"My father commands me to visit his brother in Shumna. I must stay there about a week."
I looked at Hania. That information called out no impression on her face. Evidently Selim had told her of the visit already.
She smiled, raised her eyes from her work, looked at Selim somewhat cunningly, somewhat perversely, and asked,—
"But are you glad to go there?"
"As glad as a mastiff to go to a chain," answered he, quickly; but he restrained himself in time, and seeing that Pani d'Yves, who could not endure anything trivial, was making a wry face, he added,—
"I beg pardon for the expression. I love my uncle; but you see it is pleasanter here for me, near Pani d'Yves." And speaking thus, he cast a sentimental glance at Pani d'Yves, which roused laughter in all, not excluding Pani d'Yves herself, who, though she was easily offended, had a special weakness for Selim. She took him gently by the ear and said with a kindly smile,—
"Young man, I might be thy mother."
Selim kissed her hand, and there was concord; but I thought to myself, what a difference between me and that Selim! If I had Hania's affection, I should merely dream and look toward the sky. What place should I have for jokes! but he laughs, jokes, is joyous as never before. Even when radiant with happiness, he was always joyful. Just before going he said to me, —
"Dost know what I will say? Come with me."
"I will not; I have not the least intention."