For I have ceased to love thee too!
Hu-ha-hu!”
For that matter her beauty struck every one that day. Old Zavilovski, who had himself brought in his chair to the drawing-room, held her hands and gazed at her for a time; then, looking around at his daughter, he said,—
“Well, such a Venetian half-devil can turn the head, she can, and especially the head of a poet, for in the heads of those gentlemen is fiu, fiu! as people say.”
Then he turned to the young man and asked,—
“Well, wilt thou break my neck to-day because I said Venetian half-devil to thee?”
Pan Ignas laughed, and, bending his head, kissed the old man’s shoulder. “No; I could not break any one’s neck to-day.”
“Well,” said the old man, evidently rejoiced at those marks of honor, “may God and the Most Holy Lady bless you both! I say the Most Holy Lady, for her protection is the basis.”
When he had said this, he began to search behind in the chair, and, drawing forth a large jewel-case, said to Lineta,—
“This is from the family of the Zavilovskis; God grant thee to wear it long!”