The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [152]
‘I’ll rent the room from you,’ said Wokulski, ‘but you must clean it out first.’
The carter looked at Wokulski in surprise.
‘A young seamstress will be living there,’ Wokulski continued, ‘she can board with you, your wife can launder for her…Let her see what more she’ll need. I’ll give you money for furniture and linen…Then you must watch to see she doesn’t bring anyone into the house…’
‘Not likely,’ the carter exclaimed excitedly, ‘whenever you need her, sir, I’ll bring her…but that anyone from the town—no, that wouldn’t do. In such a business you might get into bad company.’
‘You’re a fool, Wysocki. I don’t mean to see her at all. Let her do as she pleases, provided she is well-behaved, modest and industrious. But don’t let anyone visit her. Do you understand? The walls in the room must be painted, wash the floor, buy some cheap furniture—but new and good—you know what I mean.’
‘Of course, sir. I’ve been carting such furniture all my life.’
‘Very well. And let your wife ascertain what the girl needs in linen and clothes, then let me know.’
‘I understand, sir,’ said Wysocki, kissing his hand again.
‘But what about your brother? How is he?’
‘Not doing so badly, sir. He’s back in Skierniewice, thanks be to God and to you, sir; he has his plot of land; he’s taken on a farmhand, and now he’s quite the gentleman. In a few years’ time he’ll buy more land, because he has a railway-guard and two firemen boarding with him. And the railway has even increased his wages.’
Wokulski said goodbye to the carter and began dressing: ‘I’d like to be able to sleep through the time until I see her again,’ Wokulski thought.
He did not feel like going to the shop. He picked up a book and read, deciding to call on Baron Krzeszowski between one and two. At eleven, the door-bell and the sound of a door opening were heard from the vestibule. The servant came in: ‘A lady is waiting…’
‘Ask her in,’ said Wokulski.
A woman’s dress rustled in the hall. Wokulski, on the threshold, saw his penitent. The extraordinary changes in her astounded him. The girl was dressed in black, had a pale but healthy complexion and a timid expression. Catching sight of Wokulski, she blushed and began trembling.
‘Take a seat please, miss,’ he exclaimed, indicating a chair. She sat down on the edge of a velvet chair, still more embarrassed. Her eyelids fluttered rapidly, she gazed at the carpet and drops of tears glittered on her lashes. Two months earlier she had looked very differently.
‘So you have learned sewing, miss?’
‘Yes.’
‘And where do you plan to settle?’
‘Maybe in some shop…or in service in Russia…’
‘Why there?’
‘Because people say it’s easier to get work there, and here…who will employ me?’ she whispered.
‘But would it not pay you to stay here, if some shop were to buy work from you?’
‘Oh yes…But a girl must have her own sewing-machine, and a place to live, and everything…A girl who hasn’t got these things must go into service.’
Even her voice had altered. Wokulski eyed her attentively, and finally said: ‘You will stay in Warsaw for the time being. You will live with the Wysocki family in Tamka. They are very good people. You will have your own room, you can board with them, and the sewing-machine and everything necessary will be provided too. I’ll give you a reference to a store and in a few months’ time, we’ll see whether you can support yourself by this work. Here is Wysocki’s address. Please go there at once, buy some furniture with Mrs Wysocka and make sure they have put the room in order. I’ll send you the sewing-machine tomorrow…And here is some money for settling in. It’s a loan: you can pay me back by instalments when work starts coming in.’
He gave her a few dozen roubles wrapped in a note to Wysocki. When she hesitated to take them, he pressed the twist of paper into her hand and said: ‘Please go to Wysocki at once. He’ll bring you a letter for the linen shop in a few days. Please call upon me in case of urgent need. Goodbye now…’
The girl stayed a little longer in the centre of the hall; then she wiped away her tears