once he beheld, as it were, a cloud +of countless questions, to which, at that moment, at least, he had no +answer. But he felt fear in presence of them; he felt that he lacked +strength and willingness to undertake this labor. Again he began to +live with the former life; again to fall into that sentimental, vicious +circle; again to disquiet himself; again to make efforts, and struggle +over things which bring only bitterness,--to struggle with himself over +questions of feeling. Would it not be better to labor with Bigiel on +accounts,--make money,--so as to go sometime, like Bukatski, to Italy, +or some other place where there is sun, art, wine good for the stomach, +and, above all, people to whom one is indifferent, whose happiness +will not enliven the heart of a stranger, but in return whose death or +misfortune will not press a single tear from him. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [4] An Italian wine. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +During all the mental struggles through which Pan Stanislav had passed, +the interests of his commercial house were developed favorably. Thanks +to Bigiel's sound judgment, diligence, and care, current business was +transacted with a uniform thoroughness which removed every chance +of dissatisfaction or complaint from the patrons of the house. The +house gained reputation every day, extended its activity slowly and +regularly, and was growing rich. Pan Stanislav, on his part, labored, +not indeed with such mental peace as hitherto, but no less than Bigiel. +He passed the morning hours daily in the office; and the greater his +mental vexation, the deeper his misunderstanding with Marynia since +her coming to Warsaw, the more earnest was his labor. This labor, +often difficult, and at times requiring even much intense thought, but +unconnected with the question which pained him, and incapable of giving +any internal solace, became, at last, a kind of haven, in which he +hid from the storm. Pan Stanislav began to love it. "Here, at least, +I know what I am doing, and whither I am tending; here everything is +very clear. If I do not find happiness, I shall find at least that +enlargement of life, that freedom, which money gives; and all the +better for me if I succeed in stopping at that." Recent events had +merely confirmed him in those thoughts; in fact, nothing but suffering +had come to him from his feelings. That sowing had yielded a bitter +harvest, while the only successes which he had known, and which in +every case strengthen and defend one against misfortune, were given by +that mercantile house. Pan Stanislav thought with a certain surprise +that this was true; but it was not. He himself felt the narrowness of +that satisfaction which the house could give; but he said to himself at +the same time, "Since it cannot be otherwise, this must be accepted; +and it is safer to stop here, for it is better to be only a merchant, +who succeeds, than a dreamer, who fails in everything." Since Litka's +death, then, he resolved all the more to stifle in himself those +impulses to which reality did not answer, and which had brought him +nothing but regrets. Evidently Bigiel was pleased with a state of mind +in his partner which could bring only profit to the house. + +Still Pan Stanislav could not grow wholly indifferent in a few weeks +to all that with which, on a time, his heart had been connected. +Hence he went sometimes to visit Litka, whose gravestone was covered +in the morning with white winter frost. Twice he met Pani Emilia and +Marynia in the cemetery. Once he attended them home to the city, and +Pani Emilia thanked him for remembering the little girl. Pan Stanislav +noticed that she did this with evident calmness; he understood the +cause of this calmness when, at parting, she said to him,-- + +"I keep always in mind now that for her separation from me is as short +as one twinkle of an eye; and you know not what comfort it is to me +that at least she is not yearning." + +"Well, what I know not, I know not," said Pan Stanislav, in his soul. +Still the deep conviction of Pani Emilia's speech struck him. "If these +are illusions," thought he, "they are really life-giving, since they +are able to draw forth juices for life from the dungeon of the grave." + +Marynia asserted, besides, in her first conversation with Pan +Stanislav, that Pani Emilia lived only through that thought, which +alone softened her grief. For whole days she mentioned nothing else, +and said, with such persistence, that from God's point of view death is +separation for one twinkle of an eye, that she began to alarm Marynia. + +"She talks, too, of Litka," said Marynia, in conclusion, "as if the +child had not died, and as if she should see her to-morrow." + +"That is happy," answered Pan Stanislav. "Vaskovski rendered tangible +service; such a nail in the head gives no pain." + +"Still, she is right, for it is so." + +"I will not contradict you." + +Marynia was alarmed, it is true, by the persistence with which Pani +Emilia returned to one thought; but on the other hand she herself did +not look on death otherwise. Hence that tinge of scepticism, evident in +Pan Stanislav's words, touched her a little, and pained her; but, not +wishing to let this be evident, she changed the conversation. + +"I gave directions to enlarge Litka's photograph," said she. "Yesterday +they brought me three copies; one I will give Emilia. I feared at first +that it would excite her too much, but now I see that I may give it; +nay, more, it will be very dear to her." + +She rose then, and went to a bookcase on which were some photographs in +a wrapper; these she took, and, sitting at Pan Stanislav's side before +a small table, opened them. + +"Emilia told me of a certain talk which you had with Litka a short time +before her death, when the child wished you three to be birches growing +near one another. Do you remember that talk?" + +"I do. Litka wondered that trees live so long; she thought awhile what +kind of tree she would like to be, and the birch pleased her most." + +"True; and you said that you would like to grow near by, therefore, +around these photographs I wish to paint birches on a passe-partout. +Here I have begun, you see, but I have no great success. I cannot paint +from memory." + +Then she took one of the photographs, and showed Pan Stanislav +the birches painted in water-colors; but since she was a little +near-sighted, she bent over her work, so that her temple for one moment +was near Pan Stanislav's face. She was no longer that Marynia of whom +he had dreamed when returning evenings from Pani Emilia's, and who at +that time had filled his whole soul for him. That period had passed: +his thoughts had gone in another direction; but Marynia had not ceased +to be that type of woman which produced on his masculine nerves an +impression exceptionally vivid; and now, when her temple almost touched +his own, when, with one glance of the eye, he took in her face, her +cheeks slightly colored, and her form bent over the picture, he felt +the old attraction with its former intensity, and the quick blood sent +equally quick thoughts to his brain. "Were I to kiss her eyes and mouth +now," thought he, "I am curious to know what she would do;" and in a +twinkle the desire seized him to do so, even were he to offend Marynia +mortally. In return for long rejection, for so much fear and suffering, +he would like such a moment of recompense, and of revenge, perhaps, +with it. Meanwhile, Marynia, while examining the painting, continued,-- + +"This seems worse to-day than yesterday; unfortunately trees have no +leaves now, and I cannot find a model." + +"The group is not bad at all," said Pan Stanislav; "but if these trees +are to represent Pani Emilia, Litka, and me, why have you painted four +birches?" + +"The fourth represents me," said Marynia, with a certain timidity; "I, +too, have a wish sometimes to grow with you." + +Pan Stanislav looked at her quickly; and she, wrapping the photographs +up again, said, as it were, hurriedly,-- + +"So many things are connected in my mind with the memory of that child. +During her last days I was with her and Emilia almost continually. +At present Emilia is one of the nearest persons on earth to me. I +belong to them as well as you do; I know not clearly how to explain +this. There were four of us, and now there are three, bound together +by Litka, for she bound us. When I think of her now, I think also of +Emilia and of you. This is why I decided to paint the four birches; and +you see there are three photographs,--one for Emilia, one for me, and +one for you." + +"I thank you," said Pan Stanislav, extending his hand to her. Marynia +returned the pressure very cordially, and said,-- + +"For the sake of her memory, too, we should forget all our former +resentments." + +"This has happened already," answered Pan Stanislav; "and as for me, I +wish that it had happened long before Litka's death." + +"My fault began then; for this I beg forgiveness," and she extended her +hand to him. + +Pan Stanislav hesitated awhile whether to raise it to his lips; but he +did not raise it, he only said,-- + +"Now there is agreement." + +"And friendship?" asked Marynia. + +"And friendship." + +In her eyes a deep, quiet joy was reflected, which enlivened her whole +face with a mild radiance. There was in her at the moment so much +kindness and trustfulness that she reminded Pan Stanislav of that first +Marynia whom he had seen at Kremen when she was sitting on the garden +veranda in the rays of the setting sun. But since Litka's death he had +been in such a frame of mind that he considered remembrances like that +as unworthy of him; hence he rose and began to take leave. + +"Will you not remain the whole evening?" asked Marynia. + +"No, I must return." + +"I will tell Emilia that you are going," said she, approaching the door +of the adjoining room. + +"She is either thinking of Litka at present, or is praying; otherwise +she would have come of herself. Better not interrupt her; I will come +to-morrow in any case." + +Marynia approached him, and, looking into his eyes, said with great +cordiality, "To-morrow and every day. Is it not true? Remember that you +are 'Pan Stas' for us now." + +Since Litka's death Marynia had named him thus for the second time, so +in going home he thought, "Her relations to me are changed thoroughly. +She feels herself simply as belonging to me, for she bound herself to +that by the promise given the dying child; she is ready even to fall in +love with me, and will not permit herself not to love. With us there +are such women by the dozen." And all at once he fell into anger. + +"I know those fish natures with cold hearts, but sentimental heads +filled with so-called principles,--everything for principle, everything +for duty, nothing spontaneous in the heart. I might sigh out my last +breath at her feet and gain nothing; but when _duty_ commands her to +love me, she will love even really." + +Evidently Pan Stanislav in his wanderings abroad had grown used to +another kind of women, or at least he had read of them in books. But +since with all this he had a little sound judgment too, that judgment +began to speak thus to him,-- + +"Listen, Polanyetski," it said. "These are exceptional natures because +they are uncommonly reliable: on them one may build; on them a life +may be founded. Art thou mad? With thee it was a question of finding a +wife, not an ephemeral love affair." + +But Pan Stanislav did not cease to resist, and he answered his +judgment, "If I am to be loved, I want to be loved for my own sake." + +Judgment tried once more to explain that it was all one how love began; +since later on he could be loved only for his own sake, that in the +present case, after his recent efforts and vexations, it was almost +miraculous, almost providential, that something natural had intervened +in a way to break resistance immediately; but Pan Stanislav did not +cease from being furious. At last judgment was strengthened by that +attraction and pleasure which he found in Marynia, by virtue of which +he saw in her more charms than in any other woman; this attraction +spoke in its turn,-- + +"I do not know if thou love her, and I care not; but to-day, when her +arm and face approached thee, thou wert near jumping out of thy skin. +Why is it that such a shiver does not pass through thee when thou art +near another? Think what a difference in that." + +But to everything Pan Stanislav answered: "A fish, a duty-bound fish." +And again the thought came to him, "Catch her, if thou prefer that +to any other kind. People marry; and for thee, it is time. What more +dost thou want, is it a kind of love which thou wouldst be the first +to laugh into ridicule? Thy love has died out. Suppose it has; but +the attraction remains, and the conviction, too, that this woman is +reliable and honest." + +"True," thought he further, "but from love, whether stupid or wise, +comes choice, and have I that at present? No, for I hesitate, while +formerly I did not hesitate; second, I ought to decide which is +better,--Panna Plavitski, or debit and credit in the house of Bigiel +and Polanyetski. Money gives power and freedom; the best use is made of +freedom when a man carries no one in his heart or on his shoulders." +Thus meditating, he reached home, and lay down to sleep. During the +night he dreamed of birches on sand hills, calm blue eyes, and a +forehead shaded with dark hair, from which warmth was beating. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +Some mornings later, before Pan Stanislav had gone to his office, +Mashko appeared. + +"I come to thee on two affairs," said he, "but I will begin with money, +so as to leave thee freedom of action; shall I, or not?" + +"My dear friend, I attend to money questions in my office, so begin +with the other." + +"The money matter is not a question of thy house, but a private one; +for this reason I prefer to speak of it privately. I am going to marry, +as thou knowest; I need money. I have to make payments as numerous as +the hairs on my head, and the wherewithal does not correspond. The term +is near to pay the first instalment of my debt to thee for the claim on +Kremen; canst thou extend the time another quarter?" + +"I will be frank," replied Pan Stanislav; "I can, but I am unwilling to +do so." + +"Well, I will be equally sincere, and ask what thou wilt do in case I +fail to pay." + +"The like happens in the world," answered Pan Stanislav; "but this time +thou art looking on me as simpler than I am, for I know that thou wilt +pay." + +"Whence is that certainty?" + +"Thou art going to marry, and marry a fortune; how expose thyself to +the evil fame of bankruptcy? Thou wilt squeeze money from under the +earth, perhaps, but thou wilt pay." + +"Even Solomon could not pour out of the empty." + +"Because he did not take lessons from thee. My dear friend, no one is +listening to us, so I may say that all thy life thou hast been doing +nothing else." + +"Then thou art sure that I will pay thee?" + +"I am." + +"Thou art right; I wanted of thee a favor to which I have no claim. +But even I feel wearied at last of all this,--to take something here +and thrust it in there; to live eternally in such a whirl passes human +power in the long run. I am sailing, as it were, into the harbor. In +two months I shall be on a new footing, but meanwhile I am using the +last of my steam; 'tis not in thy way to oblige me; the position is +difficult. There is a small forest in Kremen; I will cut that and pay, +since there is no other way." + +"What forests are there in Kremen? Old Plavitski shaved off everything +that could be taken." + +"There is a large oak grove behind the house, toward Nedzyalkov." + +"True, there is." + +"I know that thou and Bigiel take up such affairs. Buy that forest; it +will spare me the search for a purchaser, and he and thou can come out +of the business with profit." + +"I will discuss it with Bigiel." + +"Then thou wilt not refuse in advance?" + +"No; if thou give it cheaply, I may even take the forest myself. But in +such matters I need to calculate the possible profits or losses; I want +also to know thy terms. Make thy own estimates. Send me thy list; how +many trees there are, and what kinds." + +"I will send it in an hour." + +"In that case I will give thee an answer in the evening." + +"I advise thee beforehand of one thing,--thou wilt not have the right +to cut oak for two months." + +"Why is that?" + +"Because Kremen will lose greatly by losing that ornament; hence I +propose that it be resold to me after the marriage, of course at a good +profit to thee." + +"We shall see." + +"Besides, I have marl in Kremen; thou hast spoken to me of this. +Plavitski reckoned it at millions,--that, of course, is nonsense; but +in the hands of clever men it might be made a paying business. Think +that over, too, with Bigiel; I would take thee into partnership." + +"Should the business seem good, we may take it; our house exists to +gain profit." + +"Then we will talk of the marl later on; but now I return to the oak. +Let the general outline of our bargain be this,--that I, instead of the +first payment, give thee the oak grove, or a part of it, according to +estimate. I give it in some sense in pledge, and thou art obliged not +to cut trees before the close of the following quarter." + +"I can do that; evidently there will be questions later on as to +removal of the oak, which we shall mention when writing the contract, +if, in general, we write one." + +"Then there is at least one burden off my head," said Mashko, rubbing +his forehead with his hand. "Imagine that I have ten or fifteen +such every day, not counting conversations on business with Pani +Kraslavski, which are more wearying than all else, and then waiting on +my betrothed, who"--here Mashko interrupted himself for a moment, but +suddenly waved his hand, and added--"which also is not easy." + +Pan Stanislav looked at him with amazement. On the lips of Mashko, +who, in every word, followed society observances so closely, this was +something unheard of. Mashko, however, spoke on,-- + +"But let that pass; thou knowest how near we were to quarrelling before +Litka's death. I had not in mind thy great love for that little maiden; +I forgot that thou wert disturbed and annoyed. I acted rudely; the +fault was on my side entirely, and I beg thy pardon." + +"That is a forgotten affair," said Pan Stanislav. + +"I revive it because I have a service to beg of thee. The affair is +of this kind: I have not friends, blood relatives; I haven't them, or +if I have, it is not worth while to exhibit them. Now, I must find +groomsmen, and, in truth, I do not know well where to look for them. I +have managed the business of various young lords, as thou knowest; but +to ask the first young fellow whom I meet, because he has a title, does +not beseem me, and I am unwilling to do so. With me it is a question of +having groomsmen who are people of position, and, I tell thee openly, +with prominent names. Those ladies, too, attach great importance to +this matter. Wilt thou be a groomsman for me?" + +"In other circumstances I would not refuse; but I will tell thee how it +is. Look at me: I have no crape on my hat nor white tape on my coat, +therefore I am not in mourning; but I give thee my word that I am in +deeper mourning than if my own child were dead." + +"That is true; I had not thought of that," said Mashko. "I beg thy +pardon." + +These words impressed Pan Stanislav. + +"But if this is very important; if, in truth, thou art unable to find +another,--let it be according to thy wish; but I say sincerely that for +me, after such a funeral, it will be difficult to assist at a wedding." + +Pan Stanislav did not say, it is true, at such a wedding, but Mashko +divined his thought. "There is another circumstance, too," continued +he. "Thou must have heard of a certain poor little doctor, who fell in +love to the death with thy betrothed. She was free not to return his +love, no man will reproach her for that; but he, poor fellow, went his +way somewhere to the land where pepper grows, and the deuce took him. +Dost understand? I was in friendship with that doctor; he confided his +misfortune to me, and wept out his secret. Dost understand? In these +conditions to be groomsman for another--say thyself." + +"And did that man really die of love for my betrothed?" + +"But hast thou not heard of it?" + +"Not only have I not heard, but I cannot believe my own ears." + +"Knowest thou what, Mashko, marriage changes a man; but I see that +betrothal does also,--I do not recognize thee simply." + +"Because, as I have said, I am so weary that breath fails me, and at +such times the mask falls." + +"What dost thou mean by that?" + +"I mean that there are two kinds of people,--one, of people who never +limit themselves by anything, and arrange their modes of action +according to every circumstance; the other, of people having a certain +system which they hold to with more or less sequence. I belong to the +second. I am accustomed to observe appearances, and, what is more, +accustomed so long that at last it has become a second nature to me. +But, for example, when travelling in time of great heat, a moment may +come on the man who is most _comme il faut_, when he will unbutton not +only his coat, but his shirt; such a moment has come on me, therefore I +unbutton." + +"This means?--" + +"It means that I am transfixed with astonishment that any man could +fall in love to the death with my betrothed, who is, as thou on a time +didst give me to understand, cold, formal, and as mechanical in words, +thoughts, and movements as if wound up with a key; that is perfectly +true, and I confirm it. I do not wish thee to hold me for a greater +wretch than I am; I do not love her, and my wife will be as formal +as my betrothed. I loved Panna Plavitski, who rejected me. Panna +Kraslavski I take for her property. Call this iniquity, if it suit thee +to do so; I will answer that such iniquity has been committed, or will +be committed, by thousands among those so-called honorable people, to +whom thou art ready to give thy hand. Moreover, life does not flow on +in delight for people thus married, but also not in tragedy; they limp, +but go forward. Later on they are aided by years spent together, which +bring a species of attachment, by children who are born to them; and +they get on in some fashion. Such are most marriages, for the majority +choose to walk on the earth, rather than scale summits. Sometimes +there are even worse marriages: when a woman wishes to fly, and a man +to creep, or _vice versa_, there is no chance for an understanding. +As to me, I have worked like an ox. Coming from a reduced family, I +wished to gain distinction, I confess. If I had consented to remain +an obscure attorney, and acquire merely money, perhaps I should have +unlocked and thrown open to my son the door to light; but I have no +love for my children before they come into the world, hence I wished +not only to have money myself, but to be somebody, to mean something, +to occupy a position, to have such weight as with us it is possible +to have, at least in society. From this it has happened that what the +advocate gained, the great lord expended; position obliges. This is +why I have not money. Struggling of this sort has wearied me. Opening +holes in one place to fill them in another,--for this reason I marry +Panna Kraslavski; who again marries me for the reason that, if I am +not really a great lord, amusing himself in the legal career, I am so +apparently. The match is even; there is no injustice to any one, and +neither has tricked the other, or, if it please thee, we have tricked +each other equally. Here is the whole truth for thee; now despise me if +thou wish." + +"As God lives, I have never respected thee more," answered Pan +Stanislav; "for now I admire not thy sincerity merely, but also thy +courage." + +"I accept the compliment because thou art candid; but in what dost thou +see courage?" + +"In this,--that having so few illusions as to Panna Kraslavski, thou +art going to marry her." + +"I marry her because I am more wise than foolish. I looked for money, +it is true; but thinkest thou that for money I would marry the first +woman I met who possessed it? By no means, my dear friend. I take Panna +Kraslavski, and I know what I am doing. She has her great qualities, +indispensable under the circumstances in which I take her, and in +which she marries me. She will be a cold, unagreeable wife, sour, and +even contemptuous, in so far as she does not fear me; but, on the +other hand, Panna Kraslavski, as well as her mother, has a religious +respect for appearances,--for what is fitting, or, speaking generally, +for what is polite. This is one point. Further, there is not even one +germ in her from which love intrigues could grow; and life with her, +be it disagreeable as it may, will never end in scandal. This is the +second. Third, she is pedantic in everything, as well in religion as +in fulfilment of all the duties which she may take on herself. This +is, indeed, a great quality. I shall not be happy with her, but I can +be at peace; and who knows if this is not the maximum possible to ask +of life, and I tell thee, my dear friend, that when a man takes a wife +he should think before all of future peace. In a mistress seek what +pleases thee,--wit, temperament, a poetical form of sensitiveness. But +with a wife one must live years; seek in her that on which one can +rely,--seek principles." + +"I have never thought thee a fool," said Pan Stanislav; "but I see that +thou hast more wit than I suspected." + +"Our women--take those, for example, of the money world--are formed +really on the French novel; and what comes of that is known to thee." + +"More or less; but to-day thou art so eloquent that I listen to thy +description with pleasure." + +"Well, a woman becomes her own God and her own measure of right." + +"And for her husband?" + +"A chameleon and a tragedy." + +"This happens a little in the world of much money and no traditions; +there everything is appearance and toilet, beneath which sits not a +soul, but a more or less exquisite wild beast. And this wealthy and +elegant world, amusing itself, and permeated with artistic, literary, +and even religious dilettantism, wields the baton and directs the +orchestra." + +"Not yet with us." + +"Not yet altogether. For that matter, there are exceptions, even in the +society mentioned; all the more must there be outside it. Yes, there +are women of another kind among us,--for instance, Panna Plavitski. Oh, +what security, and withal what a charm of life, with a woman like her! +Unhappily, she is not for me." + +"Mashko, I was ready to recognize in thee cleverness, but I did not +know thee to have enthusiasm." + +"What's to be done? I was in love with her, but now I am going to marry +Panna Kraslavski." + +Mashko pronounced the last words, as if in anger, then followed a +moment of silence. + +"Then thou wilt not be my groomsman?" + +"Give me time to consider." + +"In three days I am going away." + +"To what place?" + +"To St. Petersburg. I have business there; I will stay about two weeks." + +"I will give my answer on thy return." + +"Very well; to-day I will send thee the estimate of my oak in three +sizes. To save the instalment!" + +"And the conditions on which I will buy it." + +Here Mashko took leave and went out. Pan Stanislav hastened to his +office. After a conversation with Bigiel, he decided, if the affair +should seem practicable and profitable, to buy the oak alone. He could +not account to himself why he felt a certain wonderful desire to be +connected with Kremen. After business hours he thought also of what +Mashko had said of Panna Plavitski. He felt that the man had told the +truth, and that, with a woman of this kind, life might be not only safe +and peaceful, but full of charm; he noticed, however, that in those +meditations he rendered justice rather to the type of which Marynia was +a specimen, than to Marynia in person. He observed also in himself a +thousand inconsistencies; he saw that he felt a certain repugnance, and +even anger, at the thought of loving any one or anything, or letting +his heart go into bonds and knots, usually fastened so firmly that they +were painful. At the very thought of this he was enraged, and repeated +in spirit, "I will not; I have had enough of this! It is an unwholesome +exuberance, which leads people only to errors and suffering." At the +same time he took it ill,--for example, that she did not love him +with a certain exuberant and absolute love, and opened her heart to +him only when duty commanded. Afterward, when he did not want love, +he was astonished that it began to pall on him so easily, and that he +desired Marynia far more when she was opposed, than now, when she was +altogether inclined to him. + +"All leads to this at last," thought he: "that man himself does not +know what he wants, or what he must hold to; that is his position. +May a thunderbolt split it! Panna Plavitski has more good qualities +than she herself suspects. She is dutiful, just, calm, attractive; my +thoughts draw me toward her; and still I feel that Panna Plavitski +is not for me what she once was, and that the devils have taken +something that was in me. But what is it? As to the capacity for +loving," continued Pan Stanislav, in his monologue, "I have come to the +conclusion that loving is most frequently folly, and loving too much +folly at all times; hence I should now be content, but I am not." + +After a while it came to his mind that this was merely a species of +weakness,--such, for example, as follows an operation in surgery, or +an illness that a man has passed through,--and that positive life will +fill out in time that void which he feels. For him positive life was +his mercantile house. When he went to dine, he found Vaskovski and two +servants, who winked at each other when they saw how the old man at +times held motionless an uplifted fork with a morsel of meat on it, and +fell to thinking of death, or talking to himself. Professor Vaskovski +had for some time been holding these monologues, and spoke to himself +on the street so distinctly that people looked around at him. His blue +eyes were turned on Pan Stanislav for a while vacantly; then he roused +himself, as if from sleep, and finished the thought which had risen in +his head. "She says that this will bring her near the child." + +"Who says?" inquired Pan Stanislav. + +"Pani Emilia." + +"How will she be nearer?" + +"She wants to become a Sister of Charity." + +Pan Stanislav grew silent under the impression of that news. He was +able to meditate over that which passed through his head, to expel +feeling, to philosophize on the unwholesome excesses of the society in +which he lived; but in his soul he had two sacred images,--Litka and +Pani Emilia. Litka had become simply a cherished memory, but he loved +Pani Emilia with a living, brotherly, and most tender affection, which +he never touched in his meditations. So for a time he could not find +speech; then he looked sternly at Vaskovski, and said,-- + +"Professor, thou art persuading her to this. I do not enter into thy +mysticism and ideas from beneath a dark star, but know this,--that thou +wilt take her life on thy conscience; for she has not the strength to +be a Sister of Charity, and will die in a year." + +"My dear friend," answered Vaskovski, "thou hast condemned me unjustly +without a hearing. Hast thou stopped to consider what the expression +'just man' means?" + +"When it is a question of one dear to me, I jeer at expressions." + +"She told me yesterday of this, most unexpectedly, and I asked, 'But, +my child, will you have the strength? That is arduous labor.' She +smiled at me, and said: 'Do not refuse me, for this is my refuge, +my happiness. Should it seem that I have not strength enough, they +will not receive me; but if they receive me, and my strength fails +afterward, I shall go sooner to Litka, and I am yearning so much for +her.' What had I to answer to such a choice, and such simplicity? What +art thou able to say, even thou, who art without belief? Wouldst thou +have courage to say: 'Perhaps Litka is not in existence; a life in +labor, in charity, in sacrifice, and death in Christ, may not lead to +Litka at all'? Invent another consolation; but what wilt thou invent? +Give her another hope, heal her with something else; but with what +wilt thou heal her? Besides, thou wilt see her thyself; speak to her +sincerely. Wilt thou have courage to dissuade her?" + +"No," answered Pan Stanislav, briefly; and after a while he added, +"Only suffering on all sides." + +"One thing might be possible," continued Vaskovski. "To choose instead +of Sisters of Charity, whose work is beyond her strength, some +contemplative order; there are those in whom the poor human atom is so +dissolved in God that it ceases to lead an individual existence, and +ceases to suffer." + +Pan Stanislav waved his hand. "I do not understand these things," said +he, dryly, "and I do not look into them." + +"I have here somewhere a little Italian book on the Ladies of +Nazareth," said Vaskovski, opening his coat. "Where did I put it? When +going out, I stuck it somewhere." + +"What can the Ladies of Nazareth be to me?" + +But Vaskovski, after unbuttoning his coat, unbuttoned his shirt in +searching; then he thought a while and said, "What am I looking for? +I know that little Italian book. In a couple of days I am going to +Rome for a long, very long time. Remember what I said, that Rome is +the antechamber to another world. It is time for me to go to God's +antechamber. I would persuade Emilia greatly to go to Rome, but she +will not leave her child; she will remain here as a Sister of Charity. +Maybe, however, the order of Nazareth would please her; it is as simple +and mild as was primitive Christianity. Not with the head, my dear, for +there they know better what to do, but with the heart, childlike but +loving." + +"Button thy shirt, professor," said Pan Stanislav. + +"Very good; I will button it. I have something at my heart, and I +would tell it thee; thou art as mobile as water, but thou hast a soul. +Seest thou, Christianity not only is not coming to an end, as some +philosophizing, giddy heads imagine, but it has only made half its way." + +"Dear professor," said Pan Stanislav, mildly, "I will listen to +what thou hast to tell me willingly and patiently, but not to-day; +for to-day I am thinking only of Pani Emilia, and there is simply a +squeezing at my throat. This is a catastrophe." + +"Not for her, since her life will be a success, and her death also." + +Pan Stanislav began to mutter, "As God lives, not only every mightier +feeling, but simple friendship, ends in regret; never has any +attachment brought me a thing except suffering. Bukatski is right: +from general attachments there is nothing but suffering, from personal +attachments nothing but suffering; and now live, man, in the world so +surrounded." + +The conversation broke off, or rather was turned into the monologue of +Professor Vaskovski, who began a discourse with himself about Rome and +Christianity. After dinner they went out on the street, which was full +of the sound of sleighbells and the gladsome winter movement. Though in +the morning of that day snow had fallen in sufficient abundance, toward +evening the weather had become fair, calm, and frosty. + +"But, professor, button thy shirt." + +"Very well; I will button it," answered Vaskovski; and he began to draw +the holes of his vest to the buttons of his frockcoat. + +"Still I like that Vaskovski," said Pan Stanislav, to himself, when +on the way home. "If I were to grow attached to him for good, the +deuce would take him surely, for such is my fate. Fortunately I +am insensible enough to him so far." And thus he persuaded himself +untruly, for he had a sincere friendship for Vaskovski, and the man's +fate was not indifferent in the least to him. When he reached home, +Litka's face smiled at him from a large photograph as he entered; this +had been sent by Marynia during his absence, and moved Pan Stanislav +to the depth of his soul. He experienced, moreover, this species of +emotion whenever he remembered Litka on a sudden, or saw unexpectedly +one of her portraits. He thought then, that love for the child, +hidden away somewhere in the depth of his heart, rose suddenly with +its previous vividness and power, penetrating his whole being with +indescribable tenderness and sorrow. This revival of sorrow was even so +painful that he avoided it as a man avoids a real suffering usually. +This time, however, there was something sweet in his emotion. Litka +was smiling at him by the light of the lamp, as if she wished to say +"Pan Stas;" around her head on the white margin of the picture were +four green birches. Pan Stanislav stopped and looked for a long time; +at last he thought, "I know in what may be the happiness of life, in +children!" But he said to himself a few moments later, "I never shall +love my own as I loved that poor child." The servant entered now and +gave him a letter from Marynia, which came with the photograph. She +wrote as follows:-- + + "My father asks me to pray you to spend the evening with us. + Emilia has moved to her own house, and receives no visits to-day. + I send you Litka's photograph, and beg you to come without fail. I + wish to speak with you of Emilia. Papa has invited Pan Bigiel, who + has promised to come; therefore you and I can talk quietly." + +Pan Stanislav, after reading the letter, dressed, read a certain time, +then went to the Plavitskis'. Bigiel had been there a quarter of an +hour, and was playing piquet with Plavitski; Marynia was sitting at +some distance, by a small table, occupied in work of some kind. After +he had greeted all, Pan Stanislav sat near her,-- + +"I thank you most earnestly for the photograph," began he. "I saw it +unexpectedly, and Litka stood before my eyes in such form that I could +not control myself. Moments like that are the measure of sorrow, of +which a man cannot even give account to himself. I thank you most +earnestly, and for the four birches too. Touching Pani Emilia, I +know everything from Vaskovski. Is this merely a project, or a fixed +resolve?" + +"Rather a fixed resolve," answered Marynia; "and what do you think?" + +Marynia raised her eyes to him as if waiting for some counsel. + +"She has not strength for it," said she, finally. + +Pan Stanislav was silent a while; then he opened his arms helplessly, +and said,-- + +"I have talked about this with Vaskovski. I attacked him, since I +thought that the idea was his; but he swore to me that he had nothing +to do with it. He asked then what other consolation I could think out +for her, and I could give him no answer. What in life has remained to +her really?" + +"What?" returned Marynia, in a low voice. + +"Do I not understand, think you, whence that resolve came? She does +not wish to violate her religious principles in any way, but she wants +to die as soon as possible; she knows that those duties are beyond her +strength, and therefore she assumes them." + +"True," answered Marynia; and she inclined her face so closely to her +work that Pan Stanislav saw only the parting of the dark hair on her +small head. Before her stood a box full of pearls, which she was sewing +on to various articles to be used in a lottery for benevolent purposes; +and tears, which were flowing from her eyes, began to drop on those +pearls. + +"I see that you are weeping," said Pan Stanislav. + +She raised tearful eyes to him, as if to say, "Before thee I shall not +hide tears," and answered, "I know that Emilia is doing well, but such +a pity--" + +Pan Stanislav, partly from emotion, and partly because he knew not +himself what to answer, kissed her hand for the first time. + +Pearls began then to drop more thickly from Marynia's eyes, so that +she had to rise and go out. Pan Stanislav approached the players, as +Plavitski was saying in a sour, outspoken tone, to his partner,-- + +"Rubicon after Rubicon. Ha! it is difficult. You represent new times, +and I old traditions. I must be beaten." + +"What has that to do with piquet?" asked Bigiel, calmly. + +Marynia returned soon, with the announcement that tea was ready; +her eyes were somewhat red, but her face was clear and calm. When, +a little later, Bigiel and Plavitski sat down at cards again, she +conversed with Pan Stanislav in that quiet, confiding tone which +people use who are very near to each other, and who have many mutual +relations. It is true that those mutual relations between them had been +created by the death of Litka and the misfortune of Pani Emilia,--hence +the conversation could not be gladsome; but in spite of that, Marynia's +eyes, if not her lips, smiled at Pan Stanislav, and were at once +thoughtful and clear. + +Later in the evening, after his departure, Marynia did not name him in +her mind, when she thought of him, otherwise, than "Pan Stas." + +Pan Stanislav, on his part, returned home feeling calmer by far than +he had since Litka's death. While pacing his chamber, he made frequent +halts before the little girl's photograph, and looked, too, at the four +birches painted by Marynia. He thought that the bond fastened between +him and Marynia by Litka was becoming closer each day, as if without +any one's will, and simply by some mysterious force of things. He +thought, too, that if he lacked the former original desire to make that +bond permanent, his courage would almost fail to cut it decisively, +especially so soon after Litka's death. Late in the night he sat down +to the lists sent by Mashko. At times, however, he made mistakes in the +reckoning, for he saw before him Marynia's head inclining forward, and +her tears falling on the box of pearls. + +Next morning he bought the oak in Kremen, very profitably, for that +matter. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +Mashko returned in two weeks from St. Petersburg, well pleased with his +arrangements for credit, and bringing important news, which had come +to him, as he stated, in a way purely confidential,--news not known +yet to any man. The preceding harvest had been very poor throughout +the whole empire; here and there hunger had begun to appear. It was +easy to divine, therefore, that, before spring, supplies would be +gone in whole neighborhoods, and that the catastrophe of hunger might +become universal. In view of this, people of the inner circle began to +whisper about the chance of stopping the grain export; and this kind of +echo Mashko brought back, with the assurance that it came to his ears +through people extremely well versed in affairs. This news struck Pan +Stanislav so vividly that he shut himself in for some days, pencil in +hand; then he hurried to Bigiel with the proposition that the ready +money at command of the house, as well as its credit, should be turned +to prompt purchases of grain. Bigiel was afraid, but he began by being +afraid of every new enterprise. Pan Stanislav did not conceal from him +that this would be a large operation, on the success or failure of +which their fate might depend. Complete failure, however, was little +likely, and success might make them really rich at one sweep. It was to +be foreseen that, in view of the lack of grain, prices would rise in +every event. It was also to be foreseen that the law would limit the +possibility of making new contracts with foreign merchants, but would +respect contracts made before its promulgation; but even if it failed +in this regard, the rise of prices in the country itself was a thing +almost certain. Pan Stanislav had foreseen and calculated everything, +in so far as man could; and Bigiel, who, in spite of his caution, was a +person of judgment, was forced to confess that the chances of success +were really considerable, and that it would be a pity to miss the +opportunity. + +In fact, after a number of new consultations, during which Bigiel's +opposition grew weaker and weaker, they decided on that which Pan +Stanislav wished; and after a certain time their chief agent, +Abdulski, went out with power to make contracts in the name of the +house, as well for grain on hand as for grain not threshed yet. + +After Abdulski's departure, Bigiel went to Prussia. Pan Stanislav +remained alone at the head of the house, toiled from morning till +evening, and made scarcely a visit. But time did not drag, for he was +roused by hope of great profit and a future of fuller activity. + +Pan Stanislav, in throwing himself into that speculation, and drawing +in Bigiel, did so, first of all, because he thought it good; but he +had another thought, too,--the mercantile house with all its affairs +was too narrow a field for his special training, abilities, and +energies, and Pan Stanislav felt this. Finally, what was the question +in affairs handled by the house? To buy cheap, sell dear, and put the +profit in a safe; that was its one object. Purchases direct, or through +another,--nothing more. Pan Stanislav felt confined in those limits. "I +should like to dig up something, or make something," said he to Bigiel, +in moments of dissatisfaction and distaste; "at the root of the matter +we are simply trying to direct to our own pockets some current from +that stream of money which is flowing in the business of men, but we +produce nothing." + +And that was true. Pan Stanislav wished to advance to property, to +acquire capital, and then undertake some very large work, giving a +wider field for labor and creativeness. + +The opportunity had come, as it seemed to him; hence he grasped with +both hands at it. "I will think of other things afterward," thought he. + +By "other things," he meant his affairs of mind and heart,--that is, +his relations to religion, people, country, woman. He understood that +to be at rest in life one must explain these relations, and stand on +firm feet. There are men who all their lives do not know their position +with reference to these principles, and whom every wind turns toward +a new point. Pan Stanislav felt that a man should not live thus. In +his state of mind, as it then was, he saw that these questions might +be decided in a manner direct to dryness, as well as positive to +materialism, and in general negatively; but he understood that they +must be decided. + +"I wish to know clearly whether I am bound to something or not," +thought he. + +Meanwhile he labored, and saw people little; he could not withdraw +from them altogether. He convinced himself, also, that questions most +intimately personal cannot be decided otherwise than internally, +otherwise than by one's own brain or heart, within the four walls +of the body; but that most frequently certain external influences, +certain people, near or distant, hasten the end of meditation, and the +decisions flowing from it. This happened at his farewell with Pani +Emilia, who was now shortening daily, and almost feverishly, the time +before her entrance on her novitiate with the Sisters of Charity. + +Amid all his occupations, Pan Stanislav did not cease to visit her; +but a number of times he failed to find her at home. Once he met Pani +Bigiel at her house, and also Pani and Panna Kraslavski, whose presence +constrained him in a high degree. Afterward, when Marynia informed him +that Pani Emilia would begin her novitiate in a few days, he went to +take farewell of her. + +He found her calm and almost joyous, but his heart was pained when he +looked at her. Her face was transparent in places, as if formed of +pearl; the blue veins appeared through the skin on her temples. + +She was very beautiful, in a style almost unearthly, but Pan Stanislav +thought: "I will take the last leave of her, for she will not hold out +even a month; from one more attachment, one more grief and unhappiness." + +She spoke to him of her decision as of a thing the most usual, to be +understood of itself,--the natural outcome of what had happened, the +natural refuge from a life deprived of every basis. Pan Stanislav +understood that for him to dissuade her would be purely conscienceless, +and an act devoid of sense. + +"Will you remain in Warsaw?" asked he. + +"I will, for I wish to be near Litka; and the mother superior promised +that I should be in the house first, and afterward, when I learn +something, in one of the hospitals. Unless unusual events come to pass, +while I am in the house I shall be free to visit Litka every Sunday." + +Pan Stanislav set his teeth, and was silent; he looked only at the +delicate hands of Pani Emilia, thinking in his soul,-- + +"She wishes to nurse the sick with those hands." + +But at the same time he divined that she wanted, beyond all, something +else. He felt that under her calmness and resignation there was immense +pain, strong as death, and calling for death with all the powers of +her heart and soul; but she wished death to come without her fault, not +through her sin, but her service,--her reward for that service was to +be her union with Litka. + +And now, for the first time, Pan Stanislav understood the difference +between pain and pain, between sorrow and sorrow. He, too, loved Litka; +but in him, besides sorrow for her, and remembrance of her, there +was something else,--a certain interest in life, a certain curiosity +touching the future, certain desires, thoughts, tendencies. To Pani +Emilia there remained nothing,--it was as if she had died with Litka; +and if anything in the world occupied her yet, if she loved those who +were near her, it was only for Litka, through Litka, and in so far as +they were connected with Litka. + +These visits and that farewell were oppressive to Pan Stanislav. He had +been deeply attached to Pani Emilia, but now he had the feeling that +the cord binding them had snapped once and forever, that their roads +parted at that moment, for he was going farther by the way of life; +she, however, wished her life to burn out as quickly as possible, and +had chosen labor,--blessed, it is true,--but beyond her strength, so as +to make death come more quickly. + +This thought closed his lips. In the last moments, however, the +attachment which he had felt for her from of old overcame him; and he +spoke with genuine emotion while kissing her hand. + +"Dear, very dear lady, may God guard and comfort you!" + +Here words failed him; but she said, without dropping his hand,-- + +"Till I die, I shall not forget you, since you loved Litka so much. I +know, from Marynia, that Litka united you and her; and for that reason +I know that you will be happy, otherwise God would not have inspired +her. As often as I see you in life, I shall think that Litka made you +happy. Let her wish be accomplished at the earliest, and God bless you +both!" + +Pan Stanislav said nothing; but, when returning home, he thought,-- + +"Litka's will! She does not even admit that Litka's will can remain +unaccomplished; and how was I to tell her that the other is not for me +now what she once was?" + +Still Pan Stanislav felt with increasing distinctness that it was not +right to remain as he was any longer, and that those bonds connecting +him with Marynia ought soon to be tightened, or broken, so as to end +the strange condition, and the misunderstandings and sorrows which +might rise from it. He felt the need of doing this quickly, so as to +act with honor; and new alarm seized him, for it seemed that, no matter +how he acted, his action would not bring him happiness. + +When he reached home, he found a letter from Mashko, which read as +follows,-- + + "I have called on thee twice to-day. Some lunatic has insulted me + before my subordinates on account of the oak which I sold thee. + His name is Gantovski. I need to speak with thee, and shall come + again before evening." + +In fact, he ran in before the expiration of an hour, and asked, without +removing his overcoat,-- + +"Dost thou know that Gantovski?" + +"I know him; he is a neighbor and relative of the Plavitskis. What has +happened, and how has it happened?" + +Mashko removed his overcoat, and said,-- + +"I do not understand how news of the sale could get out, for I have not +spoken of it to any one; and it was important for me that it should not +become known." + +"Our agent, Abdulski, went to Kremen to look at the oak. Gantovski must +have heard of the sale from him." + +"Listen; this is the event. To-day Gantovski's card is brought into +my office; not knowing who he is, I receive the man. A rough fellow +enters, and asks if 't is true that I sold the oak, and if I wish to +depopulate a part of Kremen. Evidently I reply by asking how that may +concern him. He answers that I have bound myself to pay old Plavitski +a yearly annuity from Kremen; and that, if I ruin the place by a +plundering management, there will be nothing through which to compel +me. In answer, as thou canst understand, I advise him to take his cap, +button up closely, in view of the frost, and go to the place whence he +came. Hereupon he falls to making an uproar, calling me a cheat and a +swindler. At last he says that he lives in the Hotel Saxe, and goes +out. Hast thou the key to this? Canst thou tell me its meaning?" + +"Of course. First, this Gantovski is of limited mind, by nature he is +rude; second, for whole years he has been in love with Panna Plavitski, +and has wished to be her knight." + +"Thou knowest that I have rather cool blood; but, in truth, it seems at +times a dream. That a man should permit himself to insult me because I +sell my own property, simply passes human understanding." + +"What dost thou think of doing? Old Plavitski will be the first to warm +Gantovski's ears, and force him to beg thy pardon." + +Mashko's face took on such a cold and determined expression of wrath +that Pan Stanislav thought,-- + +"Well, 'the bear' has brewed beer of a kind that he did not expect; now +he must drink it." + +"No one has ever offended me without being punished, and no one ever +will. This man not only has insulted me, but has done me a wrong beyond +estimation." + +"He is a fool, simply irresponsible." + +"A mad dog, too, is irresponsible, but people shoot him in the head. I +talk, as thou seest, coolly; listen, then, to what I say: a catastrophe +has come to me, from which I shall not rise." + +"Thou art speaking coolly; but anger is stifling thee, and thou art +ready to exaggerate." + +"Not in the least; be patient, and hear me to the end. The position +is this: If my marriage is stopped, or even put off, a few months, +the devils will take me, with my position, my credit, my Kremen, and +all that I have. I tell thee that I am travelling with the last of my +steam, and I must stop. Panna Kraslavski does not marry me for love, +but because she is twenty-nine years of age, and I seem to her, if not +the match she dreamed of, at least a satisfactory one. If it shall seem +that I am not what she thinks, she will break with me. If those ladies +should discover to-day that I sold the oak in Kremen from necessity, +I should receive a refusal to-morrow. Now think: the scandal was +public, for it was in presence of my subordinates. The matter will not +be kept secret. I might explain to those ladies the sale of the oak, +but yet I shall be an insulted man. If I do not challenge Gantovski, +they may break with me, as a fellow without honor; if I challenge +him,--remember that they are devotees, and, besides, women who keep up +appearances as no others that I know,--they will break with me then as +a man of adventures. If I shoot Gantovski, they will break with me as +a murderer; if he hits me, they will break with me as an imbecile, who +lets himself be insulted and beaten. In a hundred chances there are +ninety that they will act in this way. Is it clear to thee now why I +said that the devils will take me, my credit, my position, and Kremen +in addition?" + +Pan Stanislav waved his hand with all the easy egotism to which a +man can bring himself in reference to another, who, at the bottom of +things, is of little account to him. + +"Bah!" said he; "maybe I will buy Kremen of thee. But the position is +difficult. What dost thou think, then, of doing with Gantovski?" + +To this Mashko answered: "So far I pay my debts. Thou dost not wish to +be my groomsman; wilt thou be my second?" + +"That is not refused," answered Pan Stanislav. + +"I thank thee. Gantovksi lives in the Hotel Saxe." + +"I will be with him to-morrow." + +Immediately after Mashko's departure, Pan Stanislav went to spend the +evening at Plavitski's; on the road he thought,-- + +"There are no jokes with Mashko, and the affair will not finish in +common fashion; but what is that to me? What are they all to me, or I +to them? Still, how devilishly alone a man is in the world!" + +And all at once he felt that the only person on earth who cared for +him, and who thought of him, not as a thing, was Marynia. + +And, in fact, when he came, he knew from the very pressure of her hand +that this was true. She said to him, in greeting, with her mild and +calm voice,-- + +"I had a presentiment that you would come. See, here is a cup waiting +for you." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +When Pan Stanislav came to the Plavitskis' he found there Gantovski. +The young men greeted each other at once with evident coldness and +aversion. There was not in the whole world that day an unhappier man +than Gantovski. Old Plavitski bantered him as usual, and even more +than usual, being in excellent humor because of his relative, the old +lady from whom he expected a considerable inheritance. Gantovski's +presence was awkward for Marynia; and she strove in vain to hide this +annoyance by kindness and a cordial reception. At last Pan Stanislav +almost feigned not to see him. It was evident, too, that Gantovski had +not confessed anything before old Plavitski, and that he was trembling +lest Pan Stanislav might refer to his adventure with Mashko, or tell it +outright. + +Pan Stanislav understood this at once, as well as the advantage over +"the bear" which was given him by his silence; wishing to use it in the +interest of Mashko, he was silent for a time, but could not forego the +pleasure of punishing Gantovski in another way. He occupied himself +the whole evening with Marynia, as he had not done since Litka's +death. This filled Marynia with evident delight. Leaving Gantovski to +her father, she walked with Pan Stanislav through the room and talked +confidentially; then they sat under the palm, where Pan Stanislav had +seen Pani Emilia after the funeral, and talked about her approaching +admission to the order of Sisters of Charity. To Gantovski it seemed +at times that only people who were betrothed could speak in that way; +and he felt then what must be felt by a soul not in purgatory, for in +purgatory a soul has hope yet before it, but what is felt by a soul +when entering the gate with the inscription "_Lasciate ogni speranza_" +(Leave every hope). Seeing them together in this way, he thought, +too, that perhaps Polanyetski had bought the oak with the land so as +to obtain for Marynia even a part of Kremen, and therefore with her +will and knowledge. And this being the case, the hair rose on his +head at the mere thought of how he had blundered in raising a scandal +with Mashko. Plavitski, on his part, hearing his half conscious, +but altogether inappropriate answers, amused himself still more at +the expense of the "rustic," who on the city pavement had lost what +remained of his wit. Plavitski considered himself now as the model of a +man of the "capital." + +The moment came, however, when the young men were left alone, for +Marynia was occupied with tea in the next room, and Plavitski had gone +for cigars to his study; Pan Stanislav turned then to Gantovski,-- + +"Let us go together after tea," said he; "I wish to speak with you +touching your collision with Pan Mashko." + +"Of course," answered Gantovski, gloomily, understanding that +Polanyetski was Mashko's second. + +Meanwhile they had to remain for tea, and sit long enough after that, +for Plavitski did not like to go to bed early, and summoned Gantovski +to a game of chess. During the play, Marynia and Pan Stanislav sat +apart and conversed with animation, to the heartfelt torment of "the +bear." + +"The arrival of Gantovski must be pleasing to you," said Pan Stanislav, +all at once, "for it brings Kremen to your mind." + +Astonishment flashed over Marynia's face that he was the first to +mention Kremen. She had supposed that, in virtue of a tacit agreement, +he would cover that question with silence. + +"I think no more now of Kremen," answered she, after a pause. + +This statement was not true, for in her heart's depth she was sorry +for the place in which she had been reared,--the place of her labor +for years, and of her shattered hopes; but she thought herself forced +to speak thus by duty, and by the feeling for Pan Stanislav, which was +increasing continually. + +"Kremen," added she, with a voice of some emotion, "was the cause of +our earliest quarrel; and I wish now for concord, concord forever." + +While saying this, she looked into Pan Stanislav's eyes with a coquetry +full of sweetness, which a bad woman is able to put on at any time, but +an honest woman only when she is beginning to love. + +"She is wonderfully kind," thought he. Straightway he added aloud, +"You might have a fabulous weapon against me, for you might lead me to +perdition with kindness." + +"I do not wish to lead you to that," replied she. + +And in sign that she did not, she began to shake her dark, shapely head +laughingly; and Pan Stanislav looked at her smiling face, and her mouth +a trifle too large, and said mentally,-- + +"Whether I love her, or love her not, no one attracts me as she does." + +In fact, she had never occupied him and never pleased him more, even +when he felt no shade of doubt that he loved her, and when he was +struggling with that feeling. But at last he took farewell of her, for +it had grown late; and after a while he and Gantovski found themselves +on the street. + +Pan Stanislav who never had been able to guard himself from +impulsiveness, stopped the unfortunate "bear," and asked almost +angrily,-- + +"Did you know that it was I who bought the oak at Kremen?" + +"I did," answered Gantovski; "for your agent, that man who says that he +is descended from Tartars--I forget what his name is--was at my house +in Yalbrykov, and told me that it was you." + +"Why, then, did you make the scandal with Pan Mashko, not with me?" + +"Do not push me to the wall so," answered Gantovski, "for I do not like +it. I raised the scandal with him, not with you, because the Plavitskis +have nothing to do with you; but that man is obliged to pay them yearly +from Kremen the amount he has engaged to pay, and if he ruins Kremen, +he will have nothing to pay from. If you wished to know why I attacked +him, you know now." + +Pan Stanislav had to confess in his soul that there was a certain +justice in Gantovski's answer; hence he began the conversation at once +from another side,-- + +"Pan Mashko has begged me to be his second, that's why I interfere in +this question. I shall call on you to-morrow as a second; but as a +private man, and a relative, though a distant one, of Pan Plavitski, +I can tell you to-day only this,--that you have rendered the poorest +service to Pan Plavitski, and if he and his daughter are left without a +morsel of bread, they will have you to thank for it. This is the truth!" + +Gantovski's eyes became perfectly round. + +"Without a morsel of bread? They will thank me for it?" + +"That is the position," repeated Pan Stanislav. "But listen carefully. +Without reference to the result of the scandal, the circumstances are +such that it may have the most fatal results. I say this to you, on my +word: you have, perhaps, ruined Pan Plavitski, and taken from him and +his daughter the way, or rather the means, of living." + +If Gantovski really did not like to be pressed to the wall, it was +time for him then to show his dislike; but Gantovski had lost his head +utterly, and stood in amazement, with open mouth, unable to find an +answer; and only after a time did he begin,-- + +"What? How? In what way? Be sure that it will not come to that, even if +I have to give them Yalbrykov." + +"Pan Gantovski," interrupted Pan Stanislav, "it is a pity to lose +words. I have known your neighborhood from the time I was a little boy. +What is Yalbrykov, and what have you in Yalbrykov?" + +It was true, Yalbrykov was a poor little village, with nine vlokas +of land; and, besides, Gantovski had, as is usual, inherited debts +higher than his ears; so his hands dropped at his sides. It occurred +to him, however, that perhaps matters did not stand as Pan Stanislav +represented them; and he grasped at this thought as at a plank of +salvation. + +"I do not understand what you say," said he. "God is my witness that I +would choose my own ruin rather than injure the Plavitskis; and know +this, that I would be glad to twist the neck of Pan Mashko; but, if it +is necessary,--if it is a question of the Plavitskis,--then let the +devils take me first! + +"Immediately after the scandal, I went to Pan Yamish, who is here at +the session, and told him all. He said that I had committed a folly, +and scolded me, it is true. If it were a question of my skin, it would +be nothing,--I would not move a finger; but, since it touches something +else, I will do what Pan Yamish tells me, even should a thunderbolt +split me next moment. Pan Yamish lives at the Hotel Saxe, and so do I." + +They parted on this; and Gantovski went to his hotel, cursing Mashko, +himself, and Polanyetski. He felt that it must be as Polanyetski had +said,--that some incurable misfortune had happened,--and that he had +wrought grievous injustice against that same Panna Marynia for whom +he would have given his last drop of blood; he felt that if there had +been for him any hope, he had destroyed it completely. Plavitski would +close his door on him. Panna Marynia would marry Polanyetski, unless +he didn't want her. But who would not want her? And, at the same time, +Pan Gantovski saw clearly that among those who might ask her hand, he +was the last man she would marry. "What have I? Nothing," said he to +himself; "that measly Yalbrykov, nothing more,--neither good name nor +money. Every man knows something; I alone know nothing. Every one means +something; I alone mean nothing. That Polanyetski has learning and +money; but that I love her better,--the devils to me for that, and as +much to her, if I am such an idiot that through loving I harm instead +of helping her." + +Pan Stanislav, on his way home, thought of Gantovski in the same way, +and in general had not for him even one spark of sympathy. At home he +found Mashko, who had been waiting an hour, and who said, as greeting,-- + +"Kresovski will be the other second." + +Pan Stanislav made somewhat of a wry face, and answered,-- + +"I have seen Gantovski." + +"And what?" + +"He is a fool." + +"He is that, first of all. Hast thou spoken to him in my name?" + +"Not in thy name. As a relative of Pan Plavitski, I told him that he +had given Pan Plavitski the worst service in the world." + +"You gave no explanations?" + +"None. Hear me, Mashko: it is a question for thee of complete +satisfaction; it is no point for me that ye should shoot each other. In +virtue of what I have told Gantovski, he is ready to agree to all thy +conditions. Happily, he has committed himself to Yamish. Yamish is a +mild, prudent man, who understands also that Gantovski has acted like +an idiot, and will be glad to give him a lesson." + +"Very well," said Mashko. "Give me a pen and piece of paper." + +"Thou hast them at the desk." + +Mashko sat down and wrote. When he had finished, he gave the written +sheet to Pan Stanislav, who read as follows:-- + + "I testify this day that I attacked Pan Mashko while I was drunk, + in a state of unconsciousness, and without giving myself account + of what I was saying. To-day, having become sober, in presence of + my seconds, the seconds of Pan Mashko, and the persons who were + present at the scene, I acknowledge my act as rude and senseless, + and turn with the greatest sorrow and contrition to the good sense + and kindness of Pan Mashko, begging him for forgiveness, and + acknowledging publicly that his conduct was and is in everything + above the judgment of men like me." + +"Gantovski is to declaim this, and then subscribe it," said Mashko. + +"This is devilishly unmerciful; no one will agree to it," said Pan +Stanislav. + +"Dost thou acknowledge that this fool has permitted to himself +something unheard of with reference to me?" + +"I do." + +"And remember what result this adventure may have for me?" + +"It is impossible to know that." + +"Well, I know; but I will tell thee only this much,--those ladies will +regret from their souls that they are bound to me, and will use every +pretext which will excuse them before society. That is certain; I am +ruined almost beyond rescue." + +"The devil!" + +"Thou canst understand now that what is troubling me must be ground out +on some one, and that Gantovski must pay me for the injustice in one +form or another." + +"Neither have I any tenderness for him. Let it be so," said Pan +Stanislav, shrugging his shoulders. + +"Kresovski will come for thee to-morrow morning at nine." + +"Very well." + +"Then, till we meet again. By the way, should you see Plavitski +to-morrow, tell him that his relative, Panna Ploshovski, from whom he +expected an inheritance, has died in Rome. Her will was here with her +manager, Podvoyni, and is to be opened to-morrow." + +"Plavitski knows of that already, for she died five days ago." + +Pan Stanislav was left alone. For a certain time he thought of his +money without being able to foresee a method by which he might +receive it from the bankrupt Mashko, and the thought disturbed him. +He remembered, however, that the debt could not be removed from the +mortgage on Kremen until it was paid in full; that in this last case +he would continue as he had been previously,--a creditor of Kremen. +Kremen, it is true, was not a much better debtor than Mashko, hence +this was no great consolation; but for the time he was forced to be +satisfied with it. Later on, something else also came to his head. He +remembered Litka, Pani Emilia, Marynia, and he was struck by this,--how +the world of women, a world of feelings purely, a world whose great +interest lies in living in the happiness of those near us, differs +from the world of men, a world full of rivalry, struggles, duels, +encounters, angers, torments, and efforts for acquiring property. He +recognized at that moment what he had not felt before,--that if there +be solace, repose, and happiness on earth, they are to be sought from +a loving woman. This feeling was directly opposed to his philosophy of +the last few days, hence it disturbed him. But, in comparing further +those two worlds, he could not withhold the acknowledgment that that +feminine and loving world has its foundation and reason of existence. + +If Pan Stanislav had been more intimate with the Holy Scriptures, +beyond doubt the words, "Mary has chosen the better part," would have +occurred to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Kresovski was almost an hour late on the following morning. He was, +according to a noted description among us, one of the administrators +of fresh air in the city,--that is, one of the men who do nothing. +He had a name sufficiently famous, and had squandered rather a large +fortune. On these two foundations he lived, he went everywhere, and was +recognized universally as a man of good breeding. How the above titles +can provide a man everything is the secret of great cities; it is +enough that not only Kresovski's position was recognized and certain, +but he was considered a person to whom it was possible to apply with +safety in delicate questions. In courts of honor he was employed as an +arbiter; in duels, as a second. High financial circles were glad to +invite him to dinners, weddings, christenings, and solemnities of that +sort, since he had a patrician baldness, and a countenance extremely +Polish; hence he ornamented a table perfectly. + +He was a man in the essence of things greatly disenchanted with +people, a little consumptive, and very satirical. He possessed, +however, a certain share of humor, which permitted him to see the +laughable side of things, especially of very small things; in this he +resembled Bukatski somewhat, and made sport of his own fault-finding. +He permitted others to make sport of it also, but within measure. When +the measure was passed, he straightened himself suddenly, and squeezed +people to excess; in view of this he was looked on as dangerous. It +was said of him that in a number of cases he had found courage where +many would have lacked it, and that, in general, he could "carry his +nose high." He did not respect any one nor anything, except his own +really very noble physiognomy; time, especially, he did not respect, +for he was late always and everywhere. Coming in to Pan Stanislav's on +this occasion, he began at once, after the greeting, to explain his +tardiness,-- + +"Have you not noticed," asked he, "that if a man is in a real hurry, +and very anxious to hasten, the things he needs most vanish purposely? +The servant seeks his hat,--it is gone; looks for his overshoes,--they +are not there; hunts for his pocket-book,--it is not to be had. I will +wager that this is so always." + +"It happens thus," said Pan Stanislav. + +"I have, in fact, invented a cure. When something has gone from me as +if it had fallen into water, I sit down, smile, and say aloud: 'I love +to lose a thing in this way, I do passionately;' my man looks for it, +becomes lively, stirs about, passes the time,--that is very wholesome +and agreeable. And what will you say? Right away the lost article is +found." + +"A patent might be taken for such an invention," answered Pan +Stanislav; "but let us speak of Mashko's affair." + +"We must go to Yamish. Mashko has sent me a paper which he has +written for Gantovski. He is unwilling to change a word; but it is an +impossible statement, too harsh,--it cannot be accepted. I understand +that a duel is waiting for us, nothing else; I see no other outcome." + +"Gantovski has intrusted himself to Pan Yamish in everything, and he +will do all that Yamish commands. But Yamish, to begin with, is also +indignant at Gantovski; secondly, he is a sick man, mild, calm, so that +who knows that he may not accept such conditions." + +"Pan Yamish is an old dotard," said Kresovski; "but let us go, for it +is late." + +They went out. After a while the sleigh halted before the hotel. Pan +Yamish was waiting for them, but he received them in his dressing-gown, +for he was really in poor health. Kresovski, looking at his +intelligent, but careworn and swollen face, thought,-- + +"He is really ready to agree to everything." + +"Sit down, gentlemen," said Pan Yamish; "I came only three days ago, +and though I do not feel well, I am glad, for perhaps the affair may +be settled. Believe me that I was the first to rub the ears of my +water-burner." + +Here he shrugged his shoulders, and, turning to Pan Stanislav, +inquired,-- + +"What are the Plavitskis doing? I have not visited them yet, though I +long to see my golden Marynia." + +"Panna Marynia is well," answered Pan Stanislav. + +"But the old man?" + +"A few days ago a distant relative of his died,--a very wealthy woman; +he is counting, therefore, on an inheritance. He told me so yesterday; +but I hear that she has left all her property for benevolent purposes. +The will is to be opened to-day or to-morrow." + +"May God have inspired her to leave something to Marynia! But let us +come to our affair. I need not tell you, gentlemen, that it is our duty +to finish it amicably, if we can." + +Kresovski bowed. Introductions like this, which he had heard in his +life God knows how often, annoyed him. + +"We are profoundly convinced of this duty." + +"So I had hoped," answered Yamish, benevolently. "I confess myself that +Pan Gantovski had not the least right to act as he did. I recognize +even as just that he should be punished for it; hence I shall persuade +him to all, even very considerable, concessions, fitted to assure +proper satisfaction to Pan Mashko." + +Kresovski took from his pocket the folded paper, and gave it, with a +smile, to Pan Yamish, saying,-- + +"Pan Mashko demands nothing more than that Pan Gantovski should read +this little document, to begin with, in presence of his own and Pan +Mashko's seconds, as well as in presence of Pan Mashko's subordinates, +who were present at the scene, and then write under it his own +respected name." + +Pan Yamish, finding his spectacles among his papers, put them on his +nose, and began to read. But as he read, his face grew red, then pale; +after that he began to pant. Pan Stanislav and Kresovski could scarcely +believe their eyes that that was the same Pan Yamish who a moment +before was ready for every concession. + +"Gentlemen," said he, with a broken voice, "Pan Gantovski has acted +like a water-burner, like a thoughtless man; but Pan Gantovski is a +noble, and this is what I answer in his name to Pan Mashko." + +When he said this, he tore the paper in four pieces, and threw them on +the floor. + +The thing had not been foreseen. Kresovski began to meditate whether +Yamish had not offended his dignity of a second by this act, and in +one moment his face began to grow icy, and contract like that of an +angry dog; but Pan Stanislav, who loved Pan Yamish, was pleased at his +indignation. + +"Pan Mashko is injured in such an unusual degree that he cannot ask +for less; but Pan Kresovski and I foresaw your answer, and it only +increases the respect which we have for you." + +Pan Yamish sat down, and, being somewhat asthmatic, breathed rather +heavily for a time; then he grew quiet, and said,-- + +"I might offer you an apology on the part of Pan Gantovski, but in +other expressions altogether; I see, however, that we should be losing +time merely. Let us talk at once of satisfaction, weapon in hand. Pan +Vilkovski, Pan Gantovski's other second, will be here soon; and if you +can wait, we will fix the conditions immediately." + +"That is called going straight to the object," said Kresovski, who +quite agreed with Pan Yamish. + +"But from necessity,--and sad necessity," replied Yamish. + +"I must be in my office at eleven," said Pan Stanislav, looking at his +watch; "but, if you permit, I will run in here about one o'clock, to +look over the conditions and sign them." + +"That will do. We cannot draw up conditions that will rouse people's +laughter, that I understand and inform you; but I count on this,--that +you, gentlemen, will not make them too stringent." + +"I have no thought, I assure you, of quarrelling to risk another man's +life." So saying, Pan Stanislav started for his office, where, in fact, +a number of affairs of considerable importance were awaiting him, and +which, in Bigiel's absence, he had to settle alone. In the afternoon +he signed the conditions of the duel, which were serious, but not too +stringent. He went then to dinner, for he hoped to find Mashko in the +restaurant. Mashko had gone to Pani Kraslavski's; and the first person +whom Pan Stanislav saw was Plavitski, dressed, as usual, with care, +shaven, buttoned, fresh-looking, but gloomy as night. + +"What is my respected uncle doing here?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"When I have trouble, I do not dine at home usually, and this to avoid +afflicting Marynia," answered Plavitski. "I go somewhere; and as thou +seest, the wing of a chicken, a spoonful of preserve, is all that I +need. Take a seat with me, if thou hast no pleasanter company." + +"What has happened?" + +"Old traditions are perishing; that has happened." + +"Bah! this is not a misfortune personal to uncle." + +Plavitski glanced at him gloomily and solemnly. "To-day," said he, "a +will has been opened." + +"Well, and what?" + +"And what? People are saying now throughout Warsaw: 'She remembered her +most distant relatives!' Nicely did she remember them! Marynia has an +inheritance, has she? Knowest thou how much? Four hundred rubles a year +for life. And the woman was a millionnaire! An inheritance like that +may be left to a servant, not to a relative." + +"But to uncle?" + +"Nothing to me. She left fifteen thousand rubles to her manager, but +mentioned no syllable about me." + +"What is to be done?" + +"Old traditions are perishing. How many people gained estates formerly +through wills, and why was it? Because love and solidarity existed in +families." + +"Even to-day I know people on whose heads thousands have fallen from +wills." + +"True, there are such,--there are many of them; but I am not of the +number." + +Plavitski rested his head on his hand, and from his mouth issued +something in the style of a monologue. + +"Yes, always somewhere somebody leaves something to somebody." Here he +sighed, and after a while added, "But to me no one leaves anything, +anywhere, at any time." + +Suddenly an idea equally cruel and empty occurred to Pan Stanislav on a +sudden to cheer up Plavitski; therefore he said,-- + +"Ai! she died in Rome; but the will here was written long ago, and +before that one there was another altogether different, as people tell +me. Who knows that in Rome a little codicil may not be found, and that +my dear uncle will not wake up a millionnaire some day?" + +"That day will not come," answered Plavitski. Still the words had moved +him; he began to gaze at Polanyetski, to squirm as if the chair on +which he was sitting were a bed of torture, and said, at last, "And you +think that possible?" + +"I see in it nothing impossible," answered Pan Stanislav, with real +roguish seriousness. + +"If the wish of Providence." + +"And that may be." + +Plavitski looked around the hall; they were alone. He pushed back his +chair on a sudden, and, pointing to his shirt-bosom, said,-- + +"Come here, my boy!" + +Pan Stanislav inclined his head, which Plavitski kissed twice, saying +at the same time, with emotion,-- + +"Thou host consoled me; thou hast strengthened me. Let it be as God +wills, but thou hast strengthened me. I confess to thee now that I +wrote to Panna Ploshovski only to remind her that we were living. I +asked her when the rent term of one of her estates would end; I had +not, as thou knowest, the intention to take that place, but the excuse +was a good one. May God reward thee for strengthening me! The present +will may have been made before my letter. She went to Rome later; on +the way she must have thought of my letter, and therefore of us; and, +to my thinking, that is possible. God reward thee!" + +After a while his face cleared up completely; all at once he laid his +hand on Pan Stanislav's knee, and, clicking with his tongue, cried,-- + +"Knowest what, my boy? Perhaps in a happy hour thou hast spoken; and +might we not drink a small bottle of Mouton-Rothschild on account of +this codicil?" + +"God knows that I cannot," said Pan Stanislav, who had begun to be a +little ashamed of what he had said to the old man. "I cannot, and I +will not." + +"Thou must." + +"'Pon my word, I cannot. I have my hands full of work, and I will not +befog my head for anything in the world." + +"A stubborn goat,--a regular goat! Then I will drink half a bottle to +the happy hour." + +So he ordered it, and asked,-- + +"What hast thou to do?" + +"Various things. Immediately after dinner I must be with Professor +Vaskovski." + +"What kind of a figure is that Vaskovski?" + +"In fact," said Pan Stanislav, "an inheritance has fallen to him from +his brother, who was a miner,--an inheritance, and a considerable one. +But he gives all to the poor." + +"He gives to the poor, but goes to a good restaurant. I like such +philanthropists. If I had anything to give the poor, I would deny +myself everything." + +"He was ailing a long time, and the doctor ordered him to eat +plentifully. But even in that case he eats only what is cheap. He lives +in a poor chamber, and rears birds. Next door he has two large rooms; +and knowest, uncle, who passes the night in them? Children whom he +picks up on the street." + +"It seemed to me right away that he had something here," said +Plavitski, tapping his forehead with his finger. + +Pan Stanislav did not find Vaskovski at home; hence after an interview +with Mashko he dropped in to see Marynia about five in the afternoon. +His conscience was gnawing him for the nonsense he had spoken to +Plavitski. "The old man," said he to himself, "will drink costly wines +on account of that codicil; while to my thinking they are living beyond +their means already. The joke should not last too long." + +He found Marynia with her hat on. She was going to the Bigiels', but +received him, and since he had not come for a long time, he remained. + +"I congratulate you on the inheritance," said he. + +"I am glad myself," replied she; "it is something sure, and in our +position that is important. For that matter, I should like to be as +rich as possible." + +"Why so?" + +"You remember what you said once, that you would like to have enough +to establish a manufactory, and not carry on a mercantile house. I +remember that; and since every one has personal wishes, I should like +to have much, much money." + +Then, thinking that she might have said too much, and said it too +definitely, she began to straighten the fold of her dress, so as to +incline her head. + +"I came, for another thing, to beg your pardon," said Pan Stanislav. +"To-day at dinner I told a pack of nonsense to Pan Plavitski, saying +that Panna Ploshovski had changed her will, perhaps, and left him a +whole estate. Beyond my expectation he took it seriously. I should not +wish to have him deceive himself; and if you will permit me, I will go +at once to him and explain the matter somehow." + +"I have explained it to him already," said Marynia, smiling; "he +scolded me, and that greatly. You see how you have involved matters. +You have cause indeed to beg pardon." + +"Therefore I beg." + +And, seizing her hand, he began to cover it with kisses; and she left +it with him completely, repeating as if in sarcasm, but with emotion,-- + +"Ah, the wicked Pan Stas, the wicked Pan Stas!" + +That day Pan Stanislav felt on his lips till he fell asleep the warmth +of Marynia's hand; and he thought neither of Mashko nor Gantovski, but +repeated to himself with great persistence,-- + +"It is time to decide this." + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +Kresovski, with a doctor and a case containing pistols, entered one +carriage, Pan Stanislav with Mashko another, and the two moved toward +Bielany. The day was clear and frosty, full of rosy haze near the +ground. The wheels turned with a whining on the frozen snow; the horses +were steaming, and covered with frost; on the trees abundant snow was +resting. + +"Frost that is frost," said Mashko. "Our fingers will freeze to the +triggers. And the delight of removing one's furs!" + +"Then be reconciled; make no delay. My dear man, tell Kresovski to +begin the work straightway." + +Here Mashko wiped his damp eye-glass, and added, "Before we reach the +place, the sun will be high, and there will be a great glitter from the +snow." + +"Finish quickly, then," answered Pan Stanislav. "Since Kresovski is in +time, there will be no waiting for the others; they are used to early +rising." + +"Dost know what makes me anxious at this moment?" asked Mashko. "This, +that there is in the world one factor with which no one reckons in +his plans and actions, and through which everything may be shattered, +involved, and ruined,--human stupidity. Imagine me with ten times the +mind that I have, and unoccupied with the interests of Pan Mashko. +Imagine me, for example, some great statesman, some Bismark or Cavour, +who needs to gain property to carry out his plans, and who calculates +every step, every word,--what then? A beast like this comes along, +stupid beyond human reckoning, and carries all away on his horns. That +is something fabulous! Whether this fellow will shoot me or not, is the +least account now; but the brute has spoiled my life-work." + +"Who can calculate such a thing?" said Pan Stanislav. "It is as if a +roof were to fall on thy head." + +"For that very reason rage seizes me." + +"But as to his shooting thee, don't think of that." + +Mashko recovered, wiped his glass again, and began,-- + +"My dear, I see that from the moment of our starting thou hast been +observing me a little, and now 'tis thy wish to add to my courage. +That is natural. On my part, I must calm thee; and on my word I give +assurance that I will not shame thee. I feel a little disquiet,--that +is simple; but knowest why? That which constitutes danger of life, the +firing at one, is nothing. Let weapons be given me and him; let us into +the woods. God knows that I should fire away at that idiot half a day, +and meet his shots half a day. I have had a duel already, and know what +it is. It is the comedy that disconcerts one, the preparations, the +seconds, the idea that men will look at thee, and the fear touching how +thou wilt appear, how thou wilt acquit thyself. It is simply a public +exhibition, and a question of self-love,--nothing more. For nervous +natures a genuine trial. But I am not over nervous. I understand, +also, that in this regard I am superior to my opponent, for I am more +accustomed to men. 'Tis true such an ass has less imagination, and is +not able to think; for example, how he would look as a corpse; how +he would begin to decay, and so on. Still I shall be able to command +myself better. Besides, I will tell thee another thing: Philosophy +is philosophy; but in matters like this the decisive elements are +temperament and passion. This duel will not bring me to anything, +will not save me in any regard; on the contrary, it may bring me to +trouble. But still I cannot deny it to myself, so much indignation has +collected in my soul, I so hate that idiot, and would like so to crush +and trample him,--that I cease to reason. Thou mayest be certain of one +thing,--that as soon as I see the face of the blockhead I shall forget +disquiet, forget the comedy, and see only him." + +"I understand that well enough," said Pan Stanislav. + +And the spots on Mashko's face increased and became blue from the +frost, wherewith he had a look as stubborn as it was ugly. + +Meanwhile they arrived. Almost simultaneously squeaked the carriage +bringing Gantovski, with Yamish and Vilkovski. When they alighted, +these gentlemen saluted their opponents; then the seven, counting the +doctor, withdrew to the depth of the forest to a place selected on the +preceding day by Kresovski. + +The drivers, looking at the seven overcoats outlined strangely on the +snow, began to mutter to themselves. + +"Do you know what is going to happen?" asked one. + +"Is it my first time?" answered the other. + +"Let the world grow polite; let fools go to fight!" + +Meanwhile the seven, clattering on in their heavy overshoes, and +blowing lines of white steam from their nostrils, went toward the other +end of the forest. On the way, Yamish, somewhat against the rules +binding in such cases, approached Pan Stanislav, and began,-- + +"I wished sincerely that my man should beg pardon of Pan Mashko, but +under the conditions it is not possible." + +"I proposed to Mashko, too, to tone down that note, but he would not." + +"Then there is no escape. All this is immensely foolish, but there is +no escape!" + +Pan Stanislav did not answer, and they walked on in silence. Pan Yamish +began to speak again,-- + +"But I hear that Marynia Plavitski has received some inheritance?" + +"She has, but a small one." + +"And the old man?" + +"He is angry that the whole property is not left to him." + +Yamish tapped his forehead with his glove. "He has a little something +here, that Plavitski;" then, looking around, he said, "Somehow we are +going far." + +"We shall be on the ground in a moment." + +And they went on. The sun had risen above the undergrowth; from the +trees there fell bluish shadows on the snow; but more and more light +was coming into the forest every instant. The crows and daws, hidden +somewhere among the tree-tops, shook the snow, dry as down, and it fell +without noise to the ground, forming under the trees little pointed +piles. Everywhere there was immense silence and rest. Men alone were +disturbing it to shoot at each other. + +They halted at last on the edge of the forest where it was clean. Then +Yamish's short discourse concerning the superiority of peace over +war was listened to by Mashko and Gantovski with ears hidden by fur +collars. When Kresovski loaded the pistols, each made his choice; and +the two, throwing their furs aside, stood opposite each other with the +barrels of their weapons turned upward. + +Gantovski breathed hurriedly; his face was red, and his mustaches +were in icicles. From his whole posture and face it was clear that +the affair disconcerted him greatly; that through shame and force of +will he controlled himself; and that, had he followed the natural bent +of his feelings, he would have sprung at his opponent and smashed +him with the butt of his pistol, or even with his fist. Mashko, who +previously had feigned not to see his opponent, looked at him now with +a face full of hatred, stubbornness, and contempt. His cheeks were +all in spots. He mastered himself more, however, than Gantovski; and, +dressed in a long frock-coat, with a high hat on his head, with his +long side-whiskers, he seemed too stiff, too much like an actor playing +the rôle of a duelling gentleman. + +"He will shoot 'the bear' like a dog," thought Pan Stanislav. + +The words of command were heard, and two shots shook the forest +stillness. Mashko turned then to Kresovski, and said coolly,-- + +"I beg to load the pistols." + +But at the same moment at his feet appeared a spot of blood on the snow. + +"You are wounded," said the doctor, approaching quickly. + +"Perhaps; load the pistols, I beg." + +At that moment he staggered, for he was wounded really. The ball had +carried away the very point of his kneepan. The duel was interrupted; +but Gantovski remained some time yet on the spot with staring eyes, +astonished at what had happened. + +After the first examination of the wound he approached, however, pushed +forward by Yamish, and said as awkwardly as sincerely,-- + +"Now I confess that I was not right in attacking you. I recall +everything that I said, and I beg your pardon. You are wounded, but +I did not wish to wound you." After a moment, when he was going away +with Yamish and Vilkovski, he was heard to say, "As I love God most +sincerely, it was a pure accident; I intended to fire over his head." + +Mashko did not open his mouth that day. To the question of the doctor +if the wound caused much pain, he merely shook his head in sign that it +did not. + +Bigiel, who had just returned from Prussia with his pockets full of +contracts, when he heard all that had happened, said to Pan Stanislav,-- + +"Mashko seems an intelligent man, but, as God lives, every one of us +has some whim in his head. He, for example, has credit; he has many +splendid business cases; he might have a considerable income, and make +a fortune. But no, he wants to force matters, strain his credit to +the utmost, buy estates, give himself out as a great proprietor, a +lord,--be God knows what, only not what he is. All this is wonderful, +and the more so that it is so common. More than once I think that life +in itself is not bad, but that all ruin it through want of mental +balance, and certain devilish whims,--through a kind of wasp, which +every one has behind his collar. I understand that a man wants to have +more than he has, and to mean more than he means; but why strive for +it in fantastic fashion? I am first to recognize energy and cleverness +in Mashko; but, taking everything into consideration, he has something +here, as God is true, he has." + +Bigiel now tapped his forehead with his finger a number of times. + +Meanwhile Mashko, with set teeth, was suffering, since his wound, +though not threatening life, was uncommonly painful. In the evening +he fainted twice in presence of Pan Stanislav. Afterward, weakness +supervened, during which that boldness of spirit which had upheld the +young advocate through the day gave way completely. When the doctor +departed, after dressing the wound, Mashko lay quietly for a time, and +then began,-- + +"But I am in luck!" + +"Do not think of that," answered Pan Stanislav; "thou wilt get more +fever." + +But Mashko continued, however, "Insulted, ruined, wounded,--all at one +blow." + +"I repeat to thee that this is no time to think of that." + +Mashko rested his elbow on the pillow, hissed from pain, and said,-- + +"Never mind; this is the last time that I shall converse with a decent +man. One week or two from now I shall be of those whom people avoid. +What do I care for this fever? There is something so unendurable +in ruin so complete, in a wreck of fate so utter, that the first +idiot, the first goose that comes along will say: 'I knew that long +ago; I foresaw that.' So it is: all of them foresee everything after +the event; and of him whom the thunderbolt has struck, they make in +addition a fool, or a madman." + +Pan Stanislav recalled Bigiel's words at that moment. But Mashko, by +a marvellous coincidence, spoke on in such fashion as if wishing to +answer those words. + +"And dost think that I did not give account to myself that I was going +too sharply; that I was hurrying with too much force; that I wanted +to be something greater than I was; that I carried my nose too high? +No one will render me that justice; but knowest thou that I said it +to myself? But I said to myself, too: 'It is needful to do this; this +is the one way to rise to distinction. Maybe things are wrong, maybe +life, in general, goes backward; but had it not been for that adventure +unforeseen, and of unfathomable stupidity, I should have succeeded just +because I was such as I was. If I had been a modest man, I should not +have got Panna Kraslavski. With us it is necessary always to pretend +something; and if the devils take me, it is not through my pride, but +that blockhead." + +"But how the deuce art thou to know surely that thy marriage will fail?" + +"My dear man, thou hast no knowledge of those women. They agreed +on Pan Mashko through lack of something better, for Pan Mashko had +good success. But if any shadow falls on my property, my position, +my station, they will throw me aside without mercy, and then roll +mountains on to me to shield themselves before the world of society. +What knowledge hast thou of them? Panna Kraslavski is not Panna +Plavitski." + +A moment of silence followed, then Mashko spoke further, with a +weakening voice: "She could have rescued me. For her I should have +gone on another road,--a far quieter one. In such conditions Kremen +would have been saved; the debt on it would have fallen away, as well +as Plavitski's annuity. I should have waded out. Dost thou know that, +besides, I fell in love with her in student fashion? It came so, +unknown whence. But she chose rather to be angry with thee than love +me. Now I understand; there is no help for it." + +Pan Stanislav, who did not relish this conversation, interrupted it, +and spoke with a shadow of impatience,-- + +"It astonishes me that a man of thy energy thinks everything lost, +while it is not. Panna Plavitski is a past on which thou hast made a +cross, by proposing to Panna Kraslavski. As to the present, thou wert +attacked, it is true; but thou hast fought, thou wert wounded, but in +such a way that in a week thou wilt be well; and finally, those ladies +have not announced that they break with thee. Till thou hast that, +black on white, thou hast no right to talk thus. Thou art sick, and +that is why thou art reading funeral services over thyself prematurely. +But I will tell thee another thing. It is for thee to let those ladies +know what has happened. Dost wish, I will go to them to-morrow, then +they will act as they please; but let them be informed by thy second, +not by city gossips." + +Mashko thought a while, and said: "I wished to write in every case to +my betrothed; but if thou go, it will be better. I have no hope that +she will hold to me, but it is needful to do what is proper. I thank +thee. Thou wilt be able to present the affair from the best side,--only +not a word touching troubles of any kind. Thou must lessen the sale of +the oak to zero, to a politeness which I wished to show thee. I thank +thee sincerely. Say that Gantovski apologized." + +"Hast thou some one to sit with thee?" + +"My servant and his wife. The doctor will come again, and bring a +surgeon. This pains me devilishly, but I am not ill." + +"Then, till we meet again." + +"Be well. I thank thee--thou art--" + +"Sleep soundly." + +Pan Stanislav went out. Along the way he meditated on Mashko's course, +and meditated with a species of anger: + +"He is not of the romantic school; still he is inclined to pretend +something of that sort. Panna Plavitski! he loved her--he would have +gone by another road--she might have saved him!--this is merely a +tribute to sentimentality, and, besides, in false coin, since a +month later he proposed to that puppet--for money's sake! Maybe I +am duller-witted; I do not understand this, and do not believe in +disappointments cured so easily. Had I loved one woman, and been +disappointed, I do not think that I should marry another in a month. +Devil take me if I should! He is right, however, that Marynia is of a +different kind from Kraslavski. There is no need whatever to discuss +that; she is different altogether! different altogether!" + +And that thought was immensely agreeable to Pan Stanislav. When he +reached home, he found a letter from Bukatski, who was in Italy, and +a card from Marynia, full of anxiety and questions concerning the +duel. There was a request to send news early in the morning of what +had happened, especially to inform her if everything was really over, +and if no new encounter was threatened. Pan Stanislav, under the +influence of the idea that she was different from Panna Kraslavski, +answered cordially, more cordially even than he wished, and commanded +his servant to deliver the note at nine the next morning. Then he set +about reading Bukatski's letter, shrugging his shoulders from the very +beginning. Bukatski wrote as follows:-- + + May Sakya Muni obtain for thee blessed Nirvana! Besides this, tell + Kaplaner not to forward my three thousand rubles to Florence, but + to keep them at my order. These days I have resolved to entertain + the design of forming the plan of becoming a vegetarian. Dost note + how decisive this is? If the thought does not annoy me, if this + plan becomes a determination, and the determination is not beyond + my power, I shall cease to be a flesh-eating animal; and life + will cost me less money. That is the whole question. As to thee, + I beg thee to be satisfied with everything, for life is not worth + fatigue. + + I have discovered why the Slavs prefer synthesis to analysis. + It is because they are idlers, and analysis is laborious. A man + can synthesize while smoking a cigar after dinner. For that + matter, they are right in being idlers. It is comfortably warm + in Florence, especially on Lung-Arno. I walk along for myself + and make a synthesis of the Florentine school. I have made the + acquaintance here of an able artist in water-colors,--a Slav, + too, who lives by art; but he proves that art is swinishness, + which has grown up from a mercantile need of luxury, and from + over-much money, which some pile up at the expense of others. In + one word, art is, to his thinking, meanness and injustice. He + fell upon me as upon a dog, and asserted that to be a Buddhist + and to be occupied with art is the summit of inconsistency; + but I attacked him still more savagely, and answered, that to + consider consistency as something better than inconsistency was + the height of miserable obscurantism, prejudices, and meanness. + The man was astonished, and lost speech. I am persuading him to + hang himself, but he doesn't want to. Tell me, art thou sure that + the earth turns around the sun, or isn't this all a joke? For + that matter, it is all one to me! In Warsaw I was sorry for that + child who died, and here too I think of her frequently. How stupid + that was! What is Pani Emilia doing? People have their rôle in + the world fixed beforehand, and her rôle came to her with wings + and suffering. Why was she good? She would have been happier + otherwise. As to thee, O man, show me one kindness. I beg thee, + by all things, marry not. Remember that if thou marry, if thou + have a son, if thou toil to leave him property, thou wilt do so + only for this that that son may be what I am, irreparably so. + Farewell burning energy, farewell mercantile house, commission + firm, O transitory form, vicious toil, effort for money, future + father of a family, rearer of children and trouble. Embrace for me + Vaskovski. He, too, is a man of synthesis. May Sakya Muni open thy + eyes to know that it is warm in the sun and cool in the shade, and + to lie down is better than to stand! Thy + BUKATSKI. + +"Hash!" thought Pan Stanislav. "All this is artificial, all +self-deception through a kind of exaggeration. But if a man accustoms +himself to this, it will become in time a second nature to him, and, +meanwhile, the devils take his reason; his energy and soul decay like +a corpse. A man may throw himself headlong into such a hole as Mashko +has, or into such a one as Bukatski. In both cases he will go under the +ice. What the devil does it mean? Still there must be some healthy and +normal life; only it is needful to have a little common sense in the +head. But for a man like Bigiel, it is not bad in the world. He has a +wife whom he loves, children whom he loves; he works like an ox. At the +same time he has a great attachment for people, loves music and his +violoncello, on which he plays in the moonlight, with his face raised +toward the ceiling. It cannot be said that he is a materialist. No; in +him one thing agrees with another somehow, and he is happy." + +Pan Stanislav began to walk through the room, and look from time to +time at Litka's face, smiling from between the birches. The need of +balancing accounts with his own self seized hold of him with increasing +force. Like a merchant, he set about examining his debit and credit, +which, for that matter, was not difficult. On the credit side of his +life, his feeling for Litka once occupied the chief place; she was +so dear to him in her time that if a year before it had been said, +"Take her as your own child," he would have taken her, and considered +that he had something to live for. But now this relation was only a +remembrance, and from the rubric of happiness it had passed over to +the rubric of misfortune. What was left? First of all, life itself; +second, that mental dilettantism, which in every case is a luxury; +further, the future, which rouses curiosity; further, the use of +material things; and finally, his commercial house. All this had its +value; but Pan Stanislav saw that there was a lack of object in it. As +to the commercial house, he was pleased with the successes which he +experienced, but not with the kind of work which the house demanded; +on the contrary, that kind of work was not enough for him,--it was too +narrow, too poor, and angered him. On the other hand, dilettantism, +books, the world of mind,--all had significance as an ornament of life, +but could not become its basis. "Bukatski," said Pan Stanislav to +himself, "has sunk in this up to his ears; he wished to live with it, +and has become weak, incompetent, barren. Flowers are good; but whoso +wishes to breathe the odor of them exclusively will poison himself." +In truth, Pan Stanislav did not need to be a great sage to see around +him a multitude of people who were out of joint, whose health of soul +mental dilettantism had undermined,--just as morphine undermines one's +health of body. + +This dilettantism had wrought much harm to him, too, if only in +this,--that it had made him a skeptic. He had been saved from +grievous disease only by a sound organism, which felt the absolute +need of expending its superfluous energy. But what will come later? +Can he continue in that way? To this Pan Stanislav answered now +with a decisive No! Since the business of his house could not fill +out his life, and since it was simply perilous to fill it out with +dilettantism, it was necessary to fill it out with something else,--to +create new worlds, new duties, to open up new horizons; and to do this, +he had to do one thing,--to marry. + +On a time when he said this to himself, he saw before him a certain +undefined form, uniting all the moral and physical requisites, but +without a body and without a name. Now it was a real figure; it had +calm blue eyes, dark hair, a mouth a trifle too large, and was called +Marynia Plavitski. Of any one else there could not be even mention; +and Pan Stanislav placed her before himself with such vividness that +the veins throbbed in his temples with more life. He was perfectly +conscious, however, that something was lacking then in his feeling for +Marynia,--namely, that around which the imagination lingers, which +dares not ask anything, but hopes everything; which fears, trembles, +kneels; which says to the loved woman, "At thy feet;" the love in which +desire is at the same time worship, homage,--a feeling which adds a +kind of mystic coloring to the relations of a man to a woman; which +makes of the man, not merely a lover, but a follower. That had gone. +Pan Stanislav, in thinking now of Marynia, thought soberly, almost +insolently. He felt that he could go and take her, and have her; and +if he did so, it would be for two reasons: first, because Marynia was +for him a woman more attractive than all others; and second, reason +commanded him to marry, and to marry her. + +"She is wonderfully reliable," thought he; "there is nothing in her +fruitless or dried up. Egotism has not destroyed the heart in her; and +it is undoubted that such a one will not think merely of what belongs +to her. She is honesty incarnate, duty incarnate; and in life the only +need will be to prevent her from thinking too little of herself. If +reason commands me to marry, I should commit a folly, were I to look +for another." + +Then he asked whether, if he abandoned Marynia, he would not act +dishonorably. Litka had united them. Something in his heart revolted +at the very thought of opposing the will and sacrifice of that child. +If he wished, however, to act against that will, should he have borne +himself as he had? No. In such an event he ought not to have shown +himself at the Plavitskis' since Litka's death, nor have seen Marynia, +nor kissed her hand, nor let himself be borne away by the current which +had borne him,--by the power of events, perhaps,--but borne him so far +that to-day he would disappoint Marynia, and fall in her eyes to the +wretched position of a man who knows not himself what he wishes. For he +would have to be blind not to see that Marynia considers herself his +betrothed; and that, if she were not disquieted by his silence so far, +it was simply because she ascribed it to the mourning which both had in +their hearts for Litka. + +"Looking, then," said Pan Stanislav, "from the side of reason and +conservative instinct, from the side of sense and honor, I ought to +marry her. Therefore what? Therefore I should be an imbecile if I +hesitated, and did not consider the question as settled. It is settled." + +Then he drew breath, and began to walk through the room. Under the lamp +lay Bukatski's letter. Pan Stanislav took it, and read from the place +where his eyes fell by chance. + + "I beg thee, by all things, marry not. Remember that if thou + marry, if thou have a son, if thou toil to leave him property, + thou wilt do so only for this: that that son may be what I am." + +"Here is a nice quandary for thee," said Pan Stanislav, with a certain +stubbornness. "I will marry. I will marry Marynia Plavitski; dost hear? +I will gain property; and if I have a son, I will not make of him a +decadent; dost understand?" + +And he was pleased with himself. A little later he looked at Litka, +and felt that a sudden emotion seized him. A current of sorrow for +her, and of feeling, rose with a new power in his heart. He began to +converse with the child, as in important moments of life people speak +usually with beloved dead,-- + +"Thou art pleased, kitten? Is it not true?" asked he. And she smiled at +him from among the birches painted by Marynia; she seemed to blink at +him, and to answer,-- + +"True, Pan Stas; true." + +That evening, before going to bed, he took back from the servant the +note which was to be given to Marynia in the morning, and wrote another +still more affectionate, and in the following words,-- + + DEAR LADY,--Gantovski made a scene with Mashko--rather an + awkward one--from which a duel came. Mashko is slightly wounded. + His opponent begged his pardon on the spot. There will be no + further results, save this: that I am still more convinced of + how kind you are, and thoughtful and excellent; and to-morrow, + if you permit, I will come with thanks to kiss your beloved and + dear hands. I will come in the afternoon; for, in the morning, + after visiting my office, I must go to Pani Kraslavski's, and then + say farewell to Professor Vaskovski, though, were it possible, I + should prefer to begin the day not with them. + + POLANYETSKI. + + +After writing these words, he looked at the clock, and, though it was +eleven already, he gave command to deliver the letter, not in the +morning, but straightway. + +"Thou wilt go in through the kitchen," said he to the servant; "and, if +the young lady is asleep, thou wilt leave it." + +When alone, he said the following words to the lady,-- + +"Thou art a very poor diviner, unless thou divine why I am coming +to-morrow!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +Pani Kraslavski received Pan Stanislav with great astonishment, +because of the early hour; but still she received him, thinking that +he had come for some uncommon reason. He, on his part, without long +introductions, told her what had happened, disguising at the same +time only what was necessary for shielding Mashko from suspicion of +bankruptcy or unfavorable business. + +He noticed that the old lady, while he was talking, kept her green +eyes--made, as it were, of stone, and devoid of glitter--fixed on him, +and that no muscle of her face moved. Only when he had ended did she +say,-- + +"There is one thing in all this which I do not understand. Why did Pan +Mashko sell the oak? That is no small ornament to any residence." + +"Those oaks stand far from the house," answered Pan Stanislav, "and +injure the land,--for nothing will grow in the shade of them; and Pan +Mashko is a practical man. Besides, to tell the truth, we are old +friends, and he did that through friendship for me. I am a merchant; I +needed the oak, and Pan Mashko let me have all he could spare." + +"In such an event, I do not understand why that young man--" + +"If you are acquainted with Pan Yamish," interrupted Pan Stanislav, +"he, because he lives near both Kremen and Yalbrykov, will explain to +you that that young man is not of perfect mind, and is known as such in +the whole neighborhood." + +"In that case Pan Mashko was not obliged to fight a duel with him." + +"In such matters," answered Pan Stanislav, with a shade of impatience, +"we have different ideas from ladies." + +"You will permit me to say a couple of words to my daughter." + +Pan Stanislav thought it time to rise and take farewell; but since he +had come, as it were, on a reconnaissance, and wished to take some +information to Mashko, he said,-- + +"If the ladies have any message to Pan Mashko, I am going to him +directly." + +"In a moment," answered Pani Kraslavski. + +Pan Stanislav remained alone and waited rather long, so long indeed +that he began to be impatient. At last both ladies appeared. Though +her hair had not been dressed with sufficient care, the young lady, +in a white chemisette and a sailor's tie, seemed to Pan Stanislav +quite beautiful, in spite of a slight inflammation of the eyes, and +a few pimples on her forehead, which were powdered. There was about +her a certain attractive languor, from which, having risen very late +apparently, she had not been able yet to rouse herself, and a certain +equally charming morning carelessness. For the rest, there was no +emotion on her bloodless face. + +After salutations were exchanged with Pan Stanislav, she said, with a +cool, calm voice,-- + +"Be so kind as to tell Pan Mashko that I was greatly pained and +alarmed. Is the wound really slight?" + +"Beyond a doubt." + +"I have begged mamma to visit Pan Mashko; I will take her, and wait in +the carriage for news. Then I will go again for mamma, and so every day +till Pan Mashko has recovered. Mamma is so kind that she consents to +this." + +Here a slight, barely evident blush passed over her pale face. To Pan +Stanislav, for whom her words were an utter surprise, and whom they +pierced with astonishment, she seemed then perfectly comely; and a +moment later, when going to Mashko, he said to himself,-- + +"Well, the women are better than they seem. But they are two decanters +of chilled water; still the daughter has some heart. Mashko did not +know her, and he will have an agreeable surprise. The old woman will go +to him, will see all those bishops and castellans with crooked noses +over which Bukatski amused himself so much; but she will believe in +Mashko's greatness." + +Meditating in this way, he found himself in Mashko's house, and had to +wait, for he came at the moment of dressing the wound. But barely had +the doctor gone, when Mashko gave command to ask him to enter, and, +without even a greeting, inquired,-- + +"Well, hast thou been there?" + +"How art thou; how hast thou slept?" + +"Well. But never mind--hast thou been there?" + +"I have. I will tell thee briefly. In a quarter of an hour Pani +Kraslavski will be here. The young lady told me to say that she would +bring her mother, and would wait to hear how thou art; and to tell thee +that she is greatly alarmed, that she is very unhappy, but thanks God +that there is nothing worse. Thou seest, Mashko! I add, besides, that +she is good-looking, and has attracted me. Now I am going, for I have +no time to wait." + +"Have mercy; wait a moment. Wait, my dear; I have not a fever, and if +thou speak through fear--" + +"Thou art annoying," said Pan Stanislav; "I give thee my word that +I tell the truth, and that thou hast spoken ill of thy betrothed +prematurely." + +Mashko dropped his head on the pillow, and was silent for a time; then +he said, as if to himself,-- + +"I shall be ready to fall in love with her really." + +"That is well. Be in health; I am going to take farewell of Vaskovski." + +But instead of going to Vaskovski, he went to the Plavitskis', whom +he did not find at home, however. Plavitski was never at home, and of +Marynia they said that she had gone out an hour before. Usually when +a man is going to a woman who rouses vivid interest in him, and makes +up his mind on the way what to say to her, he has rather a stupid face +if he finds that she is not at home. Pan Stanislav felt this, and was +vexed. He went to a greenhouse, however, bought a multitude of flowers, +and had them sent to Marynia. When he thought of the delight with +which she would receive them, and with what a beating heart she would +wait for evening, he was so pleased that after dinner he dropped into +Vaskovski's in the very best humor. + +"I have come to take farewell, Professor; when dost thou start on the +journey?" + +"How art thou, my dear?" answered Vaskovski. "I had to delay for a +couple of days; for, as thou seest, I am wintering various small boys +here." + +"Young Aryans, I suppose, who in hours of freedom draw purses out of +pockets?" + +"No, they are good souls; but I cannot leave them without care. I must +seek out a successor who will live in my place." + +"But who would roast himself here? How dost thou live in such heat?" + +"Because I sit without a coat; and wilt thou permit me not to put it +on? It is a little warm here; but perspiration is wholesome, and these +little feathered creatures crave heat." + +Pan Stanislav looked around. In the room there were at least a dozen +and a half of buntings, titmice, finches. Sparrows, accustomed +evidently to be fed, looked in in flocks through the window. The +professor kept in his room only birds purchased of dealers; sparrows +he did not admit, saying that if he did there would be no end to their +numbers, and that it would be unjust to receive some and reject others. +The chamber birds had cages fastened to the walls and the inner sash of +the window, but went into them only at night; during daylight they flew +through the chamber freely, filling it with twitter, and leaving traces +on books and manuscripts, with which all the corners and the tables +were filled. + +Some of the birds which had become very tame sat on Vaskovski's head +even. On the floor husks of hemp-seed cracked under one's feet. Pan +Stanislav, who knew that chamber thoroughly, still shrugged his +shoulders, and said,-- + +"All this is very good, but that the professor lets them light and sing +on his head; that, God knows, is too much. Besides, it is stifling +here." + +"That is the fault of Saint Francis of Assisi," answered Vaskovski, +"for I learned from him to love these little birds. I have even a pair +of doves, but they are home-stayers." + +"Thou wilt see Bukatski, of course; I received a letter from him,--here +it is." + +"May I read it?" + +"I give it to thee for that very purpose." + +Vaskovski read the letter, and said when he had finished, "I have +always liked this Bukatski; he is a good soul, but--he has a little +something here!" Vaskovski began, to tap his forehead with his fingers. + +"This is beginning to amuse me," exclaimed Pan Stanislav. "Imagine to +thyself, Professor, for a certain number of days some one taps himself +on the forehead and says of some one of our acquaintance, 'He has +something here!' A charming society!" + +"If it is a little so, it is a little so!" answered Vaskovski, with a +smile. "And knowest thou what this is? It is the usual Aryan trouble +of soul; and in us, as Slavs, there is more of that than in the west, +for we are the youngest Aryans, and therefore neither reason nor +heart have settled yet into a balance. We are the youngest Aryans: we +feel with more vividness; we take everything to heart more feverishly; +and we arrange ourselves to the practice of life with more passion. I +have seen much; I have noticed this for a long time. What wonderful +natures! Just look, for example, the German students can carouse,--that +doesn't hinder them from either working or fashioning themselves into +practical people; but let a Slav take this habit, and he is lost, he +will do himself to death! And so with everything. A German will become +a pessimist and write volumes on this,--that life is despair; but he +will drink beer meanwhile, rear children, make money, cultivate his +garden, and sleep under a feather tick. A Slav will hang himself, +or ruin himself with mad life, with excess, smother himself in a +swamp into which he will wade purposely. My dear, I remember men who +Byronized themselves to death. I have seen much; I have seen men who, +for example, took a fancy to peasants, and ended with drinking vodka +in peasant dramshops. There is no measure with us, and there cannot +be, for in us, to the excessive acceptance of every idea, are joined +frivolousness and knowest what vanity. O my God, how vain we are! how +we wish to push ourselves forward always, so that we may be admired +and gazed at! Take this Bukatski: he has sunk in scepticism up to his +ears in fact; in pessimism, Buddhism, decadency, and in what else +besides--do I know?