"And I," she answered; "for I feared that your feeling might be superficial, founded upon a delusion and fancy; but, after this conversation, I see that you love Aninka truly."
"Yes! That is imbedded so deeply that it could only be torn from me with my life."
"I believe, I believe."
Thus mutually assuring each other, they both spoke with absolute sincerity, and both at the same time deluded themselves. For Ladislaus had an inflammable head, greedy senses, and soft heart, but he lived principally on the exterior, and none of his feelings could spring from great depths as, on the whole, he was not a deep man.
But his mother, believing every one of his words as she believed in the gospel, said with great confidence:
"May God bless you, my child. Let us at present speak of what is to come. I, of course, understand that once having agreed, it is necessary to agree not with half but with the whole heart: it is necessary to receive Aninka with open arms and give her to understand that it is she who is conferring a favor upon us for which we should be grateful."
"Yes, for she does," exclaimed Ladislaus with ardor.
"Very well, very well," answered Pani Krzycki, with a smile, "now it becomes me to go to her and thank her myself. I assume also that Aninka will withdraw the condition that you should not call upon her for a week."
"Zosia is to attend to that, but naturally Mamma's words will be more effective."
"When do you want me to go?"