Complete Works of Henryk Sienkiewicz

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  The doctor dies from languishing after Clotilde. She comes back under the old roof and takes care of the child. Nothing of that which the doctor sowed in her soul had perished. On the contrary, everything grows very well. She loved the life, she also loves it now, she is resigned to it entirely; not through resignation but because she acknowledges it — and the more she thinks of it, rocking in her lap the child without a name, she acknowledges more. Such is the end of Rougon-Macquarts.

  But such an end is a new surprise. Here we have before us nineteen volumes, and in those volumes, as Zola himself says, tant de boue, tant de larmes. C’était à se demander si d’un coup de foudre, il n’aurait pas mieux valu balayer cette fourmilière gatée et miserable. And it is true! Any one who will read those volumes comes to the conclusion that life is a blindly mechanical and exasperating process, in which one must take part because one cannot avoid it. There is more mud in it than green grass, more corruption than wholesomeness, more odor of corpses than perfume of flowers, more illness, more madness, and more crime than health and virtue. It is a Gehenna not only dreadful but also abominable. The hair rises on the head, and in the mean while the mouth is wet and the question comes, will it not be better that a thunderbolt destroyed cette fourmilière gatée et miserable?

  There cannot be any other conclusion, because any other would be a madman’s mental aberration, the breaking of the rules of sense and logic. And now do you know how the cycle of these novels really ended? By a hymn in the worship of life.

  Here one’s hands drop! It will be useless work to show again that the author comes to a conclusion which is illogical with his whole work. God bless him! But he must not be astonished if he is abandoned by his pupils. The people must think according to rules of logic. And as in the mean while they must live, consequently they wish to get some consolation in this life. Masters of Zola’s kind gave them only corruption, chaos, disgust for life, and despair. Their rationalism cannot prove anything else, and if it did, it would be with too much zeal, it would overstep the limits. To-day the suffocated need some pure air, the doubting ones some hope, tormented by uneasiness, some quietude, therefore they are doing well when they turn therefrom where the hope and peace flow, there where they bless them and where they say to them as to Lazarus: Tolle grabatum tuum et ambula.

  By this one can explain to-day’s evolutions, whose waves flow to all parts of the world.

  According to my opinion, poetry as well as novels must pass through it — even more: they must quicken it and make it more powerful. One cannot continue any longer that way! On an exhausted field, only weeds grow. The novel must strengthen the life, not shake it; make it nobler, not soil it; carry good “news,” and not bad. It does not matter whether this which I say here please any one or not, because I believe that I feel the great and urgent need of the human soul, which cries for a change.

  WHOSE FAULT?

  A Dramatic Picture in One Act.

  CHARACTERS.

  Jadwiga Karlowiecka.

  Leon — A Painter.

  A Servant.

  In the House of Jadwiga Karlowiecka.

  SCENE I.

  Servant. — The lady will be here in a minute.

  Leon (alone). — I cannot overcome my emotion nor can I tranquillize the throbbing of my heart. Three times have I touched the bell and three times have I wished to retreat. I am troubled. Why does she wish to see me! (Takes out a letter). “Be so kind as to come to see me on a very important matter. In spite of all that has happened I hope you will not refuse to grant the request of — a woman. Jadwiga Karlowiecka.” Perhaps it would have been better and more honest to have left this letter without an answer. But I see that I have cheated myself in thinking that nothing will happen, and that it would be brutal of me not to come. The soul — poor moth — flies toward the light which may burn, but can neither warm nor light it. What has attracted me here? Is it love? Can I answer the question as to whether I still love this woman — so unlike my pure sweetheart of former years — this half lioness, whose reputation has been torn to shreds by human tongues? No! It is rather some painful curiosity which has attracted me here. It is the unmeasurable grief which in two years I have been unable to appease, that desire for a full explanation: “Why?” has been repeated over and over during my sleepless nights. And then let her see this emaciated face — let her look from nearby on that broken life. I could not resist. Such vengeance is my right. I shall be proud enough to set my teeth to stifle all groans. What is done cannot be undone, and I swear to myself that it shall never be done again.

