Pagina 303 de 788

The Seneschal extricated Thaddeus from his confusion. Seeing that

he was growing pale and that he was tottering on his legs, he

advised him to go to his room and rest. Thaddeus took his stand

in the corner and leaned on the mantel, without saying a word-his

wide-open, wandering eyes he turned now on the aunt and now on

the niece. Telimena perceived that his first sight of Zosia had

made a great impression on him; she did not guess all, but she

seemed rather distracted as she entertained the guests, and did

not take her eyes from the young man. Finally, watching her

chance, she ran up to him. "Are you well? Why are you so gloomy?"

she asked him; she pressed her questions, she hinted about Zosia,

and began to jest with him. Thaddeus was unmoved; leaning on his

elbow, he kept silent, frowned, and puckered his lips: so much

the more did he confuse and amaze Telimena.