And Pan Stanislav began to laugh, and Marynia with him; after a while he added,—
“I know that of me only ears will be left.”
He did not tell the truth, however; for he felt that it would be otherwise. Marynia too, after thinking a while, said,—
“No; I have not such a character.”
“That is better too; for I will tell you sincerely what conclusions I have drawn from my life observations: the greater egotism always conquers the less.”
“Or the greater love yields to the less,” answered Marynia.
“That comes out the same. As to me, I confess that I should like to hold some Herod, see, this way, in my hand” (here Pan Stanislav opened his fingers and then closed them into a fist); “but with such a dove as you, it is quite different. With you I think we shall have to fight to restrain you from too much self-abnegation, too much personal sacrifice. Such is your nature, and I know whom I take. For that matter all say so, and even Mashko, who is no Solomon, said: ‘She may be unhappy with thee; thou with her, never.’ And he is right. But I am curious to know how Mashko will be for his wife. He has a firm hand.”
“But is he loved much?”
“Not so much as awhile ago, when a certain young lady coquetted with him.”
“Yes; for he wasn’t so wicked as a certain ‘Pan Stas.’”