"Then, sir, you agree to be our knight?" cried Pani Wlocek, extending her hands towards him and at the same time gazing at him with a suddenly awakened curiosity and surprise.
"With the greatest pleasure," repeated Dolhanski; "the strike will be over to-morrow."
His complete self-assurance impressed everybody, particularly the ladies from Gorek. At the same time, the cold tone in which he spoke affected Pani Wlocek so much that for a while she lost her usual pathetic volubility and after an interval she replied:
"In the name of an orphan, I thank you."
But the orphan apparently preferred to thank him herself, for she stretched out both hands towards Dolhanski and after a brief silence, which might be explained by her emotions, spoke in a voice resembling the rustle of leaves:
"I am concerned about mamma."
"So am I," Dolhanski assured her.
But the mother and daughter now turned to each other:
"Allow me, child; here I am nothing."
"Permit me, Mamma; Mamma is everything."