--and in these too there is a chaos at present. +He has sunk so deeply that those miasmas are really poisoning him; +but dost thou think that with this he is not posing? What wonderful +natures! those who are most sincere, who have the most vivid feelings, +taking all things to heart most powerfully,--are at the same time +comedians. When a man thinks of this, he loves them, but he wants to +laugh and to weep." + +Pan Stanislav recalled how during his first visit to Kremen he had told +Marynia of his Belgian times, when, living with some young Belgians, +occupying himself with pessimism, he noticed finally that he took all +these theories far more to heart than the Belgians, and that, through +this, these theories spoiled his life more. Hence he said now,-- + +"Professor, thy speech is truthful. I have seen such things too, and +the devils will take us all." + +Vaskovski fixed his mystic eyes on the frosty window-panes, and said,-- + +"No; some one else will take us all. That hotness of blood, that +capacity for accepting an idea, are the great basis of the mission +which Christ has designed for the Slavs." Here Vaskovski pointed to a +manuscript stained by the birds, and said mysteriously,-- + +"I am going with that; that is the labor of my life. Dost wish I will +read from it?" + +"As God lives, I haven't time; it is late already." + +"True. It is growing dark. Then I will tell thee in brief words. Not +only do I think, but I believe most profoundly, that the Slavs have a +great mission." + +Here Vaskovski halted, began to rub his forehead, and said,-- + +"What a wonderful number,--'three.' There is some mystery in it." + +"Thou wert going to speak of a mission," said Pan Stanislav, disquieted. + +"Never fear; the one has connection with the other. There are three +worlds in Europe: the Roman, the German, and the Slav. The first and +second accomplished what they had to do. The future is for that third." + +"And what has that third to do?" + +"Social conditions, justice, the relations of man to man, the life of +individuals, and that which is called private life, are founded on +Christian science, no matter what comes. The incoherence of men has +deformed this science, but still everything stands on it. Only the +first half of the problem is solved,--the first epoch. There are people +who think that Christianity is nearing its end. No; the second epoch +is about to begin. Christ is in the life of individuals, but not in +history. Dost understand? To bring Him into history, to found on Him +the relations of peoples, to create the love of our neighbor in the +historical sense,--that is the mission which the Slav world has to +accomplish. But the Slavs are deficient in knowledge yet; and the need +is to open their eyes to this mission." + +Pan Stanislav was silent, for he had nothing to answer. + +Vaskovski continued: "This is what I have been pondering over a +lifetime, and have explained in this work." Here he pointed to a +manuscript. "This is the labor of my life. Here _this_ mission is +outlined." + +"On which meanwhile the buntings are--" thought Pan Stanislav. "And +surely it will be that way a long time." But aloud he said, "And it is +thy hope, Professor, that when such a work is printed--" + +"No; I hope nothing. I have a little love, but I am a man too +insignificant, too weak in mind. This will vanish, as if some one had +thrown a stone into water; but there will be a circle. Let some chosen +one come later on; for I know that what is predestined will not fail. +He will not refuse the mission even if he wishes. There is no use in +bending men from their predestination, nor in changing them by force. +What is good in a different place may be bad in this, for God made +us for another use. The labor is vain. Vainly too wilt thou persuade +thyself that thy only wish is to gain money; thou, like others, must +follow the voice of predestination and nature." + +"I am following it indeed, for I am going to marry; that is, if I be +accepted." + +Vaskovski embraced him. + +"I wish thee happiness! This is perfect! May God bless thee! I know +that the little maid indicated it to thee. But remember how I told +thee that she had something to do, and that she would not die till she +had done it. May God give her light, and a blessing to both of you! +Besides, Marynia is golden." + +"And to thee, beloved Professor, a happy journey and a successful +mission!" + +"And to thee, thy wish for thyself." + +"What do I wish?" asked Pan Stanislav, joyfully. "Well, so, half a +dozen little missionaries." + +"Ah rogue! thou wert always a rogue!" answered Vaskovski. "But fly off, +fly off; I will visit thee once more." + +Pan Stanislav flew out, sat on a droshky, and gave command to take +him to the Plavitskis'. On the road he was arranging what to say to +Marynia; and he prepared a little speech, partly sentimental, and +partly sober, as befits a positive man who has found really that which +he was seeking, but who also is marrying through reason. Evidently +Marynia looked for him much later; for there was no light in the +chamber, though the last gleam of twilight was quenched. Pan Stanislav, +for a greeting, began to kiss both her hands, and, forgetting +completely his wise introduction, asked in a voice somewhat uncertain +and excited,-- + +"Have you received the flowers and the letter?" + +"I have." + +"And did you guess why I sent them?" + +Marynia's heart beat with such force that she could not answer. + +Pan Stanislav inquired further, with a still more broken voice,-- + +"Do you agree to Litka's wish,--do you want me?" + +"I do," answered Marynia. + +Then he, in the feeling that it was proper to thank her, sought words +in vain; but he pressed her hands more firmly to his lips, and, holding +them both, drew her gently nearer and nearer. Suddenly a flame seized +him; he put his arms around her, and began to seek her lips with his +own. But Marynia turned away her head so that he could kiss only the +hair on her temples. For a while only their hurried breathing was heard +in the darkness; at last Marynia wrested herself from his arms. + +A few moments later the servant brought a light. Pan Stanislav, +recovering himself, was alarmed at his own boldness, and looked into +Marynia's eyes with disquiet. He was sure that he had offended her, and +was ready to beg her forgiveness. But he saw with wonder that there +were no traces of anger in her face. Her eyes were downcast, her cheeks +flushed, her hair disarranged somewhat; it was evident that she was +disturbed and, as it were, dazed, but withal only penetrated with the +perfect sweetness of that fear which comes to a woman who is loved, +and who, in passing over the new threshold, feels that she must yield +something there, but who passes over and yields because she wishes. +She loves, and she is obliged to yield in view of the rights which she +accords to the man. + +But a vivid feeling of gratitude passed through Pan Stanislav at sight +of her. It seemed to him then that he loved her as he had loved of old, +before Litka's death. He felt also that in that moment he could not +be too delicate nor too magnanimous; hence, taking her hand again, he +raised it to his lips with great respect, and said,-- + +"I know that I am not worthy of you; there is no discussion on that +point. God knows that I shall always do for you what is in my power." + +Marynia looked at him with moist eyes and said, "If only you are happy." + +"Is it possible not to be happy with you? I saw that from the first +moment at Kremen. But afterward, you know, everything was spoiled. I +thought you would marry Mashko, and how I worried--" + +"I was angry, and I beg forgiveness--my dear--Pan Stas." + +"This very day the professor said, 'Marynia is gold,'" exclaimed Pan +Stanislav, with great ardor. "This is true! all say the same--not only +gold, but a treasure--a very precious one." + +Her kindly eyes began to smile at him: "Maybe a heavy one." + +"Let not your head ache over that. I have strength enough; I shall be +able to bear it. Now at least I have something to live for." + +"And I," answered Marynia. + +"Do you know that I have been here already to-day? I sent +chrysanthemums later. After yesterday's letter to you, I said to +myself, 'That is simply an angel, and I should lack, not only heart, +but common-sense to delay any longer.'" + +"I was so alarmed about that duel, and so unhappy. But is it all over +now?" + +"I give you my word, most thoroughly." + +Marynia wanted to make further inquiries, but at that moment Plavitski +came. They heard him cough a little, put away his cane, and remove his +overcoat; he opened the door then, and, seeing them alone, said,-- + +"So you are sitting all by yourselves?" + +But Marynia ran up to him, and placing her hands on his shoulders, and +putting forth her forehead for a kiss, said,-- + +"As betrothed, papa." + +Plavitski stepped back a little and inquired, "What dost thou say?" + +"I say," answered she, looking quietly into his eyes, "that Pan +Stanislav wishes to take me, and that I am very happy." + +Pan Stanislav approached, embraced Plavitski heartily, and said, "I do +with uncle's consent and permission." + +But Plavitski exclaimed, "Oh, my child!" and, advancing with tottering +step to a sofa, he sat on it heavily. "Wait a moment," said he, with +emotion. "It will pass--do not mind me--my children! If that is needed, +I bless you with my whole heart." + +And he blessed them; wherewith still greater emotion mastered him, +for, after all, he loved Marynia really. The voice stuck in his throat +repeatedly; and the two young people heard only such broken expressions +as, for example, "Some corner near you--for the old man, who worked all +his life--an only child--an orphan." + +They pacified him together, and pacified him so well that half an hour +later Plavitski struck Pan Stanislav on the shoulder suddenly, and +said,-- + +"Oh robber! Thou wert thinking of Marynia, and I was thinking thee a +little--" He finished the rest in Pan Stanislav's ear, who grew red +with indignation, and answered,-- + +"How could uncle suppose such a thing? If any one else had dared to say +that?" + +"Well, well, well!" answered Plavitski, smiling; "there is no smoke +without fire." + +That evening Marynia, taking farewell of Pan Stanislav, asked,-- + +"You will not refuse me one thing?" + +"Nothing that you command." + +"I have said long to myself that if a moment like the present should +come, we would go to Litka together." + +"Ah, my dear lady," answered Pan Stanislav; and she continued,-- + +"I know not what people will say; but what do we care for the +world--what indeed?" + +"Nothing. I am thankful to you from my heart and soul for the +thought--My dear lady--my Marynia!" + +"I believe that she looks at us and prays for us." + +"Then she is our little patroness." + +"Good-night." + +"Good-night." + +"Till to-morrow." + +"Till to-morrow," said he, kissing her hands,--"till after to-morrow, +daily;" and here he added in a low voice, "Until our marriage." + +"Yes," answered Marynia. + +Pan Stanislav went out. In his head and in his heart he felt a great +whirl of feelings, thoughts, impressions, above which towered one +great feeling,--that something unheard of in its decisiveness had +happened; that his fate had been settled; that the time of reckoning, +of wavering and changing, had passed; that he must begin a new life. +And that feeling was not unpleasant to him,--nay, it verged on a kind +of delight, especially when he remembered how he had kissed Marynia's +hair and temples. That which was lacking in his feelings shrank and +vanished almost utterly in this remembrance; and it seemed to Pan +Stanislav that he had found everything requisite to perfect happiness. +"I shall never grow sated with this," thought he; and it seemed to him +simply impossible that he should. He remembered then the goodness of +Marynia, and how reliable she was; how on such a heart and character +he might build; how in living with her nothing could ever threaten +him; how she would not trample on any quality of his, nor make it of +no avail; how she would receive as gold that which in him was gold; +how she would live for him, not for herself. And, meditating in this +way, he asked what better could he find? and he wondered indeed at his +recent hesitation. Still he felt that what was coming was a change so +gigantic, so immensely decisive, that somewhere at the bottom, in the +deepest corner of his soul, there was roused a kind of alarm before +this unknown happiness. But he did not hesitate. "I am neither a coward +nor an imbecile," thought he. "It is necessary to go ahead, and I will +go." + +Returning home, he looked at Litka; and immediately there opened before +him, as it were, a new, clear horizon. He thought that he might have +children, have such a bright dear head as this--and with Marynia. At +the very thought his heart began to beat with greater life, and to the +impulse of thoughts was joined such a solace of life as he had not +known previously. He felt almost perfectly happy. Looking by chance at +Bukatski's letter, which he took from his pocket before undressing, he +laughed so heartily that the servant looked in with astonishment. Pan +Stanislav wished to tell him that he was going to marry. He fell asleep +only toward morning, but rose sprightly and fresh; after dressing, he +flew to his office to announce the news to Bigiel at the earliest. + +Bigiel embraced him, then, with his usual deliberation, proceeded to +consider the affair, and said finally,-- + +"Reasoning the matter over, this is the wisest thing that thou hast +done in life;" then, pointing to a box of papers, he added, "Those +contracts ought to be profitable, but thine is still better." + +"Isn't it?" exclaimed Pan Stanislav, boastfully. + +"I will fly to tell my wife," said Bigiel, "for I cannot contain +myself; but go thou home, and go for good. I will take thy place till +the wedding, and during the honeymoon." + +"Very well; I will hurry to see Mashko, and then Marynia and I will go +to Litka." + +"That is due from you both to her." + +Pan Stanislav bought more flowers on the way, added a note to them +that he would come soon, and dropped in to see Mashko. Mashko was +notably better, under the care of Pani Kraslavski, and was looking for +her arrival every moment. When he had heard the news, he pressed Pan +Stanislav's hand with emotion, and said,-- + +"I will tell thee only one thing,--I do not know whether she will be +happy with thee, but certainly thou wilt be happy with her." + +"Because women are better than men," answered Pan Stanislav. "After +what has happened to thee, I hope that thou art of this opinion." + +"I confess that to this moment I cannot recover from astonishment. They +are both better, and more mysterious. Imagine to thyself--" Here Mashko +halted, as if hesitating whether to continue. + +"What?" inquired Pan Stanislav. + +"Well, thou art a discreet man, and hast given me, besides, such proofs +of friendship that there may not be secrets between us. Imagine, then, +that yesterday, after thy departure, I received an anonymous letter. +Here, as thou art aware, the noble custom of writing such letters +prevails. In the letter were tidings that Papa Kraslavski exists, is +alive, and in good health." + +"Which, again, may be gossip." + +"But also may not be. He lives, probably, in America. I received the +letter while Pani Kraslavski was here. I said nothing; but after a +time, when she had examined those portraits, and began to inquire of my +more distant family relations, I asked her, in turn, how long she had +been a widow. She answered,-- + +"'My daughter and I have been alone in the world nine years; and those +are sad events, of which I do not wish to speak to-day.' + +"Observe that she did not say directly when her husband died." + +"And what dost thou think?" + +"I think that if papa is alive, he must be that kind of figure of which +people do not speak, and that in truth those may be 'sad events.'" + +"The secret would have come out long ago." + +"Those ladies lived abroad some years. Who knows? That, however, will +not change my plans in any way. If Pan Kraslavski is living in America, +and does not return, he must have reasons; it is as if he were not in +the world, then. In fact, I am gaining the hope now that my marriage +will come to pass, for I understand that when people have something to +hide, they exact less." + +"Pardon my curiosity," said Pan Stanislav, taking his hat; "but with me +it is a question of my money, and now touching the Kraslavskis. Dost +thou know surely that these ladies have money?" + +"It seems that they have much; still, I am playing against a card +somewhat hidden. It is likely that they have much ready money. The +mother told me repeatedly that her daughter would not need to look to +her husband's property. I saw their safe; they keep a big house. I know +nearly all the money-lenders--Jews and non-Jews--in Warsaw, and I know +surely that these ladies are not in debt a copper to any one; as thou +knowest thyself, they have a nice villa not far from the Bigiels. They +do not live on their capital, for they are too prudent." + +"Thou hast no positive figures, however?" + +"I tried to get them, but in roundabout fashion. Not being too certain +of my connection with the ladies, I could not insist overmuch. It was +given me to understand that there would be two hundred thousand rubles, +and perhaps more." + +Pan Stanislav took leave, and on the way to the Plavitskis' thought, +"All this is a kind of mystery, a kind of darkness, a kind of risk. I +prefer Marynia." + +Half an hour later he was driving with Marynia to the cemetery, to +Litka. The day was warm, as in spring, but gray; the city seemed sullen +and dirty. In the cemetery the melting snow had slipped in patches to +the ground from the graves, and covered the yellow, half-decayed grass. +From the arms of crosses and leafless tree-branches large drops were +falling, which, borne from time to time by gusts of warm wind, struck +the faces of Pan Stanislav and Marynia. These gusts pulled Marynia's +dress, so that she had to hold it. They stopped at last before Litka's +grave. + +And here all was wet, sloppy, gloomy, half-stripped of the melting +snow. The thought that that child, once so cared for, so loved, and so +petted, was lying in that damp dungeon darkness, could hardly find a +place in Pan Stanislav's head. + +"All this may be natural," thought he; "but it is not possible to +be reconciled with death." And, in truth, whenever he visited Litka, +he returned from the cemetery in a kind of irrepressible rebellion, +with a species of passionate protest in his soul. These thoughts began +to rend him in that moment also. It seemed to him simply terrible to +love Litka, and to reconcile his love with the knowledge that a few +steps lower down she is lying there, black and decaying. "I ought not +to come," said he to himself, "for I grow mad, lose my head here, and +lose every basis of life." But, above all, he suffered, for, if it is +impossible not to think of death, it is equally impossible to explain +it; hence everything touching it, which comes to the head, is, in so +far as a man does not stretch forth his hand toward simple faith, at +once despairing and shallow, trivial and common. "For me there is a +greater question here than that of existence itself, but I am only able +to answer with a commonplace. A perfectly vicious circle!" + +And it was true; for if he considered, for example, that at the +first thought of death everything becomes smoke, and he felt that +unfortunately it does, he felt at the same time that thousands of +people had come to that thought before he had, and that no one had +found in it either solace or even such satisfaction as the discovery +of a truth gives. Everything that he could say to himself was at once +terrifying and petty. It was easy for him to understand that the whole +life of man, general history, all philosophies, are at bottom merely +a struggle with incessant death,--a struggle despairing, a struggle +utterly senseless, and at the same time infinitely foolish and devoid +of object, for it is lost in advance. But such reasoning could not +bring him any comfort, since it was merely the confirmation of a new +vicious circle. + +For if the one object of all human efforts is life, and the only result +death, the nonsense passes measure, and simply could not be accepted, +were it not for that loathsome and pitiless reality, which turns beings +beloved and living into rotten matter. + +Pan Stanislav, during every visit to the cemetery, poisoned himself +with such thoughts. To-day, while going, he thought that the presence +of Marynia would liberate him from them; meanwhile, rather the opposite +happened. Litka's death, which had broken in him trust in the sense +and moral object of life, undermined in him also that first, former +love for Marynia, which was so naïve and free of doubt; now, when with +Marynia, he was standing at Litka's grave, when that death, which had +begun to be only a memory, had become again a thing almost tangible, +its poisoning effect was increasing anew. Again it seemed to him that +all life, consequently love, too, is merely an error, and the processes +of life utterly useless and vain. If above life there is neither reason +nor mercy, why toil, why love and marry? Is it to have children, become +attached to them with every drop of one's blood, and then look on +helplessly, while that blind, stupid, insulting, brutal force chokes +them, as a wolf chokes a lamb, and come to their graves, and think that +they are mouldering in damp and darkness? See, Litka is down there. + +A day wonderfully gloomy only strengthened the bitterness of these +feelings. At times, during his previous visits, the cemetery had seemed +to Pan Stanislav a kind of great void in which life was dissolving, but +in which every misfortune, too, was dissolving,--something enormously +dreamy, soothing. To-day there was no rest in it. Pieces of snow fell +from the trees and gravestones; ravens pushed about among the wet trees +with their croaking. Sudden and strong blasts of wind hurled drops of +moisture from the branches, and, driving them about, produced a certain +desperate struggle around the stone crosses, which stood firm and +indifferent. + +Just then Marynia ceased praying, and said, with that slightly +suppressed voice with which people speak in cemeteries,-- + +"Now her soul must be near us." + +Pan Stanislav made no answer; but he thought first that he and Marynia +were beings as if from two distinct worlds, and then that if there were +even a particle of truth in what she said, all his mental struggles +would be less important than that melting snow. "In such case," said +he to himself, "there is dying and there are cemeteries, but there is +simply no death." + +Marynia began to place on the grave immortelles, which she had +bought at the gate, and he to think hurriedly, rather by the aid of +his impressions than his ideas, "In my world there is no answer to +anything; there are only vicious circles, which lead to the precipice." + +And this struck him,--that if such ideas of death as Marynia had, +did not come from faith, or if they had been unknown altogether, and +if all at once some philosopher had formulated them as a hypothesis, +the hypothesis would be recognized as the most genial of the genial, +because it explains everything, gives an answer to questions, gives +light, not only to life, but to death, which is darkness. Mankind would +kneel with admiration before such a philosopher and such a scientific +theory. + +On the other hand, he felt that still something of Litka was there with +them. She herself was falling into dust, but something had survived +her; there remained, as it were, currents of her thought, of her will, +of her feeling. This,--that she had brought him to Marynia; that +they were betrothed; that they were then standing at her grave; that +they were to be united; that their lives would go on together; that +they would have children, who in their turn would live and love and +increase,--what was that, if not such a current, which, coming forth +from that child, might go on and on through eternity, renewing itself +in an endless chain of phenomena? How then understand that from a +mortal being should issue an immortal and ceaseless energy? Marynia, in +the simplicity of her faith, had found an answer; Pan Stanislav had not. + +And still Marynia was right. Litka was with them. Through Pan +Stanislav's head there flew at that moment a certain hypothesis, dim, +and not fixed in close thought yet,--a hypothesis, that, perhaps, all +which man thinks during life, all that he wishes, all that he loves, +is a hundred times more intangible, a hundred times more subtile, than +ether, from which rises an astral existence, conscious of itself, +either eternal or successively born into beings more and more perfect, +more subtile, on to infinity. And it seemed to him that atoms of +thought and feeling might collect into a separate individuality, +specially because they came forth from one brain or one heart; that +they are related,--hence tend to one another with the same mysterious +principle by which physical elements combine to form physical +individualities. + +At present he had not time to meditate over this, but it seemed to him +that he had caught something, that in the veil before his eyes, he saw, +as it were, an opening that might turn out to be a deception; but at +the moment, when he felt that still Litka was with them, he thought +that her presence could be understood only in that manner. + +Just then some funeral came, for, in the tower, which stood in the +middle of the cemetery, the bell began to sound. Pan Stanislav gave +Marynia his arm, and they went towards the gate. On the way Marynia, +thinking evidently more about Litka, said,-- + +"Now I am certain that we shall be happy." + +And she leaned more on Pan Stanislav's arm, for the gusts of wind had +become so violent that it was difficult for her to resist them. One +of these carried her veil around his neck. Reality began to call to +him. He pressed the arm of the living woman to his side, and felt that +loving, if it cannot ward away death, can at least harmonize life. + +When they were seated in the carriage, he took Marynia's hand, and did +not let it go during the whole way. At moments solace returned to him +almost perfectly, for he thought that that maiden, true and kind to +the core of her nature, would be able to make good what was lacking in +his feeling, and revivify in him that which was palsied. "My wife! my +wife!" repeated he, in mind, looking at her; and her honest, clear eyes +answered, "Thine." + +When they arrived at the house, Plavitski had not returned from his +walk before dinner; they were all by themselves then. Pan Stanislav sat +down by her side, and under the influence of those thoughts which had +passed through his head on the way, he said,-- + +"You declared that Litka was with us; that is true. I have always +returned from the cemetery as if cut down; but it is well that we were +there." + +"It is; for we went as if for a blessing," said Marynia. + +"I have that same impression; and, besides, it seems to me as if we +were united already, or, at least, were nearer than before." + +"True; and this will be both a sad and a pleasant remembrance." + +He took her hand again, and said,-- + +"If you believe that we shall be happy, why defer happiness? My kind, +my best, I, too, trust that it will be well with us; let us not defer +the day. We have to begin a new life; let us begin it promptly." + +"Make the decision. I am yours with all my soul." + +Then he drew her toward him, as he had the day before, and began to +seek her lips with his lips; and she, whether under the influence of +the thought that his rights were greater on that day, or under the +influence of awakening thoughts, did not turn her head away any more, +but, half closing her eyes, she herself gave him her lips, as if they +had been thirsty a long time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +For Pan Stanislav began now the period of ante-nuptial cares and +preparations. He had, it is true, a dwelling furnished for more than a +year,--that is, from a period before he knew Marynia. At that time he +made no denial when Bukatski laughed at the lodgings, seeing in them a +proof of how anxious his friend was to marry. "Yes," said he; "I have +property enough to permit this. I think, too, that I am doing something +toward it, and that my plans are growing real." + +Bukatski said this was prevision worthy of praise, and wondered that +a man of such foresight did not engage also a nurse and a midwife. At +times conversation of this kind ended in a quarrel, for Pan Stanislav +could not let any one deny him sound judgment in worldly matters. +Bukatski affirmed that it was bird romance, worthy of a bunting, to +start with building a poetic nest. One friend contended that there +could be no wiser method than to build a cage, if you want a bird; +the other retorted that if the bird were not found yet, and the chase +was uncertain, the cage was a joke on one's appetite. It ended with +allusions to the slim legs of Bukatski, which, for him, made the chase +after birds of all kinds impossible, even though they were wingless. +Bukatski, on such occasions, fell into excellent humor. + +Now, however, when the cage was ready, and the bird not only caught, +but willing, there remained so much to be done that Pan Stanislav was +seized more than once by surprise that an act so simple by nature as +marriage, should be so complex in civilized societies. It seemed to +him that if no one has the right to look into the moral side of the +connection, since it is the outcome of genuine free-will, the formal +side should be looked at still less. + +But he thought so because he was not a law-giver, and was an impulsive +man made impatient by the need of getting "papers." Once he had +resolved on marriage, he ceased to think or to analyze, and hastened, +as a man of action, to execute. + +He was even filled more than once with pride, on comparing himself +with such a man, for instance, as Ploshovski, whose history had been +circling from mouth to mouth in society, before people had begun to +learn it from his diary. "But I am of different metal," thought Pan +Stanislav, with a certain satisfaction. At moments, again, when he +recalled Ploshovski's figure, his noble, delicate, and also firmly +defined profile, his refinement, subtlety, and mental suppleness, his +rare gift of winning people, especially women, it occurred to him that +he, Polanyetski, is a less refined type, less noble, and, in general, a +man cut from ruder materials. But to this he answered that evidently, +in the face of conditions in life and the resistance required by it, +too much refinement is simply fatal to mind as well as body. In himself +he saw also far more ability for living. "Finally," said he, "I can be +of some service, while he would have been good only on social shelves +with curiosities. I am able to win bread; he was able only to make +pellets out of bread when baked. I know how, and I know well how, to +color cotton; he only knew how to color women's cheeks. But what a +difference between us with reference to women! That man over-analyzed +his life and the life of the woman whom he loved; he destroyed her and +himself by not being able to escape from the doubt whether he loved +her sufficiently. I, too, have doubts whether my love is perfect; but +I take my little woman, and should be an imbecile, not a man, to fear +the future, and fail to squeeze from it in simple fashion what good and +happiness it will let me squeeze." + +Here Pan Stanislav, though he had forsworn analysis, began to analyze, +not himself, it is true, but Marynia. He permitted this, however, only +because he foresaw certainly favorable conclusions; he understood that, +in calculating the future of two people, good-will on one side is not +sufficient, and becomes nothing, if good-will fails on the other. +But he was convinced that in taking Marynia he was not taking a dead +heart. Marynia had brought to the world not only an honest nature, but +from years of childhood she had been in contact with work and with +conditions in which she was forced to forget herself, so as to think +of others. Besides, there was above her the memory of a mother, a kind +of endless blessing from beyond the grave,--a mother whose calmness, +candor, and uprightness, whose life, full of trials, were remembered +to the present with the utmost respect, throughout the whole region +of Kremen. Pan Stanislav knew this, and was persuaded that, building +on the heart and character of Marynia, he was building on a foundation +well-nigh immovable. More than once he recalled the words of a woman, +an acquaintance and friend of his mother's, who, when some one asked +her whether she was more anxious about the future of her sons than her +daughters, answered, "I think only of my sons; for my daughters, in the +worst case, can be only unhappy." + +So it is! School and the world rear sons, and both may make them +scoundrels; daughters, in whom the home ingrafts honorableness, can, in +the worst case, be only unhappy. Pan Stanislav understood that this was +true with regard to Marynia. So that if he analyzed her, his analysis +was rather the examination of a jeweller and his admiration for his +gems, than a scientific method intended to reach results unknown and +unexpected. + +Still he quarrelled once with Marynia very seriously, because of +a letter from Vaskovski, which Pan Stanislav received from Rome a +few weeks after the professor's departure, and which he read in its +integrity to Marynia. This letter was as follows:-- + + MY DEAR,--I am lodging at Via Tritone, Pension Française. + Visit my Warsaw lodgings; see if Snopchinski looks after my little + boys properly, and if the birds of Saint Francis have seeds and + water in plenty. When spring comes, it will be needful to open the + windows and cages; whichever bird wishes to stay, let it stay, + and whichever one wishes to go, let it fly. The boys of the genus + _homo sapiens_ should have good food, since I left money therefor, + and besides little moralizing, but much love. Snopchinski is a + worthy man, but a hypochondriac. He says this comes from snows. + When he is attacked by what he calls "chandra," he looks for whole + weeks on his boots, and is silent; but one must talk with little + boys, to give them confidence. This is all that touches Warsaw. + + I am printing here in French, in the typography of the journal + "L'Italie," that work of mine which I discussed with thee. They + laugh at my French a little, and at me, but I am used to that. + Bukatski came here. He is a good, beloved fellow! he has grown + strange to the last degree, and says that he drags his feet after + him, though I have not noticed it. He loves both Marynia and thee, + and indeed every one, though he denies it. But when he begins to + talk, one's ears wither. May the Lord God bless thee, dear boy, + and thy honest Marynia! I should like to be at thy wedding, but + I know not whether I shall finish my work before Easter; listen, + therefore, now to what I tell thee, and know that I write this + letter to that end. Do not think that the old man is talking just + to talk. Thou knowest, besides, that I have been a teacher; that + the inheritance from my brother freed me from that occupation; + that I have had experience and have seen things. If ye have + children, do not torture them with knowledge; let them grow up + as God wills. I might stop here; but thou art fond of figures, + hence I will give thee figures. A little child has as many hours + of labor as a grown man in office, with this difference, that + the man talks during office hours with his colleagues, or smokes + cigarettes; the child must strain its attention continually, + or lose the clew of lessons, and cease to understand what is + said to it. The man goes home when his work is done; the child + must prepare for the following day, which takes four hours from + a capable child, from one less capable six. Add to this, that + poorer pupils give lessons frequently, the rich take them, which, + added, gives twelve hours. Twelve hours' labor for a child! Dost + understand that, my dear? Canst thou realize what sickly natures + must grow up in such conditions,--natures out of joint, inclined + to the wildest manias, crooked, wilful? Dost thou understand how + we are filling cemeteries with our children, and why the most + monstrous ideas find supporters? Ah, at present they are limiting + the hours of labor in factories even for grown people, but + touching children at school philanthropy is silent. Oh, but that + is a field! that is a service to be rendered; that is a coming + glory and sainthood. Do not torture thy children with learning, + I beg thee--and I beg Marynia; promise me both of you. I do not + speak just to speak, as Bukatski says sometimes, but I speak from + the heart; and this is the greatest reform for which future ages + are waiting, the greatest after the introduction of Christ into + history. Something wonderful happened to me in Perugia a few days + since, but of that I will tell thee sometime, and now I embrace + both of you. + +Marynia listened to this letter, looking at the tips of her shoes, +like that Snopchinski of whom the Professor wrote. But Pan Stanislav +laughed, and said,-- + +"Have you ever heard anything like this? It is long before our +marriage; but he is lamenting over our children, and takes the field on +their behalf. This is somewhat the history of my nest." + +After a while he added, "To tell the truth, the fault is mine; for +I made him various promises." And, inclining so that he could see +Marynia's eyes, he asked, "But what do you say to this letter?" + +Pan Stanislav, inquiring thus, had chanced on that unhappy moment when +a man is not himself, and acts not in accordance with his own nature. +He was rather a harsh person generally, but not brutal, and at times +was even capable of delicate acts, really womanlike. But now, in his +look and in the question directed to a young lady so mimosa-like as +Marynia, there was something simply brutal. She knew as well as others +that after marriage come children; but this seemed to her something +indefinite, not to be mentioned, or if mentioned, mentioned in +allusions as delicate as lace, or in a moment of emotion, with beating +heart, with loving lips at the ear, with solemnity,--as touching what +is most sacred in a mutual future. Hence Pan Stanislav's careless tone +outraged and pained her. She thought, "Why does he not understand +this?" and she in turn acted not in accordance with her nature; for, +as happens frequently with timid persons in moments of bitterness and +confusion, they exhibit greater anger than they feel. + +"You should not treat me in this way!" cried she, indignantly. "You +should not speak to me in this way!" + +Pan Stanislav laughed again with feigned gayety. + +"Why are you angry?" inquired he. + +"You do not act with me as is proper." + +"I do not understand the question." + +"So much the worse." + +The smile vanished from his lips; his face grew dark, and he spoke +quickly, like a man who has ceased to reckon with his words. + +"Perhaps I am stupid; but I know what is right and what is not. In this +way life becomes impossible. Whoever makes great things out of nothing +must not blame others. But, since my presence is disagreeable, I go!" + +And, seizing his hat, he bowed, and went out. Marynia did not try to +detain him. For a while offence and anger stifled in her all other +sensations; then there remained to her only an impression, as if from +the blow of a club. Her thoughts scattered like a flock of birds. Above +them towered only one dim idea: "All is over! he will not return!" +Thus fell the structure which had begun to unite in such beautiful +lines. Emptiness, nothingness, a torturing, because objectless life, +and a chilled heart,--that is what remained to her. And happiness had +been so near! But that which had taken place so suddenly was something +so strange that she could not explain immediately. She went to the +writing-desk, and began mechanically to arrange papers in it, with +a certain objectless haste, as if there could be any reason at that +moment for arranging them. Then she looked at Litka's photograph, and +sat down quickly with her hands on her eyes and temples. After a time +it occurred to her that Litka's will must be stronger than the will +of them both, and a ray of hope shone in on her suddenly. She began to +walk in the room, and to think on what had passed; she recalled Pan +Stanislav, not only as he had been just then, but earlier,--two, three +days, a week before. Her regret became greater than her feeling of +offence, and it increased with her affection for Pan Stanislav. After +a time she said in her soul that she was not free to forget herself; +that it was her duty to accept and love Pan Stanislav as he was, and +not strive to fix him to her ideas. "That is, he is a living man, not +a puppet," repeated she, a number of times. And a growing feeling of +fault seized her, and after that compunction. A heart submissive by +nature, and greatly capable of loving, struggled against sound sense, +which she possessed undoubtedly, and which now told her in vain that +reason was not on Pan Stanislav's side, and that, moreover, she had +said nothing which needed pardon. She said to herself, "If he has a +good heart, even to a small extent, he will return;" but she was seized +also with fear in view of the self-love of men in general, and of Pan +Stanislav in particular,--she was too intelligent not to note that +he cared greatly to pass for an unbending person. But considerations +of that kind, which an unfriendly heart would have turned to his +disadvantage, had made her tender only on his behalf. + +Half an hour later she was convinced to the depth of her soul that +the fault lay only on her side; that "she had tormented him so much +already" that she ought to yield now,--that is, to be the first to +extend a hand in conciliation. That meant in her mind to write a few +peace-making words. He had suffered so much from that affair of Kremen +that this was due to him. And she was ready even to weep over his fate. +She hoped, withal, that he, the bad, ugly man, would estimate what it +cost her to write to him, and would come that same evening. + +It had seemed to her that nothing was easier than to write a few +cordial phrases, which go directly from one heart to another. But how +difficult! A letter has no eyes, which fill with tears; no face, which +smiles both sadly and sweetly; no voice, which trembles; no hands to +stretch forth. You may read and understand a letter as you like; it is +merely black letters on paper as impassive as death. + +Marynia had just torn the third sheet, when the face of Pan Plavitski, +as wrinkled as a roast apple, and with mustaches freshly dyed, showed +itself at the door partly open. + +"Is Polanyetski not here?" inquired he. + +"He is not, papa." + +"But will he come this evening?" + +"I do not know," answered she, with a sigh. + +"If he comes, my child, tell him that I will return not later than an +hour from now; and that I wish to speak with him." + +"And I too wish to speak with him," thought Marynia. + +And when she had torn the third sheet she took the fourth and was +thinking whether to turn the whole quarrel into a jest, or simply to +beg his pardon. The jest might not please him; in the pardon there was +something warmer, but how difficult it was! If he had not fled, it +would have sufficed to extend her hand; but he flew out as if shot from +a sling, the irritable man, though so much loved. + +And, raising her eyes, she began to work intently with her dark head, +when on a sudden the bell sounded in the entrance. Marynia's heart was +beating like a hammer; and through her head flew these questions, like +lightning,-- + +"Is it he? Is it not he?" + +The door opened; it was he. + +He came in with the look of a wolf, his head down, his face gloomy. +Evidently he was very uncertain how she would receive him; but she +sprang up, her heart beating like a bird's heart; her eyes radiant, +happy, touched greatly by his return; and, running to him, she laid her +hands on his shoulders. + +"But how good! how nice! And do you know, I wanted to write to you." + +Pan Stanislav, pressing her hands to his lips, was silent for some +time; at last he said,-- + +"You ought to give the order to throw me downstairs." In a rapture of +thankfulness he drew her up to him, kissed her lips, eyes, temples, and +hair, which became unbound in the pressure. In such moments it seemed +to him always that he would find everything that goes to make great and +perfect love. At last he released her and continued,-- + +"You are too good. Though that is better, it subdues me. I came to +beg your forgiveness, nothing more. I regained my senses at once. I +reproached myself for my last words, and I cannot tell you how sorry +I was. I walked along the street, thinking to see you in the window, +perhaps, and note from your face whether I might come in. After that I +could not restrain myself, and returned." + +"I beg pardon; it was my fault. You see the torn paper; I wrote and +wrote." + +He devoured with his eyes her hair, which she had arranged hastily. +With blushing face, from which joy was beaming, with eyes laughing from +happiness, she seemed to him more beautiful than ever, and desired as +never before. + +Marynia noticed, too, that he was looking at her hair; and confusion +struggled with pure womanly coquetry. She had fastened it awkwardly +by design, so that the tresses were falling more and more on her +shoulders; while she said,-- + +"Do not look, or I'll go to my room." + +"But that is my wealth," said Pan Stanislav; "and in my life I have +never seen anything like it." + +He stretched his hands to her again, but she evaded. + +"Not permitted, not permitted," said she; "as it is; I am ashamed. I +ought to have left you." + +Her hair, however, came gradually to order; then both sat down and +conversed quietly, though looking into each other's eyes. + +"And you wished really to write?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"You see the torn paper." + +"I say that, in truth, you are too good." + +She raised her eyes, and, looking at the shelf above the bureau, said,-- + +"Because the fault was mine. Yes; only mine." + +And, judging that she could not be too magnanimous, she added after a +moment, blushing to her ears and dropping her eyes,-- + +"For, after all, the professor is correct in what he writes about +learning." + +Pan Stanislav wanted to kneel down and kiss her feet. Her charm and +goodness not only disarmed him, but conquered him thoroughly. + +"That I am annihilated is true," cried he, as if finishing some +unexpressed thought with words. "You conquer me utterly." + +She began to shake her head joyously. "Ei! I don't know; I am such a +coward." + +"You a coward? I will tell you an anecdote: In Belgium I knew two +young ladies named Wauters, who had a pet cat, a mild creature, mild +enough, it would seem, to be put to a wound. Afterward one of the young +ladies received a tame hare as a gift. What do you think? The cat was +so afraid that from terror he jumped on to every shelf and stove. One +day the ladies went to walk; all at once they remembered that the cat +was alone with the hare. 'But will not Matou hurt the hare?' 'Matou? +Matou is so terrified that he is ready to go out of his skin!' And +they walked on quietly. They came home an hour later. And guess what +had happened? They found only the ears of the hare. That is precisely +the relation of young ladies to us. They are afraid seemingly; but +afterward nothing is left of us but ears." + +And Pan Stanislav began to laugh, and Marynia with him; after a while +he added,-- + +"I know that of me only ears will be left." + +He did not tell the truth, however; for he felt that it would be +otherwise. Marynia too, after thinking a while, said,-- + +"No; I have not such a character." + +"That is better too; for I will tell you sincerely what conclusions +I have drawn from my life observations: the greater egotism always +conquers the less." + +"Or the greater love yields to the less," answered Marynia. + +"That comes out the same. As to me, I confess that I should like to +hold some Herod, see, this way, in my hand" (here Pan Stanislav opened +his fingers and then closed them into a fist); "but with such a dove +as you, it is quite different. With you I think we shall have to fight +to restrain you from too much self-abnegation, too much personal +sacrifice. Such is your nature, and I know whom I take. For that matter +all say so, and even Mashko, who is no Solomon, said: 'She may be +unhappy with thee; thou with her, never.' And he is right. But I am +curious to know how Mashko will be for his wife. He has a firm hand." + +"But is he loved much?" + +"Not so much as awhile ago, when a certain young lady coquetted with +him." + +"Yes; for he wasn't so wicked as a certain 'Pan Stas.'" + +"That will be a wonderful marriage. She is not ill-looking, though she +is pale, and has red eyes. But Mashko marries for property. He admits +that she doesn't love him; and when that adventure with Gantovski +took place (he is brave, too), he was certain that those ladies would +choose the opportunity to break with him. Meanwhile it turned out +just the opposite; and imagine, Mashko is now alarmed again, because +everything moves as if on oil. It seems to him suspicious. There are +certain strange things there; there exists also, as it seems, a Pan +Kraslavski--God knows what there is not. The whole affair is stupid. +There will be no happiness in it,--at least, not such as I picture to +myself." + +"And what do you picture to yourself?" + +"Happiness in this,--to marry a reliable woman, like you, and see the +future clearly." + +"But I think it is in this,--to be loved; but that is not enough yet." + +"What more?" + +"To be worthy of that love, and to--" + +Here Marynia was unable for a time to find words, but at last she +said,-- + +"And to believe in a husband, and work with him." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +Pan Stanislav was not mistaken. Everything went so favorably for +Mashko, Pani and Panna Kraslavski acted so admirably, that he was more +and more alarmed. At moments he laughed at this; and since he had had +no secret from Pan Stanislav for some time, he said one day, with +complete cynicism,-- + +"My dear, those are simply angels; but my hair stands on end, for +something is hidden in this." + +"Better thank the Lord God." + +"They are too ideal; they are faultless; they are even without vanity. +Yesterday, for example, I gave them to understand that I am an advocate +only because to my thinking sons of the best families should undertake +something in these times, be something. Guess what they answered? +That that is as good a position as any other; that every employment +is worthy in their eyes, provided it is work; and that only poor +and empty natures could be ashamed of work. They shot out so many +packages of commonplace that I wanted to answer with a sentence from +copy-books, such as 'Honor is a steep cliff,' or something of that +sort. Polanyetski, I tell thee there is something concealed there. I +thought that it was papa, but it is not papa. I have news of him: he +lives in Bordeaux; he calls himself De Langlais; and he has his own +domestic hearth, not so much legally, as numerously, surrounded, which +he maintains with a pension received from Pani Kraslavski." + +"What harm is that to thee?" + +"None whatever." + +"If it is that way, they are unhappy women,--that is all." + +"True; but if their income answers to the misfortune? Remember that +I have burdens. Besides, seest thou, if they are such women as they +pretend, and if, also, they are rich, I am ready to fall in love +really, and that would be stupid; if it appears that they have nothing, +or little, I am ready, also, to fall in love, and that would be still +more stupid. She has charms for me." + +"No; that would be the one wise thing in every case. But think of +thyself, Mashko, a little of me and the Plavitskis. It is known to thee +that I have not the habit of being mild in those matters, and the dates +of payment are approaching." + +"I'll fire up the boiler once more with credit. For that matter, thou +and they have a mortgage on Kremen. In a couple of days there will be +a betrothal party at Pani Kraslavski's, after which I hope to learn +something reliable." + +Here Mashko began a monologue,-- + +"But that a positive man, such as I am, should go into a forest in this +way, passes belief. On the other hand, there is not a man, even among +those who know best how every one stands, who would let himself doubt +of Pani Kraslavski's property. And they are so noble!" + +"Thy fears are probably baseless," interrupted Pan Stanislav, with +certain impatience. "But thou, my dear fellow, art not positive in any +sense, for thou hast been always pretending, and art pretending still, +instead of looking to that which gives thee bread." + +A few days later the betrothal party took place in fact. Marynia was +there; for Pani Kraslavski, who liked Plavitski, whose relatives were +known to her, did not avoid association with him as she did with the +Bigiels. Mashko brought such of his acquaintances as had well-known +names. They had monocles on their eyes, and their hair parted in +the middle; for the greater part very young, and mainly not very +quick-witted. Among them were the five brothers Vyj, who were called +Mizio, Kizio, Bizio, Brelochek, and Tatus. They were nicknamed the five +sleeping brothers, since they felt the impulses of life in their legs +exclusively, and were active only in the carnival, but became perfectly +torpid, at least in a mental sense, during Lent. Bukatski loved them, +and amused himself with them. Baron Kot was there, who, because he had +heard something from some one of a certain ancient Kot of Dembna, added +always, when he was presented, "of Dembna," and who always answered +everything that was said to him with: "_Quelle drôle d'histoire!_" +Mashko was on the footing of _thou_ with all these, though he treated +them with a certain species of disregard, as well as Kopovski,--a young +man with a splendid ideal head, and also splendid eyes without thought. +Pan Stanislav and Kresovski represented the category of Mashko's more +clever friends. Pani Kraslavski had invited a number of ladies with +daughters, among whom the five brothers circled carelessly and coolly, +and whose maiden hearts fluttered at the approach of Kopovski, caring +less for his mental resemblance to Hamlet, resting on this,--that if +not he, his brain might be put into "a nutshell." A number of dignified +bald heads completed the company. + +Panna Kraslavski was dressed in white; in spite of her red eyes, she +looked alluring. There was in her, indeed, a certain womanly charm, +resting on a wonderful, almost dreamy repose. She recalled somewhat the +figures of Perugini. At times she grew bright, like an alabaster lamp, +in which a flame flashes up on a sudden; after a while she paled again, +but paled not without charm. Dressed in a thin white robe, she seemed +more shapely than usual. Pan Stanislav, looking at her, thought that +she might have a heart which was dry enough, and a dry enough head, +but she could be a genteel wife, especially for Mashko, who valued +social gentility above everything else. Their manner toward each other +seemed like a cool and pale day, in which the sun does not burn, but +in which also a storm is not threatening. They were sitting at the end +of the drawing-room, not too near, but also not too far, from the rest +of the company; they occupied themselves with each other no more and +no less than was proper. In his conversation with her as much feeling +was evident as was required, but, above all, the wish to appear a +"correct" betrothed; she paid him on her part in the same coin. They +smiled at each other in a friendly way. He, as the future leader and +head of the house, spoke more than she; sometimes they looked into each +other's eyes,--in a word, they formed the most correct and exemplary +couple of betrothed people that could be imagined, in the society +sense of the term. "I should not have held out," said Pan Stanislav to +himself. Suddenly he remembered that while she was sitting there in +conventional repose, white, smiling, the poor little doctor, who could +not "tear his soul from her," was in equal repose somewhere between +the tropics turning to dust, under the ground, forgotten, as if he had +never existed; and anger bore him away. Not only did he feel contempt +for the heart of Mashko's betrothed, but that repose of hers seemed +now bad taste to him,--a species of spiritual deadness, which once had +been fashionable, and which, since they saw in it something demonic, +the poets had struck with their thunderbolts, and which, in time, had +grown vulgar, and dropped to be moral nonentity and folly. "First of +all, she is a goose, and, moreover, a goose with no heart," thought +Pan Stanislav. At that moment Mashko's alarm at the noble conduct of +those ladies grew clear to him to such a degree that Mashko rose in his +esteem as a man of acuteness. + +Then he fell to comparing his own betrothed with Panna Kraslavski, +and said to himself with great satisfaction, "Marynia is a different +species altogether." He felt that he was resting mentally while looking +at her. In so much as the other seemed, as it were, an artificial +plant, reared, not in broad fresh currents of air, but under glass, +in that much did there issue from this one life and warmth, and still +the comparison came out to the advantage of Marynia, even in respect +to society. Pan Stanislav did not overlook altogether "distinction," +so-called, understanding that, if not always, it frequently answers to +a certain mental finish, especially in women. Looking now at one, now +at the other, he came to the conviction that that finish which Panna +Kraslavski had was something acquired and enslaving, with Marynia +it was innate. In the one it was a garment thrown on outside; in +the other, the soul,--a kind of natural trait in a species ennobled +through long ages of culture. Taking from Bukatski's views as many +as he needed,--that is, as many as were to the point,--Pan Stanislav +remembered that he had said frequently that women, without reference +to their origin, are divided into patricians, who have culture, +principles, and spiritual needs, which have entered the blood, and +parvenues, who dress in them, as in mantillas, to go visiting. At +present, while looking at the noble profile of Marynia, Pan Stanislav +thought, with the vanity of a little townsman who is marrying a +princess, that he was taking a patrician in the high sense of the word; +and, besides, a very beautiful patrician. + +Frequently women need only some field, and a little luck, to bloom +forth. Marynia, who seemed almost ugly to Pan Stanislav when he was +returning from the burial of Litka, astonished him now, at times, with +her beauty. Near her Panna Kraslavski seemed like a faded robe near a +new one; and if the fortune of Panna Plavitski had been on a level with +her looks, she would have passed, beyond doubt, for a beauty. As it +was, the five brothers, putting their glasses on their equine noses, +looked at her with a certain admiration; and Baron Kot, of Dembna, +declared confidentially that her betrothal was real luck, for had it +not taken place, who knows but he might have rushed in. + +Pan Stanislav could note also that evening one trait of his own +character which he had not suspected,--jealousy. Since he was convinced +that Marynia was a perfectly reliable woman, who might be trusted +blindly, that jealousy was simply illogical. In his time he had been +jealous of Mashko, and that could be understood; but now he could +not explain why Kopovski, for example, with his head of an archangel +and his brains of a bird, could annoy him, just because he sat next +to Marynia, and doubtless was asking her more or less pertinent +questions, to which she was answering more or less agreeably. At first +he reproached himself. "Still, it would be difficult to ask her not to +speak to him!" Afterward he found that Marynia turned to Kopovski too +frequently, and answered too agreeably. At supper, while sitting next +her, he was silent and irritated; and when she asked the reason, he +answered most inappropriately,-- + +"I have no wish to spoil the impression which Pan Kopovski produced on +you." + +But she was pleased that he was jealous; contracting the corners of her +mouth to suppress laughter, and looking at him sedately, she answered,-- + +"Do you find, too, that there is something uncommon in Pan Kopovski?" + +"Of course, of course! When he walks the streets even, it seems that he +is carrying his head into fresh air, lest the moths might devour it." + +The corners of Marynia's mouth bore the test, but her eyes laughed +evidently; at last, unable to endure, she said, in a low voice,-- + +"Outrageously jealous!" + +"I? Not the least!" + +"Well, I will give you an extract from our conversation. You know that +yesterday there was a case of catalepsy during the concert; to-day +they were talking of that near us; then, among other things, I asked +Pan Kopovski if he had seen the cataleptic person. Do you know what he +answered? 'Each of us may have different convictions.' Well, now, isn't +he uncommon?" + +Pan Stanislav was pacified, and began to laugh. + +"But I tell you that he simply doesn't understand what is said to him, +and answers anything." + +They passed the rest of the evening with each other in good agreement. +At the time of parting, when the Plavitskis, having a carriage with +seats for only two persons, were unable to take Pan Stanislav, Marynia +turned to him and inquired,-- + +"Will the cross, whimsical man come to-morrow to dine with us?" + +"He will, for he loves," answered Pan Stanislav, covering her feet with +the robe. + +She whispered into his ear, as it were great news, "And I too." + +And although he at the moment of speaking was perfectly sincere, she +spoke more truth. Mashko conducted Pan Stanislav home. On the road they +talked of the reception. Mashko said that before the arrival of guests +he had tried to speak to Pani Kraslavski of business, but had not +succeeded. + +"There was a moment," said he, "when I thought to put the question +plainly, dressing it of course in the most delicate form. But I was +afraid. Finally, why have I doubts of the dower of my betrothed? Only +because those ladies treat me with more consideration than I expected. +As a humor, that is very good; but I fear to push matters too far, for +suppose that my fears turn out vain, suppose they have money really, +and are incensed because my curiosity is too selfish. It is necessary +to count with this also, for I may be wrecked at the harbor." + +"Well, then," answered Pan Stanislav, "admit this, and for that matter +it is likely that they have; but if it should turn out that they +have not, what then? Hast a plan ready? Wilt thou break with Panna +Kraslavski, or wilt thou marry her?" + +"I will not break with her in any case, for I should not gain by it. If +my marriage does not take place, I shall be a bankrupt. But if it does, +I will state my financial position precisely, and suppose that Panna +Kraslavski will break with me." + +"But if she does not, and has no money?" + +"I shall love her, and come to terms with my creditors. I shall cease +to 'pretend,' as thy phrase is, and try to win bread for us both; I am +not a bad advocate, as thou knowest." + +"That is fairly good," answered Pan Stanislav, "but that does not +pacify me touching the Plavitskis and myself." + +"Thou and they are in a better position than others, for ye have a lien +on Kremen. In a given case thou wilt take everything in thy firm grasp, +and squeeze out something. It is worse for those who have trusted my +word; and I tell thee to thy eyes that I am concerned more for them. I +had, and I have great credit even now. That is my tender point. But if +they give me time, I will come out somehow. If I had a little happiness +at home, and a motive there for labor--" + +They came now to Pan Stanislav's house, so Mashko did not finish his +thought. At the moment of parting, however, he said suddenly,-- + +"Listen to me. In thy eyes I am somewhat crooked; I am much less so +than seems to thee. I have _pretended_, as thou sayst, it is true! I +had to wriggle out, like an eel, and in those wrigglings I slipped +sometimes from the beaten road. But I am tired, and tell thee plainly +that I wish a little happiness, for I have not had it. Therefore I +wanted to marry thy betrothed, though she is without property. As to +Panna Kraslavski, dost thou know that there are moments when I should +prefer that she had nothing, but, to make up, that she would not drop +me when she knows that I too have nothing. I say this sincerely--and +now good-night." + +"Well," said Pan Stanislav to himself, "this is something new in +Mashko." And he entered the gate. Standing at the door, he was +astonished to hear the piano in his apartments. The servant said that +Bigiel had been waiting two hours for him. + +Pan Stanislav was alarmed, but thought that if something unfavorable +had caused his presence, he would not play on the piano. In fact, it +turned out that Bigiel was in haste merely to get Pan Stanislav's +signature for an affair which had to be finished early next morning. + +"Thou mightest have left the paper, and gone to bed," said Pan +Stanislav. + +"I slept awhile on thy sofa, then sat at the piano. Once I played on +the piano as well as on the violin, but now my fingers are clumsy. Thy +Marynia plays probably; such music in the house is a nice thing." + +Pan Stanislav laughed with a sincere, well-wishing laugh. + +"My Marynia? My Marynia possesses the evangelical talent: her left hand +does not know what her right hand is doing. Poor dear woman! She has no +pretensions; and she plays only when I beg her to do so." + +"Thou art as it were laughing at her," said Bigiel; "but only those who +are in love laugh in that way." + +"Because I am in love most completely. At least it seems so now to me; +and in general I must say that it seems so to me oftener and oftener. +Wilt thou have tea?" + +"Yes. Thou hast come from Pani Kraslavski's?" + +"I have." + +"How is Mashko? Will he struggle to shore?" + +"I parted with him a moment ago. He came with me to the gate. He says +things at times that I should not expect from him." + +Pan Stanislav, glad to have some one to talk with, and feeling the need +of intimate converse, began to tell what he had heard from Mashko; and +how much he was astonished at finding a man of romantic nature under +the skin of a person of his kind. + +"Mashko is not a bad man," said Bigiel. "He is only on the road to +various evasions; and the cause of that is his vanity and respect for +appearances. But, on the other hand, that respect for appearances saves +him from final fall. As to the man of romance, which thou hast found in +him--" + +Here Bigiel cut off the end of a cigar, lighted it with great +deliberation, wrinkling his brows at the same time, and, sitting down +comfortably, continued,-- + +"Bukatski would have given on that subject ten ironical paradoxes about +our society. Now something stuck in my head that he told me, when he +attacked us because always we love some one or something. It seems to +him that this is foolish and purposeless; but I see in this a great +trait. It is necessary to become something in the world; and what have +we? Money we have not; intellect, so-so; the gift of making our way +in a position, not greatly; management, little. We have in truth this +yet--that almost involuntarily, through some general disposition, we +love something or somebody; and if we do not love, we feel the need +of love. Thou knowest that I am a man of deliberation and a merchant, +hence I speak soberly. I call attention to this because of Bukatski. +Mashko, for instance, in some other country, would be a rogue from +under a dark star; and I know many such. But here even beneath the +trickster thou canst scratch to the man; and that is simple, for, in +the last instance, while a man has some spark in his breast yet, he is +not a beast utterly; and with us he has the spark, precisely for this +reason, that he loves something." + +"Thou bringest Vaskovski to my mind. What thou art saying is not far +from his views concerning the mission of the youngest of the Aryans." + +"What is Vaskovski to me? I say what I think. I know one thing: take +that from us, and we should fly apart, like a barrel without hoops." + +"Well, listen to what I will tell thee. This is a thing decided in my +mind rather long since. To love, or not to love some one, is a personal +question; but I understand that it is needful to love something in +life. I too have meditated over this. After the death of that child, +I felt that the devil had taken certain sides of me; sometimes I feel +that yet. Not to-day; but there are times--how can I tell thee?--times +of ebb, exhaustion, doubts. And if, in spite of this, I marry, it is +because I understand that it is necessary to have a living and strong +foundation under a more general love." + +"For that, and not for that," answered Bigiel the inexorable in +judgment, "for thou are marrying not at all from purely mental reasons. +Thou art taking a comely and honest young woman, to whom thou art +attracted; and do not persuade thyself that it is otherwise, or thou +wilt begin to pretend. My dear friend, every man has these doubts +before marrying. I, as thou seest, am no philosopher; but ten times +a day I asked myself before marriage, if I loved my future wife well +enough, if I loved her as was necessary, had I not too little soul in +the matter, and too many doubts? God knows what! Afterward I married a +good woman, and it was well for us. It will be well for you too, if ye +take things simply; but that endless searching in the mind and looking +for certain secrets of the heart is folly, God knows." + +"Maybe it is folly. I too have no great love for lying on my back and +analyzing from morn in till night; but I cannot help seeing facts." + +"What facts?" + +"Such facts, for example, as this, that my feeling is not what it was +at first. I think that it will be; I acknowledge that it is going to +that. I marry in spite of these observations, as if they did not exist; +but I make them." + +"Thou art free to do so." + +"And see what I think besides: still it is necessary that the windows +of a house should look out on the sun; otherwise it will be cold in the +dwelling." + +"Thou hast said well," answered Bigiel. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +Meanwhile winter began to break; the end of Lent was approaching, and +with it the time of marriage for Pan Stanislav, as well as Mashko. +Bukatski, invited as a groomsman to the former, wrote to him among +other things as follows,-- + + "To thrust forth the all-creative energy from its universal + condition,--that is, from a condition of perfect repose,--and + force it by means of marriages concluded on earth to incarnate + itself in more or less squalling particulars which require cradles + and which amuse themselves by holding the great toe in the mouth, + is a crime. Still I will come, because stoves are better with you + than in this place." + +In fact, he came a week before the holidays, and brought as a gift to +Pan Stanislav a sheet of parchment ornamented splendidly with something +in the style of a grave hour-glass, on which was the inscription, +"Stanislav Polanyetski, after a long and grievous bachelorhood." + +Pan Stanislav, whom the parchment pleased, took it next day about noon +to Marynia. He forgot, however, that it was Sunday, and felt, as it +were, disappointed, at finding Marynia with her hat on. + +"Are you going out?" inquired he. + +"Yes. To church. To-day is Sunday." + +"Ah, Sunday! True. But I thought that we should sit here together. It +would be so agreeable." + +She raised her calm blue eyes to him, and said with simplicity, "But +the service of God?" + +Pan Stanislav received these words at once as he would have received +any other, not foreseeing that, in the spiritual process which he was +to pass through later on, they would play a certain rôle by reason of +their directness, and said as if repeating mechanically,-- + +"You say the service of God. Very well! I have time; let us go +together." + +Marynia received this offer with great satisfaction. + +"I am the happier," said she, on the way, "the more I love God." + +"That, too, is the mark of a good nature; some persons think of God +only as a terror." + +And in the church that came again to his mind of which he had thought +during his first visit to Kremen, when he was at the church in Vantory, +with old Plavitski: "Destruction takes all philosophies and systems, +one after another; but Mass is celebrated as of old." It seemed to +him that in that there was something which passed comprehension. He +who, because of Litka, had come in contact with death in a manner most +painful, returned to those dark problems whenever he happened to be in +a cemetery, or a church at Mass, or in any circumstances whatever in +which something took place which had no connection with the current +business of life, but was shrouded in that future beyond the grave. He +was struck by this thought,--how much is done in this life for that +future; and how, in spite of all philosophizing and doubt, people live +as if that future were entirely beyond question; how much of petty +personal egotisms are sacrificed for it; how many philanthropic deeds +are performed; how asylums, hospitals, retreats, churches are built, +and all on an account payable beyond the grave only. + +He was struck still more by another thought,--that to be reconciled +with life really, it is necessary to be reconciled with death +first; and that without faith in something beyond the grave this +reconciliation is simply impossible. But if you have faith the question +drops away, as if it had never existed. "Let the devils take mourning; +let us rejoice;" for if this is true, what more can be desired? Is +there before one merely the view of some new existence, in the poorest +case, wonderfully curious,--even that certainty amounts to peace and +quiet. Pan Stanislav had an example of that, then, in Marynia. Because +she was somewhat short-sighted, she held her head bent over the book; +but when at moments she raised it, he saw a face so calm, so full of +something like that repose which a flower has, and so serene, that +it was simply angelic. "That is a happy woman, and she will be happy +always," said he to himself. "And, besides, she has sense, for if, on +the opposite side, there were at least certainty, there would be also +that satisfaction which truth gives; but to torture one's self for the +sake of various marks of interrogation is pure folly." + +On the way home, Pan Stanislav, thinking continually of this expression +of Marynia's, said,-- + +"In the church you looked like some profile of Fra Angelico; you had a +face which was indeed happy." + +"For I am happy at present. And do you know why? Because I am +better than I was. I felt at one time offended in heart, and I was +dissatisfied; I had no hope before me, and all these put together +formed such suffering that it was terrible. It is said that misfortune +ennobles chosen souls, but I am not a chosen soul. For that matter, +misfortune may ennoble, but suffering, offence, ill-will, destroy. They +are like poison." + +"Did you hate me much then?" + +Marynia looked at him and answered, "I hated you so much that for whole +days I thought of you only." + +"Mashko has wit; he described this once thus to me: 'She would rather +hate you than love me.'" + +"Oi! that I would rather, is true." + +Thus conversing, they reached the house. Pan Stanislav had time then to +unroll his parchment hour-glass and show it to Marynia; but the idea +did not please her. She looked on marriage not only from the point +of view of the heart, but of religion. "With such things there is no +jesting," said she; and after a while she confessed to Pan Stanislav +that she was offended with Bukatski. + +After dinner Bukatski came. During those few months of his stay in +Italy he had become still thinner, which was a proof against the +efficacy of "chianti" for catarrh of the stomach. His nose, with its +thinness, reminded one of a knife-edge; his humorous face, smiling with +irony, had become, as it were, porcelain, and was no larger than the +fist of a grown man. He was related both to Pan Stanislav and Marynia; +hence he said what he pleased in their presence. From the threshold +almost, he declared to them that, in view of the increasing number of +mental deviations in the world at present, he could only regret, but +did not wonder, that they were affianced. He had come, it is true, in +the hope that he would be able to save them, but he saw now that he was +late, and that nothing was left but resignation. Marynia was indignant +on hearing this; but Pan Stanislav, who loved him, said,-- + +"Preserve thy conceit for the wedding speech, for thou must make one; +and now tell us how our professor is." + +"He has grown disturbed in mind seriously," replied Bukatski. + +"Do not jest in that way," said Marynia. + +"And so much without cause," added Pan Stanislav. + +But Bukatski continued, with equal seriousness: "Professor Vaskovski +is disturbed in mind, and here are my proofs for you: First, he +walks through Rome without a cap, or rather, he walked, for he is in +Perugia at present; second, he attacked a refined young English lady, +and proved to her that the English are Christians in private life +only,--that the relations of England to Ireland are not Christian; +third, he is printing a pamphlet, in which he shows that the mission of +reviving and renewing history with the spirit of Christ is committed to +the youngest of the Aryans. Confess that these are proofs." + +"We knew these ways before his departure; if nothing more threatens the +professor, we hope to see him in good health." + +"He does not think of returning." + +Pan Stanislav took out his note-book, wrote some words with a pencil, +and, giving them to Marynia, said,-- + +"Read, and tell me if that is good." + +"If thou write in my presence, I withdraw," said Bukatski. + +"No, no! this is no secret." + +Marynia became as red as a cherry from delight, and, as if not wishing +to believe her eyes, asked,-- + +"Is that true? It is not." + +"That depends on you," answered Pan Stanislav. + +"Ah, Pan Stas! I did not even dream of that. I must tell papa. I must." + +And she ran out of the room. + +"If I were a poet, I would hang myself," said Bukatski. + +"Why?" + +"For if a couple of words, jotted down by the hand of a partner in the +house of Bigiel and Company, can produce more impression than the most +beautiful sonnet, it is better, to be a miller boy than a poet." + +But Marynia, in the rapture of her joy, forgot the notebook, so Pan +Stanislav showed it to Bukatski, saying, "Read." + +Bukatski read:-- + + "After the wedding Venice, Florence, Rome, Naples. Is that well?" + +"Then it's a journey to Italy?" + +"Yes. Imagine, she has not been abroad in her life; and Italy has +always seemed to her an enchanted land, which she has not even dreamed +of seeing. That is an immense delight for her; and what the deuce +wonder is there, if I think out a little pleasure for her?" + +"Love and Italy! O God, how many times Thou hast looked on that! All +that love is as old as the world." + +"Not true! Fall in love, and see if thou'lt find something new in it." + +"My beloved friend, the question is not in this, that I do not love +yet, but in this,--that I love no longer. Years ago I dug that sphinx +out of the sand, and it is no longer a riddle to me." + +"Bukatski, get married." + +"I cannot. My sight is too faint, and my stomach too weak." + +"What hindrance in that?" + +"Oh, seest thou, a woman is like a sheet of paper. An angel writes on +one side, a devil on the other; the paper is cut through, the words +blend, and such a hash is made that I can neither read nor digest it." + +"To live all thy life on conceits!" + +"I shall die, as well as thou, who art marrying. It seems to us that we +think of death, but it thinks more of us." + +At that moment Marynia came in with her father, who embraced Pan +Stanislav, and said,-- + +"Marynia tells me that 't is thy wish to go to Italy after the wedding." + +"If my future lady will consent." + +"Thy future lady will not only consent," answered Marynia, "but she has +lost her head from delight, and wants to jump through the room, as if +she were ten years of age." + +To which Plavitski answered, "If the cross of a solitary old man can be +of use in your distant journey, I will bless you." + +And he raised his eyes and his hand toward heaven, to the unspeakable +delight of Bukatski; but Marynia drew down the raised hand, and, +kissing it, said with laughter,-- + +"There will be time for that, papa; we are going away only after the +wedding." + +"And, speaking plainly," added Bukatski, "then there will be a buying +of tickets, and giving baggage to be weighed, and starting,--nothing +more." + +To this Plavitski turned to the cynic, and said, with a certain +unction,-- + +"Have you come to this,--that you look on the blessing of a lonely old +man and a father as superfluous?" + +Bukatski, instead of an answer, embraced Plavitski, kissed him near the +waistcoat, and said,-- + +"But would the 'lonely old man' not play piquet, so as to let those two +mad heads talk themselves out?" + +"But with a rubicon?" asked Plavitski. + +"With anything you like." Then he turned to the young couple: "Hire me +as a guide to Italy." + +"I do not think of it," answered Pan Stanislav. "I have been in Belgium +and France, no farther. Italy I know not; but I want to see what will +interest us, not what may interest thee. I have seen men such as thou +art, and I know that through over-refinement they go so far that they +love not art, but their own knowledge of it." + +Here Pan Stanislav continued the talk with Marynia. + +"Yes, they go so far that they lose the feeling of great, simple art, +and seek something to occupy their sated taste, and exhibit their +critical knowledge. They do not see trees; they search simply for +knots. The greatest things which we are going to admire do not concern +them, but some of the smallest things, of which no one has heard; they +dig names out of obscurity, occupy themselves in one way or another, +persuade themselves and others that things inferior and of less use +surpass in interest the better and more perfect. Under his guidance we +might not see whole churches, but we might see various things which +would have to be looked at through cracks. I call all this surfeit, +abuse, over-refinement, and we are simply people." + +Marynia looked at him with pride, as if she would say, "Oh, that is +what is called speaking!" Her pride increased when Bukatski said,-- + +"Thou art quite right." + +But she was indignant when he added,-- + +"And if thou wert not right, I could not win before the tribunal." + +"I beg pardon," said Marynia; "I am not blinded in any way." + +"But I am not an art critic at all." + +"On the contrary, you are." + +"If I am, then, I declare that knowledge embraces a greater number of +details, but does not prevent a love of great art; and believe not Pan +Stanislav, but me." + +"No; I prefer to believe him." + +"That was to be foreseen." + +Marynia looked now at one, now at the other, with a somewhat anxious +face. Meanwhile Plavitski came with cards. The betrothed walked through +the rooms hand in hand; Bukatski began to be wearied, and grew more and +more so. Toward the end of the evening the humor which animated him +died out; his small face became still smaller, his nose sharper, and +he looked like a dried leaf. When he went out with Pan Stanislav, the +latter inquired,-- + +"Somehow thou wert not so vivacious?" + +"I am like a machine: while I have fuel within, I move; but in the +evening, when the morning supply is exhausted, I stop." + +Pan Stanislav looked at him carefully. "What is thy fuel?" + +"There are various kinds of coal. Come to me: I will give thee a cup of +good coffee; that will enliven us." + +"Listen! this is a delicate question, but some one told me that thou +hast been taking morphine this long time." + +"For a very short time," answered Bukatski; "if thou could only know +what horizons it opens." + +"And it kills--Fear God!" + +"And kills! Tell me sincerely, has this ever occurred to thee, that it +is possible to have a yearning for death?" + +"No; I understand just the opposite." + +"But I will give thee neither morphine nor opium," said Bukatski, at +length; "only good coffee and a bottle of honest Bordeaux. That will be +an innocent orgy." + +After some time they arrived at Bukatski's. It was the dwelling of a +man of real wealth, seemingly, somewhat uninhabited, but full of small +things connected with art and pictures and drawings. Lamps were burning +in a number of rooms, for Bukatski could not endure darkness, even in +time of sleep. + +The "Bordeaux" was found promptly, and under the machine for coffee a +blue flame was soon burning. Bukatski stretched himself on the sofa, +and said, all at once,-- + +"Perhaps thou wilt not admit, since thou seest me such a filigree, that +I have no fear of death." + +"This one thing I have at times admitted, that thou art jesting and +jesting, deceiving thyself and others, while really the joke is not in +thee, and this is all artificial." + +"The folly of people amuses me somewhat." + +"But if thou think thyself wise, why arrange life so vainly?" Here Pan +Stanislav looked around on bric-à-brac, on pictures, and added, "In all +this surrounding thou art still living vainly." + +"Vainly enough." + +"Thou art of those who _pretend_. What a disease in this society! Thou +art posing, and that is the whole question." + +"Sometimes. But, for that matter, it becomes natural." + +Under the influence of "Bordeaux" Bukatski grew animated gradually, and +became more talkative, though cheerfulness did not return to him. + +"Seest thou," said he, "one thing,--I do not pretend. All which I +myself could tell, or which another could tell me, I have thought out, +and said long since to my soul. I lead the most stupid and the vainest +life possible. Around me is immense nothingness, which I fear, and +which I fence out with this lumber which thou seest in this room; I do +this so as to fear less. Not to fear death is another thing, for after +death there are neither feelings nor thoughts. I shall become, then, +a part also of nothingness; but to feel it, while one is alive, to +know of it, to give account to one's self of it, as God lives, there +can be nothing more abject. Moreover, the condition of my health is +really bad, and takes from me every energy. I have no fuel in myself, +therefore I add it. There is less in this of posing and pretending than +thou wilt admit. When I have given myself fuel, I take life in its +humorous aspect; I follow the example of the sick man, who lies on the +side on which he lies with most comfort. For me there is most comfort +thus. That the position is artificial, I admit; every other, however, +would be more painful. And see, the subject is exhausted." + +"If thou would undertake some work." + +"Give me peace. To begin with, I know a multitude of things, but I +don't understand anything; second, I am sick; third, tell a paralytic +to walk a good deal when he cannot use his legs. The subject is +exhausted! Drink that wine there, and let us talk about thee. That is a +good lady, Panna Plavitski; and thou art doing well to marry her. What +I said to thee there in the daytime does not count. She is a good lady, +and loves thee." + +Here Bukatski, enlivened and roused evidently by the wine, began to +speak hurriedly. + +"What I say in the daytime does not count. Now it is night; let us +drink wine, and a moment of more sincerity comes. Dost wish more wine, +or coffee? I like this odor; one should mix Mocha and Ceylon in equal +parts. Now comes a time of more sincerity! Knowest thou what I think +at bottom? I have no clear idea of what happiness fame may give, for I +do not possess it; and since the Ephesian temple is fired, there is no +opening to fame before me. I admit, however, so, to myself, that the +amount of it might be eaten by a mouse, not merely on an empty stomach, +but after a good meal in a pantry. But I know what property is for I +have a little of it; I know what travelling is, for I have wandered; +I know what freedom is, for I am free; I know what women are--oi, +devil take it!--too well, and I know what books are. Besides, in this +chamber, I have a few pictures, a few drawings, a little porcelain. Now +listen to what I will say to thee: All this is nothing; all is vanity, +folly, dust, in comparison with one heart which loves. This is the +result of my observations; only I have come to it at the end, while +normal men reach it at the beginning." + +Here he began to stir the coffee feverishly with a spoon; and Pan +Stanislav, who was very lively, sprang up and said,-- + +"And thou, O beast! what didst thou say some months since,--that thou +wert going to Italy because there no one loved thee, and thou didst +love no one? Dost remember? Thou'lt deny, perhaps." + +"But what did I say this afternoon to thy betrothed? That thou and she +had gone mad; and now I say that thou art doing well. Dost wish logic +of me? To talk and to say something are two different things. But now I +am more sincere, for I have drunk half a bottle of wine." + +Pan Stanislav began to walk through the room and repeat: "But, as God +lives, it is fabulous! See what the root of the matter is, and what +they all say when cornered." + +"To love is good, but there is something still better,--that is, to +be loved. There is nothing above that! As to me, I would give for it +all these; but it is not worth while to talk of me. Life is a comedy +badly written, and without talent: even that which pains terribly is +sometimes like a poor melodrama; but in life, if there be anything +good, it is to be loved. Imagine to thyself, I have not known that, and +thou hast found it without seeking." + +"Do not say so, for thou knowest not how it came to me." + +"I know; Vaskovski told me. That, however, is all one. The question is +this,--thou hast known how to value it." + +"Well, what dost thou wish? I understand that I am loved a little; +hence I marry, and that is the end of the matter." + +Thereupon Bukatski put his hand on Pan Stanislav's shoulder. + +"No, Polanyetski; I am a fool in respect to myself, but not a bad +observer of what is passing around me. That is not the end, but the +beginning. Most men say, as thou hast, 'I marry,--that is the end;' and +most men deceive themselves." + +"That philosophy I do not understand." + +"But thou seest what the question is? It is not enough to take a woman; +a man should give himself to her also, and should feel that he does so. +Dost understand?" + +"Not greatly." + +"Well, thou art feigning simplicity. She should not only feel herself +owned, but an owner. A soul for a soul! otherwise a life may be lost. +Marriages are good or bad. Mashko's will be bad for twenty reasons, and +among others for this, of which I wish to speak." + +"He is of another opinion. But, as God lives, it is a pity that thou +art not married, since thou hast such a sound understanding of how +married life should be." + +"If to understand and to act according to that understanding were the +same, there would not be the various, very various events, from which +the bones ache in all of us. For that matter, imagine me marrying." + +Here Bukatski began to laugh with his thin little voice. Joyfulness +returned to him on a sudden, and with it the vision of things on the +comic side. + +"Thou wilt be ridiculous; but what should I be? Something to split +one's sides at. What a moment that is! Thou wilt see in two weeks. For +instance, how thou wilt dress for church. Here, love, beating of the +heart, solemn thoughts, a new epoch in life; there, the gardener, with +flowers, a dress-coat, lost studs, the tying of a cravat, the drawing +on of patent-leather boots,--all at one time, one chaos, one confusion. +Deliver me, angels of paradise! I have compassion on thee, my dear +friend; and do thou, I beg, not take seriously what I say. There is a +new moon now, and I have a mania for uttering commonplace sentiment at +the new moon. All folly!--the new moon, nothing more! I have grown as +soft-hearted as a ewe who has lost her first lamb; and may the cough +split me, if I haven't uttered commonplace!" + +But Pan Stanislav attacked him: "I have seen many vain things; but +knowest thou what seems to me vainest in thee and those like thee? Thou +and they, who absolve yourselves from everything, recognize nothing +above you, and fear like fire every honest truth, for the one reason +that some one might sometime declare it. How bad this is words cannot +tell. As to thee, my dear friend, thou wert sincerer a while since than +now. Again, thou'rt a poodle, dancing on two legs; but I tell thee that +ten like thee could not show me that I have not won a great prize in +the lottery." + +He took farewell of Bukatski with a certain anger; on the road home, +however, he grew pacified and repeated continually: "See where the +truth is; see what Mashko, and even Bukatski, says, when ready to be +sincere; but I have won simply a great prize, and I will not waste what +I have won." + +When he entered his lodgings and saw Litka's photograph, he exclaimed, +"My dearest kitten!" Up to the moment of sleeping he thought of Marynia +with pleasure, and with the calmness of a man who feels that some great +problem of life has been settled decisively, and settled well. For, in +spite of Bukatski's words, he was convinced that, since he was going to +marry, all would be decided and ended by that one act. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +The "catastrophe," as Bukatski called it, came at last. Pan Stanislav +learned by experience that if in life there are many days in which a +man cannot seize his own thoughts, to such belong above all the day +of his marriage. At times a number of these thoughts circled in his +brain at one moment, and were so indefinite, that, speaking accurately, +they were rather unconscious impressions than thoughts. He felt +that a new epoch in life was beginning, that he was assuming great +obligations which he ought to fulfil conscientiously and seriously; +and at the same time, but exactly at the same time, he wondered that +the carriage wasn't coming yet, and expressed his astonishment in the +form of a threat: "If those scoundrels are late, I'll break their +necks for them." At moments a solemn, and, as it were, noble fear of +that future for which he had assumed responsibility was mastering +him; he felt within him a certain elevation, and in this feeling of +elevation he began to lather his beard, and he thought whether on such +an exceptional day it would not be exceptionally worth while to bring +in a barber to his somewhat dishevelled hair. Marynia at the same time +was at the basis of all his impressions. He saw her, as if present. +He thought: "At this moment, she too is dressing, she is standing in +her chamber in front of the mirror, she is talking to her maid, her +soul is flying toward me, and her heart beats unquietly." That instant +tenderness seized him and he said to himself, "But have no fear, honest +soul, for, as God lives, I will not wrong thee;" and he saw himself in +the future, kind, considerate, so that he began to look with a certain +emotion at the patent-leather boots standing near the armchair, on +which his wedding-suit was lying. He repeated from time to time too, +"If to marry, then marry!" He said to himself that he was stupid to +hesitate, for another such Marynia there was not on earth; he felt +that he loved her, and thought at the same time that the weather was +not bad, but that perhaps rain might fall; that it might be cold in +the Church of the Visitation; that in an hour he would be kneeling +by Marynia, that a white necktie is safer knotted than pinned; that +marriage is indeed the most important ceremony in life; that there is +in it something sacred, and that one must not lose one's head anyhow, +for in an hour it will be over; to-morrow they will depart, and then +the normal quiet life of husband and wife will begin. + +These thoughts, however, flew away at moments like a flock of sparrows, +into which some one has fired from behind a hedge suddenly, and it grew +empty in Pan Stanislav's head. Then phrases of this kind came to his +lips mechanically: "The eighth of April--to-morrow will be Wednesday! +to-morrow will be Wednesday! my watch! to-morrow will be Wednesday!" +Later he roused himself, repeated, "One must be an idiot!" and the +scattered birds flew back again in a whole flock to his head, and began +to whirl around in it. + +Meanwhile Abdulski, the agent of the house of Polanyetski, Bigiel, and +Company came in. He was to be the second groomsman, with Bukatski as +first. Being a Tartar by origin and a man of dark complexion, though +good-looking, he seemed so handsome in the dress-coat and white cravat +that Pan Stanislav expressed the hope that surely he would marry soon. +Abdulski answered,-- + +"The soul would to paradise;" then he commenced a pantomime, intended +to represent the counting of money, and began to speak of the Bigiels. +All their children wanted to be at the marriage. The Bigiels decided +to take only the two elder ones; from this arose disagreements and +difference of opinion, expressed on Pani Bigiel's side by means of +slaps. Pan Stanislav, who was a great children's man, was exceedingly +indignant at this, and said,-- + +"I'll play a trick on the Bigiels. Have they gone already?" + +"They were just going." + +"That is well; I will run in there on the way to Plavitski's, take all +the children, and pour them out before Pani Bigiel and my affianced." + +Abdulski expressed the conviction that Pan Stanislav would not do so; +but he merely confirmed him thereby in his plan all the more. In fact, +when he entered the carriage, they drove for the children directly. The +governess, knowing Pan Stanislav's relations with the family, dared +not oppose him; and half an hour later, Pan Stanislav, to the great +consternation of Pani Bigiel, entered Plavitski's lodgings at the head +of a whole flock of little Bigiels, in their every-day clothing, with +collars awry, hair disarranged for the greater part, and faces half +happy, half frightened, and, hurrying up to Marynia, he said, kissing +her hands already enclosed in white gloves,-- + +"They wanted to wrong the children. Say that I did well." + +This proof of his kind heart entertained and pleased Marynia; hence +she was glad from her whole soul to see the children, and even glad +of this,--that the assembled guests considered her future husband an +original,--and glad because Pani Bigiel, straightening the crooked +collars hurriedly, said in her worry,-- + +"What's to be done with such a madman?" + +Somewhat of this opinion too was old Plavitski. But Pan Stanislav and +Marynia were occupied for the moment with each other so exclusively +that everything else vanished from their eyes. The hearts of both +beat a little unquietly. He looked at her with a certain admiration. +All in white, from her slippers to her gloves, with a green wreath on +her head, and a long veil, she seemed to him other than usual. There +was in her something uncommonly solemn, as in the dead Litka. Pan +Stanislav did not make, it is true, that comparison; but he felt that +this white Marynia, if not more remote from him, made him hesitate more +than she of yesterday, arrayed in her ordinary costume. Withal she +seemed less comely than usual, for the wedding wreath is becoming to +women only exceptionally, and, besides, disquiet and emotion reddened +her face; which, with the white robe, seemed still redder than it +was in reality. But a wonderful thing! Just this circumstance moved +Pan Stanislav. In his heart, rather kind by its nature, there rose a +certain feeling resembling compassion or tenderness. He understood +that Marynia's heart must be panting then like a captive bird, and he +began to calm her; to speak to her with such good and kind words that +he was astonished himself where he could find them in such numbers, +and how they came to him so easily. But they came to him easily just +because of Marynia. It was to be seen that she gave herself to him +with a panting of the heart, but also with confidence; that she gave +him her heart, her soul, and her whole being, her whole life, and that +not only for good, but for every moment of her life--and to the end +of it. In this regard no shadow rose in Pan Stanislav's mind, and +that certainty made him better at that moment, more sensitive and +eloquent, than he was ordinarily. At last they held each the other's +hand and looked into each other's eyes, not only with love, but with +the greatest friendship and confidence. Both felt the double reality. +Yet a few moments, and that future will begin. But now the thoughts +of both began to grow clear; and that internal disquiet, from which +they had not been free, yielded more and more and turned into a solemn +concentration of thought, as the religious ceremony drew near. Pan +Stanislav's thoughts did not fly apart like sparrows; there remained +to him only a certain astonishment, as it were, that he with all his +scepticism had such a feeling even of the religious significance of the +act which was about to be accomplished. At heart he was not a sceptic. +In his soul there was hidden even a certain yearning for religious +sensations; and if he had not returned to them it was only through a +loss of habit and through spiritual negligence. Scepticism, at most, +had shaken the surface of his thoughts, just as wind roughens the +surface of water; the depths of which are still calm. He had lost, too, +familiarity with forms; but to regain it was a work for the future and +Marynia. Meanwhile this ceremony to which he must yield seemed to him +so important, so full of solemnity and sacredness, that he was ready to +proceed to it with bowed head. + +But first he had another ceremony, which, equally solemn in itself, +was disagreeable enough to Pan Stanislav; namely, to kneel before Pan +Plavitski, whom he considered a fool, receive his blessing and hear +an exhortation, which, as was known, Plavitski would not omit. Pan +Stanislav had said in his mind, however, "Since I am to marry, I must +pass through all which precedes it, and with a good face; little do I +care what expression that monkey, Bukatski, will have at such moments." +Therefore he knelt with all readiness at Marynia's side before her +father, and listened to his blessing with an exhortation, which, by the +way, was not long. Plavitski himself was moved really; his voice and +his hands trembled; he was barely able to pronounce something in the +nature of an adjuration to Pan Stanislav, not to prevent Marynia from +coming even occasionally to pray at his grave before it was grown over +completely with grass. + +Finally, the solemnity of the moment affected Yozio Bigiel. Seeing Pan +Plavitski's tears, seeing Marynia and Pan Stanislav on their knees +(kneeling at Bigiel's house was not only a punishment, but frequently +the beginning of more vigorous instruction), Yozio gave expression +to his sympathy and fear by closing his eyes, opening his mouth, and +breaking into as piercing a wail as he could utter. When the rest of +the little Bigiels followed his example in great part, and all began +to move, for the time to pass to the church had arrived, the grave of +Pan Plavitski grown over with grass could not call forth an impression +sufficiently elegiac. + +Sitting in the carriage between Abdulski and Bukatski, Pan Stanislav +hardly answered their questions in half words; he took no part in +the conversation, but kept up a monologue with himself. He thought +that in a couple of minutes that would come to pass of which he had +been dreaming whole months; and which till the death of Litka he had +desired with the greatest earnestness of his life. Here for the last +time he was roused by a feeling of the difference between that past +which not long since had vanished, and the present moment; but there +was a difference. Formerly he strove and desired; to-day he only wished +and consented. That thought pierced him like a shudder, for it shot +through his head that perhaps there was lacking in his own personality +that basis on which one may build. But he was a man able to keep +his alarms in close bonds, and to scatter them to the four winds at +a given moment. He said to himself, therefore: "First, there is no +time to think of this; and second, reality does not answer always to +imaginings; this is a simple thing." Then what Bukatski had said pushed +again into his memory: "It is not enough to take, a man must give;" but +he thought this a fabric of such fine threads that it had no existence +whatever, and that life should be taken more simply, that there is +no obligation to come to terms with preconceived theories. Here he +repeated what he had said to himself frequently, "I marry, and that is +the end." Then reality embraced him, or rather the present moment; he +had nothing in his head but Marynia, the church, and the ceremony. + +She on the way meanwhile implored God in silence to help her to make +her husband happy; for herself she begged also a little happiness, +being certain, moreover, that her dead mother would obtain that for her. + +Then they went arm in arm between the lines of invited and curious +people, seeing somewhat as through a mist lights gleaming in the +distance on the altar, and at the sides faces known and unknown. +Both saw more distinctly the face of Pani Emilia, who wore the white +veil of a Sister of Charity, her eyes at once smiling and filled with +tears. Litka came to the minds of both; and it occurred to them that it +was precisely she who was conducting them to the altar. After a while +they knelt down; before them was the priest, higher up the gleaming of +the candles, the glitter of gold, and the holy face of the principal +image. The ceremony commenced. They repeated after the priest the usual +phrases of the marriage vow; and Pan Stanislav, holding Marynia's hand, +was seized suddenly by emotion such as he had not expected, and such as +he had not felt since his mother had brought him to first communion. He +felt that that was not a mere every-day legal act, in virtue of which +a man receives the right to a woman; but in that binding of hands, +in that vow, there is present a certain mysterious power from beyond +this world,--that it is simply God before whom the soul inclines and +the heart trembles. The ears of both were struck then in the midst of +silence by the solemn words, "_Quod Deus junxit, homo non disjungat_;" +but Pan Stanislav felt that that Marynia whom he had taken becomes his +body and blood, and a part of his soul, and that for her too he must +be the same. That moment a chorus of voices in the choir burst out +with "_Veni Creator_," and a few moments after the Polanyetskis went +forth from the church. On the way out, the arms of Pani Emilia embraced +Marynia once again: "May God bless you!" and when they drove to the +wedding reception, she went to the cemetery to tell Litka the news, +that Pan Stas was married that day to Marynia. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Two weeks later, in Venice, the doorkeeper of the Hotel Bauer gave Pan +Stanislav a letter with the postmark of Warsaw. It was at the moment +when he and his wife were entering a gondola to go to the church of +Santa Maria della Salute, where on that day, the anniversary of her +death, a Mass was to be offered for the soul of Marynia's mother. Pan +Stanislav, who expected nothing important from Warsaw, put the letter +in his pocket, and asked his wife,-- + +"But is it not a little too early for Mass?" + +"It is; a whole half hour." + +"Then perhaps it would please thee to go first to the Rialto?" + +Marynia was always ready to go. Never having been abroad before, she +simply lived in continual rapture, and it seemed to her that all which +surrounded her was a dream. More than once, in the excess of her +delight, she threw herself on her husband's neck, as if he had built +Venice, as if she ought to thank him alone for its beauty. More than +once she repeated,-- + +"I look and I see, but cannot believe that this is real." + +So they went to the Rialto. There was little movement yet, because of +the early hour; the water was as if sleeping, the day calm, clear, but +not very bright,--one of those days in which the Grand Canal with all +its beauty has the repose of a cemetery; the palaces seem deserted +and forgotten, and in their motionless reflection in the water is +that peculiar deep sadness of dead things. One looks at them then in +silence, and as if in fear, lest by words the general repose may be +broken. + +Thus did Marynia look. But Pan Stanislav, less sensitive, remembered +that he had a letter in his pocket, hence he drew it forth, and began +to read. After a time he exclaimed,-- + +"Ah! Mashko is married; their wedding was three days after ours." + +But Marynia, as if roused from a dream, inquired, while blinking, "What +dost thou say?" + +"I say, dreaming head, that Mashko's wedding is over." + +She rested her head on his shoulder, and, looking into his eyes, +inquired,-- + +"What is Mashko to me? I have my Stas." + +Pan Stanislav smiled like a man who kindly permits himself to be loved, +but does not wonder that he is loved; then he kissed his wife on the +forehead, with a certain distraction, for the letter had begun to +occupy him, and read on. All at once he sprang up, as if something had +pricked him, and cried,-- + +"Oh, that is a real catastrophe!" + +"What has happened?" + +"Panna Kraslavski has a life annuity of nine thousand rubles, which her +uncle left her; beyond that, not a copper." + +"But that is a good deal." + +"A good deal? Hear what Mashko writes:-- + + "'In view of this, my bankruptcy is an accomplished fact, and the + declaration of my insolvency a question of time.' + +"They deceived each other; dost understand? He counted on her property, +and she on his." + +"At least they have something to live on." + +"They have something to live on; but Mashko has nothing with which +to pay his debts, and that concerns us a little,--me, thee, and thy +father. All may be lost." + +Here Marynia was alarmed in earnest. "My Stas," said she, "perhaps thy +presence is needed there; let us return, then. What a blow this will be +to papa!" + +"I will write Bigiel immediately to take my place, and save what is +possible. Do not take this business to heart too much, my child. I have +enough to buy a bit of bread for us both, and for thy father." + +Marynia put her arms around his neck. "Thou, my good--With such a man +one may be at rest." + +"Besides, something will be saved. If Mashko finds credit, he will +pay us; he may find a purchaser, too, for Kremen. He writes me to ask +Bukatski to buy Kremen, and to persuade him to do so. Bukatski is going +to Rome this evening, and I have invited him to lunch. I will ask him. +He has a considerable fortune, and would have something to do. I am +curious to know how Mashko's life will develop. He writes at the end of +the letter: + + "'I discovered the condition of affairs to my wife; she bore + herself passively, but her mother is wild with indignation.' #/ + +"Finally he adds that at last he has fallen in love with his wife, and +that if they should separate, it would be the greatest unhappiness in +life for him. That lyric tale gives me little concern; but I am curious +as to how all this will end." + +"She will not desert him," said Marynia. + +"I do not know; I thought myself once that she would not, but I like to +contradict. Wilt thou bet?" + +"No; for I do not wish to win. Thou ugly man, thou hast no knowledge of +women." + +"On the contrary, I know them; and I know them because all are not like +this little one who is sailing now in a gondola." + +"In a gondola in Venice, with her Stas," answered Marynia. + +They were now at the church. When they went from Mass to the hotel, +they found Bukatski, dressed for the road, in a cross-barred gray +suit,--which, on his frail body, seemed too large,--in yellow shoes and +a fantastic cravat, tied as fancifully as carelessly. + +"I am going to-day," said he, after he had greeted Marynia. "Do you +command me to prepare a dwelling in Florence for you? I can engage some +palace." + +"Then you will halt on the road to Rome?" + +"Yes. First, to give notice in the gallery of your coming, and to put +a sofa on the stairs for you; second, I halt for black coffee, which +is bad throughout Italy in general, but in Florence, at Giacosa's, Via +Tornabuoni, it is exceptionally excellent. That, however, is the one +thing of value in Florence." + +"What pleasure is there for you in always saying something different +from what you think?" + +"But I am thinking seriously of engaging nice lodgings on Lung-Arno for +you." + +"We shall stop at Verona." + +"For Romeo and Juliet? Of course; of course! Go now; later you would +shrug your shoulders if you thought of them. In a month it would be too +late for you to go, perhaps." + +Marynia started up at him like a cat; then, turning to her husband, +said,-- + +"Stas, don't let this gentleman annoy me so!" + +"Well," answered Pan Stanislav, "I will cut his head off, but after +lunch." + +Bukatski began to declaim:-- + + "It is not yet near day: + It was the nightingale, and not the lark, + That pierc'd the fearful hollow of thine ear." + +Then, turning to Marynia, he inquired, "Has Pan Stanislav written a +sonnet for you?" + +"No." + +"Oh, that is a bad sign. You have a balcony on the street; has it never +come once to his head to stand under your balcony with a guitar?" + +"No." + +"Oh, very bad!" + +"But there is no place to stand here, for there is water." + +"He might go in a gondola. With us it is different, you see; but here +in Italy the air is such that if a man is in love really, he either +writes sonnets, or stands under a balcony with a guitar. It is a thing +perfectly certain, resulting from the geographical position, the +currents of the sea, the chemical make-up of the air and the water: +if a man does not write sonnets, or stand out of doors with a guitar, +surely he is not in love. I can bring you very famous books on this +subject." + +"It seems that I shall be driven to cut his head off before lunch," +said Pan Stanislav. + +The execution, however, did not come, for the reason that it was just +time for lunch. They sat down at a separate table, but in the same hall +was a general one, which for Marynia, whom everything interested, was a +source of pleasure, too, for she saw _real_ English people. This made +on her such an impression as if she had gone to some land of exotics; +for since Kremen is Kremen, not one of its inhabitants had undertaken a +similar journey. For Bukatski, and even Pan Stanislav, her delight was +a source of endless jokes, but also of genuine pleasure. The first said +that she reminded him of his youth; the second called his wife a "field +daisy," and said that one was not sorry to show the world to a woman +like her. Bukatski noticed, however, that the "field daisy" had much +feeling for art and much honesty. Many things were known to her from +books or pictures; not knowing others, she acknowledged this openly, +but in her expressions there was nothing artificial or affected. When a +thing touched her heart, her delight had no bounds, so that her eyes +became moist. At one time Bukatski jested with her unmercifully; at +another he persuaded her that all the connoisseurs, so called, have a +nail in the head, and that she, as a sensitive and refined nature, and +so far unspoiled, was for him of the greatest importance in questions +of art; she would be still more important if she were ten years of age. + +At lunch they did not talk of art, because Pan Stanislav remembered his +news from Warsaw, and said,-- + +"I had a letter from Mashko." + +"And I, too," answered Bukatski. + +"And thou? They must be hurried there; Mashko must be pressed in real +earnest. Is the question known to thee?" + +"He persuades me, or rather, he implores me, to buy--dost thou know +what?" + +Bukatski avoided Kremen, knowing well what trouble it had caused, and +was silent through delicacy toward Marynia. + +But Pan Stanislav, understanding his intention, said,-- + +"Oh, my God! Once we avoided that name as a sore spot, but now, before +my wife, it is something different. It is hard to be tied up a whole +lifetime." + +Bukatski looked at him quickly; Marynia blushed a little, and said,-- + +"Stas is perfectly right. Besides, I know that it is a question of +Kremen." + +"Yes, it is of Kremen." + +"Well, and what?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"I should not buy it even because of this,--that the lady might have +the impression that people are tossing it about like a ball." + +"If I do not think at all of Kremen?" said Marynia, blushing still +more. She looked at her husband; and he nodded in sign of praise and +satisfaction. + +"That is a proof," answered he, "that thou art a child of good +judgment." + +"At the same time," continued Marynia, "if Pan Mashko does not hold +out, Kremen will either be divided, or go into usurers' hands, and that +to me would be disagreeable." + +"Ah, ha!" said Bukatski, "but if you do not think at all of Kremen?" + +Marynia looked again at her husband, and this time with alarm; he began +to laugh, however. + +"Marynia is caught," said he. + +Then he turned to Bukatski. "Evidently Mashko looks on thee as the one +plank of salvation." + +"But I am not a plank; look at me! I am a straw, rather. The man who +wishes to save himself by such a straw will drown. Mashko has said +himself more than once to me, 'Thou hast blunted nerves.' Perhaps I +have; but I need strong impressions for that very reason. If I were +to help Mashko, he would work himself free, stand on his feet, give +himself out as a lord still further; his wife would personate a great +lady, they would be terribly _comme il faut_, and I should have the +stupid comedy, which I have seen already, and which I have yawned at. +If, on the other hand, I do not help him, he will be ruined, he will +perish, something interesting will happen, unexpected events will come +to pass, something tragic may result, which will occupy me more. Now, +think, both of you, I must pay for a wretched comedy, and dearly; the +tragedy I can have for nothing. How is a man to hesitate in this case?" + +"Fi! how can you say such things?" exclaimed Marynia. + +"Not only can I say them, but I shall write them to Mashko; besides, he +has deceived me in the most unworthy manner." + +"In what?" + +"In what? In this, that I thought: 'Oh, that is a regular snob! that +is material for a dark personage; that is a man really without heart +or scruples!' Meanwhile, what comes out? That at bottom of his soul he +has a certain honesty; that he wants to pay his creditors; that he is +sorry for that puppet with red eyes; that he loves her; that for him +separation from her would be a terrible catastrophe. He writes this to +me himself most shamelessly. I give my word that in our society one can +count on nothing. I will settle abroad, for I cannot endure this." + +Now Marynia was angry in earnest. + +"If you say such things, I shall beg to break relations with you." + +But Pan Stanislav shrugged his shoulders, and added: "In fact, thy talk +is ever on some conceit to amuse thyself and others, and never wilt +thou think with judgment and in human fashion. Dost understand, I do +not persuade thee to buy Kremen, and all the more because I might have +a certain interest to do so; but there would be some occupation for +thee there, something to do." + +Here Bukatski began to laugh, and said after a while,-- + +"I told thee once that I like, above all, to do what pleases me, and +that it pleases me most to do nothing; hence it is that doing nothing +I do what pleases me most. If thou art wise, prove that I have uttered +nonsense. Take the second case: Suppose me a buckwheat sower; that, +however, simply passes imagination. I, for whom rain or fine weather is +merely the question of choosing a cane or an umbrella, would have, in +my old age, to stand on one leg, like a stork, and look to see whether +it pleases the sun to shine, or the clouds to drop rain. I should have +to tremble as to whether my wheat is likely to grow, or my rape-seed +shed, or rot fall on the potatoes; whether I shall be able to stake my +peas, or furnish his Worship of Dogweevil as many bushels as I have +promised; whether my plough-horses have the glanders, and my sheep the +foot-rot. I should, in my old age, come to this,--that from blunting of +faculties I would interject after every three words: 'Pan Benefactor,' +or 'What is it that I wanted to say?' _Voyons! pas si bête!_ I, a free +man, should become a _glebæ adscriptus_, a 'Neighbor,' a 'Brother +Lata,' a 'Pan Matsyei,' a 'Lechit.'"[5] + +Here, roused a little by the wine, he began to quote in an undertone +the words of Slaz in "Lilla Weneda":-- + + "Am I a Lechit? What does this mean? Are boorishness, + Drunkenness, gluttony, gazing from my eyes + With the seven deadly sins, a passion for uproar, + Pickled cucumbers, and escutcheons?" + +"Argue with him," said Pan Stanislav, "especially when at the root of +the matter he is partly right." + +But Marynia, who as soon as Bukatski had begun to speak of work in the +country, grew somewhat thoughtful, shook thoughtfulness now from her +forehead, and said,-- + +"When papa was not well,--and never in Kremen has he been so well as +recently,--I saved him a little in management, and later that work +became for me a habit. Though God knows there was no lack of troubles, +it gave me a pleasure that I cannot describe. But I did not understand +the cause of this till Pan Yamish explained it. 'That,' said he, 'is +the real work on which the world stands, and every other is either the +continuation of it, or something artificial.' Later I understood even +things which he did not explain. More than once, when I went out to +the fields in spring, and saw that all things were growing, I felt that +my heart, too, was growing with them. And now I know why that is: In +all other relations that a man holds there may be deceit, but the land +is truth. It is impossible to deceive the land; it either gives, or +gives not, but it does not deceive. Therefore land is loved, as truth; +and because one loves it, it teaches one to love. And the dew falls not +only on grain, and on meadows, but on the soul, as it were; and a man +becomes better, for he has to deal with truth, and he loves,--that is, +he is nearer God. Therefore I loved my Kremen so much." + +Here Marynia became frightened at her own speech, and at this, what +would "Stas" think; at the same time reminiscences had roused her. All +this was reflected in her eyes as the dawn, and on her young face; and +she was herself like the dawn. + +Bukatski looked at her as he would at some unknown newly discovered +master-piece of the Venetian school; then he closed his eyes, and +hid half of his small face in his enormous fantastic cravat, and +whispered,-- + +"_Délicieuse!_" + +Then, thrusting forth his chin from his cravat, he said,-- + +"You are perfectly right." + +But the logical woman would not let herself be set aside by a +compliment. + +"If I am right, you are not." + +"That is another matter. You are right because it becomes you; a woman +in that case is always right." + +"Stas!" said Marynia, turning to her husband. But there was so much +charm in the woman at that moment, that he also looked on her with +delight, his eyes smiled, his nostrils moved with a quick motion; for a +moment he covered her hand with his, and said,-- + +"Oh, child, child!" + +Then he inclined to her, and whispered,-- + +"If we were not in this hall, I would kiss those dear eyes and that +mouth." + +And, speaking thus, Pan Stanislav made a great mistake, for at that +moment it was not enough to feel the physical charm of Marynia, to be +roused at the color of her face, her eyes, or her mouth, but it was +necessary to feel the soul in her; to what an extent he did not feel it +was shown by his fondling words, "O child, child!" She was for him at +that moment only a charming child-woman, and he thought of nothing else. + +Just then coffee was brought. To end the conversation, Pan Stanislav +said,-- + +"So Mashko has come out a lover, and that after marriage." + +Bukatski swallowed a cup of boiling coffee, and answered, "In this is +the stupidity, that Mashko is the man, not in this,--that the love +was after marriage. I have not said anything sensible. If I have, I +beg pardon most earnestly, and promise not to do so a second time. I +have burned my tongue evidently with the hot coffee! I drink it so hot +because they tell me that it is good for headache; and my head aches, +aches." + +Here Bukatski placed his palm on his neck and the back of his head, and +blinked, remaining motionless for a few seconds. + +"I am talking and talking," said he, then, "but my head aches. I should +have gone to my lodgings, but Svirski, the artist, is to come to me +here. We are going to Florence together; he is a famous painter in +water-colors, really famous. No one has brought greater force out of +water-colors. But see, he is just coming!" + +In fact, Svirski, as if summoned by a spell, appeared in the hall, and +began to look around for Bukatski. Espying him at last, he approached +the table. + +He was a robust, short man, with hair as black as if he were an +Italian. He had an ordinary face, but a wise, deep glance, and also +mild. While walking, he swayed a little because of his wide hips. + +Bukatski presented him to Marynia in the following words,-- + +"I present to you Pan Svirski, a painter, of the genus genius, who +not only received his talent, but had the most happy idea of not +burying it, which he might have done as well, and with equal benefit +to mankind, as any other man. But he preferred to fill the world with +water-colors and with fame." + +Svirski smiled, showing two rows of teeth, wonderfully small, but white +as ivory, and said,-- + +"I wish that were true." + +"And I will tell you why he did not bury his talent," continued +Bukatski; "his reasons were so parochial that it would be a shame for +any decent artist to avow them. He loves Pognembin, which is somewhere +in Poznan, or thereabouts, and he loves it because he was born there. +If he had been born in Guadeloupe he would have loved Guadeloupe, and +love for Guadeloupe would have saved him in life also. This man makes +me indignant; and will the lady tell me if I am not right?" + +To this Marynia answered, raising her blue eyes to Svirski, "Pan +Bukatski is not so bad as he seems, for he has said everything that is +good of you." + +"I shall die with my qualities known," whispered Bukatski. + +Svirski was looking meanwhile at Marynia, as only an artist can permit +himself to look at a woman, and not offend. Interest was evident in his +eyes, and at last he muttered,-- + +"To see such a head all at once, here in Venice, is a genuine surprise." + +"What?" asked Bukatski. + +"I say, that the lady is of a wonderfully well-defined type. Oh, this, +for example" (here he drew a line with his thumb along his nose, mouth, +and chin). "And also what purity of outline!" + +"Well, isn't it true?" asked Pan Stanislav, with excitement. "I have +always thought the same." + +"I will lay a wager that thou hast never thought of it," retorted +Bukatski. + +But Pan Stanislav was glad and proud of that interest which Marynia +roused in the famous artist; hence he said,-- + +"If it would give you any pleasure to paint her portrait, it would give +me much more to have it." + +"From the soul of my heart," answered Svirski, with simplicity; "but +I am going to Rome to-day. There I have begun the portrait of Pani +Osnovski." + +"And we shall be in Rome no later than ten days from now." + +"Then we are agreed." + +Marynia returned thanks, blushing to her ears. But Bukatski began to +take farewell, and drew Svirski after him. When they had gone out, he +said,-- + +"We have time yet. Come to Floriani's for a glass of cognac." + +Bukatski did not know how to drink, and didn't like spirits; but since +he had begun to take morphine, he drank more than he could endure, +because some one had told him that one neutralized the other. + +"What a delightful couple those Polanyetskis are!" said Svirski. + +"They are not long married." + +"It is evident that he loves her immensely. When I praised her, his +eyes were smiling, and he rose as if on yeast." + +"She loves him a hundred times more." + +"What knowledge hast thou in such matters?" + +Bukatski did not answer; he only raised his pointed nose, and said, as +if to himself,-- + +"Oh, marriage and love have disgusted me; for it is always profit on +one side, and sacrifice on the other. Polanyetski is a good man, but +what of that? She has just as much sense, just as much character, +but she loves more; therefore life will fix itself for them in this +way,--he will be the sun, he will be gracious enough to shine, to warm, +will consider her as his property, as a planet made to circle around +him. All this is indicated to-day. She has entered his sphere. There +is in him a certain self-confidence which angers me. He will have her +with an income, but she will have him alone without an income. He will +permit himself to love, considering his love as virtue, kindness, and +favor; she will love, considering her love as a happiness and a duty. +Look, if you please, at him, the divine, the resplendent! I want to go +back and tell them this, in the hope that they will be less happy." + +Meanwhile the two men had taken seats in front of Floriani's, and +soon cognac was brought to them. Svirski thought some time over the +Polanyetskis, and then inquired,-- + +"But if the position is pleasant for her?" + +"I know that she has short sight; she might be pleased quite as well to +wear glasses." + +"Go to the deuce! glasses on a face like hers--" + +"This makes thee indignant; but the other makes me--" + +"Yes, for thou hast a kind of coffee-mill in thy head, which grinds, +and grinds everything till it grinds it into fine dust. What dost thou +want of love in general?" + +"I, of love? I want nothing of love! Let the devil take him who wants +anything of love! I have sharp pains in my shoulder-blades from it. But +if I were other than I am, if I had to describe what love ought to be, +if I wanted anything of it, then I should wish--" + +"What? hop! jump over!" + +"That it were composed in equal parts of desire and reverence." + +Then he drank a glass of cognac, and added after a while,-- + +"It seems to me that I have said something which may be wise, if it is +not foolish. But it is all one to me." + +"No! it is not foolish." + +"As God lives, it is all one to me." + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [5] Polish noble. + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +After a stay of one week in Florence, Pan Stanislav received his +first letter from Bigiel concerning the business of the house, and +news so favorable that it almost surpassed his expectations. The law +prohibiting export of grain because of the famine was proclaimed. +But the firm had enormous supplies bought and exported previously; +and because prices, especially at the first moment, had risen +excessively abroad, Bigiel and Polanyetski began to do perfect +business. Speculation, planned and carried through on a great scale, +turned out so profitable that from well-to-do people, which they were +before, they had become almost rich. For that matter Pan Stanislav +had been sure of his business from the beginning, and entertained no +fears; the news, however, pleased him both with reference to profit +and his own self-love. Success intoxicates a man and strengthens his +self-confidence. So, in talking with Marynia, he was not able to +refrain from giving her to understand that he had an uncommon head, +unquestionably higher than all those around him, like a tree the +loftiest in the forest; that he is a man who always reaches the place +at which he has aimed,--in a word, a kind of phoenix in that society, +abounding in men who know not how to help themselves. In the whole +world he could not have found a listener more willing and ready to +accept everything with the deepest faith. + +"Thou art a woman," said he, not without a shade of loftiness; +"therefore why tell thee the affair from the beginning, and enter into +details. To thee, as a woman, I can explain all best if I say thus: +I was not in a condition yesterday to buy the medallion with a black +pearl which I showed thee at Godoni's; to-day I am, and will buy it." + +Marynia thanked him, and begged that he would not do so; but he +insisted, and said that nothing would restrain him, that that was +resolved on, and Marynia must consider herself the owner of the great +black pearl, which, on such a white neck as hers, would be beautiful. +Then he fell to kissing that neck; and when finally he had satisfied +himself, but still felt the need of a listener of some sort, he began +to walk in the room, smiling at his wife and at his own thoughts, +saying,-- + +"I do not mention those who do nothing: Bukatski, for instance, who is +known to be good for nothing, nor asses like Kopovski, who is known to +have a cat's head; but take even men who do something,--men of mind +seemingly. Never would Bigiel seize a chance on the wing: he would set +to thinking over it, and to putting it off; to-day he would decide, and +to-morrow be afraid, and the time would be gone. What is the point in +question? First, to have a head, and second, to sit down and calculate. +And if one decides to act, then act. It is needful, too, to be cool, +and not pose. Mashko is no fool, one might think; but see what he has +worked out! I have not gone his way, and shall not follow him." + +Thus speaking, he continued to walk and to shake his thick, dark hair; +and Marynia, who, in every case, would have listened to his words with +faith, received them now as an infallible principle, all the more that +they rested on tangible success. + +He stopped before her at last, and said,-- + +"Knowest what I think? that coolness is judgment. It is possible to +have an intelligent head, to take in knowledge as a sponge absorbs +liquid, and still not to have sound, sober judgment. Bukatski is for me +a proof of this. Do not think me vain; but if I, for instance, knew as +much about art as he does, I should have a sounder judgment concerning +it. He has read so much, and caught up so many opinions, that at +last he has none of his own. Surely, from the materials which he has +collected, I should have squeezed out something of my own." + +"Oh, that is sure," said Marynia, with perfect confidence. + +Pan Stanislav might have been right in a certain view. He was not a +dull man by any means, and it may be that his intelligence was firmer +and more compact than Bukatski's; but it was less flexible and less +comprehensive. This did not occur to him. He did not think, also, that +in that moment, under the influence of boastfulness, he was saying +things before Marynia which the fear of ridicule and criticism would +have restrained him from saying before strangers, sceptical persons. +But he did not restrain himself before Marynia; he judged that if he +could permit himself such little boastfulness before any one, it was +before his wife. Besides, as he himself said, "He had taken her, and +all was over." Moreover, she was his own. + +In general, he had not felt so happy and satisfied at any time in +life as then. He had experienced material success, and considered the +future as guaranteed; he had married a woman, young, charming, and +clever, for whom he had become a dogma,--and the position could not +be otherwise, since her lips were not dry for whole days from his +kisses,--and whose healthy and honest heart was filled with gratitude +for his love. What could be lacking to him? What more could he wish? He +was satisfied with himself, for he ascribed in great part to his own +cleverness and merit, his success in so arranging life that everything +promised, peace and prosperity. He saw that life was bitter for other +men, but pleasant for him, and he interpreted the difference to his own +advantage. He had thought once that a man wishing peace had to regulate +his connection with himself, with mankind, with God. The first two he +looked on as regulated. He had a wife, a calling, and a future; hence +he had given and secured to himself all that he could give and secure. +As to society, he permitted himself sometimes to criticise it, but he +felt that in the bottom of his soul he loved it really; that even if +he wished, he could not do otherwise; that if in a given case it were +necessary to go into water or fire for society, he would go,--hence he +considered everything settled on that side too. His relation with God +remained. He felt that should that become clear and certain, he might +consider all life's problems settled, and say to himself definitely, "I +know why I have lived, what I wanted, and why I must die." While not a +man of science, he had touched enough on science to know the vanity of +seeking in philosophy so-called explanations or answers which are to +be sought rather in intuition, and, above all, in feeling, in so far +as the one and the other of these are simple,--otherwise they lead to +extravagance. At the same time, since he was not devoid of imagination, +he saw before him, as it were, the image of an honest, well-balanced +man, a good husband, a good father, who labors and prays, who on Sunday +takes his children to church, and lives a life wonderfully wholesome +from a moral point of view. That picture smiled at him; and in life +so much is done for pictures. He thought that a society which had a +great number of such citizens would be stronger and healthier than +a society which below was composed of boors, and above of sages, +dilettanti, decadents, and all those forbidden figures with sprained +intellects. One time, soon after his acquaintance with Marynia, he had +promised himself and Bigiel that on finishing with his own person, and +with people, he would set about this third relation seriously. Now the +time had come, or at least was approaching. Pan Stanislav understood +that this work needed more repose than is found on a bridal trip, and +among the impressions of a new life and a new country, and that hurry +of hotels and galleries in which he lived with Marynia. But, in spite +of these conditions, in the rare moments when he was with his own +thoughts, he turned at once to that problem, which for him was at that +time the main one. He was subject meanwhile to various influences, +which, small in themselves, exercised a certain action, even because +he refrained purposely from opposing them. Of these was the influence +of Marynia. Pan Stanislav was not conscious of it, and would not have +owned to its existence; still the continual presence of that calm soul, +sincerely and simply pious, extremely conscientious in relation to +God, gave him an idea of the rest and peace to be found in religion. +When he attended his wife to church, he remembered the words which +she said to him in Warsaw, "Of course; it is the service of God." And +he was drawn into it, for at first he went to church with her always +not to let her go alone, and later because it gave him also a certain +internal pleasure,--such, for example, as the examination of phenomena +gives a scientist specially interested in them. In this way, in spite +of unfavorable conditions, in spite of journeys, and a line of thought +interrupted by impressions of every sort, he advanced on the new road +continually. His thoughts had at times great energy and decisiveness +in this direction. "I feel God," said he to himself. "I felt Him at +Litka's grave; I felt Him, though I did not acknowledge it, in the +words of Vaskovski about death; I felt Him at marriage; I felt Him at +home, in the plains, and in this country, in the mountains above the +snow; and I only ask yet how I am to glorify Him, to honor and love +Him? Is it as pleases me personally, or as my wife does, and as my +mother taught me?" + +In Rome, however, he ceased at first to think of these things; so +many external impressions were gathered at once in his mind that there +was no room for reflection. Moreover, he and Marynia came home in the +evening so tired that he remembered almost with terror the words of +Bukatski, who, at times, when serving them as cicerone for his own +satisfaction, said, "Ye have not seen the thousandth part of what is +worth seeing; but that is all one, for in general it is not worth while +to come here, just as it is not worth while to stay at home." + +Bukatski was then in a fit of contradiction, overturning in one +statement what he had seemed to affirm in the preceding one. + +Professor Vaskovski came, too, from Perugia to greet them, which +pleased Marynia so much that she met him as she would her nearest +relative. But, after satisfying her first outbursts of delight, she +observed in the professor's eyes, as it were, a kind of melancholy. + +"What is the matter?" inquired she. "Do you not feel well in Italy?" + +"My child," answered he, "it is pleasant in Perugia, and pleasant in +Rome--oh, how pleasant! Know this, that here, while walking on the +streets, one is treading on the dust of the world. This, as I repeat +always, is the antechamber to another life--but--" + +"But what?" + +"But people--you see, that is, not from a bad heart, for here, as well +as everywhere, there are more good than bad people; but sometimes I am +sad, for here, as well as at home, they look on me as a little mad." + +Bukatski, who was listening to the conversation, said,-- + +"Then the professor has more cause for sadness here than at home." + +"Yes," answered Vaskovski; "I have so many friends there, like you, who +love me--but here, no--and therefore I am homesick." + +Then he turned to Pan Stanislav: "The journals here have printed an +account of my essay. Some scoff altogether. God be with them! Some +agree that a new epoch would begin through the introduction of Christ +and His spirit into history. One writer confessed that individuals +treat one another in a Christian spirit, but that nations lead a pagan +life yet. He even called the thought a great one; but he and all +others, when I affirm this to be a mission which God has predestined to +us, and other youngest of the Aryans, seize their sides from laughter. +And this pains me. They give it to be understood also that I have a +little here--" + +And poor Vaskovski tapped his forehead with his finger. After a while, +however, he raised his head and said,-- + +"A man sows the seed in sadness and often in doubt; but the seed falls +on the field, and God grant that it spring up!" + +Then he began to inquire about Pani Emilia; at last he turned to them +his eyes, which were as if wakened from sleep, and asked naïvely,-- + +"But it is pleasant for you to be with each other?" + +Marynia, instead of answering, sprang to her husband, and, nestling her +head up to his shoulder, said,-- + +"Oh, see, Professor, this is how we are together,--so!" + +And Pan Stanislav stroked her dark head with his hand. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +A week later Pan Stanislav took his wife to Svirski's on Via Margutta. +Svirski they saw almost daily. They had grown accustomed to the artist +and liked him; now he was to paint Marynia's portrait. At the studio +they found the Osnovskis, with whom acquaintance was made the more +easily since the ladies had met some years before at a party, and Pan +Stanislav had been presented on a time to Pani Osnovski, at Ostend; +he needed merely to remember her now. Pan Stanislav, it is true, did +not recollect whether at that epoch, when, after looking at every +young and presentable woman, he asked himself, "Is it this one?" he +had asked this touching the present Pani Osnovski; he might have done +so, however, for she had the reputation then of being a comely, though +rather flighty young person. Now she was a woman of six or seven and +twenty, very tall, a fresh, though dark brunette, with cherry lips, +dishevelled forelock, and somewhat oblique violet eyes, which gave her +face a resemblance to Chinese faces, and at the same time a certain +expression of malice and wit. She had a strange way of bearing herself, +which consisted in thrusting back her shoulders and pushing forward her +body; in consequence of this, Bukatski said of her that she carried her +bust _en offrande_. + +Almost immediately she told Marynia that, as they were sitting in the +same studio, they ought to consider each other as colleagues; and told +Pan Stanislav that she remembered him, from the ball at Ostend, as a +good dancer and _causeur_, and therefore that she would not delay in +taking advantage of that knowledge now. To both she said that it was +very agreeable to her, that she was delighted with Rome, that she was +reading "Cosmopolis," that she was in love with the Villa Doria, with +the view from the Pincian, that she hoped to see the catacombs in +company with them, and that she knew the works of Rossi, in Allard's +translations. Then, pressing Svirski's hand, and smiling coquettishly +at Pan Stanislav, she went out, declaring that she gave way to one +worthier than herself, and left the impression of a whirlwind, a +Chinese woman, and a flower. Pan Osnovski, a very young man, with a +light blond face without significance, but kindly, followed her, and +hardly had he been able to put in a word. + +Svirski drew a deep breath. + +"Oh, she is a storm!" said he; "I have a thousand difficulties in +keeping her at rest two minutes." + +"But what an interesting face!" said Marynia. "Is it permitted to look +at the portrait?" + +"It lacks little of being finished; you may look at it." + +Marynia and Pan Stanislav approached the portrait, and could express +admiration without excess of politeness. That head, painted in +water-colors, had the strength and warmth of an oil painting, and at +the same time the whole spiritual essence of Pani Osnovski was in +it. Svirski listened to the praises calmly; it was clear that he was +pleased with his work. He covered the picture, and carried it to a +dark corner of the studio, seated Marynia in an armchair already in +position, and began to study her. + +His persistent gaze confused her somewhat,--her cheeks began to flush; +but he smiled with pleasure, muttering,-- + +"Yes; this is another type,--earth and heaven!" + +At moments he closed one eye, which confused Marynia still more; at +moments he approached the cardboard, and again drew back, and again +studied her; and again he said, as if to himself,-- + +"In the other case, one had to bring out the devil, but here +womanliness." + +"As you have seen that immediately, I feel sure of a masterpiece," said +Pan Stanislav. + +All at once Svirski stopped looking at the paper and at Marynia, and, +turning to Pan Stanislav, smiled joyously, showing his sound teeth. + +"Yes, womanliness! and her own womanliness, that is the main +characteristic of the face." + +"And seize it, as you seized the devil in the other one." + +"Stas!" exclaimed Marynia. + +"It is not I who invented that, but Pan Svirski." + +"If you wish, we will say imp, not devil,--a comely imp, but a +dangerous one. While painting, I observe various things. That is a +curious type,--Pani Osnovski." + +"Why?" + +"Have you observed her husband?" + +"Somehow I was so occupied with her that I had no time." + +"There it is: she hides him in such a degree that he is hardly visible; +and, what is worse, she herself does not see him. At the same time +he is one of the most worthy men in the world, uncommonly well-bred, +considerate to others in an unheard-of degree, very rich, and not at +all stupid. Moreover, he loves her to distraction." + +Here Svirski began to paint, and repeated, as if in forgetfulness,-- + +"Lo-ves her to dis-trac-tion. Be pleased to arrange your hair a little +about the ear. If your husband is a talker, he will be in despair, for +Bukatski declares that when I begin work my lips never close, and that +I let no one have a word. She, do you see, may be thus far as pure +as a tear, but she is a coquette. She has an icy heart with a fiery +head. A dangerous species,--oh, dangerous! She devours books by whole +dozens,--naturally French books. She learns psychology in them, learns +of feminine temperaments, of the enigma of woman, seeks enigmas in +herself, which do not exist at all in her, discovers aspirations of +which yesterday she knew nothing. She is depraving herself mentally; +this mental depravation she considers wisdom, and makes no account of +her husband." + +"But you are a terrible man," remarked Marynia. + +"My wife will hide to-morrow from fear, when the hour for sitting +comes," said Pan Stanislav. + +"Let her not hide; hers is a different type. Osnovski is not at all +dull; but people, and especially, with your permission, women, are so +unwise, that if a man's cleverness does not hit them on the head, if a +man lacks confidence in himself, if he does not scratch like a cat and +cut like a knife, they do not value him. As God lives, I have seen this +in life a hundred times." + +After a while he closed one eye again, gazed at Marynia, and +continued,-- + +"In general, how foolish human society is! More than once have I put to +myself this question: Why is honesty of character, heart, and such a +thing as kindness, less valued than what is called mind? Why, in social +life, are two categories pre-eminent, wise and foolish? It is not the +custom, for example, to say, virtuous and unvirtuous; to such a degree +is it not the custom, that the very expressions would seem ridiculous." + +"Because," said Pan Stanislav, "mind is the lantern with which virtue +and kindness and heart must light the way for themselves, otherwise +they might break their noses, or, what is worse, break the noses of +other people." + +Marynia did not utter, it is true, a single word; but in her face it +was possible to read distinctly, "How wise this Stas is--terribly wise!" + +"Wise Stas" added meanwhile,-- + +"I am not speaking of Osnovski now, for I do not know him." + +"Osnovski," said Svirski, "loves his wife as his wife, as his child, +and as his happiness; but she has her head turned, God knows with what, +and does not repay him in kind. Women interest me, as an unmarried +man, immensely; more than once have I talked whole days about women, +especially with Bukatski, when they interested him more than they do +now. Bukatski divides women into plebeian souls, by which he means poor +and low spirits, and into patrician souls,--that is, natures ennobled, +full of the higher aspirations, and resting on principles, not phrases. +There is a certain justice in this, but I prefer my division, which is +simply into grateful and ungrateful hearts." + +Here he withdrew from the sketch for a moment, half closed his eyes, +then, taking a small mirror, placed it toward the picture, and began to +look at the reflection. + +"You ask what I mean by grateful and ungrateful hearts," said he, +turning to Marynia, though she had not asked about anything. "A +grateful heart is one which feels when it is loved, and is moved by +love; and in return for the loving, loves more and more, yields itself +more and more, prizes the loving, and honors it. The ungrateful heart +gets all it can from the love given; and the more certain it feels of +this love, the less it esteems it, the more it disregards and tramples +it. It is enough to love a woman with an ungrateful heart, to make her +cease loving. The fisherman is not concerned for the fish in the net; +therefore Pani Osnovski does not care for Pan Osnovski. In the essence +of the argument this is the rudest form of egotism in existence,--it +is simply African; and therefore God guard Osnovski, and may the Evil +One take her, with her Chinese eyes of violet color, and her frizzled +forelock! To paint such a woman is pleasant, but to marry--we are not +such fools. Will you believe it, I am in so much dread of an ungrateful +heart that I have not married so far, though my fortieth year has +sounded distinctly?" + +"But it is so easy to recognize such a heart," said Marynia. + +"May the Evil One take what is bad!" answered Svirski. "Not so easy, +especially when a man has lost sense and reason." + +Bending his athletic form, he looked at the sketch some time, and +said,-- + +"Well, enough for to-day. As it is, I have talked so continuously +that flies must have dropped from the walls. To-morrow, if you hear +too much, just clap your hands. I do not talk so with Pani Osnovski, +because she herself likes to talk. But how many titles of books have +I heard? Enough of this! I wanted to say something more, but have +forgotten. Ah! this is it,--you have a grateful heart." + +Pan Stanislav laughed, and invited Svirski to dinner, promising him the +society of Bukatski and Vaskovski. + +"With great delight," answered Svirski; "I am as much alone here as a +wild beast. As the weather is clear and the moon full, we will go later +to see the Colosseum by moonlight." + +The dinner took place, however, without Bukatski's mental hobbies, for +he felt out of health, and wrote that he could not come. But Svirski +and Vaskovski suited each other excellently, and became friends right +away. Only while he was working did Svirski let no one have a word; +in general, he liked to hear others, knew how to listen, and, though +the professor and his views seemed to him comical sometimes, so much +sincerity and kindness was evident in the old man that it would have +been difficult for him not to win people. His mystic face and the +expression of his eyes struck the artist. He sketched him a little +in his mind; and, while listening to his talk about the Aryans, he +thought how that head would look if all that was in it were brought out +distinctly. + +Toward the end of the dinner the professor asked Marynia if she would +like to see the Pope. He said that in three days a Belgian pilgrimage +was to arrive, and that she might join it. Svirski, who knew all Rome +and all the monsignores, guaranteed to effect this with ease. When he +heard this, the professor looked at him, and inquired,-- + +"Then you are almost a Roman?" + +"Of sixteen years' standing." + +"Is it possible!" + +Here the professor was somewhat confused, fearing lest he had committed +some indiscretion, but still wishing to know what to think of a man so +sympathetic, he overcame his timidity, and inquired,-- + +"But of the Quirinal, or the Vatican?" + +"From Pognembin," answered Svirski, frowning slightly. + +The end of the dinner interrupted further explanations and converse. +Marynia could scarcely sit still at the thought that she would see the +Capitol, the Forum, and the Colosseum by moonlight. In fact, somewhat +later they were driving toward the ruins along the Corso, which was +lighted by electricity. + +The night was calm and warm. Around the Forum and Colosseum the +place was completely deserted; as, for that matter, it is in the day +sometimes. Near the church of Santa Maria Liberatrice some person in an +open window was playing on a flute, and one could hear every note in +the stillness. On the front of the Forum a deep shadow fell from the +height of the Capitol and its edifices; but farther on it was flooded +with clear, greenish light, as was also the Colosseum, which seemed +silver. When the carriage halted at the arches of the gigantic circus, +Pan Stanislav, Svirski, and Vaskovski entered the interior, and pushed +toward the centre of the arena, avoiding the fragments of columns, +friezes, piles of bricks, stones, and bases of columns standing here +and there, and fragments piled up near the arches. Under the influence +of silence and loneliness, words did not rise to their lips. Through +the arched entrances came to the interior sheaves of moonlight, which +seemed to rest quietly on the floor of the arena, on the opposite +walls, on the indentations, on openings in the walls, on breaks, on the +silvered mosses and ivy, covering the ruin here and there. Other parts +of the building, sunk in impenetrable darkness, produced the impression +of black and mysterious gulleys. From the low-placed cunicula came the +stern breath of desolation. Reality was lost amidst that labyrinth and +confusion of walls, arches, bright spots, bright stripes, and deep +shadows. The colossal ruin seemed to lose its real existence, and +to become a dream vision, or rather, a kind of wonderful impression +composed of silence, night, the moon, sadness, and the remembrance of a +past, mighty, but full of blood and suffering. + +Svirski began to speak first, and in a subdued voice,-- + +"What pain, what tears, were here! what a measureless tragedy! Let +people say what they please, there is something beyond human in +Christianity; and that thought cannot be avoided." + +Here he turned to Marynia, and continued,-- + +"Imagine that might: a whole world, millions of people, iron laws, +power unequalled before or since, an organization such as has never +been elsewhere, greatness, glory, hundreds of legions, a gigantic city, +possessing the world,--and that Palatine hill over there, possessing +the city; it would seem that no earthly power could overturn it. +Meanwhile two Jews come,--Peter and Paul, not with arms, but a word; +and see, here is a ruin, on the Palatine a ruin, in the Forum a ruin, +and above the city crosses, crosses, crosses and crosses." + +Again there was silence; but from the direction of Santa Maria +Liberatrice the sound of the flute came continually. + +After a while Vaskovski said, pointing to the arena,-- + +"There was a cross here, too, but they have borne it away." + +Pan Stanislav was thinking, however, of Svirski's words; for him +they had a more vital interest than they could have for a man who +had finished the spiritual struggle with himself. At last he said, +following his own course of thought,-- + +"Yes, there is something beyond human in this; some truth shines into +the eyes here, like that moon." + +They were going slowly toward the entrance, when a carriage rattled +outside. Then in the dark passage leading to the centre of the circus, +steps were heard; two tall, figures issued from the shade into the +light. One of these, dressed in gray stuff, which gleamed like steel in +the moonlight, approached a number of steps to distinguish the visitors +better, and said all at once,-- + +"Good-evening! The night is so beautiful that we, too, came to the +Colosseum. What a night!" + +Pan Stanislav recognized the voice of Pani Osnovski. + +Giving her hand, she spoke with a voice as soft as the sound of that +flute which came from the direction of the church,-- + +"I shall begin to believe in presentiments, for really something told +me that here I should find acquaintances. How beautiful the night is!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +On returning to the hotel, Pan Stanislav and Marynia were surprised +somewhat to find the Osnovskis' cards; and their astonishment rose +from this, that, being newly married, it was their duty to make the +first visit. For this unusual politeness it was needful to answer with +equal politeness, hence they returned the visit on the following day. +Bukatski, who saw them before they made it, though he was very unwell, +and could barely drag his feet along, brought himself still to one of +his usual witticisms, and said to Pan Stanislav, when they were alone +for a moment,-- + +"She will play the coquette; but if thou suppose that she will fall in +love with thee, thou art mistaken. She is a little like a razor,--she +needs a strap to sharpen herself; in the best event, thou wilt be a +strap for her." + +"First, I do not wish to be her strap," answered Pan Stanislav; "and +second, it is too early." + +"Too early? That means that thou art reserving the future for thyself." + +"No; it means that I am thinking of something else, and also that I +love my Marynia more and more. And when that ends, too early will be +too late, and that Pani Osnovski might dent, but not sharpen herself, +on me." + +And Pan Stanislav, in saying this, was sincere: he had his thoughts +occupied really with something else; he was too honorable to betray his +wife at any time, but even if not, it was too early to begin. + +He was so greatly sure of his strength that he felt a certain readiness +to expose himself to trial. In other words, it would have given the man +a kind of pleasure if Pani Osnovski had dented herself on him. + +After lunch he went with Marynia to sit to Svirski; the sitting, +however, was short, since the artist was judge in some exhibition, and +had to hasten to a meeting. They returned home, and Pan Osnovski came +to them a quarter of an hour later. + +Pan Stanislav, after his conversation with Svirski, had a kind of +compassion for Osnovski, but also a sort of small opinion. Marynia, +however, felt for him a living sympathy; she was won by what she had +heard of his kindness and delicacy, as well as his attachment to his +wife. It seemed to her now that all these qualities were as if written +on his face,--a face by no means ugly, though it had pimples here and +there. + +After the greeting, Osnovski began to speak with the confident freedom +of a man accustomed to good society: + +"I come at the instance of my wife with a proposal. Praise to God, +visiting ceremonies are ended between us, though abroad it is not worth +while to reckon too precisely in this matter. The affair is this: We +are going to St. Paul's to-day, and then to the Three Fountains. That +is outside the city; there is an interesting cloister in the place, and +a beautiful view. It would be very agreeable to us if you would consent +to make the trip in our company." + +Marynia was always ready for every trip, especially in company, and +with pleasant conversation; in view of this she looked at her husband, +waiting for what he would say. Pan Stanislav saw that she wished to +go, and, besides, he thought in his soul, "If the other wants to dent +herself, let her do it." And he answered,-- + +"I would consent willingly, but this depends on my superior power." + +His "superior power" was not sure yet whether the obedient subordinate +meant that really; but, seeing on his face a smile and good-humor, she +made bold to say at last,-- + +"With much thankfulness; but shall we not cause trouble?" + +"Not trouble, but pleasure," answered Osnovski. "In that event the +matter is ended. We'll be here in a quarter of an hour." + +In fact, they set out a quarter of an hour later. Pani Osnovski's +Chinese eyes were full of satisfaction and repose. Wearing an +iris-colored robe, in which she might pass for the eighth wonder of the +world, she looked really like a rusalka.[6] And before they had reached +St. Paul's, Pan Stanislav did not know how Pani Osnovski, who had not +spoken on this subject to him, had been able somehow to say to him, +or at least to give him to understand, more or less as follows: "Thy +wife is a pleasant little woman from the country; of my husband nothing +need be said. We two only are able to understand each other and share +impressions." + +But he resolved to torment her. When they arrived at St. Paul's, which +Pani Osnovski did not mention otherwise than as "San Poolo fuori le +Mura,"[7] her husband wished to stop the carriage, but she said,-- + +"We will stop when returning, for we shall know then how much time is +left for this place; but now we'll go straight to the Three Fountains." + +Turning to Pan Stanislav, she continued, "There are in this famous +place various things, about which I should like to ask you." + +"Then you will do badly, for I know nothing at all of these matters." + +It appeared soon, on passing various monuments, that of the whole party +Pan Osnovski knew most. The poor man had been studying the guide-books +from morning till evening, so that he might be a guide for his wife, +and also to please her with his knowledge. But she cared nothing for +explanations which her husband could give, precisely because they came +from him. The insolent self-assurance with which Pan Stanislav had +confessed that he had no idea of antiquities was more to her taste. + +Beyond St. Paul's opened out a view on the Campagna with its aqueducts, +which seemed to run toward the city in haste, and on the Alban hills, +veiled, as they were, with the blue haze of distance,--a view at once +calm and bright. Pani Osnovski gazed for some time with a dreamy look, +and then inquired,-- + +"Have you been in Albani or Nemi?" + +"No," answered Pan Stanislav; "sitting to Svirski breaks the day so for +us that we cannot make long excursions till the portrait is finished." + +"We have been there; but when you are going, take me with you, take +me with you! Is it agreed? Will you permit?" added she, turning to +Marynia. "I shall be a fifth wheel to some extent, but never mind. +Besides, I shall sit quietly, very quietly, in a corner of the +carriage, and not give out one mru mru! Is it agreed?" + +"Oi! little one, little one," said Pan Osnovski. + +But she continued, "My husband will not believe that I am in love with +Nemi; but I am. When I was there, it seemed to me that Christianity had +not reached the place yet; that in the night certain priests come out +and celebrate pagan rites on the lake. Silence and mystery! there you +have Nemi. Will you believe that when I was there the wish came to me +to be a hermit, and it has not left me to this moment? I would build a +cell on the bank of the lake for myself, and wear a robe long and gray, +like the habit of Saint Francis of Assisi, and go barefoot. What would +I give to be a hermit! I see myself at the lake--" + +"Anetka,[8] but what would become of me?" inquired Osnovski, half in +jest, half in earnest. + +"Oh, thou wouldst console thyself," said she, curtly. + +"Thou wouldst be a hermitess," thought Pan Stanislav, "if on the other +side of the lake there were a couple of dozen dandies gazing through +glasses to see what the hermitess was doing, and how she looked." + +He was too well-bred to tell her this directly; but he told her +something similar, and which could be understood. + +"Naturally," said she, laughing; "I should live by alms, and should +have to see people sometimes; if you came to Nemi, I should come to you +too and repeat in a very low voice, 'Un soldo! un soldo!'" + +Saying this, she stretched her small hands to him, and shook them, +repeating humbly,-- + +"Un soldo per la povera! un soldo!" + +And she looked into his eyes. + +Pan Osnovski spoke meanwhile to Marynia. + +"This is called Three Fountains," said he, "for there are three springs +here. Saint Paul's head was cut off at this place; and there is a +tradition that the head jumped three times, and that on those places +springs burst forth. The place belongs now to the Trappists. Formerly +people could not pass a night here, there was such fever; now there +is less, for they have planted a whole forest of eucalyptuses on the +hills. Oh, we can see it already." + +But Pani Osnovski, bending back somewhat, half closed her eyes for a +moment, and said to Pan Stanislav,-- + +"This Roman air intoxicates me. I am as if beside myself. At home +I cannot force from life more than it gives me; but here I am +demoralized, I feel that something is wanting to me. Do I know what? +Here one feels something, divines something, yearns for something. +Maybe that is bad. Maybe it is not right for me to say this. But I say +always what passes through my mind. At home, when a child, they called +me Little Sincerity. I shall beg my husband to take me hence. It may be +better to live in my own narrow shell, like a nut, or a snail." + +"It may be pleasant in shells for nuts or snails," answered Pan +Stanislav, with gravity, "but not for birds, and besides birds of +paradise, of which there is a tradition that they have no legs and can +never rest, but must fly and fly." + +"What a beautiful tradition!" exclaimed Pani Osnovski. And, raising +her hands, she began to move them, imitating the motion of wings, and +repeating,-- + +"This way, forever through the air." + +The comparison flattered her, though she was astonished that Pan +Stanislav had uttered it with a serious voice, but with an inattentive +and, as it were, ironical face. He began to interest her, for he seemed +very intelligent, and more difficult to master than she had expected. + +Meanwhile they arrived at Three Fountains. They visited the garden, +the church, and the chapel, in the basement of which three springs +were flowing. Pan Osnovski explained, in his kind, somewhat monotonous +voice, what he had read previously. Marynia listened with interest; but +Pan Stanislav thought,-- + +"Still to live three hundred and sixty-five days in a year with him, +must be a little tiresome." + +That justified Pani Osnovski in his eyes for the moment; she, taking +upon herself now the new role of bird of paradise, did not rest for +a moment, not merely on the ground, but on any subject. First she +drank eucalyptus liquor, which the cloister prepared as a means +against fever; then she declared decisively that if she were a man she +would be a Trappist. Later, however, she remembered that her sailing +career would be agreeable "ever between sea and sky, as if living +in endlessness;" at last the wish to become a great, a very great +writer, gained the day against everything else,--a writer describing +the minutest movements of the soul, half-conscious feelings, desires +incompletely defined, all forms, all colors, all shades. The party +learned also, as a secret, that she was writing her memoirs, which +"that honest Yozio" considers a masterpiece; but she knows that that is +nothing, she has not the least pretensions, and she ridicules Yozio and +the memoirs. + +"Yozio" looks at her with loving eyes, and with great affection on his +pimpled face, and says with a protest,-- + +"As to the memoirs, I beg pardon greatly." + +They drove away about sundown. There were long shadows from the trees; +the sun was large and red. The distant aqueducts and the Alban hills +were gleaming in rose-color. They were halfway when the "Angelus" was +sounded in the tower of St. Paul's, and immediately after were heard a +second, a third, a tenth. Each church gave the signal to the succeeding +one; and such a mighty chorus was formed as if the whole air were +ringing, as if the "Angelus" had been sounded not merely by the city, +but the whole region, the plains, and the mountains. + +Pan Stanislav looked on Marynia's face, lighted by the golden gleams. +There was great calm in it and attention. It was evident that she +was repeating the "Angelus" now, as she had repeated it in Kremen, +when it was sounded in Vantory. Always and everywhere the same. Pan +Stanislav remembered again the "service of God." It seemed to him more +simple and pacifying than ever. But now, while approaching the city, +he understood the permanence, the vitality, the immensity, of those +beliefs. "All this," thought he, "has endured thus for a thousand and a +half of years; and the strength and certainty of this city is only in +those towers, those bells, that permanence of the cross, which endures +and endures." Again Svirski's words came to him: "Here a ruin, on +the Palatine a ruin, in the Forum a ruin, but over the city crosses, +crosses, crosses and crosses." It seemed to him beyond a doubt that in +that very permanence there is something superhuman. Meanwhile the bells +sounded, and the heavens above the city were covered with twilight. +Under the impression produced by the praying Marynia, and the bells, +and that vesper feeling, which seemed to hover over the city and the +whole land, the following thought began to take form in Pan Stanislav, +who had much mental directness: "What an idiot and vain fool should I +be, in view of the needs of faith and that feeling of God, were I to +seek some special forms of love and reverence of my own, instead of +accepting those which Marynia calls 'service of God,' and which still +must be the best, since the world has lived nearly two thousand years +in them!" Then the reasoning side of this thought struck him as a +practical man, and he continued to himself, almost joyously: "On one +side the traditions of a thousand years, the life of God knows how many +generations and how many societies, for which there was and is delight +in those forms, the authority for God knows how many persons who +consider them as the only forms; on the other side, who? I, a partner +in the commission house of Bigiel and Polanyetski; and I had the +pretension to think out something better into which the Lord God would +fit Himself more conveniently. For this it is needful at least to be a +fool! I, besides, am a man sincere with myself; and I could not endure +it if from time to time the thought came to me,--I am a fool. But my +mother believed in this, and my wife believes; and I have never seen +greater peace in any one than in them." + +Here he looked at Marynia once and a second time; she had finished +evidently her "Angelus," for she smiled at him in answer, and +inquired,-- + +"Why so silent?" + +"We are all silent," he answered. + +And so it was, but for various reasons. While Pan Stanislav was +occupied with his thoughts, Pani Osnovski attacked him a number of +times with her eyes and her words. He answered her words with something +disconnected, and did not notice her glances in any way. He simply +offended her: she might have forgiven him, she might have been pleased +even, if to her statement that she wished to be a nun, he had answered +with impudence concealed in polished words; but he wounded her mortally +when he ceased to notice her, and in punishment she ceased also to +notice him. + +But as a person of good breeding she became all the politer to Marynia. +She inquired touching her plans on the following day; and, learning +that they were to be at the Vatican, she announced that she and her +husband had tickets of admission, and would use the opportunity also. + +"You know the dress?" inquired she. "A black robe, and black lace on +the head. One looks a little old in them, but no matter." + +"I know; Pan Svirski forewarned me," answered Marynia. + +"Pan Svirski always talks of you to me when I am sitting to him. He has +great regard for you." + +"And I for him." + +During this conversation they arrived at the hotel. Pan Stanislav +received such a slight and cool pressure of the hand from the fair lady +that, though his head was occupied with something else, he noticed it. + +"Is that a new method," thought he, "or have I said something that +displeased her?" + +"What dost thou think of Pani Osnovski?" asked he of Marynia in the +evening. + +"I think that Pan Svirski may be right in some measure." + +And Pan Stanislav answered: "She is writing at this moment 'memoirs,' +which 'Yozio' considers a masterpiece." + +FOOTNOTES: + + [6] River-maiden among the Slavs. + + [7] Thus printed to show her style of Italian. + + [8] A diminutive of Aneta. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +Next morning when Marynia came out to her husband he hardly knew her. +Dressed in black, and with a black lace veil on her head, she seemed +taller, more slender, darker, and older. But he was pleased by a +certain solemnity in her which recalled the ceremony of their marriage. +Half an hour later they started. On the road Marynia confessed to fear, +and a beating of the heart. He pacified her playfully, though he, too, +was moved somewhat; and when, after a short drive, they entered the +gigantic half-circle in front of St. Peter's, he felt also that his +pulse was not beating as every day, and, besides, he had a strange +feeling of being smaller than usual. Near the steps, where stood a +number of Swiss guards, arrayed in the splendid uniform invented by +Michael Angelo, they found Svirski, who led them up with a throng of +people, mostly Belgians. Marynia, who was somewhat dazed, did not +know herself when she entered a very spacious hall, in which the +throng was still denser, excepting on a space in the centre, where the +Swiss guards were posted in lines, and kept a broad passage open. The +crowd, among which the French and Flemish languages were to be heard, +whispered in low voices, and turned their heads and eyes toward a +passage, in which, from time to time, appeared, through the adjoining +hall, forms in remarkable costumes, which reminded Pan Stanislav of +galleries in Antwerp or Brussels. It seemed to him that the Middle Ages +were rising from the dead: now it was some knight of those ages, in a +helmet, different indeed from helmets on the ancient portraits, but +with steel on his breast; now a herald in a short red dalmatica, and +with a red cap on his head; at times through the open door appeared +purple cardinals, or violet bishops, ostrich feathers, lace on black +velvet, and heads immensely venerable, white hair and faces, as if +from a sarcophagus. But it was evident that the glances of the throng +were falling on those peculiar dresses and colors and faces, as if, in +passing, that their eyes were waiting for something beyond, something +higher, some other heart; it was clear that in people's minds attention +was fixed as was feeling in their souls, in waiting for a moment which +comes once in a lifetime, and is memorable ever after. Pan Stanislav, +holding Marynia by the hand, so as not to lose her in the throng, felt +that hand tremble from emotion; as to him, in the midst of those silent +crowds and beating hearts, before that historical dignity of former +ages rising from the dead, as it were, in the midst of that attention +and expectation, he felt a second time the wonderful impression of +becoming smaller and smaller, till he was the smallest that he had ever +been in life. + +At that moment a low and rather panting voice whispered near them,-- + +"I have been looking for you, and found you with difficulty. The +ceremony will begin at once, it seems." + +But it was not to begin at once. The monsignor acquaintance greeted +Svirski meanwhile, and, speaking a few words to him, conducted the +whole party politely to the adjoining hall, which was fitted in crimson +damask. Pan Stanislav saw with astonishment that this hall, too, was +full of people, with the exception of one end, which was reserved by +a guard of honor, and in which was an armchair on an elevation, and +before it a number of prelates and bishops conversing confidentially. +Here expectation and attention were more expressly visible. It was +evident that people were holding their breath; and all faces had a +solemn, mysterious expression. The azure clearness of the day, mingled +with the purple reflections of the tapestry, filled that hall with a +kind of unusual light, in which the rays of the sun, breaking in here +and there through the window-panes, appeared very ruddy and of a deeper +red. + +They waited some time yet; at last, in the first hall a murmur was +heard, then a muttering, then a shout, and, finally, in the open side +door appeared a white figure borne by the noble guard. Marynia's hand +pressed Pan Stanislav's nervously; he returned the pressure; and swift +impressions, merged in one general feeling of the exceptional and +solemn import of the moment, flashed through their minds, as during the +ceremony of their marriage. + +One of the cardinals began to speak, but Pan Stanislav neither heard +nor understood what he said. His eyes, his thoughts, his whole soul, +were with the figure clothed in white. Nothing in it escaped his +attention,--its unparalleled emaciation, its frailness, its thinness, +and its face as pale, and at the same time as transparent, as faces of +the dead are. There was in it something which had no physical strength, +or in every case it seemed to him simply half body, half apparition, +as it were, a light shining through alabaster; a spirit, fixed in some +transparent matter; an intermediate link between two worlds; a link +human yet, though already preterhuman, earthly so far, but also above +earthly things. And through a marvellous antithesis the matter in it +seemed to be something apparitional, and the spirit something material. + +Afterward, when people began to approach it for a blessing; when Pan +Stanislav saw his Marynia at its feet; when he felt that to those +knees, already half empyrean, one might still incline as to those of a +father,--an emotion surpassing everything seized him; his eyes were as +if mist-covered; never in life had he felt himself such a small grain +of sand, but at the same time he felt himself a grain of sand in which +the grateful heart of a little child was throbbing. + +After they had gone out, all were silent. Marynia had eyes as if roused +from sleep; Vaskovski's hands were trembling. Bukatski dragged himself +in to lunch; but, being ill, he could not excite conversation in any +one. Svirski, strange to say, talked little while Marynia was sitting, +and returned continually to the same subject; from time to time he +repeated,-- + +"Yes, yes; whoever has not seen that can have no conception of it. That +will remain." + +In the evening Pan Stanislav and Marynia went to see the sunset from +Trinità dei Monti. The day ended very beautifully. The whole city was +buried in a kind of hazy golden gleam; under their feet, far down +in the valley, on the Piazza di Spagna, darkness was beginning, but +a darkness yet lighted, in the mild tones of which irises and white +lilies were visible among the flowers set out on both sides of the +Via Condotti. In the whole picture there was great and undisturbed +repose,--a kind of soothing announcement of night and sleep. Then the +Piazza di Spagna began to sink more and more in the shade, but the +Trinità was shining continually in purple. + +Pan Stanislav and Marynia felt this calmness reflected in themselves; +they descended the giant stairs then with a wonderful feeling of peace +in their souls. All the impressions of the day settled down in them +in lines as great and calm as those twilight belts, which were still +shining above them. + +"Knowest thou," said Pan Stanislav, "what I remember yet from +childhood's years? That with us at home they always said the evening +rosary together." And he looked with an inquiring glance into Marynia's +eyes. + +"Oh, my Stas!" said she, with a voice trembling from emotion, "I did +not dare to mention this--my best." + +"'Service of God,'--dost thou remember?" + +But she had said that formerly with such simplicity, and as a thing so +self-evident, that she remembered nothing whatever about it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +But Pan Stanislav was in permanent disfavor with Pani Osnovski. Meeting +him at Svirski's, between one sitting and another, she spoke to him +only in so far as good breeding and politeness demanded. He saw this +perfectly, and asked himself sometimes, "What does that woman want of +me?" but troubled himself little. He would have troubled himself still +less if "that woman," instead of being eight and twenty, had been eight +and fifty years of age; if she had been without those violet eyes and +those cherry lips. And such is human nature that, in spite of the fact +that he wanted nothing of her, and expected nothing, he could not +refrain from thinking what might happen should he strive really for her +favor, and how far would she be capable of going. + +They had another trip of four to the catacombs of St. Calixtus, for +Pan Stanislav wished to repay politeness with politeness,--that is, a +carriage with a carriage. But this trip did not bring reconciliation; +they only conversed so far as not to call attention to themselves. +At last this began to anger Pan Stanislav. In fact, Pani Osnovski's +bearing developed a special relation between them, unpleasant in a way, +but known only to them, hence something between them exclusively,--a +kind of secret, to which no one else was admitted. Pan Stanislav +considered that all this would end with the work on her portrait; +but though the face had been finished some time, there remained many +little details, for which the presence of the charming model was +indispensable. Even for the simple reason that Svirski did not wish +to lose time, it happened that when Pan Stanislav and his wife came, +the Osnovskis were in the studio. Sometimes they stopped a little for +greeting and a short talk touching yesterday's impressions; sometimes +Osnovski was sent by his wife on an errand, or for some news. In that +event he went out first, leaving the carriage for her before the studio. + +And it happened once that when Marynia had taken her place for a +sitting, Pani Osnovski had not gone yet; after a while, learning that +Marynia had been at the theatre the evening before, she, while putting +on her hat and gloves before the mirror, inquired about singers and the +opera, then, turning to Pan Stanislav, she said,-- + +"And now, I pray you, conduct me to the carriage." + +She threw on her wrap, and began to look for the ribbons sewn behind +to the lining, so as to fasten it around her waist, but she stopped +suddenly at the entrance,-- + +"I cannot find the ribbons because I have my gloves on; take pity on +me." + +Pan Stanislav had to look for the ribbons, but in doing so he was +forced to put his arm almost around her; after a moment the brewing of +desire poured about him, all the more since she bent toward him, and +the warmth of her face and body struck him. + +"But why are you angry with me?" inquired she, in an undertone; "that +is bad. I am in such need of friendly souls. What have I done to you?" + +He found the ribbons, recovered himself, and with that somewhat +coarse satisfaction of a rude man, who desires to use his triumph, +and to signify that he has not yielded, answered simply, with an +impertinence,-- + +"You have done nothing to me, and you can do nothing." + +But she repulsed the impoliteness, as if it were a ball at tennis. + +"Because sometimes I notice persons so little that I hardly see them." + +They went in silence to the carriage. + +"But is it that way?" thought Pan Stanislav, returning to the studio; +"a man might advance there as far as he pleased;" and a quiver passed +through him. "As far as he pleased," repeated he. + +Herewith he was not conscious that he had made such a mistake as is +made daily by dozens of men who are lovers of hunting in other men's +grounds. Pani Osnovski was a coquette: she had a dry heart, and her +thought was dishonorable already; but she was hundreds of miles yet +from complete physical fall. + +Meanwhile Pan Stanislav returned to the studio feeling that he had made +an immense sacrifice for Marynia, and with a certain regret in his +heart, first, because she would not know what had happened, and second, +if she should know, she would consider his action as perfectly simple. +This feeling angered him; and when he looked at her, at her clear eyes, +her calm face, and her fair, honest beauty, a comparison of those two +women urged itself into his mind in spite of him, and in his soul he +said,-- + +"Ah, Marynia! such as she would rather sink through the earth; of her +it is possible to be certain." + +And--singular thing--there was in this an undoubted recognition, but +there was also a shade of regret, and as it were, of irritation, that +that was a woman so greatly his own that he did not feel bound to a +continual admiration of her worthiness. + +And for the rest of the sitting he turned his thought to Pani Osnovski. +He supposed that in future she would simply cease to give her hand to +him, and it turned out that he was mistaken again. On the contrary, +wishing to show that she attached no importance to him or to his words, +she was more polite to him than hitherto. Pan Osnovski, however, had an +offended look, and became more and more icy every day toward him. This +was caused, undoubtedly, by conversations with "Anetka." + +A few days later, however, impressions of another sort effaced that +adventure from Pan Stanislav's mind. Bukatski had long been ill; he +complained more and more of a pain in the back of his head, and a +strange feeling of separating from his own muscles. His humor revived +still at moments, but it shot up and went out like fireworks. He came +to the _table d'hôte_ more rarely. At last Pan Stanislav received his +card one morning; on it these words were written with a very uncertain +hand,-- + + MY DEAR,--After to-night it seems that I am about to get + on horseback. If thou wish to see my departure, come, especially + in lack of anything better to do. + +Pan Stanislav hid the card from Marynia, but went straightway. He found +Bukatski in bed, and a doctor with him, whom Bukatski sent away that +moment. + +"Thou hast frightened me terribly," said Pan Stanislav. "What ails +thee?" + +"Nothing great,--a little paralysis of the lower part of the body." + +"Have the fear of God!" + +"Thou speakest wisely, if there were time for it; but now I have no +power in my left arm, in my left leg, and I cannot rise. Thus did I +wake this morning. I thought that I had lost speech, too, and began to +declaim to myself, 'Per me si va;' but, as thou seest, I have not lost +speech. My tongue remained, and now I am trying to find calmness of +thought." + +"But art thou sure that it is paralysis? It may be a temporary +numbness." + +"What is life?--Ah, only a moment," Bukatski began to declaim; "I +cannot move, and that is the end, or, if thou prefer, the beginning." + +"That would be a terrible thing, but I do not believe it; any one may +be benumbed for a time." + +"There are moments in life which are somewhat bitter, as the carp said +when the cook was scraping his scales off with a knife. I confess that +at first terror took hold of me. Hast thou ever felt the hair rising +on thy head? It is not to be reckoned altogether among feelings of +delight. But I have recovered my balance, and now, at the end of three +hours, it seems to me that I have lived ten years with my paralysis. It +is a question of habit! as the mushroom said when in the frying-pan. +I am chatting much, for I haven't much time. Dost thou know, my dear +friend, that I shall die in a couple of days?" + +"Indeed, thou art chatting! Paralyzed people live thirty years." + +"Even forty," answered Bukatski. "Paralysis in that case is a luxury +which some may permit themselves, but not men like me. For a strong +man, who has a good neck, good shoulders, good breast, and proper +legs, it may be even a species of rest, a kind of vacation after a +frolicsome youth, and an opportunity for meditation; but for me! Dost +remember how thou wert laughing at my legs? Well, I tell thee that they +were elephantine at that time if compared with what they are to-day. +It is not true that every man is a clod; I am only a line,--I am not +joking,--and, moreover, a line vanishing _in infinity_." + +Pan Stanislav began to shrug his shoulders, to contradict, and to quote +known examples; but Bukatski resisted. + +"Stop! I feel and know that in a couple of days paralysis of the brain +will set in. I have been expecting this a whole year, but told no one, +and for a year have been reading books on medicine. A second attack +will come, and that will be final." + +Here he was silent, but after a time continued,-- + +"And, believe me, I do not like this. Think of it: I am as much alone +as a finger cut off from its hand; I have no one. Here, and even +in Warsaw, only people who are paid would take care of me. Life is +terribly wretched when a man is without power of movement, and without +a living soul who is related. When I lose speech, as I have lost power +of motion, any woman in attendance, or any man, may strike me on the +face as much as she or he pleases. But thou must know one thing. I +feared paralysis at the first moment; but in my weak body there is a +brave spirit. Remember what I said to thee,--that I fear not death; and +I do not fear it." + +Here there gleamed in Bukatski's eyes a certain pale reflection of +daring and energy, hidden somewhere in the bottom of that disjointed +and softened soul. + +But Pan Stanislav, who had a good heart, put his hand on the palm +already paralyzed, and said, with great feeling,-- + +"My Adzia! But do not suppose that we will leave thee thus, desert thee +as thou art; and do not say that thou hast no one. Thou hast me, and +besides me, my wife, and Svirski, Vaskovski, and the Bigiels. For us +thou art not a stranger. I will take thee to Warsaw, I will put thee in +the hospital, and we will care for thee, and no attendant will strike +thee on the face,--first, because I should break the bones of such a +person; secondly, we have Sisters of Charity, and among them is Pani +Emilia." + +Bukatski was silent, and grew pale a little; he was more moved than he +wished to show. A shadow passed over his eyes. + +"Thou art a good fellow," said he, after a prolonged silence. "Thou +knowest not what a miracle thou hast worked, for thou hast brought it +about that I wish something yet. Yes; I should like wonderfully to go +to Warsaw, to be among you all. I should be immensely pleased there." + +"Here thou must go at once to some hospital, and be under constant +care. Svirski must know where the best one is. Yield thyself to me, +wilt thou? Let me arrange for thee." + +"Do what may please thee," answered Bukatski, whom consolation began to +enter now, in view of the new plans and the energy of his friend. + +Pan Stanislav wrote to Svirski and to Vaskovski, and sent out +messengers immediately. Half an hour later both appeared, Svirski with +a famous local physician. Before mid-day Bukatski found himself in a +hospital, in a well-lighted and cheerful chamber. + +"What a pleasant and warm tone!" said he, looking at the golden color, +and the walls and ceiling. "This is nice." Then, turning to Pan +Stanislav, he said, "Come to me in the evening, but go now to thy wife." + +Pan Stanislav took farewell of him, and went out. When he reached +home he told Marynia the whole story cautiously, for he did not wish +to frighten her with sudden news, giving the idea that he was in a +dangerous condition. Marynia begged him to take her to Bukatski, if not +in the evening, in the morning early, which he promised to do. They +went immediately after lunch, for that day there was no sitting in the +studio. + +But before they arrived, Vaskovski was there, and he did not leave +Bukatski for a moment. When the patient had settled himself well in the +new bed, the old man told him how once he had thought himself dying, +but after confession and receiving the sacraments, he grew better, as +if by a miracle. + +"A well-known method, dear professor," said Bukatski, with a smile; "I +divine what thy object is." + +The professor was as confused as if caught in some evil deed, and +crossed his hands. + +"I will lay a wager that it would help thee," said he. + +Bukatski answered with a gleam of his former humor, "Very well. In a +couple of days I shall convince myself, on the other side of the river, +how much it will help me." + +The arrival of Marynia pleased him, all the more that it was +unexpected. He said that he had not thought to see any woman on this +side of the river, and, moreover, one of his own. Therewith he began to +scold them all a little, but with evident emotion. + +"What sentimentalists they are!" said he. "It is simply a judgment to +be occupied with such a skeleton grandfather as I am. Ye will never +have reason. What is this for? What good in it? See, even before +death, I am forced to be grateful; and I am sincerely, very sincerely +grateful." + +But Marynia did not let him talk about death; on the contrary, she +said with great firmness that he must go to Warsaw, and be among his +friends. She spoke of this as a thing the execution of which was not +subject to the least doubt, and she succeeded gradually in convincing +Bukatski of it. She told him how to prepare, and at last he listened +to her eagerly. His thoughts passed into a certain condition of +yielding, in which they let themselves be led. He felt like a child, +and, besides, a poor child. + +That same day Osnovski visited him, and also showed as much interest +and feeling as if he had been his own brother. Bukatski had out and +out not expected all this, and had not counted on anything similar. +Therefore, when later in the evening Pan Stanislav came a second time, +and no others were present, he said to him,-- + +"I tell thee sincerely that never have I felt with such clearness that +I made life a stupid farce, that I have wasted it like a dog." And soon +after he added, "And if I had found a real pleasure in that method by +which I was living; but I had not even that satisfaction. How stupid +is our epoch! A man makes two of himself; all that is best in him he +hides away, shuts in somewhere in corners, and becomes a kind of ape. +He rather persuades himself of the uselessness of life than feels it. +How wonderful this is! One thing consoles me,--that in truth death is +the only thing real in life, though, on the other hand, this again is +not a reason why, before it comes, we should say of it as a fool says +of wine, that it is vinegar." + +"My dear friend," answered Pan Stanislav, "thou hast always tortured +thyself with this endless winding of thought around some bobbin. Do not +do that at present." + +"Thou art right. But I am unable not to think that while I was walking +around and was well in a fashion, I jeered at life; and now--I tell +thee as a secret--I want to live longer." + +"Thou wilt live longer." + +"Give use peace. Thy wife was persuading me of that, but now again +I do not believe it. And it is painful to me,--I have thrown myself +away. But hear why I wanted to speak with thee. I know not whether any +account is waiting for me; I say sincerely that I know not, but still I +feel a kind of strange alarm, as if I were afraid. And I will tell thee +something: during life I did nothing for my fellows, and I was able! I +was able! In presence of this thought fear seizes me; I give thee my +word! That is an unworthy thing. I did nothing; I ate bread without +paying for it, and now--death. If there are any whips beyond, and if +they are waiting for me, it is to punish that; and listen, Stas, it is +painful to me." + +Here, although he spoke with the careless tone usual to him, his face +expressed real dread, his lips grew pale somewhat, and on his forehead +drops of sweat appeared. + +"But stop!" said Pan Stanislav; "see what comes to his head. Thou art +injuring thyself." + +But Bukatski spoke on: "Listen! wait! I have property which is rather +considerable; let even that do something for me. I will leave thee a +part of it, and do thou use the remainder for something useful. Thou +art practical, so is Bigiel. Think of something, thou and he, for I do +not believe that I shall have time. Wilt thou do this?" + +"That, and thy every wish." + +"I thank thee. How wonderful are fears and reproaches of this kind! +And still I cannot escape a feeling of guilt. The conditions are such +that I am not right! One should do something honorable even just before +death. But it is no joke,--death. If that were something visible, but +it is so dark. And one must decay, corrupt, and rot _in the dark_. Art +thou a believer?" + +"Yes." + +"But I, neither yes nor no. I amused myself with Nirvana, as with other +things. Dost thou know, were it not for the feeling of guilt, I should +be more at rest? I had no idea that this would pain me so; I have the +impression that I am a bee which has robbed its hive, and that is a low +thing. But at least my property will remain after me. This is true, +is it not? I have spent a little, but very little, on pictures, which +will remain, too; isn't this true? But now, how I should like to live +longer, even a year, even long enough not to die here!" + +He meditated a while, and then said,-- + +"I understand one thing now: life may be bad, for a man may order it +foolishly; but existence is good." + +Pan Stanislav went away late in the night. Through the following +week the health of the patient was wavering. The doctors were unable +to foresee anything; they judged, however, that a journey was not +dangerous in any case. Svirski and Vaskovski volunteered to go to +Warsaw with the sick man, who was yearning for home more and more, and +who mentioned Pani Emilia, the Sister of Charity, almost daily. But on +the eve of the day on which he was to go he lost speech suddenly. Pan +Stanislav's heart was bleeding when he looked at his eyes, in which at +moments a terrible alarm was depicted, and at moments a kind of great, +silent prayer. He tried to write, but could not. In the evening came +paralysis of the brain, and he died. + +They buried him in the Campo Santo temporarily. Pan Stanislav thought +that his looks uttered a prayer to be carried to his own country, and +Svirski confirmed that thought. + +Thus vanished that bubble which gleamed sometimes with the colors of +the rainbow, but was as empty and evanescent as any bubble. + +Pan Stanislav was sincerely afflicted by his death, and meditated +afterward for whole hours on that strange life. He did not share these +thoughts with Marynia, for somehow it had not become a custom with him +yet to confide to her anything that took place in his mind. Finally, as +happens often with people who are thinking of the dead, he drew from +these thoughts various conclusions to his own advantage. + +"Bukatski," said he to himself, "was never able to come to harmony with +his own mind: he lacked the understanding of life; he could not fix his +position in that forest, and he travelled always according to the fancy +of the moment. But if he had felt contented with that system, if he had +squeezed something out of life, I should own that he had sense. But it +was unpleasant for him. It is really a foolish thing to persuade one's +self, before death comes, that wine is vinegar. But I look at matters +more clearly, and, besides, I have been far more sincere with myself. +Happen what may, I am almost perfectly in order with God and with life." + +There was truth in this, but there was also illusion. Pan Stanislav +was not in order with his own wife. He judged that if he gave her +protection, bread, good treatment, and put kisses on her lips from +time to time, he was discharging all possible duties assumed with +regard to her. Meanwhile their relations began to be more definitely +of this sort,--that he only deigned to love and receive love. In +the course of his observations of life this strange phenomenon had +struck him more than once,--that when, for example, a man well-known +for honor does some noble deed, people wave their hands as if with a +certain indifference, saying, "Oh, that is Pan X----; from him this is +perfectly natural!" When, however, some rogue chanced to do something +honorable, these same people said with great recognition, "But there is +something in the man." A hundred times Pan Stanislav observed that a +copper from a miser made more impression than a ducat from a generous +giver. He did not notice, however, that with Marynia he followed the +same method of judgment and recognition. She gave him all her being, +all her soul. "Ah, Marynia! that is natural!" and he waved his hand +too. Had her love not been so generous, had it come to him with supreme +difficulty, with the conviction that it was a treasure, and given as +such, with the conviction that she was a divinity demanding a bowed +head and honor, Pan Stanislav would have received it with a bowed head, +and would have rendered the honor. Such is the general human heart; and +only the choicest natures, woven from rays, have power to rise above +this level. Marynia had given Pan Stanislav her love as his right. +She considered his love as happiness, and he gave it as happiness; he +felt himself the idol on the altar. One ray of his fell on the heart +of the woman and illumined it: the divinity kept the rest of the rays +for itself; taking all, it gave only a part. In his love there was not +that fear which flows from honor, and there was not that which in every +fondling says to the woman beloved, "at thy feet." + +But they did not understand this yet, either of them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +"I do not ask if thou art happy," said Bigiel to Pan Stanislav after +his return to Warsaw; "with such a person as thy wife it is not +possible to be unhappy." + +"True," answered Pan Stanislav; "Marynia is such an honest little woman +that it would be hard to find a better." Then, turning to Pani Bigiel, +he said,-- + +"We are both happy, and it cannot be otherwise. You remember, dear +lady, our former conversations about love and marriage? You remember +how I feared to meet a woman who would try to hide the world from her +husband with herself, to occupy all his thoughts, all his feelings, to +be the single object of his life? You remember how I proved to you and +Pani Emilia that love for a woman could not and should not in any case +be for a man everything; that beyond it there are other questions in +the world?" + +"Yes; but I remember also how I told you that domestic occupations do +not hinder me in any way from loving my children; for I know in some +fashion, as it seems to me, that these things are not like boxes, for +example, of which, when you have put a certain number on a table, there +is no room for others." + +"My wife is right now," said Bigiel. "I have noticed that people often +deceive themselves when they transfer feelings or ideas into material +conditions. When it is a question of feelings or ideas, space is not to +be considered." + +"Oh, stop! Thou art conquered to the country," said Pan Stanislav, +humorously. + +"But if the position is pleasant for me?" said Bigiel, promptly. +"Moreover, thou, too, wilt be conquered." + +"I?" + +"Yes; with honesty, kindness, and heart." + +"That is something different. It is possible to be conquered, and not +be a slipper. Do not hinder me in praising Marynia; I have succeeded in +a way that could not be improved, and specially for this reason,--that +she is satisfied with the feeling which I have for her, and has no +wish to be my exclusive idol. For this I love her. God has guarded me +from a wife demanding devotion of the whole soul, whole mind, whole +existence; and I thank Him sincerely, since I could not endure such a +woman. I understand more easily that all may be given of free will, and +when not demanded." + +"Believe me, Pan Stanislav," answered Pani Bigiel, "that in this regard +we are all equally demanding; but at first we take frequently that part +for the whole which they give us, and then--" + +"And then what?" interrupted Pan Stanislav, rather jokingly. + +"Then those who have real honesty in their hearts attain to something +which for you is a word without meaning, but for us is often life's +basis." + +"What kind of talisman is that?" + +"Resignation." + +Pan Stanislav laughed, and added, "The late Bukatski used to say that +women put on resignation frequently, as they do a hat, because it +becomes them. A resignation hat, a veil of light melancholy,--are they +ugly?" + +"No, not ugly. Say what you please; they may be a dress, but in such a +dress it is easier to reach heaven than in another." + +"Then my Marynia is condemned to hell, for she will never wear that +dress, I think. But you will see her in a moment, for she promised to +come here after office hours. She is late, the loiterer; she ought to +be here now." + +"Her father is detaining her, I suppose. But you will stay to dine with +us, will you not?" + +"We will stay to dine. Agreed." + +"And some one else has promised us to-day, so the society will only be +increased. I will go now to tell them to prepare places for you." + +Pani Bigiel went out; but Pan Stanislav asked Bigiel,-- + +"Whom hast thou at dinner?" + +"Zavilovski, the future letter-writer of our house." + +"Who is he?" + +"That poet already famous." + +"From Parnassus to the desk? How is that?" + +"I do not remember, now, who said that society keeps its geniuses on +diet. People say that this man is immensely capable, but he cannot earn +bread with verses. Our Tsiskovski went to the insurance company; his +place was left vacant, and Zavilovski applied. I had some scruples, +but he told me that for him this place was a question of bread, and +the chance of working. Besides, he pleased me, for he told me at +once that he writes in three languages, but speaks well in none of +them; and second, that he has not the least conception of mercantile +correspondence." + +"Oh, that is nonsense," answered Pan Stanislav; "he will learn in a +week. But will he keep the place long, and will not the correspondence +be neglected? Business with a poet!" + +"If he is not right, we will part. But when he applied, I chose to +give the place to him. In three days he is to begin. Meanwhile, I have +advanced a month's salary; he needed it." + +"Was he destitute?" + +"It seems so. There is an old Zavilovski,--that one who has a daughter, +a very wealthy man. I asked our Zavilovski if that was a relative of +his; he said not, but blushed, so I think that the old man is his +relative. But how it is with us? A balance in nothing. Some deny +relationship because they are poor; others, because they are rich. +All through some fancy, and because of that rascally pride. But he'll +please thee; he pleased my wife." + +"Who pleased thy wife?" asked Pani Bigiel, coming in. + +"Zavilovski." + +"For I read his beautiful verses entitled, 'On the Threshold.' At the +same time he looks as if he were hiding something from people." + +"He is hiding poverty, or rather, poverty was hiding him." + +"No; he looks as if he had passed through some severe disappointment." + +"Thou wert able to see in him a romance, and to tell me that he had +suffered much. Thou wert offended when I put forth the hypothesis +that it might be from worms in childhood, or scald-head. That was not +poetical enough for her." + +Pan Stanislav looked at his watch, and was a little impatient. + +"Marynia is not coming," said he; "what a loiterer!" + +But the "loiterer" came at that moment, or rather, drove up. The +greeting was not effusive, for she had seen the Bigiels at the railway. +Pan Stanislav told his wife that they would stay to dine, to which she +agreed willingly, and fell to greeting the children, who rushed into +the room in a swarm. + +Now came Zavilovski, whom Bigiel presented to Pan Stanislav and +Marynia. He was a man still young,--about seven or eight and twenty. +Pan Stanislav, looking at him, considered that in every case his mien +was not that of a man who had suffered much; he was merely ill at +ease in a society with which he was more than half unacquainted. He +had a nervous face, and a chin projecting prominently, like Wagner's, +gladsome gray eyes, and a very delicate forehead, whiter than the rest +of his face; on his forehead large veins formed the letter _Y_. He was, +besides, rather tall and somewhat awkward. + +"I have heard," said Pan Stanislav to him, "that in three days you will +be our associate." + +"Yes, Pan Principal," answered the young man; "or rather, I shall serve +in the office." + +"But give peace to the 'principal,'" said Pan Stanislav, laughing. +"With us it is not the custom to use the words 'grace,' or 'principal' +unless perchance such a title would please my wife by giving her +importance in her own eyes. But listen, Pani Principal_ess_," said he, +turning to Marynia, "would it please thee to be called principal_ess_? +It would be a new amusement." + +Zavilovski was confused; but he laughed too, when Marynia answered,-- + +"No; for it seems to me that a principal_ess_ ought to wear an enormous +cap like this" (here she showed with her hands how big), "and I cannot +endure caps." + +It grew pleasanter for Zavilovski in the joyous kindness of those +people; but he was confused again when Marynia said,-- + +"You are an old acquaintance of mine. I have read nothing of late, for +we have just returned home; has anything appeared while we were gone?" + +"No, Pani," answered he; "I occupy myself with that as Pan Bigiel does +with music,--in free moments, and for my own amusement." + +"I do not believe this," said Marynia. + +And she was right not to believe, for it was not true at all. +Zavilovksi's reply was lacking also in candor, for he wished to let it +be known that he desired beyond all to pass as the correspondent of +a commercial house, and to be considered an employee, not a poet. He +gave a title to Bigiel and Pan Stanislav, not through any feeling of +inferiority, but to show that when he had undertaken office work he +considered it as good as any other, that he accommodated himself to +his position, and would do so in the future. There was in this also +something else. Zavilovski, though young, had observed how ridiculous +people are, who, when they have written one or two little poems, pose +as seers, and insist on being considered such. His great self-esteem +trembled before the fear of the ridiculous; hence he fell into the +opposite extreme, and was almost ashamed of his poetry. Recently, when +suffering great want, this feeling became almost a deformity, and the +least reference by any one to the fact that he was a poet brought him +to suppressed anger. + +But meanwhile he felt that he was illogical, since for him the simplest +thing would have been not to write and publish poems; but he could not +refrain. His head was not surrounded with an aureole yet, but a few +gleams had touched it; these illuminated his forehead at one moment, +and then died, in proportion as he created, or neglected. After each +new poem the gleam began again to quiver; and Zavilovski, as capable +as he was ambitious, valued in his heart those reflections of glory +more than aught else on earth. But he wanted people to talk of him +only among themselves, and not to his eyes. When he felt that they +were beginning to forget him, he suffered secretly. There was in him, +as it were, a dualism of self-love, which wanted glory, and at the +same time rejected it through a certain shyness and pride, lest some +one might say that too much had been given. And many contradictions +besides inhered in him, as a man young and impressionable, who takes +in and feels exceptionally, and who, amidst his feelings, is not able +frequently to distinguish his own personal _I_. For this reason it is +that artists in general seem often unnatural. + +Now came dinner, during which conversation turned on Italy, and people +whom the Polanyetskis had met there. Pan Stanislav spoke of Bukatski +and his last moments, and also of the dead man's will, by which he +became the heir to a fairly large sum of money. By far the greater +part was to be used for public objects, and touching this he had to +confer with Bigiel. They loved Bukatski, and remembered him with +sympathy. Pani Bigiel had even tears in her eyes when Marynia stated +that before death he had confessed; and that he died like a Christian. +But this sympathy was of the kind that one might eat dinner with; and +if Bukatski had, in truth, sighed sometimes for Nirvana, he had what +he wanted at present, since he had become for people, even those near +him, and who loved him, a memory as slight as it was unenduring. A week +longer, a month, or a year, and his name would be a sound without an +echo. He had not earned, in fact, the deep love of any one, and had not +received it; his life flowed away from him in such fashion that after +even a child like Litka, there remained not only a hundred times more +sorrow, but also love and memorable traces. His life roused at first +the curiosity of Zavilovski, who had not known him; but when he had +heard all that Pan Stanislav narrated, he said, after thinking a while, +"An additional copy." Bukatski, who joked at everything, would have +been pained by such an epitaph. + +Marynia, wishing to give a more cheerful turn to conversation, began to +tell of the excursions they had made in Rome and the environs, either +alone, with Svirski, or the Osnovskis. Bigiel, who was a classmate of +Osnovski, and who from time to time saw him yet, said,-- + +"He has one love,--his wife; and one hatred,--his corpulence, or +rather, his inclination to it. As to other things, he is the best man +on earth." + +"But he seems quite slender," said Marynia. + +"Two years ago he was almost fat; but since he began to use a bicycle, +fence, follow the Banting system, drink Karlsbad in summer, and go +in winter to Italy or Egypt to perspire, he has made himself slender +again. But I have not said truly that he has a hatred for corpulence; +it is his wife who has, and he does this through regard for her. He +dances whole nights, too, at balls, for the same reason." + +"He is a _sclavus saltans_," said Pan Stanislav. "Svirski has told us +of this already." + +"I understand that it is possible to love a wife," said Bigiel; "it is +possible to consider her, according to the saying, as the apple of the +eye. Very well! But, as I love God, I have heard that he writes verses +to his wife; that he opens books with his eyes closed, marks a verse +with his finger, and divines to himself from what he reads whether he +is loved. If it comes out badly, he falls into melancholy. He is in +love like a student,--counts all her glances, strives to divine what +this or that word is to mean, kisses not only her feet and hands, but +when he thinks that no one is looking, he kisses her gloves. God knows +what it is like! and that for whole years." + +"How much in love!" said Marynia. + +"Would it be to thy liking were I such?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +She thought a while, and answered, "No; for in that case thou wouldst +be another man." + +"Oh, that is a Machiavelli," said Bigiel. "It would be worth while to +write down such an answer, for that is at once a praise, and somewhat +of a criticism,--a testimony that as it is, is best, and that it +would be possible to wish for something still better. Manage this for +thyself, man." + +"I take it for praise," said Pan Stanislav, "though you" (here he +turned to Pani Bigiel), "will say surely that it is resignation." + +"The outside is love," answered Pani Bigiel, laughing; "resignation may +come in time, as lining, if cold comes." + +Zavilovski looked on Marynia with curiosity; she seemed to him comely, +sympathetic, and her answer arrested his attention. He thought, +however, that only a woman could speak so who was greatly in love, and +one for whom there was never enough of feeling. He began to look at Pan +Stanislav with a certain jealousy; and because he was a great hermit, +the words of the song came at once to his head, "My neighbor has a +darling wife." + +Meanwhile, since he had been silent a whole hour, or had spoken a +couple of words merely, it seemed to him that he ought to engage in +the conversation somehow. But timidity restrained him, and, besides, a +toothache, which, when the sharpest pain had passed, was felt yet at +moments acutely enough. This pain had taken all his courage; but he +rallied finally, and asked,-- + +"But Pani Osnovski?" + +"Pani Osnovski," said Pan Stanislav, "has a husband who loves for two; +therefore she has no need to fatigue herself, so Svirski, at least, +insists. She has Chinese eyes; she is Aneta by name; has filling in +her upper teeth, which is visible when she laughs much, therefore she +prefers to smile; in general, she is like a turtle-dove,--she turns in +a circle, and cries, 'Sugar! sugar!'" + +"That is a malicious man," said Marynia. "She is beautiful, lively, +witty; and Pan Svirski cannot know how much she loves her husband, +for surely he hasn't mentioned the matter to her. All these are simply +suppositions." + +Pan Stanislav thought two things: first, that they were not +suppositions; and second, that he had a wife who was as naïve as she +was honest. + +But Zavilovski said,-- + +"I am curious to know what would happen were she as much in love with +him as he is with her." + +"It would be the greatest double egotism that the world has ever +witnessed," said Pan Stanislav. "They would be so occupied with each +other that they would see no other thing or person on earth." + +Zavilovski smiled, and said, "Light does not prevent heat; it produces +it." + +"Taking matters strictly, that is rather a poetical than a physical +comparison," said Pan Stanislav. + +But Zavilovski's answer pleased the two ladies, so both supported him +ardently; and when Bigiel joined them, Pan Stanislav was outvoted. + +After that they talked of Mashko and his wife. Bigiel said that Mashko +had taken up an immense case against Panna Ploshovski's million-ruble +will, in which a number of rather distant heirs appeared. Pan Plavitski +had written of this to Marynia while she was in Italy; but, considering +the whole affair such an illusion as were aforetime the millions +resting on the marl of Kremen, she barely mentioned it to her husband, +who waved his hand on the whole question at once. Now, as Mashko had +taken up the affair, it seemed more important. Bigiel supposed that +there must be some informality in the will, and declared that if Mashko +won, he might stand on his feet right away, for he had stipulated +an immense fee for himself. The whole affair roused Pan Stanislav's +curiosity greatly. + +"But Mashko has the elasticity of a cat," said he; "he always falls on +his feet." + +"And this time thou shouldst pray that he may not break his back," +answered Bigiel; "for it is a question of no small amount, both for +thee and thy father-in-law. Ploshov alone with all its farms is valued +at seven hundred thousand rubles; and, besides, there is much ready +money." + +"That would be wonderful, such unexpected gain!" said Pan Stanislav. + +But Marynia heard with pain that her father had indeed appeared among +the other heirs in the suit against the will. "Stas" was for her a rich +man, and she had blind faith that he could make millions if he wished; +her father had an income, and, besides, she had given him the life +annuity from Magyerovka; hence poverty threatened no one. It would have +been pleasant indeed for her to be able to buy Kremen, and take "Stas" +there in summer, but not for money got in this way. + +"I am only pained by this," said she, with great animation. "That money +was bequeathed so honestly. It is not right to change the will of the +dead; it is not right to take bread from the poor, or schools. Panna +Ploshovski's brother's son shot himself; it may have been for her a +question of saving his soul, of gaining God's mercy. This breaking of +the will is not right. People should think and feel differently." + +She grew even flushed somewhat. + +"How determined she is!" said Pan Stanislav. + +But she pushed forward her somewhat too wide mouth, and called out with +the expression of a pouting child,-- + +"But say that I am right, Stas; say that I am right. 'T is thy duty to +say so." + +"Without doubt," answered Pan Stanislav; "but Mashko may win the case." + +"I wish him to lose it." + +"How determined she is!" repeated Pan Stanislav. + +"And how honest, what a noble nature!" thought Zavilovski, framing in +his plastic mind conceptions of goodness and nobility in the form of a +woman with dark hair, blue eyes, a lithe form, and mouth a trifle too +wide. + +After dinner Bigiel and Pan Stanislav went for a cigar and black +coffee to the office, where they had to hold meanwhile the first +consultation concerning the objects for which Bukatski's property had +been bequeathed. Zavilovski, as a non-smoker, remained with the ladies +in the drawing-roam. Then Marynia, who, as lady principal_ess_, felt +it her duty to give courage to the future employee of the "house," +approached him, and said,-- + +"I, as well as Pani Bigiel, wish that we should all consider one +another as members of one great family; therefore I hope that you will +count us too as your good acquaintances." + +"With the greatest readiness, if you permit me," answered Zavilovski. +"As it is, I would have testified my respect." + +"I made the acquaintance of all the gentlemen in the office only at my +wedding. We went abroad immediately after; but now it will come to a +nearer acquaintance. My husband told me that he should like to have us +meet one week at Pan Bigiel's, and the next week at our house. This is +a very good plan, but I make one condition." + +"What is that?" asked Pani Bigiel. + +"Not to speak of any mercantile matter at those meetings. There will +be a little music, for I hope that Pan Bigiel will attend to that; +sometimes we'll read something, like 'On the Threshold.'" + +"Not in my presence," said Zavilovski, with a forced smile. + +"Why not?" inquired she, looking at him with her usual simplicity. +"We have spoken of you more than once in presence of people really +friendly, and thought of you before it came to an acquaintance; and why +should we not all the more now?" + +Zavilovski felt wonderfully disarmed. It seemed to him that he had +fallen among exceptional persons, or at least that Pani Polanyetski +was an exceptional woman. The fear, which burned him like fire, that +he might appear ridiculous with his poetry, his over-long neck, and +his pointed elbows, began to decrease. He felt in a manner free in +her presence. He felt that she said nothing for the mere purpose +of talking, or for social reasons, but only that which flowed from +her kindness and sensitiveness. At the same time her face and form +delighted him, as they had delighted Svirski in Venice. And since he +was accustomed to seek forms for all his impressions, he began to seek +them for her too; and he felt that they ought to be not only sincere, +but exquisite, charming, and complete, just as her own beauty was +exquisite and complete. He recognized that he had a theme, and the +artist within him was roused. + +She began now to ask with great friendliness about his family +relations; fortunately the appearance of Bigiel and Pan Stanislav in +the drawing-room freed him from more positive answers, which would have +been disagreeable. His father had been a noted gambler and roisterer on +a time, and for a number of years had been suffering in an institution +for the insane. + +Music was to interrupt that dangerous conversation. Pan Stanislav had +finished the discussion with Bigiel, who said,-- + +"That seems to me a perfect project, but it is necessary to think the +matter over yet." + +Then, leaning on his violin, he began to meditate really, and said at +last,-- + +"A wonderful thing! When I play, it is as if there were nothing else in +my head, but that is not true. A certain part of my brain is occupied +with other things; and it is exactly then that the best thoughts come +to me." + +Saying this, he sat down, took the violoncello between his knees, +closed his eyes, and began the "Spring Song." + +Zavilovski went home that day enchanted with the people and their +simplicity, with the "Spring Song," and especially with Pani +Polanyetski. + +She did not even suspect that in time she might enrich poetry with a +new thrill. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +The Mashkos visited the Polanyetskis in a week after their return. +She, in a gray robe, trimmed with marabout feathers of the same color, +looked better than ever before. Inflammation of the eyes, from which +she had suffered formerly, had disappeared. Her face had its usual +indifferent, almost dreamy mildness, but at present this only enhanced +her artistic expression. The former Panna Kraslavski was about five +years older than Marynia; and before marriage the lady looked still +older, but now it seemed as if she had grown young. Her slender form, +really very graceful, was outlined in a closely fitting dress as firmly +as a child's form. It was strange that Pan Stanislav, who did not like +the lady, found in her something attractive, and whenever he looked +at her said to himself, "But there is something in her." Even her +monotonous and somewhat childlike voice had a certain charm for him. +At present he said to himself plainly that she looked exceptionally +charming, and had improved more than Marynia. + +Mashko, on his part, had unfolded like a sunflower. Distinction was +just beaming from him; and at her side self-confidence and pride were +softened by affability. It seemed impossible that he could visit all +his lands within one day,--in a word, he _pretended_ more than ever. +But he did not pretend love for his wife, since it was evident from +every look of his that he felt it really. In truth, it would have +been difficult to find a woman who could answer better to his idea +of refinement, good taste, and the elegance of high society. Her +indifference, her, as it were, frozen manner with people, he considered +as something simply unapproachable. She never lost this "distinction" +at any time, even when she was alone with him. And he, as a genuine +parvenu who had won a princess, loved her precisely because she seemed +a princess, and because he possessed her. + +Marynia inquired where they had passed the honeymoon. Pani Mashko +answered on "my husband's estate," in such a tone as if that "husband's +estate" had been entailed during twenty generations; wherewith she +added that they were not going abroad till next year, when her husband +would finish certain affairs. Meanwhile they would go again to her +"husband's estate" for the summer months. + +"Do you like the country?" inquired Marynia. + +"Mamma likes the country," answered Pani Mashko. + +"And does Kremen please your mamma?" + +"Yes. But the windows in the house are like those in a conservatory. So +many panes!" + +"That is somewhat needed," said Marynia; "for when one of those panes +is broken, any glazier of the place can put in a new one, but for large +panes it would be necessary to send to Warsaw." + +"My husband says that he will build a new house." + +Marynia sighs in secret, and the conversation is changed. Now they +talk of mutual acquaintances. It appears that Pani Mashko had taken +lessons in dancing once, together with "Anetka" Osnovski and her young +relative, Lineta Castelli; that they are well acquainted; that Lineta +is more beautiful than Anetka, and, besides, paints, and has a whole +album of her own poems. Pani Mashko has heard that Anetka has returned +already and that Lineta is to live in the same villa till June together +with her aunt Bronich, "and that will be very pleasant, for they are so +nice." + +Pan Stanislav and Mashko make their way to the adjoining room, and talk +over Panna Ploshovski's will. + +"I can inform thee that I have sailed out very nearly," said Mashko. +"I was almost over the precipice; but that action put me on my feet, +by this alone, that I began it. For years there has not been such a +one. The question is one of millions. Ploshovski himself was richer +than his aunt; and before he shot himself, he willed his property to +Pani Krovitski's mother, and when she didn't accept it, the whole +fortune went to old Panna Ploshovski. Thou wilt understand now how much +property the woman must have left." + +"Bigiel mentioned something like seven hundred thousand rubles." + +"Tell thy Bigiel, since he has such love for giving figures, that it +is more than twice that amount. Well, in justice it should be said +that I have strength to save myself, and that it is easier to throw me +into water than to drown me. But I will tell thee something personal. +Knowest thou whom I have to thank for this? Thy father-in-law. Once he +mentioned the affair to me, but I waved my hand at it. Afterward I fell +into the troubles of which I wrote thee. I had a knife at my throat. +Well, three weeks since I chanced to meet Pan Plavitski, who mentioned +among other persons Panna Ploshovski, and invented against her all +that he could utter. Suddenly I slap my forehead. What have I to lose? +Nothing. I ask Vyshynski, clerk of the court, to bring the will to me. +I find informalities,--small ones, but they are there. In a week I have +power of attorney from the heirs, and begin an action. And what shall I +say? At a mere report of the fee which I am to get in case of success, +confidence returns to people, patience returns to my creditors, credit +returns to me, and I am firm. Dost remember? there was a moment when I +was lowering my tone, when through my head were passing village ideas +of living by an ant-like industry, of limiting my style of living. +Folly! That is difficult, my dear. Thou hast reproached me because I +pretend; but with us pretence is needful. To-day I must give myself out +as a man who is as sure of his property as he is of victory." + +"Tell me sincerely, is this a good case?" + +"How a good case?" + +"Simply will it not be needful to pull the matter too much by the ears +against justice?" + +"Thou must know that in every case there is something to be said in +its favor, and the honor of an advocate consists just in saying this +something. In the present case the special questions are, who are to +inherit, and is the will so drawn as to stand in law; and it was not I +who made the law." + +"Then thou hast hopes of gaining?" + +"When it is a question of breaking a will, there are chances almost +always, because generally the attack is conducted with a hundred +times more energy than is the defence. Who will defend against me? +Institutions; that is, bodies unwieldy by nature, of small self-help, +whose representatives have no personal interest in the defence. They +will find an advocate; well! but what will they give him, what can they +give him? As much as is allowed by law; now that advocate will have +more chances of profit in case I win, for that may depend on a personal +bargain between him and me. In general, I tell thee that in legal +actions, as in life, the side wins which has the greater wish to win." + +"But public opinion will grind thee into bran, if thou break such +wills. My wife is interested a little, thou seest." + +"How a little?" interrupted Mashko. "I shall be a genuine benefactor to +both of you." + +"Well, my wife is indignant, and opposed to the whole action." + +"Thy wife is an exception." + +"Not altogether; it is not to my taste either." + +"What's this? Have they made thee a sentimentalist also?" + +"My dear friend, we have known each other a long time; use that +language with some other man." + +"Well, I will talk of opinions only. To begin with, I tell thee that a +certain unpopularity for a man genuinely _comme il faut_ rather helps +than harms him; second, it is necessary to understand those matters. +People would grind me into bran, as thou hast said, should I lose the +case; but if I win, I shall be considered a strong head--and I shall +win." + +After a while he continued, "And from an economical point of view, what +is the question? The money will remain in the country; and, as God +lives, I do not know that it will be put to worse use. By aid of it a +number of sickly children might be reared to imbecility and help dwarf +the race, or a number of seamstresses might get sewing-machines, or a +number of tens of old men and women live a couple of years longer; not +much good could come to the country of that. Those are objects quite +unproductive. We should study political economy some time. Finally, I +will say in brief, that I had the knife at my throat. My first duty is +to secure life to myself, my wife, and my coming family. If thou art +ever in such a position as I was, thou'lt understand me. I chose to +sail out rather than drown; and such a right every man has. My wife, as +I wrote thee, has a considerable income, but almost no property, or, at +least, not much; besides, from that income she allows something to her +father. I have increased the allowance, for he threatened to come here, +and I didn't want that." + +"So thou art sure, then, that Pan Kraslavski exists? Thou hast +mentioned him, I remember." + +"I have; and for that very reason I make no secret of the matter now. +Besides, I know that people talk to the prejudice of my father-in-law +and my wife, that they relate God knows what; hence I prefer to tell +thee, as a friend, how things are. Pan Kraslavski lives in Bordeaux. +He was an agent in selling sardines, and was earning good money, but +he lost the position, for he took to drinking, and drinks absinthe; +besides, he has created an illegal family. Those ladies send him three +thousand francs yearly; but that sum does not suffice him, and, between +remittance and remittance, need pinches the man. Because of this he +drinks more, and torments those poor women with letters, threatening to +publish in newspapers how they maltreat him; and they treat him better +than he deserves. He wrote to me, too, immediately after my marriage, +begging me to increase his allowance a thousand francs. Of course he +informs me that those women have 'eaten him up;' that he hasn't had +a copper's worth of happiness in life; that their selfishness has +gnawed him, and warns me against them." Here Mashko laughed. "But +the beast has a nobleman's courage. Once, from want, he was going to +sell handbills in the corridor of the theatre; but the authorities +ordered him to don a kind of helmet, and he could not endure that. He +wrote to me as follows: 'All would have gone well, sir, but for the +helmet; when they gave me that, I could not.' He preferred death by +hunger to wearing the helmet! My father-in-law pleases me! I was in +Bordeaux on a time, but forget what manner of helmets are worn by the +venders of handbills; but I should like to see such a helmet. Thou wilt +understand, of course, that I preferred to add the thousand francs, +if I could keep him far away, with his helmet and his absinthe. This +is what pains me, however: people say that even here he was a sort of +tipstaff, or notary; and that is a low fiction, for it is enough to +open the first book on heraldry to see who the Kraslavskis were. Here +connections are known; and the Kraslavskis are in no lack of them. The +man fell; but the family was and is famous. Those ladies have dozens of +relatives who are not so and so; and if I tell this whole story, I do +so because I wish thee to know what the truth is." + +But the truth touching the Kraslavskis concerned Pan Stanislav little; +so he returned to the ladies, and all the more readily that Zavilovski +had just come. Pan Stanislav had invited the young man to after-dinner +tea, so as to show him photographs brought from Italy. In fact, piles +of them were laid out on the table; but Zavilovski was holding in his +hand the frame containing the photograph of Litka's head, and was so +enchanted that immediately after they made him acquainted with Mashko, +he looked again at the portrait, and continued to speak of it. + +"I should have thought it the idea of an artist rather than a portrait +of a living child. What a wonderful head! What an expression! Is this +your sister?" + +"No," answered Marynia; "that is a child no longer living." + +In the eyes of Zavilovski, as a poet, that tragic shadow increased his +sympathy and admiration for that truly angelic face. He looked at the +photograph for some time in silence, now holding it away from his eyes, +and now drawing it nearer. + +"I asked if it was your sister," said he, "because there is something +in the features, in the eyes rather; indeed, there is something." + +Zavilovski seemed to speak sincerely; but Pan Stanislav had such a +respect for the dead child, a respect almost religious, that, in spite +of his recognition of Marynia's beauty, the comparison seemed to him +a kind of profanation. Hence, taking the photograph from Zavilovski's +hands, he put it back on the table, and began to speak with a certain +harsh animation,-- + +"Not the least; not the least! There is not one trait in common. How is +it possible to compare them! Not one trait in common." + +This animation touched Marynia somewhat. + +"I am of that opinion, too," said she. + +But her opinion was not enough for him. + +"Did you know Litka?" asked he, turning to Pani Mashko. + +"I did." + +"True; you saw her at the Bigiels'." + +"I did." + +"Well, there wasn't a trace of likeness, was there?" + +"No." + +Zavilovski, who adored Marynia, looked at Pan Stanislav with a certain +astonishment; then he glanced at the tall form of Pani Mashko, outlined +through the gray robe, and thought,-- + +"How elegant she is!" + +After a while the Mashkos rose to take farewell. Mashko, when kissing +Marynia's hand at parting, said,-- + +"Perhaps I shall go to St. Petersburg soon; at that time remember my +wife a little." + +During tea Marynia reminded Zavilovski of his promise to bring at his +first visit, and read to her, the variant of "On the Threshold;" he had +grown so attached to the Polanyetskis already that he gave not only the +variant, but another poem, which he had written earlier. It was evident +that he was amazed himself at his own self-confidence and readiness; so +that when he had finished reading, and heard the praises, which were +really sincere, he said,-- + +"I declare truly that with you, after the third meeting, it seems +as though we were acquainted from of old. So true is this that I am +astonished." + +Pan Stanislav remembered that once he had said something similar to +Marynia in Kremen; but he received this now as if it included him also. + +But Zavilovski had her only in mind; she simply delighted him with her +straightforward kindness, and her face. + +"That beast is really capable," said Pan Stanislav, when Zavilovski had +gone. "Hast thou noticed that he is changed a little in the face?" + +"He has cut his hair," answered Marynia. + +"Ah, ha! and his chin sticks out a trifle more." + +Thus speaking, Pan Stanislav rose and began to put away the photographs +on the shelves above the table; finally, he took Litka's portrait, and +said,-- + +"I will take this to my study." + +"But thou hast that one there with the birches, colored." + +"True; but I do not want this here so much in view. Every one makes +remarks, and sometimes that angers me. Wilt thou permit?" + +"Very well, my Stas," answered Marynia. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +Bigiel persuaded Pan Stanislav emphatically not to extend the house, +and not to throw himself too hurriedly into undertakings of various +sorts. "We have created," said he, "an honorable mercantile firm of a +kind rare in this country; hence we are useful." He maintained that +from gratitude alone they ought to continue a business through which +they had almost doubled their property. At the same time he expressed +the conviction that they would show more sense if at this juncture +specially they managed matters with care and solidly, and that their +first bold speculation, though it had been fortunate, should not only +not entice them to others, but should be the last. + +Pan Stanislav agreed that it was necessary to show moderation, +especially in success; but he complained that he could not find a +career in the house, and that he wanted to produce something. He had +common-sense enough not to think yet of a factory on his own capital. +"I do not wish to carry on a small one," said he, "since a large one +producing _en gros_ attracts me, and I have not capital for it; one +with shares, I should be working not for myself, but for others." He +understood, too, that it was not easy to find shareholders among the +local elements, and he did not want strangers; he knew, moreover, that +he could not rouse confidence in them, and that his name alone would +be a hindrance. Bigiel, for whom it was a question of the "house," was +sincerely pleased with this sobriety of view. + +In Pan Stanislav was roused still another desire, which is as old as +man,--the desire of possession. After the lucky grain speculation and +the will of Bukatski, he was quite wealthy; but with all his real +sobriety, he had a certain strange feeling that that wealth, consisting +even of the most reliable securities shut up in fire-proof safes, was +just paper, and would remain so till he owned something real, of which +he could say, "This is mine." That strange desire was seizing him with +growing force. For him it was not a question of anything great, but +of some corner of his own, where he might feel at home. He tried to +philosophize over this, and to explain to Bigiel that such a desire +of ownership must be some inborn passion which might be repressed, +but which, in riper age, would appear with new strength. Bigiel +acknowledged that that might be true, and said,-- + +"That is proper. Thou art married, hence hast the wish to have thy own +hearth, not a hired one; and since thou hast the means, then make such +a hearth for thyself." + +Pan Stanislav had been thinking for some time of building a large house +in the city,--a house which would satisfy his desire of ownership, +and also bring income. But one day he noted a bad side in this +practical project,--namely, it had no charm. It is necessary to love +that something of which he said, "It is mine;" and how love a brick +building, in which any one may live who will hire lodgings. At first he +was ashamed of this thought, for it seemed sentimental; but afterward +he said to himself, "No; since I have means, it is not only not +sentimental to use them in a way which will assure satisfaction, but a +proof of judgment." He was more attracted by the thought of a smaller +house in the city, or outside the city,--one in which only he and his +wife would live. But he wanted with it even a piece of land on which +something would grow; he felt, for example, that the sight of trees +growing in his garden or before his house, on his land, would cause him +great pleasure; he was astonished himself that this was so, but it was. +At last he came to the conviction that it would be more agreeable to +have some little place near the city, something in the style of that +summer house which Bigiel owned, but with a piece of land, a piece of +forest, some acres of garden, finally, with grounds, and with a stork's +nest somewhere on an old linden-tree. + +"Since I have means to get it, I prefer it to be thus, not +otherwise,--that is, to be beautiful, not ugly," said he. + +And he began to consider the affair on every side. He understood that +since it was a question of a nest in which he was to live out his +life, he ought to select with care; hence he did not hurry. Meanwhile +meditation over this occupied all his hours free from counting-house +toil, and caused him real pleasure. Various people learned soon that +Pan Stanislav was seeking to buy with ready money; hence propositions +came from various sides, often strange, but at times attractive. +On occasions he had to drive to villas in the city, or outside it. +Frequently, after his return from the counting-house, or after dinner, +Pan Stanislav shut himself in with plans, with papers, and came out +only in the evening. In those days Marynia had much leisure. She noted +at last that something occupied him unusually, and tried to learn what +it was by questioning; but he answered,-- + +"My child, when there is a result, I will tell thee; but while I know +nothing, it would be difficult to talk about nothing. That is so +opposed to my nature." + +She learned at last what the question was from Pani Bigiel, who had +learned it from her husband, to whose nature it was not repugnant to +speak with his wife about all undertakings and plans for the future. +For Marynia it would have been also immensely agreeable to speak with +her husband of everything, and especially of the chance of a nest. +Her eyes laughed at the very thought of that; but since "Stas's" +disposition stood in the way, she preferred through delicacy not to +inquire. + +He had no ill-will in this, but simply it did not occur to him to +initiate her into any affair in which there was a question of money. It +might have been otherwise had she brought him a considerable dower, or +had he been forced to manage her property. In such affairs he was very +scrupulous. But since he was managing only his own, he did not feel +now any more than in his past unmarried years any need of confessing, +especially while nothing was determined. With Bigiel alone did he talk, +because he was accustomed to talk with him of business. + +With his wife he spoke of things which, according to him, "pertained to +her;" hence, among other things, of the acquaintances which they should +make. Toward the end of his single life he had been scarcely anywhere; +but he felt that at present he could not act thus. They returned, +therefore, visits to the Mashkos; and on a certain evening they began +to consider whether they ought to visit the Osnovskis, who had returned +from abroad, and would remain in Warsaw till the middle of June. +Marynia said that they ought, because they should see them at Pani +Mashko's; and she wished to make a visit, for she liked Pan Osnovski, +who had moved her sympathy. Pan Stanislav seemed less willing, and +the decision was according to his wish at first; but some days later +the Osnovskis met Marynia and greeted her so cordially, Pani Osnovski +repeated so often, "We Roman women," and both put such emphasis on the +hope of seeing and meeting her, that it was not possible to avoid the +visit. + +When the visit was made, politeness was shown first of all to Marynia. +The husband vied with his wife in this regard. Like well-bred people, +they were faultlessly polite to Pan Stanislav, but colder. He +understood that Marynia played the first, and he only the second rôle, +and that irritated him a little. Pan Osnovski, for that matter, had no +need to make an effort in being polite to Marynia; for, feeling that +she had for him earnest sympathy, he repaid her with interest, though, +in general, to act thus was not his habit. + +He seemed to her more in love with his wife than ever. It was +evident that his heart beat with more life when he was looking at +her. When speaking to her, he seemed to offer his expressions with a +certain fear, as it were, lest he might offend her with something. +Pan Stanislav looked on with a kind of pity; but the sight was also +touching. In his struggle with corpulence, however, Pan Osnovski had +gained such a crushing victory that his clothing seemed too large for +him. The pimples on his blond face had vanished, and, in general, he +was more presentable than he had been. + +But the lady had, as ever, her incomparable, sloping violet eyes, +and thoughts, which, like birds of paradise, were playing in the air +continually. + +The Polanyetskis made new acquaintances at the Osnovskis,--namely, +Pani Bronich and her sister's daughter, Panna Castelli; these ladies +had arrived for the "summer carnival" in Warsaw, and were living in +the same villa, which the late Pan Bronich had sold to the Osnovskis, +with the reservation of one pavilion for his wife. Pani Bronich was a +widow after Pan Bronich, whom she mentioned as the last relative of the +Princes Ostrogski, and as the last descendant of Rurik. She was known +in the city also under the title of "Sweetness;" for this name she was +indebted to the fact that, when talking, especially to persons whom she +needed, she became so pleasing that it seemed as if she were speaking +through a lump of sugar held in her mouth. Marvels were told of her +lies. Panna Castelli was the daughter of Pani Bronich's sister, who, in +her day, to the great offence of her family and of society, married an +Italian, a music-teacher, and died in labor, leaving a daughter. When, +a year later, Pan Castelli was drowned at Venice, in the Lido, Pani +Bronich took her niece, and reared her. + +Panna Lineta was a beauty, with very regular features, blue eyes, +golden hair, and a complexion too fair, for it was almost like +porcelain. Her eyelids were rather heavy; this gave her a dreamy look, +but that dreaminess might seem also concentration. It might be supposed +that she was a person who led an immensely developed inner life, and +hence bore herself indifferently toward all that surrounded her. If +any man had not come on that idea unaided, he might be sure that Pani +Bronich would help him. Pani Osnovski, who had passed through the +grades of enchantment over her cousin, said of Lineta's eyes, "They are +as deep as lakes." The only question was what is at the bottom; and it +was precisely this secret which gave her charm to the young lady. + +The Osnovskis came with the intention of remaining in Warsaw; but Pani +Aneta had not seen Rome in vain. "Art, and art!" said she to Pani +Marynia; "I wish to know of nothing else." Her professed plan was to +open an "Athenian" salon; but her secret one was to become the Beatrice +of some Dante, the Laura of some Petrarch, or, at least, something in +the nature of Vittoria Colonna for some Michael Angelo. + +"We have a nice garden with the villa," said she. "The evenings will +be beautiful, and we shall pass them in such Roman and Florentine +conversations. You know" (here she raised her hands to the height +of her shoulders, and began to move them), "the gray hour, a little +twilight, a little moonlight, a few lamps, a few shadows from the +trees; we shall sit and talk in an undertone about everything,--life, +feelings, art. In truth, that is worth more than gossip! My Yozio, +perhaps thou wilt be annoyed; but be not angry, do this for my sake, +and, believe me, it will be very nice." + +"But, my Anetka, can I be annoyed by what pleases thee?" + +"Especially now, while Lineta is with us; she is an artist in every +drop of her blood." + +Here she turned to Lineta. "What fine thread is that head spinning now? +What dost thou say of such Roman evenings?" + +Lineta smiled dreamily; and the widow of "Rurik's last descendant" +began to speak, with an expression of indescribable sweetness, to Pan +Stanislav,-- + +"You do not know that Victor Hugo blessed her when she was yet a little +girl." + +"Then did you ladies know Victor Hugo?" asked Marynia. + +"We? no! I would not know him for anything in the world; but once, when +we were going through Passy, he stood on a balcony, and I know not +whether through something prophetic, or through inspiration, the moment +he set eyes on Lineta, he raised his hand and blessed her." + +"Aunt!" said Panna Castelli. + +"When it is true, my child; and what is true, is true! I called at +once to her, 'See, see! he is raising his hand!' and Pan Tsardyn, the +consul, who was sitting on the front seat, saw also that he raised his +hand, and gave a blessing. I tell this freely, for perhaps the Lord God +forgave him his sins, of which he had many, because of this blessing. +He was of such perverse mind; and still, when he saw Lineta, he blessed +her." + +There was in the tale this much truth,--those ladies, while going +through Passy, really saw Victor Hugo on a balcony. As to the blessing +which they said he gave Lineta, malicious tongues in Warsaw declared +that he raised his hand because he was yawning at the moment. + +Meanwhile Pani Aneta continued,-- + +"We'll make for ourselves here a little Italy; and should the attempt +fail, next winter we'll escape to the great one. It has entered my head +already to open a house in Rome. Meantime Yozio has bought a number of +nice copies of statues and paintings. That was so worthy on his part, +for he doesn't care much about them; he did this only for me. There +are very good things among them; for Yozio had the wit not to trust +himself, and begged the aid of Pan Svirski. It is a pity that they +are not here; it is a pity, too, that Pan Bukatski died, as it were, +through perversity, for he would have been useful. At times he was very +nice; he had a certain subtlety, snake-like, and that in conversation, +gives life. But" (here she turned to Marynia) "do you know that you +have conquered Pan Svirski utterly? After you had left Rome, he talked +of no one else, and he has begun a Madonna with your features. You'll +become a Fornarina! Evidently you have luck with artists; and when my +Florentine evenings begin, Lineta and I must be careful,--if not, we +shall go to the corner." + +But Pani Bronich, casting hostile glances at Marynia, said,-- + +"If it is a question of faces which make an impression on artists, I'll +tell the company what happened once in Nice." + +"Aunt!" interrupted Panna Castelli. + +"But if it is true, my child; and what's true, is true! A year ago--no! +two years ago--Oh, how time flies!--" + +But Pani Aneta, who had heard more than once, surely, what had happened +at Nice, began to inquire of Marynia,-- + +"But have you many acquaintances in the world of artists?" + +"My husband has," answered Marynia, "I have not; but we know Pan +Zavilovski." + +Pani Aneta fell into real enthusiasm at this news. It was her dream +to know Zavilovski, and let "Yozio" say if it was not her dream. Not +long before, she and Lineta had read his verses entitled "Ex imo;" +and Lineta, who, at times, knows how to describe an impression with +one word, as no one else can, said,--what is it that she said so +characteristic? + +"That there was in that something bronze-like," added Pani Bronich. + +"Yes, something bronze-like; I imagined to myself also Pan Zavilovski +as something cast. How does he look in reality?" + +"He is short, fat, fifty years old," said Pan Stanislav, "and has no +hair on his head." + +At this the faces of Pani Aneta and Lineta took on such an expression +of disenchantment that Marynia laughed, and said,-- + +"Do not believe him, ladies; he is malicious, and likes to torment. Pan +Zavilovski is young, somewhat shy, a little like Wagner." + +"That means that he has a chin like Punch," added Pan Stanislav. + +But Pani Aneta paid no heed to Pan Stanislav's words, and obtained from +Marynia a promise to make her acquainted with Pan Zavilovski, and soon, +"very soon, for summer is at the girdle!" + +"We will try to make it pleasant for him among us, and that he +shouldn't be shy; though, if he is a little shy, that is no harm, for +he ought to be, and, like an eagle in a cage, withdraw when people +approach him. But we will come to an understanding with Lineta; she, +too, is wrapped up in herself, and is as mysterious as a sphinx." + +"It seems to me that every uncommon soul--" began Aunt Sweetness. + +But the Polanyetskis rose to go. In the entrance they met the wonderful +Kopovski, whose shoes the servants were dusting, and who was arranging +meanwhile the hair on his statuesque head, which was as solid as +marble. When outside, Pan Stanislav remarked,-- + +"He, too, will be useful for their 'Florentine' evenings; he, too, is a +sphinx." + +"If he were to stand in a niche," said Marynia. "But what beautiful +women they are!" + +"It is a wonderful thing," answered Pan Stanislav, "though Pani +Osnovski is good-looking, I, for example, prefer Pani Mashko as a +beauty. As to Castelli, she is, in truth, beautiful, though too tall. +Hast thou noticed how they speak of her all the time, but she not a +word?" + +"She has a very intelligent opinion," answered Marynia, "but is, +perhaps, a little timid, like poor Zavilovski." + +"It is necessary to think of arranging for that acquaintance." + +But an accident disturbed these plans of making the acquaintance. +Marynia, on the day following this visit, slipped on the stone stairs, +and struck her knee against the step with such violence that she had to +lie in bed several days. Pan Stanislav, on returning from the office, +learned what had happened. Alarmed at first, then pacified by the +doctor, he upbraided his wife rather sharply. + +"Thou shouldst remember that it may be a question not of thee alone," +said he. + +She suffered severely from the fall and from these words, which seemed +to her too unsparing; for she considered that with him it should above +all be a question of her, especially as other fears were baseless so +far. Aside from this, he showed great attention; neither on the next +nor the following day did he go to the counting-house, but remained +to take care of her. In the forenoon he read to her; after lunch, he +worked in the adjoining room with open doors, so that she might call +him at any moment. Affected by this care, she thanked him very warmly; +in return he kissed her, and said,-- + +"My child, it is a simple duty. Thou seest that even strangers inquire +about thee daily." + +In fact, strangers did inquire daily. Zavilovski inquired in the +counting-house, "How does the lady feel?" Pani Bigiel came in the +forenoon, and Bigiel in the evening; without going to the chamber of +the sick woman, he played on the piano in the next room to entertain +her. The Mashkos and Pani Bronich left cards twice. Pani Osnovski, +leaving her husband in the carriage below, broke into Marynia a little +by violence, and sat with her about two hours, talking, with her usual +gift of jumping from subject to subject, of Rome, of her intended +evenings, of Svirski, of her husband, of Lineta, and of Zavilovski, who +didn't let her sleep. Toward the end of the visit, she declared that +they ought to say _thou_ to each other, and that she invited Marynia +to give aid in one plan: "that is, not a plan, but a conspiracy;" or, +rather, in a certain thing which had so struck into her head that it +was burning, and burning to such a degree that her whole head was on +fire. + +"That Zavilovski has so stuck in my mind that Yozio has begun to be +jealous of him; but in the end of the affair, Yozio, poor fellow, +doesn't know himself what to think. I am sure that he and Lineta are +created for each other,--not Yozio and Lineta, but Zavilovski and +Lineta. That poetry, that poetry! And don't laugh, Marynia; don't think +me moonstruck. Thou dost not know Lineta. She needs some uncommon man. +She wouldn't marry Kopovski for anything, though Kopovski looks like an +archangel. Such a face as Kopovski has, I have never seen in life. In +Italy, perhaps, in some picture, and even then not. Knowest thou what +Lineta says of him?--'C'est un imbécile.' But still she looks at him. +Think how beautiful that would be, if they should become acquainted, +and love, and take each other,--that is, not Kopovski and Lineta, +but Zavilovski and Lineta. That would be a couple! Lineta, with her +aspirations, whom can she find? Where is there a man for her? What we +have seen, that we have seen. I imagine how they would live. It is so +wearisome in the world that when it is possible to have such a plan, it +is worth while to work for it. Moreover, I know that that will succeed +without difficulty, for Aunt Bronich is wringing her hands,--where can +she find a husband for Lineta? I am afraid that I have worn thee out, +and surely I have tormented thee; but it is so nice to talk, especially +when one is making some plan." + +In fact, Marynia felt, as it were, a turning of the head after Pani +Aneta had gone. Still when Pan Stanislav came in, she told him of the +plans prepared against Zavilovski, and, laughing a little at the +eagerness of Pani Aneta, said at last,-- + +"She must have a good heart, and she pleases me; but what an +enthusiast! What is there that doesn't rush through her head?" + +"She is impetuous, but no enthusiast," answered Pan Stanislav; "and see +what the difference is,--enthusiasm comes almost always from the warmth +of a good heart, while impetuousness frequently agrees with a dry +heart, and often comes even from this, that the head is hot, and the +heart is asleep." + +"Thou hast no liking for Pani Aneta," said Marynia. + +Pan Stanislav did not indeed like her; but this time, instead of +confirming or contradicting, he looked at his wife with a certain +curiosity, and that moment her beauty struck him,--her hair flowing +in disorder on the pillow, and her small face coming out of the dark +waves, just like a flower. Her eyes seemed bluer than usual; through +her open mouth was to be seen the row of small white teeth. Pan +Stanislav approached her, and said in an undertone,-- + +"How beautiful thou art to-day!" + +And, bending over her, with changed face, he fell to kissing her eyes +and mouth. + +But every kiss moved her, and each movement caused pain. It was +disagreeable, besides, that he had noticed her beauty as if by +accident; his expression of face was distasteful to her, and his +inattention; therefore she turned away her head. + +"Stas, do not kiss me so roughly; thou knowest that I am suffering." + +Then he stood erect, and said with suppressed anger,-- + +"True; I beg pardon." + +And he went to his room to examine the plan of a certain summer house +with a garden, which had been sent to him that morning. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +But Marynia's illness was not lasting, and a week later she and her +husband were able to visit the Bigiels, who had moved to their summer +residence; for the weather, notwithstanding the early season, was fine, +and in the city summer heats were almost beginning. Zavilovski, who had +grown accustomed to them, went also, taking an immense kite, which he +was to fly in company with Pan Stanislav and the children. The Bigiels, +too, liked Zavilovski, since he was simple, and, except his shyness, +a pleasant man, on occasions even childlike. Pani Bigiel maintained, +moreover, that he had a peculiar head; which was in so far true, that +he had a scar on his eyelid, and that his prominent chin gave him an +expression of energy which was contradicted utterly by his upper face, +which was delicate, almost feminine. At first Pani Bigiel sought in him +an original; but he mastered everything, and therefore himself, too +quickly. He was simply a great enthusiast of unequal temper, because he +was timid; and he was not without hidden pride. + +At dinner they mentioned the Osnovskis to him, and the projected +Athenian-Roman-Florentine evenings, Panna Castelli, and the curiosity +which he had roused in the ladies. When he heard this, he said,-- + +"Oh, it is well to know that; I shall not go there now for anything in +the world." + +"You will make their acquaintance first at our house," said Marynia. + +"I shall escape from the entrance," said he, clasping his hands. + +"Why?" asked Pan Stanislav. "It is needful to have the courage not only +of one's convictions, but of one's verses." + +"Evidently," said Pani Bigiel. "What is there to be ashamed of? I +should look people in the eyes boldly and say: I write; yes, I write." + +"I write; yes, I write," repeated Zavilovski, raising his head and +laughing. + +But Marynia continued: "You will make their acquaintance at our house; +then you will leave your card with them, and after that we will visit +them some evening." + +"I cannot hide my head in snow," said he, "because there is none; but +I'll find some place of hiding." + +"But if I entreat you greatly?" + +"Then I will go," answered Zavilovski, after a while, blushing +slightly; and he looked at her. + +Her face, somewhat pale after protracted lying in bed, had become more +delicate, and looked like the face of a maiden of sixteen. She seemed +so wonderful to the young man that he could refuse her nothing. + +In the evening, Pan Stanislav was to take him back to the city; but +before that Marynia said to him,-- + +"Now you must be constrained, for you have not seen Panna Lineta +Castelli; but as soon as you have seen her, you will fall in love." + +"I, Pani?" cried Zavilovski, putting his hand on his breast; "I, with +Panna Castelli?" + +And there was so much sincerity in his question that he was confused +again; but this time Marynia herself was confused somewhat. + +Meantime Pan Stanislav has finished his conversation with Bigiel about +the dangers of investing capital in land, and they drive away. Marynia +remembers how once she returned with her father, Pani Emilia, Litka, +and Pan Stanislav from the Bigiels, in a moonlight night such as this; +how "Pan Stanislav" was in love with her then; how unhappy he was; how +severe she was with him; and her heart begins to beat with pity for +that "Pan Stanislav," who suffered so much on a time. She wants to +nestle up to him and implore pardon for those evil moments of the past; +and but for the presence of Zavilovski, she would do so. + +But that old-time Pan Stanislav is sitting there calm and +self-confident at her side, and smoking his cigar. Moreover, she is +his; he has taken her and has her; all is over. + +"Of what art thou thinking, Stas?" inquired she. + +"Of the business of which I was talking with Bigiel." + +And, shaking the ashes from his cigar, he replaced it in his mouth, and +drew so vigorously that a ruddy gleam lighted his mustache and a part +of his face. + +Zavilovski, looking at Marynia's face, thought in his young soul that +if she were his wife he would not smoke a cigar, nor think of business +of which he had been talking with Bigiel, but might kneel before her +and adore her on his knees. + +And gradually, under the influence of the night and that sweet womanly +face, which he glorified, exaltation possessed him. After a time he +began to declaim, at first in silence, as if to himself, then more +audibly, his verses entitled, "Snows on the Mountains." There was in +that poem, as it were, an immense yearning for something unapproachable +and immaculate. Zavilovski himself did not know when they arrived in +the city, and when lamps began to gleam on both sides of the street. At +Pan Stanislav's house Marynia said,-- + +"To-morrow, then, to a five o'clock." + +"Yes," answered he, kissing her hand. + +Marynia was sunk somewhat in revery under the influence of the ride, +the night, and maybe the verses. But from the time of their stay +in Rome, she and her husband had repeated the rosary together. And +after these prayers a great tenderness possessed her suddenly,--as it +were, an influx of feeling, hidden for a time by other impressions. +Approaching him, she put her arms around his neck, and whispered,-- + +"My Stas, but we feel so pleasant together, do we not?" + +He drew her toward him, and answered with a certain careless +boastfulness,-- + +"But do I complain?" + +And it did not occur to him that there was in her question something +like a shade of doubt and sorrow, which she did not like to admit to +her soul, and desired him to calm and convince her. + +Next morning in the office Zavilovski gave Pan Stanislav a cutting from +some paper of "Snows on the Mountains;" he read it during dinner, but +with the sound of forks the verses seemed less beautiful than amid the +night stillness and in moonlight. + +"Zavilovski told me," said Pan Stanislav, "that a volume would be +issued soon; but he has promised to collect first everything printed in +various journals, and bring it to thee." + +"No," said Marynia; "he should keep them for Lineta." + +"Ah, they are to meet to-morrow for the first time. Ye wish absolutely +to make an epoch in Zavilovski's life?" + +"We do," answered Marynia, with decisiveness. "Aneta astonished me at +first; but why not?" + +Indeed, the meeting took place. The Osnovskis, Pani Bronich, and Panna +Castelli came very punctually at five; Zavilovski had come still +earlier, to avoid entering a room in presence of a whole society. But +as it was he was not only frightened, but more awkward than usual, +and never had his legs seemed so long to him. There was, however, a +certain distinction even in his awkwardness; and Pani Aneta was able to +see that. The first scenes of the human comedy began, in which those +ladies, as well-bred persons, guarding against every rudeness and +staring at Zavilovski, did not, however, do anything else; he, feigning +not to see this, was not thinking of anything else than how they were +looking at him and judging him. This caused him great constraint, which +he strove to hide by artificial freedom; he had so much self-love, +however, that he was interested in having the judgment favorable. But +the ladies were so attuned previously that the decision could not be +unfavorable; and even had Zavilovski turned out flat and dull it would +have been taken for wisdom and poetic originality: More indifferent was +the bearing of Lineta, who was somewhat astonished that for the moment, +not she was the sun, and Zavilovski the moon, but the contrary. The +first impression which he made on her was: "What comparison with that +stupid Kopovski!" + +And the incomparable, wonderful face of that "stupid" stood before +her eyes as if living; therefore her lids became dreamier still, and +the expression of her face called to mind a sphinx in porcelain more +than ever. She is irritated, however, that Zavilovski turns almost no +attention to her form of a Juno, nor to that something "mysterious and +poetic," which, as Pani Bronich insists, fetters one from the first +glance. She begins to observe him gradually; and, having, besides +her poetic inclination, the sense of social observation developed +powerfully, she sees that he has much expression indeed, but that his +coat fits badly, that he dresses, of course, at a poor tailor's, and +that the pin in his cravat is mauvais genre simply. Meanwhile he casts +occasional glances at Marynia, as the one near and friendly soul, and +converses with Pani Aneta, who considers it as the highest tact not +to mention poetry on first acquaintance, and, knowing that Zavilovski +had passed the early years of his childhood in the country, begins to +chatter about her inclinations for rural life. Her husband prefers +the city always, having his friends and pleasures in the city, but as +to her!--"Oh, I am sincere, and I confess at once that I cannot endure +land management and accounts; for this I have been scolded more than +once. Besides, I am a trifle lazy; therefore I should like work in +which I could be lazy. What should I like, then?" + +Here she spreads out her extended fingers so as to count more easily +the occupations which would suit her taste: + +"First, I should like to herd geese!" + +Zavilovski laughs; she seems to him natural, and, besides, the picture +of Pani Osnovski herding geese amuses him. + +Her violet eyes begin to laugh also; and she falls into the tone of a +free and joyous maiden, who talks of everything which runs through her +head. + +"And you would like that?" inquires she of Zavilovski. + +"Passionately." + +"Ah, you see! What else? I should like to be a fisherman. The morning +dawn must be reflected beautifully in the water. Then the damp nets +before the cottage, with films of water between the meshes of the net. +If not a fisherman, I should like to be at least a heron, and meditate +in the water on one leg, or a lapwing in the fields. But no! the +lapwing is a sad kind of bird, as if in mourning." + +Here she turned to Panna Castelli,-- + +"Lineta, what wouldst thou like to be in the country?" + +Panna Lineta raised her lids, and answered after a while,-- + +"A spider-web." + +The imagination of Zavilovski as a poet was touched by this answer. +Suddenly a great yellow sweep of stubble stood before his eyes, with +silver threads floating in the calm blue and in the sun. + +"Ah, what a pretty picture!" said he. + +He looked more carefully at Lineta; and she smiled, as if in +thankfulness that he had felt the beauty of the image. + +But at that moment the Bigiels came. Pani Bronich took Zavilovski into +her sphere of influence, and so hemmed him in with her chair that he +had no chance to escape. It was easy to divine the subject of their +dialogue, for Zavilovski raised his eyes from time to time to Lineta, +as if to convince himself that he was looking at that about which he +was hearing. At last, though the conversation was conducted in subdued +tones, those present heard these words, spoken as if through sugar,-- + +"Do you know that Napoleon--that is, I wanted to say Victor +Hugo--blessed her?" + +In general, Zavilovski had heard so many uncommon things that he might +look at Lineta with a certain curiosity. She had been, according to +those narratives, the most marvellous child in the world, always very +gentle, and not strong. At ten years she had been very ill; sea air was +prescribed, and those ladies dwelt a long time on Stromboli. + +"The child looked at the volcano, at the sea, and clapped her little +hands, repeating, 'Beautiful, beautiful!' We went there by chance, +wandered in on a hired yacht, without object; it was difficult to stay +long, for that is an empty island. There was no proper place to live +in, and not much to eat; but she, as if with foreknowledge that she +would regain her health there, would not leave for anything. In fact, +in a month, and if not in a month, in two, she began to be herself, and +see what a reed she is." + +In fact, Lineta, though shapely and not too large, in stature was +somewhat taller than Pani Aneta. Zavilovski looked at her with growing +interest. Before the guests separated, when he was freed at last from +imprisonment, he approached her, and said,-- + +"I have never seen a volcano, and I have no idea what impression it may +make." + +"I know only Vesuvius," answered she; "but when I saw it there was no +eruption." + +"But Stromboli?" + +"I do not know it." + +"Then I have heard incorrectly, for--your aunt--" + +"Yes," answered Lineta, "I don't remember; I was small, I suppose." + +And on her face displeasure and confusion were reflected. + +Before she took leave, Pani Aneta, without destroying her rôle of +charming prattler, invited Zavilovski for some evening, "without +ceremony and without a dress-coat, for such a spring might be +considered summer, and in summer freedom is the most agreeable. That +such a man as you does not like new acquaintances, I know, but for that +there is a simple remedy: consider us old acquaintances. We are alone +most generally. Lineta reads something, or tells what passes through +her head; and such various things pass through her head that it is +worth while to hear her, especially for a person who beyond others is +in a position to feel and understand her." + +Panna Lineta pressed his hand at parting with unusual heartiness, as +if confirming the fact that they could and should understand each +other. Zavilovski, unused to society, was a little dazed by the words, +the rustle of the robes, the eyes of those ladies, and by the odor +of iris which they left behind. He felt besides some weariness, for +that conversation, though free and apparently natural, lacked the +repose which was always found in the words of Pani Polanyetski and +Pani Bigiel. For a time there remained with him the impression of a +disordered dream. + +The Bigiels were to stay to dinner. Pan Stanislav therefore kept +Zavilovski. They began to talk of the ladies. + +"Well, and Panna Castelli?" asked Marynia. + +"They have much imagination," answered Zavilovski, after a moment's +hesitation. "Have you noticed how easy it is for them to speak in +images?" + +"But really, what an interesting young lady Lineta is!" + +Lineta had not made a great impression on Pan Stanislav; besides, he +was hungry and in a hurry for dinner, so he said somewhat impatiently,-- + +"What do you see in her? Interesting until she becomes an every-day +subject." + +"No; Lineta will not become an every-day person," said Marynia. "Only +those ordinary, simple beings become every-day subjects who know how to +do nothing but love." + +To Zavilovski, who looked at her that moment, it seemed that he +detected a shade of sadness. Perhaps, too, she was weak, for her face +had lily tones. + +"Are you wearied?" inquired he. + +"A little," answered she, smiling. + +His young, impressionable heart beat with great sympathy for her. "She +is in truth a lily," thought he; and in comparison with her sweet charm +Pani Osnovski stood before him as a chattering nut-cracker, and Panna +Castelli as the inanimate head of a statue. At first, after sight of +Marynia, he was dreaming of a woman like her; this evening he began to +dream, not of one like her, but of her. And since he was quickly aware +of everything that happened in him, he noticed that she was beginning +to be a "field flower," but a beloved one. + +Pan Stanislav, meeting him next day in the counting-room, asked,-- + +"Well, did the dreamy queen come to you in a vision?" + +"No," answered Zavilovski, blushing. + +Pan Stanislav, seeing that blush, laughed, and said,-- + +"Ha! it's difficult! Every one must pass that; I, too, have passed it." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +Marynia did not complain even to herself of her husband. So far there +had not been the least misunderstanding between them. But she was +forced to confess that genuine, very great happiness, and especially +very great love, such as she had imagined when Pan Stanislav was her +betrothed, she had imagined as different. Of this each day convinced +her: her hopes had been of one kind; reality proved to be of another. +Marynia's honest nature did not rebel against this reality; but a +shade of sadness came over her, and the feeling that that shade might +in time be the basis of her life. With a soul full of good-will, she +tried to explain to herself at the beginning that those were her own +fancies. What was lacking to her, and in what could Pan Stanislav have +disappointed her? He had never caused her pain purposely; as often as +it occurred to him that a given thing might please her, he tried to +obtain it; he was liberal, careful of her health; at times he covered +her face and hands with kisses,--in a word, he was rather kind than +ill-natured. Still there was something lacking. It was difficult for +Marynia to describe this in one word, or in many; but her mind was too +clear not to understand what her heart felt every day more distinctly, +every day with more sadness. Something was wanting! After a great and +solemn holiday of love, a series of common days had set in, and she +regretted the holiday; she would have it last all her life; she saw +now, with sorrow, that to her husband this common life seemed precisely +what was normal and wished for. It was not bad, such as it was; but +it was not that high happiness which "such a man" should be able to +feel, create, and impart. But there was a question of other things +also. She felt, for example, that she was more his than he was hers; +and that though she gave him her whole soul, he returned to her only +that part of his which he had designed in advance for home use. It +is true that she said to herself, "He is a man; besides me he has a +whole world of work and thought." But she had hoped once that he would +take her by the hand and lead her into that world,--that in the house, +at least, he would share it with her; at present she could not even +flatter herself that he would do so. And the reality was worse than +she had imagined. Pan Stanislav, as he expressed himself, took her, +and had her; and when their mutual feeling became at the same time a +simple mutual obligation, he judged that it was not needful otherwise +to care for her, or otherwise to be occupied with her than with any +duty of every-day life. It did not come to his head simply that to +such a fire it was not enough to bring common fuel, such as is put in +a chimney, but that there was need to sprinkle on it frankincense and +myrrh, such as is sprinkled before an altar. If a man were to tell him +something like this, he would shrug his shoulders, and look on him as +a sentimentalist. Hence there was in him the carefulness of a husband, +perhaps, but not the anxiety of a lover,--concern, watching, or awe of +that kind which, in the lower circles of earthly feelings, corresponds +to fear of God in religion. On a time when, after the sale of Kremen, +Marynia was indifferent to him, he felt and passed through all this; +but now, and even beginning with Litka's death, when he received the +assurance that she was his property, he thought no more of her than was +necessary to think of property. His feeling, resting pre-eminently on +her physical charm, possessed what it wanted, and was at rest; while +time could only vulgarize, cool, and dull it. + +Even now, though still vivid, it lacks the alert and careful tenderness +which existed, for example, in his feeling for Litka. And Marynia +noticed this. Why was it so? To this she could not answer; but still +she saw clearly that she was for this man, to whom she wished to be +everything, something more common and less esteemed than the dead Litka. + +It did not occur to her, and she could not imagine by any means, that +the only reason was this,--that that child was not his, while she had +given him soul and body. She judged that the more she gave, the more +she ought to receive and have. But time brought her in this regard many +disappointments. She could not but notice, too, that all are under a +certain charm of hers; that all value her, praise her; that Svirski, +Bigiel, Zavilovski, and even Pan Osnovski, look on her, not only with +admiration, but with enthusiasm almost; while "Stas" regards her +distinguishing traits less than any man. It had not occurred to her +for a moment that he could be incapable of seeing in her and valuing +that which others saw and valued so easily. What was the cause, then, +of this? These questions tormented her night and day now. She saw that +Pan Stanislav feigned to have in all cases a character somewhat colder +and more serious than he had in reality, but to her this did not seem +a sufficient answer. Unfortunately only one answer remained: "He does +not love me as he might, and therefore does not value me as others do." +There was in this as much truth as disappointment and sadness. + +The instinct of a woman, which, in these cases, never deceives her, +warned Marynia that she had made an uncommon impression on Zavilovski; +that that impression increased with every meeting. And this thought did +not make her indignant; she did not burst out with the angry question, +"How dare he?" since, for that matter, he had not dared anything,--on +the contrary, it gave her a certain comfort, certain confidence in +her own charm, which at moments she had begun to lose, but withal it +roused the greater sorrow that such honor, such enthusiasm, should +be shown her by some stranger, and not by "Stas." As to Zavilovski, +she felt nothing for him save a great sympathy and good-will; hence +her thoughts remained pure. She was incapable of amusing herself +through vanity by the suffering of another; and for that reason, not +wishing him to go too far, she associated herself willingly with the +plan of Pani Aneta of bringing him into more intimate relations with +Panna Castelli, though that plan seemed to her as abrupt as it was +unintelligible. Moreover, her heart and mind were occupied thoroughly +with the questions: Why does that kind, wise, beloved "Stas" not go to +the heights with her? why does he not value her as he might? why does +he only love her, but is not in love with her? why does he consider +her love as something belonging to him, but not as something precious? +whence is this, and where lies the cause of it? + +Every common, selfish nature would have found all the fault in him; +Marynia found it in herself. It is true that she made the discovery +through foreign aid; but she was always so eager to remove from "Stas" +every responsibility, and take it on herself, that though it caused +fear, this discovery brought her delight almost. + +Once, on an afternoon, she was sitting by herself, with her hands on +her knees, lost in thoughts and questions to which she could find no +answer, when the door opened, and in it appeared the white head-dress +and dark robe of a Sister of Charity. + +"Emilka!" cried Marynia, with delight. + +"Yes; it is I," said the Sister. "This is a free day for me, and I +wished to visit thee. Where is Pan Stanislav?" + +"Stas is at the Mashkos, but he will return soon. Ah, how glad he will +be! Sit down and rest." + +Pani Emilia sat down and began to talk. "I should run in oftener," said +she, "but I have no time. Since this is a free day, I was at Litka's. +If you could see how green the place is, and what birds are there!" + +"We were there a few days ago. All is blooming; and such rest! What a +pity that Stas is not at home!" + +"True; besides, he has a number of Litka's letters. I should like to +ask him to lend them to me. Next week I'll run in again and return +them." + +Pani Emilia spoke calmly of Litka now. Maybe it was because there +remained of herself only the shadow of a living person, which was soon +to be blown away; but for the time there was in it undisturbed calm. +Her mind was not absorbed so exclusively now by misfortune, and that +previous indifference to everything not Litka had passed. Having become +a Sister of Charity, she appeared again among people, and had learned +to feel everything which made their fortune or misfortune, their joy or +their sorrow, or even pleasure or suffering. + +"But how nice it is in this house! After our naked walls, everything +here seems so rich to me. Pan Stanislav was very indolent at one time: +he visited the Bigiels and us, never wished to be elsewhere; but now I +suppose he bestirs himself, and you receive many people?" + +"No," answered Marynia; "we visit only the Mashkos, Pani Bronich, and +the Osnovskis." + +"But wait! I know Pani Osnovski; I knew her before she was married. +I knew the Broniches, too, and their niece; but she had not grown up +then. Pan Bronich died two years ago. Thou seest how I know every one." + +Marynia began to laugh. "Really, more people than I do. I made the +acquaintance of the Osnovskis in Rome only." + +"But I lived so many years in Warsaw, and everything came to my ears. I +was in the house apparently, but the world occupied me. So frivolous +was I in those days! For that matter, thy present Pan Stas knew Pani +Osnovski." + +"He told me so." + +"They met at public balls. At that time she was to marry Pan Kopovski. +There were tears and despair, for her father opposed it. But she +succeeded well, did she not? Pan Osnovski was always a very good man." + +"And to her he is the very best. But I did not know that she was to +marry Kopovski; and that astonishes me, she is so intelligent." + +"Praise to God, she is happy, if she would think so! Happiness is a +rare thing, and should be used well. I have learned now to look at +the world quite impartially, as only those can who expect nothing for +themselves from it; and knowest thou what comes more than once to my +head? That happiness is like eyes,--any little mote, and at once tears +will follow." + +Marynia laughed a little sadly, and said,-- + +"Oi! that's a great truth." + +A moment of silence ensued; then Pani Emilia, looking attentively at +Marynia, laid her transparent hand on her hand mildly, and asked,-- + +"But thou, Marynia, art happy, art thou not?" + +Such a desire to weep seized Marynia on a sudden that she resisted it +only with the utmost effort; that lasted, however, one twinkle. Her +whole honest soul trembled suddenly at the thought that her tears or +sorrow would be a kind of complaint against her husband; therefore she +mastered her emotion by strength of will, and said,-- + +"If only Stas is happy!" And she raised her eyes, now perfectly calm, +to Pani Emilia, who said,-- + +"Litka will obtain that for thee. I inquired only because thou wert in +appearance somehow gloomy, as I entered. But I know best how he loved +thee, and how unhappy he was when thou wert angry with him because of +Kremen." + +Marynia's face was bright with a smile. So pleasant to her was every +word of his former love that she was ready to listen to that kind of +narrative, even if it went on forever. + +Pani Emilia continued, while touching her hand: "But thou, ugly child, +wert so cruel as neither to value nor regard his true attachment, and +I was angry at times with thee. At times I feared for the honest Pan +Stanislav; I was afraid that he would grow sick of life, lose his +mind, or become misanthropic. For seest thou when one wrinkle is made +in the depth of the heart, it may not be smoothed for a lifetime." + +Marynia raised her head, and began to blink as if some light had struck +her eyes suddenly. + +"Emilka, Emilka!" cried she, "how wise thy discourse is!" + +Pani Emilia was called now "Sister Aniela;" but Marynia always gave her +her old name. + +"What! wise? I am just talking of old times. But Litka will implore for +thee happiness, which God will grant, for thou and Stas deserve it, +both of you." + +And she made ready to go. Marynia tried to detain her till "Stas" came, +but in vain, for work was awaiting her in the institution. She chatted, +however, at the door, fifteen minutes longer, in the manner of women; +at last she went away, promising to visit them again the coming week. + +Marynia returned to her armchair at the window, and, resting her head +on her hand, fell to meditating on Pani Emilia's words; after a while +she said, in an undertone,-- + +"The fault is mine." + +It seemed to her that she had the key to the enigma,--she had not known +how to respect a power so true and so mighty as love is. And now, in +her terrified heart, that love seemed a kind of offended divinity which +punishes. In the old time Pan Stanislav had been on his knees in her +presence. As often as they met, he had looked into her eyes, watching +for forgiveness from her heart, and from those memories, pleasant, +departed, but dear, which connected them. If at that time she had +brought herself to straightforwardness, to magnanimity; if she had +extended her hands to him, as her secret feeling commanded,--he would +have been grateful all his life, he would have honored her, he would +have honored and loved with the greater tenderness, the more he felt +his own fault and her goodness. But she had preferred to swaddle and +nurse her feeling of offence, and coquet at the same time with Mashko. +When it was necessary to forget, she would not forget; when it was +necessary to forgive, she would not forgive. She preferred to suffer +herself, provided he suffered also. She had given her hand to Pan +Stanislav when she could not do otherwise, when not to give it would +have been simply dishonorable and stupid stubbornness. That stifled +love, it is true, rose up in its whole irrepressible might then, +and she loved, heart and soul, but too late. Love had been injured; +something had broken, something had perished. In his heart there had +come an ill-omened wrinkle like that of which Pani Emilia had spoken; +and now she, Marynia, was harvesting only what she had sown with her +own hand. + +He is not guilty of anything in this case, and if any one has spoiled +another's life, it is not he who has spoiled her life; it is she who +has spoiled his. + +Such a terror possessed her at this thought, and such sorrow, that +for a moment she looked at the future with perfect amazement. And she +wished to weep, too, and weep like a little child. If Pani Emilia had +not gone, she would have done so on her shoulder. She was so penetrated +with the weight of her own offences that if at that moment some one +had come and tried to free her of this weight, if this one had said +to her, "Thou art as guilty as a dove," she would have considered the +speech dishonest. The most terrible point in her mental conflict was +this,--that at the first moment the loss seemed irreparable, and that +in the future it might be only worse and worse, because "Stas" would +love her less and less, and would have the right to love her less and +less,--in one word, she saw no consolation before her. + +Logic said this to her: "To-day it is good in comparison with what it +may be to-morrow; after to-morrow, a month, or a year. And here it is a +question of a lifetime!" + +And she began to exert her poor tortured head to discover, if not a +road, at least some path, by which it would be possible to issue from +those snares of unhappiness. At last, after a long effort, after God +knows how many swallowed tears, it seems to her that she sees a light, +and that that light, in proportion as she looks at it, increases. + +There is, however, something mightier than the logic of misfortune, +mightier than committed offences, mightier than an offended divinity, +which knows nothing but vengeance,--and this is the mercy of God. + +She has offended; therefore she ought to correct herself. It is +needful, then, to love "Stas," so that he may find all which has +perished in his heart; it is needful to have patience, and not only not +to complain of her present lot, but to thank God and "Stas" that it is +such as it is. If greater griefs and difficulties should come, it is +necessary to hide them in her heart in silence, and endure long, very +long, even whole years, till the mercy of God comes. + +The path began to change then into a highway. "I shall not go astray," +said Marynia to herself. She wanted to weep from great joy then; but +she judged that she could not permit that. Besides, "Stas" might return +at any moment, and he must find her with dry eyes. + +In fact, he returned soon. Marynia wished at the first moment to throw +herself on his neck, but she felt such guilt in reference to him that +some sudden timidity stopped her; and he, kissing her on the forehead, +inquired,-- + +"Was any one here?" + +"Emilia was, but she could not stay longer. She will come next week." + +He was irritated at this. + +"But, my God! thou knowest that it is such a pleasure for me to see +her; why not let me know? Why didst thou not think of me, knowing where +I was?" + +She, like a child explaining itself, spoke with a voice in which tears +were trembling, but in which there was at the same time a certain +trust,-- + +"No, Stas, on the contrary, as I love, I was thinking all the time of +thee." + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +"But you see I was there," said Zavilovski, joyously, at the Bigiels'. +"They looked on me somewhat as they might on a panther, or a wolf, +but I turned out a very tame creature; I tore no one, killed no one, +answered with more or less presence of mind. No; I have long since +considered that it is easier to live with people than it seems, and +only in the first moments have I a wish always to run away. But those +ladies are indeed very free." + +"I beg you not to put us off, but tell exactly how it was," said Pani +Bigiel. + +"How it was? Well, first, I entered the inclosure of the villa, and +did not know what to do further, or where the Osnovskis lived, or +Pani Bronich; whether to pay them a visit at once, or whether it was +necessary to visit both separately." + +"Separately," said Pan Stanislav; "Pani Bronich has separate +apartments, though they have one drawing-room, which they use in +common." + +"Well, I found all in that drawing-room; and Pani Osnovski first +brought me out of trouble, for she said that she would share me with +Pani Bronich, and that I should make two visits at one time. I found +Pani Mashko there and Pan Kopovski; and he is such a man, so beautiful +that he ought to have on his head one of those velvet-crowned caps +which jewellers wear. Who is Kopovski?" + +"An idiot!" answered Pan Stanislav. "In that is contained his name, his +manner of life, his occupation, and personal marks. Another description +of the man would not be needed even in a passport." + +"Now I understand," said Zavilovski; "and certain words which I heard +have become clear for me. That gentleman was sitting, and the young +ladies were painting him. Pani Osnovski, his full face in oil; Panna +Castelli, his profile in water-colors. Both had print skirts over their +dresses, and both were beautiful. Evidently Pani Osnovski is just +beginning to paint, but Panna Castelli has had much practice." + +"Of what did they talk?" + +Zavilovski turned to Marynia. "First, those ladies asked about your +health; I told them that you looked better and better." + +He did not say, however, that on that occasion he had blushed like a +student, and that at present he consoled himself only with the thought +that all had been so occupied in painting that they did not notice him, +in which he was mistaken. He was confused now a little, and, wishing to +hide this, continued,-- + +"Later we spoke of painting, of course, and portraits. I observed that +Panna Castelli took something from the head of Kopovski; she answered +me,-- + +"'It is not I, but nature.' + +"She is a witty young lady; she said this in a perfectly audible voice. +I began to laugh, all the others too, and with us Kopovski himself. He +must have an accommodating character. He declared later on that if he +looked worse to-day than usual, it was because he had not slept enough, +and that he was in a hurry for the embraces of Orpheus." + +"Orpheus?" + +"That's what he said. Pan Osnovski corrected him without ceremony; +but he did not agree to the correction, saying Orpheus at least ten +times, and that he remembered well. Those ladies amused themselves a +little with him, but he is such a fine-looking fellow that they are +glad to paint him. But what an artist Panna Castelli is! When she went +to showing me various plain surfaces with the brush, and lines on the +portraits of Pan Kopovski, which she had begun, she touched colors, +'What a line, that is! and what tones these are!' I must do her the +justice to say that she looked at the time like one of the Muses. She +told me that it pleases her beyond everything to paint portraits, and +that she meditates on a face to begin with, as on a model, and that she +dreams of those heads in which there is anything uncommon." + +"Oh, ho! and you will appear to her in a dream first, and then sit for +her, I am sure," said Marynia. "And that will be well." + +Zavilovski added with a voice somewhat uncertain,-- + +"She told me, it is true, that that is a tribute which she likes and +extorts from good acquaintances; she did not turn to me, however, +directly, with this request. Had it not been for Pani Bronich, there +would have been no talk of it." + +"Pani Bronich saved the Muse the trouble," said Pan Stanislav. + +"But that will be well," said Marynia. + +"Why?" inquired Zavilovski; and he looked at her with a glance at once +submissive and alarmed. The idea that she might push him to another +woman purposely, because she divined what was passing in his heart, +attracted him, and at the same time filled him with fear. + +"Because," answered Marynia, "I, indeed, am almost unacquainted with +Panna Lineta, and judge only from my first impressions and from what I +hear of her; but it seems to me that hers is an uncommon nature, and +that there is something deep in her heart. It is well, then, that you +should become acquainted." + +"I also judge from first impressions," answered Zavilovski, quieted; +"and it is true that Pani Castelli seems to me less shallow than +Pani Osnovski. In general, those are beautiful and pleasant ladies; +but--maybe I cannot define it, because I am not acquainted enough with +society--but, coming away from them, I had a feeling as if I had been +travelling on the railway with exceedingly charming foreign ladies, +who amused themselves by conversing very wittily--but nothing more. +Something foreign is felt in them. Pani Osnovski, for example, is +exactly like an orchid,--a flower very peculiar and beautiful, but a +kind of foreign flower. Panna Castelli is also that way, and in her +there is nothing homelike. With them there is no feeling that one grew +up on the same field, under the same rain and same sunshine." + +"What intuition this poet has!" said Pan Stanislav. + +Zavilovski became so animated that on his delicate forehead the veins +in the form of the letter Y became outlined more distinctly. He felt +that his blame of those ladies was also praise for Marynia, and that +made him eloquent. + +"Besides," continued he, "there exists a certain instinct which divines +the real good wishes of people; it is not divined in that house. They +are pleasant, agreeable, but their society has the appearance of form +only; therefore I think that an earnest man, who becomes attached to +people easily, might experience there many deceptions. It is a bitter +and humiliating thing to mistake social tares for wheat. As to me, that +is just why I fear people; for though Pan Stanislav says that I have +intuition, I know well that at the root of the matter I am simple. And +such things pain me tremendously. Simply my nerves cannot endure them. +I remember that when still a child I noticed how people acted toward +me in one way before my parents, and in another when my parents were +absent; that was one of the great vexations of my childhood. It seemed +to me contemptible, and pained me, as if I myself had done something +contemptible." + +"Because you have an honest nature," said Pani Bigiel. + +He stretched forth his long arms, with which he gesticulated, when, +forgetting his timidity, he spoke freely, and said,-- + +"O sincerity! in art and in life, that is the one thing!" + +But Marynia began, in defence of those ladies: "People, and especially +men, are frequently unjust, and take their own judgments, or even +suppositions, for reality. As to Pani Osnovski and Lineta, how is +it possible to suspect them of insincerity? They are joyful, kind, +cordial, and whence should that come if not from good hearts?" Then, +turning to Zavilovski, she began at him, partly in earnest, partly in +jest, "You have not such an honest nature as Pani Bigiel says, for +those ladies praise you, and you criticise them--" + +But Pan Stanislav interrupted her with his usual vivacity: "Oh, thou +art an innocent, and measurest all things with thy own measure. Wilt +thou understand this, that petty cordiality and kindness may flow also +from selfishness, which likes to be cosey and comfortable. + +"If you," said he, turning to Zavilovski, "pay such homage to +sincerity, it is sitting before you! You have here a real type of it." + +"I know that! I know that!" said Zavilovski, with warmth. + +"But is it thy wish to have me otherwise?" inquired Marynia, laughing. + +He laughed also, and answered: "No, I would not. But, by the way, +what a happiness it is that thou are not too small, and hast no need +of heels; for shouldst thou wear them, chronic inflammation of the +conscience would strike thee for deceiving people." + +Marynia, seeing that Zavilovski's eyes were turned toward her feet, hid +them under the table involuntarily, and, changing the subject, said,-- + +"But your volume is coming out these days, I think?" + +"It would have been published already, but I added one poem; that +causes delay." + +"And may we know what the poem is called?" + +"Lilia" (Lily). + +"Is it not Lilia-Lineta?" + +"No; it is not Lilia-Lineta." + +Marynia's face grew serious. For her, it was easy to divine from the +answer that the poem was to her and about her; hence she felt a sudden +vexation, because she alone and one other, Zavilovski, knew this, +and that there had arisen between them, for this cause, a sort of +secret known to them only. This seemed to her not in accord with that +honesty of hers mentioned a moment earlier, and a kind of sin against +"Stas." For the first time, she saw the mental trouble into which a +woman may fall, even though she be most in love with her husband and +most innocent, if only the not indifferent look of another man fall +on her. It seemed to her impossible, in any case, to lead her husband +into the secret of her supposition. For the first time, she was seized +by a certain anger at Zavilovski, who felt this straightway with +his nerves of an artist, just as the barometer reflects a change of +atmosphere; and, being a man without experience, he took the matter +tragically. He imagined that Marynia would close her doors on him, +would hate him, that he would not be able to see her; and the world +appeared in mourning colors all at once to him. In his artistic nature +there existed a real mixture of selfishness and fantasy with genuine +tenderness, well-nigh feminine, which demanded love and warmth. Having +become acquainted with Marynia, he cleaved to her with the selfishness +of a sybarite, to whom such a feeling is precious, and who thinks +of nothing else; next, his fancy raised her to poetic heights, and +enhanced her charm a hundredfold, made her a being almost beyond the +earth; and, finally, his native sensitiveness, to which loneliness +and the want of a near heart caused actual pain, was so moved by the +goodness with which he was received, that from all this was produced +something having every appearance of love. A physical basis was lacking +to this feeling, however. Besides his capacity for impulses, as ideal +as the soul itself is, Zavilovski, like most artists, had the thoughts +of a satyr. Those thoughts were sleeping at that time. He arrayed +Marynia in so many glories and so much sacredness that he did not +desire her; and if, against every likelihood, she were to cast herself +on his neck unexpectedly, she would cease to be for him æsthetically +that which she was, and which he wished her to be in future,--that +is, a stainless being. All the more, therefore, did he judge that he +could permit himself such a feeling, and all the more was he grieved +now to part with that intoxication which had lulled his thought in +such a beautiful manner, and filled the void of his life. It had been +so pleasant for him, on returning home, to have a womanly figure at +whose feet he had placed his soul,--to have one of whom to dream, and +to whom he might write verses. Now he understands that if she discovers +definitely what is taking place in him, if he does not succeed in +hiding this better than hitherto, their relations cannot endure, and +the former void, more painful than ever, will surround him a second +time. He began then to think how he was to escape this, and how, not +only not to lose anything of what he had enjoyed so far, but to see +Marynia still oftener. In his quick imagination, there was no lack of +methods. When he had made a hasty review, he found and chose one which, +as it seemed to him, led directly to his object. + +"I will fall in love, as it were, with Panna Castelli," said he to +himself, "and will confess to Pani Polanyetski my torments. That not +only will not separate us, but will bring us nearer. I will make her my +patroness." + +And straightway he begins to arrange the thing as if he were arranging +objects. He imagines that he is in love with that "dreamy queen;" that +he is unhappy, and that he will confess his secret to Marynia, who will +listen to him willingly, with eyes moist from pity, and, like a real +sister, will place her hand on his head. This play of fancy seemed to +him so actual, and his sensitiveness was so great, that he composed +expressions with which he would confess to Marynia; he found simple and +touching ones, and he did this with such occupation that he himself was +moved sincerely. + +Marynia, returning home with her husband, thought of that poem entitled +"Lilia," which had delayed the issue of the book. Like a real woman, +she was somewhat curious about it, and feared it a little. She feared +too in general the difficulty which the future might bring in the +relation with Zavilovski. And under the influence of these fears she +said,-- + +"Knowest thou of what I am thinking? That Lineta would be a great prize +for Zavilovski." + +"Tell me," answered Pan Stanislav, "what shot this Zavilovski and that +girl into thy head." + +"I, my Stas, am not a matchmaker, I say only that it would not be bad. +Aneta Osnovski is rather a hot head, it is true; but she is so lively, +such a fire spark." + +"Abrupt, not lively; but believe me that she is not so simple as she +seems, and that she has her own little personal plan in everything. +Sometimes I think that Panna Lineta concerns her as much as she does +me, and that at the root of all this something else is hidden." + +"What could it be?" + +"I don't know, and I don't know, perhaps, because I don't care much. In +general, I have no faith in those women." + +Their conversation was interrupted by Mashko, who was just driving in +by the road before their house; and, seeing them, he hastened to greet +Marynia, and said then to Pan Stanislav,-- + +"It is well that we have met, for to-morrow I am going away for a +couple of days, and to-day is my time for payment, so I bring thee the +money." + +"I have just been at your father's," said he, turning to Marynia. "Pan +Plavitski seems in perfect health; but he told me that he yearns for +the country and land management, therefore he is thinking whether to +buy some little place near the city, or not. I told him that if we win +the will case he can stay at Ploshov." + +Marynia did not like this conversation, in which there was evident, +moreover, a slight irony; hence she did not wish to continue it. After +a while Pan Stanislav took Mashko to his study,-- + +"Then is all going well?" asked he. + +"Here is the instalment due on my debt," answered Mashko; "be so kind +as to give a receipt." + +Pan Stanislav sat down at his desk, and wrote a receipt. + +"But now there is another affair," continued Mashko: "I sold some oak +in Kremen once, on condition that I might redeem it, returning the +price and a stipulated interest. Here is the price and the interest. I +trust that thou hast nothing to add; I can only thank thee for a real +service rendered, and shouldst thou ever need something of me, I beg +thee,--without any ceremony, I beg thee to come to me, service for +service. As is known to thee, I like to be grateful." + +"This monkey is beginning to patronize me," thought Pan Stanislav. And +if he had not been in his own house, he might have uttered the silent +remark aloud; but he restrained himself and said,-- + +"I have nothing to add; such was the contract. Besides, I have never +considered that as business." + +"All the more do I esteem it," answered Mashko, kindly. + +"Well, what is to be heard in general?" inquired Pan Stanislav. "Thou +art moving with all sails, I see. How is it with the will?" + +"On behalf of the benevolent institutions a young little advocate is +appearing named Sledz (herring). A nice name, isn't it? If I should +call a cat by that name, she would miau for three days. But I'll +pepper that herring and eat him. As to the lawsuit? It stands this +way, that at the end of it I shall be able to withdraw from law in all +likelihood, which, moreover, is not an occupation befitting me--and I +will settle in Kremen permanently." + +"With ready money in thy pocket?" + +"With ready money in my pocket, and in plenty. I have enough of law. Of +course, whoso came from the country is drawn to it. That is inherited +with the blood. But enough of this matter, for the present. To-morrow, +as I told thee, I am going away; and I recommend my wife to thee, +all the more that Pani Kraslavski has gone just now to an oculist +in Vienna. I am going besides to the Osnovskis' to ask them too to +remember her." + +"Of course we shall think of her," said Pan Stanislav. Then the +conversation with Marynia occurred to him, and he asked,-- + +"Thy acquaintance with the Osnovskis is of long standing?" + +"Rather long, though my wife knows them better. He is a very rich man; +he had one sister who died, and a miserly uncle, after whom he received +a great fortune. As to her, what shall I say to thee? she read when +still unmarried all that came to her hand; she had pretensions to wit, +to art,--in a word, to everything to which one may pretend,--and in her +way fell in love with Kopovski: here she is for thee _in toto_." + +"And Pani Bronich and Panna Castelli?" + +"Panna Castelli pleases women rather than men; moreover, I know nothing +of her, except that it is said that this same Kopovski tried for her, +or is trying now, but Pani Bronich--" + +Here Mashko began to laugh. "Pani Bronich the Khedive conducted in +person over the pyramid of Cheops; the late Alphonso of Spain said +every day to her in Cannes, 'Bon jour, Madame la Comtesse.' In the year +56, Musset wrote verses in her album, and Moltke sat with her on a +trunk in Karlsbad,--in one word, she has been at every coronation. Now, +since Panna Castelli has grown up, or rather luxuriated up to five feet +and some inches, Aunt 'Sweetness' makes those imaginary journeys, not +on her own account, but her niece's, in which for some time past Pani +Osnovski helps her so zealously that it is difficult to understand what +her object is. This is all, unless it is thy wish to know something of +the late Pan Bronich, who died six years ago, it is unknown of what +disease, for Pani Bronich finds a new one every day for him, adding, +besides, that he was the last of the descendants of Rurik, not stating, +however, that the second last descendant--that is, his father--was +manager for the Rdultovskis, and made his property out of them. Well, +I have finished,--'Vanity fair!' Be well, keep well, and in case of +need count on me. If I were sure that such a need would come quickly, I +would make thee promise to turn to no one but me. Till we meet!" + +When he had said this, Mashko pressed his friend's hand with +indescribable kindness; and when he had gone, Pan Stanislav, shrugging +his shoulders, said,-- + +"Such a clever man apparently, and doesn't see the very same vanity in +himself that he is laughing at in others! How different he was such a +little while ago! He had almost ceased to pretend; but when trouble +passed, the devil gained the upper hand." + +Here he remembered what Vaskovski had said once about vanity and +playing a comedy; then he thought,-- + +"And still such people have success in this country." + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + +Pani Osnovski forgot her "Florentine-Roman" evenings so thoroughly +that she was astonished when her husband reminded her once of them. +Such evenings are not even in her head now; she has other occupations, +which she calls "taming the eagle." If any one does not see that the +_eagle_ and Lineta are created for each other, then, with permission +of my husband and lord, he has very short sight; but there is no help +for that. In general, men fail to understand many things, for they +lack perception. Zavilovski may be an exception in this regard; but if +Marynia Polanyetski would tell him, through friendship, to dress with +more care and let his beard grow, it would be perfect! "Castelka"[9] is +so thoroughly æsthetic that the least thing offends her, though on the +other hand he carries her away,--nay, more, he hypnotizes her simply. +And with her nature that is not wonderful. + +Pan Osnovski listened to this chattering, and, dissolving from ecstasy, +watched the opportunity to seize his wife's hands, and cover them, and +her arms to the elbow, with kisses; once, however, he put the perfectly +natural question, which Pan Stanislav too had put to Marynia,-- + +"Tell me what concern thou hast in this?" + +But Pani Aneta said coquettishly,-- + +"_La reine s'amuse!_ It is not a trick to write books. If there be +only a little talent, that's enough; but to bring into life that which +is described in books is a far greater trick, and, besides, what +amusement!" + +And after a while she added,-- + +"I may have some personal object; and if I have, let Yozio guess it." + +"I'll tell it in thy ear," answered Osnovski. + +She put out her ear with a cunning mien, blinking her violet eyes with +curiosity. But Osnovski only brought his lips to her ear to kiss it; +for the whole secret he repeated simply,-- + +"_La reine s'amuse!_" + +And there was truth in this. Pani Aneta might have her own personal +object in bringing Zavilovski near "Castelka;" but in its own way that +development of a romance in life and the rôle of a little Providence +occupied and amused her immensely. + +With these providential intentions she ran in often to Marynia, to +learn something of the "eagle," and returned in good spirits usually. +Zavilovski, wishing to lull Marynia's suspicions, spoke more and more +of Lineta; his diplomacy turned out so effectual that once, when Pani +Aneta inquired of Marynia directly if Zavilovski were not in love with +her, she answered, laughing,-- + +"We must confess that he is in love, my Anetka, but not with me, nor +with thee. The apple is adjudged to Lineta, and nothing is left to us +but to cry or be comforted." + +On the other hand, feelings and thoughts were talked into and +attributed continually to Lineta which self-love itself would not let +her deny. From morning till evening she heard that this "eagle" of +wide wings was in love with her; that he was at her feet; and that +such a chosen one, such an exceptional being, as she was, could not be +indifferent to this. It flattered her also too much to make it possible +for her to be indifferent. While painting Kopovski, she admired always, +it is true, the "splendid plain surfaces" on his face, and liked him +because he offered her a field for various _successes_, which were +repeated later as proofs of her wit and cleverness; she liked him for +various reasons. Zavilovski, too, was not an ill-looking man, though he +did not wear a beard, and did not dress with due care. Besides, so much +was said of his wings, and of this,--that a soul such as hers should +understand him. All said this, not Pani Aneta only. Pani Bronich, +who, on a time, did not understand how any one could avoid falling +in love with herself, transferred later on to her niece this happy +self-confidence, and accepted the views of Pani Aneta, ornamenting at +the same time the canvas of reality with flowers from her own mind. At +last Pan Osnovski, too, joined the chorus. Out of love for his wife, +he loved "Castelka" and Pani Bronich, and was ready to love whatever +had remote or near relation to "Anetka," hence he took the matter +seriously. Zavilovski was for him sympathetic; the information which he +collected touching him was favorable. In general, he learned only that +he was misanthropic, ambitious, and pursued stubbornly whatever he +aimed at; besides, he was secretive, and greatly gifted. Since all this +pleased the ladies, Osnovski began to think with perfect seriousness +"if that were not well." Zavilovski justified so far the serious view +of affairs,--he had begun for some time to visit more frequently the +"common drawing-room," and to speak oftener with Lineta. The first, it +is true, he did always at the cordial invitation of Pani Aneta, but +the other flowed from his will. Pani Aneta noticed, also, that his +glance rested more and more on the golden hair and the dreamy lids +of "Castelka," and his eyes followed her when she passed through the +drawing-room. Indeed, he began to survey her more carefully, a little +through diplomacy, a little through curiosity. + +The affair became much more important when the first volume of his +poetry was issued. The poems had won attention already and were much +spoken of; but the effect was weakened through this,--that they had +appeared at considerable intervals, and unconnected. Now the book +struck people's eyes; it was brilliant, strong, sincere. The language +had freshness and metallic weight, but still bent obediently, and +assumed the most subtile forms. The impression increased. Soon the +murmur of praise changed to a roar filled with admiration. With the +exaggeration usual in such cases, the work was exalted above its +value, and in the young poet people began to foresee the coming heir +of great glory and authority; his name passed from newspaper offices +to publicity. People spoke of him everywhere, were occupied with him, +sought him; curiosity became the greater that he was little known +personally. The old rich Zavilovski, Panna Helena's father, who said +that the two greatest plagues existing were perhaps the gout and poor +relatives, repeated now to every one who asked him, "_Mais oui, mais +oui,--c'est mon cousin_;" and such testimony had also its social weight +for many persons, and, among others, weight of first order for Pani +Bronich. Pani Aneta and Lineta ceased even to suffer because of the pin +of "poor taste" in Zavilovski's necktie, for now everything about him +might pass as original. She was pained yet that his name was Ignatsi. +They would have preferred another more in keeping with his fame and +his poetry; but when Osnovski, who from Metz had brought home a little +Latin, explained to them that it meant "fiery," they answered that if +that were true, it was another thing; and they were reconciled with +Ignatsi. + +Sincere and great joy reigned at Bigiel's, at Pan Stanislav's, and in +the counting-house, because the book had won such fame; they were not +envious in the counting-house. The old cashier, the agent, and the +second book-keeper were proud of their colleague, as if his glory had +brightened the counting-house also. The cashier even said, "But we +have shown the world what our style is!" Bigiel was thinking for two +days whether in view of all this Zavilovski should remain in a modest +position in the house of Polanyetski and Bigiel; but Zavilovski, when +questioned by him, answered,-- + +"This is very good of you, kind sir. Because people are talking a +little about me, you want to take my morsel of bread from me, and my +pleasant associates. I found no publishers; and had it not been for +your book-keeper, I could not have published the volume." + +To such an argument there was no answer, and Zavilovski remained in +the counting-house. But he was a more frequent guest both at Bigiel's +and at Pan Stanislav's. At the Osnovskis' he had not shown himself for +a whole week after the volume was published, just as if something had +happened. But Pani Bigiel and Marynia persuaded him to go; he had a +secret desire, too,--hence one evening he went. + +But he found the company just going to the theatre. They wished to +remain at home absolutely, but he would not consent; and to the evident +delight of Pani Osnovski and Lineta, it ended in this,--that he went +with them. "Let Yozio buy a ticket for a chair if he wishes." And Yozio +took a ticket for a chair. During the play Zavilovski sat in the front +of the box with Lineta, for Pani Aneta had insisted that Pani Bronich +and she would play "mother" for them. "You two can say what you please; +and if any one comes, I will so stun him that he'll not have power to +trouble you." The eyes of people were turned frequently to that box +when it was known who were sitting there, and Lineta felt that a kind +of halo surrounded her; she felt that people not only were looking at +him, but at the same time inquiring, "Whose is that head with golden +hair and dreamy lids, to whom he is inclining and speaking?" She, on +her part, looking at him sometimes, said to herself, "Were it not +for the too prominent chin, he would be perfectly good-looking; his +profile is very delicate, and a beard might cover his chin." Pani Aneta +carried out her promise nobly; and when Kopovski appeared, she occupied +him so much that he could barely greet Lineta, and say to Zavilovski,-- + +"Ah, you write verses!" + +After this happy discovery he succeeded in adding, but rather as a +monologue, "I should like verses immensely; but, a wonderful thing, the +moment I read them I think of something else right away." + +Lineta, turning her face, cast a long glance at him; and it is unknown +which was stronger in this glance, the maliciousness of the woman, or +the sudden admiration of the artist, for that head without brains, +which, issuing from the depth of the box, seemed, on the red background +of the wall, like some masterly thought of an artist. + +After the theatre, Pani Aneta would not let Zavilovski go home; and all +went to drink tea. Hardly had they reached the house, when Pani Bronich +began to make reproaches. + +"You are an evil man; and if anything happens to Lineta, it will be on +your conscience. The child doesn't eat, doesn't sleep; she only reads +you, and reads." + +Pani Aneta added immediately,-- + +"True! I, too, have cause of complaint: she seized your book, and will +not give it to any one for an instant; and when we are angry, do you +know what she answers? 'This is mine! this is mine!'" + +And Lineta, though she had not the book in her hands at that moment, +pressed them to her bosom, as if to defend something, and said in a +low, soft voice,-- + +"For it is mine, mine!" + +Zavilovski looked at her and felt that something had, as it were, +thrilled in him. But on returning home late he passed by Pan +Stanislav's windows, in which light was still shining. After the +theatre and conversation at the Osnovskis' he felt a certain turning +of the head. Now the sight of those windows brought him to himself; +he felt suddenly such a pleasant impression as one experiences on +thinking of something very good and very dear. His immense, pure homage +for Marynia arose in him with its former power: he was possessed by +that kind of mild exaltation in which the desires fall asleep, and a +man becomes almost entirely a spirit; and he returned home, muttering +passages from the poem "Lilia," the most full of exaltation of any +which he had written in his life yet. + +There was light at Pan Stanislav's because something had happened, +which seemed to Marynia that mercy of God expected and hoped for. + +In the evening, after tea, she was sitting breaking her head, as usual, +over daily accounts, when she put the pencil down on a sudden. After a +while she grew pale, but her face became clear; and she said, with a +voice slightly changed,-- + +"Stas!" + +Her voice surprised him somewhat; therefore he approached her, and +asked,-- + +"What is the matter? Thou art a little pale." + +"Come nearer; I'll tell thee something." + +And, taking his head with her hands, she whispered into his ear, and he +listened; then, kissing her on the forehead, he said,-- + +"Only be not excited, lest thou hurt thyself." + +But in his words emotion was evident. He walked through the room, +looked at her a while, kissed her again on the forehead; at last he +said,-- + +"Usually people wish a son first, but remember that it be a daughter. +We'll call her Litka." + +Neither of them could sleep that night for a long time, and that was +why Zavilovski saw light in the windows. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [9] Familiar for Castelli. + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + +In a week, when probability had become certainty, Pan Stanislav gave +the news to the Bigiels. Pani Bigiel flew the same day to Marynia, who +fell to weeping with gladness on her honest shoulders. + +"It seems to me," said she, "that Stas will love me more now." + +"How more?" + +"I wished to say still more," answered Marynia. "Seest thou, for that +matter, I have never enough." + +"He would have to settle with me if there were not enough." + +The tears dried on Marynia's sweet face, and only a smile remained. +After a time she clasped her hands, as if in prayer, and said,-- + +"Oh, my God, if it is only a daughter! for Stas wants a daughter." + +"And what wouldst thou like?" + +"I--but don't tell Stas--I should like a son; but let it be a daughter." + +Then she grew thoughtful, and asked,-- + +"But there is no help, is there?" + +"There is not," answered Pani Bigiel, laughing; "for that they have not +found yet any remedy." + +Bigiel, on his part, gave the news to every one whom he met; and in the +counting-house he said, in Pan Stanislav's presence, with a certain +unction in his voice,-- + +"Well, gentlemen, it seems that the house will be increased by one +member." + +The employees turned inquiring glances on him; he added,-- + +"Thanks to Pan and Pani Polanyetski." + +Then all hurried to Pan Stanislav with good wishes, excepting +Zavilovski, who, bending over his desk, began to look diligently at +columns of figures; and only after a while, when he felt that his +conduct might arrest attention, did he turn with a changed face to +Pan Stanislav, and, pressing his hand, repeat, "I congratulate, I +congratulate!" + +It seemed to him then that he was ridiculous, that something had fallen +on his head; that he felt empty, boundlessly stupid; and that the whole +world was fabulously trivial. The worst, however, was the feeling +of his own ridiculousness; for the affair was so natural and easily +foreseen that even such a man as Kopovski might foresee it. At the same +time, he, an intelligent man, writing poetry, pervaded with enthusiasm, +grasping everything which happened around, slipped into such an +illusion that it seemed to him then as if a thunderbolt had struck him. +What overpowering ridiculousness! But he had made the acquaintance of +Marynia as Pani Polanyetski, and imagined to himself unconsciously that +she had always been, and would be, Pani Polanyetski in the future as +she was in the present, and simply it had not occurred to him that any +change might supervene. And behold, observing lily tones once on her +face, he called her Lily, and wrote lily verses to her. And now that +lost sense, which to vexation adds something of ridicule, whispered +in his ear, "Ah, a pretty lily!" And Zavilovski felt more and more +crushed, more and more ridiculous; he wrote verses, but Pan Stanislav +did not write any. In that apposition there was a gnawing bitterness, +and something idiotic; he took deep draughts from that cup, so as not +to lose one drop in the drinking. If his feelings had been betrayed; if +he had made them known to Marynia; if she had repulsed him with utter +contempt, and Pan Stanislav had thrown him downstairs,--there would +have been something in that like a drama. But such an ending,--"such +flatness!" He had a nature feeling everything ten times more keenly +than common men; hence the position seemed to him simply unendurable, +and those office hours, which he had to sit out yet, a torture. His +feeling for Marynia had not sunk in his heart deeply; but it occupied +his imagination altogether. Reality now struck its palm on his head +without mercy; the blow seemed to him not only painful and heavy, but +also given sneeringly. The desperate thought came to his head to seize +his cap, go out, and never come back again. Fortunately, the usual hour +for ending work came at last, and all began to separate. + +Zavilovski, while passing through the corridor, where, at a hat-rack, a +mirror was fixed, saw his projecting chin and tall form in it, and said +to himself, "Thus looks an idiot." He did not go to dine that day with +the second book-keeper, as usual; he would have been even glad to flee +from his own person. Meanwhile he shut himself in at home, and with +the exaggeration of a genuine artist, heightened to impossible limits +his misfortune and ridiculous position. After some days he grew calm, +however; he felt only a strange void in his heart,--precisely as if it +were a dwelling vacated by some one. He did not show himself at Pan +Stanislav's for a fortnight; but at the end of that time he saw Marynia +at the Bigiels', and was astonished. + +She seemed to him almost ugly. That was by no means his prejudice, +for, though it was difficult to notice a change in her form, still +she had changed greatly. Her lips were swollen; there were pimples +on her forehead; and she had lost freshness of color. She was calm, +however, but somewhat melancholy, as if some disappointment had met +her. Zavilovski, who, in truth, had a good heart, was moved greatly by +her ugliness. Before, it seemed to him that he would disregard her; now +that seemed to him stupid. + +But her face only had changed, not her kindness or good-will. Nay, +feeling safe now from superfluous enthusiasms on his part, she showed +him more cordiality than ever. She asked with great interest about +Lineta; and when she found that a subject on which he, too, spoke +willingly, she began to laugh with her former laughter, full of +indescribable sweetness, and said almost joyously,-- + +"Well, well! People wonder there why you have not visited them for so +long a time; and do you know what Aneta and Pani Bronich told me? They +told me--" + +But here she stopped, and after a while said,-- + +"No; I cannot tell this aloud. Let us walk in the garden a little." + +And she rose, but not with sufficient care, so that, stumbling at the +first step, she almost fell. + +"Be careful!" cried Pan Stanislav, impatiently. + +She looked at him with submission, almost with fear. + +"Stas," said she, blushing, "as I love thee, that was inadvertent." + +"But do not frighten her so," said Pani Bigiel, quickly. + +It was so evident that Pan Stanislav cared more at that moment for the +coming child than Marynia, that even Zavilovski understood it. + +As to Marynia, this was known to her long before that day; she had +passed through a whole mental battle with herself just because of +it. Of that battle she had not spoken to any one; and it was the more +difficult, the more the state of her health advised against excitement, +unquiet, and an inclination to gloomy brooding. She had passed through +grievous hours before she said to herself, "It must be as it is." + +Pan Stanislav would have been simply astonished had any one told him +that he did not love, and especially that he did not value, his wife as +duty demanded. He loved her in his own way, and judged at once that, if +ever, it was then that the child should be for both a question beyond +every other. Vivacious and impulsive by nature, he pushed this care at +moments too far, but he did not account this to himself as a fault; +he did not even stop to think of what might take place in the soul of +Marynia. It seemed to him that among other duties of hers one of the +first was the duty of giving him children; that it was a simple thing, +therefore, that she should accomplish this. Hence he was thankful to +her, and imagined that, being careful of a child, he was by that very +act careful of her, and careful in a degree that few husbands are. +If he had considered it proper to call himself to account touching +his treatment of her, he would have considered it a thing perfectly +natural also that her charm, purely feminine, attracted him now less +than it had hitherto. With each day she became uglier, and offended his +æsthetic sense sometimes; he fancied that, concealing this from her, +and trying to show her sympathy, he was as delicate as a man could well +be to a woman. + +She, on her part, had the impression that the hope on which she had +counted most had deceived her; she felt that she had descended to the +second place, that she would descend more and more. And in spite of all +her affection for her husband, in spite of the treasures of tenderness +which were collecting in her for the future child, rebellion and regret +seized her soul at the first moment. But this did not last long; she +battled with these feelings also, and conquered. She said to herself +that here it was no one's fault; life is such that this issues from the +natural condition of things, which, again, is a result of God's will. +Then she began to accuse herself of selfishness, and crush herself +with the weight of this thought: Has she a right to think of herself, +not of "Stas," and not of her future child? What can she bring against +"Stas"? What is there wonderful in this, that he, who had loved even a +strange child so much, has his soul occupied now, above all, with his +own; that his heart beats first for it? Is there not an offence against +God in this,--that she permits herself to bring forward first of all +rights of her own, happiness of her own, she, who has offended so much? +Who is she, and what right has she to an exceptional fate? And she was +ready to beat her breast. The rebellion passed; there remained only +somewhere in the very depths of her heart a little regret that life +is so strange, and that every new feeling, instead of strengthening a +previous one, pushes it into the depths. But when that sorrow went from +her heart to her eyes, under the form of tears, or began to quiver on +her lips, she did not let it have such an escape. + +"I shall be calm in a moment," thought she, in her soul. "Such it is, +such it will be, and such is right; for such is life, and such is God's +will, with which we must be reconciled." And at last she was reconciled. + +By degrees she found repose even, not giving an account to herself that +the basis of this was resignation and sadness. It was sadness, however, +which smiled. Being young, it was almost bitter at times to her, when +all at once, in the eyes of her husband, or of even some stranger, she +read clearly, "Oh, how ugly thou hast grown!" But because Pani Bigiel +had said that "afterward" she would be more beautiful than ever, she +said in her soul to them, "Wait!"--and that was her solace. + +She answered also something similar to Zavilovski. She was at once +glad, and not glad, of the impression she had made on him; for if on +the one hand her self-love had suffered a little, on the other she felt +perfectly safe, and could speak with him freely. She wished to speak, +and speak with full seriousness, for a few days before, Pani Aneta had +told her directly that "The Column" was in love to the ears, and that +Zavilovski had every chance with her. + +This forging the iron while hot disquieted her somewhat; she could not +understand why it was so, even taking into consideration the innate +impetuosity of Pani Aneta. For Zavilovski, who had become somehow the +Benjamin of both houses, she, as well as the Bigiels and Pan Stanislav, +had great friendship; and, besides, she was grateful to him, for, be +things as they might, he had appreciated her. He had known her truly, +hence she would help him with gladness in that which seemed to her +a great opportunity; but she thought also, "Suppose it should be bad +for him." She feared responsibility a little, and her own previous +diplomacy. Now, therefore, she wishes to learn first what he thinks +really, and then give him to understand how things are, and finally +advise him to examine and weigh with due care in the given case. + +"They are wondering there, because you have not called for a long +time," said she, when they had gone to the garden. + +"What did Pani Osnovski say?" inquired Zavilovski. + +"I will tell you only one thing, though I am not sure that I ought to +repeat it. Pani Aneta told me--that--but no! First, I must learn why +you have not called there this long time." + +"I was not well, and I had a disappointment. I made no visits; I could +not! You have stopped talking." + +"Yes, for I wished to know if you were not angry at those ladies for +some cause. Pani Aneta told me that Lineta supposed you were, and that +she saw tears in her eyes a number of times, for that reason." + +Zavilovski blushed; on his young and impressionable face real +tenderness was reflected. + +"Ah, my God!" answered he; "I angry, and at a lady like Panna Lineta? +Could she offend any one?" + +"I repeat what was said to me, though Pani Aneta is so impulsive that +I dare not guarantee all she says to be accurate. I know that she is +not lying; but, as you understand, very impulsive people see things +sometimes as if through a magnifying-glass. Satisfy yourself. Lineta +seems to me agreeable, very uncommon, and very kind--but judge for +yourself; you have such power of observation." + +"That she is kind and uncommon is undoubted. You remember how I said +that they produced the impression of foreign women; that is not true +altogether. Pani Osnovski may, but not Panna Lineta." + +"You must look yourself, and look again," said Marynia. "You understand +that I persuade you to nothing. I should have a little fear, even of +Stas, who does not like those ladies. But I say sincerely that when I +heard of Lineta's tears, my heart was touched. The poor girl!" + +"I cannot even tell you how the very thought of that stirs me," replied +Zavilovski. + +Further conversation was interrupted by the coming of Pan Stanislav, +who said,-- + +"Well? always matchmakers! But these women are incurable. Knowest thou, +Marynia, what I will tell thee? I should be most happy wert thou to +refrain from such matters." + +Marynia began to explain; but he turned to Zavilovski, and said,-- + +"I enter into nothing in this case, and know only this,--that I have +not the least faith in those ladies." + +Zavilovski went home full of dreams. All the strings of his imagination +had been stirred and sounded, so that the wished-for sleep fled from +him. He did not light a lamp, so that nothing might prevent him from +playing on those quivering strings; he sat in the moonlight and mused, +or rather, created. He was not in love yet; but a great tenderness +had possessed him at thought of Lineta, and he arranged images as if +he loved already. He saw her as distinctly as though she were before +him; he saw her dreamy eyes, and her golden head, bending, like a cut +flower, till it reached his breast. And now it seems to him that he is +placing his fingers on her temples, and that he is feeling the satin +touch of her hair, and, bending her head back a little, he looks to +see if the fondling has not dried her tears; and her eyes laugh at +him, like the sky still wet from rain, but sunny. Imagination moves +his senses. He thinks that he is confessing his love to her; that he +presses her to his bosom, and feels her heart beating; that he kneels +with his head on her knees, from which comes warmth through the silk +garment to his face. And he began in reality to shiver. Hitherto she +had been for him an image; now he feels her for the first time as a +woman. There is not in him even one thought which is not on her; and he +so forgets himself in her that he loses consciousness of where he is, +and what is happening within him. + +Some kind of hoarse singing on the street roused him; then he lighted a +lamp, and began to think more soberly. A kind of alarm seized him now, +because one thing seemed undoubted,--if he did not cease to visit Pani +Bronich and the Osnovskis altogether, he would fall in love with that +maiden past memory. + +"I must choose, then," said he to himself. + +And next day he went to see her, for he had begun to yearn; and that +same night he tried to write a poem with the title of "Spider-web." + +He dared not go to Pani Bronich herself, so he waited till the hour +when he could find all at tea, in the common drawing-room. Pani +Aneta received him with uncommon cordiality, and outbursts of joyous +laughter; but he, after greeting her, began to look at Lineta's face, +and his heart beat with more force when he saw in her a great and deep +joy. + +"Do you know what?" cried Pani Aneta, with her usual vivacity. "Our +'Poplar' likes beards so much that I thought this of you: 'he is +letting his beard grow, and does not show himself.'" + +"No, no!" said the "Poplar," "stay as you were when I made your +acquaintance." + +But Pan Osnovski put his arm around Zavilovski, and said, in that +pleasant tone of a man of good breeding, who knows how to bring people +at once to more intimate and cordial relations,-- + +"Did Pan Ignas hide himself from us? Well, I have means to compel him. +Let Lineta begin his portrait, then he must come to us daily." + +Pani Aneta clapped her hands. + +"How clever that Yozio is, wonderfully clever!" + +His face was radiant because he had said a thing pleasing to his wife, +and he repeated,-- + +"Of course, my Anetka, of course." + +"I have promised already to paint it," said Lineta, with a soft voice, +"but I was afraid to be urgent." + +"Whenever you command," answered Pan Ignas. + +"The days are so long now that about four, after Pan Kopovski; for that +matter, I shall finish soon with that insufferable Kopovski." + +"Do you know what she said about Pan Kopovski?" began Pani Aneta. + +But Lineta would not permit her to say this for anything; she was +prevented, moreover, by Pan Plavitski, who came in at that moment, and +broke up the conversation. Pan Plavitski, on making the acquaintance of +Pani Aneta at Marynia's, lost his head for her, and acknowledged this +openly; on her part, she coquetted with him unsparingly, to the great +delight of herself and of others. + +"Let papa sit near me here," said she; "we will be happy side by side, +won't we?" + +"As in heaven! as in heaven!" replied Plavitski, stroking his knees +with his palms time after time, and thrusting out the tip of his tongue +from enjoyment. + +Zavilovski drew up to Lineta and said,-- + +"I am so happy to be able to come every day. But shall I not occupy +your time, really?" + +"Of course you will occupy it," answered she, looking him in the eyes; +"but you will occupy it as no one else can. I was really too timid to +urge, because I am afraid of you." + +Then he looked into the depth of her eyes, and answered with emphasis,-- + +"Be not afraid." + +Lineta dropped her eyelids, and a moment of rather awkward suspense +followed; then the lady inquired, in a voice somewhat lowered,-- + +"Why did you not come for such a long time?" + +He had it on his tongue to say, "I was afraid," but he had not the +daring to push matters that far; hence he answered,-- + +"I was writing." + +"A poem?" + +"Yes, called 'Spider-web;' I will bring it to-morrow. You remember that +when I made your acquaintance, you said that you would like to be a +spider-web. I remembered that; and since then I see continually such a +snowy thread sporting in the air." + +"It sports, but not with its own power," answered Lineta, "and cannot +soar unless--" + +"What? Why do you not finish?" + +"Unless it winds around the wing of a Soarer." + +When she had said this, she rose quickly and went to help Osnovski, who +was opening the window. + +Zavilovski remained alone with mist in his eyes. It seemed to him +that he heard the throbbing of his temples. The honeyed voice of Pani +Bronich first brought him to his senses,-- + +"A couple of days ago old Pan Zavilovski told me that you and he +are related; but that you are not willing to visit him, and that he +cannot visit you, since he has the gout. Why not visit him? He is a +man of such distinction, and so pleasant. Go to him; it is even a +disappointment to him that you do not go. Go to visit him." + +"Very well; I can go," answered Zavilovski, who was ready that moment +to agree to anything. + +"How kind and good you must be! You will see your cousin, Panna Helena. +But don't fall in love with her, for she too is very distinguished." + +"No, there is no danger," said Zavilovski, laughing. + +"They say besides that she was in love with Ploshovski, who shot +himself, and that she wears eternal mourning in her heart for him. But +when will you go?" + +"To-morrow, or the day after. When you like." + +"You see, they are going away. The summer is at our girdles! Where will +you be in the summer?" + +"I do not know. And you?" + +Lineta, who during this time had returned and sat down not far away, +stopped her conversation with Kopovski, and, hearing Pan Ignas's +question, replied,-- + +"We have no plan yet." + +"We were going to Scheveningen," said Pani Bronich, "but it is +difficult with Lineta." And after a while she added in a lower voice: +"She is always so surrounded by people; she has such success in society +that you would not believe it. Though why should you not? It is enough +to look at her. My late husband foretold this when she was twelve years +of age. 'Look,' said he, 'what trouble there will be when she grows +up.' And there is trouble, there is! My husband foresaw many things. +But have I told you that he was the last of the Rur--Ah, yes! I have +told you. We had no children of our own, for the first one didn't come +to birth, and my husband was fourteen years older than I; later on he +was to me more,--a father." + +"How can that concern me?" thought Pan Ignas. But Pani Bronich +continued,-- + +"My late husband always grieved over this, that he had no son. That is, +there was a son, but he came halfway too early" (here tears quivered +in the voice of Pani Bronich). "We kept him some time in spirits. And, +if you will believe it, when there was fair weather he rose, and when +there was rain he sank down. Ah, what a gloomy remembrance! How much +my husband suffered because he was to die,--the last of the Rur--. +But a truce to this; 't is enough that at last he was as attached to +Lineta as to a relative,--and surely she was his nearest relative,--and +what remains after us will be hers. Maybe for that reason people +surround her so. Though--no! I do not wonder at them. If you knew +what a torment that is to her, and to me. Two years ago, in Nice, a +Portuguese, Count Jao Colimaçao, a relative of the Alcantaras, so lost +his head as to rouse people's laughter. Or that Greek of last year, in +Ostend!--the son of a banker, from Marseilles, a millionnaire. What was +his name? Lineta, what was the name of that Greek millionnaire, that +one who, thou knowest?" + +"Aunt!" said Lineta, with evident displeasure. + +But the aunt was in full career already, like a train with full steam. + +"Ah, ha! I recollect," said she,--"Kanafaropulos, Secretary of the +French Embassy in Brussels." + +Lineta rose and went to Pani Aneta, who was talking at the principal +table with Plavitski. The aunt, following her with her eyes, said,-- + +"The child is angry. She hates tremendously to have any one speak of +her successes; but I cannot resist. Do you understand me? See how tall +she is! How splendidly she has grown! Anetka calls her sometimes the +column, and sometimes the poplar; and really, she is a poplar. What +wonder that people's eyes gaze at her! I haven't mentioned yet Pan +Ufinski. That's our great friend. My late husband loved him immensely. +But you must have heard of Pan Ufinski? That man who cuts silhouettes +out of paper. The whole world knows him. I don't know at how many +courts he has cut silhouettes; the last time he cut out the Prince of +Wales. There was also a Hungarian." + +Osnovski, who sat near by amusing himself with a pencil at his +watch-chain, now drawing it out, now pushing it back, grew impatient at +last, and said,-- + +"A couple of more such, dear aunt, and there would be a masquerade +ball." + +"Precisely, precisely!" answered Pani Bronich. "If I mention them, +it is because Lineta doesn't wish to hear of any one. She is such a +chauviniste! You have no idea what a chauviniste that child is." + +"God give her health!" said Pan Ignas. + +Then he rose to take farewell. At parting, he held for some time the +hand of Lineta, who answered also with an equally prolonged pressure. + +"Till to-morrow," said he, looking into her eyes. + +"Till to-morrow--after Pan Kopovski. And do not forget 'Spider-web.'" + +"No, I will not forget--ever," answered Zavilovski, with a voice +somewhat moved. + +He went out with Plavitski; but they had scarcely found themselves +on the street, when the old man, tapped him lightly on the arm, and +stopping, said,-- + +"Young man, do you know that I shall soon be a grandfather?" + +"I know." + +"Yes, yes!" repeated Plavitski with a smile of delight, "and in +addition to that, I will tell you only this much: there is nothing to +surpass young married women!" + +And, laughing, he began to clap Pan Ignas time after time on the +shoulder; then he put the ends of his fingers to his lips, took +farewell, and walked off. + +But his voice, slightly quivering, came to Pan Ignas from a distance,-- + +"There is nothing to surpass young married women." Noise on the street +drowned the rest. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + +From that time Pan Ignas went every day to Aunt Bronich's. He found +Kopovski there frequently, for toward the end something had been +spoiled in the portrait of "Antinoüs." Lineta said that she had not +been able to bring everything out of that face yet; that the expression +in the picture was not perhaps what it should be,--in a word, she +needed time for reflection. With Pan Ignas her work went more easily. + +"With such a head as Pan Kopovski's," said she once, "it is enough to +change the least line, it is enough to have the light wrong, to ruin +everything. While with Pan Zavilovski one must seize first of all the +character." + +On hearing this, both were satisfied. Kopovski declared even that it +was not his fault; that God had created him so. Pani Bronich said later +on that Lineta had said apropos of that: "God created him; the Son of +God redeemed him; but the Holy Ghost forgot to illuminate him." That +witticism on poor Kopovski was repeated throughout Warsaw. + +Pan Ignas liked him well enough. After a few meetings he seemed to +him so unfathomably stupid that it did not occur to him that any one +could be jealous of the man. On the contrary, it was always pleasant +to look at him. Those ladies too liked him, though they permitted +themselves to jest with him; and sometimes he served them simply as a +ball, which they tossed from hand to hand. Kopovski's stupidity was not +gloomy, however, nor suspicious. He possessed a uniform temper and a +smile really wonderful; of this last he was aware, perhaps, hence he +preferred to smile rather than frown. He was well-bred, accustomed to +society, and dressed excellently; in this regard he might have served +as a model to Pan Ignas. + +From time to time he put astonishing questions, which filled the young +ladies with merriment. Once, hearing Pani Bronich talk of poetic +inspirations, he asked Pan Ignas, "If anything was taken for it or +not," and at the first moment confused him, for Pan Ignas did not know +what to answer. + +Another time Pani Aneta said to him,-- + +"Have you ever written poetry? Make some rhyme, then." + +Kopovski asked time till next day; but next day he had forgotten the +request, or could not make the verses. The ladies were too well-bred to +remind him of his promise. It was always so agreeable to look at him +that they did not wish to cause him unpleasantness. + +Meanwhile spring ended, and the races began. Pan Ignas was invited for +the whole time of their continuance to the carriage of the Osnovskis. +They gave him a place opposite Lineta; and he admired her with all his +soul. In bright dresses, in bright hats, with laughter in her dreamy +eyes, with her calm face flushing somewhat under the breath of fresh +breezes, she seemed to him spring and paradise. Returning home, he had +his eyes full of her, his mind and his heart full. In that world in +which they lived, in the society of those young men, who came up to the +carriage to entertain the ladies, he was not at home, but the sight of +Lineta recompensed him for everything. Under the influence of sunny +days, fair weather, broad summer breezes, and that youthful maiden, +who began to be dear to him, he lived, as it were, in a continuous +intoxication; he felt youth and power in himself. In his face there was +at times something truly eagle-like. At moments it seemed to him that +he was a ringing bell, sounding and sounding, heralding the delight of +life, the delight of love, the delight of happiness,--a great jubilee +of loving. + +He wrote much, and more easily than ever before; there was besides in +his verses that which recalled the fresh odor of newly ploughed fields, +the vigor of young leaves, the sound of wings of birds flying on to +fallow land to the immense breadth of plains and meadows. He felt his +own power, and ceased to be timid about poetry even before strangers, +for he understood that there was something about him, something within +him, and that he had something to lay at the feet of a loved one. + +Pan Stanislav, who, in spite of his mercantile life, had an +irrestrainable passion for horses, and never neglected the races, saw +Pan Ignas every day with the Osnovskis and Panna Castelli, and gazing +at the latter as at a rainbow; when he teased him in the counting-house +for being in love, the young poet answered,-- + +"It is not I, but my eyes. The Osnovskis will go soon, those ladies +too; and all will disappear like a dream." + +But he did not speak truth, for he did not believe that all could +disappear like a dream. On the contrary, he felt that for him a new +life had begun, which with the departure of Panna Lineta might be +broken. + +"And where are Pani Bronich and Panna Castelli going?" continued Pan +Stanislav. + +"For the rest of June and during July they will remain with the +Osnovskis, and then go, as they say, to Scheveningen; but this is not +certain yet." + +"Osnovski's Prytulov is fifteen miles from Warsaw," said Pan Stanislav. + +For some days Pan Ignas had been asking himself, with heart beating, +whether they would invite him or not; but when they invited him, and +besides very cordially, he did not promise to go, and with all his +expressions of gratitude held back, excusing himself with the plea of +occupation and lack of time. Lineta, who was sitting apart, heard him, +and raised her golden brows. When he was going, she approached him and +asked,-- + +"Why will you not come to Prytulov?" + +He, seeing that no one could hear them, said, looking into her eyes,-- + +"I am afraid." + +She began to laugh, and inquired, repeating Kopovski's words,-- + +"Is it necessary to take anything for that?" + +"It is," answered he, with a voice somewhat trembling; "I need to take +the word, come, from you!" + +She hesitated a moment; perhaps she did not dare to tell him directly +in that form which he required, but she blushed suddenly and +whispered;-- + +"Come." + +Then she fled, as if ashamed of those colors on her face, which, in +spite of the darkness, were increasingly evident. + +On the way home it seemed to Pan Ignas that a shower of stars was +raining down on him. + +The departure of the Osnovskis was to take place in ten days only. +Up to that time, the painting of portraits was to continue its usual +course, and to go on in the same fashion till the last day, for Lineta +did not wish to lose time. Pani Aneta persuaded her to paint Pan Ignas +exclusively, since Kopovski would need only as many sittings as could +be arranged in Prytulov just before their departure for Scheveningen. +For Pan Ignas those sittings had become the first need of his life, as +it were; and if by chance there was any interruption, he looked on that +day as lost. Pani Bronich was present at the sittings most frequently. +But he divined in her a friendly soul; and at last the manner in which +she spoke of Lineta began to please him. They both just composed hymns +in honor of Lineta, whom in confidential conversation Pani Bronich +called "Nitechka."[10] This name pleased Pan Ignas the more clearly he +felt how that "Nitechka" (thread) was winding around his heart. + +Frequently, however, it seemed to him that Pani Bronich was narrating +improbable things. It was easy to believe that Lineta was and could be +Svirski's most capable pupil; that Svirski might have called her "La +Perla;" that he might have fallen in love with her, as Pani Bronich +gave one to understand. But that Svirski, known in all Europe, and +rewarded with gold medals at all the exhibitions, could declare with +tears, while looking at some sketch of hers, that saving technique, he +ought rather to take lessons of her, of this even Pan Ignas permitted +himself to doubt. And somewhere, in some corner of his soul, in which +there was hidden yet a small dose of sobriety, he wondered that Panna +"Nitechka" did not contradict directly, but limited herself to her +words usual on such occasions: "Aunt! thou knowest that I do not wish +you to repeat such things." + +But at last he lost even those final gleams of sobriety, and began to +have feelings of tenderness even over the late Bronich, and almost fell +in love with Pani Bronich, for this alone,--that he could talk with her +from morning till night of Lineta. + +In consequence of this repeated insistence of Pani Bronich, he visited +also, at this time, old Pan Zavilovski, that Croesus, at whose house +he had never been before. The old noble, with milk-white mustaches, a +ruddy complexion, and gray hair closely trimmed, received him with his +foot in an armchair, and with that peculiar great-lord familiarity of a +man accustomed to this,--that people count more with him than he with +them. + +"I beg pardon for not standing," said he, "but the gout is no joke. Ha, +what is to be done! An inheritance! It seems that this will be attached +to the name for the ages of ages. But hast thou not a twist in thy +thumb sometimes?" + +"No," answered Pan Ignas, who was a little astonished, as well at the +manner of reception as that the old noble said _thou_ to him from the +first moment. + +"Wait; old age will come." + +Then, calling his daughter, he presented Pan Ignas to her, and began to +speak of the family, explaining to the young man how they were related. +At last he said,-- + +"Well, I have not written verses, for I am too dull; but I must tell +thee that thou hast written them for me, and that I was not ashamed, +though I read my name under the verses." + +But the visit was not to end successfully. Panna Zavilovski, a person +of thirty years, good-looking, but, as it were, untimely faded and +gloomy, wishing to take some part in the conversation, began to inquire +of her "cousin" whom he knew, and where he visited. To every name +mentioned, the old noble appended, in one or two words, his opinion. +At mention of Pan Stanislav, he said, "Good blood!" at Bigiel's, he +inquired, "How?" and when the name was repeated, he said, "_Connais +pas_;" Pani Aneta he outlined with the phrase, "Crested lark!" at +mention of Pani Bronich he muttered, "Babbler;" at last, when the young +man named, with a certain confusion, Panna Castelli, the noble, whose +leg twitched evidently at that moment, twisted his face terribly, and +exclaimed, "Ei! a Venetian _half-devil_!" + +At this, it grew dark in the eyes of Pan Ignas, who, notwithstanding +his shyness, was impulsive; his lower jaw came forward more than ever, +and, rising, he measured with a glance the old man from his aching foot +to his crown, and said,-- + +"You have a way of giving sharp judgments, which does not suit me; +therefore it is pleasant to take farewell." + +And, bowing, he took his hat and departed. + +Old Pan Zavilovski, who permitted himself everything, and to whom +everything was forgiven, looked at his daughter some time with +amazement, and only after long silence exclaimed,-- + +"What! has he gone mad?" + +The young man did not tell Pani Bronich what had happened. He said +merely that he had made a visit, and that father and daughter alike +did not please him. She learned everything, however, from the old +man himself, who, for that matter, did not call Lineta anything but +"Venetian half-devil," even to her eyes. + +"But to make the matter perfect, you have sent me a full devil," said +he; "it is well that he did not break my head." + +Still in his voice one might note a species of satisfaction that it was +a _Zavilovski_ who had shown himself so resolute; but Pani Bronich did +not note it. She took the affair somewhat to heart, and, to the great +astonishment of the "full-devil," said to him,-- + +"He is wild about Lineta, and with him this is a sort of term of +tenderness; besides, one should forgive a man much who has such +a position, and in this age. It must be that you haven't read +Krashevski's novel, 'Venetian Half-Devil.' This is a title in which +there is a certain poetry ever since that author used it. When the old +man grows good-natured, write him a couple of words, will you not? Such +relations should be kept up." + +"Pani," answered Pan Ignas, "I would not write to him for anything in +the world." + +"Even if some one besides me should ask?" + +"That is--again, I am not a stone." + +Lineta laughed when she heard these words. In secret she was pleased +that Pan Ignas, at one word touching her which to him seemed offensive, +sprang up as if he had heard a blasphemy. So that during the sitting, +when for a while they were alone, she said,-- + +"It is wonderful how little I believe in the sincerity of people. So +difficult is it for me to believe that any one, except aunt, should +wish me well really." + +"Why?" + +"I don't know. I cannot explain it to myself." + +"But, for example, the Osnovskis? Pani Aneta?" + +"Pani Aneta?" repeated Lineta. + +And she began to paint diligently, as if she had forgotten the question. + +"But I?" asked Pan Ignas, in a lower voice. + +"You--yes. You, I am sure, would not let any one speak ill of me. I +feel that you are sincerely well-wishing, though I know not why, for in +general I am of so little worth." + +"You of little worth!" cried Pan Ignas, springing up. "Remember that, +in truth, I will let no one speak ill of you, not even you yourself." + +Lineta laughed and said,-- + +"Very well; but sit down, for I cannot paint." + +He sat down; but he looked at her with a gaze so full of love and +enchantment that it began to confuse her. + +"What a disobedient model!" said she; "turn your head to the right a +little, and do not look at me." + +"I cannot! I cannot!" answered Pan Ignas. + +"And I, in truth, cannot paint, for the head was begun in another +position. Wait!" + +Then she approached him, and, taking his temples with her fingers, +turned his head toward the right slightly. His heart began to beat like +a hammer; everything went around in his eyes; and, holding the hand of +Lineta, he pressed her warm palm to his lips, and made no answer,--he +only pressed it more firmly. + +"Talk with aunt," said she, hurriedly. "We are going to-morrow." + +They could not say more, for that moment Osnovski, Kopovski, and Pani +Aneta, who had been sitting in the drawing-room adjoining, came into +the studio. + +Pani Aneta, seeing Lineta's blushing cheeks, looked quickly at Pan +Ignas, and asked,-- + +"How is it going with you to-day?" + +"Where is aunt?" inquired Lineta. + +"She went out to make visits." + +"Long since?" + +"A few minutes ago. How has it gone with you?" + +"Well; but enough for to-day." + +Lineta put down her brush, and after a moment went to wash her hands. +Pan Ignas remained there, answering, with more or less presence +of mind, questions put to him; but he wanted to go. He feared the +conversation with Pani Bronich, and, with the habit of cowards, he +wished to defer it till the morrow; he wanted, besides, to remain a +while with his own thoughts, to arrange them, to estimate better the +significance of what had happened. For at that moment he had in his +head merely a certain chaos of indefinite thoughts; he understood that +something unparalleled had happened,--something from which a new epoch +in life would begin. At the very thought of this, a quiver of happiness +passed through him, but also a quiver of fear, for he felt that now it +was too late to withdraw; through love, through confession, through +declaration to the lady and to her family, he must advance to the +altar. He desired this with his whole soul; but he was so accustomed +to consider everything that was happiness as a poetic imagining, as +something belonging exclusively to the world of thought, art, and +dreams, that he almost lacked daring to believe that Lineta could +become his wife really. Meanwhile he had barely endurance to sit out +the time; and when Lineta returned, he rose to take leave. + +She gave him her hand, cooled by fresh water, and said,-- + +"Will you not wait for aunt?" + +"I must go; and to-morrow I will take farewell of you and Pani Bronich." + +"Then till our next meeting!" + +This farewell seemed to Pan Ignas, after what had happened, so +inappropriate and cold that despair seized him; but he had not the +daring to part before people otherwise, all the more that Pani Aneta +was looking at him with uncommon attention. + +"Wait! I have something to do in the city; we'll go together," said +Osnovski, as he was going out. + +And they went together; but barely were they outside the gate of the +villa, when Pan Osnovski stopped, and put his hand on the poet's arm. + +"Pan Ignas, have you not quarrelled a little with Lineta?" + +Pan Ignas looked at him with great eyes. + +"I? with Panna Lineta?" + +"Yes, for you parted somehow coldly. I thought you were as far, at +least, as hand-kissing." + +Pan Ignas's eyes grew still larger; Osnovski laughed, and said,-- + +"Well, I'll tell you the truth. My wife, as a woman who is curious, +looked at you, and said that something had happened. My Pan Ignas, you +have in me a great friend, who, besides, knows what it is to love. I +can say to you only one thing,--God grant you to be as happy as I am!" + +When he had said this, he began to shake his guest's hand; and Pan +Ignas, though confused to the highest degree, was barely able to +refrain from falling on his neck. + +"Have you really some work to-day? Why did you go?" + +"I will tell you sincerely. I wanted to collect my thoughts, and, +besides, fear of Pani Bronich seized me." + +"Then you do not know aunt? Her head, too, is warm with the question. +Come with me a bit of the road, and then go back without ceremony. +On the way you will collect your thoughts; by that time Pani Bronich +will be at home, and you will tell her your little story, at which she +will weep. Nothing else threatens you. Remember, too, that if you are +fortunate you are to thank mainly my Aneta, for, as God lives, she +has filled Castelka's head, as your own sister might. She has such an +impetuous head, and at the same time such an honest heart. Equally good +women there may be, but a better there is not on earth. It seemed to us +a little that that fool Kopovski was inclined to Castelka, and Aneta +was tremendously angry. They like Kopovski; but to let her marry such a +man--that would be too much." + +Thus talking, he took Pan Ignas by the hand, and after a moment, +continued, "We are to be relatives soon; let us drop ceremony and +say _thou_ to each other. I must tell thee further: I have no doubt +Castelka loves thee with her whole heart, for she is a true woman +also. Besides, they have turned her head with thee greatly; but she +is so young yet that I tell thee to throw fuel on the fire--throw it! +Dost understand? What is begun should become rooted; this can happen +easily, for hers is really an uncommon nature. Do not think that I +wish to forewarn or to frighten thee. No; it is a question only of +making things permanent. That she loves thee is not subject to doubt. +If thy eyes had but seen her when she was carrying thy book around, +or what happened when she and thou were returning from the theatre. A +stupid thought came to my head then. I spoke of having heard that old +Zavilovski wished to make thy acquaintance because he had planned to +marry thee to his daughter, so that his property might not leave the +name; and imagine to thyself, that poor girl, when she heard this, +became as pale as paper, so that I was frightened, and took back my +words in all haste. What is thy answer to this?" + +Pan Ignas wanted to laugh and to weep; but he merely pressed to his +side, and pressed with all his force, Osnovski's hand, which he held +under his arm, and said, after a while,-- + +"I am not worthy of her, no." + +"Well, and after that 'no' perhaps thou wilt say, 'No, I do not love +her properly.'" + +"That may be true," answered Pan Ignas, raising his eyes. + +"Well, go back now, and tell thy little story to Aunt Bronich. Do not +fear being too pathetic; she likes that. Till we meet again, Ignas! I +shall be back myself in an hour or so, and we shall have a betrothal +evening." + +They pressed each other's hands, and Osnovski said, with a feeling +which was quite brotherly,-- + +"I repeat once more: God grant thee to find in Castelka such a wife as +my Anetka!" + +On the way back Pan Ignas thought that Osnovski was an angel, Pani +Osnovski another, Pani Bronich a third, and Lineta, soaring above them +all on the wings of an archangel, something divine and sacred. He +understood at that moment that a heart might love to pain. In his soul +he was kneeling at her knees, bowing to the earth at her feet; he loved +her, deified her, and to all these feelings, which were playing in him +one great hymn, as it were, to greet the dawn, was joined a feeling of +such tenderness, as if that magnified woman was also a little child, +alone, and wonderfully loved, but a little thing, needing care. He +recalled Osnovski's story of how she had grown pale when they told +her that there was a plan to marry him to another; and in his soul he +repeated, "Ah, but thou art mine, thou art mine!" He grew tender beyond +measure, and gratitude so filled his heart that it seemed to him that +he could not repay her in a lifetime for that one moment of paleness. +He felt happier than ever before; and at moments the immensity of this +happiness almost frightened him. Hitherto he had been a theoretical +pessimist, but now reality gave the lie to those passing theories with +such power that it was hard for him to believe that he could have +deceived himself to such a degree. + +Meanwhile he was returning to the villa, inhaling along the way the +odor of blooming jasmines, and having some species of dim feeling that +that intoxicating odor was nothing external, but simply a part and +component of his happiness. "What people! what a house! what a family!" +said he to himself; "only among them could my White One be reared!" +Then he looked on the sun, setting in calmness; he looked at the golden +curtains of evening, bordered with purple; and that calmness began +to possess him. In those immense lights he felt boundless love and +kindness, which look on the world, cherish, and bless it. He did not +pray in words, it is true; but everything was singing one thanksgiving +prayer in his soul. + +At the gate of the villa he recovered as if from a dream; he saw an old +serving-man of the Osnovskis, who was looking at the passing carriages. + +"Good-evening, Stanislav," said he; "but has not Pani Bronich returned?" + +"I am just looking, but I do not see her." + +"Are the ladies in the drawing-room yet?" + +"They are; and Pan Kopovski, too." + +"But who will open for me?" + +"The door is open. I've come out only this minute." + +Pan Ignas went up; but, finding no one in the common drawing-room, he +went to the studio. There, too, he found no one; but in the adjoining +smaller chamber certain low voices reached him through the portière +dividing that room from the studio. Thinking to find there both ladies +and Kopovski, he drew aside the portière slightly, and, looking in, was +stupefied. + +Lineta was not in the room; but Kopovski was kneeling before Pani +Osnovski, who, holding her hands thrust into his abundant hair, was +bending his head back, inclining her face at the same time, as if to +place a kiss on his forehead. + +"Anetka, if thou love me--" said Kopovski, with a voice stifled from +passion. + +"I love--but no! I don't want that," answered Pani Osnovski, pushing +him away somewhat. + +Pan Ignas dropped the portière with an involuntary movement; for a +moment he stood before it as if his feet had grown leaden. Finally, +without giving himself a clear account of what he was doing, he passed +through the studio, where the sound of his steps was deadened on the +thick carpet, as it had been when he entered; he passed the main +drawing-room, the entrance, the front steps, and came to himself at the +gate of the villa. + +"Is the serene lord going out?" inquired the old serving-man. + +"Yes," answered Pan Ignas. + +He walked away as quickly as if escaping from something. After a time, +however, he stopped, and said aloud to himself,-- + +"Why have I not gone mad?" + +And suddenly madness seemed to him possible, for he felt that he was +losing the thread of his thoughts; that he could not give himself an +account of anything; that he understood nothing, believed nothing. +Something began to tear in him, fall away. How was it? That house +which a moment before he thought to be some kind of blessed retreat of +exceptional souls, conceals the usual falsehood, the usual wickedness, +the usual vileness of life,--a wretched and shameful comedy. And his +Lineta, his White One, is breathing such an atmosphere, living in +such an environment, existing with such beings! Here Osnovski's words +occurred to him: "God grant thee to find in Castelka such a wife as I +have in my Anetka!" "I thank thee," thought Pan Ignas, and he began +to laugh, in spite of himself. Neither evil nor vileness were to him +a novelty: he had seen them, and he knew that they existed; but for +the first time life showed them to him with such a merciless irony, as +that through which Pan Osnovski,--a man who had shown him the heart +of a brother; a man honest, just, kind as few people in the world +are--turned out to be also a fool, a kind of exalted idiot, exalted +through his faith and his feeling; an idiot through a woman. And for +the first time, too, he saw clearly what a bad and contemptible woman +may make of a man, without any fault of his. On a sudden new, dreadful +horizons of life opened before him,--whole regions, the existence of +which he had not suspected; he had understood before that an evil +woman, like a vampire, may suck the life out of a man, and kill him, +and that seemed to him demonic, but he had not imagined that she could +make a fool of him also. He could not master that thought. But still, +Osnovski was ridiculous when he wished him to be as happy with his +future wife as he with Anetka; there was no help for this case either. +One should not so love as to grow blind to that degree. + +Here his thoughts passed to Lineta. At the first moment he had a +feeling that from that vileness in the house of the Osnovskis, and +from that doubt which was born in his heart, a certain shadow fell on +her also. After a while he began, however, to cast out that feeling as +though it were profanation, treason against innocence, treason against +a being as pure as she was beloved, and defiling in thought her and +her angelic plumage. Indignation at himself seized him. "Does such a +dove even think evil?" asked he, in his soul. And his love rose still +more at the thought that "such a super-pure child" must come in contact +with such depravity. He would take her with the utmost haste possible +from Pani Osnovski's, guard her from that woman's influence, seize +her in his arms, and bear her from that house, in which her innocent +eyes might be opened on evil and depravity. A certain demon whispered +at moments to his ear, it is true, that Osnovski, too, believes as +he does, and that he would give his own blood in pledge for his +wife's honesty; he too would count every doubt a profanation of her +sacredness. But Pan Ignas drove away those whisperings with dread. "It +is enough to look into her eyes," said he; and at the mere thought of +those eyes, he was ready to beat his own breast, as if lie had sinned +most grievously. He was also angry at himself because he had come out, +because he had not waited for Pani Bronich, and had not strengthened +himself with the sight of Lineta. He remembered now how he had pressed +her hand to his lips; how she, changing from emotion, said to him, +"Speak with aunt." How much angelic simplicity and purity there was in +those words! what honesty of a soul, which, loving, wishes to be free +to love before the whole world! Pan Ignas, when he thought of this, was +seized by a desire to return; but he felt that he was too much excited, +and that he could not explain his former presence if the servant should +mention it. + +Then again the picture rose before his eyes of Kopovski kneeling to +Pani Osnovski; and he fell to inquiring of himself what he was to do in +view of this, and how he was to act. Warn Osnovski? he rejected this +thought at once with indignation. Shut himself in with Pani Osnovski, +and give her a sermon, eye to eye? She would show him the door. After +a time it came to his head to threaten Kopovski, and force from him a +promise to cease visiting the Osnovskis. But soon he saw that that, +too, was useless. Kopovski, if he had even a small share of courage, +would give him the lie, challenge him; in such a case he would have +to be silent, and people would think that the scandal rose because of +Panna Castelli. Pan Ignas was sorry for Osnovski; he had conceived for +the man a true friendship, and, on the other hand, he was too young to +be reconciled at once with the thought that evil and human crookedness +were to continue unpunished. Ah! but if at that juncture he could have +counselled with some one,--for instance, with Pan Stanislav or Marynia. +But that could not be. And after long thought he resolved to bury all +in himself, and be silent. + +At the same time, from the passionate prayer of Kopovski and the answer +of Pani Aneta, he inferred that the evil might not have passed yet into +complete fall. He did not know women; but he had read no little about +them. He knew that there exists some for whom the form of evil has more +charm than the substance; that there are women devoid of moral sense, +but also of passion, who have just as much desire for a prohibited +adventure as they have repugnance to complete fall,--in a word, those +who are incapable of loving anybody, who deceive their lovers as well +as their husbands. He recalled the words of a certain Frenchman: "If +Eve had been Polish, she would have plucked the apple, but not eaten +it." A similar type seemed to him Pani Aneta; vice might be in her as +superficial as virtue, and in such case the forbidden relation might +annoy her very soon, especially with a man like Kopovski. + +Here, however, Pan Ignas lost the basis of reasoning and the key to the +soul of Pani Aneta. He would have understood relations with any other +man more readily than with Kopovski,--that archangel with the brains of +an idiot. "A poodle understands more of what is said to him," thought +Pan Ignas; "and a woman with such aspirations to reason, to science, +to art, to the understanding of every thought and feeling, could lower +herself for such a head!" He could not explain this to himself, even +with what he had read about women. + +And still reality said more definitely than all books that it was so. +Suddenly Pan Ignas remembered what Osnovski had said to him about their +fear lest that fool might have plans against Castelka, that the mention +of this had angered Pani Aneta immensely, and that she filled Lineta's +head with feeling for another. So then, for Pani Aneta the question +consisted in this, that Kopovski should not pay court to Lineta. She +wanted to save him for herself. Here Pan Ignas shivered all at once, +for the thought struck him, that if that were true, Kopovski must have +had some chance of success; and again a shadow pursued the bright +form of Lineta. If that were true, she would fall in his eyes to the +level of Pani Aneta. After a time he felt bitterness in his mouth and +fire in his brain. Anger sprang upon him, like a tempest; he could +not forgive her this, and the very suspicion would have poisoned him. +Halting again on the street, he felt that he must throttle that thought +in himself, or go mad from it. + +In fact, he put it down so effectively that he recognized himself +as the lowest fool for this alone,--that the thought could come to +him. That Lineta was incapable of loving Kopovski was shown best by +this,--that she had fallen in love with him, Pan Ignas; and the fears +and suspicions of Pani Aneta flowed only from the self-love of a +vain woman, who was afraid that another might be recognized as more +attractive and beautiful than she was. Pan Ignas had the feeling of +having pushed from his breast a stone, which had oppressed him. He +began then in spirit to implore on his knees pardon of the unspotted +one; and thenceforth his thoughts touching her were full of love, +homage, and contrition. + +Now he made the remark to himself that evil, though committed by +another, bears evil; how many foul thoughts had passed through his mind +only because he had seen a fool at the feet of a giddy head! He noted +that consideration down in his memory. + +When near his lodgings he met Pan Stanislav with Pani Mashko on his +arm; and that day had so poisoned him that a sudden suspicion flashed +through his mind. But Pan Stanislav recognized him in the light of the +moon and a lamp, and had no desire to hide evidently, for he stopped +him. + +"Good-evening," said he. "Why home so early to-day?" + +"I was at Pani Bronich's, and I am just strolling about, for the +evening is beautiful." + +"Then step in to us. As soon as I conduct this lady home, I will +return. My wife has not seen you this long time." + +"I will go," said Pan Ignas. + +And a desire to see Pani Marynia had seized him really. So many +thoughts and feelings had rushed through him that he was weary; and he +knew that the calm and kind face of Marynia would act on him soothingly. + +Soon he rang the bell at Pan Stanislav's. When he had entered, he +explained, after the greeting, that he came at the request of her +husband, to which she answered,-- + +"Of course! I am very glad. My husband at this moment is escorting +home Pani Mashko, who visited me, but he will return to tea. The +Bigiels will be here surely, and perhaps my father will come, if he has +not gone to the theatre." + +Then she indicated a place at the table to him, and, straightening +the lamp shade, began on the work with which she was occupied +previously,--making little rosettes of narrow red and blue ribbons, of +which there was a pile lying before her. + +"What are you making?" asked Pan Ignas. + +"Rosettes. They are sewed to various costumes." + +After a while she added,-- + +"But this is far more interesting,--what are you doing? Do you know +that all Warsaw is marrying you to Lineta Castelli? They have seen you +both in the theatre, at the races; they see you at the promenades; +and it is impossible to persuade them that the affair is not decided +already." + +"Since I have spoken with you so openly, I will tell you now that it is +almost decided." + +Marynia raised to him eyes enlivened with a smile and with curiosity. + +"Is that true? Ah, that is a perfect piece of news! May God give you +such happiness as we wish you!" + +Then she stretched her hand to him, and afterward inquired with roused +curiosity,-- + +"Have you spoken with Lineta?" + +Pan Ignas told her how it was, and acknowledged his conversation with +Lineta and with Osnovski; then, letting himself be borne away in the +narrative, he confessed everything that had happened to him--how, from +the beginning, he had observed, criticised, and struggled with himself; +how he had not dared to hope; how he had tried to drive that feeling +from his head, or rather, from his heart, and how he could not resist +it. He assured her that he had promised himself a number of times to +cut short the acquaintance and the visits, but strength failed him each +time; each time he saw with amazement that the whole world, the whole +object of his life, was there; that without her, without Lineta, he +would not know what to do with his life--and he went back to her. + +Pan Ignas had not observed himself less truthfully, but he criticised +and struggled less than he said. He spoke sincerely, however. He added +at the end that he knew with certainty that he loved, not his own +feelings involved in Lineta, but Lineta herself, for herself, and that +she was the dearest person on earth to him. + +"Think," said he, "others have families, mothers, sisters, brothers; I, +except my unfortunate father, have no one, and therefore my love for +the whole world is centred in her." + +"True," said Marynia; "that had to come." + +"This seems a dream to me," continued he; "it cannot find place in my +head that she will be my wife really. At times it seems to me that this +cannot happen; that something will intervene; that all will be lost." + +In fact, this feeling was strengthened in him by exaltation, to which +he was more inclined than other men, and at last he began to tremble +nervously; then he covered his eyes with his hands, and said,-- + +"You see I must shield my eyes to imagine this properly. Such +happiness! such fabulous happiness! What does a man seek in life, +and in marriage? Just that, and in its own course that exceeds his +strength. I do not know whether I am so weak or what? but I say +sincerely that at times breath fails me." + +Marynia placed her rosette on the table, and, putting her hands on it, +looked at him for a while, then said,-- + +"You are a poet, and are carried away too much; you should look more +calmly. Listen to what I will tell you. I have a little book from my +mother, in which, while she was sick and without hope of recovery, +she wrote for me what she thought was good. About marriage she wrote +down something which later I have not heard from any one, and have not +read in any book,--that is, that one should not marry to be happy, but +to accomplish those duties which God imposes at marriage; and that +happiness is only an addition, a gift of God. You see how simple this +is; and still it is true that not only have I not heard it since, but I +have not seen any woman or any man about to marry who thought more of +duty than of happiness. Remember this, and repeat it to Lineta,--will +you?" + +Pan Ignas looked at her with astonishment. + +"Do you know this is so simple that really it will never come to any +one's mind?" + +She laughed a little sadly, and, taking her rosette, began again to +sew. After a while she repeated,-- + +"Tell that to Lineta." + +And she sewed on, drawing out with quick movement her somewhat thin +hand, together with the needle. + +"You will understand that if one has such a principle in the heart, one +has perpetual peace, more joyous, or sadder, as God grants, but still +deep. But without that there is only a kind of feverish happiness, +and deceptions always at hand, even if only for this reason,--that +happiness may be different from what we imagine it." And she sewed on. + +He looked at her inclined head, at her moving hand, at her work; he +heard her voice; and it seemed to him that that peace of which she had +spoken was floating above her, was filling the whole atmosphere, was +suspended above the table, was burning mildly in the lamp, and finally, +was entering him. + +He was so occupied with himself, with his love, that it did not even +occur to him that her heart could be sad. Meanwhile he was penetrated, +as it were, by a double astonishment: first, that these truths which +she had told him were such an _a_, _b_, _c_, that they ought to lie on +the very surface of every thought; and second, that in spite of this, +his own thought had not worked them out of itself, or, at least, had +not looked at them. "What is that," thought he, "our wisdom, bookish in +comparison with that simple wisdom of an honest woman's heart?" Then, +recalling Pani Aneta, and looking at Marynia, he began this monologue +in his soul, "That woman and this woman!" And suddenly there came to +him immense solace; all his disturbed thoughts settled down to their +level. He felt that he was resting while looking at that noble woman. +"In Lineta," said he to himself, "there is the same calmness, the same +simplicity, and the same honesty." + +Now Pan Stanislav came, a little later the Bigiels, after which the +violoncello was brought. At tea Pan Stanislav spoke of Mashko. Mashko +conducted the suit against the will with all energy, and it advanced, +though there were difficulties at every step. The advocate on the side +of the benevolent institutions--that young Sledz (herring), whom Mashko +promised to sprinkle with pepper, cover with oil, and swallow--turned +out not to be so easily eaten as had seemed. Pan Stanislav heard that +he was a man cool, resolute, and at the same time a skilled lawyer. + +"What is amusing, withal," said he, "is, that Mashko, as Mashko, +considers himself a kind of patrician, who is fighting with a +plebeian, and says this will be a test of whose blood is thicker. It is +a pity that Bukatski is not living; this would give him amusement." + +"But is Mashko in St. Petersburg all this time?" asked Bigiel. + +"He returns to-day; for that reason she could not stay for the +evening," answered Pan Stanislav; after a while he added, "I had in my +time a prejudice against her; but I have convinced myself that she is +not a bad woman, and, besides, is poor." + +"How poor? Mashko hasn't lost the case yet," said Pani Bigiel. + +"But he is always from home. Pani Mashko's mother is in an optical +hospital in Vienna, and will lose her eyes, perhaps. Pani Mashko is +alone whole days, like a hermitess. I say that I had a prejudice +against her, but now I am sorry for her." + +"It is true," said Marynia, "that since marriage she has become far +more sympathetic." + +"Yes," answered Pan Stanislav; "and besides she has lost no charm. Red +eyes injured her formerly; but now the redness has vanished, and she is +as maiden-like as ever." + +"But it is unknown whether Mashko is equally pleased with that," +remarked Bigiel. + +Marynia was anxious to tell those present the news about Pan Ignas; +but since he was not betrothed yet officially, she did not know that +it might be mentioned. When, however, after tea, Pani Bigiel began +to inquire of him how the matter stood, he himself said that it was +as good as finished, and Marynia put in her word announcing that the +matter stood in this form,--that they might congratulate Pan Ignas. +All began then to press his hand with that true friendship which they +had for him, and genuine gladness possessed all. Bigiel, from delight, +kissed Pani Bigiel; Pan Stanislav commanded to bring glasses and a +bottle of champagne, to drink the health of the "most splendid couple" +in Warsaw; Pani Bigiel began to joke with Pan Ignas, predicting what +the housekeeping of a poet and an artist would be. He laughed; but was +really moved by this, that his dreams were beginning to be real. + +A little later, Pan Stanislav punched him, and said,-- + +"The happiness of God, but I will give you one advice: what you have +in poetry, put into _business_, into work; be a realist in life, and +remember that marriage is no romance." + +But he did not finish, for Marynia put her hand suddenly over his +mouth, and said, laughing, "Silence, thou wise head!" + +And then to Pan Ignas, "Don't listen to this grave pate: make no +theories beforehand for yourself; only love." + +"True, Pani, true," answered Pan Ignas. + +"In that case, buy a harp for yourself," added Pan Stanislav, jeeringly. + +At mention of the harp, Bigiel seized his violoncello, saying that they +ought to end such an evening with music. Marynia sat at the piano, and +they began one of Handel's serenades. Pan Ignas had the impression that +the soul was going out of him. He took those mild tones into himself, +and was flying amid the night, lulling Lineta to sleep with them. Late +in the evening, he came out, as if strengthened with the sight of those +worthy people. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [10] "Nitechka" (little thread) is the diminutive of "Nitka," itself a + diminutive of "Nits," which means thread. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + +Marynia had such peace "as God gave," but really deep. A great aid to +finding it was that voice from beyond the grave,--the little book, +yellowed by years, in which she read "that a woman should not marry +to be happy, but to fulfil the duties which God imposes on her then." +Marynia, who looked frequently into this little book, had read more +than once those lines before that; but real meaning they had taken on +for her only of late, in that spiritual process through which she had +passed after her return from Italy. It ended in this way, that she was +not only reconciled with fate, but at present she did not admit even +the thought that she was unhappy. She repeated to herself that it was a +happiness different, it is true, from what she had imagined, but none +the less real. It is certain that, if God had given her the power of +arranging people's hearts, she would have wished "Stas" to show her, +not more honor, but more of that tenderness of which he was capable, +and which he had shown in her time to Litka; that his feeling for +her might be less sober, and have in it a certain kernel of poetry +which her own love had. But, on the other hand, she cherished always +somewhere, in some little corner of her heart,--first, the hope that +that might come to pass; and, second, she thought in her soul that, +even if it did not, then, as matters stood, she ought to thank God for +having given her a brave and honest man, whom she could not only love, +but esteem. More than once she stopped to compare him with others, and +could not find any one to sustain the comparison. Bigiel was worthy, +but he had not that dash; Osnovski, with all his goodness, lacked +practical knowledge of life and work; Mashko was a person a hundred +times lower in everything; Pan Ignas seemed to her rather a genial +child than a man,--in a word, from every comparison "Stas" came out +always victorious, and the one result was that she felt for him an +increasing trust as to vital questions, and loved him more and more. At +the same time, while denying herself, subjecting to him her own _I_, +bringing in sacrifice her imaginings and her selfishness, she had the +feeling that she was developing more and more in a spiritual sense, +that she was perfecting herself, that she was becoming better, that she +was not descending to any level, but rising to some height, whence the +soul would be nearer to God; and all at once she saw that in such a +feeling lies the whole world of happiness. Pan Stanislav at that time +was away from home often, therefore she was alone frequently; and, more +than once, she reasoned with the great simplicity of an honest woman: +"People should strive to be better and better; but if I am not worse +than I was, it is well. Were it otherwise, maybe I should be spoiled." +She did not come, however, to the thought that there was more wisdom +in this than in all the ideas and talks of Pani Osnovski. It seemed to +her natural, too, that she had less charm at that time for "Stas" than +formerly. Looking into her mirror, she said to herself: "Well, the eyes +do not change, but what a figure! what a face! If I were Stas, I would +run out of the house!" And she thought an untruth, for she would not +have run out; but it seemed to her that in this way she was increasing +"Stas's" merit. She got comfort, too, from Pani Bigiel, who said that +afterward she would be fairer than ever, "just like some young girl." +And, at times, joy and thankfulness rose in her heart, because all is +so wisely arranged; and if, at first, one is a little uglier and must +suffer a little, not only does all return, but, as a reward, there +is a beloved "bobo" which attaches one to life, and creates a new +bond between wife and husband. In this way, she had times, not only +of peace, but simply of joyfulness, and sometimes she said to Pani +Bigiel,-- + +"Dost thou know what I think?--it is possible to be happy always, only +we must fear God." + +"What has one to do with the other?" asked Pani Bigiel, who from her +husband had gained a love of clear thinking. + +"This," answered Marynia,--"that we should rest with what He gives us, +and not importune Him, because He hasn't given that which seems to us +better." + +Then she added joyously, "We mustn't tease for happiness." And both +began to laugh. + +Frequently, too, in the tenderness almost exaggerated which Pan +Stanislav showed his wife, it was clearly evident that he was thinking +chiefly of the child; but Marynia did not take that ill of him now. In +truth, she never had; but at present she was willing to count it a +merit in him, for she thought it the duty of both to care above all for +the child, as for their future mutual love. Yielding up daily in this +way something of her own care for self, she gained more and more peace, +more and more calmness; these feelings were reflected in her eyes, +which were more beautiful than ever. Her main anxiety now was that it +should be a daughter. She was ready even in this to yield to the will +of God, but she feared "Stas" a little; and one day she asked him in +jest,-- + +"Stas, and thou wilt not kill me if it is a son?" + +"No," answered he, laughing and kissing her hand; "but I should prefer +a daughter." + +"But I have heard from Pani Bigiel that men always prefer sons." + +"But I am such a man that I prefer a daughter." + +Not always, however, were her thoughts so joyous. At times it came to +her head that she might die, for she knew that death happens in such +cases; and she prayed earnestly that it should not happen, for first +she feared it, second, she would be sorry to go away, even to heaven, +when she had such a prospect of loving, and finally she imagined to +herself that "Stas" would mourn for her immensely. And at that thought +she grew as tender over him as if he had been at that moment a man more +deserving of pity than all other unfortunates living. Never had she +spoken to him of this, though it seemed to her that sometimes he had +feared it. + +But she deceived herself thoroughly. The doctor, who came to Marynia +weekly, assured both her and her husband after each visit that all was +and would be most regular; hence Pan Stanislav had no fear for his +wife's future. The cause of his alarm was something quite different, +which happily for herself Marynia had not suspected, and which Pan +Stanislav himself had not dared even to name in his own mind. For some +time something had begun to go wrong in his life calculations, of which +he had been so proud, and which had given him such internal security. +A little while before he had considered that his theories of life were +like a house built of firm timbers, resting on solid foundations. In +his soul he was proud of that house, and in secret exalted himself +above those who had not the skill to build anything like it. Speaking +briefly, he thought himself a better life architect than others. He +judged that the labor was finished from foundation to summit, only go +in, live, and rest there. He forgot that a human soul, like a bird when +it has soared to a given height, not only is not free to rest, but +must work its wings hard to support itself, otherwise the very first +temptation will bring it to the earth again. + +The worse and vainer the temptation, the more was he enraged at himself +because he gave way to it. A mean desire, a low object,--he had not +even anything to explain to himself; and still the walls of his +house had begun to crack. Pan Stanislav was a religious man now, and +that from conviction; he was too sincere with himself to enter into +a compromise with his own principles, and say to himself that such +things happen even to the firmest of believers. No! He was by nature +a man rather unsparing, and logic said to him "either, or;" hence he +felt that speaking thus it spoke justly. Hitherto he had not given +way to temptation; but still he was angry because he was tempted, for +temptation brought him to doubt his own character. Considering himself +as better than others, he stood suddenly in face of the question, was +he not worse than others, for not only had temptation attacked him, but +he felt that in a given case he might yield to it. + +More than once, while looking at Pani Osnovski, he repeated to himself +the opinion of Confucius: "An ordinary woman has as much reason as +a hen; an extraordinary woman as much as two hens." In view of Pani +Mashko, it occurred to him that there are women with reference to whom +this Chinese truth, which makes one indignant, is flattery. Had it been +at least possible to say of Pani Mashko that she was honestly stupid, +it would become a certain individual trait of hers; but she was not. +A few, or a few tens of formulas had made of her a polite nonentity. +Just as two or three hundred phrases make up the whole language of +the inhabitants of New Guinea, and satisfy all their wants, so those +formulas satisfied Pani Mashko as to social relations, thoughts, and +life. For that matter, she was as completely passive within that shade +of automatic dignity which narrowness of mind produces, and a blind +faith that if proper formalities are observed, there can be no error. +Pan Stanislav knew her as such, and as such ridiculed her more than +once while she was unmarried. He called her a puppet, a manikin; he +felt enraged at her because of that doctor who had perished for her +in some place where pepper grows; he disregarded her and did not like +her. But even then, as often as he saw her, whether at the Bigiels', +or when on Mashko's business he went to Pani Kraslavski, he always +returned under the physical impression which she made on him, of +which he gave himself an account. That quenched face, that passive, +vegetable calm of expression, that coldness of bearing, that frequent +reddening of the eyes, that slender form, had in them something which +affected him unusually. He explained that to himself then by some law +of natural selection; and when he had outlined the thing technically, +he stopped there, for the impression which Marynia had made on him was +still greater, hence he had followed it. At present, however, Marynia +was his, and he had grown used to her beauty, which, moreover, had +disappeared for a period. It so happened that because of Mashko's +frequent journeys, he saw Pani Mashko almost daily, in consequence +of which former impressions not only revived, but, in the conditions +in which Pan Stanislav found himself with reference to Marynia, they +revived with unexpected vigor. And it happened finally that he who +would not consent to be in leading strings for the ten times more +beautiful and charming Pani Osnovski; he, who had resisted her Roman +fantasies; he, who had looked on himself as a man of principles, +stronger in character and firmer in mind than most people,--saw now +that if Pani Mashko wished to push that edifice with her foot, all its +bindings might be loosened, and the ceiling tumble on his head. Of a +certainty, he would not cease to love his wife, for he was sincerely +and profoundly attached to her; but he felt that he might be in a +condition to betray her,--and then not only her, but himself, his +principles, his conceptions of what an honest and a moral man should +be. With a certain terror as well as anger, he found in himself not +merely the human beast, but a weak beast. He was alarmed by this, he +rebelled against this weakness; but still he could not overcome it. +It was a simple thing in view of this, not to see Pani Mashko, or to +see her as seldom as possible; meanwhile he was finding reasons to +see her the oftenest possible. At first he wanted to lull himself +with these reasons; but, in view of his innate consistency, that was +impossible, and it ended with this, that he merely invented them. +Straightway, he deceived with them his wife, and whomever he wished. +When in company with Pani Mashko, he could not refrain from looking +at her, from embracing with his glance her face and whole person. A +sickly curiosity seized him as to how she would bear herself in case +he appeared before her with what was happening within him. What would +she say then? And he took pleasure in spite of himself in supposing +that she would bear herself with perfect passiveness. He despised her +beforehand for this; but she became the more desired by him thereby. In +himself he discovered whole mountains of depravity, which he referred +to long stay in foreign countries; and, having considered himself up +to that time a fresh and healthy nature, he began to grow alarmed. Had +he not been deceived in himself, and was not that wonderful impression +produced on him by a being so little attractive the appearance of some +neurosis consuming him without his knowledge? It had not occurred to +him that there might exist even such conditions in which the soul of a +man simply despises a woman, but the human beast longs for her. + +In her, instinct had taken the place of mental keenness; besides, she +was not so naïve as not to know what his glance meant as it slipped +over her form, or what his eyes said when talking, especially when they +were alone, and he looked into her face with a certain persistence. +At first she felt a kind of satisfaction for her self-love, which it +is difficult for even an honest woman to resist when she sees the +impression produced by her; when she feels herself distinguished, +desired beyond others,--in a word, victorious. Besides, she was ready +not to recognize and not to see the danger, just as a partridge does +not wish to see it, when it hides its head in the snow, on feeling the +hawk circling above it. For Pani Mashko appearances were this snow; +and Pan Stanislav felt that. He knew also from his experience as a +single man that there are women for whom it is a question above all of +preserving certain, frequently even strange, appearances. He remembered +some who burst out in indignation when he said to them in Polish that +which they heard in French with a smile; he had met even those who were +unapproachably firm at home and in the city, and so free in summer +residences, at watering, or bathing places, and others who endured an +attempt, but could not endure words, and others for whom the decisive +thing was light or darkness. In all places where virtue did not come +from the soul, and from principles ingrafted like vaccination into the +blood, resistance or fall depended on accident or surroundings, or +external, frequently favoring circumstances, personal ideas of polite +appearances. He judged that it might be thus with Pani Mashko; and +if hitherto he had not entered the road of testing and trying, it was +simply because he was battling with himself, because he did not wish +to give way, and, despising her in the bottom of his soul, he wished +to escape the position of despising himself. Attachment to Marynia +restrained him too, and sympathy, as it were, mingled with respect for +her condition and gratitude to her, and the hope of fatherhood, which +moved him, and a remembrance of the shortness of the time which they +had lived together, and honesty, and a religious feeling. These were +chains, as it were, at which the human beast was still tugging. + +They did not hold, however, with equal strength always. Once, and, +namely, that evening on which Pan Ignas had met them, he had almost +betrayed himself. At the thought that Mashko was returning and that +Pani Mashko was hastening home, therefore, a low, purely physical +jealousy seized him; and he said with a certain anger, repressed, but +visible,-- + +"True! I understand your haste! Ulysses is coming, and Penelope must be +at home, but--" + +Here he felt a desire to curse. + +"But what?" inquired Pani Mashko. + +Pan Stanislav answered without any hesitation,-- + +"Just to-day I wished to detain you longer." + +"It is not proper," answered she briefly, with a voice as thin as +though strained through a sieve. + +And in that, "It is not proper," was her whole soul. + +He returned, cursing earnestly her and himself. When he reached home he +found in the clear, peaceful room Marynia and Pan Ignas, she proving to +the poet that when they marry, people should not look for some imagined +happiness, but the duties which God imposes at that time. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + +"What is Pani Osnovski to me, and what are all her affairs to me?" said +Pan Ignas to himself next morning on the way to Pani Bronich's: "I am +not going to marry her, but _my own one_. Why did I so tear and torment +myself yesterday?" + +And when he had said this "to his lofty soul," he began to think only +of what he would say to Pani Bronich; for in spite of Osnovski's +assurances, in spite of every hope that that conversation would be +merely a certain form for observance, in spite of his confidence in +Lineta's heart and the kindness of Pani Bronich, the "lofty soul" was +in fear. + +He found aunt and niece together; and, emboldened by yesterday, he +pressed to his lips the hand of the young lady, who said, blushing +slightly,-- + +"But I will run away." + +"Nitechka, stop!" said Pani Bronich. + +"No," answered she; "I fear this gentleman, and I fear aunt." + +Thus speaking, she began to rub her golden head, like a petted kitten, +against the shoulder of Pani Bronich, saying,-- + +"Do not wrong him aunt; do not wrong him." + +And looking at him, she ran away really. Pan Ignas, from emotion and +excess of love, was as pale as linen; Pani Bronich had tears on her +lids. And, seeing that his throat was so pressed that it would have +been easier for him to cry than to talk, she said,-- + +"I know why you have come. I have noticed this long time what was +passing between you, my children." + +Pan Ignas seized her hands, and began to press them to his lips one +after the other; she on her part continued,-- + +"Oh, I myself have felt too much in life not to know real feelings; I +will say more: it is my specialty. Women live only by the heart, and +they know how to divine hearts. I know that you love Nitechka truly; +and I am certain that if she did not love you, or if I should refuse +her to you, you would not survive. Is it not true?" + +Here she gazed at him with an inquiring glance, and he said with +effort,-- + +"Beyond doubt! I know not what would happen to me." + +"I guessed that at once," answered she, with radiant face. "Ah, my dear +friend, a look is enough for me; but I shall not be an evil spirit as +your genius. No, I shall not, I cannot be that. Whom shall I find for +Nitechka? Where a man worthy of her? Who would have in him all that she +loves and esteems chiefly? I cannot give her to Kopovski, and I will +not. You perhaps do not know Nitechka as I do; but I cannot and will +not give her." + +In spite of all his emotion, that energy with which Pani Bronich +refused "Nitechka's" hand to Kopovski astonished Pan Ignas, just as if +he had declared for Kopovski, not for himself; and the aunt continued, +moved, but evidently enjoying her own words and delighted with the +position,-- + +"No! there can be no talk of Kopovski. You alone can make Nitechka +happy. You alone can give her what she needs. I knew yesterday that +you would talk with me to-day. I did not close an eye the whole +night. Do not wonder at that. Here it is a question of Nitechka, and +I was hesitating yet; therefore fear seized me in view of to-day's +conversation, for I knew in advance that I would not resist you, +that you would bear me away with your feeling and your eloquence, as +yesterday you bore away Nitechka." + +Pan Ignas, who neither yesterday nor to-day was able to buzz out one +word, could not explain somehow to himself in what specially lay the +power of his eloquence, or when he had time to exhibit it; but Pani +Bronich did not permit him to hesitate longer on this question. + +"And do you know what I did? This is what I do always in life's most +serious moments. Speaking yesterday with Nitechka, I went early this +morning to the grave of my husband. He is lying here in Warsaw--I +know not whether I have told you that he was the last descendant of +Rurik--Ah, yes, I have! Oh, dear friend, what a refuge for me that +grave is; and how many good inspirations I have brought from it! +Whether it was a question of the education of Nitechka, or of some +journey, or of investing capital which my husband left me, or of a loan +which some one of my relatives or acquaintances wished to make, I went +there directly at all times. And will you believe me? More than once +a mortgage is offered: it seems a good one; the business is perfect; +more than once my heart even commands me to give or to lend,--but my +husband, there in the depth of his eternal rest, answers: 'Do not +give,' and I give not. And never has evil resulted. Oh, my dear, you +who feel and understand everything, you will understand how to-day I +prayed, how I asked with all the powers of my soul, 'Give Nitechka, or +not give Nitechka?'" + +Here she seized Pan Ignas's temples with her hands, and said through +her tears,-- + +"But my Teodor answered, 'Give;' therefore I give her to thee, and my +blessing besides." + +Tears quenched indeed further conversation in Pani Bronich. Pan Ignas +knelt before her; "Nitechka," who came in, as if at a fixed moment, +dropped on her knees at his side; Pani Bronich stretched her hands and +said sobbing,-- + +"She is thine, thine! I give her to thee; I and Teodor give her." + +Then the three rose. Aunt Bronich covered her eyes with her +handkerchief, and remained some time without motion; gradually, +however, she slipped away the handkerchief, looking from one side at +the two young people. Suddenly she laughed, and, threatening with her +finger, said,-- + +"Oi! I know what you would like now,--you would like to be alone. +Surely you have something to say to each other. Is it not true?" + +And she went out. Pan Ignas took Lineta's hands that moment, and looked +into her eyes with intoxication. + +They sat down; and she, leaving her hands in his, rested her temple on +his shoulder. It was like a song without words. Pan Ignas inclined his +head toward her bright face. Lineta closed her eyes; but he was too +young and too timid, he respected too much and he loved, hence he did +not venture yet to touch her lips with his. He only kissed her golden +hair, and even that caused the room in which they were sitting to spin +with him; the world began to whirl round. Then all vanished from his +eyes; he lost memory of where he was, and what was happening; he heard +only the beating of his own heart; he felt the odor of the silken hair, +which brushed his lips, and it seemed to him that in that was the +universe. + +But that was only a dream from which he had to wake. After a certain +time the aunt began to open the door gently, as if wishing to lose +the least possible of the romance, in which, with Teodor's aid, she +was playing the rôle of guardian spirit; in the adjoining chamber +were heard the voices of the Osnovskis; and a moment later Lineta +found herself in the arms of her aunt, from which she passed into the +embraces of Pani Aneta. Osnovski, pressing Ignas's hands with all his +power, said,-- + +"But what a joy in the house, what a joy! for we have all fallen in +love with thee,--I, and aunt, and Anetka, not to speak of this little +one." + +Then he turned to his wife and said,-- + +"Knowest, Anetka, what I wished Ignas, even yesterday? that they should +be to each other as we are." And, seizing her hands, he began to kiss +them with vehemence. + +Pan Ignas, though he knew not in general what was happening to him, +found still presence of mind enough to look into the face of Pani +Aneta; but she answered joyously, withdrawing her hands from her +husband,-- + +"No, they will be happier; for Castelka is not such a giddy thing as I, +and Pan Ignas will not kiss her hands so stubbornly before people. But, +Yozio, let me go!" + +"Let him only love her as I thee, my treasure, my child," answered the +radiant Yozio. + +Pan Ignas stayed at Pani Bronich's till evening, and did not go to the +counting-house. After lunch he drove out in the carriage with the aunt +and Lineta, for Pani Bronich wanted absolutely to show them to society. +But their drive in the Alley was not a success altogether, because of a +sudden hard shower, which scattered the carriages. On their return, Pan +Osnovski, good as he ever was, made a new proposition which delighted +Pan Ignas. + +"Prytulov will not escape us," said he. "We live here as if we were +half in the country; and since we have remained till the end of June, +we may stay a couple of days longer. Let that loving couple exchange +rings before our departure, and at the same time let it be free to +Aneta and me to give them a betrothal party. Is it well, aunt? I see +that they have nothing against it, and surely it will be agreeable +for Ignas to have at the betrothal his friends the Polanyetskis and +the Bigiels. It is true that we do not visit the latter, but that is +nothing! We will visit them to-morrow, and the affair will be settled. +Is it well, Ignas; is it well, aunt?" + +Ignas was evidently in the seventh heaven; as to aunt, she didn't know +indeed what Teodor's opinion would be in this matter, and she began to +hesitate. But she might inquire of Teodor yet; and then she remembered +that he had answered, "Give," with such a great voice from his place of +eternal rest that it was impossible to doubt his good wishes,--hence +she agreed at last to everything. + +After dinner Kopovski, the almost daily guest, came; and it turned out +that he was the only being in the villa to whom news of the feelings +and betrothal of the young couple did not cause delight. For a time his +face expressed indescribable astonishment; at last he said,-- + +"I never should have guessed that Panna Lineta would marry Pan Ignas." + +Osnovski pushed Pan Ignas with his elbow, blinked, and whispered, with +a very cunning mien,-- + +"Hast noticed? I told thee yesterday that he was making up to Castelka." + +Pan Ignas left the villa of the Osnovskis late in the evening. When +he reached home he did not betake himself to verses, however, though +it seemed to him then that he was a kind of harp, the strings of +which played of themselves, but to the counting-house, to unfinished +correspondence and accounts. + +At the counting-house all were so pleased with this that when the +Bigiels returned the visit of the Osnovskis, and at the same time made +the first visit to Pani Bronich, Bigiel said,-- + +"The worth of Pan Zavilovski's poetry is known to you ladies, but +perhaps you do not know how conscientious a man he is. I say this +because that is a rare quality among us. Since he remained all day with +you here, and could not be at the counting-house, he asked to have it +opened by the guard in the night; he took home the books and papers in +his charge, and did what pertained to him. It is pleasant to think that +one has to do with such a man, for such a man may be trusted." + +Here, however, the honorable partner of the house of Bigiel and +Polanyetski was astonished that such high praise from his lips made so +little impression, and that Pani Bronich, instead of showing gladness, +replied,-- + +"Ah, we hope that in future Pan Zavilovski will be able to give himself +to labor more in accordance with his powers and position." + +In general, the impression which both sides brought away from their +acquaintance showed that somehow they were not at home with each +other. Lineta pleased the Bigiels, it is true; but he, in going away, +whispered to his wife, "How comfortably they live for themselves in +this place!" He had a feeling that the spirit of that whole villa was +a sort of unbroken holiday, or idling; but he was not able at once to +express that idea, for he had not the gift of ready utterance. + +But Pani Bronich, after their departure, said to "Nitechka,"-- + +"Of course, of course! They must be excellent people--true, perfect +people! I am certain--yes, certain--" + +And somehow she did not finish her thought; but "Nitechka" must have +understood her, however, for she said,-- + +"But they are no relatives of his." + +A few days later the relatives, too, made themselves heard. Pan Ignas, +who, in spite of the wishes of Pani Bigiel, had not gone yet with +excuses to old Zavilovski, received the following letter from him,-- + + PAN WILDCAT!--Thou hast scratched me undeservedly, for I + had no wish to offend thee; and if I say always what I think, it + is permitted me because I am old. They must have told thee, too, + that I never name, even to her eyes, thy young lady otherwise than + Venetian half-devil. But how was I to know that thou wert in love + and about to marry? I heard of this only yesterday, and only now + do I understand why thou didst spring out of my sight; but since I + prefer water-burners to dullards, and since through this devil of + a gout I cannot go myself to thee to congratulate, do thou come to + the old man, who is more thy well-wisher than seems to thee. + +After this letter Pan Ignas went that same day, and was received +cordially, though with scolding, but so kindly that this time the old +truth-teller pleased him, and he felt in him really a relative. + +"May God and the Most Holy Lady bless thee!" said the old man. "I know +thee little; but I have heard such things of thee that I should be glad +to hear the like touching all Zavilovskis." + +And he pressed his hand; then, turning to his daughter, he said,-- + +"He's a genial rascal, isn't he?" + +And at parting he inquired,-- + +"But 'Teodor,' didn't he trouble thee too much? Hei?" + +Pan Ignas, who, as an artist, possessed in a high degree the sense +of the ridiculous, and to whom in his soul that Teodor, too, seemed +comical, laughed and answered,-- + +"No. On the contrary, he was on my side." + +The old man began to shake his head. + +"That is a devil of an accommodating Teodor! Be on the lookout for him; +he is a rogue." + +Pani Bronich had so much genuine respect for the property and social +position of old Zavilovski that she visited him next day, and began +almost to thank him for his cordial reception of his relative; but the +old man grew angry unexpectedly. + +"Do you think that I am some empty talker?" asked he. "You have heard +from me that poor relatives are a plague; and you think that I take it +ill of them that they are poor. No, you do not know me! But, know this, +when a noble loses everything, and is poor, he becomes almost always a +sort of shabby fellow. Such is our character, or rather, its weakness. +But this Ignas, as I hear from every side, is a man of honor, though +poor; and therefore I love him." + +"And I love him," answered Pani Bronich. "But you will be at the +betrothal?" + +"_C'est décidé._ Even though I had to be carried." + +Pani Bronich returned radiant, and at lunch could not restrain herself +from expressing suppositions which her active fancy had begun to create. + +"Pan Zavilovski," said she, "is a man of millions, and greatly attached +to the name. I should not be astonished at all were he to make our +Ignas his heir, if not of the chief, of a considerable part of his +property, or if he were to entail some of his estates in Poznan on him. +I should not be surprised at all." + +No one contradicted her, for events like that in the world had been +seen; therefore after lunch, Pani Bronich, embracing Nitechka, +whispered in her ear,-- + +"Oi, thou, thou, future heiress!" + +But in the evening she said to Pan Ignas,-- + +"Be not astonished if I so mix up in everything, but I am your mamma. +So mamma is immensely curious to know what kind of ring you are +preparing for Nitechka? It will be something beautiful, of course. +There will be so many people at the betrothal. And, besides, you have +no idea what a fastidious girl! She is so æsthetic even in trifles; and +she has her own taste, but what a taste! ho, ho!" + +"I should like," answered Pan Ignas, "the stones to be of colors +denoting faith, hope, and love, for in her is my faith, my hope, and my +love." + +"A very pretty idea! have you said this to Nitechka? Do you know what? +Let there be a pearl in the middle, as a sign that she is a pearl. +Symbols are in fashion now. Have I told you that Pan Svirski, when he +gave her lessons, called her 'La Perla'? Ah, yes, I did. You do not +know Pan Svirski? He, too--Yozio Osnovski told me that he would come +to-morrow. Well, then, a sapphire, a ruby, an emerald, and in the +middle a pearl? Oh, yes! Pan Svirski, too--Will you be at the funeral?" + +"Whose funeral?" + +"Pan Bukatski's. Yozio Osnovski told me that Pan Svirski brought home +his body." + +"I did not know him; I have never seen him in my life." + +"That is better; Nitechka would prefer that you had not known him. God +in His mercy forgive him in spite of this,--that for me he was never a +sympathetic person, and Nitechka could not endure him. But the little +one will be glad of the ring; and when she is glad, I am glad." + +The "Little One" was glad not only of the ring, but of life in general. +The rôle of an affianced assumed for her increasing charm. Beautiful +nights came, very clear, during which she and Pan Ignas sat together on +the balcony. Nestling up to each other, they looked at the quivering +of light on the leaves, or lost their gaze in the silver dust of the +Milky Way, and the swarms of stars. From the acacia, growing under the +balcony, there rose a strong and intoxicating odor, as from a great +censer. Their powers seemed to go to sleep in them; their souls, lulled +by silence, turned into clear light, were scattered in some way amidst +the depth of night, and were melted into unity with the soft moonlight; +and so the two, sitting hand in hand, half in oblivion, half in sleep, +lost well-nigh the feeling of separate existence and life, preserving +a mere semi-consciousness of some sort of general bliss and general +"exaltation of hearts." + +Pan Ignas, when he woke and returned to real life, understood that +moments like those, in which hearts melt in that pantheism of love, +and beat with the same pulsation with which everything quivers that +loves, unites, and harmonizes in the universe, form the highest +happiness which love has the power to give, and so immeasurable +that were they to continue they would of necessity destroy man's +individuality. But, having the soul of an idealist, he thought that +when death comes and frees the human monad from matter, those moments +change into eternity; and in that way he imagined heaven, in which +nothing is swallowed up, but everything simply united and attuned in +universal harmony. + +Lineta, it is true, could not move with his flight; but she felt a +certain turning of the head, as it were, a kind of intoxication from +his flight, and she felt herself happy also. A woman even incapable +of loving a man is still fond of her love, or, at least, of herself, +and her rôle in it; and, therefore, most frequently she crosses the +threshold of betrothal with delight, feeling at the same time gratitude +to the man who opens before her a new horizon of life. Besides, they +had talked love into Lineta so mightily that at last she believed in it. + +And once, when Pan Ignas asked her if she was sure of herself and her +heart, she gave him both hands, as if with effusion, and said,-- + +"Oh, truly; now I know that I love." + +He pressed her slender fingers to his lips, to his forehead, and his +eyes, as something sacred; but he was disquieted by her words, and +asked,-- + +"Why 'now' for the first time, Nitechka? Or has there been a moment in +which thou hast thought that thou couldst not love me?" + +Lineta raised her blue eyes and thought a moment; after a while, in the +corners of her mouth and in the dimples of her cheeks, a smile began to +gather. + +"No," said she; "but I am a great coward, so I was afraid. I understand +that to love you is another thing from loving the first comer." And +suddenly she began to laugh. "Oh, to love Pan Kopovski would be as +simple as _bon jour_; but you--maybe I cannot express it well, but more +than once it seemed to me that that is like going up on some mountain +or some tower. When once at the top, a whole world is visible; but +before that one must go and go, and toil, and I am so lazy." + +Pan Ignas, who was tall and bony, straightened himself, and said,-- + +"When my dear, lazy one is tired, I'll take her in my arms, like a +child, and carry her even to the highest." + +"And I will shrink up and make myself the smallest," answered Lineta, +closing her arms, and entering into the rôle of a little child. + +Pan Ignas knelt before her, and began to kiss the hem of her dress. + +But there were little clouds, too, on that sky; the betrothed were +not the cause, however. It seemed to the young man at times that his +feelings were too much observed, and that Pani Bronich and Pani Aneta +examined too closely whether he loves, and how he loves. He explained +this, it is true, by the curiosity of women, and, in general, by the +attention which love excites in them; but he would have preferred more +freedom, and would have preferred that they would not help him to love. +His feelings he considered as sacred, and for him it was painful to +make an exhibition of them for uninvited eyes; at the same time every +movement and word of his was scrutinized. He supposed also that there +must be female sessions, in which Pani Bronich and Pani Aneta gave +their "approbatur;" and that thought angered him, for he judged that +neither was in a situation to understand his feelings. + +It angered him also that Kopovski was invited to Prytulov, and that +he went there in company with all; but in this case it was for him a +question only of Osnovski, whom he loved sincerely. The pretext for +the invitation was the portrait not finished yet by Lineta. Pan Ignas +understood now clearly that everything took place at the word of Pani +Aneta, who knew exactly how to suggest her own wishes to people as +their own. At times even it came to his head to ask Lineta to abandon +the portrait; but he knew that he would trouble her, as an artist, with +that request, and, besides, he feared lest people might suspect him of +being jealous of a fop, like "Koposio."[11] + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [11] Nickname for Kopovski. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + +Svirski had come indeed from Italy with Bukatski's body; and he went +at once on the following day to Pan Stanislav's. He met only Marynia, +however, for her husband had gone outside the city to look at some +residence which had been offered for sale. The artist found Marynia so +changed that he recognized her with difficulty; but since he had liked +her greatly in Rome, he was all the more moved at sight of her now. At +times, besides, she seemed to him so touching and so beautiful in her +way, with the aureole of future maternity, and besides she had brought +to him so many artistic comparisons, with so many "types of various +Italian schools," that, following his habit, he began to confess his +enthusiasm audibly. She laughed at his originality; but still it gave +her comfort in her trouble, and she was glad that he came,--first, +because she felt a sincere sympathy with that robust and wholesome +nature; and second, she was certain that he would be enthusiastic +about her in presence of "Stas," and thus raise her in the eyes of her +husband. + +He sat rather long, wishing to await the return of Pan Stanislav; he, +however, returned only late in the evening. Meanwhile there was a visit +from Pan Ignas, who, needing some one now before whom to pour out his +overflowing happiness, visited her rather often. For a while he and +Svirski looked at each other with a certain caution, as happens usually +with men of distinction, who fear each other's large pretensions, but +who come together the more readily when each sees that the other is +simple. So did it happen with these men. Marynia, too, helped to break +the ice by presenting Pan Ignas as the betrothed of Panna Castelli, who +was known to Svirski. + +"Indeed," said Svirski, "I know her perfectly; she is my pupil!" + +Then, pressing the hand of Pan Ignas, he said,-- + +"Your betrothed has Titian hair; she is a little tall, but you are +tall, too. Such a pose of head as she has one might look for with a +candle. You must have noticed that there is something swan-like in her +movements; I have even called her 'The Swan.'" + +Pan Ignas laughed as sincerely and joyously as a man does when people +praise that which he loves most in life, and said with a shade of +boastfulness,-- + +"'La Perla,' do you remember?" + +Svirski looked at him with a certain surprise. + +"There is such a picture by Raphael in Madrid, in the Museum del +Prado," answered he. "Why do you mention 'La Perla'?" + +"It seems to me that I heard of it from those ladies," said Pan Ignas, +beaten from the track somewhat. + +"It may be, for I have a copy of my own making in my studio Via +Margutta." + +Pan Ignas said in spirit that there was need to be more guarded in +repeating words from Pani Bronich; and after a time he rose to depart, +for he was going to his betrothed for the evening. Svirski soon +followed, leaving with Marynia the address of his Warsaw studio, and +begging that Pan Stanislav would meet him in the matter of the funeral +as soon as possible. + +In fact, Pan Stanislav went to him next morning. Svirski's studio was a +kind of glass hall, attached, like the nest of a swallow, to the roof +of one in a number of many storied houses, and visitors had to reach +him by separate stairs winding like those in a tower. But the artist +had perfect freedom there, and did not close his door evidently, for +Pan Stanislav, in ascending, heard a dull sound of iron, and a bass +voice singing,-- + + "Spring blows on the world warmly; + Hawthorns and cresses are blooming. + I am singing and not sobbing, + For I have ceased to love thee too! + Hu-ha-hu!" + +"Well," thought Pan Stanislav, stopping to catch breath, "he has a +bass, a real, a true bass; but what is he making such a noise with?" + +When he had passed the rest of the steps, however, and then the narrow +corridor, he understood the reason, for he saw through the open doors +Svirski, dressed to his waist in a single knitted shirt, through which +was seen his Herculean torso; and in his hands were dumb-bells. + +"Oh, how are you?" he called out, putting down the dumb-bells in +presence of his guest. "I beg pardon that I am not dressed, but I was +working a little with the dumb-bells. Yesterday I was at your house, +but found only Pani Polanyetski. Well, I brought our poor Bukatski. Is +the little house ready for him?" + +Pan Stanislav pressed his hand. "The grave is ready these two weeks, +and the cross is set up. We greet you cordially in Warsaw. My wife told +me that the body is in Povanzki already." + +"It is now in the crypt of the church. To-morrow we'll put it away." + +"Well, to-day I will speak to the priest and notify acquaintances. What +is Professor Vaskovski doing?" + +"He was to write you. The heat drove him out of Rome; and do you know +where he went? Among the youngest of the Aryans. He said that the +journey would occupy two months. He wishes to convince himself as to +how far they are ready for his historical mission; he has gone through +Ancona to Fiume, and then farther and farther." + +"The poor professor! I fear that new disillusions are waiting for him." + +"That may be. People laugh at him. I do not know how far the youngest +of the Aryans are fitted to carry out his idea; but the idea itself, as +God lives, is so uncommon, so Christian, and honest, that the man had +to be a Vaskovski to come to it. Permit me to dress. The heat here is +almost as in Italy, and it is better to exercise in a single shirt." + +"But best not to exercise at all in such heat." + +Here Pan Stanislav looked at Svirski's arms and said,-- + +"But you might show those for money." + +"Well; not bad biceps! But look at these deltoids. That is my vanity. +Bukatski insisted that any one might say that I paint like an idiot; +but that it was not permitted any one to say that I could not raise a +hundred kilograms with one hand, or that I couldn't hit ten flies with +ten shots." + +"And such a man will not leave his biceps nor his deltoids to +posterity." + +"Ha! what's to be done? I fear an ungrateful heart; as I love God, I +fear it so much. Find me a woman like Pani Polanyetski, and I will not +hesitate a day. But what should I wish you,--a son or a daughter?" + +"A daughter, a daughter! Let there be sons; but the first must be a +daughter!" + +"And when do you expect her?" + +"In December, it would seem." + +"God grant happily! The lady, however, is healthy, so there is no fear." + +"She has changed greatly, has she not?" + +"She is different from what she was, but God grant the most beautiful +to look so. What an expression! A pure Botticelli. I give my word! Do +you remember that portrait of his in the Villa Borghese? Madonna col +Bambino e angeli. There is one head of an angel, a little inclined, +dressed in a lily, just like the lady, the very same expression. +Yesterday that struck me so much that I was moved by it." + +Then he went behind the screen to put on his shirt, and from behind the +screen he said,-- + +"You ask why I don't marry. Do you know why? I remember sometimes that +Bukatski said the same thing. I have a sharp tongue and strong biceps, +but a soft heart; so stupid is it that if I had such a wife as you +have, and she were in that condition, as God lives, I shouldn't know +whether to walk on my knees before her, or to beat the floor with my +forehead, or to put her on a table, in a corner somewhere, and adore +her with upraised hands." + +"Ai!" said Pan Stanislav, laughing, "that only seems so before +marriage; but afterward habituation itself destroys excess of feeling." + +"I don't know. Maybe I'm so stupid--" + +"Do you know what? When my Marynia is free, she must find for thee just +such a wife as she herself is." + +"Agreed!" thundered Svirski, from behind the screen. "Verbum! I give +myself into her hands; and when she says 'marry,' I will marry with +closed eyes." + +And appearing, still without a coat, he began to repeat, "Agreed, +agreed! without joking. If the lady wishes." + +"Women always like that," answered Pan Stanislav. "Have you seen, for +instance, what that Pani Osnovski did to marry our Pan Ignas to Panna +Castelli? And Marynia helped her as much as I permitted; she kept her +ears open. For women that is play." + +"I made the acquaintance of that Pan Ignas at your house yesterday. He +is an immensely nice fellow; simply a genial head. It is enough to look +at him. What a profile, and what a woman-like forehead! and with that +insolent jaw! His shanks are too long, and his knees must be badly cut, +but his head is splendid." + +"He is the Benjamin of our counting-house. Indeed, we love him +surpassingly; his is an honest nature." + +"Ah! he is your employee? But I thought he was of those rich +Zavilovskis; I have seen abroad often enough a certain old original, a +rich man." + +"That is a relative of his," said Pan Stanislav; "but our Zavilovski +hasn't a smashed copper." + +"Well," said Svirski, beginning to laugh, "old Zavilovski with his +daughter, the only heiress of millions, a splendid figure! In Florence +and Rome half a dozen ruined Italian princes were dangling around this +young lady; but the old man declared that he wouldn't give his daughter +to a foreigner, 'for,' said he, 'they are a race of jesters.' Imagine +to yourself, he considers us the first race on earth, and among us, +of course, the Zavilovskis; and once he showed that in this way: 'Let +them say what they like,' said he; 'I have travelled enough through the +world, and how many Germans, Italians, Englishmen, and Frenchmen have +cleaned boots for me? but I,' said he, 'have never cleaned boots for +any man, and I will not.'" + +"Good!" answered Pan Stanislav, laughing; "he thinks boot-cleaning not +a question of position in the world, but of nationality." + +"Yes, it seems to him that the Lord God created other 'nations' +exclusively so that a nobleman from Kutno may have some one to clean +his boots whenever he chooses to go abroad. But doesn't he turn up his +nose at the marriage of the young man? for I know that he thinks the +Broniches of small account." + +"Maybe he turns up his nose; but he has become acquainted with our Pan +Ignas not long since. They had not met before, for ours is a proud +soul, and would not seek the old man first." + +"I like him for that. I hope he has chosen well, for--" + +"What! do you know Panna Castelli? What kind of a person is she?" + +"I know Panna Castelli; but, you see, I am no judge of young ladies. +Ba! if I knew them, I would not have waited for the fortieth year +as a single man. They are all good, and all please me; but since I +have seen, as married women, a few of those who pleased me, I do not +believe in any. And that makes me angry; for if I had no wish to +marry--well, I should say, leave the matter! but I have the wish. What +can I know? I know that each woman has a corset; but what sort of a +heart is inside it? The deuce knows! I was in love with Panna Castelli; +but for that matter I was in love with all whom I met. With her, +perhaps, even more than with others." + +"And how is it that a wife did not come to your head?" + +"Ah, the devil didn't come to my head! But at that time I hadn't +the money that I have to-day, nor the reputation. I was working for +something then; and believe me that no people are so shy of workers as +the children of workers. I was afraid that Pan Bronich or Pani Bronich +might object, and I was not sure of the lady; therefore I left them in +peace." + +"Pan Ignas has no money." + +"But he has reputation, and, besides, there is old Zavilovski; and a +connection like that is no joke. Who among us has not heard of the old +man? Besides, as to me, to tell the truth, I disliked the Broniches to +the degree that at last I turned from them." + +"You knew the late Pan Bronich, then? Be not astonished that I ask, for +with me it is a question of our Pan Ignas." + +"Whom have I not known? I knew also Pani Bronich's sister,--Pani +Castelli. For that matter I have been twenty-four years in Italy, and +am about forty,--that is said for roundness. In fact, I am forty-five. +I knew Pan Castelli, too, who was a good enough man; I knew all. What +shall I say to you? Pani Castelli was an enthusiast, and distinguished +by wearing short hair; she was always unwashed, and had neuralgia in +the face. As to Pani Bronich, you know her." + +"But who was Pan Bronich?" + +"'Teodor'? Pan Bronich was a double fool,--first, because he was a +fool; and second, because he didn't know himself as one. But I am +silent, for '_de mortuis nil nisi bonum_.' He was as fat as she is +thin; he weighed more than a hundred and fifty kilograms, perhaps, and +had fish eyes. In general, they were people vain beyond everything. +But why expatiate? When a man lives a while in the world, and sees +many people, and talks with them, as I do while painting, he convinces +himself that there is really a high society, which rests on tradition, +and besides that a _canaille_, which, having a little money, apes great +society. The late Bronich and his present widow always seemed to me of +that race; therefore I chose to keep them at a distance. If Bukatski +were alive, he would let out his tongue now at their expense. He knew +that I was in love with Panna Castelli; and how he ridiculed me, may +the Lord not remember it against him! And who knows whether he did not +speak justly? for what Panna Lineta is will be shown later." + +"It concerns me most of all to learn something of her." + +"They are good, all good; but I am afraid of them and their +goodness,--unless your wife would go security for some of them." + +At this point the conversation stopped, and they began to talk of +Bukatski, or rather, of his burial of the day following, for which Pan +Stanislav had made previously all preparations. + +On the way from Svirski's he spoke to the priest again, and then +informed acquaintances of the hour on the morrow. + +The church ceremony of burial had taken place at Rome in its own +time, so Pan Stanislav, as a man of religious feeling, invited a few +priests to join their prayers to the prayers of laymen; he did this +also through attachment and gratitude to Bukatski, who had left him a +considerable part of his property. + +Besides the Polanyetskis came the Mashkos, the Osnovskis, the Bigiels, +Svirski, Pan Plavitski, and Pani Emilia, who wished at the same time +to visit Litka. The day was a genuine summer one, sunny and warm; the +cemetery had a different seeming altogether from what it had during Pan +Stanislav's former visits. The great healthy trees formed a kind of +thick, dense curtain composed of dark and bright leaves, covering with +a deep green shade the white and gray monuments. In places the cemetery +seemed simply a forest full of gloom and coolness. On certain graves +was quivering a shining network of sunbeams, which had filtered in +through the leaves of acacias, poplars, hornbeams, birch, and lindens; +some crosses, nestling in a thick growth, seemed as if dreaming in cool +air above the graves. In the branches and among the leaves were swarms +of small birds, calling out from every side with an unceasing twitter, +which was mild, and, as it were, low purposely, so as not to rouse the +sleepers. + +Svirski, Mashko, Polanyetski, and Osnovski took on their shoulders +the narrow coffin containing the remains of Bukatski, and bore it to +the tomb. The priests, in white surplices now gleaming in the sun, +now in the shade, walked in front of the coffin; behind it the young +women, dressed in black; and all the company went slowly through the +shady alleys, silently, calmly, without sobs or tears, which usually +accompany a coffin. They moved only with dignity and sadness, which +were on their faces as the shadow of the trees on the graves. There +was, however, in all this a certain poetry filled with melancholy; and +the impressionable soul of Bukatski would have felt the charm of that +mourning picture. + +In this way they arrived at the tomb, which had the form of a +sarcophagus, and was entirely above ground, for Bukatski during life +told Svirski that he did not wish to lie in a cellar. The coffin was +pushed in easily through the iron door; the women raised their eyes +then; their lips muttered prayers; and after a time Bukatski was left +to the solitude of the cemetery, the rustling trees, the twitter of +birds, and the mercy of God. + +Pani Emilia and Pan Stanislav went then to Litka; while the rest of the +company waited in the carriages before the church, for thus Pani Aneta +had wished. + +Pan Stanislav had a chance to convince himself, at Litka's grave, +how in his soul that child once so beloved had gone into the blue +distance and become a shade. Formerly when he visited her grave he +rebelled against death, and with all the passion of fresh sorrow was +unreconciled to it. To-day it seemed to him well-nigh natural that she +was lying in the shadow of those trees, in that cemetery; he had the +feeling almost that it must end thus. She had ceased all but completely +to be for him a real being, and had become merely a sweet inhabitant +of his memory, a sigh, a ray, simply one of that kind of reminiscences +which is left by music. + +And he would have grown indignant at himself, perhaps, were it not +that he saw Pani Emilia rise after her finished prayer with a serene +face, with an expression of great tenderness in her eyes, but without +tears. He noticed, however, that she looked as sick people look, that +she rose from her knees with difficulty, and that in walking she leaned +on a stick. In fact, she was at the beginning of a sore disease of the +loins, which later on confined her for years to the bed, and only left +her at the coffin. + +Before the cemetery gate the Osnovskis were waiting for them; Pani +Aneta invited them to a betrothal party on the morrow, and then those +"who were kind" to Prytulov. + +Svirski sat with Pani Emilia in Pan Stanislav's carriage, and for some +time was collecting his impressions in silence; but at last he said,-- + +"How wonderful this is! To-day at a funeral, to-morrow at a betrothal; +what death reaps, love sows,--and that is life!" + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + +Pan Ignas wished the betrothal to be not in the evening before people, +but earlier; and his wish was gratified all the more, since Lineta, who +wished to show herself to people as already betrothed, supported him +before Aunt Bronich. They felt freer thus; and when people began to +assemble they appeared as a young couple. The light of happiness shone +from Lineta. She found a charm in that rôle of betrothed; and the rôle +added charm to her. In her slender form there was something winged. Her +eyelids did not fall to-day sleepily over her eyes; those eyes were +full of light, her lips of smiles, her face was in blushes. She was so +beautiful that Svirski, seeing her, could not refrain from quiet sighs +for the lost paradise, and found calmness for his soul only when he +remembered his favorite song,-- + + "I am singing and not sobbing, + For I have ceased to love thee too! + Hu-ha-hu!" + +For that matter her beauty struck every one that day. Old Zavilovski, +who had himself brought in his chair to the drawing-room, held her +hands and gazed at her for a time; then, looking around at his +daughter, he said,-- + +"Well, such a Venetian half-devil can turn the head, she can, and +especially the head of a poet, for in the heads of those gentlemen is +fiu, fiu! as people say." + +Then he turned to the young man and asked,-- + +"Well, wilt thou break my neck to-day because I said Venetian +half-devil to thee?" + +Pan Ignas laughed, and, bending his head, kissed the old man's +shoulder. "No; I could not break any one's neck to-day." + +"Well," said the old man, evidently rejoiced at those marks of honor, +"may God and the Most Holy Lady bless you both! I say the Most Holy +Lady, for her protection is the basis." + +When he had said this, he began to search behind in the chair, and, +drawing forth a large jewel-case, said to Lineta,-- + +"This is from the family of the Zavilovskis; God grant thee to wear it +long!" + +Lineta, taking the box, bent her charming figure to kiss him on the +shoulder; he embraced her neck, and said to the bridegroom,-- + +"But thou might come." + +And he kissed both on the forehead, and said, with greater emotion than +he wished to show,-- + +"Now love and revere each other, like honest people." + +Lineta opened the case, in which on a sapphire-colored satin cushion +gleamed a splendid _rivière_ of diamonds. The old man said once more +with emphasis, "From the family of the Zavilovskis," wishing evidently +to show that the young lady who married a Zavilovski, even without +property, was not doing badly. But no one heard him, for the heads of +the ladies--of Lineta, Pani Aneta, Pani Mashko, Pani Bronich and even +Marynia--bent over the flashing stones; and breath was stopped in their +mouths for a time, till at last a murmur of admiration and praise broke +the silence. + +"It is not a question of diamonds!" cried Pani Bronich, casting herself +almost into the arms of old Zavilovski, "but as the gift, so the heart." + +"Do not mention it Pani; do not mention it!" said the old man, warding +her off. + +Now the society broke into pairs or small groups; the betrothed +were so occupied with each other that the whole world vanished from +before them. Osnovski and Svirski went up to Marynia and Pani Bigiel. +Kopovski undertook to entertain the lady of the house; Pan Stanislav +was occupied with Pani Mashko. As to Mashko himself, he was anxious +evidently to make a nearer acquaintance with the Croesus, for he +so fenced him off with his armchair that no one could approach him, +and began then to talk of remote times and the present, which, as he +divined easily, had become a favorite theme for the old man. + +But he was too keen-witted to be of Zavilovski's opinion in all things. +Moreover, the old man did not attack recent times always; nay, he +admired them in part. He acknowledged that in many regards they were +moving toward the better; still he could not take them in. But Mashko +explained to him that everything must change on earth; hence nobles, as +well as other strata of society. + +"I, respected sir," said he, "hold to the land through a certain +inherited instinct,--through that something which attracts to land the +man who came from it; but, while managing my own property, I am an +advocate, and I am one on principle. We should have our own people in +that department; if we do not, we shall be at the mercy of men coming +from other spheres, and often directly opposed to us. And I must render +our landholders this justice, that for the greater part they understand +this well, and choose to confide their business to me rather than to +others. Some think it even a duty." + +"The bar has been filled from our ranks at all times," answered Pan +Zavilovski; "but will the noble succeed in other branches? As God +lives, I cannot tell. I hear, and hear that we ought to undertake +everything; but people forget that to undertake and to succeed are +quite different. Show me the man who has succeeded." + +"Here he is, respected sir, Pan Polanyetski: he in a commission house +has made quite a large property; and what he has is in ready cash, so +that he could put it all on the table to-morrow. He will not deny that +my counsels have been of profit to him frequently; but what he has +made, he has made through commerce, mainly in grain." + +"Indeed, indeed!" said the old noble, gazing at Pan Stanislav, and +staring from wonder, "has he really made property? Is it possible? Is +he of the real Polanyetskis? That's a good family." + +"And that stalwart man with brown hair?" + +"Is Svirski the artist." + +"I know him, for I saw him abroad; and the Svirskis did not make fires +as an occupation." + +"But he can only paint money, for he hasn't made any." + +"He hasn't!" said Mashko, in a confidential tone. "Not one big estate +in Podolia will give as much income as aquarelles give him." + +"What is that?" + +"Pictures in water-colors." + +"Is it possible? not even oil paintings! And he too--? Ha! then, +perhaps, my relative will make something at verses. Let him write; let +him write. I will not take it ill of him. Pan Zygmund was a noble, and +he wrote, and not for display. Pan Adam was a noble also; but he is +famous,--more famous than that brawler who has worked with democracy-- +What's his name? Never mind! You say that times are changing. Hm, are +they? Let them change for themselves, if only with God's help, for the +better." + +"The main thing," said Mashko, "is not to shut up a man's power in his +head, nor capital in chests; whoever does that, simply sins against +society." + +"Well, but with permission! How do you understand this,--Am I not free +to close with a key what belongs to me; must I leave my chests open to +a robber?" + +Mashko smiled with a shade of loftiness, and, putting his hand on the +arm of the chair, said,-- + +"That is not the question, respected sir." And then he began to explain +the principles of political economy to Pan Zavilovski; the old noble +listened, nodding his head, and repeating from time to time,-- + +"Indeed! that is something new! but I managed without it." + +Pani Bronich followed the betrothed with eyes full of emotion, and at +the same time told Plavitski (who on his part was following Pani Aneta +with eyes not less full of emotion) about the years of her youth, her +life with Teodor, and the misfortune which met them because of the +untimely arrival in the world of their only descendant, and Plavitski +listened with distraction; but, moved at last by her own narrative, she +said with a somewhat quivering voice,-- + +"So all my love, hope, and faith are in Lineta. You will understand +this, for you too have a daughter. And as to Lolo, just think what a +blessing that child would have been had he lived, since even dead he +rendered us so much service--" + +"Immensely touching, immensely touching!" interrupted Plavitski. + +"Oh, it is true," continued Pani Bronich. "How often in harvest time +did my husband run with the cry, 'Lolo monte!' and send out all his +laboring men to the field. With others, wheat sprouted in the shocks, +with us, never. Oh, true! And the loss was the greater in this, that +that was our last hope. My husband was a man in years, and I can say +that for me he was the best of protectors; but after this misfortune, +only a protector." + +"Here I cease to understand him," said Plavitski. "Ha, ha! I fail +altogether to understand him." + +And, opening his mouth, he looked roguishly at Pani Bronich; she +slapped him lightly with her fan, and said,-- + +"These men are detestable; for them there is nothing sacred." + +"Who is that, a real Perugino,--that pale lady, with whom your husband +is talking?" asked Svirski now of Marynia. + +"An acquaintance of ours, Pani Mashko. Have you not been presented to +her?" + +"Yes; I became acquainted with her yesterday at the funeral, but forget +her name. I know that she is the wife of that gentleman who is talking +with old Pan Zavilovski. A pure Vannuci! The same quietism, and a +little yellowish; but she has very beautiful lines in her form." + +And looking a little longer he added,-- + +"A quenched face, but uncommon lines in the whole figure. As it were +slender; look at the outline of her arms and shoulders." + +But Marynia was not looking at the outlines of the arms and shoulders +of Pani Mashko, but at her husband; and on her face alarm was reflected +on a sudden. Pan Stanislav was just inclining toward Pani Mashko and +telling her something which Marynia could not hear, for they were +sitting at a distance; but it seemed to her that at times he gazed +into that quenched face and those pale eyes with the same kind of look +with which during their journey after marriage he had gazed at her +sometimes. Ah, she knew that look! And her heart began now to beat, +as if feeling some great danger. But immediately she said to herself, +"That cannot be! That would be unworthy of Stas." Still she could not +refrain from looking at them. Pan Stanislav was telling something very +vivaciously, which Pani Mashko listened to with her usual indifference. +Marynia thought again: "Something only seemed to me! He is speaking +vivaciously as usual, but nothing more." The remnant of her doubt was +destroyed by Svirski, who, either because he noticed her alarm and +inquiring glance, or because he did not notice the expression on Pan +Stanislav's face, said,-- + +"With all this she says nothing. Your husband must keep up the +conversation, and he looks at once weary and angry." + +Marynia's face grew radiant in one instant. "Oh, you are right! Stas is +annoyed a little, surely; and the moment he is annoyed he is angry." + +And she fell into perfect good-humor. She would have been glad to give +a _rivière_ of diamonds, like that which Pan Zavilovski had brought +to Lineta, to make "Stas" approach at that moment, to say something +herself to him, and hear a kind word from him. In fact, a few minutes +later her wish was accomplished, for Osnovski approached Pani Mashko; +Pan Stanislav rose, and, saying a word or two on the way to Pani Aneta, +who was talking to Kopovski, sat down at last by his wife. + +"Dost wish to tell me something?" he inquired. + +"How wonderful it is, Stas, for I called to thee that moment, but only +in mind; still thou hast felt and art here with me." + +"See what a husband I am," answered he, with a smile. "But the reason +is really very simple: I noticed thee looking at me; I was afraid that +something might have happened, and I came." + +"I was looking, for I wanted something." + +"And I came, for I wanted something. How dost thou feel? Tell the +truth! Perhaps thou hast a wish to go home?" + +"No, Stas, as I love thee, I am perfectly comfortable. I was talking +with Pan Svirski of Pani Mashko, and was entertained well." + +"I guessed that you were gossiping about her. This artist says himself +that he has an evil tongue." + +"On the contrary," answered Svirski, "I was only admiring her form. The +turn for my tongue may come later." + +"Oh, that is true," said Pan Stanislav; "Pani Osnovski says that she +has indeed a bad figure, and that is proof that she has a good one. +But, Marynia, I will tell thee something of Pani Osnovski." Here +he bent toward his wife, and whispered, "Knowest what I heard from +Kopovski's lips when I was coming to thee?" + +"What was it? Something amusing?" + +"Just as one thinks: I heard him say thou to Pani Aneta." + +"Stas!" + +"As I love thee, he did. He said to her, 'Thou art always so.'" + +"Maybe he was quoting some other person's words." + +"I don't know. Maybe he was; maybe he wasn't. Besides, they may have +been in love sometime." + +"Fi! Be ashamed." + +"Say that to them--or rather to Pani Aneta." + +Marynia, who knew perfectly well that unfaithfulness exists, but +looking on it rather as some French literary theory,--she had not +even imagined that one might meet such a thing at every step and in +practice,--began to look now at Pani Aneta with wonder, and at the same +time with the immense curiosity with which honest women look at those +who have had boldness to leave the high-road for by-paths. She had too +truthful a nature, however, to believe in evil immediately, and she +did not; and somehow it would not find a place in her head that really +there could be anything between those two, if only because of the +unheard-of stupidity of Kopovski. She noticed, however, that they were +talking with unusual vivacity. + +But they, sitting somewhat apart between a great porcelain vase and the +piano, had not only been talking, but arguing for a quarter of an hour. + +"I fear that he has heard something," said Pani Aneta, with a certain +alarm, after Pan Stanislav had passed. "Thou art never careful." + +"Yes, it is always my fault! But who is forever repeating, 'Be +careful'?" + +In this regard both were truly worthy of each other, since he could +foresee nothing because of his dulness, and she was foolhardy to +recklessness. Two persons knew their secret now; others might divine +it. One needed all the infatuation of Osnovski not to infer anything. +But it was on that that she reckoned. + +Meanwhile Kopovski looked at Pan Stanislav and said,-- + +"He has heard nothing." + +Then he returned to the conversation which they had begun; but now he +spoke in lower tones and in French,-- + +"Didst thou love me, thou wouldst be different; but since thou dost not +love, what harm could that be to thee?" + +Then he turned on her his wonderful eyes without mind, while she +answered impatiently,-- + +"Whether I love, or love not, Castelka never! Dost understand? Never! +I would prefer any other to her, though, if thou wert in love with me +really, thou wouldst not think of marriage." + +"I would not think of it, if thou wert different." + +"Be patient." + +"Yes! till death? If I married Castelka, we should then be near really." + +"Never! I repeat to thee." + +"Well, but why?" + +"Thou wouldst not understand it. Besides, Castelka is betrothed; it is +too bad to lose time in discussing this." + +"Thou thyself hast commanded me to pay court to her, and now art +casting reproaches. At first I thought of nothing; but afterward she +pleased me,--I do not deny this. She pleases all; and, besides, she is +a good match." + +Pani Aneta began to pull at the end of her handkerchief. + +"And thou hast the boldness to say to my eyes that she pleased thee," +said she at last. "Is it I, or she?" + +"Thou, but thee I cannot marry; her I could, for I saw well that I +pleased her." + +"If thou wert better acquainted with women, thou wouldst be glad that +I did not let it go to marriage. Thou dost not know her. She is just +like a stick, and, besides, is malicious in character. Dost thou not +understand that I told thee to pay court to her out of regard to +people, and to Yozio? Otherwise, how explain thy daily visits?" + +"I could understand, wert thou other than thou art." + +"Do not oppose me. I have fixed all, as thou seest, to keep thy +portrait from being finished, and give thee a chance to visit Prytulov. +Steftsia Ratkovski, a distant relative of Yozio's, will be there soon. +Dost understand? Thou must pretend that she pleases thee; and I will +talk what I like into Yozio. In this way thou wilt be able to stop +at Prytulov. I have written to Panna Ratkovski already. She is not a +beauty, but agreeable." + +"Always pretence, and nothing for it." + +"Suppose I should say to thee: Don't come." + +"Anetka!" + +"Then be patient. I cannot be angry long with thee. But now go thy way. +Amuse Pani Mashko." + +And a moment later Pani Aneta was alone. Her eyes followed Kopovski +a while with the remnant of her anger, but also with a certain +tenderness. In the white cravat, with his dark tint of face, he was so +killingly beautiful that she could not gaze at him sufficiently. Lineta +was now the betrothed of another; still the thought seemed unendurable +that that daily rival of hers might possess him, if not as husband, as +lover. Pani Aneta, in telling Kopovski that she would yield him to any +other rather than to Castelka, told the pure truth. That was for her a +question, at once of an immense weakness for that dull Endymion, and a +question of self-love. Her nerves simply could not agree to it. Certain +inclinations of the senses, which she herself looked on as lofty, and +rising from a Grecian nature, but which at the root of the matter were +common, took the place in her of morality and conscience. By virtue of +these inclinations, she fell under the irresistible charm of Kopovski; +but having not only a heated head, but a temperament of fishy coldness, +she preferred, as Pan Ignas divined intuitively, the play with evil to +evil itself. Holding, in her way, to the principle, "If not I, then +no one!" she was ready to push matters to the utmost to prevent the +marriage of Kopovski to Lineta, the more since she saw that Lineta, in +spite of all her "words" about Kopovski, in spite of the irony with +which she had mentioned him and her jests about the man, was also under +the charm of his exceptional beauty; that all those jests were simply +self-provocation, under which was concealed an attraction; and that, in +general, the source of her pleasure and Lineta's was the same. But she +did not observe that, for this reason, she at the bottom of her soul +had contempt for Lineta. + +She knew that Lineta, through very vanity, would not oppose her +persuasion, and the homages of a man with a famous name. In this way, +she had retained Kopovski, and, besides, had produced for herself a +splendid spectacle, on which women, who are more eager for impressions +than feelings, look always with greediness. Besides, if that famous Pan +Ignas, when his wife becomes an every-day object, should look somewhere +for a Beatrice, he might find her. Little is denied men who have power +to hand down, to the memory of mankind and the homage of ages, the name +of a loved one. These plans for the future Pani Aneta had not outlined +hitherto expressly; but she had, as it were, a misty feeling that her +triumph would in that case be perfect. + +Moreover, she had triumphed even now, for all had gone as she wished. +Still Kopovski made her angry. She had considered him as almost her +property. Meanwhile, she saw that, so far as he was able to understand +anything, he understood this, that the head does not ache from +abundance, and that Aneta might not hinder Lineta. That roused her so +keenly that at moments she was thinking how to torment him in return. +Meanwhile, she was glad that Lineta paraded herself as being in love +really, soul and heart, with Pan Ignas, which for Kopovski was at once +both a riddle and a torture. + +These thoughts flew through her head like lightning, and flew all of +them in the short time that she was alone. At last she was interrupted +by the serving of supper. Osnovski, who desired that his wife should +be surrounded by such homage from every one as he himself gave, and to +whom it seemed that what he had said to Pan Ignas about his married +life was very appropriate, had the unhappy thought to repeat at the +first toast the wish that Pan Ignas might be as happy with Lineta as he +with his wife. Hereupon, the eyes of Pan Ignas and Pan Stanislav turned +involuntarily to Pani Osnovski, who looked quickly at Pan Stanislav, +and doubts on both sides disappeared in one instant; that is, she +gained the perfect certainty that Pan Stanislav had heard them, and he, +that Kopovski had not quoted the words of another, but had said _thou_ +in direct speech to the lady. Pani Aneta had guessed even that Pan +Stanislav must have spoken of that to Marynia, for she had seen how, +after he had passed, both had talked and looked a certain time at her +with great curiosity. The thought filled her with anger and a desire of +revenge, so that she listened without attention to the further toasts, +which were given by her husband, by Pan Ignas, by Plavitski, and at +last by Pan Bigiel. + +But, after supper, it came to her head all at once to arrange +a dancing-party; and "Yozio," obedient as ever to each beck of +hers, and, besides, excited after feasting, supported the thought +enthusiastically. Marynia could not dance, but besides her there were +five youthful ladies,--Lineta, Pani Osnovski, Pani Bigiel, Pani Mashko, +and Panna Zavilovski. The last declared, it is true, that she did not +dance; but, since people said that she neither danced, talked, ate, nor +drank, her refusal did not stop the readiness of others. Osnovski, who +was in splendid feeling, declared that Ignas should take Lineta in his +arms, for surely he had not dared to do so thus far. + +It turned out, however, that Pan Ignas could not avail himself of Pan +Osnovski's friendly wishes, for he had never danced in his life, and +had not the least knowledge of dancing, which not only astonished Pani +Bronich and Lineta, but offended them somewhat. Kopovski, on the other +hand, possessed this art in a high degree; hence he began the dance +with Lineta, as the heroine of the evening. They were a splendid pair, +and eyes followed them involuntarily. Pan Ignas was forced to see her +golden head incline toward Kopovski's shoulder, to see their bosoms +near each other, to see both whirling to the time of Bigiel's waltz, +joined in the harmony of movement, blending, as it were, into one tune +and one unity. Even from looking at all this, he grew angry, for he +understood that there was a thing which he did not know, which would +connect Lineta with others and disconnect her with him. Besides, people +about him mentioned the beauty of the dancing couple; and Svirski, +sitting near him, said,-- + +"What a beautiful man! If there were male houris, as there are female, +he might be a houri in a Mussulman paradise for women." + +They waltzed long; and there was in the tones of the music, as in +their movements, something, as it were, intoxicating, a kind of dizzy +faintness, which incensed Pan Ignas still more, for he recalled Byron's +verses on waltzing,--verses as cynical as they are truthful. At last, +he said to himself, with complete impatience: "When will that ass let +her go?" He feared, too, that Kopovski might tire her too much. + +The "ass" let her go at last at the other end of the hall, and +straightway took Pani Aneta. But Lineta ran up to her betrothed, and, +sitting down at his side, said,-- + +"He dances well, but he likes to exhibit his skill, for he has nothing +else. He kept me too long. I have lost breath a little, and my heart is +beating. If you could put your hand there and feel how it beats--but it +is not proper to do so. How wonderful, too, for it is your property." + +"My property!" said Pan Ignas, holding out his hand to her. "Do not say +'your' to me to-day, Lineta." + +"Thy property," she whispered, and she did not ward off his hand, she +only let it drop down a little on her robe, so that people might not +notice it. + +"I was jealous of him," said Pan Ignas, pressing her fingers +passionately. + +"Dost wish I will dance no more to-day? I like to dance, but I prefer +to be near thee." + +"My worshipped one!" + +"I am a stupid society girl, but I want to be worthy of thee. As thou +seest, I love music greatly,--even waltzes and polkas. Somehow they +act on me wonderfully. How well this Pan Bigiel plays! But I know that +there are things higher than waltzes. Hold my handkerchief, and drop my +hand for a moment. It is thy hand, but I must arrange my hair. It is +time to dance; to dance is not wrong, is it? But if thou wish, I will +not dance, for I am an obedient creature. I will learn to read in thy +eyes, and afterward shall be like water, which reflects both clouds and +clear weather. So pleasant is it for me near thee! See how perfectly +those people dance!" + +Words failed Pan Ignas; only in one way could he have shown what he +felt,--by kneeling before her. But she pointed out Pan Stanislav, who +was dancing with Pani Mashko, and admired them heartily. + +"Really he dances better than Pan Kopovski," said she, with gleaming +eyes; "and she, how graceful! Oh, I should like to dance even once with +him--if thou permit." + +Pan Ignas, in whom Pan Stanislav did not rouse the least jealousy, +said,-- + +"My treasure, as often as may please thee. I will send him at once to +thee." + +"Oh, how perfectly he dances! how perfectly! And this waltz, it is like +some delightful shiver. They are sailing, not dancing." + +Of this opinion, too, was Marynia, who, following the couple with her +eyes, experienced a still greater feeling of bitterness than Pan Ignas +a little while earlier; for it seemed a number of times to her that Pan +Stanislav had looked again on Pani Mashko with that expression with +which he had looked when Svirski supposed that either he was annoyed, +or was angry. But now such a supposition was impossible. At moments +both dancers passed near her; and then she saw distinctly how his arm +embraced firmly Pani Mashko's waist, how his breath swept around her +neck, how his nostrils were dilated, how his glances slipped over her +naked bosom. That might be invisible for others, but not for Marynia, +who could read in his face as in a book. And all at once the light of +the lamps became dark in her eyes; she understood that it was one thing +not to be happy, and another to be unhappy. This lasted briefly,--as +briefly as one tact of the waltz, or one instant in which a heart that +is straitened ceases to beat; but it sufficed for the feeling that +life in the future might be embroiled, and present love changed into +a bitter and contemptuous sorrow. And that feeling filled her with +terror. Before her was drawn aside, as it were, a curtain, behind which +appeared unexpectedly all the sham of life, all the wretchedness and +meanness of human nature. Nothing had happened yet, absolutely nothing; +but a vision came to Marynia, in which she saw that there might be a +time when her confidence in her husband would vanish like smoke. + +She tried, however, to ward away doubts; she wished to talk into +herself that he was under the influence of the dance, not of his +partner; she preferred not to believe her eyes. Shame seized her for +that "Stas" of whom she had been so proud up to that time; and she +struggled with all her strength against that feeling, understanding +that it was a question of enormous importance, and that from that +little thing, and from that fault of his, hitherto almost nothing, +might flow results which would act on their whole future. + +At that moment was heard near her the jesting voice of Pani Aneta. + +"Ah, Marynia, nature has created, as it were, purposely, thy husband +and Pani Mashko to waltz with each other. What a pair!" + +"Yes," answered Marynia, with an effort. + +And Pani Aneta twittered on: "Perfectly fitted for each other. It is +true that in thy place I should be a little jealous; but thou, art +thou jealous? No? I am outspoken, and confess freely that I should be; +at least, it was so with me once. I know, for that matter, that Yozio +loves me; but these men, even while loving, have their little fancies. +Their heads do not ache the least on that score; and that our hearts +ache, they do not see, or do not wish to see. The best of them are not +different. Yozio? true! he is a model husband; and dost thou think that +I do not know him? Now, when I have grown used to him, laughter seizes +me often, for they are all so awkward! I know the minute that Yozio is +beginning to be giddy; and knowest thou what my sign is?" + +Marynia was looking continually at her husband, who had ceased now to +dance with Pani Mashko, and had taken Lineta. She felt great relief all +at once, for it seemed to her that "Stas," while dancing with Lineta, +had the same expression of face. Her suspicions began to fade; and she +thought at once that she had judged him unjustly, that she herself was +not good. She had never seen him dancing before; and the thought came +to her head that perhaps he danced that way always. + +Then Pani Aneta repeated, "Dost know how I discover when Yozio is +beginning to play pranks?" + +"How?" inquired Marynia, with more liveliness. + +"I will teach thee the method. Here it is: the moment he has an unclean +conscience, he puts suspicion on others, and shares these suspicions +with me, so as to turn attention from himself. Dear Yozio! that is +their method. How they lie, even the best of them!" + +When she had said this, she went away, with the conviction that on the +society chessboard she had made a very clever move; and it was clever. +In Marynia's head a kind of chaos now rose; she knew not what to think +at last of all this. Great physical weariness seized her also. "I am +not well," said she to herself; "I am excited, and God knows what +may seem to me." And the feeling of weariness increased in her every +moment. That whole evening seemed a fever dream. Pan Stanislav had +mentioned Pani Aneta as a faith-breaking woman; Pani Aneta had said the +same of all husbands. Pan Stanislav had been looking with dishonest +eyes on Pani Mashko, and Pani Aneta had said _thou_ to Kopovski. To +this was added the dancing couples, the monotonous tact of the waltz, +the heads of the lovers, and finally, a storm, which was heard out of +doors. What a mixture of impressions! what a phantasmagoria! "I am not +well," repeated Marynia in her mind. But she felt also that peace was +leaving her, and that this was the unhappy evening of her life. She +wished greatly to go home, but, as if to spite her, there was a pouring +rain. "Let us go home! let us go home!" If "Stas" should say some good +and cordial word besides. Let him only not speak of Pani Aneta or Pani +Mashko; let him speak of something that related to him and her, and was +dear to them. + +"Oh, how tired I am!" + +At that moment Pan Stanislav came to her; and at sight of her poor, +pale face, he felt a sudden sympathy, to which his heart, kind in +itself, yielded easily. + +"My poor dear," said he, "it is time for thee to go to bed; only let +the rain pass a little. Thou art not afraid of thunder?" + +"No; sit near me." + +"The summer shower will pass soon. How sleepy thou art!" + +"Perhaps I ought not to have come, Stas. I have great need of rest." + +He had a conscience which was not too clear, and was angry at himself. +But it had not come to his mind that what she was saying of rest might +relate to him and his attempts and conduct with Pani Mashko; but he +felt all at once that if she had suspected, her peace would be ruined +forever through his fault, and since he was not a spoiled man, fear and +compunction possessed him. + +"To the deuce with all dances!" said he. "I will stay at home, and take +care of that which belongs to me." + +And he said this so sincerely that a shadow of doubt could not pass +through her head, for she knew him perfectly. Hence a feeling of +immense relief came upon her. + +"When thou art with me," said she, "I feel less tired right away. A +moment ago I felt ill somehow. Aneta sat near me; but what can I care +for her? When out of health, one needs a person who is near, who is +one's own, and reliable. Perhaps thou wilt scold me for what I say, +since it is strange to say such things at a party, among strangers, +and so long after marriage. I understand myself that it is somewhat +strange; but I need thee really, for I love thee much." + +"And I love thee, dear being," answered Pan Stanislav, who felt then +that love for her could alone be honest and peaceful. + +Meanwhile the rain decreased; but there was lightning yet, so that +the windows of the villa were bright blue every moment. Bigiel, who, +after the dancing, had played a prelude of Chopin's, was talking now +with Lineta and Pan Ignas about music, and, defending his idea firmly, +said,-- + +"That Bukatski invented various kinds and types of women; and I have my +musical criterion. There are women who love music with their souls, and +there are others who love it with their skin,--these last I fear." + +A quarter of an hour later the short summer storm had passed by, and +the sky had cleared perfectly; the guests began to prepare for home. +But Zavilovski remained longer than others, so that he might be the +last to say good-night to Lineta. + +Out of fear for Marynia, Pan Stanislav gave command to drive the +carriage at a walk. The picture of her husband dancing with Pani +Mashko was moving in her tortured, head continually. Pani Aneta's +words, "Oh, how they lie! even the best of them," were sounding in her +ears. But Pan Stanislav supported her meanwhile with his arm, and +held her resting against him during the whole way; hence her disquiet +disappeared gradually. She wished from her soul to put some kind of +question to him, from which he might suspect her fears and pacify her. +But after a while she thought: "If he did not love me, he would not +show anxiety; he could be cruel more readily than pretend. I will not +ask him to-day about anything." Pan Stanislav, on his part, evidently +under the influence of the thought which moved in his head, and +under the impression that she alone might be his right love and true +happiness, bent down and kissed her face lightly. + +"I will not ask him about anything to-morrow either," thought Marynia, +resting her head on his shoulder. And after a while she thought again, +"I will never tell him anything." And fatigue, both physical and +mental, began to overpower her, so that before they reached home her +eyes were closed, and she had fallen asleep on his arm. + +Pani Bronich was sitting, meanwhile, in the drawing-room, looking +toward the glass door of the balcony, to which the betrothed had +gone out for a moment to breathe the air freshened by rain, and say +good-night to each other without witnesses. After the storm the night +had become very clear, giving out the odor of wet leaves; it was full +of stars, which were as if they had bathed in the rain, and were +smiling through tears. The two young people stood some time in silence, +and then began to say that they loved each other with all their souls; +and at last Pan Ignas stretched forth his hand, on which a ring was +glittering, and said,-- + +"My greatly beloved! I look at this ring, and cannot look at it +sufficiently. To this moment it has seemed to me that all this is a +dream, and only now do I dare to think that thou wilt be mine really." + +Then Lineta placed the palm of her hand on his, so that the two rings +were side by side; and she said, with a voice of dreamy exaltation,-- + +"Yes; the former Lineta is no longer in existence, only thy betrothed. +Now we must belong with our whole lives to each other; and it is a +marvel to me that there should be such power in these little rings, as +if something holy were in them." + +Pan Ignas's heart was overflowing with happiness, calm, and sweetness. + +"Yes," said he; "for in the ring is the soul, which yields itself, +and in return receives another. In such a golden promise is ingrafted +everything which in a man says, 'I wish, I love, and promise.'" + +Lineta repeated like a faint echo, "I wish, I love, and promise." + +Next he embraced her and held her long at his breast, and then began to +take farewell. But, borne away by the might of love and the impulse of +his soul, he made of that farewell a sort of religious act of adoration +and honor. So he gave good-night to those blessed hands which had given +him so much happiness, and good-night to that heart which loved him, +and good-night to the lips which had confessed love, and good-night to +the clear eyes through which mutuality gazed forth at the poet; and at +last the soul went out of him, and changed itself, as it were, into a +shining circle, around that head which was dearest in the world and +worshipped. + +"Good-night!" + +After a while Pani Bronich and Lineta were alone in the drawing-room. + +"Art wearied, child?" inquired Pani Bronich, looking at Lineta's face, +which was as if roused from sleep. + +And Lineta answered,-- + +"Ah, aunt, I am returning from the stars, and that's such a long +journey." + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + +Pan Ignas could say to himself that sometimes a lucky star shines even +for poets. It is true that since the day of his betrothal to Lineta it +had occurred to him frequently that there would be need now to think of +means to furnish a house, and meet the expenses, as well of a marriage +as a wedding; but, being first of all in love, and not having in +general a clear understanding of such matters, he represented all this +to himself only as some kind of new difficulty to be overcome. He had +conquered so many of these in his life that, trusting in his power, he +thought that he would conquer this too; but he had not thought over the +means so far. + +Others, however, were thinking for him. Old Zavilovski, in whom, with +all his esteem for geniuses, nothing could shake the belief that every +poet must have "fiu, fiu" in his head, invited Pan Stanislav to a +personal consultation, and said,-- + +"I will say openly that this youngster has pleased me, though his +father was, with permission, a great roisterer; nothing for him but +cards and women and horses. He came to grief in his time. But the son +is not like the father; he has brought to the name not discredit, but +honor. Well, others have not accustomed me much to this; but the Lord +God grant that I shall not forget the man. I should like, however, to +do something for him at once; for though a distant relative, he is a +relative, and the name is the same,--that is the main thing." + +"We have been thinking of this," said Pan Stanislav, "but the thing is +difficult. If aid be spoken of, he is so sensitive that one may make +the impatient fellow angry." + +"Indeed! How stubborn he is!" said Zavilovski, with evident pleasure. + +"True! He has kept books and written letters for our house a short +time. But we have conceived a real liking for him; therefore my partner +and I have offered him credit ourselves. 'Take a few thousand rubles,' +said we, 'for expenses and furnishing a house, and return them to us in +the course of three years from thy salary.' He would not: he said that +he had trust in his betrothed; she would accommodate herself to him, +he felt sure, and he did not want the money. Osnovski, too, wanted to +offer aid but we stopped him, knowing that it was useless. Your project +will be difficult." + +"Maybe, then, he has something?" + +"He has, and he hasn't. We have just learned that some thousands +of rubles came to him from his mother; but with the interest he +supports his father in an insane asylum, and considers the capital as +inviolable. That he takes nothing from it, is certain, for before he +began with us, he suffered such poverty that he was simply dying of +hunger, and he didn't touch a copper. Such is his character. And you +will understand why we esteem him. He is writing something, it seems, +and thinks that he will meet the expense of first housekeeping with it. +Maybe he will; his name means much at present." + +"Pears on willows!" said Pan Zavilovski. "You tell me that his name +means much--does it? But that's pears on willows!" + +"Not necessarily; only it will not come quickly." + +"Well, he was ceremonious with you because you were strangers, but I am +a relative." + +"We are strangers, but older acquaintances than you, and we know him +better." + +Zavilovski, unaccustomed to contradiction, began to move his white +mustaches, and pant from displeasure. For the first time in his life +he had to trouble himself about the question, would the man to whom he +wished to give money be pleased to accept it? This astonished, pleased, +and angered him all at once; he recalled, then, something which he did +not mention to Pan Stanislav, and this was it,--how many times had he +paid notes for the father of the young man?--and what notes! But see, +the apple has fallen so far from the tree that now there is a new and +unexpected trouble. + +"Well," said he, after a while, "may the merciful God grant the young +generation to change; for now, O devil, do not go even near them!" + +Here his face grew bright all at once with an immense honest pleasure. +The inexhaustible optimism, lying at the bottom of his soul, when +it found a real cause to justify itself, filled his heart with glad +visions. + +"Bite him now, lord devil," said he, "for the beast is as if of +stone!--a capable rascal! resolute in work, and character; that is what +it is,--character." + +Here he stared, and, shaking his head, fixed his lips as a sign of +wonder, as if to whistle, and after a moment, added,-- + +"Indeed! and that in a noble! As God lives, I didn't expect it." + +But talking in this way he deceived himself, for all his life he had +expected everything. + +"It seems, then," said Pan Stanislav, "that there is no help but this, +Panna Castelli must accommodate herself to him." + +But the old noble made a wry face all at once. "That is talk! tfu! +Will she accommodate, or will she not? the deuce knows her! She is +young; and as she is young, maybe she is ready for everything; but +who will give assurance, and for how long? Besides, there is her +aunt and that accommodating dead man; when he shouts from under the +ground, go and talk with him. As God is true, I esteem people who have +acquired property; but when any one has crept out of a cottage, and +not a mansion, and pretends that he lived always in palaces, he wants +palaces. And so it was with old Bronich. Neither of them was lacking +in vanity; the young woman was reared in such a school,--nothing but +comfort and abundance. Ignas does not know them in that respect--and +you do not. Such a woman as this" (here he pointed to his daughter) +"would go to a garret even, once she had given her word; but that other +one, she may not go easily." + +"I do not know them," said Pan Stanislav, "though I have heard various +reports; but through good-will for Ignas, I should like to know +definitely what to think of them." + +"What to think of them! I have known them a long time, and I, too, do +not know much. Well, judging from what Bronich herself says, the women +are saints, the most worthy. And pious! Ha! they should be canonized +while living! But you see it is this way,--there are women among us who +bear God and the commands of faith in their hearts, and there are such, +too, who make of our Catholic religion, Catholic amusement; and such +talk the loudest, and grow up where no one sowed them. That's what the +case is." + +"Ah, how truly you have spoken!" said Pan Stanislav. + +"Well, is it not true?" inquired Zavilovski. "I have seen various +things in life; but let us return to the question. Have you any method +to make this wild cat accept aid, or not?" + +"It is necessary to think of something; but at this moment nothing +occurs to me." + +Thereupon Panna Helena Zavilovski, who, occupied with embroidery +on canvas, was silent up to that moment as if not hearing the +conversation, raised her steel cold eyes suddenly, and said,-- + +"There is a very simple method." + +The old noble looked at her. + +"See, she has found it! What is this simple method?" + +"Let papa deposit sufficient capital for Pan Ignas's father." + +"It would be better for thee not to give that advice; I have done +enough in my life for Pan Ignas's father, though I had no wish to see +him, and prefer now to do something for Pan Ignas himself." + +"I know; but if his father has an income assured till his death, Pan +Ignas will be able to command that which he has from his mother." + +"As God is dear to me, that is true!" said Pan Zavilovski, with +astonishment. "See! we have both been breaking our heads for nothing, +and she has discovered it. True, as God is dear to me!" + +"You are perfectly right," said Pan Stanislav, looking at her with +curiosity. + +But she had inclined to the embroidery her face, which was without +expression of interest, and, as it were, faded before its time. + +The news of such a turn of affairs pleased Marynia and Pani Bigiel +greatly, and gave at the same time occasion to speak of Panna Helena. +Formerly she was considered a cold young lady, who placed form above +everything; but it was said that later a way was broken through that +coldness to her heart by great feeling, which, turning into a tragedy, +turned also that society young lady into a strange woman, separated +from people, confined to herself, jealous of her suffering. Some +exalted her great benevolence; but if she was really benevolent, she +did her good work so secretly that no one knew anything definite. It +was difficult, also, for any one to approach her, for her indifference +was greatly like pride. Men declared that in her manner there was +something simply contemptuous, just as if she could not forgive them +for living. + +Pan Ignas had been in Prytulov, and returned only the week following +the old man's talk with Pan Stanislav,--that is, when the noble had +deposited in the name of his father twice the amount of capital which +had served so far to pay his expenses at the asylum. When he learned of +this, Pan Ignas rushed off to thank the old man, and to save himself +from accepting it; but Zavilovski, feeling firm ground under his feet, +grumbled him out of his position. + +"But what hast thou to say?" asked he. "I have done nothing for thee; +I have given thee nothing. Thou hast no right to receive or not to +receive; and that it pleased me to go to the aid of a sick relative is +a kind of act permitted to every man." + +In fact, there was nothing to answer; hence the matter ended in +embraces and emotion, in which these two men, strangers a short time +before, felt that they were real relatives. + +Even Panna Helena herself showed "Pan Ignas" good-will. As to old +Zavilovski, he, grieving in secret over this, that he had no son, took +to loving the young man heartily. A week later, Pani Bronich, who had +visited Warsaw on some little business, went to Yasmen to learn what +was to be heard about the gout, and to speak of the young couple. When +she repeated a number of times, to the greater praise of "Nitechka," +that she was marrying a man without property, the old noble grew +impatient, and cried,-- + +"What do you say to me? God knows who makes the better match, even with +regard to property, omitting mention of other things." + +And Pani Bronich, who moreover endured all from the old truth-teller, +endured smoothly even the mention of "other things." Nay, a half an +hour later, she spread the wings of her imagination sufficiently. +Visiting the Polanyetskis on the way, she told them that Pan Zavilovski +had given her a formal promise to make an entail for "that dear, +dear Ignas," with an irrepressible motherly feeling that at times he +took the place of Lolo in her heart. Finally, she expressed the firm +conviction that Teodor would have loved him no less than she, and that +thereby sorrow for Lolo would have been less painful to both of them. + +Pan Ignas did not know that he had taken the place of Lolo in Pani +Bronich's heart, nor did he know of the entail discovered for him, +but he noticed that his relations with people had begun already to +change. The news of that entail must have spread through the city with +lightning-like swiftness, for his acquaintances greeted him in some +fashion differently; and even his colleagues of the bureau, honest +people, began to be less familiar. When he returned from Prytulov, he +had to visit all persons who had been present at the betrothal party at +the Osnovskis'; and the quickness with which the visit was returned by +such a man as Mashko, for example, testified also to the change in his +relations. In the first period of their acquaintance, Mashko treated +him somewhat condescendingly. Now he had not ceased, it is true, to be +patronizing, but there was so much kindness and friendly confidence +in his manner, such a feeling for poetry even. No! Mashko had nothing +against poetry; he would have preferred, perhaps, if Pan Ignas's verses +were more in the spirit of safely thinking people; but in general he +was reconciled to the existence of poetry, and even praised it. His +favorable inclination both to poetry and the poet were evident from +his look, his smile, and the frequent repetition, "but of course,--of +course,--but very!" Pan Ignas, who was in many regards naïve, but at +the same exceptionally intelligent, still understood that in all this +there was some pretence, hence he thought: "Why does this, as it were, +thinking man pose in such style that it is evident?" + +And that same day he raised this question in a talk with the +Polanyetskis; at their house it was that he had made Mashko's +acquaintance. + +"Were I to pose," said he, "I should try so to pose that people could +not recognize it." + +"Those who pose," answered Pan Stanislav, "count on this, that, though +people notice the posing, still, through slothfulness or a lack of +civic courage, they will agree to that which the pose is intended to +express. Moreover, the thing is difficult. Have you noticed that women +who use rouge lose gradually the sense of measure? It is the same with +posing. The most intelligent lose this sense of measure." + +"True," answered Pan Ignas, "as it is true also that one can reproach +people with everything." + +"As to Mashko," continued Pan Stanislav, "he knows, besides, that you +are marrying a lady who passes for wealthy; he knows that you are a +favorite with Pan Zavilovski, and perhaps he would like to approach him +through your favor. Mashko must think of the future; for they tell me +that the action to break the will, on which his fate depends, is not +very favorable." + +Such was the case really. The young advocate who had appeared in +defence of the will had shown much energy, adroitness, and persistence. + +Here ceased their conversation about Mashko, for Pani Marynia had begun +to inquire about Prytulov and its inhabitants,--a subject which for Pan +Ignas was inexhaustible. In his expressive narrative, the residence +at Prytulov appeared, with its lindens along the road, then its shady +garden, ponds, reeds, alders, and on the horizon a belt of pine-wood. +Kremen, which had faded in Marynia's memory, stood before her now as if +present; and, in that momentary revival of homesickness, she thought +that sometime she would beg "Stas" to take her even to Vantory, to +that little church in which she was baptized, and where her mother was +buried. Maybe Pan Stanislav remembered Kremen at that moment, for, +waving his hand, he said,-- + +"It is always the same in the country. I remember Bukatski's statement, +that he loved the country passionately, but on condition 'that there +should be a perfect cook in the house, a big library, beautiful and +intelligent women, and no obligation to stay longer than two days in a +twelvemonth.' And I understand him." + +"But still," said Marynia, "it is thy wish to have a piece of land of +thy own near the city." + +"To live in our own place in summer, and not with the Bigiels, as we +must this year." + +"But in me," said Pan Ignas, "certain field instincts revive the moment +I am in the country. For that matter, my betrothed does not like the +city, and that is enough for me." + +"Does Lineta dislike the city really?" inquired Marynia, with interest. + +"Yes, for she is a born artist. I gaze on nature too, and feel it but +she shows me things which I should not notice myself. A couple of days +ago, we all went into the forest, where she showed me ferns in the sun, +for instance. They are so delicate! She taught me also that the trunks +of pine-trees, especially in the evening light, have a violet tone. +She opens my eyes to colors which I have not seen hitherto, and, like a +kind of enchantress going through the forest, discloses new worlds to +me." + +Pan Stanislav thought that all this might be a proof of artistic +sense, but also it might be an expression of the fashion, and of that +universal love for painting color which people talk into themselves, +and in which any young lady at present may be occupied, not from love +of art, but for show. He had not occupied himself with painting; but he +noticed that, for society geese, it had become of late a merchandise, +exhibited willingly in Vanity Fair, or, in other words, a means to show +artistic culture and an artistic soul. + +But he kept these thoughts to himself; and Pan Ignas talked on,-- + +"Besides, she loves village children immensely. She says that they are +such perfect models, and less vulgarized than the little Italians. When +there is good weather, we are all day in the fresh air, and we have +become sunburnt, both of us. I am learning to play tennis, and make +great progress. It is very easy, but goes hard at first. Osnovski plays +passionately, so as not to grow fat. It is difficult to tell what a +kind and high-minded person that man is." + +Pan Stanislav, who during his stay in Belgium had played tennis no less +passionately than Osnovski, began to boast of his skill, and said,-- + +"If I had been there, I should have shown you how to play tennis." + +"Me you might," answered Pan Ignas; "but they play perfectly, +especially Kopovski." + +"Ah, is Kopovski in Prytulov?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"He is," said Pan Ignas. + +And suddenly they looked into each other's eyes. In one instant each +divined that the other knew something; and they stopped talking. A +moment of silence and even of awkwardness ensued, for Pani Marynia +blushed unexpectedly; and not being able to hide this, she blushed +still more deeply. + +Pan Ignas, who had thought that he was the exclusive possessor of the +secret, was astonished at seeing her blush, and was confused too; then, +wishing to cover the confusion with talk, he went on hurriedly,-- + +"Yes; Kopovski is in Prytulov. Osnovski invited him, so that Lineta +might finish his portraits, for later on there will be no time. +Besides, there is a relative of Osnovski's there also, Panna Ratkovski; +and I think that Kopovski is courting her. She is a pleasing and quiet +young lady. In August we are all going to Scheveningen, for those +ladies do not like Ostend. If Pan Zavilovski had not come with such +cordial assistance to my father, I should not have been able to go; but +now my hands are free." + +When he had said this, he began to talk with Pan Stanislav about his +position in the counting-house, which he did not wish to leave. On +the contrary, he asked a leave of some months, in view of exceptional +circumstances; then he took farewell and went out, for he was in a +hurry to write to his betrothed. In a couple of days he was to go to +Prytulov again; but meanwhile he wrote sometimes even twice a day. And +on the way to his lodgings he composed to himself the words of the +letter, for he knew that Lineta would read it in company with Pani +Bronich; that both would seek in it not only heart but wings; and that +the most beautiful passages would be read in secret to Pani Aneta, Pan +Osnovski, and even Panna Ratkovski. But he did not take this ill of his +beloved "Nitechka,"--nay, he was thankful to her that she was proud of +him; and he used all his power to answer to her lofty idea of him. The +thought did not anger him either, that people would know how he loved +her. "Let them know that she was loved as no one else in the world." + +He thought then a little of Marynia too. Her blushes moved him, for he +saw in them a proof of a most pure nature, which not only was incapable +of evil itself, but which was even ashamed, offended, and alarmed by +evil in others. And, comparing her with Pani Aneta, he understood what +a precipice divided those women, apparently near each other by social +position and mental level. + +When Pan Ignas had gone, Pan Stanislav said,-- + +"Hast thou seen that Zavilovski must have noticed something? Now I have +no doubt. That Osnovski is blind, blind!" + +"Just his blindness should restrain and hold her back," said Marynia. +"That would be terrible." + +"That is not 'would be,' it is terrible. Thou seest, noble souls pay +for confidence with gratitude; mean ones, with contempt." + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + + +These words were a great consolation to Marynia, for, remembering her +previous alarms, she thought at once that Pan Stanislav would not +have said anything like them had he been capable of betraying her +confidence; for she did not suppose that a man can have one measure +for his neighbors and another for himself, and that in life these +different measures meet at every step. She said to herself that to +restrain her husband from everything, it was enough to show perfect +trust in him; and she thought now with less fear of the nearness of +Pani Kraslavski's country house to the house of the Bigiels, in which +she and her husband were to pass the summer. It was easy to divine that +Pani Mashko, who had moved already into her mother's house, would be a +frequent guest at the Bigiels' from very tedium. Mashko did not send +her to Kremen, for he did not wish to be separated from her during +summer. From Warsaw, where he had to be on business, it was easy to go +every day to Pani Kraslavski's villa, one hour's ride from the city +barrier, while to distant Kremen such journeys were not possible. To +Mashko, really in love with his wife, her presence was requisite to +give him strength, for trying times had come again. The case against +the will was not lost yet by any means; but it had taken a turn which +was unfavorable, since the defence was very vigorous. It had begun to +drag, so people began to doubt; and for Mashko doubt approached defeat. +His credit, almost fallen at the opening of the case, had bloomed +forth like an apple-tree in spring, but was beginning now to waver +a second time. Sledz (the opposing advocate), hostile personally to +Mashko, and in general a man of strong will, not only did not cease +to spread news of the evil plight of his opponent, but strove that +doubts as to the favorable issue of the will case should make their way +into the press. A merciless legal and personal warfare set in. Mashko +strove with every effort to lame his enemy; and when they met, he bore +himself defiantly. This brought no advantage, however. Credit became +more and more difficult; and creditors, though so far paid regularly, +lost confidence. Again a feverish hunt began for money, to stop one +debt with another, and uphold the opinion of ready solvency. Mashko +exhibited such intelligence and energy in this struggle that, had it +not been for the fundamental error in his life relations, he would have +advanced to fame and great prosperity. + +The breaking of the will might save all, but to break the will it was +needful to wait; meanwhile to mend threads breaking here and there +was difficult as well as humiliating. It came to this, that in two +weeks after the Polanyetskis had moved to Bigiel's, when the Mashkos +came to them with a visit, Mashko was forced to ask of Pan Stanislav a +"friendly service;" that is, his signature to a note for a few thousand +rubles. + +Pan Stanislav was by nature an obliging man and inclined to be liberal, +but he had his theory, which in money affairs enjoined on him to be +difficult, hence he refused his signature; but to make up he treated +Mashko to his views on money questions between friends,-- + +"When it is a question not of a mutually profitable affair," said he to +him, "but of a personal service, I refuse on principle to sign; but I +will oblige with ready money as far as an acquaintance or a friend may +need it in temporary embarrassment, but not in a desperate position. In +this last case I prefer to keep my service till later." + +"That means," answered Mashko, dryly, "that thou art giving me a small +hope of support when I am bankrupt." + +"No; it means that should a catastrophe come, and thou borrow of me, +thou'lt be able to keep the loan, or begin something anew with that +capital. At present thou wilt throw it into the gulf, with loss to me, +without profit to thyself." + +Mashko was offended. + +"My dear friend," said he, "thou seest my position in a worse light +than I myself see it, and than it is in reality. It is merely a +temporary trouble, and a small one. I esteem thy good wishes, but this +very day I would not give my prospects for thy actual property. Now I +have one other friendly request; namely, that we speak no more of this." + +And they went to the ladies,--Mashko angry at himself for having made +the request, and Pan Stanislav for having refused it. His theory, that +in money questions it was proper to be unaccommodating, caused him such +bitter moments more than once, not to mention the harm which it had +done him in life. + +When with the ladies his ill-humor increased because of the contrast +between Pani Mashko and Marynia. To Mashko's intense disappointment +nothing announced that Pani Mashko was to be a mother. On the contrary, +she preserved all the slenderness of maiden forms; and now, especially +in her muslin summer robes, she looked, near Marynia, who was greatly +changed and unwieldy, not only like a maiden, but younger than her +neighbor by some years. Pan Stanislav, to whom it had seemed that +the strange attraction which she exercised on him was overcome, felt +suddenly that it was not, and that because of their living near each +other, and of his seeing her frequently, he would yield more and more +to her physical charm. + +Still his relations with his wife had become warmer since Pan Ignas's +betrothal evening, and Marynia was in better spirits than before; +so now after the Mashkos had gone, she, seeing that the men had +parted more coolly than usual and that in general Pan Stanislav was +ill-humored, inquired if they had not quarrelled. + +Pan Stanislav had not the habit of talking with her about business; but +at this moment he was dissatisfied with himself, and felt that need of +telling what troubled his mind which a man who is somewhat egotistical +feels when he is sure that he will find sympathy in a heart devoted to +him. Therefore he said,-- + +"I refused Mashko a loan; and I tell thee sincerely that it pains me +now that I did so. He has certain chances of success yet; but his +position is such that before he reaches his object he may be ruined by +any obstacle. Of course we have never been in friendship; I almost do +not like him. He irritates, he angers me; still life brings us together +constantly, and he rendered us once a great service. It is true that I +have rendered him services too; but now he has a knife at his throat +again." + +Marynia heard these words with pleasure, for she thought that if "Stas" +were really under the charm of Pani Mashko, he would not have refused +the loan, and second, she saw in his sorrow the proof of a good heart. +She too was sorry for their neighbor, but as she had brought her +husband hardly any dower, she did not venture to ask "Stas" directly to +assist Mashko, she merely inquired,-- + +"But dost thou think that the loan would be lost?" + +"Perhaps so, perhaps not," answered Pan Stanislav. Then with a certain +boastfulness: "I can refuse. Bigiel has a softer heart." + +"But don't say that. Thou art so kind. The best proof is this, that the +present matter is so disagreeable to thee." + +"Naturally it cannot be agreeable to think that a man, though a +stranger, is squirming like a snake because of a few thousand rubles. +I know what the question is. Mashko has given to-morrow as the last +day of payment. Hitherto he has sought money everywhere, but sought +guardedly, not wishing to make a noise and alarm his creditors; and in +straits he relied on me. So thou seest, he will not pay to-morrow. I +will suppose that in a few days he will find money as much as he needs; +but meanwhile the opinion of his accuracy will be shaken, and in the +position in which he is anything may be ruin for him." + +Marynia looked at her husband; at last she said with a certain +timidity,-- + +"And would this be really difficult for thee?" + +"If thou wish the truth, not at all. I have even a check-book here with +me; I took it to give earnest-money, if I found a place to buy. Oh, +interest in a former adorer and sympathy for him give me something to +think of," said he, laughing. + +Marynia laughed too, for she was glad that she had brightened her +husband's face; but, shaking her charming head, she said,-- + +"No! not sympathy for an adorer, but vile egotism, for I think to +myself, are the two thousand rubles worth the sorrow of my husband?" + +Pan Stanislav began to smooth her hair with his hand. + +"But thou," said he, "art an honest little woman to thy bones." + +Then he said, "Well, now, decide; one, two, three! to give?" + +She made no answer, but began to wink her eyes like a petted child, as +a sign to give. Both became joyous at once; but Pan Stanislav pretended +to complain and mutter. + +"See what it is to be under the slipper. Drag on through the night, +man, and beg Pan Mashko to take thy money, because it pleases that +fondled figure there." + +And her heart was overflowing with delight, simply that he called her +a "fondled figure." All her former sorrows and alarms vanished as if +enchanted by those words. Her radiant eyes looked at her husband with +indescribable love. After a while she inquired,-- + +"Is it necessary to go there right away?" + +"Of course. Mashko will go to the city at eight in the morning, and be +flying all day." + +"Then give order to make Bigiel's horse ready." + +"No! The moon is shining, and it is not far; I'll go on foot." + +Thus saying, he took farewell of Marynia, and, seizing his check-book, +went out. On the road he thought,-- + +"But Marynia might be applied to a wound. She is such a golden woman +that though at times a man might like to play some prank, he simply +hasn't the heart for it. God has given me a wife of the kind of which +there are few on earth." + +And he felt at the moment that he loved her in truth. He felt also +that love alone in itself, as a mutual attraction between persons of +different sexes, is not happiness yet, and if ill directed may be even +a misfortune; but that, on the other hand, the imagination of people +cannot dream out a truer happiness on earth than great and honest love +in marriage. "There is nothing superior to that," said Pan Stanislav to +himself; "and to think that it lies at hand; that it is accessible to +each one; that it is simply an affair of good and honest will; and that +people trample on that ready treasure and sacrifice their peace for +disturbance, and their honor for dishonor." + +Thus meditating, he went to the villa of the Mashkos, the windows of +which were shining like lanterns on the dark ground of the forest. +When he had passed through the gate to the yard lighted by the moon, +and had drawn near the porch, he saw, through the window of the room +next the entrance, Mashko and his wife, sitting on a low sofa formed +like a figure eight, near which was a small table and a lamp. Mashko +was embracing his wife with one arm; with his other hand he held her +hand, which he raised to his lips, and then lowered, as if thanking +her. All at once he embraced the young woman, with both arms drew her +toward him, and inclining, began to kiss her mouth passionately; she, +with hands dropped without control on her knees, not returning his +fondling, but also not refusing, yielded as passively as if she had +been deprived of blood and will. For a time Pan Stanislav saw only the +top of Mashko's head, his long side whiskers moving from the kissing; +and at sight of that the blood rushed to his head. And he was dashed +with just such a flood of desire as when looking for the ribbons of +Pani Osnovski's mantle (in Rome), and the more burning that it was +strengthened by a whole series of temptations. This purely physical +attraction, surprising to Pan Stanislav himself, and with which he had +struggled long, revived now with irresistible force. In a twinkle were +roused in him the wild instincts of the primitive man, who, when he +sees the woman desired in the embrace of another, is enraged and ready +to fight to the death for her with the fortunate rival. Together with +desire, jealousy burned him,--an unjust, a pitiful, and the lowest of +all kinds of jealousy, because purely physical, but still so unbridled +that he, who the moment before had understood that only honest love for +a wife might be real happiness, was ready to trample that happiness +and that love, if he could trample Mashko, and seize himself in his +arms that slender body of a woman, and cover with kisses that face of a +puppet, without mind, and less beautiful than the face of his own wife. + +That sight beyond the window not only excited him, but he could not +suffer it; hence he sprang to the door and pulled the bell feverishly. +The thought that that sound, heard on a sudden in the silence, would +stop that fondling of husband and wife roused a savage and malicious +delight in him. When the servant opened the door, Pan Stanislav gave +command to announce him, and endeavored to calm himself and compose +somehow that which he had to tell Mashko. + +After a while Mashko came out with a face somewhat astonished,-- + +"Pardon that I come so late, but my wife scolded me because I refused +thee a service; and since I knew that thou wilt go early in the +morning, I have come to settle the business to-night." + +On Mashko's face a secret joy was reflected. He divined straightway +that such a late visit from his neighbor had relation to their previous +talk; he did not hope, however, that the affair would go so smoothly +and at once. + +"I beg thee," said he. "My wife is not sleeping yet." + +And he brought him into that room the interior of which Pan Stanislav +had seen the minute before. Pani Mashko was sitting on the same sofa; +in her hand she held a book and a paper-knife, which evidently she had +taken from the table that moment. Her quenched face seemed calm, but +traces of the fresh kisses were evident on her cheeks; her lips were +moist, her eyes misty. The blood seethed up again in Pan Stanislav; and +in spite of all efforts to keep himself indifferent, he so pressed the +hand given him that Pani Mashko's lips contracted as if from pain. + +But when he touched her hand, a shiver ran through him from feet to +crown. There was in that very giving of her hand something so passive +that it ran through his head involuntarily that that woman was not +capable of resisting any man who had the courage and daring to attack +her directly. + +Meanwhile Mashko said,-- + +"Imagine to thyself, we have both raised a storm,--thou for refusing +me a service, and I for requesting it. Thou hast an honest wife, but +mine is no worse. Thine took me into her protection, and mine thee. +I revealed to her plainly my temporary trouble, and she scolded me +for not having done so before. Evidently she did not speak to me as a +lawyer, for of that she has no idea; but in the end of ends she said +that Pan Polanyetski refused me justly; that one should give some +security to a creditor; and this security she is ready to give with her +life annuity, and in general with all that she has. I was just thanking +her when you came." Here Mashko laid his hand on Pan Stanislav's arm. + +"My dear friend, I agree with thee that thy wife is the best person +on earth; and I agree all the more that I have fresh proof of it, on +condition, however, that thou assure me that mine is no worse. It ought +not to surprise thee, then, that I hide my troubles from her, for, as +God is true, I am always ready to share the good with such a beloved +one, but the evil, especially the temporary, to keep for myself; and if +thou knew her as I do, this would be no wonder to thee." + +Pan Stanislav, who, despite all the temptation which Pani Mashko was +for him, entertained by no means a high opinion of the woman, and had +not considered her in the least as capable of sacrifice, thought,-- + +"She is, in truth, a good woman; and I was mistaken, or Mashko has lied +to her, so that she really considers his position as brilliant, and +this trouble as purely a passing one." And he said aloud to her,-- + +"I am an accurate man in business; but for whom do you hold me, when +you think that I would ask security on your property? I refused simply +through sloth, and I am terribly ashamed of it; I refused to avoid +going at a given time to Warsaw for a new supply. In summer a man +becomes lazy and egotistical. But the question is a small one; and to +a man like your husband, who is occupied in property, such troubles +happen daily. Not infrequently loans are needed only because one's own +money cannot be raised at a given moment." + +"Just that has happened to me," answered Mashko, satisfied, evidently, +that Pan Stanislav had presented affairs to his wife in this manner. + +"Mamma occupied herself with business, therefore I have no knowledge of +it," put in Pani Mashko; "but I thank you." + +Pan Stanislav began to laugh. "Finally, what do I want of your +security? Suppose for a moment that you will be bankrupt, and I will +suppose so just because nothing similar threatens you; can you imagine +me in such an event bringing an action against you, and taking your +income?" + +"No," said Pani Mashko. + +Pan Stanislav raised her hand to his lips, but with all the seeming of +society politeness; he pressed his lips to it with all his force, and +at the same time there was in the look that he gave her such passion +that no declaration in words could have said more. + +She did not wish to betray that she understood, though she understood +well that the show of politeness was for her husband, and the power +of the kiss for herself. She understood, also, that she pleased Pan +Stanislav, that her beauty attracted him; still better, however, she +understood that she was triumphing over Marynia, of whose beauty, +while still unmarried, she was jealous, hence, first of all, she felt +her self-love deeply satisfied. For that matter she had noticed for a +long time that Pan Stanislav was ardent in her presence; hers was not +a nature either so honest or so delicate that that action could offend +or pain her. On the contrary, it roused in her curiosity, interest, and +vanity. Instinct warned her, it is true, that he is an insolent man, +who, at a given moment, is ready to push matters too far,--and that +thought filled her at times with alarm; but since nothing similar had +happened yet, the very fear had a charm for her. + +Meanwhile she said to Pan Stanislav,-- + +"Mamma mentions you always as a man to be relied on in every case." + +She said this with her usual thin voice, which Pan Stanislav had +laughed at before more than once; but now everything in her became more +attractive thereby, and hence, looking her fixedly in the eyes, he +said,-- + +"Think the same of me." + +"Have mutual confidence in each other," put in Mashko, jestingly; "but +I will go to my study to prepare what is needed, and in a moment we +will finish the matter." + +Pani Mashko and her guest were left alone. On her face a certain +trouble was apparent. To hide this she began to straighten the shade on +the lamp; but he approached her quickly, and began,-- + +"I shall be happy if you think the same of me. I am a man greatly +devoted to you; I should be glad to have even your friendship. Can I +rely on it?" + +"You can." + +"I thank you." + +When he had said this, he extended his hand to her, for all that he had +said was directed only to this, to get possession of her hand. In fact, +Pani Mashko did not dare to refuse it; and he, seizing it, pressed +it to his lips a second time, but this time he did not stop with one +kiss,--he fell to devouring it almost. It grew dark in his eyes. A +moment more, and in his madness he would have seized and drawn that +desired one toward him. Meanwhile, however, Mashko's squeaking boots +were heard in the adjoining room; hearing which, Pani Mashko began to +speak first, hurriedly,-- + +"My husband is coming." + +At that moment Mashko opened the door, and said,-- + +"I beg thee." + +Then, turning to his wife, he added,-- + +"Give command at once to bring tea; we will return soon." + +In fact, the business did not occupy much time, for Pan Stanislav +filled out a check, and that was the end. But Mashko treated him to a +cigar, and asked him to sit down, for he wished to talk. + +"New troubles are rolling on to me," said he; "but I shall wade out. +More than once I have had to do with greater ones. It is only a +question of this,--that the sun should get ahead of the dew, and that +I should open some new credit for myself, or some new source of income, +before the conclusion of the will case, and in support of it." + +Pan Stanislav, all roused up internally, listened to this beginning of +confidences with inattention, and chewed his cigar impatiently. On a +sudden, however, the dishonest thought came to him that, were Mashko +to be ruined utterly, his wife would be a still easier prey; hence he +asked dryly,-- + +"Hast thought of this, what thou art to do should the case be lost?" + +"I shall not lose it." + +"Everything may happen; thou knowest that best thyself." + +"I do not wish to think of it." + +"Still it's thy duty," said Pan Stanislav, with an accent of a certain +pleasure, which Mashko did not notice. "What wilt thou do in such a +case?" + +Mashko rested his arms on his knees, and looking gloomily on the floor, +said,-- + +"In such a case I shall have to leave Warsaw." + +A moment of silence came. The young advocate's face became gloomier and +gloomier; at last he grew thoughtful, and said,-- + +"Once, in my best days, I knew Baron Hirsh, in Paris. We met a number +of times, and once we took part in some affair of honor. Sometimes now, +when doubts come upon me, I remember him; he has withdrawn, apparently, +from business, but really has much on hand, especially in the East. I +know men who have made fortunes by him, for the field there is open at +every step." + +"Dost think it possible to go to him?" + +"Yes; but besides that I can shoot into my forehead." + +But Pan Stanislav did not take this threat seriously. From that short +conversation he convinced himself of two things: first, that Mashko, +in spite of apparent confidence, thought often of possible ruin; and +second, that in such an event he had a plan, fantastic, it may be but +ready. + +Mashko shook himself suddenly out of his gloomy visions, and said,-- + +"My strength has lain always in this,--that I never think of two things +at once. Therefore I am thinking only of the will case. That scoundrel +will do everything to ruin me in public opinion, I know that; but I +sneer at public opinion, and care only for the court. Should I fail +before the decision, that might have a bad influence, perhaps. Dost +understand? They would consider the whole case then as the despairing +effort of a drowning man, who grasps at what he can. I have no wish for +that position; therefore I must seem to be a man standing on firm feet. +This is a sad necessity, and I am not free now to be even economical. I +cannot diminish my scale of living. As thou seest me, I have troubles +to my ears; as for that matter, who knows it better than thou, who art +giving me a loan? And still, as late as yesterday, I was buying Vyborz, +a considerable property in Ravsk, simply to throw dust in the eyes of +my creditors and opponents. Tell me, dost thou know old Zavilovski +well?" + +"Not long. I made his acquaintance through the young man." + +"But thou hast pleased him, for he has immense admiration for men with +noble names who make property. I know that he is his own agent; but +he is growing old, and the gout is annoying him. I have put several +thoughts before him; therefore, if he asks thee about anything, +recommend me. Understand that I do not wish to get at his money chest, +though, as agent, I should have some income, which would be greatly to +my hand; but the main question for me is that it should become noised +abroad that I am the agent of such a millionnaire. Is it true that he +intends to create an entail for the young man out of his estates in +Poznan?" + +"So Pani Bronich says." + +"That would be a proof that it is not true; but all things are +possible. In every case the young man, too, will receive with his wife +a certain dower; and, being a poet, he has not the least idea, surely, +how to handle such matters. I might serve him, too, with advice and +aid." + +"I must refuse you decisively in his name, for we have engaged to +occupy ourselves with his interests in future,--that is, my partner and +I." + +"It is not a question with me of his interest either," said Mashko, +frowning slightly, "but that I might tell people that I am Zavilovski's +agent; for, dost understand, before it is known which Zavilovski, my +credit can only gain by it?" + +"Thou knowest that I never look into other men's business; but I tell +thee sincerely that for me it would be a terrible thing to exist in +this way only on credit." + +"Ask the greatest millionnaires on earth if they made fortunes on +another basis." + +"And ask all bankrupts if they did not fail from that cause." + +"As to me, the future will show." + +"It will," said Pan Stanislav, rising. + +Mashko thanked him once more for the loan; and both went to tea to the +lady, who inquired,-- + +"Well, the business is finished?" + +Pan Stanislav, whom her appearance roused again, and who remembered +suddenly that a little while before she said to him, "My husband is +coming!" as if half guilty, answered her without reference to Mashko,-- + +"Between your husband and me it is, but between us two--not yet." + +Pani Mashko, though she had cool blood, was still confused, as if +frightened at his daring; and Mashko asked,-- + +"How is that?" + +"This way," answered Pan Stanislav: "that the lady thought me capable +of asking her property in pledge, and I cannot pardon her that yet." + +Pani Mashko looked at him with her indefinite gray eyes, as if with a +certain admiration. His boldness had imposed on her, and the presence +of mind with which he was able to give a polite society turn to his +words. He seemed to her also at that moment a fine-looking man, beyond +comparison better-looking than Mashko. + +"I beg pardon," said she. + +"That will not be given easily. You do not know what a stubborn and +vengeful man I am." + +Then she answered with a certain coquetry, like a person conscious of +her charm and her power,-- + +"I don't believe that." + +He sat near her; and taking, with a somewhat uncertain hand, the cup, +he began to stir the tea with the spoon. Greater and greater alarm +seized him. More than once before he had called Pani Mashko, while +unmarried, a fish; but now he felt warmth passing through her light +garments from her body, and felt as if some one were scattering sparks +on him. Again he remembered her words, "My husband is coming;" and +waves of blood rushed to his heart, for it seemed to him that only a +woman could speak thus who was prepared and ready for everything. Some +voice in his soul said, "That is only a question of opportunity;" and +at this thought his unbridled desire was turned at once to unbridled +delight. He ceased altogether to control himself. Soon he began to seek +her foot with his; but suddenly that act seemed to him passing rude and +peasant-like. Finally he said to himself that since it was a question +of opportunity only, he ought to know how to wait. He foresaw that the +time would come, the opportunity be found. + +Meanwhile his position was awkward; he had to keep up a conversation +quite in disaccord with the state of his mind, and to answer Mashko, +who asked about the future plans of Pan Ignas, and various things of +like tenor. At last he rose to leave; but before going, he turned and +said to Mashko,-- + +"Some dogs attacked me on the way, and I forgot my cane; lend me thine." + +No dogs had attacked, but with him it was a question of remaining even +one minute alone with the young woman, so that when Mashko went out he +approached her quickly, and said, with a sort of stifled and unnatural +voice,-- + +"You see what is taking place with me?" + +She saw, indeed, his excitement, his eyes glittering with desire, and +his distended nostrils. Alarm and fear seized her at once; but he +remembered only her words, "My husband is coming," and one feeling, +described by the words, "let happen what may," made the man, who, a +moment before, said to himself that he ought to know how to wait, put +everything on one card in the twinkle of an eye, and whisper,-- + +"I love you." + +She stood before him with downcast eyes, as if stunned, and turned +into a pillar under the influence of those words, from which simple +infidelity must begin, and then a new epoch in life. She turned her +head away slightly, as if to avoid his gaze. Silence followed, broken +only by the somewhat panting breath of Pan Stanislav. But in the next +room Mashko's squeaking boots were heard. + +"Till to-morrow," said Pan Stanislav. + +And in that whisper there was something almost commanding. Pani Mashko +stood all this time with downcast eyes, motionless as a statue. + +"Here is the cane," said Mashko. "To-morrow morning I go to the city, +and return only in the evening. If the weather is good, maybe thou and +Pani Polanyetski would like to visit my hermitess." + +"Good-night," said Pan Stanislav. + +And after a while he found himself on the empty road, which was lighted +by the moon. It seemed to him that he had sprung out of a flame. The +calm of the night and the forest was in such contrast to his tempest +that it struck him like something uncommon. The first impression +which he was able to note was the feeling that his internal conflict +was closed, his hesitations ended; that the bridges were burned, and +all was over. Some internal voice began to shout in his soul that +first of all it had transpired that he was a wretch; but in this +thought precisely there was a kind of desperate solace, for he said to +himself if it were true, he must come to terms with himself as with a +wretch, and in that event "let everything perish, and let the devils +take all." In every case a wretch will not need to fight with his +own inclinations, and may indulge himself. Yes, all is over, and the +bridges are burned! He will be false to Marynia, trample her heart, +trample honesty, trample the principles on which he built his life; but +in return he will have Pani Mashko. Now one of two, either she will +complain of him to her husband, and to-morrow there will be a duel,--if +so be, let it come,--or she will be silent, and in that case will be +his partner. To-morrow Mashko will go to Warsaw; and he, Pan Stanislav, +will gain all that he desires, even if the world had to sink the next +moment. If she will not expose him, it is better for her not to try +resistance. He imagined even that she would not try, or if she did, +she would do so only to preserve appearances. And it began to seethe +in him again; that helplessness of hers, which formerly roused so much +contempt in him, had become now an additional charm. He imagined the +morrow, and the passiveness of that woman. In spite of all his chaos +of thought, he understood perfectly that just in that passiveness she +would seek later on an excuse: she would say to herself that she was +not a partaker in the guilt, because she was forced to it; and in this +way she would calumniate God, her own conscience, and, if need be, her +husband. And thinking thus, he despised her as much as he desired her; +but he felt at the same time that he himself was not much worthier, and +that by virtue of a certain selection, not only natural, but moral, +they ought to belong to each other. + +He understood, also, that for him it was too late to with draw from +that road, and that once those same lips of his, which had sworn +faith and love to Marynia, had said to another woman, "I love!" the +greatest evil was committed. The rest was simply a sequence, which +it was not proper to reject, even for this reason,--that in every +case it was a pleasure. He imagined that all must reason thus who +throw honesty through the window, and resolve on deeds of vileness; +and the reasoning seemed to him as exact as it was immoral. And the +more soberly he reflected, the more he was astonished at his own +degradation. He had seen much evil and hidden vileness in the world +under the guise of refinement and polish. He knew that corruption had +worked out for itself, somehow, under the influence of bad books, a +right of citizenship; but he remembered that he was indignant at this, +that he wished simplicity and strictness for the society in which he +lived, in the conviction that only on such bases could social strength +and permanence be developed. Nothing has roused in him so many fears +for the future as that refined evil of the West sown on the wild Slav +field, and growing up on it with a sickly bloom of dilettantism, +license, weakness, and faithlessness. More than once, as he remembered, +he had reproached with such sowings, at one time high financial +spheres, at another aristocracy of birth; and more than once he had +attacked them without mercy. Now he understood that whoso lives in an +atmosphere filled with carbonic gas, must suffocate. In what was he +better than others? Or rather, how much worse was he than those who, +floating in corruption, as sticks float in water, do not, at least, +amuse themselves with hypocrisy, nor deceive themselves, nor prescribe +rules to others, nor erect ideals of a healthy man spiritually, an +honest husband, an honest father, as a binding model. And he almost +refused to believe that he was the man, who once gave Pani Emilia ideal +friendship, and promised faithfulness to Marynia, and who considered +that he had a clear intellect and a character juster and stronger than +others. + +He stronger? His strength was only deception, coming from lack of +temptation. If he had loved Pani Emilia with the ideal feeling of a +brother; if he had resisted the coquetry of Pani Aneta,--it was only +because they did not rouse in him that animal feeling which that puppet +with her red eyes roused, she whom his soul rejected, but for whom +his senses were striving this long time. He thought then, too, that +his feeling for Marynia had never been honest, for at the basis of +things it was not anything else than just such an animal attraction. +Familiarity had dulled it; and, restrained by the condition of Marynia, +he had turned to where he was able, and turned without restraint or +scruple hardly half a year after his marriage. + +And Pan Stanislav, who, on leaving Mashko's house, had the feeling that +he was a wretch, thought all at once that he was more of a wretch than +at first he had imagined, for he remembered now that he was to be a +father. + +At home, in Marynia's windows, the lights had not been extinguished; +he would have given much to find her sleeping. It came to his mind, +even, to walk on and not return till there was darkness in the chamber. +But suddenly he saw her profile in the window. She must be looking for +him; and, since it was clear in front of the house, she must have seen +him,--hence he halted and went in. + +She received him in a white night wrapper, and with unbound hair. There +was in that unbound hair a certain calculated coquetry, for she knew +that she had beautiful hair, and that he liked to fondle it. + +"Why art thou not sleeping?" asked he, coming in. + +She approached him, sleepy, but smiling, and said,-- + +"I was waiting for thee to say the evening prayer." + +Since their stay in Rome they had prayed together; but at present the +very thought of this seemed to him insupportable. Meanwhile Marynia +inquired,-- + +"Well, Stas, art content that thou hast saved him? Thou art, I think." + +"Yes," answered he. + +"But she does not know of his position?" + +"She does and does not. It is late. Let us go to sleep." + +"Good-night. Dost thou know of what I have been thinking