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."