finally got to the point where there are no more left to
dispose of," interposed Kotlicki. "One got a whack over the head,
another a jab in the ribs, a third a very polite kick and so
forth . . ."

"No, my dear sir, I still remain!" rejoined Glogowski, with a
comical bow.

"We demolished vast edifices for the sake of a soap bubble."

"Perhaps, but since even in soap bubbles the sun is reflected . . ."

"Therefore, let us have another drink of brandy!" exclaimed
Topolski, who had been silent up till now.

"Throw out all that argumentation to the dogs! . . . Let us drink
and quit thinking!" chimed in Wawrzecki.

"That last statement is an epitome of yourself, Wawrzecki!" remarked
Glogowski.

"Let us drink and love one another!" proposed Kotlicki, rousing
himself and tinkling his glass against the bottle.

"To that I will agree, as I am Glogowski, I will agree, for love
alone is the soul of the world!"

"Wait a minute, I will sing you something about love," cried
Wawrzecki, and he proceeded to drone an amorous ditty.

"Bravo Wawrzecki!" cried the entire company and with that they all
abandoned themselves to pure merriment, ceased arguing and babbled
any nonsense that came to their lips.

"Most esteemed ladies and gentlemen! the sky is beginning to cloud
and on earth the bottles are all empty. Let us beat a retreat!"
finally suggested Wawrzecki.

"But how?" chorused a few voices.

"We will go on foot, for it is not more than a mile to Warsaw."

"We'll hire some husky fellow to carry the baskets for us. I'll go
and see if I can find someone," said Wawrzecki, and he went off in
the direction of a monastery.

Before he returned all were ready for the homeward journey. The
general mood of gayety had even risen, for Mimi was dancing a waltz
with Glogowski on the greensward. Topolski was so drunk that he
continually kept talking to himself and quarreling with Majkowska.
Kotlicki smiled and kept close to Janina who had become very
sportive and merry. She smiled at him and conversed with him, hardly
remembering his recent proposal. He was sure that the impression of
it had merely glided over her soul and sunk away in forgetfulness.

They walked in disordered groups as is usual after an outing. Janina
was weaving a wreath of oak leaves, while Kotlicki was helping her
and amusing her with piquant remarks. She listened to him, but when
they entered into a bigger and real wood where the ground was
covered with de