And she began to exert her poor tortured head to discover, if not a road, at least some path, by which it would be possible to issue from those snares of unhappiness. At last, after a long effort, after God knows how many swallowed tears, it seems to her that she sees a light, and that that light, in proportion as she looks at it, increases. There is, however, something mightier than the logic of misfortune, mightier than committed offences, mightier than an offended divinity, which knows nothing but vengeance,--and this is the mercy of God. She has offended; therefore she ought to correct herself. It is needful, then, to love "Stas," so that he may find all which has perished in his heart; it is needful to have patience, and not only not to complain of her present lot, but to thank God and "Stas" that it is such as it is. If greater griefs and difficulties should come, it is necessary to hide them in her heart in silence, and endure long, very long, even whole years, till the mercy of God comes. The path began to change then into a highway. "I shall not go astray," said Marynia to herself. She wanted to weep from great joy then; but she judged that she could not permit that. Besides, "Stas" might return at any moment, and he must find her with dry eyes. In fact, he returned soon. Marynia wished at the first moment to throw herself on his neck, but she felt such guilt in reference to him that some sudden timidity stopped her; and he, kissing her on the forehead, inquired,-- "Was any one here?" "Emilia was, but she could not stay longer. She will come next week." He was irritated at this. "But, my God! thou knowest that it is such a pleasure for me to see her; why not let me know? Why didst thou not think of me, knowing where I was?" She, like a child explaining itself, spoke with a voice in which tears were trembling, but in which there was at the same time a certain trust,-- "No, Stas, on the contrary, as I love, I was thinking all the time of thee." CHAPTER XLII. "But you see I was there," said Zavilovski, joyously, at the Bigiels'. "They looked on me somewhat as they might on a panther, or a wolf, but I turned out a very tame creature; I tore no one, killed no one, answered with more or less presence of mind. No; I have long since considered that it is easier to live with people than it seems, and only in the first moments have I a wish always to run away. But those ladies are indeed very free." "I beg you not to put us off, but tell exactly how it was," said Pani Bigiel. "How it was? Well, first, I entered the inclosure of the villa, and did not know what to do further, or where the Osnovskis lived, or Pani Bronich; whether to pay them a visit at once, or whether it was necessary to visit both separately." "Separately," said Pan Stanislav; "Pani Bronich has separate apartments, though they have one drawing-room, which they use in common."