  SCENE II.

  Jadwiga (entering). — You must excuse me for keeping you waiting.

  Leon. — It is my fault. I came too early, although I tried to be exact.

  Jadwiga. — No, I must be frank and tell you how it happened. In former times we were such dear friends, and then we have not seen each other for two years. I asked you to come, but I was not sure that you would grant my request, therefore — when the bell rang — after two years — (smiling) I needed a few moments to overcome the emotion. I thought it was necessary for both of us.

  Leon. — I am calm, madam, and I listen to you.

  Jadwiga. — I wished also that we should greet each other like people who have forgotten about the past, who know that it will not return, and to be at once on the footing of good friends; I do not dare say like brother and sisters. Therefore, Sir, here is my hand, and now be seated and tell me if you accept my proposition.

  Leon. — I leave that to you.

  Jadwiga. — If that is so, then I must tell you that such an agreement, based on mutual well-wishing, excludes excessive solemnity. We must be natural, sincere, and frank.

  Leon. — Frankly speaking, it will be a little difficult, still.

  Jadwiga. — It would be difficult if there were no condition: “Not a word about the past!” If we both keep to this, a good understanding will return of itself and in time we may become good friends. What have you been doing during the past two years?

  Leon. — I have been pushing the wheelbarrow of life, as all mortals do. Every Monday I have thought that in a week there would be another Monday. I assure you that there is some distraction in seeing the days spin out like a thread from a ball, and how everything that has happened goes away and gradually disappears, like a migratory bird.

  Jadwiga. — Such distraction is good for those to whom another bird comes with a song of the future. But otherwise —

  Leon. — Otherwise it is perhaps better to think that when all threads will be spun out from the ball, there will remain nothing. Sometimes the reminiscences are very painful. Happily time dulls their edge, or they would prick like thorns.

  Jadwiga. — Or would burn like fire.

  Leon. — All-wise Nature gives us some remedy for it. A fire which is not replenished must die, and the ashes do not burn.

  Jadwiga. — We are unwillingly chasing a bird which has flown away.

  Enough of it! Have you painted much lately?

  Leon. — I do nothing else. I think and I paint. It is true that until now my thoughts have produced nothing, and I have painted a very little. But it was not my fault. Better be good enough to tell me what has caused you to call me here.

  Jadwiga. — It will come by itself. In the first place, I should be justified in so doing by a desire to see a great man. You are now an artist whose fame is world-wide.

  Leon — I would appear to be guilty of conceit, but I honestly think that I was not the last pawn on the chessboard in the drawing-room, and that is perhaps the reason why I have been thinking during the past two years and could not understand why I was thrown aside like a common pawn.

  Jadwiga. — And where is our agreement?

  Leon. — It is a story told in a subjective way by a third person. According to the second clause in our agreement— “sincerity” — I must add that I am already accustomed to my wheelbarrow.

  Jadwiga. — We must not speak about it.

  Le
on. — I warn you — it will be difficult.

  Jadwiga. — It should be more easy for you. You, the elect of art and the pride of the whole nation, and in the mean while its spoiled child — you can live with your whole soul in the present and in the future. From the flowers strewn under one’s feet, one can always chose the most beautiful, or not choose at all, but always tread upon them.

  Leon. — If one does not stumble.

  Jadwiga. — No! To advance toward immortality.

  Leon. — Longing for death while on the road.

  Jadwiga. — It is an excess of pessimism for a man who says that he is accustomed to his wheelbarrow.

  Leon. — I wish only to show the other side of the medal. And then you must remember, madam, that to-day pessimism is the mode. You must not take my words too seriously. In a drawing-room one strings the words of a conversation like beads on a thread — it is only play.

