"Janina!" he cried endearingly, as though he wanted to shield himself thereby from her accusation.
"I forbid you to address me in that manner, it insults me!"
"Have you gone crazy, or what has happened to you? What sort of farce do you call that!" he choked out in anger.
"I have found out what you are and I scorn you with my whole soul."
"Whew! So that is the kind of pathetic role you have chosen to play?
Are you preparing it for your debut at the Warsaw Theater?"
Janina answered him only with a look of scorn and walked away.
Sowinska came up to her and with a mysterious and cruel pity in her voice whispered: "It isn't good for you to get so irritated and also, you ought not lace yourself so tightly."
"Why?"
"It may harm you, because . . . because . . ." and she whispered the rest into Janina's ear.
The blood rushed to Janina's face with shame at the thought that Sowinska had recognized her condition which she was seeking to conceal. She had no more strength left to reply to her, nor time either, for she had to go on the stage.