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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37406-8.txt b/37406-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b58ea1 --- /dev/null +++ b/37406-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12374 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of On the Field of Glory, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: On the Field of Glory + An Historical Novel of the Time of King John Sobieski + +Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz + +Translator: Jeremiah Curtin + +Release Date: September 12, 2011 [EBook #37406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE FIELD OF GLORY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/onfieldofgloryhi00sieniala + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY + + + + + + + THE WORKS OF + HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ + + TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL POLISH + BY JEREMIAH CURTIN. + + * * * + + _The Zagloba Romances_ + + With Fire and Sword. 1 vol. + The Deluge. 2 vols. + Pan Michael. 1 vol. + + * * * + + Quo Vadis. 1 vol. + The Knights of the Cross. 2 vols. + Children of the Soil. 1 vol. + Hania, and Other Stories. 1 vol. + Sielanka, and Other Stories. 1 vol. + In Vain. 1 vol. + Life and Death and Other Legends and Stories. 1 vol. + On The Field Of Glory. 1 vol. + + * * * + + Without Dogma. (Translated by Isa Young.) 1 vol. + + + + + + + ON THE FIELD OF + GLORY + + + AN HISTORICAL NOVEL + OF THE TIME OF KING JOHN SOBIESKI + + + BY + HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ + _Author of "Quo Vadis," "With Fire and Sword," "The Deluge," + "Knights of the Cross" etc_. + + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH ORIGINAL BY + JEREMIAH CURTIN + + + + + BOSTON + LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY + 1906 + + + + + + + _Copyright, 1906_, + By Jeremiah Curtin + * * * + _All rights reserved_ + + + + Published January, 1906 + + + + + THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. + + + + + + TO + SIR THOMAS G. SHAUGHNESSY, + PRESIDENT OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD. + + * * * + +My Dear Sir Thomas: + +Railroads are to nations what arteries and veins are to each +individual. Every part of a nation enjoys common life with every other +through railroads. Books bring remote ages to the present, and assemble +the thoughts of mankind and of God in one divine company. I find great +pleasure on railroads in the day and the night, at all seasons. You +enjoy books with a keen and true judgment. Let me inscribe to you, +therefore, this volume. + + Jeremiah Curtin. + + + + + INTRODUCTORY + + +The book before us gives pictures of Polish character and life on the +eve of the second great siege of Vienna. + +Twice was that city beleaguered by Turkey. The first siege was +commanded by Solyman, that Sultan who was surnamed Magnificent by +western nations; to Turks he was known as the Lord of his Age and the +Lawgiver. + +The first siege was repelled by the bravery of the garrison, by the +heroism of Count Salm its commander, by the terrible weather of 1529, +and also through turbulence of the Janissary forces. The second siege +was crushed in 1683 by Sobieski's wise strategy, the splendid impetus +of the Poles, and the firmness of the allies. + +Had the Polish king not appeared the Sultan would have triumphed, hence +Sobieski and his men are hailed ever since as the saviours of Vienna. + +The enthusiasm of the time for Sobieski and his force was tremendous. + +"There was a man sent from God whose name was John," this was the +Gospel read at the Thanksgiving Mass in Saint Stephen's, the cathedral, +the noble old church of that rescued and jubilant city. Some Poles went +to Rome after that to get relics; the Pope gave this answer: "Take +earth steeped in blood from the field where your countrymen fell at +Vienna." + +Many times have men here in America asked me: Are the Poles really held +by such an intensity of passion? if they are, why does it seize them, +whence does it come, what is the source and the cause of it? I reply to +these questions as best I am able, and truthfully: It comes from the +soul of the Slavs in some part, and in some part from history. The +Poles have as a race their original gift to begin with; this gift, or +race element, has met in its varied career certain peoples, ideas, and +principles. The result of this meeting is this: that the Polish part of +the Slav world holds touching itself an unconquerable ideal. It has +absorbed, as it thinks, certain principles from which it could not now +separate. + +The Poles could not if they would, and would not if they could, be +dissevered from that which, as they state, they have worked out in +history, that which no power on earth can now take from them, and to +which they are bound with the faith of a martyr. + +Through ideas and principles, that is, truths gained in their +experience as a people, and which in them are incarnate and living, the +Poles feel predestined to triumph, time, of course, being given. + +What are these ideas and principles? men ask of me often. Combined all +in one they mean the victory and supremacy of Poland. They have been +worked out during centuries, I answer, of Polish experience with +Germany, with Russia, with Rome and Byzantium, with Turks and with +Tartars. But beyond all do they come as the fruit of collisions with +Germany and Russia, and as the outcome of teachings from Rome and the +stern opposition of Byzantium. Through this great host of enemies and +allies, and their own special character, came that incisive dramatic +career which at last met a failure so crushingly manifest. + +The inward result and the spiritual harvest to be reaped from this +awful catastrophe are evident only through what is revealed in the +conduct, the deeds, and the words of the people who had to wade through +the dreadful defeat and digest the experience. + +Polish character in most of its main traits was developed completely +even earlier than the days of Sobieski, and the men who appeared then +in action differ little from those of the present, hence the pictures +in this volume are perfectly true and of far-reaching interest in our +time. + + JEREMIAH CURTIN. + +January, 1906. + + + + + + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY + + + + + CHAPTER I + + +The winter of 1682-83 was a season of such rigor that even very old +people could not remember one like it. During the autumn rain fell +continually, and in the middle of November the first frost appeared, +which confined waters and put a glass bark upon trees of the forest. +Icicles fastened on pines and broke many branches. In the first days of +December the birds, after frequent biting frosts, flew into villages +and towns, and even wild beasts came out of dense forests and drew near +the houses of people. About Saint Damasius' day the heavens became +clouded, and then snow appeared; ten days did it fall without ceasing. +It covered the country to a height of two ells; it hid forest roads, it +hid fences, and even cottage windows. Men opened pathways with shovels +through snow-drifts to go to their granaries and stables; and when the +snow stopped at last, a splitting frost came, from which forest trees +gave out sounds that seemed gunshots. + +Peasants, who at that time had to go to the woodlands for fuel, went in +parties to defend themselves, and were careful that night should not +find them at a distance from the village. After sunset no man dared +leave his own doorstep unless with a fork or a bill-hook, and dogs gave +out, until daylight, short frightened yelps, as they do always when +barking at wolves which are near them. + +During just such a night and in such a fierce frost a great equipage on +runners pushed along a forest road carefully; it was drawn by four +horses and surrounded by attendants. In front, on a strong beast, rode +a man with a pole and a small iron pot on the end of it; in this pot +pitch was burning, not to make the road visible, for there was +moonlight, but to frighten away wolves from the party. On the box of +the equipage sat a driver, and on a saddled horse a postilion, and at +each side rode two men armed with muskets and slingshots. + +The party moved forward very slowly, since the road was little beaten +and in places the snow-drifts, especially at turnings, rose like waves +on the roadway. + +This slowness disturbed Pan Gideon Pangovski, who, relying on his +numerous attendants and their weapons, had determined to travel, though +in Radom men had warned him of the danger, and all the more seriously +since in going to Belchantska he would have to pass the Kozenitse +forests. + +Those immense forests began at that period a good way before Yedlina, +and continued far beyond Kozenitse to the Vistula, and toward the other +side of the Stenjytsa, and northward to Rytchivol. + +It had seemed to Pan Gideon that, if he left Radom before midday, he +would reach home very easily at sunset. Meanwhile he had been forced in +a number of places to open the road close to fences; some hours were +lost at this labor, so that he came to Yedlina about twilight. Men +there gave the warning that he would better remain for the night in the +village; but since at the blacksmith's a pitch light had been found to +burn before the carriage, Pan Gideon commanded to continue the journey. + +And now night had surprised him in the wilderness. + +It was difficult to go faster because of increasing snowdrifts; hence +Pan Gideon was more and more disquieted and at last fell to swearing, +but in Latin, lest he frighten the two ladies who were with him, Pains +Vinnitski his relative and his ward Panna Anulka Sieninski. + +Panna Anulka was young and high-hearted, in no degree timid. On the +contrary, she drew aside the leather curtain at the window, and, +commanding the horseman at the side not to stop the view to her, looked +at the drifts very joyfully, and at the pine trunks with long strips of +snow on them over which played reddish gleams from the pitch pot, which +with the moonlight made moving figures very pleasant to her eyesight. +Then rounding her lips to the form of a bird bill she began to whistle, +her breath became visible and was rosier than firelight, this too +amused her. + +But Pani Vinnitski, who was old and quite timid, fell to complaining. + +Why leave Radom, or at least why not pass the night in Yedlina since +they had been warned of the danger? All this through some person's +stubbornness. To Belchantska there was a long piece of road yet, and +all in a forest, hence wolves would meet them undoubtedly, unless +Raphael, the Archangel and patron of travellers, would pity them in +their wandering, but alas, of this they were quite undeserving. + +When he heard this opinion, Pan Gideon became thoroughly impatient. To +speak of being lost in the wilderness was all that was needed to upset +him. + +The road for that matter was straight, and as for wolves, well, they +would or would not come. He had good attendants, and besides, a wolf is +not anxious to meet with a warrior--not only because he fears him far +more than a common man, but also because of the love which the +quick-witted beast has for warriors. + +The wolf understands well that no dweller in towns and no peasant will +give him food gratis; the warrior alone is the man who feeds wolves, +and at times in abundance, hence it is not without reason that men have +called war "the wolf's harvest." + +But still Pan Gideon speaking thus, and praising the wolves in some +small degree, was not quite convinced of their affection; hence he was +thinking whether or not to command an attendant to slip from his horse +and sit next the young lady. In such case he himself would defend one +door of the carriage, and that attendant the other, while the freed +horse would either rush off ahead or escape in the rear, and thus draw +the wolves after him. + +But the time to do this had not come, as it seemed to Pan Gideon. +Meanwhile he placed near his ward on the front seat, a knife and two +pistols; these he wished to have near him since he had only his right +hand for service. + +They advanced some furlongs farther in quiet, and the road was growing +wider. Pan Gideon, who knew the way perfectly, drew breath as if +relieved somewhat. + +"The Malikov field is not far," said he. + +In every case he hoped for more safety in that open space than in the +forest. + +But just then the attendant in front turned his horse suddenly, and, +rushing to the carriage, spoke hurriedly to the driver and to others, +who answered abruptly, as men do when there is no time for loitering. + +"What is it?" asked Pan Gideon. + +"Some noise in the field." + +"Is it wolves?" + +"Some outcry. God knows what!" + +Pan Gideon was on the point of commanding the horseman with the torch +to spring forward and see what was happening, when he remembered that +in cases like this it was better not to be without fire and to keep all +his people together, and, further, that defence in the open is easier +than in a forest, so he commanded to move on with the equipage. + +But after a while the horseman reappeared at the window. + +"Wild boars," said he. + +"Wild boars!" + +"A terrible grunting is heard on the right of the road." + +"Praise God for that!" + +"But perhaps wolves have attacked them." + +"Praise God for that also! We shall pass unmolested. Move on!" + +In fact the guess of the attendant proved accurate. When they had +driven out to the field they saw, at a distance of two or three +bow-shots on the right near the road, a dense crowd of wild boars, and +a circle of wolves moving nimbly around them. A terrible grunting, not +of fear but of rage, was given out with growing vigor. When the sleigh +reached the middle of the plain, the men, watching from the horses, +observed that the wolves had not dared yet to rush at the wild boars; +they only pressed on them more and more eagerly. + +The boars had arranged themselves in a round compact body, the young in +the middle, the old and the strong on the outside, thus, as it were, +forming a moving and terrible fortress, which gleamed with white tusks +and was impervious to attack or to terror. + +Between the garland of wolves and that wall of tusks and snouts a +white, snowy ring was clearly visible, since the whole field was in +moonlight. + +Some of the wolves sprang up to the boars, but they sprang back very +quickly, as if frightened by the clash of the tusks and the more +terrible outbursts of grunting. If the wolves had closed in battle with +the boars the struggle would have then held them completely, and the +sleigh might have passed without notice; but since this had not +happened, there was fear lest they might stop that dreadful onset and +try then another one. + +Indeed after a while a few dropped away from the pack and ran toward +the party, after them followed others. But the sight of armed men +confused them; some began to follow the sleigh, others stopped a few +tens of steps from it, or ran around with mad speed, as if to urge +themselves on to the equipage. + +The attendants wished to fire, but Pan Gideon forbade them, lest +gunshots might bring the whole pack to his people. + +Meanwhile the horses, though accustomed to wolves, began to push to one +side and turn their heads to their flanks with loud snorting, but soon +something worse happened, and this raised the danger a hundredfold. + +The young horse which the torchbearer was riding reared suddenly once, +and a second time, and then rushed madly sidewise. + +The rider, knowing that were he to fall he would be torn to bits the +next moment, seized hold of his saddle-bow, but dropped his pot the +same instant; the light sank in the snow deeply; the flame threw out +sparks and was extinguished. The light of the moon was alone on that +plain then. + +The driver, a Russ from Pomorani, began to pray; the Mazovian +attendants fell to cursing. + +Emboldened by darkness, the wolves pressed on with more insolence, and +from the direction of the wild boars some fresh ones ran up to them. A +few came rather near, with snapping teeth, and the hair standing +straight on their shoulders. Their eyes were all bloodshot, and a +greenish light flashed from them. + +A moment had come which was really terrible. + +"Shall we shoot?" inquired one of the escort. + +"Frighten them with shouts," said Pan Gideon. + +Thereupon rose with keenness, "A-hu! a-hu!" The horses gained courage, +and the wolves, impressed by the voices of men, withdrew some tens of +paces. + +Then a still greater wonder was manifest. + +All at once forest echoes from behind repeated the shouts of the +attendants, but with rising force, ever louder and louder, as it were +outbursts of wild laughter; and some moments later a crowd of dark +horsemen appeared at both sides of the carriage and shot past with all +the speed of their beasts toward the wild boars and the wolves which +encircled them. + +In the twinkle of an eye neither wolves nor boars held the snow plain; +they had scattered as if a whirlwind had struck them. Gunshots were +heard, also shouts, and again those strange outbursts of laughter. Pan +Gideon's attendants rushed after the horsemen, so that there remained +at the sleigh only the postilion and the driver. + +Inside the sleigh there was such mighty amazement that no one dared +move a lip for some moments. + +"But the word became flesh!" called out Pani Vinnitski, at last. "That +must be help from above us." + +"May it be blessed, whencesoever it came. Our plight was growing evil," +said Pan Gideon. + +"God sent those young knights!" said Panna Anulka, who wished to add +her word. + +It would have been difficult to divine how this maiden could have seen +that those men were knights and young, in addition, for they shot past +like a whirlwind; but no person asked for her reasons, since the older +man and woman were occupied overmuch with what was happening before +them. + +Meanwhile, on the plain the sounds of pursuit were heard yet for the +space of some Our Fathers, and not very far from the sleigh was a wolf +with its back broken, evidently by a sling-shot. The beast was on its +haunches and howling so dreadfully that every one shivered. + +The man on the leading horse slipped down to kill the beast, for the +horses were plunging with such violence that the sleigh-pole was +cracking. + +After a time the horsemen seemed black again on the snow field. They +came in a crowd, without order, in a mist, for though the night was +cold and the air very clear, the horses had been driven unsparingly, +and were smoking like chimneys. + +The horsemen approached with loud laughter and singing, and when they +had drawn near, one of them shot up to the sleigh, and asked in glad, +resonant accents,-- + +"Who is travelling?" + +"Pangovski from Belchantska. Whom am I to thank for this rescue?" + +"Stanislav Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka!" + +"The Bukoyemskis!" + +"Thanks to your mightinesses. God sent you in season. Thanks!" + +"Thanks!" repeated a youthful voice. + +"Glory to God that it was in season!" continued Pan Stanislav, removing +his fur cap. + +"From whom did ye hear of us?" + +"No one informed us, but as the wolves are now running in packs, we +rode out to save people; since a person of such note has been found, +our delight is the greater, and the greater our service to God," said +Pan Stanislav, politely. + +But one of the Bukoyemskis now added,-- + +"Not counting the wolf skins." + +"A beautiful deed and a real knightly work," said Pan Gideon. "God +grant us to give thanks for it as promptly as possible. I think, too, +that desire for human flesh has left those wolves now, and that we +shall reach home without danger." + +"That is by no means so certain. Wolves might be enticed again easily +and make a new onrush." + +"There is no help against that; but we will not surrender!" + +"There is help, namely this: to attend you to the mansion. It may +happen that we shall save some one else as we travel." + +"I dared not ask for that, but since such is your kindness, let it be +as you say, for the ladies here will feel safer." + +"I have no fear as we are, but from all my soul I am grateful!" said +Panna Anulka. + +Pan Gideon gave the order and they moved forward, but they had gone +only a few tens of paces when the cracked sleigh-pole was broken and +the equipage halted. + +New delays. + +The attendants had ropes and fell to mending the broken parts +straightway, but it was unknown whether such a patched work would not +come apart after some furlongs. + +Pan Stanislav hesitated somewhat, and then said, removing his fur cap a +second time,-- + +"To Yedlinka through the fields it is nearer than to Belchantska. Honor +our house then, your mightiness, and spend the night under our roof +tree. No man can tell what might meet us in that forest, or whether +even now we may not be too few to resist all the wolves that will rush +to the roadway. We will bring home the sleigh in some fashion, and the +shorter the road is the easier our problem. It is true that the honor +surpasses the service, but the case being one of sore need a man may +not cherish pride over carefully." + +Pan Gideon did not answer those words at the moment, for he felt +reproach in them. He called to mind that when two years before Pan +Serafin Tsyprianovitch had made him a visit, he received the man +graciously, it is true, but with a known haughtiness, and did not pay +back the visit. Pan Gideon had acted in that way since Pan Serafin's +family was noble only two generations, he was a "homo novus," an +Armenian by origin. His grandfather had bought and sold brocades in +Kamenyets. Yakob, the son of that merchant, had served in the artillery +under the famous Hodkievitch, and at Hotsim had rendered such service +that, through the power of Pan Stanislav Lyubomirski, he had been +ennobled, and then received Yedlinka for a lifetime. That life estate +was made afterward the property of Pan Serafin, his heir, in return for +a loan given the Commonwealth during Swedish encounters. The young man +who had come to the road with such genuine assistance was the son of +Pan Serafin. + +Pan Gideon felt this reproof all the more, since the words "cherish +pride over carefully" had been uttered by Pan Stanislav with studied +emphasis and rather haughtily. But just that knightly courage pleased +the old noble, and since it would have been hard to refuse the +assistance, and since the road to his own house was in truth long and +dangerous, he said to Pan Stanislav,-- + +"Unless you had assisted us the wolves would perhaps be gnawing our +bones at this moment; let me pay with good-will for your kindness. +Forward then, forward!" + +The sleigh was now mended. The pole had been broken as if an axe had +gone through it, so they tied one end of each rope to a runner, the +other to a collar, and moved on in a large gladsome company, amid +shouts from attendants and songs from the Bukoyemskis. + +It was no great distance to Yedlinka, which was rather a forest farm +than a village. Soon there opened in front of the wayfarers a large +field some tens of furlongs in area, or rather a broad clearing +enclosed on four sides by a pine wood, and on this plain a certain +number of houses, the roofs of which, covered with straw, were gleaming +and sparkling in moonlight. + +Beyond peasant cottages, and near them, Pan Serafin's outbuildings were +visible stretching in a circle around the edge of a courtyard, in which +stood the mansion, which was much disproportioned. The pile had been +reconstructed by its latest owners, and from being a small house, in +which dwelt on a time the king's foresters, it had become large, even +too large, for such a small forest clearing. From its windows a bright +light was shining, which gave a rosy hue to the snow near the walls of +the mansion, to the bushes in front of it, and to the wellsweep which +stood on the right of the entrance. + +It was clear that Pan Serafin was expecting his son, and perhaps also +guests from the road, who might come with him, for barely had the +sleigh reached the gate when servants rushed out with torches, and +after the servants came the master himself in a coat made of mink skin, +and wearing a weasel-skin cap, which he removed promptly at sight of +the equipage. + +"What welcome guest has the Lord sent to our wilderness?" inquired he, +descending the steps at the entrance. + +Pan Stanislav kissed his father's hand, and told whom he had brought +with him. + +"I have long wished," said Pan Gideon, as he stepped from the carriage, +"to do that to which grievous need has constrained me this evening, +hence I bless the more ardently this chance which agrees with my wish +so exactly." + +"Various things happen to men, but this chance is for me now so happy, +that with delight I beg you to enter my chambers." + +Pan Serafin bowed for the second time, and gave his arm then to Pani +Vinnitski; the whole company entered behind him. + +The guests were seized straightway by that feeling of contentment which +is felt always by travellers when they come out of darkness and cold +into lighted, warm chambers. In the first, and the other apartments, +fires were blazing in broad porcelain chimneys, and servants began to +light here and there gleaming tapers. + +Pan Gideon looked around with a certain astonishment, for the usual +houses of nobles were far from that wealth which struck the eye in Pan +Serafin's mansion. + +By the light of the fires and the tapers and candles he could see in +each apartment a furnishing such as might not be met with in many a +castle: carved chests and bureaus and armchairs from Italy, clocks here +and there, Venetian glass, precious bronze candlesticks, weapons from +the Orient, which were inlaid with turquoise and hanging from wall +mats. On the floors soft Crimean rugs, and on two long walls were +pieces of tapestry which would have adorned the halls of any magnate. + +"These came to them from trade," thought Pan Gideon, with well-defined +anger, "and now they can turn up their noses and boast of wealth won +not by weapons." + +But Pan Serafin's heartiness and real hospitality disarmed the old +noble, and when he heard, somewhat later, the clatter of dishes in the +dining-hall near them, he was perfectly mollified. + +To warm the guests who had come out of cold they brought heated, spiced +wine immediately. They began then to discuss the recent peril. Pan +Gideon had great praise for Pan Stanislav, who, instead of sitting in a +warm room at home, had saved people on the highroad without regarding +the terrible frost, and the toil, and the danger. + +"Of a truth," said he, "thus, in old days, did those famous knights +act, who, wandering through the world, saved men from cannibals, +dragons, and various other vile monsters." + +"If any man of them saved such a marvellous princess as this one," +added Stanislav, "he was as happy at that time as we are this minute." + +"No man ever saved a more wonderful maiden! True, as God is dear to me! +He has told the whole truth!" cried the four Bukoyemskis with +enthusiasm. + +Panna Anulka smiled in so lovely a fashion that two charming dimples +appeared in her cheeks, and she dropped her eyelids. + +But the compliment seemed over bold to Pan Gideon, for his ward, though +an orphan without property, was descended from magnates, hence he +changed the conversation. + +"But have your graces," asked he, "been moving long on the road in this +fashion?" + +"Since the great snows fell, and we shall keep on till the frost +stops," said Stanislav. + +"And have ye killed many wolves?" + +"Enough to give overcoats to all of us." + +Here the Bukoyemskis laughed as loud as if four horses were neighing, +and when they had quieted a little, Mateush, the eldest one added,-- + +"His Grace the King will be proud of his foresters." + +"True," said Pan Gideon. "And I have heard that ye are head foresters +in the king's wilderness in these parts. But do not the Bukoyemskis +originate in the Ukraine?" + +"We are of those Bukoyemskis." + +"Indeed--indeed--of good stock, the Yelo-Bukoyemskis are connected there +with even great houses." + +"And with St. Peter!" added Lukash. + +"Eh!" said Pan Gideon. And he began to look around with suspicion and +sternly at the brothers to see if they were not trying to jest with +him. But their faces were clear, and they nodded with earnest +conviction, confirming in this way the words of their brother. Pan +Gideon was astonished immensely, and repeated: "Relatives of Saint +Peter? But how is that?" + +"Through the Pregonovskis." + +"Indeed! And the Pregonovskis?" + +"Through the Usviats." + +"And the Usviats through some one else," said the old noble, with a +smile, "and so on to the birth of Christ, the Lord. So! It is a great +thing to have relatives in a senate down here, but what must it be to +have kinsmen in the heavenly assembly--promotion is certain in that +case. But how have ye wandered to our wilderness from the Ukraine, for +men have told me that ye are some years in this neighborhood?" + +"About three. Rebellions have long since levelled everything in the +Ukraine, and boundaries have vanished. We would not serve Pagans in +partisan warfare, so we served first in the army and then became +tenants till Pan Malchinski, our relative, made us chief foresters in +this place." + +"Yes," said Pan Serafin, "I wondered that we found ourselves side by +side in this wilderness, for we are not of this country, but the +changing fortunes of men have transported us hither. The inheritance of +your mightiness," here he turned to Pan Gideon, "is also, as I know, in +Rus near the castle of Pomorani." + +Pan Gideon quivered at this, as if some one had struck an open wound in +his body. + +"I had property there, and I have it there still," said he, "but those +places to me are abhorrent, for misfortunes alone struck me there, just +like thunderbolts." + +"The will of God," said Pan Serafin. + +"It is vain to revolt against that; still, life in those regions is +difficult." + +"Your grace, as is known, has served long in the army." + +"Till I lost my arm. I avenged my country's wrongs, and my own there. +And if the Lord Jesus will pardon one sin for each head that I took +from a pagan, hell, as I trust, will never be seen by me." + +"Of course not, of course not! Service is a merit, and so is suffering. +Best of all is it to cast gloomy thoughts from us." + +"Gladly would I be rid of them, still, they do not leave me. But +enough! I am a cripple at present, and this lady's guardian. I have +removed in old age to a silent region which the enemy never visits. I +live, as you know, in Belchantska." + +"That is well, and I have acted in like manner," added Pan Serafin. +"Young men, though it is quiet now on the borders, hurry off to Tartar +trails in the hope of adventure, but it is ghastly and woful in places +where each man is mourning for some one." + +Pan Gideon put his hand to his forehead where he held it rather long, +till at length he said sadly,-- + +"Only a peasant or a magnate can live in the Ukraine. When an onrush of +pagans strikes that country the peasant flees to a forest and can live +for some months in it like a wild beast; the magnate can live, for he +has troops and strong castles of his own to protect him. But even +then--the Jolkievskis lived in those regions and perished, the +Danilovitches lived there and perished. Of the Sobieskis, the brother +of our gracious King Yan perished also. And how many others! One of the +Vishnievetskis squirmed on a hook in Stambul till he died there. Prince +Koretski was beaten to death with iron rods. The Kalinovskis are +gone,--and before them the Herburts and the Yaglovetskis paid their +blood tribute. How many of the Sieninskis have died at various periods, +and once they possessed almost the whole country--what a graveyard! +Were I to recount all the names I could not finish till morning. And +were I to give the names, not of magnates alone but of nobles, a month +would not suffice me." + +"True! true! So that a man wonders why the Lord God has thus multiplied +those Turks and Tartars. So many of them have been killed that when an +earthtiller works in the springtime his ploughshare bites at every step +on the skull of a pagan. Dear God! Even our present king has crushed +them to death in such numbers that their blood would form a large +river, and still they are coming." + +These words had truth in them. The Commonwealth, rent by disorder and +unruliness, could not have strong armies sufficient to end in one +mighty struggle the Tartar-Turk avalanche. For that matter, all Europe +could not command such an army. Still, the Commonwealth was inhabited +by men of great daring, who would not yield their throats willingly to +the knife of the eastern attacker. On the contrary, to that terrible +region bristling with grave-mounds, and reeking with blood at the +borders, Red Russia, Podolia, and the Ukraine, new waves of Polish +settlers followed each after the other; these not only stirred up +fertile lands, but their own craving for endless wars, battles, and +adventures. + +"The Poles," wrote an old chronicler, "go to Russia for skirmishes with +Tartars."[1] + +So from Mazovia went peasants; daring nobles went also, for each one of +whom it was shameful "to die in his bed like a peasant." And there grew +up in those red lands mighty magnates, who, not satisfied with action +even there, went frequently much farther--to Wallachia, or the Crimea, +seeking victory, power, death, salvation, and glory. + +It was even said that the Poles did not wish one great war that would +end the whole question. Though this was not true, still, continual +disturbance was dear to that daring generation--but the invader on his +part paid with blood dearly for his venture. + +Neither the Dobrudja nor Belgorod lands, nor the Crimean reed barrens +could support their wild Tartar denizens, hence hunger drove them to +the border where rich booty was waiting, but death was waiting also, +very often. + +The flames of fire lighted up invasions unknown yet to history. Single +regiments cut into bits with their sabres and trampled into dust under +horsehoofs detachments surpassing them tenfold in number. Only +swiftness beyond reckoning could save the invaders; in general when a +Tartar band was overtaken by troops of the Commonwealth it was lost +beyond rescue. + +There were expeditions, especially the smaller ones, from which not one +man went back to the Crimea. Terrible in their time both to Turks and +to Tartars were Pretvits and Hmieletski; knights of less note, +Volodyovski, Pelka, and the elder Rushits, wrote their names down with +blood in men's memories. These for some years, or some tens of years, +at that time, were resting in their graves and in glory; but even of +the mighty ones none had drawn so much blood from the followers of +Islam as the king reigning then, Yan Sobieski. + +At Podhaitsi, Kalush, Hotsim, and Lvoff there were lying till that time +unburied such piles of pagan bones that broad fields beneath them were +as white as if snow-covered. At last on all hordes there was terror. +The borders drew breath then, and when the insatiable Turk began to +seek lighter conquests the whole tortured Commonwealth breathed with +more freedom. + +There remained only painful remembrances. + +Far away from Pan Serafin's dwelling, and next to the castle of +Pomorani, stood a tall cross on a hill, and two lances upon it. Twenty +and some years before that Pan Gideon had placed this cross on the site +of his fire-consumed mansion, hence, as he thought of that cross and of +all those lives dear to him which had been lost in that region, the +heart whined in the old man from anguish. + +But since he was stern to himself and to others, and would not shed +tears before strangers, and could not endure paltry pity from any man, +he would not speak longer of his misfortunes, and fell to inquiring of +his host how he lived in that forest inheritance. + +"Here," said Pan Serafin, "is stillness, oh, stillness! When the forest +is not sounding, and the wolves are not howling, thou canst almost hear +snow fall. There is calmness, there is fire in the chimney and a +pitcher of heated wine in the evening--old age needs nothing further." + +"True. But your son?" + +"A young bird leaves the nest sometimes. And here certain trees whisper +that a great war with the pagan is approaching." + +"To that war even gray falcons will hasten. Were it not for this, I +should fly with the others." + +Here Pan Gideon shook his coat sleeve, in which there was only a bit of +his arm near the shoulder. + +And Pan Serafin poured out heated wine to him. + +"To the success of Christian weapons!" + +"God grant it! Drink to the bottom." + +Stanislav entertained at the same time Pani Vinnitski, Panna Anulka, +and the four Bukoyemskis with a pitcher of wine which steamed quite as +actively as the other. The ladies touched the glasses however with +their lips very sparingly, but the Bukoyemskis needed no urging, hence +the world seemed to them more joyous each moment, and Panna Anulka more +beautiful, so, unable to find words to express their delight, they +began to look at one another with amazement and panting; then each +nudged another with his elbow. Mateush at last found expression,-- + +"We are not to wonder that the wolves wished to try the bones and the +body of this lady, for even a wild beast knows a real tid-bit!" + +Marek, Lukash, and Yan, the three remaining Bukoyemskis slapped their +thighs then in ecstasy. + +"He has hit the nail on the head, he has! A tid-bit! Nothing short of +it!" + +"A Saint Martin's cake!" + +On hearing this Panna Anulka laid one hand on the other, and, feigning +terror, said to Stanislav,-- + +"Oh, help me, for I see that these gentlemen only saved me from the +wolves to eat me themselves." + +"Gracious maiden," said Stanislav, joyfully, "Pan Mateush said that we +were not to wonder at the wolves, but I say I do not wonder at the +Bukoyemskis." + +"What shall I do then, except to ask who will save me?" + +"Trifle not with sacred subjects!" cried Pani Vinnitski. + +"Well, but these gentlemen are ready to eat me and also auntie. Are +they not?" + +This question remained for some time without answer. Moreover, it was +easy to note from the faces of the brothers that they had much less +desire for the additional eating. But Lukash, who had quicker wit than +his brothers, now added, "Let Mateush speak; he is the eldest." + +Mateush was somewhat bothered, and answered, "Who knows what will meet +him to-morrow?" + +"A good remark," said Stanislav, "but to what do you apply it?" + +"How to what?" + +"Why, nothing. I only ask, why mention to-morrow?" + +"But knowest thou that love is worse than a wolf, for a man may kill a +wolf, but to kill love is beyond him." + +"I know, but that again is another question." + +"But if there be wit enough, a question is nothing." + +"In that case may God give us wit." + +Panna Anulka hid her laughter behind her palm; after her laughed +Stanislav, and then the Bukoyemskis. Further word-play was stopped by a +servant announcing the supper. + +Pan Serafin gave his arm to Pani Vinnitski; after them went Pan Gideon; +Stanislav conducted Panna Anulka. + +"A dispute with Pan Bukoyemski is difficult," said the young lady, made +gladsome. + +"For his reasons are like wilful horses, each goes its own way; but he +has told two truths which are hard of denial." + +"What is the first one?" + +"That no man knows what will meet him on the morrow, just as yesterday +I did not know, for example, that to-day I should see you." + +"And the other?" + +"That a man can kill a wolf, but to kill love is beyond him. This also +is a great truth." + +Stanislav sighed; the young lady lowered her shady eyelashes and was +silent. Only after a while, when they were sitting at the table, did +she say to him,-- + +"But you will come, gentlemen, soon to my guardian's, so that he may +show you some gratitude for saving us and for your hospitality also?" + +The gloomy feelings of Pan Gideon brightened notably at supper, and +when the host in splendid phrases proposed first the health of the +ladies and that of the honored guest afterward, the old noble answered +very cordially, thanking for the rescue from difficult straits, and +giving assurance of never-ending gratitude. + +After that they conversed of public questions, of the king, of the Diet +which was to meet the May following of the war with which the Turkish +Sultan was threatening the German Empire, and for which that Knight of +Malta, Pan Lyubomirski, was bringing in volunteers. + +The four brothers listened with no slight curiosity, because every Pole +was received with open arms among Germans; since the Turks despised +German cavalry, while Polish horsemen roused proper terror. + +Pan Gideon blamed Lyubomirski's pride somewhat, since he spoke of +German counts thuswise: "Ten of them could find place in one glove of +mine;" still, he praised the man's knightliness, boundless daring, and +great skill in warfare. + +On hearing this, Lukash Bukoyemski declared for himself and his +brothers that in spring they would hasten to Lyubomirski, but while the +frost raged they would kill wolves, and avenge the young lady, as +behooved them. + +"For, though we are not to wonder at the wolves," said Mateush, "when +one thinks that such a pure dove might have been turned into wolf's +meat the heart flies to the throat from pure anger, and at the same +time it is hard to keep tears down. What a pity that wolf skins are so +low-priced,--the Jews give barely one thaler for three of them!--but it +is hard to keep our tears down, and even better to give way to them, +for whoso could not compassionate innocence and virtue would be a +savage, whom no man should name as a knight and a noble." + +In fact, he gave way to his tears then, as did his three brothers; +though wolves in the worst case could threaten only the life, not the +virtue of the lady, still the eloquence of Lukash so moved his three +brothers that their hearts became soft as warmed wax while they +listened. They wished to shoot in the air from their pistols in honor +of the young lady; but the host opposed, saying that he had a sick +forester in the mansion, a man of great merit, who needed silence. + +Pan Gideon, who supposed this to be some reduced relative of Pan +Serafin, or in the worst case a village noble, inquired touching him, +through politeness; but on learning that he was a serving-man and a +peasant he shrugged his shoulders and looked with displeased and +wondering eyes at Pan Serafin. + +"Oh yes!" said he. "I forgot what people say of your marvellous +kindness." + +"God grant," answered Pan Serafin, "that they say nothing worse of me. +I have to thank this man for much; and may every one meet such a +person, for he knows herbs very thoroughly and can give aid in every +illness." + +"I wonder, since he cures others so ably, that he has not cured himself +thus far. Send him my relative, Pani Vinnitski,--she knows many +simples, and presses them on people; but meanwhile permit us to think +of retiring, for the road has fatigued me most cruelly, and the wine +has touched me also a trifle, just as it has the Bukoyemskis." + +In fact, the heads of the Bukoyemskis were steaming, while the eyes of +those brothers were mist-covered and tender; so when Pan Stanislav +conducted them to another building, where they were to pass the night +together, they followed him with most uncertain tread on frozen snow, +which squeaked under them. They wondered why the moon, instead of +shining in the heavens, was perched on the roof of a barn and was +smiling. + +But Panna Anulka had dropped into their hearts so profoundly that they +wished to speak more of her. + +Pan Stanislav, who felt no great wish for sleep, directed to bring a +thick-bellied bottle; then they sat near the broad chimney, and, by the +bright light of the torch, drank in silence at first, listening only to +the crickets in the chamber. At last Mateush filled his breast well +with air and blew with such force at the chimney that the flame bent +before him. + +"O Jesus! My dear brothers," cried he, "weep, for a sad fate has met +me." + +"What fate? Speak, do not hide thy condition!" + +"It is this. I am so in love that the knees are weakening under me!" + +"And I? Dost think that I am not in love?" shouted Marek. + +"And I?" screamed out Lukash. + +"And I," ended Yan. + +Mateush wanted to give them an answer of some kind, but could not at +first, for a hiccough had seized him. He only stared with great +wonderment, and looked as if he saw them for the first time in life at +that moment. Then rage was depicted on his countenance. + +"How is this, O sons of a such a one?" cried he, "ye wish to block the +road to your eldest brother, and deprive him of happiness?" + +"O indeed!" answered Marek, "what does this mean? Is Panna Anulka an +entail of some kind, that only the eldest brother can get her? We are +sons of one father and mother, so if thou call us sons of a such a one, +thou art blaming thy father and mother. Each man is free to love as he +chooses." + +"Free, but woe to you, for ye are all bound to me in obedience." + +"Must we all our lives serve a horseskull? Hei?" + +"O pagan, thou art barking like a dog!" + +"Thou art thyself doing that. Jacob was younger than Esau, and Joseph +was younger than all his brothers, so thou art blaming the Scriptures, +and barking against true religion." + +Pushed to the wall by these arguments, Mateush could not find an answer +with promptness, and when Yan made some remark touching Cain, the first +brother, he lost his head utterly. Anger rose in him higher and higher, +till at last he began with his right hand to search for the sabre which +he had not there with him. It is unknown to what it would have come had +not Yan, who for some time had been pressing a finger to his forehead, +as if wrestling with an idea, cried out in a great voice, and +suddenly,-- + +"I am the youngest brother, I am Joseph, so Panna Anulka is for me. +undisputedly." + +The others turned to him straightway. From their eyes were shooting +fire sparks, in their faces was indignation. + +"What? For thee? For thee! thou goose egg! thou straw scarecrow, thou +horse strangler, thou dry slipper--thou drunkard! For thee?" + +"Shut thy mouth, it is written in the Scriptures." + +"What Scriptures, thou dunce?" + +"All the same--but it is there. Ye are drunk, not I." + +But at this moment Pan Stanislav happened in among them. + +"Ah, is it not a shame for you," said he, "being nobles and brothers to +raise such a quarrel? Is this the way to nourish love among brothers? +But about what are ye fighting? Is Panna Anulka a mushroom that the +first man who finds her in the forest can put her in his basket? It is +the custom among pelicans, and they are not nobles, or even people, to +yield everything through family affection, and when they fail to find +fish they feed one another with blood from their own bodies. Think of +your dead parents; they are shedding tears up there now over this +quarrelling among sons whom they surely advised to act differently from +this when they blessed them. For those parents heavenly food is now +tasteless, and they dare not raise their eyes to the Evangelists whose +names they gave you in holy baptism." + +Thus spoke Pan Stanislav and though at first he wished to laugh he was +touched as he spoke by his own words, for he too had drunk somewhat +because of the company at dinner. At last the Bukoyemskis were greatly +moved by his speech, and all four of them ended in tears, while Mateush +the eldest one cried to them,-- + +"Oh kill me, for God's sake, but call me not Cain!" + +Thereupon Yan, who had mentioned Cain, threw himself into the arms of +Mateush. + +"Oh, brother," cried he, "give me to the hangman for doing so." + +"Forgive me, or I shall burst open from sorrow," cried Marek. + +"I have barked like a dog against the commandment," said Lukash. + +And they fell to embracing one another, but Mateush freed himself +finally from his brothers, sat on a bench very suddenly, unbuttoned his +coat, threw open his shirt, and, baring his breast, exclaimed in broken +accents,-- + +"Here ye have me! here, like a pelican!" + +Thereupon they sobbed the more loudly. + +"A pelican! a genuine pelican! As God is dear to me,--a pelican!" + +"Take Panna Anulka." + +"She is thine! Take her, thou," said the brothers. + +"Let the youngest man have her." + +"Never! Impossible!" + +"Devil take her!" + +"Devil take her!" + +"We don't want her!" + +Hereupon Marek struck his thighs with his palms till the chamber +resounded. + +"I know what's to be done," cried he. + +"What dost thou know? Speak, do not hide it!" + +"Let Stanislav have her!" + +When they heard this the other three sprang from their benches. Marek's +idea struck them to the heart so completely that they surrounded Pan +Stanislav. + +"Take her, Stashko!" + +"It will please us most of all." + +"If thou love us!" + +"Do this to please us!" + +"May God bless you!" cried Mateush; and he raised his eyes heavenward, +as he stretched his hands over Stanislav. + +Stanislav blushed, and he stood there astonished, repeating,-- + +"Fear God's wounds!" + +But his heart quivered at the thought, for having passed two whole +years with his father amid the dense forests, and seeing few people, he +had not met for a legion of days such a marvellous maiden. He had seen +some one like her in Brejani, for he had been sent by his father to +gain elegance at the court there and a knowledge of government. But he +was a lad then, and time had effaced those remote recollections. And +now he saw in the midst of those forests unexpectedly just such a +beautiful flower as the other one, and men said to him straightway: "Oh +take it!" In view of this he was dreadfully shamefaced and answered,-- + +"Fear God! How could ye or I get her?" + +But they, as is usual with men who are tipsy, saw no obstacle to +anything and insisted. + +"No man of us will be jealous," said Marek, "take her! We must go to +the war whatever happens; we have had watching enough in this forest. +Thirty thalers for the whole God-given year. It does not buy drink for +us, and what is there left then for clothing? We sold our saddle +beasts, and now we hunt wolves with thy horses and outfits--A hard lot +for orphans. Better perish in war--But take her thou, if thou love us!" + +"Take her!" cried out Mateush, "but we will go to Rakuz, to +Lyubomirski, to help the Germans in shelling out pagans." + +"Take her immediately." + +"Take her to-morrow! To the church with her straightway!" + +But Stanislav had recovered from astonishment and was as sober as if he +had not touched a drop since the morning. + +"Oh, stop, what are ye saying? Just as if only your will or mine were +all that is needed! But what will she say and what will Pan Gideon say? +Pan Gideon is self-willed and haughty. Even though the young lady grew +friendly in time, he might prefer to see her sow rue than be the wife +of any poor devil like me, or like any one of you brothers." + +"Oh pshaw!" exclaimed Yan. "Is Pan Gideon the Castellan of Cracow, or +grand hetman? If he is too high for us let him beware how he thrusts up +his nose in our presence. Are the Bukoyemskis too small to be his +gossips?" + +"Ah, never mind! He is old, the time of his death is not distant, let +him have a care lest he be stopped by Saint Peter in heaven's gateway. +Oh take our part! holy Peter, and say this to him: 'Thou didst not know +during life, thou son of a such a one, how to respect my blood +relatives; kiss now the dog's snout for thy conduct.' Let that be said +after death to Pan Gideon. But meanwhile we will not let him belittle +us in his lifetime." + +"How! because we have no fortune must we be despised and treated like +peasants?" + +"Is that the pay for our blood, for our wounds, for our service to the +country?" + +"O my brothers, ye orphans of God! many an injustice has met you, but +one more grievous than this no man has ever yet put on us." + +"That is true, that is true!" exclaimed Lukash and Marek and Yan in sad +accents. + +And tears of grief flowed down their faces afresh and abundantly, but +when they had wept out their fill they fell to storming, for it seemed +to them that such an offence to men of birth should not be forgotten. + +Lukash, the most impulsive of all the four brothers, was the first to +make mention of this matter. + +"It is difficult to challenge him to sabres," said he, "for he has lost +an arm and is old, but if he has contemned us, we must have +satisfaction. What are we to do? Think of this!" + +"My feet have been frozen to-night," said Lukash, "and are burning +tremendously. But for this, I could think out a remedy." + +"My feet are not burning, but my head is on fire," added Marek. + +"From that which is empty thou wilt never pour anything." + +"Gland is blamed always by Katchan!" said Mateush. + +"Ye give a quarrel instead of an answer!" cried Lukash. But Stanislav +interrupted;-- + +"An answer?" said he, "but to whom?" + +"To Pan Gideon." + +"An answer to what?" + +"To what? How 'to what'?" + +They looked at one another, with no small astonishment, and then turned +to Lukash,-- + +"What dost thou wish of us?" + +"But what do ye wish of me?" + +"Adjourn this assembly till daylight," said Stanislav. "The fire here +is dying, midnight is past now a long time. The beds are all ready at +the walls there, and rest is ours honestly, for we have worked in the +frost very faithfully." + +The fire had gone out; it was dark in the chamber, so the advice of the +host had power to convince the four brothers. Conversation continued +some little time yet, but with decreasing intensity. Somewhat later a +whispered "Our Father" was heard, at one moment louder, at another one +lower, interrupted now and then with deep sighing. + +The coals in the chimney began to grow dark and be covered with ashes; +at moments something squeaked near the fire, and the crickets chirped +sadly in the corners, as if mourning for the light which had left them. +Next the sound of boots cast from feet to the floor, after that a short +interval of silence, and then immense snoring from the four sleeping +brothers. + +But Stanislav could not sleep, all his thoughts whirled about Panna +Anulka, like active bees about blossoms. + +How could a man sleep with such a buzzing in his cranium! He closed his +lids, it is true, once and a second time, but finding that useless he +pondered. + +"I will see if there is light in her chamber," thought he, finally. + +And he passed through the doorway. + +There was no light in her windows, but the gleam of the moon quivered +on the uneven panes as on wrinkled water. The world was silent, and +sleeping so soundly that even the snow seemed to slumber in the bath of +greenish moonlight. + +"Dost thou know that I am dreaming of thee?" asked Stanislav in a +whisper, as he looked at the silent window. + +The elder Tsyprianovitch, Pan Serafin, in accordance with his inborn +hospitality, and his habit, spared neither persuasion nor pressing to +detain his guests longer in Yedlinka. He even knelt before Pani +Vinnitski, an act which did not come easily because of his gout, which, +though moderate so far, was somewhat annoying. All that, however, +availed not. Pan Gideon insisted on going before midday, and at last, +since there was no answer to the statement that he was looking for +guests at his mansion, Pan Serafin had to yield, and they started that +clear frosty forenoon of wonderful weather. The snow on the fields, and +on tree branches, seemed covered with myriads of fire sparks, which so +glittered in the sunlight that the eye could barely suffer the gleams +shooting back from the earth and the forest. The horses moved at a +vigorous trot till their flanks panted; the sleigh runners whistled +along the snow road; the carriage curtains were pushed back on both +sides, and now at one window and now at the other appeared the rosy +face of the young lady with gladsome eyes and a nose which the frost +had reddened somewhat, a charming framed picture. + +She advanced like a queen, for the carriage was encircled by a "life +guard" made up of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Stanislav. The four brothers +were riding strong beasts from the Yedlinka stables (they had sold or +pledged not only their horses but the best of their sabres). They +rushed on now at the side, sometimes forcing their horses to rear, and +sometimes urging them on with such impetus that balls torn from the +frozen snow by their hoofs shot away whistling through the air like +stone missiles. + +Perhaps Pan Gideon was not greatly charmed with these body-guards, for +during the advance he begged the cavaliers not to give themselves +trouble, since the road in the daytime was safe, and of robbers in the +forest no report had arisen; but when they had insisted on conducting +the ladies, nothing was left him but to pay for politeness with +politeness, and invite them to Belchantska. Pan Gideon had a promise +also from Pan Serafin to visit him, but only after some days, since it +was difficult for an old man to tear himself free of his household +abruptly. + +For the men, this journey passed quickly in wonders of horsemanship, +and for Panna Anulka in appearing at the windows. The first halt to +give rest to their horses was half-way on the road, at a forest inn +which bore the ill omened name "Robbery." Next the inn stood a shed and +the shop of a blacksmith. In front of his shop the blacksmith was +shoeing some horses. At the side of the inn were seen sleighs owned by +peasants; to these were attached lean, rough-coated sorry little beasts +covered over completely with hoar frost; their tails were between their +hind-legs, and bags of oats were tied under their noses. + +People crowded out of the inn to look at the carriage surrounded by +cavaliers and remained at a distance. These were not land tillers but +potters, who made their pots at Kozenitse in the summer and took them +in sleighs to sell during winter in the villages; but they appeared +more especially at festivals through the country. These people, +thinking that some man of great dignity must be travelling in a +carriage with such an escort, took their caps off in spite of the +weather and looked with curiosity at the party. + +The warmly dressed travellers did not leave the equipage. The +attendants remained mounted, but a page took wine in a decanter to the +inn to be heated. Meanwhile Pan Gideon beckoned "the bark shoes" to +come to him, and then he fell to inquiring whence they came, whither +they were going, and was there no danger from wild beasts in any place. + +"Of course there is," answered an old town-dweller, "but we travel +during daylight and in company. We are waiting here for friends from +Prityk and other places. Perhaps too some earth tillers will come, and +if fifteen or twenty sleighs appear, we will move on at night. Unless +they come we will not start, though we take clubs with us." + +"But has no accident happened about here?" + +"The wolves ate a Jew during daylight. He was taking geese, as it +seems, for on the road were found bones of a horse and a man,--besides, +there were goose feathers. People knew by his cap that the man was a +Jew. But early this morning some man came hither on foot, a young +noble, who passed the whole night on a pine tree. He says that his +horse dropped down dead, and there before his eyes the wolves ate the +beast up. This man grew so stiff on the tree that he had barely +strength to speak to us, and now he is sleeping." + +"What is his name? Did he tell whence he came?" + +"No. He just drank some hot beer and fell on a bench as if lifeless." + +Pan Gideon turned then to the horsemen,-- + +"Have ye heard that?" + +"We have." + +"We must rouse the man, and make inquiries. He has no horse, how could +we leave him alone here? My page could sit on the second front carriage +horse, and give up his own. They say that the man is a noble. Perhaps +he is here from a distance." + +"He must be in a hurry," said Pan Stanislav, "since he was travelling +at night, and besides without company. I will rouse him and make +inquiry." + +But his plan proved superfluous, since at that moment the page returned +from the inn with a tray on which mugs of hot wine were steaming. + +"I beg to tell your grace that Pan Tachevski is here," began he on +reaching the carriage. + +"Pan Tachevski? What the devil is he doing in this place?" + +"Pan Tachevski!" repeated Panna Anulka. + +"He is making ready, and will come out this minute," said the page. "He +almost knocked the tray from my hand when he heard of your coming--" + +"But who spoke of the tray to thee?" + +The page became silent immediately, as if power of speech had deserted +him. + +Pan Gideon seized a goblet of wine, took one and a second draught, and +said then to Pan Stanislav, as if with a certain repulsion,-- + +"He is an acquaintance of ours, and in some sense a neighbor from +Charny-- Well--rather giddy and unreliable--of those Tachevskis who +long ago were, as some people say, of some note in the province." + +Further explanations were stopped by Tachevski, who, coming out +hurriedly, walked with firm stride toward the carriage, but on his face +was a certain hesitation. He was a young noble of medium stature. He +had splendid dark eyes, and was as lean as a splinter. His head was +covered with a Hungarian cap, recalling, one might say, the time of +King Bátory; he wore a gray coat lined with sheepskin, and long, +yellow, Swedish boots reaching up to his body. No one wore such boots +then in Poland. They had been taken during war in the days of Yan +Kazimir, that was evident, and brought now through need from the +storehouse by Tachevski. While approaching, he looked first at Pan +Gideon, then at the young lady, and smiled, showing white, perfect +teeth, but his smile was rather gloomy, his face showed embarrassment +and even a trace of confusion. + +"I rejoice beyond measure," said he, as he stood at the carriage and +removed his cap gracefully, "to see, in good health, Pani Vinnitski and +Panna Sieninski, with your grace, my benefactor, for the road is now +dangerous; this I have learned from experience." + +"Cover your head, or your ears will be frozen," said Pan Gideon, +abruptly. "I thank you for the attention, but why are you wandering +through the wilderness?" + +Tachevski looked quickly at the young lady, as if to inquire: "Thou +knowst why, dost thou not?" but seeing her eyes downcast, and noting +also that she was biting a ribbon of her hood for occupation, he +answered in a voice of some harshness,-- + +"Well, the fancy struck me to gaze at the moon above pine trees." + +"A pretty fancy. But did the wolves kill thy horse?" + +"They only ate him, for I myself drove his life out." + +"We know. And thou wert roosting, like a crow, all the night in a pine +tree." + +Here the Bukoyemskis burst into such mighty laughter that their horses +were put on their haunches. Tachevski turned and measured them one +after another, with glances which were ice cold and as sharp as a sword +edge. + +"Not like a crow," said he then to Pan Gideon, "but like a horseless +noble, at which condition it is granted you, my benefactor, to laugh, +but it may be unhealthy for another to do so." + +"Oho! oho! oho!" repeated the Bukoyemskis, urging toward him their +horses. Their faces grew dark in one moment, and their mustaches +quivered. Again Tachevski measured them, and raised his head higher. + +But Pan Gideon spoke with a voice as severe and commanding as if he had +power over all of them. + +"No quarrels here, I beg! This is Pan Tachevski," said he after a +while, with more mildness, turning to the cavaliers, "and this is Pan +Tsyprianovitch, and each of the other four nobles is a Pan Bukoyemski, +to whom I may say we owe our lives, for wolves met us yesterday. These +gentlemen came to our aid unexpectedly, and God knows in season." + +"In season," repeated Panna Anulka, with emphasis, pouting a little, +and looking at Pan Stanislav bewitchingly. + +Tachevski's cheeks flushed, but on his face there appeared as it were +humiliation, his eyes became mist-covered, and, with immense sadness in +his accents, he said,-- + +"In season, for they were in company, and happy because on good horses, +but wolf teeth at that time were cutting old Voloshyn, and my last +friend had vanished. But--" even here he looked with greater good-will +at the Bukoyemskis--"may your hands be sacred, for ye have done that +which with my whole soul I wished to do, but God did not let me." + +Panna Anulka seemed changeable, like all women, perhaps too she was +sorry for Tachevski, since her eyes became pleasant and twinkling, her +lids opened and closed very quickly, and she asked with a different +voice altogether,-- + +"Old Voloshyn? My God, I loved him so much and he knew me. My God!" + +Tachevski looked at her straightway with thankfulness. + +"He knew you, gracious lady, he knew you." + +"Grieve not, Pan Yatsek, grieve not so cruelly." + +"I grieved before this, but on horseback. I shall grieve now on foot. +God reward you, however, for the kind words." + +"But mount now the mouse-colored horse," said Pan Gideon. "The page +will ride the off leader, or sit behind the carriage. There is an extra +burka at the saddle, put it on, for thou hast been freezing all night, +and the cold is increasing." + +"No," said Tachevski, "I am warm. I left my shuba behind, since I felt +no need of it." + +"Well, for the road!" + +They started. Yatsek Tachevski taking his place near the left carriage +window, Stanislav Tsyprianovitch at the right, so the young lady +sitting in front might without turning her head look freely at the one +and the other. + +But the Bukoyemskis were not glad to see Yatsek. They were angry that +he had taken a place at the side of the carriage, so, bringing their +horses together till their heads almost touched, they talked with one +another and counselled,-- + +"He looked at us insolently," said Mateush. "As God is in heaven he +wants to insult us." + +"Just now he turned his horse's tail to us. What do ye say to that?" + +"Well, he could not turn the horse's head, for horses do not travel +tail forward like crawfish. But that he is making up to that young lady +is certain," put in Marek. + +"Thou hast taken in the situation correctly. See how he bends and leans +forward. If his stirrup strap breaks he will fall." + +"He will not fall, the son of a such a one, for the saddle straps are +strong, and he is a firm rider." + +"Bend thyself, bend till we break thee!" + +"Just look how he smiles at her!" + +"Well, brothers, are we to permit this? Never, as God lives! The girl +is not for us, that may be, but does he remember what we did +yesterday?" + +"Of course! He must divine that, for he is cunning, and now he is +making up to her to spite us." + +"And in contempt for our poverty and orphanhood." + +"Oh! upon my word a great magnate--on another man's horse." + +"Well, for that matter we are not riding our own beasts." + +"One horse remains to us anyhow, so if three sit at home the fourth man +may ride to the war if he wishes; but that fellow has not even a +saddle, for the wolves have made bits of it." + +"Besides, he sticks his nose up. What has he against us? Just tell me." + +"Well, ask him." + +"Shall I do it right away?" + +"Eight away, but politely, so as not to offend old Pan Gideon. Only +after he has answered can we challenge." + +"And then we shall have him!" + +"Which of us is to do this?" + +"I, of course, for I am the eldest," said Mateush. "I will rub the +icicle from my mustache, and then at him!" + +"But remember well what he says to thee." + +"I will repeat every word, like the Lord's prayer." + +Thereupon the eldest Bukoyemski set to rubbing off with his glove the +ice from his mustache, and then urging his horse to the horse of Pan +Yatsek he called,-- + +"My dear Sir?" + +"What?" inquired Yatsek, turning his head from the carriage +unwillingly. + +"What have you against us?" + +Yatsek looked at him with astonishment, and answered,-- + +"Nothing!" then, shrugging his shoulders, he turned again to the +carriage. + +Mateush rode on some time in silence considering whether to return and +report to his brothers or speak further. The second course seemed to +him better, so he continued,-- + +"If thou think to do anything, I say that thou wilt do what thou hast +said to me. Nothing!" + +On Yatsek's face was an expression of constraint and annoyance. He +understood that they were seeking a quarrel, for which at that moment +he had not the least wish whatever. But he found need of some answer, +and that of such kind as to end the conversation, so he asked,-- + +"Well, thy brothers over there, are they also--" + +"Of course! but what is 'also'?" + +"Think it out thyself and do not interrupt now my more agreeable +occupation." + +Mateush rode along the side of the carriage ten or fifteen steps +farther. At last he turned his horse. + +"What did he tell thee? Speak out!" said the brothers. + +"There was no success." + +"Because thou didst not know how to handle him," said Lukash. "Thou +shouldst have tickled his horse in the belly with thy stirrup, or, +since thou knowst his name, have said: 'Yatsek, here is a platsek (a +cake) for thee!'" + +"Or said this to him: 'The wolves ate thy horse, buy a he goat in +Prityk.'" + +"That is not lost, but what did it mean when he said: 'Are thy brothers +also?'" + +"Maybe he wanted to ask if we were fools also." + +"Of course! As God is dear to me!" cried Marek. "He could not think +otherwise. But what now?" + +"His death, or ours. As God lives, what he says is open heresy. We must +tell Stashko." + +"Tell nothing, for since we give up the young lady to Stashko, Stashko +must challenge him, and here the great point is that we challenge +first." + +"When? At Pan Gideon's a challenge is not proper. But here is +Belchantska." + +In fact Belchantska was not distant. On the edge of the forest stood +the cross of Pan Gideon's establishment, with a tin Saviour hanging +between two spears; on the right, where the road turned round a pine +wood, broad meadows were visible, with a line of alders on the edge of +a river, and beyond the alders on the bank opposite and higher, were +the leafless tops of tall trees, and smoke rising from cottages. Soon +the retinue was moving past cottages, and when it had gone beyond +fences and buildings Pan Gideon's dwelling was before the eyes of the +horsemen,--a broad court surrounded by an old and decayed picket fence +which in places was leaning. + +From times the most ancient no enemy had appeared in that region, so no +one had thought defence needful for the dwelling. In the broad court +there were two dovecotes. On one side were the quarters for servants, +on the other the storehouse, provision rooms, and a big cheese house +made of planks and small timbers. Before the mansion and around the +court were pillars with iron rings for the halters of horses; on each +pillar a cap of frozen snow was fixed firmly. The mansion was old and +broad, with a low roof of straw. In the court hunting dogs were rushing +around, and among them a tame stork with a broken wing was walking +securely; the bird as it seemed had left its warm room a little earlier +to get exercise and air in the cold courtyard. + +At the mansion the people were waiting for the company, since Pan +Gideon had sent a man forward with notice. The same man came out now to +meet them and, bowing down, said to Pan Gideon,-- + +"Pan Grothus, the starosta of Raygrod, has come." + +"In God's name!" cried Pan Gideon. "Has he been waiting long for me?" + +"Not an hour. He wished to go, but I told him that you were coming and +in sight very nearly." + +"Thou didst speak well." Then he turned to the guests,-- + +"I beg you, gentlemen, Pan Grothus is a relative through my wife. He is +returning, it is evident, to Warsaw from his brother's, for he is a +deputy to the Diet. Please enter." + +After a time they were all in the dining-room in presence of the +starosta of Raygrod, whose head almost grazed the ceiling, for in +stature he surpassed the Bukoyemskis, and the rooms were exceedingly +low in that mansion. Pan Grothus was a showy noble with an expression +of wisdom, and the face and bald head of a statesman. A sword scar on +his forehead just over the nose and between his two eyebrows seemed a +firm wrinkle, giving his face a stern, and, as it were, angry aspect. +But he smiled at Pan Gideon with pleasantness, and opened his arms to +him, saying,-- + +"Well, I, a guest, am now welcoming the host to his own mansion." + +"A guest, a dear guest," cried Pan Gideon. "God give thee health for +having come to me, lord brother. What dost thou hear over there now in +Warsaw?" + +"Good news of private matters, of public also, for war is now coming." + +"War? How is that? Are we making it?" + +"Not yet, but in March a treaty will be signed with the Emperor, then +war will be certain." + +Though even before the New Year there had been whispers of war with the +Sultan, and there were those who considered it inevitable, the +confirmation of these rumors from the lips of a person so notable, and +intimately acquainted with politics as Pan Grothus, imposed on Pan +Gideon and the guests in his mansion very greatly. Barely had the host, +therefore, presented them to the starosta, when a conversation followed +touching war, touching Tököli and the bloody struggles throughout +Hungary, from which, as from an immense conflagration, there was light +over all parts of Austria and Poland. That was to be a mighty struggle, +before which the Roman Cæsar and all German lands were then trembling. +Pan Grothus, skilled much in public matters, declared that the Porte +would move half of Asia and all Africa, and appear with such strength +as the world had not seen up to that day. But these previsions did not +injure good-humor in any one. On the contrary they were listened to +with rapture by young men, who were wearied by long peace at home, and +to whom war presented fields of glory, service, and even profit. + +When Mateush Bukoyemski heard the words of the starosta he so struck +his knee with his palm that the sound was heard throughout the mansion. + +"Half Asia, and what in addition?" asked he. "O pshaw! Is that +something new for us?" + +"Nothing new, thou speakest truth!" said the host, whose face, usually +gloomy, was lighted up now with sudden gladness. "If that question is +settled, the call to arms will be issued immediately, and the levies +will begin without loitering." + +"God grant this! God grant it at the earliest! Think now of that old +Deviantkievich at Hotsim, blind of both eyes. His sons aimed his lance +in the charge, and he struck on the Janissaries as well as any other +man. But I have no sons." + +"Well, lord brother, if there be any one who can stay at home +rightfully you are that person," said the starosta. "It is bad not to +have a son in the war, worse not to have an eye, but worst of all not +to have an arm." + +"I accustomed both hands to the sabre," said Pan Gideon, "and in my +teeth I can hold the bridle. Moreover, I should like to fall fighting +on the field against pagans, not because the happiness of my life has +been broken--not from revenge--no--but for this reason, speaking +sincerely: I am old, I have seen much, I have meditated deeply, I have +seen among men so much hatred, so much selfishness, so much disorder in +this Commonwealth, I have seen our self-will, our disobedience and +breaking of Diets, so much lawlessness of all sorts, that I say this +here now to you. Many times in desperation have I asked the Lord God: +Why, O Lord, hast thou created our Commonwealth, and created this +people? I ask without answer and it is only when the pagan sea swells, +when that vile dragon opens its jaws to devour Christianity and +mankind, when, as you say, the Roman Cæsar and all German lands are +shivering in front of this avalanche, that I learn why God created us +and imposed on us this duty. The Turks themselves know this. Other men +may tremble, but we will not, as we have not trembled thus far; so let +our blood flow to the very last drop, and let mine be mixed with the +rest of it. Amen." + +The eyes of Pan Gideon were glittering and he was moved very deeply, +but still he let no tears fall from his eyes; it may be because he had +cried them out so much earlier, and it may be because he was harsh to +himself and to others. But Pan Grothus put his arm around his neck and +then he kissed him on both cheeks. + +"True, true," said he. "There is much evil among us, and only with +blood may our ransom from evil be effected. That service, that watching +which God has given us, was predestined to our people. And the time is +approaching in which we shall prove this. That is our real position. +There are tidings that the avalanche of pagans will turn on Vienna; +when it does we will go there and before the whole world show that we +are purely Christ's warriors, created in defence of the cross, and the +faith of the Saviour. Other nations, who till now have lived without +care behind our shoulders, will see in the clear day of heaven how our +task is accomplished, and with God's will, while the earth stands, our +service and our glory will not leave us." + +At these words enthusiasm seized the young men. The Bukoyemskis sprang +up from their chairs, and called in loud voices,-- + +"God grant it! When will the levies be? God grant it!" + +"The souls are tearing out of us," said Stanislav. "We are ready this +minute." + +Yatsek was the only man silent, and his face did not brighten. That +news which filled all hearts with pleasure was for him a source of keen +suffering and bitterness. His thoughts and his eyes ran to Panna Anulka +who was passing along near the dining-room joyously, and with +measureless complaint and reproach they spoke thus to her,-- + +"Had it not been for thee I should have gone to some magnate, and +though I might not have found fortune, I should have a horse and good +arms in every case, and should go now with a regiment to find death, or +else glory. Thy beauty, thy glances, those pleasant words, which at +times thou didst throw like small alms at me, have brought about this, +that I am here on those last little fields of mine, well-nigh expiring +from hunger. Because of thee I have not seen the great world. I have +not gained any polish. In what have I offended that thou hast enslaved +me, as it were, soul and body? And in truth I would rather perish than +be without seeing thee for a twelvemonth. I have lost my last horse in +hurrying to save thee, and now, in return for this, thou art laughing +with another, and glancing at him most bewitchingly. But what shall I +do? War is coming. Am I to be a serving man, or be disgraced among foot +soldiers? What have I done that toward me thou art merciless?" + +In this fashion did Yatsek Tachevski complain, he a man who felt his +misery all the more keenly that he was a noble of great knightly +family, though terribly impoverished. And though it was not true that +Panna Anulka had never had mercy on him, it was true that for her sake +he had never gone out to the great world, but had remained with only +two serfs on poor pasture land where the first wants of life were +beyond him. He was seventeen years of age, and she thirteen, when he +fell in love with her beyond memory, and for five years he had loved +the girl each year increasingly, and each year with more gloominess, +for hopelessly. Pan Gideon had received him with welcome at first, as +the scion of a great knightly family to which in former days had +belonged in those regions whole countrysides; but afterward, when he +noted how matters were tending, he began to be harsh to him, and at +times even cruel. He did not close the house against the man, it is +true, but he kept him away from the young lady, since he had for her +views and hopes of another kind altogether. Panna Anulka noting her +power over Yatsek amused herself with him just as a young girl does +with flowers in a meadow. At times she bends over one, at times she +plucks one, at times she weaves one into her tresses, later she throws +it away, and later thinks nothing of flowers, whatever, and still later +on she searches out new ones. + +Yatsek had never mentioned his love to the young lady, but she knew of +it perfectly, though she feigned not to know, and in general not to +wish to know of anything which happened within him. She wondered at +him, wondered how he pleased her. Once, when they were chasing some +bees, she fell under his cloak and fondled up to his heart for a +moment, but for two days she would not forgive him because of this. At +times she treated him almost contemptuously, and when it seemed to him +that all had been ended forever, she, with one sweet look, one hearty +word filled him with endless delight, and with hope beyond limit. If at +times, because of a wedding, or a name's day, or a hunt in the +neighborhood, he did not come for some days she was lonely, but when he +did come she took revenge on him for her loneliness, and tormented him +long for it. He passed his worst moments when there were guests at the +mansion, and there happened among them some young man who was clever +and good-looking. Then Yatsek thought that in her heart there was not +even the simplest compassion. Such were his thoughts now because of Pan +Stanislav and all that Pan Grothus had told of the coming war added +bitterness to his cup, which was then overflowing. + +Self-control in Pan Gideon's mansion was habitual with Yatsek, still, +he could hardly sit to the end of the supper as he heard the words of +the lady and Pan Stanislav. He saw, unhappy victim, that the other man +pleased her, for he was in fact an adroit and agreeable young fellow, +and far from being stupid. The talk at table turned always on the +levies. Stanislav, learning from Pan Grothus that perhaps the levies +would be made under him in those regions, turned to the lady on a +sudden, and asked,-- + +"What regiment do you prefer?" + +"The hussars," said she, looking at his shoulders. + +"Because of the wings?" + +"Yes. Once I saw hussars and thought them a heavenly army. I dreamt of +them afterward two nights in succession." + +"I know not whether I shall dream when a hussar, but I know that I +shall dream of you earlier, and of wings also." + +"Why is that?" + +"I should dream of a real angel." + +Panna Anulka dropped her eyes till a shade fell on her rosy cheeks from +her eyelids. + +"Be a hussar," said she, after an interval. + +Yatsek gritted his teeth, drew his palm over his moistened forehead, +and during the supper he did not get word or look from the lady. Only +when they had risen from the table did a sweet, beloved voice sound at +his ear. + +"But will you go to this war with the others?" + +"To die! to die!" answered Yatsek. + +And in that answer there was such a genuine, true groan of anguish that +the voice was heard again, as if in sympathy,-- + +"Why sadden us?" + +"No one will weep for me." + +"How know you that?" said the voice now a third time. + +Then she slipped away to the other guests as swiftly as a dream vision, +and bloomed, like a rose, at the other end of the drawing-room. + +Meanwhile, the two elder men sat after the meal over goblets of mead, +and when they had discussed public questions sufficiently they began to +chat about private ones. Pan Grothus followed Panna Anulka with tender +eyes for a time, and then said to Pan Gideon,-- + +"That is a brilliant spot over there. Just look at those young people +who are flying like moths round a candle. But that is no wonder, for +were we not in years we too should be flying." + +Pan Gideon waved his hand in displeasure. + +"Swarms they are,--rustics, homespuns, nothing better." + +"How so? Tachevski is not a homespun." + +"No, but he is poor. The Bukoyemskis are not homespuns; they even +declare that they are kinsmen of Saint Peter, which may help them in +heaven, but on earth they are nothing but foresters in the king's +wilderness." + +Pan Grothus wondered at the relationship of the Bukoyemskis no less +than had Pan Gideon when he heard of it the first time, so he fell to +inquiring in detail, till at last he laughed heartily, and added,-- + +"Saint Peter was a great apostle, and I have no wish to detract from +his honor; all the more, since feeling old, I shall soon need his +influence. But between you and me, there is not much in this kinship to +boast of--no, he was merely a fisherman. If you speak of Joseph, who +came from King David,--well, you may talk to me." + +"I say only that there is no one here fit for the girl, either among +those whom you see now under my roof, or in the whole neighborhood." + +"But he who is sitting near Pani Vinnitski seems a nice gentleman." + +"Tsyprianovitch? Yes, he is; but Armenian by origin and of a family +noble only three generations." + +"Then why invite them? Cupid is traitorous, and before there is time to +turn once the pudding may be cooked for you." + +Pan Gideon, who, in presenting the young men had stated how much he +owed them, explained now in detail about the wolves and the assistance, +because of which he was forced to invite the young rescuers to his +mansion through gratitude simply. + +"True, true," said Pan Grothus, "but in his own way Amor may cook the +pudding before you have noticed it. This girl's blood is not water." + +"Ai! she is a slippery weasel," said Pan Gideon. "She can and will +bite, but she will twist out besides from between a man's fingers, and +no common person could catch her. Great blood has this inborn quality +that it yields not, but rules and regulates. I am not of those who are +led by the nose very easily, still, I yield to her often. It is true, +that I owe much to the Sieninskis, but even if I did not there would be +only slight difference. When she stands before me and puts a tress from +one shoulder to the other, inclines her head to me, and glances, she +gets what she wishes most frequently. And more than once do I think, +what a blessing of God, what an honor, that the last child, the last +heiress of such a famed family, is under my roof tree. Of course you +know of the Sieninskis--once all Podolia was theirs. In truth, the +Sobieskis, the Daniloviches, the Jolkevskis grew great through them. It +is the duty of His Grace the King to remember this, all the more since +now almost nothing remains of those great possessions; and the girl, if +she has any property, will have only that which remains after me to +her." + +"But what will your relatives say in this matter?" + +"There are only distant Pangovskis, who will not prove kinship. But +often my peace is destroyed by the thought that after me may come +quarrels, with lawsuits and wrangling, as is common in this country. +The relatives of my late wife are for me the great question. From my +wife comes a part of my property, namely: the lands with this mansion." + +"I shall not appear with a lawsuit," said Pan Grothus, "but I would not +guarantee as to others." + +"That is it! That is it! I have been thinking of late to visit Warsaw +and beg the king to be a guardian to this orphan, but his head is full +now of other questions." + +"If you had a son it would be a simple matter to give the girl to him." + +Pan Gideon gazed at the starosta with a look so full of pain that the +other stopped speaking. Both men were silent for a long time, till Pan +Gideon said with emotion,-- + +"To you I might say, my lord brother, with Virgil, _infandum jubes +renovare dolorem_ (thou commandest me to call up unspeakable sorrow). +That marriage would be simple--and I will tell you that had it not been +for this simple method I should have died long ago perhaps. My son +while in childhood was stolen by the Tartars. People have returned more +than once from captivity among pagans when the memory of them had +perished. Whole years have I looked for a miracle--whole years have I +lived in the hope of it. To-day even, when I drink something I think to +myself we, perhaps now! God is greater than human imagining. But those +moments of hope are very shortlived, while the pain is enduring and +daily. No! Why deceive myself? My blood will not be mingled with that +of the Sieninskis, and, if relatives rend what I have into fragments, +this last child of the family to which I owe everything, will be +without bread to nourish her." + +Both drank in silence again. Pan Grothus was thinking how to milden the +pain which he had roused in Pan Gideon unwittingly, and how to console +the man in suffering. At last an idea occurred to him which he +considered very happy. "Ai!" exclaimed he, "there is a way to do +everything, and you, my lord brother, can secure bread for the girl +without trouble." + +"How?" asked Pan Gideon, with a certain disquiet. + +"Does it not happen often that old men take as wives even girls not +full grown yet? An example in history is Konietspolski the grand +hetman, who married a green girl, though he was older than you are. It +is true also, that, having taken too many youth-giving medicines, he +died the first night after marriage, but neither Pan Makovski, +pocillator of Radom, nor Pan Rudnitski lost their lives, though both +had passed seventy. Besides, you are sturdy. Should the Lord again +bless you, well, so much the better; if not, you would leave in +sufficiency and quiet the young widow, who might choose then the +husband that pleased her." + +Whether such an idea had ever come to Pan Gideon we may not determine; +it suffices, that, after these words of Pan Grothus, he was greatly +confused, and, with a hand trembling somewhat, poured mead to the +starosta till it flowed over the goblet, and the generous liquor +dropped down to the floor after passing the table. + +"Let us drink to the success of Christian arms!" said he. + +"That in its time," said Pan Grothus, following the course of his own +thoughts still further; "and dwell in your own way on what I have said +to you, for I have struck, as I think, the true point of the question." + +"But why? What reason is there? Drink some more--" + +Further words were interrupted by the movement of chairs at the larger +table. Pani Vinnitski and Panna Anulka wished to retire to their +chamber. The voice of the young lady, as resonant as a bell made of +silver, repeated: "Good-night, good-night;" then she courtesied +prettily to Pan Grothus, kissed the hand of Pan Gideon, touched his +shoulder with her nose and her forehead cat fashion, and vanished. Pan +Stanislav, the Bukoyemskis, and Yatsek went out soon after the ladies. +The two older men only remained in the dining-room and conversed long +in it, for Pan Gideon commanded to bring still better mead in another +decanter. