Children of the Soil

ntimate 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 indicat

on condition, however, that they should not be overestimated; and especially, that th

ht 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

at the first moment!" cried Pan Stanislav.

is cloudy; a little dark here. It must be for that

hat a figure!" answ

side, without ceremony, he be

ung lady's! Would that

s greeting, but still more delighted at the admirat

natic. I might be angr

turn as many hea

asked Plavitski, sitti

le has come her

whatever of that. T

or haven't I seen

ha

e point of his tongue; but that lasted only a

s of the country. May the Lord God not remember, for Pani Yamish, how much she has tortured me with her affectatio

e felt like a but

hou 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 generatio

t confess to me where he is going, wi

I refused, not wishing to leave Marynia alone. But I have sat so many years in the countr

N

good family name. For that matter, Mashko is an advocate himself. But, in general,

lace himself ev

receive him. Once I had

uncle n

acted with me in all that busi

ynia of the s

understand everything. I knew about her views, however, and am ready to endure every bitterness with calm

ready to gi

rmer visit to Warsaw; but somehow the affair did not move. The maiden was too young; he did not please her sufficiently; I wa

, since it is b

nd formerly called Masco. They came here with Queen Bona, and settled in White

s a Portug

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 m

at it was Henry I

ut 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 toi

; I wil

t like thy father! In every case, I am not the man to blame thee, no, no! Thou didst throttle me without mercy, didst t

s mutual." sai

tion, bordering on sympathy. He was not some poor relative who might ask for assistance; and therefore Plavitski, though for the moment he had no

fine lodgin

s if he were about to marry. The furnishing itself caused him

oom, beyond which was another smaller apar

not m

l when

and, patting Pan Stanislav o

hom; I kn

ried Pan Stanislav; "try to kee

The widow, t

r un

now I am going, for it is time to dine, and in

any with

a; but Mashko to

also, wit

mountain cannot meet a mountain,

leyrand

next meeti

r 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 h

rsuit 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 befo

patient 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 pr

re," said Pan Stanislav

st thou s

ere, wit

Let u

they

as to arrest attention; but she talked with Bigiel, inquiring for the health of his wife and children. In answe

ry happy!" repeated he. "P

y in Warsaw that Bigiel lived well, accepted. It was settled that they would dine, and return in t

Plavitski; "right here a num

ad turned alrea

ews from Pa

sk if you had,

rrow I shall inquire a

eemed 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

h a wife, to ha

lness of blood, he might have thought that she did so to annoy him, and that was the case, perhaps. Their c

, 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

eful to him, for he persuaded me-to Kremen-I think, besides, that he is a sincere wel

at vivacity; then Pan Stanislav hea

intelligence perhaps less than

s 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 St

imilar case; this did not hinder him, however, from considering them in Mashko a

ving 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

o seated her and her father. He began then to take le

has invited you; is

me with us,"

ws with Bigiel and Pan Stanislav. The two friends walked on a good while

o know if they

e," said Bigiel; "but i

o see

thinking only of a career. Mashko is in love. Besides, by taking her he will free himself from paying fo

Pan Stanislav felt so oppressed

lplessness! I should prefer anything to such helplessness. I speak to thee o

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 Maryn

checked himself, thoug

aw completely, leave events to their course, and te

ince I feel foolish, there is no help for it. How could there be? To begin with, I did all this myself, and n

ages in life to

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

arynia is not the o

ing 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

I got a thorn in me sometimes; it pained much less to dra

be drawn if it has not gone in too deeply, and one can seize it. But what are comparis

; but if there is

just what grieves the ma

here. At the moment of pa

ld prefer not to be

ilt do well t