  Jadwiga. — Let us play then (after a while). Ah! How many changes! I cannot comprehend. If two years ago some one had told me that to-day we would sit far apart from each other, and chat as we do, and look at each other with watchful curiosity, like two people perfectly strange to each other, I could not have believed. Truly, it is utterly amusing!

  Leon. — It would not be proper for me to remind you of our agreement.

  Jadwiga. — But nevertheless you do remind me. Thank you. My nerves are guilty for this melancholy turn of the conversation. But I feel it is not becoming to me. But pray be assured that I shall not again enter that thorny path, if for no other reason than that of self-love. I, too, amuse myself as best I can, and I return to my reminiscences only when wearied. For several days I have been greatly wearied.

  Leon. — Is that the reason why you asked me to come here? I am afraid that I will not be an abundant source of distraction. My disposition is not very gay, and I am too proud, too honest, and — too costly to become a plaything. Permit me to leave you.

  Jadwiga. — You must forgive me. I did not mean to offend you. Without going back to the past, I can tell you that pride is your greatest fault, and if it were not for that pride, many sad things would not have happened.

  Leon. — Without going back to the past, I must answer you that it is the only sail which remained on my boat. The others are torn by the wind of life. If it were not for this last sail, I should have sunk long ago.

  Jadwiga. — And I think that it was a rock on which has been wrecked not only your boat — but no matter! So much the worse for those who believed in fair weather and a smooth sea. We must at least prevent ourselves from now being carried where we do not wish to sail.

  Leon. — And where the sandy banks are sure —

  Jadwiga. — What strange conversation! It seems to me that it is a net, in which the truth lies at the bottom, struggling in vain to break the meshes. But perhaps it is better so.

  Leon. — Much better. Madam, you have written me that you wished to see me on an important matter. I am listening.

  Jadwiga. — Yes (smiling). It is permitted a society woman to have her fancies and desires — sometimes inexplicable fancies, and it is not permitted a gentleman to refuse them. Well, then, I wished to see my portrait, painted by the great painter Leon. Would you be willing to paint it?

  Leon. — Madam —

  Jadwiga. — Ah! the lion’s forehead frowns, as if my wish were an insult.

  Leon. — I think that the fancies of a society woman are indeed inexplicable, and do not look like jokes at all.

  Jadwiga. — This question has two sides! The first is the formal side and it shows itself thus: Mme. Jadwiga Karlowiecka most earnestly asks the great painter Leon to make her portrait. That is all! The painter Leon, who, it is known, paints lots of portraits, has no good reason for refusing. The painter cannot refuse to make a portrait any more than a physician can refuse his assistance. There remains the other side — the past. But we agreed that it is a forbidden subject.

  Leon. — Permit me, madam —

  Jadwiga (interrupting). — Pray, not a word about the past. (She laughs.) Ah, my woman’s diplomacy knows how to tie a knot and draw tight the ends of it. How your embarrassment pleases me. But there is something quite different. Let us suppose that I am a vain person, full of womanly self-love; full of petty jealousy and envy. Well, you have painted the portrait of Mme. Zofia and of Helena. I wish to have mine also. One does not refuse the women such things. Reports of your fame come to me from all sides. I hear all around me the words: “Our great painter — our master!” Society lionizes you. God knows how many breasts sigh for you. Every one can have your works, every one can approach you, see you, be proud of you. I alone, your playmate, your old friend, I alone am as though excommunicated.

  Leon. — But Mme. Jadwiga —

  Jadwiga. — Ah, you have called me by my name. I thank you and beg your pardon. It is the self-love of a woman, nothing more. It is my nerves. Do not be frightened. You see how dangerous it is to irritate me. After one of my moods I am unbearable. I will give you three days to think the matter over. If you do not wish to come, write me then (she laughs sadly). Only I warn you, that if you will neither come nor write me, I will tell every one that you are afraid of me, and so I will satisfy my self-love. In the mean time, for the sake of my nerves, you must not tell, me that you refuse my request. I am a little bit ill — consequently capricious.

