ll, frail,
and slender. It approached him with an outstretched arm, from which was
reflected the trembling light of the moon, and, stepping up to him, softly
moaned:--

"Ungrateful man! You sought my glance, and now you avoid it; you sought
for speech with me, and to-day you close your ears, as though in my words
and in my glance there were poison! I deserve my fate; I knew who you
were! A man! Guiltless of coquetry, I did not wish to torture you, but
made you happy; and is this the gratitude you show me! A triumph over my
soft heart has hardened your heart; since you won it so easily, too
quickly have you despised it! I deserve my fate; but, taught by bitter
experience, believe me, that I despise myself more than you can despise
me!"

"Telimena," said Thaddeus, "I vow to Heaven that my heart is not hard, nor
do I avoid you through contempt. But just consider, they are watching us,
following us; can we act so openly? What will people say? Why, this is
improper, I vow--it is a sin!"

"A sin!" she answered him with a bitter smile. "O you young innocent! you
lamb! If I, who am a woman, from very force of love care not though I be
discovered, and though I be put to shame--but you! you a man? What matters
it to one of you men, even though he may confess that he has intrigues
with a dozen sweethearts at a time? Speak the truth, you wish to desert
me."

She dissolved in tears.

"Telimena," answered Thaddeus, "what would the world say of a man, who
now, at my time of life, in good health, should settle down in a village
and pass his time making love--when so many young men, so many married men
are leaving their wives and children and fleeing abroad, to the standards
of their country? Although I might wish to remain, does it depend on me?
My father in his will bade me enter the Polish army, and now my uncle has
repeated that command; to-morrow I depart; I have already made my
resolution, and with Heaven's aid, Telimena, I shall not change it."

"I do not wish to bar your path to glory," said Telimena, "or to hinder
your happiness! You are a man, you will find a sweetheart worthier of your
love; you will find one richer and fairer! Only for my consolation, let me
know before we part that your liking for me was a true affection, that it
was not merely a jest or wanton lust, but love; let me know that my
Thaddeus loves me! Let me hear once more from your lips the words 'I
love,' let me grave them in my heart, and write them