"it was better to stay with the
birds than with such a rabble as have hitherto been our guests; just
recollect who have been our visitors here: the parish priest, who mumbled
a prayer or played checkers, and the lawyers with their tobacco pipes!
They are noble cavaliers! You would have learned fine manners from them!
Now at all events there is some one to show yourself to; we have a
well-bred company in the house. Note well, Zosia, we have here a young
Count, a gentleman, well educated, a relative of the Wojewoda; see that
you are polite to him."

The neighing of horses is heard and the chatter of the hunters; they are
at the gate: here they are! Taking Zosia on her arm she ran to the
reception room. None of the sportsmen had as yet come in; they had to
change their clothes in the chambers, as they did not wish to join the
ladies in their hunting coats. The first to enter were the young men,
Thaddeus and the Count, who had dressed in great haste.

Telimena discharged the duties of hostess, greeted those who entered,
offered them seats, and entertained them with conversation; she presented
her niece to each in turn, first of all to Thaddeus, as being his near
relative. Zosia curtsied politely; he bowed low, wanted to say something
to her, and had already opened his lips; but, when he looked into Zosia's
eyes he was so abashed, that, standing dumb before her, he first flushed
and then grew pale. What lay upon his heart, he himself could not guess;
he felt himself very unhappy--he had recognised Zosia--by her stature and
her bright hair and her voice! That form and that little head he had seen
as she stood upon the fence; that charming voice had aroused him to-day
for the hunt.

The Seneschal extricated Thaddeus from his confusion. Seeing that he was
growing pale and that he was tottering on his legs, he advised him to go
to his room and rest. Thaddeus took his stand in the corner and leaned on
the mantel, without saying a word--his wide-open, wandering eyes he turned
now on the aunt and now on the niece. Telimena perceived that his first
sight of Zosia had made a great impression on him; she did not guess all,
but she seemed rather distracted as she entertained the guests, and did
not take her eyes from the young man. Finally, watching her chance, she
ran up to him. "Are you well? Why are you so gloomy?" she asked him; she
pressed her questions, she hinted about Zosia, and began to jest with him.
Thaddeus was unmoved;