She bowed her head to her father and seated herself on the opposite side of the table.
"Grzesikiewicz was here to see me to-day," said Orlowski slowly serving the soup, for he always presided over the meals.
Janina glanced at him calmly.
"He asked me for your hand, Jenka."
"What did you tell him, Mr. Director?" quickly interposed Mrs.
Krenska.
"That is our affair," he answered sternly. "Our affair . . . I told him all would be well," he said, turning to Janina. "He will be here to-morrow for dinner and you can talk it over between yourselves."
"What's the use, father! Since you have told him that all would be well, you can receive him yourself to-morrow and tell him from me that everything is far from well. . . . I do not wish to speak with him. To-morrow I will go to Kielce!"
"Bosh! If you were not a crazy fool, you would understand what an excellent husband he would make for you! Even though Grzesikiewicz is a peasant he's worth more to you than a prince, for he wants you . . . and he wants you because he's a fool. He could afford to take his pick of the best. . . . You ought to be grateful to him for choosing you. He will propose to you to-morrow and in a month from now you will be Mrs. Grzesikiewicz."
"I will not be his wife! If he can get another, let him do so."
"I swear to God that you will be Mrs. Grzesikiewicz!"