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hand； feeling the impossibility to resist a sentiment so deep and
so true； she could not have been expected to preserve her mental
and moral balance。 At war with herself； she could not give to
others that feeling of peace which was not her own。 It was only
later； when united at last with the man of her choice； that she
developed those uncommon gifts of mind and heart which compelled
the respect and admiration even of our foes。 Meeting with calm
fortitude the cruel trials of a life reflecting all the national
and social misfortunes of the community； she realized the highest
conceptions of duty as a wife； a mother； and a patriot； sharing
the exile of her husband and representing nobly the ideal of
Polish womanhood。 Our uncle Nicholas was not a man very
accessible to feelings of affection。 Apart from his worship for
Napoleon the Great； he loved really； I believe； only three people
in the world： his motheryour great…grandmother； whom you have
seen but cannot possibly remember； his brother； our father； in
whose house he lived for so many years； and of all of us； his
nephews and nieces grown up around him； your mother alone。 The
modest； lovable qualities of the youngest sister he did not seem
able to see。 It was I who felt most profoundly this unexpected
stroke of death falling upon the family less than a year after I
had become its head。 It was terribly unexpected。 Driving home
one wintry afternoon to keep me company in our empty house； where
I had to remain permanently administering the estate and at
tending to the complicated affairs（the girls took it in turn
week and week about）driving； as I said； from the house of the
Countess Tekla Potocka； where our invalid mother was staying then
to be near a doctor； they lost the road and got stuck in a snow
drift。 She was alone with the coachman and old Valery； the
personal servant of our late father。 Impatient of delay while
they were trying to dig themselves out； she jumped out of the
sledge and went to look for the road herself。 All this happened
in '51； not ten miles from the house in which we are sitting now。
The road was soon found； but snow had begun to fall thickly
again； and they were four more hours getting home。 Both the men
took off their sheepskin lined greatcoats and used all their own
rugs to wrap her up against the cold； notwithstanding her
protests； positive orders； and even struggles； as Valery
afterward related to me。 'How could I；' he remonstrated with
her； 'go to meet the blessed soul of my late master if I let any
harm come to you while there's a spark of life left in my body？'
When they reached home at last the poor old man was stiff and
speechless from exposure； and the coachman was in not much better
plight； though he had the strength to drive round to the stables
himself。 To my reproaches for venturing out at all in such
weather； she answered； characteristically； that she could not
bear the thought of abandoning me to my cheerless solitude。 It
is incomprehensible how it was that she was allowed to start。 I
suppose it had to be！ She made light of the cough which came on
next day； but shortly afterward inflammation of the lungs set in；
and in three weeks she was no more！ She was the first to be
taken away of the young generation under my care。 Behold the
vanity of all hopes and fears！ I was the most frail at birth of
all the children。 For years I remained so delicate that my
parents had but little hope of bringing me up； and yet I have
survived five brothers and two sisters； and many of my
contemporaries； I have outlived my wife and daughter； tooand
from all those who have had some knowledge at least of these old
times you alone are left。 It has been my lot to lay in an early
grave many honest hearts； many brilliant promises； many hopes
full of life。〃
He got up briskly； sighed； and left me saying； 〃We will dine in
half an hour。〃
Without moving； I listened to his quick steps resounding on the
waxed floor of the next room； traversing the anteroom lined with
bookshelves； where he paused to put his chibouk in the pipe…stand
before passing into the drawing…room （these were all en suite）；
where he became inaudible on the thick carpet。 But I heard the
door of his study…bedroom close。 He was then sixty…two years old
and had been for a quarter of a century the wisest； the firmest；
the most indulgent of guardians； extending over me a paternal
care and affection； a moral support which I seemed to feel always
near me in the most distant parts of the earth。
As to Mr。 Nicholas B。； sub…lieutenant of 1808； lieutenant of 1813
in the French army； and for a short time Officier d'Ordonnance of
Marshal Marmont； afterward captain in the 2d Regiment of Mounted
Rifles in the Polish armysuch as it existed up to 1830 in the
reduced kingdom established by the Congress of ViennaI must say
that from all that more distant past； known to me traditionally
and a little de visu； and called out by the words of the man just
gone away； he remains the most incomplete figure。 It is obvious
that I must have seen him in '64； for it is certain that he would
not have missed the opportunity of seeing my mother for what he
must have known would be the last time。 From my early boyhood to
this day； if I try to call up his image； a sort of mist rises
before my eyes； mist in which I perceive vaguely only a neatly
brushed head of white hair （which is exceptional in the case of
the B。 family； where it is the rule for men to go bald in a
becoming manner before thirty） and a thin； curved； dignified
nose； a feature in strict accordance with the physical tradition
of the B。 family。 But it is not by these fragmentary remains of
perishable mortality that he lives in my memory。 I knew； at a
very early age； that my granduncle Nicholas B。 was a Knight of
the Legion of Honour and that he had also the Polish Cross for
valour Virtuti Militari。 The knowledge of these glorious facts
inspired in me an admiring veneration； yet it is not that
sentiment； strong as it was； which resumes for me the force and
the significance of his personality。 It is over borne by another
and complex impression of awe； compassion； and horror。 Mr。
Nicholas B。 remains for me the unfortunate and miserable （but
heroic） being who once upon a time had eaten a dog。
It is a good forty years since I heard the tale； and the effect
has not worn off yet。 I believe this is the very first； say；
realistic； story I heard in my life； but all the same I don't
know why I should have