Hitherto, he hasn't found it very tiresome, for people came to see him
every day and, when there were no visitors, he played cards with the
steward. They say that, on New Year's Eve, he lost 140 florins to him;
it gave us something to talk about for a week."
During this story Panna remained rigid and speechless, listening with
her mouth wide open, without interrupting, and when the peasant paused
she sat still a short time, as if her thoughts were far away, and then
went out like a sleep-walker, leaving the man staring after her in
astonishment at her strange behaviour.
From this hour she was a different person. She was no longer seen to
smile, she scarcely spoke, did not open her lips all day, and avoided
meeting people's eyes, even her own father's. When the gardener came
to visit her, she evaded him if possible, and if she could not do that,
sat by his side and let him talk while she gazed into vacancy. When,
one Sunday afternoon, the priest again appeared in the hut, probably to
renew his attempt at reconciliation, she darted out of the door like a
will-o'-the-wisp the instant she saw him, leaving the amazed and
disconcerted pastor alone in the room.
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