was just
beginning her hunting. To be sure she sat without moving, with her arms
folded on her breast, but with her thoughts she was pursuing two beasts;
she was searching for means to invest and capture them both at once--the
Count and Thaddeus. The Count was a young magnate, the heir of a great
house, handsome and attractive, and already a trifle in love! Well? He
might be fickle! Then, was he sincerely in love? Would he consent to
marry? especially a woman some years older than he? and not rich?

With these thoughts Telimena rose from the sofa and stood on tiptoe; you
would have said that she had grown tall. She opened slightly her gown over
her bosom, leaned sideways, surveyed herself with a diligent eye, and
again asked counsel of her mirror; a moment later, she lowered her eyes,
sighed, and sat down.

The Count was a grandee! Men of property are changeable in their tastes.
The Count was a blond! Blonds are not over passionate. But Thaddeus? a
simple lad! an honest boy! almost a child! he was beginning to fall in
love for the first time! If well looked to he would not easily break his
first ties; besides that, he was already under obligations to Telimena.
While they are young, though men are fickle in their thoughts, they are
more constant in their feelings than their grandfathers, because they have
a conscience. The simple and maidenlike heart of a youth long preserves
gratitude for the first sweets of love! It welcomes enjoyment and bids it
farewell with gaiety, like a modest meal, which we share with a friend.
Only an old drunkard, whose inwards are already burning, loathes the drink
in which he drowns himself. All this Telimena knew thoroughly, for she had
both sense and large experience.

But what would people say? One could withdraw from their sight, go to
another locality, live in retirement, or, what was better, remove entirely
from the vicinity, for instance make a little trip to the capital; she
might introduce the young lad to the great world, guide his steps, aid
him, counsel him, form his heart, have in him a counsellor and brother!
Finally, she might enjoy the world herself, while her years permitted.

With these thoughts she walked boldly and gaily several times up and down
the chamber--again she lowered her brow.

It might be well also to think about the fate of the Count--could she not
manage to interest him in Zosia? She was not rich, but of equal birth to
his, of a senatorial family, the daug