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"Ha! ha! that is a new idea! Whether that is good or bad for

Thaddeus," she said angrily, "you may judge for yourself, my dear

sir. I don't care anything about Thaddeus, plan for him

yourselves; make him a steward, or put him in a tavern; let him

be a bar-tender, or bring game for your table from the woods; do

with him whatever you wish! But as for Zosia! What have you men

to do with Zosia? I control her hand; I alone. That Jacek

provided money for Zosia's education, and that he has assigned

her a small yearly allowance, and has deigned to promise more,

does not mean that he has bought her. Besides you both know, and

it is pretty generally known too, that your generosity for us is

not without its reasons; the Soplicas owe something to the family

of the Horeszkos."

To this part of her speech the Judge listened with indescribable

confusion and grief and with evident repugnance. As though

fearing what she might say further, he bowed his head, made a

gesture of assent, and flushed deeply.