this a hundred times, but she still wished to hear it! Ah! and would it not make all the difference whether the local population had an enemy in Parliament, or someone to champion their cause? It would soon be decided,--in a short moment, in fact,--for a cloud of dust was rising from the road. 'The priest is coming! The priest is coming!' reiterated those present. The lady grew pale. Excitement was visible on every face. They were certain of victory, all the same this final moment made their hearts beat more rapidly. But it was not the priest, it was the steward returning from the town on horseback. Perhaps he might know something? He tied his horse to the gate post, and hurried to the house. The guests and the hostess rushed into the hall. 'Is there any news?--Is there any? Has our friend been elected?--What?--Come here!--Do you know for certain?--Has the result been declared?' The questions rose and fell like rockets, but the man threw his cap into the air. 'The Count is elected!' The lady sat down on a bench abruptly, and pressed her hand to her fast beating heart. 'Hurrah! Hurrah!' the neighbours shouted, 'Hurrah!' The servants rushed out from the kitchen. 'Hurrah! Down with the Germans! Long live the Member! And my lady the Member's wife!' 'But the priest?' someone asked. 'He will be here directly;' the steward answered, 'they are still counting....' 'Let us have dinner!' the Hon. Member cried. 'Hurrah!' several people repeated. They all walked back again from the hall to the drawing room. Congratulations to the host and hostess were now offered more calmly; the lady herself, however, did not know how to restrain her joy, and disregarding the presence of others, threw her arm round her husband's neck. But they thought none the worse of her for this; on the contrary, they were all much touched. 'Well, we still survive!' the neighbour from Mizerów said. At this moment there was a clatter along the corridor, and the priest entered the drawing room, followed by old Maciej, of Pognębin. 'Welcome! Welcome!' they all cried. 'Well,--how great?' The priest was silent a moment; then as it were into the very face of this universal joy he suddenly hurled the two harsh, brief words: 'Schulberg--elected!' A moment of astonishment followed, a volley of hurried and anxious questions, to which the priest again replied: 'Schulberg is elected!' 'How?--What has happened?--By what means?--The steward said it was not so.--What has happened?' Meanwhile Count Jarzyński was leading poor Countess Marya out of the room, who was biting her hankerchief, not to burst into tears or to faint. 'Oh what a misfortune, what a misfortune!' the assembled guests repeated, striking their foreheads. A dull sound like people shouting for joy rose at that moment from the direction of the village. The Germans of Pognębin were thus gleefully celebrating their victory.