صفحة 193 من 788

"Well, what's to be done? God knows that I have sincerely wished

to do the right thing. Only do not be angry, sister; if you do

not agree, sister, you are quite within your rights. It is a sad

business, but there is no use being angry. I gave the advice, for

my brother bade me; no one here is using compulsion. If you

refuse Thaddeus, sister, I will reply to Jacek that through no

fault of mine the betrothal of Thaddeus and Zosia cannot come to

pass. Now I will take my own counsel; perhaps I can open

negotiations with the Chamberlain and arrange the whole matter."

In the meantime Telimena's wrath had cooled down:-