  Leon. — In three days you shall have my answer (rising), and now I will say good-bye.

  Jadwiga. — Wait a moment. This is not so easy as you think. Truly, I would think you are afraid of me. It is true that they say I am a coquette, a flirt. I know they talk very badly about me. Besides we are good acquaintances, who have not seen each other for two years. Let us then talk a little. Let me take your hat. Yes, that is it! Now let us talk. I am sure we may become friends again. As for me at least — what do you intend to do in the future besides painting my portrait?

  Leon. — The conversation about me would not last long. Let us take another more interesting subject. You had better talk about yourself — about your life, your family.

  Jadwiga. — As for my husband, he is, as usual, in Chantilly. My mother is dead! Poor mama! She was so fond of you — she loved you very much (after a pause). In fact, as you see, I have grown old and changed greatly.

  Leon. — At your age the words “I have grown old” are only a daring challenge thrown by a woman who is not afraid that she would be believed.

  Jadwiga. — I am twenty-three years old, so I am not talking about age in years, but age in morals. I feel that to-day I am not like that Jadwiga of Kalinowice whom you used to know so well. Good gracious! when I think to-day of that confidence and faith in life — those girlish illusions — the illusions of a young person who wished to be happy and make others happy, that enthusiasm for everything good and noble! where has all that gone — where has it disappeared? And to think that I was — well, an honest wild-flower — and to-day —

  Leon. — And to-day a society woman.

  Jadwiga. — To-day, when I see such a sceptical smile as I saw a few moments ago on your lips, it seems to me that I am ridiculous — very often so — even always when I sit at some ideal embroidery and when I begin to work at some withered flowers on the forgotten, despised canvas of the past. It is a curious and old fashion from times when faithfulness was not looked seriously on, and people sang of Filon.

  Leon. — At that moment you were speaking according to the latest mode.

  Jadwiga. — Shall I weep, or try to tie the broken thread? Well, the times change. I can assure you that I have some better moments, during which I laugh heartily at everything (handing him a cigarette). Do you smoke?

  Leon. — No, madam.

  Jadwiga. — I do. It is also a distraction. Sometimes I hunt par force with my husband, I read Zola’s novels, I make calls and receive visits, and every morning I ponder as to the best way to kill time. Sometimes I succeed — sometimes not. Apropos, you know my husband, do you not?

 
Leon. — I used to know him.

  Jadwiga. — He is very fond of hunting, but only par force. We never hunt otherwise.

  Leon. — Let us be frank. You had better drop that false tone.

  Jadwiga. — On the contrary. In our days we need impressions which stir our nerves. The latest music, like life itself, is full of dissonances. I do not wish to say that I am unhappy with my husband. It is true that he is always in Chantilly, and I see him only once in three months, but it proves, on the other hand, that he has confidence in me. Is it not true?

  Leon. — I do not know, and I do not wish to decide about it. But before all, I should not know anything about it.

  Jadwiga. — It seemed to me that you ought to know. Pray believe that I would not be as frank with any one else as I am with you. And then, I do not complain. I try to surround myself with youths who pretend they are in love with me. There is not a penny-worth of truth in all of it — they all lie, but the form of the lie is beautiful because they are all well-bred people. The Count Skorzewski visits me also — you must have heard of him, I am sure. I recommend him to you as a model for Adonis. Ha! ha! You do not recognize the wild-flower of Kalinowice?

  Leon. — No, I do not recognize it.

  Jadwiga. — No! But the life flower.

  Leon. — As a joke —

  Jadwiga. — At which one cannot laugh always. If our century was not sceptical I should think myself wild, romantic, trying to drown despair. But the romantic times have passed away, therefore, frankly speaking, I only try to fill up a great nothing. I also spin out my ball, although not always with pleasure. Sometimes I seem to myself so miserable and my life so empty that I rush to my prayer-desk, left by my mother. I weep, I pray — and then I laugh again at my prayers and tears. And so it goes on — round and round. Do you know that they gossip about me?