"But have you many acquaintances in the world of artists?" "My husband has," answered Marynia, "I have not; but we know Pan Zavilovski." Pani Aneta fell into real enthusiasm at this news. It was her dream to know Zavilovski, and let "Yozio" say if it was not her dream. Not long before, she and Lineta had read his verses entitled "Ex imo;" and Lineta, who, at times, knows how to describe an impression with one word, as no one else can, said,--what is it that she said so characteristic? "That there was in that something bronze-like," added Pani Bronich. "Yes, something bronze-like; I imagined to myself also Pan Zavilovski as something cast. How does he look in reality?" "He is short, fat, fifty years old," said Pan Stanislav, "and has no hair on his head." At this the faces of Pani Aneta and Lineta took on such an expression of disenchantment that Marynia laughed, and said,-- "Do not believe him, ladies; he is malicious, and likes to torment. Pan Zavilovski is young, somewhat shy, a little like Wagner." "That means that he has a chin like Punch," added Pan Stanislav. But Pani Aneta paid no heed to Pan Stanislav's words, and obtained from Marynia a promise to make her acquainted with Pan Zavilovski, and soon, "very soon, for summer is at the girdle!" "We will try to make it pleasant for him among us, and that he shouldn't be shy; though, if he is a little shy, that is no harm, for he ought to be, and, like an eagle in a cage, withdraw when people approach him. But we will come to an understanding with Lineta; she, too, is wrapped up in herself, and is as mysterious as a sphinx." "It seems to me that every uncommon soul--" began Aunt Sweetness. But the Polanyetskis rose to go. In the entrance they met the wonderful Kopovski, whose shoes the servants were dusting, and who was arranging meanwhile the hair on his statuesque head, which was as solid as marble. When outside, Pan Stanislav remarked,-- "He, too, will be useful for their 'Florentine' evenings; he, too, is a sphinx." "If he were to stand in a niche," said Marynia. "But what beautiful women they are!" "It is a wonderful thing," answered Pan Stanislav, "though Pani Osnovski is good-looking, I, for example, prefer Pani Mashko as a beauty. As to Castelli, she is, in truth, beautiful, though too tall. Hast thou noticed how they speak of her all the time, but she not a word?" "She has a very intelligent opinion," answered Marynia, "but is, perhaps, a little timid, like poor Zavilovski." "It is necessary to think of arranging for that acquaintance." But an accident disturbed these plans of making the acquaintance. Marynia, on the day following this visit, slipped on the stone stairs, and struck her knee against the step with such violence that she had to lie in bed several days. Pan Stanislav, on returning from the office, learned what had happened. Alarmed at first, then pacified by the doctor, he upbraided his wife rather sharply.