Unsophisticated as Aniela is, she is yet a little bit of a coquette, and quite conscious of her attractions.  Knowing for instance that she has beautiful eyelashes, she very often drops her eyes.  She has also a graceful way of lifting her head and looking at the person she is speaking to.  In the beginning she was slightly artificial, from shyness I fancy, but soon afterwards we chatted together as if we had never been separated since those times at Ploszow.  My aunt is highly amusing with her absentmindedness, but I should not care to have her for a fellow-conspirator.  Scarcely had we approached the two elderly ladies and I exchanged greetings with Aniela’s mother, when my aunt, noticing my animation, turned to her companion and said aloud, “How pretty she looks in those violets!  It was, after all, a happy thought that he should see her the first time at a ball.”

Aniela’s mother grew very confused, and so did Aniela, and the truth began to dawn upon me why it was the ladies were not staying with my aunt.  This had been Pani P.’s idea; she and my aunt had been plotting together.  I suppose Aniela had not been taken into confidence, but thanks to female perspicacity could not help guessing how matters stood.

To put an end to the embarrassing situation I turned to her and said, “I warn you that I am not very proficient at dancing, but as they will carry you off any moment, will you grant me a waltz?”

Aniela for all answer handed me her tablets and said resolutely, “Put down as many as you like.”

I confess that I do not like the role of a puppet pulled by a string, therefore I resolved to take an active part in the old ladies’ politics.  I took the tablets and wrote, “Did you understand that they want us to marry?”

Aniela read it and changed color.  She remained silent for a moment, as if not trusting her voice, or hesitating what to say; at last she lifted her eyelashes and looking straight into my eyes she replied, “Yes.”

It was now her turn to question me, not in words but with her eyes.  I already knew I had made a favorable impression on her, and if she had an inkling of the truth her mind must needs dwell a good deal on me.  I interpreted the look of her eyes thus:  “I am aware my mother and my aunt want us to become acquainted, to know each other well.  And you?”

Instead of an answer I put my arm around her waist, and lightly drawing her towards me, led her into the mazes of a waltz.  I remembered my fencing practice.

A mute answer could not but stir up fancies in a girl’s mind, especially after what I had written on the tablets.  I thought to myself:  “What harm is there if her fancy turns into my direction?  As far as I am concerned I shall not go a step further than I intend, and if her fancy travels further I cannot help it.”  Aniela dances exquisitely, and she danced this waltz as a woman should, with a certain vehemence and self-abandon at the same time.  I