Leon.--At your age the words "I have grown old" are only a daring challenge thrown by a woman who is not afraid that she would be believed. Jadwiga.--I am twenty-three years old, so I am not talking about age in years, but age in morals. I feel that to-day I am not like that Jadwiga of Kalinowice whom you used to know so well. Good gracious! when I think to-day of that confidence and faith in life--those girlish illusions--the illusions of a young person who wished to be happy and make others happy, that enthusiasm for everything good and noble! where has all that gone--where has it disappeared? And to think that I was--well, an honest wild-flower--and to-day-- Leon.--And to-day a society woman. Jadwiga.--To-day, when I see such a sceptical smile as I saw a few moments ago on your lips, it seems to me that I am ridiculous--very often so--even always when I sit at some ideal embroidery and when I begin to work at some withered flowers on the forgotten, despised canvas of the past. It is a curious and old fashion from times when faithfulness was not looked seriously on, and people sang of Filon. Leon.--At that moment you were speaking according to the latest mode. Jadwiga.--Shall I weep, or try to tie the broken thread? Well, the times change. I can assure you that I have some better moments, during which I laugh heartily at everything (handing him a cigarette). Do you smoke? Leon.--No, madam. Jadwiga.--I do. It is also a distraction. Sometimes I hunt _par force_ with my husband, I read Zola's novels, I make calls and receive visits, and every morning I ponder as to the best way to kill time. Sometimes I succeed--sometimes not. Apropos, you know my husband, do you not? Leon.--I used to know him. Jadwiga.--He is very fond of hunting, but only _par force_. We never hunt otherwise. Leon.--Let us be frank. You had better drop that false tone. Jadwiga.--On the contrary. In our days we need impressions which stir our nerves. The latest music, like life itself, is full of dissonances. I do not wish to say that I am unhappy with my husband. It is true that he is always in Chantilly, and I see him only once in three months, but it proves, on the other hand, that he has confidence in me. Is it not true? Leon.--I do not know, and I do not wish to decide about it. But before all, I should not know anything about it. Jadwiga.--It seemed to me that you ought to know. Pray believe that I would not be as frank with any one else as I am with you. And then, I do not complain. I try to surround myself with youths who pretend they are in love with me. There is not a penny-worth of truth in all of it--they all lie, but the form of the lie is beautiful because they are all well-bred people. The Count Skorzewski visits me also--you must have heard of him, I am sure. I recommend him to you as a model for Adonis. Ha! ha! You do not recognize the wild-flower of Kalinowice? Leon.--No, I do not recognize it. Jadwiga.--No! But the life flower.