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + +Whether by chance or a trick of the young lady is unknown to us; it +suffices, however, that the four Bukoyemskis received a large chamber +in an outbuilding, and Pan Stanislav with Yatsek a smaller one near it. +This confused the two men no little, and then, so as not to speak to +each other, they began straightway the litany and continued it longer +than was usual. But when they had finished there followed a silence +which annoyed both of them, for though their feelings toward each other +were unfriendly, they felt that they might not betray them, and that +they should for a time, and especially at the house of Pan Gideon, show +politeness. + +Yatsek ungirded his sabre, drew it out of the scabbard, looked at the +edge by the light of the chimney, and fell to rubbing the blade with +his handkerchief. + +"After frost," said he half to himself, half to Stanislav, "a sabre +sweats in a warm chamber, and rust appears on it straightway." + +"And last night it must have frozen solidly," said Stanislav. + +He spoke without evil intention, and only because it occurred to him +that Tachevski had been in a splitting frost all the night previous; +but Yatsek placed the point of his blade on the floor, and looked +quickly into the eyes of the other man. + +"Are you referring to this,--that I sat on a pine tree?" + +"Yes," replied Stanislav, with simplicity; "of course there was no +stove there." + +"But what would you have done in my position?" + +Stanislav wished to answer "the same that you did," but the question +was put to him sharply, so he answered,-- + +"Why break my head over that, since I was not in it?" + +Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrain +himself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with still +greater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added,-- + +"God sends adventures and accidents." + +And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were covered +again with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his one +friend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces. + +Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into the +chamber. + +"The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush. + +"There will be fog," added Yan. + +And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the first +moment. + +"Oh art thou in such company?" asked Lukash, as he turned to Stanislav. + +All four brothers put their hands on their hips and cast challenging +glances at Yatsek. + +Yatsek seized a chair and, pushing it to the middle of the chamber, +turned to the Bukoyemskis with a sudden movement; then he sat astride +of the chair, as on horseback, rested his elbows on the back of it, +raised his head, and answered with equally challenging glances. Thus +were they opposed then; he, with feet stretching widely apart in his +Swedish boots, they, shoulder to shoulder, quarrelsome, threatening, +enormous. + +Stanislav saw that it was coming to a quarrel, but he wished to laugh +at the same time. Thinking that he could hinder a collision at any +instant he let them gaze at one another. + +"Eh, what a bold fellow," thought he of Yatsek, "nothing confuses him." + +The silence continued, at once unendurable and ridiculous. Yatsek +himself felt this, also, for he was the first man to break it. + +"Sit down, young sirs," said he, "not only do I invite, but I beg you." + +The Bukoyemskis looked at one another with astonishment, this new turn +confused them. + +"How is this? What is it? Of what is he thinking?" + +"I beg you, I beg you," repeated Yatsek, and he pointed to benches. + +"We stay as we are, for it pleases us, dost understand?" + +"Too much ceremony." + +"What ceremony?" cried Lukash. "Dost thou claim to be a senator, or a +bishop, thou--thou Pompeius!" + +Yatsek did not move from the chair, but his back began to quiver as if +from sudden laughter. + +"But why call me Pompeius?" inquired he. + +"Because the name fits thee." + +"But it may be because thou art a fool," replied Yatsek. + +"Strike, whoso believes in God!" shouted Yan. + +Evidently Yatsek had had talk enough also, for something seemed to +snatch him from the chair on a sudden, and he sprang like a cat toward +the brothers. + +"Listen, ye road-blockers," said he with a voice cold as steel, "what +do ye want of me?" + +"Blood!" cried Mateush. + +"Thou wilt not squirm away from us this time!" shouted Marek. "Come out +at once," said he, grasping toward his side for a sabre. + +But Stanislav pushed in quickly between them. + +"I will not permit," cried he. "This is another man's dwelling." + +"True," added Yatsek, "this is another man's dwelling, and I will not +injure Pan Gideon. I will not cut you up under his roof, but I will +find you to-morrow." + +"We will find thee to-morrow!" roared Mateush. + +"Ye have sought conflicts and raised pretexts all day, why, I cannot +tell, for I have not known you, nor have ye known me, but ye must +answer for this, and because ye have insulted me I would meet not four +men but ten like you." + +"Oho! oho! One will suffice thee. It is clear," cried out Yan, "that +thou hast not heard of the Bukoyemskis." + +"I have spoken of four," said Yatsek, turning on a sudden to Stanislav, +"but perhaps you will join with these cavaliers?" + +Stanislav bowed politely. + +"Since you make the inquiry--" + +"But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "We +will not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down any +man who interferes with us." + +Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as he +thought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat. + +"So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, and +art standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, and +very safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. In +what a company do I find myself?" + +On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had a +mild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veins +swelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teeth +were gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre. + +"Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked with +anger. + +Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on the +steel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskis +sprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourth +caught Stanislav by the shoulders. + +"By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!" + +"We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others. + +"Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely. + +"We are ahead!" + +"Unhand me!" + +"Hold Stashko, ye, and I will settle with this man while ye are holding +him," shouted Mateush; and seizing Yatsek he dragged him aside to begin +at him straightway, but Yatsek with presence of mind pulled himself +free of Mateush, and sheathed his sword, saying,-- + +"I choose the man who is to fight first and the time. So I tell you +to-morrow, and in Vyrambki, not here." + +"Oh thou wilt not sneak away from us! Now! now!" + +But Yatsek crossed his arms on his breast. "Ha, if ye wish without +fighting to kill me under the roof of our host, let me know it." + +At this rage seized the brothers; they stamped the floor with their +boot-heels, pulled their mustaches, and panted like wild bears. But +since they feared infamy no man of them had the daring to rush at +Tachevski. + +"To-morrow, I tell you! Say to Pan Gideon that ye are going to visit +me, and inquire for the road to Vyrambki. Beyond the brook stands a +crucifix since the time of the pestilence. There I will wait for you at +midday to-morrow, and there, with God's help I will finish you!" + +He uttered the last words as if with sorrow, then he opened the door +and walked out of the chamber. In the yard the dogs ran around Yatsek, +and knowing him well, fondled up to him. He turned without thinking +toward the posts near the windows, as if looking for his horse there; +then, remembering that that horse was no longer alive, he sighed, and, +feeling the cool breath of air, repeated in spirit,-- + +"The wind is blowing always in the eyes of the poor man. I will walk +home." + +Meanwhile, Stanislav was wringing his hands from fierce pain and anger, +while saying to the Bukoyemskis, with terrible bitterness,-- + +"Who asked you to do this? My worst enemy could not have hurt me more +than have you with your service." + +They pitied him immensely, and fell to embracing him, one after the +other. + +"Stashko," said Mateush. "They sent us a decanter for the night; give +thyself comfort for God's sake." + + + + + CHAPTER III + + +The world was still gray when Father Voynovski was clattering along +through deep snow with a lantern to the doves, partridges, and rabbits +which he kept in his granary in a special enclosure. A tame fox with +bells on her neck followed his footsteps; at his side went a Spitz dog +and a porcupine. Winter sleep did not deaden the latter in the warm +room of the priest's house. The beasts and their master, when they had +crossed the yard slowly, stopped under the out-jutting straw eaves of +the granary, from which long icicles were hanging. The lantern swayed, +the key was heard in the lock, the bolt whined, the door squeaked +louder than the key, and the old man went in with his animals. After a +while he took his seat on a block, placed his lantern on a second +block, and put between his knees a linen bag holding grain and also +cabbage leaves. He began then to yawn aloud and to empty the bag on the +floor there in front of him. + +Before he had finished three rabbits advanced from dark corners jumping +toward him; next were seen the eyes of doves, glittering and bead-like +in the light of the lantern; then rust-colored partridges, moving their +heads on lithe necks as they came on in close company. Being the most +resolute, the pigeons fell straightway to hammering the floor with +their bills, while the partridges moved with more caution, looking now +at the falling grain, now at the priest, and now at the she fox; with +her they had been acquainted a long time, since, taken as chicks the +past summer and reared from being little, they saw the beast daily. + +The priest kept on throwing grain, muttering morning prayer as he did +so: "_Pater noster, qui es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen_--" Here he +stopped and turned to the fox, and she, while touching his side, +trembled as if a fever were shaking her. + +"Ah, the skin on thee trembles as soon as thou seest them. It is the +same every day. Learn to keep down thy inborn appetite, for thou hast +good food at all seasons and sufferest no hunger. Where did I stop?" +Here he closed his eyes as if waiting for an answer, and since he did +not have it he began at the first words: "_Pater noster, qui es in +coelis, sanctificetur nomen Tuum, adveniat regnum Tuum_." + +And again he halted. + +"Ah, thou art squirming," said he, putting his hand on the back of the +she fox. "There is such a vile nature in thee, that not only must thou +eat, but commit murder also. Catch her, Filus, by the tail, and bite +her if she does any injury--_Adveniat regnum Tuum_--Oh such a daughter! +Thou wouldst say, I know, that men are glad too, to eat partridges; but +know this, that a man gives them peace during fast days, while in thee +the soul of that vile Luther is sitting, for thou wouldst eat meat on +good Friday--_Fiat voluntas Tua_--_Trus! trus! trus!_--_sicut in +coelo_--here are both one with the other!--_et in terra_." And thus +speaking he threw the cabbage and then the grain, scolding the doves +somewhat that, though spring was not near yet, they walked around one +another frequently, cooing and strutting. + +At last, when he had emptied the bag he rose, raised the lantern, and +was preparing to go, when Yatsek appeared on the threshold. + +"Ah, Yatsus!" cried the priest, "art thou here--what art thou doing so +early?" + +Yatsek kissed the priest's hand, and answered,-- + +"I have come to confession, my benefactor, and at early mass I should +like to approach the Lord's table." + +"To confession? That is well, but what has so urged thee? Tell, but +right off, for this is not without reason." + +"I will tell truly. I must fight a duel this day, and since in fighting +with five men an accident is more likely than with one, I should like +to clear my soul of offences." + +"With five men? God's wounds! But what didst thou do to them?" + +"It is just this: that I did nothing. They sought a quarrel, and they +have challenged me." + +"Who are they?" + +"The Bukoyemskis, who are foresters, and Tsyprianovitch from Yedlinka." + +"I know them. Come to the house and tell how it happened." + +They went out of the granary, but when half-way to the house the priest +stopped on a sudden, looked into Tachevski's eyes quickly, and said,-- + +"Hear me, Yatsek, there is a woman in this quarrel." + +The other smiled; with some melancholy. + +"There is, and there is not," said he, "for really, she is the +question, but she is innocent." + +"Ah, ha! innocent! they are all innocent. But dost thou know what +Ecclesiastes says of women?" + +"I do not remember, benefactor." + +"Neither do I remember all, but what I have forgotten I will read in +the house to thee. '_Inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus_ +(says he) _venatorum est et sagena cor ejus_.' (I have found woman more +bitter than death. Her heart is a trap and a snare). And farther on he +adds something, but at the end he says: '_Qui placet Deo, effugiet +illam, qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa_.' (Whoso is pleasing +to God will escape her, but whoso is a sinner will be caught by her.) I +have warned thee not one time but ten not to loiter in that mansion and +now the blow strikes thee." + +"Eh, it is easier for you to warn than for me not to visit," answered +Yatsek, with a sigh. + +"Nothing good will meet thee in that house." + +"True," said the young man, quietly. + +And they went on in silence, but the priest with a face of anxiety, for +with his whole soul he loved Yatsek. When his father had died of the +pestilence, the young man was left in the world without any near +relative, without property, having only a very few serfs in Vyrambki. +The old priest cared for him tenderly. He could not give the youth +property, for he with the soul of an angel distributed to the needy all +that his poor parish gave him; still, he helped Yatsek in secret, and +besides, he watched over him, taught him, not only what was in books, +but the whole art of knighthood. For in his day that priest had been a +famed warrior, a comrade and friend of the glorious Pan Michael. He had +been with Charnyetski, he had gone through the whole Swedish conflict, +and only when all had been finished did he put on the robe of a cleric, +because of a ghastly misfortune. He loved Yatsek, in whom he valued, +not simply the son of a famed knightly family, but a serious, lofty +soul, just such as his own was. So he was grieved over the man's +immense poverty, and that ill-fated love which had seized him. Because +of this love, the young man, instead of seeking bread and fame in the +great world of action, was wasting himself and leading a half peasant +life in that dark little corner. Hence he felt a determined dislike for +the house of Pan Gideon, taking it ill of Pan Gideon himself that he +was so cruel to his people. As to Father Voynovski, those "worms of the +earth"[2] were as dear as the apple of his eye to him, but besides them +he loved also everything living, as well those pets which he scolded, +as birds, fish, and even the frogs which croak and sing in the +sun-warmed waters during summer. + +There walked, however, in that robe of a priest, not only an angel but, +besides, an ex-warrior; hence when he learned that his Yatsek must +fight with five enemies he thought only of this: how that young man +would prosper, and would he come out of the struggle undefeated? + +"Thou wilt not yield?" asked he, halting at the threshold, "for I have +taught thee what I knew myself, and what Pan Michael showed me." + +"I should not like to let them slash me to death," replied Yatsek, with +modesty, "for a great war with the Turks is approaching." + +At this the eyes of the old man flashed up like stars. In one moment he +seized Yatsek by the button loop of his coat and fell to inquiring,-- + +"Praised be the name of the Lord! How dost thou know this? Who told +thee?" + +"Pan Grothus, the starosta," answered the young man. + +Long did the conversation of Yatsek continue with the priest, long was +his confession till Mass time, and when at last after Mass they were +both in the house and had sat down to heated beer at the table, the +mind of the old man was haunted continually by thoughts of that war +with the pagan. Therefore he fell to complaining of the corruption of +manners and the decay of devotion in the Commonwealth. + +"My God!" said he, "the field of salvation and glory is open to men, +but they prefer private quarrels and the slaughter of one another. +Though ye have the chance to give your own blood in defence of the +cross and the faith, ye are willing to spill the blood of a brother. +For whom? for what reason? For personal squabbles, or women, or similar +society nonsense. I know this vice to be inveterate in the +Commonwealth, and _mea culpa_, for in time of vain sinful youth I +myself was a slave to it. In winter camps, when the armies think mainly +of idleness and drinking, there is no day without duels; but in fact +the church forbids duels, and punishes for fighting them. Duelling is +sinful at all times, and before a Turkish war the sin is the greater, +for then every sabre is needed, and every sabre serves God and +religion. Therefore our king, who is a defender of the faith, detests +duels, and in the field in the face of the enemy, when martial law +dictates, they are punished severely." + +"But the king in his youth fought more than one, and more than two +duels," said Yatsek. "Moreover, what can I do, revered Father? I did +not challenge. They called me out. Can I fail to meet them?" + +"Thou canst not, and therefore my soul is confounded. Ah, God will be +on the side of the innocent." + +Yatsek began to take farewell, for midday was not more than two hours +from him, and a road of some length was before him. + +"Wait," said the priest. "I will not let thee leave in this fashion. I +will have my man make the sleigh ready, put straw in it, and go to the +meeting-place. For if at Pan Gideon's they knew nothing of the duel, +they will send no assistance, and how will it be if one of them, or if +thou, be wounded severely? Hast thought of this?" + +"I have not, and they have not thought, that is certain." + +"Ah, seest thou! I will go too. I will not be on the field, I will stay +at thy house in Vyrambki. I will take with me the sacrament, and a boy +with a bell too, for who knows what may happen? It is not proper for a +priest to witness such actions, but except that, I should be there with +great willingness, were it only to freshen thy courage." + +Yatsek looked at him with eyes as mild as a maiden's. "God reward," +said he, "but I shall not lose courage, for even if I had to lay down +my life--" + +"Better be silent," broke in the priest. "Art thou not sorry not to be +nearing the Turk--and not to be meeting a death of more glory?" + +"I am, my benefactor, but I shall try that those man-eaters do not gulp +me down at one effort." + +Father Voynovski thought a moment and added,-- + +"But if I were to go to the field and explain the reward which would +meet them in heaven, were they to die at the hands of the pagan, +perhaps they would give up the duel." + +"God prevent!" exclaimed Yatsek. "They would think that I sent thee. +God prevent! Better that I go to them straightway than listen to such +speeches." + +"I am powerless," said the priest. "Let us go." + +He summoned his servant and ordered him to attach the horse with all +haste to the sleigh; then he and Yatsek went out to assist the man. But +when the priest saw the horse on which Yatsek had come, he pushed back +in amazement. + +"In the name of the Father and the Son, where didst thou find such a +poor little creature?" + +And indeed at the fence stood a sorry small nag, with shaggy head +drooping low, and cheeks with long hair hanging down from them. The +beast was not greatly larger than a she goat. + +"I borrowed it from a peasant. See, how I might go to the Turkish war!" + +And he laughed painfully. + +To this the priest answered,-- + +"No matter on what thou goest, if thou come home on a Turkish +war-horse, and may God give thee this, Yatsus; but meanwhile put the +saddle on my beast, for thou canst not go on this poor little wretch to +those nobles." + +They arranged everything then, and moved forward,--the priest with the +church boy and bell and a driver for the sleigh, and Yatsek on +horseback. The day was monotonous and misty in some sort; for a thaw +had settled down and snow covered the frozen ground deeply, but its +surface had softened considerably, so that horsehoofs sank without +noise and sleigh-runners moved along the road quietly. Not far beyond +Yedlina they met loads of wood and peasants walking near them; these +people knelt at the sound of the bell, thinking that the priest was +going with the Lord God to a dying man. Then began fields lying next to +the forest,--fields white and empty; these were covered with haze. +Flocks of crows were flying over them. Nearer the forest the haze +became denser and denser, descended, filled all the space, and +stretched upward. When they had advanced somewhat farther, the two men +heard cawing, but the crows were invisible. The bushes at the roadside +were ghostlike. The world had lost its usual sharp outlines, and was +changed into some kind of region deceitful, uncertain,--delusive and +blurred in near places, but entirely unknown in the distance. + +Yatsek advanced along the silent snow, thinking over the battle +awaiting him, but thinking more over Panna Anulka; and half to himself +and half to her he soliloquized in spirit: "My love for thee has been +always unchangeable, but I have no joy in my heart from it. Eh! in +truth I had little joy earlier from other things. But now, if I could +even embrace thy dear feet for one instant, or hear a good word from +thee, or even know that thou art sorry if evil befalls me-- All between +me and thee is like that haze there before me, and thou thyself art as +if out beyond the haze. I see nothing, and know not what will be, nor +what will meet me, nor what will happen." + +And Yatsek felt that deep sadness was besieging his spirit, just as +dampness was besieging his garments. + +"But I prefer that all should be ended, and quickly," said he, sighing. + +Father Voynovski was attacked also by thoughts far from gladsome, and +said in his own mind,-- + +"The poor boy has grieved to the utmost. He has not used his youth, he +has gnawed himself through this ill-fated love of his, and now those +Bukoyemskis will cut him to pieces. The other day at Kozenitse they +hacked Pan Korybski after the festival. And even though they should not +cut up Yatsek, nothing useful can come of this duel. My God! this lad +is pure gold; and he is the last sprout from a great trunk of +knightliness. He is the last drop of nourishing blood in his family. If +he could only save himself this time! In God is my hope that he has not +forgotten those two blows, one a feint under the arm with a side +spring, the other with a whirl through the cheek. Yatsek!" + +But Yatsek did not hear, for he had ridden ahead, and the call from the +old man was not repeated. On the contrary, he was troubled very +seriously on remembering that a priest who was going with the Sacrament +should not think of such subjects. He fell then to repenting and +imploring the Lord God for pardon. + +Still, he was more and more grieved in his spirit. He was mastered by +an evil foreboding and felt almost certain that that strange duel +without seconds would end in the worst manner possible for Yatsek. + +Meanwhile they reached the crossroad which lay on the right toward +Vyrambki, and on the left toward Pan Gideon's. The driver stopped as +had been commanded. Yatsek approached the sleigh then and dismounted. + +"I will go on foot to the crucifix, for I should not know what to do +with this horse while the sleigh is taking you to my house and coming +back to me. They are there now, it may be." + +"It is not noon yet, though near it," said the priest, and his voice +was changed somewhat. "But what a haze! Ye will have to grope in this +duel." + +"We can see well enough!" + +The cawing of crows and of daws was heard then above them a second +time. + +"Yatsek!" + +"I am listening." + +"Since thou hast come to this conflict, remember the Knights of +Tachevo." + +"They will not be ashamed of me, father, they will not." + +And the priest remarked that Yatsek's face had grown pitiless, his eyes +had their usual sadness, but the maiden mildness had gone from them. + +"That is well. Kneel down now," said he. "I will bless thee, and make +thou the sign of the cross on thyself before opening the struggle." + +Then he made the sign of the cross on Yatsek's head as he knelt on the +snow there. + +The young man tied the horse behind the sleigh at the side of the poor +little nag of the peasant, kissed the priest's hand, and walked off +toward that crucifix at the place of the duel. + +"Come back to me in health!" cried the priest after Yatsek. + +At the cross there was no one. Yatsek passed around the figure +repeatedly, then sat on a stone at the foot of the crucifix and waited. + +Round about immense silence was brooding; only great tear-like drops, +formed of dense haze, and falling from the arms of the crucifix, struck +with low sound the soft snow bank. That quiet, filled with a certain +sadness, and that hazy desert, filled with a new wave of sorrow the +heart of the young man. He felt lonely to a point never known to him +earlier. "Indeed I am as much alone in the world as that stick there," +said he to himself, "and thus shall I be till death comes to me." And +he waved his hand. "Well, let it end some time!" + +With growing bitterness he thought that his opponents were not in a +hurry, because they were joyous. They were sitting at Pan Gideon's +conversing with "her," and they could look at "her" as much as might +please them. + +But he was mistaken, for they too were hastening. After a while the +sound of loud talking came up to him, and in the white haze quivered +the four immense forms of the Bukoyemskis, and a fifth one,--that of +Pan Stanislav, somewhat smaller. + +They talked in loud voices, for they were quarrelling about this: who +should fight first with Tachevski. For that matter the Bukoyemskis were +always disputing among themselves about something, but this time their +dispute struck Stanislav, who was trying to show them that he, as the +most deeply offended, should in that fight be the first man. All grew +silent, however, in view of the cross, and of Yatsek standing under it. +They removed their caps, whether out of respect for the Passion of +Christ, or in greeting to their enemy, may be left undecided. + +Yatsek inclined to them in silence, and drew his weapon, but the heart +in his breast beat unquietly at the first moment, for they were in +every case five against one, and besides, the Bukoyemskis had simply a +terrible aspect,--big fellows, broad shouldered, with broomlike +mustaches, on which the fog had settled down in blue dewdrops; their +brows were forbidding, and in their faces was a kind of brooding and +murderous enjoyment, as if this chance to spill blood caused them +gladness. + +"Why do I place this sound head of mine under the Evangelists?" thought +Yatsek. But at that moment of alarm, indignation at those roysterers +seized him,--those men whom he hardly knew, whom he had never injured, +but who, God knew for what reason, had fastened to him, and had come +now to destroy him if possible. + +So in spirit he said to them: "Wait a while, O ye road-blockers! Ye +have brought your lives hither!" + +His cheeks took on color, and his teeth gritted fiercely. They, +meanwhile, stripped their coats off and rolled up the sleeves of their +jupans. This they did without need all together, but they did it since +each thought that he was to open the duel. + +At last they all stood in a row with drawn sabres, and Yatsek, stepping +towards them, halted, and they looked at one another in silence. + +Pan Stanislav interrupted them,-- + +"I will serve you first." + +"No! I first, I first!" repeated all the Bukoyemskis in a chorus. + +And when Stanislav pushed forward they seized him by the elbows. + +Again a quarrel began, in which Stanislav reviled them as outlaws. They +jeered at him as a dandy, among themselves the term "dogbrother" was +frequent. Yatsek was shocked at this, and added,-- + +"I have never seen cavaliers of this kind." And he put his sabre into +the scabbard. + +"Choose, or I will go!" said he, with a loud voice, and firmly. + +"Choose, thou!" cried Stanislav, hoping that on him would the choice +fall. + +Mateush began shouting that he would not permit any small +whipper-snapper to manage them, and he shouted so that his front teeth, +which, being very long, like the teeth of a rabbit, were shining +beneath his mustaches; but he grew silent when Yatsek, drawing his +sabre, again indicated him with the edge of it, and added, "I choose +thee." + +The remaining brothers and Stanislav drew back at once, seeing that +they would never agree, in another way, but their faces grew gloomy, +for, knowing the strength of Mateush they felt almost certain that no +work would be left them when he had finished. + +"Begin!" called out Stanislav. + +Tachevski felt at the first blow the strength of his enemy, for in his +own grasp the sabre blade quivered. He warded the blow off, however, +and warded off, also, the second one. + +"He has less skill than strength," thought Tachevski, after the third +blow. Then, crouching somewhat, for a better spring, he pressed on with +impetus. + +The other three, inclining downward the points of their sabres, stood +open-mouthed, following the course of the struggle. They saw now that +Tachevski too "knew things," and that with him it would not be easy. +Soon they thought that he knew things very accurately, and alarm seized +the brothers, for, despite endless bickering they loved one another +immensely. The cry, "Ha!" was rent from the breast, now of one, and now +of another, as each keener blow struck. + +Meanwhile the blows became quicker and quicker; at last they were +lightning-like. + +The spectators saw clearly that Tachevski was gaining more confidence. +He was calm, but he sprang around like a wild-cat and his eyes shot out +ominous flashes. + +"It is bad!" thought Stanislav. + +That moment a cry was heard. Mateush's sabre fell. He raised both hands +to his head and dropped to the earth, his face in one instant being +blood-covered. + +At sight of that the three younger brothers bellowed like bulls, and in +the twinkle of an eye rushed with rage at Tachevski, not intending, of +course, to attack him together, but because each wished to be first in +avenging Mateush. + +And they perhaps would have swept Tachevski apart on their sabres if +Stanislav, springing in to assist him, had not cried with all the power +in his bosom,-- + +"Shame! Away! Murderers, not nobles! Shame! Away! or you must deal with +me, murderers! Away!" And he slashed at the brothers till they came to +their senses. But at this time Mateush had risen on his hands and +turned toward them a face which was as if a mask made of blood had just +covered it. Yan, seizing him by the armpits, seated him on the snow. +Lukash hurried also to give him assistance. + +But Tachevski pushed up to Marek, who was gritting his teeth, and +repeated in a quick voice, as if fearing lest the common attack might +repeat itself,-- + +"If you please! If you please!" + +And the sabres were clanking a second time ominously. But with Marek, +who was as much stronger than his enemy as he was less dexterous, +Tachevski had short work. Marek used his great sabre like a flail, so +that Yatsek at the third blow struck his right shoulder-blade, cut +through the bone, and disarmed him. + +Now Lukash and Yan understood that a very ugly task was before them, +and that the slender young man was a wasp in reality,--a wasp which it +would have been wise not to irritate. But with increased passion, they +stood now against him to a struggle which ended as badly for them as it +had for their elders. Lukash, cut through his cheek to the gums, fell +with impetus, and, besides, struck a stone which the deep snow had +hidden; while from Yan, the most dexterous of the brothers, his sabre, +together with one of his fingers, fell to the ground at the end of some +minutes. + +Yatsek, without a scratch, gazed at his work, as it were, with +astonishment, and those sparks which a moment before had been +glittering in his eyeballs began now to quench gradually. With his left +hand he straightened his cap, which during the struggle had slipped +somewhat over his right ear, then he removed it, breathed deeply once +and a second time, turned to the cross, and said, half to himself and +half to Stanislav,-- + +"God knows that I am innocent." + +"Now it is my turn," said Stanislav. "But you are panting, perhaps you +would rest; meanwhile I will put their cloaks on my comrades, lest this +damp cold may chill them ere help comes." + +"Help is near," said Tachevski. "Over there in the mist is a sleigh +sent by Father Voynovski, and he himself is at my house. Permit me. I +will go for the sleigh in which those gentlemen will feel easier than +here on this snow field." + +And he started while Stanislav went to cover the Bukoyemskis who were +sitting arm to arm in the snow, except Yan, the least wounded. Yan on +his knees was in front of Mateush, holding up his own right hand lest +blood might flow from the finger stump too freely; in his left he held +snow with which he was washing the face of his brother. + +"How are ye?" asked Stanislav. + +"Ah, he has bitten us, the son of a such a one!" said Lukash, and he +spat blood abundantly; "but we will avenge ourselves." + +"I cannot move my arm at all, for he cut the bone," added Marek. "Eh, +the dog! Eh!" + +"And Mateush is cut over the brows!" called out Yan; "the wound should +be covered with bread and spider-web but I will staunch the blood with +snow for the present." + +"If my eyes were not filled with blood," said Mateush, "I would--" + +But he could not finish since blood loss had weakened him, and he was +interrupted by Lukash who had been borne away suddenly by anger. + +"But he is cunning, the dog blood! He stings like a gnat, though he +looks like a maiden." + +"It is just that cunning," said Yan, "which I cannot pardon." + +Further conversation was interrupted by the snorting of horses. The +sleigh appeared in the haze dimly, and next it was there at the side of +the brothers. Out of the sleigh sprang Tachevski, who commanded the +driver to step down and help them. + +The man looked at the Bukoyemskis, took in the whole case with a +glance, and said not a word, but on his face was reflected, as it +seemed, disappointment, and, turning toward the horses, he crossed +himself. Then the three men fell to raising the wounded. The brothers +protested against the assistance of Yatsek, but he stopped them. + +"If ye gentlemen had wounded me, would ye leave me unassisted? This is +the service of a noble which one may not meet with neglect or refusal." + +They were silent, for he won them by these words--somewhat, and after a +while they were lying upon straw in the broad sleigh more comfortably, +and soon they were warmer. + +"Whither shall I go?" asked the driver. + +"Wait. Thou wilt take still another," answered Stanislav, and turning +to Yatsek, he said to him,-- + +"Well, gracious sir, it is our time!" + +"Oh, it is better to drop this," said Yatsek, regarding him with a look +almost friendly. "That God there knows why this has happened, and you +took my part when these gentlemen together attacked me. Why should you +and I fight a duel?" + +"We must and will fight," replied Stanislav, coldly. "You have insulted +me, and, even if you had not, my name is in question at present--do you +understand? Though I were to lose life, though this were to be my last +hour--we must fight." + +"Let it be so! but against my will," said Tachevski. + +And they began. Stanislav, had more skill than the brothers, but he was +weaker than any of them. It was clear that he had been taught by better +masters, and that his practice had not been confined to inns and +markets. He pressed forward quickly, he parried with readiness and +knowledge. Yatsek, in whose heart there was no hatred, and who would +have stopped at the lesson given the Bukoyemskis, began to praise him. + +"With you," said he, "the work is quite different. Your hand was +trained by no common swordsman." + +"Too bad that you did not train it!" said Stanislav. + +And he was doubly rejoiced, first at the praise, and then because he +had given answer, for only the most famed among swordsmen could let +himself speak in time of a duel, and polite conversation was considered +moreover as the acme of courtesy. All this increased Stanislav in his +own eyes. Hence he pressed forward again with good feeling. But after +some fresh blows he was forced to acknowledge in spirit that Tachevski +surpassed him. Yatsek defended himself as it seemed with unwillingness +but very easily, and in general he acted as though engaged not in +fighting, but in fencing for exercise. Clearly, he wished to convince +himself as to what Stanislav knew, and as to how much better he was +than the brothers, and when he had done this with accuracy he felt at +last sure of his own case. + +Stanislav noted this also, hence delight left him, and he struck with +more passion. Tachevski then twisted himself as if he had had enough of +amusement, gave the "feigned" blow, pressed on and sprang aside after a +moment. + +"Thou hast got it!" said he. + +Stanislav felt, as it were, a cold sting in the arm, but he answered,-- + +"Go on. That is nothing!" + +And he cut again, that same moment the point of Yatsek's sabre laid his +lower lip open and cut the skin under it. Yatsek sprang aside now a +second time. + +"Thou art bleeding!" said he. + +"That is nothing!" + +"Glory to God if 'tis nothing! But I have had plenty, and here is my +hand for you. You have acted like a genuine cavalier." + +Stanislav greatly roused, but pleased also at these words, stood for a +moment, as if undecided whether to make peace or fight longer. At last +he sheathed his sabre and gave his hand then to Yatsek. + +"Let it be so. In truth, as it seems, I am bleeding." + +He touched his chin with his left hand and looked at the blood with +much wonder. It had colored his palm and his fingers abundantly. + +"Hold snow on the wound to keep it from swelling," said Yatsek, "and go +to the sleigh now." + +So speaking he took Stanislav by the arm and conducted him to the +Bukoyemskis, who looked at him silently, somewhat astonished, but also +confounded. Yatsek roused real respect in them, not only as a master +with the sabre, but as a man of "lofty manners," such manners precisely +as they themselves needed. + +So after a while this inquiry was made of Stanislav by Mateush,-- + +"How is it with thee, O Stashko?" + +"Well. I might go on foot," was the answer, "but I choose the sleigh, +the journey will be quicker." + +Yatsek sat toward them sidewise, and cried to the driver,-- + +"To Vyrambki." + +"Whither?" asked Stanislav. + +"To my house. You will not have much comfort, but it is difficult +otherwise. At Pan Gideon's you would frighten the women, and Father +Voynovski is at my house. He dresses wounds to perfection and he will +care for you. You can send for your horses, and then do what may please +you. I will ask the priest also to go to Pan Gideon and tell him with +caution what has happened." Here Yatsek fell to thinking and soon after +he added,-- + +"Oho! the trouble has not come yet, but now we shall see it. God knows +that you, gentlemen, insisted on this duel." + +"True! we insisted," said Stanislav. "I will declare that and these +gentlemen also will testify." + +"I will testify, though my shoulder pains terribly," said Marek, +groaning. "Oi! but you have given us a holiday. May the bullets strike +you!" + +It was not far to Vyrambki. Soon they entered the enclosure, and met +the priest wading in snow, for he, alarmed about what might happen, +could not stay in the house any longer, and had set out to meet them. + +Yatsek sprang from the sleigh when he saw him. Father Voynovski pushed +forward quickly to meet him, and saw his friend sound and uninjured. + +"Well," cried he, "what has happened?" + +"I bring you these gentlemen," said Yatsek. + +The face of the old man grew bright for a moment, but became serious +straightway, when he saw the Bukoyemskis and Stanislav blood-bedaubed. + +"All five!" cried he, clasping his hands. + +"There are five!" + +"An offence against heaven! Gentlemen, how is it with you?" asked he, +turning to the wounded men. + +They touched their caps to him, except Marek, who, since the cutting of +his shoulder-blade, could move neither his left nor his right hand. He +merely groaned, saying,-- + +"He has peppered us well. We cannot deny it." + +"That is nothing," said the others. + +"We hope in God that it is nothing," answered Father Voynovski. "Come +to the house now as quickly as possible! I will care for you this +minute. Move on with the sleigh," said he. + +And then he himself followed promptly with Yatsek. But after a while he +stopped on the roadway. Joy shone, in his face again. He embraced +Yatsek's neck on a sudden. + +"Let me press thee, O Yatsek," cried he. "Thou hast brought in a sleigh +load of enemies, like so many wheat sheaves." + +Yatsek kissed his hand then, and answered,-- + +"They would have it so, my benefactor." + +The priest put his hand on the head of the young man again, as if +wishing to bless him, but all at once he restrained himself, because +gladness in this case was not befitting his habit, so he looked more +severe, and continued,-- + +"Think not that I praise thee. It was thy luck that they themselves +wished this, but still, it is a scandal." + +They drove into the courtyard. Yatsek sprang to the sleigh so that he +might, with the driver and the single house-servant, help out the +wounded men. But they stepped out themselves, except Marek, whose arms +they supported and soon they were all in Yatsek's dwelling. Straw had +been spread there already, and even Yatsek's own bed had been covered +with a white, slightly worn horse skin. At the head a felt roll served +as pillow. On the table near the window was bread kneaded with +spider-web, excellent for blood stopping. There were also choice +balsams which the priest had for healing. + +The old man took off his soutane and went to dressing the wounds with +the skill of a veteran who had seen thousands of wounded men, and who +from long practice knew how to handle wounds better than many a +surgeon. His work went on quickly, for, except Marek, the men had +suffered slightly. + +Marek's shoulder-blade needed considerably longer work, but when at +last it was dressed the priest wiped his bloody hands, and then rested. + +"Well," said he, "thanks to the Lord Jesus, it has passed without +grievous accident. This also is certain, that you feel better, +gentlemen, all of you." + +"One would like a drink!" said Mateush. + +"It would not hurt! Give command, Yatsek, to bring water." + +Mateush rose up on the straw. "How water?" asked he in a voice of +emotion. + +Marek, who was lying face downward on Yatsek's bed groaning, called out +quickly,-- + +"The revered father must wash his hands, of course." + +Hereupon Yatsek looked with real despair at the priest, who laughed and +then added,-- + +"They are soldiers! Wine is permitted, but in small quantity." + +Yatsek drew him by the sleeve to the alcove. + +"Benefactor," whispered he, "what can I do? The pantry is empty, and so +is the cellar. Time after time I must tighten my girdle. What can I +give them?" + +"There is something here, there is something!" said the old man. "When +leaving home I made arrangements, and brought a little with me. Should +that not suffice I will get more at the brewery in Yedlina--for myself, +of course, for myself. Command to give them one glass at the moment to +calm them after the encounter." + +When he heard this Yatsek set to work quickly, and soon the Bukoyemskis +were comforting one another. Their good feeling for Yatsek increased +every moment. + +"We fought, for that happens to every man," said Mateush, "but right +away I thought thee a dignified cavalier." + +"Not true; it was I who thought so first," put in Lukash. + +"Thou think? Hast thou ever been able to think?" + +"I think just now that thou art a blockhead, so I am able to +think,--but my mouth pains me." + +Thus they were quarrelling already. But that moment a mounted man +darkened the window. + +"Some one has come!" exclaimed Father Voynovski. + +Yatsek went to see who it was, and returned quickly, with troubled +visage. + +"Pan Gideon has sent a man," said he, "with notice that he is waiting +for us at dinner." + +"Let him eat it alone!" replied Yan Bukoyemski. + +"What shall we say to him?" inquired Yatsek, looking at Father +Voynovski. + +"Tell him the truth," said the old man--"but better, I will tell it +myself." + +He went out to the messenger. + +"Tell Pan Gideon," said he, "that neither Pan Tsyprianovitch nor the +Bukoyemskis can come, for they have been wounded in a duel to which +they challenged Pan Tachevski; but do not forget to tell him that they +are not badly wounded. Now hurry!" + +The man rushed away with every foot which his horse had, and the priest +fell to quieting Yatsek, who was greatly excited. He did not fear to +meet five men in battle, but he feared greatly Pan Gideon, and still +more what Panna Anulka would say and would think of him. + +"Well, it has happened," continued the priest, "but let them learn at +the earliest that it was not through thy fault." + +"Will you testify, gentlemen?" inquired Yatsek, turning to the wounded +men. + +"Though we are dry, we will testify," answered Mateush. + +Still, Yatsek's alarm increased more and more, and soon after, when a +sleigh with Pan Gideon and Pan Grothus stopped at the porch, the heart +died in him utterly. He sprang out, however, to greet and bow down to +the knees of Pan Gideon; but the latter did not even glance at Yatsek, +just as though he had not seen the man, and with a gloomy stern face he +strode into the chamber. He inclined to the priest with respect but +with coldness, for since the day that the old man had reproached him +from the altar for excessive severity toward peasants, the stubborn old +noble was unable to forgive him; so now, after that cold salute, he +turned to the wounded men straightway, and gazed at them a moment. + +"Gracious gentlemen," said he, "after what has just happened, I should +not pass the threshold of this building, be sure of that, did I not +wish to show how cruelly I am wounded by that wrong which you have +suffered. See how my hospitality has ended! See how in my house my +rescuers have been recompensed. But I say this, that whoso has wronged +you has wronged me, whoso has spilt your blood has done worse than +spill mine, for the man who challenged you under my roof has insulted +me--" + +Here Mateush interrupted him suddenly,-- + +"We challenged him, not he us!" + +"That is true, gracious benefactor," said Stanislav. "There is no blame +to this cavalier in all that has happened, but to us, for which we beg +your grace's pardon submissively." + +"It would have been well for the judge to examine the witnesses before +he passed sentence," said Father Voynovski, with seriousness. + +Lukash, too, wished to say something, but since his cheek was cut to +the gum and his gum to the teeth, the pain was acute when his chin +moved, so he only put his palm on the plaster which was drying, and +said with one side of his mouth,-- + +"May the devils take the sentence and my jaw with it also." + +Pan Gideon was confused in some measure by these voices, still, he had +no thought of yielding. On the contrary, he looked around with stern +glance, as if wishing in that way to express silent blame for defenders +of Yatsek. + +"It is not for me to offer pardon to my rescuers. No blame touches you, +gentlemen. On the contrary, I know and understand all this matter, for +I see that you were insulted on purpose. Indeed, that same jealousy, +which on a dying horse failed to ride living wolves down, increased +later on the desire for vengeance. I was not alone in seeing how that +'cavalier,' whom you defend so magnanimously, gave occasion and did +everything from the earliest moment of meeting to force you to that +action. But the fault is mine more than any man's, since I was mild +with him, and did not tell the man to find for himself at a fair or a +dram shop more fitting society." + +When Yatsek heard this his face grew as pale as linen. As to the +priest, the blood rose to his forehead. + +"He was challenged! What was he to do? Be ashamed of yourself!" +exclaimed Father Voynovski. + +But Pan Gideon looked down at him and answered,-- + +"Those are worldly questions, in which the laity are as experienced, +and more so, than the clergy, but I will answer your question, so that +no one here should accuse me of injustice. 'What was he to do?' As a +younger to an older man, as a guest to his host, as a man who ate my +bread so many times when he had none of his own to eat, he should first +of all have informed me of the question. And I with my dignity of a +host would have settled it, and not have let matters come to this: that +my rescuers, and such worthy gentlemen, are lying here in their own +blood on straw in this hut as in a hog pen." + +"You would have thought me a coward!" cried Yatsek, trembling as in a +fever. + +Pan Gideon did not answer a word, and feigned, as he had from the +first, not to see him. Instead of answering he turned then to +Stanislav, and continued,-- + +"I, with Pan Grothus the starosta, will go to your father in Yedlinka +this instant, to express our condolence. I doubt not that he will +accept my hospitality, hence I invite you with your comrades here +present to return to my mansion. I also remind you that you are here by +chance merely, and that at the moment you are really my guests, to whom +I wish with all my heart to show gratitude. Your father, Pan +Tsyprianovitch, cannot visit the man who has wounded you, and under my +roof you will have greater comfort, and will not die of hunger, which +might happen very easily in this place." + +Stanislav was troubled greatly and delayed for a while to give answer, +both out of regard for Yatsek, and because that, being a very decent +young man, he was concerned about propriety; meanwhile his lip and +chin, which had swollen beneath the plaster, deformed him very +sensibly. + +"We have felt neither hunger nor thirst here," said he, "as has been +shown already; but in truth we are guests of your grace, and my father, +not knowing how things have happened, might hesitate to come to us. But +how am I to appear before those ladies, your grace's relatives, with a +face which could rouse only abhorrence?" + +Then his face twisted, for his lip pained him from long speaking, and +his features, in fact, were not beautiful at the moment. + +"Be not troubled. Those ladies feel disgust, but not toward your +wounds, after the healing of which your former good-looks will return +to you. Three sleighs will come here with servants immediately, and in +my house good beds are waiting. Meanwhile, farewell, since it is time +for me and Pan Grothus to set out for Yedlinka--With the forehead!" + +And he bowed once to the five nobles. To Father Voynovski he bowed +specially, but he made no inclination whatever to Yatsek. When near the +door the priest approached him. + +"You have too little justice and too little tenderness," said he. + +"I acknowledge sins only at confession," retorted Pan Gideon, and he +passed through the doorway. After him went the starosta, Pan Grothus. + +Yatsek had been a whole hour as if tortured. His face changed, and at +moments he knew not whether to fall at the feet of Pan Gideon with a +prayer for forgiveness, or spring at his throat and avenge the +humiliation through which he was passing. But he remembered that he was +in his own house, that before him was standing the guardian of Panna +Anulka; hence, as the two men walked out he moved after them, not +giving an account to himself of his action, but because of custom which +commanded to conduct guests, and in some kind of blind hope that +perhaps even at parting the stubborn Pan Gideon would bow to him. But +this hope failed him also; only Pan Grothus, a kindly man, as was +evident, and of good wit pressed his hand at the entrance, and +whispered, "Despair not, his first rage will pass, cavalier, and all +will arrange itself." + +Yatsek did not think thus, and he would have been sure that his case +was lost utterly had he known that Pan Gideon, though indignant, +feigned anger far more than he felt it. + +Stanislav and the Bukoyemskis were his rescuers, but Yatsek had not +killed them, and a duel of itself was too common to rouse such +unmerciful hatred. But Pan Gideon, from the moment that the starosta +had told him how aged men marry and sometimes have children, looked +with other eyes upon Panna Anulka. That which perhaps had never +occurred to him earlier, seemed all at once possible and also alluring. +At thought of the charms of that maiden, marvellous as a rose, the soul +warmed in him, and still more powerfully did pride play in the old +noble. So then, the race of Pangovski might flourish afresh and bloom +up again; and besides, born from such a patrician as Panna Anulka, not +only related to all the great houses in the Commonwealth, but herself +the last sprout of a race from whose wealth rose in greater part the +Sobieskis, Jolkievskis, Daniloviches, and many others. There was a +whirl in Pan Gideon's brain at the thought of this, and he felt that +not only he but the Commonwealth was concerned in Pangovskis of that +kind. So straightway fear rose in him lest it should happen that the +lady might love some one else, and give her hand to another man. One +more important than himself in that region, he had not discovered; +there were younger men, however. But who? Pan Stanislav? Yes! He was +young, of good looks, very rich, but noble in the third generation, +descended from ennobled Armenians. That such a _homo novus_ should +indeed strive for Panna Anulka could not find place in the head of Pan +Gideon in any shape. It was laughable to think of the Bukoyemskis, +though good nobles and claiming kindred with Saint Peter. There +remained then Tachevski alone, a real "Lazarus," it is true, as poor as +a church mouse, but from an ancient stock of great knights; from +Tachevo who had the Kovala escutcheon, one of whom was a real giant, +and had taken part in the dreadful defeat of the Germans at Tannenberg; +he had been famous not only in the Commonwealth but at foreign courts +also. Only a Tachevski could compare with the Sieninskis. Besides, he +was young, daring, handsome, and melancholy; this last often moves the +heart in a woman. He was also at home in Belchantska, and seemed a +friend, nay, a brother to the lady. Hence, Pan Gideon fell now to +recalling various cases, as, for instance, disputes and poutings among +the young people, then their reconciliations and friendship, then +various words and glances, sadness and rejoicing in common, and +laughter. Things which a short time before he had thought scarcely +worthy of notice seemed now suspicious. Yes! danger could threaten only +from that side. The old noble thought, also, that Panna Anulka might, +in part at least, be the cause of the duel, and he was terrified. +Hence, to anticipate the danger, he tried to present to the young lady +in the strongest light possible, all the dishonor of Yatsek's late +action, and to rouse in her due anger; and then by feigning greater +rage than he felt, or than the case called for, to burn all the bridges +between his own mansion and Vyrambki, and, when he had humiliated +Yatsek without mercy, to close the doors of the house to him forever. + +And he was reaching his object. Yatsek walked back from the porch, took +a seat at the table, thrust his fingers through his hair, supported his +elbows, and was as silent as if pain had taken speech from him. Father +Voynovski approached and put his hand on his shoulder. + +"Yatsus, suffer what thou must," said he, "but a foot of thine should +never enter that mansion hereafter." + +"It never will," replied Yatsek, in a dull voice. + +"But yield not to pain. Remember who thou art." + +The young man set his teeth. + +"I remember, but for that very reason pain burns me!" + +"No one here applauds Pan Gideon for his action," said Stanislav. "It +is one thing to censure, and another to trample a man's honor." + +Hereupon the Bukoyemskis were moving, and Mateush, whom speech troubled +least, added promptly,-- + +"Under his roof I will say nothing, but when I recover and meet him on +the road, or at a neighbor's, I will tell him to kiss a dog's snout +that same minute." + +"O, yei!" said Marek. "To insult such a cavalier! The hour will come +when that will not be forgiven him." + +Meanwhile three sleighs with sofas and three servants, besides drivers, +appeared to convey the wounded men to Belchantska. Because of regard +for the expected arrival of Pan Serafin, Yatsek dared not detain them, +and because also of this: that they were really the guests of Pan +Gideon. As to the men, they would not have remained after hearing of +Yatsek's great poverty lest they might burden him. They took farewell +and gave thanks for his hospitality with a heartiness as great as if +there had never been a quarrel between them. + +But when Stanislav was taking his seat in the last sleigh Yatsek sprang +forward on a sudden,-- + +"I will go with you," said he. "I cannot endure to do otherwise! I +cannot endure! Before Pan Gideon returns I must--for the last time--" + +Father Voynovski, since he knew Yatsek, knew that words would be +useless; still, he drew him aside and began to expostulate,-- + +"Yatsek! O Yatsek! a woman again. God grant that a still greater wrong +may not meet thee. O Yatsek, remember the words of Ecclesiastes: 'In a +thousand I found one man, among all I found not one woman.' Take pity +on thyself and remember this." + +But these words were as peas against a battlement. In a moment Yatsek +was sitting in the sleigh at the side of Stanislav, and they started. + +Meanwhile the east wind had broken the mist and driven it to the +wilderness; then the bright sun from a blue sky looked at them. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + +Pan Gideon had not invented when he spoke of the "abhorrence" which at +his house both women felt for the conqueror. Yatsek convinced himself +of this from one glance at them. Pani Vinnitski met him with an +offended face, and snatched her hand away when he wished to kiss it in +greeting; and the young lady, without compassion for his suffering and +embarrassment, did not answer his greeting. She was occupied with +Stanislav, sparing neither tender looks nor anxious questions; she +pushed her care so far that when he rose from the armchair in the +dining-room to go to the chamber set apart for the wounded she +supported him by the arm, and though he opposed and excused himself she +conducted him to the threshold. + +"For thee there is nothing in this house. All is lost!" cried despair +and also jealousy in Yatsek's heart at sight of this action. Toward him +that maiden had shown changing humors, and with one kindly word had +given usually ten that were cold, when not biting, hence his pain was +the keener, that till then he had not supposed that she could be kind, +sweet, and angel-like to a man whom she loved really. That Panna Anulka +loved Stanislav the ill-fated Yatsek had no doubt whatever. He would +have endured not only such a wound as that given Stanislav, but would +have shed all his blood with delight, if she would speak even once in +her life to him with such a voice, and look with such eyes at him as +she had looked then at Stanislav. Hence, besides pain, an immeasurable +sorrow now seized him. This sent a torrent of tears toward his +eyeballs, and if those tears did not gush out and flow down his cheeks, +they flooded his heart and pervaded his being. Thus did Yatsek feel his +whole breast fill with tears, and, to give the last blow at this +juncture, never had Panna Anulka seemed to him so beautiful beyond +measure as at that moment, with her pale face and her crown of golden +hair slightly dishevelled from emotion. "She is an angel, but not for +thee," complained the sorrow within him; "wonderful, but another will +take her!" And he would have fallen at her feet and confessed all his +suffering and devotion, but at the same time he felt that just after +that which had happened it would not be proper to do so, and that if he +did not control himself and stifle the struggle in his spirit he would +tell her something quite different from that which he wanted, and sink +himself utterly in her estimation. + +Meanwhile Pani Vinnitski, as an elderly person and one skilled in +medicine, entered the chamber with Stanislav, while the young lady +turned back from the threshold. Yatsek, understanding that he must use +the opportunity approached her. + +"I should like a word with you," said he, struggling to control +himself, and with a trembling voice which, as it were, belonged to +another. + +She looked at him with cold astonishment. + +"What do you wish?" + +Yatsek's face was lighted with a smile of such pain that it was almost +like that of a martyr. + +"What I wish for myself will not come to me, though I were to give my +own soul's salvation to get it," said he, shaking his head; "but for +one thing I beg you: do not accuse me, cherish no offence against me, +have some compassion, for I am not of wood nor of iron." + +"I have no word to say," replied she, "and there is no time for +talking." + +"Ah! there is always some time to say a kind word to the man for whom +this world is grievous." + +"Is it because you have wounded my rescuers?" + +"The blame is not mine, as God stands by the innocent! The messenger +who came for those gentlemen to Vyrambki should have declared what +Father Voynovski told him to tell here; namely, that I did not +challenge them. Did you know that they were the challengers?" + +"I did. The attendant, being a simple man, did not repeat, it is true, +every word which the priest sent; he merely cried out that 'the young +lord of Vyrambki had slashed them to pieces;' then Pan Gideon, on +returning from Vyrambki, ran in from the road and explained what had +happened." + +Pan Gideon feared lest the news that Yatsek had been challenged might +reach the young lady from other lips and weaken her anger, hence he +wished above all to describe the affair in his own way, not delaying to +add that Yatsek by venomous insults had forced them to challenge him. +He reckoned on this: that Panna Anulka, taking things woman fashion, +would be on the side of the men who had suffered most. + +Still, it seemed to Yatsek that the beloved eyes looked on him less +severely, so he repeated the question,-- + +"Did you know this position?" + +"I knew," replied she, "but I remember that which you should not have +forgotten if you had even a trifling regard for me,--that I owe my life +to those gentlemen. And I have learnt from my guardian that you forced +them to challenge you." + +"I, not have regard for you? Let God, who looks into men's hearts, +judge that statement." + +All on a sudden her eyes blinked time after time; then she shook her +head till a tress fell to the opposite shoulder, and she said,-- + +"Is that true?" + +"True, true!" continued he, in a panting and deeply sad voice. "I +should have let men cut me down, it seems, so as not to annoy you. The +blood which was dearest to you would not have been shed then. But there +is no help now for the omission. There is no help now for anything! +Your guardian told you that I forced those gentlemen to challenge me. I +leave that too to God's judgment. But did your guardian tell you that +he himself had insulted me beyond mercy and measure beneath my own roof +tree? I have come now to you because I knew that I should not find him +here. I have come to satisfy my unhappy eyes with the last look at you. +I know that this is all one to you, but I thought that even in that +case--" + +Here Yatsek halted, for tears stopped his utterance. Parma Anulka's +mouth began also to quiver and to take on more and more the shape of a +horseshoe, and only haughtiness joined to timidity, the timidity of a +maiden, struggled in her with emotion. But perhaps she was restrained +by this also: that she wished to get from Yatsek a still more +complaining confession, and perhaps because she did not believe that he +would go from her and never come back again. More than once there had +been misunderstandings between them, more than once had Pan Gideon +offended him greatly, and still, after brief exhibitions of anger, +there had followed silent or spoken explanations and all had gone on +again in the old way. + +"So it will be this time also," thought Panna Anulka. + +For her it was sweet to listen to Yatsek and to see that great love +which, though it dared not express itself in determinate utterance, was +still beaming from him with a submission which was matched only by its +mightiness. Hence she yearned to hear him speak with her the longest +time possible with that wondrous voice, and to lay at her feet for the +longest time possible that young, loving, pained heart of his. + +But he, inexperienced in love matters and blind as are all who love +really, could not take note of this, and did not know what was +happening within her. He looked on her silence as hardened +indifference, and bitterness was gradually drowning his spirit. The +calmness with which he had spoken at first began now to desert him, his +eyes took on another light, drops of cold sweat came out on his +temples: something was tearing and breaking the soul in him. He was +seized by despair of such kind that when a man lies in the grip of it +he reckons with nothing, and is ready with his own hands to tear his +own wounded heart open. He spoke yet as it were calmly, but his voice +had a new sound, it was firmer, though hoarser. + +"Is this the case," asked he, "and is there not one word from thee?" + +Panna Anulka shrugged her shoulders in silence. + +"The priest told me the truth when he warned that here a still greater +wrong was in store for me." + +"In what have I wronged thee?" asked she, bitterly, pained by the +sudden change which she saw in him. + +But he waded on farther in blindness. + +"Had I not seen how thou didst treat this Pan Stanislav, I should think +that thou hadst no heart in thy bosom. Thou hast a heart, but for him, +not for me. He glanced at thee, and that was sufficient." + +Then Yatsek grasped the hair of his head with both hands on a sudden. + +"Would to God that I had cut him to pieces!" + +A flame flashed, as it were, through Panna Anulka; her cheeks +crimsoned, anger blazed in her eyes as well at herself as at Yatsek; +because a moment before she had been ready for weeping, her heart was +seized now by indignation, deep and sudden. + +"You, sir, have lost your senses!" cried she, raising her head and +shaking back the tress from her shoulder. + +She was on the point of rushing away, but that brought Yatsek to utter +desperation; he seized her hands and detained her. + +"Not thou art to go. I am the person to go," said he, with set teeth. +"And before going I say this to thee: though for years I have loved +thee more than health, more than life, and more than my own soul, I +will never come back to thee. I will gnaw my own hands off in torture, +but, so help me, God, I will never come back to thee!" + +Then, forgetting his worn Hungarian cap on the floor there, he sprang +to the doorway, and in an instant she saw him through the window, +hurrying away along the garden by which the road to Vyrambki was +shorter,--and he vanished. + +Panna Anulka stood for a time as if a thunderbolt had struck her. Her +thoughts had scattered like a flock of birds in every direction; she +knew not what had happened. But when thoughts returned to her all +feeling of offence was extinguished, and in her ears were sounding only +the words: "I loved thee more than health, more than life, more than my +own soul, but I will never come back to thee!" She felt now that in +truth he would never come back, just because he had loved her so +tremendously. Why had she not given him even one kind word for which, +before anger had swept the man off, he had begged as if for alms, or a +morsel of bread to give strength on a journey? And now endless grief +and fear seized her. He had rushed off in pain and in madness. He may +fall on the road somewhere. He may in despair work on himself something +evil, and one heartfelt word might have healed and cured everything. +Let him hear her voice even. He must go, beyond the garden, through the +meadow to the river. He will hear her there yet before he vanishes. + +And rushing from the house she ran to the garden. Deep snow lay on the +middle path, but his tracks there were evident. She ran in them. She +sank at times to her knees, and on the road lost her rosary, her +handkerchief, and her workbag with thread in it, and, panting, she +reached the garden gate finally. + +"Pan Yatsek! Pan Yatsek!" cried she. + +But the field beyond the garden was empty. Besides, that same wind +which had blown the morning haze off, made a great sound among the +branches of apple and pear trees; her weak voice was lost in that sound +altogether. Then, not regarding the cold nor her light, indoor +clothing, she sat on a bench near the gate and fell to crying. Tears as +large as pearls dropped down her cheeks and she, having nothing else +now with which to remove them, brushed those tears away with that tress +on her shoulder. + +"He will not come back." + +Meanwhile the wind sounded louder and louder, shaking wet snow from the +dark branches. + +When Yatsek rushed into his house like a whirlwind, without cap and +with dishevelled hair, the priest divined clearly enough what had +happened. + +"I foretold this," said he. "God give thee aid, O my Yatsek; but I ask +nothing till thou hast come to thy mind and art quiet." + +"Ended! All is ended!" said Yatsek. + +And he walked up and down in the chamber, like a wild beast in +confinement. + +The priest said no word, interrupted him in nothing, and only after +long waiting did he rise, put his arms around Yatsek's shoulders, kiss +his head, and lead him by the hand to an alcove. + +The old man knelt before a small crucifix which was hanging over the +bed there, and when the sufferer had knelt at his side the priest +prayed as follows: + +"O Lord, Thou knowest what pain is, for Thou didst endure it on the +cross for the offences of mankind. + +"Hence I bring my bleeding heart to Thee, and at Thy feet which are +pierced I implore Thee for mercy. + +"I cry not to Thee: 'take this pain from me,' but I cry 'give me +strength to endure it.' + +"For I, O Lord, am a soldier submissive to Thy order, and I desire much +to serve Thee, and the Commonwealth, my mother-- But how can I do this +when my heart is faint and my right hand is weakened? + +"Because of this make me forget myself and make me think only of Thy +glory, and the rescue of my mother, for those things are of far greater +moment than the pain of a pitiful worm, such as I am. + +"And strengthen me, O Lord, in my saddle, so that through lofty deeds +against pagans I may reach a glorious death, and also heaven. + +"By Thy crown of thorns, hear me! + +"By the wound in Thy side, hear me! + +"By Thy hands and feet pierced with nails, hear me!" + +Then they knelt for a long time, but at the middle of the prayer it was +evident that the pain in Yatsek's breast had broken, for on a sudden he +covered his face with both hands and fell to sobbing. When they had +risen and gone to the adjoining chamber Father Voynovski sighed deeply. + +"My Yatsek," said he, "I saw much of life in my years of a warrior, +during which sorrow greater than thine met me. I have no thought to +speak touching this to thee. I will say only that in a time of most +terrible anguish I composed this very prayer and to it owe deliverance. +I have repeated it frequently in misfortune since that day, and always +with solace; we have repeated it now for this reason. And how dost thou +feel? Art thou not freed in some measure? Pray tell me!" + +"I feel pain, but it burns less severely." + +"Ah, seest thou! Now drink some wine. I will tell thee, or rather I +will show thee, something which should give thee comfort. Look!" + +And bending his head down he showed beneath his white hair a dreadful +scar, which passed across his whole crown from one side to the other. + +"From that," said he, "I came very near dying. The wound pained me +awfully, but the scar gives no trouble. In like manner, Yatsek, thy +wound will cease to pain when a scar takes the place of it. Tell me now +what has happened to thee." + +Yatsek began, but met failure. It was not in his nature to invent, or +increase, or exaggerate, so now he himself wondered over this: that all +which had torn him with such torture seemed less cruel in the +narrative. But Father Voynovski, clearly a man of experience, and +knowing the world, heard him out to the end, and then added,-- + +"It is difficult, I understand that, to describe looks or even gestures +which may be altogether contemptuous and insulting. Often even one +look, or one wave of the hand, has led men to duels and to bloodshed. +The main point is this: thou hast told the young lady that thou wilt +not go back to her. Youth is giddy, and when guided by sadness it +changes as the moon in the sky does. And love too is like that +mendacious moon, which when it seems to decrease is just growing and +swelling toward its fulness. How is it then, hast thou the true wish of +doing what thy words tell me?" + +"So help me, God, I have told my whole wish, and if thou desire I will +repeat the same in an oath on that cross there." + +"And what dost thou think to do?" + +"To go into the world." + +"I have been hoping for that. I have desired it this long time. I have +known what detained thee, but go now. When thou hast broken thy fetters +go into the world. Thou wilt wait for no good thing in this place, no +good thing has met thee here, or will meet thee here ever. To thee the +life here has been ruin. It was a happiness that I was near by and +trained thee in Latin, and in working with thy sword even somewhat; +without these two kinds of knowledge thou wouldst have dropped down to +be a peasant. Thank me not, Yatsus, for that was pure devotion on my +part. I shall be sad here without thee, but I am not in question. Thou +wilt go into the world. That, as I understand, means that thou wilt +join the army. That road is the straightest and the most honorable, +also, especially since war with the pagan is approaching. The pen and +the chancellery are more certain, men tell us, than promotion from the +sabre, but they are less fitted for blood such as thine is." + +"I have not thought of another service," said Yatsek, "but I shall not +join the infantry, and I cannot in any way reach the higher banners, +for I am in terrible poverty--" + +"A noble who has Latin on his tongue and a sabre in his fist will make +his way always," interrupted the priest; "but there is no need of +talking, thou must have good horses. We must think over this carefully. +Now I will tell thee something of which I have never yet spoken. I hold +for thee ten ruddy ducats which thy late mother left with me--and her +letter, in which she begs not to give thee this money, lest it be spent +ere the time comes. Only in sudden need may I give it when either +the ferry or the wagon is awaiting thee--when some dilemma presents +itself--well, the dilemma is here at this moment! Thou hadst an +honorable, a holy, and an unhappy mother, for when that woman was dying +there was great need in her dwelling, and she took from her own mouth +that which she left with me." + +"God give eternal rest to her," said Yatsek. "Let those ten ducats be +used for masses to benefit her soul, and Vyrambki I will sell even for +a trifle." + +Father Voynovski grew very tender at these words; a tear glistened in +his eye, and again he put his arms around Yatsek. + +"There is honest blood in thee," said he, "but thou art not free to +reject this gift from thy mother, even for the purpose which thou hast +mentioned. Masses will not be lacking in her case, be sure of that, +though in truth she has no great need of them; but to other souls +suffering in purgatory they will be of service. As to Vyrambki it would +be better to mortgage it; though a noble has but the smallest estate, +how differently do people esteem him from one who is landless." + +"But I am in a hurry. I should like to go even to-day." + +"To-day thou wilt not go, though the sooner the better. I must write +for thee letters to my comrades and friends. We must talk also with the +brewers in Yedlina who have money and also good horses, so that no +armored warrior may have a better outfit. In my house there are some +old arms and some sabres, not so much ornamented as tested on Swedish +and Turkish shoulders." + +Here the priest looked through the window and said,-- + +"But the sleigh is waiting, and a traveller should start when his +sleigh comes." + +An expression of pain now shot over the face of the young man; he +kissed the priest's hand and added,-- + +"I have one other prayer, my benefactor and father; let me go with you +now and live in your house till I leave this region. Those roofs are +visible from this dwelling. They are too near me." + +"Of course! I wished to propose this; thou hast taken the words from my +lips. There is no work for thee here, and I shall be glad from my soul +to have thee under my roof tree. Be of good cheer, O my Yatsus. The +world does not end in Belchantska, but stands open widely before thee. +God alone knows how far thou wilt ride when once thou art on horseback. +War is awaiting thee! Glory is awaiting thee! and that which pains thee +to-day will be healed at another time. I see now how the wings are +growing out at thy shoulders. Fly then, O bird of the Lord, for to that +wert thou predestined and created." + +And joy like a sunray lighted up the honest face of the old man. He +struck his thigh with his palm, soldier fashion. + +"Now take thy cap and we will go." + +But small things stand often in the way of important ones, and the +comic is mixed with the tragic. Yatsek glanced round the room; then he +gazed with concern at the priest, and repeated,-- + +"My cap!" + +"Well! Thou wilt not go bareheaded--" + +"How could I?" + +"Where is it?" + +"But suppose it remained at Belchantska?" + +"There are thy love tricks, old woman! What wilt thou do?" + +"What shall I do? I might get a cap from my man, but I could not go in +the cap of a peasant." + +"Thou canst not go in a peasant's cap, but send thy man to +Belchantska." + +"I would not for anything." + +The priest was becoming impatient. + +"Plague take it! War, glory, the wide world--these are all waiting for +the man, but his cap is gone!" + +"There is an old hat in the bottom of a trunk which my father took from +a Swedish officer at Tremeshno--" + +"Take it, and let us go." + +Yatsek vanished and returned a little later wearing the yellow hat of a +Swedish horseman, which was too large for him. Amused by the sight of +it, the priest caught at his left side as if seeking his sabre. + +"It is well," said he, "that it is not a Turkish turban. But this is a +real carnival!" + +Yatsek smiled in reply, and then added,-- + +"There are some stones in the buckle; they may be of value." + +Then they took seats in the sleigh and moved forward. Immediately +beyond the enclosure Belchantska and the mansion were as visible +through leafless alders as something on one's hand. The priest looked +carefully at Yatsek, who merely drew the big Swedish hat over his eyes +and did not look, though something besides his Hungarian cap had been +left in the mansion. