in 1836 either of Chopin or the Wodzinskis.  According to Karasowski, the engagement made at Marienbad remained in force till the middle of 1837, when Chopin received at Paris the news that the lady withdrew from it. [Footnote:  In explanation of the breaking-off of this supposed engagement, it has also been said that the latter was favoured by the mother, but opposed by the father.] The same authority informs us that before this catastrophe Chopin had thoughts of settling with his future wife in the neighbourhood of Warsaw, near his beloved parents and sisters.  There he would cultivate his art in retirement, and found schools for the people.  How, without a fortune of his own, and with a wife who, although belonging to a fairly wealthy family, would not come into the possession of her portion till after the death of her parents, he could have realised these dreams, I am at a loss to conjecture.

[FOONOTE:  To enable his readers to measure the social distance that separated Chopin from his beloved one, Count Wodzinski mentions among other details that her father possessed a domain of about 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares).  It is hardly necessary to add that this large acreage, which we will suppose to be correctly stated, is much less a measure of the possessor’s wealth than of his social rank.]

Chopin’s letters, which testify so conclusively to the cordial friendship existing between him and the Wodzinskis, unfortunately contain nothing which throws light on his connection with the young lady, although her name occurs in them several times.  On April 2, 1837, Chopin wrote to Madame Wodzinska as follows:—­

I take advantage of Madame Nakwaska’s permission and enclose a few words.  I expect news from Anthony’s own hand, and shall send you a letter even more full of details than the one which contained Vincent’s enclosure.  I beg of you to keep your mind easy about him.  As yet all are in the town.  I am not in possession of any details, because the correspondents only give accounts of themselves.  My letter of the same date must certainly be in Sluzewo; and, as far as is possible, it will set your mind at rest with regard to this Spaniard who must, must write me a few words.  I am not going to use many words in expressing the sorrow I felt on learning the news of your mother’s death—­not for her sake whom I did not know, but for your sake whom I do know. {This is a matter of course!) I have to confess, Madam, that I have had an attack like the one I had in Marienbad; I sit before Miss Maria’s book, and were I to sit a hundred years I should be unable to write anything in it.  For there are days when I am out of sorts.  To-day I would prefer being in Sluzewo to writing to Sluzewo.  Then would I tell you more than I have now written.  My respects to Mr. Wodzinski and my kind regards to Miss Maria, Casimir, Theresa, and Felix.

The object of another letter, dated May 14, 1837, is likewise to give news of Anthony Wodzinski, who was fighting in Spain.  Miss Maria is mentioned in the P.S. and urged to write a few words to her brother.