“But why should he love me?”
Here Basia began to pass her small hands over the maiden’s face. “But why does Michael love me? And why did your brother, when he had barely seen Zosia, fall in love with her?”
“Adam has always been hasty.”
“Azya is haughty, and dreads refusal, especially from your father; your brother, having been in love himself, would understand more quickly the torture of that feeling. This is how it is. Be not foolish, Eva; have no fear. I will stir up Azya well, and you’ll see how courageous he’ll be.”
In fact, Basia had an interview with Azya that very day, after which she rushed in great haste to Eva.
“It is all over!” cried she on the threshold.
“What?” asked Eva, flushing.
“Said I to him, ‘What are you thinking of, to feed me with ingratitude? I have detained E
