I know we should endeavour to conquer our prejudices; every country has its customs, and, since Poland is a country that pleases you, I will make an effort to see only its good sides." "Now that is the right way to talk.

I hope this very day to reconcile you with Count Larinski; stay and dine with us--he will be here very soon; the first duty of the people whom I love is to love one another." M.Langis at first energetically declined accepting this invitation; Antoinette insisted: he ended by bowing in sign of obedience.

Youth has a taste for suffering.
Tracing figures in the gravel with a stick he had picked up, M.Langis said, in a wholly unconstrained voice: "I do not wish M.Larinski any harm, and yet you must admit that I would have the right to detest him cordially, for I had the honour two years ago, if I mistake not, of asking your hand in marriage.

Do you remember it ?" "Perfectly," she replied, fixing upon him her pure, clear eyes; "but I ought to avow to you that this fancy of yours never seemed to me either very reasonable or very serious." "You are wrong; I can certify to you that your refusal plunged me for as much as forty-eight hours into the depths of despair--I mean one of those genuine despairs that neither eat, drink, nor sleep, and that speak openly of suicide!" "And at the end of forty-eight hours were you consoled ?" "_Eh! bon Dieu_, it surely was time to come to reason.

I had hesitated a long time before asking your hand, because I thought, 'If she refuses me, I cannot see her any more.' But I still do see you, so all is well!" "And how soon do you mean to marry ?" "I?
Never! I shall die a bachelor.