one was sure what to say.
Wladek put down his book, rose, and walked towards the str - anger, thrusting out his hand before his father could stop him.
$Good evening, sir,' said Wladek.
The Baron took his hand and they stared into each other's eyes. As the Baron released hirn, Wladek's eyes fell on a magnificent silver band around his wrist with an inscription on it that he could not quite make out.
'You must be Wladek.'
'Yes, sir,' said the boy, neither sounding nor showing surprise that the Baron knew his name.
'It is about you that I have come to see your father,' said the Baron.
. Wladek remained before the Bar - on, staring up at hiuL The trapper signified to his children by a wave of the arm that they should leave him alone with his master, so two of them curtsied, four bowed and all six retreated silently into the loft. Wladek remained, and no one suggested he should do otherwise.
'Koskiewicz,' began the Baron, still standing, as no one had invited him to sit. The trapper had not offered him a chair for two reasons: first, because he was too shy and second, because he assumed the Baron was there to issue a reprimand. 'I have come to ask a favour.'
'Anything, sir, anything,' said the father, wondering wbat he could give the Baron that he did not already have a hundred - fold.
The Baron continued. 'My son, Leon, is now six and is being taught privately at the castle by two tutors, one from our native Poland and the other frorn Germany. They tell me he is a clever boy, but that he lacks competition as he has only himself to beat. Mr. Kotowski, the teacher of the village school at Slonim, tells me that Wladek is the only boy capable of providing the competition that Leon so badly needs. I wonder therefore if you would allow your son to leave the village school and to join Leon and his tutors at the castle.
Wladek continued to stand before the Baron, gazing, while before him there opened a wondrous vision of food and drink, books and teachers wiser by far than Mr. Kotowski. He glanced towards his mother. She, too, was gazing at the Baron, her face filled with wonder and sorrow. His father turned to his mother, and the instant of silent communication between them seemed an eternity to the child.
The trapper gruffly addressed the Baron's feet. 'We would be honoured, sir.'
The Baron looked interrogatively at Helena Koskiewicz.
'The Blessed Virgin forbid that I should ever stand in my child's way,'
she said softly, 'though She alone knows how much it will cost me!
'But, Madam Koskiewicz, your son can return home regularly to see you.'
'Yes, sir. I expect he will do so, at first.' She was about to add some plea but decided against it The Baron smiled. 'Good. ies settled then. Please bring the boy to the castle tomorrow morning by seven o'clock. During the school term Wladek will live with us, and when Christmas comes, he can return to you: Wladek burst into tears.
'Quiet, boy,' said the trapper.
'I will not go,' said Wladek firmly, wanting to go.
'Quiet, boy,' said the trapper, this time a little louder.
'Why not?' asked the Baron, with compassion in his voice.
'I will never leave Florcia - never.'
'Florcia?' queried the Baron.
'My eldest daughter, sir,' interjected the trapper. ~Don't concern yourself with her, sir. The boy will do as he is told.'
No one spoke. The Baron considered for a moment. Wladek continued to cry controlled tears.
'How old is the girl?' asked the Baron.
Tourteen,' replied the trapper.
'Could she work in the kitchens?' asked the Baron, relieved to observe that Helena Koskiewicz was not going to burst into tears, as well.
'Oh yes, Baron,' she replied, Tlorcia can cook and - she can sew and she can . . .'
'Good, good, then she can come as well. I shall expect to see them both tomorrow morning at seven.'
The Baron walked to the door and looked back and smiled at Wladek, who returned the smile. Wladek had won his first bargain, and accepted his mother's tight embrace while he stared at the closed door and heard her whisper, 'Ah, Matka's littlest one, what will become of you now?'
Wladek couldn't wait to find out.
Helena Koskiewicz packed for Wladek and Florentyna during the night, not that it would have taken long to pack the entire family's possessions. In the morning, the rvxnainder of the family stood in front of the door to watch them both