To this Ladislaus replied with deep conviction: "It is! I give you my word, it is!" There was something so naïve in the manner and tone of the reply that Miss Anney could not refrain from laughing. But he observed this and began to speak rapidly as if he wished to explain and justify himself: "For do we know whence love comes? Often at the first glance of the eye upon a human face we have such an impression as if we found some one whom we were seeking. There are certain unalterable forces which mutually attract people, although before that time they may have never met and though they had lived far away from each other." "And must such persons always meet each other?" "No," he answered, "I think not always. But then perhaps they are continually yearning, not knowing for what, and feel an eternal vacuity in life." And here, in spite of his will, the sincere poetry of youth and sentiment spoke through his lips: "You called yourself a bird of flight," he said. "Beloved also is that bird, only not as a bird which flies away but rather as a bird which flies hitherward. For it flies unexpectedly from somewhere in the distance--from beyond the mountains, from beyond the sea, and nests in the heart, and begins to sing such a song that one hearing it would fain close his eyes and never waken again." And thus he spoke until he grew pale from emotion. For a time he was agitated, like a whirlwind, by the desire to dismount from his horse and embrace the feet of the maiden with his arms and cry: "Thou art that beloved one: therefore do not fly away, my dear bird!" But simultaneously he was seized by a prodigious fear of that night which would encompass him if his entreaty should prove futile. So he merely uncovered his head, as if he wanted to display his heated forehead. A long silence, which fell between them, was only interrupted by the snorting of the horses, which now proceeded in an ambling pace, emitting under the bridles a white foam. After which Miss Anney spoke in a subdued voice which sounded a little like a warning: "I hear Pan Gronski approaching with Marynia." In fact the other couple soon approached, happy and animated. Marynia, a few paces away, exclaimed: "Pan Gronski was telling me such beautiful things about Rome. I am sorry that you did not hear them." "More about the neighborhood of Rome, than Rome itself," said Gronski. "Yes. I was in Tivoli. I was in Castel Gandolfo, in Nemi. Wonders! I will tease Zosia until in truth we will go there and Pan Gronski with us." "Will you take me along?" asked Miss Anney. "Of course! We will all go in the autumn or next spring. Did you folks also talk about a trip?" For a time there was no response. "No," Miss Anney finally replied. "We were talking about birds of flight." "Why, now it is spring and birds do not fly away." "Nevertheless, you ladies are making preparations for flying away," answered Ladislaus with a sigh.