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + +"He will not come back! All is lost!" exclaimed Panna Anulka to herself +at the first moment. + +And a marvellous thing! There were five men in that mansion, one of +whom was young and presentable; and besides Pan Grothus, the starosta, +Pan Serafin was expected. In a word, rarely had there been so many +guests at Belchantska. Meanwhile it seemed to the young lady that a +vacuum had surrounded her suddenly, and that some immense want had come +with it; that the mansion was empty, the garden empty, and that she +herself was as much alone as if in an unoccupied steppe land, and that +she would continue to be thus forever. + +Hence her heart was as straitened with merciless sorrow as if she had +lost one who was nearest of all to her. She felt sure that Yatsek would +not return, all the more since her guardian had offended him mortally; +still, she could not imagine how it would be without him, without +his face, his laughter, his words, his glances. What would happen +to-morrow, after to-morrow, next week, next month? For what would she +rise from her bed every morning? Why would she arrange her tresses? For +whom would she dress and curl her hair? For what was she now to live? + +And she had a feeling as if her heart had been a candle which some one +had quenched by blowing it out on a sudden. There was nothing save +darkness and a vacuum. + +But when she entered the room and saw that Hungarian cap on the floor, +all those indefinite feelings gave way to an enormous and simple +yearning for Yatsek. Her heart grew warm in her again, and she began to +call him by name. Therewith a certain gleam of hope flew through her +spirit. Raising the cap she pressed it to her bosom unwittingly; then +she put it in her sleeve and began to think thuswise: "He will not come +as hitherto daily, but before the return of Pan Grothus and my guardian +from Yedlinka, he must come for his cap, so I shall see him and say +that he was unjust and cruel, and that he should not have done what he +has done." + +But she was not sincere with herself, for she wished to say more, to +find some warm, heartfelt word which would join again the threads newly +broken between them. If this could happen, if they could meet without +anger in the church, or at odd times in the houses of neighbors, means +would be found in the future to turn everything to profit. What methods +there might be to do this, and what the profit could be, she did not +stop to consider at the moment, for beyond all she was thinking how to +see Yatsek at the earliest. + +Meanwhile Pani Vinnitski came out of the chamber in which the wounded +men were then lying, and on seeing the excited face and reddened eyes +of the young woman she began thus to quiet her. + +"Fear not, no harm will come to them. Only one of the Bukoyemskis is +struck a little seriously, but no harm will happen even to that one. +The others are injured slightly. Father Voynovski dressed their wounds +with such skill that there is no need to change anything. The men too +are cheerful and in perfect spirits." + +"Thanks be to God!" + +"But has Yatsek gone? What did he want here?" + +"He brought the wounded men hither--" + +"I know, but who would have expected this of him?" + +"They themselves challenged him." + +"They do not deny that, but he beat all five of them, one after +another. One might have thought that a clucking hen could have beaten +him." + +"Aunt does not know the man," answered Panna Anulka, with a certain +pride in her expression. + +But in the voice of Pani Vinnitski there was as much admiration as +blame; for, born in regions exposed to Tartar inroads at all times, she +had learned from childhood to count daring and skill at the sabre as +the highest virtues of manhood. So, when the earliest alarm touching +the five guests had vanished, she began to look somewhat differently at +that duel. + +"Still," continued she, "I must confess that they are worthy gentlemen, +for not only do they cherish no hatred against him, but they praise +him, especially Pan Stanislav. 'That man is a born soldier,' said he. +And they were angry every man of them at Pan Gideon, who exceeded the +measure, they say, at Vyrambki." + +"But aunt did not receive Yatsek better." + +"He got the reception which he merited. But didst thou receive him +well?" + +"I?" + +"Yes, thou. I saw how thou didst frown at him." + +"My dear aunt--" + +Here the girl stopped suddenly, for she felt that unless she did so, +she would burst into weeping. Because of this conversation Yatsek had +grown in her eyes. He had fought alone against such trained men, had +conquered them all, overcome them. He had told her, it is true, that he +hunted wild boars with a spear, but peasants at the edge of the +wilderness go against them with clubs, so that amazes no one. But to +finish five knightly nobles a man must be better and more valiant and +skilful than they. It seemed to Panna Anulka simply a marvel that a man +who had such mild and sad eyes could be so terrible in battle. To her +alone had he yielded; from her alone had he suffered everything; to her +alone had he been mild and pliant. Why was this? Because he had loved +her beyond his health, beyond happiness, beyond his own soul's +salvation. He had confessed that to her an hour earlier. And yearning +for him rushed like an immense wave to her heart again. Still, she felt +that something between them had changed, and that if she should see him +anew, and see him afterward often, she would not permit herself to play +with him again as she had played up to that day, now casting him into +the abyss, now cheering him, giving him hope, now thrusting him away, +now attracting him; she felt that do what she might she would look on +him with greater respect, and would be more submissive and cautious. + +At moments, however, a voice was heard in her saying that he had acted +too peevishly, that he had uttered words more offensive and bitter than +she had; but that voice became weaker and weaker, and the wish for +reconciliation was growing. + +"If he would only return before those men came from Yedlinka!" + +Meanwhile an hour passed, then two and three hours. Still, there was no +sign from Yatsek. Next it occurred to her that the hour was too late, +that he would not come, he would send some one to get the cap. After +that she determined to send it to Yatsek with a letter, in which she +would explain what was weighing her heart down. And since his messenger +might come any moment she, to prepare all things in season, shut +herself up in her small maiden chamber and went at the letter. + +"May God pardon thee for the suffering and sadness in which thou hast +left me, for if thou couldst see my heart thou wouldst not have done +what thou hast done. Therefore, I send not only thy cap, but a kind +word, so that thou shouldst be happy and forget--" + +Here she saw that she was not writing her own thoughts at all, or her +wishes, so, drawing her pen through the words, she fell to writing a +new letter with more emotion and feeling: + +"I send thy cap, for I know that I shall not see thee in this house +hereafter, and that thou wilt not weep for any one here, least of all +for such an orphan as I am; but neither shall I weep because of thy +injustice, though it is sad beyond description--" + +But reality showed these words to be false, since sudden tears put +blots on the paper. How send a proof of this kind, especially if he had +thrown her out of his heart altogether? After a while it occurred to +her that it might be better not to write of his injustice, and of his +peevish procedure, since, if she did, he would be ready for still +greater stubbornness. Thus thinking, she looked for a third sheet of +paper, but there was no more in her chamber. + +Now she was helpless, for if she borrowed paper of Pani Vinnitski she +could not avoid questions impossible of answer; then she felt that she +was losing her head, and that in no case could she write to Yatsek that +which she wanted to tell him; hence she grew disconsolate and sought, +as women do usually, solace in suffering; she gave a free course to her +tears again. + +Meanwhile night was in front of the entrance, and sleighbells were +tinkling--Pan Gideon and his two guests were coming. The servants were +lighting the candles in every chamber, for the gloom was increasing. +The young lady brushed aside every tear and entered the drawing-room +with, a certain timidity; she feared that all would see straightway +that she had been weeping, and have, God knows what suspicions,--they +might even torment her with questions. But in the drawing-room there +were none save Pan Gideon and Pan Grothus. For Pan Serafin she asked +straightway, wishing to turn attention from her own person. + +"He has gone to his son and the Bukoyemskis," said Pan Gideon, "but I +pacified him on the road by showing that nothing evil had happened." + +Then he looked at her carefully, but his face, gloomy at most times, +and his gray, severe eyes were bright with a sort of exceptional +kindness. Approaching, he placed his hand on the bright head of the +maiden. + +"There is no need for thee to be troubled," said he. "In a couple of +days they will be well, every man of them. We need say no more. We owe +them gratitude, it is true, and hence I was anxious about them, but +really, they are strangers to us, and of rather lowly condition." + +"Lowly condition?" repeated she, as an echo, and merely to say +something. + +"Why, yes, for the Bukoyemskis have nothing whatever, and Pan Stanislav +is a _homo novus_. For that matter, what are they to me! They will go +their way, and the same quiet will be in this house as has been here +hitherto." + +Panna Anulka thought to herself that there would be great quiet indeed, +for there would be only three in the mansion; but she gave no +expression to that thought. + +"I will busy myself with the supper," said she. + +"Go, housewife, go!" said Pan Gideon. "Because of thee there is joy in +the household, and profit--and have a silver service brought on," added +he, "to show this Pan Serafin that good plate is found not alone among +newly made noble Armenians." + +Panna Anulka hurried to the servants' apartments. She wished before +supper to finish another affair most important for her, so she summoned +a serving-lad, and said to him,-- + +"Listen, Voitushko; run to Vyrambki and tell Pan Tachevski that the +young lady sends this cap, and bows very much to him. Here is a coin +for thee, and repeat what thou art to tell him." + +"The young lady sends the cap and bows to him." + +"Not that she bows, but that she bows very much to him--dost +understand?" + +"I understand." + +"Then stir! And take an overcoat, for the frost bites in the +night-time. Let the dogs go with thee, too--that she bows very much, +remember. And come back at once--unless Pan Tachevski gives an answer." + +Having finished that affair she withdrew to the kitchen to busy herself +at the supper which was then almost ready since they had been expecting +guests with Pan Gideon. Then, after she had dressed and arranged her +hair, she entered the dining-hall. + +Pan Sarafin greeted her kindly, for her beauty and youth had pleased +his heart greatly at Yedlinka. Since he had been put quite at rest +touching Stanislav, when they were seated at the table he began to +speak with her joyously, endeavoring, even with jests, to scatter that +shade of seriousness which he saw on her forehead, and the cause of +which he attributed specially to the duel. + +But for her the supper was not to end without incident, since +immediately after the second course Voitushko stood at the door of the +dining-hall and cried out, as he blew his chilled fingers,-- + +"I beg the young lady's attention. I left the cap, but Pan Tachevski is +not in Vyrambki, for he drove away with Father Voynovski." + +Pan Gideon on hearing these words was astonished; he frowned, and fixed +his iron eyes on the serving-lad. + +"What is this?" asked he. "What cap? Who sent thee to Vyrambki?" + +"The young lady," answered the lad with timidity. + +"I sent him," said Panna Anulka. + +And seeing that all eyes were turned on her she was dreadfully +embarrassed, but the elusive wit of a woman soon came to her +assistance. + +"Pan Yatsek attended the wounded men hither," said she; "but since +auntie and I received him with harshness he was angry and flew away +home without his cap, so I sent the cap after him." + +"Indeed, we did not receive him very charmingly," added Pani Vinnitski. + +Pan Gideon drew breath and his face took on a less dreadful expression. + +"Ye did well," remarked he. "I myself would have sent the cap, for of +course he has not a second one." + +But the honest and clever Pan Serafin took the part of Yatsek. + +"My son," said he, "has no feeling against him. He and the other +gentlemen forced Pan Tachevski to the duel; when it was over he took +them to his house, dressed their wounds, and entertained them. The +Bukoyemskis say the same, adding that he is an artist at the sabre, +who, had he had the wish, might have cut them up in grand fashion. Ha! +they wanted to teach him a lesson, and themselves found a teacher. If +it is true that His Grace the King is moving against the Turks, such a +man as Tachevski will be useful." + +Pan Gideon was not glad to hear these words, and added: "Father +Voynovski taught him those sword tricks." + +"I have seen Father Voynovski only once, at a festival," said Pan +Serafin, "but I heard much of him in my days of campaigning. At the +festival other priests laughed at him; they said that his house was +like the ark, that he cares for all beasts just as Noah did. I know, +however, that his sabre was renowned, and that his virtue is famous. If +Pan Tachevski has learned sword-practice from him, I should wish my +son, when he recovers, not to seek friendship elsewhere." + +"They say that the Diet will strive at once to strengthen the army," +said Pan Gideon, wishing to change the conversation. + +"True, all will work at that," said Pan Grothus. + +And the conversation continued on the war. But after supper Panna +Anulka chose the right moment, and, approaching Pan Serafin, raised her +blue eyes to him. + +"You are very kind," said she. + +"Why do you say that?" asked Pan Serafin. + +"You took the part of Pan Yatsek." + +"Whose part?" inquired the old man. + +"Pan Tachevski's. His name is Yatsek." + +"But you blamed him severely. Why did you blame him?" + +"My guardian blamed him still more severely. I confess to you, however, +that we did not act justly, and I think that some reparation is due +him." + +"He would surely be glad to receive it from your hands," said Pan +Serafin. + +The young lady shook her golden head in sign of disagreement. + +"Oh no!" replied she, smiling sadly, "he is angry with us, and +forever." + +Pan Serafin glanced at her with a genuine fatherly kindness. + +"Who in the world, charming flower, could be angry forever with you?" + +"Oh! Pan Yatsek could--but as to reparation this is the best reparation +in his case: declare to Pan Yatsek that you feel no offence toward him, +and that you believe in his innocence. After that my guardian will be +forced to do him some justice, and justice from us is due to Pan +Yatsek." + +"I see that you have not been so very bitter against him, since you are +now taking his part with such interest." + +"I do so because I feel reproaches of conscience, and I wish no +injustice to any man, besides, he is alone in the world, and is in +great, very great, poverty." + +"I will tell you," answered Pan Serafin, "that in my own mind I have +decided as follows: your guardian, as a hospitable neighbor, has +declared that he will not let me go till my son has recovered; but both +my son and the Bukoyemskis might go home even to-morrow. Still, before +I leave here I will visit most surely Pan Yatsek and Father Voynovski, +not through any kindness, but because I understand that I owe them this +courtesy. I do not say that I am bad, still, I think that if any one in +this case is really good you are the person. Do not contradict me!" + +She did contradict, for she felt that for her it was not a question +merely of justice to Yatsek, but of other affairs, of which Pan +Serafin, who knew not her maiden calculations, could know nothing. +Her heart, however, rose toward him with gratitude, and when saying +good-night she kissed his hand, for which Pan Gideon was angry. + +"He is only of the second generation; before that his people were +merchants. Remember who thou art!" said the old noble. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + +Two days later Yatsek went to Radom with the ten ducats to dress +himself decently before the journey. Father Voynovski remained at home +brooding over this problem: "Whence am I to get money enough for the +equipment of a warrior, for a wagon, for horses, a saddle-horse, and an +attendant, all of which Yatsek must have if he cares for respect, and +does not wish men to consider him nobody?" + +Especially did it become Yatsek to appear in that form, since he bore a +great, famous name, though somewhat forgotten in the Commonwealth. + +A certain day Father Voynovski sat down at his small table, wrinkled +his brows till his white hair fell over his forehead, and began then to +reckon how much would be needed. His "animalia," that is, the dog +Filus, the tame fox, and a badger, were rolling balls near his feet; +but he gave them no attention whatever, so tremendously was he occupied +and troubled, for the "reckoning" refused to come out in any way, and +failed every moment. It failed not merely in details, but in the main +principles. The old man rubbed his forehead more and more violently and +at last he spoke audibly. + +"He took ten ducats with him. Very well; of that, beyond doubt, he will +bring nothing back. Let us count farther: from Kondrat, the brewer, +five as a loan, from Slonka, three. From Dudu six Prussian thalers and +a borrowed saddle-horse, to be paid for in barley if there is a +harvest. Total, eight golden ducats, six thalers, and twenty ducats of +mine--too little! Even if I should give him the Wallachian as an +attendant, that would be, counting his own mount, two horses; and for a +wagon two more are needed--and for Yatsek at least two more. It is +impossible to go with fewer, for, if one horse should die he must have +another. And a uniform for his man, and supplies for the wagon, kettles +and cover and camp chest--tfu! He could only join the dragoons with +such money." + +Then he turned to the animals which were raising a considerable uproar. + +"Be quiet, ye traitors, or your hides will be sold to Jew hucksters!" + +And again talk began: + +"Yatsek is right, he will have to sell Vyrambki. Still, if he does, he +will have nothing to answer when any one asks him: 'Whence dost thou +come?' 'Whence?' 'From Wind.' 'Which Wind?' 'Wind in the Field.' +Immediately every one will slight such a person. It would be better to +mortgage the place if a man could be found to give money. Pan Gideon +would be the most suitable person, but Yatsek would not hear of Pan +Gideon, and I myself would not talk with him on the subject--My God! +People are mistaken when they say: 'poor as a church mouse!' A man is +often much poorer. A church mouse has Saint Stephen;[3] he lives in +comfort, and has his wax at all seasons. O Lord Jesus, who multiplied +loaves and fishes, multiply these few ruddy ducats, and these few +thalers, for to thee, O Lord, nothing will be diminished, and Thou wilt +help the last of the Tachevskis." + +Then it occurred to him that the Prussian thalers, since they came from +a Lutheran country, could rouse only abhorrence in heaven; as to the +ducats he hesitated whether to put them under Christ's feet for the +night would he find them there multiplied in the morning? He did not +feel worthy of a miracle, and even he struck himself a number of times +on the breast in repentance for his insolent idea. He could not dwell +on this longer, however, for some one had come to the front of his +dwelling. + +After a while the door opened and a tall, gray haired man entered. He +had black eyes and a wise, kindly countenance. The man bowed on the +threshold. + +"I am Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka," said he. + +"Yes. I saw you in Prityk, at the festival, but only at a distance, for +the throng there was great," said the priest, approaching his guest +with vivaciousness. "I greet you on my lowly threshold with gladness." + +"I have come hither with gladness," answered Pan Serafin. "It is an +important and pleasant duty to salute a knight so renowned, and a +priest who is so saintly." + +Then he kissed the old man on the shoulder and the hand, though the +priest warded off these acts, saying,-- + +"Ho, what saintliness! These beasts here may have before God greater +merit than I have." + +But Pan Serafin spoke so sincerely and with such simplicity that he won +the priest straightway. They began at once, therefore, to speak +pleasant words which were heartfelt. + +"I know your son," said the priest; "he is a cavalier of worth +and noble manners. In comparison, those Bukoyemskis seem simply +serving-men. I will say to you that Yatsek Tachevski has conceived such +a love for Pan Stanislav that he praises him always." + +"And my Stashko treats him in like manner. It happens frequently that +men fight and later on love each other. None of us feel offence toward +Pan Tachevski, nay, we should like to conclude with him real +friendship. I have just been at his house in Vyrambki, expecting to +find him. I wished to invite to Yedlinka you, my benefactor, and Pan +Tachevski." + +"Yatsek is in Radom, but he will return and would be glad, doubtless, +to serve you-- But have you seen, your grace, how they treated him at +Pan Gideon's?" + +"They have seen that themselves," said Pan Serafin, "and are sorry, not +Pan Gideon, however, but the women." + +"There are few men so stubborn as Pan Gideon, and he incurs a serious +account before the Lord sometimes for this reason--as for the +women--God be with them-- Let them go, what is the use in hiding this: +that one of them caused the duel?" + +"I divined that before my son told me. But the cause is innocent." + +"They are all innocent-- Do you know what Ecclesiastes says of women?" + +Pan Serafin did not know, so the priest took down the Vulgate and read +an extract from Ecclesiastes. + +"What do you think of that?" asked he. + +"There are women even of that kind." + +"Yatsek is going into the world for no other cause, and I am far from +dissuading him. On the contrary, I advise him to go." + +"Do you? Is he going soon? The war will come only next summer." + +"Do you know that to a certainty?" + +"I do, for I inquired and I inquired because I cannot keep my own son +from it." + +"No, because he is a noble. Yatsek is going immediately, for, to tell +the truth, it is painful for him to remain here." + +"I understand, I understand everything. Haste is the best cure in such +a case." + +"He will stay only as long as may be needed to mortgage Vyrambki, or +sell it. It is only a small strip of land. I advise Yatsek not to sell +but to mortgage. Though he may never come back, he can sign himself +always as from it, and that is more decent for a man of his name and +his origin." + +"Must he sell or mortgage in every case?" + +"He must. The man is poor, quite poor. You know how much it costs to go +to a war, and he cannot serve in a common dragoon regiment." + +Pan Serafin thought a while, and said,-- + +"My benefactor, perhaps I would take a mortgage on Vyrambki." + +Father Voynovski blushed as does a maiden when a young man confesses on +a sudden that for which she is yearning beyond all things; but the +blush flew over his face as swiftly as summer lightning through the sky +of evening; then he looked at Pan Serafin, and asked,-- + +"Why do you take it?" + +Pan Serafin answered with all the sincerity of an honest spirit: + +"I want it since I wish, without loss to myself, to render an honorable +young man a service, for which I shall gain his gratitude. And, Father +benefactor, I have still another idea. I will send my one son to that +regiment in which Pan Yatsek is to serve, and I think that my Stashko +will find in him a good friend and comrade. You know how important a +comrade is and what a true friend at one's side means in camp where a +quarrel comes easily, and in war where death comes still more easily. +God has not, in my case been sparing of fortune, and He has given me +only one son. Pan Yatsek is brave, sober, a master at the sabre, as has +been shown--and he is virtuous, for you have reared him. Let him and my +son be like Orestes and Pylades--that is my reckoning." + +Father Voynovski opened his arms to him widely. + +"God himself sent you! For Yatsek I answer as I do for myself. He is a +golden fellow, and his heart is as grateful as wheat land. God sent +you! My dear boy can now show himself as befits the Tachevski +escutcheon, and most important of all, he can, after seeing the wide +world, forget altogether that girl for whom he has thrown away so many +years, and suffered such anguish." + +"Has he loved her then from of old?" + +"Well, to tell the truth, he has loved her since childhood. Even now he +says nothing, he sets his teeth, but he squirms like an eel beneath a +knife edge. Let him go at the earliest, for nothing could or can come +from this love of his." + +A moment of silence followed, then the old man continued,-- + +"But we must speak of these matters more accurately. How much can you +lend on Vyrambki? It is a poor piece of land." + +"Even one hundred ducats." + +"Fear God, your grace!" + +"But why? If Pan Yatsek ever pays me it will be all the same how much I +lend him. If he does not pay I shall get my own also, for though the +land about here is poor, that new soil must be good beyond the forest. +To-day I will take my son and the Bukoyemskis to Yedlinka, and you will +do us the favor to come as soon as Pan Yatsek returns to you from +Radom. The money will be ready." + +"Your grace came from heaven with your golden heart and your money," +said Father Voynovski. + +Then he commanded to bring mead which he poured out himself, and they +drank with much pleasure as men do who have joy at their heart strings. +With the third glass the priest became serious. + +"For the assistance, for the good word, for the honesty, let me pay," +said he, "even with good advice." + +"I am listening." + +"Do not settle your son in Vyrambki. The young lady is beautiful beyond +every description. She may also be honorable, I say naught against +that; but she is a Sieninski, not she alone, but Pan Gideon is so proud +of this that if any man, no matter who, were to ask for her, even +Yakobus our king's son, he would not seem too high to Pan Gideon. Guard +your son, do not let him break his young heart on that pride, or wound +himself mortally like Yatsek. Out of pure and well-wishing friendship +do I say this, desiring to pay for your kindness with kindness." + +Pan Serafin drew his palm across his forehead as he answered,-- + +"They dropped down on us at Yedlinka as from the clouds because of what +happened on the journey. I went once to Pan Gideon's on a neighborly +visit, but he did not return it. Noting his pride and its origin I have +not sought his acquaintance or friendship. What has come came of +itself. I will not settle my son in Vyrambki, nor let him be foolish at +Pan Gideon's mansion. We are not such an ancient nobility as the +Sieninskis, nor perhaps as Pan Gideon, but our nobility grew out of +war, out of that which gives pain, as Charnyetski described it. We +shall be able to preserve our own dignity--my son is not less keen on +that point than I am. It is hard for a young man to guard against +Cupid, but I will tell you, my benefactor, what Stashko told me when +recently at Pan Gideon's. I inquired touching Panna Anulka. 'I would +rather,' said he, 'not pluck an apple than spring too high after it, +for if I should not reach the fruit, shame would come of my effort.'" + +"Ah! he has a good thought in his head!" exclaimed Father Voynovski. + +"He has been thus from his boyhood," added Pan Serafin with a certain +proud feeling. "He told me also, that when he had learnt what the girl +had been to Tachevski, and what he had passed through because of her, +he would not cross the road of so worthy a cavalier. No, my benefactor, +I do not take a mortgage on Vyrambki to have my son near Pan Gideon's. +May God guard my Stanislav, and preserve him from evil." + +"Amen! I believe you as if an angel were speaking. And now let some +third man take the girl, even one of the Bukoyemskis, who boast of such +kinsfolk." + +Pan Serafin smiled, drank out his mead, took farewell, and departed. + +Father Voynovski went to the church to thank God for that unexpected +assistance, and then he waited for Yatsek impatiently. + +When at last Yatsek came, the old man ran out to the yard and seized +him by the shoulders. + +"Yatsek," exclaimed he, "thou canst give ten ducats for a crupper. Thou +hast one hundred ducats, as it were, on the table, and Vyrambki remains +to thee." + +Yatsek fixed on Father Voynovski eyes that were sunken from +sleeplessness and suffering, and asked, with astonishment,-- + +"What has happened?" + +"A really good thing, since it came from the heart of an honest man." + +Father Voynovski noted with the greatest consolation that Yatsek in +spite of his terrible suffering, and all his heart tortures, received, +as it were, a new spirit on learning of the agreement with Pan Serafin. +For some days he spoke and thought only of horses, wagons, outfit, and +servants, so that it seemed as though there was no place for aught else +in him. + +"Here is thy medicine, thy balsam; here are thy remedies," repeated the +priest to himself; "for if a man entrapped by a woman and never so +unhappy were going to the army he would have to be careful not to buy a +horse that had heaves or was spavined; he would have to choose sabres, +and fit on his armor, try his lance once and a second time, and, +turning from the woman to more fitting objects, find relief for his +heart in them." + +And he remembered how, when young, he himself had sought in war either +death or forgetfulness. But since war had not begun yet, death was +still distant from Yatsek in every case; meantime he was filled with +his journey, and with questions bound up in it. + +There was plenty to do. Pan Serafin and his son came again to the +priest with whom Yatsek was living. Then all went to the city together +to draw up the mortgage. There, also, they found a part of Yatsek's +outfit; the remainder, the experienced and clear-headed priest advised +to search out in Warsaw or Cracow. This beginning of work took up some +days, during which young Stanislav, whose slight wound was almost +healed, gave earnest assistance to Yatsek, with whom he contracted a +more and more intimate acquaintance and friendship. The old men were +pleased at this, for both held it extremely important. The honest Pan +Serafin even began to be sorry that Yatsek was going so promptly, and +to persuade the priest not to hasten his departure. + +"I understand," said he, "I understand well, my benefactor, why you +wish to send him away at the earliest; but in truth I must tell you +that I think no ill of that Panna Anulka. It is true that immediately +after the duel she did not receive Pan Yatsek very nicely, but remember +that she and Pani Vinnitski were snatched from the jaws of the wolves +by my son and the Bukoyemskis. What wonder, then, that, at sight of the +blood and the wounds of those gentlemen, she was seized with an anger, +which Pan Gideon roused in her purposely, as I know. Pan Gideon is a +stubborn man, truly; but when I was there the poor girl came to me +perfectly penitent. 'I see,' said she, 'that we did not act justly, and +that some reparation is due to Pan Yatsek.' Her eyes became moist +immediately, and pity seized me, because that face of hers is comely +beyond measure. Besides, she has an honest soul and despises +injustice." + +"By the dear God! let not Yatsek hear of this; for his heart would rush +straightway to death again, and barely has he begun to breathe now in +freedom. He ran away from Pan Gideon's bareheaded; he swore that he +would never go back to that mansion, and God guard him from doing so. +Women, your grace, are like will-o'-the-wisps which move at night over +swamp lands at Yedlinka. If you chase one it flees, if you flee it +pursues you. That is the way of it!" + +"That is a wise statement, which I must drive into Stashko," said Pan +Serafin. + +"Let Yatsek go at the earliest. I have written letters already to +various acquaintances, and to dignitaries whom I knew before they were +dignitaries, and to warriors the most famous. In those letters your +son, too, is recommended as a worthy cavalier; and when his turn comes +to go he shall have letters also, though he may not need them, since +Yatsek will prepare the way for him. Let the two serve together." + +"From my whole soul I thank you, my benefactor. Yes! let them serve +together, and may their friendship last till their lives end. You have +mentioned the regiment of Alexander, the king's son, which is under +Zbierhovski. That is a splendid regiment,--perhaps the first among the +hussars,--so I should like Stashko to join it; but he said to me: 'The +light-horse for six days in the week, and the hussars, as it were, only +on Sunday.'" + +"That is true generally," answered the priest. "Hussars are not sent on +scouting expeditions, and it is rare also that they go skirmishing, as +it is not fitting that such men should meet all kinds of faces; but +when their turn comes, they so press on and trample that others do not +spill so much blood in six days as they do on their Sunday. But then, +war, not the warriors, command; hence sometimes it happens that hussars +perform every-day labor." + +"You, my benefactor, know that beyond any man." + +Father Voynovski closed his eyes for a moment, as if wishing to recall +the past more in detail; then he raised them, looked at the mead, +swallowed one mouthful, then a second, and said,-- + +"So it was when toward the end of the Swedish war we went to punish +that traitor, the Elector, for his treaties with Carolus. Pan +Lyubomirski, the marshal, took fire and sword to the outskirts of +Berlin. I was then in his own regiment, in which Viktor was lieutenant +commander. The Brandenburger[4] met us as best he was able, now with +infantry, now with general militia in which were German nobles; and I +tell you that at last, on our side, the arms of the hussars and the +Cossacks of the household seemed almost as if moving on hinges." + +"Was it such difficult work then?" + +"It was not difficult, for at the mere sight of us muskets and spears +trembled in the hands of those poor fellows as tree branches tremble +when the wind blows around them; but there was work daily from morning +till twilight. Whether a man thrusts his spear into a breast or a back, +it is labor. Ah! but that was a lovely campaign! for, as people said, +it was active, and in my life I have never seen so many men's backs and +so many horse rumps as in that time. Even Luther was weeping in hell, +for we ravaged one half of Brandenburg thoroughly." + +"It is pleasant to remember that treason came to just punishment." + +"Of course it is pleasant. The Elector appeared then and begged peace +of Lyubomirski. I did not see him, but later on soldiers told me that +the marshal walked along the square with his hands on his hips while +the Elector tripped after him like a whip-lash. The Elector bowed so +that he almost touched the ground with his wig, and seized the knees of +the marshal. Nay! they even said that he kissed him wherever it +happened; but I give no great faith to that statement, though the +marshal, who had a haughty heart, loved to bend down the enemy; but he +was a polite man in every case, and would not permit things of that +kind." + +"God grant that it may happen with the Turks this time as it did then +with the Elector." + +"My experience, though not lofty, is long, and I will say to you +sincerely that it will go, I think, as well or still better. The +marshal was a warrior of experience and especially a lucky one, but +still, we could not compare Lyubomirski with His Grace the King +reigning actually." + +Then they mentioned all the victories of Sobieski and the battles in +which they themselves had taken part. And so they drank to the health +of the king, and rejoiced, knowing that with him as a leader the young +men would see real war; not only that, but, since the war was to be +against the ancient enemy of the cross, they would win immense glory. + +In truth no one knew accurately anything yet about the question. It was +not known whether the Turkish power would turn first on the +Commonwealth or the Empire. The question of a treaty with Austria was +to be raised at the Diet. But in provincial diets and the meetings of +nobles men spoke of war only. Statesmen who had been in Warsaw, and at +the court, foretold it with conviction, and besides, the whole people +had been seized by a feeling that it must come--a feeling almost +stronger than certainty, and brought out as well by the former deeds of +the king as by the general desire and the destiny of the nation. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + +On the road to Radom Father Voynovski had invited Pan Serafin and +Stanislav to his house for a rest, after which he and Yatsek were to +visit them at Yedlinka. During this visit three of the Bukoyemskis +appeared, unexpectedly. Marek, whose shoulder-blade had been cut, could +not move yet, but Mateush, Lukash, and Yan came to bow down before the +old man and thank him for his care of them when wounded. Yan had lost a +little finger, and the older brothers had big scars, one man on his +cheek, the other on his forehead, but their wounds had then healed and +they were as healthy as mushrooms. + +Two days before they went on a hunt to the forest, smoked out a sleepy +she-bear, speared her, and took her cub which they brought as a gift to +Father Voynovski, whose fondness for wild beasts was known by all +people. + +The priest whom they had pleased as "innocent boys" was amused with +them and the little bear very greatly. He shed tears from laughter when +the cub seized a glass filled with mead for a guest, and began to roar +in heaven-piercing notes to rouse proper terror, and thus save the +booty. + +On seeing that no one wished the mead, the bear stood on its hind-legs +and drank out the cup in man fashion. This roused still greater +pleasure in the audience. The priest was amused keenly, and added,-- + +"I will not make this cub my butler or beekeeper." + +"Ha!" cried Stanislav, laughing, "the beast was a short time at school +with the Bukoyemskis, but learned more in one day from them than it +would all its life in the forest." + +"Not true," put in Lukash, "for this beast has by nature such wit that +it knows what is good without learning. Barely had we brought the cub +from the forest when it gulped down as much vodka (whiskey) right off +as if it had drunk the stuff every morning with its mother, and then +gave a whack on the snout to a dog, as if saying 'This for thee--don't +sniff at me'--after that it went off and slept soundly." + +"Thank you, gentlemen. I will have real pleasure from this bear," said +the priest, "but I will not make the creature my butler or beekeeper, +for though knowing drinks well, it would stay too near them." + +"Bears can do more than one thing. Father Glominski at Prityk has a +bear which pumps the organ they say. But some people are scandalized, +for at times he roars, especially when any one punches him." + +"Well, there is no cause for scandal in that," replied Father +Voynovski; "birds build nests in churches and sing to the glory of God; +no one is scandalized. Every beast serves God, and the Saviour was born +in a stable." + +"They say, besides," added Mateush, "that the Lord Jesus turned a +miller into a bear, so maybe there is a human soul in him." + +"In that case you killed the miller's wife, and must answer," said Pan +Serafin. "His Grace the King is very jealous of his bears and does not +keep foresters to kill them." + +When they heard this the three brothers grew anxious, but it was only +after long thinking that Mateush, who wished to say something in +self-defence, answered,-- + +"Pshaw! are we not nobles? The Bukoyemskis are as good as the +Sobieskis." + +But a happy thought came to Lukash, and his face brightened. + +"We gave our knightly word," said he, "not to shoot bears, and we shoot +no bears; we spear them." + +"His Grace the King is not thinking of bears at the present," said Yan; +"and besides, no one will tell him. Let any forester here say a word. +It is a pity, however, that we boasted in presence of Pan Gideon and +Pan Grothus, for Pan Grothus has just gone to Warsaw, and as he sees +the king often, he may mention this accidentally." + +"But when did ye see Pan Gideon?" asked the priest. + +"Yesterday. He was conducting Pan Grothus; You know, benefactor, the +inn called Mordovnia? They stopped there to let their beasts rest. Pan +Gideon asked about many things, and he talked also of Yatsek." + +"About me?" inquired Yatsek. + +"Yes. 'Is it true,' asked he, 'that Tachevski is going to the army?' +'True,' we answered. + +"'But when?' + +"'Soon, we think.' + +"Then Pan Gideon said again: 'That is well. Of course he will join the +infantry?' + +"At that we all became angry, and Mateush said. 'Do not say that, your +grace, for Yatsek is our friend now, and we must be on his side.' And +as we began to pant, he restrained himself. 'I do not mention this out +of any ill-will, but I know that Vyrambki is not an estate of the +crown,'" said he. + +"An estate, or not, what is that to him?" cried the priest. "He need +not trouble his head with it!" + +But it was clear that Pan Gideon thought otherwise, and did trouble his +head about Yatsek; for an hour later the youth who brought in a +decanter of mead brought a sealed letter also. + +"There is a messenger to your grace from Pan Gideon," said he. + +Father Voynovski took the letter, broke the seal, opened it, struck the +paper with the back of his hand, and, approaching the window, began to +read. + +Yatsek grew pale from emotion; he looked at the letter as at a rainbow, +for he divined that there must be mention of him in it. Thoughts flew +through his head as swallows fly. "Well," thought he, "the old man is +penitent; here is his excuse. It must be so and even cannot be +otherwise. Pan Gideon has no more cause now to be angry than those men +who suffered in the duel, so his conscience has spoken. He has +recognized the injustice of his conduct. He understands how grievously +he injured an innocent person, and he desires to correct the +injustice." + +Yatsek's heart began to beat like a hammer. "Oh! I will go to the war," +said he in his soul--"not for me is happiness over there. Though I +forgive her I cannot forget. But to see once more, before going, that +beloved Anulka, who is so cruel, to have a good look once again at her, +to hear her voice anew. O Gracious God, refuse not this blessing!" + +And his thoughts flew with still greater swiftness than swallows; but +before they had stopped flying something took place which no man there +had expected: on a sudden Father Voynovski crushed the letter in his +hand and grasped toward his left side as if seeking a sabre. His face +filled with blood, his neck swelled, and his eyes shot forth lightning. +He was simply so terrible that Pan Serafin, his son, and the +Bukoyemskis looked at him with amazement, as if he had been turned into +some other person through magic. + +Deep silence reigned in the chamber. + +Meanwhile the priest bent toward the window, as if gazing at some +object outside it, then he turned away looked first at the walls and +then at his guests. It was clear that he had been struggling with +himself and had come to his mind again, for his face had grown pale, +and the flame was now dim in his eyeballs. + +"Gracious gentlemen," said he, "that man is not merely passionate, but +evil altogether. To say in excitement more than justice permits befalls +every man, but to continue committing injustice and trampling on those +who are offended is not the deed of a noble, or a Catholic." Then, +stooping, he raised the crumpled letter and turned to Tachevski. + +"Yatsek, if there is still in thy heart any splinter, take this knife +and cut it out thoroughly. Read, poor boy, read aloud, it is not for +thee to be ashamed, but for him who wrote this letter. Let these +gentlemen learn what kind of man is Pan Gideon." + +Yatsek seized the letter with trembling hands, opened it and read: + + +"My very gracious Priest, Pastor, Benefactor, Etc., Etc.,--Having +learned that Tachevski of Vyrambki, who has frequented my house, is to +join the army during these days, I, in memory of the bread with which I +nourished his poverty, and for the services in which sometimes I was +able to use him, send the man a horse, and a ducat to shoe the beast, +with the advice not to waste the money on other and needless objects. + +"Offering at the same time to you my willing and earnest services, I +inscribe myself, etc., etc." + + +Yatsek grew so very pale after reading the letter that the men present +had fears for him, especially the priest who was not sure that that +pallor might not be the herald of some outburst of madness, for he knew +how terrible was that young man in his anger, though usually so mild. +He began therefore at once to restrain him. + +"Pan Gideon is old, and has lost one arm," said he quickly, "thou canst +not challenge him!" + +But Yatsek did not burst out, for at the first moment immeasurable and +painful amazement conquered all other feelings. + +"I cannot challenge him," repeated he, as an echo, "but why does he +continue to trample me?" + +Thereupon Pan Serafin rose, took both Yatsek's hands, shook them +firmly, kissed him on the forehead, and added,-- + +"Pan Gideon has injured, not thee, but himself, and if thou drop +revenge every man will wonder all the more at thy noble soul which +deserves the high blood in thee." + +"Those are wise words!" cried the priest, "and thou must deserve them." + +Pan Stanislav now embraced Yatsek. + +"In truth," said he, "I love thee more and more." + +This turn of affairs was not at all pleasing to the Bukoyemskis, who +had not ceased to grit their teeth from the moment of hearing the +letter. Following Stanislav they embraced Yatsek also. + +"No matter how things are," said Lukash at last, "I should do +differently in Yatsek's place." + +"How?" asked the two brothers with curiosity. + +"That is just it. I don't know how, but I should think out something, +and would not yield my position." + +"Since thou knowst not do not talk." + +"But ye, do ye know anything?" + +"Be quiet!" said the priest. "Be sure I shall not leave the letter +unanswered. Still, to drop revenge is a Christian and a Catholic +action." + +"Oh but! Even you, father, snatched for a sabre the first moment." + +"Because I carried a sabre too long. _Mea Culpa!_ Still, as I have +said, this fact comes in also. Pan Gideon is old, he has only one arm; +iron rules are not in place here. And I tell you, gentlemen, that for +this very reason I am disgusted to the last degree with this raging old +fellow who makes use of his impunity so unjustly." + +"Still, it will be too narrow for him in our neighborhood," said Yan +Bukoyemski. "Our heads for this: that not a living foot will go under +that roof of his." + +"Meanwhile an answer is needed," said Father Voynovski, "and +immediately." + +For a time yet they considered as to who should write,--Yatsek, at whom +the letter was aimed, or the priest to whom it was directed. Yatsek +settled the question by saying,-- + +"For me that whole house and all people in it are as if dead, and it is +well for them that in my soul this is settled." + +"It is well that the bridges are burnt!" said the priest; as he sought +pen and paper. + +"It is well that the bridges are burnt," repeated Yan Bukoyemski, "but +it would be better that the mansion rose in smoke! This was our way in +the Ukraine: when some strange man came in and knew not how to live +with us, we cut him to pieces and up in smoke went his property." + +No one turned attention to these words save Pan Serafin, who waved his +hands with impatience, and answered,-- + +"You, gentlemen, came in here from the Ukraine, I, from Lvoff, and Pan +Gideon from Pomorani; according to your wit Pan Tachevski might count +us all as intruders; but know this, that the Commonwealth is a great +mansion occupied by a family of nobles, and a noble is at home in every +corner." + +Silence followed, except that from the alcove came the squeaking of a +pen and words in an undertone which the priest was dictating to +himself. Yatsek rested his forehead on his palms and sat motionless for +some time; all at once he straightened himself, looked at those +present, and said,-- + +"There is something in this beyond my understanding." + +"We do not understand, either," added Lukash, "but if thou wilt pour +out more mead we will drink it." + +Yatsek poured into the glasses mechanically, following at the same time +the course of his own thoughts. + +"Pan Gideon," said he, "might be offended because the duel began at his +mansion, though such things happen everywhere; but now he knows that I +did not challenge, he knows that he offended me under my own roof +unjustly, he knows that with you I am now in agreement, and that I +shall not appear at his house again,--still he pursues me, still he is +trying to trample me." + +"True, there is some kind of special animosity in this," said Pan +Serafin. + +"Ha! then there is as you think something in it?" + +"In what?" asked the priest, who had come out with a letter now +written, and heard the last sentence. + +"In this special hatred against me." + +The priest looked at a shelf on which among other books was the Holy +Bible, and said,-- + +"That which I will say to thee now I said long ago: there is a woman in +it." Here he turned to those present. "Have I repeated to you, +gentlemen, what Ecclesiastes says about woman?" + +But he could not finish, for Yatsek sprang up as if burnt by living +fire. He thrust his fingers through his hair and almost screamed, for +immense pain had seized him. + +"Still more do I fail to understand; for if any one in the world--if to +any one in the world--if there be any one of such kind--then with my +whole soul--" + +But he could not say a word more, for the pain in his heart had gripped +his throat as if in a vice of iron, and rose to his eyes as two bitter, +burning tears, which flowed down his cheeks. The priest understood him +then perfectly. + +"My Yatsek," advised he, "better burn out the wound, even with awful +pain than let it fester. For this reason I do not spare thee. I, in my +time, was a soldier of this world, and understand many things. I know +that regret and remembrance, no matter how far a man travels, drag like +dogs after him, and howl in the night-time. They give him no chance to +sleep because of this howling. What must he do then? Kill those dogs +straightway. Thou at this moment feelest that thou wouldst have given +all thy blood over there; for which reason it seems to thee so +marvellous and terrible that from that side alone vengeance pursues +thee. The thing seems to thee impossible; but it is possible--for if +thou hast wounded the pride and self-love of a woman, if she thought +that thou wouldst whine and thou hast not whined when she beat thee, +and thou didst not fawn in her presence, but hast tugged at thy chain +and hast broken it, know that she will never and never forgive thee, +and her hatred, more raging than that of any man living, will always +pursue thee. Against this there is only one refuge: crush the love, +even on thy own heart, and hurl it, like a broken bow, far from +thee--that is thy one refuge!" + +Again there was a moment of silence. Pan Serafin nodded, confirming the +priest, and, as a man of experience, he admired all the wisdom of his +statement. + +"It is true," added Yatsek, "that I have tugged at the chain, and have +broken it. So it is not Pan Gideon who pursues me!" + +"I know what I should do," said Lukash, on a sudden. + +"Tell, do not hide!" cried the other two. + +"Do ye know what the hare said?" + +"What hare? Art thou drunk?" + +"Why that hare at the boundary ridge." + +And, evidently encouraged, he stood up, put his hand on his hip and +began to sing: + + + "A hare was just sitting for pleasure, + Just sitting at the boundary ridge. + But the hunters did not see him, + Did not know + That he was sitting lamenting + And making his will + At the boundary ridge." + + +Here he turned to his brothers and asked them,-- + +"Do ye know the will made by that hare at the boundary ridge?" + +"We know, but it is pleasant to hear it repeated." + +"Then listen. + + + "Kiss me all ye horsemen and hunters, + Kiss me at the boundary ridge. + + +"This is what I would write to all at Belchantska if I were in Yatsek's +position; and if he does not write it, may the first Janissary +disembowel me if I do not write it in my own name and yours to Pan +Gideon." + +"Oh, as God is dear to me, that is a capital idea!" cried Yan, much +delighted. + +"It is to the point and full of fancy!" + +"Let Yatsek write that!" + +"No," said the priest, made impatient by the talk of the brothers. "I +am writing, not Yatsek, and it would not become me to take your words." +Here he turned to Pan Serafin and Stanislav and Yatsek. "The task was +difficult, for I had to twist the horns of his malice and not abandon +politeness, and also to show him that we understood whence the sting +came. Listen, therefore, and if any one of you gentlemen has made a +nice judgment I beg you to criticise this letter." And he began,-- + +"Great mighty benefactor, and to me very dear Sir and Brother." + +Here he struck the letter with the back of his hand, and said,-- + +"You will observe, gentlemen, that I do not call him 'my very +gracious,' but 'my very dear.'" + +"He will have enough!" said Pan Serafin, "read on, my benefactor." + +"Then listen: 'It is known to all citizens of our Commonwealth that +only those people know how to observe due politeness in every position +who have lived from youth upward among polite people, or who, coming of +great blood, have brought politeness into the world with them. Neither +the one nor the other has come to your grace as a portion, while on the +contrary the Mighty Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski inherited from renowned +ancestors both blood and a lordly spirit. He forgives you your peasant +expressions and sends back your peasant gifts. Rustics keep inns in +cities and also eating-houses on country roads for the entertainment of +people. If you will send to the great Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski the +bill for such entertainment as he received at your house he will pay +it, and add such gratuity as seems proper to his generous nature.'" + +"Oh, as God is dear to me!" exclaimed Pan Serafin, "Pan Gideon will +have a rush of blood!" + +"Ha! it was necessary to bring down his pride, and at the same time to +burn the bridges. Yatsek himself wanted that-- Now listen to what I +write from myself to him: 'I have inclined Pan Tachevski to see that +though the bow is yours, the poisoned arrow with which you wished to +strike that worthy young gentleman was not in your own quiver. Since +reason in men, and strength in their bones, weaken with years, and +senile old age yields easily to suggestions from others, it deserves +more indulgence. With this I end, adding as a priest and a servant of +God, this: that the greater the age, the nearer life's end, the less +should a man be a servant of hatred and haughtiness. On the contrary, +he should think all the more of the salvation of his soul, a thing +which I wish your grace. Amen. Herewith remaining, etc. I subscribe +myself, etc.'" + +"All is written out accurately," said Pan Serafin; "nothing to be +added, nothing taken away." + +"Ha!" said the priest, "do you think that he gets what he deserves?" + +"Oi! certain words burnt me." + +"And me," added Lukash. "It is sure that when a man hears such speeches +he wants to drink, just as on a hot day." + +"Yatsek, attend to those gentlemen. I will seal the letter and send it +away." + +So saying he took the ring from his finger and went to the alcove. But +while sealing the letter some other thought came to his head, as it +happened, for when he returned, he said,-- + +"It is done. The affair is over. But do you not think it too cutting? +The man is old, it may cost him his health. Wounds given by the pen are +no less effective than those by the sword or the bullet." + +"True! true!" said Yatsek, and he gritted his teeth. + +But just this exclamation of pain decided the matter. Pan Serafin +added,-- + +"My revered benefactor, your scruples are honorable, but Pan Gideon had +no scruples whatever; his letter struck straight at the heart, while +yours strikes only at malice and pride. I think, therefore, that it +ought to be sent." + +And the letter was sent. After that still more hurried preparations +were made for Yatsek's departure. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + +But Tachevski's friends did not foresee that the priest's letter would +be in a certain sense useful to Pan Gideon, and serve his home policy. +He did not indeed receive it without anger. Yatsek, who so far had been +merely an obstacle, became thenceforth, though not the author of the +letter, an object of hatred. That hatred in the stubborn old heart of +Pan Gideon bloomed like a poison flower, but his ingenious mind +determined to use the priest's letter. In view of this he restrained +his fierce rage, his face assumed a look of contemptuous pity, and he +went with the answer to Anulka. + +"Thou hast paid toll, and art assaulted for doing so," said he. "I did +not wish this, for I am a man of experience, and I know people; but +when thou didst clasp thy hands and say that injustice had been done, +that I had exceeded in sternness, and thou hadst been too severe to +him, that he ought not to leave us in anger, I yielded. I sent him +assistance in money. I sent him a horse. I wrote him a nice letter +also. I thought he would come and bow down, give us thanks, take +farewell as became a man who had spent so much time in this mansion; +but see what he has sent me in answer!" + +At these words he drew the priest's letter from his girdle and gave it +to the young lady. She began to read, and soon her dark brows met in +anger, but when she reached the place where the priest declared that +Pan Gideon wished to humiliate Yatsek, thanks to the suggestions of +another, her hands trembled, her face became scarlet, then grew as pale +as linen, and remained pale. + +Though Pan Gideon saw all this he feigned not to see it. + +"May God forgive them for what they attribute to me," said he, after a +moment of silence. "He alone knows whether my ancestors are much below +the Tachevskis, of whose greatness more fables than truth are related. +What I cannot forgive is this: that they pay thee, my poor dear, for +thy kindness of an angel, with such ingratitude." + +"It was not Pan Yatsek who wrote this, but Father Voynovski," answered +Anulka, seizing, as it were, the last plank of salvation. + +The old noble sighed. + +"Dost thou believe, girl," inquired he, "that I love thee?" + +"I believe," answered she, bending and kissing his hand. + +"Though thou believe," said he, stroking her bright head with great +tenderness, "thou knowest not clearly that thou art my whole +consolation. Rarely do I permit myself words such as these, and rarely +do I tell that which my heart feels, since former suffering is +concealed in it. But thou shouldst understand that I have only thee in +the world. I would increase hourly, not thy disappointment, pain, and +trouble, but thy joy and happiness. I do not ask what began to bud in +thy heart, but I will say this to thee: whether that was, as I think, a +pure, sisterly feeling, or something more, that young man was unworthy. +He has heaped on us ingratitude in return for our sincere friendship. +My Anulka, thou wouldst deceive thyself wert thou to think that the +priest wrote this letter without Yatsek's knowledge. They wrote it +together and knowest why they replied with such insolence? As I have +heard, Tachevski got money from that Armenian in Yedlinka. That is what +he needs, and now since he has it he cares for naught else, and for no +one any longer. This is the truth, and in thy soul thou must +acknowledge that to think otherwise would be willing self-deception." + +"I see," answered Anulka. + +Pan Gideon meditated awhile as if he were dwelling on something. + +"People say," added he finally, "that it is a vice of old people to +praise past times and lay blame on the present. But no, this is not a +vice. The world is growing worse, people are becoming worse. In my day +no man would have acted as has Tachevski. Dost thou know the first +cause of this? That night on the tree, which exposed this lord cavalier +to the ridicule of people. To hurry, as it were, to help some one and +then climb a tree out of terror, may happen, but in such a case it is +better not to boast of it, for the thing is ridiculous, ridiculous! I +do not hold up the Bukoyemskis or Pan Stanislav as heroes: they are +drunkards, road-blockers, gamblers--I know them! Our lives were less in +their minds than were wolf skins. But there is lurking in this Yatsek +such envy that he could not forgive them that chance aid which they +gave us. Out of that rose the duel. May God punish me if I had not +reason to be angry. Ha, they made friends after the duel, for it is +clear that our cavalier understood that he could get money from Pan +Serafin, so he preferred to turn his malice against this mansion. +Pride, animosity, ingratitude, and greed, those are the things which he +has manifested, and nothing better. He has injured me. Never mind. God +forgive him! But why should he attack thee, my dear flower? A neighbor +for long years, a guest for long years--daily visits. A gypsy in such a +position would become faithful; a swallow grows used to its roof; a +stork returns to its nest; but he spat on our house as soon as he felt +in his purse the coin of the Armenian. No! No! No man in my day would +have acted in that style." + +Anulka listened with her palms on her temples, and with eyes looking +out before her in fixedness, so Pan Gideon stopped and looked at her +once, and a second time. + +"Why dost thou forget thyself?" asked he. + +"I have not forgotten myself, but I am so sad that words have deserted +me." + +And not finding words she found tears. + +Pan Gideon let her cry till she had finished. + +"It is better," said he at last, "to let that sadness pass off with +tears than let it stay in the heart and be petrified. Ah, it is hard! +Let him go, let him clink other men's coin, let him touch the mud with +his saddle-cloth, let him strut as a lord, and court Warsaw harlots. +But we will remain here, my girl. That is no great delight, it is true, +but still it is a delight, if thou remember that no one in this house +will deceive thee, no one here will offend thee, no one will break thy +heart; that here thou wilt be always as an eye in the head of each +person, that thy happiness will be the first question always, and also +the last question of my life. Come--" + +He stretched his arms toward her, and she fell on his breast with +emotion and gratitude, as she would on the breast of a father who was +comforting her in a moment of suffering. + +Pan Gideon fell to stroking her bright head with the one hand that +remained to him, and long did they sit there in silence. Meanwhile it +was growing dark, the frosty window-panes glittered in the moonlight, +and dogs made themselves heard here and there with prolonged barking. + +The warmth of the maiden's body penetrated to the heart of Pan Gideon +which began to beat with more vigor, and since he feared to make a +declaration too early, he would not expose himself then to temptation. + +"Stand up, child," said he. "Thou wilt not weep now?" + +"I will not," answered she, kissing his hand. + +"Seest thou! Ah, this is it! Remember always the place where thou hast +a sure refuge, and where it will be calm for thee, and pleasant. Every +young man is glad to race over the world like a tempest, but for me +thou art the only one. Fix this well in mind. More than once, perhaps, +hast thou thought, 'My guardian seems a savage wolf; he is glad to find +some one to shout at, and he has no understanding of my young ideas;' +but knowest thou of what this guardian has thought and is thinking at +present? Often of his past happiness, often of that pain, which like an +arrow is fixed in his heart--that is true, but besides that only of +thee and thy future, only of this: to secure every good thing for thee. +Pan Grothus and I talked whole hours of this. He laughed because, as he +said, one thought alone remained with me. My one point was to secure to +thee after my death even a sufficient and quiet morsel." + +"May God not grant me to wait for that!" cried she, bending again to +the hand of Pan Gideon. + +And in her voice there was such sincerity that the stern face of the +old noble was radiant with genuine joy for the moment. + +"Dost thou love me a little?" + +"Oh, guardian!" + +"God reward thee, child. My age is not yet so advanced, and my body, +save for the wounds in my heart and my person, would be sufficiently +stalwart. But as men say, death is ever sitting 'at the gate, and +knocks at the door whensoever it pleases. Were it to knock here thou +wouldst be alone in the world with Pani Vinnitski. Pan Grothus is a +good man and wealthy; he would respect my testament and wishes at all +times, but as to other relatives of my late wife--who knows what they +would do? And this estate and this mansion I got with my wife. Her +relatives might wish to resist, and raise lawsuits. There is need to +have foresight in all things. Pan Grothus gave advice touching this +case--true, it is effective--but strange, and therefore I will not +speak to thee yet of it. I should like to see His Grace the King--to +leave thee and my will to his guardianship, but the king is occupied +now with the coming war and the Diet. Pan Grothus says that if there is +war the troops will move first under the hetmans, and the king will +join them at Cracow--perhaps then--perhaps we shall go together. But +whatever happens, know this, my child; all that I have will be thine, +though I should have to follow at last the advice of Pan Grothus. +Yes!