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.