"You are not greatly confused, if in my presence you can be so urgent that I am wonder-stricken." "That is our way in Smolensk,--to go boldly at women as we do into battle. You must, my queen, grow accustomed to this, for thus will it ever be." "You must put it aside, for thus it cannot be." "Perhaps I may yield, may I be slain! Believe, believe me not, but with gladness would I bend the skies for you. For you, my queen, I am ready to learn other manners; for I know myself that I am a simple soldier, I have lived more in camps than in chambers of castles." "Oh, that harms nothing, for my grandfather was a soldier; but I give thanks for the good-will," said Olenka; and her eyes looked with such sweetness on Pan Andrei that his heart melted like wax in a moment, and he answered,-- "You will lead me on a thread." "Ah, you are not like those who are led on threads; to do that is most difficult with men who are unsteady." Kmita showed in a smile teeth as white as a wolf's teeth, "How is that?" asked he. "Are the rods few that the fathers broke on me in the monastery to bring me to steadiness and make me remember various fair maxims for guidance in life--" "And which one do you remember best?" "'When in love, fall at the feet,'--in this fashion." When he had spoken, Kmita was already on his knees. The lady screamed, putting her feet under the table. "For God's sake! they did not teach that in the monastery. Leave off, or I shall be angry--my aunt will come this minute--" Still on his knees, he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "Let a whole squadron of aunts come; I shall not forbid their pleasure." "But stand up!" "I am standing." "Sit down!" "I am sitting." "You are a traitor, a Judas!" "Not true, for when I kiss 'tis with sincerity,--will you be convinced?" "You are a serpent!" Panna Aleksandra laughed, however, and a halo of youth and gladness came from her. His nostrils quivered like the nostrils of a young steed of noble blood. "Ai! ai!" said he. "What eyes, what a face! Save me, all ye saints, for I cannot keep away!" "There is no reason to summon the saints. You were absent four years without once looking in here; sit still now!"