--even for one hour before death! Yes, so help me, God. For I am +not a wind in the field, not a harebrain, not a purse emptier, not a +Tachevski." + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + +Panna Anulka returned to her room filled with gratitude toward her +guardian, who up to that hour had never spoken to her with such +kindness; and at the same time she was disenchanted, embittered, and +disgusted with the world and with people. In the first moment she could +not and knew not how to think calmly; she had only the feeling that a +grievous wrong had been done her, a great injustice, and that an +awfully keen disappointment had struck her. + +For her love, for her sorrow, for her yearning, for all that she had +done to bind the broken threads together, her only reward was a hateful +suspicion. And there was no remedy. She could not, of course, write to +Yatsek a second time, to justify herself and explain the position. A +blush of shame and humiliation covered her face at the mere thought of +this. Besides, she was almost sure that Yatsek had gone. And next would +come war; perhaps she would never behold him in life again; perhaps he +would fall and die with the conviction that a perverse and wicked heart +was in her bosom. All at once boundless sorrow seized her. Yatsek stood +before her eyes as if living, with his embrowned face and those pensive +eyes which more than once she had laughed at, as being the eyes of a +maiden. + +The girl's thought flies like a swift swallow after the traveller, and +calls to him: "Yatsek! I wish thee no evil! God sees my heart, Yatsek." +Thus does she call to him, but he makes no answer; he rides on straight +ahead. What does he think of her? He only frowns and spits from disgust +as he travels. + +Again there are pearls on her eyelids. A certain weakness has come on +her, a moment of resignation in which she says to herself: "Ah, this is +difficult! May God forgive him, and go with him, and never mind me!" + +But her lips quiver like those of a child, her eyes look like those of +a tortured bird, and somewhere off in a hidden corner of her soul, +which is as pure as a tear, she blames God in the deepest secret for +that which has met her. + +Then again she felt certain that Yatsek had never loved her, and she +could not understand why he had not loved her, even a little. + +"My guardian spoke truly," said she. + +But later on came reflection. + +"No, that could not be." + +Immediately she recalled those words of Yatsek, which were fixed in her +memory as in marble. "Not thou art to go, I am the person to go; but I +say to thee: though for years I have loved thee more than health, more +than life, more than my own soul, I will never come back to thee. I +will gnaw my own hands off in torture, but, so help me, God, I will +never come back to thee." And he was pale as a wall when he said this, +and almost mad from pain and from anger. He had not come back, that was +true! He had appeared no more, he had left her, he had renounced her, +he had abandoned her, he had wronged her; with an unworthy suspicion he +and the priest had composed the dreadful letter--all that was true, and +her guardian was right in that. But that Yatsek had never loved her, +that after he had found money he had departed with a light and joyful +heart, that he thought of paying court to others, that he had ceased +altogether to think of her,--this was incredible. Her guardian might +think so in his carefulness, but the truth was quite different. He who +has no love does not grow pale, does not set his teeth, does not gnaw +his fists, does not rend his soul in anguish. Such being the case, the +young lady thought the difference was only this, that instead of one +two were now suffering, hence a certain consolation, and even a certain +hope, entered her. The days and months which were to come seemed +gloomier, it may be, but not so bitter. The words of the letter ceased +to burn her like red-hot iron, for though she doubted not that Yatsek +had assisted in the writing, it is one thing to act through sorrow and +pain, and another through deliberate malice. + +So again great compassion for Yatsek took hold of her; so great was it, +and especially so ardent, that it could not be simply compassion. Her +thoughts began to weave, and turn into a certain golden thread, which +was lost in the future, but which at the same time cast on her the +glitter of a wedding. + +The war would soon end and also the separation. That cruel Yatsek would +not return to Belchantska. Oh, no! a man so resolute as he when once he +says a thing will adhere to it; but he will come back to those parts, +and return to Vyrambki; he will live near by, and then that will happen +which God wishes. He went away it may be with tears, it may be with +pain, with wringing of hands--God comfort him! He will come home with a +full heart, and with joy, and, especially after war, with great glory. + +Meanwhile she will be there quietly in Belchantska, where her guardian +is so kind; she will explain to that guardian that Yatsek is not so bad +as other young men--and farther on moved that golden thread which began +to wind round her heart again. + +The goldfinch, in the Dantsic clock of the drawing-room, whistled out a +late hour, but sleep flew from the young lady altogether. + +Lying now in her bed she fixed her clear eyes on the ceiling and +considered what disposition to make of her troubles and sorrows. If +Yatsek had gone it was only because he was running away from her, for +according to what she had heard war was still far from them. Her +guardian had not mentioned that young Stanislav and the Bukoyemskis +were to go away also; it was proper to come to an understanding with +them and learn something of Yatsek, and say some kind word which might +reach him through them, even in distant camps, and in war time. + +She had not much hope that those gentlemen would come to Pan Gideon's, +for it was known to her that they had gone over to Yatsek, and that for +a certain time they had been looking with disfavor on Pan Gideon; but +she relied on another thing. + +In some days there would be a festival of the Most Holy Lady; a great +festival at the parish church of Prityk, where all the neighboring +nobles assembled with their families. She would see Pan Stanislav and +the Bukoyemskis, if not in front of the church then at dinner in the +priest's house. On that day the priest received every one. + +She hoped too that in the throng she would be able to speak with them +freely, and that she would not meet any hindrance from her guardian +who, though not very kind toward those gentlemen recently, could not +break with them in view of the service which they had shown him. + +To Prityk from Belchantska the road was rather long, and Pan Gideon, +who did not like hurry, passed the night at Radom, or at Yedlina, if he +chose the road through the latter place. + +This time because of the overflow they took the safer though longer +road through Radom, and started one day before the festival--on wheels, +not on runners, for winter had broken on a sudden, and thoroughly. +After them moved two heavily laden wagons with servants, provisions, a +bed and sofas for decent living at inns where they halted. + +The stars were still twinkling, and the sky had barely begun to grow +pale in the east when they started. Pani Vinnitski led morning prayers +in the dark. Pan Gideon and the young lady joined her with very drowsy +voices, for the evening before they had gone to bed late because of +preparations for the journey. Only beyond the village and the small +forest, in which thousands of crows found their night rest, did the +ruddy light shine on the equally ruddy face and drowsy eyes of the +young lady. Her lips were fixed ready for yawning, but when the first +sun-ray lighted the fields and the forest she shook herself out of the +drowsiness and looked around with more sprightliness, for the clear +morning filled her with a certain good hope, and a species of gladness. +The calm, warm, coming day promised to be really wonderful. In the air +appeared, as it were, the first note of early spring. After +unparalleled snows and frosts came warm sunny days all at once, to the +astonishment of people. Men had said that from the New Year it seemed +as if some power had cut off the winter as it were with a knife-blade, +and herdsmen foretold by the lowing of cattle, then restive in the +stables, that the winter would not come back again. In fact, spring +itself was then present. In furrows, in the forest, at the north side +of woods and along streams, strips of snow still existed; but the sun +was warming them from above, and from beneath were flowing out streams +and currents, making in places broad overflows in which were reflected +wet leafless trees, as in mirrors. The damp ridges of fields gleamed +like belts of gold in the sun-rays. At times a strong wind rose, but so +filled with gladsome warmth as if it came from out the sun's body +directly, and flying over the fields wrinkled the waters, throwing down +with its movement thousands of pearls from the slender dark twigs of +the tree branches. + +Because of the thaws and road "stickiness," and also because of the +weighty carriage which was drawn by six horses with no little effort, +they moved very slowly. As the sun rose more and more the air grew so +warm that Panna Sieninski untied the ribbons of her hood, which dropped +to the back of her head, and unbuttoned her weasel-skin shuba. + +"Are you so warm?" inquired Pani Vinnitski. + +"Spring, Auntie! real spring!" was the answer. + +And she was so charming with her bright and somewhat dishevelled head +pushed out from her hood, with laughing eyes and rosy face, that the +stern eyes of Pan Gideon grew mild as he glanced at her. For a while he +seemed as if looking at her then for the first time, and spoke as if +half to himself,-- + +"As God lives thou art at thy best also!" + +She smiled at him in answer. + +"Oh, how slowly we are moving," said she after a while. "The road is +awful! Is it not true that on a long road one should wait till it dries +somewhat?" + +Pan Gideon's face became serious, and he looked out of the carriage +without giving an answer. + +"Yedlina!" said he, soon after. + +"Then perhaps one may go to the church?" inquired Pani Vinnitski. + +"We will not, first because the church is sure to be closed, for the +priest has gone to Prityk, and second, because he has offended me +greatly, and I will hide my hand if he approaches." Then he added: "I +ask you, and thee also, Anulka, not to converse with him in any way." + +A moment of silence succeeded. Suddenly the tramping of horses was +heard behind the carriage, and the sounds made as the beasts pulled +their feet out of the mud; these resembled the firing of muskets,--then +piercing words were heard on both sides of the carriage. + +"With the forehead! with the forehead!" + +That was from the Bukoyemskis. + +"With the forehead!" answered Pan Gideon. + +"Is your grace for Prityk?" + +"I go every year. I suppose your lordships are going also to the +festival?" + +"You may lay a wager on that," replied Marek. "One must be purified +from sin before war comes." + +"But is it not early yet?" + +"Why should it be too early?" asked Lukash. "All that has been sinned +up to the moment will fall from one's shoulders, since that is the use +of absolution; and as to sins incurred later, the priest absolves from +those in presence of the enemy, _in partikulo mortis_." + +"You wish to say _in articulo_" corrected Pan Gideon. + +"All the same, if only repentance is real." + +"How do you understand repentance?" inquired the amused Pan Gideon. + +"How do I understand repentance? Father Vior, the last time, commanded +that we give ourselves thirty stripes in discipline, and we gave fifty; +for we thought: Well, since this pleases the Heavenly Powers, let them +have all they want of it." + +At this even the serious Pani Vinnitski laughed and Panna Anulka hid +her face in her sleeve as if warming her nose there. + +Lukash noticed, as did his brothers, that their answer had roused +laughter, hence they were somewhat offended and silent; so for a time +were heard only the rattling of chains on the carriage, the snorting of +horses, the sound of mud under hoofs, and the croaking of crows. +Immense flocks of these birds were sailing away in the sunlight from +small places and villages to the pine woods. + +"Ah! they feel this very minute that there will be food even to wade +in," said the youngest Bukoyemski, turning his eyes toward the crows. + +"Yes, war is their harvest," said Mateush. + +"They do not feel it yet, for war is far off," said Pan Gideon. + +"Far or near, it is certain!" + +"And how do you know?" + +"We all know what the talk was at the district diets, and what +instructions will be given to the general Diet." + +"True, but it is not known if they were the same everywhere." + +"Pan Prylubski, who has travelled through a great part of the +Commonwealth, says they were the same everywhere." + +"Who is Pan Prylubski?" + +"He comes from Olkuts, and makes levies for the bishop of Cracow." + +"But has the bishop commanded to make levies before the assembling of +the Diet?" + +"You see, your grace, how it is! This is the best proof that war is +certain. The bishop wants a splendid light cavalry regiment--well, Pan +Prylubski came to these parts because he has heard of us somewhat." + +"Ho! ho! Your glory has gone far through the world. Are you going?" + +"Of course!" + +"All of you?" + +"Why should we not all go? It is a good thing during war to have a +friend at one's side, and still better a brother." + +"Well, and Pan Stanislav?" + +"He and Pan Yatsek will serve in one regiment." + +Pan Gideon glanced quickly at the young lady sitting in front; a sudden +flame rushed over her cheeks, and he inquired further,-- + +"Are they so intimate already? Under whom will they serve?" + +"Under Pan Zbierhovski." + +"Of course in the dragoons?" + +"In God's name, what are you saying? That is the hussar regiment of +Prince Alexander." + +"Is it possible! Is it possible! That is no common regiment--" + +"Pan Yatsek is no common man." + +Pan Gideon had it on his lips to say that such a stripling in the +hussars would be a soldier, not an officer, but he held back the +remark, fearing it might seem that his letter was not so polite, or his +help so considerable as he had told Anulka, so he frowned and said,-- + +"I have heard of the mortgage of Vyrambki; how much was given on it?" + +"More than you would have given," answered Marek, dryly. + +Pan Gideon's eyes glittered for a moment with savage anger, but he +restrained himself a second time, for it occurred to him that further +conversation might serve his purpose. + +"All the better," said he, "the cavalier must be satisfied." + +The Bukoyemskis, though slow-witted by nature, began to exaggerate, one +more than the other, just to show Pan Gideon how little Tachevski cared +for him and all in his mansion. + +"Of course!" called out Lukash, "when he went away he was almost wild +from delight. He sang so that the candles at the inn toppled over. It +is true, that we had drunk some at parting." + +Pan Gideon looked again at Panna Sieninski, and saw that her rosy face +full of youth and life had become as it were petrified. Her hood had +fallen off entirely, her eyes were closed as in sleep; only from the +movement of her nostrils and the slight quivering of her chin could it +be known that she was not sleeping, but listening, and listening +intently. It was painful to look at her, but the merciless noble +thought,-- + +"If there is a splinter in thy heart yet will I pluck it out of thee!" +And he said aloud,-- + +"Just as I expected--" + +"What did you expect?" + +"That you gentlemen would be drunk at the parting, and that Pan +Tachevski would go away singing. Of course, he who is seeking fortune +must hurry, and if it smiles on him, perhaps he may catch it--" + +"Of course!" exclaimed Lukash. + +"Father Voynovski," added Marek, "gave Tachevski a letter to Pan +Zbierhovski, who is his friend, and in Zbierhova the land is such that +you can sow onions in any place,--and he has an only daughter, just +fifteen years of age. So don't you bother about Tachevski; he will make +his way without you, and without these sands around Radom!" + +"I do not bother myself about him," said Pan Gideon, dryly. "But +perhaps you gentlemen are in a hurry to ride on? My carriage moves in +this mud like a tortoise." + +"Well, here is to you with the forehead!" + +"With the forehead! with the forehead! I am the servant of your +lordships!" + +"We are yours in the same way!" + +Having said this the brothers moved forward more speedily, but when +they had ridden an arrow-shot from the carriage they reined in again +and talked with animation. + +"Did ye see?" asked Lukash, "I said 'Of course!' twice, and twice I +thrust a sword into his heart as it were; he almost burst out." + +"I did better," said Marek, "for I struck both the girl and the old +man." + +"How? Tell us, do not hide!" called the brothers. + +"Did ye not hear?" + +"We heard, but do thou repeat." + +"I struck with what I said of Panna Zbierhovski. Ye saw how the girl +became pale? I looked at her; she had her hand on her knee and she +opened and closed it, opened and closed it, just like a cat before +scratching. A man could see that anger was diving down into her." + +But Mateush reined in his horse, and he added,-- + +"I was sorry for her--such a dear little flower--and do ye remember +what old Pan Serafin said?" + +"What did he say?" inquired, with great curiosity, Lukash, Marek, and +Yan, reining in their horses. + +Mateush looked at them a while through his protruding eyes, then said +as if in sorrow,-- + +"But if I have forgotten?" + +Meanwhile not only Pan Gideon, but Pani Vinnitski, who generally knew +very little of what was happening around her, turned attention to the +changed face of the young lady. + +"But what is the matter, Anulka? Art thou cold?" + +"No," answered the girl, with a sort of sleepy voice which seemed not +her own. "Nothing is the matter, only the air affects me strangely--so +strangely." + +Though her voice broke from moment to moment she had no tears in her +eyes; on the contrary, in her dry pupils there glittered sparks +peculiar, uncommon, and her face had grown older. Seeing this Pan +Gideon said to himself,-- + +"Would it not be better to strike while the iron is hot?" + + + + + CHAPTER X + + +Many nobles appeared at the festival from near and even distant places. +There were assembled the Kohanovskis, the Podgaiyetskis, the +Silnitskis, the Potvorovskis, the Sulgostovskis, Tsyprianovitch with +his son, the Bukoyemskis and many others. But the greatest interest was +roused by the arrival of Prince Michael Chartoryski, the voevoda of +Sandomir, who stopped at Prityk on his way to the Diet at Warsaw and, +in waiting for the festival, had passed some days in devotion. All were +glad of his presence, for he added splendor to the occasion, and at the +same time it was possible to learn from him no little touching public +questions. He spoke of the injustices which the Porte had committed +against the Commonwealth in fixing the boundary of Podolia, and the +raids which in defiance of treaties had ruined Russian lands recently. +He declared war to be certain. He said that a treaty with the Emperor +would be concluded beyond question, and that even adherents of France +would not show it open opposition, since the French court, though +unfriendly in general to the Empire, knew the peril in which the +Commonwealth found itself. Whether the Turks would hurl themselves +first against Cracow, or Vienna was unknown to Prince Michael, but it +was known to him that the enemy were preparing "arms and men" +at Adrianople, and in addition to the forces with Tököli at Koshytsi, +nay those in all Hungary, thousands were assembling from Rumelia, from +Asia, from regions on the Euphrates and the Tigris, from Africa, from +the Red Sea to the waves of the measureless ocean. + +The nobles heard this news eagerly; the older men, who knew how +gigantic was the power of the pagan, with anxiety in their faces, the +younger men with knit brows, and with fire in their glances. But hope +and enthusiasm were predominant, for fresh in their minds was the +memory of Hotsim, where the king reigning actually, a hetman at that +time, leading Polish forces, besieged a Turkish power greater than his +own, bore it apart upon sabres, and trampled it with horsehoofs. They +were comforted by the thought that the Turks, who rushed with +irresistible daring on all troops of other nations, felt their hearts +weaken when they had to stand eye to eye in the open field against that +terrible "Lehistan" cavalry. Still greater hope and still higher +enthusiasm were roused by the preaching of Father Voynovski. Pan Gideon +was somewhat afraid lest in that sermon there might be some reference +to sins, and certain points of blame which would touch him and his +treatment of Yatsek, but there was nothing of that sort. War and the +mission of the Commonwealth had swept the priest away heart and soul. +"Christ," said he, "has chosen thee among all the nations, He has +placed thee on guard before all the others, He has commanded thee to +stand beneath His cross and defend, to thy last drop of blood and the +last breath in thee, that faith which is the foundation of living. The +field of glory lies open before thee, hence, though blood were to flow +around thee on both sides, though arrows and darts were to stick in +thee, rise, lion of God, shake thy mane, and thunder so that from that +thunder the marrow will melt in the bones of the pagan, and crescents +and horse-tails will fall, like a pine wood in front of a tempest." + +Thus did Father Voynovski speak to the knightly hearers before him, +because he was an old soldier who had fought all his life and knew how +it was on the battlefield. When he spoke of war it seemed to those +present that they were looking on the canvases in the king's castle at +Warsaw, on which various battles and Polish victories were presented as +if real. + +"See, now," said he, "the regiments are starting. Their spears are +lowered to a line with the middle of the horse-ears; they have bent +forward in the saddle, there is a cry of fear among the pagans, and +delight up in heaven. The Most Holy Mother runs to the window with all +her might, crying: 'Oh come, dear Son, and see how the Poles are +attacking!' The Lord Jesus with his holy cross blesses them. 'By God's +wounds!' he cries, 'there they are, my nobles, my warriors. Their pay +here is ready for them!' And the archangel, holy Michael, strikes his +palms on his thighs and shouts: 'Into them, the dog-brothers! Strike!' +That is how they rejoice up in heaven. And those down here cut and cut. +Men, standards, horses roll over and over. They rush across the bellies +of Janissaries, over captured cannon, and trampled crescents; they +advance to glory, to reward, to an accomplished mission, to salvation, +to immortality." + +When at last he finished with the words, "And Christ calls you, too; it +is your time now to the field of glory!" there rose a shout in the +church, and a clattering of sabres. At Mass, when during the Gospel +every blade sounded in its scabbard, and steel glittered in the +sunlight, it seemed to tender women that war had already begun; and +they fell to sobbing, committing their fathers and husbands and +brothers to the Most Holy Lady. + +The Bukoyemskis, whispering among themselves, made a vow to move +immediately after the festival, and not to take to their lips, until +Easter, water, milk, or even beer, but content themselves with drinks +which keep up heat in the blood, and therefore valor. + +General enthusiasm was so great that even the cold, stern Pan Gideon +did not resist it. He thought for a while that, though his left arm was +missing, he might hold the reins in his teeth, and with his right hand +take vengeance once more for the wrongs which he had suffered from +cursed pagans, and besides gild anew his former services to the +Commonwealth. But he made no vow, and left the whole matter for further +meditation. + +Meanwhile the service was concluded in splendor. From the cemetery were +fired cannon given by the Kohanovskis for important occasions. In the +tower the swinging bells thundered. The tame bear in the choir pumped +the organ with such vigor that the tin pipes almost flew from their +settings. The church was filled with smoke from censers, and trembled +from the voices of people. Mass was celebrated by the prelate +Tvorkovski, from Radom,--a learned man, full of sentences, quotations, +examples, and proverbs; at the same time he was gladsome, and knew the +world thoroughly. For these reasons, men went to him for counsel in +every question; and so did Pan Gideon, who went the more readily, as +the prelate was a friend of his. On the eve of the festival, Pan Gideon +was with him at confession; but when, besides the confession, he began +to acknowledge his intentions, the object of which was Panna Anulka, +the prelate deferred that to a later and special meeting, saying that +he had barely time to hear the sins of common people. "On the way back +from the festival," said he to Pan Gideon, "you can send home the women +and stay with me at Radom, where, _procul negotiis_ (far from +business), I can listen to you in freedom." + +And thus did they manage. Hence, a day later they sat down before a +decanter of worthy Hungarian and a plate of roast almonds, which the +prelate took with wine very willingly. + +"I am silent," said he; "and attentive--speak on!" + +Pan Gideon took a draught from the glass and looked from his iron eyes +with some discontent at the prelate, because the latter had not eased +his conversation by a proper beginning. + +"Hm! somehow it is not easy; I see that it is more difficult than I +imagined." + +"Then I will help you. Did you wish to speak of some holy thing?" + +"Of a holy thing?" + +"Yes; which has two heads and four feet." + +"What sort of holy thing is that?" asked Pan Gideon, astonished. + +"I mention a riddle. Guess it." + +"My dear prelate, whoso has important affairs in his head has no time +for riddles." + +"Pshaw! Think a while!" + +"Some holy thing with two heads and four feet?" + +"Yes." + +"As God lives, I know not." + +"It is holy matrimony. Is that not so?" + +"True, as God is dear to me! Yes, yes, precisely on that subject do I +wish to talk with you." + +"Then it is a question of Anulka Sieninski?" + +"Of her exactly. Do you see, my benefactor, she, of course, is not my +relative, or if she is, the relationship is so distant that no one +could prove it. But I have become attached to her, for I reared her, +and I am bound in gratitude to her family, for what the Pangovskis had +in Russia, just as the Jolkievskis, Danilovitches, and Sobieskis, they +had from the Sieninskis, or through them. I should like to leave the +orphan what I have, but in fact the fortune of the Pangovskis has +vanished through Tartar attacks; there remains only the estate of my +late wife. It is mine; she left it by will to me; but this place is +full of her relatives. First of all is Pan Grothus, the starosta of +Raigrod. I do not fear him, for he is rich beyond need, and a good man. +For that matter it was he who gave me this idea, which before that had +occurred, it is true, more than once to me; for the desire was at the +bottom of my heart in a slumber, but he roused it. In addition to Pan +Grothus are the Sulgostovskis, the Krepetskis, the Zabierzovskis. These +look even to-day with ill-will at the young lady; but how would they +look after my death? If I make a will and leave what I own to her they +will go to the courts; there will be lawsuits dragging on from tribunal +to tribunal. How could she, poor thing, help herself? I cannot leave +her in such a condition. Attachment, compassion, and gratitude are +strong links. I ask with a clear conscience if I am not bound to secure +her even in such a way?" + +The prelate bit a nut in two and showed the second half to Pan Gideon. + +"Do you know why this nut pleases me? Because it is good! If it were +decayed I would not eat it." + +"Then what?" + +"Then that Anulka pleases your taste, for she is an almond. Hai! and +what an almond! If she were fifty years old it is certain that your +conscience would not be so troubled concerning her future." + +Pan Gideon was confused at this, but the prelate continued,-- + +"I do not take this ill of you, for, as you see, there must be a good +reason for everything, and God has so arranged that every man prefers a +young turnip to an old one. With wine it is different, therefore we +agree willingly as to wine with the arrangement of Providence." + +"Yes, it is true. Except wine, what is young is better always; Pan +Kohanovski wrote only humorously, that an old man, like an old oak, is +better than a young one. This is the one question for me: if I leave +property to her as my wife no one will dare move a finger; but if I +leave it to her as a ward, there will be many lawsuits and quarrels, +and perhaps armed attacks also. Who could protect her from the latter? +Of course not Pani Vinnitski!" + +"That is undoubted." + +"But since I am neither a giddy nor an empty man, I did not wish to +decide this alone, hence I have come to you to confirm me in the +conviction that I am acting wisely, and that you will support me with +clear counsel." + +The prelate thought a while, and then added,-- + +"You see, that advice in a matter of this kind is difficult, and a man +repeats more than once to himself with B[oe]tius, _Si tacuisses, +philosophus mansisses_ (if thou remain silent, thou wilt be a +philosopher); or with Job, 'Even a fool if he remain silent will be +considered a wise man.' Your intention, in so far as it is roused by +warm affection, is justified, and in so far also as it flows from care +for the good of the girl, is even praiseworthy. But will not some +injustice be done her, will there not be need to constrain her, or to +lead her with threats to the altar? For I have heard that she and +Yatsek Tachevski are in love. And truly, without beating about the +bushes, I have more than once seen him a frequent guest at your +mansion." + +"What have you seen?" inquired Pan Gideon, abruptly. + +"Nothing sinful, but signs through which intimacy and love are denoted. +I saw more than once how they held each other's hands longer than was +needed, how they followed each other with their eyes. I saw him once in +a tree dropping cherries down into her apron, and how they so looked at +each other that the cherries fell to the ground past one rim of the +apron. I saw her when looking at flying storks lean on him, and +then--women are always subtle--scold him for coming too near her. And +what more did I see? Various things which prove secret wishes. You will +say that this is nothing. Of course, nothing! But that she felt the +will of God toward him as much, or more, than he toward her, only a +blind man could help seeing, and I wonder that you did not see this. I +wonder still more, if you did see it, that you did not stop it in view +of your own intentions." + +Pan Gideon had seen and known this, but still the words of the prelate +produced on him a terrible impression. It is one thing when some +pain-causing secret is hidden in the heart, and quite another when a +strange hand pushes into one's bosom and shakes up that secret. So now +his face became purple, his eyes filled with blood, a great bunch of +veins came out on his forehead, and he began to pant on a sudden, and +to breathe so quickly that the prelate, in alarm, asked,-- + +"What is the matter?" + +Pan Gideon answered, with a motion of the hand, that it was nothing, +but he remained silent. + +"Drink some wine," cried the priest. + +He stretched out his arm and with trembling hand took the glass, raised +it to his lips, drank, blew through his lips, and whispered,-- + +"It darkened before my eyes just a trifle." + +"Because of what I told you?" + +"No. That for some time has occurred to me often, but now I am fatigued +by the fast, by the journey, and by the spring, which is unexpected and +early." + +"Then perhaps it would be better not to wait for May, but be bled +immediately." + +"I will be bled, but I will rest a while now, and we will return later +on to this business." + +A fairly long time passed before Pan Gideon recovered completely, but +at last he recovered. The veins relaxed on his forehead, his heart +began to beat evenly, and he continued,-- + +"I will not say that strength fails me. Were I to squeeze with my one +hand I could crush, as I think, this silver goblet very easily; but +though strength and health are both in God's hand they are not +identical." + +"Man's life is fragile!" + +"But just because of that, if something is to be done there is need to +act quickly. You speak, my benefactor, of Pan Yatsek and that affection +which the young people might feel for each other. I will say sincerely +that I was not blind. I too saw what was happening, but only in recent +days did I note it; for remember that till recently she was a green +berry, which even now has barely ripened. He came every day, it is +true, but because, perhaps, he had not much to eat in his own house; +besides, I received him, as it were, through compassion. Father +Voynovski trained him in Latin and at the sabre, and I gave him +nourishment. That's the whole story. Only a year ago he reached +manhood. I looked on them as children who were thinking of various +plays and amusements. I considered it an ordinary occurrence. But that +such a pauper should dare to think; and, besides, of whom?--of Panna +Anulka! That, I confess, never came to my mind, and only in the last +hours did I take note of anything." + +"Nonsense! A pauper is a pauper, but Tachevski--" + +"Of Hungerdeath! No, my benefactor, he who licks a stranger's saucepan +should be asked only into dogs' company. When I saw what kind of man he +was I looked at him more carefully, and know you what I found? This, +that not merely was he a pauper and a giddy head, but a venomous +reptile, ever ready to sting the hand feeding him. Thank God he is +gone; but he has stung, not me alone, but that innocent maiden." + +"How is that?" + +Pan Gideon began to relate how it was, painting with such blackness the +deeds of Tachevski that a hangman might have been called in immediately +to take him. + +"Never fear, my benefactor," said he at last. "During our journey to +Prityk the Bukoyemskis poured out in full to Anulka; ah, to the full so +completely that it flowed over, and now the situation is such that +never will the girl feel such abhorrence for any creature of God as for +that whipper-snapper, that roysterer, that abortion." + +"Be moderate, or your blood will boil again." + +"True. And I did not wish to speak of him, but of this, that I have not +in view any injustice to the girl, or any constraint. Persuasion is +another thing, but even that should be used by a stranger, yet by a man +who is at the same time her friend and mine,--a man known for wit and +dignity, who can use noble phrases, move the heart and convince the +reason. Hence my desire is to beg you, my special benefactor, to see to +this. You will not refuse me; you will do this, not merely from +friendship, you will do it because it is honorable and proper." + +"It is a question of her good and of yours, hence I will not refuse; +but I should like to have time to decide how this may be accomplished +most easily." + +"Then I will go at once to the barber and have myself bled, so as to go +home clearer witted,--but do you make your plan. For you that will not +be difficult, and on the other side there will be, as I think, no +obstacle." + +"There can be only one obstacle, lord brother." + +"What is it?" + +"Friendship should tell the truth, hence I speak freely. You are an +honorable person, I know that, but rather stubborn. You have this +reputation, and you have it because your dependants all fear you +tremendously. Not only the peasants, concerning whom you have +quarrelled with Father Voynovski, but your servants, attendants, and +managers. Tachevski feared you, Pani Vinnitski fears you, the young +lady fears you. Two matchmakers will appear according to custom. I will +do what I can, but I will not guarantee that the other may not destroy +all my labor." + +During one moment Pan Gideon's eyes flashed with anger, for he did not +like to have the truth told in his presence; but amazement now +conquered his anger, so he asked,-- + +"Of what are you speaking? What other matchmaker is there?" + +"Fear," said the prelate. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + +They were unable to go that same day to Belchantska, for Pan Gideon +weakened considerably after bleeding, and said that some rest was +needed. Next morning, however, he felt brighter; he had grown young, as +it were, and he approached his own mansion with good hope, though with +a certain disquiet. Occupied with his own thoughts entirely, he spoke +little along the way with the prelate, but when they were entering the +village he felt his disquiet increasing. + +"This is a wonder to me," said he. "Ere this time I came home as a man +who is master, and all others were concerned about this, with what face +would I greet them; while now I am the anxious one, I ask myself how +will they greet me." + +"Virgil has said," replied the prelate, "'_amor omnia vincit_' (love +conquers everything), but he forgot to add, that it changes everything +also. This Delilah will not shear your locks, for you are bald, but +that I shall see you spinning at her feet, as Hercules spun at the feet +of Omphale, is certain." + +"Ei! my nature is not of that kind. I have known always how to hold in +my fists both servants and household." + +"So people say, but for this very reason it lies in the position that +some one will take you in hand very thoroughly." + +"The hand is a dear one!" said Pan Gideon, with a joyousness which for +him was unusual. + +They drove very slowly, for the mud in the village was terrible; since +they had started from Radom not so soon after midday, night had fallen +already. In the cottages at the two sides of the road light came from +the windows and stretched in red lines to the cottages opposite. Here +and there near the fence appeared some human form, that of a woman, or +of a man who, seeing the travellers, bared his head and bowed as low as +his girdle. It was clear from these bowings, which seemed excessive, +that Pan Gideon held people in his fist, nay more, that he held them +too firmly, and that Father Voynovski blamed him, not without reason, +for tyranny. But the old noble felt in his bosom a softer heart than +had ever been in it till that evening, so looking at those bent +figures, and seeing the windows of those cottages leaning earthward, he +said,-- + +"I will grant some favor to those subjects whose part she takes +always." + +"Oh, see to it that thou do so," said the prelate. + +And they were silent. Pan Gideon was occupied for a time with his own +thoughts, then he added,-- + +"I know that you need no advice in this matter; but you must explain to +the lady what a benefaction is becoming ready for her, and that I think +about her first of all; but in case of resistance, which I do not +expect,--well, then even scold her in some degree." + +"You said that you did not wish to constrain her." + +"I said so, but it is one thing if I were to threaten, and another if +some one else, who, besides, is a spiritual person, exposes her +ingratitude." + +"Leave that task to me. I have undertaken it and will use my best +efforts; but I will talk to the girl in the most tender way possible." + +"Very well, very well! But one word more. She feels great abhorrence +for Tachevski, but should there be any mention of him it would be well +to say something more against him." + +"If he has acted as you say, this will not be needed." + +"We are arriving. Well! In the name of the Father and the Son--" + +"And the Holy Ghost--Amen!" + +They arrived, but no one came out to meet them, for the wheels made no +sound because of deep mud, and the dogs did not bark at the horses or +at the men, whom they recognized. It was dark in the hall, for the +servants were evidently sitting in the kitchen; and it happened that +when Pan Gideon first called, "Is any one here?" no one came to him, +and at the second call, in sharper tones, the young lady herself +appeared. + +She came holding a light in her hand, but since she was in the gleam of +it and they in the darkness she, not seeing them at once, remained near +the threshold; and they did not speak for a moment since to begin with, +it seemed a special sign to them, that she had come out before others, +and second, because her beauty astonished them as much as if they had +never beheld it till that moment. + +The fingers with which she grasped the candle seemed transparent and +rosy; the gleam crept along her bosom, lighted her lips and her small +face which looked somewhat drowsy and sad, perhaps because her eyes +were in a deep shade while her forehead and the glorious bright hair, +which was as a crown just above it, were still in full radiance. And +she all in quiet and splendor stood there in the gloom like an angel +created from ruddy brightness. + +"Oh, as God is dear to me, a vision!" said the prelate. + +Then Pan Gideon called,-- + +"Anulka!" + +Leaving the light on a nitch of the chimney, she ran to them and gave +greeting, joyously. Pan Gideon pressed her to his heart with much +feeling, commanded her to rejoice at the arrival of a guest so +distinguished, a man famous as a giver of counsel, and when after +greeting they entered the dining-hall he asked,-- + +"Is supper over?" + +"No. The servants were to bring it from the kitchen, and that is why no +one was standing at the entrance." + +The prelate looked at the old noble, and asked,-- + +"Then perhaps without waiting?" + +"No, no," answered Pan Gideon, "Pani Vinnitski will be here directly." + +Thereupon Pani Vinnitski made herself felt in reality, and fifteen +minutes later they sat down to heated wine and fried eggs. The prelate +ate and drank well, but at the end of the supper his face became +serious, and he said, turning to Panna Anulka,-- + +"My gracious young lady, God knows why people call me a counsellor and +why they take advice of me, but since your guardian does so, I must +speak with you on a certain task of importance which he has given my +poor wit to accomplish." + +When Pan Gideon heard this, the veins swelled on his forehead; the +young lady paled somewhat, and rose in disquiet, for, through some +unknown reason, it seemed to her that the prelate would talk about +Yatsek. + +"I beg you to another room," said he. + +And they left the dining-hall. + +Pan Gideon sighed deeply once and a second time; then he drummed on the +table with his fingers, and feeling the need of talking down his +internal emotion by words of some kind, he said to Pani Vinnitski,-- + +"Have you noticed how all the relatives of my late wife hate Anulka?" + +"Especially the Krepetskis," answered Pani Vinnitski. + +"Ha! they almost grit their teeth when they see her; but soon they will +grit them still harder." + +"How is that?" + +"You will learn in good season; but meanwhile we must find a bed for +the prelate." + +After a time Pan Gideon was alone. Two servants came to remove the +supper dishes, but he sent them away with a quick burst of anger, and +there was silence in the dining-hall, only the great Dantsic clock +repeated loudly and with importance: tik-tak! tik-tak! Pan Gideon +placed his hand on his bald head and began to walk in the chamber. He +approached the door beyond which the prelate was talking with Anulka, +but he heard merely sounds in which he distinguished the voice but not +the words of the prelate. So in turn he walked and halted. He went to +the window, for it seemed to him that there he would breathe with more +freedom. He looked for a while at the sky, with eyes from which +expression had vanished,--that sky over which the wind was hurrying the +torn clouds of spring, with light on their upper edges through which +the pale moon seemed to rise higher and higher. As often as he rested +an evil foreboding took hold of him. He looked through the window close +to which black limbs of trees were wrestling back and forth with the +wind, as if in torment; in the same way his thoughts were struggling +back and forth, disordered, evil, resembling reproaches of conscience, +and painful forebodings that some bad thing would happen, and that near +punishment was waiting--but when it grew bright out of doors, again +better hope entered him. + +Every one has a right to think of his own happiness--as to Yatsek +Tachevski it was of little importance what such people do! What was the +question at present? The happiness and calm future of a young girl; but +besides this there smiled on him a little life in his old age--and this +belongs to him. This only is real, the rest is wind, wind! + +And he felt again a turning of the head, and black spots danced before +his vision, but that lasted very briefly. Then he approached the door +behind which his fate was in the balance. Meanwhile the light on the +table acquired a long wick and the chamber grew gloomy. At times the +voice of the prelate became sharper, so that words would have reached +the ear of Pan Gideon had it not been for that loud and continuous +"tik-tak." It was easy to understand that such a conversation could not +end quickly, still, Pan Gideon's alarm grew and grew, turning, as it +were, into certain wonderful questions woven into the past, with +memories not only of former misfortunes and pain, but also of former +unextinguished transgressions, of former grievous sins, and of recent +injustices inflicted not only on Tachevski, but on others. + +"Why and wherefore shouldst thou be happy?" asked his conscience. + +And he would have given at that moment he knew not how much if even +Pani Vinnitski might return to the chamber, so that he should not be +alone with those thoughts of his. But Pani Vinnitski was occupied +somewhere with work in another part of the mansion, while in that +dining-hall there was nothing but the clock with its "tik-tak!" + +"For what deed should God reward thee?" asked his conscience. + +Pan Gideon felt now that if that girl, who was at once like a flower +and an angel, should fail him, there would be a darkness in his life +which would last till the night of death should descend on him. + +With that the door opened on a sudden and Panna Sieninski came in from +the next chamber. She was pale; there were tears in her eyes; and +behind her was the prelate. + +"Art thou weeping?" asked Pan Gideon, with a hoarse, stifled voice. + +"From gratitude, guardian," cried she, stretching her hands to him. + +And she fell at his knees there. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + +That evening, or late at night, Pani Vinnitski appeared in the room of +her relative, and, finding the young lady still dressed, she talked to +her. + +"I cannot recover from amazement," said she; "sooner should I have +looked for death than that such an idea should have come to the head of +Pan Gideon." + +"Neither did I look for it." + +"How is it then? And is it so, really? I know not what to do, to be +glad, or the opposite. We know that the prelate as a spiritual person +has better judgment than the laity. He is right when he says that till +death thou wilt have a roof over thy head, and that roof thy own, not +another's. But Pan Gideon is old"--here she spoke lower--"art thou not +a little afraid of him?" + +"It is all in the past; there is nothing to think of at present," +answered Anulka. + +"How dost thou say that?" + +"I say that I owe him gratitude for a refuge, and a morsel of bread, +and that these are poorly paid for by my person which no one else cares +for; but since he cares, that too, is a favor on his part." + +"He began long ago to wish for this," said the old woman mysteriously. +"After he had talked to-day with thee he called me. I thought that +there was something wrong with the supper, and that he would reproach +me, but he said nothing. I saw that for some reason he was cheerful, +and all at once he broke the news to me. My legs trembled under me. +'What is the matter?' asked he. 'You are turned, like Lot's wife, to a +pillar of salt,' said he. 'Is it because I have taken such a mushroom?' +'No,' I answered, 'but because it is so unexpected.' 'With me,' said +he, then, 'that is an old idea. Like a fish at the bottom of a river it +was unknown till some one helped it to swim to the surface. And dost +thou know who that was?' I felt sure that it was the prelate. 'Not at +all,' said he, 'but Pan Grothus.'" + +A moment of silence followed. + +"But I thought Pan Yatsek--" said Anulka through her set teeth. + +"Why Yatsek?" + +"To show that he did not care for me." + +"Thou knowest that Yatsek has not seen Pan Gideon." + +Then Anulka began to repeat feverishly,-- + +"Yes, I know! He had something else in his head! Let that go! I do not +want to know anything. I do not, I do not! It is all finished, and +finished forever." + +A dry, nervous weeping shook her bosom. After a moment she repeated +again,-- + +"It is finished beyond recall!" Then they knelt down to an "Our +Father," which they repeated each evening in company. + +Next day Anulka appeared with a calm face, but something had changed in +her, something remained unexpressed, something had shut itself up in +her. She was not sad, but all at once, she had grown, as it were, some +years older, and she had in her now a certain calm dignity, so that Pan +Gideon, who hitherto had taken into account himself only, began without +noting it, to consider her also. In general he was unable to command +himself, and it seemed to him specially strange that he felt in some +sense his dependence on Anulka. He began to fear those thoughts which +she did not express, but which she might conceal in her spirit. He +tried to forestall such, and put in place of them others, of the kind +which he wanted. Even the silence of Pani Vinnitski was oppressive and +seemed to him suspicious; so he worked out fantastic pictures, talked, +joked, but there flashed up in his steel eyes at times certain gleams +of impatience. + +Meanwhile news of his engagement had gone through the neighborhood. Of +this engagement he now made no secret; on the contrary, he sent letters +announcing it to Pan Serafin, and to his nearest neighbors; he wrote +letters to the Kohanovskis, to the Podlodovskis, to the Sulgostovskis, +to Pan Grothus, to the Krepetskis, and even to distant relatives of his +late wife, with invitations to the betrothal, after which the marriage +would be celebrated immediately. + +Pan Gideon would have preferred to get a dispensation from the banns +even, but unfortunately it was the Lenten season, and he had to wait +till after Easter. He took both women, therefore, to Radom where the +young lady was to find her wedding outfit, and he to buy horses more +showy than those which he had at that time in his stables. + +Reports came to him that among the relatives who had hoped to inherit +everything not only after his late wife, but after him, there was as +much movement as there is in a beehive; but this pleased him, since he +hated them all from his innermost spirit, and was planning at all times +to harm them. Those tidings of meetings, whispered conferences, and +counsels shortened his visit to Radom. And when at last his stay there +was ended, and the horses together with new harness were purchased, he +returned on Easter eve to his mansion. Guests began to arrive almost at +the same time, for the betrothal was to take place on the third day +after Easter. + +First came the Krepetskis who were both the nearest relatives and +nearest neighbors. The father was almost eighty years old, with the +visage of a vulture, and renowned as a miser. He had three daughters: +Tekla, the youngest, was pretty and pleasant; Agneshka and Johanna were +not youthful, they were testy old maids with pimples on their cheeks at +all seasons. He had a son, Martsian, nicknamed Pniak (stump) in the +neighborhood. He bore the name justly, for at the first glance he +seemed a great stump; he had a mighty chest, and broad shoulders. His +bow-legs were so short that he was almost dwarflike, and his arms +reached his kneepans. Some thought him a hunchback; he was not, +however, but his head without a neck was fixed so closely to his body +that his high shoulders reached his ears, very nearly. Out of that +head peered prominent, lustful eyes, and his face was like that of a +he-goat. A small beard which he wore as if in defiance of general +custom, increased the resemblance. + +He did not serve as a warrior, for he had been ridiculed from service, +for which reason he had had in his time many duels. There was uncommon +strength in his stumpy body, and people feared him in all places, since +he was a quarreller and a road-blocker, who, in every affair, was glad +to seek pretexts; he was as irritable as a vicious beast, and wounded +savagely in Radom one Krepetski, his cousin, a handsome and worthy +young man who almost died of the injuries then inflicted. He felt +respect only for Yatsek, whose skill at the sabre was known to him, and +before the Bukoyemskis, one of whom, Lukash, threw him over a fence +like a bundle of straw once in Yedlina. He had the deserved reputation +of being a great profligate. Pan Gideon had driven him out of the +mansion a few years before that, because he had looked too much in goat +fashion at Panna Anulka, a little girl at that period. But since then +some years had passed, and, as they had met later in Radom, and in +neighboring houses, Pan Gideon invited him now with the family. + +Immediately after the Krepetskis came the Sulgostovskis, twin brothers, +who so resembled each other that when they put on coats of like fashion +no man could distinguish them; next came three remote Sulgostovskis +from beyond Prityk--and then a numerous family formed of nine people, +the handsome Zabierzovskis. From Yedlinka came Pan Serafin, but alone, +since his son had gone to his regiment already; Pan Podlodovski, the +starosta, once the agent of the great lord in Zamost; the Kohanovskis; +the priest from Prityk; the prelate Tvorkovski from Radom, who was to +bless the ring, and many small nobles from near and distant places, +some even without invitation, with this idea, that a guest though quite +unknown would be sure to find welcome, and that when there is a chance +to eat and drink a man should not miss it. + +Belchantska was crowded with carriages and wagons, the stables were +filled with horses, the outbuildings with servants of all sorts; +everywhere in the mansion were colored coats, sabres, shaven foreheads; +and with these went Latin, the twittering of women, farthingales, +laces, and various ornaments. Maids were flying around with hot water, +and tipsy servants with excellent wine in decanters. From morning until +night-hours the kitchen was steaming like a tar pit. The windows of the +mansion gleamed and flashed every evening, so that the whole place +around there was radiant. + +And amid all this tumult Pan Gideon moved through the chambers, walked +about and gave welcome, magnificent, important, grown young as it were +for the second time, dressed in crimson, and wearing a sabre which +glittered with jewels, a sabre which Panna Anulka had inherited; it was +her only dowry from wealthy forefathers. If giddiness seized him he +leaned on an armchair, and again he moved forward, showed honor to +guests who were personages, and struck one heel against the other when +greeting older ladies; but above all he followed with eyes which were +more and more enamoured "his Anulka," who bloomed in that many-colored +throng. Amid glances which were frequently ill-wishing, frequently +jealous, and filled sometimes with venom, she was as fair as a lily, +somewhat sad, or only conscious, it may be, of the weight of that fact +which she had to encounter. + +Thus things continued till the evening of the third day, that is, +Tuesday, when the mortars of the mansion thundered in the yard, thus +announcing to the guests and the country that the solemn moment had +come, the moment of betrothal. + +The guests ranged themselves then as a half-circle in the drawing-room, +men and women in splendid costumes bright as a rainbow in the light of +the candles. In front of them stood Pan Gideon and Panna Anulka. +Silence settled down, and the eyes of all people were fixed on the +bride, who with downcast eyes, with attention and dignity on her face, +without a smile, but not sad, seemed as if drowsy. + +The prelate Tvorkovski in his surplice, having near him young Tekla +Krepetski, who held a silver plate with rings on it, advanced from the +half-circle and addressed those who were soon to be married. He spoke +learnedly, long, and with eloquence, showing what were the _sponsalia +de futuro_, and what great importance from the earliest days of +Christianity was attached to betrothals. He quoted Tertullian, and the +Council of Trent, and the opinion of various learned canonists, then +turning to Pan Gideon and Panna Sieninski he explained to them how wise +their decision was, what great benefaction they promised each other, +and how their future happiness depended on themselves only. + +Those present listened with admiration, but also with impatience, for +as relatives from whom their inheritance was slipping they looked on +that marriage with repugnance. Pan Gideon, who from standing long had +grown dizzy, began to rest on one leg and then on the other, and to +give signs with his eyes to the prelate to finish; these signs he was +not quick to notice, but at last he blessed the rings and put them on +the fingers of the affianced. + +Then the mortars thundered again in the yard, and from the gallery in +the dining-hall was heard a loud orchestra made up of five Radom Jews +who played nicely. The guests came now in turn to congratulate, for the +greater part with sourness and insincerely. The two Krepetski old maids +simply jeered as they courtesied to their "Aunt," and Pan Martsian, +when kissing her hands, recommended himself to her graces with such a +goat glance that Pan Gideon ought to have driven him from the mansion a +second time. + +But others, more remote relatives, being better and less greedy, gave +sincere, cordial wishes. Now the door of the dining-hall was thrown +open; Pan Gideon gave his arm to his betrothed, and after him moved the +other couples amid the glitter and the quivering of flames caused by a +sudden cold gust which had blown through the entrance. From the kitchen +came the servants, half tipsy, with decanters of wine and an +unreckonable number of dishes. + +From the opening of doors there was such cold air in the dining-hall +that guests, while sitting down to the table, were seized the first +moment with a shiver, while the flickering of candles made the whole +hall, in spite of its elegant furnishing, seem dark and gloomy. But it +was proper to hope that wine would soon warm the blood in all present, +and wine was not spared by Pan Gideon. He was rather stingy in +every-day life, but on exceptional occasions he liked so to show +himself that people spoke long of him afterward. This happened now. +Behind every guest an attendant was standing with a mossy and +big-bellied bottle, while under the table were hidden a number of +servants with bottles also, so that in case a guest could not find more +to drink on the table he put down a goblet twixt his knees and they +filled it immediately. Immense glasses for drinkers, great goblets, +glittered in front of each man, but before ladies were smaller glasses, +either French or Italian. + +The guests did not occupy the whole table, however, for Pan Gideon had +commanded to set more plates than there were guests in the mansion. The +prelate cast his eyes on those empty places and fell to praising the +hospitality of the house and the master; at that moment he rose in his +chair somewhat, wishing to arrange the folds of his soutane, hence +those present supposed that he was going to offer the earliest toast, +and were silent. + +"We are listening!" said a number of voices. + +"Oh, there is no reason," said the prelate, with joyousness. "There is +no toast yet, though the time will come soon for it. I see some of you +gentlemen rubbing your heads rather early, and the Kohanovskis are +whispering as well as counting on their fingers. It is difficult to +expect rhymes from any if not from the Kohanovskis. I wish to say only +that it is an old Polish and praiseworthy custom to leave thus a place +for a guest who is unexpected." + +"Oh," answered Pan Gideon, "as the house is lighted up some one may +come from the darkness." + +"And perhaps some one is coming," said Kohanovski. "It may be Pan +Grothus?" + +"No-- Pan Grothus has gone to the Diet. If a man comes he will be +unexpected." + +"But the earth is soft, we shall not hear him." + +"Well, a dog is barking under the window, so some one is coming." + +"No one will drive in from that side, for the windows look into the +garden." + +"But the dog is not barking, he is howling." + +That was the case really. The dog had barked once, twice, a third time, +then the barking turned to a low, gloomy howling. + +Pan Gideon quivered despite himself, for he remembered how years and +years earlier in another place, at his house, which stood five miles +from Pomorani, in Russia, dogs had howled in the same way before a +sudden onrush of Tartars. + +The thought came to Panna Anulka, that she had no cause to expect any +one, and that should any man come to her from the darkness to that +lighted mansion he would be late in his coming. But it seemed somehow +strange to other guests, all the more as the first dog was joined by a +second, and a double howl was heard now near that window. So they +listened in disagreeable silence, which was broken only after a while +by Martsian Krepetski,-- + +"A guest at whom the dogs howl is nothing to us," said he. + +"Wine!" called Pan Gideon. + +But the glasses were full, hence there was no need to pour at that +moment. Old Krepetski, father of Martsian, rose from his chair somewhat +heavily, wishing to speak, as seemed evident. All turned their eyes to +him. Old men began to surround their ears with their hands to hear +better, but he only moved his lips after long waiting, his chin almost +meeting his nose, for he was toothless. + +Meanwhile, notwithstanding the fact that the earth was soft from +thawing, there came from the other side of the house, as it were, a +dull clatter and it was heard rather long, long enough to go twice +round the courtyard. Hence old Krepetski, who had raised his glass, +held it a while, looked at the door, and then put the glass down again; +other guests acted in like manner. + +"See who has come!" said Pan Gideon to his attendant. + +The youth rushed out, returned straightway, and answered,-- + +"There is no one." + +"That is strange," said the prelate. "The sound was heard clearly." + +"We all heard it," said one of the twin Sulgostovskis. + +"And the dogs have stopped howling," said others. + +Then the door of the entrance, badly fastened by the servant, as was +evident, opened of itself, and a new draught of air entered with such +violence that it quenched from ten to twenty candles. + +"What is that?" "Shut the door!" "The candles are dying!" said a number +of voices. + +But with the wind had rushed into the hall, as it were, some unknown +terror. Pani Vinnitski, who was superstitious and timid, began then to +cross herself audibly. + +"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost--" + +"Woman! be silent!" commanded Pan Gideon. + +Then turning to Panna Sieninski he kissed her hand. + +"A quenched candle cannot trouble my gladness," said he, "and God grant +me to be as happy to the end of my days as I am at this moment. Is that +not right, my Anulka?" + +"Yes, guardian," said she, bending toward his hand. + +"Amen!" ended the prelate, who rose to address them. + +"Gracious ladies and gentlemen, since that unexpected sound stopped, as +is evident, Pan Krepetski's ideas let me be the earliest expounder of +those feelings with which our hearts are warmed toward the future wife +and her husband. Hence, ere we cry out _O Hymen, O Hymenaios_, before +we, in Roman fashion, begin to call Thalassius, the beautiful youth who +God grant may appear at the earliest, let us raise _ex imo_ this first +toast to their prosperity and coming happiness: _Vivant, crescant, +floreant_" (may they live, increase, flourish). + +"_Vivant! Vivant!_" thundered all guests. + +The Radom orchestra was heard that moment, and outside the windows the +drivers fell to cracking their whips. + +Long did the shouts last, with the stamping of feet, the sounding of +horns and the cracking of whips. The servants, too, raised a shout +throughout the whole mansion, and in the dining-hall, amid endless +cheers, rose great sounds of wine-gulping. + +"_Vivant, crescant, floreant!_" + +Silence came only when Pan Gideon stood up, raised his glass, and said +in a loud voice,-- + +"My guests and relatives, very gracious and most dear to my heart! I +express with inadequate words my gratitude to all; I will first bow to +you profoundly for that brotherly and neighborly good-feeling which you +have shown me by meeting here under my poor roof in such numbers--" + +The words "under my poor roof" were pronounced with a kind of +marvellously mild, and, as it were, submissive accents, then he sat +down and bent his head, so that the forehead rested really on the +table. And the guests wondered that a man usually so distant and so +haughty should speak with such affection. They thought that great +happiness melts even hearts the most obdurate, and, waiting for what he +had to say further, they looked at his iron-gray head resting yet on +the edge of the table. + +"Silence! We are listening!" said voices. + +And in fact deep silence had followed. + +But Pan Gideon was motionless. + +"What is the matter? What has happened? For God's sake! Speak on!" +cried they. + +But Pan Gideon answered only with a terrible rattling; then his +shoulders and arms began on a sudden to quiver. + +Panna Sieninski sprang from her chair pale as a wall, and cried in +terrified accents,-- + +"Guardian! guardian!" + +At the table were dismay and confusion; cries and questions rose +everywhere. Guests surrounded Pan Gideon, the prelate seized his arms +and brought him to the back of the chair, some began to throw water on +him, others cried, "Take him to the bed and bleed him as quickly as +possible." Some of the women were tearful; some ran, as if frantic, +through the chambers with groans or with sharp lamentation. But Pan +Gideon remained sitting, his head was thrown back, the veins in his +forehead were distended like straps, his eyes were closed firmly, the +hoarseness and rattling grew louder. + +The unexpected guest had come indeed out of darkness and entered the +mansion, dreadful and merciless. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + +The servants, at command of the prelate, bore the sick man to the other +end of the mansion, to the "chancellery," which served Pan Gideon also +as a bedroom. They sent immediately for the village blacksmith, who +knew how to bleed, and bled men as well as animals. It appeared after a +moment that he was in front of the mansion with a whole crowd gathered +there for entertainment, but he was quite drunk, unluckily. Pani +Vinnitski remembered that Father Voynovski had the fame of being an +excellent physician, so a carriage was sent with all speed for him, +though it seemed clear that every effort would fail, and that no rescue +was possible for the sick man. That was in truth the position. + +Except Panna Anulka, Pani Vinnitski, the two Krepetskis, and Pan +Zabierzovski, who occupied himself somewhat with medicine, the prelate +admitted none to the chancellery, lest a throng might hinder recovery. +All other guests, as well women as men, had gathered into the adjoining +large chamber where beds for men had been provided. All were like a +flock of frightened sheep, filled with fear, alarm, and curiosity. +Watching the door, they waited for tidings, and some of them made +remarks in undertones touching that terrible happening, and touching +those omens which had announced it. + +"Did you notice how the lights quivered, and the flames were in some +manner blackish? From this it is clear that Death had overshadowed +them," said one of the Sulgostovskis, in a whisper. + +"Death was among us, and we did not know her."[5] + +"The dogs howled at her." + +"And that clatter! Perhaps that was just Death on her journey." + +"It is clear that God did not favor the marriage, which would have been +an injustice to the family." + +Further whispering was stopped by the coming of Pani Vinnitski and +Martsian. + +Pani Vinnitski hurried through the chamber, she was in haste to bring a +reliquary which warded off evil spirits; but Martsian they surrounded +immediately. + +"How is he?" + +Martsian shrugged his shoulders, raised them till his head seemed to be +in his bosom, and answered,-- + +"He is rattling yet." + +"Is there no hope?" + +"None." + +At that moment through the open door came distinctly the solemn words +of the prelate,-- + +"_Ego te absolve a peccatis tuis--et ab omnibus censuris, in nomine +Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti_. Amen." (I absolve thee from thy +sins, and from all blame, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy +Ghost.) + +All knelt and began to pray. Pani Vinnitski passed between the kneeling +people, holding with both hands the reliquary. Martsian followed and +closed the door after him. + +But it was not closed long, for a quarter of an hour later Martsian +appeared in it and said in his squeaking voice of a clarionet,-- + +"He is dead!" + +Then with the words, "Eternal rest," they moved one after another to +the chancellery, to cast a last look at the dead man. + +Meanwhile at the other end of the house, in the dining-hall, revolting +scenes were enacted. The servants of the household had hated Pan Gideon +as much as they had feared him; hence it seemed to them that with his +death would come an hour of relief, delight, and impunity. To servants +from outside an occasion was offered for revelry; so all servants, as +well those of the house as others summoned in to assist them, tipsy +more or less since midday, rushed now at the wine and the viands. +Servants raised to their lips whole flasks of Dantsic liquor, +Malmoisie, and Hungarian wine; others, more greedy for food, seized +pieces of meat and cake. The snow-white tablecloth was stained in one +twinkle with gravies. In the disturbance chairs were overturned on the +floor and candlesticks on the table. Ornamented cut glasses fell from +drunken hands to the floor with a crash and were broken. Quarrels and +fights burst out here and there in the dining-hall. Some stole table +ornaments directly. In one word, an orgy began, sounds of which flew to +the other end of the mansion. + +Martsian Krepetski, and after him the two Sulgostovskis, young +Zabierzovski and one more of the guests, rushed toward those outcries, +and at sight of what was happening drew their sabres. At the first +moment disturbance increased. The Sulgostovskis went no further than to +strike with the flat of the weapons, but Martsian was seized by an +access of fury. His staring eyes protruded still farther, his teeth +glittered from under his mustaches, and he began to cut with the sabre +edge whatever man met him. Some were covered with blood, others hid +under the table; the remainder crowded in disordered flight through the +door, and Martsian cut at this throng while he shouted,-- + +"Dog brothers! Scoundrels! I am master in this place!" + +And he rushed after them to the entrance whence his shrieking voice was +heard shouting,-- + +"Clubs! rods!" + +And the guests stood in the hall, as in ruins, gazing with mortified +look, and shaking their heads at the spectacle. + +"I have never seen such a sad sight," said one Sulgostovski. + +"A wonderful death, and wonderful happenings! Look at this it is just +as if Tartars had raided the mansion." + +"Or evil spirits," added Zabierzovski. "A terrible night!" + +They commanded the servants hidden under the table to crawl forth and +bring some order to the dining-hall. They came out, perfectly sobered +from terror, and went to work nimbly. + +Meanwhile Martsian had returned. He was calmer, but his lips were still +trembling from anger. + +"They will come to their minds!" said he, addressing those present. +"But I thank you, gentlemen, for helping me to punish those ruffians. +It will not be easier here for them than it was in the days of the dead +man! My head upon that point." + +The Sulgostovskis looked at him quickly, and one said,-- + +"You have not to thank us more than we you." + +"How is that?" + +"Why art thou qualifying to be the only judge here?" asked the other of +the twins. + +Martsian, as if wishing to spring to their eyes, sprang upward on his +short bow-legs straightway, and shouted,-- + +"I have the right, the right!" + +"What right?" + +"A better right than yours." + +"How is that? Hast read the will?" + +"What is a will to me?" Here he blew on the palm of his hand; "that's +what it is,--wind! To whom has he willed it--to his wife? But where is +his wife? That is the question--we are next of kin here. We--the +Krepetskis, not you." + +"But we will see about that. God kill thee!" + +"God kill thee! Clear out!" + +"Thou goat! Thou nasty cur! Why dost thou tell us to go? Better have a +care of thy goat forehead!" + +"Are ye threatening?" + +Here Martsian shook his sabre and pushed up to the brothers. They too +grasped at their weapons. + +But at that moment the offended voice of the prelate was heard there +behind them,-- + +"Gracious gentlemen, the dead man is not cold yet." + +The Sulgostovskis were terribly ashamed, and one of them said,-- + +"Reverend prelate, we are not to blame; we have our own bread and do +not desire that of others, but this serpent is beginning to sting, and +wishes to drive people out of this mansion." + +"What people? Whom?" + +"Whomever he comes upon. To-day us, whom he has ordered away, +to-morrow, perhaps, the orphan bride living under this roof here." + +"That is untrue! untrue!" cried Martsian. + +And, winding himself into a ball, he laughed sneeringly, rubbed his +hands, bowed down and said with a certain envenomed sincerity,-- + +"On the contrary, on the contrary! I invite all to the funeral and to +the feast following after the interment. I beg most humbly; my father +and I beg. And as to Panna Sieninski, she will find at all times a +roof, and protection, and care at all times, at all times!" + +And he went on rubbing his hands very gleefully. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + +Martsian had determined indeed to tell Panna Anulka that she must +always consider Belchantska as her own, but he deferred this +information till after the funeral; he wished first to talk with his +father, who, because of the legal actions on which he had been working +all his lifetime, was skilled in law, and was able to avoid in advance +many troubles. Both were convinced that their cause was a good one; so +the next day, just at the moment when men were placing Pan Gideon in +his coffin, they shut themselves up in a side chamber and began with +good courage to take counsel. + +"Providence is above us," said the old man, "nothing but Providence, to +which Pan Gideon will answer seriously for the injustice which he +intended to do us." + +"Well, let him answer," replied Martsian. "It is our happiness that he +only intended and did not succeed, for now we will take everything. The +Sulgostovskis have quarrelled with me already, but I will tear the +souls out of those wretches before I let them have even one field of +Belchantska." + +"Ha, the scoundrels! the sons of a such a one! God twist them! I have +no fear of such people, I fear only a will. Hast thou asked the +prelate? If any one knows of a will it is he." + +"I had no chance yesterday, for he attacked me when quarrelling with +the Sulgostovskis and said to us: 'The dead man is not cold yet,' then +he went for a coffin and a priest, and to-day there has been no +opportunity." + +"But if Pan Gideon has willed all to that girl?" + +"He had not the right, for this estate belonged to his late wife, our +nearest relative." + +"But a will has been mentioned, and there will be costs and going to +tribunals, and God knows what more in addition." + +"Father is accustomed to lawsuits. But I have fixed in my head +something of such sort that there will be no need of lawsuits; +meanwhile _beatus qui tenet_" (happy is the man in possession); "for +this reason I shall not leave Belchantska. I have sent for our servants +already. Let the Sulgostovskis or the Zabierzovskis drive me out +later." + +"But the girl, if it is willed to her?" + +"Who will take her side? She is as much alone in this world as a +finger; she has no relatives, no friends--an ordinary orphan. Who will +wish to expose his neck for her, lay himself open to quarrels, duels, +expenses? How does she concern any one? Tachevski was in love with her, +but Tachevski is gone, he may never come back, and if he should he has +nothing; he knows as much as my horse about lawsuits. To tell the +truth, the position is such that if not Pan Gideon, but her own father, +had left her Belchantska, we might come in here and manage in our own +way, under pretext of guarding the orphan. I think that Pan Gideon +intended to make a will only in the contract of marriage, so either no +will at all will be found, or if it be found it will be some old one +with a clause for Panna Anulka from her guardian." + +"We can break such a will," said the old man, "my head on that! Though +a lawsuit will not be avoided." + +"How so? I hear father's words, but I think it will be avoided." + +"If, for speaking between us, Pan Gideon's wife was weak-minded, if she +left all to her husband he had the right to leave it to whomever he +selected." + +Old Krepetski uttered the last words almost in a whisper, while looking +around on all sides, though he knew that there was no one in the room +except him and Martsian. + +"How could she leave it to him when she died suddenly?" asked Martsian. + +"It was dated the year after their marriage. It is clear that Pan +Gideon wheedled her out of it, because they inhabited perilous places, +and no man could know when the Tartars might howl out his requiem. They +drew up wills to each other in the town at Pomorani; these wills were +brought by Pan Gideon to this place. I thought to start lawsuits +against him at that time, but saw that I could not do so successfully. +Now it is different." + +"We shall succeed now without lawsuits." + +"If so, all the better; but we must be ready for action." + +"Ei! there is no need to be ready." + +"How, then?" + +"I will get on without father." + +Old Pan Krepetski, on hearing this, flashed into anger. + +"Thou wilt get on? What? How? But spoil not my labor. He will get on! +But didst thou not advise me to leave the Silnitskis in peace touching +Dranjkov? According to thee, there was no way to master them. No way? +Why not? They had witnesses to swear to the land--a great thing! I made +men put earth into their boots from my courtyard. Well, and what after +that? They went to Silnitski's land, and took no false oath when each +one of them testified: 'I swear that the land on which I am standing +belongs to Krepetski.' Thou wouldst have thought a whole year, but +never invented a reason of that kind. Thou wilt get on? Look at him!" + +And he began to move his toothless jaws angrily, as if he were chewing +some substance; and his chin touched his nose, which was hooked like +the beak of some bird of prey. + +"Pant out thy anger, my father, and listen," said Martsian. "Wherever +it is a question of carrying on lawsuits I yield to thee always; but as +to what concerns women, my experience is greater, and I trust in myself +with more confidence." + +"Is it possible?" + +"Therefore, if it comes to a struggle with Parma Anulka it will not be +before any tribunal." + +"What art thou working out?" + +"To divine is not difficult. Is this not my opportunity? Or wilt thou +find another such girl in this region?" + +Martsian threw his head up and looked in the eyes of his father. The +father looked at him, too, with a glance of inquiry, chewed with his +gums, and then asked,-- + +"How is it, pray tell me." + +"Why not tell? Since yesterday it is circling through my head." + +"Hm! Why not? Because she is as needy as Lazarus." + +"But I will come into Belchantska with songs, and unhindered. She is +indigent, but the girl is of great blood. And remember the words of Pan +Gideon, that if one were to look through the papers of the Sieninskis, +it would be possible to drive from their land one-half of the +inhabitants of a province. The Sobieskis grew great from them, hence +there should be royal protection. The king himself ought to think of a +provision. And the girl has pleased my eye this long time, for she is a +dainty morsel--dainty! oh dainty!" + +And he sprang about on his short legs, licking his mustache as he did +so; wherewith he looked so revolting that old Krepetski remarked to +him,-- + +"She will not want thee." + +"And she wanted old Pan Gideon. Are the girls few who have wanted me? A +great many young men have gone to the army; so we may buy girls by the +bundle, like shoe-nails. Old Pan Gideon knew why he sent me from the +mansion. He would not have done so, had he himself not been looking at +Panna Anulka." + +"But supposing that she will not want thee--then what?" + +Evil gleams shone from the eyes of Martsian. + +"Then," replied he, with emphasis, "it is possible so to act with a +girl who has no protection, that she herself will beg thee to go to the +church with her." + +The old man was frightened at these words. + +"Ah!" said he. "But dost thou not know that act to be criminal?" + +"I know that no one would take the part of Panna Anulka." + +"But I say to thee, have a care! As it is there are voices against +thee. If a man win or lose a lawsuit for property he will not become +infamous, but thy thought is of crime--dost understand me?" + +"Oh, it will not go to that unless she herself wants it. But do not +hinder, only act as I tell thee. After the funeral let father take +Tekla home with him, and if there is any excuse also old Pani +Vinnitski. I will stay with the girls, with Agneshka and Johanna. They +are reptiles, raging at any woman who is younger and comelier than they +are. They began yesterday to point their stings at the orphan, but what +will they do when living under one roof with her? They will stab, and +bite, and insult her, refuse her the bread of compassion. I see this, +as if I were reading it in a book, and it is all as water to my mill." + +"What wilt thou grind with it?" + +"What will I grind? This: that I will quarrel with those serpents. I +will invent something against them; I will give one a slap in the face +when it pleases me, then the orphan will kiss me on the hands, on the +knees. 'I am thy defender, thy brother, thy true friend,' I will say to +her, 'thou art here the real mistress.' And dost thou think, father, +that the heart in her will not soften, that she will not fall in love +with him who will be a shield and defence to her, who will wipe away +her tears, who will watch day and night over her? And if in her sorrow +and abandonment and tears she comes to some extraordinary confidence, +so much the better! so much the better! so much the better!" + +Here Martsian rubbed his hands and so exhibited his goat eyes to his +father that the old man had to spit in abhorrence. "Tfu! Pagan!" +exclaimed he. "There is always one thing in thy mind." + +"Indeed ants walk on me when I look at her. It wasn't for nothing that +Pan Gideon drove me from the mansion." + +A moment of silence now followed. + +"Then thou wilt tell Johanna and Agneshka to act as thou wishest?" + +"There is no need to say anything to them or to teach them; their +nature suffices. Tekla alone is a dove, they are kites, the two +others." + +Martsian had not deceived himself, his sisters had begun, each in her +own way to take charge of Anulka. Tekla took her every little while in +her arms and wept with her, Agneshka and Johanna solaced her, but in +another fashion,-- + +"What did not happen, did not happen," said Agneshka, "but be at rest, +thou wilt not be our aunt, because the Lord was not willing, but no one +here will harm thee, or grudge thee a morsel." + +"And no one will drive thee to work," said the other, "for we know that +thou art not used to it; when thou hast recovered, if thou thyself +wish, then that is different; in every case wait till thy sorrow is +over, for indeed great misfortune has struck thee. Thou wert to be +mistress here, thou wert to have thy husband, and now except us thou +hast no one. But believe that though we are not relatives we will be to +thee as if relatives. Be reconciled to the will of God. The Lord has +tried thee, but for that cause he pardons thee other sins. For if thou, +perhaps, hast trusted too much in thy beauty, or didst desire wealth +and rich clothing (we are all sinful for that matter, therefore I only +say this), that will be accounted to thee against other sins." + +"Amen," said Agneshka. "Give to the church for the soul of the dead man +some ornament, or some little jewel, for thou hast no need of bridal +robes now, and we will ask father to permit thee to do this." + +Then they looked with sharp eyes at the robes on the table, and at the +chests in which lay the trousseau. Such a desire at last seized them to +see what was hidden that Johanna burst out with these words,-- + +"Perhaps we might help thee in selecting?" + +And both rushed at the chests, boxes, and bundles, in which were still +lying unpacked the robes brought from Radom, and out with them, to be +opened and examined before the light, and under the light, and then the +two girls began to try them on their own persons. + +Panna Anulka sat, as if stunned, in the arms of the dear Tekla, seeing +nothing, knowing nothing of what they were doing to her and around her. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + +As a betrothed she had felt as if something in her life had grown +black, as if something had been quenched, had been cut off and ended; +hence that betrothal had not roused in her heart any gladness. She had +only consented to the marriage because such was the will of Pan Gideon, +and because of her gratitude for care, and still more because, after +Yatsek's departure, there remained in her heart only bitterness and +sorrow, with this painful thought, that save her guardian she had no +one, and that without him she would be a lost orphan, wandering among +enemies and strangers. But all on a sudden a thunderbolt had struck +that hearth at which she was to sit with some kind of peace, though a +sad one, now the only man in this world who to her was important had +vanished. It was not strange, then, that the thunderbolt had stunned +her, that all thoughts were confused in her head, while in her heart +sorrow for that only near soul had been fused into one with a feeling +of amazement and terror. + +So the words of the elder sisters, who had begun straightway to pilfer +her dresses, struck her ears just like sounds without meaning. Then +Martsian came, bowed, rubbed his hands, jumped around her; but she +understood him no more than she did all the others, who, according to +custom, approached her with phrases of sympathy, which were more +elaborate the less they were heartfelt. It was only when Pan Serafin +put his hand on her head in the style of a father and said: "God will +be over thee, my orphan," that something moved in her suddenly, and +then tears rushed to her eyelids. Now for the first time the thought +came to her that she was as a poor little leaf given over to the will +of the whirlwind. + +Meanwhile began ceremonies, which, since Pan Gideon had been a man of +position in his neighborhood, lasted ten days, in accordance with +custom. At the betrothal, with few exceptions, invited guests only were +present, but to the funeral came all near and distant neighbors, hence +the mansion was swarming. Receptions, speeches, processions, and +returns from the church followed one after the other. + +During the first days exclusive attention was given to the incomplete +widow; but later, when people beheld the Krepetskis in possession and +saw that they alone appeared in the mansion as masters, they ceased to +regard the young lady, and toward the end of the funeral solemnities no +one paid more heed to her than to any house visitor. + +Pan Serafin alone had a thought for her. He was moved by her tears and +touched by her misfortune. The servants had begun to whisper that the +Krepetski old maids had swept off her whole trousseau, and the old lord +had hidden in his box her "little jewels," and that in the house they +were already beginning to browbeat the "young lady." When these reports +went to Pan Serafin they moved his kind heart, and he resolved to see +Father Voynovski. + +But that kindly man was prejudiced much against Panna Anulka because of +Yatsek, so at the very beginning he answered,-- + +"I am sorry for her, the poor lady, for she is in need, but in what can +I help her? That, speaking between us, God punished her for Yatsek is +certain." + +"But Yatsek is gone, as is Stanislav, and she is here simply an +orphan." + +"Of course he is gone, but how did he go? You saw him going, but I went +with him farther, and I tell you that the poor boy had his teeth set, +and the heart in him was bleeding, so that he could not utter a +syllable. Oh! he loved that girl as people loved only in the old time; +they know not to-day how to love in that manner." + +"Still he was able to move his hands," said Pan Serafin, "for I heard +that just beyond Radom he had a quarrel and cut up a passing noble, or +even two of them." + +"Ah, because he has a girl's face every road-blocker thinks that he can +get on with him cheaply. Some drunken fellows sought a quarrel. What +was he to do? I blame in him that method; I blame it, but remember, +your grace, that a man with a heart torn by love is like a lion seeking +to devour some one." + +"True; but as to the girl. Ah, my benefactor, God knows if she is as +much to blame as we imagine." + +"Woman is insidious." + +"Insidious or not, but when I heard that Pan Gideon wished to marry her +it occurred to me straightway that he roused up everything, for it must +have been all-important for him to get rid of Yatsek forever." + +"No," said the priest, shaking his head. "We remarked immediately from +the letter that it was written at her instigation. I remember that +perfectly, and I could repeat to your grace every word of it." + +"I, too, remember, but we could not know what Pan Gideon had told her, +and how he described Yatsek's deeds to the lady. The Bukoyemskis, for +example, confessed to me, that meeting her and Pan Gideon while +travelling to Prityk they said purposely, that Yatsek went away after +great stirrup cups, laughing, gladsome, and uncommonly curious about +the daughter of Pan Zbierhovski to whom you had given him a letter." + +"Here they lied! And what for?" + +"Well, they lied to show the girl and Pan Gideon that Yatsek had no +thought for them. But note this, your grace, if the Bukoyemskis spoke +thus out of friendship for Yatsek, what must Pan Gideon have said out +of hatred." + +"It is sure that he did not spare Yatsek. Still, even if she were less +to blame than we imagine, tell me what of that? Yatsek has gone, and +perhaps will never come back to us, for I know that he will spare his +life less than Pan Gideon spared his reputation." + +"Yatsek would have gone in every case," answered Pan Serafin. + +"And if he does not return I will not tear the soutane on my body. A +death in defence of the country and fighting Mohammedan vileness is a +worthy end for a Christian knight, and a worthy end for a great family. +But I will add one thing: I should have preferred to see him go without +that painful dart which is sticking in him." + +"Neither had my only son special happiness in life; he too went, and +perhaps will not return to me." + +They grew thoughtful, for their souls were filled with love for those +young men. + +Tvorkovski, the prelate, came upon them while thoughtful, and learned +that they had been talking of Panna Sieninski. + +"I will tell you, gentlemen," said he, "but let this be a secret. Pan +Gideon left no will, the Krepetskis have a right to the property. I +know that he had the wish to provide for his wife and leave all to her, +but he was not able. Do not mention this before the Krepetskis." + +"But have you said nothing?" + +"Why should I? Those are hard people, and with me the question is that +they should not be too hard toward the orphan, hence I withheld +information, and then told them this: 'Not only does God sometimes try +a man, but one man tries another.' When they heard this they were +disquieted greatly, and fell to inquiring: 'How is it? Does your grace +know anything?' 'What has to be shown will be shown,' remarked I, 'but +remember one thing. Pan Gideon had the right to will what he owned to +whatever person pleased him.'" + +Here the prelate laughed, and, putting his hands behind his violet +girdle, continued,-- + +"I say, gentlemen, that the legs trembled under old Krepetski when he +heard this; he began to contradict. 