"True," rejoined Marynia; "but that is because Aunt is going away; and she"--here she pointed at Miss Anney with her riding whip--"has urged us all three to go where the doctor is sending Aunt." After which she said to Ladislaus: "You would not believe, sir, how honest she is and how she loves Aunt." "I, not believe? I?" cried Ladislaus with ardor. But Miss Anney, who a short time before had asked him whether one could fall in love so soon, became greatly confused and, dropping the reins, began with both hands to set something right on her hat, wishing to cover with them her countenance which glowed like the dawn. Ladislaus had heaven in his heart, and Marynia, for some time, gazed with her pellucid eyes, now at him and then at Miss Anney, for it was no secret to her that Krzycki was in love up to his ears, and this aroused her curiosity and amused her indescribably. XII "See what I received to-day," said Ladislaus, handing Gronski a letter which came with others in the morning mail. Gronski glanced at it and knit his brow. "Ah!" he said, "a death sentence." "Yes." "With the seal of the P. P. S. They are distributing them quite prodigally." "Yes, just like the opposite party." "Both are alike. The notary also has one and the doctor several. What do you think of it?" "Je m'en fiche! But the situation amuses me. I do not know whether you have heard that the Provincial guards have unearthed a secret school in Jastrzeb, which I founded a year ago because my conscience commanded me to. It is a case which I greased but have not yet greased sufficiently. As a result, I now have suspended over me the fists of the authorities and the fists of the socialists. Enjoyable, is it not?" "It has often occurred to me that elsewhere people could not live under such conditions, and we not only live but laugh quite merrily." "For such is our sinewy Lechite nature." "Perhaps that is so. You must, nevertheless, be on your guard and it will be necessary to send the ladies away." "It will be necessary, it will be necessary," repeated Ladislaus. "And abroad too, for it is unsafe in Warsaw. But please do not say anything about this foolish sentence to Mother or any one else." "Certainly." "Mother positively insists upon my accompanying her, and I do not try to shun that--oh, no, not in the least! But summer is approaching and after that there will be the harvest. The overseer is an honest man but before my departure I must give him some specific instructions how and what he is to do. After they all leave, I would like to stay yet for a week or ten days. Mother will not be alone and without care, as in the first place the younger members of the family will be with her, and again you heard Cousin Marynia say that the ladies will go wherever Mother would be. Through all my life I will ever be grateful to Miss Anney for that proposal; for to Mother nothing could be better or more agreeable."