"Stas, do not kiss me so roughly; thou knowest that I am suffering." Then he stood erect, and said with suppressed anger,-- "True; I beg pardon." And he went to his room to examine the plan of a certain summer house with a garden, which had been sent to him that morning. CHAPTER XL. But Marynia's illness was not lasting, and a week later she and her husband were able to visit the Bigiels, who had moved to their summer residence; for the weather, notwithstanding the early season, was fine, and in the city summer heats were almost beginning. Zavilovski, who had grown accustomed to them, went also, taking an immense kite, which he was to fly in company with Pan Stanislav and the children. The Bigiels, too, liked Zavilovski, since he was simple, and, except his shyness, a pleasant man, on occasions even childlike. Pani Bigiel maintained, moreover, that he had a peculiar head; which was in so far true, that he had a scar on his eyelid, and that his prominent chin gave him an expression of energy which was contradicted utterly by his upper face, which was delicate, almost feminine. At first Pani Bigiel sought in him an original; but he mastered everything, and therefore himself, too quickly. He was simply a great enthusiast of unequal temper, because he was timid; and he was not without hidden pride. At dinner they mentioned the Osnovskis to him, and the projected Athenian-Roman-Florentine evenings, Panna Castelli, and the curiosity which he had roused in the ladies. When he heard this, he said,-- "Oh, it is well to know that; I shall not go there now for anything in the world." "You will make their acquaintance first at our house," said Marynia. "I shall escape from the entrance," said he, clasping his hands. "Why?" asked Pan Stanislav. "It is needful to have the courage not only of one's convictions, but of one's verses." "Evidently," said Pani Bigiel. "What is there to be ashamed of? I should look people in the eyes boldly and say: I write; yes, I write." "I write; yes, I write," repeated Zavilovski, raising his head and laughing. But Marynia continued: "You will make their acquaintance at our house; then you will leave your card with them, and after that we will visit them some evening." "I cannot hide my head in snow," said he, "because there is none; but I'll find some place of hiding." "But if I entreat you greatly?" "Then I will go," answered Zavilovski, after a while, blushing slightly; and he looked at her. Her face, somewhat pale after protracted lying in bed, had become more delicate, and looked like the face of a maiden of sixteen. She seemed so wonderful to the young man that he could refuse her nothing. In the evening, Pan Stanislav was to take him back to the city; but before that Marynia said to him,-- "Now you must be constrained, for you have not seen Panna Lineta Castelli; but as soon as you have seen her, you will fall in love."