s of the
whole audience centered upon her.

"Is there a 'soul' in it?" whispered Zieliaska, pointing to the
bouquet.

"Look in the center of the flowers, perhaps you will find something
among them," another one of the chorus girls whispered to her.

Janina did not look, but felt a deep gratitude toward Grzesikiewicz
for those flowers. After the curtain fell she left the stage without
paying any attention to the violent quarrel that broke out between
Glas and Dobek.

Glas was jumping with rage, while Dobek was slowly putting on his
overcoat and calmly and tauntingly answering: "An eye for an eye.
Sweet is vengeance to the human heart."

He had revenged himself for the trick that Glas had played on him on
the foregoing day when he had got Dobek drunk and together with
Wladek made him up as a negro. Dobek as soon as he had sobered a bit
had calmly gone straight from the saloon to the theater without
knowing what had happened to his physiognomy. They had a roaring
good time behind the scenes, but Dobek swore vengeance and kept his
word, threatening in addition that he would yet get square with
Wladek.

Cabinski, irritated by what had happened on the stage, said all
kinds of things to Glas, but the latter did not answer him, so
deeply humiliated was he by his breakdown on the stage.

Janina all dressed in her street attire, was only waiting for
Sowinska to go home with her, when Wladek sidled up to her and
softly asked:

"Will you allow me to accompany you? . . ."

"I am going with Sowinska and besides you live in another part of
the city," answered Janina.

"Sowinska has just requested me to tell you that she will not return
for an hour. She is at the director's house."

"Well then, let us go."

"Perhaps your bouquet is in the way, let me carry it for you . . ."
he said, extending his hand to take the flowers.

"Oh no, thank you . . . ." answered Janina.

"It must be very precious! . . ." he said, emphasizing his words
with a laugh.

"I don't know how much it costs," she answered coldly, showing no
disposition to converse with him.

Wladek laughed, then he spoke about his mother and finally said:
"Perhaps you will come to see us? My mother is ill and for a few
days she has not left her bed."

"Your mother is ill? Why, I saw her in the theater to-day."

"Is that possible!" he cried in real confusion. "I give you my word
that I was certain she was ill . . . for my mother told me that for
a few days