I gave them a few fragmentary details of what I had seen.  I did not think much of what I was saying, as my head was full of the one joyful thought:  “Aniela could not wait for news at home, and preferred to come with my aunt and meet me!” Did she do this for my aunt’s sake?  Most assuredly not.  I saw the trouble in her face, the sudden terror when she noticed the blood on my hand, and the lighting up of her whole countenance when she heard I had not been near the place at the time of the accident.  I saw she was still so deeply moved as to be inclined to weep from sheer happiness.  She would have burst into tears if at that moment I had taken her hands and told her how I loved her, and would not have snatched them away.  And as all this was as clear as the day, it seemed to me that my torments were about to end, and that from that moment the dawn of another life had begun.  From time to time I looked at her with eyes in which I concentrated all my power of love, and she smiled at me.  I noticed that she was without gloves or mantle.  She had evidently forgotten them in her haste and perturbation.  As it had grown rather chilly, I wanted to wrap her in my overcoat.  She resisted a little, but my aunt made her accept it.

When we arrived at the villa Pani Celina met me with as much overflowing tenderness and delight as if Aniela in case of my death had not been the next of kin, and heiress to the Ploszow estate.  Such noble, disinterested women are not often met with in this world.  I would not guarantee that Kromitzki when he comes to hear about it may not utter a discreet sigh, and think that the world would go on quite as well if there were no Ploszowskis.

Kromitzki returned very tired and cross.  The Belgians he had met, and with whom he had gone to Nassfeld, were capitalists from Antwerp.  He spoke of them as idiots who were satisfied to get three per cent. for their capital.  He said when parting for the night that he wished to talk with me in the morning about some important matter.  Formerly I should have disliked the idea of this, for I suppose he will make some financial proposition.  Now I almost wished to get it over at once; but I wanted to be alone with my thoughts, with my happiness, and with Aniela in my heart and soul.  I pressed her hand at good-night as a lover might, and she returned a warm pressure.

“Are you really and truly mine?” I said inwardly.

16 July.

I had scarcely finished dressing in the morning when my aunt came into my room, and after wishing me good-morning said, without any preface,—­

“While you were away Kromitzki made me a proposal to enter into partnership with him.”

“And what answer did you give him?”

“I refused point-blank.  I said to him:  ’My dear cousin, thank God, I have as much as I want; and after my death Leon will be one of the wealthiest men in the country.  Why should we rush into adventures and tempt Providence?  If you make millions in your enterprises, it will be a good thing for you; if you lose your money, why should we lose ours with you?  I do not know anything about these things, and am not in the habit of undertaking what I know nothing about.’  Was I right?”