e I could awaken love in you. I am no braggart; I wished by my
own merits to win your regard, even though I might have to wait long for
it. Now you are so gracious as to repeat your promise--how have I ever
deserved such favour? Perhaps you are taking me, Zosia, not so much from
attachment, as because your uncle and aunt are urging you to do so; but
marriage, Zosia, is a very serious matter: take counsel of your own heart
and do not hearken to any one's authority, either to your uncle's threats
or to your aunt's entreaties. If you feel for me nothing but kindness, we
may postpone this betrothal for a time; I do not wish to bind your will:
let us wait, Zosia. There is no reason for haste, especially since,
yesterday evening, I received orders to remain here in Lithuania as
instructor in the local regiment, until I am healed of my wounds. Well, my
beloved Zosia?"

Raising her head, and looking timidly into his eyes, Zosia replied:--

"I do not now remember perfectly what happened so long ago; I know that
everybody told me that I must marry you. I always assent to the will of
Heaven and the will of my elders." Then, lowering her eyes, she added:
"Before your departure, if you remember, when Father Robak died on that
stormy night, I saw that you were dreadfully sorry to leave us. You had
tears in your eyes: those tears, I tell you truly, fell deep into my
heart; since then I have trusted your word, that you were fond of me.
Whenever I have uttered a prayer for your success, I have always had
before my eyes the picture of you with those great shining tears. Later
the Chamberlain's wife went to Wilno and took me there for the winter; but
I longed for Soplicowo and for that little room where you met me for the
first time one evening by the table, and where you later bade me farewell.
In some strange way the memory of you, like seeds of kale planted in the
fall, all through the winter sprouted in my heart, so that, as I tell you,
I continually longed for that little room; and something whispered to me
that I should find you there again; and so it has happened. While thinking
of this, I often had your name on my lips as well--this was at Wilno in the
carnival season; the girls said that I was in love. So now, if I love any
one, it must surely be you."

Thaddeus, happy at such a proof of affection, took her arm and pressed it
to him, and they left the garden for the lady's chamber, for that room
that Thaddeus had occupied ten ye