are you dodging like a hunted fox that waves its brush in one
direction and itself runs in another? We have challenged him, to be sure,
and you will have to fight, but why are you so bent on going to-day?
Before a duel it is the custom to send friends and settle the terms; the
Count may still beg our pardon and make amends: just wait, there is still
time enough. Some other whimsy must be driving you away from here; speak
it out frankly: why such excuses? I am your uncle, and, though old, I know
what young hearts are; I have been a father to you." (As he spoke he
stroked his nephew beneath the chin.) "My little finger has already been
whispering in my ear that you, sir, have been carrying on some intrigues
here with the ladies. Nowadays young men take to the ladies devilish
quick. But, my dear Thaddeus, confess it to me, and frankly."

"That is the truth," mumbled Thaddeus, "there are other causes, my beloved
uncle! Perhaps it was my own fault! A mistake! No, a misfortune! It is now
hard to correct it! No, dear uncle, I can stay here no longer. An error of
youth! Uncle, do not question me further; I must depart from Soplicowo as
quickly as may be."

"Oho!" said his uncle, "this is certainly some love tiff. I noticed
yesterday that you bit your lips while you looked from under your eyebrows
at a certain little girl; I saw that she too had a sour expression. I know
all that nonsense; when a pair of children fall in love, then they have no
end of misfortunes. Now they feel happy, now again they are afflicted and
cast down; now again, for God knows what reason, they are ready to bite
each other; now they stand in corners as if playing blind man's buff, and
won't say a word to each other; sometimes they even run out into the
fields. If such an attack is upon you, just be patient, there is a cure
for all that; I will undertake to reconcile you shortly. I know all that
nonsense, I have been young myself. Tell me all about it; in return I too
may reveal something, and thus we will confess ourselves to each other."

"Uncle," said Thaddeus, kissing his hand and blushing, "I will tell you
the truth. I have taken a great liking to that little girl, Zosia, your
ward, though I have seen her only a couple of times; but they tell me that
you design for my wife the Chamberlain's daughter, a beautiful girl, and a
rich man's daughter. Now I could not marry Panna Rosa when I am in love
with Zosia; it is hard to change one's heart, but disho