Pagina 194 van 788

"I do not refuse him, my dear brother; not at all! You said

yourself that it is rather early, that they are too young. Let us

think it over and wait; that will do no harm. Let us make the

young people acquainted; we will observe them-we must not thus

expose to chance the happiness of others. Only I caution you

betimes, brother, do not prompt Thaddeus, and do not urge him to

fall in love with Zosia, for the heart is not a servant, and

acknowledges no master, and will not let itself be forcibly put

in chains."54

Thereat the Judge, arising, walked away in deep thought. Thaddeus

approached from the opposite side, pretending that the search for

mushrooms had enticed him there; the Count slowly moved on in the

same direction.