here alone? +That thou art so good and honest." + +And, extending her face to him, she put her arms around his neck; he +kissed her, feeling at the same time the pure honesty of her kiss, and +his own vileness, and the whole series of vilenesses which he would +have to commit later on. + +One of these he committed right there, kneeling down to the prayer, +which Marynia repeated aloud. He could not avoid saying it; and in +saying it, he merely played a pitiful comedy, for he could not pray. + +After the prayer was finished and a second good-night given, he could +not sleep. It seemed to him that, when coming from Mashko's, he had +embraced with his mind his action and all its moral consequences. +Meanwhile it turned out that he had not. It came to his head now that +it is possible not to believe in God, but not permitted to make sport +of Him. To commit, for example, a perfidy, to return home to-morrow, +or the following day, after having committed adultery, and kneel down +to prayer, that would be too much. He felt that it was necessary to +choose either religious feeling and sincere faith, or Pani Mashko. +To reconcile these was not possible. And all at once he saw that +everything which he had worked out and elaborated in himself purposely +for years, that all that immense calm, resulting from the solution of +life's chief enigma,--in a word, that which composed the essence of his +spiritual existence,--must be rejected outright. On the other hand, he +understood equally well that, from to-morrow forward, he must give the +lie to his own social principles, to his recognition of the family as +the basis of social existence. It is not permitted to proclaim such +principles, and seduce other men's wives in secret. It was necessary +to choose here too. As to Marynia, perfidy against her had been +committed already. With one sweep, then, his relations with God, with +society, with his wife, had gone to ruin; the ceiling of that spiritual +house, reared with great labor, and in which he had been dwelling, +had tumbled on his head. And that chilling cold of evil filled him +with wonder. He had not expected that, on cutting a single thread, +the whole fabric would unravel so quickly; and with astonishment he +asked himself how there can exist in the world opportunism of that +kind, which reconciles faith-breaking in life with honesty and honor? +For that is what is done. He knew many so-called decent people, +married men, loving their wives, as it were, religious,--and at the +same time pursuing every woman they met. These same men, who would +account to their wives every deviation from duty as a crime, permitted +themselves conjugal infidelity without a scruple. He remembered how +one of his acquaintances, pushed to the wall on this point, wriggled +out humorously with the well-known street witticism that he was not +a Swedish match. Absolute infidelity was obliterated, and among men +passed as something permitted, almost customary. That thought brought +Pan Stanislav a moment of consolation, but a short one, for he was +consistent, if not in his actions, at least in his reasoning. True! +The world is not composed of thieves and hypocrites alone, but in +great part of thoughtless and frivolous people; and this opportunism, +reconciling adultery with honor and honesty, is nothing else than +frivolity. For in what can custom excuse a man, who recognizes the +immorality and stupidity of that custom? For a fool, infidelity may be +a joke, thought Pan Stanislav; for a man who thinks seriously, it is +scoundrelism, as much opposed to ethics as a crime, as the signing of +other men's names to notes, as the breaking of an oath, as the breaking +of a word, as swindling in trade, or in cards. Religion may forgive +the sin of adultery as a momentary fall; but adultery which excuses +itself beforehand, excludes religion, excludes society, excludes +honesty, excludes honor. Pan Stanislav, who, in his reasonings with +himself, was always consistent and in general utterly unsparing, did +not withdraw before this last induction. But he was frightened when he +saw the precipice. If he did not withdraw, he would break his neck; +but at the same time he began to fret at his own weakness. He knew +himself well enough, with sorrow and with contempt also for his own +weakness; he knew in advance that when he should see Pani Mashko, the +human beast would get the upper hand of his soul. To withdraw? But he +had repeated that to himself, and determined it after every temptation; +and afterward, in presence of each succeeding one, passion had run +away with his will at breakneck speed, just as a wild horse runs away +with a rider. At the very remembrance of this he wanted to curse. If +he had been unhappy at home, if his passion had grown up on the ground +of great love, he would have had some excuse for it; but he did not +love Pani Mashko,--he only desired her. He could never give himself an +account of this dualism in the nature of man,--he knew only that he +desired and would desire after every meeting, after every thought of +her. + +There remained one escape, not to see her,--an impossible escape, not +only with reference to relations of acquaintance of every kind, but +even with reference to this, that then Marynia would begin to suspect +something. Pan Stanislav did not even suppose that that had taken place +already, and that she merely concealed from him her suffering; he gave +account to himself, however, that if his treason should in any way come +out, it would be a blow simply beyond the strength of that mild and +trusting woman. And his reproaches increased still more. Great pity +and compassion for her seized him, as well as increased contempt for +himself. In spite of darkness, the blood rushed to his face when he +remembered that the fatal words had fallen; that he had said, "I love," +to Pani Mashko; that he had deceived and betrayed Marynia, that honest, +truthful woman; and that he was capable of betraying her trust, and +trampling on her heart. + +For a while it seemed to him a pure impossibility; but his conscience +answered him, Thou art capable! Still, in that sorrow and pity for her +he found a kind of consolation, when he saw that his feeling for her +was and is something more than animal attraction, and that there were +in him certain attachments, flowing out of the community of life and +mutual possession; from the marriage vow; from comradeship in good +and evil fortune; from the great esteem and affection which in future +was to be strengthened by a child. Never had he loved her more than +in that moment of internal torture, and never had there risen in him +greater tenderness. Day began to break; through the openings of the +window the dawn was entering, and filled the chamber with a pale light, +in which he could see indistinctly her dark head sunk in the pillow. +His heart was filled with the feeling that that was his only and best +treasure,--his greatly beloved comrade sleeping there, his best friend, +his wife, and the future mother of his child. And no conclusions, no +reasonings about religion and social unvirtue, filled him with such +disgust for that unvirtue and for himself as the sight of that mild, +sleeping face. The light through the openings entered more and more, +and her head emerged more distinctly each moment from the shade. The +half-circles of her eyelids were visible already on her cheeks and Pan +Stanislav, looking at her, began to say to himself, "Thy honesty will +help me!" All at once better feelings gained the victory in him: the +beast abandoned his son and a certain consolation seized him, for he +thought that if he were such a wretch as he had imagined, he would have +followed the voice of passion with a lighter heart, and would not have +passed through such suffering. + +He woke late in the morning, wearied and somewhat ill; he felt such +dissatisfaction and exhaustion as he had never felt before. But by the +light of day, and besides a rainy and gloomy day, the whole affair +stood before him differently,--it seemed more sober, ordinary; the +future did not appear to him so terrible, nor his fault so great. +Everything grew smaller in his eyes; he began to think then principally +of this, whether Pani Mashko had confessed all to her husband or not. +At moments he had the feeling of a man who has crawled into a great and +sore trouble needlessly. Gradually, however, this feeling was changed +into an ever increasing and more vivid alarm. "The position is stupid," +said he to himself. "Every reproach may be made against Mashko, but not +this, that he is an incompetent or a coward; and he will not put such +an insult as that into his pocket. Hence there will be an explanation, +a scandal, perhaps a duel. May the thunderbolts shatter it! What a +fatal history, if the thing reaches Marynia!" And he began to be angry +with the whole world. Till then he had had perfect peace; he had +cared for no one, counted with no one. To-day, however, he is turning +to every side; in his head is the question, "Has she told; has she +not told?" and from the morning he could not think of aught else. It +went that far that finally he put to himself this question: "What the +deuce! am I afraid of Mashko? I?" It was not Mashko whom he feared, but +Marynia, which was in like manner something both new and astonishing, +for a couple of days earlier he would have admitted anything rather +than this,--that he would ever fear Marynia. And as midday approached, +the affair, which seemed to him diminished in the morning, began again +to increase in his eyes. At moments he strengthened himself with the +hope that Pani Mashko would be silent; at moments he lost that hope. +And then he felt that he would not dare to look into the eyes, not of +Marynia, merely, but of any one; and he feared Bigiel, too, and Pani +Bigiel, and Pani Emilia, Pan Ignas,--in a word, all his acquaintances. +"See what it is to make a muddle!" thought he. "How much one stupidity +costs!" His alarm increased to the degree that at last, under pretext +of returning the cane, he sent a servant boy to Pani Mashko with a bow, +and an inquiry as to her health. + +The servant returned in half an hour. Pan Stanislav saw him through +the window, and, going down hurriedly to meet him, learned that he had +brought a note from Pani Mashko to Marynia. Taking the note, he gave it +to Marynia; and his heart beat with still greater alarm while watching +her face as she read it. + +But Marynia, when she had finished, raised her calm eyes to him, and +said,-- + +"Pani Mashko invites us to supper to-day--and the Bigiels also." + +"A-a!" answered Pan Stanislav, drawing a full breath. And in his soul +he added, "She has not told." + +"We will go, shall we not?" asked Marynia. + +"If thou wish--that is, go with the Bigiels, for after dinner I must go +to the city. I must see Svirski; perhaps I shall bring him here." + +"Then we may send an excuse?" + +"No, no! go with the Bigiels. Maybe I shall call in on the way and +explain to her; but even that is not necessary. Thou wilt explain for +me." And he went out, for he needed to be alone with his thoughts. + +"She has not told;" a feeling of relief and delight now possessed him. +She had not told her husband; she was not offended; she had invited +them. She has agreed, therefore, to everything; she is ready to go +farther, and to go everywhere, whithersoever he may wish to lead her. +What is that invitation itself, if not a wish to put him at ease, if +not an answer to his, "Till to-morrow"? Now all depends on him alone; +and shivers begin again to go from his feet to his head. There are +no hindrances unless in himself. The fish has swallowed the hook. +Temptations attacked him with new power, for uncertainty restrained +them no longer. Yes, the fish had swallowed the hook; she had not +resisted. Here a feeling of triumph seized him, and of satisfaction for +his self-love; and at the same time, thinking of Pani Mashko, he began +almost to beg pardon of her in his soul, because he had at moments been +capable of doubting her, and thinking her an honest woman, for even +five minutes. Now, at least, he knew what to think of her, and he was +thankful. After a while he laughed at his previous fears. In this way +he rendered the first tribute due her, contempt. She had ceased to be +for him something unattainable, something for which a battle between +hope and fear is fought. In spite of himself, he imagined her now as +something of his, as his own, always attractive, but for this very +reason less valuable. The thought also caused him pleasure, that if he +resisted temptation at present, it would be a pure merit. Now, when +the doors stood open, he saw with wonder that the desire of resistance +increased in him. Once more all that he had said during the sleepless +night about faith-breaking flew through his mind. Once more his heart +reminded him of Marynia, her justness, her honesty, her approaching +motherhood, and that great peace, that real happiness, which he could +find only near her; and in the end of all these considerations he +decided to go to the city, and not be at Pani Mashko's. + +After midday he gave command to bring the horses. When he was seated +in Bigiel's carriage he bent over, embraced Marynia at parting, "Amuse +thyself well," and drove away. His morning exhaustion had passed; +he recovered even his humor, for he felt satisfied with himself. +Confidence in his own power and character returned to him. Meanwhile, +a certain exciting pleasure was caused in his mind by the thought of +Pani Mashko's astonishment when she should learn that he had gone, and +had no intention to visit her. He felt a certain need of revenge on the +woman for the physical impression which she had produced on him. Since +the coming of that note, which she had written to Marynia, his contempt +for her had increased with such force that soon he began to think that +he would be in a position to come off victorious, even should he visit +her. + +"And if I should go there, indeed, and give another meaning to +yesterday's words," said he. But directly he thought, "I will not be a +deceiver, at least, with reference to myself." + +He was certain, however, that she would not be astonished at his +coming. After what he had told her yesterday, she might suppose that he +would find some excuse for visiting her before the arrival of Marynia +and the Bigiels, or for remaining behind them. + +But should she see him driving past, she might think that he feared +her, or consider him a boor, or jester. + +"There is no doubt," monologued he, further, "that a man who does not +consider himself a fool, or a dolt, incapable of resisting any puppet, +would go in and try to correct in some fashion yesterday's stupidity." + +But at the same moment fear seized him. That same voice which yesterday +evening shouted in his soul that he was a wretch, began to shout again +with redoubled energy. + +"I will not go in," thought Pan Stanislav. "To understand and to be +able to refrain are two different matters." + +Pani Kraslavski's villa was visible now in the distance. + +Suddenly it flew into his head that Pani Mashko, through vexation and +the feeling of being contemned, through offended self-love, through +revenge, might tell Marynia something that would open her eyes. Maybe +she would do that with one word, with one smile, giving even, it might +be, to understand further, that certain insolent hopes of his had been +shattered by her womanly honesty, and in that way explain his absence. +Women rarely refuse themselves such small revenges, and still more +rarely are they merciful one toward another. + +"If I had the courage to go in--" + +At that moment the carriage was even with the gate of the villa. + +"Stop!" said Pan Stanislav to the driver. + +He saw on the balcony Pani Mashko, who, however, withdrew at once. + +He walked through the yard; the servant received him at the door. + +"The lady is upstairs," said he. + +Pan Stanislav felt that his legs were trembling under him, when he +walked up the steps; meanwhile the following thoughts flew through his +head,-- + +"He may permit himself everything who takes life lightly, but I do not +take it lightly. If, after all that I have considered and thought over +and said, I could not master myself, I should be the last among men." +Now, standing at the door of the room pointed out by the servant, he +inquired,-- + +"Is it permitted?" + +"I beg," said the thin voice. + +And after a while he found himself in Pani Mashko's boudoir. + +"I have come in," said he, giving her his hand, "to explain that I +cannot be at supper. I must go to the city." + +Pani Mashko stood before him with head a little inclined, with drooping +eyes, confused, full of evident fear, having in her posture and +expression of face something of the resigned victim, which sees that +the decisive moment has come, and that the misfortune must happen. + +That state of mind came on Pan Stanislav, too, in one flash; hence, +approaching her suddenly, he asked with stifled voice,-- + +"Are you afraid? Of what are you afraid?" + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + + +Next morning Pani Polanyetski received a letter from her husband, +stating that he would not return that day, for he was going to look at +a place situated on the other side of the city. On the following day, +however, he returned, and brought Svirski, who had promised Bigiel and +Pan Stanislav before that he would visit them at their summer residence. + +"Imagine to thyself," said Pan Stanislav, after greeting his wife, +"that that Buchynek, which I have been looking at, lies next to old +Zavilovski's Yasmen; when I learned that, I visited the old man, who +is not feeling well, and in Yasmen I found Pan Svirski, unexpectedly. +He helped me to look at Buchynek, and the house pleased him much. +There is a nice garden, a large pond, and some forest. Once it was a +considerable property; but the land has been sold away, so that little +remains now with the residence." + +"A pretty, very pretty place," said Svirski. "There is much shade, much +air, and much quiet." + +"Wilt thou buy it?" inquired Marynia. + +"Perhaps. Meanwhile I should like to rent it. We could live there the +rest of the summer, and satisfy ourselves as to whether it would suit +us. The owner is so certain that a stay there will be agreeable to us +that he agrees to rent it. I should have given him earnest-money at +once, but I wished to know what thy thought would be." + +Marynia was a little sorry to lose the society of the Bigiels; but, +noticing that her husband was looking into her eyes earnestly, and that +he had an evident wish that they should live the rest of the summer by +themselves, she said that she would agree most willingly. + +The Bigiels began to oppose, and offer a veto; but when Pan Stanislav +represented to them that it was a question of trying a house in which +he and Marynia would be likely to live every summer to the end of their +lives, they had to confess that the reason was sufficient. + +"To-morrow I will engage the place, and carry out all the furniture +necessary from Warsaw, and we can move in the day after." + +"That is just as if you wished to flee from us as soon as possible," +said Pani Bigiel; "why such haste?" + +"There is no trouble with packing," answered he, hurriedly; "and you +know that I do not like delay." + +Finally it was left in this way: that the Polanyetskis were to go to +Buchynek in four days. Now dinner was served, during which Svirski told +how Pan Stanislav had found him at Zavilovski's in Yasmen. + +"Panna Helena wished me to paint her father's portrait," said he, +"and to paint it in Yasmen. I went because I was eager for work, and, +besides, the old man has an interesting head. But nothing could come +of that. They are in a residence with walls two yards thick; for that +reason there is poor light in the rooms. I would not paint under +such conditions; and then another hindrance appeared,--the model was +attacked by the gout. The doctor, whom they took with them to the +country, told me that the old man's condition is not good, and may end +badly." + +"I am sorry for Pan Zavilovski," said Marynia, "for he seems a worthy +man. And poor Panna Helena! In the event of his death she will be quite +alone. And does he understand his own condition?" + +"He does, and he does not; it is his way. He is always an original. Ask +your husband how he received him." + +Pan Stanislav laughed, and said,-- + +"On the way to Buchynek I learned that Yasmen was near, and I resolved +to go there. Panna Helena took me to her father; but he was just +finishing his rosary, and did not greet me till he had said the last +'Hail Mary.' Then he begged my pardon, and said thus: 'Those heavenly +matadors in their own order; but with Her a man has more courage, and +in old fashion, when She is merciful, all is well, for nothing is +refused Her.'" + +"What a type he is!" exclaimed Svirski. + +The Bigiels laughed, but Marynia said that there was something +affecting in such confidence. With this Svirski agreed, and Pan +Stanislav continued,-- + +"Then he said that it was time for him to think of his will, and I did +not oppose him, in usual fashion, for with me it is a question of our +Pan Ignas. On the contrary, I told him that that was a purely legal +matter, for which it was never too early, and that even young people +ought to think of it." + +"That is my opinion, too," put in Bigiel. + +"We spoke also of Pan Ignas; the old man has come to love him heartily." + +"Yes!" exclaimed Svirski. "When he learned that I had been in Prytulov, +he began at once to inquire about him." + +"Then have you been in Prytulov?" inquired Marynia. + +"Four days. I like Osnovski immensely." + +"And Pani Osnovski?" + +"I gave my opinion in Rome of her, and, as I remember, let my tongue +out like a scourge." + +"I remember too. You were very wicked. How is it with the young couple?" + +"Oh, nothing! They are happy. But Panna Ratkovski is there,--a very +charming young lady. I lacked little of falling in love with her." + +"There it is for you! But Stas told me that you are in love with all +ladies." + +"With all, and therefore always in love." + +Bigiel, hearing this, stopped and said earnestly,-- + +"That is a good way never to marry." + +"Unfortunately it is," said Svirski. Then, turning to Marynia, he +said, "Pan Stanislav must have told you of our agreement,--that when +you say to me 'marry,' I shall marry. That was the agreement with +your husband; therefore I should wish you to see Panna Ratkovski. +Her name is Stefania, which means the crowned. A pretty name, is it +not? She is a calm kind of person, not bold, fearing Pani Aneta and +Panna Castelli, but clearly honest. I had a proof of this. Whenever a +young lady is in question, I observe everything and note it down in my +memory. Once a beggar came to me in Prytulov with a face like that of +some Egyptian hermit from Thebes. Pani Aneta and Panna Castelli rushed +out at him with their cameras and photographed him, profile and full +face, as much as was possible. But the old man wanted food, I think. +He had come hoping for alms, but evidently he hated to ask. Peasants +have that kind of feeling. Well, none of those ladies observed this, +or at least did not note it; they treated him as a thing, till Panna +Ratkovski told them that they were humiliating and hurting the old man. +That is a small incident, but it shows heart and delicate feelings. +That handsome Kopovski dangles about her; but she is not charmed with +the man, like those ladies, who are occupied with him, who paint him, +invent new costumes for him, hand him around, and almost carry him in +their arms, like a doll. No; she told me herself that Kopovski annoys +her; and that pleases me, too, for he has as much sense as the head of +a walking-stick." + +"As far as I have heard," said Bigiel, "Pan Kopovski needs money; and +Panna Ratkovski is not rich. I know that her father, when dying, was in +debt to a bank for a sum which, with interest, was due on the last day +of last month." + +"What is that to us?" interrupted Pani Bigiel. + +"Thou art right,--that is not our affair." + +"But how does Panna Ratkovski look?" inquired Marynia. + +"Panna Ratkovski? She is not beautiful, but she has a sweet face, pale +complexion, and dark eyes. You will see her, for those ladies expressed +a wish to come here some day. And I persuaded them to it, for I want +you to see her." + +"Well," answered Marynia, laughing, "I shall see her, and declare my +sentence. But if it be favorable?" + +"I will propose; I give my word. In the worst case, I'll get a refusal. +If you say 'no,' I'll go after ducks. At the end of July shooting is +permitted." + +"Oh, those plans are important!" said Pani Bigiel,--"a wife or ducks! +Pan Ignas would not have spoken that way." + +"Well, of what use is reason when one is in love?" said Marynia. + +"You are right, and I envy him that very condition; not Panna Castelli, +though I was in love with her once myself--oh, no! but just that +condition in which one does not reason any longer." + +"But what have you against Panna Castelli?" + +"Nothing. I owe her gratitude, for--thanks to her--I had my time of +illusions; therefore I shall never say an evil word of her, though some +one is pulling me by the tongue greatly. So, ladies, do not pull me." + +"On the contrary," said Pani Bigiel, "you must tell us of both. I will +ask you only on the veranda, for I have directed to bring coffee there." + +After a time they were on the veranda. The little Bigiels were running +about in a many-colored crowd among the trees, circling about like +bright butterflies. Bigiel placed cigars before Svirski. Marynia, +taking advantage of the moment, went up to her husband, who was +standing aside somewhat, and, raising her kindly eyes to him, asked: + +"Why so silent, Stas?" + +"I am tired. In the city there was heat, and in our house one might +smother. I couldn't sleep, for Buchynek got into my head." + +"I, too, am curious about that Buchynek, dost thou know? In truth, I am +curious. Thou hast done well to see the place and hire it; very well." +And she looked at him with affection; but, seeing that he seemed really +not himself, she said,-- + +"We will occupy Pan Svirski here, and do thou go and rest a while." + +"No; I cannot sleep." + +Meanwhile Svirski talked on. "There is no breeze," said he; "not a twig +in motion. A genuine summer day! Have you noticed that in the season +of heat, and in time of such calm, the whole world seems as if sunk in +meditation. I remember that Bukatski found always in this something +mystical, and said that he would like to die on such a sunny day,--to +sit thus in an armchair, then fall asleep, and dissipate into light." + +"Still, he did not die in summer," remarked Bigiel. + +"No, but in spring, and in good weather. Besides, taking things in +general, he did not suffer, and that is beyond all." + +Here he was silent a while, and then added,-- + +"As to death, we may and should be reconciled to it, and death has +never made me indignant; but why pain exists, that, as God lives, +passes human understanding." + +No one took up the consideration, so Svirski, shaking the ashes from +his cigar, said,-- + +"But never mind that. After dinner, and with black coffee, it is +possible to find a more agreeable subject." + +"Tell us of Pan Ignas," said Pani Bigiel. + +"He pleases me. In all that he does and says the lion's claw is +evident, and, in general, his nature is uncommon, immensely vital. +During those two days in Prytulov we became acquainted a little more +nearly, and grew friendly. You have no idea how Osnovski has grown to +like the man; and I told Osnovski openly that I feared that Pan Ignas +might not be happy with those ladies." + +"But why?" asked Marynia. + +"That is difficult to say, since one has no facts; but it is felt. +Why? Because his nature is utterly different from theirs. You see, that +all the loftier aspirations, which for Pan Ignas are the soul of his +life, are for those ladies merely an ornament,--something like lace on +a dress worn for guests, while on common days the person who owns it +goes about in a dressing-gown; and that is a great difference. I fear +lest they, instead of soaring with his flight, try to make him jog +along by their side, at their own little goose-trot, and convert that +which is in him into small change for their every-day social out-go. +And there is something in him! I do not presuppose that catastrophes of +any kind are to come, for I have not the right to refuse them ordinary +petty honesty, but there may be non-happiness. I say only this much: +you all know Pan Ignas, and you know that he is wonderfully simple; +but still, according to me, his love for Castelka is too difficult and +exclusive. He puts into it all his soul; and she is ready to give a +little bit--so! The rest she would like to keep for social relations, +for comforts, for toilets, for visits, for luxuries, for five o'clocks, +for lawn-tennis with Kopovski,--in a word, for that mill in which life +is ground into bran." + +"This may not fit Panna Castelli, and if it does not, so much the +better for Pan Ignas," said Bigiel; "but in general it is pointed." + +"No," said Pani Bigiel, "that first of all is wicked; in truth, you +hate women." + +"I hate women!" exclaimed Svirski, raising his hands toward heaven. + +"Do you not see that you are making Panna Castelli a common little +goose?" + +"I gave her lessons in painting, but I have never been occupied in her +education." + +Marynia, hearing all this, said, threatening Svirski,-- + +"It is wonderful that such a kind man should have such a wicked tongue." + +"There is a certain justice in that," answered Svirski; "and more than +once have I asked, am I really a kind man? But I think that I am. For +there are people who calumniate their neighbors through a love for +digging in the mud, and that is vile; there are others who do this +through jealousy, and that is equally vile. Such a man as Bukatski +talks even for a conceit; but I, first of all, am talkative; second, +a human being, and especially a woman, interests me more than aught +else in existence; and finally, the shabbiness and flatness and petty +vanities of human nature pain me terribly. And, as God lives, it is +because I could wish that all women had wings; but since I see that +many of them have only tails, I begin, from amazement alone, to shout +in a heaven-piercing voice--" + +"But why do you not shout in the same way against men?" inquired Pani +Bigiel. + +"Oh, let the men go! What do I care for them? Though, to speak +seriously, we deserve perhaps to be shouted at more than the ladies." + +Here Pani Bigiel and Marynia attacked the unfortunate artist; but he +defended himself, and continued,-- + +"Well, ladies, take such a man as Pan Ignas, and such a woman as Panna +Castelli: he has worked hard since his childhood; he has struggled with +difficulties, thought hard, given something to the world already,--but +what is she? A real canary in a cage. They give the bird water, sugar, +and seed; it has only to clean its yellow plumage with its little +bill, and twitter. Or is this not true? We work immensely, ladies. +Civilization, science, art, bread, and all on which the world stands is +absolutely our work. And that is a marvellous work. Oh, it is easy to +talk of it, but difficult to do it. Is it right, or is it natural, that +men push you aside from this work? I do not know, and at this moment +it is not for me a question; but taking the world in general, only +one thing has remained to you,--loving; therefore you should know, at +least, how to love." + +Here his dark face took on an expression of great mildness, and also, +as it were, melancholy. + +"Take me, for example; I am working apparently for this art of ours. +Twenty-five years have I been daubing and daubing with a brush on paper +or on canvas; and God alone knows how I slaved, how I toiled before I +worked anything out of myself. Now I feel as much alone in the world +as a finger. But what do I want? This, that the Lord God, for all this +toil, might vouchsafe me some honest little woman, who would love me a +little and be grateful for my affection." + +"And why do you not marry?" + +"Why?" answered Svirski, with a certain outburst. "Because I am afraid; +because of you, one in ten knows how to love, though you have nothing +else to do." + +Further discourse was interrupted by the coming of Pan Plavitski and +Pani Mashko; she, in a dark blue foulard dress with white spots, looked +from afar like a butterfly. Pan Plavitski looked like a butterfly also; +and, approaching the veranda, he began to cry out,-- + +"I seized Pani Mashko, and brought her. Good-evening to the company; +good-evening, Marynia! I was coming here to you on a droshky till I saw +this lady standing out on the balcony; then I seized her, and we came +on foot. I dismissed the droshky, thinking that you would send me home." + +Those present began to greet Pani Mashko; and she, ruddy from the +walk, fell to explaining joyously, while removing her hat from her +ash-colored hair, that really Pan Plavitski had brought her away almost +by force; for, awaiting the return of her husband, she did not like +to leave home. Pan Plavitski pacified her by saying that her husband, +not finding her at home, would guess where she was, and for the flight +and the lonely walk he would not be angry, for that was not the city, +where people raise scandal for any cause (here he smoothed his white +shirt-front with the mien of a man who would not be at all astonished +if scandal were roused touching him); "but the country has its own +rights, and permits us to disregard etiquette." + +When he had said this, he looked slyly at Pani Mashko, rubbed his +hands, and added,-- + +"Ha, ha! the country has its rights; I said well, has its rights, and +so there is no place for me like the country." + +Pani Mashko laughed, feeling that the laugh was becoming, and that some +one might admire her. But Bigiel, who, being himself a strict reasoner, +demanded logic from all, turned to Plavitski, and said,-- + +"If there is no place like the country, why do you not move out of the +city in summer?" + +"How do you say?" asked Plavitski. "Why do I not move out? Because in +the city, on one side of the street there is sun, and on the other +shade. If I wish to warm myself, I walk in the sun; if it is hot for +me, I walk in the shade. There is no place in summer like the city. I +wanted to go to Karlsbad, but--" + +Here he was silent for a moment; and, remembering only then that +what he was giving to understand might expose a young woman to the +evil tongues of people, he looked with a gloomy resignation on those +present, and added,-- + +"Is it worth while to think of that pair of years left of any life, +that are of no value to me, or to any one?" + +"Here it is!" cried Marynia. "If papa will not go to Karlsbad, he will +drink Millbrun with us in Buchynek." + +"In what Buchynek?" asked Plavitski. + +"True, we must announce _la grande nouvelle_." + +And she began to tell that Buchynek had been found and rented and +probably would be bought; and that in three days she and her husband +would move into that Buchynek for the whole summer. + +Pani Mashko, hearing the narrative, raised her eyes to Pan Stanislav in +wonder, and inquired,-- + +"Then are you really going to leave us?" + +"Yes," answered he, with a trace of snappishness. + +"A-a!" + +And for a while she looked at him with the glance of a person who +understands nothing and asks, "What does all this mean?" but, receiving +no answer, she turned to Marynia and began an indifferent conversation. +She was so instructed in the forms of society that only Pan Stanislav +himself could perceive that the news about Buchynek had dulled her. +But she had divined that her person might come into question, and +that those sudden movings might be in connection with her. With every +moment that truth stood before her with increasing clearness, and her +cold face took on a still colder expression. Gradually a feeling of +humiliation possessed her. It seemed to her that Pan Stanislav had done +something directly opposed to what she had a right to expect of him; +that he had committed a grave offence not only against her, but against +all those observances which a man of a certain sphere owes to a woman. +And her whole soul was occupied in this because it pained her more than +his removal to Buchynek. In certain cases women demand more regard +the less it belongs to them, and the more respect the less they are +worthy of it, because they need it for their own self-deception, and +often too because the infatuation, or delicacy, or comedian character +in men gives women all they demand, at least for a season. Still, in +this intention of moving in a few days to the opposite side of the +city, was involved, as it were, a confession of breaking off relations +which was worthy of a boor. Faith-breaking has its own style of _a +posteriori_ declaration, and has it always, for there is not on earth +an example of a permanent relation resting on faithlessness. But this +time the rudeness surpassed every measure, and the sowing had given an +untimely, peculiar harvest. Pani Mashko's mind, though not very keen by +nature, needed no extra effort to conclude that what had met her was +contempt simply. + +And at this very moment Pan Stanislav thought, "She must have a +fabulous contempt for me." + +It did not occur to them at the time that in the best event this +contempt was a question of time merely. But Pani Mashko caught after +one more hope, that this might be some misunderstanding, some momentary +anger, some excitability of a fantastic man, some offence which she +could not explain to herself,--in a word, something which might be less +decisive than seemed apparent. One word thrown out in answer might +explain everything yet. Judging that Pan Stanislav might feel the need +of such a conversation, she determined to get it for him. Hence after +tea she began to prepare for home, and, looking at Pan Stanislav, +said,-- + +"Now I must request one of the gentlemen to conduct me." + +Pan Stanislav rose. His tired, and at the same time angry face, seemed +to say to her, "If 'tis thy wish to have the pure truth, thou wilt have +it;" but unexpectedly Bigiel changed the arrangement by saying,-- + +"The evening is so pleasant that we can all conduct you." + +And they did. Plavitski, considering himself the lady's knight for +that day, gave her his arm with great gallantry, and during the whole +way entertained her with conversation; so that Pan Stanislav, who +was conducting Pani Bigiel, had no chance to say one word except +"good-night" at the gate. + +That "good-night" was accompanied by a pressure of the hand which was +a new inquiry--without an answer. Pan Stanislav, for that matter, was +glad that he had not to give explanations. He could have given only +unclear and disagreeable ones. Pani Mashko roused in him then as much +mental distaste as physical attraction, and for both those reasons +he considered that if he remained in Bigiel's house, she would be +too near him. Moreover, he had sought Buchynek and found it chiefly +because active natures, if confined too much, are forced instinctively +to undertake and act even when that which they do is not in immediate +connection with that which gives them pain. He had not the least +feeling, however, that flight from danger was equivalent to a return +to the road of honesty, or even led to it; it seemed to him then that +it was too late for that, that honesty was a thing lost once and +forever. "To flee," said he to himself; "there was a time to flee. +At present flight is merely the egotism of a beast disturbed in one +lair and seeking another." Having betrayed Marynia to begin with, he +will betray Pani Mashko now out of fear that the relation with her may +become too painful; and he will betray her in a manner as wretched as +it is rude, by trampling on her. That is only a new meanness, which he +permits himself like a desperado, in the conviction that, no matter how +he may struggle, he will sink into the gulf ever deeper. + +At the bottom of these thoughts was hidden, moreover, an immense +amazement. If this had happened to some other man, who took life +lightly, such a man might wave his hand and consider that one more +amusing adventure had met him. Pan Stanislav understood that many would +look on the affair in that way precisely. But he had worked out in +himself principles, he had had them, and he fell from the whole height +of them; hence his fall was the greater, hence he thought to himself, +"That which I won, that to which I attained, is no protection whatever +from anything. Though a man have what I had, he may break his neck as +quickly as if he had nothing." And the position seemed to him simply +beyond understanding. Why is this? What is the reason of it? To this +question he had no answer; and, having doubted his own honesty and +honor, he began now to doubt his own intellect, for he felt that he +could grasp nothing, give no answer. + +In general, he felt like a man lost in some mental wilderness; he could +recover nothing, not even attachment to his wife. It seemed to him +that, having lost in himself all human sides, he had lost at the same +time the power and right to love her. With no less astonishment did he +see that in the bottom of his heart he cherished a feeling of offence +against her for his own fall. Up to that time he had not injured any +one; hence he could not have known that usually a man has a feeling of +offence and even hatred against a person whom he has wronged. + +Meanwhile the society, after taking farewell of Pani Mashko, returned +home. Marynia walked at her husband's side; but, supposing that he +was occupied in calculations touching the purchase of the place, and +remembering that he did not like to be interrupted in such cases, she +did not break the silence. The evening was so warm that after returning +they remained some time on the veranda. Bigiel tried to detain Svirski +for the night, saying in jest that such a Hercules could not find +room in his little brichka with Plavitski. Pan Stanislav, to whom the +presence of any guest was convenient, supported Bigiel. + +"Remain," said he. "I am going to the city to-morrow morning; we can go +then together." + +"But I am in a hurry to paint. To-morrow I wish to begin work early, +and if I stay here there will be delay." + +"Have you any work to be finished on time?" asked Marynia. + +"No; but one's hand goes out of practice. Painting is a kind of work in +which one is never permitted to rest. I have loitered much already, at +one time in Prytulov, at another here; meanwhile my colors are drying." + +Both ladies began to laugh; for that was said by a famous master, who +ought to be free from fear that he would forget how to paint. + +"It seems to people that when a man has reached a certain skill, he +owns it," answered Svirski. "It is a wonderful thing, this human +organism, which must either advance or fall back. I know not if this is +so in everything, but in art it is not permitted to say to one's self, +'This is enough;' there is no leave to stop. If I cease to paint for +a week, not only do I lose adroitness of hand, but I do not feel in +power. The hand dulls,--that I can understand,--but the artistic sense +dulls also; talent simply dulls. I used to think that this was the case +only in my career, for in it technique has enormous significance; but, +will you believe me, Snyatinski, who writes for the theatre, told me +the same. And in literature like his, in what does technique consist, +if not in this? Not to have any technique, or at least, to seem not to +have it. Still, even Snyatinski says that he may not stop, and that he +falls back or advances in proportion to his efforts. The services of +art,--that sounds beautifully. Ah, what a dog service, in which there +is never rest, never peace!--nothing but toil and terror. Is that +the predestination of the whole race, or are we alone those tortured +figures?" + +Svirski, it is true, did not look like a tortured figure in any sense; +he did not fall into a pathetic tone either, complaining of his +occupation. But in his sweeping words there was a sincerity which gave +them power. After a while he raised his fist; and, shaking it at the +moon, which was showing itself just then above the forest, he cried +out, half in joy, half in anger,-- + +"See that chubby face there! Once it learned to go around the earth, it +was sure of its art. Oh, to have one moment like that in one's life!" + +Marynia began to laugh, and, raising her eyes unwittingly in the +direction of Svirski's hand, said,-- + +"Do not complain. It is not merely artists who are not free to stop; +whether we work on a picture, or on ourselves, it is all one, we must +work every hour, otherwise life is injured." + +"There is immense need of work," interrupted Plavitski, with a sigh. + +But Marynia continued, seeking a comparison with some effort, and +raising her brows at the same time,-- + +"And you see, if any man were to say to himself, even for a moment, 'I +am wise enough, and good enough,' that very saying would be neither +good nor wise. Now it seems to me that we are all swimming across some +deep place to a better shore; but whoso just wishes to rest and stops +moving his hands, is drawn to the bottom by his own weight." + +"Phrases!" exclaimed Pan Stanislav, on a sudden. + +But she, pleased with the aptness of her comparison, answered,-- + +"No, Stas, as I love thee, they are not phrases." + +"If God would grant me to hear such things always," said Svirski, with +animation. "The lady is perfectly right." + +Pan Stanislav, in reality, was also convinced that she was right; and, +what was more, in that darkness, which surrounded him, something began +to gleam like a lamp. He was just the man who had said to himself, +"I am wise enough, I am good enough,--and I can rest;" he was just +the man who had forgotten that there was need of continual effort; he +had ceased to move his hands over the depth, and therefore his own +weight took him down to the bottom. Such was the case! All these lofty +religious and moral principles, which he had gained, he had enclosed +in his soul, as a man encloses money in a chest,--and he made dead +capital of them. He had them, but, as it were, hidden away. He fell +into the blindness of the miser, who cheers himself with hoarded gold, +but lives like a mendicant. He had them, but he did not live on them; +and, trusting in his wealth, he imagined that his life accounts were +closed, and that he might rest. But now a gray dawn, as it were, began +in that night which surrounded his thoughts; and out of the darkness +began to rise toward him a truth hazy, and as yet undefined, declaring +that accounts of that sort could never be closed, and that life is an +immense daily, ceaseless labor, which, as Marynia had said, ends only +there, somewhere on the other and better shore. + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + + +"My dear Pan Ignas, why do you not dress like Pan Kopovski?" asked Pani +Bronich. "Naturally, Nitechka values your poetry more than all costumes +on earth; but you will not believe how æsthetic that child is, and +what perfect knowledge she has in such matters. Yesterday, the poor +dear came to me with such a pretty face that if you had seen her you +would have melted. 'Aunt,' said she, 'why does Pan Ignas not have white +flannel costumes in the morning? It is so elegant for all gentlemen to +be in such costumes.' Have something like that made; she will be so +glad. You see that Yozio Osnovski too has a flannel suit; he has even +a number of them, through attention to Aneta. These are little things, +I know; but they affect a woman greatly when she considers what they +mean. You have no idea how she sees everything. In Scheveningen all +wear such costumes till midday; and it would be disagreeable to her if +any one should think that you did not belong to society which knows how +to dress. You are so kind, you will buy such a costume; will you not? +You will do that for her; and you will not take it ill of me that I +speak of what Nitechka likes?" + +"Oh," said Pan Ignas, "I'll do so, most willingly." + +"How good you are! But, what else did I wish to say? Oh, yes!--and a +nice yellow-leather travelling-case. My dear Pan Ignas, Nitechka loves +immensely nice travelling-cases; and abroad, as a man looks, so is he +valued. Yesterday--I will tell you this as a secret--we looked at Pan +Kopovski's travelling-case. It is very nice, and in perfect taste, +bought in Dresden. It pleased Nitechka much. Look at it, and buy one +something in that style. I beg pardon of you for entering into this +matter, but this is a trifle. You see, I know women in general, and I +know Nitechka. There is no better way with her than to yield in little +things. When it comes to great ones, she will give up everything. +Besides, you have heard what chances of marriage she had, and still +she chose you. Show her, then, gratitude even in small things. Have +you not, as a student of character, noticed that natures capable of +great sacrifice reserve themselves for exceptional occasions; but in +every-day life they like to be gratified." + +"Perhaps I have not thought of this so far." + +"Oh, it is true beyond doubt, and that is just Nitechka's nature. +But you are not in a position to know what kind of a nature she has, +though you should know, for the reason that she chose you. But you men +are not able to perceive so many shades of feeling. If it should come +to some crisis, you would see that in her there is not one trace of +selfishness. May the Lord God preserve her from every trial! but should +it come to anything, you would see." + +"I know that you esteem Panna Nitechka," said Pan Ignas, with certain +animation; "but still you do not think so much good of her as I do." + +"Ah, how I love you when you say things like that!" cried Pani Bronich, +with delight. "My dear! But, if it is thus, then I will whisper still +more in your ear: she loves passionately that gentlemen should wear +black silk stockings; but remember that one look is enough for her to +see what is silk and what is Scotch thread. My God! do not suppose that +I wish to mix in everything. No one is able to keep away so well as I; +but it is only a question of this,--that Nitechka should never think +that you are not equal to others in any regard whatever. What's to be +done? You are marrying a real artist, who loves that everything around +her should be beautiful. And, in truth, she will not be so poor as not +to have a right to this. Will she?" + +Pan Ignas took out his notebook, and said,-- + +"I will write down your orders, so as not to forget them." + +There was a shade of irony in what he said. Pani Bronich, with her +excess of words, her manner of talking, and especially her evident +infatuation for things of exceptional superfluity, had made him +impatient very often. Pan Ignas was offended by a certain parvenu +element in her nature. Since he did not see what palaces she was +building with the property of old Zavilovski, he was unable to +understand that a sensitive woman could be so unceremonious with him +in demands for "Nitechka" when it was a question of the style of +their future life. He had supposed previously that it would be just +the opposite, and that those ladies would be even over-scrupulous +and delicate; this was his first disillusion. On the other hand, he +was pained by the bad taste with which Pani Bronich mentioned almost +daily the great matches which "Nitechka" might have made, and also her +self-denials for his sake; these _self-denials_ had not taken place +yet. Pan Ignas did not over-estimate himself, but also he did not +carry his head lower than was needful; and with that which was in him +he considered himself not a worse, but a better match than such men +as Kopovski, and the various Colimaçaos, Kanafaropuloses, and similar +operatic lay figures. He was indignant at the very thought that they +dared to compare these men with him, especially to his disadvantage. +Having poetry and love in his soul, he judged that he had that which +even princes of this world cannot command always. What his every-day +life with Lineta would be, of that he had not thought much hitherto, +or had thought in a general way only; but feeling strong, and being +ready to seize every fate by the forelock, he trusted that it would be +agreeable. To chaffer with this future he had no intention; and when +Pani Bronich expressed wishes like these, he had to restrain himself +from telling her that they seemed to him vulgar. + +Svirski, when stopping at Prytulov, gave out once the striking +opinion that love was not blind altogether, but only suffering from +daltonism. Pan Ignas thought that the painter had Osnovski in mind, +and did not suspect that he himself was a perfect example of a man +subject to the infirmity mentioned. He was blind, however, only in +reference to Lineta; except her he saw and observed everything with +greater readiness than others. And certain observations filled him +with astonishment. Omitting his observations on Pani Aneta, her Yozio, +and Kopovski, he noticed, for example, that his own relations with +Pani Bronich began to change; and from the time that he had become +near to her, and she had grown accustomed to him, and confidential, +as with a future relative, and the future husband of "Nitechka," she +began to have less esteem for his person, his work, and his talent. To +an ordinary eye this was invisible, perhaps, but to Pan Ignas it was +clear, though he could not explain its origin. The future alone was +to teach him that common natures, by contact with persons or things +which are higher, lose esteem for them through this familiarity, as if +showing involuntarily that whatever becomes near to them must thereby +be infected with vulgarity and meanness, and cannot, for that very +reason, continue lofty. Meanwhile Pani Bronich disenchanted him more +and more. He was impatient at that convenient "Teodor," whose rôle it +was to shield with his dignity from beyond the tomb every act of hers; +he was amazed at that bird-like mobility of her mind which seized on +the wing everything from the region of the good and the beautiful, and +turned it at once into empty and meaningless phrases. + +Besides, her enormous ill-will for people astonished him. Pani +Bronich, almost servile in presence of old Zavilovski, spoke of him +with animosity in private; Panna Helena she simply disliked; of Pani +Kraslavski and Pani Mashko she spoke with endless irony; of the +Bigiels, with contempt; more specially salt in her eye was Marynia. She +listened to the praises rendered Marynia by Svirski, Pan Ignas, and +Osnovski with the same impatience as if they had been detractions from +Lineta. Pan Ignas convinced himself that, in truth, Pani Bronich cared +for no one on earth except "Nitechka." But just this love made up in +his mind for all her disagreeable peculiarities; he did not understand +yet that such a feeling, when associated with hate and exclusiveness, +instead of widening the heart, makes it narrow and dry, and is merely +a two-headed selfishness, and that such selfishness may be as rude and +harsh as if one-headed. Loving Lineta himself with his whole soul, and +feeling better and kinder from the time that he had begun thus to love +her, he considered that a person who loved really could not be evil at +heart; and in the name of their common love, "Nitechka," he forgave +Pani Bronich all her shortcomings. + +But with reference to Lineta, that quick observer could not see +anything. The strongest men make in love so many unhappy mistakes for +one reason,--that they array the beloved in all their own sunbeams, not +accounting to themselves afterward that this glory with which they are +blinded has been put by themselves there. So it was with, Pan Ignas. +Lineta became accustomed more and more every day to him, and to her own +rôle of betrothed. The thought that he had distinguished her, raised +her above others, chosen her, loved her, from having been, as once, a +continual living source of satisfaction to her vanity and pride, was +beginning to lose the charm of novelty, and grow common. Everything +which it was possible to win from it for her own personal glory had +been won by the aid of Aunt Bronich. The admiration of people had +been also "juggled out" of it, as Svirski said; and the statue was so +near her eyes now that instead of taking in the whole, she began to +discover defects in the marble. At moments yet, under the influence +of the opinion or admiration of others, she regained the recollection +and knowledge of its proportions; but she was seized by a kind of +astonishment that that man in love with her, looking into her eyes, +and obedient to every beck of hers, was that Zavilovski over whom even +Svirski loses his head, and whom such a man as Osnovski esteems as some +precious public treasure. She could send him at any moment for fresh +strawberries, if she wished, or for yarn; the knowledge of this caused +her a certain pleasure, hence he was needed. She admired her own power +in him, and sometimes she detailed to him impressions of this kind +quite sincerely. + +Once, when they went out to damp fields, Pan Ignas returned for her +overshoes. Kneeling by an alder-tree, he put them on her feet, which he +kissed. Then she, looking at that head bent to her feet, said,-- + +"People think you a great man, but you put on my overshoes." + +Pan Ignas raised his eyes to her and, amused by the comparison, +answered joyously, without rising from his knees,-- + +"Because I love immensely." + +"That is all right; but I am curious to know what people would say of +it?" + +And the last question seemed to occupy her most of all; but Pan Ignas +quarrelled that moment with her because she said "you" to him, but +he did not notice, however, that, in her "that is all right," there +was that peculiar indifference with which things too familiar or less +important are slipped over. With a similar half-attention she heard +what he said then,--that not being vain, he considers himself a man +like his fellows, but that he respects his career, and counts a life +the greatest happiness in which it is possible to serve loftily, and +love simply. In the feeling of this happiness he embraced her with his +arm, so as to have his simple love as near his breast as possible. But +when his prominent chin pushed forward still more, as happened whenever +he spoke with enthusiasm, Lineta begged him to leave off the habit, as +it made him look stern, and she liked joyous faces around her. While +her hand was in now, she reminded him also that yesterday, when they +were sailing over the pond, and he was tired after rowing, he breathed +very loudly. She did not like to tell him then how that "acted on her +nerves." Any little thing "acts on her nerves;" but nothing acts like +some one who is tired, and breathes loudly near her. + +Saying this, she took off her hat and began to fan her face. The breeze +raised her bright hair; and in the green shade of the alder-trees, +quivering in the sun, which shone in through the leaves, she looked +like a vision. Pan Ignas delighted his eyes with her, and in her words +admired, above all, the charm of a spoiled child. There was perhaps +something more in them; but he neither sought nor found it, just +because his love, with all its force, was simple. + +Simplicity, however, does not exclude loftiness. Lineta had, in fact, +clung like a spider-web to the wings of the bird, which, in spite of +her, bore her to heights where one had to feel every movement with +the heart, to divine all, to understand all, and where even the mind +must exert itself to give expression to feeling. But Lineta was "so +lazy,"--she had said so on a time to her soarer, who at present did +not even suspect that those heights merely made her tired and dizzy, +nothing more. + +It happened to her now oftener and oftener to wake in the morning, and +remember that she must meet her betrothed, that she must tune herself +up to his high note; and this gave her the feeling that a child has, +for whom a hard lesson is waiting. She had recited that lesson already; +she had answered more or less everything which had been taught her; and +she judged that her betrothed ought to give a vacation now. Finally, +she had enough of all those uncommonnesses, both of herself and of +others, those original sayings, those apt answers, with which she had +campaigned in society so far. She felt, moreover, that the supply was +exhausted, that the bottom of the well could be seen. There remained +to her yet only certain artistic feelings, and that unendurable "Pan +Ignas" might be satisfied, if from time to time she showed him now +a broad field, now a bit of forest, now a strip of land with yellow +grain, as if scattered in the light, and said, "Beautiful! beautiful!" +That was easier. He, it is true, could not find words to express +admiration of the artistic depth of soul hidden in such a single word +as "beautiful;" but if that were true, what more did he want? and +why, in conversation, in feelings, in method of loving, did he force +her to those useless efforts? If he did not force her, if that came +without his knowledge, so much the worse for him, that, being by nature +so abrupt, he did not even know it. In such a case let him talk with +Steftsia Ratkovski. + +With "Koposio," on the other hand, there was no need of effort; his +society was real rest for Lineta. The mere sight of him made her +gladsome, called out a smile on her face, inclined her to jesting. +It is true that Pan Stanislav had once in his life been jealous of +Kopovski; but to Pan Ignas, a man who lived a mental life far more +exclusively, and therefore measured everything with a measure purely +mental, it did not even occur that a maiden so spiritualized and so +"wise" as "Nitechka," could for a moment consider Kopovski as other +than a subject for witticisms, which she permitted herself continually. +Had not Pani Bronich, in spite of all her mental shallowness, grown +indignant at the mere hint of giving Lineta to Kopovski? What Pan +Ignas had seen between Kopovski and Pani Aneta was no lesson, for he +considered his "Nitechka" as the opposite pole of Aneta. "Nitechka," +besides, had chosen him, and he was the antithesis of Kopovski; that +alone set aside every doubt. "Nitechka" amused herself with "Koposio," +painted him, conversed with him, though Pan Ignas could not exhaust +his astonishment at this,--how she could avoid falling asleep while he +talked; she joked with him, she followed him with a look of amusement, +but only because she was a child yet, needing moments of amusement, and +even of vanity. But no one saw better than she his whole measureless +stupidity, and no one spoke of it more frequently. How often had she +ridiculed it to Pan Ignas! + +Not all eyes, however, looked at this amusement of hers in that way, +and, above all, Pani Aneta looked at it differently; from time to +time she told her husband directly that Castelli was coquetting with +Kopovski; to "Yozio" himself this seemed at times to be true, and he +had the wish to send Kopovski away from Prytulov politely. This Pani +Aneta would not permit: "Since he is paying attention to Steftsia, we +have no right to hinder that poor girl's fortune." Osnovski was sorry +to lose that dear Steftsia on Kopovski; but since, in fact, she had no +property, and since Aneta wished the match, he would not oppose it. + +But he was not able to control himself from astonishment and +indignation at Castelka: "To have such a man as Ignas, and coquet with +such a fool; to act so, a woman must be a soulless puppet surely." At +first he could not understand it. On the hypothesis, however, that +Aneta must have been mistaken, he began to observe the young lady +diligently; and since, aside from his personal relation to his wife, +he was not by any means dull-witted, he saw a number of things which, +in view of his friendship for Pan Ignas, disquieted him greatly. He +did not admit, it is true, that anything might take place to change +the position; but he asked himself what Ignas's future would be with +a woman who knew so little how to value him, and who was so slightly +developed morally that she not only found pleasure in the society of +such a brainless fop, but allowed herself to turn his head, and allure +him. + +"Anetka judges others by herself," thought Osnovski, "and has really +deceived herself, ascribing certain deep feelings to Castelka. Castelka +is a puppet; and, if spirits like Anetka and Ignas do not come, +nothing rouses her." In this way that unfortunate man, affected with +the daltonism of love, while discovering truth on one side, fell into +greater and greater error on the other. On "Castelka," therefore, +he looked more justly every day, and needed no excessive effort to +convince himself that in the relations of that "ideal" "Nitechka" with +Kopovski there were jests, it is true, there was much contradiction, +teasing, even ridicule; but there was also such an irresistible +weakness, and such an attraction, as women with the souls of milliners +have for nice and nicely dressed young men. The phenomenal stupidity +of Kopovski seemed to increase in country air; but as a recompense +the sun gilded his delicate complexion, through which his eyes became +more expressive, his teeth whiter, while the beard on his face was +lighter, and gleamed like silk. Indeed, brightness shone not only from +his youth and beauty, but also from his linen, from his neckties, +from his exquisite and simple costumes. In the morning, dressed for +lawn-tennis, in English flannel, he had in him the freshness of morning +and the dreaminess of sleep. His slender, finished form appeared as if +fondlingly through the soft cloth; and how could that bony Pan Ignas, +with his insolent Wagner jaw and his long legs, be compared, in the +eyes of those ladies, with that "mignon" who called to mind at once +the gods of Greece and the fashion sheets, the glyptotheks of Italy +and the _table d'hôtes_ of Biarritz or Ostend. One should be such an +original as that still-water Steftsia to insist, unless from malice, +that he was an insufferable puppet. Castelka, it is true, laughed when +Svirski said that Kopovski, especially when some question was put to +him on a sudden, had an expression in which were evident the sixteen +"quarterings" of stupidity in his escutcheon, both on the male and +female side. In truth, he had a somewhat absent look, and, in general, +could not understand at first what people said to him. But he was so +joyous, he seemed so good-natured, and, in spite of a way of thinking +which was not over elevated, he was so well-bred, beautiful, and fresh +that everything might be forgiven him. + +Pan Ignas deceived himself in thinking that only Pani Bronich was +pining for things of external richness, and that his betrothed did not +even know of those requests with which her aunt comes. Castelka did +know of them. Having lost hope that "Pan Ignas" could ever be equal +to Kopovski, she wanted at least that he should approach him. For +things of external richness she had an inborn leaning, and "aunt," when +begging Pan Ignas to buy this or that for himself, merely carried out +Lineta's wishes. For her, really, one glance was enough to distinguish +silk from Scotch thread, and all her soul was rushing instinctively +to silk; for her Kopovski was among men what silk is among textures. +Had it not been for Pani Aneta, who restrained the young man, and for +the various lofty feelings which she had talked into Lineta, Lineta, +without fail, would have married Kopovski. Osnovski, knowing nothing of +all this, was even astonished that that had not taken place; for he, in +the end of his observations, had come to the conclusion that both for +Lineta and Pan Ignas this would have been perhaps better. + +One day he confided these thoughts to his wife, but she grew angry, and +said, with great animation,-- + +"That did not happen, because it could not. No one is obliged to +accommodate himself to Yozio's plans. I, first of all, saw that +Castelka was coquetting with Kopovski. Who could know that she was such +a nature? To be betrothed and to coquet with other men,--that passes +human understanding. But she does it through vanity, and through spite +against Steftsia Ratkovski, and maybe to rouse jealousy in Pan Ignas. +Who knows why? It is easy for Yozio to talk now, and to throw all the +blame on me for having made this marriage; let Yozio remember better +how many times he was enchanted with Castelka, how many times he said +that hers was an uncommon nature, and that just such a one would make +Pan Ignas happy. A pretty uncommon nature! Now she is coquetting with +Kopovski, and if she were his betrothed she would coquet with Pan +Ignas. Whoever is vain, will remain so forever. Yozio says that she +was fitted for Kopovski; it was necessary to have that way of thinking +at first, not at present, when she is the betrothed of Pan Ignas. +But Yozio says this purposely to show me what a folly I committed in +helping Pan Ignas." + +And the whole affair was so turned by Pani Aneta that Pan Ignas and +Castelka descended to the second place, but in the first appeared +the cruelty and malice of Yozio. Osnovski, however, began to justify +himself, and, opening his arms, said,-- + +"Anetka! How canst thou even suppose that I wanted to do anything +disagreeable to thee? I know, besides, how honest and cordial thy +wishes were; but terror takes hold of me when I think of the future of +Ignas, for I love him. I should wish from the soul of my heart that God +had given him such a person as thou art. My dearest little bird, thou +knowest that I would rather lose my tongue than say one bitter thing to +thee. I came to thee so just to talk and take counsel, for I know that +in that dear head of thine there is always some cure for everything." + +When he had said this, he began to kiss her hands and then her arms +and face with great affection, and with increasing enthusiasm; but she +turned her head aside, twisting away from his kisses, and saying,-- + +"Ah, how Yozio is sweating!" + +He was, in fact, almost always in perspiration, for he played whole +days at tennis, raced on horseback, rowed, wandered through fields and +forests, to grow thin as far as was possible. + +"Only tell me that thou art not angry," said he, dropping her hand, and +looking into her eyes tenderly. + +"Well, I am not; but what help can I give? Let them go as quickly as +possible to Scheveningen, and let Kopovski stay here with Steftsia." + +"See, thou hast found a plan. Let them go at the beginning of August. +But hast thou noticed that somehow Steftsia is not very--somehow +Kopovski has not pleased her heart so far?" + +"Steftsia is secretive as few are. Yozio doesn't know women." + +"Thou art right surely in that. But I even see that she doesn't like +Castelka. Maybe, also, she is angry in her heart with Kopovski, too." + +"What!" inquired Aneta, with animation, "has Yozio seen anything with +reference to Castelka? + +"Koposio laughs at her, for he has good teeth; but if I should +see anything, he wouldn't be in Prytulov. Maybe, too, Castelka is +coquetting with him, because such is her nature--without knowing it. +That itself is bad, but that it should go as far as looking at each +other seriously, I don't believe. + +"But it is necessary to examine Koposio as to Steftsia. Knowest what, +Yozio? I will go this very day with him on horseback to Lesnichovka, +and I will talk with him rather seriously. Go thou in another +direction!" + +"Good, my child. But see, thy head is finding measures already!" + +Going out, he stopped on the threshold, thought a while, and said,-- + +"But how wonderful all this is! and how it passes understanding! This +Ignas catches everything on the wing; and at the same time he worships +Castelka as if she were some divinity, and sees nothing and nothing." + +In the afternoon, when Kopovski and Pani Aneta were riding along +the shady road to the forest cottage, Pan Ignas followed them with +his eyes, and looked at her figure on horseback, outlined in the +well-fitting riding-dress. "She is shaped like a slender pitcher," +thought he. "But how elegant and enticing she is! There is in this some +irony of life, that that honest and kindly Osnovski divines nothing." + +And truly there was irony of life in that, but not in that only. + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + + +Since the day when Pani Aneta and Kopovski made the trip to +Lesnichovka, something had changed in the social relations of the +dwellers in Prytulov. Pan Ignas looked, it is true, as formerly, into +the eyes of his affianced, and was enchanted with her beyond measure; +but in her intercourse with him and with others there was a certain +light shade of ill-humor. Kopovski felt as if bound; he looked at +Lineta by stealth only. He approached her hurriedly, and only in the +absence of Pani Aneta; but he sat oftener near Panna Ratkovski, to whom +he spoke, as it were, with his mind in another place. Pani Aneta was, +moreover, more determined than usual; and, to the great satisfaction +of "Yozio," she extended now such watchful care over every affair in +Prytulov, that she took Kopovski aside twice for personal explanations. +Lineta's glance did not follow Kopovski with that former half-gladsome, +half-ironical freedom; but the cloudy eyes of Panna Ratkovski turned to +Pan Ignas with a certain sympathy,--in one, word, something had changed +both in looks and relations. + +But those were changes observable only to a very quick eye, and one +accustomed to look at life of that kind, in which, for lack of greater +objects and severe daily labor, the least shade of feelings and the +most subtle movement of thoughts, and even dispositions, take on not +only the form, of far-reaching events, but frequently conceal the +actual germs of such events in themselves. Externally life remained +just the same it had been; that is, a kind of daily festival, a May +day, country idleness, interwoven with love, æsthetic impressions, more +or less witty conversations, and, finally, amusements. The arrangement +of a whole series of these amusements, to fill out the day, was the +sole occupation which weighed on their thoughts; and even this, for the +greater part, Pan Osnovski took on himself as master of the house. + +But on a certain day the uniform calm of that life was broken by a +thunderbolt, under the form of two black-bordered envelopes addressed +to Osnovski and Pan Ignas. When they were brought in, the whole +society was at after-dinner coffee; and the eyes of the ladies were +turned with curiosity and alarm at the readers, who, taking cards from +the unsealed envelopes, cried almost simultaneously,-- + +"Pan Zavilovski is dead!" + +The news made a deep impression. Pani Bronich, as a person of the old +school, and remembering those days when the coming of a courier in the +country obliged the most sensitive ladies to faint, even before it +was known what the courier had brought, fell into a kind of numbness, +joined to loss of speech; Panna Ratkovski, who had spent some time +at Pan Zavilovski's, and cherished great friendship for him and his +daughter, grew pale in real earnest; Panna Lineta, seizing Pani +Bronich's hand, tried to restore her to consciousness, whispering, +"_Voyons, chère, tu n'es pas raisonnable!_" Pani Aneta, as if wishing +to verify with her own eyes the substance of the announcement, took the +card from her husband's hands, and read,-- + + "The respected Pan Eustachius Zavilovski departed this life on the + 25th day of July. His grief-stricken daughter invites relatives + and friends to the funeral, at the parish church in Yasmen, on the + 28th day of the current month." + +Then followed a moment of silence, which was broken by Pan Ignas. + +"I knew him little," said he, "and was prepossessed against him once; +but now I grieve for him sincerely, for I know that at heart he was a +worthy man." + +"And he loved thee sincerely," answered Osnovski. "I have proofs of +that." + +Pani Bronich, who, during this time, had recovered, declared that +those proofs might appear now in their fulness, and that the heart of +the deceased would very likely prove itself still greater than they +imagined. "Pan Eustachius always loved Nitechka much, and such a man +cannot be malicious." At times he had reminded her--that is, Pani +Bronich--of Teodor, and therefore she had become so attached to him. +He was, it is true, as abrupt on occasions as Teodor was gentle at all +times; but both had that honesty of spirit which the Lord God is best +able to value. + +Then she turned to "Nitechka," reminding her that the least emotion +would add to the sinking of her heart, and begging her to strive this +time not to yield to innate sensitiveness. Pan Ignas, too, with +the feeling that a common sorrow had struck him and Lineta for the +first time, began to kiss her hands. This state of mind was broken by +Kopovski, who said, as if in meditation on the transitory nature of +human affairs,-- + +"I am curious to know what Panna Helena will do with the pipes left by +her father." + +In fact, the old noble's pipes were famous throughout the whole city. +Through dislike for cigarettes and cigars, he had in his day made a +great collection in his mansion for lovers of the pipe. Kopovski's +anxiety about the pipes was not quieted, however,--first, because +at that moment they brought Pan Ignas a letter from Pan Stanislav, +containing also intelligence of the old man's decease, and an +invitation to the funeral; secondly, because Osnovski began to advise +with his wife about the trip to Yasmen. + +It ended in this,--that all were to go at once to the city, where the +ladies would set about buying various small articles of mourning, and +on the second day, the day of the funeral, they would be in Yasmen. +Thus did they do. Pan Ignas, immediately after their arrival, went +to his lodgings to carry home things, and prepare a black suit for +mourning; and then he went to the Polanyetskis, supposing that they, +too, perhaps, had come in from the Bigiels. The servant informed him +that his master had been there the day before, but had gone at once +to Yasmen, near which place he had hired, or even bought, a house two +weeks earlier. + +Hearing this, he returned to Osnovski's villa to spend the evening with +his betrothed. + +At the entrance, the tones of a waltz by Strauss, coming from the +depth of the house, astonished him. Meeting in the next salon Panna +Ratkovski, he inquired who was playing. + +"Lineta is playing with Pan Kopovski," answered she. + +"Then Pan Kopovski is here?" + +"He came a quarter of an hour since." + +"And Pani and Pan Osnovski?" + +"They have not returned yet; Aneta is making purchases." + +Pan Ignas, for the first time in his life, felt a certain +dissatisfaction with Lineta. He understood that the deceased was +nothing to her; still the moment for playing a four-handed waltz with +Kopovski seemed inappropriate. He had a feeling that that showed want +of taste. Pani Bronich, who did not lack society keenness, divined +evidently that impression on his face. + +"Nitechka was moved greatly, and worn out," said she; "and nothing +calms her like music. I was much alarmed, for sinking of the heart had +begun with her; and when Pan Kopovski came, I myself proposed that they +play something." + +They stopped playing; and Pan Ignas's unpleasant impression disappeared +by degrees. There was for him in that villa a multitude of recent and +precious remembrances. About dusk he took Lineta's arm, and they walked +through the rooms. They stopped in various places; he called to mind +something every moment. + +"Dost remember," asked he, in the studio, "when painting, thou didst +take me by the temple to turn my head aside, and for the first time in +life I kissed thy hand; and thy words, 'Talk with aunt'?--I lost not +only consciousness, but breath. Thou, my chosen, my dearest!" + +And she answered,-- + +"And how pale thou wert then!" + +"It is difficult not to be pale when the heart is dying in one from +emotion; and I loved thee beyond memory." + +Lineta raised her eyes, and said after a while,-- + +"How wonderful all this is!" + +"What, Nitechka?" + +"That it begins somehow, and begins as if it were a kind of trial, a +kind of play; then one goes farther into it, and all at once the trap +falls." + +Pan Ignas pressed her arm to his bosom, and said,-- + +"Ah, yes! it has fallen! I have my bright maiden, and I won't let her +go." + +Then, walking on, they came to the great drawing-room. + +Pan Ignas pointed to the glass door, and said,-- + +"Our balcony, our acacia-tree." + +It grew darker and darker. Objects in the room were sunk in shade; only +here and there, on golden picture frames, gleamed points of light, like +eyes of some kind gazing at the young couple. + +"Dost thou love me?" asked Pan Ignas. + +"Thou knowest." + +"Say yes." + +"Yes." + +Then he pressed her arm more, and said with a voice changed through +rising emotion,-- + +"Thou hast no idea, simply, how much happiness is in thee. I give thee +my word; thou hast no idea. Thou knowest not how I love thee. I would +give my life for thee. I would give the world for one hair of thine. +Thou art my world, my life, my all. I should die without thee." + +"Let us sit down," whispered Lineta; "I am so wearied." + +They sat down, resting against each other, hidden in the dark. A moment +of silence followed. + +"What is the matter? Thou art trembling all over," whispered Lineta. + +But she too, whether stirred by remembrances, or borne on by his +feeling, or by nearness, began to breathe hurriedly, and, closing her +eyes, was the first to put her lips forward toward his. + +Meanwhile Kopovski was bored evidently in the adjoining room with Panna +Ratkovski and Pani Bronich, for at that moment the tones of the waltz +which he had played before with Lineta were heard. + +When Pan Ignas returned to his own lodgings, the place seemed the +picture of sadness and loneliness, a kind of objectless nomad dwelling, +after which there will not be one memory; and he thought that that +golden "Nitechka" had so wound herself around his heart that in truth +he would not live without her, and could not. + +The funeral, on the third day, was not numerously attended. The +neighboring estates, as lying near the city belonged for the greater +part to rich people, who passed the summer season abroad; hence not +many of Pan Zavilovski's acquaintances had remained in the city. But +numerous throngs of villagers had assembled, who, crowding into the +church, looked at the coffin as if with wonder that a man of such +wealth, wading in property, in money and riches, was going into the +ground like the first chance peasant who lived in a hut somewhere. +Others looked with envy on the young lady to whom "so much wealth" was +to fall. And such is human nature that not only peasants, but refined +people, distant or near acquaintances of Pan Zavilovski, were unable +even during the burial itself to refrain from thinking what that +Panna Helena would do with these millions which were left her for the +drying of tears. There were some too, who, supposing young Zavilovski +as the last relative of that name, the heir of a considerable part +of the property, gave themselves in secret the question whether +that lucky poet, and millionnaire of the morrow, perhaps, would stop +writing verses. And they thought, as if with a certain unexplained +satisfaction, that he would probably. + +But the chief attention was turned to Panna Helena. All wondered at +the resignation with which she bore the loss,--the more painful, since +after the death of her father she remained in the world all alone, +without relatives nearer than the young poet, and even without friends, +concerning whom she had long since ceased to busy herself. She walked +after the coffin with a face over which tears were flowing, but which +was calm, with that calmness usual to her, but somewhat lifeless and +stony. On her return from the church, she spoke of the death of her +father as if a number of months at least had passed since it happened. +The ladies of Prytulov could not understand that an immense faith was +speaking through her; and that in virtue of her faith, that death, in +comparison with another, which she had survived, but which had rent +her soul, seemed something that was sad, it is true, but at the same +time a blessing, pressing out tears of sorrow, but not of despair. In +fact, old Pan Zavilovski died very piously, though almost suddenly. +From the time of his arrival in Yasmen, he had the habit of confessing +twice a week; hence he did not lack religious consolation. He died +with the rosary in his hand, in his armchair, having fallen previously +into a light sleep, without any suffering; his usual pain having left +him a few days before, so that he had even begun to gain the hope of a +perfect return of health. Panna Helena, while speaking of this, in her +low uniform voice, turned at last to Pan Ignas and said,-- + +"He mentioned you very often. Perhaps an hour before death he said that +if you should come to Buchynek to Pan Polanyetski, to let him know, +for he wished to see you without fail. Father loved and esteemed you +greatly, greatly." + +"Dear lady," said Pan Ignas, raising her hands to his lips, "I join you +in mourning for him sincerely." + +There was something noble and truthful, as well in his tones as in his +words, therefore Panna Helena's eyes filled with tears; but the weeping +of Pani Bronich was so loud that, had it not been for a flask of salts +given her by Lineta, it would have passed into a nervous attack, very +likely. + +But Panna Helena, as if not hearing those sobs, thanked Pan Stanislav +for the aid which she had received from him,--he had occupied himself +with those cares which the death of a near friend imposes, in addition +to their misfortune, on those who are bereaved. He took all that on +himself because of his active nature, and because at that juncture he +seized every chance to occupy himself with something to deaden his +thoughts, and escape from the torturing circle of his own meditations. + +Marynia did not go to the grave, for her husband did not wish her +exposed to crowding and fatigue, but she kept company with Panna Helena +in the house, giving her consolation, as she could. Afterward she +wished to take her, with the Prytulov ladies, to Buchynek, and even +to keep her there a few days. Pan Stanislav supported this request; +but as Panna Helena had her old governess at the mansion, she refused, +assuring Marynia that in Yasmen it would not be disagreeable at all +to her, and that she did not wish to leave it for the first days +especially. + +But the ladies from Prytulov, who, at the persuasion of Svirski, +had intended to visit the Polanyetskis, went willingly with their +acquaintances to Buchynek,--all the more since Pani Bronich desired +to learn from Pan Stanislav nearer details touching the last moments +of the deceased. Marynia, who had looked most curiously at Panna +Ratkovski, took her in her carriage, and that happened which happens +sometimes in society,--that the two youthful women felt at once an +irrestrainable attraction to each other. In Panna Ratkovski's pensive +eyes, in her expression, in her "retiring" face, as Svirski called +it, there was something of such character that Marynia divined, at +the first glance almost, a nature not bold, accustomed to retire into +itself, delicate and sensitive. On the other hand, Panna Ratkovski had +heard so much of Marynia from Pan Ignas, and heard because other ladies +in Prytulov were not willing to lend their ears to praises of their +neighbors, that, seeing in her eyes interest and sympathy, to which, +in her poverty and loneliness, she was not accustomed, she nestled up +with her whole heart to her. In this way they arrived at Buchynek as +good friends, and Svirski, who was with Pan Stanislav, Osnovski, and +Kopovski, arrived right after them; it did not need any great acuteness +to divine that the judgment of Marynia would be for Panna Steftsia. + +But he wished to hear it. Marynia began to show the guests her new +residence, which was to be her property, for Pan Stanislav had decided +already to buy it. They looked specially at the garden, in which were +growing uncommonly old white poplars. Svirski, taking advantage of this +walk, gave his arm to Marynia; and on the way back to the house, when +the party had scattered somewhat along all the paths, he asked with +great precipitance,-- + +"Well, what is the first impression?" + +"The best possible. Ah, what a good and sensitive child that must be! +Try to know her." + +"I? What for? I will propose this day. You think I will not do that? +Upon my word, I will, to-day--and in Buchynek! I have no time for +examination and meditation. In those affairs there must be a little +daring. I will make a declaration this day, as true as I am here before +you." + +Marynia began to laugh, thinking that he was jesting; but he answered,-- + +"I am laughing, too, for there is nothing sad in this; it is no harm +that this is a funeral day. I am not superstitious; or rather, I am, +for I believe that nothing from your hand can be evil." + +"But it is not from my hand; I only made her acquaintance to-day." + +"It is all one to me. I have been afraid of women all my life; but of +this one, somehow, I have no fear. She simply cannot be a thankless +heart." + +"I think, too, that she cannot." + +"And do you see? this is my last chance. If she accepts me, I will +carry her all my life, see?" (here he put his hand in the bosom of his +coat); "if not, then--" + +"Then what?" + +"I'll shut myself in, and for a whole week will paint from morning +till night. I have said that I would go to shoot ducks--but no! This +is more important than you think. I judge, however, that she ought +to accept me. I know that she does not like that ladies' butterfly, +that Kopovski; she is alone in the world, an orphan; she will do me a +kindness, for which I shall be grateful all my days, because, really, I +am a kind man--but I fear to grow embittered." + +Marynia saw now, for the first time, that Svirski might speak +seriously; and she answered,-- + +"You are, in truth, a kind man; hence you will never be embittered." + +"On the contrary," answered he, with great animation, "it might end in +that; I will be outspoken with you. Do you think that I am as happy +as I seem? God knows that I am not. I have gained a little money and +fame; that is true. But perhaps there has not been among men another +who has so stretched forth his hands to a womanly ideal as I have. What +is the result? I have met you, Pani Bigiel, maybe two or three others, +worthy, true, sensible, pure as tears. Permit me! I do not wish to say +pleasant things to you; but in what I say now I do not wish to announce +a criticism, but to discover my suffering. I have seen among our women +so much tinsel, so many common, frivolous natures, so much egotism, +so much shallowness, so many thankless hearts, so many dolls from a +picture, so many false aspirations, that from sight of them ten such +men as I am might be embittered." After a while he added: "This child +seems different; quiet, mild, and very honest. God grant that it come +to pass; God grant her to want me!" + +At the same time Pani Bronich, taking Pan Stanislav aside openly, spoke +with uplifted eyes,-- + +"Oh, yes! he reminded me of my years of youth; and, as you see, in +spite of this--that for a long time relations between us were broken--I +preserved friendship for him to the end of his life. You must have +heard! but no! you could not have heard, for I have never mentioned +this to any one, that it depended on me alone--to be the mother of +Helena. Now there is no longer any need to keep the secret. Twice he +proposed to me, and twice I refused him. I respected and loved him +always; but you will understand that when one is young, something else +is sought for,--that is sought for which I found in my Teodor. Oh, +that is true! Once he proposed in Ischia, a second time in Warsaw. He +suffered much; but what could I do? Would you have acted otherwise if +in my place? Tell me sincerely." + +Pan Stanislav, not having the least desire to say, either sincerely or +insincerely, how he would have acted in the position of Pani Bronich, +replied,-- + +"Did you wish to ask me about something?" + +"Yes, oh, yes! I wanted to ask you about his last moments. Helena +said that he died suddenly; but you, who lived so near him, must have +visited him, therefore you will remember what he said. Maybe you know +what his last intentions and thoughts were? Personally I have not the +least interest in the matter. My God! would it not be difficult to act +more disinterestedly? You do not know Nitechka? But Pan Zavilovski +gave me his word that he would leave Pan Ignas his estates in Poznan. +If he did not keep his word, or if he did not try to keep it, may the +Lord God forgive him, as I forgive him! Wealth, of course, amounts to +nothing. Who has given a better example than Nitechka of disregard for +wealth? Were it the opposite, she would not have refused such matches +as the Marquis Jao Colimaçao, or Pan Kanafaropulos. You must have heard +also of Pan Ufinski,--that same who, with his famous silhouettes, +bought for himself a palace in Venice. His last work was to cut out the +Prince of Wales. This very year he proposed to use for Nitechka. Oh, +true! if any one has sought wealth, it is not we. But I should not wish +Nitechka to think that she had made a sacrifice, for still, between +us, she is making a sacrifice, and if considered in society fashion, a +great sacrifice." + +Pan Stanislav was an energetic man; angered by the last words of Pani +Bronich, he answered,-- + +"I have not known either the Marquis Jao Colimaçao or Pan Kanafaropulos, +but in this country they are rather fantastic names. I will suppose that +Panna Castelli marries Pan Zavilovski out of love; in that case, every +sacrifice is excluded. I am an outspoken man, and I say what I think. +Whether Pan Ignas is a practical man is another question; but Pan Ignas +does not know, and he does not want to ask, what Panna Castelli brings +him. The ladies know perfectly what he brings, even from a society point +of view." + +"Oh, but you have not heard that the Castellis are descended from +Marino Falieri." + +"That is precisely what neither I nor any one else has heard. Let us +suppose that for me and you such views have no meaning; but since you +say, first, that, taking things from a society point of view, Panna +Castelli is making a great sacrifice, I do not hesitate to deny that, +and to say that, omitting Pan Ignas's talents and social position, the +match is equal." + +From his tone and face it was evident that if Pani Bronich would not +stop at what he said, he was ready to speak more openly; but Pani +Bronich, having evidently more than one arrow in her quiver, seized Pan +Stanislav's hand, and, shaking it vigorously, exclaimed,-- + +"Oh, how honest you are, to take the part of Ignas so earnestly, and +how I love him, as my own son! Whom have I in the world if not those +two? And if I inquire whether you know of any arrangement made by Pan +Zavilovski, I do so only through love for Pan Ignas. I know that old +people like to put off and put off, just as if death let itself be +delayed by that. Oh, death will not be delayed! no, no! Helena has no +use for all those millions; but Ignas--he might then spread his wings +really. For me and Nitechka the question beyond all questions is his +talent. But if anything should come to pass--" + +"What can I tell you?" said Pan Stanislav. "That Pan Zavilovski was +thinking of Ignas is for me undoubted, and I tell you why. About ten +days since, he gave command to bring some old arms to show them to me; +thereupon he turned to his daughter, and I heard him say to her, 'These +are not worth enumerating in the will; but after my death give them to +Ignas, for you have no use for them.' From this I infer that either +he made some will in favor of Ignas, or thought of it. Further I know +nothing, for I made no inquiry of him. Should there be any new will, it +will be known in a couple of days, and Panna Helena of a certainty will +not hide it." + +"Do you know that honest Helena well? But no, no! You do not know her +as I know her, and I can be a surety for her. Never suspect her in my +presence! Helena hide a will? Never, sir!" + +"Let the lady be so kind as not to ascribe to me a thought which I +have not, and from which I guard myself. The will can in no case be +concealed, for it is made before witnesses." + +"And do you see that it is not even possible to conceal it, for it is +drawn up before witnesses? I was sure that it could not be concealed; +but Pan Zavilovski loved Nitechka so much that even out of regard for +her, he could not forget Ignas. He carried her in his arms when she was +so big, see." Here Pani Bronich put one hand above the other, so as to +give Pan Stanislav in that manner an idea of how big Lineta might have +been at the time; but after a while she added, "And maybe she wasn't +even that big." + +Then they returned to the rest of the company, who, having finished +a survey of the garden, were assembling for dinner. Pan Stanislav, +looking at the charming face of Lineta, thought that when Pan +Zavilovski carried her in his arms, she might, in fact, have been a +nice and pretty child. Suddenly he remembered Litka, whom he carried in +his arms also, and inquired,-- + +"Then are you an old acquaintance of the deceased?" + +"Oh--so," answered Lineta. "About four years. Aunt, how long is it +since we became acquainted with Pan Zavilovski?" + +"Of what is that dear head thinking?" exclaimed Pani Bronich. "Ah, my +dear, what a happy age! and what a happy period!" + +During this time Svirski, who was sitting near Panna Ratkovski, felt +that it would not be so easy for him to carry out the promise given +Marynia as it had seemed to him. Witnesses hindered him, and, still +more, a certain alarm about the heart, joined to a loss of usual +presence of mind and freedom. "To think," said he to himself, "that +I am a greater coward than I supposed." And he did not succeed. He +wanted at least to prepare the ground, and he talked of something +different from what he wished; he noticed now that Panna Ratkovski had +a beautiful neck, and pearl tones about her ears, and a very charming +voice--but he noticed with astonishment that this made him still +more timid. After lunch the whole company sat together as if through +perversity. The ladies were wearied by the funeral; and when, an hour +later, Pani Aneta announced that it was time to return, he felt at once +a sensation of disappointment and relief. + +"It is not my fault," thought he; "I had a fixed purpose." + +But when the ladies were taking their places, the feeling of solace +changed into sorrow for himself. He thought of his loneliness, and +of this, that he had no one on whom to bestow his reputation or his +property; he thought of his sympathy for Panna Ratkovski, of the +confidence which she had roused in him, of the sincere feeling which he +had conceived for her at the first glance,--and at the last moment he +took courage. + +Giving his arm to the young lady to conduct her to the carriage, he +said,-- + +"Pan Osnovski has asked me to come again to Prytulov, and I will come, +but with a brush and palette; I should like to have your head." + +And he stopped, trying how to pass from that which he had said to that +which he wished to say, and feeling at the same time that he needed to +hurry immensely, for there was no time. But Panna Ratkovski, evidently +unaccustomed to this, that any man should occupy himself with her, +inquired with unfeigned astonishment,-- + +"Mine?" + +"Permit me to be your echo," replied Svirski, hurriedly, and in a +somewhat stifled voice, "and to repeat that word." + +Panna Ratkovski looked at him as if not understanding what the question +was; but at that moment Pani Aneta called her to the carriage, so +Svirski had barely time to press her hand and say,-- + +"Till we meet again." + +The carriage moved on. Her open parasol hid the face of Panna Ratkovski +quickly; the artist followed with his eyes the departing ladies, and at +last gave himself the question,-- + +"Have I made a declaration, or not?" + +He was certain, however, that Panna Ratkovski would think, during the +whole drive, of what he had told her. He thought, also, that he had +answered adroitly, and that he had made good use of her question. In +this regard he was satisfied; but at the same time he was astonished +that he felt neither great joy nor fear, and that he had a certain dull +feeling that something was lacking in the whole matter. It seemed to +him that, in a moment so important, he was too little moved. And he +returned from the gate to the house in thoughtfulness. + +Marynia, who had seen the parting from a distance, had red ears from +curiosity. Though her husband was not in the room at that moment, +she dared not ask first; but Svirski read so clearly in her eyes the +question, "Have you proposed?" that he laughed, and answered just as if +she had inquired,-- + +"Yes, almost. Not completely; there was no chance for further +conversation, so I could not receive an answer. I do not know even +whether I was understood." + +Marynia, not seeing in him that animation with which he had spoken +to her before, and, ascribing this to alarm, wished to give him +consolation, but the entrance of Pan Stanislav prevented her. Svirski +too began to take farewell at once; but wishing evidently to satisfy +her curiosity before he went away, he said, not regarding the presence +of Pan Stanislav,-- + +"In every case I shall be in Prytulov to-morrow, or I shall write a +letter; I hope that the answer will be favorable." + +Then he kissed her hands with great friendship, and, after a while, +found himself alone in his droshky, in clouds of yellow dust, and in +his own thoughts. + +As an artist he was so accustomed to seizing in artist fashion various +details which intruded themselves on his eyes that he did so even +now, but mechanically, without proper consciousness, as if only at +the surface of his brain. But in the depth of it he was meditating on +everything that had happened. + +"What the devil, Svirski!" said he to himself; "what is happening +to thee? Hast thou not passed twenty-five years so as to be able to +jump over this ditch? Has not that happened for which thou wert eager +this morning? Where is thy transport? thy delight? Why art thou not +shouting, At last! Thou art about to marry! Dost understand, old man? +At last! At last!" + +But that was vain urging. The internal man remained cold. He understood +that what had happened ought to be happiness; but he did not respond +to it. Greater and greater astonishment was seizing him. He had acted, +it seems, with all knowledge and will and choice. He was not a child, +nor frivolous, nor a hysterical person, who knows not what he wants. +Having reasoned out, finally, that it would be well, he had not changed +his opinion. Panna Ratkovski, too, was ever that same retiring, "very +reliable person;" why did the thought that she would be the "little +woman," desired from of old, not warm him more vigorously? Why did +hope, changed now almost into certainty, not turn into joy? And at the +bottom of his soul there remained a certain feeling of disappointment. + +"What I told her," thought he, "might be adroit, but it was dry. Let a +thunderbolt strike me, if it was not, and, besides, it was unfinished. +Simply I have no certainty yet, and I do not feel the thing as +finished." + +Here the impressions of an artist interrupted the thread of his +thought. Sheep scattered on a sloping field visible from the road +shaded by distance, and also bathed in the sunlight, seemed on the +green background bright spots, with a strong tint of blue fringed with +gold. + +"Those sheep are sky blue,--impressionists are right in a small +degree," muttered Svirski; "but may the devil take them! I am going to +marry!" + +And he returned to his meditations. Yes! The result did not answer to +his hope and expectation. There are various thoughts which a man does +not wish to confess to himself; there are feelings also which he does +not wish to turn into definite thoughts. So it was with Svirski. He did +not love Panna Ratkovski, and here was the direct answer to all the +questions which he put to himself. But he dodged this answer as long +as he could. He did not like to confess that he took that girl only +because he had a great wish to marry. He wanted to explain to himself +that he did not feel the affair finished, which was an evasion. He was +not in love! Others reached love through a woman; but he wanted to fit +a woman to his general internal demand for loving,--that is, he went +by a road the reverse of the usual one. Others, having a divinity, +built for it a church; he, having a church ready, was bringing into it +a divinity, not because he had worshipped the divinity with all his +power previously, but because it seemed to him not badly fitted for +the architecture of the temple. And now he understood why he had shown +so much ardor and resolution in the morning, but was so cold at that +moment. By this was explained too the immense impetus in carrying out +his plan, and the want of spiritual "halleluia," after it had been +carried out. + +Svirski's astonishment began to pass into sadness. He thought that he +would have done better, perhaps, if, instead of thinking so much about +a woman, instead of forming theories of what a woman ought to be, he +had caught up the first girl who pleased his heart and senses. He +understood now that a man loves the woman whom he does love, and that +he does not fit to her any preconceived ideas, for ideas of love--like +children--can be born only of a woman. All this was the more felt by +him since he was conscious that he could love immensely; and he saw +more and more positively that he was not loving as he might love. He +remembered what in his time Pan Stanislav had told him in Rome of a +certain young doctor, who, trampled by a thoughtless puppet, said: +"I know what she is; but I cannot tear my soul from her." There was +love strong as death; that man loved! It is unknown why Panna Castelli +and Pan Ignas came at once to Svirski's mind; he remembered also Pan +Ignas's face as he had seen it in Prytulov, lost in contemplation and, +as it were, rapt into Heaven. + +And again was roused in him the artist, who by whole years of custom +takes the place of the man, even when the man is thinking of things +the most personal. For a while he forgot himself and Panna Ratkovski, +and thought of Pan Ignas's face, and of that which formed specially its +most essential expression. Was it a certain concentrated exaltation? +Yes! but there was something else which was still more essential. + +And suddenly he trembled. + +"A wonderful thing," thought he; "that is a tragic head." + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + + +A few days later Pan Ignas was summoned by Pan Stanislav, and went to +the city. The young man had a great desire to remain in Prytulov; but +Panna Helena wished absolutely that he should be present at the opening +of her father's will. He went, therefore, with Pan Stanislav and the +grand-nephew of old Pan Zavilovski,--the advocate Kononovich,--for that +purpose to Yasmen. But when Pan Ignas, during the two following days, +in his letters to "Nitechka," poured forth on paper only his feelings, +and made not the least reference to the will, Pani Bronich, whom such +effusions had delighted up to that time, confessed now, as a secret, +to Pani Aneta, that that was a stupid way of writing to a betrothed, +and that there was _quelque chose de louche_ in a silence which was as +if designed. The first of those letters was sent, it is true, from the +city, the second immediately after his arrival in Yasmen; the old lady +insisted, however, that in every case Pan Ignas should have mentioned +his hopes, at least, for by silence he showed "Nitechka" a lack of +confidence, and simply offended her. + +Osnovski insisted, on the contrary, that Pan Ignas was silent +concerning his hopes through delicacy toward Lineta; and on this +subject it came to a little dispute between him and Pani Bronich, who +on that occasion uttered a psychic principle, that men in general have +too weak a conception of two things: logic and delicacy. "Oh, that is +true! As to logic, it is not your fault, perhaps; but you are that way, +my Yozio, all of you." Not being able, however, to stay two days in one +place, she went to the city on some plausible pretext, so as to find an +informant in the question of the will. + +Returning on the following day, she brought with her, first, Pani +Mashko, whom she met at the Prytulov station, and who had been wishing +for a long time to visit "that dear Anetka," and second, information +that no new will of Pan Zavilovski had been found, and that the only +and sole heiress of his immense property was Panna Helena. This news +had been received in Prytulov already, by the third letter from Pan +Ignas, which Lineta had received meanwhile; still its confirmation by +Pani Bronich produced an uncommon impression, so that the arrival of +Pani Mashko passed unobserved, as it were. This was all very strange. +Those ladies had made the acquaintance of Pan Ignas as a man without +property. Lineta became his betrothed when there were no hopes of a +will. The affair had been arranged first under the influence of Pani +Aneta, who was "firing the boilers, since there was need to move, +and move quickly;" it took place under the influence of the general +enthusiasm roused by Pan Ignas's poetry, under the influence of his +fame; through the vanity of Pani Bronich and Lineta, which vanity felt +not only satisfied, but borne away by this fact, that that famous and +celebrated Zavilovski, who had turned all eyes to himself, was kneeling +at the feet of no one else, but just "Nitechka." It took place, +finally, for the sake of public opinion, which could not but glorify a +young lady who had no thought for property, but only for that mental +wealth which Pan Ignas possessed. It is true that, having begun in +this way, everything went farther by the force too of that elemental +rush, which, when once it has seized people, bears them on, without +their will, as the currents of rivers bear objects swept away by them. +Be what might, Lineta became the betrothed of a man without property; +and had it not been for those hopes which rose afterward, neither she +nor Pani Bronich, nor any one else, could have or would have taken it +ill of Pan Ignas that he had no inherited fortune. But such is human +nature, that just because those hopes had risen, and by rising had made +Pan Ignas an imposing match in the full measure, no one could help +feeling a certain disappointment when they were blown apart now by the +wind of reality. Some were grieved sincerely; others, like Kopovski +and like Pani Mashko, who did not know herself why, felt a certain +satisfaction at such a turn of affairs, but even such a true friend as +Osnovski could not resist some feeling of disappointment. + +Pan Ignas, in his last letter to Lineta, wrote among other things: +"I should like to have wealth for thy sake; but what meaning has all +wealth for me if compared with thee! I say sincerely that I have ceased +to think of it; and I know that thou, whose feet walk not on the earth, +art troubled no more than I am. And, as truly as I love thee, I am +not troubled at all. These great assurances which I make are for me +immensely sacred; hence thou must believe ma. Various wants and lacks +threaten people in life, but I tell thee this simply, I will not give +thee to any one. Thou art my golden! my one dear child, and lady." + +Lineta showed this letter to Pani Aneta, to Panna Ratkovski, and on the +arrival of her aunt, to her aunt, of course. Pan Ignas had, indeed, +not deceived himself as to her in this regard at least, that if in +all Prytulov there was no talk of anything but old Pan Zavilovski's +will, Lineta would be silent amid those conversations and regrets. It +may be that her eyes assumed to a certain degree their former dreamy +expression; maybe at the very corners of her mouth, when people spoke +of Pan Ignas, something like a minute wrinkle of contempt might be +gathered; maybe, finally, she talked very much with "aunt" evenings, +when, after the general good-night, they went to their own rooms; but +like a person who "does not walk on the earth," never did she raise her +voice in this question before people. + +"Koposio," once on a time, when they were left alone for a minute, +began to talk with her about it; but she put her finger first to +her own lips, and then pointed from a distance toward his lips, in +sign that she did not wish such conversation. What is more, even +Pani Bronich spoke before her little and guardedly concerning her +disappointment. But when "Nitechka" was not in the room, the old woman +could not stop the flow to her mouth of that bitterness which had risen +in her heart; this flow carried her a number of times so far that she +lacked little of quarrelling with Osnovski. + +Osnovski, casting from his soul that feeling of disappointment which he +had not been able to ward off at first, tried now with all his power to +decrease the significance of the catastrophe, and show that Ignas was +in general an exceptional match, and even in a financial view, quite a +good one. + +"I do not think," said he, "that he would have stopped writing had he +been old Zavilovski's heir; but the mere management of such an immense +property would have taken so much time that his talent might have +suffered. As the question is of Ignas, I remember, aunt, what Henry +VIII. said, when some prince threatened Holbein: 'I can make ten lords +out of ten peasants, if the fancy comes to me; but out of ten lords +I cannot make one Holbein.' Ignas is an exceptional man. Believe me, +aunt, I have always considered Lineta a charming and honest girl, and +have always loved her; but she really rose in my eyes only when she +appreciated Ignas. To be something in the life of a man like him, is +what any woman might envy her. Is it not true, Anetka?" + +"Of course," answered Pani Osnovski; "it is pleasant for a woman to +belong to a man who is something." + +Osnovski seized his wife's hand, and, kissing it, said, half in jest, +half in earnest,-- + +"And dost thou not think that this often torments me, that such a being +as thou art should belong to such a zero as Yozio Osnovski? But it is +hard to help it! The thing has happened; and, besides, the zero loves +much." + +Then he turned to Pani Bronich,-- + +"Think, aunt," said he, "Ignas has a number of thousands of rubles of +his own; and, besides, after his father's death he will have what old +Zavilovski secured to him. Poor he will not be." + +"Oh, naturally," answered Pani Bronich, shaking her head +contemptuously; "Nitechka, in accepting Zavilovski, did not look for +money, of course; if she had looked for money, it would have been +enough for us to raise a hand at Pan Kanafaropulos." + +"Aunt! Mercy!" exclaimed Pani Aneta, laughing. + +"But nothing has happened," said Osnovski. "It is sure that Panna +Helena will not marry, and the property will pass sometime, if not to +Ignas, to his children,--that's the whole affair." + +Seeing, however, that the face of Pani Bronich was depressed +continually, he added after a while,-- + +"Well, aunt, more agreement with the will of God! more calmness. Ignas +is not an inch less." + +"Of course," answered she, with a tinge of anger; "of course all that +changes nothing. Zavilovski in his way has talent; and every one must +confess that in his way he forms a match beyond all expectations. Oh, +yes; of this there cannot be two opinions. Of course nothing is to be +said of the property, all the more since people tell various things of +the ways by which old Pan Zavilovski increased it so greatly. May God +be good to him, and pardon him for having deceived me, it is unknown +why! This very day Nitechka and I prayed for his soul. It was difficult +to do otherwise. Of course I should prefer that he had not had that +inclination to untruth, for it may be a family trait. Nitechka and +I would prefer, too, that Pan Ignas had given us less frequently to +understand that he would be an heir of Pan Zavilovski." + +"I beg pardon most earnestly," interrupted Osnovski, with vigor. "He +never gave that to be understood. Aunt will permit--this is too much. +He did not wish to mention it; aunt asked him in my presence." + +But Pani Bronich was in her career, and nothing could stop her; so she +said, with growing irritation,-- + +"He did not give Yozio to understand this, but he gave me to understand +it. Nitechka can testify. Besides, I said to Yozio, 'Never mind this +matter.' Of course nothing has changed; and if we have some grief, it +is at least not from this cause. Yozio has never been a mother; and +as a man he can never understand how much fear we mothers feel at the +last moment before giving a child into strange hands. I have learned +of late, just now, that Zavilovski, with all his qualities, has a +violent temper; and he has. I have always suspected him of something +similar; and that being so, it would be simply death for Nitechka. Pan +Polanyetski himself did not deny that he has a violent temper. Pan +Polanyetski himself, though his friend, so far as men can be friends, +gave to understand that his father, too, had a violent temper, and +because of it fell into insanity, which may be in the family. I know +that Pan Ignas seems to love Nitechka, in as far as men can love truly; +but will that love last long? That he is selfish, Yozio himself will +not deny; for that matter, you are all selfish. Then let Yozio not be +astonished that in these recent hours terror seizes me when I think +that my darling may fall into the hands of a tyrant, a madman, and an +egotist." + +"No," cried Osnovski, turning to his wife; "as I love thee, one's ears +simply wither; one may simply lose one's head." + +But Pani Aneta seemed to amuse herself with that conversation as she +would in a theatre. The quarrels of her husband with Pani Bronich +always amused her; but now she was carried away more than usual, for +Pani Bronich, looking at Osnovski as if with pity, continued,-- + +"Besides, that sphere! All those Svirskis and Polanyetskis and +Bigiels! We are blinded in Zavilovski, all of us; but, to tell the +truth, is that sphere fit for Nitechka? Hardly. The Lord God himself +made a difference between people; and from that comes a difference in +breeding. Perhaps Yozio does not give himself a clear account of this, +for, in general, men are unable to give account to themselves of such +matters; but I tell Yozio that there are shades and shades, which in +life may become enormously important. Has Yozio forgotten who Nitechka +is, and that if anything pains such a person as Nitechka, if anything +wounds her, she may pay for it with her life? Let Yozio think who those +people are, speaking among ourselves,--such people as the Polanyetskis, +and such men as Svirski, and that whole company with which Pan Ignas +associates, and with which he will force Nitechka to associate, +perhaps!" + +"Well, let us take things from that point of view," interrupted +Osnovski. "Very well! Let it be so. First of all, then, who was old +Pan Zavilovski? That aunt knows clearly enough, even out of regard to +her own relations with him. If it is a question, aunt, of the sphere, +I have the honor to say that we all, in relation to such people as +the Polanyetskis, are parvenus, and are taking liberties with them. I +never enter into genealogies; but since aunt wants them, let aunt have +them. Aunt must have heard that the Svirskis are princes. That line +which settled in Great Poland dropped the title, but has the right +to it; that is who they are. As to us, my grandfather was a manager +in the Ukraine, and I do not think of denying that. Out of what did +the Broniches grow? Aunt knows better than I do. I do not touch that +matter; but, since we are alone, we can speak openly. Of the Castellis, +too, aunt knows." + +"The Castellis are descended from Marino Falieri," exclaimed Pani +Bronich, with enthusiasm. + +"Beloved aunt! I remind thee that we are alone." + +"But it depended on Nitechka to become the Marchioness Colimaçao." + +"_La vie parisienne!_" answered Osnovski. "Aunt knows that operetta. +There is a Swiss admiral in it." + +Pani Aneta was amused to perfection; but it became disagreeable to +Osnovski that he had raised in his own house reminiscences which were +not agreeable to Pani Bronich, hence he added,-- + +"But why all our talk? Aunt knows how I have always loved Nitechka, and +how from the core of my heart I wished her to be worthy of Ignas." + +But this was pouring oil on the flames, for Pani Bronich, hearing this +blasphemy, lost the last of her cool blood, and exclaimed,-- + +"Nitechka worthy of Ignas? Such a--" + +Happily the entrance of Pani Mashko interrupted further conversation. +Aunt Bronich was silent, as if indignation had stopped the words in +her mouth; Pani Aneta began to inquire of Pani Mashko what the rest of +the company were doing, and where she had left them. + +"Pan Kopovski, Lineta, and Stefania remained in the conservatory," +answered Pani Mashko; "the two ladies are painting orchids, and Pan +Kopovski amused us." + +"How?" asked Osnovski. + +"With conversation; we laughed heartily. He told us that his +acquaintance, Pan Vyj, who very likely is a great man at heraldry, +told him in all seriousness that there is a family in Poland with the +escutcheon, 'Table legs.'" + +"If there is one," muttered Osnovski, humorously, "it is the family of +the Kopovskis, beyond doubt." + +"And did Steftsia remain, too, in the conservatory?" asked Pani Aneta. + +"Yes; they are sketching together." + +"Dost wish to go to them?" + +"Let us go." + +But at that moment the servant brought letters, which Pan Osnovski +looked over, and delivered. "For Anetka, for Anetka!" said he; "this +little literary woman has an enormous correspondence always. For +you," added he, turning to Pani Mashko; "for aunt; and this is for +Steftsia,--somehow a known hand, quite familiar. The ladies will permit +me to carry her this letter." + +"Of course; go," said Pani Aneta, with animation; "and we will read +ours." + +Osnovski took the letter and went in the direction of the conservatory, +looking at it, and repeating, "Whence do I know this hand?--as if--I +know that I have seen this hand." + +In the conservatory he found three young people, sitting under a great +arum at a yellow iron table, on which the orchid was standing. Both +ladies were painting it in albums. Kopovski, a little behind them, +dressed in a white-flannel costume and black stockings, was looking +over the shoulders of the young ladies into the albums, smoking +meanwhile a slender cigarette, which he had taken from an elegant +cigarette-case lying near the flower-pot. + +"Good-day!" said Osnovski. "What do you think of my orchids? Splendid, +aren't they? What peculiar flowers they are! Steftsia, here is a +letter; ask the company to excuse thee, and read it, for it seems to me +that I know the handwriting, but I cannot in any way remember whose it +can be." + +Panna Ratkovski opened the letter, and began to read. After a while +her face changed; a flame passed over her forehead, then paleness, and +again a flame. Osnovski looked at her with curiosity. When she had +finished reading, she showed him the signature, and said, with a voice +which trembled somewhat,-- + +"See from whom the letter is." + +"Ah!" said Osnovski, who understood everything at once. + +"May I ask thee for a moment's talk?" + +"At once, my child," answered he, as if with a certain tenderness; "I +will serve thee." + +And they went out of the conservatory. + +"But they have left us alone for once even," said Kopovski, naïvely. + +Lineta did not answer; but, taking Kopovski's white-leather +cigarette-case, which was lying on the table, began to draw it across +her face gently. + +He looked at that beautiful face with his wonderful eyes, beneath which +she simply melted. Lineta had known for a long time what to think of +him; his boundless stupidity had no longer any secret from her. Still +the exquisiteness and incomparable beauty of that dullard brought her +plebeian blood into some uncommon movement. Every hair in his beard had +a certain marvellous and irresistible charm for her. + +"Have you noticed that for a long time they are watching us, like I +know not whom?" continued Kopovski. + +But she, feigning not to hear, continued to draw the cigarette-case +across her delicate face, and, bringing it nearer and nearer to her +lips, said,-- + +"How soft this is; how pleasant to the touch!" + +Kopovski took the cigarette-case; but he put it to his lips and began +to kiss lightly the part which a while before had touched Lineta's +face. Then a moment of silence rose between them. + +"We must go from here," said Lineta. + +And, taking the pot of orchids, she wished to put it on steps in the +conservatory; she was not able to do so, however, because of the slope +of those steps. + +"Permit me," said Kopovski. + +"No, no!" answered Lineta; "it would fall, and be broken; I will put it +on the other side." + +Saying this, she went with the pot of orchids in her hands around +to the other side of the steps, where between them and the wall was +a narrow passage. Kopovski followed her. There she stepped on to a +pile of bricks, and put the orchids on the highest step; but at the +moment when she turned to descend, the bricks moved under her feet, and +she began to totter. Just at that moment, Kopovski, who was standing +behind, caught her by the waist. + +For a few seconds they remained in that posture, she leaning with her +shoulder against his breast, he drawing her toward him. Lineta leaned +over more, so that at last her head was on his shoulder. + +"What are you doing? This is wrong!" she began to whisper, with panting +breast, surrounding him with her hot breath. + +But he, instead of an answer, pressed his mustaches to her lips. All +at once her arms embraced his neck with a passionate movement, and she +began breathlessly and madly to return his kisses. + +In their ecstasy, neither observed that Osnovski, in returning through +the open doors of the conservatory, passed along on the soft sand +beyond the entrance, and looked at them with a face changed and pale as +linen from emotion. + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + + +Meanwhile Pan Ignas spent the time between Warsaw and Buchynek, going +from one place to the other daily, remaining now here, now there, just +as his work and business commanded. Since his marriage was to take +place in the fall, immediately after the season in Scheveningen, Pan +Stanislav told him that it was time to find a dwelling, and furnish +it, even in some fashion. He and Bigiel promised every assistance in +that affair. Pani Bigiel was to see to the part which pertained to +housekeeping. Pan Ignas's presence in Buchynek was necessary also in +view of his relations with Panna Helena. Though the will of her father, +bearing date a year earlier, made her the only heiress of the whole +immense property, she did not hide in the least that she knew that +her father did not make another will simply because either he had not +foreseen a death so sudden, or had deferred the matter from day to day, +in the manner of old people. She had not the least doubt, however, that +her father wished to do something for a man of the same name, and a +relative; and she said openly that she held it a duty to carry out her +father's wish. No one, it is true, could foresee in what measure she +would decide to do that; and for her too it was difficult to answer +such a question, before she had made an exact inventory of all the +properties and moneys; meanwhile, however, she began to present Pan +Ignas with everything which, in her opinion, male heirs should inherit. +In this way, she gave him a part of the household plate, left after the +deceased, as well as a considerable and valuable collection of arms, +which the old man prized, and horses greatly esteemed by him,--these +Polanyetski took on commission; and, finally, that collection of pipes +the fate of which had concerned Kopovski so much. + +Cold, and apparently indifferent to all, intimidating people by her +severe and concentrated expression of face, she had for Pan Ignas +alone, in her voice and look, a certain something almost motherly; +just as if with the property she had inherited from her father his +inclination for the young man. He was indeed the only person on earth +with whom she was connected by bonds of blood, or at least by identity +of name. Learning from Pan Stanislav of the steps taken by Pan Ignas +toward furnishing a house, she begged him to put in the bank for her a +considerable sum in the name of "Pan Ignas," for outlays toward that +end, begging, however, not to mention the matter to him immediately. + +Pan Ignas, who had a young and grateful heart, became attached to her +quickly, as to an elder sister; and she felt perfectly that sympathy of +two natures, who wish each other well, and feel mutual confidence. Time +usually changes original sympathies of that sort into great, enduring +friendship, which in evil periods of life may be of great support. But +at that juncture, Pan Ignas could devote to her barely a tiny part of +his soul; for he had applied soul, heart, and all his powers, with the +entire exclusiveness of a fanatic in love, to the greater and greater +adoration of "Nitechka." + +Meanwhile he was as busy as a fly in a pot, between Buchynek and the +city, and even made new acquaintances. One of these was Professor +Vaskovski; who had returned from his pilgrimage among the "youngest of +the Aryans." He had visited the shores of the Adriatic, and the entire +Balkan peninsula; but the state of his health was so pitiful that Pan +Stanislav took him for good to Buchynek, to save the poor man from +being cheated, and to give him needful care, which in his loneliness he +could not have found in another place. Pan Ignas, himself a person of +lofty soul, and ready to grasp every broad idea, though it might seem +absurd to common-sense fools, conceived from the first day a love for +the old man, with his theory of a historical mission predestined to the +youngest of the Aryans. Of this theory he had heard already more than +once from Svirski and Polanyetski, and considered it a splendid dream. +But it struck him and Svirski and the Polanyetskis that the professor, +on returning from his journey, answered only that "No one could escape +the service which Christ had preordained to him;" then he gazed +forward with his mystic eyes, as if seeking something, or looking for +something in infinity, and his old face took on an expression of such +deep sorrow, and even of such pain, that no one had the heart to touch +that particular question. The doctor called in by Polanyetski declared +that the greasy kitchen of the youngest of the Aryans had given the old +man a serious catarrh of the stomach, to which was added _marasmus +senilis_. The professor had, in fact, a serious catarrh of the stomach; +but Pan Ignas divined in him something else,--namely, a desperate +struggle between doubt and that in which he believed, and to which, +as a real maniac-idealist, he had devoted a lifetime. Pan Ignas alone +understood the whole tragedy of such a final _ergo erravi_; and he was +doubly moved,--first, as a man with a heart, second, as a poet, who at +once saw a theme for a poem: the old man before the house, in the sun, +sitting on the ruin of his life and beliefs, with the words, "vanity, +vanity," on his lips, and waiting for death, whose steps he hears now +in the distance. + +But with the professor it was not so bad, perhaps, as Pan Ignas had +imagined. "The youngest of the Aryans" might, indeed, have disappointed +him; but there remained the faith that Christianity had not uttered +its last word yet, and that the coming epoch in the life of humanity +would not be anything else than a spreading of the spirit of Christ, +and a transfer of it from relations between individuals to general +human relations. "Christ in history" did not cease to be for him a +vision of the future. He believed even always that the mission of +introducing love into history was predestined to the youngest of the +Aryans; but from the time of his journey a deep sadness had seized him, +for he understood that, before that could be realized, not only he, but +whole generations, must die of catarrh of the stomach, caused by the +indigestible kitchen of principalities on the Danube. + +Meanwhile he shut himself up in himself, and in silence which had more +the appearance of life-sorrow than it was in reality. Of his "idea," he +hardly ever spoke directly, but the idea was evident. Just as the hand +of a clock, stopped at a certain hour, never indicates any hour but +that, so the indicator of his thought did not desert that idea; for to +various questions he answered with words which were rather connected +with it than the thing touching which he was questioned. Whenever they +wished to call him back to reality, it was needful to rouse him. In +dress he neglected himself utterly, and seemed every day to forget more +and more that buttons on a vest, for example, are there to be buttoned. +With his eternal absence of mind; with his eyes both short-sighted and +child-like, reflecting in some mechanical way external impressions; +with a face of concern, on which pimples had become still more evident +because of defective digestion; finally, with a neglect of dress, +and his wonderful trousers, which, it is unknown for what reason, +were twice as wide as the trousers of other men,--he roused mirth in +strangers, and became frequently the object of jokes more or less +malicious. It seems that he roused such feelings first of all in the +"youngest of the Aryans." In general, they considered him as a man in +whose head the staves lacked a hoop; but some showed him compassion. +The word "harmless" struck his ears frequently, but he feigned not to +hear it. He felt, however, that at Pan Stanislav's he was comfortable; +that no one laughed at him, no one showed him the compassion shown +idiots. + +Finally, neither the too greasy kitchen of the "youngest of the +Aryans," nor the catarrh of the stomach, had taken away his boundless +forbearance, and his kindness to people. He was always that dear old +professor who fell into revery, but who recovered his senses when it +was a question of others. He loved, as of old, Marynia, Pan Stanislav, +Pani Emilia, Svirski, the Bigiels, even Mashko,--in a word, all those +with whom life had brought him in contact. In general, he had a certain +strange understanding of people; namely, that all, whether willing or +unwilling, were serving some purpose, and were like pawns which the +hand of God is moving for reasons which He Himself knows. Artists, like +Svirski, he esteemed as envoys who "reconcile." + +He looked in the same way on Pan Ignas, whose poetry he had read +before. On becoming acquainted with the author, he looked at him as +curiously as at some peculiar object; but in the morning, when the poet +had gone to the city, and they began to talk about him during tea, the +old man raised his finger, and, turning to Marynia, said, with a look +of mystery,-- + +"Oh, he is God's bird! He does not know what God wrote on his head nor +to what He designed him." + +Marynia told him of Pan Ignas's approaching marriage, of his feeling +for Panna Lineta, and of her, praising her goodness and beauty. + +"Yes," said the professor, when he had heard all, "you see she too has +her mission, and she too is 'chosen.' God commanded her to watch over +that flame; and since she is chosen, she should be honored for having +been chosen. Do you see? Favor is upon her." Then he grew thoughtful +and added, "All this is precious for humanity in the future." + +Pan Stanislav looked at his wife, as if wishing to say that the +professor was dreaming disconnectedly; but the latter blinked somewhat, +and, looking before him, continued,-- + +"There is in the sky a Milky Way; and when God wishes, He takes dust +from it and makes new worlds. And you see, I think there is likewise a +spiritual Milky Way, made up of all that people have ever thought and +felt. Everything is in it,--what genius has accomplished, what talent +has wrought; in it are the efforts of men's minds, the honesty of +women's hearts, human goodness, and people's pains. Nothing perishes, +though everything turns to dust, for out of that dust, by the will of +God, new spiritual worlds are created for people." + +Then he began to blink, weighing what he had said; after that, as if +coming to himself, he looked for the buttons of his vest, and added,-- + +"But that young woman must have a soul pure as a tear, since God +pointed her out and designated her to be the guardian of that fire." + +Svirski's arrival interrupted further conversation. For Marynia it was +not a surprise, as the artist had promised her that either he would +come himself or write to inform her what turn his affair had taken. +Marynia, seeing him now through the window, was nearly certain that all +had ended auspiciously; but when he had entered the room and greeted +every one, he looked at her with such a strange face that she did +not know what to divine from it. Evidently he wished to speak of the +affair, and that immediately; but he did not like to do so before the +old professor and Pan Stanislav. So the latter, to whom Marynia had +told everything, came to his aid, and, pointing to his wife, said,-- + +"She needs a walk greatly; take her to the garden, for I know that she +and you have some words to say." + +After a while they found themselves in the alley among the white +poplars. They walked a time in silence, he swaying on his broad hips +of an athlete, and seeking for something from which to begin, she bent +somewhat forward, with her kindly face full of curiosity. Both were in +a hurry to speak, but Svirski began at another point. + +"Have you told all to your husband?" asked he, on a sudden. + +Marynia blushed as if caught in a fault, and answered,-- + +"Yes; for Stas is such a friend of yours, and I do not like to have +secrets from him." + +"Of course not," said Svirski, kissing her hand. "You did well. I am +not ashamed of that, just as I am not ashamed of this, that I got a +refusal." + +"Impossible! You are joking," said Marynia, halting. + +"I give you my word that I am not." And, seeing the pain which the news +caused her, he began to speak as if with concern. "But don't take it +more to heart than I do. That happened which had to happen. See, I have +come; I am standing before you; I have not fired into my forehead, and +have no thought of doing so; but that I got a basket[12] is undoubted." + +"But why? what did she answer you?" + +"Why? what did she answer me?" repeated Svirski. "You see, just in +that is hidden something from which there is a bitter taste in my +mouth. I confess to you sincerely that I did not love Panna Ratkovski +deeply. She pleased me; they all please me. I thought that she would +be an honest and grateful heart, and I made a declaration here; but +more through calculation, and because it was time for me. Afterward I +had even a little burning at the heart. There was even a moment when I +said to myself, 'Thy declaration in Buchynek was not precise enough: +better put it forward another corner.' I grew shamefaced. 