'Oh,' said he, 'that is impossible! +he had not the right. Neither God nor men would agree to that.' + +"I looked at him severely, and said: 'If you think of God, you do well, +for at your age it is proper to have His mercy in mind, and not turn to +earthly tribunals, for it may happen very easily that you will not have +time to await a decision.' He was frightened then terribly, and I +added: 'And be kind to the orphan, lest God punish you sooner than you +imagine.'" + +Hereupon Father Voynovski, whose compassionate heart was moved at the +fate of the maiden, embraced the wise prelate. + +"Benefactor," cried he, "with such a head you ought to be chancellor. I +understand! I understand! You said nothing, you did not miss the truth, +and you have frightened the Krepetskis, who think that perhaps there is +a will, nay, that it is even in your possession; they must count with +this, and be moderate toward the orphan." + +The prelate, pleased with the praise, rapped his head with his +knuckles. + +"Not quite like a nut with holes in it?" asked he. + +"Ho, there is so much reason there that it finds room with difficulty." + +"If God wish, it will burst, but meanwhile, I think that I have saved +the orphan really. I must confess, however, that the Krepetskis spoke +of her with greater humanity and with more kindness than I had +expected. The women, it is true, have taken some trifles, but the old +man declared that he would have them given back to the young lady." + +"Though the Krepetskis were the worst among men," said Pan Serafin, +"they would not dare to rob an orphan over whom the eyes of such a wise +and good priest are so watchful. But, my very reverend benefactor, I +wish to mention another thing. I wish to beg you to show me this favor; +come now to Yedlinka, let me have the honor of entertaining under my +roof such a notable personage, with whom conversation is like the honey +of wisdom and politeness. Father Voynovski has promised already to +visit me, and we will talk, the three of us, concerning public and +private matters." + +"I know what hospitality yours is," answered the prelate, with +affability, "to refuse would be real suffering, and since Lent, the +time of self-subjection is past, I will go for a pleasant day to you, +willingly. Let us take farewell of the Krepetskis, but first of the +orphan, so that they shall see the esteem in which we hold her." + +They went, and finding Anulka alone, spoke kind, heartfelt words, which +gave her consolation and courage. Pan Serafin stroked her bright head, +just as would a mother who desires to comfort a sorrowing child; the +prelate did the same, and the honest Father Voynovski was so moved by +her thin face and her beauty in its sadness, which reminded him of a +flower of the field cut down too early by a scythe-stroke, that he too +pressed her temples, and having a mind always thinking of Yatsek, he +said half to himself, half to her,--"How can one wonder at Yatsek, +since this picture was before him. But those Bukoyemskis lied, when +they said that he went away gladly." + +When Anulka heard these words, she put her lips to his hand on a +sudden, and for a long time she could not withdraw them. The sobbing, +which came from her heart, shook her bosom; and they left her in an +immense, irrepressible onrush of weeping. + +An hour later they were in Yedlinka, where good news was awaiting them. +A man had arrived bringing a letter from Stanislav, in which he stated +that he and Yatsek had joined the hussars of Prince Alexander; that +they were well, and Yatsek, though pensive at all times, had gained a +little cheerfulness, and was not so forgetful as during the first days. +Besides words of filial love, there was in the letter one bit of news +which astonished Pan Serafin: "If thou, my father, my most beloved and +great mighty benefactor, see the Bukoyemskis on their return be not +astonished, and save them with kindness, for they have been met by most +marvellous accidents, and I cannot help them. If they were not to go to +the war they would die, I think, from sorrow, which even now has almost +killed them." + +In the course of the following months Pan Serafin visited Belchantska +repeatedly, wishing to learn what was happening to Anulka. This was not +caused by any personal motive, for Stanislav was not in love with the +young lady, and she had broken altogether with Yatsek; he acted mainly +from kindness, and a little from curiosity, for he wished to discover +in what way, and how far the girl had aided in breaking the bonds of +attachment between herself and Yatsek. He met opposition, however. The +Krepetskis respected his wealth, hence they received him politely; but +theirs was a wonderfully watchful hospitality, so continuous and active +that Pan Serafin could not find himself alone with the girl for one +instant. + +He understood that they did not wish him to ask her how she was +treated, and that set him to thinking, though he did not find that she +was either ill treated, or made to serve greatly. He saw her, it is +true, once and a second time cleaning with a crust of bread white satin +shoes of such size that they could not be for her own feet, and darning +stockings in the evening, but the Krepetski girls did the same, hence +there could not be in this any plan to humiliate the orphan by labor. +The old maids were at times as biting and stinging as nettles, but Pan +Serafin remarked soon that such was their nature, and that they could +not restrain themselves always from gnawing even at Martsian, whom +still they feared so much that when either one had thrust out her sting +half its length a look from him made her draw it back quickly. Martsian +himself was polite and agreeable to Anulka, though without forwardness, +and after the departure of old Krepetski and Tekla he became still more +agreeable. + +This departure was not pleasing to Pan Serafin, though it was simple +enough that they could not leave an old man, who was somewhat disabled +in walking, without the care of a woman, and since they had two houses +they had divided the family. Pan Serafin would have preferred that +Tekla remain with the orphan, but when on an occasion he hinted +remotely that the ages of the two maidens made them company for each +other, the elder sister met his words in the worst manner possible,-- + +"Anulka has shown the world," said Johanna, "that age does not trouble +her. Our late uncle and Pani Vinnitski have proved this--so we are not +too old for her." + +"We are as much older than she, as Tekla is younger, and I do not know +as we are that much," added the second sister; "besides our heads must +manage this household." + +But Martsian broke into the conversation,-- + +"Tekla's service," said he, "is dearest to father. He loves her beyond +any one, at which we cannot wonder. We thought to send Panna Anulka +with them, but she is accustomed to this house, so I think she will +feel more at home in it. As to our care, I will do what I can to make +it not too disagreeable." + +Then, with feet clattering, he approached the young lady, and tried to +kiss her hand, which she drew away quickly, as if frightened. Pan +Serafin thought that it was not proper to remove Pani Vinnitski, but he +kept to himself that idea, not wishing to interfere in questions beyond +his authority. He noted more than once that on Anulka's face fear as +well as sadness was evident, but at this he was not greatly astonished, +for her fate was in fact very grievous. An orphan, without a kindred +soul near her, without her own roof above her head, she was forced to +live on the favor of people who to her were repulsive, and who had an +evil fame generally, she was forced to suffer pain over the vanished +and brighter past, and to be in dread of the present. And though a +person may be in suffering to the utmost, that person will have some +solace if he, or she, may cherish hope of a better future. But she had +no chance for hope, and she had none. To-morrow must be for her as +to-day and the endless years to come, with the same drag of orphanhood, +loneliness, and living on the bread of a stranger's favor. + +Pan Serafin spoke of this often with Father Voynovski, whom he saw +almost daily, since it was pleasant for them to talk about their young +heroes. Father Voynovski, however, shrugged his shoulders with sympathy +and magnified the keenness of the prelate who, by hanging the threat of +a will like a Damocles sword above the Krepetskis, had protected the +orphan, at least from evil treatment. + +"Such a keen man!" said he. "Now you have him, and now he has slipped +from you. Sometimes I think that perhaps he has not told the whole +truth to us, and that there is a will in his hands, and that he will +bring it out unexpectedly." + +"That has occurred to me also, but why should he hide it?" + +"I know not; perhaps to test human nature. I think only of this: Pan +Gideon was a clear-sighted man, and it cannot find place in my head +that he should not have made long ago some provision." + +But after a time the ideas of both men were turned in a different +direction, for the Bukoyemskis arrived, or rather walked in from Radom. + +They appeared at Yedlinka one evening, with sabres, it is true, but +with not very sound boots, and with torn coats on their bodies. They +had such woe-be-gone faces that, if Pan Serafin had not for some time +been expecting them, he would have been terribly frightened, and would +have thought that news of his son's death had come with them. + +The four brothers embraced his knees, and kissed his hands straightway; +he, looking at their misery, dropped his arms at his sides in +amazement. + +"Stashko wrote," said he, "that it had gone ill with you, but this is +terrible!" + +"We have sinned, benefactor!" answered Marek, beating his breast. + +The other brothers repeated his words. + +"We have sinned, we have sinned, we have sinned!" + +"Tell me how, and in what. How is Stashko? He has written me that he +saved you. What happened?" + +"Stashko is well, benefactor; he and Pan Yatsek are as bright as two +suns." + +"Glory to God! glory to God! Thanks for the good news. Have you no +letter?" + +"He wrote, but did not give us the letter. It might be lost," said he. + +"Are you not hungry? Oh, what a condition! It is as if I had four men +risen from the dead now before me." + +"We are not hungry, for entertainment is ready at the house of every +noble--but we are unfortunate." + +"Sit down. Drink something warm, but while the servants are heating it +tell me what happened. Where have you been?" + +"In Warsaw," said Mateush, "but that is a vile city." + +"Why so?" + +"It is swarming with gamblers and drunkards, and on Long Street and in +the Old City at every step there is a tavern." + +"Well, what?" + +"One son of a such a one persuaded Lukash to play dice with him. Would +to God that the pagans had impaled the wicked scoundrel on a stake ere +that happened." + +"And he cheated?" + +"He won all that Lukash had, and then all that we had. Desperation took +hold of us, and we wanted to win the coin back, but he won further our +horse with a saddle and with pistols in the holsters. Then, I say to +your grace, that Lukash wished to stab himself. What was to be done? +How were we to help comforting a brother? We sold the second horse, so +that Lukash might have a companion to walk with him." + +"I understand what happened," remarked Pan Serafin. + +"When we became sober there was still keener suffering; two horses were +gone, and we had greater need of consolation." + +"So ye consoled yourselves till the fourth horse was gone?" + +"Till the fourth horse. We sinned, we sinned!" repeated the contrite +brothers. + +"But was that the end?" continued Pan Serafin. + +"How the end, our father and special benefactor? We met a deceiver, one +Poradski, who scoffed at us. 'So this is the way they shear fools!' +says he. 'I will take you,' says he, 'as my serving men, for I am +making the levy for a regiment.' Lukash cried out that the man was +exposing us to ridicule, and when he would not stop Lukash slashed him +on the snout with a sabre. Poradski's friends sprang to help him, and +we to help Lukash, and we cut till the marshal's guard whirled in and +went at us. And we yielded only when the others fell to shouting: +'Gracious gentlemen, they are attacking freedom, and injuring the +Commonwealth in our persons.' That is how it happened, and God blessed +us immediately, for we wounded eight attendants in a flash, and three +of these mortally; the others were at our feet,--there were five of +them." + +Pan Serafin seized his head, and Marek continued,-- + +"Yes! Now we know all; God helped us till people shouted that the fight +was near the king's palace, and a crime,--that we should die for it. We +were frightened and ran. They tried to seize us, but when we, in old +fashion, cut one on the face and another on the neck, they fled in a +hurry. Stanislav saved us with the horses of his attendants, but even +then we had to work hard to bring our heads with us; we were hunted to +Senkotsin; if the horses had been slow our case would have ended. Our +names were not known; that was lucky, and there will be no accusation +against us." + +Long silence followed. + +"Where are those horses which Stanislav gave you?" asked Pan Serafin. + +The brothers began their confession a third time,-- + +"We have sinned, benefactor, we have sinned!" + +Pan Serafin walked with long strides through the chamber. + +"Now I understand," said he, "why ye did not bring Stashko's letter. He +wrote me that various sad things had happened you, and he predicted +your return, thinking that ye would need money for horses and outfits, +but how ye would end was unknown to him." + +"So it is, benefactor," said Yan. + +Men now brought in heated wine, to which the brothers betook themselves +with great willingness, for they were road weary. Still they were +frightened by the silence of Pan Serafin, who was striding up and down +in the chamber, his face severe and gloomy. So again Marek spoke to +him,-- + +"Your grace, my benefactor, has asked about Stanislav's horses. Two of +them foundered before we reached Groyets, for we galloped all the way +in a terrible windstorm; we sold them for a trifle to Jew wagoners, for +the beasts were no good after foundering. And we had not a coin to keep +the souls in us; since we left in such a hurry Pan Stanislav had no +time to assist us. Then strengthened a little we rode farther, two men +on each animal. But your grace will understand this. We met then some +noble on the road, and immediately he seized his side, laughing. 'What +kind of Jerusalem nobles are these?' asked he. And we from such +terrible scornfulness were ready for anything. So we had endless +encounters and fights till we came to Bialobregi, where for dear peace +we sold the last two of our crowbaits; then, when people wondered at +our travelling on foot we replied that we were making that journey +through a vow of devotion. So forgive us now like a father, for there +are not more ill-fated men in this world, as I think, than we +brothers." + +"It is true! it is true!" exclaimed Mateush and Lukash; while Yan, the +youngest, moved by remembrance of past suffering, and wine, raised his +voice, and cried,-- + +"We are orphans of the Lord! What is left now in this world to us?" + +"Nothing but brotherly love," put in Marek. + +And they fell to embracing one another, shedding bitter tears as they +did so; then all drew up to Pan Serafin, but Marek seized his knees +before the others. + +"Oh, father," said he, "our first-born protector, be not angry. Lend us +once more for the levy, and from plunder, God grant, we will give it +back faithfully; if you lend not--it is well also, but be not angry, +only forgive us! Forgive us through that great friendship which we +cherish for Stashko; for I tell you, let any man harm even one of +Stashko's fingers, we will bear that man apart on our sabres! Is this +not true, dearest brothers?--on our sabres?" + +"Give him hither, the son of a such a one!" cried Mateush, Lukash, and +Yan. + +Pan Serafin halted before them, put his hand on his forehead, and +answered in these words,-- + +"I am angry, it is true! but less angry than grief-stricken; for when I +think that in this Commonwealth there are many such men as ye, the +heart in me is straitened, and I ask myself: Will this mother of ours +have the power with such children to meet the attacks which are +threatening her? Ye wish to implore me, and ye expect my forgiveness. +By the living God! it is not a question here of me, and not of my +horses, but of something a hundred times greater, a question of the +public weal, and the future of this Commonwealth; and of this, that ye +do not understand the position, that even such a thought has not come +to you; and since there are thousands such as ye are, the greater is +the sorrow and the keener the anxiety, the more dreadful the +desperation both of me and each honest son of this country--" + +"For God's sake, benefactor! How have we sinned against the country?" + +"How? By lawlessness, license, by riot and drunkenness. Oh! With us, +people treat such things over lightly, and do not see how the +pestilence is spreading, how the walls of this lordly building are +weakened, and our heads are endangered by the ceiling. War is +approaching; it is not known yet whether the foe will turn his power +against us directly--but, ye Christian soldiers, what is the best that +ye are doing? The trumpet is calling you to battle, but in your heads +there is nothing save wine and lawlessness. With a glad heart ye cut +down the guardians of that law which gives order of some kind. Who +established those laws? Nobles. Who trampled them? Nobles! How can this +country move to the field of glory, if this advance post of +Christianity is inhabited not by warriors but drunkards, not by +citizens but roysterers and rioters?" + +Here Pan Serafin stopped and, pressing his hand to his forehead, walked +again with great steps through the chamber. The brothers glanced at one +another in amazement and confusion, for they had not thought to hear +from him anything of that sort. + +But he sighed deeply and continued,-- + +"Ye were called out against pagans, and ye spill the blood of +Christians; ye were summoned in defence of this country, and ye have +gone out as its enemies, for it is evident that the greater the +disorder in a fortress, the weaker is the fortress. Fortunately there +are still honest children of this mother, but of men such as ye there +are, as I have said, many legions; for here not freedom, but riot is +nourishing, not obedience, but impunity, not stern discipline, but +wantonness, not love of country, but self-seeking; for here diets are +broken, here the treasury is plundered, disorder increases, and civil +wars like unbridled horses trample the country; hence drunken heads are +fixing its fortunes; here is oppression of peasants, and from high to +low lawlessness so that my heart bleeds, and I fear defeat, with God's +anger as the consequence." + +"In God's name must we hang ourselves?" cried Lukash. + +Pan Serafin measured the chamber a number of times with his steps yet, +and spoke on, as if it were to himself, and not to the Bukoyemskis,-- + +"Through the length and the breadth of this Commonwealth there is +one immense feast, and on the wall an unknown hand is now writing: +'Mane--Tekel--Fares.' Wine is flowing, but blood and tears also are +flowing. I am not the only person who sees this, I am not the only man +predicting evil, but it is vain to put a light before the sightless, or +sing songs to those who have no hearing." + +Silence followed. The four brothers stared now at one another, and now +at Pan Serafin with increasing confusion; at last Lukash said in a low +voice to the other three,-- + +"May I split, if I understand anything!" + +"And may I split!" + +"And may I!" + +"If we could drink a couple of times--" + +"Quiet, do not mention it--" + +"Let us go home." + +"Let us go." + +"With the forehead to your grace, our benefactor!" said Marek, pushing +out in front and bending down to the knees of Pan Serafin. + +"But whither?" + +"To Lesnichovka. God help us." + +"And I will help you," said Pan Serafin; "but such grief seized me that +I had to pour it out. Go upstairs, gentlemen,--rest; later on ye will +learn my decision." + +An hour later he commanded to drive to Father Voynovski's. The priest +was scandalized no little by the deeds of the Bukoyemskis, but at +moments he could not restrain himself from laughter, for having served +many years in the army he recalled various happenings which had met him +and his comrades. But he could not forgive the brothers for drinking +away the horses. + +"A soldier will often run riot," said he, "but to drink away his horse! +that is treason to the service. I will tell the Bukoyemskis that I +should have been glad if martial law had taken the heads from their +shoulders, and that certainly would have given an example to rioters, +but I confess to you that I should have been sorry, for all four are +splendid fellows. I know from of old what men are, and I can say in +advance what each is good for. As to the Bukoyemskis, it will be +unhealthy for those pagans who strike breast to breast with them in +battle. What do you think to do with them?" + +"I will not leave them without rescue, but I think if I were to send +them off alone the same kind of thing might meet them a second time." + +"True!" said the priest. + +"Hence it has occurred to me to go with them, and give them straight +into the hands of the captain. Once with the flag and under discipline, +they can grant themselves nothing." + +"True, this is a splendid idea! Take them to Cracow; there the +regiments will assemble. As I live I will go with you! Thus we shall +see our boys, and come back with more pleasantness." + +At this Pan Serafin laughed, and said,-- + +"Your grace will come back alone." + +"How is that?" + +"I am going myself to the war." + +"Do you wish to serve again in the army?" asked Father Voynovski, in +astonishment. + +"Yes, and no; for it is one thing to go to the army and make a career +out of service, and another to go on a single expedition. Of course, I +am old, but older than I have gone to the ranks more than once in reply +to Gradiva's trumpet. I have sent my only son, that is true, but it is +not possible to yield up too much for the country. Thus did my fathers +think, therefore, that Mother showed them the greatest honor at her +disposal. Hence my last copper coin, and my last drop of blood are now +ready to be sacrificed for her sake! Should it come to die--think, your +grace, what nobler death, what greater happiness could meet me? A man +must die once, and is there not greater pleasure in dying on the field +of glory, at the side of one's son, than in bed; to die from a sabre or +a bullet than from sickness; in addition fighting against pagans for +the faith and the country?" + +Then Pan Serafin, moved by his own words, opened his arms and +repeated,-- + +"God grant this! God grant this!" + +Then Father Voynovski took him in his arms, and pressing him, said,-- + +"God grant that in this Commonwealth there be as many men like you as +possible; there are not many as honorable, more honorable there are +none whatever. It is true that it becomes a noble better to die on the +field than in bed, and in old times every man held that idea, but +to-day worse times have come on us. The country and the faith are one +immense altar, and a man is a morsel of myrrh, predestined for burning +to the glory of that altar. Yes, times are worse at the present. Then +war is nothing new to you?" + +Pan Serafin felt his breast, and continued,-- + +"I have here a few wounds from sabres and shots of the old time." + +"It would be pleasanter for me to defend the flag," said Father +Voynovski, "than listen to old women's sins in this neighborhood. And +more than one of them tells me such nonsense, just as if she had come +to shake out fleas at confession. When a man commits sin he has at +least something to speak about, and all the more if he is a soldier! +When I took this robe of a priest I became a chaplain in the regiment +of Pan Modlishevski. Ah, I remember that well. Between one absolution +of sins and another there was sometimes a shooting in the teeth, or +blades were drawn. Ah, there was great need of chaplains in that time. +I should like now to go, but my parish is large, and there is a tempest +of work in it; the vicar is wilful but worst of all is a wound from a +gunshot, which I received long ago, and which does not let me stay more +than an hour in the saddle." + +"I should be happy to have a comrade," said Pan Serafin, "but I +understand that even without that wound your grace could not leave the +parish." + +"Well, I shall see. In a couple of days I will ride and learn how long +I can stay in the saddle. Something may have straightened out in me. +But who will look to the management at Yedlinka?" + +"I have a forester, a simple man, but so honest that he might almost be +canonized." + +"I know; that one who is followed by wild beasts. Some say that he is a +wizard; you know better, however. But he is old and sickly." + +"I wish to take also that Vilchopolski who on a time served Pan Gideon. +Perhaps you remember him? a young noble who lost one foot, but he is +vigorous and daring. Krepetski removed him because he was too +independent. He came to me two days ago offering his service, and +to-day I will agree with him surely. Pan Gideon did not like him, since +the man would not let any one blow on his pudding, but Pan Gideon +praised his activity and faithfulness." + +"What is to be heard in Belchantska?" + +"I have not been there for some time. It is clear that Vilchopolski +does not praise the Krepetskis, but I had no chance to inquire about +everything in detail." + +"I will look in there to-morrow, though they are not over glad to +behold me, and then I will return to rub the ears of the Bukoyemskis. I +will command them to come to confession, and for penance the whips will +be moving. Let them give one another fifty lashes; that will be good +for them." + +"It will, that is certain. But now I must take farewell of your grace +because of Vilchopolski." + +Then Pan Serafin shortened his belt-strap, so that his sabre might not +be in the way when he was entering the wagon. A moment later he was on +the road moving toward Yedlinka, thinking meanwhile of his expedition, +and smiling at the thought that he would work stirrup to stirrup with +his one son, against pagans. After he had passed Belchantska he saw two +horses under packs, and a trunk-laden wagon which Vilchopolski was +driving. He commanded the young man to sit over into his wagon, and +then he inquired,-- + +"Are you leaving Belchantska already?" + +Vilchopolski pointed to the trunks, and wishing to prove that though he +served he was not without learning, he said,-- + +"See, your grace, _omnia mea mecum porto_" (I am taking all my things +with me). + +"Then was there such a hurry?" + +"There was not a hurry, but there was need; therefore I accept all your +grace's conditions with pleasure, and in case you go away, as you have +mentioned, I will guard your house and possessions with faithfulness." + +Pan Serafin was pleased with the answer and the daring, firm face of +the young man; so, after a moment of meditation, he added,-- + +"Of faithfulness I have no doubt, for I know that you are a noble, but +inexperience I fear, and incautiousness. In Yedlinka one must sit like +a stone, and watch day and night, because it is almost in the +wilderness, and in great forests there is no lack of bandits, who at +times attack houses." + +"I do not wish an attack upon Yedlinka, but for myself I should like +it, to convince your grace that courage and alertness would not be +lacking on my part." + +"You look as though you had both," said Pan Serafin. + +He was silent a while, and then continued,-- + +"There is one other thing of importance of which to forewarn you. Pan +Gideon is in God's hands at the present, and touching the dead nothing +save that which is good may be mentioned; but it is known that he was +hard to his people. Father Voynovski blamed him for this, and there was +variance between them. The sweat of the peasant was not spared in +Belchantska; trials were short and punishment grievous. We will be +outspoken--there was oppression, and his agents were too cruel with +people. This is not my case, be sure of that; there must be discipline, +but paternal. I look on excessive severity as a great sin against God +and the country. Fix it well in your mind that a man is not curds, and +it is not allowable to press him too cruelly. I do not wring out +people's tears--and I remember that before God all are equal." + +A moment of silence followed. Vilchopolski seized Pan Serafin's hand +and put his lips to it. + +"I see that you understand me," said Pan Serafin. + +"I understand, your grace; and I answer, More than a hundred times I +wanted to say to Pan Gideon: 'Find another manager;' more than a +hundred times I wanted to go from his service, but--well, I could not +do so." + +"Why was that? Is there a lack of work in the world?" + +Vilchopolski was confused and spoke as if fear had seized hold of him. + +"It did not happen--I could not go--day after day I loitered. Besides, +there was severity, and there was not." + +"How was that?" + +"The people were driven to work, it is true, no one could prevent that; +but as to flogging, I will say briefly that instead of whips straw +ropes were used on them." + +"Who was so merciful--you?" + +"No. But I chose to obey the will of an angel, not that of a devil." + +"I understand, but tell me whose will?" + +"Panna Anulka's." + +"Ah! so it was she?" + +"Really an angel. She too was in dread of Pan Gideon, who in recent +times only began to regard what she told him. But all loved her so much +that each man exposed himself to Pan Gideon's anger rather than refuse +what she asked of him." + +"May God bless her for that! So you all conspired against Pan Gideon?" + +"Yes, your grace." + +"And it was not discovered?" + +"It was discovered once, but I did not betray the young lady. Pan +Gideon flogged me himself, for I declared to him that if any other man +flogged, or if he flogged me except on a carpet, I, a noble, would let +his house up in smoke, and shoot him besides that. And it would have +been done as I promised, even had I to join forest bandits in +consequence." + +"You please me for this," said Pan Serafin. + +"More than once I found it difficult to stay with Pan Gideon," +continued Vilchopolski; "but in the house there was simply one of God's +cherubim, and so, though a man might wish to go, he would stay there. +After that, as the young lady grew up Pan Gideon gave her more +consideration, and recently he gave thought to no one save Panna +Anulka. He knew often that she commanded to give wheat to the poor from +the granary, then, as I have said, she had straw used instead of whips; +besides, she had labor remitted; he affected not to notice it. At last +he was so much ashamed that she had no need to do anything in secret. +She was a real protector of people, and for that reason may God, as you +have said, bless and save her." + +"Why do you say 'save'?" inquired Pan Serafin. + +"Because it is worse for her now than it has been." + +"Have the fear of God! What is the danger?" + +"The two women are terrible. Young Krepetski himself restrains them +apparently, but I know why he does this; but let him be careful, some +one may shoot him down like a dog if he is not." + +It was deep night then, but very clear, for the full moon was shining, +and by the light of it Pan Serafin saw that the eyes of the young man +were glittering like wolf eyes. + +"What dost thou know of him?" asked Pan Serafin, with curiosity. + +"I know that he removed me not merely for my independence, but because +I watched and listened carefully to what people in the house said. I +went away because I had to go, but Belchantska is not far from +Yedlinka, and in case of need--" + +Here he was silent, and on the road was heard only the sound of the +pines as they were moved by the night wind. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + +AT Belchantska it was not only evil for the young woman, but worse and +worse daily. A good deal of time had passed since that moment in which +old Pan Gideon had noticed that Martsian gazed at the young girl with +too much of a "goat's look," and had driven him from the mansion. Later +on, Martsian saw her at church, and sometimes at the houses of +neighbors, and always her beauty of springtime roused fresh desires in +him. Now when he was living under one roof with her, when he saw her +daily, he fell in love in his own way, that is, with the beastlike +desire, and that feeling of which he was alone capable. A change had +taken place in his wishes. His first intent had been to bring the girl +to shame, and then marry her only in case that a will should be found +in her favor. Now he was ready to go with her to the altar, if he could +in any case have and possess her forever. Reason, which when urged by +desire becomes its obedient assistant, told him, moreover, that a young +lady bearing the name of Sieninski was, although dowerless, a match of +great moment. But even if reason had told him the opposite, Martsian +would not have listened, for as each day appeared he lost some part of +his self-mastery. He burnt, he raged, and if up to that time he had +restrained himself from violence it was only because desire, even the +most urgent, craves and yearns for a willing surrender, and is charmed +with the thought of mutuality in which it sees the highest pleasure, +and deceives itself even when there is no cause whatever for doing so. + +Thus Krepetski deceived himself, and thus he pampered his wishes with +pictures of that blissful moment in which the young lady would herself, +radiant and willing, incline to his embraces. But he dreaded to lose +should he risk all on the hazard of a trial, and when he put to himself +in spirit this question, What would follow? fear seized him in presence +of himself, and in presence of the terror which would threaten him; for +the laws of the Commonwealth guarding the honor of woman were pitiless, +and around him were sabres of nobles by the hundred, which would flash +above his head most unfailingly. But he felt also that the hour might +come in which he would care for nothing, since in his insolent, wild +spirit there was hidden a craving for battle, and a hunger for peril; +so not without a certain charm for him was the picture of a great +throng of nobles besieging Belchantska--the flame of conflagration +above him, and a red executioner standing, axe in hand, somewhere off +in the mist of a distant city. + +And thus desire, dread, and also a longing for battle struggled like +three whirlwinds within him. At the same time, wishing to give exit to +that storm, and to cool that flood which was seething in his person as +water in a caldron, he grew mad, wallowed in riot throughout village +inns, rode down his horses, fell upon people, and drank to kill in +every dramshop of Radom, Prityk, and Yedlina. He collected around him a +company of road-blockers, who did not go to the war because of evil +fame, or of poverty. He paid these men and tyrannized over them; he did +this thinking that such a mob might be useful in the future, but he did +not admit any man of them to confidence, and never mentioned in their +presence the name of the young lady. Once when a certain Vysh, from +some Vyshkov of unknown situation, mentioned her in rude, obscene +fashion, Martsian slashed the fellow on his snout and drew blood from +him. + +Martsian galloped home at breakneck speed, and usually about daylight. +But that mad riding sobered him thoroughly. He dropped down in his +clothes to the horse skin which covered his bed, and slept like a stone +for some hours on it; when he rose he put on his best garments, went +then to the women, and strove to please the young lady, whom his eyes +did not leave for one moment, he meanwhile rousing desire, while his +glances crawled over her person. And more than once, when he was alone +with Anulka, his lips were pushed forward, his arms of monstrous +length quivered as if powerless against his wish to seize hold of +her; his voice became stifled, his words became insolent, vague, +and double-meaning; through them circled both flattery and an +ill-restrained threatening. + +But Anulka feared him simply as she would have feared a tamed wolf, or +a bear, and with difficulty did she hide the repulsion with which the +sight of him filled her. For in spite of the parrot-like colors in +which he arrayed himself, in spite of the shining jewels at his neck, +and the costly flageolet which he never let slip from his fingers, he +looked worse each day, and more repulsive. Sleepless nights, rioting, +drinking, and flaming desires had placed on him their impress. He grew +thin, his shoulders drooped, through this his arms, long by nature, +seemed longer, so that his hands reached below his knees and were +beyond human proportions. His gigantic trunk was like a knotty section +of a tree trunk, and his short bow-legs bent still more from mad +riding. Moreover, the skin of his face took on a kind of green pallor, +and because of his sunken cheeks, his protruding eyes and pouting lips +were pushed forward phenomenally. He became simply dreadful to look at, +especially when he laughed, for from his eyeballs when lighted with +laughter looked out a kind of nervous, unrestrained threat and malice. +But the feeling of her misfortune, deep sadness, and unhappiness +produced in Anulka a dignity of which she had not a trace somewhat +earlier. This dignity imposed on Krepetski. Once she had been a +twittering maiden, active all day as a water-mill; now she had learned +to be silent, and her eyes had a fixity of expression. So, though her +heart trembled often from fear of Krepetski, she restrained him by her +calm glance and her silence. He drew back then as if fearing to offend +such a majesty. It is true that she seemed to him still more desirable, +but also more difficult of access. She, however, feeling that from him +immense danger was threatening, and later on being perfectly convinced +of this, strove to avoid him, to be alone with him the shortest time +possible, to turn away conversation from things which might facilitate +confession, and finally she had the boldness sometimes to indicate that +she was not by any means abandoned and left to the favor or ill-will of +fortune, as it might seem to him. + +She avoided even memories of Yatsek, understanding that after what had +passed between them he could not be then, and would not be ever a +defence to her. She felt besides that every word touching him would +rouse hatred and anger in Martsian. But having noted that the +Krepetskis were careful of the prelate, and looked as if with secret +dread on him, she let it be understood frequently that she was under +his special protection, which rose from a secret agreement which, in +view of every contingency, Pan Gideon had concluded. The prelate, who +from time to time came to Belchantska, aided her notably, for he turned +to the Krepetskis with pleasure, since he was studying mankind; he +expressed himself with mystery, and quoted subtle phrases in Latin; he +reminded Martsian of various things which that young man might +interpret as suited him. + +But a great point was this: The servants and the whole village loved +the "young lady." People considered the Krepetskis as intruders, and +her as the genuine inheritor. All feared Martsian, except Vilchopolski. +But even after the removal of that young noble, the unseen care of the +people went, as it were, with Anulka, and Martsian understood that the +fear which he roused had its limit, beyond which for him would begin +real danger. He understood also that Vilchopolski, whose eyes had a +daring expression, would not go far from Belchantska, and that if the +young lady should be in need of defence he would not draw back before +anything; hence he confessed to himself that she was not really so +deserted by every one as at first he had thought, and as on a time he +had told his old father. + +"Who will take her part? No one!" said he, when the old man commanded +him to remember the terrible punishments which the laws threatened for +an attempt on the honor of a woman. + +At last he understood that there were such defenders. That raised one +more obstacle, but obstacles and perils were only an incitement to a +nature like Martsian's. He deceived himself yet, thinking that he would +move the young lady and make her love him; but there came moments in +which he saw, as clearly as a thing on the palm, that he was quite +powerless; and then he raged, as said the comrades of his revels, and +had it not been for a certain dull, but strong and irresistible +foreboding that if he attacked the girl he should lose her forever, he +would long ere that have set free the wild beast within him. + +And in just those times did he drink without measure and memory. + +Meanwhile relations in the house had become unendurable, seasoned with +bitterness and poison. The Krepetski old maids hated Anulka, not only +because she was younger than they and more beautiful, but because +people loved her, and because Martsian took her part for every reason, +and even for no reason. They flamed up at last with implacable hatred +toward their brother; but seeing that Anulka never complained, they +tortured her all the more stubbornly. Once Agneshka burnt her with a +red-hot shovel, as if by accident. Martsian, hearing of this through +the servants, went to ask pardon of the young lady, and beg her to seek +his protection at all times; but he pushed up to her with such +insistence, and fell to kissing her hand with such greed and so +disgustingly, that she fled from him, unable to repress her abhorrence. +Thereupon he broke into a rage and beat his sister so viciously that +for two days she feigned illness. + +The two "heiresses" as they were called at the mansion did not spare +biting words on the young lady, or open inventions and humiliations, +taking vengeance in this way for all they were forced to endure from +their brother. But out of hatred for Martsian they warned her against +him, censuring her at the same time for yielding to his wishes, for +they saw that with nothing could they wound and offend her so painfully +as with this implication. The house became a hell for her, and every +hour in it a torment. + +Hatred toward those people, who themselves hated one another, was +poisoning even her heart. She began to think of a cloister, but she +kept the thought in her bosom, for she knew that they would not let her +enter one, and that by unfettering Martsian's anger she would expose +herself to great peril. Alarm and fear of danger dwelt in her +continually, and produced the desire of death, a desire which she had +never felt previously. Meanwhile each day added to her cup new drops of +bitterness. Once, early in the morning, Agneshka surprised Martsian +looking through the keyhole of the orphan's chamber. He withdrew +gritting his teeth and threatening with his fist, but the "heiress" +called her sister immediately, and the two, finding the girl still +undressed, began to torment her, as usual. + +"Thou didst know that he was standing there," said the elder, "for the +floor squeaks outside the door, and there is a noise when any one +stands near it; but to thee, as is clear, his presence was agreeable." + +"Bah! he licked his lips before dainties, and she did not hide them," +interrupted Agneshka. "Hast thou no fear of God, shameless creature?" + +"Such a one should be put before the church at a pillory." + +"And expelled from the mansion." + +"Sodom and Gomorrah!" + +"Tfu!" + +"And when will the need be to send to Radom for a woman?" + +"What sort of a name wilt thou give it?" + +"Tfu! thou dish-rag!" + +And they spat on her. + +The heart stormed up in the hapless maiden, for the measure was passed +then. + +"Be off!" cried she, pointing to the door. + +But her face grew pale as linen, and darkness fell on her eyes; for a +moment it seemed to her that she was flying into some gulf without +bottom, then she lost consciousness, feeling, and memory. On recovering +she found herself wet from water which had been poured on her, and her +breast pinched in places. The faces of the old maids bending over her +showed fear, but after a while they felt reassured when they saw that +she was conscious. + +"Complain, complain!" said Johanna. "Thy paramour will defend thee." + +"And thou wilt thank him in thy own way." + +Setting her teeth Anulka answered no syllable. + +But Martsian divined all that must have happened upstairs, for some +hours later from the chancellery, where he had shut himself in with his +sisters, came howls from which the whole mansion was terrified. + +In the afternoon, when old Krepetski came, the two sisters fell with a +scream to his knees imploring him to remove them from that den of +profligacy and torture. But he to the same degree that he loved his +youngest daughter hated the elder ones; so he not only took no pity on +the ill-fated hags, but he called for sticks, and compelled them to +stay there. + +The only being in that terrible house in whom Johanna and Agneshka, if +they had wished to be friendly and kind, might have found compassion, +sympathy, and even protection, was Panna Anulka. But they preferred to +torment the poor girl, and gloat over her, for, with the exception of +Tekla, that was a family in which each member did all in his or her +power to poison the life and increase the misfortune of the others. + +But Panna Anulka feared the love of Martsian more than the hatred of +his sisters. And he thrust himself more and more on her, pushed himself +forward more and more shamelessly, was more and more insistent, and +gazed at her more and more greedily. It had become clear that he was +ceasing to command himself, that wild desire was tearing him as a +whirlwind tears a tree, and that he might give way at any moment. + +In fact that moment came soon. + +Once, after warm weather had grown settled, Anulka went at daybreak to +bathe in the shady river; before undressing she saw Martsian's face on +the opposite bank sticking out from thick bushes. That instant she +rushed away breathlessly. He pursued her, but trying to spring over the +water he failed and fell into it; he was barely able to climb out, and +went home drenched to the very last thread of his clothing. Before +dinner he had beaten a number of servants till the blood came; during +dinner he said not a word to any person. Only at the end of the meal +did he turn to his sisters,-- + +"Leave me alone," said he, "with Panna Anulka; I have to talk with her +on matters of importance." + +The sisters, on hearing this, looked at each other significantly, and +the young lady grew pale from amazement; though he had long tried to +seize every moment in which he might be alone with her, he had never +let himself ask for such a moment openly. + +When the sisters had gone he rose, looked beyond one door and another, +to convince himself that no one was listening, then he drew up to +Anulka. + +"Give me your hand," said he, "and be reconciled." + +She drew back both hands unconsciously, and pushed away from him. + +Martsian's wish for calmness was evident, but he sprang forward twice +on his bow-legs, for he could never abandon that habit, and said, with +a voice full of effort,-- + +"You are unwilling! But to-day I came very near drowning for your sake. +I beg your pardon for that fright, but it was not caused by any bad +reason. Mad dogs began yesterday to run between Vyrambki and this +mansion, and I took a gun to make sure of your safety." + +Anulka's knees trembled under her a little, but she said with good +presence of mind and with calmness,-- + +"I want no protection which would bring only shame to me." + +"I should like to defend you, not merely now, but till death and at all +times! Not offending God, but with His blessing. Dost understand me?" + +A moment of silence followed this question. Through the open window +came the sound of cutting wood, made by an old lame man attached to the +kitchen. + +"I do not understand." + +"Because thou hast no wish to understand," replied Martsian. "Thou +seest this long time that I cannot live without thee. Thou art as +needful to me as this air is for breathing. To me thou art wonderful, +and dear above all things. I cannot exist--without thee I shall burn up +and vanish! If I had not restrained myself I should have grabbed thee +long ago as a hawk grabs a dove. It grows dry in my throat without +thee, as it does without water--everything in me quivers toward thee. I +cannot sleep, I cannot live--see here even now--" + +And he stopped, for his teeth were chattering as if in a fever. He had +a spasm, he caught at the arms of the chair with his bony fingers, as +if fearing to fall, and panted some time very loudly. Then he +continued,-- + +"Thou lackest fortune--that is nothing! I have enough. I need not +fortune, but thee. Dost thou wish to be mistress in this mansion? Thou +wert to marry Pan Gideon; I am not worse, as I think, than Pan Gideon. +But do not say no! do not, by the living God, do not say it, for I +cannot tell what will happen. Thou art wonderful! thou, my--!" + +He knelt quickly, embraced her knees with his two hands, and pressed +them toward his bosom. But, beyond even her own expectation, Anulka's +fear vanished without a trace in that terrible moment. The knightly +blood began to act in her; readiness for battle to the last breath +was roused in the woman. Her hands pushed back with all force his +sweat-covered forehead, which was nestling up toward her knees at that +moment. + +"No! no! I would rather die a thousand deaths! No!" + +He rose up, pallid, his hair erect, his mustache quivering. Beneath the +mustache were glittering his long decayed teeth, and for a time he was +filled with cold rage as he stood there; but still he controlled +himself, still presence of mind did not desert him entirely. But when +Anulka pushed toward the door on a sudden, he stopped the way to her. + +"Is this true?" inquired he, with a hoarse voice. "Thou wilt not have +me? Wilt thou repeat that once more to me, to my eyes? Wilt thou not +have me?" + +"I will not! And do not threaten, for I feel no fear." + +"I do not threaten thee, but I want to take thee as wife, nay more, I +beg thee bethink thyself! By the living God, bethink thyself!" + +"In what am I to bethink myself? I am free, I have my will, and I say +before your eyes: Never!" + +He approached her, so nearly that his face pushed up to hers, and he +continued,-- + +"Then perhaps instead of being mistress, thou dost choose to carry wood +to the kitchen? Or dost thou not wish it? How will it be, O noble lady! +To which of thy estates wilt thou go from this mansion? And if thou +stay, whose bread wilt thou eat here; on whose kindness wilt thou live? +In whose power wilt thou find thyself? Whose bed, whose chamber is that +in which thou art sleeping? What will happen if I command to remove the +door fastenings? And dost thou ask in what thou art to bethink thyself? +In this: which thou art to choose!--marriage, or no marriage!" + +"Ruffian!" screamed Panna Anulka. + +But now happened something unheard of. Seized with sudden fury, +Krepetski bellowed with a voice that was not human, and seizing the +girl by the hair he began with a certain wild and beastly relish to +beat her without mercy or memory. The longer he had mastered himself up +to that time, the more did his madness seem wild then, and terrible; at +that moment beyond doubt he would have killed the young lady had it not +been that to her cries for assistance servants burst into the chamber. +First that man cutting wood at the kitchen broke in with an axe through +the window, after him came kitchen servants, the two sisters, the +butler, and two of Pan Gideon's old servitors. + +The butler was a noble from a distant village in Mazovia, moreover, a +man of rare strength, though rather aged; he caught Martsian's arms +from behind, and drew them so mightily that the elbows almost met at +his shoulders. + +"This is not permitted, your grace!" exclaimed he. "It is infamous!" + +"Let me go!" roared Krepetski. + +But the iron hands held him as in vices, and a serious, low voice was +heard near his ear,-- + +"I will break your bones unless you restrain yourself!" + +Meanwhile the sisters led, or rather carried the young lady from the +chamber. + +"Come to the chancellery to rest," said the butler. "I advise your +grace earnestly." + +And he pushed the man before him as he would a child, while Martsian, +with chattering teeth, moved on with his short legs, crying for a +halter and the hangman; but he could not resist, for a moment later he +had grown so weak all at once, from the outburst, that he was unable +even to stand unassisted. So, when the butler in the chancellery threw +him on the horse skin with which the bed was covered, Martsian did not +even try to rise; he lay there panting with heaving sides, like a horse +after over-exertion. + +"Something to drink!" shouted he. + +The butler opened the door, called a boy, and, whispering some words, +gave him keys: the lad returned with a pint glass and a demijohn of +brandy. + +The butler filled the glass to the brim, sniffed at it, and said +approaching Martsian,-- + +"Drink, your grace." + +Krepetski seized it with both hands, but they trembled so that liquor +dropped on his breast; then the butler raised him, put the glass to his +lips, and inclined it. + +He drank and drank, holding the glass greedily when the butler tried to +remove it from his mouth. At last he drank all, and fell backward. + +"It may be too much," said the butler, "but you had become very weak +when I gave it." + +Though Martsian wished to say something, he merely hissed in the air, +like a man who has burnt his mouth with too hot a liquid. + +"Eh," said the butler, "you owe me a good gift, for I have shown no +petty service. God preserve us, if anything is done--in such an affair +it is the axe and the executioner, not to mention this, that misfortune +might happen here any minute. The people love that young lady beyond +measure. And it will be difficult to hide what has been done from the +prelate, though I will tell all to be silent. How do you feel?" + +Martsian looked at him with staring eyes and open mouth as he panted. +Once and a second time he tried to say something, then hiccoughing +seized him, his eyes grew expressionless, he closed his lids on a +sudden, and then began a rattling in his throat as if the man were +dying. + +"Sleep, or die, dirty dog!" growled the butler as he looked at him. And +he went from the room to the outbuildings. Half an hour later he +returned and knocked at the young lady's chamber. Finding the two +sisters with her he said to them,-- + +"Ladies, perhaps you would look in a moment at the chancellery, for the +young lord has grown very feeble. But if he sleeps it is better not to +wake him." + +Then when alone with Panna Anulka he inclined to her knees, and said,-- + +"Young lady, there is need to flee from this mansion. All is ready." + +And she, though broken and barely able to stand on her feet, sprang up +in one instant. + +"It is well, and I am ready! Save me!" + +"I will conduct you to a wagon which is waiting beyond the river. +To-night I will bring your clothing. Pan Krepetski is as drunk as Bela, +and will lie like a dead man till morning. Only take a cloak, and let +us go. No one will stop us; have no fear on that point." + +"God reward! God reward!" repeated she, feverishly. + +They went out through the garden to that gate by which Yatsek used to +enter from Vyrambki. On the way the butler said to her,-- + +"Long ago Vilchopolski arranged with the servants that if an attack +upon you were attempted, they would set fire to the granary. Pan +Krepetski would be forced to the fire, and you would have time to +escape through the garden to a place beyond the river, where a man was +to wait with a wagon. But it is better not to burn anything. To set +fire is a crime, no matter what happens. Krepetski will be like a stone +until morning, so no pursuit threatens you." + +"Where are we going?" + +"To Pan Serafin's; defence there is easy. Vilchopolski is there. So are +the Bukoyemskis and other foresters. Krepetski will try to take you +back, but will fail. And later on Pan Serafin will conduct you to +Radom, or farther. That will be settled with the priests. Here is the +wagon! Fear no pursuit. It is not far to Yedlinka, and God gives a +wonderful evening. I will bring your clothing to-night. If they try to +stop me I will not mind them. May the Most Holy Mother, the guardian +and protectress of orphans conduct you!" + +And taking her by the hand like a child, he seated her in the wagon. + +"Move on!" cried he to the driver. + +It was growing dark in the world, and the twilight of evening was +quenching, but from the remnant of its rays the stars in the clear sky +were rosy. The calm evening was filled with the odors of the earth, of +leaves, and of blossoming alders, while nightingales were filling with +their song, as with a warm rain of spring, the garden, the trees, and +the whole region. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + +That evening Pan Serafin was sitting on a bench in the front of his +mansion, entertaining Father Voynovski, who had come after evening +prayers to see him, and the four Bukoyemskis, who were stopping then +permanently at Yedlinka. Before them on a table, with legs crossed like +the letter X, stood a pitcher of mead and some glasses. They, while +listening to the murmur of the forest, were drinking from time to time +and conversing of the war, raising their eyes to the heavens in which +the sickle of the moon was shining clearly. + +"Thanks to your grace, our benefactor, we shall be ready soon for the +road," said Mateush Bukoyemski. "What has happened is passed. Even +saints have their failings; then how must it be with frail men, who +without the grace of God can do nothing? But when I look at that moon, +which forms the Turkish standard, my fist is stung as if mosquitoes +were biting. Well, God grant a man to gratify his hands at the +earliest." + +The youngest Bukoyemski fell to thinking. + +"Why is it, my reverend benefactor," asked he at last, "that Turks +cherish some kind of worship for the moon, and bear it on their +standards?" + +"But have not dogs some devotion toward the moon also?" asked the +priest. + +"Of course, but why should the Turks have it?" + +"Just because they are dog-brothers." + +"Well, as God is dear to me, that explains all," said the young man, +looking at the moon then in wonderment. + +"But the moon is not to blame," said the host, "and it is delightful to +gaze at it when in the calm of night it paints all the trees with its +beams, as if some one had coated them with silver. I love greatly to +sit by myself on such a night, gaze at the sky, and marvel at the Lord +God's almightiness." + +"Yes, at such times the soul flies on wings, as it were, to its +Creator," said Father Voynovski. "God in his mercy created the moon as +well as the sun, and what an immense benefaction. As to the sun, well, +everything is visible in the daytime, but if there were no moon people +would break their necks in the night if they travelled, not to mention +this, that in perfect darkness devilish wickedness would be greater by +far than it is at the present." + +They were silent for a while and passed over the peaceful sky with +their eyes; the priest took a pinch of snuff then, and added,-- + +"Fix this in your memories, gentlemen, that a kind Providence thinks +not only of the needs, but the comfort of people." + +The rattle of wheels, which in the night stillness reached their ears +very clearly, interrupted the conversation. Pan Serafin rose from his +seat. + +"God is bringing some guest," said he, "for the whole household is +here. I am curious to know who it may be." + +"Surely some one with news from our lads," added Father Voynovski. + +All rose, and thereupon a wagon drawn by two horses entered in through +the gateway. + +"Some woman is on the seat," called out Lukash. + +"That is true." + +The wagon passed through half the courtyard and stopped at the +entrance. Pan Serafin looked at the face of the woman, recognized it in +the wonderful moonlight, and cried,-- + +"Panna Anulka!" + +And he almost lifted her in his arms from the wagon, then she bent at +once to his knees, and burst into weeping. + +"An orphan!" cried she, "who begs for rescue and a refuge!" + +Then she nestled up to his knees, embraced them with still greater +vigor, and sobbed more complainingly. Such great astonishment seized +every man there, that for a time no one uttered a syllable; at last Pan +Serafin raised the orphan and pressed her to his heart. + +"While there is breath in my nostrils," cried he, "I will be to thee a +father. But tell me what has happened? Have they driven thee from +Belchantska?" + +"Krepetski has beaten me, and threatened me with infamy," answered she, +in a voice barely audible. + +Father Voynovski, who was there very near her, heard this answer. + +"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews!" exclaimed he, seizing his white +hair with both hands. + +The four Bukoyemskis gazed with open mouths, and eyes bursting from +their sockets, but understood nothing. Their hearts were moved at once, +it is true, by the weeping of the orphan, but they considered that +Panna Anulka had wrought foul injustice on Yatsek. They remembered also +the teaching of Father Voynovski, that woman is the cause of all evil. +So they looked at one another inquiringly, as if hoping that some clear +idea would come, if not to one, to another of them. At last words came +to Marek. + +"Well, now, here is Krepetski for you. But in every case that Martsian +will get from us a----, or won't he?" + +And he seized at his left side, and, following his example, the other +three brothers began to feel for the hilts of their sabres. + +Meanwhile, Pan Serafin had led in the young lady and committed her to +Pani Dzvonkovski, his housekeeper, a woman of sensitive heart and +irrepressible eloquence, and explained to her that she was to concern +herself with this the most notable guest that had come to them. He said +that the housekeeper was to yield up her own bedroom to the lady, light +the house, make a fire in the kitchen, find calming medicines and +plasters for the blue spots, prepare heated wine and various dainties. +He advised the young lady herself to lie down in bed until all was +given her, and to rest, deferring detailed discourse till the morrow. + +But she desired to open her heart straightway to those gentlemen with +whom she had sought rescue. She wanted to cast out immediately from her +soul all that anguish which had been collecting so long in it, and that +misfortune, shame, humiliation, and torture in which she had been +living at Belchantska. So, shutting herself up with Father Voynovski +and Pan Serafin, she spoke as if to a confessor and a father. She told +them everything, both her sorrow for Yatsek, and that she had consented +to marry her guardian only because she thought Yatsek had contemned +her, and because she had heard from the Bukoyemskis that Yatsek was to +marry Parma Zbierhovski. Finally, she explained what her life had been +in Belchantska,--or rather, what her sufferings had been there; she +explained the torturing malice of the two sisters, the ghastly advances +of Martsian, and the happenings of that day which were the cause of her +flight from the mansion. + +And they seized their own heads while they listened. The hand of Father +Voynovski, an old soldier, went to his left side involuntarily, in the +manner of the Bukoyemskis, though for many a day he had not carried a +weapon; but the worthy Pan Serafin put his palms on the temples of the +maiden, and said to her,-- + +"Let him try to take thee. I had an only son, but now God has given me +a daughter." + +Father Voynovski, who had been struck most by what she had said +touching Yatsek, remembering all that had happened, could not take in +the position immediately. Hence he thought and thought, smoothed with +his palm the whole length of his crown which was milk-white, and then +he asked finally,-- + +"Didst thou know of that letter which Pan Gideon wrote to Yatsek?" + +"I begged him to write it." + +"Then I understand nothing. Why didst thou do so?" + +"Because I wanted Yatsek to return to us." + +"How return?" cried the priest, with real anger. "The letter was such +that just because of it Yatsek went away to the ends of the earth +broken-hearted, to forget, and cast out of him that love which thou, my +young lady, didst trample." + +Her eyes blinked from amazement, and she put her hands together, as if +praying. + +"My guardian told me that he had written the letter of a father. O Holy +Mother! What was there in it?" + +"Insults, contempt, a trampling upon the man's poverty and his honor. +Dost understand?" + +Then from the gill's breast was rent a shriek of such pain and +sincerity that the honest heart of the priest quivered in him. He +approached her, removed the hands with which she had covered her face, +and asked,-- + +"Then didst thou not know of this?" + +"I did not--I did not!" + +"And thou didst wish Yatsek to return to thee? + +"I did!" + +"In God's name! Why was that?" + +Tears as large as pearls began again to drop from her closed lashes in +abundance, and quickly; her face was red from maiden shame, she caught +for air with her open lips, the heart was throbbing in her as in a +captured bird, and at last after great effort, she whispered,-- + +"Because--I love him!" + +"My child, is that possible!" cried out Father Voynovski. + +But the voice broke in his breast, for tears were choking him also. He +was seized at the same instant by delight and immense compassion for +the girl, and astonishment that "a woman" in this case was not the +cause of all evil, but an innocent lamb on which so much suffering had +fallen God knew for what reason. He caught her in his arms, pressed her +to his heart. "My child! my child!" repeated he, time after time. + +The Bukoyemskis, meanwhile, had betaken themselves, with the glasses +and pitcher, to the dining-room; had emptied the pitcher +conscientiously to the bottom, and were waiting for the priest and Pan +Serafin, in the hope that with their coming supper would be put on the +table. + +They returned at last with moistened eyes and with emotion on their +faces. Pan Serafin breathed deeply once, and a second time, then he +said,-- + +"Pani Dzvonkovski is putting the poor thing to bed. Indeed, a +man is unwilling to believe his own ears. We too, are to blame; but +Krepetski,--what he has done is simply infamous and disgraceful. We may +not let him go without punishment." + +"On the contrary," answered Marek, "we will talk about this with that +'stump.' Oh-ho!" + +Then he turned to Father Voynovski,-- + +"I am very sorry for her, but still, I think that God punished her for +Yatsek. Is that not true?" + +"Thou art a fool!" called out Father Voynovski. + +"But how is that? Why?" + +The old man, whose breast was full of pity, fell to talking quickly and +passionately of the innocence and suffering of the girl, as if wishing +in that way to make up for the injustice which he had permitted +regarding her; but after a time all discussion was interrupted by the +coming of Pani Dzvonkovski, who burst into the room like a bomb into a +fortress. + +Her face was as flooded with tears as if it had been dipped in a full +bucket, and right on the threshold she fell to crying, with arms +stretched out before her,-- + +"People, whoso believes in God! Vengeance, justice! As God lives! her +dear shoulders are all in blue lumps, those shoulders once white as +wafers--hair torn out by the handful, golden hair! my dearest dove! my +innocent lamb! my precious little flower!" + +On hearing this, Mateush Bukoyemski, already excited by the narrative +of Father Voynovski, bellowed out at one moment, the next he was +accompanied by Marek, Lukash, and Yan till the servants rushed into the +dining-hall and the dogs began to bark at the entrance. But +Vilchopolski, who a moment later returned from his night review of +haystacks, met now another humor of the brothers. Their hair was on +end, their eyes were staring with rage, their right hands were grasping +at their sabre hilts. + +"Blood!" shouted Lukash. + +"Give him hither, the son of a such a one!" + +"Kill him!" + +"On sabres with him!" + +And they moved toward the door as one man; but Pan Serafin sprang to +the entrance and stopped them. + +"Halt!" cried he. "Martsian deserves not the sabre, but the headsman!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + +And he had to speak long in pacifying the angry brothers. He explained +to them that were they to cut down Krepetski at once it would be the +act not of nobles but assassins. + +"There is need first of all," said he, "to visit our neighbors, to come +to an understanding with Father Tvorkovski, to have the support of the +clergy and the nobles, to obtain the testimony of the servants at +Belchantska, then to take the case before a tribunal, and only when the +sentence is passed to stand behind it with weapons. If," continued he, +"ye were to bear Martsian apart on your sabres immediately, his father +would not fail to report in all places that ye did so through agreement +with Panna Anulka; by this her reputation might suffer, and the old man +would summon you, and, instead of going to the war, ye would have to +drag around through tribunals, for, not being under the authority of +the hetman as yet, ye would not escape a civil summons. That is how +this matter stands at the moment." + +"How so?" inquired Yan, with sorrow; "then we are to let the wrong done +this dove go unpunished?" + +"But do ye think," said the priest, "that life will be pleasant for +Krepetski when infamy is hanging over him, or the axe of the headsman, +and in addition when general contempt is surrounding him? That is a +worse torment than a quick death would be, and I should not wish, for +all the silver in Olkuts, to be in his skin at this moment." + +"But if he will wriggle out?" inquired Marek. "His father is an old +trickster, who has won more than one lawsuit." + +"If he wriggles out, Yatsek on returning will whisper a word in his +ear." + +"Ye do not know Yatsek yet! He has the eyes of a maiden, but it is +safer to take her young cubs from a she-bear than to pain him +unjustly." + +Hereupon Vilchopolski till then only listening spoke in gloomy +accents,-- + +"Pan Krepetski has written his own sentence, whether he awaits the +return of Pan Tachevski or not-- But there is another point; he will +try, with armed hand, to get back the young lady, and then--" + +"Then we shall see!" interrupted Pan Serafin. "But let him only try! +That is something quite different!" + +And he shook his sabre, threateningly, while the Bukoyemskis began to +grit their teeth straightway. + +"Let him try! let him try!" said they. + +"But, gentlemen," said Vilchopolski, "you are going to the war." + +"We will arrange then in another way," replied Father Voynovski. + +Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the butler. He +had brought trunks filled with the wardrobe of Panna Sieninski which, +as he said, he did only with difficulty. The Krepetski sisters tried to +prevent him, and even wished to wake Martsian, and keep the trunks in +the mansion, but they could not wake him; and the butler persuaded them +that they should not act thus, both in view of their own good and that +of their brother, otherwise an action would be brought against them for +robbery, and they would be summoned for damages before a tribunal. As +women who do not know law they were frightened and yielded. The butler +thought that Martsian would try surely to get back the young lady, but +he did not think that the man would use violence immediately. + +"He will be restrained from that," said the butler, "by his father, who +understands well the significance of _raptus puellae_. He knows nothing +yet of what has happened, but from here I will go to him directly and +explain the whole matter, for two reasons. First, so that he may +restrain Martsian, and second, because I do not wish to be in +Belchantska to-morrow when Martsian wakes and learns that I have helped +the young lady in fleeing. He would rush on me surely, and then to one +of us something ugly might happen." + +Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski praised the man's prudence and, +finding that he was a well-wishing person, and experienced, a man who +had eaten bread from more than one oven, and to whom law itself was no +novelty, begged him to aid in examining the question. There were two +councils then, one of these being formed of the four Bukoyemskis. + +Pan Serafin, knowing how to restrain them most easily from murderous +intentions, and detain them at home, sent a large demijohn of good mead +to the brothers; this they were glad to besiege at the moment, and +began to drink one to another. Their hearts were moved, and they +remembered involuntarily the night when Panna Anulka crossed for the +first time the threshold of that house there in Yedlinka. They recalled +how they had fallen in love with her straightway, how through her they +had quarrelled, and then in one voice adjudged her to Stanislav, and +thus made an offering of their passion to friendship. + +At last Mateush drank his mead, put his head on his palm, sighed, and +continued,-- + +"Yatsek was sitting that night on a tree like a squirrel. Who could +have thought then that he was just the man to whom the Lord God had +given her?" + +"And commanded us to continue in our orphanhood," added Marek. + +"Do ye remember," asked Lukash, "how the rooms were all bright from her +presence? They would not have been brighter from a hundred burning +candles. And she at one time stood up, at another sat down, and a third +time she laughed. And when she looked at a man it was as warm in his +bosom as if he had drunk heated wine that same instant. Let us take a +glass now on our terrible sadness." + +They drank again; then Mateush struck a blow with his fist on the +table, and shouted,-- + +"Ei! if she had not loved that Yatsek so!" + +"Then what?" asked Yan, angrily, "dost think that she would fall in +love with thee right away? Look at him--my dandy!" + +"Well thou art no beauty!" retorted Mateush. + +And they looked at each other with ill-feeling. But Lukash, though +given greatly to quarrels, began now to pacify his brothers. + +"Not for thee, not for thee, not for any of us," said he. "Another will +get her and take her to the altar." + +"For us there is nothing but sorrow and weeping," blurted out Marek. + +"Then at least we will love one another. No one in this world loves us! +No one!" + +"No one! no one!" repeated they all in succession, mingling their wine +with their tears as they said so. + +"But she is sleeping up there!" added Yan on a sudden. + +"She is sleeping, the poor little thing," responded Lukash; "she is +lying down like a flower cut by the scythe, like a lamb torn by a +villainous wolf. My born brothers! is there no man here who will take +even a pull at the wild beast?" + +"It cannot be but there is!" cried out Mateush, Marek, and Yan. And +again they grew indignant, and the more they drank the oftener they +gritted their teeth, first one, then another, or one of them struck his +fist on the table. + +"I have an idea!" said the youngest on a sudden. + +"Tell it! Have God in thy heart!" + +"Here it is. We have promised Pan Serafin not to cut up that 'stump.' +Have we not promised?" + +"We have, but tell what thou hast to say; ask no questions." + +"Though we have promised we must take revenge for our young lady. Old +Krepetski will come here, as they said, to see if Pan Serafin will not +give back the young lady. But we know that he will not give her, do we +not?" + +"He will not! he will not!" + +"But think ye not this way: Martsian will hurry to meet his father on +the road back, to see and inquire if he has succeeded." + +"As God is in heaven, he will do so." + +"On the road, half-way between Belchantska and Yedlinka, is a tar pit +near the roadside. If we should wait at that tar pit for Martsian--?" + +"Well, but what for?" + +"Psh! quiet!" + +"Psh!" + +And they began to look around through the room, though they knew that +save themselves there was not a living soul in it, and then they +whispered. They whispered long, now louder, now lower. At last their +faces grew radiant, they finished their wine at one draught, embraced +one another, and in silence went out of the room one after the other, +in goose fashion. + +They saddled their horses without the least noise, and each led his +beast by the bit from the courtyard. When they had gone through the +gate they mounted and rode stirrup by stirrup to the roadway where Yan, +though the youngest, took command and said then to his brothers,-- + +"Now I with Marek will go to the tar pit, and do ye bring that cask +before daybreak." + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + +Old Krepetski, as had been foreseen by the butler, went to Yedlinka +after midday on the morrow, but beyond all expectation he appeared +there with so kindly a face, and so gladsome, that Pan Serafin, who had +the habit of dozing after dinner, and felt somewhat drowsy, became wide +awake with astonishment at sight of him. Almost at the threshold the +old fox began to mention neighborly friendship and say what delight his +old age would find in more frequent and mutual visits; he gave thanks +for the kindly reception, and only after finishing these courtesies did +he come to the real question. + +"Benefactor and neighbor," said he, "I have come with the salute which +was due you, but also, as you must have divined, with a request which, +in view of my age, you, I trust, will give ear to most kindly." + +"I will yield gladly to every proper wish which you may utter," said +Pan Serafin. + +The old man began to rub his hands. + +"I knew that! I knew it beforehand," said he. "What a thing it is to +deal with a man who has real wisdom; one comes to an agreement +immediately. I said to my son 'Leave that to me! the moment,' said I, +'that thou hast to do with Pan Serafin all will go well, for there is +not another man, not merely so wise, but so honorable in this region.'" + +"You praise me too greatly." + +"No, no, I say too little. But let us come to the question." + +"Let us." + +Old Krepetski was silent for a while, as if seeking expressions. He +merely moved his jaws, so that his chin met his nose. At last he +laughed joyously, put his hand on Pan Serafin's knee, and continued,-- + +"My benefactor, you see our goldfinch has flown from the cage." + +"I know. Because the cat frightened it." + +"Is there not pleasure in talking with such people?" cried the old man, +rubbing his hands. "Oh, that is wit! The prelate Tvorkovski would burst +with envy, as God is dear to me!" + +"I am listening." + +"Well, to the question, and straight from the bridge. We should like to +take back that goldfinch." + +"Why should you not?" + +Pan Krepetski moved his chin toward his nose once, and a second time. +He was alarmed; the affair went too easily; but he clapped his hands, +and cried with feigned joyousness,-- + +"Well, now the affair is finished! Would to God that such men as you +were born everywhere!" + +"It is finished so far as I am concerned," said Pan Serafin. "Only +there is need to ask that little bird whether she wants to go back +again; besides she cannot go back to-day, for your son has so throttled +her that she is barely breathing." + +"Is she sick?" + +"Sick; she is lying in bed." + +"But is she not pretending?" + +Pan Serafin's face grew dark in a moment. + +"My gracious sir," said he, "let us talk seriously. Your son Martsian +has acted unworthily with Panna Anulka, not in human fashion, and not +as a noble; he has acted altogether with infamy. Before God and man you +have offended grievously to give an orphan into hands such as his, and +intrust her to a tyrant so shameless." + +"There is not a bit of truth in what she says," cried the old man. + +"Why not? You know not what she has said, and still you deny. It is not +she who is speaking; blue lumps and marks of blows speak for her, marks +which my housekeeper saw on her young body. As to Martsian, all the +servants in Belchantska have seen his approaches and his cruelty, and +are ready to testify when needed. In my house is Vilchopolski who is +going to-day to Radom to tell the prelate Tvorkovski what has +happened." + +"But you have promised to give me the girl." + +"No, I only said that I would not detain her. If she wants to go back, +very well! If she wishes to stay with me, very well also! But attempt +not to bring me to refuse my roof and a morsel of bread to an orphan +who is grievously offended." + +Old Krepetski's jaws moved time after time. For a while he was silent, +and then began,-- + +"You are right, and you are wrong. To refuse a shelter and bread to an +orphan would be unworthy, but as a wise man consider that it is one +thing not to refuse hospitality, and something different to stand with +rebellion against the authority of a father. I love Tekla, my youngest +daughter, sincerely, but it happens sometimes that I give her a push. +Well, what then? If she, after being punished by me, should flee to +you, would you not permit me to take her, or would you refer me to her +pleasure? Think of this--what sort of order would there be in the +world, if women had their will? A married woman, even when old, must +hearken to her husband, and yield to him; but what must it be in the +case of an immature girl, as against the commands of her father, or +guardian?" + +"Panna Anulka is not your daughter, nor even your relative." + +"But we inherited the guardianship over her from Pan Gideon. If Pan +Gideon had punished the girl, you, of course, would not have had a word +against him; but it is the same thing touching me and my son, to whom I +have committed the management of Belchantska. Some one must manage, +some one must have authority to punish. Difficult to do without that. I +do not deny that Martsian, as a man, young and impulsive, exceeded the +measure, perhaps, especially since he was met with ingratitude. But +that is my affair! I will examine, judge, and punish; but I will take +the girl back, and I think, with your permission, that even the king +himself would have no right to raise any hindrance." + +"You speak as in a tribunal," said Pan Serafin. "I do not deny that you +have appearances on your side; but appearance is one thing, and the +real truth another. I do not wish to hinder you in anything, but I tell +you honestly what the opinion of people is, and with that opinion I +advise you to reckon. For you it is not a question of Panna Anulka, nor +of guardianship over her, but you suspect that there may be a will in +the hands of the prelate, with a provision for the young lady, +therefore you are afraid that Belchantska might slip from you together +with Panna Anulka. Not long ago I heard one of the neighbors speak in +this way: 'Were it not for that uncertainty the Krepetskis would be the +first to drive the orphan from the house, for those people have not God +in their hearts.' It is very disagreeable for me and repulsive to say +such things in my house to you, but you ought to know them." + +Flames of anger gleamed in the eyes of the old man, but he controlled +himself, and said with a voice which was quiet, though somewhat +broken,-- + +"The malice of people! Low malice, nothing more, and stupidity besides +that. How could it be? We would then drive from the house a young lady +whom Martsian wants to marry? By the dear God, think over this! The two +things do not hold together." + +"They talk in this way: 'If it shall appear that Belchantska is hers +then Martsian will marry her, but if the place is not hers he will +simply disgrace her.' I am not any man's conscience, so I merely repeat +what people say, but with this addition of my own, that your son +threatened shame to the girl. I know that surely, and you, who know +Martsian and his vile desires, know it also." + +"I know one and another thing, but I know not what you wish to say." + +"What I wish to say? This, which I have said to you already. If Panna +Anulka agrees to return to you I have no right to oppose her or you, +but if she is not willing, I will not expel her from this house, for I +have given my word not to do so." + +"The question is not that you should expel her, but that you should +permit me to take her, just as you would permit me if one of my own +daughters were with you. This only I beg, that you stand not in my +way." + +"Then I will tell you clearly. I will permit no violence in my house! I +am master, and you, who have just mentioned the king, should understand +that on this point the king himself could not oppose me." + +On hearing this Pan Krepetski balled his fists, so that his palms were +pierced by his finger-nails. + +"Violence? That is just what I fear. I, if ever I have had to act +against people (and who has not had to deal with the malice of men?), +have acted against them through the law, always, not through violence. +But what the proverb says is not true, that the apple falls near its +tree.