This last discovery made him somewhat impatient, for he wished to return as soon as possible to Kremen, to observe the young woman further. In fact, Mass was over soon. Plavitski went out immediately after the blessing, for he had two duties before him,--the first, to pray on the graves of his two wives who were lying under the church; the second, to conduct Pani Yamish to her carriage. Since he wished to neglect neither of these, he had to count with time. Pan Stanislav went with him; and soon they found themselves before the stone slabs, erected side by side in the church wall. Plavitski kneeled and prayed awhile with attention; then he rose, and wiping away a tear, which was hanging really on his lids, took Pan Stanislav by the arm, and said, "Yes, I lost both; still I must live." Meanwhile Pani Yamish appeared before the church door in the company of her husband, of those two neighbors who had spoken to her before Mass, and of young Gantovski. At sight of her Pan Plavitski bent to Pan Stanislav's ear and said,-- "When she enters the carriage, take notice what a foot she has yet." After a while both joined the company; bows and greetings began. Pan Plavitski presented Pan Polanyetski; then, turning to Pani Yamish, he added, with the smile of a man convinced that he says something which no common person could have hit upon,-- "My relative, who has come to embrace his uncle, and squeeze him." "We will permit only the first; otherwise he will have an affair with us," said the lady. "But Kremen[2] is hard," continued Plavitski; "he will break his teeth on it, though he is young." Pani Yamish half closed her eyes. "That ease," said she, "with which you scatter sparks, _c'est inoui!_ How is your health to-day?" "At this moment I feel healthy and young." "And Marynia?" "She was at early Mass. We wait for you both at five. My little housekeeper is breaking her head over supper. A beautiful day." "We shall come if neuralgia lets me, and my lord husband is willing." "How is it, neighbor?" asked Plavitski. "I am always glad to go," answered the neighbor, with the voice of a crushed man. "Then, _au revoir_." "_Au revoir_," answered the lady; and turning to Pan Stanislav, she reached her hand to him. "It was a pleasure for me to make your acquaintance." Plavitski gave his arm to the lady, and conducted her to the carriage. The two neighbors went away also. Pan Stanislav remained a while with Gantovski, who looked at him without much good-will. Pan Stanislav remembered him as an awkward boy; from the "Little Bear," he had grown to be a stalwart man, somewhat heavy perhaps in his movements, but rather presentable, with a very shapely, light-colored mustache. Pan Stanislav did not begin conversation, waiting till the other should speak first; but he thrust his hands into his pockets, and maintained a stubborn silence. "His former manners have remained with him," thought Pan Stanislav, who felt now an aversion to that surly fellow.