'What the +deuce!' thought I; 'thou hast crossed the threshold with one foot; go +over with the other.' And I wrote her a letter, this time with perfect +precision; and see what she has written as an answer." + +Then he drew a letter from his coat-pocket, and said, before he began +to read it,-- + +"At first there are the usual commonplaces, which you know. She esteems +me greatly; she would be proud and happy (but she prefers not to be); +she nourishes for me sincere sympathy. (If she will nourish her husband +as she does that sympathy, he will not be fat.) But at the end she says +as follows:-- + + "'I have not the power to give you my heart with such delight as + you deserve. I have chosen otherwise; and if I never shall be + happy, I do not wish at least to reproach myself hereafter with + not having been sincere. In view of what has happened here I + cannot write more; but believe me that I shall be grateful to you + all my life for your confidence, and henceforth I shall pray daily + that God permit you to find a heart worthy of you, and to bless + you all your life.' + +"That is all." + +A moment of silence followed; then Svirski said,-- + +"So far as I am concerned, these are empty words; but they mean, I love +another." + +"That is the case, I suppose," replied Marynia, sadly. "Poor girl! for +that is an honest letter." + +"An honest letter, an honest letter!" cried Svirski. "They are all +honest, too. That is why it is a little bitter for me. She doesn't +want me. All right; that is permitted to every one. She is in love; +that, too, is permitted. But with whom is she in love? Not with +Osnovski or Pan Ignas, of course. With whom, then? With that head of a +walking-stick, that casket, that pretty man, that tailor's model,--with +that ideal of a waiting maid. You have seen such beautiful gentlemen +depicted on pieces of muslin? That is he, perfectly. If he should stand +in a barber's window, young women would burst in the glass. When he +wishes, he puts on a dress-coat; when not, he goes so, and all right! +You remember what I said of him,--that he was a male houri? And this +is bitter, and this is ill-tasting" (he spoke with growing irritation, +accenting with special emphasis the word _is_), "and this speaks badly +of women; for be thou, O man, a Newton, a Raphael, a Napoleon, and wish +thou as thy whole reward one heart, one woman's head, she will prefer +some lacquered Bibisi. That's how they are." + +"Not all women, not all. Besides, as an artist, you should know what +feeling is. Something falls on a person, and that is the end of all +reasoning." + +"True," said Svirski, calmly; "I know that not all women are so. And as +to love, you say that something falls, and there is an end. Perhaps so. +That is like a disease. But there are diseases by which the more noble +kinds of creatures are not affected. There is, for instance, a disease +of the hoofs. You will permit me to say that it is needful to have +hoofs in order to get this disease. But there has never been a case +that a dove fell in love with a hoopoo, though a hoopoo is a very nice +bird. You see that doesn't happen to the dove. Hoopoos fall in love +with hoopoos. And let them fall in love for themselves, if only they +will not pretend to be doves. That is all I care. Remember how I spoke +once against Panna Castelli at Bigiel's. And still she chose Pan Ignas +at last. For me, it is a question of those false aspirations, that +insincerity, and those phrases. If thou art a hoopoo's daughter, have +the courage to own it. Do not pretend; do not lie; do not deceive. I, +a man of experience, would have wagered my neck on this, that Panna +Ratkovski is simply incapable of falling in love with Kopovski; and +still she has. I am glad that here it is not a question of me, but of +comedy, of that conventional lying,--and not of Panna Ratkovski, but of +this, that such a type as Kopovski conquers." + +"True," said Marynia; "but we ought to find out why all this has become +entangled somehow." + +But Svirski waved his hand. "Speaking properly," said he, "it is rather +unravelled. If she had married me! surely I should have carried her at +last in my arms. I give you my word. In me immensely much tenderness +is accumulated. I should have been kind to her, and it would have been +pleasant for both of us. I am also a little sorry for it. Still, she is +not the only one on earth. You will find some honest soul who will want +me; and soon, my dear lady, for in truth at times I cannot endure as I +am. Will you not?" + +Marynia began to be amused, seeing that Svirski himself did not take +the loss of Panna Ratkovski to heart so very greatly. But, thinking +over the letter a little more calmly, she remembered one phrase, to +which she had not turned attention at first, being occupied entirely +with the refusal, and she was disquieted by the phrase. + +"Have you noticed," asked she, "that in one place, she says, 'After +what has happened here I cannot write more'? Can you think what that +may be?" + +"Perhaps Kopovski has made a declaration." + +"No; in such a case she would have written more explicitly. If she has +become attached to him, she is a poor girl indeed, for likely she has +no property, and neither is Pan Kopovski rich, they say; therefore he +would hardly decide?" + +"True," said Svirski; "you know that that came to my mind, too. She is +in love with him,--that is undoubted; but he will not marry her." Then +he stopped, and said, "In such a case, why is he staying there?" + +"They amuse themselves with him, and he amuses himself," answered +Marynia, hurriedly, while turning away her face somewhat, so that +Svirski might not notice her confusion. + +And she answered untruly. Since Pan Stanislav had shared his views with +her touching Kopovski's relations with Pani Osnovski, she had thought +of them frequently; the stay of the young man in Prytulov seemed to +her suspicious more than once, and explaining it by the presence of +Panna Ratkovski dishonest. This dishonesty was increased, if Panna +Ratkovski had fallen in love really with Kopovski. But all those +intrigues might come to the surface any moment; and Marynia thought +with alarm then whether the words of Panna Ratkovski--"after what has +happened here"--had not that meaning precisely. In such a case it +would be a real catastrophe for that honest Pan Osnovski and for Panna +Steftsia. + +Really everything might be involved in a tragic manner. + +"I will go to-morrow to Prytulov," said Svirski; "I wish to visit the +Osnovskis, just to show that I cherish no ill-feelings. If anything has +happened there really, or if any one has fallen ill, I shall discover +it and let you know. Pan Ignas is not there at this moment." + +"No. Pan Ignas is in the city. To-morrow, or after to-morrow surely, he +will come here, or go to Yasmen. Stas, too, is preparing for the city +to-day. Sister Aniela is ill, and we wish to bring her here. Since I +cannot go, Stas is going." + +"Sister Aniela? That one whom your husband calls Pani Emilia,--a Fra +Angelico face, a perfectly sainted face, a beautiful face! I saw her +perhaps twice at your house. Oh, if she were not a religious!" + +"She is sick, the poor thing. She can barely walk. She has disease of +the spine, from overwork." + +"Oh, that is bad," said Svirski. "You will have the professor, and that +poor woman? But what kind people you are!" + +"That is Stas," replied Marynia. + +At that moment Pan Stanislav appeared at the end of the walk, and +approached them with a hurried step. + +"I hear that you are going to the city to-day," said Svirski; "let us +go together." + +"Agreed!" + +And, turning to his wife, he said,-- + +"Marynia, hast thou not walked enough? Wilt thou lean on me?" + +Marynia took his arm, and they walked to the veranda together; after +that she went in to give command to bring the afternoon tea. + +"I have received a wonderful despatch," said Pan Stanislav; "I did not +wish to show it before my wife. Osnovski asks me where Ignas is, and +asks that I go to the city on his affair. What can that be?" + +"It is a wonderful thing," answered Svirski. "Panna Ratkovski writes me +that something has happened there." + +"Has any one fallen ill?" + +"They would have sent for Pan Ignas directly. If it were Panna Castelli +or Pani Bronich, they would summon him at once." + +"But if Osnovski didn't wish to frighten him, he would telegraph to me." + +And both looked each other in the eyes with alarm. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [12] Was rejected. + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + + +Next day, half an hour after Pan Stanislav's arrival, Osnovski rang +at his house. At the sound of the bell, Pan Stanislav, who had been +in great alarm since the day before, went himself to the door. He had +admitted for some time that a bomb might burst in Prytulov any day; but +he struggled in vain with his thoughts, to discover what connection the +explosion might have with Pan Ignas. + +Osnovski pressed his hand at greeting with special force, as is done in +exceptional circumstances; and when Pan Stanislav invited him to his +study, he asked on the way,-- + +"Are you living in Buchynek?" + +"I am; we are perfectly alone." + +In the study, Osnovski, when he had sat in the armchair pointed out +to him, bent his head and was silent for a while, breathing hurriedly +meantime; for in consequence of excessive exercise he was affected +somewhat with distention of the lungs. At present emotion, and the +steps, obstructed his breath still more. Pan Stanislav waited patiently +for some time; at last his inborn curiosity conquered, and he asked,-- + +"What has happened?" + +"A misfortune has happened," said Osnovski, in deep sorrow. "Ignas's +marriage is broken off." + +"Why?" + +"Those are things so disagreeable that it would be better for Ignas +perhaps not to know the reasons. For a time, I even hesitated to +mention them. But he ought to know all; for this is a question of more +importance than his self-love. Indignation and disgust may help him to +bear the misfortune. The marriage is broken, for Panna Castelli is not +worthy of such a man as Pan Ignas; and if to-day there could be a talk +of renewing the relation, I would be the first to veto it decisively." + +Here Osnovski began to catch breath again; but Pan Stanislav, who had +been listening as if fixed to the floor, burst out suddenly,-- + +"By the dear God, what has happened?" + +"This has happened, that those ladies went abroad three days ago, with +Kopovski as the betrothed of Panna Castelli." + +Pan Stanislav, who a moment before had sprung up from the chair, sat +down again. On his face, with all its emotion and alarm, was reflected +unspeakable astonishment. He looked for some time at Osnovski, and +then, as if unable to collect his thoughts, said,-- + +"Kopovski?--and has Panna Castelli gone too?" + +But Osnovski was too much occupied with the affair itself to turn +attention to the particular form of Pan Stanislav's inquiry. + +"It is unfortunate," said he; "you know that I am related to those +ladies: my mother was a sister of Pani Bronich, and also of Lineta's +mother; and for a time we were reared together. You will understand +that I would rather spare them. But let that go. Our relations are +broken; and, besides, if Lineta were my own sister, I would say what +I say now. As to Pan Ignas, since my wife and I are going, and that +to-day I may not find him, I will even say openly that I lack courage +to talk with him; but I will tell you what I saw. You, as his near +friend, may be able to soften the blow; he should know everything, for +in a misfortune of this kind, there is no better cure than disgust." + +Here he began to tell Pan Stanislav what he had seen in the +conservatory. Excited himself, he lost breath at moments, but was +unable to resist a certain astonishment at sight of the feverishness +with which Pan Stanislav listened. He had hoped for cool blood in the +man; he could not, of course, divine that Pan Stanislav had personal +reasons, in virtue of which a narrative of that sort acted more +powerfully on his nerves than would news even of the death of Pan Ignas +or Panna Castelli. + +"At the first moment I lost my head," continued Osnovski; "I am not +hasty, but how I avoided breaking his bones, I know not. Perhaps I +remembered that he was my guest; perhaps, since it is a question here +of something more important than he, I thought of Ignas; perhaps I +thought of nothing. I lost my head, and went out. After a time I +returned, and told him to follow me. I saw that he was pale, but +decided. In my own room I told him that he had acted unworthily; that +he had abused the hospitality of an honorable house; and that Lineta +was a wretch, for whom I had not sufficient words of contempt; that, +by this same act, her marriage with Pan Ignas was broken,--but that I +would force him to marry her, though I had to go to extremities. Here +it turned out that they must have taken counsel during the interval in +which I left them alone; for he told me that he had been in love with +Lineta a long time, and that he was ready to marry her at any moment. +As to Pan Ignas, I felt that Kopovski was repeating words which Lineta +had dictated, for he told me that which he could not have come at +himself. He said that he was ready to give every satisfaction, but that +he was not bound to count with Pan Ignas, for he had no obligations +touching him: 'Panna Lineta has chosen me finally; that,' said he, +'is all the worse for him, but it is her affair.' What was going on +meanwhile between aunt and Lineta, I cannot tell; it is enough that +before I had finished with Kopovski, Aunt Bronich rushed in like a +fury, with reproaches, saying that I and my wife had not permitted +Lineta to follow the natural impulse of her heart; that we had thrust +her on Pan Ignas, whom she had never loved; that Lineta had cried whole +nights, and that she would have paid for that marriage with her life; +that what happened now was by the express will of God,--and so for a +whole hour. We are to blame; Pan Ignas is to blame,--they alone are +faultless." + +Here Osnovski rubbed his forehead with his hand, and said,-- + +"I am thirty-six years of age; but before this affair I could not even +imagine what woman's perversity may be. I cannot understand yet such +an inconceivable power of perverting things, of placing them bottom +upward. I understand what the situation was; I understand that they +thought everything finished with Pan Ignas, even for this alone, that +I hindered, and that there was no one left for them save Kopovski. But +the ease with which white was made black, and black white; that lack of +moral sense, that absence of truth and justice,--that egotism without +bound or bottom. The deuce might take them were it not for Ignas. He +would have been most unhappy with them; but what a blow for a man of +such nature, and so much in love; what a deception! But Lineta! Who +could have supposed? Kopovski, such a fool, such a fool! And that young +woman thought to be so full of impulses; she who a few weeks before +exchanged rings, and gave her word! And she the betrothed of Pan Ignas! +As God lives, a man might lose his senses." + +"A man might lose his senses," repeated Pan Stanislav, as an echo. + +A moment of silence followed. + +"But is it long since this happened?" asked Pan Stanislav, at last. + +"Three days ago they went to Scheveningen together. They started that +very day; Kopovski had a passport. See how a supreme ass may still have +some cunning. He had a passport ready, for he pretended to pay court to +Panna Ratkovski, my cousin, and to be ready to go abroad with us; he +pretended to be courting this one, so as to have the chance of turning +the other one's head. Ai, poor Pan Ignas, poor man! I give you my word, +that if he had been my brother, I should not have had more sympathy for +him. Better, better, that he had not bound himself to such a Lineta; +but what a crash!" + +Here Osnovski took out a handkerchief and rubbed his glasses, blinking +meanwhile with a suffering and helpless expression of face. + +"Why did you not inform us earlier?" inquired Pan Stanislav. + +"Why did I not inform you earlier? Because my wife fell ill. Nervous +attacks--God knows what! You will not believe how she took it to +heart. And no wonder! Such a woman as she is--and in our house! With +her sensitiveness, that was a blow, for it was a deception on the +part of Lineta, whom she loved so much; and her sorrow for Ignas, and +that contact with evil, and her disgust! On such a pure and sensitive +nature as hers is, that was more than was needed. At the first moments +I thought that she would be dangerously ill, and even now I say, God +grant that it have no fatal effect on her nerves! We simply cannot give +an account to ourselves of what takes place in a soul like hers at the +very sight of evil." + +Pan Stanislav looked carefully at Osnovski, bit his mustache, and was +silent. + +"I sent for the doctor," continued Osnovski, after a while, "and lost +my head a second time. Happily, Stefania Ratkovski was there, and that +worthy Pani Mashko. Both occupied themselves with Anetka so earnestly +that I shall be grateful to them for a lifetime. Pani Mashko seems +cold, but she is such a cordial person--" + +"I judge simply," said Pan Stanislav, wishing to turn the conversation +from Pani Mashko, "that if old Zavilovski had left his property to +Ignas, all this would not have happened." + +"Perhaps not; but for me again it is not subject to doubt that if +Lineta had married Ignas, and even if he owned all Pan Zavilovski's +property, her instinct would attract her toward as many Kopovskis as +she might chance to meet in her lifetime; she is that kind of soul. But +I understand some points; I have said that it is possible to lose one's +mind at the thought that things are as they are, but I give a partial +account to myself of what has happened. Hers is too common a nature +to love really such a man as Pan Ignas; she needs Kopovskis. But they +talked into her various lofty impulses, and finally she talked into +herself that which did not exist. They seized on Ignas through vanity, +through self-love, because of public opinion, and because they had no +true knowledge of themselves; but what is insincere cannot last. From +the moment when their vanity was satisfied, Ignas ceased to interest +those ladies. Then they were afraid that with him, perhaps, they would +not have such a life as alone is of worth to them; perhaps he, with +his too lofty style, began to weary them. Add to this the story of the +will, which, without being certainly the main cause of the catastrophe, +diminished Pan Ignas in their eyes; add, before all, the instincts of +Lineta's nature; add Kopovski, and you have an answer to all. There are +women like Pani Polanyetski or my Anetka; there are women, also, like +Lineta and her aunt." + +Here Osnovski was silent again for a time; then he said,-- + +"I see the regret and indignation of your wife, and I am sorry that you +have not seen how this affected mine--or even Pani Mashko. Yes, there +are women and women; but I tell you that we ought to thank God every +day on our knees for having given us such wives as we have." And his +voice trembled with emotion. + +Pan Stanislav, though for him it was a question mainly of Pan Ignas, +was simply astounded that a man who, some minutes before, understood +things so profoundly and well, could be so naïve. A bitter smile came +on him, too, at mention of Pani Mashko's indignation. In general, he +was seized by a feeling of a certain crushing irony of life, the whole +immensity of which he had never seen before so distinctly. + +"Will you not see Ignas?" asked he, after a while. + +"I tell you plainly that I do not feel sufficient courage; to-day I +return to Prytulov, and to-day we will go from our station. I must take +my wife abroad,--first, because she herself begged me tearfully to do +so, and second, perhaps her health will be restored by change of air. +We will go somewhere to the seaside, only not to Scheveningen, where +they went with Kopovski. But I have a great request to make of you. You +know how I love and value Ignas? Let me know by letter how the poor man +receives the news, and what happens to him. I would ask the favor of +Svirski, but I may not see him." + +Then Osnovski covered his face and said,-- + +"Ai! how sad all this is, how sad!" + +"Very well," said Pan Stanislav; "send me your address, and I will +report to you how matters turn. But since the grievous mission falls +to me of telling Ignas what has happened, lighten it for me. It is +necessary that he receive information not from a third person, or a +fourth, but from some one who saw everything. If he hears of the event +from me, he may think that I represent the affair inaccurately. In +such cases a man grasps at every shadow of a hope. Sit down and write +to him. I will give him your letter in support of what I tell him; +otherwise he may be ready to fly after them to Scheveningen. I consider +such a letter indispensable." + +"Will he not come here soon?" + +"No; his father is sick, and he is with him. He thinks that I shall be +here only in the afternoon. Write to him surely." + +"You are right, perfectly right," said Osnovski. And he sat down at the +writing-desk. + +"Irony of life, irony of life!" thought Pan Stanislav; "bloody irony is +this which has met Pan Ignas. What is such a person as Panna Castelli, +with her bearing of a swan, and her instincts of a chambermaid,--that +'chosen of God,' as Vaskovski said only yesterday? What is Pani +Bronich, and Osnovski, with faith in his wife, and the nervous attacks +of that wife, caused by the mere contact with evil, of _such a pure_ +soul, and the indignation of Pani Mashko? Nothing but a ridiculous +human comedy, in which some are deceiving others, and others deceiving +themselves; nothing but deceived and deceivers; nothing but mistakes, +blindness, and errors, and lies of life, and victims of error, victims +of deceit, victims of illusions; a complication without issue; a +ridiculous, farcical, and desperate irony, covering the feelings, +the passions, and hopes of people, just as snow covers fields in +winter--and that is life." + +These thoughts were for Pan Stanislav more grievous because, rising +on a basis purely personal, they became at once a kind of reckoning +with his conscience. He was enough of an egoist to refer everything +to himself; and he was not fool enough not to see that in that most +ironical human comedy he was playing a rôle immensely abject. His +position was of that sort that he wished with all the power of his +breath to hiss that Panna Castelli; and still he understood that if +there was any one who was not free to judge her, it was he. In what was +he better? In what was he less vile? She had betrayed a man for a fool; +he had betrayed his wife for a brainless puppet. She had followed her +instincts of a milliner; he had followed his instincts of an ape. But +she had trampled on artificial phrases merely, with which she deceived +herself and others; he had trampled on principles. She had betrayed +confidence, and broken her word; he had betrayed confidence also, and +broken more than a word,--he had broken an oath. And in view of this +what can he say? Has he the right to condemn her? If there is no way +to justify her, if he is ready to acknowledge that it would be unjust +and deserving of indignation for a person like her to become the wife +of Pan Ignas, with what right is he the husband of Marynia? If he can +find even one word of condemnation for Panna Castelli,--and it is +impossible not to find it,--and he wishes to be consistent, he should +separate from Marynia, which he will never have either the will or +the power to do. There is a vicious circle for you. Pan Stanislav had +passed many bitter moments because of his _success_; but this moment +was so grievous that it even filled him with amazement. By degrees +it became simply a torture. At last, through the simple instinct of +self-preservation, he began to seek for something to give him even +momentary relief. But in vain did he say to himself that such people +as Kopovski would not have taken his position to heart so. That was +the same consolation to him as if he had thought that a cat or a horse +would not have taken it to heart so either. In vain he remembered the +words of Balzac: "Infidelity, when undiscovered, is nothing; when +discovered, it is a trifle." "That's a lie," repeated he, gritting +his teeth, "a pleasant _nothing_, which burns so!" He understood, it +is true, that behind the fact itself there may be something which +heightens or lessens its criminality; and he understood also that in +his case all the circumstances are of a kind to make the fault immense +and unpardonable. "Here," thought he, "it takes from me the right +of judging, the right of serving with may conscience. Those women +sacrificed a man of the loftier kind for an idiot; they trampled him; +they pushed him into misfortune, into tragedy, which may break him; +they did this in a mean and abject manner, and I cannot, even in my +soul, brand such a woman as Panna Castelli." And never before had the +truth become to him so nearly tangible that as a man for certain crimes +is deprived of a share in public life, so he now had become deprived +of a share in moral life. He had had remorse enough already, but now +he saw still new desolations, which he had not noted at first. The +more he thought over the tragedy of Pan Ignas, and took in its extent +with growing clearness, the more he was seized by a dull alarm, and a +kind of prescience that in virtue of a higher and mysterious logic, +something terrible must happen in his fate as well. For the man who +bears in his system the germs of mortal disease, death is a question of +time simply. + +At last, however, he found this relief, that his thoughts turned +exclusively to the present, and to Pan Ignas. How will Pan Ignas +receive the news? How will he hear it? In view of the man's exaltation, +in view of his deep, blind faith in Lineta, and the love which he feels +for her, these questions were simply terrible. "Everything in him +will be broken; all will slide away from under his feet in a moment," +thought Pan Stanislav. It seemed to him that there was something +repulsive and monstrous in this, that even those relations of life +which do not bear in them germs of tragedy, and which ought to end +well, end badly without any reason; and that life is, as it were, a +forest in which misfortunes hunt a man more venomously than dogs hunt a +wild beast, for they hunt in silence. Pan Stanislav felt suddenly that +besides faith in himself, which he had lost already, there might fail +in him various other things too, which are more important, because they +are more fundamental. + +In this moment, however, he thought more of Pan Ignas than of anything +else. He had a good heart, and Pan Ignas was near him; hence he was +touched sincerely by his misfortune. "But that man is simply writing +his sentence," thought he, as he heard the squeak of Osnovski's pen in +the next room. "Poor fellow! And this is so undeserved." + +Osnovski finished the letter at last, and, opening the door, said,-- + +"I have written guardedly, but written the whole truth. May God give +him strength now! Could I think that I should have to send him such +news!" + +But under the sincere sorrow was evident, as it were, a certain +satisfaction with his own work. Clearly he judged that he had succeeded +in writing better than he had expected. + +"And now I repeat once again an earnest prayer: send me even a couple +of words about Ignas. Oh, if this were not so irreparable!" said he, +extending his hand to Pan Stanislav. "Till we meet again! till we meet +again! I will write to Ignas, too, but now I must go, for my wife is +waiting. God grant us to see each other in happier times! Till we meet! +A most cordial greeting to the lady," and he went out. + +"What is to be done?" thought Pan Stanislav. "Limit myself to sending +the letter to Pan Ignas in his lodgings, or look for him, or wait for +him here? It would be well not to leave him alone at such a time; but I +must return in the evening to Marynia, so that he will be alone in any +case. Besides, who can hinder him from hiding? In his place, I should +hide too,--I must go to Pani Emilia's." + +He felt so tired from that sudden tragedy, from thoughts about himself, +and thoughts about the difficult rôle which he had to play with Pan +Ignas, that he remembered with some satisfaction that he must go to +Pani Emilia's and take her to Buchynek. For a moment he was tempted to +defer the interview with Pan Ignas, and the delivery of the letter, +till the following day; but it occurred to him that if Pan Ignas did +not find him at home, he might go to Buchynek. + +"Better let him know everything here," thought he; "in view of +Marynia's condition, I must keep everything perfectly secret from +her,--both what has happened, and what may happen hereafter. I must +warn every one to be silent. Pan Ignas would do better to go abroad; +I could tell Marynia that he is in Scheveningen, and later, that they +disagreed and separated there." + +Now again he began to walk with long strides through the room, and +repeat,-- + +"The irony of life! the irony of life!" + +Then bitterness and reproaches flamed in on his soul with a new +current. He was seized by a wonderful feeling, as it were, of some kind +of responsibility for what had happened. "Deuce take it!" repeated +he; "but I am not to blame at least in this matter." After a while, +however, it cane to his head that if he were not to blame personally, +he, in every case, was a stick from the same forest as Panna Castelli, +and that such as he had infected that social-moral atmosphere in which +such flowers might spring up and blossom. At this thought he was +carried away by savage anger. + +The bell in the entrance was heard now. Pan Stanislav was a man of +courage, but at the sound of that bell he felt his heart beat in alarm. +He had forgotten his promise to lunch with Svirski, and at the first +moment he was sure that Pan Ignas was coming. He recovered only when +he heard the voice of the artist, but he was so wearied that Svirski's +coming was disagreeable. + +"Now he will let out his tongue; he will talk," thought he, with +displeasure. + +But he decided to tell Svirski all, for the affair could not be kept +secret in any case. The point for him was that Svirski, if he visited +Buchynek, should know how to bear himself before Marynia. He was +mistaken in supposing that Svirski would annoy him with theories about +ungrateful hearts. The artist took the matter, not from the side of +general conclusions, but that of Pan Ignas. To conclusions he was to +come later; at present, while listening to the narrative, he only +repeated, "A misfortune! May God protect!" But at times, too: "May the +thunderbolts crush!" when his fists of a Hercules were balled in anger. + +Pan Stanislav was carried away somewhat, and attacked Panna Castelli +without mercy, forgetting that he was uttering thereby a sentence on +himself. But, in general, the conversation gave him relief. He regained +at last his usual power of management; he concluded that in no case +could he leave Pan Ignas at such a moment, so he begged Svirski to take +his place, conduct Pani Emilia to Buchynek, and excuse to Marynia his +absence with counting-house duties. Svirski, who had no reason now to +visit Prytulov, agreed very willingly, and since the carriage engaged +by Pan Stanislav had arrived, both drove to Pani Emilia's. + +Labor beyond her strength--labor which, as a Sister of Charity, she had +to fulfil--brought on a disease of the spine. They found her emaciated +and changed, with a transparent face and eyelids half closed. She +walked yet, but by leaning on two sticks and not having full use of her +lower limbs. As labor had brought her near life, so sickness had begun +to remove her from it. She was living in the circle of her own thoughts +and reminiscences, looking at the affairs of people somewhat as though +a dream, somewhat as from the other shore. She suffered very little, +which the doctors considered a bad sign; but, as a Sister of Charity, +she had learned something of various diseases, and knew that there was +no help for her, or, at least, that help was not in human power, and +she was calm. To Pan Stanislav's inquiries she answered, raising her +eyelids with effort,-- + +"I walk poorly; but it is well for me that way." + +And it was well for her. One moral scruple alone gave her trouble. In +her soul she believed most profoundly that were she to visit Lourdes +she would regain her health surely. She did not wish to go because of +the remoteness of Lourdes from Litka's grave, and because of her own +wish for death. But she did not know whether she had a right to neglect +anything to preserve the life given her, and especially whether she had +a right to put a hindrance in the way of grace and miracles, and she +was disturbed. + +At present, however, the thought of seeing Marynia smiled on her, and +she was ready for the road; Svirski was to take her at five. The two +men went now to the lunch agreed on, for Svirski, in spite of his +amazement at the affair of Pan Ignas, felt as hungry as a wolf. After +they had sat down at table, they remained a while in silence. + +"I wanted to make one other request of you," said Pan Stanislav at +last, "to inform Panna Helena of everything that has happened, and also +to tell her not to mention the matter to my wife." + +"I will do so," said Svirski. "I will go this very day to Yasmen, as +if to walk, and try to see her. Should she not receive me, I will send +her a note, stating that it is a question of Pan Ignas. If she wishes +to come to Warsaw, I will bring her, for I shall return to-day in every +case. Did Osnovski say whether Panna Ratkovski had gone with them," +inquired the artist, after a pause, "or will she stay in Prytulov?" + +"He said nothing. Usually Panna Ratkovski lives with her old relative, +Pani Melnitski. If she goes, it will be as company for Pani Osnovski, +whose angelic nature got a palpitation of the heart at sight of what +has happened." + +"Ah!" said Svirski. + +"Yes. There is no other cause for it. Panna Ratkovski was stopping with +the Osnovskis, so that Kopovski might seem to court her; but since he +was courting another, there is no further reason for her stay there." + +"As God lives, this is something fabulous!" said Svirski; "so that all, +with the exception of Pani Osnovski, fell in love with that hoopoo." + +Pan Stanislav smiled ironically and nodded his head; on his lips were +sticking the words, "without exception, without exception!" + +But now Svirski began his conclusions about women, from which he had +refrained so far. + +"Do you see; do you see? I know German and French and especially +Italian women. The Italians in general have fewer impulses, and less +education, but they are honester and simpler. May I not finish this +macaroni, if I have seen anywhere so many false aspirations and such +discord between natures which are vulgar and phrases which are lofty! +If you knew what Panna Ratkovski told me of Kopovski! Or take that +'Poplar,' that 'Column,' that 'Nitechka,' that Panna Castelli, that +Lily, is it not? You would swear that she was a mimosa, an artist, a +sibyl, a golden-haired tall ideal. And here she is for you! She has +shown herself! She has chosen, not a living person, but a lay-figure; +not a man, but a puppet. When it came to the test, the sibyl turned +into a waiting-maid. But I tell you that they are all palpitating for +fashionable lay-figures. May thunderbolts singe them!" + +Here Svirski extended his giant fist, and wanted to strike the table +with it; but Pan Stanislav stopped the hand in mid-air, and said,-- + +"But you will admit that something exceptional has happened." + +Svirski began to dispute, and to maintain that "they are all that +way," and that all prefer the measure of a tailor to that of Phidias. +Gradually, however, he began to regain his balance, and acknowledge +that Panna Ratkovski might be an exception. + +"Do you remember when you inquired touching the Broniches, I said the +ladies are _canaille, canaille_! neither principles nor character, +parvenu souls, nothing more? He was a fool, and you know her. God +guarded me; for if they had known then that I have some stupid old +genealogical papers, wouldn't they have made sweet faces at me, and I +might have fixed myself nicely! May the woods cover me! I will go, as +you see me, with Pan Ignas abroad, for I have enough of this." + +They paid, and went out on to the street. + +"What will you do now?" inquired Svirski. + +"I shall go to look for Pan Ignas." + +"Where will you find him?" + +"I think among the insane, with his father; if not, I will wait for him +at my own house." + +But Pan Ignas was approaching the restaurant just at that moment. +Svirski was the first to see him at a distance. + +"Ah, there he goes!" + +"Where?" + +"On the other side of the street. I should know him a verst away by his +jaw. Will you tell him everything? If so, I will go. You have no need +of spectators." + +"Very well." + +Pan Ignas, on seeing them, hurried his steps and stood before them, +dressed elegantly, almost to a fit, and with a glad face. + +"My father is better," said he, with a voice panting a little; "I have +time and will drop in at Prytulov to-day." + +But Svirski, pressing his hand firmly, went off in silence. The young +man looked after him with surprise. + +"Was Pan Svirski offended at anything?" asked he, looking at Pan +Stanislav; and he noticed then that his face too had a serious, almost +stern, expression. + +"What does this mean?" asked he, "or what has happened?" + +Pan Stanislav took him by the hand, and said, with a voice full of +emotion and cordiality,-- + +"My dear Pan Ignas, I have esteemed you always, not only for +exceptional gifts, but for exceptional character; I have to announce +very bad news to you, but I am sure that you will find in yourself +strength enough, and will not give way to the misfortune." + +"What has happened?" asked Pan Ignas, whose face changed in one moment. + +Pan Stanislav beckoned to a droshky, and said,-- + +"Take a seat. To the bridge!" cried he, turning to the driver. Then, +taking out Osnovski's letter, he gave it to Pan Ignas. + +The young man tore open the envelope hurriedly, and began to read. + +Pan Stanislav put his arm with great tenderness around his friend's +body, not taking his eyes from his face, on which as the man read were +reflected amazement, incredulity, stupefaction, and, above all, terror +without limit. His cheeks became as white as linen; but it was evident +that, feeling the misfortune, he did not grasp its extent yet, and did +not understand it thoroughly, for he looked at Pan Stanislav as if +without sense, and inquired with a low voice, full of fear,-- + +"How--how could she?" + +Then, removing his hat, he passed his hand through his hair. + +"I do not know what Osnovski has written," said Pan Stanislav, "but +it is true. There is no reason to diminish the affair. Have courage; +say to yourself that this has happened, and happened beyond recall. +You were lost on her, for you are worth more than all that. There are +people who know your worth, and who love you. I am aware that this is a +mighty misfortune; your own brother would not be pained on your behalf +more than I am. But it has happened! My dear Pan Ignas, they have gone, +God knows whither. The Osnovskis too. There is no one in Prytulov. I +understand what must take place in you; but you have a better future by +yourself than with Panna Castelli. God destined you to higher purposes, +and surely gave greater power to you than to others. You are the salt +of the earth. You have exceptional duties to yourself and the world. I +know that it is difficult to wave your hand at once on that which has +been loved, and I do not ask you to do so; but you are not permitted to +yield to despair like the first comer. My dear, poor Pan Ignas!" + +Pan Stanislav spoke long, and spoke with power, for he was moved. In +the further course of his speech he said things which were not only +heartfelt, but wise: that misfortune has this in itself, that it +stands still; while a man, whether he wishes or wishes not, must move +on into the future; therefore he goes away from it ever farther and +farther. A man drags, it is true, a thread of pain and remembrance +behind him; but the thread grows ever more slender, for the force of +things is such that he lives in the morrow. All this was true, but +it was something by itself; far nearer, more real, more tangible was +that which Osnovski's letter mentioned. Beyond the fact described in +that letter there existed only empty sounds, striking on his ears +externally, but without meaning, and for Pan Ignas as devoid of sense +as the rattle of the iron lattice-work on the bridge, past which he +was driving with Pan Stanislav. Pan Ignas could feel and think only in +an immensely dull way; he had, however, the feeling first that what +had happened was simply impossible, but still it had happened; second, +that in no measure could he be reconciled to it, and never would he be +reconciled,--a fact, however, which had not the least significance. +There was no place in his head for another idea. He was not conscious +of having lost anything except Lineta. He was not conscious of pain or +sorrow or ruin or desolation, or the loss of every basis of life; he +knew only that Lineta had gone, that she had not loved him, that she +had left him, that she had gone with Kopovski, that the marriage was +broken, that he was alone, that all this had happened, and that he did +not want it,--as a thing incredible, impossible, and dreadful. Still, +it had happened. + +The droshky moved slowly beyond the bridge, for they were passing +through a herd of oxen driven toward the city; and in the midst of the +heavy tramping of these beasts, Pan Stanislav continued. Pan Ignas's +ears were struck by the words, "Svirski, abroad, Italy, art;" but +he did not understand that Svirski meant an acquaintance, abroad a +journey, Italy a country. Now, he was talking to Lineta: "That is all +well," said he; "but what will become of me? How couldst thou forget +that I love thee so immensely?" And for a time it seemed to him that +if he could see her, if he could tell her that one must think of the +suffering of people, she would fall to weeping and throw herself on his +neck. "And so many things unite us," said he to her; "besides, I am +the same, thine." And suddenly his jaw protruded; it began to tremble; +the veins swelled in his forehead, and his eyes were filled with a +mist of tears. Pan Stanislav, who had an uncommonly kind hearty and +who thought, besides, that he might touch his feelings, put his arm +around his neck suddenly, and, being affected himself, began to kiss +him on the cheek. But Pan Ignas's emotion did not continue; he returned +to the feeling of reality. "I will not tell her that," thought he, +"for I shall not see her, since she has gone with her betrothed,--with +Kopovski." And at that thought his face became rigid again. He began +then to take in effectively the whole extent of the misfortune. The +thought struck him for the first time that if Lineta had died, his loss +would have been less. The gulf caused by death leaves to believers the +hope of a common life on the other shore; to unbelievers, a common +nothingness; hence, to some the hope of a union, to others a common +fate. Death is powerless against love which passes beyond the grave; +death may wrest a dear soul from us, but cannot prevent us from loving +it, and cannot degrade it. On the contrary, death makes that soul +sacred; makes it not only beloved, but holy. Lineta, in taking from +Pan Ignas herself,--that is, his most precious soul,--took from him at +once the right of loving and grieving and yearning and honoring; by +going herself, she left a memory behind her which was ruined in full +measure. Now Pan Ignas felt clearly that if he should not be able to +cease loving her; he would thereby become abject; and he felt that he +would not be able to cease loving. Only in that moment did he see the +whole greatness of his wreck, ruin, and suffering. In that moment he +understood that it was more than he could bear. + +"Go with Svirski to Italy," said Pan Stanislav. "Suffer out the pain, +my dear friend; endure till it is over. You cannot do otherwise. The +world is wide! There is so much to see, so much to love. Everything +is open before thee; and before no one as before thee. Much is due +to the world from thee; but much also to thee from the world. Go, my +dear. Life is around thee; life is everywhere. New impressions will +come; thou wilt not resist them; they will occupy thy thought, soften +thy pain. Thou wilt not be circling around one existence. Svirski will +show thee Italy. Thou wilt see what a comrade he is, and what horizons +he will open. Besides, I tell thee that a man such as thou art, should +have that power which the pearl oyster has, of turning everything into +pearl simply. Listen to what thy true friend says. Go, and go at once. +Promise me that thou wilt go. God grant my wife to pass her illness +safely; then we may journey there also in spring. Thou wilt see how +beautiful it will be for us. Well, Ignas, promise me. Dost thou say +yes?" + +"Yes." answered Pan Ignas, hearing the last word, but not knowing in +general what the question was. + +"Well, now, praise God," replied Pan Stanislav. "Let us return to the +city, and spend the evening together. I have something to do in the +counting-house, and I have left home for two days." + +Then he gave command to turn back, for the sun was toward setting. It +was a beautiful day, of those which come at the end of summer. Over the +city a golden, delicate dust was borne; the roofs, and especially the +church towers, gleamed at the edges, as it were with the reflection of +amber, and, outlined clearly in the transparent air, seemed to delight +in it. The two men rode for some time in silence. + +"Wilt thou go to my house, or to thy own lodgings?" asked Pan +Stanislav, when they entered the city. + +The city movement seemed to calm Pan Ignas, for he looked at Pan +Stanislav with perfect presence of mind, and said,-- + +"I have not been at home since yesterday, for I spent the night with my +father. Perhaps there are letters for me; let us drive to my lodgings." + +And he foresaw correctly, for at his lodgings a letter from Pani +Bronich in Berlin was awaiting him. He tore open the envelope +feverishly, and began to read; Pan Stanislav, looking at his changing +face, thought,-- + +"It is evident that some hope is hidden yet in him." + +Here he remembered all at once that young doctor, who in his time said +of Panna Kraslavski, "I know what she is, but I cannot tear my soul +from her." + +Pan Ignas finished reading, and, resting his head on his hand, looked +without thought on the table and the papers lying on it. At last he +recovered, and gave the letter to Pan Stanislav. + +"Read," said he. + +Pan Stanislav took the letter and read as follows:-- + + "I know that you believed really in your feeling for Nitechka, + and that at the first moment what has happened will seem to you + a misfortune; believe me, too, that to me and to her it was not + easy to resolve on the decisive step. Perhaps you will not be + able to estimate Nitechka well,--there are so many things which + men cannot estimate; but you ought to know her at least enough + to know how much it costs her when she is forced to cause the + slightest pain, even to a stranger. But what can we do! such is + the will of God, which it would be a sin not to obey. We both act + as our consciences dictate; and Nitechka is too just to give her + hand to you without a real attachment. What has taken place, has + taken place not only in conformity with the will of God, but in + conformity with your good and hers; for if, without loving you + sufficiently, she had become your wife, how would she be able to + resist the temptations to which such a being would with certainty + be exposed in view of the corruption of society? Besides, you have + your talent; therefore you have something. Nitechka has only her + heart, which violence would break in one moment; and if it seems + to you that she has disappointed you, think conscientiously whose + fault is the greater? You have done much harm to Nitechka, for + you fettered her will, and you did not let her follow the natural + impulse of her heart; and by thus doing you sacrificed, or were + ready to sacrifice, through your selfishness, her happiness, and + even her life, for I am convinced that under such conditions + she would not have survived a single year. Nevertheless may God + forgive you as we forgive; and be it known to you that this + very day we prayed for you at a Mass ordered purposely for your + intention, in the church of Saint Yadviga. + + "You will be pleased to send the ring to Pan Osnovski's villa; + your ring, since the Osnovskis had to go abroad too, will reach + you through the hands of Panna Ratkovski. Once more, may God + forgive you everything, and keep you in His protection!" + +"This is something unparalleled!" said Pan Stanislav. + +"It is evident that truth may be treated as love is," said Pan Ignas, +with a heart-rending sorrow; "but I had not supposed that." + +"Listen to me, Ignas," said Pan Stanislav, who under the impulse of +sympathy had begun to say _thou_ to Zavilovski; "this is not merely a +question of thy happiness, but of thy dignity. Suffer as much as may +please thee; but it is thy duty to find strength to show that thou art +indifferent to all this." + +A long silence followed. But Pan Stanislav, remembering the letter, +repeated from time to time,-- + +"This passes human understanding." Finally he turned to Pan Ignas,-- + +"Svirski is returning to-day from Buchynek, and late in the evening +he will come to my house. Come thou too. We will pass the evening +together, and he and thou will talk of the journey." + +"No," said Pan Ignas; "on my return from Prytulov, I was to spend the +night with my father, so I must go to him. To-morrow morning I will be +with you and see Svirski." + +But he merely said that, for he wanted to be alone. Pan Stanislav did +not oppose his intention of spending the night at the institution, +for he judged that occupation near the sick man, and care for him, +would occupy his mind, then weariness and need of sleep would come. He +determined, however, to drive with him to the institution. + +In fact, they took farewell only at the gate. Pan Ignas, however, after +he had remained a few minutes in the institution and inquired of the +overseer touching his father, went out and returned home by stealth. + +He lighted a candle, read Pani Bronich's letter once more, and, +covering his face with his hands, began to meditate. In spite of +Osnovski's letter and in spite of everything which Pan Stanislav had +told him, a certain doubt and a certain hope had lingered in his +soul, yet he knew that _all was over_; but at moments he had the +feeling that that was not reality, but an evil dream. It was only Pani +Bronich's letter that had penetrated to that little corner of his soul +which was unwilling to believe, and burned out in it the remnant of +illusion. So there was no Lineta any longer; there was no future, no +happiness. Kopovski had all that; for him were left only loneliness, +humiliation, and a ghastly vacuum. There was left to him also the +impression that if "Nitechka" could have snatched from him that talent +too, of which Pani Bronich made mention, she would have snatched it +and given it to Kopovski. What was he for her in comparison with +Kopovski? "I shall never really understand this," thought he; "but it +is so." And he began to meditate over this, what was there in him so +abject that she should sacrifice him thus without mercy, without the +least consideration, to take less note of him than the meanest worm. +"Why does she love Kopovski and not me, the man to whom she confessed +love?" And he recalled how once she had quivered in his arms, when +after the betrothal he gave her good-night. But now she is quivering +in Kopovski's arms in precisely the same way. And at this thought he +seized his handkerchief and squeezed it between his teeth, so as not +to scream from pain and madness. "What is this? Why has it happened?" +But there was a time when he, Ignas, did not love her; why did she not +marry Kopovski at that time? What motive could she have to trample him +without need? + +And again he caught after the letter of Pani Bronich, as if hoping +to find in it an answer to these terrible questions. He read once +more the passage about the will of God, and about this,--that he was +guilty, that he had done much harm to "Nitechka," and that she forgave +him, and about the Mass, which was celebrated for his intention in +Saint Yadviga's; and when he had ended he began to gaze at the light, +blinking and saying,-- + +"How is that possible? How have I offended?" And suddenly he felt that +the understanding of what truth is and what falsehood, of what evil is, +and what good, and what is proper and improper, began to desert him. +Lineta had gone from him, taken herself from him, taken his future, +and now one after another all the bases of life were gliding away--and +reason and thought and life itself. He saw yet that he had always loved +this "Nitechka" of his beyond life, and in no way was he able to wish +any harm to her; but besides that impression, everything which composes +a thinking being was crushed into dust in him, and flew apart like dust +in that mighty wind of misfortune. + +Still he loved. Lineta became divided for him now into the Lineta of +to-day and the Lineta of the past. He began to call to mind her voice, +her face, her bright golden hair, her eyes and mouth, her tall form, +her hands, and that warmth which so many times he had felt from her +lips. His powerful imagination recreated her almost tangibly; and he +saw that not only had he loved his own distant one, but he loved her +yet,--that is, he yearned for her beyond measure, and was suffering +beyond measure for the loss of her. + +And, recognizing this, he began again to speak to her: + +"How couldst thou think me able to bear this?" + +At that moment he had not the least doubt of this either, that God knew +the position very well. He sat a long time more in silence, and the +light had burned out half its length almost when he came to himself. + +But something uncommon took place in him then. He had an impression +as if he were going from land in a ship, and that seemed to him which +seems always on such an occasion, that it was not he who was moving +away, but the shore on which he had dwelt hitherto. Everything--that +was he, and in general his life; all thoughts, hopes, ambitions, +objects, plans, even love, even Lineta, even his loss; and those +vicious circles, and those tortures through which he had passed--seemed +not merely removed from him, but foreign, and belonging exclusively to +that land off there. And gradually they sank, gradually they melted, +becoming ever smaller, ever more visionary, ever more dreamlike; and +he went on, he became more distant, feeling that to that foreignness +he does not wish to return, that he cannot return, and that all which +is left of him belongs to the space which has taken him to itself, and +opened its bosom before him, immense and mysterious. + + + + +CHAPTER LVIII. + + +Four days later, on the Assumption of the Most Blessed Lady, which was +also Marynia's name's[13] day, the Bigiels and Svirski went to Buchynek. +They did not find Marynia at home, for she was at vespers in the church +of Yasmen with Pani Emilia. When Pani Bigiel learned this, she followed +them with the whole crowd of little Bigiels. The men, left alone, began +to talk of the event of which for a number of days the whole city had +been talking,--that was of the attempted suicide of the poet Zavilovski. + +"I went to see him to-day three times," said Bigiel; "but Panna +Helena's servants have the order to admit no one except the doctors." + +"As for me," said Pan Stanislav, "this is the first day on which I +have not been able to visit him; but during the previous days I spent +a number of hours with him regularly. I tell my wife that I am at the +counting-house on business." + +"Tell me how it happened," said Bigiel, who wanted to know all the +details, so as to consider them exactly afterward in his fashion. + +"It happened this way," said Pan Stanislav. "Ignas told me that he was +going to the institution, to his father. I was glad, for I judged that +that would keep him away from his thoughts. I took him, however, to the +gate, and he promised to visit me next day. Meanwhile it turned out +that he wanted to be rid of me, so as to shoot himself undisturbed." + +"Then you were not the first to find him?" + +"No; I suspected nothing of that kind, and I should have looked for him +next day. Luckily Panna Helena came at the mere news that the marriage +was broken." + +"I informed her," said Svirski, "and she took the matter to heart so +much that I was astonished. She had a forewarning, as it were, of what +would follow." + +"She is a wonderful person," said Pan Stanislav. "I have not been able +to learn how it happened; but she found him; she saved him; she called +in a whole circle of doctors, and finally gave command to take him to +her house." + +"But the doctors insist that he will live?" + +"They know nothing yet definitely. In shooting, he must have turned +the pistol so that the ball, after passing through his forehead, went +up and lodged under the skull. They found the ball, and extracted it +easily enough; but whether he will live--and if he lives, whether his +mind will survive--is unknown. One doctor fears a disturbance in his +speech; but his life is in question yet." + +The event, though known generally, and described every day in the +papers, had made so great an impression that silence continued awhile. +Svirski, who, with his muscles of an athlete, had the sensitiveness of +a woman, burst forth,-- + +"Through such women!" + +But Vaskovski, sitting near, said in a low voice,-- + +"Leave them to the mercy of God." + +"Is it possible?" said Bigiel, turning to Pan Stanislav; "and thou +hadst no suspicion?" + +"It did not come to my head even that he would shoot himself. I saw +clearly that he was struggling with his feelings. For a while, when +we were riding, his chin trembled, as if he wished to burst into +weeping; but he is a brave soul. He restrained himself at once, and to +appearance was calm. He deceived me mainly by his promise to come next +day." + +"Do you know what seems to me?" continued he, after a while; "the last +drop which overflowed the cup was Pani Bronich's letter. Ignas gave it +to me to read. She wrote that what had happened was the will of God; +that the fault was on his side; that he was an egotist; but that they +were obeying the voice of conscience and justice; that they forgave +him, and begged God to forgive him too,--in a word, unheard of things! +I saw that that made a desperate impression on him, and I imagine what +must have taken place in a man so injured and of such spirit, when +he saw that in addition to everything else injustice was attributed +to him; when he understood that it is possible for people to set +everything at naught and distort it, to trample on reason, truth, and +the simplest principles of justice, and then shield themselves behind +the Lord God. For that matter I was not concerned; but when I saw the +cynicism, the want of moral understanding, as God lives, I asked myself +this question: Am I mad, and are truth and honesty mere illusions on +earth?" + +Here Pan Stanislav was so indignant at Pani Bronich's letter that he +tugged at his beard feverishly, and Svirski said,-- + +"I understand that even a believer may spit upon life in such moments." + +Here Vaskovski rubbed his forehead with his hand, and then said to +himself,-- + +"Yes; I have seen that kind, too. For there are people who believe, +not through love, but as it were because atheism is bankrupt, as it +were from despair, who imagine to themselves that somewhere, off behind +phenomena, there is not a merciful Father, who places his hand on every +unfortunate head, but some kind of He, unapproachable, inscrutable, +indifferent; it is all one, in such case, whether that He is called the +Absolute, or Nirvana. He is only a concept, not love. It is impossible +to love this He; and when misfortune comes, people spit on life." + +"That is well," answered Svirski, testily; "but meanwhile Pan Ignas is +lying with a broken skull, and they have gone to the seashore, and it +is pleasant for them." + +"Whence do you know that it is pleasant for them?" answered Vaskovski. + +"The deuce fire them!" said Svirski. + +"But I say to you that they are unhappy. No one may trample on truth +and go unpunished. They will talk various things into each other, but +one thing they will not be able to talk into each other,--that is, +self-respect; they will begin to despise themselves in secret, and at +last even that attachment which they had for each other will be turned +into secret dislike. That is inevitable." + +"The deuce fire them!" repeated Svirski. + +"The mercy of God is for them, not for the good," concluded Vaskovski. + +Meanwhile Bigiel talked with Pan Stanislav, admiring the kindness and +courage of Panna Helena. + +"For there will be a fabulous amount of gossip from this," said he. + +"She does not care for that," answered Pan Stanislav. "She does not +count with society, for she wants nothing of it. She, too, is a +resolute soul. She showed Pan Ignas always exceptional attachment, and +his act must have shocked her tremendously. Do you know the history of +Ploshovski?" + +"I knew him personally," said Svirski. "His father was the first man +in Rome to predict success to me. Of Panna Helena they say, I think, +that she was betrothed to Ploshovski." + +"No, she was not; but in her secret heart perhaps she loved him +greatly. Such was his fortune. It is certain that since his death she +has become different altogether. For a woman so religious as she is, +his suicide must in truth have been dreadful, for just think, not to +be able even to pray for a man whom one has loved. And now again Pan +Ignas! If any one, it is she who is doing everything to save him. +Yesterday I was there; she came out to me barely alive, pale, weary, +without having slept. And there is some one else to watch with her. +Panna Ratkovski told me of her, that for four days she hadn't slept one +hour, perhaps." + +"Panna Ratkovski?" inquired Svirski, quickly; and he began mechanically +to seek with his hand in the coat pocket where he had her letter. + +He remembered then her words: "_I have chosen otherwise, and if I +shall never be happy, I do not wish at least to reproach myself +afterwards with insincerity_." "Now for the first time I understand the +meaning and real tragedy of those words. Now, in spite of all social +appearances, without regard to the tongues of people, this young girl +has gone to watch over that suicide. What could this mean? The case is +clear as the sun. It is true that Kopovski went abroad with another; +but she had expressed always openly what she thought of Kopovski, +and if she had cared nothing for Pan Ignas, she would not have gone +this time to watch at his bedside. It seems to me that I am an ass," +muttered Svirski. + +But that was not the only conclusion to which he came after mature +consideration. All at once a yearning for Panna Ratkovski took hold of +him, and sorrow that that had not happened which might have happened, +as well as immense pity for her. "Thou hast become a poodle again, old +fellow," said he to himself, "and it serves thee right! A good man +would have felt sorrow, but thou didst begin to be angry and condemn +her for loving a fool and pretending to aspiration, and for having a +low nature; thou didst talk ill of her before Pani Polanyetski and +before him; didst do injustice to a kind and unfortunate person, not +because her refusal pained thee too greatly, but through thy own +self-love. Served thee right, right! thou art an ass; thou art not +worthy of her; and thou wilt be knocking around alone till death, like +a mandrill, behind a menagerie grating." + +In these reproaches there was a portion of truth. Svirski had not +fallen in love decidedly with Panna Ratkovski; but her refusal pained +him more deeply than he acknowledged, and, not being able to master his +vexation, he gave way to general conclusions about women, citing Panna +Ratkovski as an example, and to her disadvantage. + +Now he saw the whole vanity of such conclusions. "These stupid +syntheses have ruined me always," thought he. "Women are individuals +like all people; and the general concept woman explains nothing +whatever. There is a Panna Castelli, there is a Pani Osnovski, in whom +I admit various rascalities, without, however, having proof of them; +but on the other hand there is a Pani Polanyetski, a Pani Bigiel, a +Sister Aniela, a Panna Helena, and a Panna Stefania. Poor child! and +so it serves me right. She was there suffering in silence, and I was +gnashing my teeth. If that girl isn't worth ten times more than I, +then that sun isn't worth my pipe. She had a sacred reason in giving a +refusal to such a buffalo. I will go to the Orient, and that is the end +of the matter. Such light as there is in Egypt, there is nowhere else +on earth. And what an honest woman! Moreover, she has done me good, +even with her refusal, for through her I have convinced myself that my +theory about women should be broken on the back of a dog. But if Panna +Helena puts a whole regiment of dragoons before her door, I must see +that poor girl and say what I think to her." + +In fact, he went on the following morning to Panna Helena's. They did +not wish to admit him, but he insisted so much that at last he was +admitted. Panna Helena, judging that friendship and anxiety alone had +brought him, conducted him even to the chamber in which the wounded man +was lying. There, in the gloom of fastened blinds, he saw Pan Ignas, +from whom came the odor of iodine, his head bound, his jaw protruding; +and with him those two wearied out women, the fever of sleeplessness +on their faces, and really like two shadows. The wounded man lay with +open lips; he was changed, and resembled himself in nothing. He was +as if incomparably older; his eyelids were swollen, and protruding +from under the bandage. Svirski had liked him greatly, and with his +sensitiveness had not less sympathy for him than had Pan Stanislav and +Osnovski; he was struck, however, this time by his deformity. "He has +fixed himself," thought he; then, turning to Panna Helena, he asked in +an undertone,-- + +"Has he not regained consciousness?" + +"No," answered she, in a whisper. + +"What does the doctor say?" + +Panna Helena moved her thin hand in sign that all was uncertain yet. + +"This is the fifth day," whispered she again. + +"And the fever decreases," said Panna Ratkovski. + +Svirski wished to offer his services in watching the sick man; but +Panna Helena indicated with her eyes a young doctor, whom he was not +able to distinguish at once in the darkness, but who, sitting in an +armchair near the table, with a basin and pile of iodine wadding, was +dozing from weariness, waiting till another should relieve him. + +"We have two," said Panna Ratkovski, "and besides people from the +hospital, who know how to nurse the sick." + +"But you ladies are wonderfully wearied." + +"It is a question here of the sick man," answered she, looking toward +the bed. + +Svirski followed her glance. His eyes were better accustomed now to the +gloom, and saw distinctly the face, motionless, with lips almost black. +The long body was motionless also, only the fingers of his emaciated +hand, lying on the coverlet, stirred with a monotonous movement, as if +scratching. + +"They will take him out in a couple of days, as God is in Heaven!" +thought he, remembering his colleague, that "Slav" with whom Bukatski +had disputed in his time, and who, when he had shot himself in the +head, died only after two weeks of torture. + +Wishing, however, to give comfort to the women, he said, in spite of +that of which he was certain,-- + +"Wounds of this kind are either mortal at once, or are cured." + +Panna Helena made no answer, but her face contracted nervously, and her +lips grew pale. Evidently there was a terrible thought in her soul, +that he _also_ might die, and she did not wish to admit that she had +had enough with that other suicide, and at the same time it was for her +a question of something more than saving his life for Pan Ignas. + +Svirski began to take farewell. He entered with a speech prepared +for Panna Ratkovski, to whom he had resolved to acknowledge that he +had judged her unjustly, and to express all the homage which he felt +for her, and to beg for her friendship; but in presence of the real +tragedy of those two women, and of the danger of death, and of that +half corpse, he saw at once that everything which he intended to say +would be poor and petty, and that it was not the time for such empty +and personal matters. + +He merely pressed to his lips in silence the hand of Panna Helena, and +then that of Panna Ratkovski; and, going out of that room filled with +misfortune and permeated with iodine, he drew a deep breath. In his +artistic imagination was represented distinctly the changed Pan Ignas, +ten years older, with bound head and black lips. And in spite of all +the sympathy which he had for the man, indignation seized him all at +once. + +"He made a hole in his skull," muttered he; "he made a hole in +his talent,--and doesn't care! and those souls there are dragging +themselves to death and trembling like leaves." + +Then a feeling, as it were of jealousy, took hold of him, as if he were +sorry for himself, and he began to speak in a monologue,-- + +"Well, old man! but if thou, for example, were to pack a bit of lead +into thy talent, no one would walk at thy bedside on tiptoe." + +Further meditation was interrupted by Pan Plavitski; who, meeting him +at the cross-street, stopped him, and began conversation,-- + +"I am just from Karlsbad," said he. "O Lord, how many elegant women! I +am going to Buchynek to-day. I have just seen Stanislav, and know that +my daughter is well; but he has grown thin somehow." + +"Yes for he has had trouble. Have you heard of Pan Ignas?" + +"I have, I have! But what will you say of that?" + +"A misfortune." + +"A misfortune; but this too, that there are no principles at present. +All those new ideas, those atheisms of yours, and hypnotisms, and +socialisms. The young generation have no principles,--that is where the +trouble lies." + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [13] Name's day, day of that saint whose name a given person bears. + + + + +CHAPTER LIX. + + +Pan Stanislav, under the impression of the catastrophe, forgot utterly +his promise to inform Osnovski by letter how Pan Ignas had borne the +rupture of the marriage and the departure of Lineta. But Osnovski, +having learned from the newspapers what had happened, inquired every +day by telegraph about the condition of the patient, and was greatly +alarmed. In the press and in public the most contradictory accounts +were current. Some journals declared that his condition was hopeless; +others predicted a speedy recovery. For a long time Pan Stanislav could +report nothing certain; and only after two weeks did he send a despatch +that the sick man had ceased to waver between death and life, and that +the doctors guaranteed his recovery. + +Osnovski answered with a long letter, in which he gave various news +from Ostend,-- + + "God reward you for good news! All danger has passed then + decisively? I cannot tell you what a weight fell from the hearts + of both of us. Tell Pan Ignas that not only I, but my wife + received the news of his recovery with tears. She does not speak + of any one else now, and thinks only of him. Oh, what women + are! volumes might be written on this subject; but Anetka is + an exception, and will you believe, that in spite of all her + terror and sorrow and sympathy, Ignas has increased in her eyes + through this unhappy event? They seek romantic sides always; so + far does this reach that even in Kopovski, as the originator of + the misfortune, Anetka, who knows all his stupidity, sees now + something demonic. But beyond all she praises God for the recovery + of Ignas. May he live to the glory of our society, and may he + find a being worthy of him! From your despatch, I infer that he + is under the care of Panna Helena. May God grant her too every + blessing for such an honest heart! Really she has no one in the + world nearer to her than Ignas, and I imagine that he is still + dearer to her through remembrance of Ploshovski. + + "Now, since you have quieted me as to Ignas's recovery, I can + send you some news about Aunt Bronich and Lineta. Perhaps you + have heard that they are here with Kopovski. They went first to + Scheveningen; but, hearing that the small-pox was there, they + escaped to Ostend, not supposing that we were here. We met a + number of times in the Cursaal, but pretended not to know them. + Kopovski even left cards with us; but we did not return his + visit, though, as my wife says justly, he is far less to blame + in all this than the two women. When I received your despatch, + stating that Ignas is saved surely, I thought that humanity itself + commanded me to send the news to them, and I did so. As matters + stand, life is unpleasant for them here, since their acquaintances + withdraw; so I wished them to know at least that they have no + human life on their consciences, all the more since Lineta, as + it would seem, felt the deed of Ignas. In fact, they called the + same day on us, and my wife received them. She says truly that + evil is moral sickness, and that we should not desert relatives in + sickness. In general, this first meeting was awkward and painful + for both sides. Of Ignas we said not a word. Kopovski appears here + as Lineta's betrothed; but they do not seem very happy, though, to + tell the truth, she is better fitted for him than for Ignas, and + in that view at least what has happened may be considered God's + work. I know also from persons aside that Aunt Bronich mentions + it as such. I need not tell you how that abuse of the name of God + angers me. I know that she tried to talk into some acquaintances + stopping here that she and her niece broke with Ignas because of + his want of religious feelings; to others she told tales of his + despotism and of his disagreement in temper with Lineta. In all + this she deceives not only the world, but herself. Aunt, through + persuading herself and others of it unceasingly, believes at last + in the lofty character of Lineta, and in this too she is immensely + disappointed. She feels bound really to defend her; she invents + God knows what in her behalf, and struggles like a mad woman; but + a feeling of disappointment sticks in her, and I think that she + grieves over it, for she has grown very thin. Evidently they value + relations with us, which, as they hope, may bring them back to + society; but though my wife received them, our relations cannot + return to their former condition, of course. I, first of all, + could not permit this, from regard to my duty of choosing a proper + society for my wife. Lineta's marriage with Kopovski is to be in + Paris two months from now. Of course we shall not be present. + Moreover, my wife looks on the marriage very skeptically. I have + written thus at length hoping to oblige you to write as much, with + all details about Ignas. If his health permits, press his hand for + me, and tell him that he has and will have in me a most cordial + friend, who is devoted heart and soul to him." + +Marynia, notwithstanding the lateness of the season, was living yet in +Buchynek; so that Pan Stanislav, when he received this letter in the +counting-house, showed it first of all to the Bigiels, with whom he +dined. + +"I am glad of one thing," said Pani Bigiel, when she had finished the +letter; "she will marry that Kopovski right away. Otherwise I should be +afraid that something might spring up again in Ignas, and that after he +had recovered he might be ready to return to her." + +"No; Pan Ignas has much character, and I think that he would not +return in any case," said Bigiel. "What is thy thought, Stas?" + +Bigiel was so accustomed to ask the opinion of his partner in every +question, that he could not get on without it in this one. + +"I think that they, when they look around on what they have done, will +be rather ready to return. As to Ignas, I have lived so many years, and +seen so many improbable things, that I will not answer for any one." + +At that moment these words occurred again to Pan Stanislav: "I know +what she is, but I cannot tear my soul from her." + +"But wouldst thou return in his place?" inquired Bigiel. + +"I think not; but I will not answer for myself even. First of all, I +shouldn't have shot myself in the forehead; but still, I don't know +even that." + +And he said this with great discouragement, for he thought that if +there was any man who had no right to answer for himself it was he. + +But Pani Bigiel began,-- + +"I would give I do not know what to see Ignas; but really it is easier +to take a fortress than to go to him. And I cannot understand why Panna +Helena keeps him from people so, even from such friends as we are." + +"She keeps him from people because the doctor has ordered absolute +quiet. Besides, since he has regained consciousness, the sight of his +nearest friends, even, is terribly painful to him; and this we can +understand. He cannot talk with them about his deed; and he sees that +every one who approaches him is thinking of nothing else." + +"But you are there every day." + +"They admit me because I was connected with the affair from the +beginning; I was the first to report the rupture of the marriage, and I +watched him." + +"Does he mention that girl yet?" + +"I asked Panna Helena and Panna Ratkovski about this; they answered, +'Never.' I have sat for hours with him alone, and have heard nothing. +It is wonderful: he is conscious; he knows that he is wounded, knows +that he is sick; but he seems at the same time to remember nothing of +past events, just as if the past had no existence whatever. The doctors +say that wounds in the head cause various and very peculiar phenomena +of this kind. For the rest, he recognizes every one who approaches him, +exhibits immense gratitude to Panna Helena and Panna Ratkovski. He +loves Panna Ratkovski especially, and evidently yearns for her when she +goes for a while from him. But they are both, as God lives!--there are +no words to tell how good they are." + +"Panna Ratkovski moves me especially," said Pani Bigiel. + +Bigiel put in, "Meditating over everything carefully, I have come to +the conclusion that she must have fallen in love with him." + +"Thou hast spent time for nothing in meditating," answered Pan +Stanislav, "for that is as clear as the sun. The poor thing hid this +feeling in herself till misfortune came. Why did she reject such an +offer as Svirski's? I make no secret of this, for Svirski himself +tells it on every side. It seems to him that he owes her satisfaction +because he suspected her of being in love with Kopovski. When Pan +Ignas shot himself, she was living with her relative, Pani Melnitski, +after the Osnovskis had gone; but when she learned that Panna Helena +had taken Ignas, she went and begged permission to remain with her. +All know perfectly how to understand this; but she does not mind such +considerations, just as Panna Helena herself does not mind them." + +Here Pan Stanislav turned to Pani Bigiel,-- + +"Panna Ratkovski moves you deeply; but think, as God lives, what a +tragic figure Panna Helena is. Pan Ignas is alive, at least, but +Ploshovski aimed better; and, according to her ideas, there is no mercy +for him, even in that world. But she loves him. There is a position! +Finally, after such a suicide, comes another; it tears open all wounds, +freshens every memory. Panna Ratkovski may be a touching figure; but +the other has her life broken forever, and no hope, nothing left but +despair." + +"True, true! But she must be attached to Ignas, since she cares for him +so." + +"I understand why she does it; she wants to beg of the Lord God mercy +for the other man, because she has saved Pan Ignas." + +"That may be," said Bigiel. "And who knows that Pan Ignas may not marry +Panna Ratkovski, when he recovers?" + +"If he forgets that other, if he is not broken, and if he recovers." + +"How, if he recovers? Just now thou hast said that his recovery is +undoubted." + +"It is undoubted that he will live; but the question is, will he be +the former Ignas? Even though he had not fired into his head, it would +be difficult to say whether such an experience would not break a man +who is so sensitive. But add a broken head; that must be paid for. +Who knows what will happen further? but now, for example, though he +is conscious, though he talks with sense, at times he breaks off, and +cannot recollect the simplest expression. Before, he never hesitated. +This, too, is strange,--he remembers the names of things well, but +when it is a question of any act, he stops most generally, and either +remembers with effort, or forgets altogether." + +"What does the doctor say?" + +"In God is his hope that it will pass; the doctor does not lose hope. +But even yesterday, while I was going in, Ignas said, 'Pani--' and +stopped. Evidently he was thinking of Marynia, whom he recalled on a +sudden, but he could not ask about her. Every day he talks more, it is +true; but before he recovers, much time may pass, and certain traces +may remain forever." + +"But does Marynia know of everything?" + +"While there was no certainty that he would live, I kept everything in +secret; but after that I thought it better to tell her. Of course I was +very cautious. It was hard to keep the whole matter from her longer. +People were talking too much about it, and I feared that she might +hear from people on one side. I told her, moreover, that the wound was +slight, and that nothing threatened him, but that the doctors forbade +him visitors. Even thus she was greatly affected." + +"When will you bring her to the city?" + +"While the weather is good, I prefer to keep her in the country." + +Further conversation was interrupted by a letter, which the servant +gave Pan Stanislav. The letter was from Mashko, and contained the +following words:-- + + "I wish to see thee in thy own interest. I will wait for thee at + my house till five." + +"I am curious to know what he wants," said Pan Stanislav. + +"Who is it?" + +"Mashko; he wants to see me." + +"Business and business," said Bigiel; "he has business above his ears. +Sometimes I wonder really whence he gets endurance and wit for all +this. Dost thou know that Pani Kraslavski has come home, and that she +has lost her sight altogether? She sees nothing now, or what is called +nothing. We visited those ladies before they left their country house. +Wherever one turns there is misery, so that at last pity seizes one +while looking." + +"But in misfortune each man or woman shows his or her real nature," +said Pani Bigiel. "You remember that we considered Pani Mashko as +somewhat dry in character, but you will not believe how kind she is +now to her mother. She does not let a servant come near her; she +attends her herself everywhere, waits on her, reads to her. Really +she has given me a pleasant surprise, or rather both of them, for +Path Kraslavski has lost her former pretentiousness thoroughly. It is +pleasant to see how those women love each other. It seems that there +was something in Pani Mashko which we could not discover." + +"Both, too, were terribly indignant at the behavior of Panna Castelli," +added Bigiel. "Pani Kraslavski said to us, 'If my Terka had acted in +that way, I should have denied her, though I am blind, and need care.' +But Pani Mashko is as she is, and she would not have acted in that way, +for she is another kind of woman." + +Pan Stanislav drank his cup of black coffee, and began to take +farewell. For some time past every conversation about Pani Mashko had +become for the man unendurable; it seemed to him, moreover, that he +was listening again to an extract from that strange human comedy which +people were playing around him, and in which he, too, was playing his +empty part. It did not occur to him that human nature is so composed +that even in the very worst person some good element may be found, and +that Pani Mashko might be, after all, a loving daughter. In general, he +preferred not to think of that, but began to halt over the question, +what could Mashko want of him? Forgetting that Mashko had written in +the letter that he wanted to see him, not in his own, but in his (Pan +Stanislav's) interest, he supposed, with a certain alarm, that he +wanted money a second time. + +"But I," thought he, "will not refuse now." + +And it occurred to him that life is like the machinery of a watch. When +something is out of order in one wheel, all begin to act irregularly. +What connection could there be between his adventure with Pani Mashko +and his business, his money, his mercantile work? And still he felt +that even as a merchant he had not, at least with reference to Mashko, +the freedom that he once had. + +But his suppositions proved faulty. Mashko had not come to ask money. + +"I looked for thee in the counting-house, and at thy residence," said +he; "at last I divined that thou must be at the Bigiels', and I sent my +letter there. I wished to speak with thee on thy own business." + +"How can I serve thee?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +"First of all, I beg that what I say may remain between us." + +"It will; I am listening." + +Mashko looked for a time in silence at Pan Stanislav, as if to prepare +him by that silence for some important announcement; at last he said, +with a wonderful calmness, weighing out every expression,-- + +"I wished to tell thee that I am lost beyond redemption." + +"Hast lost the will case?" + +"No; the case will come up only two weeks from now but I know that I +shall lose it." + +"Whence hast thou that certainty?" + +"Dost remember what I told thee once, that cases against wills are won +almost always because the attack is more energetic than the defence; +because usually the overthrow of the will concerns some one personally, +while maintaining it does not? Everything in the world may be attacked; +for though a thing be in accordance with the spirit of the law, almost +always, in a greater degree or less, it fails to satisfy the letter, +and the courts must hold to the letter." + +"True. Thou hast said all that." + +"Well, so it is, too, in this case which I took up. It was not so +adventurous as may seem. The whole question was to break the will; and +I should, perhaps, succeed in proving certain disagreements in it with +the letter of the law, were it not that there is a man striving with +equal energy to prove that there are none such. I will not talk long +about this; it is enough for thee to know that I have to contend not +merely with an opponent who is a lawyer and a finished trickster, but +a personal enemy, for whom it is a question, not only to win the case, +but to ruin me. Once I slighted him, and now he is taking revenge." + +"In general, I do not understand why you have to do with any one except +the State Attorney." + +"Because there were legacies to private people in defence of which the +opposite side employed Sledz, that advocate. But let this rest. I must +lose the case, for it is in conditions for being lost; and if I were +Sledz, I would win just as he wins. I know this in advance, and I do +not deceive myself. Enough now of this whole matter." + +"But go on; appeal." + +"No, my dear friend, I cannot go on." + +"Why?" + +"Because I have more debts than there are hairs on my head; because, +after my first defeat, creditors will rush at me; and because"--here +Mashko lowered his voice--"I must flee." + +Silence followed. + +Mashko rested his elbow on his knee, his head on his palm, and sat some +time with his head inclined; but after a while he began to speak, as if +to himself, without raising his head,-- + +"It is broken. I tied knots desperately, till my hands were wearied; +strength would have failed any man, still I kept knotting. But I cannot +knot any longer! God sees that I have no more strength left. Everything +must have its end; and let this finish sometime." + +Here he drew breath, like a man who is terribly tired; then he raised +his head, and said,-- + +"This, however, is my affair merely, and I have come to talk of thy +affairs. Listen to me! According to contract concluded at the sale of +Kremen, I was to make payments to thy wife after the parcelling of +Magyerovka; thou hast a few thousand rubles of thy own money with me. +I was to pay thy father-in-law a life annuity. Now I come to tell thee +that if not in a week, then in two, I shall go abroad as a bankrupt, +and thou and they will not see a copper." + +Mashko, while telling all this with the complete boldness and insolence +of a man who no longer has anything to lose, looked Pan Stanislav in +the eyes, as if seeking for a storm. + +But he was deceived most thoroughly. Pan Stanislav's face grew dark for +one twinkle of an eye, it is true, as if from suppressed anger; but he +calmed himself quickly, and said,-- + +"I have always expected that this would end so." + +Mashko, who, knowing with whom he had to deal supposed that Pan +Stanislav would seize him by the shoulder, looked at him with +amazement, as if wishing to ask what had happened. + +But at that moment Pan Stanislav thought,-- + +"If he had wanted to borrow money for the road, I could not have +refused him." + +But aloud he said, "Yes; this was to be foreseen." + +"No," answered Mashko, with the stubbornness of a man who will not part +with the thought that only a concurrence of exceptional circumstances +is to blame for everything. "Thou hast no right to say this. The moment +before death, I should be ready to repeat that it might have gone +otherwise." + +But Pan Stanislav inquired, as if with a shade of impatience,-- + +"My dear, what dost thou want of me specially?" + +Mashko recovered, and answered,-- + +"Nothing. I have come to thee only as to a man who has shown me +good-will at all times, and with whom I have contracted a money debt, +as well as a debt of gratitude; I have come to confess openly how +things stand, and also to say to thee: save what is possible, and as +much as possible." + +Pan Stanislav set his teeth; he judged that even in that irony of +life, whose chattering he heard round about him continually for some +time past, there ought to be a certain measure. Meanwhile Mashko's +words about friendship and a debt of gratitude seemed to him as simply +passing that measure. "May the devils take the money and thee--if thou +would only go!" thought he, in spirit. But compressing in himself the +wish to utter this audibly, he said,-- + +"I see no way." + +"There is only one way," answered Mashko. "While it is still unknown to +people that I must break, while hopes are connected with the will case, +while my name and signature mean something, thou hast a chance to sell +thy wife's claim. Thou wilt say to the purchaser that it is thy wish to +capitalize the whole property, or something of that sort. Appearances +are easy. A purchaser will be found always, especially if thou decide +to sell at a certain reduction. In view of profit, any Jew will buy. I +prefer that any other should lose rather than thou; it is permitted +thee not to hear what I have told thee of my coming bankruptcy, and +it is permitted thee to hope that I shall win the case. Thou canst be +sure that he who will buy the claim of thee, would sell it to thee, +even though he knew that it would not be worth a broken copper on the +morrow. The world is an exchange; and on the exchange most business is +transacted on this basis. This is called cleverness." + +"No," answered Pan Stanislav, "it has a different name. Thou hast +mentioned Jews; there are certain kinds of business which they describe +with one word, '_schmuzig!_' I shall save my wife's claim in another +way." + +"As may please thee. I, my clear friend, know the value of my system; +but, seest thou, in spite of all, I said to myself that I ought to tell +thee this. It is perhaps the honor of a bankrupt; but now I cannot +have another. It is easy for thee to divine how hard it is for me to +say this. For that matter, I knew in advance that thou wouldst refuse; +hence with me it was a question only of doing my own. And now give me a +cup of tea and a glass of cognac, for I am barely living." + +Pan Stanislav rang for the tea and the cognac. + +Mashko continued,-- + +"I must pluck a certain number of people,--there is no help for that; +hence I prefer to pluck indifferent ones rather than those who have +rendered me service. There are positions in which a man must be an +opportunist with his own conscience." + +Here Mashko laughed with bitterness. + +"I did not know of that myself," continued he; "but now new horizons +open themselves before me. One is learning till death. We bankrupts +have a certain point of honor too. As to me, I care less for those who +would have plucked me in a given case than those who are near me, and +to whom I owe gratitude. This may be the morality of Rinaldini, but +morality of its own kind." + +The servant brought in tea now. Mashko, needing to strengthen himself +evidently, added to his cup an overflowing glass of cognac, and, +cooling the hot tea in that way; drank it at a gulp. + +"My dear friend," said Pan Stanislav, "thou knowest the position better +than I. All that I could say against flight, and in favor of remaining +and coming to terms with creditors, thou hast said to thyself of +course, therefore I prefer to ask of something else: Hast thou +something to grasp with thy hand? Hast thou even money for the road?" + +"I have. Whether a man fails for a hundred thousand, or a hundred and +ten thousand, is all one; but I thank thee for the question." + +Here Mashko added cognac to a second cup of tea, and said,-- + +"Do not think that I am beginning to drink from despair; I have not sat +down since morning, and I am terribly tired. Ah, how much good this +has done me! I will say now to thee openly that I have not thrown up +the game. Thou seest that I have not fired into my forehead. That is a +melodrama! that is played out. I know, indeed, that everything is ended +for me here; but in this place I could not sail out anyhow. Here the +interests are too small simply, and there is no field. Take the west, +Paris! There men make fortunes; there they take a somersault, and rise +again. What is to be said in the case if it is so? Dost thou know that +Hirsh had not, perhaps, three hundred francs on leaving this country? +I know, I know! from the standpoint of local mustiness and stupidity +here, this will seem a dream,--the fever of a bankrupt. But still, men +inferior to me have made millions there,--inferior to me! Lose or win. +But if I come back at any time--" + +And evidently the tea and cognac had begun to rouse him, for, clinching +his fist, he added,-- + +"Thou wilt see!" + +"If that is not dreaming," answered Pan Stanislav, with still greater +impatience than before, "it is the future. But now what?" + +"Now," said Mashko, after a while, "they will count me a swindler. No +one will think that there are falls and falls. I will tell thee, for +instance, that I have not taken from my wife a single signature, a +single surety, and that she will have everything which she had before +marriage. I am going now; and until I am settled she will remain +here with her mother. I do not know whether you have heard that Pani +Kraslavski has lost her sight. I cannot take them at present, for I +am not even sure where I shall live,--in Paris perhaps, perhaps in +Antwerp. But I hope that our separation will not be lasting. They know +nothing yet. See in what the drama is! See what tortures me!" + +And Mashko put his palm on the top of his head, blinking at the same +time, as if from pain in his eyes. + +"When wilt thou go?" inquired Pan Stanislav. + +"I cannot tell. I will let thee know. Thou hast had the evident wish +to aid me, and thou mayest, though not in money. People will avoid my +wife at first; show her, then, a little attention; take her under thy +protection. Is it agreed? Thou hast been really friendly to me, and I +know that thou art friendly to her." + +"As God lives, one might go mad," thought Pan Stanislav; but he said +aloud,-- + +"Agreed." + +"I thank thee from the soul of my heart; and I have still a prayer. +Thou hast much influence over those two ladies. They will believe thy +words. Defend me a little in the first moments before my wife. Explain +to her that dishonesty is one thing, and misfortune another. I, as God +lives, am not such a rogue as people will consider me. I might have +brought my wife also to ruin, but I have not done so. I might have +obtained from thee a few thousand more rubles; but I preferred not +to take them. Thou wilt be able to put this before her, and she will +believe thee. Is it agreed?" + +"Agreed," replied Pan Stanislav. + +Mashko covered his head with his hands once more, and said, with a face +contracted as if from physical pain,-- + +"See where real ruin is! See what pains the most!" + +After a while he began to take farewell, thanking Pan Stanislav, +meanwhile, again for good-will toward his wife, and future care of her. + +Pan Stanislav went out with him, sat in a carriage, and started for +Buchynek. + +On the road he thought of Mashko and his fate; but at the same time he +repeated to himself, "I too am a bankrupt!" + +And that was true. Besides this, for a certain time some sort of +general uncomprehended alarm had tormented him; against this he could +not defend himself. Round about he saw disappointment, catastrophes, +ruin; and he could not resist the feeling that all these were for him, +too, a kind of warning and threat of the future. He proved to himself, +it is true, that such fears could not be logically justified; but none +the less, the fears did not cease to stick in the bottom of his soul +somewhere, and sometimes he said to himself again, "Why should I be +the one exception?" Then his heart was straitened with a foreboding +of misfortune. This was still worse than those pins which, without +wishing it, people, even the most friendly, drove into him by any word, +unconsciously. In general, his nerves had suffered recently, so that +he had become almost superstitious. He returned daily to Buchynek in +alarm, lest something bad might have happened in the house during his +absence. + +This evening, he returned later than usual because of Mashko's call, +and drove in about the time when real darkness had come. Stepping out +before the entrance on the sandy road, which dulled the sound of the +carriage, he saw through the window Marynia, Pani Emilia, and the +professor sitting near a table in the middle of the parlor. Marynia +was laying out patience, and was evidently explaining the play to Pani +Emilia, for her head was turned toward her, and she had one finger on +the cards. At sight of her Pan Stanislav thought that which for some +time he had been repeating mentally, and which filled him at once with +a feeling of happiness, and with greater anger at himself: "She is the +purest soul that I have met in life." And with that thought he entered +the room. + +"Thou art late to-day," said Marynia, when he raised her hand to his +lips with greeting; "but we are waiting for thee with supper." + +"Mashko detained me," answered he. "What is to be heard here?" + +"The same as ever. All happy." + +"And how art thou?" + +"As well as a fish!" answered she, joyously, giving him her forehead +for a kiss. + +Then she began to inquire about Pan Ignas. Pan Stanislav, after the +disagreeable talk with Mashko, breathed for the first time more freely. +"She is in health, and all is right," thought he, as if in wonder. +And really he felt well in that bright room, in that great peace, +among those friendly souls and at the side of that person so good +and reliable. He felt that everything was there which he needed for +happiness; but he felt that he had spoiled that happiness of his own +will; that he had brought into the clear atmosphere of his house the +elements of corruption and evil, and that he was living under that roof +without a right. + + + + +CHAPTER LX. + + +In the middle of September such cold days came that the Polanyetskis +moved from Buchynek to their house in the city. Pan Stanislav, before +the arrival of his wife, had the house aired and ornamented with +flowers. It seemed to him, it is true, that he had lost the right to +love her, but he had lost only his former freedom with reference to +her; but perhaps, just because of this, he became far more attentive +and careful. The right to love no one gives, and nothing can take +away. It is another case when a man has fallen, and in presence of +a soul incomparably more noble than his own, feels that he is not +worthy to love; he loves then with humility, and does not dare to call +his feeling by its name. What Pan Stanislav had lost really was his +self-confidence, his commanding ways, and his former unceremoniousness +in his treatment of his wife. At present in his intercourse with her he +bore himself sometimes as if she were Panna Plavitski, and he a suitor +not sure of his fate yet. + +Still that uncertainty of his had the aspect of coldness at times. +Finally, their relation, in spite of Pan Stanislav's increased care and +efforts, had become more distant than hitherto. "I have not the right!" +repeated Pan Stanislav, at every more lively movement of his heart. And +Marynia at last observed that they were living now somehow differently, +but she interpreted this to herself variously. + +First, there were guests in the house, before whom, be what may, +freedom of life must be diminished; second, that misfortune had +happened to Pan Ignas,--a thing to shock "Stas" and carry his mind +in another direction; and finally Marynia, accustomed now to various +changes in his disposition, had ceased also to attach to them as much +meaning as formerly. + +Having gone through long hours of meditation and sadness, she came +at last to the conviction that in the first period, while certain +inequalities and bends of character are not accommodated into one +common line, such various shades and changes in the disposition are +inevitable, though transient. The sober judgment of Pani Bigiel helped +her also to the discovery of this truth; she, on a time when Marynia +began to praise her perfect accord with her husband, said,-- + +"Ai! it didn't come to that at once. At first we loved each other as +it were more passionately, but we were far less fitted for each other; +sometimes one pulled in one and the other in another direction. But +because we both had honesty and good-will the Lord God saw that and +blessed us. After the first child all went at once in the best way; and +this day I wouldn't give my old husband for all the treasures of earth, +though he is growing heavy, and when I persuade him to Karlsbad he will +not listen to me." + +"After the first child," inquired Marynia, with great attention. "Ah! I +would have guessed at once that it was after the first child." + +Pani Bigiel began to laugh. + +"And how amusing he was when our first boy was born! During the first +days he said nothing at all; he would only raise his spectacles to his +forehead and look at him, as at some wonder from beyond the sea, and +then come to me and kiss my hands." + +The hope of a child was also a reason why Marynia did not take this +new change in "Stas" to heart too much. First, she promised herself to +enchant him completely both with the child, which she knew in advance +would be simply phenomenal, and with her own beauty after sickness; and +second, she judged that it was not permitted her to think of herself +now, or even exclusively of "Stas." She was occupied in preparing a +place for the coming guest, as well in the house, as in her affections. +She felt that she must infold such a figure not only in swaddling +clothes, but in love. Hence she accumulated necessary supplies. She +said to herself at once that life for two living together might be +changeable; but for three living together it could not be anything but +happiness and the accomplishment of that expected grace and mercy of +God. + +In general, she looked at the future with uncommon cheerfulness. If, +finally, Pan Stanislav was for her in some way a different person, more +ceremonious, as it were, and more distant, he showed such delicacy as +he had never shown before. The care and anxiety which she saw on his +face she referred to his feeling for Pan Ignas, for whose life there +was no fear, it is true, but whose misfortune she felt with a woman's +heart, understanding that it might continue as long as his life lasted. +The knowledge of this gave more than one moment of sadness to her, and +to the Bigiels, and to all to whom Pan Ignas had become near. + +Moreover, soon after the arrival of the Polanyetskis in the city, news +came all at once from Ostend which threatened new complications. A +certain morning Svirski burst into the counting-house like a bomb, and, +taking Bigiel and Pan Stanislav to a separate room, said, with a mien +of mysteriousness,-- + +"Do you know what has happened? Kresovski has just been at my studio, +and he returned yesterday from Ostend. Osnovski has separated from his +wife, and broken Kopovski's bones for him. A fabulous scandal! All +Ostend is talking of nothing else." + +Both were silent under the impression of the news; at last Pan +Stanislav said,-- + +"That had to come sooner or later. Osnovski was blind." + +"But I understand nothing," said Bigiel. + +"An unheard of history!" continued Svirski. "Who could have supposed +anything like it?" + +"What does Kresovski say?" + +"He says that Osnovski made an arrangement one day to go with some +Englishmen to Blanckenberg to shoot dolphins. Meanwhile he was late at +the railroad, or tramway. Having an hour's time before him, he went +home again and found Kopovski in his house. You can imagine what he +must have seen, since a man so mild was carried away, and lost his +head to that degree that, without thinking of the scandal, he pounded +Kopovski, so that Kopovski is in bed." + +"He was so much in love with his wife that he might have gone mad even, +or killed her," said Bigiel. "What a misfortune for the man!" + +"See what women are!" exclaimed Svirski. + +Pan Stanislav was silent. Bigiel, who was very sorry for Osnovski, +began to walk back and forth in the room. At last he stopped before +Svirski, and, thrusting his hands into his pockets, said,-- + +"But still I don't understand anything." + +Svirski, not answering directly, said, turning to Pan Stanislav, "You +remember what I said of her in Rome, when I was painting your wife's +portrait? Old Zavilovski called her a crested lark. I understand how +just that was; for a crested lark has another name,--'the soiler.' +What a woman! I knew that she was not of high worth, but I did not +suppose that she could go so far--and with such a man as Kopovski! Now +I see various things more clearly. Kopovski was there all the time, +as if courting Panna Castelli, then as if courting Panna Ratkovski; +and of course he and the lady were in agreement, inventing appearances +together. What a cheery life the fellow had! Castelli for dinner, and +Pani Osnovski for dessert! Pleasant for such a man! Between those +two women there must have been rivalry; one vying with the other in +concessions to attract him to herself. You can understand that in such +a place woman's self-esteem had small value." + +"You are perfectly right," said Pan Stanislav. "Pani Osnovski was +always most opposed to the marriage of Kopovski to Castelli; and +very likely for that reason she was so eager to have her marry Pan +Ignas. When, in spite of everything, Kopovski and Castelli came to an +agreement, she went to extremes to keep Kopovski for herself. Their +relation is an old story." + +"I begin to understand a little," said Bigiel; "but how sad this is!" + +"Sad?" said Svirski; "on the contrary. It was cheerful for Kopovski. +Still, it was not. 'The beginning of evil is pleasant, but the end is +bitter.' There is no reason to envy him. Do you know that Osnovski is +hardly any weaker than I? for, through regard for his wife, he was +afraid of growing fat, and from morning till evening practised every +kind of exercise? Oh, how he loved her! what a kind man he is! and how +sorry I am for him! In him that woman had everything,--heart, property, +a dog's attachment,--and she trampled on everything. Castelli, at +least, was not a wife yet." + +"And have they separated really?" + +"So really that she has gone. What a position, when a man like Osnovski +left her! In truth, the case is a hard one." + +But Bigiel, who liked to take things on the practical side, said, "I am +curious to know what she will do, for all the property is his." + +"If he has not killed her on the spot, he will not let her die of +hunger, that is certain; he is not a man of that kind. Kresovski told +me that he remained in Ostend, and that he is going to challenge +Kopovski to a duel. But Kopovski will not rise out of bed for a week. +There will be a duel when he recovers. Pani Bronich and Panna Castelli +have gone away, too, to Paris." + +"And the marriage with Kopovski?" + +"What do you wish? In view of such open infidelity, it is broken, of +course. Evil does not prosper; they, too, were left in the lurch. Ha! +let them hunt abroad for some Prince Crapulescu[14]--for after what they +have done to Ignas, no one in this country would take Castelli, save a +swindler, or an idiot. Pan Ignas will not return to her." + +"I told Pan Stanislav that, too," said Bigiel; "but he answered, 'Who +knows?'" + +"Ai!" said Svirski, "do you suppose really?" + +"I don't know! I don't know anything!" answered Pan Stanislav, with an +outburst. "I guarantee nothing; I guarantee nobody; I don't guarantee +myself even." + +Svirski looked at him with a certain astonishment. + +"Ha! maybe that is right," said he, after a while. "If any one had told +me yesterday that the Osnovskis would ever separate, I should have +looked on him as a madman." + +And he rose to take farewell; he was in a hurry to work, but wishing to +hear more about the catastrophe of the Osnovskis, had engaged to dine +with Kresovski. Bigiel and Pan Stanislav remained alone. + +"Evil must always pay the penalty," said Bigiel, after some thought. +"But do you know what sets me thinking? that the moral level is +lowering among us. Take such persons as Bronich, Castelli, Pani +Osnovski,--how dishonest they are! how spoiled! and, in addition, +how stupid! What a mixture, deuce knows of what! what boundless +pretensions! and with those pretensions the nature of a waiting-maid. +So that it brings nausea to think of them, does it not? And men, such +as Ignas and Osnovski, must pay for them." + +"And that logic is not understood," answered Pan Stanislav, gloomily. + +Bigiel began to walk up and down in the room again, clicking his tongue +and shaking his head; all at once he stopped before Pan Stanislav with +a radiant face, and, slapping him on the shoulder, said,-- + +"Well, my old man, thou and I can say to ourselves that we drew great +prizes in life's lottery. We were not saints either; but perhaps the +Lord God gave us luck because we have not undermined other men's houses +like bandits." + +Pan Stanislav gave no answer; he merely made ready to go. + +Conditions had so arranged themselves lately that everything which +took place around him, and everything which he heard, became, as it +were, a saw, which was tearing his nerves. In addition, he had the +feeling that that was not only terribly torturing and painful, but was +beginning to be ridiculous also. At moments it came to his head to take +Marynia and hide with her somewhere in some tumbledown village, if +only far away from that insufferable comedy of life which was growing +viler and viler. But he saw that he could not do that, even for this +reason,--that Marynia's condition hindered it. He stopped, however, +the bargaining for Buchynek, which had been almost finished, so as to +find for himself a more distant and less accessible summer place. In +general, relations with people began to weigh on him greatly; but he +felt that he was in the vortex, and could not get out of it. Sometimes +the former man rose in him, full of energy and freshness, and he asked +himself with wonder, "What the devil! why does a fault which thousands +of men commit daily, swell up in my case beyond every measure?" But the +sense of truth answered straightway that as in medicine there are no +diseases, only patients, so in the moral world there are no offences, +only offenders. What one man bears easily, another pays for with his +life; and he tried in vain to defend himself. For a man of principles, +for a man who, barely half a year before, had married such a woman as +Marynia, for a man whom fatherhood was awaiting, his offence was beyond +measure; and it was so inexcusable, so unheard of, that at times he +was amazed that he could have committed it. Now, while returning home +under the impression of Osnovski's misfortune, and turning it over in +his head in every way, he had again the feeling as if a part of the +responsibility for what had happened weighed on him. "For I," said +he to himself, "am a shareholder in that factory in which are formed +such relations and such women as Castelli or Pani Osnovski." Then it +occurred to him that Bigiel was right in saying that the moral level +was lowering, and that the general state of mind which does not exclude +the possibility of such acts is simply dangerous. For he understood +that all these deviations flowed neither from exceptional misfortunes, +nor uncommon passions, nor over-turbulent natures, but from social +wantonness, and that the name of such deviations is legion. "See," +thought he, "only in the circle of my acquaintances, Pani Mashko, Pani +Osnovski, Panna Castelli; and over against them whom shall I place? +My Marynia alone." And at that moment it did not occur to him that, +besides Marynia, there were in his circle Pani Emilia, Pani Bigiel, +Panna Helena, and Panna Ratkovski. But Marynia stood out before him +on that ground of corruption and frivolity so unlike them, so pure +and reliable, that he was moved to the depth of his soul by the mere +thought of her. "That is another world; that is another kind," thought +he. For a moment he remembered that Osnovski, too, had called his own +wife an exception; but he rejected this evil thought immediately. +"Osnovski deceived himself, but I do not deceive myself." And he felt +that the skepticism which would not yield before Marynia would be not +only stupid, but pitiable. In her there was simply no place for evil. +Only swamp birds can sit in a swamp. He himself had said once in a +jest to her, that if she wore heels, she would have inflammation of +the conscience from remorse, because she was deceiving people. And +there was truth in this jest; he saw her now just there before him as +clearly as one always sees the person one thinks of with concentrated +feeling. He saw her changed form and changed face, in which there +remained always, however, that same shapely mouth, a little too wide, +and those same clear eyes; and he was more and more moved. "Indeed, I +did win a great prize in life's lottery," thought he; "but I did not +know how to value it. 