"I?" he said, coldly; "I have had very little to do with poetry; you know that, Countess Morynski."
"And yet there are moments when the most prosaic natures must feel its spell."
"That may be, and to romantic natures such moments very often come. One like me must get through the world as best he can without romance or poetry. Such an existence, although not enviable, is at least endurable."
"How calmly you say this. And yet endurance was never your distinguishing virtue."
"Would you expect me to remain my whole life long a passionate, impetuous boy? Do you not think me capable of outgrowing juvenile follies?"
Wanda bit her lips; he had already proved the contrary.
"I certainly do," she said. "Indeed, I think you capable of a great deal more than you think proper to admit."
Waldemar scanned the young lady's face very closely. "Then you differ from all others in Villica; it is the general belief here that my abilities are of no high order."
"Because you choose to have them think so. I perhaps have deeper insight than the others."
"You flatter me," returned Waldemar, ironically; "but although you mean this kindly, it is cruel in you to deprive me of the only merit I possess in the eyes of my mother and brother--that of being harmless and insignificant."