red with its blue waves
breaking against the shore.

After the preliminary drinks and sandwiches all became lively.

"Well, now let us drink the health of the initiators of the outing!"
cried Glogowski, filling the glasses.

"Let us rather drink to the success of your new play," cried several
voices.

"No, that will not help it any . . . it will turn out a fiasco
anyway . . ."

"Perhaps Topolski will now reveal to us his secret plan," said
Kotlicki who was calmly stretched out on his plaid beside Janina.

"Let that rest! After we have had plenty to eat and still more to
drink will be time enough. Perhaps the ladies will untie those
packages," cried Wawrzecki.

Napkins were spread out on the grass and a variety of dainties was
brought forward and set upon them amid laughter.

"That's nice, but where is the tea?" exclaimed Janina.

Kotlicki jumped up.

"The tea is here and also the samovar, only you, sir, will have to
go for some water. We shall go together for it to the Wisla!" cried
Majkowska, shaking the charcoal out of a pitcher.

Kotlicki frowned a bit, but went along with her. In a few minutes
the samovar was started, Glogowski proving himself a real master.

"That is my specialty!" he shouted blowing at the fire like a pair
of bellows. "And I must tell you ladies that very often, more often
than I like, I lack coal. It is then that my inventive genius comes
to the fore: I stoke the fire with papers or, if that is also
missing, I pluck a board from the floor and, willy nilly, the tea is
produced."

"You must lead a very diversified life!" remarked Topolski with a
laugh.

"A trifle! Just a trifle . . . but I won't say that I relish it."

"I proclaim to all in general and to everyone in particular that the
tea is beginning to boil! . . . Now, ladies, assume the roles of
Hebes!" called Glogowski.

Janina poured out the tea for all of them before sitting down near
Mimi.

"I am organizing a dramatic society," began Topolski.

"I will tell you the only way to do it: you engage a few score of
the theatrical tribe by promising them high salaries and give them
small advances; you look for a lady treasurer who is wise enough to
have a bond and naive enough to deposit it; with it you buy the
necessary accessories, have them sent on account and you are ready
either to begin, or to break up. And in two months you can repeat
the same prescription until you get results," jested Wawrzecki.

"Wawrzecki, qu