--It falls far away sometimes. I, for your good and safety, +desired to settle this question in peacefulness. You are undefended in +the forest, while Martsian--it is grievous for a father to say this of +a son--has not taken after me in any way. I am ashamed to confess it, +but I am not able to answer for him. The whole district is in dread of +his passionateness, and justly, for he is ready to disregard everything +and he has about fifty sabres at his order. You, on the other hand, are +unarmed. I repeat it, you live in the forest, and I advise you to +reckon with this situation. I am alarmed myself at it." + +Hereupon Pan Serafin rose, walked up to Krepetski, and gazed into his +eyes. + +"Do you wish to frighten me?" inquired he. + +"I am afraid myself," repeated the old man. + +But their further conversation was interrupted by sudden shouts in the +courtyard from the direction of the granary and the kitchen, so they +sprang to the open window, and at the first moment were petrified with +amazement. There between two fences ran with tremendous speed toward +the gate and the courtyard some kind of rare monster, unlike any +creature on earth, and behind it on excited horses dashed the four +Bukoyemskis, shouting and cutting the air with their whip-lashes. The +monster rushed into the yard, and behind it came the brothers, like +hell hunters, and continued their chasing. + +"Jesus, Mary!" cried out Pan Serafin. + +He ran to the porch, and after him ran old Krepetski. + +Only there could they see with more clearness. The monster seemed like +a giant bird, but also like a horse and a rider, for it ran on four +legs with a certain form sitting on it. But the rider and the beast +were so covered with feathers that their heads seemed two bundles. + +It was impossible to see clearly, for the steed rushed like a wind +round the courtyard. The Bukoyemskis followed closely, and did not +spare blows, by which feathers were torn away and fell to the ground, +or circled in the air as do snowflakes. + +Meanwhile the monster roared like a wounded bear, and so did the +brothers. Pan Serafin's voice and that of his visitor were lost in the +general tumult, though all the power in their lungs was used then in +shouting. + +"Stop! By God's wounds, will ye stop!" + +But the four brothers urged on, as if seized by insanity--and they had +rushed five times round the yard when from the kitchen, and the +stables, and barns, and granaries, and outhouses a great crowd of +servants ran in, who hearing the cry "Stop!" repeated as if in +desperation by Pan Serafin, plunged forward and, seizing bits and +bridles, strove to stop the horses. + +At last the horses of the four brothers were brought to a standstill, +but with the feathery steed there was very great trouble. Without a +bridle, beaten, terrified, the beast reared at sight of the servants, +or sprang to one side with the suddenness of lightning. They stopped it +only at the fence when preparing to spring over. One of the men grasped +its forelock, another caught its nostrils, a number seized its mane; it +could not jump with such a burden, and fell to its knees. The beast +sprang up quickly, it is true, but did not try to rush away; it only +trembled throughout its whole body. + +They removed the rider, who, as it seemed then, had not been thrown +because his feet were bound firmly beneath the beast's belly. They +pulled the feathers from his head, and under the feathers appeared a +visage covered so thickly with tar that no man there recognized the +features. + +The rider gave faint signs of life, and only when taken to the porch +did old Krepetski and Pan Serafin see who it was and cry out +"Martsian!" with amazement. + +"This is that vile scoundrel!" said Mateush. "We have punished him not +a little, and have hunted him in here, so that Panna Sieninski may know +that tender souls have not gone from this world yet." + +Pan Serafin seized his head with his hands, and shouted,-- + +"The devil take you and your tender souls! Ye are nothing but bandits!" + +Then, turning to Pani Dzvonkovski who had run up with the others and +was crossing herself, he cried,-- + +"Pour vodka into his mouth. Let him regain consciousness, and be taken +to bed." + +There was hurry and disorder. Some ran to make the bed ready, others +for hot water, still others for vodka; a number began to pull the +feathers off Martsian, in which they were aided by his father, who was +gritting his teeth, and repeating,-- + +"Is he alive? Is he dead? He is alive! Vengeance! Oh Vengeance!" + +Then he sprang up on a sudden, jumped forward, and thrusting up to the +very eyes of Pan Serafin, fingers, bent now like talons, he shouted,-- + +"You were in the conspiracy! You have killed my son--you Armenian +assassin!" + +Pan Serafin grew very pale, and seized his sabre, but almost at the +same instant he remembered that he was the host, and Krepetski a +visitor, so he dropped the hilt, and raised two fingers immediately. + +"By that God who is above us," said he, "I swear that I knew +nothing--and I am ready to swear on the cross in addition--Amen!" + +"We are witnesses that he knew nothing!" cried Marek Bukoyemski. + +"God has punished," said Pan Serafin; "for you threatened me, as a +defenceless old man, with the passion of your son. Here is his passion +for you!" + +"A criminal offence!" bellowed the old man. "The headsman against you, +and your heads under the sword edge! Vengeance! Justice!" + +"See what ye have done!" said Pan Serafin, as he turned to the +Bukoyemskis. + +"I said it was better to run away at once," answered Lukash. + +Pani Dzvonkovski now came with Dantsic liquor, and fell to pouring it +from the bottle into the open mouth of the sufferer. Martsian coughed, +and opened his eyes the next minute. His father knelt down to him. + +"Art alive? Art alive?" asked he in a wild joyful outburst. + +But the son could not answer yet, and was like a great owl, which, +struck with a bullet, has fallen on its back and lies there, with +outstretched wings, panting. Still consciousness was coming to him, and +with it memory. His glance passed from the face of his father to that +of Pan Serafin, and then to the Bukoyemskis. Thereupon it grew so +terrible that if there had been the least place for fear in the hearts +of the brothers, a shiver would have passed from foot to head through +their bodies. + +But they only went nearer to Martsian, like four bulls which are ready +to rush with, their horns at an enemy, and Mateush inquired,-- + +"Well? Was that too little?" + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + +A few hours later on old Krepetski took his son to Belchantska, though +the young man was unable to stand, and did not know clearly what was +happening. First of all the servants had washed him with great trouble, +and had put on him fresh linen, but after this had been done such +weakness came upon Martsian, that he fainted repeatedly, and thanks +only to the angelica and pimpernel bitters which Pani Dzvonkovski now +gave him was he brought back to consciousness. Pan Serafin advised to +place him in bed and defer the departure till recovery was perfect, but +Pan Krepetski, whose old heart was raging, did not wish to owe +gratitude to a man against whom he was planning a lawsuit for harboring +the young lady; hence he had them put hay in a wagon, and, placing a +rug, instead of a bed, under Martsian he moved toward Belchantska, +hurling threats at the Bukoyemskis and also Pan Serafin. While +threatening vengeance he was forced to accept Pan Serafin's assistance, +and borrow from him hay, clothing, and linen, but, blinded by anger, he +took no note of the strange situation. Pan Serafin himself had no mind +whatever for laughter; since the act of the four brothers disturbed and +concerned him very greatly. + +At this juncture came Father Voynovski who had been summoned by letter. +The Bukoyemskis, now greatly confused, were sitting in the office, not +showing their noses, hence Pan Serafin had to tell all that had +happened. The priest struck the skirt of his soutane from time to time +as he listened, but he was not so grieved as Pan Serafin had expected. + +"If Martsian dies," said he at length, "then woe to the Bukoyemskis, +but if, as I think, he squirms out of it, I suppose that they will take +private vengeance and not raise a lawsuit." + +"Why so?" + +"Because it is unpleasant to be ridiculed by the country. At the same +time his conduct toward Panna Anulka would be discovered. That would +give him no enviable reputation. His life is not laudable, hence he +should avoid the chance of letting witnesses tell in public what they +know of him." + +"That may be true," said Pan Serafin, "but it is difficult to forgive +the Bukoyemskis tricks of such a character." + +The priest waved his hand. + +"The Bukoyemskis are the Bukoyemskis." + +"How?" asked Pan Serafin, with astonishment. "I thought that your grace +would be more offended." + +"My gracious sir," said the old man, "you have served in the army, but +I have served longer, and have seen so many soldiers' tricks during my +time that nothing common can surprise me. It is bad that such things +happen. I blame the Bukoyemskis, but I have seen worse things, +especially as in this case the question was of an orphan. I will go +still farther and say sincerely, that I should grieve more if +Martsian's deeds had gone unpunished. Think, we are old, but if we were +young our hearts too would boil up over deeds such as his are. That is +why I cannot blame the Bukoyemskis altogether." + +"True, true, but still Martsian may not live until morning." + +"That is in the hands of God; but you say he is not wounded?" + +"He is not, but he is all one blue spot, and faints continually." + +"Oh, he will get out of that; he fainted from fatigue. But I must go to +the Bukoyemskis and inquire how it happened." + +The brothers received him with rapture, for they hoped that he would +take their part with Pan Serafin. They began to quarrel at once as to +who should tell the tale, and stopped only when the priest gave Mateush +the primacy. + +Mateush resumed his voice and spoke as follows,-- + +"Father benefactor, God saw our innocence! For, when we learned from +Pani Dzvonkovski how that poor little orphan had blue lumps all over +her body, we came into this room in such grief that had it not been for +the mead which Pan Serafin sent us in a pitcher, our hearts would have +burst perhaps. And I say to your grace, we drank and shed tears--we +drank and shed tears. And we had this in mind too, that she was no +common girl, but a young lady descended from senators. It is known to +you, for example, that the higher blood a horse has, the thinner his +skin is; slash a common drudge with a whip, he will hardly feel it, but +strike a noble steed, and immediately a welt will come out on him. +Think, Father benefactor, what a thin, tender skin such a dear little +girl must have on her shoulders, and all over her body, just like a +wafer--say yourself--" + +"What do I know of her skin?" cried Father Voynovski, in anger. "Tell +me better, how did ye plaster up Martsian." + +"We promised Pan Serafin on oath not to cut him in pieces, but we knew +that old Krepetski would come here, and we guessed immediately that +Martsian would gallop out to meet him. So, according to arrangement, +two of us took down to the tar pit before daylight a great salt-barrel +filled with feathers, which we got from the wife of a forester. We +picked out at the place a cask of thick tar, and waited at the hut near +that tar pit. We look--old Krepetski is riding along--that is no harm, +let him ride! We wait, we wait till we are tired of waiting; then we +think about going to Belchantska. That moment a boy from the tar pit +tells us that Martsian is coming up the road. We ride out and halt +there in front of him. 'With the forehead! With the forehead!' 'But +whither?' 'Straight ahead,' says he, 'by the woods.' 'But to whose +harm?' 'To harm or to profit,' says he, 'get ye out of this!' And then +to the sabre. But we seized him by the neck. 'Oh! this cannot be!' +cried he. In a flash we had him down from the horse, which Yan took by +the bridle. He fell to screaming, to kicking, to biting, to gnawing, +but we, like a lightning flash, took him to the barrels which stood one +near the other, and said, 'Oh! thou son of such an one! thou wilt +injure orphans, threaten young ladies with infamy, disregard lofty +blood, beat an orphan on the shoulders, and think that no one will take +the part of thy victim; learn now that there are tender hearts in the +country.' And that moment we thrust him into the tar, head downward. We +raise him out, and again in with him. 'Learn that there are feeling +souls!' said we.--And in with him then among the feathers!--'Learn now +that there is chivalrous daring!' And again with him into the tar +barrel. 'Learn to know the Bukoyemskis!' And again with him into the +feathers! We wanted to give him another dose, but the tar boiler +shouted that he would smother; and indeed he was thickly coated, so +that neither his nose nor his eyes were visible to any one; we put him +then on the saddle and tied his feet firmly under the animal's belly +lest he fly from his position. We painted the horse, and scattered +feathers over him also, then lashing this rather wild beast with whips, +after we had taken off his bridle, we drove him ahead of us." + +"And ye drove him up here?" + +"As a strange beast, for we wished to console the young lady even a +little, and show her our brotherly affection." + +"Ye gave her a lovely consolation. When she saw him through the window, +the fright nearly killed her." + +"When she recovers she will think of us gratefully. Orphans always like +to feel guardianship over them." + +"Ye have done her more harm than service. Who knows if the Krepetskis +will not take her away again?" + +"How is that? By the dear God! will we let them?" + +"But who will defend the girl when ye are in prison?" + +When they heard this the brothers were greatly concerned, and looked +with anxious eyes at one another. But Lukash at last struck his +forehead. "We will not be imprisoned," said he, "for first we will go +to the army; but if it comes to that, if there is a question of Panna +Anulka's safety, help will be found." + +"Found! Of course it will," cried out Marek. + +"What help?" inquired Father Voynovski. + +"We will challenge Martsian as soon as he recovers. He will not go +alive out of our hands." + +"But if he dies now?" + +"Then God will help us." + +"But ye will pay with your lives!" + +"Before that we will shell out the Turks, and the Lord Jesus will +reward us for that service. Only let your grace take our part with Pan +Serafin; for if Stanislav had been here he would have been with us +while giving this bath to that Martsian." + +"But would not Yatsek give it?" inquired Mateush. + +"Yatsek will give him a better bath!" cried the priest, as if +unwittingly. + +Further converse was stopped by the coming of Pan Serafin, who appeared +with a ready and weighty decision. + +"I have been thinking of what we should do," said he, very seriously. +"And does your grace know what I have decided? It is this, that we +should all go to Cracow with Panna Anulka. I know not if we shall see +our boys in that city, for no one knows where the regiments will be +quartered, or what will be the order of their marching. But we should +place the girl under protection of the king or the queen; or, if that +is not done, secure her in some cloister for a season. I have also +determined, as you know, to take the field in my old age and serve with +my son, or, if such be God's will, to die with him. During our absence +the girl would not be safe, even in Radom, under the protection of the +prelate Tvorkovski. These gentlemen"--here he pointed to the +Bukoyemskis "need to be under the hetman immediately. It is unknown +what might happen should they stay here. I have acquaintances at +court,--Pan Matchynski, Pan Gninski, Pan Grothus,--and shall get their +influence for the orphan, as I think. That done I will find +Zbierhovski's regiment, and go straight to my son where I shall see +Yatsek also. What think you of this, my benefactor?" + +"As God lives," cried Father Voynovski, "this is a splendid idea! And I +will go with you--and I will go with you to Yatsek. And as to Panna +Anulka, oh, all will be well! The Sobieskis owe a great debt to the +Sieninskis. She will be out of danger in Cracow and nearer; for I am +certain that Yatsek has not forgotten her. And when the war ends that +will happen which God wishes. Give me a substitute here in my parish +from Radom, and I will be with you!" + +"All together!" roared the Bukoyemskis with rapture "to Cracow!" + +"And the field of glory!" cried Father Voynovski. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + +Consultations now followed touching the expedition; for not only were +there no voices against it, but Father Voynovski was searching for a +vicar in Radom. This plan, however, was an old one, modified by adding +to it the person of Panna Anulka, who would be taken to Cracow and +secured from the Krepetskis through protection from the king or the +cloister. Pan Serafin saw that the king, occupied as he was with the +war, would have no time to talk about private questions; but there +remained the queen, to whom access might be easy through notable +dignitaries, related for the greater part to the Sieninskis and the +Tachevskis. + +There was fear also that the Krepetskis might attack Yedlinka when Pan +Serafin and the Bukoyemskis had gone, and seize on rich property in +furniture and silver. But Vilchopolski guaranteed that with the +servants and the foresters he would defend the place and not let the +Krepetskis touch anything. Pan Serafin, however, took the silver to +Radom and left it in the Bernardine cloister, where he had placed money +before that in large sums, not wishing to keep it at home near the edge +of great forests. + +Meanwhile, he kept an attentive ear toward Belchantska for much +depended on that place. If Martsian died the Bukoyemskis would have to +give a grave answer; if he recovered hope existed that there would not +be even a lawsuit, since it was difficult to admit that the Krepetskis +would expose themselves willingly to ridicule. Pan Serafin considered +it as more likely that the old man would not leave him at peace +touching Panna Anulka but he thought that if the orphan were in the +care of the king the kernel of a lawsuit would be lost to the +Krepetskis. + +He learned, through the butler, that the old man had gone to Radom and +Lublin, and remained rather long in those places. + +For the first week Martsian suffered grievously, and there was fear +that the tar which he had swallowed might choke him, or stop his +intestines. But the second week he grew better. He did not, it is true, +leave the bed, for he had not strength to stand unassisted, his bones +pained him greatly, and he was mortally weary; but he began to curse +the Bukoyemskis, and to take keen delight in projects of vengeance. In +fact, after two weeks had passed, his "revellers from Radom" began to +visit him, various gallows-birds with sabres held up by hempen cords, +men with holes in their boots, and gaunt stomachs, thirsty and hungry +at all hours. Meanwhile he counselled with these, and was plotting not +only against the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafin, but against the young +lady, of whom he could not think without gnashing of teeth; and he +developed such monstrous inventions against her, that his father +forewarned him, that they were of criminal nature. + +The echo of those plots and threats went to Yedlinka, and produced +various impressions on different people. Pan Serafin, a man of much +courage, but prudent, was somewhat alarmed by them, especially when he +remembered that this enmity of wicked and dangerous people would strike +his son also. Father Voynovski, who had hotter blood in his veins, was +keenly indignant, and prophesied that the Krepetskis would meet a vile +ending. At the same time, though entirely won over to Anulka, he turned +from time to time to Pan Serafin, and then to the Bukoyemskis. + +"Who caused the Trojan war? A woman! Who causes quarrels and battles at +all times? A woman! And it is the same now! Innocent or guilty, a +woman!" + +But the Bukoyemskis cared little for the danger which threatened every +one from Martsian, and even promised themselves various amusements +because of it. They were warned, however, seriously from many sides. +The Sulgostovskis, the Silnitskis, the Kohanovskis, and others, all +greatly indignant at Martsian, came, one after the other, with tidings +to Yedlinka. They said that he was gathering a party, and even bandits +of the forest. They offered assistance, but the brothers wished no +assistance. Lukash, who spoke most frequently in the name of the other +three replied thus to Rafal Silnitski, who implored them to be +careful,-- + +"There is no harm in thinking before war of our arms, and also of +methods in which, from disuse, we have grown somewhat rusty, straighten +ourselves out, and have practice. Belchantska is no fortress, so let +Martsian see to his own safety, for who knows what may strike him. But +if he wishes to nourish us with ingratitude, let him try it!" + +Pan Silnitski looked with astonishment at Lukash, and asked,-- + +"Nourish with ingratitude? But, as I think, he owes you no gratitude." +Lukash was sincerely indignant. + +"How not owe? Could we not have cut him to pieces? Who gave him life? +Pani Krepetski once, but a second time our moderation; if he is going +to count on it always, tell him that he is mistaken." + +"And tell him that he will see Panna Anulka as much as he will see his +own ears," added Marek. + +"Why should he not see her, then?" finished Yan. "It is not difficult +for a man to see his own ears if they are cut from him." + +The conversation then ended. The brothers repeated it to Panna Anulka +to calm her, which was superfluous, for the lady was not timid by +nature. Her fear, too, of the Krepetskis, and especially of Martsian, +was measured by her conviction that no danger threatened her in +Yedlinka. When, on the day after her arrival at Pan Serafin's, she saw +through the window Martsian in feathers, looking like some filthy +beast, urged on with whips by the Bukoyemskis, in the first moment of +her dreadful surprise, which was mixed with amazement and even +compassion, she conceived so much confidence in the power of the +brothers, that she could not even imagine how any one could avoid +fearing them. Martsian passed for a terrible person and a fighter, and +see what they did with him. It is true that Yatsek in his time had cut +up all those brothers, but Yatsek in her eyes had grown now beyond +common estimate altogether, and in general he appeared to her before +the last parting from a side so mysterious that she did not know with +what measure to esteem him. The remarks which were made about him by +the Bukoyemskis themselves, and Pan Serafin, with the words of the +priest, who spoke of him oftenest, confirmed in her only wonder for +that friend of her childhood, who had been so near to her once, but was +now so remote and so different. These accounts fixed in her that +longing, and that still sweeter feeling toward Yatsek, which, confessed +to the priest in a moment of excitement, she concealed again in the +depth of her heart, as a pearl is concealed in a mussel shell. + +With all this she had in her soul a conviction, unshaken by anything, +that she must meet him, and that she would meet him even in the near +future. She had torn herself from the house of the Krepetskis; she felt +above her the powerful hands of well-wishing people; hence that +certainty became the joy and the root of her existence. It restored to +her health with contentment, and she bloomed afresh, as a flower blooms +in springtime. That Yedlinka mansion which had been hitherto so serious +was now bright from her presence. She had taken possession of Pani +Dzvonkovski, of Pan Serafin, and the Bukoyemskis. The whole house was +filled with her, and wherever she showed her little confident nose and +her young, gladsome eyes, delight and smiles followed. But she feared +Father Voynovski a little, since it seemed to her that he held in his +hand her fate and also Yatsek's. Hence she looked upon him with a +certain submissiveness. But with his compassionate heart, which in +general was as wax for all God's creation, he loved her sincerely, and +besides, when he learned to know her more closely, he esteemed her pure +spirit increasingly, though at times he called her a jaybird and a +squirrel, because, as he said, she was this moment here and the next in +another place. + +After that first confession they spoke no further of Yatsek, just as if +they had agreed not to do so; both felt it too delicate a matter. Pan +Serafin made no mention of Yatsek to her in the presence of people, but +when no one was with them he was not ceremonious on that point; and +once, when she asked if he would meet his son quickly in Cracow, he +answered with a question,-- + +"And would you not like to meet some one there also?" + +He thought that she would wind out of it jestingly, but to her bright +face came a shade of sadness, and she answered then seriously,-- + +"I should be glad to beg pardon, as soon as is possible, of any one +whom I have injured." + +He looked at her with some emotion, but after a while it was clear that +another idea had come to him, for he stroked her bright face, and then +added,-- + +"Ei! thou hast the wherewithal to reward so that the king himself could +not reward better." + +When she heard this she lowered her eyes in his presence, and was +wonderful as she stood there and blushed like the dawn of the morning. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + +Preparations for starting went forward briskly. Attendants were chosen +with care, strong men and sober. Arms, horses, wagons, and brichkas +were ready. Observing ways of the period, they had not forgotten dogs, +which in time of marching went under the wagons and at places of rest +were used to hunt hares and foxes. The multitude of supplies and the +preparations astonished the lady, who had not supposed that campaigning +demanded such details, and, thinking this trouble taken perhaps for her +safety, she inquired of Pan Serafin touching the matter. He, as a +prudent man, and one of experience, replied thus to her,-- + +"It is certain that we have thy person in mind, for, as I think, we +shall not leave here without meeting some violence from Martsian. Thou +hast heard that he has summoned his roysterers with whom he is +bargaining and drinking. We should be disgraced were we to let any man +snatch thee away from us. What will be, will be, but though we had to +fall one on another, we must take thee to Cracow uninjured." Then she +kissed his hand, saying that she was not worthy to cause them this +peril; but he waved his hand simply. + +"We should not dare to appear before men," said he, "unless we did +this, and matters moreover are such that each coincides with the other. +It is not enough to set out for a war, one must prepare for it wisely. +Thou art astonished that we have three or four horses each man of us, +as well as attendants, but thou must know that in war horses are the +main question; many of them die on the way, crossing rivers and +marshes, or from various camp accidents. And then what? If thou buy in +haste a new horse, with faults and bad habits, that beast will fail at +the critical moment. Though my son and Tachevski took a good party and +excellent horses, we have foreseen every accident, and take each a new +saddle beast. Father Voynovski, unrivalled in knowledge of horses, +bought cheaply from old Pan Podlodovski such a Turkish steed for Pan +Yatsek that the hetman himself would not refuse to appear on him." + +"Which horse is for your son?" inquired the young lady. + +Pan Serafin looked at her, and shook his head smiling. + +"Well, Father Voynovski is right in his judgment of woman. 'That evil,' +said he, 'will be sly, even if it be the most honest.' Thou askest +which horse is for Stanislav. Well, I answer in this way. Yatsek's +horse is that sorrel with a star on his forehead, and a white left hind +fetlock." + +"You annoy me!" exclaimed the young lady. + +And spitting like a cat at him, she turned, and then vanished. But that +same day the pith of small loaves of bread and some salt disappeared +from the dishes, and Lukash the next day beheld something curious. At +the well in the courtyard the sorrel horse had his nose in the white +hands of the lady, and when he was led later on to the stable he looked +back at her time after time expressing with short neighs his yearning. +Lukash could not learn at the time the cause of this "confidence," for +he was intent on loading a wagon, so it was some time after midday that +he approached the young lady, and said, with eyes glowing from +emotion,-- + +"Have you noticed one thing?" + +"What?" inquired Panna Anulka. + +"That even a beast knows a real dainty." + +She forgot that he had seen her in the morning, and noting that look in +his eyes raised her beautiful brows with astonishment. + +"What have you in mind?" asked she. + +"What?" repeated Lukash, "Yatsek's horse!" + +"Oh, a horse!" + +Then she burst into laughter and ran from the porch to her chamber. + +He stood there astonished, and a little confused, understanding neither +why she had run from him, nor what had roused her sudden laughter. + +Another week passed, and preparations were then almost finished, but +somehow Pan Serafin was not urgent for the journey. He deferred it from +day to day, improved various details, complained of heat, and at last +drooped in spirits. Anulka was eager to be on the road. The Bukoyemskis +were growing uneasy, and at length Father Voynovski agreed that farther +delay was a loss of time without reason. But Pan Serafin met their +impatience with these words,-- + +"I have news that the king has not gone yet to Cracow, and will not go +quickly. Meantime the troops are to meet there, but only in part, and +no one knows the day of this meeting. I ordered Stanislav to send me a +man every month, with a letter giving details as to where regiments are +quartered, whither they are to march, and under whose orders. Seven +weeks have passed without tidings. A letter may come to me now any +moment, hence my delay; and I am alarmed somewhat. Think not that we +must find our young men at Cracow, in every case. On the contrary, it +may happen that they will not be there at any time." + +"How is that?" inquired Anulka, disquieted. + +"This, that regiments do not need to march through Cracow. Wherever a +regiment is it can move thence as directly as the stroke of a sickle, +but where Pan Zbierhovski may be at the moment I know not. He may have +been sent to the boundary of Silesia, or to the army of the grand +hetman who is coming from Russia. Regiments are hurried from place to +place very often, just to train them in marching. In the course of +seven weeks various commands may have come of which Stanislav should +have informed me, but he has not done so. Hence I am anxious, for it is +well known that in camps there are frequent disputes and also duels. +Perhaps something has happened. But even if all is in order, we ought +to know where the regiment is, and what is its starting point." + +All became gloomy at these words, save Father Voynovski. + +"A regiment is not a needle," said he "nor is it a button, which if +torn from a coat is found with much difficulty. Be not concerned over +this. We shall learn of them in Cracow more quickly than we could here +in Yedlinka." + +"But on the road we may miss the letter." + +"Leave a command to send it on after us. That is the right way. +Meanwhile in Cracow we will find the safest place possible for the +lady, and then our minds will be free when we start for the second +time." + +"Reason! Reason!" + +"This is my advice then. If no letter comes ere to-morrow we will start +in the cool of the evening for Radom--then farther, to Kieltse, +Yendreyov, and Miehov." + +"Perhaps the day after during daylight we could reach Radom, so as not +to pass in the night through those forests, and thus avoid an ambush if +the Krepetskis should make one." + +"An ambush is nothing! Better go in the cool!" said Mateush. "If they +attack they will do so as well in the day as at night, and now at night +things are visible." + +Then he rubbed his hands gleefully. The three others followed his +example. + +But Father Voynovski thought otherwise. He had great doubts touching a +road attack. + +"Martsian might perhaps venture, but the old man is too prudent; he +knows too well what such a deed signifies and how much, more than once, +men have suffered for violence to women. Besides against the power of +our party Martsian could not reckon on victory, while in every event he +could reckon on vengeance from Yatsek and Stanislav." + +The delight of the Bukoyemskis was spoiled by the priest, but they were +soothed by Vilchopolski, who struck the floor with his wooden leg, +shook his head, and opposed, saying,-- + +"Though up to Radom and even to Kieltse and Miehov you meet no +adventure, I advise you to neglect no precaution till you touch the +gates of Cracow; along the road there are woods everywhere, and I, as a +man knowing Martsian best of all, am convinced that that devil is now +planning an ambush." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + +At last came the day of departure. The party moved out of Yedlinka at +daylight, with beautiful weather, and with horses and men in good +number. Besides the iron and leather-covered carriage intended for the +ladies and the priest, in case his old gun-wound should annoy him on +horseback too greatly, there were three well-laden wagons drawn each by +four horses. At each wagon were three men, including the driver. Behind +Pan Serafin six mounted attendants, in turquoise-colored livery, led +reserve horses. The priest had two men, each Bukoyemski had two also, +besides a forester who guarded the trunk-laden wagons, altogether +thirty-four persons well armed with muskets and sabres. It is true that +in case of attack some could not aid in defending, since they would +have to guard wagons and horses, but even in that case the Bukoyemskis +felt sure that they could go through the world with those attendants, +and that it would not be healthy for a party three or four times their +number to attack them. Their hearts were swelling with a delight so +enormous that hardly could they stay in their saddles. They had fought +manfully in their time against Tartars and Cossacks, but those were +common, small wars, and later on, when they settled in the wilderness, +their youth had passed merely in inspecting inclosures, in a ceaseless +watch over foresters, in killing bears when it was their duty to +preserve them, and in drunken frolics at Kozenitse and Radom and +Prityk. But now, for the first time, when each put his stirrup near the +stirrup of his brother, when they were going to a war against the +immense might of Turkey, they felt that this was their true +destination, that their past life had been vain and wretched, and that +now had begun in reality the deeds and achievements for which God the +Father had created Polish nobles, God the Son redeemed them, and the +Holy Ghost made them sacred. They could not think this out clearly, or +express it in phrases, for in those things they had never been +powerful, but they wished to fire off their guns then in ecstasy. Their +advance seemed too slow to them. They wished to let out their horses +and rush like a whirlwind, fly toward that great destination, to that +great battle of the Poles with the pagans, to that triumph through +Polish hands of the cross above the crescent, to a splendid death, and +to glory for the ages. They felt loftier in some way, purer, more +honorable, and in their nobility still more ennobled. + +They had scarcely a thought then for Martsian and his rioting company, +or for barriers and engagements on the roadway. All that seemed to them +now something trivial, vain, and unworthy of attention. And if whole +legions had stood in their way, they would have shot over them like a +tempest, they would have ridden across them just in passing, put them +under the bellies of their horses, and rushed along farther. Their +native leonine impulses were roused, and warlike, knightly blood had +begun to play in them with such vigor that if command had been given +those four men to charge the whole bodyguard of the Sultan, they would +not have hesitated one instant. + +But similar feelings, and founded, moreover, on old recollections, +filled the hearts of Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski. The priest had +passed the flower of his life on the field with a lance in his hand, or +a sabre. He remembered whole series of reverses and victories, he +remembered the dreadful rebellion of Hmelnitski, Joltevody, Korsun, +Pilavtse, Zbaraj the renowned, and the giant battle of Berestechko. He +remembered the Swedish war, with its never-ending record of struggles +and the attack of Rakotsi. He had been in Denmark, for a triumphing +people, not satisfied with crushing and driving out Sweden, had sent in +pursuit of it Charnyetski's invincible regiments to the borders of a +distant ocean; he had helped to defeat Dolgoruki and Hovanski; he had +known the noblest knights and greatest men of the period; he had been a +pupil of Pan Michael the immortal; he had been enamoured of slaughter, +storms, battles, and bloodshed, but all that had lasted only till +personal misfortune had broken his spirit, and he took on himself holy +orders. From that day he changed altogether, and when, turning to +people in front of the altar, he said to them: "Peace be with you;" he +believed himself uttering Christ's own commandment, and that every war, +as opposed to that commandment, "is abhorrent" to Heaven, a sin against +mercy, a stain on Christian nations. But a war against Turks was the +one case which he excepted. "God," said he, "put the Polish people on +horseback, and turned their breasts eastward; by that same act He +showed them His will and their calling. He knew why He chose us for +that position, and put others behind our shoulders; hence, if we wish +to fulfil His command and our mission with worthiness, we must face +that vile sea, and break its waves with our bosoms." + +Father Voynovski judged, therefore, that God had placed on the throne +purposely a sovereign who, when hetman, had shed pagan blood in such +quantity, that his hands might give the last blow to the enemy, and +avert ruin from Christians at once and forever. It seemed to him that +just then had appeared the great day of destination, the day to +accomplish God's purpose; hence he considered that war as a sacred way +of the cross, and was charmed at the thought, that age, toil, and +wounds had not pressed him to the earth so completely, that he might +not take part in it. + +He would be able yet to wave a flag, he, the old soldier of Christ, +would spur on his horse, and spring with a cross in his hand to the +thickest of the battle, with the certainty in his heart that behind him +and that cross a thousand sabres would bite on the skulls of the pagans +and a thousand lances would enter their bodies. + +Finally thoughts flew to his head which were personal, and more in +accord with his earlier disposition. He could hold the cross in his +left, but in the right hand a sabre. As a priest he could not do this +against Christians, but against Turks it was proper! Oh, proper! Now he +would show young men for the first time how pagan lights should be +extinguished, how pagan champions must be mowed down and cut to pieces; +he would show of what kind were the warriors of his day. Nay! on more +fields than one men had marvelled at his prowess. It may happen now +that even the king will be astounded! And this thought at that moment +so filled him with rapture that he failed in his rosary: "Hail +Mary--slay! kill!--full of grace--at them!--The Lord is with Thee--cut +them down!" Till at last he recovered. "Tfu! to the evil one with +this--glory is smoke. Has insanity seized me? _non nobis, non nobis sed +nomini tuo_" (not to us, not to us, but to Thy name) and he passed the +beads through his fingers more attentively. + +Pan Serafin was repeating also his litany of the morning, but from time +to time he looked now at the priest, now at the young lady, now at the +Bukoyemskis, who were riding at the side of the carriage, now at the +trees and the dew-covered grassy openings between them. At last, when +he had finished the final "Hail, Mary!" he turned to the old man, and +said, sighing deeply,-- + +"Your grace seems to be in rather good spirits?" + +"And also your grace," said Father Voynovski. + +"Yes, that is true. Until a man starts, he is bustling and hurrying and +in trouble; only when the wind blows around him in the field is it +light at his heartstrings. I remember how when, ten years ago, we were +marching to Hotsim, there was a wonderful willingness in every warrior, +so that though the action took place in the harsh weather of November, +more than one threw his coat off because of the warmth which came out +of his heart then. Well, God, who gave such a victory that time, will +give it undoubtedly now, for the leader is the same, and the vigor and +valor of the men not inferior. I know nations splendidly, Swedes, +French, even Germans, but against Turks there is no one superior to our +men." + +"I have heard how his grace the king said the same," replied Father +Voynovski. "'The Germans,' said he, 'stand under fire patiently, though +they blink when attacking, but,' said he, 'if I can bring mine up nose +to nose I am satisfied, for they will sweep everything before them as +can no other cavalry in existence.' And this is true. The Lord Jesus +has gifted us richly with this power, not only the nobles, but the +peasants. For instance, our field infantry, when they spit on their +palms and advance with their muskets, the best of the Janissaries +cannot in any way equal them. I have seen both more than once in the +struggle." + +"If God has preserved in health Yatsek and Stashko, I am glad that +their earliest campaign will be made against Turkish warriors. But how +does your grace think, against whom will the Turks turn their main +forces?" + +"Against the emperor, as it seems, for they are warring against him, +and helping rebellion in Hungary. But the Turks have two or three +armies, hence it is unknown where we shall meet them decisively. For +this cause, beyond doubt, no main camp has been organized, and +regiments move from one place to another, as reports come. The +regiments under Pan Yablonovski are now at Trembovla; others are +concentrating on Cracow; others as happens to each of them. I know not +where the voevoda of Volynia is quartered at present, nor where +Zbierhovski's command is. At moments I think that my son has not +written this long time because his regiment may be moving toward these +parts." + +"If he is commanded to Cracow, he must march near us, surely. That, +however, depends upon where he was earlier and whence he is starting at +present. We may get news at Radom. Is not our first night halt at +Radom?" + +"It is. I should wish too that the prelate Tvorkovski saw Panna Anulka +and gave her final counsels. He will furnish us letters to help her in +Cracow." + +The conversation stopped for a time; then Pan Serafin raised his eyes +again to Father Voynovski. + +"But," asked he, "what will happen, think you, should she meet Yatsek +in Cracow?" + +"I know not. In every case that will take place which God wishes. +Yatsek might win a fortune by marriage, while she is as poor as a +Turkish saint--but wealth alone is mere nonsense, the splendor of a +family is the great point in this case." + +"Panna Anulka is of high lineage, and she is like gold--besides we know +well that they are love-stricken, mortally." + +"Of course, mortally, mortally." + +The priest did not speak very willingly on this point, that was clear, +for he turned the conversation to other subjects. + +"Well," said he, "but let us think of this, that a robber is watching +for that golden maiden. Do you remember Vilchopolski's words?" + +Pan Serafin looked at the depth of the forest on all sides. + +"Yes. But the Krepetskis will not dare," said he. "They will not dare! +Our party is fairly large, and your grace sees the calmness of +everything around us. I wish the girl to be in that carriage for +safety, but she begged to be on horseback--she has no fear of +anything." + +"Well, she has good blood. But I note that she masters you thoroughly." + +"And you, too, somewhat," answered Pan Serafin. "But as to me I confess +right away; when she begs for a thing she knows how to move her eyes in +such fashion that you must yield where you stand. Women have various +methods, but have you noticed that she has that sort of blinking before +which a man drops his arms. Near Belchantska I will tell her to enter +the carriage, but so far she wishes absolutely to be on horseback, +because, as she says, it is healthier." + +"In such weather it is surely healthier." + +"Look how rosy the girl is, just like a euphorbia laurel." + +"What is her rosiness to me?" replied Father Voynovski. "But in truth +the dear day is lovely." + +In fact the weather was really wonderful, and the morning fresh and +dewy. Single drops on the needlelike pine leaves glittered with the +rainbow-like colors of diamonds. The forest interior was brightened by +hazel trees filled with the sun rays of morning. Farther in, orioles +were twittering with joyousness. Roundabout was the odor of pine, the +whole earth seemed rejoicing, and the blue air was cloudless. + +Thus pushing forward, they reached the same tar pit at which Martsian +had been seized by the brothers. But the fear that some ambush might be +there lurking proved groundless. Near the well were two tar-laden +wagons, nothing more. To these, which belonged to peasants, were +attached two wretched little horses, whose heads were sunk in bags of +oats to their foreheads; the drivers, each near the side of his horse, +were eating cheese and bread, but at sight of the showy party they put +away these provisions; when asked if they had seen armed men, they +answered that since morning a mounted man had been waiting, but that +shortly before, on seeing this party from a distance, he had rushed +away with all the speed of his beast in the opposite direction. The +news alarmed Pan Serafin. It seemed to him that this horseman had been +sent as a scout by Krepetski; and he redoubled his watchfulness. He +commanded two attendants to ride at both sides and examine the forest; +he sent two others ahead with this order: "If ye see an armed group +fire your muskets, and return with all haste to the wagons." An hour +passed, however, without a report from them. The party pushed forward +slowly, watching in front and at both sides with carefulness, but it +was quiet in the forest, except that the orioles twittered, while here +and there was heard the hammering of those little smiths of the forest, +the hard-working woodpeckers. + +At last they reached a wide plain, but before going out on it Pan +Serafin and the priest directed Anulka to sit in the carriage, since +they had to pass now not far from Belchantska, the trees of which, and +even the mansion between them, were visible to the eye without glasses. +The young lady looked on that house with emotion, for in it she had +passed very many of the best, and the bitterest, days of her existence. +She had wished to look first of all at Vyrambki, but the Belchantska +lindens so covered it that the dwelling was not to be seen from the +carriage. It occurred to Anulka that she might never again in her life +see those places, so she sighed quietly and became sorrowful. + +The Bukoyemskis looked challengingly and quickly at the mansion, the +village, and the neighborhood, but great quiet reigned in those places. +Along broad fallow lands, which were flooded in sunlight, were grazing +cows and sheep, guarded by dogs, and crowds of children. Here and there +flocks of geese seemed white spots, and had it not been for summer +heat, one might have thought from afar that they were bits of snow +lying on the hill slopes; for the rest the region seemed empty. + +Pan Serafin, who lacked not the daring of a cavalier, wished to show +the Krepetskis how little he cared for them, and directed to make the +first halt at that place, and give rest to the horses. So the party +stopped; on one side were fields of wheat waving under the wind and +rustling gently; on the other was the silence of the plain broken only +by the snorting of horses. + +"Health! health!" said the attendants in answer to the snorting. + +But that calm was not to the taste of the youngest Bukoyemski, who +turned toward the mansion and cried to the absent Krepetskis, while he +beckoned with his hand an invitation. + +"But come out here, ye sons of a such a one! O Stump, show thy dog +snout; we will soon put a cross on it with our sabres!" + +Then he bent toward the carriage. + +"Your ladyship," said he, "that Martsian and his company are not in a +hurry to attack us, neither he nor his bandits from the wilderness." + +"But do bandits attack?" asked the lady. + +"Oh-ho! they do, but not us. And there are many of them in the +wilderness of Kozenitse, and in the forest toward Cracow. If his Grace +the King would grant pardon, enough would be found of those bandits +right here in this neighborhood to make two good regiments." + +"I should rather meet bandits than Pan Martsian's company, of which +people tell in Belchantska such terrible stories. I have not heard of +bandits attacking a mansion." + +"They do not, for a bandit has the same kind of sense that a wolf has. +Consider, young lady, that a wolf never kills sheep or horned cattle in +the neighborhood where his lair is." + +"He speaks truth," said the other brothers. + +Yan, glad of this praise, explained further. + +"The bandit attacks no village or mansion near his hiding place. For if +neighboring people should pursue, they, knowing the forests and secret +spots in them, would hunt him out the more easily. So bandits go to a +distance, and plunder houses or fall upon travellers in great or small +parties." + +"Have they no fear?" + +"They have no fear of God. Why should they fear men?" + +But Panna Anulka had turned her mind elsewhere, so, when Pan Serafin +came to the carriage, she began to blink and implore him. + +"Why should I stay in the carriage when no attack threatens? May I not +go on horseback?" + +"Why?" asked Pan Serafin. "The sun is high. It would burn your face. +There is one who would not like that." + +Thereupon she withdrew on a sudden to the depth of the carriage, and +Pan Serafin turned to the brothers,-- + +"Have I not told her the truth?" + +But not being quick-witted, they missed the point of the answer. + +"Who would not like?" inquired they. "Who?" + +Pan Serafin shrugged his shoulders. + +"The prince bishop of Cracow, the German emperor, and the king of +France," answered he. + +He gave the sign then, and all started. + +They passed Belchantska, and advanced again among tilled fields, fallow +land, meadows, and broad wind-swept spaces which were bordered on the +horizon by a blue rim of forest. At Yedlina they stopped for a second +rest, during which the brewers, the citizens, and the peasants took +farewell of Father Voynovski--and before evening they stopped for their +first night rest at Radom. + +Martsian had not given the least sign of life. They learned that he had +passed the day previous in Radom, and had drunk with his company, but +had gone home for the night; hence the priest and Pan Serafin breathed +with more freedom, judging that no danger threatened them now on the +journey. + +The prelate Tvorkovski furnished letters to Father Hatski, to Gninski, +the vice-chancellor who, as they knew, was enrolling a whole regiment +for the coming war at his own cost, and one also to Pan Matchynski. He +was rejoiced to see Panna Anulka and Father Voynovski, for whom he felt +a great friendship, and Pan Serafin, in whom he prized a skilled +Latinist, who understood every quotation and maxim. He, too, had heard +of Martsian's threats, but had lent no great weight to them, judging +that if an attack had been planned it would have been made in the wilds +of Kozenitse, more favorable for that kind of deed than the forests +between Radom and Kieltse. + +"Martsian will not attack you," said he to Pan Serafin, "and his father +will not bring an action, for he would meet me; he knows that I have +other weapons against him besides the church censure." + +The prelate entertained them all day, and let them start only toward +evening. Since danger seemed set aside most decidedly, Pan Serafin +agreed to night travel, all the more since great heat was beginning. +The first five miles, however, they passed during daylight. On the +river Oronka, which here and there formed morasses, began again, in +those days, extensive pine forests, which surrounded Oronsk, Sucha, +Krogulha, and extended as far as Shydlovets, and beyond, toward +Mrochkov and Bzin, down to Kieltse. They moved slowly, for in some +places the old road lay among sandy hillocks and holes, while in others +it sank very notably and became a muddy, stick-covered ridgeway. This +ridge lay in a quagmire through which a man could pass neither with +wagon nor horse, nor go on foot at any season, unless during very dry +summers. These places enjoyed no good repute, but for this Pan Serafin +and his party cared little; they were confident of their strength, and +glad to move in cool air when heat did not trouble men, or flies annoy +horses. + +A clear and pleasant night came down quickly, with a full moon which +appeared above the pine woods, enormous and ruddy, decreasing and +growing pale as it rose, till in time it was white, and sailed like a +silver swan through the dark blue of the night sky. The wind ceased, +and the motionless pine wood was buried in a stillness broken only by +the voices of gnats flying in from broad pools, and by the playing of +landrails in the grass of the neighboring meadows. + +Father Voynovski intoned: "Hail, O Wise Lady! and Mansions dear to +God," to which the four bass voices of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafin +answered immediately: "Adorned by the golden table and seven columns." +Panna Anulka joined the chorus, after her the attendants, and soon that +pious hymn was resounding through the forest. But when they had +finished all the "Hours," and repeated all the "Hail, Marys!" silence +set in again. The priest, the brothers, and Pan Serafin conversed for +some time yet in lowered voices; then they began to doze, and at last +fell asleep soundly. + +They did not hear either the "Vio! Vio!" of the drivers, or the +snorting of horses, or the explosive sound made when hoofs were drawn +out of mud on that long ridge way which lay in the sticky and +reed-covered quagmire. The party came to the ridge somewhat before +midnight. The shouts of attendants, who were advancing in front, first +roused the sleepers. + +"Stop! stop!" + +All opened their eyes. The Bukoyemskis straightened in their saddles +and sprang ahead promptly. + +"But what is the matter?" + +"The road is barred. There is a ditch across it, and beyond the ditch a +breastwork." + +The sabres of the brothers came biting from their scabbards and gleamed +in the moonlight. + +"To arms! an ambuscade!" + +Pan Serafin found himself at the obstruction in one moment, and +understood that there was no chance of being mistaken: a broad ditch +had been dug across the ridgeway. Beyond the ditch lay whole pine trees +which, with their branches sticking up, formed a great breastwork. The +men who stopped the road in that fashion had evidently intended to let +the party in on the ridge, from which there was no escape on either +side, and attack in the rear then. + +"To your guns! to muskets!" thundered Father Voynovski. "They are +coming!" + +In fact about a hundred yards in the rear certain dark, square forms, +strange, quite unlike men, appeared on the ridge, and ran toward the +wagons very quickly. + +"Fire!" commanded the priest. + +A report was heard, and brilliant flashes rent the night gloom. Only +one form rolled to the earth, but the other men ran the more swiftly +toward the wagons, and after them denser groups made their appearance. + +Instructed by whole years of war, the priest divined straightway that +those men were carrying bundles before them, straw, reeds, or willows, +and that was why the first discharge had effected so little. + +"Fire! In order! four at a time!--and at their knees!" cried he. + +Two attendants held guns charged with slugs. These men took their +places with others, and spat at the knees of the attackers. A cry of +pain was heard promptly, and this time the whole front rank of bundles +tumbled down to the mud on the ridgeway, but the next rank of men +sprang over those who were prostrate, and came still nearer the wagons. + +"Fire!" was commanded a third time. + +Again came a salvo, with more effect this time, for the onrush was +stopped, and disorder appeared among the attackers. + +The priest acquired courage, for he knew that the attackers had +outwitted themselves in the choice of position. It is true that not a +living soul would escape in case they should triumph, and the bandits +had this in view specially; but, not having men to hem in the party on +all sides, they were forced to attack only over the ridgeway, hence in +a thin body, which again lightened defence beyond common, so that five +or six valiant warriors might ward off attack until daylight. + +The attackers, too, began to use muskets, but caused no great damage, +clearly because of poor weapons. Their first fire struck only a horse +and one attendant. The Bukoyemskis begged to charge the enemy, +guaranteeing to sweep right and left into the quagmire any men whom +they might not crush in the mud of the roadway. But the priest, who +kept their strength for the last, would not send them; he commanded the +brothers, however, as excellent marksmen, to roast the attackers from a +distance, and Pan Serafin commanded to watch the ditch sharply, and the +breastwork. + +"If they attack us from that side," said he, "they may do something, +but they will not get us cheaply." + +Then he hastened for a moment to the carriage where the ladies were +praying without great fear, though audibly. + +"Oh, this is nothing!" said he. "Have no fear!" + +"I have no fear," answered Panna Anulka. "But I should like to be on +horseback." + +Shots drowned further words. The attackers, confused for a moment, +pressed along the ridge now, with wonderful and simply blind daring, +since it was clear that they would not effect much on that side. + +"Hm!" thought the priest. "Were it not for the women, we might charge +them." + +And he had begun to think of sending the four brothers with four other +good warriors, when he looked at both flanks and trembled. + +On the two sides of that quagmire appeared crowds of men, who, +springing from hillock to hillock, or along sheaves of reeds, which had +been fixed in soft places on purpose, were running toward the wagons. + +The priest turned to them, in the shortest time possible, two ranks of +attendants, but he understood in a flash the extent of his peril. His +party was surrounded on three sides. The attendants were, it is true, +chosen men, who had been more than once in sharp struggles, but they +were insufficient in number, especially as some had to guard extra +horses. Hence it was evident that after the first fire, inadequate +because of so many attackers, there would be a hand-to-hand struggle +before guns could be loaded a second time, and the side which proved +weaker would be forced to go down in that trial. + +Only one plan remained, to retreat by the ridgeway, that is, leave the +wagons, command the Bukoyemskis to sweep all before them, and push on +behind the four brothers, keeping the women among the horses in the +centre. So when they had fired at both sides again, the priest ordered +the women to mount, and arranged all for the onrush. In the first rank +were the four brothers, behind them six attendants, then Panna Anulka +and Pani Dzvonkovski, at the side the priest and Pan Serafin, behind +them eight attendants, four in a rank. After the charge and retreat +from the ridgeway he intended to reach the first village, collect all +the peasants, return then and rescue the wagons. + +Still he stopped for a moment, and only when the attackers were little +more than twenty yards distant, and when on a sudden wild sounds were +heard beyond the breastwork, did he shout the order,-- + +"Strike!" + +"Strike!" roared the Bukoyemskis, and they moved like a hurricane which +destroys all things before it. When they had ridden to the enemy the +horses rose on their haunches and plunged into the dense crowd of +robbers, trampling some, pushing others to the quagmire, overthrowing +whole lines of people. The brothers cut with sabres unsparingly, and +without stopping. There was great shouting, and splashing of bodies as +men fell into the water near the ridgeway, but the four dreadful +horsemen pushed forward; their arms moving like those of a windmill to +which a gale gives dreadful impetus. Some attackers sprang willingly +into the water to save themselves; others put forks and bill-hooks +against the onrushing brothers. Clubs and spears were raised also; but +again the horses reared, and, breaking everything before them, swept on +like a whirlwind in a young forest. + +Had not the road been so narrow, and those who were slashed had all +escape barred to them, and those behind not pushed on those in front, +the Bukoyemskis would have passed the whole ridgeway. But since more +than one of the bandits preferred battle to drowning, resistance +continued, and, besides, it became still more stubborn. The hearts of +the robbers were raging. They began to fight then not merely for +plunder, or seizing some person, but from venom. At moments when shouts +ceased, the gritting of teeth became audible and curses rose loudly. +The rush of the Bukoyemskis was arrested. It came to their minds at +that moment that they would have to die, perhaps. And when, on a +sudden, they heard still farther out there the tramping of horses, and +loud shouts were raised in all parts of the thicket surrounding the +quagmire, they felt sure that the moment of death was approaching. +Hence they smashed terribly; they would not sell their lives cheaply in +any case. + +But now something marvellous happened. Many voices were heard all at +once shouting: "Strike!" Sabres gleamed in the moonlight. Certain +horsemen fell to cutting and hewing in the rear of the robbers, who, +because of this sudden attack, were seized in one instant with terror. +Escape in the rear was now closed to them; nothing remained but escape +at either side of the roadway. Only some, therefore, offered a +desperate resistance. The more numerous sprang like ducks to the turfy +quagmire on both sides. The quagmire broke under them; then grasping +grass, clumps, and reeds, they clung to hillocks, or lay on their +bellies not to sink the first moment. + +Only a small company, armed with scythes fixed to poles, defended +themselves for some time yet with madness. Because of this many +horsemen were wounded. But at last even this handful, seeing that for +them there was no rescue whatever, threw down their weapons, fell on +their knees, and begged mercy. They were taken alive to be witnesses. + +Meanwhile horsemen from both sides stood facing one another, and raised +their voices. + +"Halt! halt! Who are ye?" + +"But who are ye?" + +"Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka." + +"For God's sake! these are our people!" + +And two riders pushed from the ranks quickly. One inclined to Pan +Serafin, seized his hand straightway, and covered it with kisses; the +other rushed to the priest's shoulder. + +"Stanislav!" cried Pan Serafin. + +"Yatsek!" shouted the priest. + +The greetings and embraces continued till speech came to Pan Serafin,-- + +"For God's sake, whence come ye?" + +"Our regiment was marching to Cracow. Yatsek and I had permission to +visit you at Yedlinka. Meanwhile we learned at Radom, while halting for +food there, that thou, father, and the priest, and the Bukoyemskis had +set out an hour earlier by the highroad toward Kieltse." + +"Did the prelate tell thee?" + +"No! We did not see him. Radom Jews told us; we did not go then to +Yedlinka, but moved on at once lest we might miss you. At midnight we +heard firing, so we all rushed to give aid, thinking that bandits had +fallen upon travellers. It did not occur to us that ye were the +persons. God be thanked, God be thanked, that we came up in season!" + +"Not bandits attacked us, but the Krepetskis. It is a question of Panna +Anulka, who is with us." + +"As God lives!" exclaimed Stanislav. "Then I think that his soul will +leave Yatsek." + +"I wrote to thee about her, but it is evident that my letter did not +reach thee." + +"No, for we are marching these three weeks. I have not written of late +because I had to come hither." + +Shouts from the Bukoyemskis, the attendants, and the warriors stopped +further converse. At that moment also attendants ran up with lighted +torches. A supply had been taken by Pan Serafin that he might have +wherewith to give light during darkness. It was as clear on the road as +in daylight, and in those bright gleams Yatsek saw the gray horse on +which Panna Anulka was sitting. + +He grew dumb at sight of her. + +"Yes, she is with us," said Father Voynovski, seeing his astonishment. + +Then Yatsek urged his horse forward, and halted before her. He +uncovered his head, and remained there lost as he looked at her. His +face was as white as chalk, his breath had almost left him, and he was +speechless. + +After a moment the cap fell to the earth from his fingers, his head +dropped to the mane of the horse, and his eyes closed. + +"But he is wounded!" cried Lukash Bukoyemski. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + +Yatsek was really wounded. One of those robbers, who defended +themselves to the utmost, cut him, with a scythe in the left shoulder, +and since he and the men marched without mail, the very end of the iron +had cut into his arm rather deeply from the shoulder to the elbow. The +wound was not over grievous, but it bled quite profusely; because of +this the young man had then fainted. The experienced Father Voynovski +commanded to put him in a wagon, and, when the wound had been dressed, +he left him in care of the women. Yatsek opened his eyes somewhat +later, and began again to look, as at a rainbow, into the face of Panna +Anulka, which was there bending over him. + +Meanwhile the attendants filled the ditch and removed all obstructions. +The wagons and the men passed to the dry road beyond, where they halted +to bring the train into order, take some rest, and question the +prisoners. From Tachevski the priest went to the Bukoyemskis to see if +they had suffered. But they had not. The horses were torn and even +stabbed with forks, but not seriously; the men themselves were in +excellent humor, for all were admiring their valor, since they had +crushed before war, more opponents than had many others during years of +campaigning. + +"Now, gentlemen, ye may join Pan Zbierhovski," said the hussars here +and there. "From of old it is known, and God grant that men will see +soon, that our regiment is the first even among hussars. Pan +Zbierhovski admits no common men, or any man easily, but he will accept +you with gladness, and we shall be charmed from our hearts to find you +in our company." + +The Bukoyemskis knew that this might not be, for they could not have +the attendants, or the outfit demanded in such a high regiment, but +they listened to those speeches with rapture, and when cups went the +round, they let no man surpass them. + +When that part was ended, the captured bandits were seized by their +heads, and led from the mud to Zbierhovski and the priest and Pan +Serafin. No bandit had escaped, for with a detachment of twelve hundred +there were men to surround the whole quagmire and both ends of the +ridgeway. The appearance of the prisoners astonished Pan Serafin. He +had thought to find Martsian among them, as he had told Stanislav, and +Martsian's Radom outcasts also; meanwhile he saw before him a ragged +rabble reeking with turf and bespattered with mud of the ridgeway, a +company made up, like all bodies of that kind, of deserters from the +infantry, of runaway servants and serfs, in a word, of all kinds of +wicked, wild scoundrels working at robbery in remote places and +forests. Many such parties were raging, especially in the wooded region +of Sandomir, and since they were strengthened by men who were eager for +anything, men who if captured were threatened with terrible punishment, +their attacks were uncommonly daring, and they fought savage battles. + +The search through the quagmire continued for a time yet, then Pan +Serafin turned to Zbierhovski. + +"Gracious colonel," said he. "These are highway robbers. We thought +them quite different. This was an attack of common bandits. We thank +you, and all your men with grateful hearts for effective assistance, +without which, as is possible, we should not have seen the sun rise +this morning." + +"These night marches are good," said Zbierhovski, and he smiled while +he was speaking. "The heat does not trouble, and it is possible to +serve others. Do you wish to examine these captives immediately?" + +"Since I have looked at them closely already, it is not needed. The +court in the town will examine them, and the headsman will guide them." + +At this a tall, bony fellow, with a gloomy face, and light hair pushed +out from the captives and said, as he bent to Pan Serafin's stirrup. + +"Great mighty lord, spare our lives, and we will tell truth. We are +common bandits, but the attack was not common." + +The priest and Pan Serafin, on hearing this, looked at each other with +roused curiosity. + +"Who art thou?" asked the priest. + +"I am a chief. There were two of us, for this party was formed of two +bands, but the other man fell. Give me pardon, and I will tell +everything." + +Father Voynovski stopped for a moment. + +"We cannot save you from justice," said he, "but for you it is better +in every case to tell truth, than be forced to declare it under +torture. Besides, if ye confess, God's judgment and man's will be more +lenient." + +The bandit looked at his companions, uncertain whether to speak or be +silent. Meanwhile the priest added,-- + +"And if ye tell the whole truth, we can intercede with the king, and +commend you to his mercy. He accepts offenders in the infantry, and +recommends mercy now to judges." + +"In that case," said the man, "I will tell everything. My name is Obuh; +the leader of the other band was Kos, and a noble engaged us to fall on +your graces." + +"But do ye know the name of that noble?" + +"I did not know him, for I am from distant places, but Kos knew him, +and said his name was Vysh." + +The priest and Pan Serafin looked at each other with astonishment. + +"Vysh,[6] didst thou say?" + +"Yes." + +"But was there no one with him?" + +"There was another, a lean, thin, young man." + +"Not they," said Pan Serafin to the priest in a whisper. + +"But they may have been Martsian's company." + +Then he said aloud to the man,-- + +"What did they tell you to do?" + +"This: 'Do what ye like with the people,' said they; 'the wagons and +plunder are yours; but in the company there is a young lady whom ye are +to take and bring by roundabout ways between Radom and Zvolenie to +Polichna. Beyond Polichna a party will attack you and take the lady. Ye +will pretend to defend her, but not so as to harm our men. Ye will get +a thaler apiece for this, besides what ye find in the wagons.'" + +"That is as if on one's palm," said the priest. + +"Then did only those two talk with Kos and thee?" + +"Later, a third person came in the night with them; he gave us a ducat +apiece to bind the agreement. Though the place was as dark as in a +cellar, one of our men who had been a serf of his recognized that third +person as Pan Krepetski." + +"Ha! that is he!" cried Pan Serafin. + +"And is that man here, or has he fallen?" inquired Father Voynovski. + +"I am here!" called out a voice from some distance. + +"Come nearer. Didst thou recognize Pan Krepetski? But how, since it was +so dark, that thou couldst hit a man on the snout without knowing it?" + +"Because I know him from childhood. I knew him by his bow-legs and his +head, which sits, as it were, in a hole between his shoulders, and by +his voice." + +"Did he speak to you?" + +"He spoke with us, and afterward I heard him speak to those who came +with him." + +"What did he say to them?" + +"He said this: 'If I could have trusted money with you, I should not +have come, even if the night were still darker.'" + +"And wilt thou testify to this before the mayor in the town, or the +starosta?" + +"I will." + +"When he heard this, Pan Zbierhovski turned to his attendants and +said,-- + +"Guard this man with special care, for me." + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + +They began now to counsel. The advice of the Bukoyemskis was to +disguise some peasant woman in the dress of a lady, put her on +horseback, give her attendants and soldiers dressed up as bandits, and +go to the place designated by Martsian, and, when he made the attack as +agreed upon, surround him immediately, and either wreak vengeance +there, or take him to Cracow and deliver him to justice. They offered +to go themselves, with great willingness, to carry out the plan, and +swore that they would throw Martsian in fetters at the feet of Panna +Anulka. + +This proposal pleased all at the first moment, but when they examined +it more carefully the execution seemed needless and difficult. Pan +Zbierhovski might rescue from danger people whom he met on his march, +but he had not the right to send soldiers on private expeditions, and +he had no wish either to do so. On the other hand, since there was a +bandit who knew and was ready to indicate to the courts the chief +author of the ambush, it was possible to bring that same author to +account any moment, and to have issued against him a sentence of +infamy. For this reason both Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski grew +convinced that there would be time for that after the war, since there +was no fear that the Krepetskis, who owned large estates, would flee +and abandon them. This did not please the Bukoyemskis, however, for +they desired keenly to finish the question. They even declared that +since that was the decision, they would go themselves with their +attendants for Martsian. But Pan Serafin would not permit this, and +they were stopped finally by Yatsek, who implored them by all that was +sacred to leave Krepetski to him, and him only. + +"I," said he, "will not act through courts against Martsian, but after +all that I have heard from you here, if I do not fall in the war, as +God is in heaven, I will find the man, and it will be shown whether +infamy would not be pleasanter and easier also than that which will +meet him." + +And his "maiden" eyes glittered so fiercely that though the Bukoyemskis +were unterrified warriors a shiver went through them. They knew in what +a strange manner passion and mildness were intertwined in the spirit of +Yatsek, together with an ominous remembrance of injustice. + +He said then repeatedly: "Woe to him!--Woe to him!" and again he grew +pale from his blood loss. Day had come already, and the morning light +had tinted the world in green and rose colors; that light sparkled in +the dewdrops, on the grass and the reeds, and the tree leaves and the +needles of dwarf pines here and there on the edge of the quagmire. Pan +Zbierhovski had commanded to bury the bodies of the fallen bandits, +which was done very quickly, for the turf opened under spades easily, +and when no trace of battle was left on that roadway, the march was +continued toward Shydlovets. + +Pan Serafin advised the young lady to sit again in the carriage, where +she might have a good sleep before they reached the next halting place, +but she declared so decisively that she would not desert Yatsek that +even Father Voynovski did not try to remove her. So they went together, +only two besides the driver, for sleep was so torturing Pani +Dzvonkovski, that after a while they transferred her to the carriage. + +Yatsek was lying face upward on bundles of hay arranged lengthwise in +one side of the wagon, while she sat on the other, bending every little +while toward his wounded shoulder, and watching to see if blood might +not come through the bandages. At times she put a leather bottle of old +wine to the mouth of the wounded man. This wine acted well to all +seeming, for after a while he was wearied of lying, and had the driver +draw out the bundle on which his feet were then resting. + +"I prefer to ride sitting," said he, "since I feel all my strength +now." + +"But the wound, will that not pain you more if you are sitting?" + +Yatsek turned his eyes to her rosy face, and said in a sad and low +voice, "I will give the same answer as that knight long ago when King +Lokietek saw him pierced with spears by the Knights of the Cross, on a +battlefield. 'Is thy pain great?' asked the king. The knight showed his +wounds then. 