t so long ago in the woods: he was lying in some
bushes and crying like a child. You are killing him. Both of you are
killing each other with your pride and unrelenting stubbornness. You
are the best woman in the world and I feel that you will not leave
him alone, that you will return and give up theatrical life. . . .
Aren't you ashamed of associating with such a band of scoundrels? . . .
How can you possibly exhibit yourself on the stage! . . ."

He broke off and breathing heavily, wiped his eyes with his
handkerchief. Never before had he said so much at one time.

Janina sat with bowed head, her face as pale as a sheet, her lips
set tightly and her heart filled with a storm of rebellion and
suffering. That sharp voice which she had just heard had in it such
a tearful, deep and soul-stirring expression and those words: "Your
father is suffering . . . your father is crying . . . your father is
longing for you!" penetrated her with so sharp a grief and harried
her so painfully, that at moments she wanted to spring up and go to
him as quickly as she could; but then again, memories of the past
would flood her brain and she would become cool and hardened.
Finally she recalled the theater and became entirely indifferent.

"No! He has driven me away forever. . . . I am alone in the world
and will remain alone. I could not live without the theater!" Janina
said to herself and there arose in her again that mad desire for
theatrical conquest.

Grzesikiewicz also became silent, his eyes clouding mistily. He
devoured her with his eyes, and had a great desire to fall on his
knees before her, kiss her hands and feet and the hem of her dress
and beg her to listen to him . . . Then again, when he remembered
the whole tragedy of the situation, he felt like springing up from
his chair and smashing everything that came in his way; or again
such a violent grief would convulse him that he could have cried
aloud in sheer despair.

He sat and gazed at that beloved face, now pale and worn, on which
the feverish night life of the theater had already left its imprint,
and he felt that he would give his very life for her, if she would
only go back.

Janina finally bent on him eyes that were glowing with irrevocable
determination.

"You must know how my father hates me; you must also know that, when
I refused to marry you, he drove me out of his house forever . . .
he almost cursed me and drove me out . . ." she repeated with
bitternes