Pan Stanislav, who had spent two nights in Kremen, remembered that Plavitski rose about eleven in the forenoon, and that he labored specially about the business of Kremen, not its fields; he passed this, however, in silence, for he had a head occupied with something else at that moment. From the chamber which Plavitski occupied, an open door led to another, which must be Marynia's. It occurred to Pan Stanislav, who was looking in the direction of that door from the time of his entrance, that perhaps she did not wish to come out; therefore he inquired,-- "But shall I not have the pleasure of seeing Panna Marynia?" "Marynia has gone to look at lodgings which I found this morning. She will come directly, for they are only a couple of steps distant. Imagine to thyself a plaything, not lodgings. I shall have a cabinet and a sleeping-room; Marynia also a very nice little chamber,--the dining-room is a trifle dark, it is true; but the drawing-room is a candy-box." Here Plavitski passed into a narrative concerning his lodgings, with the volubility of a child amused by something, or of an old lover of comfort, who smiles at every improvement. At last he said,-- "I had barely looked around when I found myself at home. Dear Warsaw is my old friend; I know her well." But at that moment some one entered the adjoining room. "That is Marynia, surely," said Plavitski. "Marynia, art thou there?" called he. "I am," answered a youthful voice. "Come here; we have a guest." Marynia appeared in the door. At sight of Pan Stanislav, astonishment shone on her face. He, rising, bowed; and when she approached the table, he stretched out his hand in greeting. She gave him her own with as much coldness as politeness. Then she turned to her father, as if no one else were present in the room,-- "I have seen the lodgings; they are neat and comfortable, but I am not sure that the street is not too noisy." "All streets are noisy," answered Plavitski. "Warsaw is not a village." "Pardon me; I will go to remove my hat," said Marynia. And, returning to her room, she did not appear for some time. "She will not show herself again," thought Pan Stanislav. But evidently she was only arranging her hair before the mirror, after removing her hat; she entered a second time, and asked,-- "Am I interrupting?" "No," said Plavitski, "we have no business now, for which, speaking in parenthesis, I am very glad. Pan Polanyetski has come only through politeness." Pan Stanislav blushed a little, and, wishing to change the subject, said,-- "I am returning from Reichenhall; I bring you greetings from Pani Emilia and Litka, and that is one reason why I made bold to come." For a moment the cool self-possession on Marynia's face vanished. "Emilia wrote to me of Litka's heart attack," said she. "How is she now?" "There has not been a second attack." "I expect another letter, and it may have come; but I have not received it, for Emilia addressed it very likely to Kremen."