"I should have thought it the idea of an artist rather than a portrait of a living child. What a wonderful head! What an expression! Is this your sister?" "No," answered Marynia; "that is a child no longer living." In the eyes of Zavilovski, as a poet, that tragic shadow increased his sympathy and admiration for that truly angelic face. He looked at the photograph for some time in silence, now holding it away from his eyes, and now drawing it nearer. "I asked if it was your sister," said he, "because there is something in the features, in the eyes rather; indeed, there is something." Zavilovski seemed to speak sincerely; but Pan Stanislav had such a respect for the dead child, a respect almost religious, that, in spite of his recognition of Marynia's beauty, the comparison seemed to him a kind of profanation. Hence, taking the photograph from Zavilovski's hands, he put it back on the table, and began to speak with a certain harsh animation,-- "Not the least; not the least! There is not one trait in common. How is it possible to compare them! Not one trait in common." This animation touched Marynia somewhat. "I am of that opinion, too," said she. But her opinion was not enough for him. "Did you know Litka?" asked he, turning to Pani Mashko. "I did." "True; you saw her at the Bigiels'." "I did." "Well, there wasn't a trace of likeness, was there?" "No." Zavilovski, who adored Marynia, looked at Pan Stanislav with a certain astonishment; then he glanced at the tall form of Pani Mashko, outlined through the gray robe, and thought,-- "How elegant she is!" After a while the Mashkos rose to take farewell. Mashko, when kissing Marynia's hand at parting, said,-- "Perhaps I shall go to St. Petersburg soon; at that time remember my wife a little." During tea Marynia reminded Zavilovski of his promise to bring at his first visit, and read to her, the variant of "On the Threshold;" he had grown so attached to the Polanyetskis already that he gave not only the variant, but another poem, which he had written earlier. It was evident that he was amazed himself at his own self-confidence and readiness; so that when he had finished reading, and heard the praises, which were really sincere, he said,-- "I declare truly that with you, after the third meeting, it seems as though we were acquainted from of old. So true is this that I am astonished." Pan Stanislav remembered that once he had said something similar to Marynia in Kremen; but he received this now as if it included him also. But Zavilovski had her only in mind; she simply delighted him with her straightforward kindness, and her face. "That beast is really capable," said Pan Stanislav, when Zavilovski had gone. "Hast thou noticed that he is changed a little in the face?" "He has cut his hair," answered Marynia. "Ah, ha! and his chin sticks out a trifle more."