Pan Stanislav, after reading the letter, dressed, read a certain time, then went to the Plavitskis'. Bigiel had been there a quarter of an hour, and was playing piquet with Plavitski; Marynia was sitting at some distance, by a small table, occupied in work of some kind. After he had greeted all, Pan Stanislav sat near her,-- "I thank you most earnestly for the photograph," began he. "I saw it unexpectedly, and Litka stood before my eyes in such form that I could not control myself. Moments like that are the measure of sorrow, of which a man cannot even give account to himself. I thank you most earnestly, and for the four birches too. Touching Pani Emilia, I know everything from Vaskovski. Is this merely a project, or a fixed resolve?" "Rather a fixed resolve," answered Marynia; "and what do you think?" Marynia raised her eyes to him as if waiting for some counsel. "She has not strength for it," said she, finally. Pan Stanislav was silent a while; then he opened his arms helplessly, and said,-- "I have talked about this with Vaskovski. I attacked him, since I thought that the idea was his; but he swore to me that he had nothing to do with it. He asked then what other consolation I could think out for her, and I could give him no answer. What in life has remained to her really?" "What?" returned Marynia, in a low voice. "Do I not understand, think you, whence that resolve came? She does not wish to violate her religious principles in any way, but she wants to die as soon as possible; she knows that those duties are beyond her strength, and therefore she assumes them." "True," answered Marynia; and she inclined her face so closely to her work that Pan Stanislav saw only the parting of the dark hair on her small head. Before her stood a box full of pearls, which she was sewing on to various articles to be used in a lottery for benevolent purposes; and tears, which were flowing from her eyes, began to drop on those pearls. "I see that you are weeping," said Pan Stanislav. She raised tearful eyes to him, as if to say, "Before thee I shall not hide tears," and answered, "I know that Emilia is doing well, but such a pity--" Pan Stanislav, partly from emotion, and partly because he knew not himself what to answer, kissed her hand for the first time. Pearls began then to drop more thickly from Marynia's eyes, so that she had to rise and go out. Pan Stanislav approached the players, as Plavitski was saying in a sour, outspoken tone, to his partner,-- "Rubicon after Rubicon. Ha! it is difficult. You represent new times, and I old traditions. I must be beaten." "What has that to do with piquet?" asked Bigiel, calmly.