"With us these things are often done--from above and from below."
Gronski glanced at him with a certain surprise as if he did not expect from his lips such a remark.
"You are right," he declared; "from above, a continual lowering of great ideals, from below, because at present they are being directly trampled upon."
"Bah! There remain yet the solid multitude of country peasantry."
"Again you are right," replied Gronski. "Formerly Dabrowski's March[[7]] was the watchword for a hundred thousand, to-day it is the watchword for ten millions. Blessed be folk-lore!"
They remained silent. Gronski for a time walked about the room, taking, according to his custom, the eyeglasses off his nose and replacing them. After which, he said:
"Do you know what surprises me? This: that in such times and under such conditions, people can think of their private happiness and their private affairs. But nevertheless such is the law of life, which no power can suppress."
"Have you me in mind?"
"In theory, I am verifying a fact which in practice even you confirm. For lo, at this moment it is as if an earthquake took place; the buildings tumble, people perish, subterranean fires burst forth and you and Miss Anney love each other and think of founding a new nest."
"How did you say it?" Krzycki asked with radiant countenance, "'you love each other.'"