"
"And why have you not taken these precautions?"
I saw some covert smiles lurking in the faces of those who witnessed
the attack, and I retorted,--
"Sometimes even that is of no use. You know that love sunders the
strongest ties."
In spite of all her self-possession, Pani Korytzka grew confused,
and I gained one of those tiny victories which are comprised in the
proverb, "The scythe hit upon a stone," or in plain English, "The
biter bit."
Whether people repeat to each other that I am going to marry Clara or
not, does not trouble me in the least; in fact, for the above stated
reason I do not mind it at all; but I did not expect that this visit
would turn out so unpleasant, and Clara herself be the cause of it.
When all the people had left, and only Sniatynski and I remained, she
sat down to the piano, and played her new concerto,--played it so
magnificently that we could not find words to express our admiration;
repeating at our request the finale, she said, suddenly,--
"This is my farewell, because everything comes to a finale."
"Surely you are not thinking of leaving us?" asked Sniatynski.
"Yes, in ten days at the furthest I must be at Frankfurt," replied
Clara.
Thereupon Sniatynski turned to me,--
"And what do you say to that,--you who at Ploszow gave us to
understand, made us hope, Miss Hilst would remain with us always?"
"Yes; and I say the same now: her memory will always remain with us.
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