'These pain least of all,' said he in answer." + +Panna Sieninski dropped her eyes. "But what pains you more?" inquired +she in a whisper. + +"A yearning heart, and separation, and the memory of wrongs inflicted." + +For a while silence continued, but the hearts began to throb in both +with power which increased every moment, for they knew that the time +had come then in which they could and should confess everything which +each had against the other. + +"It is true," said she, "I did you an injustice, when, after the duel, +I received you with angry face, and inhumanly. But that was the only +time, and, though God alone knows how much I regretted that afterward, +still I say it is my fault! and from my whole soul I implore you." +Yatsek put his sound hand to his forehead. + +"Not that," answered he, "was the thorn, not that the great anguish!" + +"I know it was not that, but the letter from Pan Gideon. How could you +suspect me of knowing the contents of the letter, or having suggested +them?" + +And she began to tell, with a broken voice, how it happened: how she +had implored Pan Gideon to make a step toward being reconciled: how he +had promised to write a heartfelt and fatherly letter, but he wrote +entirely the opposite. Of this she learned only later from Father +Voynovski, and from this it was shown that Pan Gideon having other +plans, simply wanted to separate them from each other forever. + +At the same time, since her words were a confession, and also a renewal +of painful and bitter memories, her eyes were dimmed with tears, and +from constraint and shame a deep blush came out on her cheeks from one +instant to another. + +"Did Father Voynovski," asked she at last, "not write to you that I +knew nothing, and that I could not even understand why I received for +my sincere feelings a recompense of that kind?" + +"Father Voynovski," answered Yatsek, "only wrote me that you were going +to marry Pan Gideon." + +"But did he not write that I consented to do so only through orphanhood +and pain and desertion, and out of gratitude to my guardian? For I knew +not then how he had treated you; I only knew that I was despised and +forgotten." + +When he heard this Yatsek closed his eyes and began to speak with great +sadness. + +"Forgotten? Is that God's truth? I was in Warsaw, I was at the king's +court, I went through the country with my regiment, but whatever I did, +and wherever I travelled, not for one moment didst thou go from my +heart and my memory. Thou didst follow me as his shadow a man. And +during nights without sleep, in suffering and in pain, which came +simply from torture, many a time have I called to thee: 'Take pity, +have mercy! grant to forget thee!' But thou didst not leave me at any +time, either in the day, or the night, or in the field, or under a +house roof, until at last I understood that only then could I tear thee +from my heart when I had torn the heart itself from my bosom." + +Here he stopped, for his voice was choked from emotion; but after a +time he continued,-- + +"So after that often and often I said in my prayers: 'O God, grant me +death, for Thou seest that it is impossible for me to attain her, and +impossible for me to be without her!' And that was before I had hoped +for the favor of seeing thee in life again--thou, the only one in the +world--thou, beloved!" + +As he said this he bent toward her and touched her arm with his temple. + +"Thou," whispered he, "art as that blood which gives life to me, as +that sun in the heavens. The mercy of God is upon me, that I see thee +once more-- O beloved! beloved!" + +And it seemed to her that Yatsek was singing some marvellous song at +that moment. Her eyes were filled with a wave of tears then, and a wave +of happiness flooded her heart. Again there was silence between them; +but she wept long with such a sweet weeping as she had never known in +her life till that morning. + +"Yatsek," said she at last, "why have we so tormented each other?" + +"God has rewarded us a hundred fold," said he in answer. + +And for the third time there was silence between them; only the wagon +squeaked on, pushing forward slowly over the ruts of the roadway. +Beyond the forest they came out onto great fields bathed in sunlight; +on those fields wheat was rustling, dotted richly with red poppies and +blue star thistles. There was great calm in that region. Above fields +on which the grain had been reaped, here and there skylarks were +soaring, lost in song, motionless; on the edges of the fields sickles +glittered in the distance; from the remoter green pastures came the +cries and songs of men herding cattle. And to both it seemed that the +wheat was rustling because of them; that the poppies and star thistles +were blooming because of them; that, the larks were singing because of +them; that the calls of the herdsmen were uttered because of them; that +all the sunny peace of those fields and all those voices were simply +repeating their ecstasy and happiness. + +They were roused from this oblivion by Father Voynovski, who had pushed +up unnoticed to the wagon. + +"How art thou, Yatsus?" asked he. + +Yatsek trembled and looked with shining eyes at him, as if just roused +from slumber. + +"What is it, benefactor?" + +"How art thou?" + +"Eh! it will not be better in paradise!" + +The priest looked seriously first at him, then at the young lady. + +"Is that true?" asked he. + +And he galloped off to the company. But the delightful reality embraced +them anew. They began to look on each other, and sink in the eyes of +each other. + +"O, thou not-to-be-looked-at-sufficiently!" said Yatsek. + +But she lowered her eyes, smiled at the corners of her mouth till +dimples appeared in her rosy cheeks, and asked in a whisper,-- + +"But is not Panna Zbierhovski more beautiful?" + +Yatsek looked at her with amazement. + +"What, Panna Zbierhovski?" + +She made no answer; she simply laughed in her fist, with a laugh as +resonant as a silver bell. + +Meanwhile, when the priest had galloped to the company, the men, who +loved Yatsek, fell to inquiring,-- + +"Well, how is it there? How is our wounded man?" + +"He is no longer in this world!" replied Father Voynovski. + +"As God lives! What has happened? How is he not in the world?" + +"He is not, for he says that he is in paradise--a woman!!!" + +The Bukoyemskis, as men who understand without metaphor all that is +said to them, did not cease to look at the priest with astonishment +and, removing their caps, were just ready to say, "eternal rest," when +a general outbreak of laughter interrupted their pious thoughts and +intention. But in that laughter of the company there was sincere +good-will and sympathy for Yatsek. Some of the men had learned from Pan +Stanislav how sensitive that cavalier was, and all divined how he must +have suffered, hence the words of the priest delighted them greatly. +Voices were heard at once, therefore: "God knows! we have seen how he +fought with his feelings, how he answered questions at random, how he +left buckles unfastened, how he forgot himself when eating or drinking, +how he turned his eyes to the moon during night hours." + +"Those are infallible signs of unfortunate love," added some. "It is +true," put in others, "that he is now as if in paradise, for if no +wounds give more pain than those caused by Love, there is no sweeter +thing than mutuality." + +These and similar remarks were made by Yatsek's comrades. Some of them, +having learned of the hardships which the lady had passed through, and +how shamefully Krepetski had treated her, fell to shaking their sabres, +and crying; "Give him hither!" Some became sensitive over the maiden, +some, having learned how Martsian had been handled by the Bukoyemskis, +raised to the skies the native valor and wit of those brothers. But +after a while universal attention was centred again on the lovers: +"Well," cried out all, "let us shout to their health and good fortune +_et felices rerum successus!_" and immediately a noisy throng moved +toward the wagon on horseback. In one moment almost the whole regiment +had surrounded Pan Yatsek and Panna Anulka. Loud voices thundered: +"_Vivant! floreant!_" others cried before the time: "_Crescite et +multiplicamini!_" Whether Panna Anulka was really frightened by those +cries, or rather as an "insidious woman," she only feigned terror +father Voynovski himself could not have decided. It is enough that, +sheltering her bright head at the unwounded shoulder of Yatsek, she +asked with shamefaced confusion,-- + +"What is this, Yatsek? what are they doing?" + +He surrounded her with his sound arm, and said,-- + +"People are giving thee, dearest flower, and I am taking thee." + +"After the war?" + +"Before the war." + +"In God's name, why so hurried?" + +But it was evident that Yatsek had not heard this query for instead of +replying, he said to her,-- + +"Let us bow to the dear comrades for this good-will, and thank them." + +Hence they bowed toward both sides, which roused still greater +enthusiasm. Seeing the blushing face of the maiden, which was as +beautiful as the morning dawn, the warriors struck their thighs with +their palms from admiration. + +"By the dear God!" cried they. "One might be dazzled!" + +"An angel would be enamoured; what can a sinful man do?" + +"It is no wonder that he was withering with sorrow." + +And again hundreds of voices thundered more powerfully,-- + +"_Vivant! crescant! floreant!_" + +Amid those shouts, and in clouds of golden dust they entered +Shydlovets. At the first moment the inhabitants were frightened, and, +leaving in front of their houses the workshops in which they were +cutting out whetstones from sandrock, they ran to their chambers. But, +learning soon that those were the shouts of a betrothal, and not of +anger, they rushed in a crowd to the street and followed the soldiers. +A throng of horses and men was formed straightway. The kettledrums of +the horsemen were beaten, the trumpets and crooked horns sounded. +Gladness became universal. Even the Jews, who through fear had stayed +longer in the houses, shouted: "_Vivait!_"[7] though they knew not well +what the question was. + +But Tachevski said to Panna Anulka,-- + +"Before the war, before the war, even though death were to come one +hour later." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI + + +"How is that?" inquired Father Voynovski, at the dinner which his +comrades gave Yatsek. "We are going in five or six days; thou mightst +die in the war; is it worth while to marry before a campaign, instead +of waiting for the happy end of it, and then marrying at your leisure?" + +His comrades, when they heard these prudent words, burst into laughter; +some of them held their sides, others cried in a chorus,--"Oh! it is +worth while, benefactor! and just for this reason that he may die is it +worth while all the more." + +The priest was a little angry, but when the three hundred best men, not +excepting Pan Stanislav insisted, and Yatsek would not hear of delay, +it had to be as he wanted. Renewed relations with the court, and the +favor of the king and queen facilitated the affair very greatly. The +queen declared that the coming Pani Tachevski would be under her +protection till the war ended, and the king himself promised to be at +the marriage, and to think of a fitting dowry when his mind was less +occupied. He remembered that many lands of the Sieninskis had passed to +the Sobieskis, and how his ancestors had grown strong from them, hence +he felt under obligations to the orphan, who, besides, had attracted +him by her beauty, and also roused his compassion by her harsh fate, +and the evils which she had suffered. + +Pan Matchynski, a friend from of old, to Father Voynovski, and also a +friend of the king, promised to remind him of the young lady, but after +the war; for at that time when on the shoulders of Yan III the fate of +all Europe was resting, and of all Christianity, it was not permitted +to trouble him with private interests. Father Voynovski was comforted +with this promise as much as if Yatsek had then received a good "crown +estate," for all knew that word from Pan Matchynski was as sure of +fulfilment as had been the words of Zavisha. To speak strictly, he was +the author of all the good which had met Panna Sieninski in Cracow; he +mentioned Father Voynovski to the king and queen; finally he won for +the young lady the queen, who, though capricious in her likings, and +fickle, began from the first moment to show her special favor and +friendship, which seemed even almost too sudden. + +A dispensation from banns was received easily through protection of the +court, and the favor of the bishop of Cracow. Even earlier, Pan Serafin +had obtained for the young couple handsome lodgings from a Cracow +merchant, whose ancestors and those of Pan Serafin had done business in +their day, when the latter were living in Lvoff, and importing brocades +from the Orient. That was a beautiful lodging, and, because of the +multitude of civil and military dignitaries in the city, so good a one +could not be obtained by many a voevoda. Stanislav had determined that +Yatsek should pass those few days before the campaign as it were in a +genuine heaven, and he ornamented those lodgings unusually with fresh +flowers and tapestry; other comrades helped him with zeal, each +lending, the best of what he had, rugs, tapestry, carpets, and such +like costly articles, which in wealthy hussar regiments were taken in +campaigns even. + +In one word, all showed the young couple the greatest good-will, and +helped them as each one was able and with what he commanded, except the +four Bukoyemskis. They, in the first days after coming to Cracow, went +sometimes twice in a day to Stanislav and to Yatsek, and to merchants +at the inns with whom officers from the regiment of Prince Alexander +drank not infrequently, but afterward the four brothers vanished as if +they had fallen into water. Father Voynovski thought that they were +drinking in the suburbs, where servants had seen them one evening, and +where mead and wine were cheaper than in the city, but immediately +after that all report of them vanished. This angered the priest as well +as the Tsyprianovitches, for the brothers were bound to Pan Serafin in +gratitude; this they should not have forgotten. "They may be good +soldiers," said the priest, "but they are giddy heads in whose +sedateness we cannot put confidence. Of course they have found some +wild company in which they pass time more pleasantly than with any of +us." + +This judgment proved inaccurate, however, for on the eve of Yatsek's +marriage, when his quarters were filled with acquaintances who had come +with good wishes and presents, the four brothers appeared in their very +best garments. Their faces were calm, serious, and full of +mysteriousness. + +"What has happened to you?" asked Pan Serafin. + +"We have been tracking a wild beast!" replied Lukash. + +"Quiet!" said Mateush, giving him a punch in the side, "Do not tell +till the time comes." + +Then he looked at the priest, at Pan Serafin and his son, and turning +finally to Yatsek, began to clear his throat, like a man who intends to +speak in some detail. + +"Well, begin right away!" urged his brothers. + +But he looked at them with staring eyes, and inquired,-- + +"How was it?" + +"How? Hast thou forgotten?" + +"It has broken in me." + +"Wait--I know," cried Yan. "It began: 'Our most worthy--' Go on!" + +"Our most worthy Pilate," began Mateush. + +"Why 'Pilate'?" interrupted the priest. "Perhaps it is Pylades?" + +"Benefactor thou hast hit the nail on the head," cried Yan. "As I live, +it is Pylades." + +"Our worthy Pylades!" began Mateush, now reassured, "though not the +iron Boristhenes, but the gold-bearing Tagus itself were to flow in our +native region, we, being exiled through attacks of barbarians, should +have nothing but our hearts glowing with friendship to offer thee, +neither could we honor this day as it merits by any thank-offering--" + +"Thou speakest as if cracking nuts," cried out Lukash excitedly. + +But Mateush kept on repeating: "As it merits,--as it merits--" He +stopped, looked at his brothers, calling with his eyes for rescue, but +they had forgotten entirely that which was to come later. + +The Bukoyemskis began now to frown, and the audience to titter. Seeing +this Pan Serafin resolved to assist them. + +"Who composed this speech for you?" asked he. + +"Pan Gromyka, of Pan Shumlanski's regiment," said Mateush. + +"There it is. A strange horse is more likely to balk and rear than your +own beast; so now embrace Yatsek and tell him what ye have to say." + +"Surely that is the best way." + +And they embraced Yatsek one after another. Then Mateush +continued,--"Yatsus! we know that thou art no Pilate, and thou knowest +that after losing Kieff regions we are poor fellows, in short we are +naked. Here is all that we can give, and accept with thankful heart +even this." + +Then they handed him some object wound up in a piece of red satin, and +at that moment the three younger brothers repeated, with feeling,-- + +"Accept it, Yatsus, accept! Accept!" + +"I accept, and God repay you," answered Yatsek. + +Thus speaking, he put the object on the table, and began to unroll the +satin. All at once he started back, and cried,-- + +"As God lives, it is the ear of a man!" + +"But dost thou know whose ear? Martsian Krepetski's!" thundered the +brothers. + +"Ah!" + +All present were so tremendously astonished that silence followed +immediately. + +"Tfu!" cried Father Voynovski, at last. + +And measuring the brothers, one after the other, with a stern glance, +he began at the eldest,-- + +"Are ye Turks to bring in the ears of beaten enemies? Ye are a shame to +this Christian army and all nobles. If Krepetski deserved death a +hundred times, if he were even a heretic, or out and out a pagan, it +would still be an inexpressible shame to commit such an action. Oh, ye +have delighted Yatsek, so that he spits from his mouth that which comes +into it. But I tell you that for such a deed ye are to expect not +gratitude but contempt, and shame also; for there is no regiment in all +the cavalry, or even a regiment in the infantry, which would accept +such barbarians as comrades." + +At this Mateush stepped out in front of his brothers, and, flaming with +rage, said,-- + +"Here is gratitude for you, here is reward, here is the justice of +people, and a judgment. If any layman were to utter this judgment I +should cut one ear from him, and also the other to go with it, but +since a clerical person speaks thus, let the Lord Jesus judge him, and +take the side of the innocent! Your Grace asks: 'Are ye Turks?' but I +ask: Do you think that we cut off the ear of a dead man? My born +brothers, ye innocent orphans, to what have ye come, that they make +Turks of you, enemies of the faith! To what?" + +Here his voice quivered, for his grief had exceeded his auger. The +three brothers, roused by the unjust judgment, began to cry out with +equal sorrow,-- + +"They make Turks of us!" + +"Enemies of the faith!" + +"Vile pagans!" + +"Then tell, in the name of misfortune, how it was," said the priest. + +"Lukash cut off Martsian's ear in a duel." + +"Whence did Krepetski come hither?" + +"He rode into Cracow. He was here five days. He rode in behind us." + +"Let one speak. Speak thou, but to the point." + +Here the priest turned to Yan, the youngest. + +"An acquaintance of ours from the regiment of the Bishop of Sandomir," +began Yan, "told us by chance, three days ago, that he had seen in a +wineshop on Kazamir street a certain wonder. 'A noble,' says he, 'as +thick as a tree stump, with a great head so thrust into his body that +his shoulders come up to his ears, on short crooked legs,' says he, +'and he drinks like a dragon. A viler monkey I have not seen in my +life,' says he. And we, since the Lord Jesus has given us this gift +from birth, take everything in at a twinkle, we look at one another +that instant: Well, is not that Krepetski? Then we said to the man, +'Take us to that wineshop.' 'I will take you.' And he took us. It was +dark, but we looked till we saw something black in one corner behind a +table. Lukash walked up to it, and made sparks fly before the very eyes +of him who was hiding there. 'Krepetski,' cries he, and grabs him by +the shoulder. We to our sabres. Krepetski sprang away, but saw that +there was no escape, for we were between him and the doorway. Did he +not jump then? He jumped up time after time as a cock does. 'What,' +says he, 'do ye think that I am afraid? Only come at me one by one, not +in a crowd, unless ye are murderers, not nobles.'" + +"The scoundrel!" interrupted the priest. + +"What did he try to do with us? That is what Lukash asked him. 'Oh!' +said Lukash, 'thou son of such a mother, thou didst hire a whole +regiment of cut-throats against us. It would be well,' said he, 'to +give thee to the headsman, but this is the shorter way!' Then he +presses on, and they fall to cutting. After the third or fourth blow, +his head leans to one side. I look--and there is an ear on the floor. +Mateush raises it immediately, and cries,--'Leave the other to us, do +not cut it. This,' said he 'will be for Yatsek, and the other for Panna +Anulka.' But Martsian dropped his sabre, for his blood had begun to +flow terribly, and he fainted. We poured water on his head, and wine +into his mouth, thinking that he would revive and meet the next one of +us; but that could not be. He recovered consciousness, it is true, and +said: 'Since ye have sought justice yourselves, ye are not free to seek +any other,' and he fainted again. We went away then, sorry not to have +the other ear. Lukash said that he could have killed the man, but he +spared him for us, and especially for Yatsek. And I do not know if any +one could act more politely, for it is no sin to crush such vermin as +Martsian, but it is clear that politeness does not pay now-a-days, +since we have to suffer for showing it." + +"True! He speaks justly!" said the other brothers. + +"Well," said the priest, "if the matter stands thus it is different, +but still the gift is unsavory." + +The brothers looked with amazement one at another. + +"Why say unsavory?" asked Marek. "You do not think we brought it for +Yatsek to eat, do you?" + +"I thank you from my soul for your good wishes," said Tachevski. "I +think that ye did not bring it to me to be stored away." + +"It has grown a little green--it might be smoke-dried." + +"Let a man bury it at once," said the priest with severity; "it is the +ear of a Christian in every case." + +"In Kieff we have seen better treatment," growled out Mateush. + +"Krepetski came hither undoubtedly," remarked Yatsek, "to make a new +attack on Anulka." + +"He will not take her away from the king's palace," said the prudent +Pan Serafin, "but he did not come for that, if I think correctly. His +attack failed, so I suppose he only wanted to learn whether we know +that he arranged it, and if we have complained of him. Perhaps old +Krepetski did not know of his son's undertaking; but perhaps he did +know; if he did, then both must be greatly alarmed, and I am not at all +surprised that Martsian came here to investigate." + +"Well," said Stanislav, laughing, "he has no luck with the Bukoyemskis, +indeed he has not." + +"Let him go," said Tachevski. "To-day I am ready to forgive him." + +The Bukoyemskis and Stanislav, who knew the stubbornness of the young +cavalier, looked at him with astonishment, and he, as if answering +them, added,-- + +"For Anulka will be mine immediately, and to-morrow I shall be a +Christian knight and defender of the faith, a man whose heart should be +free of all hate and personalities." + +"God bless thee for that!" cried the priest. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII + + +At last the long-wished-for day of his happiness came to Tachevski. In +Cracow a report had gone out among the citizens, and was repeated with +wonder, that in the army was a knight who would marry on one day and +mount his horse the day following. When the report went out also that +the king and queen would be at the marriage, crowds began from early +morning to assemble in the church and outside it. At length the crowd +was so great that the king's men had to bring order to the square so +that the marriage guests might have a free passage. Tachevski's +comrades assembled to a man; this they did out of good-will and +friendship, and also because it was dear to each one of them to be seen +in a company where the king himself would be present, and to belong, as +it were, to his private society. Many dignitaries appeared also, even +men who had never heard of Tachevski, for it was known that the queen +favored the marriage, and at the court much depended on her inclination +and favor. + +To some of the lords it was not less wonderful than to the citizens +that the king should find time to be at the marriage of a simple +officer, while on that king's shoulders the fate of the whole world was +then resting, and day after day couriers from foreign lands were flying +in on foaming horses; hence some considered this as coming from the +kindness of the monarch and his wish to win the army, while others made +suppositions that there existed some near bond of kinship, difficult to +be acknowledged; others ridiculed these suppositions, stating justly +that in such a case the queen, who had so little condescension for the +failings of cavaliers that the king more than once had been forced to +make explanations, would not have been so anxious for the union of the +lovers. + +People remembered little of the Sieninskis, so to avoid every calumny +and gossip the king declared that the Sobieskis owed much to that +family. Then people of society were concerned with Panna Anulka, and, +as is usual at courts, at one time they pitied, at another time they +were moved by her sufferings, and next they lauded her virtue and +comeliness. Reports of her beauty spread widely even among citizens, +but when at last they saw her no one was disappointed. + +She came to the church with the queen, hence all glances went first to +that lofty lady whose charms were still brilliant, like the bright sun +before evening; but when they were turned to the bride, all men among +dignitaries, the military, the nobles, and citizens whispered, and even +loud voices were heard. + +"Wonderful, wonderful! That man owes much to his eyes, who has beheld +once in life such a woman." + +And this was true. Not always in those times was a maiden dressed in +white for her marriage, but the young ladies and the assistants arrayed +Anulka in white, for such was her wish, and that was the color of her +finest robe also. So in white, with a green wreath on her golden hair, +and with a face confused a trifle, and pale, with downcast eyes, she, +silent, and slender, looked like a snowy swan, or simply like a white +lily. Even Yatsek himself, to whom she seemed in some sort a new +person, was astonished at sight of her. "In God's name!" said he to +himself, "how can I approach her? She is a genuine queen, or entirely +an angel with whom it is sinful to speak unless kneeling." And he was +almost awestruck. But when at last he and she knelt side by side before +the altar, and heard the voice of Father Voynovski full of emotion, as +he began with the words: "I knew you both as little children," and +joined their hands with his stole, when he heard his own low voice: "I +take thee as wife," and the hymn, _Veni Creator_ burst forth a moment +later, it seemed to Yatsek that happiness would burst his bosom, and +that all the easier since he was not wearing his armor. He had loved +this woman from childhood, and he knew that he loved her, but now, for +the first time, he understood how he loved her without measure or +limit. And again he began to say to himself: I must die, for if a man +during life were to have so much happiness, what more could there be +for him in heaven? But he thought that before he died he must thank +God; and all at once there flew before the eyes of his soul Turkish +warriors in legions, beards, turbans, sashes, crooked sabres, horsetail +standards. So from his heart was rent the shout to God: "I will thank +to the full, to the full!" And he felt, that for those enemies of the +cross and the faith, he would become a destroying lion. That vision +lasted only one twinkle, then his breast was filled with a boundless +wave of love and rapture. + +Meanwhile the ceremony was ended, the retinue moved to the dwelling +prepared for the young couple by Stanislav, and ornamented by his +comrades in the regiment. For one moment only could Yatsek press to his +heart the young Pani Tachevski, for straightway both ran to meet the +king and queen, who had come from the church to them. Two high +armchairs had been fixed for the royal pair at the table, so, after the +blessing, during which the young people knelt before majesty, Yatsek +begged the gracious lord and lady to the wedding feast, but the king +had to give a refusal. + +"Dear comrade," said he, "I should be glad to talk with thee, and still +more with thee, my relative," here he turned to Pani Tachevski, "and +discuss the coming dowry. I will remain a moment and drink a health to +you, but I may not sit down, for I have so much on my head, that every +hour now is precious." + +"We believe that!" cried a number of voices. + +Tachevski seized the feet of the king, who took a filled goblet from +the table. + +"Gracious gentlemen!" said he, "the health of the young couple!" + +A shout was heard: "_Vivant! crescant, floreant!_" Then the king again +spoke,-- + +"Enjoy your happiness quickly," said he to Tachevski, "for it deserves +that, and it will not be long. Thou shouldst remain here a few days, +but then thou must follow on quickly for we shall not wait for thee." + +"It is easier for her to hold out without thee, than Vienna without +us," said Pan Marek Matchynski, smiling at Yatsek. + +"But Lyubomirski is shelling out the Turks there," said one of the +hussars. + +"I have good news from our men," said the king. "This I have commanded +Matchynski to bring, to be read to you, and gladden the hearts of our +warriors. It is what the Duke of Lorraine, commander-in-chief for the +emperor, writes me of the battle near Presburg." + +And he read somewhat slowly, for he read to the nobles in Polish, and +the letter was in the French language. + +"'The emperor's cavalry advanced with effect and enthusiasm, but the +action was ended by the Poles who left no work to the Germans. I cannot +find words sufficient to praise the strength, valor, and bearing of the +officers and soldiers led by Pan Lyubomirski.[8] + +"'The battle,' writes the Duke of Lorraine, 'was a great one, and our +glory not small.'" + +"We will show that we are not worse," cried the warriors. + +"I believe and am confident, but we must hasten, for later letters +portend evil. Vienna is barely able to breathe, and all Christianity +has its eyes on us. Shall we be there in season?" + +"Few regiments have remained here, the main forces are at the Tarnovski +Heights waiting, as I have heard, under the hetmans," said Father +Voynovski, "but though our hands are needed at Vienna, they are not +needed so much as a leader like your Royal Grace." + +Sobieski smiled at this and answered,-- + +"That, word for word, is what the Duke of Lorraine writes. So, +gentlemen, keep the bridles in hand, for any hour I may order the +sounding of trumpets." + +"When, gracious lord?" called a number of voices. + +The king grew impressive in a moment. + +"I will send off to-morrow those regiments which are still with me," +then he glanced quickly at Tachevski, as if testing him. "Since her +grace the queen will go to the Heights with us to see the review there, +thou, unless thou ask of us an entirely new office, may remain here, if +thou engage to overtake us exactly." + +Yatsek, putting his arm around his wife, pushed one step toward the +king with her. + +"Gracious lord," said he, "if the German empire, or even the kingdom of +France were offered me in exchange for this lady, God, who sees my +whole heart, knows that I would not accept either, and that I would not +give her for any treasure in existence. But God forbid that I should +abandon my service, or lose an opportunity, or neglect a war for +religion, or desert my own leader for the sake of private happiness. If +I did I should despise myself, and she, for I know her, would also +despise me. O gracious lord, if ill luck or misfortune were to bar the +road and I could not join thee I should burn up from shame and from +anguish." Here tears dimmed his eyes, blushes came to his cheeks, and, +in a voice trembling from emotion, he added: "To-day I blasphemed +before the altar, for I said: 'O God, I will thank to the full, to the +full for this.'--But only with my life, with my blood, with my labor +could I return thanks for the happiness which has met me. For this very +reason I shall ask no new office, and when thou shalt move, gracious +leader and king, I will not delay even one day behind thee. I will go +at the same hour, though I were to fall on the morrow." And he knelt at +the feet of Sobieski, who, bending forward, embraced his head and then +answered,-- + +"Give me more of such men, and the Polish name will go through the +world thundering." + +Father Voynovski had tears in his eyes, the Bukoyemskis were weeping +like beavers. Emotion and enthusiasm seized every man present. + +"On the pagans, for the faith!" roared many voices. And then began +rattling of sabres. But when it had grown somewhat quiet Pani Tachevski +bent to the ear of her husband and, with pale lips, whispered into +it,-- + +"O Yatsek, wonder not at my tears, for if thou go I may never see thee +hereafter--but go!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Still they remained two days together. The court, it is true, set out +the day following, but the queen, with all her court ladies, and a +multitude of lay and church dignitaries, followed the king to Tarnovski +Heights where the camp was and where a great review had been ordered. +The retinue being numerous moved slowly and hence to overtake it was +easy. The subsequent advance of the forces, with the king at the head +of them, from the boundary to Vienna astonished the world by its +swiftness, especially since the king hastened on and arrived before the +main army, but to Tarnovski Heights the queen dragged on six days, with +her retinue. In two days the Tachevskis came up with the escort. Pani +Tachevski took her seat then in a court carriage, and Yatsek hurried on +to the camp for the night, to join there his regiment. For the royal +pair the time of separation was approaching. On August 22 the king took +solemn farewell of his beloved "Marysienka." In the early morning he +mounted and marshalled before her the army; next he moved at the head +of it to Glivitsi. + +People noted that although he always took farewell of the queen with +great sorrow, since he loved her as the apple of his eye, and was +pained by even a short absence, his face this time was radiant. So the +church and lay dignitaries took courage. They knew how tremendous was a +war with that enemy, who besides had never advanced with such forces. +"The Turks have moved three parts of the world, it is true," said they +to themselves, "but if our lord, their greatest crusher and destroyer, +goes with such delight to this struggle, we have no cause for anxiety +touching it." And hope filled their bosoms, the sight of the warriors +increased it still more, and changed it to perfect confidence in +victory. The army, with all the camp followers seemed very +considerable. As far as the eye reached the sun shone on helmets, on +armor, on sabres, on barrels of muskets and cannon. The glitter was so +bright that eyes were dazzled by the excess of it. Rainbow-hued ensigns +and banners played in the blue air, above the army. The rolling of +drums throughout the foot regiments was mingled with responses from +trumpets, crooked horns, and kettledrums, and also the hellish noise of +a Janissary orchestra, and the neighing of horses. + +At first the train moved toward one side, to afford a free way to all +movements of the army, and only then the review began really. The royal +carriage halted on a plain not too high, a little to the right of the +road by which the regiments were to pass while advancing. In the first +carriage sat the queen wearing plumes, laces, and velvets glittering +with jewels. She was beautiful and imposing, with the full majesty in +her face of a woman who possesses all in life that the most daring +designs can imagine, for she had a crown, and the unspeakable love of +the most glorious of contemporary monarchs. She, in common with those +dignitaries in the suite of the king, felt most certain that when her +husband was on horseback for action, he would be followed, as he had +been followed at all times, by destruction and triumph. And she felt +that at the moment the eyes of all the world from Tsargrad to Rome, +Madrid, and Paris, were turned on him that all Christianity was +stretching out hands to him, and that only in those iron arms of his +warriors did people see rescue. Hence her heart rose with the pride of +a woman. "Our might is increasing, and glory will raise us above all +other kings," said she in spirit; and therefore, though her husband was +leading barely twenty and some thousands of men against countless hosts +of Osmanli, her breast was filled with delight and no cloud of alarm or +distrust darkened then her white forehead. "Look at the victor, look at +your father, the king," said she to her children, who, as little birds +fill a nest, filled the carriage--"when he returns, the world will +kneel to him in thanksgiving." + +In other carriages were visible the charming features of youthful court +ladies, the mitres of bishops, and the dignified, stern faces of +senators, who remained at home to manage the government in place of His +Majesty. The king himself was with the army, but all could see him very +clearly on the height at some distance, among hetmans and generals, +where he produced the impression of a giant on horseback. The army was +to pass a little lower, before his feet, as it seemed to spectators. + +First there moved forward, with a deep, rolling sound and the biting of +chain-links, Pan Kantski's artillery; after it went foot regiments with +a musket on the shoulder of each man, under officers with sabres on +straps, and carrying long canes with which they kept all ranks in +order. Those regiments marched four abreast and seemed moving +fortresses, their step preserved time and was thundering. Each regiment +when passing the carriage of Her Majesty gave a loud shout to salute +her, and lowered its ensign in homage. Among them were some with a +costlier outfit than others, and showing a form beyond common in +dignity, but the most showy regiment of all was made up of Kashubians +in blue coats and yellow belts for ammunition. These Kashubians, large +and strong fellows, were so carefully chosen that each seemed a brother +to the next man; the heavy muskets moved in the mighty hands of those +warriors as would walking-sticks. At the sound of the fife they halted +before the king as one person, and presented arms with such accuracy +that he smiled with delight, and the dignitaries said to one another: +"Eh! To strike upon these men will not be healthy for even the Sultan's +own body-guard. Those are real lions, not people!" + +But immediately after them moved squadrons of light-horse. One might +have thought them real centaurs to such a degree had each man and horse +become one single entity. These were undegenerate sons of those +horsemen who in their day had trampled all Germany, cleaving apart with +their sabres and with horse hoofs whole regiments, nay, entire armies +of Luther's adherents. The heaviest foreign cavalry, if only equal in +number could not oppose them, and the lightest could not escape from +them by fleeing. The king himself had said of those men when at Hotsim: +"If they are led to the enemy they will cut down all in front of them, +as a mower cuts grass at his labor." And though at this moment they +advanced past the carriages slowly, each person, even one quite +unknowing in warfare, divined very quickly that at the right moment +nothing save a hurricane could surpass them in swiftness, power to +whirl, strike down, and overthrow. Crooked trumpets and drums went on +thundering in front of them, while they marched forward, squadron after +squadron, with drawn sabres which seemed flaming swords in the +quivering sunlight. When they had passed the court carriages they +advanced like a wave starting suddenly, going first at a trot which +turned soon to a gallop, and, when they had outlined a great giant +circle, they passed again, and this time they rushed like a tempest and +near the queen's carriage; but while they were doing this they shouted, +"Slay! Kill!" and in extended right hands held their sabres pointed +forward as if in attacking, on horses whose nostrils were distended to +the utmost, with waving manes, as if wild from the impetus of their +onrush. And they passed thus a second time, and then at the third turn +they, without breaking ranks, stood still on a sudden. They did this so +accurately, so evenly, and with such agreement that foreigners, of whom +at that court there were many, and especially those who saw then for +the first time Polish cavalry in action, gazed at one another with +amazement, as if each man were questioning his own eyesight. + +When they had vanished the field glittered with dragoons everywhere and +bloomed like a blossom. Some of those regiments had appeared under Pan +Yablonovski, some had been assembled by magnates, and one by the king, +from his own private fortune; this was commanded by Pan de Maligny, Her +Majesty's brother. + +In the dragoons served common folk for the greater part, but men +trained to riding from childhood, experienced in fighting of various +sorts, stubborn under fire, less terrible at close quarters than +nobles, but disciplined and most enduring of military labor. + +But the greatest delight for the eyes and the spirit began only when +the hussars started forward. They moved on in calmness as was proper +for regiments of such value; their lances pointing upward seemed a +forest, and at the points, moved by the light breeze, was a rainbow +cloud of streamers. Their horses were heavier than those in other +squadrons; their steel armor was inlaid with gold; on their shoulders +were wings, in which the feathers, even when moving slowly, made that +sound heard in forests among branches. The great dignity, and, as it +were, the pride which issued forth from them, made so deep an +impression that the queen and court ladies, the senators, and above +all, foreign visitors, rose in their carriages to see them more +accurately. There was something tremendous in that march, for it came +to the mind of each man unwittingly, that when an avalanche of iron +like that should rush forward it would crush, grind, and drive apart +all things in front of it, and that there was no human strength which +could stop it. And this was undoubted. Not so distant at that time was +the day when three thousand such horsemen had rubbed into dust Swedish +legions five times their own number; still less remote was that other +day when one squadron of the same kind had passed, like a spirit of +destruction, through the whole army of Karl Gustav; and quite recent +was the day when at Hotsim those same hussars under that same king +there present had trampled in the earth Turkish guards formed of +Janissaries, as easily as standing wheat in the open. Many of the men +who had shared in that shattering of the enemy at Hotsim were serving +then under the banners of that day, and these warriors, proud, calm, +and confident, were starting now toward the walls of a foreign capital +to reap a new harvest. + +Terror and strength seemed the soul of that body. An afternoon breeze +rose behind them on a sudden, whistled in their streamers, blew forward +the waving manes of their horses, and made so mighty a sound in the +wings at the shoulders of each mounted warrior, that the horses from +Spain which drew the court carriages rose on their haunches. The +squadrons approached to a line twenty yards from the carriages, turned +to one side and marched past in squadrons. Then it was that Pani +Tachevski saw her husband for the last time before the expedition. He +rode in the second rank at the edge of the squadron, all in iron and +winged armor, the ear pieces of his helmet hid his cheeks altogether. +His large golden bay Turkish stallion bore him on easily despite the +weighty armor, throwing his head upward, rattling his bit, and +snorting loudly, as if in good omen for the rider. Yatsek turned his +iron-covered head toward his wife, and moved his lips as if whispering, +but though no distinct word reached her ears she divined that he was +giving her the last "Fare thee well!" and such an impulse of yearning +and love seized her heart that if she could have, at the cost of her +life, changed at that moment to a swallow she would have perched on his +shoulder, or on the flag of his lance point, and gone with him; she +would not have stopped for one twinkle to calculate. + +"Fare thee well, Yatsek! God guard thee!" cried she, stretching her +hands to him. And her eyes were tear-bedewed while he rode past in +solemnity, gleaming in the sunlight, and, as it were, rendered sacred +by the service imposed on him. + + * * * * * + +Behind this the regiment of Prince Alexander came up and marched past +still others, equally terrible and equally brilliant Then other +regiments described a great circle and halted on the plain almost in +the places from which they had started in the time of reviewing, but +now in marching order. + + * * * * * + +From the carriages on the height the eye could embrace all the +regiments very nearly. Far away and near by were seen crimson uniforms, +glittering armor, the flashing of swords, the upturned forest of +lances, the broad cloud of streamers, and above them great banners like +giant blossoms. From the regiments standing nearer, the breeze brought +the odor of horse sweat, and the shouts of commanders, the shrill note +of fifes, and the deep sound of kettledrums. But in those shouts, in +those sounds, in that delight and that eagerness for battle, there was +something triumphant. A perfect confidence in the victory of the cross +above the crescent,--that confidence was flowing through every heart in +those legions. + + * * * * * + +The king remained yet for a moment at the carriage of Her Majesty, but +when a blessing had been given him with a cross and with relics by the +bishop of Cracow, he rushed at a gallop to the army. The air was rent +suddenly by the keen sound of trumpets, while masses of foot and of +cavalry stirred, began slowly to lengthen, and finally those masses +moved, all of them, westward. In advance were the banners of the light +horse, behind them hussars; the dragoons closed the movement. + + * * * * * + +The prince bishop of Cracow raised with both hands the cross, holding +relics as high above his head as was possible: + +"O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have mercy on Thy people!" + + * * * * * + +Just then more than twenty thousand breasts raised the anthem which Pan +Kohovski had composed for that moment: + + + "For Thee, O pure Lady, + O Mother Immaculate, + We go to defend Christ, + Our Lord. + + "For thee, O dear country, + For you, O white eagles, + We will crush every enemy. + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY." + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Kromer.] + +[Footnote 2: His pets.] + +[Footnote 3: On Saint Stephen's day people used to cast various kinds +of grain at the priest at the altar in memory of the stoning of that +saint.] + +[Footnote 4: The Elector just mentioned, _i. e_., the Elector of +Brandenburg.] + +[Footnote 4: The Elector just mentioned, _i. e_., the Elector of +Brandenburg.] + +[Footnote 5: Among the Poles and Slavs generally death is represented +as a woman.] + +[Footnote 6: This man is mentioned on page 224.] + +[Footnote 7: Jewish pronunciation of _vivant_.] + +[Footnote 8: Carolus Dux Lotharingiae Joanni III, Poloniae Regi, etc. +Julius 31, 1683.] + + + + + + _THE ZAGLOBA ROMANCES_ + _by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from_ + _the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin_. + + WITH FIRE AND SWORD + +An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. +$1.50. + +The first of the famous trilogy of historical romances of Poland, +Russia, and Sweden. Their publication has been received as an event in +literature. Charles Dudley Warner, in _Harper's Magazine_, affirms that +the Polish author has in Zagloba _given a new creation to literature_. + +_A capital story_. The only modern romance with which it can be +compared for fire, sprightliness, rapidity of action, swift changes, +and absorbing interest is "The Three Musketeers" of Dumas.--_New York +Tribune_. + + + THE DELUGE + +An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. A Sequel to "With +Fire and Sword." With map. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. $3.00. + +Marvellous in its grand descriptions.--_Chicago Inter-Ocean_. + +Has the humor of a Cervantes and the grim vigor of Defoe.--_Boston +Gazette_. + + + PAN MICHAEL + +An Historical Novel of Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine. A Sequel to +"With Fire and Sword" and "The Deluge." Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +The interest of the trilogy, both historical and romantic, is +splendidly sustained.--_The Dial_, Chicago. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + QUO VADIS + +A Narrative of the Time of Nero. By Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from +the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +One of the greatest books of our day.--_The Bookman_. + +The book is like a grand historical pageant.--_Literary World_. + +Of intense interest to the whole Christian civilization.--_Chicago +Tribune_. + +Interest never wanes; and the story is carried through its many phases +of conflict and terror to a climax that enthralls.--_Chicago Record_. + +As a study of the introduction of the gospel of love into the pagan +world typified by Rome, it is marvellously fine.--_Chicago Interior_. + +The picture here given of life in Rome under the last of the Caesars is +one of unparalleled power and vividness.--_Boston Home Journal_. + +One of the most remarkable books of the decade. It burns upon the brain +the struggles and triumphs of the early church.--_Boston Daily +Advertiser_. + +It will become recognized by virtue of its own merits as the one heroic +monument built by the modern novelist above the ruins of decadent Rome, +and in honor of the blessed martyrs of the early Church.--_Brooklyn +Eagle_. + +Our debt to Sienkiewicz is not less than our debt to his translator +and friend, Jeremiah Curtin. The diversity of the language, the rapid +flow of thought, the picturesque imagery of the descriptions are all +his.--_Boston Transcript_. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS + +An Historical Romance of Poland and Germany. By Henryk Sienkiewicz. +Translated from the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Illustrated. 2 vols. +Crown 8vo. 2.00. + +The greatest work Sienkiewicz has given us.--_Buffalo Express_. + +It seems superior even to "Quo Vadis" in strength and realism.--_The +Churchman_. + +The construction of the story is beyond praise. It is difficult +to conceive of any one who will not pick the book up with +eagerness.--_Chicago Evening Post_. + +There are some scenes in the book that for power and excitement +remind one of the great encounter between Ursus and the bull in "Quo +Vadis."--_Minneapolis Tribune_. + +Vivid, dramatic, and vigorous.... His imaginative power, his command of +language, and the picturesque scenes he sets combine to fascinate the +reader.--_Philadelphia Bulletin_. + +A book that holds your almost breathless attention as in a vise from +the very beginning, for in it love and strife, the most thrilling of +all worldly subjects, are described masterfully.--_The Boston Journal_. + +Another remarkable book. His descriptions are tremendously effective; +one can almost hear the sound of the carnage; to the mind's eye the +scene of battle is unfolded by a master artist.--_The Hartford +Courant_. + +Thrillingly dramatic, full of strange local color and very faithful to +its period, besides having that sense of the mysterious and weird that +throbs in the Polish blood and infects alike their music and +literature.--_The St. Paul Globe_. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + _OTHER NOVELS AND ROMANCES_ + _by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from_ + _the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin_. + + + CHILDREN OF THE SOIL + +Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +It must be reckoned among the finer fictions of our time, and shows its +author to be almost as great a master in the field of the domestic +novel as he had previously been shown to be in that of imaginative +historical romances.--_The Dial_, Chicago. + + + HANIA, AND OTHER STORIES + +With portrait. Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +At the highest level of the author's genius.--_The Outlook_. + + + SIELANKA, A FOREST PICTURE + +And Other Stories. With frontispiece. Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +They exhibit the masterly genius of Sienkiewicz even better than his +longer romances. They abound in fine character-drawings and beautiful +descriptions.--_Chicago Inter-Ocean_. + + + LIFE AND DEATH AND OTHER + LEGENDS AND STORIES + +Illustrated. 16mo. Decorated cloth, $1.00. + + + WITHOUT DOGMA + +A Novel of Modern Poland. (Translated from the Polish by Iza Young.) +Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +A human document read in the light of a great imagination.--_Boston +Beacon_. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's On the Field of Glory, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE FIELD OF GLORY *** + +***** This file should be named 37406-8.txt or 37406-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/0/37406/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: On the Field of Glory + An Historical Novel of the Time of King John Sobieski + +Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz + +Translator: Jeremiah Curtin + +Release Date: September 12, 2011 [EBook #37406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE FIELD OF GLORY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +1. Page scan source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/onfieldofgloryhi00sieniala</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>ON THE FIELD OF GLORY</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="20" style="border:4px solid black; width:50%; margin-left:25%"> +<tr><td> +<h3>THE WORKS</h3> +<h5>OF</h5> +<h3>HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ.</h3> + +<h4>TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL POLISH<br> +BY JEREMIAH CURTIN.</h4> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<h3><i>The Zagloba Romances</i></h3> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">With Fire and Sword</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">The Deluge</span>. 2 vols.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Pan Michael</span>. 1 vol.</p> + + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Quo Vadis</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">The Knights of the Cross</span>. 2 vols.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Children of the Soil</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Hania, and Other Stories</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Sielanka, and Other Stories</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">In Vain</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">Life and Death and Other Legends and Stories</span>. 1 vol.</p> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">On The Field Of Glory</span>. 1 vol.</p> + + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="hang1"><span class="sc">Without Dogma</span>. (Translated by Isa Young.) 1 vol.</p> +</td></tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>ON THE FIELD OF +GLORY</h1> +<br> + +<h3>AN HISTORICAL NOVEL<br> +OF THE TIME OF KING JOHN SOBIESKI</h3> +<br> + +<h5>BY</h5> +<h3>HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ</h3> +<h5><i>Author of "Quo Vadis," "With Fire and Sword," "The Deluge,"<br> +"Knights of the Cross" etc</i>.</h5> +<br> +<br> + +<h5>TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH ORIGINAL BY</h5> +<h4>JEREMIAH CURTIN</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>BOSTON:<br> + +LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY.<br> + +1906.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center" style="margin-bottom:5pt"><i>Copyright, 1906</i>,<br> + +<span class="sc">By Jeremiah Curtin.</span></p> +<hr style="width:5%; color: black"> + +<p class="center" style="margin-top:5pt"><i>All rights reserved</i>.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center">Published January, 1906</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h5>THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A.</h5> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<p class="center">TO</p> + +<p class="center">SIR THOMAS G. SHAUGHNESSY,</p> +<p class="center" style="font-size:90%">PRESIDENT OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD.</p> + +<hr class="W10"> + +<p class="continue"><span class="sc">My Dear Sir Thomas</span>:</p> + +<p class="normal">Railroads are to nations what arteries and veins are to each +individual. Every part of a nation enjoys common life with every other +through railroads. Books bring remote ages to the present, and assemble +the thoughts of mankind and of God in one divine company. I find great +pleasure on railroads in the day and the night, at all seasons. You +enjoy books with a keen and true judgment. Let me inscribe to you, +therefore, this volume.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="sc">Jeremiah Curtin</span>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>INTRODUCTORY</h2> + + +<p class="normal">The book before us gives pictures of Polish character and life on the +eve of the second great siege of Vienna.</p> + +<p class="normal">Twice was that city beleaguered by Turkey. The first siege was +commanded by Solyman, that Sultan who was surnamed Magnificent by +western nations; to Turks he was known as the Lord of his Age and the +Lawgiver.</p> + +<p class="normal">The first siege was repelled by the bravery of the garrison, by the +heroism of Count Salm its commander, by the terrible weather of 1529, +and also through turbulence of the Janissary forces. The second siege +was crushed in 1683 by Sobieski's wise strategy, the splendid impetus +of the Poles, and the firmness of the allies.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had the Polish king not appeared the Sultan would have triumphed, hence +Sobieski and his men are hailed ever since as the saviours of Vienna.</p> + +<p class="normal">The enthusiasm of the time for Sobieski and his force was tremendous.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was a man sent from God whose name was John," this was the +Gospel read at the Thanksgiving Mass in Saint Stephen's, the cathedral, +the noble old church of that rescued and jubilant city. Some Poles went +to Rome after that to get relics; the Pope gave this answer: "Take +earth steeped in blood from the field where your countrymen fell at +Vienna."</p> + +<p class="normal">Many times have men here in America asked me: Are the Poles really held +by such an intensity of passion? if they are, why does it seize them, +whence does it come, what is the source and the cause of it? I reply to +these questions as best I am able, and truthfully: It comes from the +soul of the Slavs in some part, and in some part from history. The +Poles have as a race their original gift to begin with; this gift, or +race element, has met in its varied career certain peoples, ideas, and +principles. The result of this meeting is this: that the Polish part of +the Slav world holds touching itself an unconquerable ideal. It has +absorbed, as it thinks, certain principles from which it could not now +separate.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Poles could not if they would, and would not if they could, be +dissevered from that which, as they state, they have worked out in +history, that which no power on earth can now take from them, and to +which they are bound with the faith of a martyr.</p> + +<p class="normal">Through ideas and principles, that is, truths gained in their +experience as a people, and which in them are incarnate and living, the +Poles feel predestined to triumph, time, of course, being given.</p> + +<p class="normal">What are these ideas and principles? men ask of me often. Combined all +in one they mean the victory and supremacy of Poland. They have been +worked out during centuries, I answer, of Polish experience with +Germany, with Russia, with Rome and Byzantium, with Turks and with +Tartars. But beyond all do they come as the fruit of collisions with +Germany and Russia, and as the outcome of teachings from Rome and the +stern opposition of Byzantium. Through this great host of enemies and +allies, and their own special character, came that incisive dramatic +career which at last met a failure so crushingly manifest.</p> + +<p class="normal">The inward result and the spiritual harvest to be reaped from this +awful catastrophe are evident only through what is revealed in the +conduct, the deeds, and the words of the people who had to wade through +the dreadful defeat and digest the experience.</p> + +<p class="normal">Polish character in most of its main traits was developed completely +even earlier than the days of Sobieski, and the men who appeared then +in action differ little from those of the present, hence the pictures +in this volume are perfectly true and of far-reaching interest in our +time.</p> + +<p class="right">JEREMIAH CURTIN.</p> + +<p class="normal"><span class="sc">January, 1906</span>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h1>ON THE FIELD OF GLORY</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<p class="normal">The winter of 1682-83 was a season of such rigor that even very old +people could not remember one like it. During the autumn rain fell +continually, and in the middle of November the first frost appeared, +which confined waters and put a glass bark upon trees of the forest. +Icicles fastened on pines and broke many branches. In the first days of +December the birds, after frequent biting frosts, flew into villages +and towns, and even wild beasts came out of dense forests and drew near +the houses of people. About Saint Damasius' day the heavens became +clouded, and then snow appeared; ten days did it fall without ceasing. +It covered the country to a height of two ells; it hid forest roads, it +hid fences, and even cottage windows. Men opened pathways with shovels +through snow-drifts to go to their granaries and stables; and when the +snow stopped at last, a splitting frost came, from which forest trees +gave out sounds that seemed gunshots.</p> + +<p class="normal">Peasants, who at that time had to go to the woodlands for fuel, went in +parties to defend themselves, and were careful that night should not +find them at a distance from the village. After sunset no man dared +leave his own doorstep unless with a fork or a bill-hook, and dogs gave +out, until daylight, short frightened yelps, as they do always when +barking at wolves which are near them.</p> + +<p class="normal">During just such a night and in such a fierce frost a great equipage on +runners pushed along a forest road carefully; it was drawn by four +horses and surrounded by attendants. In front, on a strong beast, rode +a man with a pole and a small iron pot on the end of it; in this pot +pitch was burning, not to make the road visible, for there was +moonlight, but to frighten away wolves from the party. On the box of +the equipage sat a driver, and on a saddled horse a postilion, and at +each side rode two men armed with muskets and slingshots.</p> + +<p class="normal">The party moved forward very slowly, since the road was little beaten +and in places the snow-drifts, especially at turnings, rose like waves +on the roadway.</p> + +<p class="normal">This slowness disturbed Pan Gideon Pangovski, who, relying on his +numerous attendants and their weapons, had determined to travel, though +in Radom men had warned him of the danger, and all the more seriously +since in going to Belchantska he would have to pass the Kozenitse +forests.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those immense forests began at that period a good way before Yedlina, +and continued far beyond Kozenitse to the Vistula, and toward the other +side of the Stenjytsa, and northward to Rytchivol.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had seemed to Pan Gideon that, if he left Radom before midday, he +would reach home very easily at sunset. Meanwhile he had been forced in +a number of places to open the road close to fences; some hours were +lost at this labor, so that he came to Yedlina about twilight. Men +there gave the warning that he would better remain for the night in the +village; but since at the blacksmith's a pitch light had been found to +burn before the carriage, Pan Gideon commanded to continue the journey.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now night had surprised him in the wilderness.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was difficult to go faster because of increasing snowdrifts; hence +Pan Gideon was more and more disquieted and at last fell to swearing, +but in Latin, lest he frighten the two ladies who were with him, Pains +Vinnitski his relative and his ward Panna Anulka Sieninski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka was young and high-hearted, in no degree timid. On the +contrary, she drew aside the leather curtain at the window, and, +commanding the horseman at the side not to stop the view to her, looked +at the drifts very joyfully, and at the pine trunks with long strips of +snow on them over which played reddish gleams from the pitch pot, which +with the moonlight made moving figures very pleasant to her eyesight. +Then rounding her lips to the form of a bird bill she began to whistle, +her breath became visible and was rosier than firelight, this too +amused her.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pani Vinnitski, who was old and quite timid, fell to complaining.</p> + +<p class="normal">Why leave Radom, or at least why not pass the night in Yedlina since +they had been warned of the danger? All this through some person's +stubbornness. To Belchantska there was a long piece of road yet, and +all in a forest, hence wolves would meet them undoubtedly, unless +Raphael, the Archangel and patron of travellers, would pity them in +their wandering, but alas, of this they were quite undeserving.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he heard this opinion, Pan Gideon became thoroughly impatient. To +speak of being lost in the wilderness was all that was needed to upset +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The road for that matter was straight, and as for wolves, well, they +would or would not come. He had good attendants, and besides, a wolf is +not anxious to meet with a warrior--not only because he fears him far +more than a common man, but also because of the love which the +quick-witted beast has for warriors.</p> + +<p class="normal">The wolf understands well that no dweller in towns and no peasant will +give him food gratis; the warrior alone is the man who feeds wolves, +and at times in abundance, hence it is not without reason that men have +called war "the wolf's harvest."</p> + +<p class="normal">But still Pan Gideon speaking thus, and praising the wolves in some +small degree, was not quite convinced of their affection; hence he was +thinking whether or not to command an attendant to slip from his horse +and sit next the young lady. In such case he himself would defend one +door of the carriage, and that attendant the other, while the freed +horse would either rush off ahead or escape in the rear, and thus draw +the wolves after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the time to do this had not come, as it seemed to Pan Gideon. +Meanwhile he placed near his ward on the front seat, a knife and two +pistols; these he wished to have near him since he had only his right +hand for service.</p> + +<p class="normal">They advanced some furlongs farther in quiet, and the road was growing +wider. Pan Gideon, who knew the way perfectly, drew breath as if +relieved somewhat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Malikov field is not far," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">In every case he hoped for more safety in that open space than in the +forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">But just then the attendant in front turned his horse suddenly, and, +rushing to the carriage, spoke hurriedly to the driver and to others, +who answered abruptly, as men do when there is no time for loitering.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?" asked Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some noise in the field."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it wolves?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some outcry. God knows what!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon was on the point of commanding the horseman with the torch +to spring forward and see what was happening, when he remembered that +in cases like this it was better not to be without fire and to keep all +his people together, and, further, that defence in the open is easier +than in a forest, so he commanded to move on with the equipage.</p> + +<p class="normal">But after a while the horseman reappeared at the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wild boars," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wild boars!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A terrible grunting is heard on the right of the road."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Praise God for that!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But perhaps wolves have attacked them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Praise God for that also! We shall pass unmolested. Move on!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact the guess of the attendant proved accurate. When they had +driven out to the field they saw, at a distance of two or three +bow-shots on the right near the road, a dense crowd of wild boars, and +a circle of wolves moving nimbly around them. A terrible grunting, not +of fear but of rage, was given out with growing vigor. When the sleigh +reached the middle of the plain, the men, watching from the horses, +observed that the wolves had not dared yet to rush at the wild boars; +they only pressed on them more and more eagerly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The boars had arranged themselves in a round compact body, the young in +the middle, the old and the strong on the outside, thus, as it were, +forming a moving and terrible fortress, which gleamed with white tusks +and was impervious to attack or to terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">Between the garland of wolves and that wall of tusks and snouts a +white, snowy ring was clearly visible, since the whole field was in +moonlight.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some of the wolves sprang up to the boars, but they sprang back very +quickly, as if frightened by the clash of the tusks and the more +terrible outbursts of grunting. If the wolves had closed in battle with +the boars the struggle would have then held them completely, and the +sleigh might have passed without notice; but since this had not +happened, there was fear lest they might stop that dreadful onset and +try then another one.</p> + +<p class="normal">Indeed after a while a few dropped away from the pack and ran toward +the party, after them followed others. But the sight of armed men +confused them; some began to follow the sleigh, others stopped a few +tens of steps from it, or ran around with mad speed, as if to urge +themselves on to the equipage.</p> + +<p class="normal">The attendants wished to fire, but Pan Gideon forbade them, lest +gunshots might bring the whole pack to his people.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the horses, though accustomed to wolves, began to push to one +side and turn their heads to their flanks with loud snorting, but soon +something worse happened, and this raised the danger a hundredfold.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young horse which the torchbearer was riding reared suddenly once, +and a second time, and then rushed madly sidewise.</p> + +<p class="normal">The rider, knowing that were he to fall he would be torn to bits the +next moment, seized hold of his saddle-bow, but dropped his pot the +same instant; the light sank in the snow deeply; the flame threw out +sparks and was extinguished. The light of the moon was alone on that +plain then.</p> + +<p class="normal">The driver, a Russ from Pomorani, began to pray; the Mazovian +attendants fell to cursing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Emboldened by darkness, the wolves pressed on with more insolence, and +from the direction of the wild boars some fresh ones ran up to them. A +few came rather near, with snapping teeth, and the hair standing +straight on their shoulders. Their eyes were all bloodshot, and a +greenish light flashed from them.</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment had come which was really terrible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall we shoot?" inquired one of the escort.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Frighten them with shouts," said Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon rose with keenness, "A-hu! a-hu!" The horses gained courage, +and the wolves, impressed by the voices of men, withdrew some tens of +paces.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then a still greater wonder was manifest.</p> + +<p class="normal">All at once forest echoes from behind repeated the shouts of the +attendants, but with rising force, ever louder and louder, as it were +outbursts of wild laughter; and some moments later a crowd of dark +horsemen appeared at both sides of the carriage and shot past with all +the speed of their beasts toward the wild boars and the wolves which +encircled them.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the twinkle of an eye neither wolves nor boars held the snow plain; +they had scattered as if a whirlwind had struck them. Gunshots were +heard, also shouts, and again those strange outbursts of laughter. Pan +Gideon's attendants rushed after the horsemen, so that there remained +at the sleigh only the postilion and the driver.</p> + +<p class="normal">Inside the sleigh there was such mighty amazement that no one dared +move a lip for some moments.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the word became flesh!" called out Pani Vinnitski, at last. "That +must be help from above us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May it be blessed, whencesoever it came. Our plight was growing evil," +said Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God sent those young knights!" said Panna Anulka, who wished to add +her word.</p> + +<p class="normal">It would have been difficult to divine how this maiden could have seen +that those men were knights and young, in addition, for they shot past +like a whirlwind; but no person asked for her reasons, since the older +man and woman were occupied overmuch with what was happening before +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, on the plain the sounds of pursuit were heard yet for the +space of some Our Fathers, and not very far from the sleigh was a wolf +with its back broken, evidently by a sling-shot. The beast was on its +haunches and howling so dreadfully that every one shivered.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man on the leading horse slipped down to kill the beast, for the +horses were plunging with such violence that the sleigh-pole was +cracking.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a time the horsemen seemed black again on the snow field. They +came in a crowd, without order, in a mist, for though the night was +cold and the air very clear, the horses had been driven unsparingly, +and were smoking like chimneys.</p> + +<p class="normal">The horsemen approached with loud laughter and singing, and when they +had drawn near, one of them shot up to the sleigh, and asked in glad, +resonant accents,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is travelling?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pangovski from Belchantska. Whom am I to thank for this rescue?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stanislav Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Bukoyemskis!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks to your mightinesses. God sent you in season. Thanks!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks!" repeated a youthful voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glory to God that it was in season!" continued Pan Stanislav, removing +his fur cap.</p> + +<p class="normal">"From whom did ye hear of us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one informed us, but as the wolves are now running in packs, we +rode out to save people; since a person of such note has been found, +our delight is the greater, and the greater our service to God," said +Pan Stanislav, politely.</p> + +<p class="normal">But one of the Bukoyemskis now added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not counting the wolf skins."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A beautiful deed and a real knightly work," said Pan Gideon. "God +grant us to give thanks for it as promptly as possible. I think, too, +that desire for human flesh has left those wolves now, and that we +shall reach home without danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is by no means so certain. Wolves might be enticed again easily +and make a new onrush."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no help against that; but we will not surrender!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is help, namely this: to attend you to the mansion. It may +happen that we shall save some one else as we travel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I dared not ask for that, but since such is your kindness, let it be +as you say, for the ladies here will feel safer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no fear as we are, but from all my soul I am grateful!" said +Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon gave the order and they moved forward, but they had gone +only a few tens of paces when the cracked sleigh-pole was broken and +the equipage halted.</p> + +<p class="normal">New delays.</p> + +<p class="normal">The attendants had ropes and fell to mending the broken parts +straightway, but it was unknown whether such a patched work would not +come apart after some furlongs.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Stanislav hesitated somewhat, and then said, removing his fur cap a +second time,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Yedlinka through the fields it is nearer than to Belchantska. Honor +our house then, your mightiness, and spend the night under our roof +tree. No man can tell what might meet us in that forest, or whether +even now we may not be too few to resist all the wolves that will rush +to the roadway. We will bring home the sleigh in some fashion, and the +shorter the road is the easier our problem. It is true that the honor +surpasses the service, but the case being one of sore need a man may +not cherish pride over carefully."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon did not answer those words at the moment, for he felt +reproach in them. He called to mind that when two years before Pan +Serafin Tsyprianovitch had made him a visit, he received the man +graciously, it is true, but with a known haughtiness, and did not pay +back the visit. Pan Gideon had acted in that way since Pan Serafin's +family was noble only two generations, he was a "homo novus," an +Armenian by origin. His grandfather had bought and sold brocades in +Kamenyets. Yakob, the son of that merchant, had served in the artillery +under the famous Hodkievitch, and at Hotsim had rendered such service +that, through the power of Pan Stanislav Lyubomirski, he had been +ennobled, and then received Yedlinka for a lifetime. That life estate +was made afterward the property of Pan Serafin, his heir, in return for +a loan given the Commonwealth during Swedish encounters. The young man +who had come to the road with such genuine assistance was the son of +Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon felt this reproof all the more, since the words "cherish +pride over carefully" had been uttered by Pan Stanislav with studied +emphasis and rather haughtily. But just that knightly courage pleased +the old noble, and since it would have been hard to refuse the +assistance, and since the road to his own house was in truth long and +dangerous, he said to Pan Stanislav,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unless you had assisted us the wolves would perhaps be gnawing our +bones at this moment; let me pay with good-will for your kindness. +Forward then, forward!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The sleigh was now mended. The pole had been broken as if an axe had +gone through it, so they tied one end of each rope to a runner, the +other to a collar, and moved on in a large gladsome company, amid +shouts from attendants and songs from the Bukoyemskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was no great distance to Yedlinka, which was rather a forest farm +than a village. Soon there opened in front of the wayfarers a large +field some tens of furlongs in area, or rather a broad clearing +enclosed on four sides by a pine wood, and on this plain a certain +number of houses, the roofs of which, covered with straw, were gleaming +and sparkling in moonlight.</p> + +<p class="normal">Beyond peasant cottages, and near them, Pan Serafin's outbuildings were +visible stretching in a circle around the edge of a courtyard, in which +stood the mansion, which was much disproportioned. The pile had been +reconstructed by its latest owners, and from being a small house, in +which dwelt on a time the king's foresters, it had become large, even +too large, for such a small forest clearing. From its windows a bright +light was shining, which gave a rosy hue to the snow near the walls of +the mansion, to the bushes in front of it, and to the wellsweep which +stood on the right of the entrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was clear that Pan Serafin was expecting his son, and perhaps also +guests from the road, who might come with him, for barely had the +sleigh reached the gate when servants rushed out with torches, and +after the servants came the master himself in a coat made of mink skin, +and wearing a weasel-skin cap, which he removed promptly at sight of +the equipage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What welcome guest has the Lord sent to our wilderness?" inquired he, +descending the steps at the entrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Stanislav kissed his father's hand, and told whom he had brought +with him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have long wished," said Pan Gideon, as he stepped from the carriage, +"to do that to which grievous need has constrained me this evening, +hence I bless the more ardently this chance which agrees with my wish +so exactly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Various things happen to men, but this chance is for me now so happy, +that with delight I beg you to enter my chambers."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin bowed for the second time, and gave his arm then to Pani +Vinnitski; the whole company entered behind him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guests were seized straightway by that feeling of contentment which +is felt always by travellers when they come out of darkness and cold +into lighted, warm chambers. In the first, and the other apartments, +fires were blazing in broad porcelain chimneys, and servants began to +light here and there gleaming tapers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon looked around with a certain astonishment, for the usual +houses of nobles were far from that wealth which struck the eye in Pan +Serafin's mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">By the light of the fires and the tapers and candles he could see in +each apartment a furnishing such as might not be met with in many a +castle: carved chests and bureaus and armchairs from Italy, clocks here +and there, Venetian glass, precious bronze candlesticks, weapons from +the Orient, which were inlaid with turquoise and hanging from wall +mats. On the floors soft Crimean rugs, and on two long walls were +pieces of tapestry which would have adorned the halls of any magnate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These came to them from trade," thought Pan Gideon, with well-defined +anger, "and now they can turn up their noses and boast of wealth won +not by weapons."