'Evil must always pay the penalty,' said Bigiel." +And Pan Stanislav, to whom a similar thought had come more than once, +felt now a superstitious fear before it. "There is," thought he, "a +certain logic, in virtue of which evil returns, like a wave hurled +from the shore, so that evil must return to me." And all at once it +seemed to him perfectly impossible that he could possess such a woman +in peace, and such happiness. Just in that was lacking the logic which +commands the return of the wave of evil. And then what? Marynia may die +at childbirth, for instance. Pani Mashko, through revenge, may say some +word about him, which will stick in Marynia's mind, and in view of her +condition, will emerge afterward in the form of a fever. Not even the +whole truth is needed for that effect. On the contrary, Pani Mashko may +boast even that she resisted his attempts. "And who knows," said Pan +Stanislav to himself, "if Pani Mashko is not making a visit to Marynia +this moment? in such an event the first conversation about men--and a +few jesting words are sufficient." + +Thinking thus, he felt that the cap was burning on his head; and he +reached home with a feeling of alarm. At home he did not find Pani +Mashko; but Marynia gave him a card from Panna Helena, asking him to +come after dinner to see her. + +"I fear that Ignas is worse," said Marynia. + +"No; I ran in there for a moment in the morning. Panna Helena was +at some conference with the attorney, Kononovich; but I saw Panna +Ratkovski and Pan Ignas. He was perfectly well, and spoke to me +joyously." + +At dinner Pan Stanislav resolved to tell Marynia of the news which he +had heard, for he knew that it could not be concealed from her anyhow, +and he did not wish that it should be brought to her too suddenly and +incautiously. + +When she asked what was to be heard in the counting-house and the city, +he said,-- + +"Nothing new in the counting-house; but in the city they are talking +about certain misunderstandings between the Osnovskis." + +"Between the Osnovskis?" + +"Yes; something has happened in Ostend. Likely the cause of all is +Kopovski." + +Marynia flushed from curiosity, and asked,-- + +"What dost thou say, Stas?" + +"I say what I heard. Thou wilt remember my remarks on the evening of +Pan Ignas's betrothal? It seems that I was right; I will say, in brief, +that there was a certain history, and, in general, that it was bad." + +"But thou hast said that Kopovski is the betrothed of Panna Castelli." + +"He has been, but he is not now. Everything may be broken in their +case." + +The news made a great impression on Marynia; she wanted to inquire +further, but when Pan Stanislav told her that he knew nothing more, and +that in all likelihood more detailed news would come in some days, she +fell to lamenting the fate of Osnovski, whom she had always liked much, +and was indignant at Pani Aneta. + +"I thought," said she, "that he would change her, and attract her by +his love; but she is not worthy of him, and Pan Svirski is right in +what he says about women." + +The conversation was interrupted by Plavitski, who, after an early +dinner at the restaurant, had come to tell the "great news," +which he had just heard, for all the city was talking of it. Pan +Stanislav thought then that he had done well to prepare Marynia, +for in Plavitski's narrative the affair took on colors which were +too glaring. Plavitski mentioned, it is true, in the course of his +story, "principles and matrons" of the old time; but apparently he was +satisfied that something of such rousing interest had happened, and +evidently he took the affair, too, from the comic side, for at the end +he said,-- + +"But she is a mettlesome woman! she is a frolicker! Whoever was before +her was an opponent! She let no man pass, no man! Poor Osnosio! but she +let _no man_ pass." + +Here he raised his brows, and looked at Marynia and Pan Stanislav, as +if wishing to see whether they understood what "no man" meant. But on +Marynia's face disgust was depicted. + +"Fe! Stas," said she, "how all that is not only dishonorable, but +disgusting!" + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [14] A fanciful Roumanian name formed from the French _crapule_, a + debauchee. + + + + +CHAPTER LXI. + + +After dinner Pan Stanislav went to Panna Helena's. Pan Ignas wore a +black bandage on his forehead yet, with a wider plaster in the centre, +covering a wound; he stuttered, and, when looking, squinted somewhat; +but, in general, he was coming to himself more and more, and looked +on himself as recovered already. The doctor asserted that those marks +which remained from the wound yet were disappearing without a trace. +When Pan Stanislav entered, the young man was sitting at a table in a +deep armchair, in which old Pan Zavilovski used to sit formerly, and +was listening with closed eyes to verses which Panna Ratkovski was +reading. But she closed the book at sight of a visitor. + +"Good-evening," said Pan Stanislav to her. "How art thou, Ignas? I see +that I have interrupted a reading. In what are you so interested?" + +Panna Ratkovski turned her closely-clipped head to the book,--her hair +had been luxuriant before, but she cut it so as not to occupy time +needed for the sick man,--and answered,-- + +"This is Pan Zavilovski's poetry." + +"Thou art listening to thy own poetry?" said Pan Stanislav, laughing. +"Well, how does it please thee?" + +"I hear it as if it were not my own," replied Pan Ignas. After a while +he added, speaking slowly, and stuttering a little, "But I shall write +again as soon as I recover." + +It was evident that this thought occupied him greatly, and that he must +have mentioned it more than once; for Panna Ratkovski, as if wishing to +give him pleasure, said,-- + +"And the same kind of beautiful verses, and not too long." + +He smiled at her with gratitude, and was silent. But at that moment +Panna Helena entered the room, and pressing Pan Stanislav's hand, +said,-- + +"How well it is that you have come! I wanted to take counsel with you." + +"I am at your service." + +"I beg you to come to my room." + +She conducted him to the adjoining room, indicated a chair to him, +then, sitting down opposite, was silent, as if collecting her thoughts. + +Pan Stanislav, looking at her under the lamp, noticed, for the first +time, a number of silvery threads in her bright hair, and remembered +that that woman was not thirty yet. + +She began to speak in her cool and decisive voice,-- + +"I do not request counsel precisely, but assistance for my relative. I +know that you are a real friend of his, and, besides, you have shown +me so much kindness at the death of my father that I shall be grateful +the rest of my life for it; and now I will speak more openly with you +than with any one else. For personal reasons, which I will not touch, +and of which I can only say that they are very painful, I have decided +to create for myself other conditions of life,--conditions for me +more endurable. I should have done so long since, but while my father +was living I could not. Then Ignas's misfortune came. It seemed to me +my duty not to desert the last relative bearing our name, for whom, +besides, I have a heartfelt and real friendship. But now, thanks be to +God! he is saved. The doctors answer for his life; and if God has given +him exceptional capacities and predestined him to great things, nothing +stands in the way of his activity." + +Here she stopped, as if she had fallen to thinking suddenly of +something in the future, after which, when she had roused herself, she +spoke on,-- + +"But by his recovery my last task is finished, and I am permitted to +return to my original plan. There remains only the property of which +my father left a considerable amount, and which would be altogether +useless to me in my coming mode of life. If I could consider this +property my own personally, I might dispose of it otherwise, perhaps; +but since it is family property, I consider that I have no right to +devote it to foreign objects while any one of the family is alive +who bears the name. I do not conceal from you that attachment to my +cousin moves me; but I judge that I do above all that which conscience +commands, and besides carry out the wish of my father, who did not +succeed in writing his will, but who--I know with all certainty--wished +to leave a part of his property to Ignas. I have provided for myself +not in the degree which my father thought of doing, but still I take +more than I need. Ignas inherits the rest. The act of conveyance has +been written by Pan Kononovich according to all legal rules. It +includes this house, Yasmen, the property in Kutno, the estates in +Poznan and the moneys with the exception of that portion which I have +retained for myself, and a small part which I have reserved for Panna +Ratkovski. It is a question now only of delivering this document to +Ignas. I have asked two doctors if it is not too early, and if the +excitement might not harm him. They assure me that it is not too early, +and that every agreeable news may only act on his health beneficially. +This being the case, I wish to finish the matter at once, for I am in a +hurry." + +Here she smiled faintly. Pan Stanislav, pressing her hand, asked, with +unfeigned emotion,-- + +"Dear lady, I do not inquire through curiosity, What do you intend?" + +Not wishing evidently to give an explicit answer, she said,-- + +"A person has the right always to take refuge under the care of God. +As to Ignas, he has an honest heart and a noble character, which will +not be injured by wealth; but the property is very considerable, and +he is young, inexperienced; he will begin life in conditions changed +altogether,--hence I wish to ask you, as a man of honor and his friend, +to have guardianship over him. Care for him, keep him from evil people, +but above all remind him that his duty is to write and work further. +For me it was a question, not only of saving his life, but his gifts. +Let him write; let him pay society, not for himself only, but for those +too whom God created for His own glory and the assistance of men, but +who destroyed both themselves and their gifts." + +Here her lips became pale on a sudden, her hands closed, and the voice +stopped in her throat. It might seem that the despair accumulated in +her soul would break all bounds immediately; but she mastered herself +after a while, and only her clinched hands testified what the effort +was which that action had cost her. + +Pan Stanislav, seeing her suffering, judged that it would be better to +turn her thought in another direction, toward practical and current +affairs; hence he said,-- + +"Evidently this will be an unheard of change in the life of Ignas; +but I too hope that it will result only in good. Knowing him, it is +difficult to admit another issue. But could you not defer the act for a +year, or at least half a year?" + +"Why?" + +"For reasons which do not lie in Ignas himself, but which might have +connection with him. I do not know whether the news has reached you +that the marriage of Panna Castelli to Kopovski is broken, and that +the position of those ladies is tremendously awkward in consequence. +Through breaking with Ignas, they have made public opinion indignant, +and now their names are on people's tongues again. It would be for them +a perfect escape to return to Ignas; and it is possible to suppose that +when they learn of your gift, they will surely attempt this, and it +is unknown whether Ignas, especially after so short an interval, and +weakened as he is, might not let himself be involved by them." + +Panna Helena looked at Pan Stanislav with brows contracted from +attention, and, dwelling on what he said, she answered,-- + +"No. I judge that Ignas will choose otherwise." + +"I divine your thought," said Pan Stanislav; "but think,--he was +attached to that other one beyond every estimate, to such a degree that +he did not wish to outlive the loss of her." + +Here something happened which Pan Stanislav had not expected, for Panna +Helena, who had always such control of herself and was almost stern, +opened her thin arms in helplessness, and said,-- + +"Ah, if that were true,--if there were not for him any other happiness +save in her! Oh, Pan Polanyetski, I knew that he ought not to do that; +but there are things stronger than man, and they are things which he +needs for life absolutely--and besides--" + +Pan Stanislav looked at her with astonishment; after a while she +added,-- + +"Besides, while one lives, one may enter on a better road any moment." + +"I did not suppose that I should hear anything like this from her," +thought Pan Stanislav. And he said aloud,-- + +"Then let us go to Ignas." + +Pan Ignas received the news first with amazement, and then with +delight; but that delight was as if external. It might be supposed +that, by the aid of his brain, he understood that something immensely +favorable had met him, and that he had told himself that he must be +pleased with it, but that he did not feel it with his heart. His heart +declared itself only in the care and interest with which he asked Panna +Helena what she intended to do with herself, and what would become of +her. She was not willing to answer him, and stated, in general terms, +that she would withdraw from the world, and that her resolve was +unchangeable. She implored of him this, which clearly concerned her +most, not to waste his powers and disappoint people who were attached +to him. She spoke as a mother, and he, repeating, "I will write again +the moment I recover," kissed her hands and had tears in his eyes. It +was not known, however, whether those tears meant sympathy for her, or +the regret of a child abandoned by a good and kind nurse; for Panna +Helena told him that from that moment she considered herself a guest in +his house, and in two days would withdraw. Pan Ignas would not agree to +this, and extorted the promise from her to remain a week longer. She +yielded at last, through fear of exciting him and injuring his health. +Then he grew calm, and was as gladsome as a little boy whose prayer +has been granted. Toward the end of the evening, however, he grew +thoughtful, as if remembering something, looked around with astonished +eyes on those present, and said,-- + +"It is wonderful, but it seems to me as if all this had happened before +some time." + +Pan Stanislav, wishing to give a more cheerful tone to the +conversation, asked, laughing,-- + +"Was it during previous existences on other planets? It was, was it +not?" + +"In that way everything might have happened some other time," said Pan +Ignas. + +"And you have written the very same verses already--on the moon?" + +He took up a book lying on the table, looked at it, grew thoughtful, +and said at last,-- + +"I will write again, but when I recover completely." + +Pan Stanislav took farewell and went out. That evening Panna Ratkovski +removed to her little chamber at Pani Melnitski's. + + + + +CHAPTER LXII. + + +The separation of the Osnovskis, who in social life occupied a position +rather prominent, and the great fortune which fell on a sudden to Pan +Ignas, were the items of news with which the whole city was occupied. +People who supposed that Panna Helena had taken the young man to her +house to marry him were stunned from amazement. New gossip and new +suppositions rose. People began to whisper that Pan Ignas was a son +of old Zavilovski; that he had threatened his sister with a law-suit +for concealing the will; that she chose to renounce all and go abroad +rather than be exposed to a scandalous law-suit. Others declared that +the cause of her departure was Panna Ratkovski; that between those two +young ladies scenes had taken place unparalleled,--scenes to arouse +indignation. In consequence of this, self-respecting houses would not +permit Panna Ratkovski to cross their thresholds. There were others, +too, who, appearing in the name of public good, refused simply to Panna +Helena the right of disposing of property in that fashion, giving at +the same time to understand that they would have acted more in accord +with public benefit. + +In a word, everything was said that gossip and meddling and frivolity +and low malice could invent. Soon new food for public curiosity arrived +under the form of news of a duel between Osnovski and Kopovski, in +which Osnovski was wounded. Kopovski returned to Warsaw soon after with +the fame of a hero of uncommon adventures in love and arms,--stupider +than ever, but also more beautiful, and in general so charming that at +sight of him hearts young and old began to beat with quickened throb. + +Osnovski, wounded rather slightly, was under treatment in Brussels. +Svirski received from him a brief announcement soon after the duel, +that he was well, that in the middle of winter he would go to Egypt, +but, before that, would return to Prytulov. The artist came to Pan +Stanislav with this news, expressing at the same time the fear that +Osnovski was returning only to avenge his wrongs afresh on Kopovski. + +"For I am sure," said he, "that if he is wounded, it is because he +permitted it. According to me, he wished to die simply. I have shot +with him more than once at Brufini's, and know how he shoots. I have +seen him hit matches, and am convinced that had he wished to blow out +Koposio, we shouldn't see him to-day." + +"Perhaps not," answered Pan Stanislav; "but since he talks of going to +Egypt, 't is clear that he does not intend to let himself be killed. +Let him go, and let him take Pan Ignas." + +"It is true that Pan Ignas ought to see the world a little. I should +like to go from here to see him. How is he?" + +"I will go with you, for I have not seen him to-day. He is well, but +somehow strange. You remember what a proud soul he was, shut up in +himself. Now he is in good health, as it were, but has become a little +child; at the least trouble there are tears in his eyes." + +After a while the two went out together. + +"Is Panna Helena with Pan Ignas yet?" inquired Svirski. + +"She is. He takes her departure to heart so much that she has pity on +him. She was to go away in a week; now, as you see, the second week has +passed." + +"What does she wish specially to do with herself?" + +"She says nothing precise on this point. Probably she will enter some +religious order and pray all her life for Ploshovski." + +"But Panna Ratkovski?" + +"Panna Ratkovski is with Pani Melnitski." + +"Did Pan Ignas feel her absence much?" + +"For the first days. Afterward he seemed to forget her." + +"If he does not marry her in a year, I will repeat my proposal. As I +love God, I will. Such a woman, when she becomes a wife, grows attached +to her husband." + +"I know that in her soul Panna Helena wishes Ignas to marry Panna +Ratkovski. But who knows how it will turn out?" + +"I am sure that he will marry her; what I say is the imagining of a +weak head. I shall not marry." + +"My wife said that you told her that yesterday; but she laughed at the +threat." + +"It is not a threat; it is only this, that I have no happiness." + +Their conversation was interrupted by the coming of a carriage, in +which were Pani Kraslavski and Pani Mashko. Those ladies were going in +the direction of the Alley, wishing evidently to take the air. The day +was clear, but cold; and Pani Mashko was so occupied with drawing a +warm cloak on her mother that she did not see them, and did not return +their salutation. + +"I called on them the day before yesterday," said Svirski. "She is a +kindly sort of woman." + +"I hear that she is a very good daughter," answered Pan Stanislav. + +"I noticed that when I was there; but, as is usual with an old sceptic, +it occurred to me at once that she finds pleasure also in the rôle of a +careful daughter. Do you not see women often doing good of some special +sort because they think that it becomes them?" + +And Svirski was not mistaken. In fact, Pani Mashko found pleasure in +the rôle of a self-sacrificing daughter. But that itself was very much, +since such a satisfaction flowed still from real attachment to her +mother, and because at sight of her misfortune something was roused in +the woman, something quivered. At the same time Svirski did not wish, +or did not know how, to draw this further conclusion from his thoughts: +that as in the domain of the toilet a woman in addition to a new hat +needs a new cloak, a new dress, new gloves, so in the domain of good +deeds once she has taken up something she wants to be fitted out anew +from head to foot. In this way the rebirth of a woman is never quite +impossible. + +Meanwhile they arrived at Pan Ignas's, who received them with delight; +because, for some time past, the sight of people gave him pleasure, as +it does usually to patients returning to life. When he had learned from +Svirski that the latter would go soon to Italy, he began to insist that +he should take him. + +"Ah, ha!" thought Svirski; "then somehow Panna Ratkovski is not in thy +head?" + +Pan Ignas declared that he had been thinking long of Italy; that +nowhere else would he write as there, under those impressions of art, +and those centuries crumbling into ruins entwined with ivy. He was +carried away and pleased by that thought; hence the honest Svirski +agreed without difficulty. + +"But," said he, "I cannot stay long there this time, for I have a +number of portraits to paint in this city; and, besides, I promised +Pan Stanislav to return to the christening." Then he turned to Pan +Stanislav,-- + +"Well, what is it finally, the christening of a son or a daughter?" + +"Let it be what it likes," answered Pan Stanislav, "if only, with God's +will, in good health." + +And while the other two began to plan the journey, he took farewell, +and went to his counting-house. He had a whole mail from the previous +day to look over, so, shutting himself in, he began to read letters, +and dictate to a writer in short-hand those which touched affairs +needing immediate transaction. After a while, however, a newly hired +servant interrupted his labor by announcing that some lady wished to +see him. + +Pan Stanislav was disturbed. It seemed to him, it is unknown why, +that this could be no other than Pani Mashko; and, foreseeing certain +explanations and scenes, his heart began to beat unquietly. + +Meanwhile the laughing and glad face of Marynia appeared in the door +most unexpectedly. + +"Ah, well, haven't I given a surprise?" inquired she. + +Pan Stanislav sprang up at sight of her, with a feeling of sudden and +immense delight, and, seizing her hands, began to kiss them, one after +the other. + +"But, my dear, this is really a surprise!" said he. "Whence did it come +to thy head to look in here?" + +And thus speaking, he pushed an armchair toward her, and seated her as +a dear and honored guest; from his radiant face it was evident what +pleasure her presence was giving him. + +"I have something curious to show thee," said Marynia; "and because I +must walk a good deal, anyhow, I came in. And thou, what didst thou +think? Whom didst thou look for? Own up, right away!" + +Thus speaking, she began to threaten him while laughing; but he +answered,-- + +"So much business is done here, in every case I didn't think it was +thou. What hast thou to show?" + +"See what a letter I have!" + + DEAR AND BELOVED LADY,--It will astonish you perhaps + that I turn to you; but you, who are to become a mother soon, are + the only person on earth who will understand what must take place + in the heart of a mother--even if she is only an aunt--who sees + her child's unhappiness. Believe me it is a question for me of + nothing else than bringing even temporary relief to an unhappy + child; and it interests me the more, that in all this that has + happened I myself am to blame chiefly. Perhaps these words too + will astonish you, but it is the case. I am to blame. If a bad + and spoilt man, at the moment when Nitechka was tottering and + losing her balance, dared to touch her with his unworthy lips, I + should not have lost my head and sacrificed the child. Indeed, + Yozio Osnovski is to blame too: he put the question of marriage + on a sharp knife; he suspected something and wanted to rid his + house of Kopovski. May God forgive him, for it is not proper to + defend one's self at the cost of another's happiness and life. + My dear lady! it seemed to me at the first moment that the only + issue was marriage with the unworthy Kopovski, and that Nitechka + had no longer the right to become the wife of Ignas. I wrote even + purposely to Ignas that she followed the impulse of her heart, + and that she would give her hand to Kopovski with attachment; and + I thought that in this way Ignas would bear the loss of her more + easily, and I wanted to decrease his pain. Nitechka for Kopovski! + The merciful God did not permit that; and when I too saw that that + union would have been death for Nitechka, we were thinking only of + this, how to be free of those bonds. It is no longer a question + for me of returning to former relations, for Nitechka too has lost + faith in people and in life, so that probably she would never be + willing to agree to a return. She does not even know that I am + writing this letter. If the beloved lady had seen how Nitechka + has paid for all this with her health, and how terribly she felt + the act of Pan Ignas, she would have pitied her. Pan Ignas should + not have done what he has done, even out of regard for Nitechka; + alas! men in such cases count only with their own wishes. She is + as much to blame in all this as a newly born infant; but I see how + she melts before my eyes, and how from morning till evening she is + grieving because she was the unconscious cause of his misfortune, + and might have broken his life. Yesterday, with tears in her eyes, + she begged me in case of her death to be a mother to Ignas, and to + watch over him as over my own son. Every day she says that maybe + he is cursing her, and my heart is breaking, for the doctor says + that he answers for nothing if her condition continues. O God of + mercy! but come to the aid of a despairing mother; let me know + even from time to time something about Ignas, or rather write to + me that he is well, that he is calm, that he has forgotten her, + that he is not cursing her, so that I might show her that letter + and bring her even a little relief from her torture. I feel that + I am writing only in half consciousness, but you will understand + what is taking place in me, when I look on that unhappy sacrifice. + God will reward you and I will pray every day that your daughter, + if God gives you a daughter, be happier than my poor Nitechka. + +"What is thy thought about that?" inquired Marynia. + +"I think," said Pan Stanislav, "that news of the change in Pan Ignas's +fortune has spread rather widely; and second, I think that this letter, +sent to your address, is directed really to Ignas." + +"That may be. It is not an honest letter; but still they may be very +unhappy." + +"It is certain that their position cannot be pleasant. Osnovski was +right when he wrote that there is even for Pani Bronich an immense +disappointment in all this, and that she is trying vainly to deceive +herself. As for Panna Castelli, you know what Svirski told me? I do not +repeat to thee his words literally; but he said that now only a fool, +or a man without moral value, would marry her. They understand this +themselves, and certainly it is not pleasant for them. Perhaps, too, +conscience is speaking; but still, see how many dodges there are in +that letter. Do not show it to Ignas." + +"No, I will not," answered Marynia, whose warmest wishes were on the +side of Panna Ratkovski. + +And Pan Stanislav, following the thought which was digging into him +for some time past, repeated to her, word for word almost, what he had +repeated to himself,-- + +"There is a certain logic which punishes, and they are harvesting +what they sowed. Evil, like a wave, is thrown back from the shore and +returns." + +Hereupon Marynia began to draw figures on the floor with her parasol, +as if meditating on something; then, raising her clear eyes to her +husband, she said,-- + +"It is true, my Stas, that evil returns; but it may return, too, as +remorse and sorrow. In that case the Lord God is satisfied with such +penance, and punishes no further." + +If Marynia had known what was troubling him, and wanted to soften his +suffering, and console the man, she could not have found anything +better than those few simple words. For some time Pan Stanislav had +been oppressed by a foreboding that some misfortune must meet him, and +he was in ceaseless fear of it. From her only did he learn that his +sorrow and remorse might be that returning wave. Yes, he had had no +little remorse, and sorrow had not been wanting in him; he felt, too, +that if suffering might and could be a satisfaction, he would be ready +to suffer twice as grievously. Now a desire took him to seize in his +arms that woman full of simplicity and honesty, from whom so much good +came to him; and if he did not do so, it was only from fear of emotions +for her, and out of regard for her condition, and that indecision +which fettered him in his relations with her. But he raised her hand to +his lips, and said,-- + +"Thou art right, and art very kind." + +She, pleased with the praise, smiled at him, and began to prepare for +home. + +When she had gone, Pan Stanislav went to the window, and followed her +with his eyes. From afar he saw her curved form advancing with heavy +step, her dark hair peeping from under her hat; and in that moment he +felt with new force, greater than ever, that she was the dearest person +in the world to him, and that he loved her only, and would love her +till his death. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + + +Two days later Pan Stanislav received a note from Mashko, containing a +few words of farewell. + + "I go to-day," wrote he. "I shall try absolutely to run in once + more to thee; but in every case I bid thee farewell, and thank + thee for all proofs of friendship which thou hast shown me. May + the Lord God prosper thee better than He has prospered me so far! + I should like to see thee, even for a moment; and if I can, I + shall run in about four o'clock. Meanwhile I repeat the request to + remember my wife, and protect her a little when people drop her. I + pray thee also to defend me before her against people's tongues. I + am going to Berlin at nine in the evening, and quite openly. Till + we meet again I and in every case, be well,--and once more, thanks + for everything. + + "MASHKO." + +Pan Stanislav went to the counting-house about four, but he waited +beyond an hour in vain. "He will not come," thought he, at last; "so +much the better." And he went home with the feeling of satisfaction +that he had succeeded in avoiding a disagreeable meeting. But in the +evening a species of pity for Mashko began to move him: he thought that +the man had gone by a bad and feverish road, it is true; but he had had +his fill of torment and tearing, and in the end had paid dearly; that +all which had happened was to be foreseen long before; and if those who +foresaw it had associated with him, and received him at their houses, +they ought not to show him contempt in the day of his downfall. He +knew, too, that he should give Mashko pleasure by his appearance at the +station; and after a moment of hesitation he went. + +On the road he remembered that likely he should find Pani Mashko, +too, at the station; but he knew that in any event he must meet her, +and he judged that to withdraw because of her would be a kind of vain +cowardice. With these thoughts he went to the station. + +In the hall of the first class, which is not large, there were several +persons, and on the tables whole piles of travelling-cases, but nowhere +could he see Mashko; and only after he had looked around carefully did +he recognize in a young veiled lady, sitting in one corner of the +hall, Pani Mashko. + +"Good-evening," said he, approaching her. "I have come to say good-by +to your husband. Where is he?" + +She bowed slightly, and answered, with the thin, cold voice usual to +her,-- + +"My husband is buying tickets." + +"How tickets? Are you going with him?" + +"No; my husband is buying a ticket." + +Further conversation under these conditions seemed rather difficult; +but, after a while, Mashko appeared in company with a railway servant, +to whom he gave the ticket and money, with the order to check the +baggage. Wearing a long travelling overcoat and a soft silk cap, he +looked, with his side whiskers and gold glasses, like some travelling +diplomat. Pan Stanislav deceived himself, too, in thinking that Mashko +would show uncommon delight at his coming. Mashko, when he saw him, +said, it is true, "Oh, how thankful I am that thou hast come!" but, +as it were, with a kind of indifference, and with the hurry usual to +people who are going on a journey. + +"Everything is checked," said he, looking around the hall. "But where +are my hand packages? Ah, here they are! Good!" + +Then he turned to Pan Stanislav, and said,-- + +"I thank thee for having come. But do me still one kindness, and +conduct my wife home; or, at least, go out with her, and help her to +find a carriage. Terenia, Pan Polanyetski will take thee home. My dear +friend, come one moment; I have something more to say to thee." + +And, taking Pan Stanislav aside, he began to speak feverishly,-- + +"Take her home without fail. I have given a plausible form to my +journey; but do thou say to her, so, in passing, that thou art +surprised that I am going such a short time before the calling of the +will case, for if any event should detain me, the case must be lost. +I wanted to go to thy house just to ask this of thee; but, as thou +knowest, on the day of a journey--The case will come up in a week. +I shall fall ill; my place will be taken by my assistant, a young +advocate, a beginner, and of course he will lose. But the affair will +be plausible through my illness. I have secured my wife; everything +is in her name, and they will not take one glass from her. I have a +plan which I shall lay before a shipbuilding company in Antwerp. If +I make a contract, timber will rise in price throughout this whole +country; but who knows, in that case, if I shall not return, for the +whole affair of Ploshov is a trifle in comparison with this business? I +cannot speak more in detail. Were it not for the grievous moments which +my wife must pass, I should keep regret away; but that just throttles +me." + +Here he touched his throat with his hand, and then spoke still more +hurriedly,-- + +"Misfortune fell on me; but misfortune may fall on any man. For that +matter, it is too late to speak of this. What has been, has been; but +I did what I could, and I shall do yet what I can. And this, too, is a +relief to me,--that thou wilt get thy own even from Kremen. If I had +time to tell thee what I have in mind, thou couldst see that it would +not come to the head of every man. Maybe I shall have business even +with thy firm. I do not give up, as thou seest--I have secured my wife +perfectly. Well, it's over, it's over! Another in my place might have +ended worse. Might he not? But let us return to my wife now." + +Pan Stanislav listened to Mashko's words with a certain pain. He +wondered, it is true, at his mental fertility; but at the same time +he felt that in him there was lacking that balance which makes the +difference between a man of enterprise and an enterprising adventurer. +It seemed to him, too, that there was in Mashko already something of +the future worn-out trickster, who will struggle for a long time yet, +but who, with his plans, will be falling lower and lower till he ends, +with boots worn on one side, in a second-rate coffee-house, telling, in +a circle of the same kind of "broken men," of his former greatness. He +thought, also, that the cause of all this was a life resting to begin +with on untruth; and that Mashko, with all his intelligence, can never +work himself out of the fetters of falsehood. + +See, he pretends yet, and even before his wife. He had to do so; but +when the hall began to fill with people, some acquaintances stepped up +to greet the two men, and exchange a couple of such hurried phrases +as are used at railroads. Mashko answered them with such a tinge of +loftiness and favor that anger seized Pan Stanislav. "And to think," +said he, "that he is fleeing from his creditors! What would happen were +that man to reach fortune?" + +But now the bell sounded, and beyond the window was heard the hurried +breath of the engine. People began to move about and hasten. + +"I am curious to know what is going on in him now?" thought Pan +Stanislav. + +But even at that moment Mashko could not free himself from the bonds +of lying. Maybe his heart was straitened by an evil foreboding: maybe +he had a gleam of second sight, that that wife whom he loved he should +never see again; that he was going to want, to contempt, to fall; but +it was not permitted him to show what he felt, or even to say farewell +to his wife as he wished. + +The second bell sounded. They went out on the platform, and Mashko +stood still a wile before the sleeping-car. The gleam of the lamp +fell directly on his face, on which two small wrinkles appeared near +the month. But he spoke calmly, with the tone of a man whom business +constrains to a few days' absence, but who is sure that he will return. + +"Well, till we meet again, Terenia! Kiss mamma'a hands for me, and be +well. Till we meet, till we meet!" + +Thus speaking, he raised her hand, which, moreover he kept long at his +lips. Pan Stanislav, going aside a little by design, thought,-- + +"They see each other now for the last time. In some half year a +separation in form will follow." + +And the peculiar lot of those two women struck him, the same for mother +and daughter. Both married with great appearances of brilliancy; and +the husbands of both had to run away from their domestic hearths, +leaving only shame to their wives. + +But now the bell sounded the third time. Mashko entered. For a while, +in the wide pane of the sleeping-car, his side whiskers were visible, +and his gold-rimmed eye-glasses; then the train pushed out into +darkness. + +"I am at your service," said Pan Stanislav to Pani Mashko. + +He was almost certain that she would thank him dryly for his society, +and reject it; he was even angry, for the reason that he had determined +to tell her not only something about her husband, but something from +himself. But she inclined her head in agreement; she, too, had her +plan. So much bitter dislike for Pan Stanislav and such a feeling of +offence had been rising in her heart for a long time, that, thinking +him likely to take advantage again of a moment which they were to pass +together, she determined to give him a slap which he would remember for +many a day. + +But she was mistaken altogether. First, through her he had been +crushed as ice is crushed against a cliff, and therefore for some time +he had felt for her not only dislike, but even hatred. Second, if +later, through a feeling of conviction that the fault was on his side +exclusively, that hatred had passed, then he had changed so much that +he had become almost entirely another man. His mercantile reckoning +with himself had taught him that such transgressions are paid for too +dearly; he was in a phase of immense desire for a life without deceit; +and finally remorse and sorrow had eaten up desire in him as rust eats +up iron. When assisting her into the carriage, and when he touched her +shoulder, he remained calm; and when he had taken his seat, he began +at once to speak of Mashko, for he judged that through a feeling of +humanity alone he ought to prepare her for the coming catastrophe, and +soften its significance. + +"I wonder at the daring of your husband," said he. "Let one bridge fall +on the road during his stay in Berlin, he will not be able to return to +the will case, on which, as you know, of course, all his fate depends. +He must have gone for important reasons; but it is always hazardous to +act thus." + +"The bridges are strong," answered Pani Mashko. + +But he, unconquered by that not over-encouraging answer, spoke on, +drawing aside before her gradually the curtain of the future; and +he spoke so long that while he was talking they arrived before the +Mashko dwelling. Then she, not understanding the meaning of his words +evidently, and angry, perhaps, that she had not had the chance to give +him the intended blow, said, when she had stepped out of the carriage,-- + +"Had you any personal object in disquieting me?" + +"No," answered Pan Stanislav, who saw that the moment had come to tell +her that which he had resolved to say from himself. "In relation to +you, I have only one object,--to declare that, with reference to you, +I have offended unworthily, and that from my whole soul I beg your +pardon." + +But the young woman went into her house without answering a single +word. Pan Stanislav, to the end of his life, did not know whether that +was the silence of hatred or forgiveness. + +Still he returned home with a certain encouragement, for it seemed to +him that he ought to have acted thus. In his eyes that was a small act +of penitence; it was all one to him how Pani Mashko understood him. +"Maybe she judged," said he to himself, "that I begged pardon of her +for my subsequent treatment; in every case I shall be able to look her +more boldly in the eyes now." + +And in that thought of his there was undoubtedly some selfishness; but +there was also the will to escape from the toils. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + + +Panna Helena, also, before her departure, received a letter from Pani +Bronich, in the style of that which Marynia had received, and, like +Marynia, she did not show it to Pan Ignas. Besides, Pan Ignas went away +with Svirski a week later without visiting any acquaintance except +Panna Ratkovski. Svirski, in person, kept him from all visits; and Pan +Stanislav, in conversations with his wife, declared that he had acted +rightly. "At present," said he, "it would be disagreeable both for +Ignas, and for us. Those who saw him every day are different, for they +are used to him; but no one else could refrain from looking at the scar +which is left on his forehead. Besides, Ignas has changed very much. +During the journey he will recover perfectly; on his return we shall +receive him as if nothing had happened; and strangers will see in him, +above all, a wealthy young lord." + +And it might have been so in reality. But meanwhile, there was +loneliness around the Polanyetskis, because of that departure. Their +circle of acquaintances had scattered on all sides. Osnovski remained +still in Brussels; where Pani Aneta had gone no one knew. Pani Bronich +and Panna Castelli were in Paris; there was no one at Yasmen. Pani +Kraslavski and her daughter shut themselves in, and lived only for each +other; and finally sickness had confined to her bed poor Pani Emilia, +once and forever. + +There remained only the Bigiels and the professor. But he was sick, +too, and, moreover, he had become so peculiar that strangers considered +him a lunatic. Some said with a certain irony that a man who thinks +that the spirit of Christianity will penetrate into politics as it +has into private life, must be indeed of sound mind. He began himself +to think about death, and to make preparations for it. Frequently he +repeated to Pan Stanislav his desire to die "in the ante-chamber to the +other world," and in view of that was preparing for Rome. But since he +loved Marynia greatly, he wished to wait till after her sickness. + +In this way time passed in great seclusion for the Polanyetskis. It was +for that matter necessary for Marynia, who in recent days had felt very +ill, and necessary for her state of feeling. Pan Stanislav worked over +business in the counting-house, and over himself; he was working out in +himself a new man, and watching over his wife. She, too, was preparing +herself for a new epoch in life; and she was preparing herself gladly, +for it seemed to her that what she did would act upon both of them. Pan +Stanislav became daily less absolute in some way, more condescending +in his judgments of people, and milder, not only in relation to her, +but in relation to all persons with whom life brought him into contact. +He surrounded her with exceptional, with thoughtful care; and though +she supposed that this care had in view not so much her person as +the child, she recognized this as proper, and was grateful. She was +astonished at times by a kind of timidity and, as it were, hesitation +in his treatment of her; but not being able to divine that he was +simply curbing his feeling for her, she ascribed such exhibitions to +"Stas's" fear as to whether all would end well in her case. + +Whole weeks passed in this manner. Their monotony was broken sometimes +by a letter from Svirski, who, when he could seize a free moment, +reported what he could of himself and Pan Ignas. In one of those +letters he inquired in Pan Ignas's name if Pani Polanyetski would +permit him to send a description of his impressions in the form of +letters to her. "I spoke with him of this in detail," wrote Svirski. +"He contends first that it might be agreeable to the lady to have +echoes from a land which has left her so many pleasant memories; and +second, that it would lighten his work greatly were he to write as if +privately. He is well; he walks, eats, and sleeps perfectly. Every +evening I see too that he sits at his desk and prepares to write. I +concluded that he was trying poetry, also. Somehow it does not succeed, +for he has not written anything yet, so far as I know. I suppose, +however, that all will come out by degrees, and in season. Meanwhile +the form of letters would lighten his work, perhaps, really. I will add +in conclusion that he mentions Panna Helena with immense gratitude; and +at every mention of Panna Ratkovski, his eyes become bright. I speak of +her to him frequently, for what can I, poor man, do? When anything is +not predestined, there is no help in the case; and when it is written +down to a man that he must remain like a stake in a hedge, he will not +put forth leaves in spring even." + +In the middle of November a letter came from Rome, which roused much +thought in the Polanyetskis. Svirski wrote as follows:-- + + "Imagine to yourselves that Pani Bronich is here and Panna + Castelli, and that I have had an interview with them. In Rome I + am as if at home; hence I learned of their coming on the second + day. And do you know what I did immediately? I persuaded Ignas to + go to Sicily, in which, moreover, I found no great difficulty. I + thought to myself, 'he will sit in Syracuse or in Taormina; and + if by chance he falls into the hands of the Mafia the cost of + his ransom will be less than what he paid for the privilege of + wearing Panna Nitechka's ring for a short time.' I said to myself, + 'if he and she are to meet on earth and be reconciled, let them + meet and be reconciled; but I have no wish to take that work on + my conscience, especially after what has happened.' Ignas is well + to all seeming; but he has not recovered yet mentally, and in + that state he might be brought easily to something which he would + regret for a lifetime. As to those ladies, I divined at once why + they came here, and I was delighted in soul that I had hindered + their tricks; that my supposition was to the point is shown by + this, that some days later a letter came to Ignas, on which I + recognized the handwriting of the widow of that heaven-dwelling + Teodor. I wrote on the envelope that Pan Ignas had gone away, it + was unknown whither, and sent the letter retro. + + "That, however, was only the beginning of the history. Next + morning I received a letter with an invitation to a talk. I + answered that I must refuse with regret; that my occupations do + not permit me to give myself such a pleasure. In answer to this, + I received a second letter with an appeal to my character, my + talent, my descent, my heart, my sympathy for an unhappy woman: + and with the prayer that I should either go myself, or appoint + an hour in my studio. There was no escape,--I went. Pani Bronich + herself received me with tears, and a whole torrent of narratives + which I shall not repeat, but in which 'Nitechka' appears as + a Saint Agnes the martyr. 'With what can I serve,' ask I? She + answers: 'It is not a question of anything, but a kind word from + Pan Ignas. The child is sick, she is coughing, in all likelihood + she will not live the year out; but she wants to die with a word + of forgiveness.' At this I confess that I was softened a little, + but I held out. Moreover, I could not give the address of Pan + Ignas, for I did not know really at what hotel he had stopped. I + was sweating as in a steam bath; and at last I promised something + in general, that if Ignas would begin at any time to talk with + me about Panna Castelli, that I would persuade him to act in + accordance with the wish of Pani Bronich. + + "But this was not all yet. When I was thinking of going, Panna + Lineta herself rushed in on a sudden, and turned to her aunt + with the request to let her talk with me alone. I will say in + parenthesis that she has grown thin, and that she seems taller + than usual, really like 'a poplar,' which any wind might break. + Hardly were we left alone when she turned to me and said, 'Aunt + is trying to make me innocent, and is doing so through love for + me. I am thankful to her; but I cannot endure it, and I declare to + you that I am guilty, that I am not worthy of anything, and that + if I am unhappy I have deserved it a hundred times.' When I heard + this I was astonished; but I saw that she was talking sincerely, + for her lips were quivering and her eyes were mist-covered. You + may say to yourselves that I have a heart made of butter; but I + confess that I was moved greatly, and I inquired what I could + do for her. To this she answered that I could do nothing; but + she begged me to believe at least that she took no part in those + efforts of her aunt to renew relations, that after Pan Ignas's + act her eyes were opened to what she had done, and that she would + never forget it in her life. At last she said once again, that she + alone was the cause of everything, and begged me to repeat our + conversation to Pan Ignas, not immediately, however, but only when + he could not suspect that she wished to influence him. + + "Well, and what do you think? Would you lend belief to anything + like that? I see clearly two things, first, that Pan Ignas's + attempt on his life, happen what may, must have shaken her + terribly; and second, that she is fabulously unhappy,--who knows, + she may be sick really. So the opinion of Panna Helena comes to my + mind, who, as you repeated to me, says that we must not despair of + a man while he is living. In every case it is something uncommon. + I believe too that even if Pan Ignas wished now to return to her, + she would not consent, simply because she does not feel that she + is worthy of him. As to me, I think that there are many better and + nobler female natures than hers in the world; but may the deuce + take me if I act against her!" + +In continuation Svirski inquired about health, and sent obeisances to +the Bigiels. + +This letter made a great impression on all, and was the occasion of +numerous discussions between the Polanyetskis and the Bigiels. It +appeared at once too how far Pan Stanislav was changed. Formerly he +would not have found words enough to condemn Panna Castelli, and never +would he have believed that any chord of honor would make itself heard +in a woman of her kind; but at present, when Pani Bigiel, who, as well +as the other ladies, belonged soul and body to Panna Ratkovski's side, +expressed doubts, and said, "Is not that merely a change of tactics on +the part of Panna Castelli?" he said,-- + +"No; she is too young for that, and she seems to me sincere. It is a +great thing if she acknowledges her fault so unconditionally, for it +proves that untruth in life has disgusted her." + +After a moment's hesitation, he added,-- + +"I remember, for example, that more than once Mashko acknowledged, as +it were, that he was going by a wrong and false road; but right away +he sought reasons to justify himself: 'With us it is necessary to do +so;' 'That is the fault of our society;' 'I pay with the money that +is current.' How much of this have I heard! And that was all untrue, +too. Meanwhile there is a certain bravery in declaring, It is my fault +absolutely. And whoso has that bravery has something left yet." + +"Then do you judge that Pan Ignas would do well to return to her?" + +"I do not judge at all, nor do I suppose that it could happen." + +But the living interest roused by news from Rome, together with anxiety +for Pan Ignas and Panna Castelli, passed away soon, under the pressure +of a more important anxiety, which was hanging over the house of the +Polanyetskis. + +Toward the end of November Marynia's health began to fail evidently. +It had been failing for some time, but she concealed this fact as +long as possible. A painful palpitation of the heart came on her, and +weakness so great that there were days when she could not move out of +an armchair. Next came pains in her back and giddiness. In the course +of a week she changed so much in the eyes, and grew thin to such a +degree, that even the doctors, who up to that time had considered those +symptoms as the ordinary forerunners of approaching labor, began to be +alarmed at them. Her transparent face assumed at times a bluish tinge; +and seemed, especially when the sick woman kept her eyes closed, like +the face of a dead person. Even Pani Bigiel, the greatest optimist near +Marynia, could not at last resist fears; the doctor declared to Pan +Stanislav plainly that under such conditions the expected event might +be dangerous, both in itself and in sequences. Marynia, though weaker +every day and more exhausted, was indeed the only one who did not lose +hope now. + +But Pan Stanislav lost it. Such a grievous time came on him that all +sufferings and misfortunes which hitherto in life he had gone through +seemed to him nothing in comparison with his terrible dread, which +often and often became utter despair. Formerly after his wedding, +in his conceptions of marriage and his hopes of the future, a child +was the main thing; now for the first time he felt that he would give +not only one, but all the children that he could ever have, to save +that one beloved Marynia. And his heart was cut when at times Marynia +repeated with her weakened voice the question which before she had +asked more than once, "Stas, but if it is a boy?" He would have been +glad to fall at her feet, embrace them, and say, "Let the devil take +it, boy or girl, if only thou art left;" but he had to smile at her, +and assure her calmly that it was all one to him. His former terrors +fell upon him again; and that hope, roused by Marynia's words, that +by God's favor a wave of evil returns as remorse only, was dissipated +without a trace. Now, at moments, he had again the feeling that +Marynia's sickness might be just that returning wave. How it might be +that wave he could not tell, for in vain did reason say to him that +between the offence of Pani Osnovski or of Panna Castelli, for example, +and the punishment which met them, there is an immediate connection +which there is not in his case. Fear answered him, that evil may filter +through life by such secret channels that the reason of man cannot +follow it. And at this thought a dread seized him that was simply +mysterious. A man in misfortune loses power of accurate reasoning; +he lives under the weight of terror, and under such a weight was Pan +Stanislav living. He saw only the precipice, and his own helplessness. +More than once, while looking at the haggard face of Marynia, he said +to himself, "One must be mad to suppose that she may not die;" and he +sought desperately on the faces of those surrounding her for even a +shade of hope, and with every drop of his blood, with every atom of his +brain, with his whole soul and heart, he rose up against her death. +It seemed to him an inconceivable injustice that she will have to +close her eyes forever before he can show her how he loves her beyond +every estimate; before he rewards her for all his carelessness, harsh +treatment, egotism, and faithlessness; before he tells her that she +has become the soul of his soul, something not only loved above all in +his life, but revered. He repeated to himself that if God would not do +this for him He ought to do it for her, so that in going from the world +she might leave it with a feeling at least of that happiness which she +had deserved. From these insolent suggestions to God of how He ought +to act, he passed again to compunction, to humility, and to prayer. +But meanwhile Marynia was daily more and more dangerously ill, and he, +between two despairs, one of which shouted, "This cannot be," and the +other, "It must be,"--he struggled as if in a vice. + +Finally, from necessity, from the fear of taking hope from Marynia, he +was forced to pretend in her presence that he paid little attention +to her sickness. And the doctor and Pani Bigiel warned him daily not +to alarm her; his own reason indicated the same to him. And here was +a new torture, since it came to his mind that she might look on this +as a lack of feeling, and die with the conviction that he had never +loved her. Thus everything was changed in him utterly. Sleeplessness, +torment, and alarm brought him to a kind of sickly exaltation, in which +even the danger, which of itself was too evident, he saw in a still +higher degree. It seemed to him that there was no hope, and at times he +thought of Marynia as if already dead. For whole days he was thinking +over every good point of her character,--her words, her kindness, her +calmness. He remembered how all loved her, and he reproached himself +desperately, saying that he had never been worthy of her, that he had +not loved her sufficiently, that he had not valued her enough, and, to +crown all, had broken faith with her; and therefore he must lose her, +and lose her deservedly. + +And in the feeling that a thing so terrible was also deserved, and that +it was too late for any correction, was something simply heart-rending. +Even persons who during life were always loved greatly, when they go +from this world, leaving their friends in sorrow because they did not +love the departed enough, leave behind, of all sorrows, that which is +sorest. + +At the beginning of December, Svirski and Pan Ignas returned, after +two months' journey, from Italy. Pan Stanislav had grown so thin and +haggard in that interval that they hardly knew him; and he, quite +sunk in misery, turned scarcely any attention to them, and listened +as in a dream to words of hope and consolation from both, as well as +narratives, with which the honest artist tried to divert his suffering +mind. What did he care now for Pan Ignas, Pani Bronich, Panna Castelli, +in face of the fact that Marynia might die any day? Svirski, who had +immense friendship for him, wishing to find from some point a little +hope, betook himself to Pani Bigiel; but even she had not much hope to +offer. The doctors themselves did not know well what the trouble was, +for to her condition were added various complications, which could not +be defined even. It was only known that the heart of the sick woman +acted irregularly; they feared above all that, as a result of defective +circulation, some coagulation in the veins might result, which would +cause sudden death. Besides, even in case of a happy delivery, they +feared a number of things,--exhaustion, loss of strength, and all +those results which come only later. Svirski convinced himself that +Pani Bigiel did not deceive herself either when, at the end of the +conversation, she fell into tears, and said,-- + +"Poor Marynia! but he, poor man too. If even a child should be left +him, he might find strength to bear the blow." + +And when she had dried her tears, she added,-- + +"As it is, I do not understand how he endures it all." + +That was true; Pan Stanislav did not eat and did not sleep. He had +not shown himself at the counting-house for a long time; he went out +only for flowers, which Marynia loved always, and the sight of which +cheered her. But she was so sick that whenever he went for a bunch +of chrysanthemums he returned with the terrible thought that perhaps +he was bringing it for her coffin. Marynia's own eyes opened to +this,--that perhaps her death was coming. She did not wish to speak of +this to her husband; but before Pani Bigiel she fell to weeping one +day in grief for her own life and for "Stas." She was tortured by the +thought, how would he bear it, for she wanted that he should be awfully +sorry for her, and at the same time, that he should not suffer much. +Before him she pretended yet a long time to feel sure that all would +end happily. + +But later, when fainting spells came, she summoned courage to talk with +him openly; this seemed to her a duty. Therefore one night, when Pani +Bigiel, overcome by drowsiness, went to sleep, and he was watching near +her as usual, she stretched her hand to him, and said,-- + +"Stas, I wanted to talk with thee, and beg for one thing." + +"What is it, my love?" asked Pan Stanislav. + +She thought for a time evidently how to express her prayer; and then +she began to speak,-- + +"Promise me--I know that I shall recover surely--but promise me that +should it be a boy, thou wilt love and be kind." + +Pan Stanislav, by a superhuman effort, restrained the sobbing which +seized his breast, and said calmly,-- + +"My dear love, I will always love thee and him, be sure." + +Thereupon Marynia tried to raise his hand to her lips, but from +weakness she was not able to do so; then she smiled at him from +thankfulness. And again she said, "Do not think that I suppose for a +moment anything terrible, not at all! but I should like to confess." + +A shiver went through Pan Stanislav from head to feet. + +"Well, my child," answered he, with a voice of fear, and as it were not +his own voice. + +And, recollecting that once her expression "service of God" pleased +him, and wishing to let him know that it was not the question of +anything else here but the performance of ordinary religious duties, +she repeated, with an almost glad smile,-- + +"The service of God." + +The confession took place next morning. Pan Stanislav was so sure that +that was the end that he was almost astonished because Marynia was +alive yet, and because she was even a little better in the evening. + +He did not dare to admit hope into his soul. But she became brighter, +and said that she breathed more easily. About midnight she began the +usual warfare with him about his going to rest. Indeed, from trouble +of mind and toil he looked not much better than she did. He refused at +first, contending that he had slept in the daytime, and that he was +refreshed, which was not true; but she insisted absolutely. He yielded +all the more that there was a special woman and Pani Bigiel, besides +the doctor, who for a week had slept in their house, and who assured +him now that for the time there was no reason to expect any turn for +the worse. + +But when he went out, he did as he did usually; that is, he sat in an +armchair at the door, and began to listen to what was happening in +the room. In this way the hours of night passed. At the least noise +he sprang up; but when the noise ceased he sat down again and began +to think hurriedly and chaotically, as people do over whom danger is +hanging. But at times his thoughts pressed one another, grew confused +from weariness, forming, as it were, a dense crowd in which he was +wandering without power to know anything. Sleep also tortured him. He +had uncommon strength; but for ten days he knew not how he lived. Only +black coffee and feverishness kept him on his feet. He did not yield +even then, though his head was as heavy as lead and the crowd of his +thoughts changed, as it were, into a black cloud, without a clear spot. +He merely repeated to himself yet that Marynia was sick and he ought +not to fall asleep; but these words had not the least meaning for him +now. + +At last toil, exhaustion, and sleepless nights conquered. A stony +invincible sleep seized him,--a sleep in which there was no dreaming, +in which reality perished, in which the whole world perished, and in +which life itself was benumbed. + +He was only roused toward morning by a knocking at the door. + +"Pan Stanislav!" called the smothered voice of Pani Bigiel. + +He sprang to his feet, and, gaining consciousness that moment, ran out +of that room. With one glance he took in Marynia's bed; and at sight of +the closed curtains his feet tottered under him. + +"What has happened?" whispered he, with whitening lips. + +But Pani Bigiel answered with a voice equally low, panting a trifle,-- + +"You have a son." + +And she put her finger on her lips. + + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + + +There were grievous days yet, and very grievous. Such weakness came on +Marynia that her life began to quiver, like the flame of a taper. Would +it quench, or would it flicker up again? At moments all were convinced +that the flame was just, just dying. Still youth, and the relief +brought by the coming of a child to the world, turned the scale on +the life side. On a certain day the sick woman woke after long sleep, +and seemed healthier. The old doctor in attendance, who witnessed the +improvement, wished to convince himself more clearly that there was +no deception, and asked to call in a physician with whom he had held +counsel earlier. Pan Stanislav went to find him, and drove himself out +of his mind almost while searching the city half a day for him; he did +not dare hope yet that that turn in her sickness and in his misfortune +was decisive. When at last he found the hunted doctor and brought him +to the house, Pani Bigiel received him in the room adjoining the sick +chamber, with moist eyelids, but with a glad face, and said,-- + +"She is better! decidedly better." + +The woman could not say more, for tears flowed from her eyes. Pan +Stanislav grew pale from emotion; but she controlled her delight with +an effort, and said, smiling through her tears,-- + +"She is fighting for food now. A while since she asked to have the +child brought. She asked also why you did not come. But now she is +fighting for food; and how she is fighting! Ah, praise be to God! +Praise be to God!" + +And in her excitement she threw her arms around Pan Stanislav; then he +kissed her hand and did not take it from his mouth for a long time. He +trembled in every limb in the struggle to repress his delight, and also +the groans which had gathered in him through many days of dread and +torture, and which sought to burst forth now in spite of every effort. + +Meanwhile the doctors came to Marynia, and sat rather long at her +bedside. When the consultation was over, and they appeared again, +satisfaction was evident on their faces. After Pan Stanislav's +feverish inquiry, the doctor in regular attendance, an impetuous old +man, with gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, and a golden heart in his +breast, happy himself now, but greatly wearied, said, grumbling,-- + +"How is she? Go and thank God,--that is what!" + +And Pan Stanislav went. Even had he been a man without belief, he would +have gone at that moment, and thanked God with a heart swollen from +tears and thankfulness, for having taken pity on him and let the wave +return in the guise of pain and suffering, and not in the guise of +death. + +Later, when he had calmed himself, he went on tiptoe to his wife's +room, where Pani Bigiel was. Marynia was gazing straight ahead with +gladsome eyes, and at the first glance it was evident that she was much +better really. When she saw him, she said,-- + +"Ah, see, Stas--I am well!" + +"Well, my love," answered Pan Stanislav, quietly. It was not time yet +for outbursts; therefore he sat down in silence near her bed. But after +a while joy and great feeling for her overcame him so far that, bending +down, he embraced with both hands her feet covered with the quilt, and, +putting his face down to them, remained motionless. + +And she, though very weak yet, smiled with satisfaction. She looked +some time at him; then, just like a child which is happy because it is +fondled, she said to Pani Bigiel, pointing with her transparent finger +to that dark head nestled at her feet,-- + +"He loves me!" + +Next day Marynia felt still stronger, and from that moment almost +every hour brought improvement. At last that was not a gradual return +to health, but a bloom, as it were, a sudden return of spring after +winter, which astonished the doctor himself. Pan Stanislav wanted at +moments to shout from the joy which was stifling him, as formerly +sorrow had stifled. They kept Marynia in bed still, through excess +of caution; but when her strength, her bloom, her wish for life, her +humor, had returned, she began to call people to her, and say every +evening that she would rise from her bed on the morrow. In one respect +only the long illness and weakness had brought a change in her manner, +which was to pass, however, with other traces of sickness. This was +it,--she, who had been such a calm and wise woman formerly, had become +for a certain time a kind of spoiled child, who insisted on various +things frequently, and felt a real disappointment if they were refused. +Pan Stanislav, in speaking with her, entered involuntarily into her +tone, hence those "grimaces" were an occasion also of merriment. + +Once she began to complain to him that Pani Bigiel would not give her +red wine. Pani Bigiel explained that she gave as much as the doctor +permitted, and must wait for permission to give more. Pan Stanislav set +about comforting Marynia at once, speaking to her just as he used to +speak formerly to Litka,-- + +"They will give the child wine,--they will give it!--the moment the +doctor comes." + +To which Marynia said, "Red!" + +"But how red must it be!" answered Pan Stanislav; and then both began +to laugh, and Pani Bigiel with them. As some time before, the fear of +death and misfortune had hung over that room, so now it was lighted +with frequent joy, as with sunlight. At times they fell into perfect +humor, and grandfather Plavitski formed part of the company too on +occasions. He, since the advent to the world of his grandson, had grown +full of patriarchal, but kindly importance, which did not drive away +merriment. It was varied, however, for at times a lofty and solemn +manner gained the upper hand in him. On a certain day he brought his +will, and forced all to listen to its paragraphs from beginning to end. +In the touching words of the introduction he took farewell of life, +of his daughter, of Pan Stanislav, and of his grandson, not sparing +directions regarding the education of the latter into a good grandson, +a good son, a good father, and a good citizen; then he made him heir +of all he possessed. And in spite of the fact that since Mashko's +bankruptcy he possessed only as much as Pan Stanislav gave him, still +he was moved by his own munificence and preserved all that evening the +mien of a pelican, which nourishes its young with its own proper blood. + +A person who returns to the world after a grievous illness passes +anew through all the periods of childhood and first youth, with this +difference only,--that that which formerly was counted by years is +counted now by weeks, or even days. So it was with Marynia. Pam Bigiel, +who at first called her "baby," said, in laughing, that gradually +"baby" had changed into a little girl, the little girl into a maiden. +But the maiden began to find her feminine coquetry. Now, when they +combed her hair, she insisted that they should place on her knees a +small mirror, which she had received from her mother; and she looked +into it carefully, to see if Pani Bigiel's promise that "afterward +she would be still more beautiful," was being justified. On the +first occasions the examinations did not satisfy her over-much, but +afterwards more and more. At last she gave command one day to bring +the mirror again, after her hair was dressed; and once more she made a +thorough review of her complexion, her eyes, her mouth, her hair, her +expression,--in a word, of everything which there was to look at. And +the review must have turned out well, for she began to smile, and grow +radiant; at last she turned toward Pan Stanislav's chamber, threatening +with her thin fist, and said, with a very aggressive mien,-- + +"But wait now, Pan Stas!" + +In truth, she had never been so comely. Her complexion, always very +pure, had become still clearer, and more lily-like than it was when Pan +Ignas had lost his head, and rhymed from morning till evening about +it. Besides, the first rosy dawn of health was shining on her cheeks. +From her eyes, from her mouth, from her face, which had grown smaller +after sickness, there shone a species of light, a rebirth into life, +a spring. It was a wonderful head simply, full of bright and clear +colors, and at the same time of delicate outline,--really exquisite, +and, as Pan Ignas had expressed himself once, belonging to the field, +so wonderful that at moments, when it was lying on the pillow, and on +its own dark hair, it was not possible to look at it sufficiently. That +so-called "Pan Stas," who saw everything clearly, and who, according to +the description of Bigiel, "could not move hand or foot from love," did +not need to "wait" at all. Not only did he love her now as a woman and +one dear to him, but he felt for her gratitude beyond bounds because +she had not died, and he showed his gratitude by striving to divine +her thoughts. Marynia had not even imagined at any time that she would +become to such a degree the motive of his life, the sight of his eye, +the soul of his thought and activity. Never had it been disagreeable +to them with each other; but now, with Marynia's return to health, an +unexampled happiness, an unexampled delight, came to their household. + +And young Polanyetski, too, contributed actively. Marynia was not able +to nourish him herself; and her husband, foreseeing this, got a nurse +for his son. Wishing, moreover, to give the sick woman pleasure, he +brought in an old acquaintance of hers in Kremen. She had served once +with the Plavitskis; after their departure she happened in Yalbrykov, +and there a misfortune befell her. It was never known strictly who +the cause was; but if it was possible to reproach any of the greater +proprietors with want of love for the people, it was not possible to +reproach Pan Gantovski, for all Yalbrykov was full of proofs of how +Gantovski loved the people. Even in the negotiations about peasant +privileges of the co-residents of Yalbrykov, among other points raised +was this,--that "the lord heir rides on a white horse, shoots from +pistols, and looks into the girls' eyes;" and if on the one hand +it was not easy to see what particular connection the above habits +of Gantovski had with the agreements about peasant privileges, it +became perfectly clear on the other that, thanks to those habits, Pan +Stanislav found with ease a nurse for his son in Yalbrykov. + +But as that was a youthful, vigorous, and buxom Mazovian, the young man +could only succeed in her care. In general, that little Polanyetski was +a personage who, from the first moment of his arrival in the world, +became more and more a lord in the house, not counting with any one, +nor thinking of anything, save his own wants and pleasures. According +to his method, in moments free from sleep and feasting, he occupied +himself with noise-making, and the development of his little lungs, by +means of a cry which was as piercing as his early age could attain. At +such times he was brought frequently to Marynia. On those occasions +endless sessions began, at which all his physical and mental traits +were investigated minutely, as well as every striking resemblance to +his life-givers. It was asserted that he had the nose of his mother, +the remark of his nurse, that he had a nose like a cat, being rejected +with remarkable unanimity; it was settled, also, that he would have an +immensely interesting smile; that he would be dark, with brown hair; +that he would be tall without fail; that he was very lively, and would +have an astonishing memory. Pani Bigiel, while Marynia was lying in +bed, made, also, on her own account, various discoveries, which she +announced to all in general. Once she rushed into Marynia's room with +delight and haste worthy of every recognition, and said,-- + +"Imagine to thyself, he spread out his little fingers on one hand, and +with the other thou wouldst swear that he was counting. He'll be a +mathematician, beyond doubt." + +And Marynia answered in all seriousness,-- + +"Then he'll take after his father." + +Still she made a discovery earlier, even with reference to date, than +all those of Pani Bigiel,--namely, that he was "a dear little love of +a creature." As to Pan Stanislav, at the first moment he looked at the +new acquaintance with astonishment and a certain distrust. In his time +he had wished greatly to have a daughter, with this reason chiefly, +that, being in make-up of heart a great child-man, he imagined that he +could give all the tenderness in him only to a girl. There was sticking +in him, it is unknown why, an idea that a son would be some kind of a +big lump of a fellow with mustaches almost, speaking in a bass voice, +snorting somewhat like a horse, whom it would not be worth while to +approach with tenderness, for he would hold it in contempt. Only +gradually, after looking at this little figure sleeping on pillows, did +he begin to reach the conviction that not only was that no big "lump of +a boy," but simply a poor little thing, deserving of tenderness, small, +weak, defenceless, needing care and love as much as any little girl in +the world. At last he said to himself, "So he is that kind of boy!" And +thenceforth he became more and more tender toward the little thing; and +after a few days he even tried to carry him to Marynia, which, however, +he did with such an amount of purely superfluous caution, and also +so awkwardly, that he brought to laughter, not only Marynia and Pani +Bigiel, but, with a loss to his own dignity, even the nurse. + +And laughter was heard now in the dwelling of the Polanyetskis from +morning till evening. Both, waking in the morning, woke with that happy +feeling that the day would bring them new delight. Bigiel, who, from +the time that Marynia left her bed, was admitted in the evening with +his violoncello, looking at their life, said once, after a moment of +necessary meditation, "Misfortune may come to good people, as to every +one; but when it is well for them, as God lives, it is better for no +one else." + +And, in truth, life was pleasant for them. Marynia, according to what +she had heard in her time from Pani Bigiel, and what she thought +herself, judged that the cause of this new bloom of love in her husband +was the child, which bound them by new bonds. One day she began even to +speak of this to Pan Stanislav; but he answered with all simplicity,-- + +"No; I give thee my word! I love him in his way; but thee I loved +already fabulously before he came to the world, for thyself, because +thou art as thou art. Look around," said he, "think what is going on in +the world; and to whom can I compare thee?" + +Then, taking her hands, he began to kiss them, not only with immense +love, but also with the greatest respect, and added,-- + +"Thou wilt never know what thou art for me, and how I love thee." + +But, nestling up to him, she asked, with a face bright as the sun in +heaven,-- + +"Indeed, Stas, shall I never know? Try to tell me." + + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + + +The christening came. Immediately after his arrival in the world, +the young man had been baptized with water by Pani Bigiel, to whom, +impressed by the sickness of the mother, it seemed that the little +one might die any moment. But he had not even thought of that, and +had waited, in the best of health and appetite, for the time of the +solemnity, in which he was to play the leading part. Pan Stanislav +had invited all his acquaintances. Besides people of the house, and +grandfather Plavitski, there were Pani Emilia, who, for that day, had +rallied the remnant of her strength, the Bigiels, with the little +Bigiels, Professor Vaskovski, Svirski, Pan Ignas, and Panna Ratkovski. +Pani Polanyetski, now in health, and happy, looked so enchanting that +Svirski, gazing at her, caught his hair with both hands, and said, with +his usual outspokenness,-- + +"This just passes every understanding! As God lives! a man might lose +his eyes." + +"Well," said Pan Stanislav, puffing with satisfaction, and with that +conceit evident in him that he had always seen that which others saw +only now for the first time. + +But Svirski answered,-- + +"Kneel down, nations! I will say nothing further." + +Marynia was confused at hearing this, but flushed with pleasure, +feeling that Svirski was right. She had, however, to occupy herself +with the guests and the ceremony, and all the more since a certain +disorder had crept in, to begin with. The first couple, Pani Emilia +and Bigiel, were to hold little Stas; the second couple were Panna +Ratkovski and Svirski. Meanwhile, this last man began to create +unexpected difficulties, discovering hindrances, and evading, it +was unknown why. "He would be very glad--he had come from Italy +purposely--of course. That was an arranged affair; but he had never +before held a child at a christening, therefore he didn't know if his +god-child would remain in good health, and especially if he would have +luck with women." At this Pan Stanislav laughed, and called him a +superstitious Italian, but Marynia divined the trouble more quickly. +She took advantage of the moment in which he had pushed back toward +the window to escape, and whispered,-- + +"A gossip[15] of the second couple is no hindrance in this case." + +Svirski raised his eyes to her, then laughed, showing his small sound +teeth, and said on a sudden, turning to Panna Ratkovski,-- + +"It is true, this is only in the second couple; therefore, I will serve +you." + +All surrounded the little Stas, who, in the arms of the nurse, and +dressed in muslin and lace, looked valiant, with his bald spot and +his staring round eyes, in which the external world was reflected as +mechanically as in a mirror. Bigiel took him now in his arms, and the +ceremony began. + +Those present listened with due attention to the solemn sacramental +words, but the young pagan exhibited exceptional hardness of heart. +First he began to kick, so that he half freed himself from Bigiel's +arms; later, when Bigiel, in his name, renounced the devil and his +works, the young man did all in his power to drown the words. It was +only when he saw, all at once, in the midst of his screaming, Bigiel's +spectacles, that he stopped suddenly, as if to let people know that +if there are such astonishing objects in the world, it is a different +thing. + +However, the ceremony ended, and immediately after they gave him into +the hands of the nurse, who put him into a splendid cradle, in the form +of a wagon, the gift of Svirski, and wished to roll him out of the +room. But Svirski, who never in his life, perhaps, had seen so nearly +such a small person, and in whose breast beat a heart long yearning for +fatherhood, stopped the nurse, and, bending down to the cradle, took +the child in his arms. + +"Carefully, carefully!" cried Pan Stanislav, pushing up quickly. + +But the artist turned to him, and said,-- + +"Sir, I have held in my hands the works of Luca della Robbia." + +And, in fact, he lifted the little creature, and began to swing him +with as much dexterity as if he had had care of children all his life. +Then he approached Professor Vaskovski, and asked,-- + +"Well, what does the beloved professor think of his young Aryan?" + +"What?" answered the old man, looking with tenderness at the child; +"naturally, an Aryan, an Aryan of purest water." + +"And a coming missionary," added Pan Stanislav. + +"He will not turn from that in the future; he will not evade, just as +you cannot evade," answered the professor. + +It was not possible, in fact, to prejudge the future; but for +the moment the young Aryan avoided all missions in a manner so +unmistakable, and simply insulting, that it was necessary to give him +to the nurse. The ladies, however, did not cease to smack their lips +at him, and to be charmed with him, until they came to a decisive +conclusion that he was a perfectly exceptional child, that his whole +bearing showed this clearly, and that any one must be without eyes not +to see that that would be the nicest man in the country, and, moreover, +a genius. + +But the "genius" fell asleep at last, as if he had been stunned by the +incense, and meanwhile lunch was served. Marynia, in spite of all her +friendship for the artist, seated Pan Ignas next to Panna Ratkovski. +She wished, as, for that matter, all wished, not excepting even +Svirski, that something should be made clear in their relations, for +Pan Ignas acted strangely. Svirski held that he was not yet entirely +normal. He was healthy; he slept and ate well; he had grown a little +heavier; he spoke with judgment, even more deliberately than had been +his habit,--but there appeared in him a certain infirmity of will, a +certain lack of that initiative for which he had been so distinguished +before. In Italy he grew radiant at remembrance of Panna Ratkovski; +and when he spoke of her his eyes filled with tears at times. On his +return, when some one reminded him that it would be well to make a +visit to Panna Ratkovski, and especially when that one offered to go +with him, he answered, "It is true," and he went with delight. But the +visit made, it seemed as though he did not remember her existence. +At times it was evident that in the depth of his soul something was +troubling him, swallowing all his mental force. Svirski supposed for +a while that it might be the remembrance of Panna Castelli; but he +convinced himself, with a certain astonishment, that it was not, and +at last he began to think that Pan Ignas never mentioned her because +he had lost the feeling that she was real, or that she seemed to him +now an impression so remote, a remembrance so blown apart, that it +could not be brought into a real living whole. He was not melancholy. +On the contrary, one might note at times in him satisfaction with life +and the joy which he experienced, as it were, in this his second birth +in it. Really sad, more and more confined in herself, and increasingly +quiet, was Panna Ratkovski. It may be that, besides a lack of mutual +feeling, other things in Pan Ignas alarmed her; but she did not mention +those alarms to any one. Marynia and Pani Bigiel, judging that the only +cause of her sadness was the conduct of Pan Ignas, showed the most +heartfelt sympathy, and were ready to do anything to help her. Marynia +saw Pan Ignas now for the first time since his return from Italy; but +Pani Bigiel spoke to him daily, praising Panna Ratkovski, reminding +him how much he owed her, and giving him to understand more and more +clearly that it was his duty to pay something of the debt which he owed +her. The honest Svirski, to the detriment of his own hopes, repeated +the same to him; and Pan Ignas agreed to everything, but, as it were, +unwillingly, or without being able to add the final conclusion. He +spoke of his approaching second trip abroad, of plans of still greater +journeys in the future,--in a word, of things which, by their nature, +excluded the co-operation of Panna Ratkovski. + +And now, sitting side by side, they spoke little to each other. Pan +Ignas ate abundantly, and with appetite, even with attention; he +followed with his eyes the new courses which were served first to the +elder guests. Panna Ratkovski, noticing this, looked on him at moments, +as if with painful sympathy. At last this began to vex Marynia; so, +wishing to rouse a conversation between them, she said, bending over +the table,-- + +"You have come so recently from travels, tell me and Steftsia something +of Italy. Hast thou never been there, Steftsia?" + +"I have not," answered Panna Ratkovski; "but not long since I read the +account of a journey--but to read and to see are different." + +And she blushed slightly, for she had betrayed the fact that she had +been reading about Italy just when Pan Ignas was there. + +"Pan Svirski persuaded me to go as far as Sicily," said he, "but it +was hot there at that time; that would be the place to visit at this +season." + +"Ah!" said Marynia, "it is well that I think of it--but my letters? You +asked through Pan Svirski if I wished you to write your impressions, +but afterward I did not receive a single letter." + +Pan Ignas blushed; he was confused, and then in a kind of strange and +uncertain voice, answered,-- + +"No, for I have not been able yet; I will write very much, but later." + +Having heard these words, Svirski approached Marynia after lunch, and +indicating Pan Ignas with his eyes, said,-- + +"Do you know the impression which he makes on me sometimes?--that of a +costly vessel which is cracked." + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [15] With Panna Ratkovski, Svirski wished to avoid spiritual + relationship, a hindrance to marriage. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVII + + +A couple of days after the christening, Svirski visited Pan Stanislav +in the counting-house, to inquire for Marynia's health, and to talk +about various things which lay at his heart. Seeing, however, that he +was late, and that Pan Stanislav was preparing to go, he said,-- + +"Do not stop for me. Let us talk on the street. The light is so sharp +to-day that I cannot work; therefore I will walk to your door with you." + +"In every case I should have been forced to beg your pardon," said Pan +Stanislav. "My Marynia goes out to-day for the first time, and we are +to dine with the Bigiels. She must be dressed by this time, but we have +twenty minutes yet." + +"As she goes out, she is well?" + +"Praise be to God, as well as a bird!" answered Pan Stanislav, with +delight. + +"And the little Aryan?" + +"The little Aryan bears himself stoutly." + +"O happy man, if I had such a toad at home, not to mention such a wife, +I should not know what to do--unless to walk upon house-tops." + +"You will not believe how that boy takes my heart. Every day more, and +in general, in a way that I did not expect, for you must know that I +wanted a daughter." + +"It is not evening yet; the daughter will come. But you are in a hurry; +let us go then." + +Pan Stanislav took his fur coat, and they went to the street. The day +was frosty, clear. Around was heard the hurried sound of sleigh-bells. +Men had their collars over their ears, their mustaches were frosty, and +they threw columns of steam from their mouths. + +"It is a gladsome sort of day," said Pan Stanislav. "I rejoice, for my +Marynia's sake, that it is clear." + +"It is gladsome for you in life; therefore everything seems clear to +you," said Svirski, taking him by the arm. But all at once he dropped +the arm, and stopping the way, said, with an expression as if he wished +to quarrel,-- + +"Do you know that you have the most beautiful woman in Warsaw as wife? +It is I who tell you this--I!" + +And he began to strike his breast with his hand as if to increase +thereby the certainty that it was he and no one else who was speaking +thus. + +"Of course!" answered Pan Stanislav, laughing, "and also the best and +most honest on earth; but let us go on, for it is cold." + +When Svirski took him again by the arm, Pan Stanislav added with some +emotion,-- + +"But what I went through during her sickness, the Lord God alone +knows--Better not mention it--She gave me a surprise simply by her +return to life; but if God grants me to live till spring, I will give a +surprise that will gladden her." + +"There is nothing with which to compare her," answered Svirski. + +Then, halting again, he said, as if in astonishment, "And; as I love +God, so much simplicity at the same time." + +They walked on a while in silence, then Pan Stanislav asked Svirski of +his journey. + +"I shall stay three weeks in Florence," answered the artist. "I have +some work there. Besides, I have grown homesick for the light on San +Miniato and Ginevra, with which, and with Cimabue, I was in love on +a time. Do you remember in Santa Maria Novella, in the chapel of +Rucellai? After a three weeks' stay I shall go to Rome. I wanted to +talk with you about the journey, for this morning Pan Ignas came to me +with the proposition that we should go again together." + +"Ah! and did you agree?" + +"I had not the heart to refuse, though, between ourselves, he is +sometimes a burden. But you know how I loved him, and how I felt for +him, so it is hard for me to say it, but he is burdensome occasionally. +What is to be said in this case? he is changed immensely. At the +christening I told Pani Polanyetski that at times he seems to me like +a costly vessel which is cracked; and that is true. For I saw how he +struggled over those letters, in which he wished to describe Italy for +her. He walked whole hours through the room, rubbed his shot forehead, +sat down, stood up; but the paper remained just as it was, untouched. +God grant him to recover his former power. At present he repeats to +every one that he will write; but he begins to doubt himself, and to +grieve. I know that he grieves." + +"The loss of his power would be a misfortune both for him and Panna +Helena. If you knew how she was concerned to the verge of despair, not +only for his life, but his talent." + +"The loss of that would be a public misfortune; but the person for whom +I am most sorry is Panna Ratkovski. She too begins to doubt whether he +will be what he was, and that tortures her, perhaps, more than other +griefs." + +"Poor girl!" said Pan Stanislav, "and the more so since from all his +plans of travelling one thing is clear, that he does not even think of +her. It is fortunate that Panna Helena secured her independence." + +"I will wait a year," answered Svirski, "and after a year I will +propose a second time. She has taken hold of me, it is not to be +denied! Have you noticed how becoming short hair is to her? She ought +to wear it that way always. I will wait a year," and he was silent; +"but after that I shall consider my hands free. It is not possible +either that in her something will not change in a year, especially +if he gives no sign of life. All this is wonderfully strange. Do you +think that I do not do everything in my power to blow into life some +spark for her? As God is true, a man has never done more against his +own heart than I have. Pani Bigiel too does what she can. But it is +difficult. Again, no one has the right to say to him expressly: marry! +if he does not love her. And this is the more wonderful, since he does +not seem even to think of the other. One Panna Ratkovski is worth more +than a whole grove of such 'Poplars;' but that is another affair! For +me the point is that she should not suppose that I am taking him away +purposely. I have not dissuaded him, for I could not; but, my dear sir, +should there ever be a conversation about our journey, say to her that, +as God lives, I did not persuade Pan Ignas to the journey, and that I +would give more than she supposes to make her happy, even were it at +the cost of an old dog like me." + +"Of course we shall do so." + +"Thank you for that. Before going, I shall be with you again to say +good-by to Pani Polanyetski." + +"Surely in the evening, so that we may sit longer. I think too that you +will return in summer; you and Pan Ignas will spend some time with us." + +"In Buchynek?" + +"In Buchynek or not, that is unknown yet." + +Further conversation was interrupted by the sight of Osnovski, who at +that moment was coming out of a fruit-shop, with a white package in his +hand. + +"See, there is Osnovski!" said Svirski. + +"How changed!" said Pan Stanislav. + +And indeed he was changed immensely. From under his fur cap gazed a +pale face, grown yellow, and, as it were, much older. His fur coat +seemed to hang on him. Seeing his two friends, he was vexed; it was +evident that for a while he hesitated whether or not to go around, +pretending that he did not see them. But the sidewalk was empty, and +they had come so near that he changed his intention, and, coming up, +began to speak with unnatural haste, as if wishing to cover with talk +that of which all three were thinking exclusively. + +"A good day to you, gentlemen! Oh, this is a chance that we meet, for +I am shut up in Prytulov, and come rarely to the city. I have just +bought some grapes, for the doctor orders me to eat grapes. But they +are imported in sawdust, and have the odor of it; I thought they would +be better here. There is frost to-day, indeed. In the country sleighing +is perfect." + +And they walked on together, all feeling awkward. + +"You are going to Egypt, are you not?" inquired Pan Stanislav at last. + +"That is my old plan, and perhaps I shall go. In the country there is +nothing to do in winter; it is tedious to be alone there." + +Here he stopped suddenly, for he saw that he was touching a delicate +subject. And they went on in a silence still more oppressive, feeling +that unspeakable awkwardness which is felt always when, by some tacit +agreement, people talk of things of no interest, while hiding the main +ones, which are painful. Osnovski would have been glad to leave his +two friends; but people accustomed for long years to observe certain +forms pay attention to appearances unconsciously, even in the deepest +misfortune, hence he wanted to find some easy and natural means of +leaving Pan Stanislav and the artist; but not being able to find it, +he merely continued the awkward position. Finally, he began to take +farewell of them in the unexpected and unnatural way of a man who has +lost his head. At the last moment, however, he determined otherwise. +Such a comedy seemed to him unendurable. He had had enough of it. It +flashed into his head that he ought not to make a secret of anything; +that in avoidance of every mention of misfortune there is something +abject. On his face constraint was clear, and suffering; but, halting, +he began to say with a broken voice, losing breath every moment,-- + +"Gentlemen, I beg pardon for detaining you longer. But you know that +I have separated from my wife--I do not see any reason why I should +not speak of it, especially with persons so honorable and so near--I +declare to you, gentlemen, that that was--that that happened so--that +is, that I wished it myself, and that to my wife nothing--" + +But the voice stuck in his throat, and he could not speak further. +Evidently he wanted to take the fault on himself; but on a sudden he +felt all the incredibility, all the extent and desperate emptiness of +a lie like that, which must be a mere sound of words, so that not even +the feeling of any duty, nor any social appearance could justify him. +And, losing his head altogether, he went into the crowd, bearing with +him his grapes and unfathomable misfortune. + +Svirski and Pan Stanislav went on in silence under the impression of +this misfortune. + +"As God is true," said Pan Stanislav at length, "his heart is breaking." + +"For such a man," answered the artist, "there is nothing except to wish +death." + +"And still he has not deserved such a fate." + +"I give you my word," said Svirski, "whenever I think of him, I see +him kissing her hands. He did it so often that I cannot imagine him +otherwise. And what sets me to thinking again is this, that misfortune, +like death, severs the relations of people, or if it does not sever +relations completely, it estranges people. You have not known him long, +but I, for example, lived on intimate terms with him, and now he is to +me somehow farther away, while I am to him more a stranger; there is no +help in this case, and that is so sad." + +"Sad and wonderful--" + +But Svirski stopped on a sudden, and exclaimed,-- + +"Do you know what? May a thunderbolt burn that Pani Osnovski! Panna +Helena said that it was not permitted to despair of a man while he was +living; but as to that one, let a thunderbolt shake her!" + +"There was not in the world, perhaps, a woman more worshipped than +she," said Pan Stanislav. + +"There you have them," answered Svirski, passionately. "Women, taking +them in general--" + +But all at once he struck his glove across his mouth. + +"No!" cried he. "To the devil with my old fault! I have promised myself +not to make any general conclusions about women." + +"I said that he worshipped her," continued Pan Stanislav, "because now +I simply do not understand how he can live without her." + +"But he must." + +Osnovski was forced really to live without his wife, but he was not +able. In Prytulov and in Warsaw, which were full of reminiscences of +her, life soon became for him unendurable; hence a month later he +started on a journey. But, already out of health when he left Warsaw, +he caught cold in an over-heated car, and in Vienna fell so ill that +he had to take to his bed. The cold, which at first was considered +influenza, turned into a violent typhus. After a few days the sick man +lost consciousness, and lay in a hotel at the mercy of strange doctors +and strange people, far from home and his friends. But afterward in the +fever which heated his brain and confused his thoughts it seemed to him +that he saw near his bedside the face dearest in life to him, beloved +at all times, beloved in loneliness, in sickness, and in presence +of death. It seemed to him that he saw it even when he had regained +consciousness, but was so weak that he could not move yet, nor speak, +nor even arrange his own thoughts. + +Later the vision disappeared. But he began to inquire about it from +the Sisters of Charity, who were sent, it was unknown by whom, and who +surrounded him with the most tender care; and he began to yearn beyond +measure. + + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + + +After the solemnity of the christening, and after the departure of +Svirski and Pan Ignas, the Polanyetskis began to live again a secluded +and home life, seeing scarcely any one except the Bigiels, Pani +Emilia, and Vaskovski. But it was pleasant for them in that narrow +circle of near friends, and pleasantest of all with themselves. Pan +Stanislav was greatly occupied; he sat long in the counting-house and +outside the counting-house, settling some business of which no one +else knew anything. But, after finishing his work, he hurried home +now with greater haste than when, as betrothed, he flew every day to +the lodgings of the Plavitskis. His old liveliness returned, his old +humor and confidence in life. Soon he made a discovery which seemed +to him wonderful,--namely, that not only did he love his wife with +all his power as his wife and the one dearest to him, but that he was +in love with her as a woman, without alarm or effort, it is true, +without transitions from joy to doubts and despair, but with all the +emotions of sincere feeling, with a whole movement of desire, with a +continually uniform fresh sensitiveness to her feminine charm, and with +an untiring care, which watches, foresees, acts, anticipates, wishes, +and strives continually not to injure happiness, and not to lose it. +"I shall change into an Osnovski," said he, humorously; "but to me +alone is it permitted to be an Osnovski, because my little one will +never become a Pani Aneta." He said "my little one" to her often now, +but there was in that as much respect as petting. He understood, too, +that he never should have loved her so, if she had been other than +she was; that all was the result of her immense, honest will, and of +that sort of wonderful rectitude which issued from her as naturally +as heat from a hearth. Pan Stanislav knew that his mind was the more +active, his thought the more far-reaching, and his knowledge profounder +than her knowledge; still he felt that through her, and through her +alone, all that which was in him had become in some way more finished +and more noble. Through her influence all those principles acquired +by him passed from his head, where they had been a dead theory, to +his heart, where they became active life. He noticed, too, that not +only happiness, but he himself was her work. There was in this even +a little disillusion for him, since he saw, without any doubt, that +had he found some common kind of woman he might have turned out some +common kind of man. At times he wondered even how she could have loved +him; but he called to mind then her expression, "service of God," and +that explained to him everything. For such a woman marriage, too, +was "service of God," as was love also, not by some wild power lying +beyond the will of people, but precisely by an act of honest will, by +serving an oath, by serving God's law, by serving duty. Marynia loved +him because he was her husband. Such was she, and that was the end of +the question! For a long time Pan Stanislav was not able to see that +all that which he worshipped in her was enjoined directly by the first +catechism which one might take up, and that in her training had not +killed the catechism. Perhaps she had not been reared with sufficient +care; but she had been taught that she must serve God, and not use God +to serve herself. + +Pan Stanislav, not understanding well the reasons why she was what she +was, admired her increasingly, honored and loved her. As to her, while +taking things without exaggeration, she did not conceive an excessive +opinion of herself; she understood, however, that life had never been +so pleasant for her as it then was; that she had passed through certain +trials; that during those trials she had acted honorably; that she +had endured the trials with patience; that the Lord God had rewarded +her. And this feeling filled her with peace. Her health came back +completely; she felt, therewith, very pleasant, and very much beloved. +That "Stas," whom formerly she had feared a little, inclined his dark +head frequently to her knees with submissiveness almost; and she +thought with delight that "that man was not at all bending by nature, +and that if he did bend, it was because he loved much." And she just +grew every day. Gratitude rose in her, and she paid him for his love +with her whole heart. + +The young "Aryan" filled his rôle of a ray in the house splendidly. +Sometimes it was, indeed, a ray connected with noise; but when he was +in good-humor, and when, lying in his favorite position, with his legs +raised at right angles, he drew cries of delight from himself, all the +male and female population of the house gathered around his cradle. +Marynia covered his legs, calling him "naughty boy;" but he pulled +off the cover every instant, thinking, evidently, that if a man of +character has determined to kick, he should hold out in his undertaking +bravely. He laughed while he kicked, showing his little toothless gums, +crowing, twittering like a sparrow, cooing like a dove, or mewing +like a cat. On such occasions his nurse and mother talked for whole +hours with him. Professor Vaskovski, who had lost his head over the +boy altogether, maintained with perfect seriousness that that was an +"esoteric speech," which should be phonographed by scientists, for it +might either disclose thoroughly the mystery of astral existence, or, +at least, touch on its main indications. + +In this way the winter months passed in the house of the Polanyetskis. +In January, Pan Stanislav began to make journeys on some business, +and after each return he had long consultations with Bigiel. But from +the middle of January he stayed at home permanently, never going out, +unless to the counting-house, or to take short excursions with Marynia +and Stas in the carriage. The uniformity of their life, or rather the +uniformity of its calmness and happiness, was interrupted only by news +of acquaintances in the city, brought most frequently by Pani Bigiel. +In this way Marynia learned that Panna Ratkovski, who, of late, had +not shown herself anywhere, had established a refuge for children +from the income secured her by Panna Helena, and that Osnovski had +gone really to Egypt, not alone, however, but with his "Anetka," with +whom, after returning to health, he reunited himself. Pan Kresovski, +the former second of Mashko, had seen them in Trieste, and declared to +Pan Stanislav ironically that "the lady had the look of a submissive +penitent." Pan Stanislav, knowing from experience how a person is +crushed in misfortune, and what sincerity there may be in penitence, +replied with perfect seriousness that since her husband had received +Pani Osnovski, no decent man had a right to be more exacting than he +was. + +But later news came from Italy which was more wonderful, and so unheard +of that it became the subject of talk, not only for the Polanyetskis +and the Bigiels, but the whole city,--namely, that the artist Svirski +had asked in Rome for the hand of Panna Castelli, and that they would +be married immediately after Easter. Marynia was so much roused by +this that she persuaded her husband to write to Svirski and ask if it +were true. An answer came in ten days; and when Pan Stanislav entered +his wife's room at last with the letter, holding it by the corner of +the envelope, and with the words, "Letter from Rome!" the serious +Marynia ran up to him, with cheeks red from curiosity, and the two, +standing temple to temple, read as follows:-- + + "Is it true? No, dear friends, it is not true! But that you should + understand why that could not take place, and can never take + place, I must speak to you of Pan Ignas. He came here three days + since. First I persuaded him to remain in Florence, then to glance + at Sienna, Parma, and especially Ravenna. Thence I send him to + Athens, and to-morrow he will go by way of Brindisi. Meanwhile + he sat with me from morning till evening. I saw that something + was troubling the man, and wishing to turn direct conversation + to things which concerned him more closely, I asked yesterday + carelessly if he had not in his portfolio a half a dozen sonnets + on Ravenna. And do you know what took place? At first he grew + pale, and answered, 'Not yet,' but added that he would begin to + write soon; then he threw his hat on the floor suddenly, and began + to sob like a child. Never have I seen an outburst of similar + suffering. He just wrung his hands, saying that he had murdered + his talent; that there was nothing more left in him; that never + would he have power to write another line; that he would prefer a + hundred times that Panna Helena had not saved him. You see what + is happening within him; while people will say, surely, that he + does not write because he has money. And this, beyond doubt, will + remain so. They have killed the poor man, murdered soul and talent + in him, put out the strong fire from which light and warmth might + have come to people. And that, see you, I could not forget. God be + with Panna Castelli! but it was not right for her to pluck such + feathers to make for herself a fan, which she threw out of the + window soon after. No! I could not forget this! Never mind what + I said in Warsaw, that now she must find a Prince Crapulescu, + since no one else will take her; for, besides that kind, there + are blind men in the world also,--plenty of them. As to me, I am + neither Prince Crapulescu, nor blind. It is permitted to forgive + wrongs done to one's self, but not those done to others; for that + would be too easy. And this is all that I can tell you touching + this matter, for you yourselves know the rest. I am waiting out + the year; then I shall repeat my prayer to Panna Ratkovski. If + she wants me, or rejects me, may God bless her in every case; but + still that is my unchangeable decision." + +"Indeed!" interrupted Marynia; "but whence did such news come?" + +But in the continuation of the letter Svirski gave an exact answer. + + "All this gossip" (wrote he), "may have arisen from this that I + have seen those ladies rather often. You remember that, during my + former stay in Rome, Pani Bronich wrote to me first, and I was + with them. Panna Castelli, instead of seeking evasions, blamed + herself. I confess that that affected me. Let people say what they + like, still in an open confession of fault there is a certain + awakening of honesty, a certain courage, a certain turn, a groan + of sorrow, which, if it does not redeem the offence, may redeem + the soul. And believe me that in this which I say there is more + than my heart of butter. Think, also, that in truth it is evil for + them. Are the times few in which I have seen the hesitation with + which they approach people, and how they are received by persons + who have the courage of their principles? So much bitterness has + gathered in these two women, that, as Vaskovski said with truth + once, they are beginning to be embittered against themselves. That + is a terrible position, in which one belongs, as it were, to the + world, and carries the burden of a notable scandal. God be with + them! Much might be written of this; but I remember always what + Panna Helena said,--that one must not despair of a man while he + lives. That unfortunate Lineta has changed from grief; she has + grown thin and ugly, and I am very sorry for her. I am sorry even + for Pani Bronich, who, it is true, bores holes in people's ears + with her lies; but she does it out of attachment to that girl. + Still, as I have said, it is permitted only to forgive wrongs + done ourselves; but a man would be a kind of gorilla, and not a + Christian, if he did not feel a little pity over the misfortunes + of people. Whether I shall have the heart to go to them again + after having seen the despair of Ignas, I know not. I am not + sorry, however, that I was there. People will talk; they will + stop talking; and after a year or so, if God grant me and that + dear maiden to wait it out, they will see that they are talking + nonsense." + +The letter finished with a reference to the Osnovskis, of whose reunion +Svirski knew; he had heard, even, various details which were unknown to +Pan Stanislav. + + "To think" (wrote he) "that God is more powerful than the + perversity of man, and also is fabulously merciful, and that + sometimes He permits misfortune to beat a man on the head as + with a hammer, so as to knock some spark of honesty out of him. + I believe now even in the rebirth of such as Pani Aneta. Maybe + it is naïve in me, but at times I admit that there are no people + in the world who are completely bad. See, something quivered in + Pani Aneta even; she nursed him in his sickness. Oi, those women! + Everything is so turned around in my head that soon I shall not + have an opinion, not merely about them, but about anything." + +Further on were questions about Stas, and heartfelt words for his +life-givers, and finally a promise to return in the first days of +spring. + + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + + +But spring was coming really, and, besides, it was as warm as it was +early. Pan Stanislav, at the end of March and the beginning of April, +began again to make journeys, and sometimes to spend a number of days +away from home. He and Bigiel were so busied that often they remained +in the counting-house till late in the evening. Pani Bigiel supposed +that they must be undertaking something large; but it astonished her +that her husband, who always spoke with her about his business, and +almost thought aloud in her presence, and even frequently took counsel +with her, was as silent now as if spell-bound. Marynia noticed also +that "Stas" had his head filled with something in an unusual manner. He +was more tender toward her than ever; but it seemed to her that in that +tenderness of his, as well as in every conversation and every petting, +there was some third thing, another thought, which occupied him so +thoroughly that lie could not keep away from it even a moment. And this +state of distraction increased daily till the beginning of May, when it +passed into something feverish. Marynia began to hesitate whether to +ask or not, what the matter was. She was a little afraid to intrude; +but for her it was important also that he should not think that his +affairs concerned her too little. In this uncertainty, she determined +to wait for a favorable moment, hoping that he himself would begin to +touch on his business, even remotely. + +In fact, it seemed to her, on a certain day soon after, that +the opportune moment had come. Pan Stanislav returned from the +counting-house earlier than usual, and with a face in some way +wonderfully radiant, though serious, so that, looking him in the eyes, +she asked, almost mechanically,-- + +"Something favorable must have happened, Stas?" + +He sat near hers and instead of answering directly, began to talk with +a voice which was strange in some sort,-- + +"See how calm and warm. The windows might be opened now. Dost thou know +what I've been thinking of these last days? That for thy health and +Stas's we ought to go soon from the city." + +"But is not Buchynek rented?" asked Marynia. + +"Buchynek is sold," answered he. Then, taking both her hands and +looking into her eyes with immense affection, he said,-- + +"Listen, my dear, I have something to tell thee, and something which +ought to please thee; but promise not to be excited too much." + +"Well, what is it, Stas?" + +"Seest thou, my little one? Mashko fled to foreign parts; for he had +more debts than property. His creditors threw themselves on everything +which was left after him, so as to recover even something. Everything +went into liquidation. Magyerovka has been parcelled, and is lost; but +Kremen, Skoki, and Suhotsin could be saved. Do not grow excited, my +love; I have bought them for thee." + +Marynia looked at him some time, blinking, and as if not believing her +ears. But no! He was so moved himself that he could not jest. Her eyes +were darkened with tears, and all at once she threw both arms around +his neck. + +"Stas!" + +And at that moment she could not find other words; but in this one +exclamation there were thanks and great love, and a woman's homage for +the efficiency of that man who had been able to do everything. Pan +Stanislav understood this; and in the feeling of that immense happiness +which he had not known hitherto, he began to speak, holding her still +at his breast,-- + +"I knew that this would comfort thee, and God knows there is no greater +pleasure for me than thy delight. I remembered that thou wert sorry for +Kremen, that that was an injustice to thee, and that it was possible +to correct it; therefore I corrected it. But that is nothing! If I had +bought ten such Kremens for thee, I should not have repaid thee for the +good which thou hast done me, and still I should not be worthy of thee." + +And he spoke sincerely; but Marynia removed her head from his shoulder, +and, raising on him her eyes, which were at once moist and bright, +said,-- + +"It is I, Stas, that am not worthy of thee; and I did not even hope to +be so happy." + +Then they began to dispute who was the more worthy; but in that dispute +there were frequent intervals of silence, for Marynia, every moment +embracing him, pushed up to him her mouth, beautiful, though a little +too wide, and kissed him; and then he kissed in turn her eyes and her +hands. For a long time yet she wanted now to cry, now to laugh from +delight; for really her happiness surpassed everything which she had +ever hoped for. Her mother had written once, with a weakening hand, +"One should not marry to be happy, but to fulfil the duties which God +imposes; happiness is only an addition and a gift of God." Meanwhile +this addition was now too great to find place in her heart. There had +been trials, there had been moments of grief to her, and even of doubt; +but all had passed, and at last that "Stas" not only loved her as the +sight of his eye, but he had done more than he had ever promised. + +And at that moment, while walking with long strides through the room, +still excited, but pleased with himself, and with an expression of +complete boastfulness on his dark, challenging face, he said,-- + +"Well, Marys[16]! Now for the first time will work begin, will it not? +For I haven't the least idea of country life and that will be thy +affair. But I think that I shall not be the worst of managers. We shall +both work, for that Kremen is a big undertaking." + +"My golden Stas," answered she, clasping her hands, "I know that thou +hast done that for me; but will it not injure thee in business?" + +"In business? It is thy idea, perhaps, that I let myself be stripped. +Not at all! I bought cheaply, very cheaply. Bigiel, who is afraid of +everything, still confesses that that is a good purchase; besides, I +remain in company with him for the future. But only be not afraid of +Kremen, Marys, or the old troubles. There will be something to work +with; and I tell thee sincerely that if to-day all Kremen were to sink +in the earth, we should have enough to support us, together with Stas." + +"I," said Marynia, looking at him more or less as she would on +Napoleon, or some other conqueror of similar size, "am certain that +thou wilt do all that thou wishest, but I know that it was only for me +that Kremen was bought." + +"And I hope that I bought it, too, because thy mother is lying there, +because I love thee, and because thou lovest Kremen," answered Pan +Stanislav. "But in thy way thou hast brought me back to the soil. +I recall thy words in Venice when Mashko wanted to sell Kremen to +Bukatski. Thou hast no idea of how I am under thy influence. Sometimes +thou wilt say a thing, and I for the moment make no answer; still it +remains in me, and later it is heard unexpectedly. So it was in this +business. It seems strange to me now for a man to dwell on this planet, +to have some wealth, as it were, and not have three square ells of +this earth, concerning which he might say 'mine.' Then the question +was settled. Then came the purchase. Perhaps thou hast noticed that +for some months I have been buzzing about like a fly in a caldron. I +did not wish to speak to thee till all was finished; I preferred a +surprise. And thou hast it! This is because thou hast recovered, and +art so beloved." + +Here he seized her hands, and began to press them again to his mouth +and his forehead. She wanted to kiss his hands, too, but he would not +permit that; and at last they began to run after each other, like +children, through the room, speaking to each other words which were +kindly, and bright as sunbeams. Marynia wanted so much to go straight +to Kremen, and to such a degree was she unable to think of aught else, +that at last he threatened to grow jealous of Kremen, and to sell it. + +"Oi! thou wilt not sell," said she, shaking her head. + +"Why not?" + +"Because," said she, taking his ear, and whispering into it, "thou +lovest me." + +And he began to nod in sign that that was true. But they agreed, to the +great delight of Marynia, to go with their whole household to Kremen at +the end of the week,--a thing perfectly possible, for Pan Stanislav had +made the house ready for the coming of the "heiress." He assured her, +too, that almost nothing had changed, and he had tried only that the +rooms should not seem too empty; then he began to laugh suddenly, and +said, "I am curious to know what papa will say to this." + +The conjectural astonishment of "papa" was a new cause of delight to +Marynia. For that matter, there was no need to wait long for Plavitski, +since he came to dinner half an hour later. He had barely showed +himself when Marynia, throwing herself on his shoulder, told with one +breath the happy news; he was really astonished, and even moved. +Perhaps he felt the happiness of his daughter; perhaps there was roused +in him an attachment for that corner, in which he had lived so many +years; it is enough that his eyes grew moist. First he mentioned his +sweat, with which that soil was soaked; then he began to say something +of the "old man," and of his "refuge in the country;" at last, pressing +Pan Stanislav's head between his palms, he said,-- + +"God grant thee luck to manage as well as I have managed, and be +assured that I shall not refuse thee either my assistance or my +counsels." + +In the evening, at the Bigiels', Marynia, still intoxicated with her +happiness, said to Pani Bigiel,-- + +"Well, now, tell me, how could I help loving a man like that?" + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [16] Pronounced Márees, a diminutive of Marynia. + + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + + +Next morning after the arrival of the Polanyetskis in Kremen, it was +Sunday. Pan Stanislav himself rose late, for they had come at one +o'clock the night previous. In Kremen the servants had been waiting +with bread and salt for them. Marynia, laughing and weeping in turn, +examined every corner in the house, and after that was unable to fall +asleep, from emotion, till almost daylight. For all these reasons +Pan Stanislav did not permit her to rise; but since she wanted to +go to Mass at Vantory rather early, so as to pray at the church for +her mother, he promised to have the carriage ready, and let her know +when it was time. Immediately after breakfast he went out to look at +his new inheritance. It was the second half of May, and the day was +exceptionally beautiful. Rain had fallen in the night, and the sun +was shining on little pools in the yard; and on the buildings it was +reflected in diamond brightness in raindrops hanging on the leaves, +and it made the wet roofs of the barns, cow-houses, and sheep-houses +gleam. In that glitter, and in the bright May green of the trees, +Kremen seemed altogether charming. Around the buildings there was +hardly any movement, for it was Sunday; but at the stable were busied +some men, who had to drive to church. This silence and sleepiness +struck Pan Stanislav strangely. Having intended for some time to buy +Kremen, he had been there repeatedly, and knew that it was a neglected +property. Mashko had begun, it is true, to build a granary, which was +covered with a red roof, but he had not finished it. He had never lived +in the place himself, and toward the end could not expend anything +on the property, hence neglect was visible at every step. But never +had it seemed to Pan Stanislav neglected so absolutely as now, when +he was able to say to himself, "This is mine." The buildings were +somehow leaning; the walls in them not very solid; the fences were +inclining and broken; under the walls were lying fragments of various +broken agricultural implements. Everywhere the earth seemed desirous +of drawing into itself that which was on its surface; everywhere was +seen a kind of passive abandonment of things to themselves; everywhere +carelessness was visible. Of agriculture Pan Stanislav knew only +this, that there was need to be careful in expenses; for the rest, he +had not the least conception of it, save some general information, +which had struck his ears in childhood. But, looking at his kingdom, +he divined that cultivation of its fields must coincide exactly with +that carelessness which he saw around; he had a clear feeling that if +anything was done there it was rather from custom, from routine, as it +were, and because of this alone, that some such thing had been done +ten, twenty, a hundred years earlier. That exertion, that untiring, +watchful energy, which is the basis of commerce, of industry, and of +city industry in general,--of that there was not a trace. "If I brought +nothing more than that to this torpor," said Pan Stanislav, "it would +be very much, for there is an absolute lack of energy. Besides, I have +money, and at least this much knowledge,--that I know to begin with +that I know nothing, and second, I know that I must learn and inquire." +He remembered, besides, from his Belgian times, that even abroad, even +there in Belgium, the spirit of man and the exertion of will meant +more than the most powerful machines. And in this regard he counted on +himself, and he was able to count. He felt that he was a persistent +and active man. Everything taken in hand by him hitherto had to move, +whether it would or not. He felt, besides, that in business he had a +head that was not fantastic, but one reckoning accurately; and, thanks +to this feeling, not only did he not lose confidence at sight of the +neglect which he saw before him, but he found in it something like a +spur. That torpor, that neglect, that inertia, that sleepiness, seemed +to challenge him; and, casting his eyes around, he said to them almost +with pleasure, "That's all right; we'll have a trial!" And he was even +in a hurry for the trial. + +These first reviews and thoughts did not spoil his humor, but took much +time. Looking at his watch, he saw that if he wished to be in Vantory +for Mass, it was time to start at once; giving the order, then, to +attach the horses, he returned hastily to the house, and knocked at +Marynia's door. + +"Lady heiress!" called he, "the service of God!" + +"Yes, yes!" answered the gladsome voice of Marynia through the door, "I +am ready." + +Pan Stanislav went in, and saw her in a light summer robe, like that +in which he saw her at his first visit in Kremen. She had dressed thus +purposely; and he, to her great delight, understood her intention, for +he exclaimed, stretching out his hands to her,-- + +"Panna Plavitski!" + +And she, as if embarrassed, put her nose up to his face, and pointed to +the cradle, in which Stas was sleeping. + +Then they drove to the church with Papa Plavitski. It was a spring +day, bright, full of warm breezes and gladness. In the groves the +cuckoos were calling, and on the fields striding storks were visible. +Along the road hoopoos and magpies flew from tree to tree before the +carriage. From time to time a breeze sprang up and flew over the green +fleeces, as over waves, bending the blades of grass, and forming +quivering shades on the green of the fields. Around about was the odor +of the soil, of grass, of spring. He and she were seized by a swarm of +reminiscences. In her was called forth, though a little blunted by life +in the city, that love of hers for land, and the country, the forest +and green fields, the fruits in the fields, the pastures narrowing +in the distance, the broad expanses of air, and that extent of the +sky which is far greater than in cities. All this filled her with a +half-conscious feeling which verged on the intoxication of delight. +And Pan Stanislav remembered how once, in the same way, he had ridden +to church with Pan Plavitski, and how, in like manner, the hoopoos and +magpies flew from tree to tree before him. But now he felt at his side +that rosy woman, whom he had seen then for the first time,--that former +Panna Plavitski. In one word, he made present in his mind all that had +taken place between them: the first acquaintance, and that charm with +which she possessed him; their later disagreement; that strange part +which Litka played in their lives; their marriage, later life, and +the hesitations of happiness; the changes which, under the influence +of that clear spirit, took place in him, and the present clearing up +of life. He had also a blissful feeling that the evil had passed; +that he had found more than he had dreamed of; that at present, it is +true, misfortunes of every kind might come on him; but with reference +to relations with her, his life had become clear once for all, and +very honorable, almost equally the same as "the service of God," and +as much more sunny than the past as that horizon which surrounded +them was sunnier than that of the city. At this thought, happiness +and affection for her overflowed his heart. Arriving at Vantory, he +repeated "eternal repose" for the soul of that mother to whom he was +thankful for such a wife, with no less devotion than Marynia herself. +It seemed to him that he loved that dust, buried under the church, with +the same filial affection as the dust of his own mother. + +But now the bell sounded for Mass. In the church again old memories +thronged into his mind. Everything around him was known somehow, so +that at moments he felt the illusion that he had been there yesterday. +The nave of the church was filled with the same gray crowd of peasants, +and the odor of sweet flag; the same priest was celebrating Mass at the +altar: the same birch branches, moved by the breeze, were striking the +window from the outside; and Pan Stanislav thought again, as before, +that everything passes, life passes, pains pass, hopes, impulses, +pass, directions of thought and whole systems of philosophy pass, +but Mass, as of old, is celebrated, as if in it alone were eternal +indestructibility. Marynia alone was a new form in the old picture. Pan +Stanislav, looking at moments on her calm face, and her eyes raised to +the altar, divined that she was praying with her whole soul for their +future life in the country; hence he accommodated himself to her, and +prayed with her. + +But after Mass, on the church square, neighbors surrounded them, old +acquaintances of Pan Plavitski and Marynia. Plavitski, however, looked +around in vain for Pani Yamish; she had been in the city for a number +of days. Councillor Yamish was cured completely from catarrh of the +stomach; and therefore well, and made young, at the sight of Marynia he +fell into genuine enthusiasm. + +"Here is my pupil!" cried he, kissing her hand, "the house mistress! my +golden Marynia! Aha! the birds have come back to the old nest. But how +beautiful she is always, as God is true,--a young lady, just a young +damsel to look at, though I know that there is a son in the house." + +Marynia was blushing from delight; but at that moment the Zazimskis +approached, with their six children, and with them also Pan Gantovski, +called commonly "Little Bear," the former unsuccessful rival for +Marynia, and the incomplete slayer of Mashko. Gantovski approached +awkwardly and with some confusion, as if dazzled by Marynia's beauty, +and seized with sorrow for the happiness which had missed him. In +fact, Marynia greeted him with comic awkwardness; but Pan Stanislav +stretched his hand to him in friendliness, with the magnanimity of a +conqueror, and said,-- + +"Oh, I find here acquaintances even from years of childhood. How are +you?" + +"In the old fashion," answered Gantovski. + +But Pan Yamish, who was in excellent humor, said, looking teasingly at +the young man,-- + +"He has his cares in regulating peasant privileges." + +Gantovski grew still more confused, for the whole neighborhood was +talking of those troubles. For some years the poor fellow had been +barely able to live in that Yalbrykov of his. The regulation of peasant +privileges and the selling of timber might have brought him to the open +road at length, when in opposition to all the conditions, which more +than once had been near settlement, there rose the eternal unchangeable +reproach on the part of his Yalbrykov neighbors that "the lord heir +rides on a white horse, fires from pistols, and looks into the girls' +eyes." + +Gantovski, though accustomed from years of youth to various country +troubles, lost at times his patience and cried out in genuine despair,-- + +"Well, dog blood! what has one to do with the other? May the brightest +thunderbolts shake every one of you!" + +But after such a convincing dictum, the Yalbrykov peasant +representatives assembled as usual a new mature council, and, after a +careful consideration of everything, _for_ and _against_, announced +again, while scratching the backs of their heads, that all would be +right, but that "the lord heir rides on a white horse, fires from +pistols, and looks at the girls." + +Meanwhile Marynia, who had as much attachment for Pan Yamish as if +he had been one of the family, when she heard that he was a straw +widower, invited him to dinner. But beyond expectation Plavitski, +angry because he had not found Pani Yamish in Vantory, and mindful +of his Sunday whist parties with "Gantos," invited Gantovski too, in +consequence of which the Polanyetskis drove ahead very hurriedly, so +that Marynia might have time to make needful arrangements. Behind them +came Plavitski and the councillor; Gantovski dragged on in the rear in +his brichka drawn by a lean Yalbrykov nag. + +Along the road Plavitski said to Councillor Yamish,-- + +"I cannot tell you. My daughter is happy. He is a good man and an +energetic piece, but--" + +"But what?" asked Pan Yamish. + +"But flighty. Thou hast in mind, neighbor, that he pressed me so hard +for some wretched twelve thousand rubles that I was forced to sell +Kremen. And what then? Then he bought back that same Kremen. If he had +not squeezed me, he would not have had to buy Kremen, for he would have +had it for nothing with Marynia after my death. He is a good-natured +man, but here" (and while he was saying this, Plavitski tapped his +forehead with his finger) "there is something lacking! What is true, is +not a sin." + +"Hm!" answered Yamish, who did not wish to cause bitterness to +Plavitski by the remark that if Kremen had remained longer in _his_ +hands nothing would have been left of it. + +Plavitski sighed, and said,-- + +"But for me in my old age new toil, for now everything must go by my +head." + +With difficulty did Pan Yamish restrain himself from shouting, "May +God forbid!" but he knew Pan Stanislav well enough to know that there +was no danger. Plavitski did not believe much in what he himself said; +he was a little afraid of his son-in-law, and he knew well that now +everything would go by another head. + +Thus conversing, they drove up to the porch. Marynia, who had arranged +everything already for the dinner, received them with Stas in her arms. + +"I wanted to present my son to you before we sat down to table," said +she; "a big son! a tremendous boy! a nice son!" + +And in time to these words she began to sway him toward Pan Yamish. +Pan Yamish touched Stas's face with his fingers, whereupon the "nice +son" first made a grimace, then smiled, and all at once gave out a +sound which might have a certain exceptionally important meaning for +investigators of "esoteric speech;" but for an ordinary ear it recalled +wonderfully the cry of a magpie or a parrot. + +Meanwhile Gantovski came, and having hung up his overcoat on a peg +in the entrance, he was looking in it for a handkerchief, when, by a +strange chance, Rozulka, young Stas's nurse, found herself also in +the entrance, and approaching Gantovski, embraced his knees, and then +kissed his hands. + +"Oh! how art thou, how art thou? What wilt thou say?" asked the heir of +Yalbrykov. + +"Nothing! I only wished to make obeisance," said Rozulka, submissively. + +Gantovski bent a little to one side, and began to search for something +with his fingers in his breast pocket; but evidently she had come only +to bow to the heir, for, without waiting for a gift, she kissed his +hand again, and walked away quietly to the nursery. + +Gantovski went with a heavy face to the rest of the company, muttering +to himself in bass,-- + +"Um-dree-dree! Um-dree-dree! Um-dramta-ta!" + +Then all sat down at the table, and a conversation began about the +return of the Polanyetskis to the country. Pan Yamish, who, of himself, +was an intelligent man, and, as a councillor, must be wise by virtue of +his office, and eloquent, turned to Pan Stanislav, and said,-- + +"You come to the country without a knowledge of agriculture, but with +that which is lacking mainly to the bulk of our country residents,--a +knowledge of administration, and capital. Hence, I trust, and I am +sure, that you will not come out badly in Kremen. Your return is for +me a great joy, not only with reference to you and my beloved pupil, +but because it is also a proof of what I say always, and assert, that +the majority of us old people must leave the land; but our sons, and +if not our sons, our grandsons, will come back; and will come back +stronger, better trained in the struggle of life, with calculation in +their heads, and with the traditions of work. Do you remember what I +told you once,--that land attracts, and that it is genuine wealth? You +contradicted me, then, but to-day--see, you are the owner of Kremen." + +"That was through her, and for her," answered Pan Stanislav, pointing +to his wife. + +"Through her, and for her," repeated the councillor; "and do you think +that in my theory there is no place for women, and that I do not know +their value? They divine with heart and conscience where there is real +obligation, and with their hearts they urge on to it. But land is a +real obligation, as well as real wealth." + +Here Pan Yamish, who, in the image and likeness of many councillors, +had this weakness, that he was fond of listening to himself, closed his +eyes, so as to listen still better, and continued,-- + +"Yes, you have returned through your wife! Yes, that is her merit; and +God grant us that such women be born more frequently! But in your way +you have all come out of the soil, and therefore soil attracts you. +We ought to have the plough on our escutcheons, all of us. And I tell +you more, not only did Pan Stanislav Polanyetski return, not only did +Pani Marynia Polanyetski return, but the family of the Polanyetskis +returned, for in it was awakened the instinct of whole generations, who +grew out of the soil, and whose dust is enriching it." + +When he had said this, Pan Yamish rose, and taking a goblet, +exclaimed,-- + +"In the hands of Pani Polanyetski, the health of the family of the +Polanyetskis!" + +"To the health of the family of the Polanyetskis!" cried Gantovski, +who, having a feeling heart, was ready to forgive the family of the +Polanyetskis all the sufferings of heart through which he had passed by +reason of them. + +And all went with their glasses to Pani Marynia, who thanked them with +emotion; but to Pan Stanislav, who approached her, she whispered,-- + +"Ai, Stas, how happy I am!" + +But when all in the company found themselves again at their places, +Papa Plavitski added, on his part,-- + +"Keep the soil to the very last! that is what I have been advocating +all my life." + +"That is certain!" confirmed Gantovski. + +But in his soul he thought, "If it were not for those dog blood +troubles!" + +And at that very time, in the nursery, Rozulka was singing little Stas +to sleep with the sad village song,-- + + "Those ill-fated chambers. + Oi, thou my Yasenku!" + +After dinner, the guests were making ready to separate; but Plavitski +kept them for a "little party," so that they went away only when the +sun was near setting. Then the Polanyetskis, having amused themselves +first with little Stas, went out on the porch, and further, to the +garden, for the evening was calm and clear. Everything reminded them +of that first Sunday which they had spent there together; it seemed to +them like some wonderful and pleasant dream, and reminiscences of that +kind were there without number at every step. The sun was going down +in the same way, large and shining; the trees stood motionless in the +stillness of evening, reddening at the tops from the evening light; +on the other side of the house the storks were chattering in the same +way on their nests; there was the same mood of all things around them, +cherishing and vesperal. They began to walk about, to pass through all +the alleys, go to the fences, look at the fields, which lost themselves +in the distance, at the narrow strips of woods barring the horizon, and +to say quiet things to each other, and also as quietly as that evening +was quiet. All this which surrounded them was to be their world. Both +felt that that village was taking them into itself; that some relation +was beginning to weave itself between them and it; that henceforth +their life must flow there, not elsewhere,--laborers, devoted to the +"service of God" in the field. + +When the sun had gone down, they returned to the porch; but, as +on that first occasion, so now they remained on it, waiting for +perfect darkness. But formerly Marynia had kept at a distance from +Pan Stanislav; now she nestled up to his side, and said, after some +silence,-- + +"It will be pleasant for us here with each other, Stas, will it not?" + +And he embraced her firmly, so as to feel her at his very heart, and +said,-- + +"My beloved, my greatly beloved!" + +Then from beyond the alder-trees, which were wrapped in haze, rose the +ruddy moon; and the frogs in the ponds, having learned, evidently, that +the lady had returned, she whom they had seen so often at the shore, +called in the midst of the evening silence, in one great chorus,-- + +"Glad! glad!" + + +THE END. + + +Transcriber's Note + +Page numbers given in these notes refer those of the printed source. + +Certain compound words appear with and without hyphens. Should the +sole use of a hyphen appear at a line break in the original, the +most common form is followed, or modern usage applied if no other +instances exist. + +The list below describes the various textual issues encountered, +most of them likely printer's errors, and their resolution. The printer +seems to have particular trouble with the Polish proper names and +honorifics. Where there were inconsistent or apparently incorrect +usages, a Polish language text was used to confirm the correct forms. + +This text is organized as three books. The translator for our edition +eliminated the books and re-numbered the chapters consecutively. + +In Chapter LXIV, the first name of Mashko's wife appears once as both +'Terenia' (p. 624) and 'Teresia' (p. 626). 'Terenia' is to be the +correct spelling. + +p. 57 I never go out of the city in summer.["] Added. + +p. 82 and be at rest as to Mashko.['/"] Corrected. + +p. 119 and from the offence given by him[.] Added. + +p. 140 answered Pani Emilia[,] Added. + +p. 153 in whom irritation against Mashko [has] _sic._ + been gathering + +p. 233 Pan Mashko is a practical man[.] Added. + +p. 258 and kiss her feet[.] Added. + +p. 304 Bukat[ks/sk]i was then in a fit Transposed. + +p. 357 But, my Ane[kt/tk]a Transposed. + +p. 387 Pann[i/a] Castelli Corrected. + +p. 408 Sche[w/v]eningen Changed to match + all other instances. + +p. 411 had shown himse[l]f Added. + +p. 422 looked at her with a[s]tonishment Added. + +p. 429 those formulas sati[s]fied Pani Mashko Added. + +p. 451 those "who were kind" to Prytulov[.] Added. + +p. 462 down at his side, said,[--] Added. + + but at the same [time?] exceptionally _sic._ + +p. 523 Osno[sv/vs]ki, knowing nothing Transposed. + +p. 524 spite against Steftsia Ratkov[ks/sk]i Transposed. + +p. 525 ["]Koposio laughs at her Added. + +p. 528 ["]They have not returned yet; Added. + +p. 604 "What does Kresov[s]ki say?" Added. + +p. 626 Tere[s/n]ia Corrected. + + + + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Children of the Soil, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 44939 *** |