VII

Gronski actually did postpone his "five o'clock." Pani Krzycki,

however, visited her son, sometimes twice in a day, claiming justly

that less danger threatened an elderly woman than any one else.

Ladislaus passed long hours with her, speaking about everything, but

mostly about Miss Anney. After Gronski's admonition, he did not,

indeed, confess to his mother his feelings for the young Englishwoman

and did not mention a word about his intentions, but the fact, alone,

that her name was continually on his lips, that he ascribed his

preservation to her alone, and incessantly talked about the debt of

gratitude which he and his family owed to her, gave his mother much to

think about. The suspicion, which had flitted through her mind on the

eve of their departure from Jastrzeb, returned and became more and more

strongly fortified. She did not, indeed, take it for granted that

Ladislaus had already taken an unbreakable resolution but came to the

conclusion that he was "smitten" and finally that the light-haired

maiden had made a greater impression upon him than had his cousin

Otocka. This filled her with sorrow. During the journey and their few

days' sojourn in Warsaw she took a fancy to Miss Anney for her

demeanor, simplicity, and complaisance; but "Zosia Otocka" was the

little eye in her head. From the moment she met her in Krynica, she

never ceased dreaming of her for her son. She judged that, in respect

to nobility and delicacy of sentiment, no one could compare with her.

She regarded her as a chosen soul and the incarnation of womanly

angelicalness. She had awaited her arrival with palpitation of the

heart, not supposing for a moment that Ladislaus would not be

captivated by her figure, her sweet countenance, that maidenly charm,

which, notwithstanding her widowhood, she preserved in full bloom. And

until the end Pani Krzycki indulged in the hope that all would end

according to her desires, not taking into account the fleeting

impression in Jastrzeb; only during the journey to Warsaw and in the

course of the last few days did she note that it might happen

otherwise, and that Ladislaus' eyes were enraptured by another flower.

She preferred, however, not to question him for she thought that it

might yet pass away.

He, in the meantime, chafed as if imprisoned, and would undoubtedly

have not observed those few days which the doctor stipulated, were it

not for the fact that he had made a promise to his mother in Miss

Anney's presence, and feared to create an opinion in her eyes that he

was a man who did not keep his word. After the advice which Pani

Otocka, through the instrumentality of Gronski, gave him that he should

first speak with Miss Anney, it became more unendurable for him to sit

in the house. From morning till night he racked his brain as to what

that could be and could arrive at no satisfactory solution. The day

following the conversation with Gronski, he decided to ask Pani Otocka

about it by letter and sat down with great ardor to write. But after

the first page he was encompassed by doubt. It seemed to him that he

could not express that which he wished. He understood that, under the

address of Pani Otocka, he was really writing to Miss Anney. So he

yearned to make it a masterpiece, and in the meantime came to the

conclusion that it was something so bungling and maladroit that it was

impossible to forward it. Finally he lost all faith in his stylistic

accomplishments, and this spoilt his humor so far that he again began

to ask himself in his soul whether such "an ass," who is unable to

indite three words, has the right to aspire to such an extraordinary

and in every respect perfect being as "She." Gronski, however,

comforted him with the explanation that the letter was not a success

because from the beginning the project was baffling and under such

circumstances no one could succeed. After which he also called his

attention to another circumstance, namely, that from Pani Otocka's

words and her advice that an interview with Miss Anney should precede

any talk with his mother could be drawn the inference that there

everything was prepared for an explosion, and all means preventative of

a heart-break had been provided. Mirth immediately returned to

Ladislaus and he began to laugh like a child and afterwards again sent

to the three ladies bouquets of the most magnificent roses which Warsaw

could provide.

The day concluded yet more propitiously, for proofs of appreciation

arrived. They were brought to Gronski's house by Panna Pauly in the

form of a small and perfumed note, on which was written by the hand of

the light-haired divinity the following words: "We thank you for the

beautiful roses and hope for an early meeting." Further came the

signatures of Agnes Anney, Zosia Otocka, and Marynia Zbyltowska.

Krzycki pronounced the letter a masterpiece of simplicity and

eloquence. He certainly would have kissed each letter of it separately,

were it not for the fact that before him stood Panna Pauly, with

clouded face, and eyes firmly fixed upon him--uneasy and already full

of suspicious jealousy, though obviously not knowing against which one

of the three ladies it was to be directed. Krzycki, not concealing the

joy which the letter gave him, turned to her and said:

"What is new, little Miss? Are the ladies well?"

"Yes. My mistress instructed me to inquire about your health."

"Kindly thank her. It is excellent, and if I am not shot again, I will

not die from the first shooting."

And she, not taking her bottomless eyes off him, replied:

"God be praised."

"But that you, little Miss, should not fear to go out in such turbulent

times!"

"The lackey was afraid, but I do not fear anything and wanted to see

for myself how you were."

"There is a daring body for me! I am grateful to you, little Miss.

Since this stupid strike of hackmen ended to-day, it is better for you

to return by hack. Please accept this--for--"

While saying this, he began to search for his purse, and taking a

five-rouble gold piece, he offered it to her. At the same time he felt

that he was doing something improper, and even terrible. It was so

disagreeable to him that he became confused and reddened, but it seemed

to him that any other method of showing his gratitude would be food for

the feeling which he perceived in her and which he wished to dispel,

because of some strange kind of fear intensified even by the fact that

the girl was Miss Anney's maid.

Therefore he began to repeat with a forced and slightly silly smile:

"Please, Panna Pauly, take it, please--"

But she withdrew her hand and her face darkened in a moment.

"I thank you," she said. "I did not come for that."

And she turned towards the door. To the dissatisfaction with himself

which Krzycki felt was joined pity for her. Therefore he followed her a

few steps.

"Let not the little lady be offended," he said; "here, of course, was

no other thought than of her safety. It was only about this that I was

concerned. Shall the servant summon a carriage?--"

But she did not answer and left the house. Krzycki, walking to the

window, gazed for some time at her graceful form, disappearing in the

depths of the street; and suddenly again appeared before his eyes the

vision of the white statue in azure drops of water. There was, however,

something exasperating in her; and unwillingly there occurred to the

frail young gentleman the thought that if she were not Miss Anney's

maid, and if he had known her formerly, that as two and two are four he

would have succumbed to temptation.

But at present another, greater power had snatched away his thoughts

and heart. After a while he returned to the letter and began to read it

anew: "We thank you for the beautiful roses and hope for an early

meeting." And so they want to see him over there. The day after

to-morrow he will not be sitting here, bound by the chains of his own

words, but will go there and gaze in those wonderful eyes, looking with

a heavenly stream, and will so press his lips to her beloved hands that

in one kiss he will tell everything which he has in his heart. Words

will be later only an echo. And imagination bore him like an

unmanageable horse. Perhaps that idolized maid may at once fall into

his arms; perhaps she may close those wonderful eyes and offer her lips

to him. At this thought a thrill passed through Krzycki from his feet

to his head and it seemed to him that all the love, all the impulses,

and all the desires which ever existed and exist in the world at

present were hoarded in him alone.