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None of our citizens compares in name or connections with the

Chamberlain; his elder daughter Anna is of marriageable age, a

fair and well-dowered young lady. I wanted to begin

negotiations."

At this Telimena grew pale, closed her book, rose a bit, and sat

up.

"As I love my mother," she said, "is there any sense in this, my

dear brother? Are you a God-fearing man? So you think that you

will really be doing a good turn to Thaddeus if you make a sower

of buckwheat out of the young man! You will close the world to

him! Believe me, some time he will curse you! To think of burying

such talent in the woods and the garden! Believe me, judging from

my knowledge of him, he is a capable boy, worthy of acquiring

polish in the great world. You will do well, brother, if you send

him to the capital, for instance, to Warsaw; or, if you wish to

know my real opinion, to St. Petersburg. I shall surely be going

there this winter on business; we will consider together what to

do with Thaddeus. I know many people there and have influence;

that is the best means of making a man.