Children of the Soil

hat 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

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 r?le 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

on; 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

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 tho

e? They eat? They don't bark at strangers, but

openings of the grape-vines, he sprang up as quickly as if thr

been talking with the

rly how great and deep a pleasure the sight of her caused him. And he pleased poor Marynia not less; he simply pleased her

with you. I must return to the city to-day; hence one moment more in your company will be

come, whenever

thought that he would do as people do usually,-accommodate himself to her tone readily and in silence,-she was mistaken. Pa

g is trou

was co

istaken,"

ing. But then I made a blunder: I began to speak of money at a wrong time. Yesterday I begged

chill him and keep him at a distance by this demeanor; but he, by inquiring so directly, rather brought

l-that is nothing! I do not understand such distinctions; and I shall never be your creditor, rather your debtor. For I am

ynia, whose heart was oppressed more and more, went on by the way which she had chosen: first, because she had chose

were mistaken yesterday, or you are mistaken to-day. I am always the same

man so unlike her of yesterday that on Pan Stani

let it be as you wish. I shall go away, however, with the convi

nislav had assumed certain rights by reason of her conduct with hi

n I hel

good-day to her father. Pan Stanislav remained alone. He drove away

ess! 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 yeste

ttired in his dressing-gown, before a desk covered with papers. For a while he turned to

have come to speak of P

er without ceasing t

Pan Stanislav in

I should wish that he were paid before o

m the desk, gazed at h

a guardianship ove

uestion of

u thinkest, I nee

papa;

s come on us? What is

beg, pap

le of years that remain to me in life, I have no wish to be quarrelling with my own child. But leave me even this

pa, I on

cottage, which, for the fourth

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

ed, at the request of Plavitski, but ill-humore

him at his side in an armchair prepared previously,

ilt not kill me, who opened my arms to thee as a

ncle's throat, and I will not make any child an orphan. I beg uncle not to

nd manner of expression had found such slight recognition; "but remember

neither here nor there. The money rests on a mortgage of twenty-one years. With the unpaid interest, it amounts to about twenty-f

on. "Thou didst come for that. True. But w

that same question to Marynia, just sprang up

to come t

e 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

a madman. I say simply that I am not caught with such chaff; it is too coarse. Uncle says that I have t

self, even for this reason, that I am older,"

rtain business. I must pay the same amount. I say clearly and declare that, afte

answer; he gazed with increasing displeasure, and in his mind gave himself this question: "Is he a trickster or a lunatic; i

d his face hidden on hi

something," began Pa

shed to be alone with his thoughts for a time yet. On

e disputing, when there is

ow

the

ha

f three. Thy-what's his name? Bigiel, isn't it? will pay me so much, whatever falls to him; tho

m not accustomed, that is to be made sport of. I do not want your marl; I want onl

Plavitski. For a while he threatened boldly with his eyes, then, moving quickly to the hooks on whi

wn widely; but Pan Stanislav, mastering himself no longer, pushed

going away, for I have had enough of you and your Kremen; but I say that I will sell my d

Plavitski was stretch

but know this, that the curse, both of me and of those

hat; finding it at last, he was going out to see if the brichka had come, when Marynia appeared. At sight of her he rest

came for what belonged to me; but he gave me first a blessin

h Marynia wished to extend

ore all others. Deal with us and with Kremen as may please you; but do not accuse me, do no

her lips, when Pan Stanislav, rousing himself inte

, and sent me to your father. I give thanks for the effective advice; but, as

ars of indignation, and, at the same time, of

e 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

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 o

ak promises given to others or themselves. It was now a mere question of finding a man to buy a claim so diffic

ery 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

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, suc

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 intelli

. I remember he had then Zvihov, Brenchantsa, Motsare, Rozvady in Lubelsk,-a fine fortune. Your grandfath

; he lived at Nice, did not take care of what he had, and it went. Had it not been for t

f. I know your house; I have had busin

ki did busin

tisfied with our relations. You have treated me

My partner, Bigiel, is an hones

ked Yamish, with

mnant of his anger unquenc

without circumlocution, permit me to speak

e was a relative and friend of my mother,

ers 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. Diff

ave no inclination for agriculture. I know that agriculture will exist always, for it must; b

f 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 a

is

esire 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.

st do not

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

en my such-an-uncle-not-an-uncle Plavitsk

hought a whi

wo 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

illor!" cried Pan Stanislav,

es, she is my pupil in agriculture; of a tru

hes, and said at last, "Let her marry s

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

r 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 o

it happened!