The Doll - Bolesaw Prus [269]
‘Fie, Julian, how can you speak so?’
‘Yes, some insufferable creature who considers it improper of you to come into the observatory with me.’
‘But perhaps it really is wrong?’
‘Wrong! To display your bosom is all right, to take singing-lessons from an Italian with dirty fingernails …’
‘But, sir … If young ladies were continually alone with young men, they might fall in love.’
‘What of it? Let them! Is it better that she shouldn’t fall in love, and be stupid? You’re a silly creature, Felicja.’
‘Oh, sir …’
‘Come, don’t turn my head with your exclamations. Either you want to learn meteorology, and in that case let’s go upstairs! …’
‘But with Ewelina, or Mrs Wąsowska …’
‘Oh, all right. Let’s stop this comedy,’ Ochocki concluded, thrusting his hands angrily into his pockets.
The young couple talked so loudly that they could be heard all over the park, much to the gratification of Mrs Wąsowska, who burst out laughing. When they fell silent, the whispering of the Baron and Ewelina came to Wokulski’s ears.
‘Isn’t it true,’ asked the Baron, ‘that Starski is losing ground? Every day, madam, he loses ground. Mrs Wąsowska laughs at him, Izabela treats him with the utmost contempt, and even Felicja isn’t interested in him. Haven’t you noticed?’
‘Yes,’ his fiancée whispered softly.
‘He is one of those young men whose entire adornment consists of the hopes of a large inheritance. Am I not right?’
‘Yes …’
‘But when his hope of a bequest from the Duchess fell through, Starski stopped being interesting. Isn’t it so?’
‘Yes,’ replied Ewelina, with a deep sigh, ‘I’m going to sit down here,’ she said, in a louder voice, ‘perhaps you would bring me my shawl … Forgive me …’
Wokulski glanced around. Ewelina had sunk to a bench, pale and tired, with the Baron fussing over her. ‘I’ll bring it directly,’ he said. ‘Mr Wokulski,’ he added, noticing him, ‘pray be kind enough to take my place. I’ll hurry, and will be back in a moment.’
He kissed his fiancée’s hand, and went off towards the palace. Not until now did Wokulski notice that the Baron had very thin legs, and did not control them very well.
‘Have you known the Baron long?’ asked Ewelina, ‘let us walk a little, toward the summer-house …’
‘I have only just had the pleasure …’
‘He admires you greatly … He says it’s the first time he has met a man so agreeable to talk to …’
Wokulski smiled. ‘No doubt,’ he said, ‘because he talks all the time about you.’
Ewelina blushed a great deal: ‘Yes, he is a very worthy man, he loves me very much. There’s a difference of age between us, that’s true — but what’s wrong with that? Experienced women claim that the older a husband, the more faithful he is, and, after all, for a woman, her husband’s attachment is everything — isn’t it so? Each of us seeks love in life, and who could promise that I’ll meet another man like him? There are younger men than he, better looking, perhaps even more talented; yet not one of them has ever told me with such sincere feeling that the ultimate happiness of his life is in my hands. Pray tell me — can one resist that, even though acceptance on my side requires some sacrifice?’ She stopped in the alley, and looked into his eyes, uneasily awaiting a reply.
‘I don’t know, madam. It’s a question of personal feeling,’ he replied.
‘I’m sorry you should answer me so. Grandmama says you are a man of great character: hitherto I never met a man of great character, and my own is very weak. I don’t know how to resist anything, I’m afraid to refuse … Perhaps I’m doing wrong, or at least, certain people have given me to understand I’m doing wrong in marrying the Baron. Do you think so, too? Could you reject a person who said he loved