"I was very much to blame as thou seest, but in my own heart I have found myself to-day. How pleasant it is for me here near thee! As formerly we talked long and often—let it be so to-day! Art thou willing?"
Malinka smiled half sadly, half jestingly, and answered,—
"Let it be so to-day, but later it will change. A certain 'His grace' will come and take Lula away, and I shall be left alone."
"But will he come?" inquired Lula, in a very low whisper.
"He will come. The poor man was sick surely from yearning. I did not understand what it meant that Pan Adam would not tell me why he came not; now I understand. Pan Yosef forbade him, he would not terrify thee."
"I think that he did not wish to hinder Pelski—so unkind of him to do this."
"But what did Pelski do?"
"I was just going to tell thee. He proposed to me to-day."
"And what?"
"I refused him, Malinka."