Children of the Soil

ening at the house of his partner, Bigiel, with whom, as a

l's r?le 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

it is in sight. Hitherto there have been only amateurs and dilettanti;

adily 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

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 o

out all his gall on "uncle" Plavitski, thinking that he would find a ready and

has none? If a man holds mortgages, he should have a saint's patience. Lande

ce thou hast begun to grow fat and sleep after di

rt in absolute need of this money? Hast thou not at thy

or Plavitski. I have money with him; I mus

e 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

nor Yoasia wants to be Montezuma, what can we do? We can't play that way

he Mexicans?" as

chairs are the Mexicans

be Montezuma; n

ing 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

he visit t

red Bigiel, phlegmatically: "he over

tell the

Plavitski in a way that could not be worse. He wants to sell his

ty," answered

e to bed, she questioned Pan Stan

e is pretty, perhaps she is not. I di

true," said

r; 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 t

e, it is possible to marry her,' and then again: 'She must

ne to me! I have no luc

impressed by Marynia; second, that she is one of the best young la

ome one taken

ered society not long since. Besides,

other man

other man might take her was tremendously bitter for him. In his so

aid he; "but you a

nly ask for a sincere, a really since

to tell the tr

Pani Bigiel, whose face w

tive person she is; and she must be good. But what of that? I cannot go a second time to Kremen, I came

mplicated ma

much than

ter might s

d beg his pardon! For nothing on e

, cu

wo 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

rynia here under the first plausible pretext, and then

tanislav; "I have promised myself to

what may be

iel; "but I will persuade him not to sell. I

now how other young ladies will seem to you after Marynia. I am not so intimate with her as Emilia is,

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.

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 indepen

en already. But I judge that this is not the case. I am occupied with her, not in love with her. These

cupied with her that this is natural. Finally, I have chewed more than one bitter thing in

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.

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 phi

d 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 to

atski, transparent as Sevres porcelain,

d now would be the time to strike for her. A woman will accept mo

r," said Pan Stanislav,

on my nerves still more; second, I have a pain in my neck every morning, an

u na

ve plucked myself for a month, and if I receive from Italy a certain Mass

is face, was somewhat like Mashko, though much older, and with a f

of the age,-collecting an

ll be a dispute,"

better to do," sa

i took up t

you against

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-

s something in that,

rs through his English side whiskers. "It contains, to begin

laughter of innocents and the r?le of Herod; secondly, you are mistaken in saying that I utter a decree. Almost with

and will not turn to shor

ce," said Pa

quered Vaskov

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 creat

bjects and ever fixed, as it were, on infinity,-fixed them on the window,

aches, for that will be a c

ions, begun from any cause or without cause, took from the side-pocket o

thou really sell th

. Why dost

might con

ho

rtain to-day; but to-morrow I will ask thee to send me the mortgage on Kremen, and I will tell thee whether the thi

d prefer it done quickly; for the moment

thou going?"

o hot in the city. Somew

one side of the street, which there is not in the country. I walk on the sha

ou not going somewhere

been urging me to go to Reic

where I go. I like Salzburg, and, besides, it

k a tooth-pick from a glass, and, picking his teet

thin me that I am ready to go with you. Have a c

tween the words and the tone of Bukatski that Pan

is possible to fall in love with Pa

both!" sai