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pan Serafin's heartiness and real hospitality disarmed the old +noble, and when he heard, somewhat later, the clatter of dishes in the +dining-hall near them, he was perfectly mollified.</p> + +<p class="normal">To warm the guests who had come out of cold they brought heated, spiced +wine immediately. They began then to discuss the recent peril. Pan +Gideon had great praise for Pan Stanislav, who, instead of sitting in a +warm room at home, had saved people on the highroad without regarding +the terrible frost, and the toil, and the danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of a truth," said he, "thus, in old days, did those famous knights +act, who, wandering through the world, saved men from cannibals, +dragons, and various other vile monsters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If any man of them saved such a marvellous princess as this one," +added Stanislav, "he was as happy at that time as we are this minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No man ever saved a more wonderful maiden! True, as God is dear to me! +He has told the whole truth!" cried the four Bukoyemskis with +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka smiled in so lovely a fashion that two charming dimples +appeared in her cheeks, and she dropped her eyelids.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the compliment seemed over bold to Pan Gideon, for his ward, though +an orphan without property, was descended from magnates, hence he +changed the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But have your graces," asked he, "been moving long on the road in this +fashion?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since the great snows fell, and we shall keep on till the frost +stops," said Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And have ye killed many wolves?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough to give overcoats to all of us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the Bukoyemskis laughed as loud as if four horses were neighing, +and when they had quieted a little, Mateush, the eldest one added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"His Grace the King will be proud of his foresters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," said Pan Gideon. "And I have heard that ye are head foresters +in the king's wilderness in these parts. But do not the Bukoyemskis +originate in the Ukraine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are of those Bukoyemskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed--indeed--of good stock, the Yelo-Bukoyemskis are connected there +with even great houses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And with St. Peter!" added Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh!" said Pan Gideon. And he began to look around with suspicion and +sternly at the brothers to see if they were not trying to jest with +him. But their faces were clear, and they nodded with earnest +conviction, confirming in this way the words of their brother. Pan +Gideon was astonished immensely, and repeated: "Relatives of Saint +Peter? But how is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through the Pregonovskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! And the Pregonovskis?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through the Usviats."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the Usviats through some one else," said the old noble, with a +smile, "and so on to the birth of Christ, the Lord. So! It is a great +thing to have relatives in a senate down here, but what must it be to +have kinsmen in the heavenly assembly--promotion is certain in that +case. But how have ye wandered to our wilderness from the Ukraine, for +men have told me that ye are some years in this neighborhood?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About three. Rebellions have long since levelled everything in the +Ukraine, and boundaries have vanished. We would not serve Pagans in +partisan warfare, so we served first in the army and then became +tenants till Pan Malchinski, our relative, made us chief foresters in +this place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said Pan Serafin, "I wondered that we found ourselves side by +side in this wilderness, for we are not of this country, but the +changing fortunes of men have transported us hither. The inheritance of +your mightiness," here he turned to Pan Gideon, "is also, as I know, in +Rus near the castle of Pomorani."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon quivered at this, as if some one had struck an open wound in +his body.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had property there, and I have it there still," said he, "but those +places to me are abhorrent, for misfortunes alone struck me there, just +like thunderbolts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The will of God," said Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is vain to revolt against that; still, life in those regions is +difficult."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your grace, as is known, has served long in the army."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Till I lost my arm. I avenged my country's wrongs, and my own there. +And if the Lord Jesus will pardon one sin for each head that I took +from a pagan, hell, as I trust, will never be seen by me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course not, of course not! Service is a merit, and so is suffering. +Best of all is it to cast gloomy thoughts from us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gladly would I be rid of them, still, they do not leave me. But +enough! I am a cripple at present, and this lady's guardian. I have +removed in old age to a silent region which the enemy never visits. I +live, as you know, in Belchantska."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is well, and I have acted in like manner," added Pan Serafin. +"Young men, though it is quiet now on the borders, hurry off to Tartar +trails in the hope of adventure, but it is ghastly and woful in places +where each man is mourning for some one."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon put his hand to his forehead where he held it rather long, +till at length he said sadly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only a peasant or a magnate can live in the Ukraine. When an onrush of +pagans strikes that country the peasant flees to a forest and can live +for some months in it like a wild beast; the magnate can live, for he +has troops and strong castles of his own to protect him. But even +then--the Jolkievskis lived in those regions and perished, the +Danilovitches lived there and perished. Of the Sobieskis, the brother +of our gracious King Yan perished also. And how many others! One of the +Vishnievetskis squirmed on a hook in Stambul till he died there. Prince +Koretski was beaten to death with iron rods. The Kalinovskis are +gone,--and before them the Herburts and the Yaglovetskis paid their +blood tribute. How many of the Sieninskis have died at various periods, +and once they possessed almost the whole country--what a graveyard! +Were I to recount all the names I could not finish till morning. And +were I to give the names, not of magnates alone but of nobles, a month +would not suffice me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True! true! So that a man wonders why the Lord God has thus multiplied +those Turks and Tartars. So many of them have been killed that when an +earthtiller works in the springtime his ploughshare bites at every step +on the skull of a pagan. Dear God! Even our present king has crushed +them to death in such numbers that their blood would form a large +river, and still they are coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">These words had truth in them. The Commonwealth, rent by disorder and +unruliness, could not have strong armies sufficient to end in one +mighty struggle the Tartar-Turk avalanche. For that matter, all Europe +could not command such an army. Still, the Commonwealth was inhabited +by men of great daring, who would not yield their throats willingly to +the knife of the eastern attacker. On the contrary, to that terrible +region bristling with grave-mounds, and reeking with blood at the +borders, Red Russia, Podolia, and the Ukraine, new waves of Polish +settlers followed each after the other; these not only stirred up +fertile lands, but their own craving for endless wars, battles, and +adventures.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Poles," wrote an old chronicler, "go to Russia for skirmishes with +Tartars."<a name="div2Ref_01" href="#div2_01"><sup>[1]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">So from Mazovia went peasants; daring nobles went also, for each one of +whom it was shameful "to die in his bed like a peasant." And there grew +up in those red lands mighty magnates, who, not satisfied with action +even there, went frequently much farther--to Wallachia, or the Crimea, +seeking victory, power, death, salvation, and glory.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was even said that the Poles did not wish one great war that would +end the whole question. Though this was not true, still, continual +disturbance was dear to that daring generation--but the invader on his +part paid with blood dearly for his venture.</p> + +<p class="normal">Neither the Dobrudja nor Belgorod lands, nor the Crimean reed barrens +could support their wild Tartar denizens, hence hunger drove them to +the border where rich booty was waiting, but death was waiting also, +very often.</p> + +<p class="normal">The flames of fire lighted up invasions unknown yet to history. Single +regiments cut into bits with their sabres and trampled into dust under +horsehoofs detachments surpassing them tenfold in number. Only +swiftness beyond reckoning could save the invaders; in general when a +Tartar band was overtaken by troops of the Commonwealth it was lost +beyond rescue.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were expeditions, especially the smaller ones, from which not one +man went back to the Crimea. Terrible in their time both to Turks and +to Tartars were Pretvits and Hmieletski; knights of less note, +Volodyovski, Pelka, and the elder Rushits, wrote their names down with +blood in men's memories. These for some years, or some tens of years, +at that time, were resting in their graves and in glory; but even of +the mighty ones none had drawn so much blood from the followers of +Islam as the king reigning then, Yan Sobieski.</p> + +<p class="normal">At Podhaitsi, Kalush, Hotsim, and Lvoff there were lying till that time +unburied such piles of pagan bones that broad fields beneath them were +as white as if snow-covered. At last on all hordes there was terror. +The borders drew breath then, and when the insatiable Turk began to +seek lighter conquests the whole tortured Commonwealth breathed with +more freedom.</p> + +<p class="normal">There remained only painful remembrances.</p> + +<p class="normal">Far away from Pan Serafin's dwelling, and next to the castle of +Pomorani, stood a tall cross on a hill, and two lances upon it. Twenty +and some years before that Pan Gideon had placed this cross on the site +of his fire-consumed mansion, hence, as he thought of that cross and of +all those lives dear to him which had been lost in that region, the +heart whined in the old man from anguish.</p> + +<p class="normal">But since he was stern to himself and to others, and would not shed +tears before strangers, and could not endure paltry pity from any man, +he would not speak longer of his misfortunes, and fell to inquiring of +his host how he lived in that forest inheritance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here," said Pan Serafin, "is stillness, oh, stillness! When the forest +is not sounding, and the wolves are not howling, thou canst almost hear +snow fall. There is calmness, there is fire in the chimney and a +pitcher of heated wine in the evening--old age needs nothing further."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True. But your son?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A young bird leaves the nest sometimes. And here certain trees whisper +that a great war with the pagan is approaching."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To that war even gray falcons will hasten. Were it not for this, I +should fly with the others."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Pan Gideon shook his coat sleeve, in which there was only a bit of +his arm near the shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">And Pan Serafin poured out heated wine to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the success of Christian weapons!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant it! Drink to the bottom."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav entertained at the same time Pani Vinnitski, Panna Anulka, +and the four Bukoyemskis with a pitcher of wine which steamed quite as +actively as the other. The ladies touched the glasses however with +their lips very sparingly, but the Bukoyemskis needed no urging, hence +the world seemed to them more joyous each moment, and Panna Anulka more +beautiful, so, unable to find words to express their delight, they +began to look at one another with amazement and panting; then each +nudged another with his elbow. Mateush at last found expression,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are not to wonder that the wolves wished to try the bones and the +body of this lady, for even a wild beast knows a real tid-bit!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Marek, Lukash, and Yan, the three remaining Bukoyemskis slapped their +thighs then in ecstasy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has hit the nail on the head, he has! A tid-bit! Nothing short of +it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Saint Martin's cake!"</p> + +<p class="normal">On hearing this Panna Anulka laid one hand on the other, and, feigning +terror, said to Stanislav,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, help me, for I see that these gentlemen only saved me from the +wolves to eat me themselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious maiden," said Stanislav, joyfully, "Pan Mateush said that we +were not to wonder at the wolves, but I say I do not wonder at the +Bukoyemskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What shall I do then, except to ask who will save me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Trifle not with sacred subjects!" cried Pani Vinnitski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, but these gentlemen are ready to eat me and also auntie. Are +they not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This question remained for some time without answer. Moreover, it was +easy to note from the faces of the brothers that they had much less +desire for the additional eating. But Lukash, who had quicker wit than +his brothers, now added, "Let Mateush speak; he is the eldest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush was somewhat bothered, and answered, "Who knows what will meet +him to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good remark," said Stanislav, "but to what do you apply it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How to what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, nothing. I only ask, why mention to-morrow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But knowest thou that love is worse than a wolf, for a man may kill a +wolf, but to kill love is beyond him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, but that again is another question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if there be wit enough, a question is nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case may God give us wit."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka hid her laughter behind her palm; after her laughed +Stanislav, and then the Bukoyemskis. Further word-play was stopped by a +servant announcing the supper.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin gave his arm to Pani Vinnitski; after them went Pan Gideon; +Stanislav conducted Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A dispute with Pan Bukoyemski is difficult," said the young lady, made +gladsome.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For his reasons are like wilful horses, each goes its own way; but he +has told two truths which are hard of denial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the first one?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That no man knows what will meet him on the morrow, just as yesterday +I did not know, for example, that to-day I should see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That a man can kill a wolf, but to kill love is beyond him. This also +is a great truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav sighed; the young lady lowered her shady eyelashes and was +silent. Only after a while, when they were sitting at the table, did +she say to him,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you will come, gentlemen, soon to my guardian's, so that he may +show you some gratitude for saving us and for your hospitality also?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The gloomy feelings of Pan Gideon brightened notably at supper, and +when the host in splendid phrases proposed first the health of the +ladies and that of the honored guest afterward, the old noble answered +very cordially, thanking for the rescue from difficult straits, and +giving assurance of never-ending gratitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">After that they conversed of public questions, of the king, of the Diet +which was to meet the May following of the war with which the Turkish +Sultan was threatening the German Empire, and for which that Knight of +Malta, Pan Lyubomirski, was bringing in volunteers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The four brothers listened with no slight curiosity, because every Pole +was received with open arms among Germans; since the Turks despised +German cavalry, while Polish horsemen roused proper terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon blamed Lyubomirski's pride somewhat, since he spoke of +German counts thuswise: "Ten of them could find place in one glove of +mine;" still, he praised the man's knightliness, boundless daring, and +great skill in warfare.</p> + +<p class="normal">On hearing this, Lukash Bukoyemski declared for himself and his +brothers that in spring they would hasten to Lyubomirski, but while the +frost raged they would kill wolves, and avenge the young lady, as +behooved them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For, though we are not to wonder at the wolves," said Mateush, "when +one thinks that such a pure dove might have been turned into wolf's +meat the heart flies to the throat from pure anger, and at the same +time it is hard to keep tears down. What a pity that wolf skins are so +low-priced,--the Jews give barely one thaler for three of them!--but it +is hard to keep our tears down, and even better to give way to them, +for whoso could not compassionate innocence and virtue would be a +savage, whom no man should name as a knight and a noble."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, he gave way to his tears then, as did his three brothers; +though wolves in the worst case could threaten only the life, not the +virtue of the lady, still the eloquence of Lukash so moved his three +brothers that their hearts became soft as warmed wax while they +listened. They wished to shoot in the air from their pistols in honor +of the young lady; but the host opposed, saying that he had a sick +forester in the mansion, a man of great merit, who needed silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon, who supposed this to be some reduced relative of Pan +Serafin, or in the worst case a village noble, inquired touching him, +through politeness; but on learning that he was a serving-man and a +peasant he shrugged his shoulders and looked with displeased and +wondering eyes at Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes!" said he. "I forgot what people say of your marvellous +kindness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant," answered Pan Serafin, "that they say nothing worse of me. +I have to thank this man for much; and may every one meet such a +person, for he knows herbs very thoroughly and can give aid in every +illness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wonder, since he cures others so ably, that he has not cured himself +thus far. Send him my relative, Pani Vinnitski,--she knows many +simples, and presses them on people; but meanwhile permit us to think +of retiring, for the road has fatigued me most cruelly, and the wine +has touched me also a trifle, just as it has the Bukoyemskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, the heads of the Bukoyemskis were steaming, while the eyes of +those brothers were mist-covered and tender; so when Pan Stanislav +conducted them to another building, where they were to pass the night +together, they followed him with most uncertain tread on frozen snow, +which squeaked under them. They wondered why the moon, instead of +shining in the heavens, was perched on the roof of a barn and was +smiling.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Panna Anulka had dropped into their hearts so profoundly that they +wished to speak more of her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Stanislav, who felt no great wish for sleep, directed to bring a +thick-bellied bottle; then they sat near the broad chimney, and, by the +bright light of the torch, drank in silence at first, listening only to +the crickets in the chamber. At last Mateush filled his breast well +with air and blew with such force at the chimney that the flame bent +before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"O Jesus! My dear brothers," cried he, "weep, for a sad fate has met +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What fate? Speak, do not hide thy condition!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is this. I am so in love that the knees are weakening under me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I? Dost think that I am not in love?" shouted Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I?" screamed out Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I," ended Yan.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush wanted to give them an answer of some kind, but could not at +first, for a hiccough had seized him. He only stared with great +wonderment, and looked as if he saw them for the first time in life at +that moment. Then rage was depicted on his countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is this, O sons of a such a one?" cried he, "ye wish to block the +road to your eldest brother, and deprive him of happiness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"O indeed!" answered Marek, "what does this mean? Is Panna Anulka an +entail of some kind, that only the eldest brother can get her? We are +sons of one father and mother, so if thou call us sons of a such a one, +thou art blaming thy father and mother. Each man is free to love as he +chooses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Free, but woe to you, for ye are all bound to me in obedience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must we all our lives serve a horseskull? Hei?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"O pagan, thou art barking like a dog!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou art thyself doing that. Jacob was younger than Esau, and Joseph +was younger than all his brothers, so thou art blaming the Scriptures, +and barking against true religion."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pushed to the wall by these arguments, Mateush could not find an answer +with promptness, and when Yan made some remark touching Cain, the first +brother, he lost his head utterly. Anger rose in him higher and higher, +till at last he began with his right hand to search for the sabre which +he had not there with him. It is unknown to what it would have come had +not Yan, who for some time had been pressing a finger to his forehead, +as if wrestling with an idea, cried out in a great voice, and +suddenly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am the youngest brother, I am Joseph, so Panna Anulka is for me. +undisputedly."</p> + +<p class="normal">The others turned to him straightway. From their eyes were shooting +fire sparks, in their faces was indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What? For thee? For thee! thou goose egg! thou straw scarecrow, thou +horse strangler, thou dry slipper--thou drunkard! For thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shut thy mouth, it is written in the Scriptures."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What Scriptures, thou dunce?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the same--but it is there. Ye are drunk, not I."</p> + +<p class="normal">But at this moment Pan Stanislav happened in among them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, is it not a shame for you," said he, "being nobles and brothers to +raise such a quarrel? Is this the way to nourish love among brothers? +But about what are ye fighting? Is Panna Anulka a mushroom that the +first man who finds her in the forest can put her in his basket? It is +the custom among pelicans, and they are not nobles, or even people, to +yield everything through family affection, and when they fail to find +fish they feed one another with blood from their own bodies. Think of +your dead parents; they are shedding tears up there now over this +quarrelling among sons whom they surely advised to act differently from +this when they blessed them. For those parents heavenly food is now +tasteless, and they dare not raise their eyes to the Evangelists whose +names they gave you in holy baptism."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus spoke Pan Stanislav and though at first he wished to laugh he was +touched as he spoke by his own words, for he too had drunk somewhat +because of the company at dinner. At last the Bukoyemskis were greatly +moved by his speech, and all four of them ended in tears, while Mateush +the eldest one cried to them,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh kill me, for God's sake, but call me not Cain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon Yan, who had mentioned Cain, threw himself into the arms of +Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, brother," cried he, "give me to the hangman for doing so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me, or I shall burst open from sorrow," cried Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have barked like a dog against the commandment," said Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they fell to embracing one another, but Mateush freed himself +finally from his brothers, sat on a bench very suddenly, unbuttoned his +coat, threw open his shirt, and, baring his breast, exclaimed in broken +accents,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here ye have me! here, like a pelican!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon they sobbed the more loudly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pelican! a genuine pelican! As God is dear to me,--a pelican!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take Panna Anulka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is thine! Take her, thou," said the brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the youngest man have her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never! Impossible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Devil take her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Devil take her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We don't want her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereupon Marek struck his thighs with his palms till the chamber +resounded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what's to be done," cried he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What dost thou know? Speak, do not hide it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let Stanislav have her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">When they heard this the other three sprang from their benches. Marek's +idea struck them to the heart so completely that they surrounded Pan +Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take her, Stashko!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will please us most of all."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If thou love us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do this to please us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God bless you!" cried Mateush; and he raised his eyes heavenward, +as he stretched his hands over Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav blushed, and he stood there astonished, repeating,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear God's wounds!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But his heart quivered at the thought, for having passed two whole +years with his father amid the dense forests, and seeing few people, he +had not met for a legion of days such a marvellous maiden. He had seen +some one like her in Brejani, for he had been sent by his father to +gain elegance at the court there and a knowledge of government. But he +was a lad then, and time had effaced those remote recollections. And +now he saw in the midst of those forests unexpectedly just such a +beautiful flower as the other one, and men said to him straightway: "Oh +take it!" In view of this he was dreadfully shamefaced and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear God! How could ye or I get her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But they, as is usual with men who are tipsy, saw no obstacle to +anything and insisted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No man of us will be jealous," said Marek, "take her! We must go to +the war whatever happens; we have had watching enough in this forest. +Thirty thalers for the whole God-given year. It does not buy drink for +us, and what is there left then for clothing? We sold our saddle +beasts, and now we hunt wolves with thy horses and outfits--A hard lot +for orphans. Better perish in war--But take her thou, if thou love us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take her!" cried out Mateush, "but we will go to Rakuz, to +Lyubomirski, to help the Germans in shelling out pagans."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take her immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take her to-morrow! To the church with her straightway!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Stanislav had recovered from astonishment and was as sober as if he +had not touched a drop since the morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, stop, what are ye saying? Just as if only your will or mine were +all that is needed! But what will she say and what will Pan Gideon say? +Pan Gideon is self-willed and haughty. Even though the young lady grew +friendly in time, he might prefer to see her sow rue than be the wife +of any poor devil like me, or like any one of you brothers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh pshaw!" exclaimed Yan. "Is Pan Gideon the Castellan of Cracow, or +grand hetman? If he is too high for us let him beware how he thrusts up +his nose in our presence. Are the Bukoyemskis too small to be his +gossips?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, never mind! He is old, the time of his death is not distant, let +him have a care lest he be stopped by Saint Peter in heaven's gateway. +Oh take our part! holy Peter, and say this to him: 'Thou didst not know +during life, thou son of a such a one, how to respect my blood +relatives; kiss now the dog's snout for thy conduct.' Let that be said +after death to Pan Gideon. But meanwhile we will not let him belittle +us in his lifetime."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How! because we have no fortune must we be despised and treated like +peasants?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that the pay for our blood, for our wounds, for our service to the +country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"O my brothers, ye orphans of God! many an injustice has met you, but +one more grievous than this no man has ever yet put on us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true, that is true!" exclaimed Lukash and Marek and Yan in sad +accents.</p> + +<p class="normal">And tears of grief flowed down their faces afresh and abundantly, but +when they had wept out their fill they fell to storming, for it seemed +to them that such an offence to men of birth should not be forgotten.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lukash, the most impulsive of all the four brothers, was the first to +make mention of this matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is difficult to challenge him to sabres," said he, "for he has lost +an arm and is old, but if he has contemned us, we must have +satisfaction. What are we to do? Think of this!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My feet have been frozen to-night," said Lukash, "and are burning +tremendously. But for this, I could think out a remedy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My feet are not burning, but my head is on fire," added Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"From that which is empty thou wilt never pour anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gland is blamed always by Katchan!" said Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye give a quarrel instead of an answer!" cried Lukash. But Stanislav +interrupted;--</p> + +<p class="normal">"An answer?" said he, "but to whom?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Pan Gideon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"An answer to what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To what? How 'to what'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">They looked at one another, with no small astonishment, and then turned +to Lukash,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What dost thou wish of us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what do ye wish of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Adjourn this assembly till daylight," said Stanislav. "The fire here +is dying, midnight is past now a long time. The beds are all ready at +the walls there, and rest is ours honestly, for we have worked in the +frost very faithfully."</p> + +<p class="normal">The fire had gone out; it was dark in the chamber, so the advice of the +host had power to convince the four brothers. Conversation continued +some little time yet, but with decreasing intensity. Somewhat later a +whispered "Our Father" was heard, at one moment louder, at another one +lower, interrupted now and then with deep sighing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The coals in the chimney began to grow dark and be covered with ashes; +at moments something squeaked near the fire, and the crickets chirped +sadly in the corners, as if mourning for the light which had left them. +Next the sound of boots cast from feet to the floor, after that a short +interval of silence, and then immense snoring from the four sleeping +brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Stanislav could not sleep, all his thoughts whirled about Panna +Anulka, like active bees about blossoms.</p> + +<p class="normal">How could a man sleep with such a buzzing in his cranium! He closed his +lids, it is true, once and a second time, but finding that useless he +pondered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will see if there is light in her chamber," thought he, finally.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he passed through the doorway.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no light in her windows, but the gleam of the moon quivered +on the uneven panes as on wrinkled water. The world was silent, and +sleeping so soundly that even the snow seemed to slumber in the bath of +greenish moonlight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dost thou know that I am dreaming of thee?" asked Stanislav in a +whisper, as he looked at the silent window.</p> + +<p class="normal">The elder Tsyprianovitch, Pan Serafin, in accordance with his inborn +hospitality, and his habit, spared neither persuasion nor pressing to +detain his guests longer in Yedlinka. He even knelt before Pani +Vinnitski, an act which did not come easily because of his gout, which, +though moderate so far, was somewhat annoying. All that, however, +availed not. Pan Gideon insisted on going before midday, and at last, +since there was no answer to the statement that he was looking for +guests at his mansion, Pan Serafin had to yield, and they started that +clear frosty forenoon of wonderful weather. The snow on the fields, and +on tree branches, seemed covered with myriads of fire sparks, which so +glittered in the sunlight that the eye could barely suffer the gleams +shooting back from the earth and the forest. The horses moved at a +vigorous trot till their flanks panted; the sleigh runners whistled +along the snow road; the carriage curtains were pushed back on both +sides, and now at one window and now at the other appeared the rosy +face of the young lady with gladsome eyes and a nose which the frost +had reddened somewhat, a charming framed picture.</p> + +<p class="normal">She advanced like a queen, for the carriage was encircled by a "life +guard" made up of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Stanislav. The four brothers +were riding strong beasts from the Yedlinka stables (they had sold or +pledged not only their horses but the best of their sabres). They +rushed on now at the side, sometimes forcing their horses to rear, and +sometimes urging them on with such impetus that balls torn from the +frozen snow by their hoofs shot away whistling through the air like +stone missiles.</p> + +<p class="normal">Perhaps Pan Gideon was not greatly charmed with these body-guards, for +during the advance he begged the cavaliers not to give themselves +trouble, since the road in the daytime was safe, and of robbers in the +forest no report had arisen; but when they had insisted on conducting +the ladies, nothing was left him but to pay for politeness with +politeness, and invite them to Belchantska. Pan Gideon had a promise +also from Pan Serafin to visit him, but only after some days, since it +was difficult for an old man to tear himself free of his household +abruptly.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the men, this journey passed quickly in wonders of horsemanship, +and for Panna Anulka in appearing at the windows. The first halt to +give rest to their horses was half-way on the road, at a forest inn +which bore the ill omened name "Robbery." Next the inn stood a shed and +the shop of a blacksmith. In front of his shop the blacksmith was +shoeing some horses. At the side of the inn were seen sleighs owned by +peasants; to these were attached lean, rough-coated sorry little beasts +covered over completely with hoar frost; their tails were between their +hind-legs, and bags of oats were tied under their noses.</p> + +<p class="normal">People crowded out of the inn to look at the carriage surrounded by +cavaliers and remained at a distance. These were not land tillers but +potters, who made their pots at Kozenitse in the summer and took them +in sleighs to sell during winter in the villages; but they appeared +more especially at festivals through the country. These people, +thinking that some man of great dignity must be travelling in a +carriage with such an escort, took their caps off in spite of the +weather and looked with curiosity at the party.</p> + +<p class="normal">The warmly dressed travellers did not leave the equipage. The +attendants remained mounted, but a page took wine in a decanter to the +inn to be heated. Meanwhile Pan Gideon beckoned "the bark shoes" to +come to him, and then he fell to inquiring whence they came, whither +they were going, and was there no danger from wild beasts in any place.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course there is," answered an old town-dweller, "but we travel +during daylight and in company. We are waiting here for friends from +Prityk and other places. Perhaps too some earth tillers will come, and +if fifteen or twenty sleighs appear, we will move on at night. Unless +they come we will not start, though we take clubs with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But has no accident happened about here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The wolves ate a Jew during daylight. He was taking geese, as it +seems, for on the road were found bones of a horse and a man,--besides, +there were goose feathers. People knew by his cap that the man was a +Jew. But early this morning some man came hither on foot, a young +noble, who passed the whole night on a pine tree. He says that his +horse dropped down dead, and there before his eyes the wolves ate the +beast up. This man grew so stiff on the tree that he had barely +strength to speak to us, and now he is sleeping."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is his name? Did he tell whence he came?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. He just drank some hot beer and fell on a bench as if lifeless."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon turned then to the horsemen,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have ye heard that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must rouse the man, and make inquiries. He has no horse, how could +we leave him alone here? My page could sit on the second front carriage +horse, and give up his own. They say that the man is a noble. Perhaps +he is here from a distance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must be in a hurry," said Pan Stanislav, "since he was travelling +at night, and besides without company. I will rouse him and make +inquiry."</p> + +<p class="normal">But his plan proved superfluous, since at that moment the page returned +from the inn with a tray on which mugs of hot wine were steaming.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg to tell your grace that Pan Tachevski is here," began he on +reaching the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Tachevski? What the devil is he doing in this place?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Tachevski!" repeated Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is making ready, and will come out this minute," said the page. "He +almost knocked the tray from my hand when he heard of your coming--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But who spoke of the tray to thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The page became silent immediately, as if power of speech had deserted +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon seized a goblet of wine, took one and a second draught, and +said then to Pan Stanislav, as if with a certain repulsion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is an acquaintance of ours, and in some sense a neighbor from +Charny-- Well--rather giddy and unreliable--of those Tachevskis who +long ago were, as some people say, of some note in the province."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further explanations were stopped by Tachevski, who, coming out +hurriedly, walked with firm stride toward the carriage, but on his face +was a certain hesitation. He was a young noble of medium stature. He +had splendid dark eyes, and was as lean as a splinter. His head was +covered with a Hungarian cap, recalling, one might say, the time of +King Bátory; he wore a gray coat lined with sheepskin, and long, +yellow, Swedish boots reaching up to his body. No one wore such boots +then in Poland. They had been taken during war in the days of Yan +Kazimir, that was evident, and brought now through need from the +storehouse by Tachevski. While approaching, he looked first at Pan +Gideon, then at the young lady, and smiled, showing white, perfect +teeth, but his smile was rather gloomy, his face showed embarrassment +and even a trace of confusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I rejoice beyond measure," said he, as he stood at the carriage and +removed his cap gracefully, "to see, in good health, Pani Vinnitski and +Panna Sieninski, with your grace, my benefactor, for the road is now +dangerous; this I have learned from experience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cover your head, or your ears will be frozen," said Pan Gideon, +abruptly. "I thank you for the attention, but why are you wandering +through the wilderness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tachevski looked quickly at the young lady, as if to inquire: "Thou +knowst why, dost thou not?" but seeing her eyes downcast, and noting +also that she was biting a ribbon of her hood for occupation, he +answered in a voice of some harshness,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, the fancy struck me to gaze at the moon above pine trees."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pretty fancy. But did the wolves kill thy horse?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They only ate him, for I myself drove his life out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We know. And thou wert roosting, like a crow, all the night in a pine +tree."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the Bukoyemskis burst into such mighty laughter that their horses +were put on their haunches. Tachevski turned and measured them one +after another, with glances which were ice cold and as sharp as a sword +edge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not like a crow," said he then to Pan Gideon, "but like a horseless +noble, at which condition it is granted you, my benefactor, to laugh, +but it may be unhealthy for another to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho! oho! oho!" repeated the Bukoyemskis, urging toward him their +horses. Their faces grew dark in one moment, and their mustaches +quivered. Again Tachevski measured them, and raised his head higher.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pan Gideon spoke with a voice as severe and commanding as if he had +power over all of them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No quarrels here, I beg! This is Pan Tachevski," said he after a +while, with more mildness, turning to the cavaliers, "and this is Pan +Tsyprianovitch, and each of the other four nobles is a Pan Bukoyemski, +to whom I may say we owe our lives, for wolves met us yesterday. These +gentlemen came to our aid unexpectedly, and God knows in season."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In season," repeated Panna Anulka, with emphasis, pouting a little, +and looking at Pan Stanislav bewitchingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tachevski's cheeks flushed, but on his face there appeared as it were +humiliation, his eyes became mist-covered, and, with immense sadness in +his accents, he said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"In season, for they were in company, and happy because on good horses, +but wolf teeth at that time were cutting old Voloshyn, and my last +friend had vanished. But--" even here he looked with greater good-will +at the Bukoyemskis--"may your hands be sacred, for ye have done that +which with my whole soul I wished to do, but God did not let me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka seemed changeable, like all women, perhaps too she was +sorry for Tachevski, since her eyes became pleasant and twinkling, her +lids opened and closed very quickly, and she asked with a different +voice altogether,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Old Voloshyn? My God, I loved him so much and he knew me. My God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tachevski looked at her straightway with thankfulness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He knew you, gracious lady, he knew you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Grieve not, Pan Yatsek, grieve not so cruelly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I grieved before this, but on horseback. I shall grieve now on foot. +God reward you, however, for the kind words."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But mount now the mouse-colored horse," said Pan Gideon. "The page +will ride the off leader, or sit behind the carriage. There is an extra +burka at the saddle, put it on, for thou hast been freezing all night, +and the cold is increasing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said Tachevski, "I am warm. I left my shuba behind, since I felt +no need of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, for the road!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They started. Yatsek Tachevski taking his place near the left carriage +window, Stanislav Tsyprianovitch at the right, so the young lady +sitting in front might without turning her head look freely at the one +and the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the Bukoyemskis were not glad to see Yatsek. They were angry that +he had taken a place at the side of the carriage, so, bringing their +horses together till their heads almost touched, they talked with one +another and counselled,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He looked at us insolently," said Mateush. "As God is in heaven he +wants to insult us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just now he turned his horse's tail to us. What do ye say to that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, he could not turn the horse's head, for horses do not travel +tail forward like crawfish. But that he is making up to that young lady +is certain," put in Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou hast taken in the situation correctly. See how he bends and leans +forward. If his stirrup strap breaks he will fall."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will not fall, the son of a such a one, for the saddle straps are +strong, and he is a firm rider."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bend thyself, bend till we break thee!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just look how he smiles at her!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, brothers, are we to permit this? Never, as God lives! The girl +is not for us, that may be, but does he remember what we did +yesterday?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course! He must divine that, for he is cunning, and now he is +making up to her to spite us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And in contempt for our poverty and orphanhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! upon my word a great magnate--on another man's horse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, for that matter we are not riding our own beasts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One horse remains to us anyhow, so if three sit at home the fourth man +may ride to the war if he wishes; but that fellow has not even a +saddle, for the wolves have made bits of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Besides, he sticks his nose up. What has he against us? Just tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, ask him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I do it right away?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eight away, but politely, so as not to offend old Pan Gideon. Only +after he has answered can we challenge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And then we shall have him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which of us is to do this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, of course, for I am the eldest," said Mateush. "I will rub the +icicle from my mustache, and then at him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But remember well what he says to thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will repeat every word, like the Lord's prayer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon the eldest Bukoyemski set to rubbing off with his glove the +ice from his mustache, and then urging his horse to the horse of Pan +Yatsek he called,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?" inquired Yatsek, turning his head from the carriage +unwillingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you against us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek looked at him with astonishment, and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing!" then, shrugging his shoulders, he turned again to the +carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush rode on some time in silence considering whether to return and +report to his brothers or speak further. The second course seemed to +him better, so he continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If thou think to do anything, I say that thou wilt do what thou hast +said to me. Nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">On Yatsek's face was an expression of constraint and annoyance. He +understood that they were seeking a quarrel, for which at that moment +he had not the least wish whatever. But he found need of some answer, +and that of such kind as to end the conversation, so he asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, thy brothers over there, are they also--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course! but what is 'also'?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Think it out thyself and do not interrupt now my more agreeable +occupation."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush rode along the side of the carriage ten or fifteen steps +farther. At last he turned his horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did he tell thee? Speak out!" said the brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was no success."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because thou didst not know how to handle him," said Lukash. "Thou +shouldst have tickled his horse in the belly with thy stirrup, or, +since thou knowst his name, have said: 'Yatsek, here is a platsek (a +cake) for thee!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or said this to him: 'The wolves ate thy horse, buy a he goat in +Prityk.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is not lost, but what did it mean when he said: 'Are thy brothers +also?'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maybe he wanted to ask if we were fools also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course! As God is dear to me!" cried Marek. "He could not think +otherwise. But what now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"His death, or ours. As God lives, what he says is open heresy. We must +tell Stashko."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell nothing, for since we give up the young lady to Stashko, Stashko +must challenge him, and here the great point is that we challenge +first."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When? At Pan Gideon's a challenge is not proper. But here is +Belchantska."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact Belchantska was not distant. On the edge of the forest stood +the cross of Pan Gideon's establishment, with a tin Saviour hanging +between two spears; on the right, where the road turned round a pine +wood, broad meadows were visible, with a line of alders on the edge of +a river, and beyond the alders on the bank opposite and higher, were +the leafless tops of tall trees, and smoke rising from cottages. Soon +the retinue was moving past cottages, and when it had gone beyond +fences and buildings Pan Gideon's dwelling was before the eyes of the +horsemen,--a broad court surrounded by an old and decayed picket fence +which in places was leaning.</p> + +<p class="normal">From times the most ancient no enemy had appeared in that region, so no +one had thought defence needful for the dwelling. In the broad court +there were two dovecotes. On one side were the quarters for servants, +on the other the storehouse, provision rooms, and a big cheese house +made of planks and small timbers. Before the mansion and around the +court were pillars with iron rings for the halters of horses; on each +pillar a cap of frozen snow was fixed firmly. The mansion was old and +broad, with a low roof of straw. In the court hunting dogs were rushing +around, and among them a tame stork with a broken wing was walking +securely; the bird as it seemed had left its warm room a little earlier +to get exercise and air in the cold courtyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the mansion the people were waiting for the company, since Pan +Gideon had sent a man forward with notice. The same man came out now to +meet them and, bowing down, said to Pan Gideon,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Grothus, the starosta of Raygrod, has come."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In God's name!" cried Pan Gideon. "Has he been waiting long for me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not an hour. He wished to go, but I told him that you were coming and +in sight very nearly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou didst speak well." Then he turned to the guests,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you, gentlemen, Pan Grothus is a relative through my wife. He is +returning, it is evident, to Warsaw from his brother's, for he is a +deputy to the Diet. Please enter."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a time they were all in the dining-room in presence of the +starosta of Raygrod, whose head almost grazed the ceiling, for in +stature he surpassed the Bukoyemskis, and the rooms were exceedingly +low in that mansion. Pan Grothus was a showy noble with an expression +of wisdom, and the face and bald head of a statesman. A sword scar on +his forehead just over the nose and between his two eyebrows seemed a +firm wrinkle, giving his face a stern, and, as it were, angry aspect. +But he smiled at Pan Gideon with pleasantness, and opened his arms to +him, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I, a guest, am now welcoming the host to his own mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A guest, a dear guest," cried Pan Gideon. "God give thee health for +having come to me, lord brother. What dost thou hear over there now in +Warsaw?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good news of private matters, of public also, for war is now coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">"War? How is that? Are we making it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet, but in March a treaty will be signed with the Emperor, then +war will be certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">Though even before the New Year there had been whispers of war with the +Sultan, and there were those who considered it inevitable, the +confirmation of these rumors from the lips of a person so notable, and +intimately acquainted with politics as Pan Grothus, imposed on Pan +Gideon and the guests in his mansion very greatly. Barely had the host, +therefore, presented them to the starosta, when a conversation followed +touching war, touching Tököli and the bloody struggles throughout +Hungary, from which, as from an immense conflagration, there was light +over all parts of Austria and Poland. That was to be a mighty struggle, +before which the Roman Cæsar and all German lands were then trembling. +Pan Grothus, skilled much in public matters, declared that the Porte +would move half of Asia and all Africa, and appear with such strength +as the world had not seen up to that day. But these previsions did not +injure good-humor in any one. On the contrary they were listened to +with rapture by young men, who were wearied by long peace at home, and +to whom war presented fields of glory, service, and even profit.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Mateush Bukoyemski heard the words of the starosta he so struck +his knee with his palm that the sound was heard throughout the mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Half Asia, and what in addition?" asked he. "O pshaw! Is that +something new for us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing new, thou speakest truth!" said the host, whose face, usually +gloomy, was lighted up now with sudden gladness. "If that question is +settled, the call to arms will be issued immediately, and the levies +will begin without loitering."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant this! God grant it at the earliest! Think now of that old +Deviantkievich at Hotsim, blind of both eyes. His sons aimed his lance +in the charge, and he struck on the Janissaries as well as any other +man. But I have no sons."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, lord brother, if there be any one who can stay at home +rightfully you are that person," said the starosta. "It is bad not to +have a son in the war, worse not to have an eye, but worst of all not +to have an arm."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accustomed both hands to the sabre," said Pan Gideon, "and in my +teeth I can hold the bridle. Moreover, I should like to fall fighting +on the field against pagans, not because the happiness of my life has +been broken--not from revenge--no--but for this reason, speaking +sincerely: I am old, I have seen much, I have meditated deeply, I have +seen among men so much hatred, so much selfishness, so much disorder in +this Commonwealth, I have seen our self-will, our disobedience and +breaking of Diets, so much lawlessness of all sorts, that I say this +here now to you. Many times in desperation have I asked the Lord God: +Why, O Lord, hast thou created our Commonwealth, and created this +people? I ask without answer and it is only when the pagan sea swells, +when that vile dragon opens its jaws to devour Christianity and +mankind, when, as you say, the Roman Cæsar and all German lands are +shivering in front of this avalanche, that I learn why God created us +and imposed on us this duty. The Turks themselves know this. Other men +may tremble, but we will not, as we have not trembled thus far; so let +our blood flow to the very last drop, and let mine be mixed with the +rest of it. Amen."</p> + +<p class="normal">The eyes of Pan Gideon were glittering and he was moved very deeply, +but still he let no tears fall from his eyes; it may be because he had +cried them out so much earlier, and it may be because he was harsh to +himself and to others. But Pan Grothus put his arm around his neck and +then he kissed him on both cheeks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, true," said he. "There is much evil among us, and only with +blood may our ransom from evil be effected. That service, that watching +which God has given us, was predestined to our people. And the time is +approaching in which we shall prove this. That is our real position. +There are tidings that the avalanche of pagans will turn on Vienna; +when it does we will go there and before the whole world show that we +are purely Christ's warriors, created in defence of the cross, and the +faith of the Saviour. Other nations, who till now have lived without +care behind our shoulders, will see in the clear day of heaven how our +task is accomplished, and with God's will, while the earth stands, our +service and our glory will not leave us."</p> + +<p class="normal">At these words enthusiasm seized the young men. The Bukoyemskis sprang +up from their chairs, and called in loud voices,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant it! When will the levies be? God grant it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The souls are tearing out of us," said Stanislav. "We are ready this +minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek was the only man silent, and his face did not brighten. That +news which filled all hearts with pleasure was for him a source of keen +suffering and bitterness. His thoughts and his eyes ran to Panna Anulka +who was passing along near the dining-room joyously, and with +measureless complaint and reproach they spoke thus to her,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had it not been for thee I should have gone to some magnate, and +though I might not have found fortune, I should have a horse and good +arms in every case, and should go now with a regiment to find death, or +else glory. Thy beauty, thy glances, those pleasant words, which at +times thou didst throw like small alms at me, have brought about this, +that I am here on those last little fields of mine, well-nigh expiring +from hunger. Because of thee I have not seen the great world. I have +not gained any polish. In what have I offended that thou hast enslaved +me, as it were, soul and body? And in truth I would rather perish than +be without seeing thee for a twelvemonth. I have lost my last horse in +hurrying to save thee, and now, in return for this, thou art laughing +with another, and glancing at him most bewitchingly. But what shall I +do? War is coming. Am I to be a serving man, or be disgraced among foot +soldiers? What have I done that toward me thou art merciless?"</p> + +<p class="normal">In this fashion did Yatsek Tachevski complain, he a man who felt his +misery all the more keenly that he was a noble of great knightly +family, though terribly impoverished. And though it was not true that +Panna Anulka had never had mercy on him, it was true that for her sake +he had never gone out to the great world, but had remained with only +two serfs on poor pasture land where the first wants of life were +beyond him. He was seventeen years of age, and she thirteen, when he +fell in love with her beyond memory, and for five years he had loved +the girl each year increasingly, and each year with more gloominess, +for hopelessly. Pan Gideon had received him with welcome at first, as +the scion of a great knightly family to which in former days had +belonged in those regions whole countrysides; but afterward, when he +noted how matters were tending, he began to be harsh to him, and at +times even cruel. He did not close the house against the man, it is +true, but he kept him away from the young lady, since he had for her +views and hopes of another kind altogether. Panna Anulka noting her +power over Yatsek amused herself with him just as a young girl does +with flowers in a meadow. At times she bends over one, at times she +plucks one, at times she weaves one into her tresses, later she throws +it away, and later thinks nothing of flowers, whatever, and still later +on she searches out new ones.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek had never mentioned his love to the young lady, but she knew of +it perfectly, though she feigned not to know, and in general not to +wish to know of anything which happened within him. She wondered at +him, wondered how he pleased her. Once, when they were chasing some +bees, she fell under his cloak and fondled up to his heart for a +moment, but for two days she would not forgive him because of this. At +times she treated him almost contemptuously, and when it seemed to him +that all had been ended forever, she, with one sweet look, one hearty +word filled him with endless delight, and with hope beyond limit. If at +times, because of a wedding, or a name's day, or a hunt in the +neighborhood, he did not come for some days she was lonely, but when he +did come she took revenge on him for her loneliness, and tormented him +long for it. He passed his worst moments when there were guests at the +mansion, and there happened among them some young man who was clever +and good-looking. Then Yatsek thought that in her heart there was not +even the simplest compassion. Such were his thoughts now because of Pan +Stanislav and all that Pan Grothus had told of the coming war added +bitterness to his cup, which was then overflowing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Self-control in Pan Gideon's mansion was habitual with Yatsek, still, +he could hardly sit to the end of the supper as he heard the words of +the lady and Pan Stanislav. He saw, unhappy victim, that the other man +pleased her, for he was in fact an adroit and agreeable young fellow, +and far from being stupid. The talk at table turned always on the +levies. Stanislav, learning from Pan Grothus that perhaps the levies +would be made under him in those regions, turned to the lady on a +sudden, and asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What regiment do you prefer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The hussars," said she, looking at his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because of the wings?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. Once I saw hussars and thought them a heavenly army. I dreamt of +them afterward two nights in succession."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not whether I shall dream when a hussar, but I know that I +shall dream of you earlier, and of wings also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should dream of a real angel."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka dropped her eyes till a shade fell on her rosy cheeks from +her eyelids.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be a hussar," said she, after an interval.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek gritted his teeth, drew his palm over his moistened forehead, +and during the supper he did not get word or look from the lady. Only +when they had risen from the table did a sweet, beloved voice sound at +his ear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But will you go to this war with the others?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To die! to die!" answered Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in that answer there was such a genuine, true groan of anguish that +the voice was heard again, as if in sympathy,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why sadden us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one will weep for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How know you that?" said the voice now a third time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she slipped away to the other guests as swiftly as a dream vision, +and bloomed, like a rose, at the other end of the drawing-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, the two elder men sat after the meal over goblets of mead, +and when they had discussed public questions sufficiently they began to +chat about private ones. Pan Grothus followed Panna Anulka with tender +eyes for a time, and then said to Pan Gideon,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a brilliant spot over there. Just look at those young people +who are flying like moths round a candle. But that is no wonder, for +were we not in years we too should be flying."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon waved his hand in displeasure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Swarms they are,--rustics, homespuns, nothing better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How so? Tachevski is not a homespun."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but he is poor. The Bukoyemskis are not homespuns; they even +declare that they are kinsmen of Saint Peter, which may help them in +heaven, but on earth they are nothing but foresters in the king's +wilderness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Grothus wondered at the relationship of the Bukoyemskis no less +than had Pan Gideon when he heard of it the first time, so he fell to +inquiring in detail, till at last he laughed heartily, and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Saint Peter was a great apostle, and I have no wish to detract from +his honor; all the more, since feeling old, I shall soon need his +influence. But between you and me, there is not much in this kinship to +boast of--no, he was merely a fisherman. If you speak of Joseph, who +came from King David,--well, you may talk to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say only that there is no one here fit for the girl, either among +those whom you see now under my roof, or in the whole neighborhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he who is sitting near Pani Vinnitski seems a nice gentleman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tsyprianovitch? Yes, he is; but Armenian by origin and of a family +noble only three generations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then why invite them? Cupid is traitorous, and before there is time to +turn once the pudding may be cooked for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon, who, in presenting the young men had stated how much he +owed them, explained now in detail about the wolves and the assistance, +because of which he was forced to invite the young rescuers to his +mansion through gratitude simply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, true," said Pan Grothus, "but in his own way Amor may cook the +pudding before you have noticed it. This girl's blood is not water."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ai! she is a slippery weasel," said Pan Gideon. "She can and will +bite, but she will twist out besides from between a man's fingers, and +no common person could catch her. Great blood has this inborn quality +that it yields not, but rules and regulates. I am not of those who are +led by the nose very easily, still, I yield to her often. It is true, +that I owe much to the Sieninskis, but even if I did not there would be +only slight difference. When she stands before me and puts a tress from +one shoulder to the other, inclines her head to me, and glances, she +gets what she wishes most frequently. And more than once do I think, +what a blessing of God, what an honor, that the last child, the last +heiress of such a famed family, is under my roof tree. Of course you +know of the Sieninskis--once all Podolia was theirs. In truth, the +Sobieskis, the Daniloviches, the Jolkevskis grew great through them. It +is the duty of His Grace the King to remember this, all the more since +now almost nothing remains of those great possessions; and the girl, if +she has any property, will have only that which remains after me to +her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what will your relatives say in this matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are only distant Pangovskis, who will not prove kinship. But +often my peace is destroyed by the thought that after me may come +quarrels, with lawsuits and wrangling, as is common in this country. +The relatives of my late wife are for me the great question. From my +wife comes a part of my property, namely: the lands with this mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall not appear with a lawsuit," said Pan Grothus, "but I would not +guarantee as to others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is it! That is it! I have been thinking of late to visit Warsaw +and beg the king to be a guardian to this orphan, but his head is full +now of other questions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you had a son it would be a simple matter to give the girl to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon gazed at the starosta with a look so full of pain that the +other stopped speaking. Both men were silent for a long time, till Pan +Gideon said with emotion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"To you I might say, my lord brother, with Virgil, <i>infandum jubes +renovare dolorem</i> (thou commandest me to call up unspeakable sorrow). +That marriage would be simple--and I will tell you that had it not been +for this simple method I should have died long ago perhaps. My son +while in childhood was stolen by the Tartars. People have returned more +than once from captivity among pagans when the memory of them had +perished. Whole years have I looked for a miracle--whole years have I +lived in the hope of it. To-day even, when I drink something I think to +myself we, perhaps now! God is greater than human imagining. But those +moments of hope are very shortlived, while the pain is enduring and +daily. No! Why deceive myself? My blood will not be mingled with that +of the Sieninskis, and, if relatives rend what I have into fragments, +this last child of the family to which I owe everything, will be +without bread to nourish her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Both drank in silence again. Pan Grothus was thinking how to milden the +pain which he had roused in Pan Gideon unwittingly, and how to console +the man in suffering. At last an idea occurred to him which he +considered very happy. "Ai!" exclaimed he, "there is a way to do +everything, and you, my lord brother, can secure bread for the girl +without trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?" asked Pan Gideon, with a certain disquiet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does it not happen often that old men take as wives even girls not +full grown yet? An example in history is Konietspolski the grand +hetman, who married a green girl, though he was older than you are. It +is true also, that, having taken too many youth-giving medicines, he +died the first night after marriage, but neither Pan Makovski, +pocillator of Radom, nor Pan Rudnitski lost their lives, though both +had passed seventy. Besides, you are sturdy. Should the Lord again +bless you, well, so much the better; if not, you would leave in +sufficiency and quiet the young widow, who might choose then the +husband that pleased her."</p> + +<p class="normal">Whether such an idea had ever come to Pan Gideon we may not determine; +it suffices, that, after these words of Pan Grothus, he was greatly +confused, and, with a hand trembling somewhat, poured mead to the +starosta till it flowed over the goblet, and the generous liquor +dropped down to the floor after passing the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us drink to the success of Christian arms!" said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That in its time," said Pan Grothus, following the course of his own +thoughts still further; "and dwell in your own way on what I have said +to you, for I have struck, as I think, the true point of the question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why? What reason is there? Drink some more--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Further words were interrupted by the movement of chairs at the larger +table. Pani Vinnitski and Panna Anulka wished to retire to their +chamber. The voice of the young lady, as resonant as a bell made of +silver, repeated: "Good-night, good-night;" then she courtesied +prettily to Pan Grothus, kissed the hand of Pan Gideon, touched his +shoulder with her nose and her forehead cat fashion, and vanished. Pan +Stanislav, the Bukoyemskis, and Yatsek went out soon after the ladies. +The two older men only remained in the dining-room and conversed long +in it, for Pan Gideon commanded to bring still better mead in another +decanter.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<p class="normal">Whether by chance or a trick of the young lady is unknown to us; it +suffices, however, that the four Bukoyemskis received a large chamber +in an outbuilding, and Pan Stanislav with Yatsek a smaller one near it. +This confused the two men no little, and then, so as not to speak to +each other, they began straightway the litany and continued it longer +than was usual. But when they had finished there followed a silence +which annoyed both of them, for though their feelings toward each other +were unfriendly, they felt that they might not betray them, and that +they should for a time, and especially at the house of Pan Gideon, show +politeness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek ungirded his sabre, drew it out of the scabbard, looked at the +edge by the light of the chimney, and fell to rubbing the blade with +his handkerchief.</p> + +<p class="normal">"After frost," said he half to himself, half to Stanislav, "a sabre +sweats in a warm chamber, and rust appears on it straightway."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And last night it must have frozen solidly," said Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">He spoke without evil intention, and only because it occurred to him +that Tachevski had been in a splitting frost all the night previous; +but Yatsek placed the point of his blade on the floor, and looked +quickly into the eyes of the other man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you referring to this,--that I sat on a pine tree?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," replied Stanislav, with simplicity; "of course there was no +stove there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what would you have done in my position?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav wished to answer "the same that you did," but the question +was put to him sharply, so he answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why break my head over that, since I was not in it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrain +himself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with still +greater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God sends adventures and accidents."</p> + +<p class="normal">And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were covered +again with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his one +friend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into the +chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There will be fog," added Yan.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the first +moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh art thou in such company?" asked Lukash, as he turned to Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">All four brothers put their hands on their hips and cast challenging +glances at Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek seized a chair and, pushing it to the middle of the chamber, +turned to the Bukoyemskis with a sudden movement; then he sat astride +of the chair, as on horseback, rested his elbows on the back of it, +raised his head, and answered with equally challenging glances. Thus +were they opposed then; he, with feet stretching widely apart in his +Swedish boots, they, shoulder to shoulder, quarrelsome, threatening, +enormous.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav saw that it was coming to a quarrel, but he wished to laugh +at the same time. Thinking that he could hinder a collision at any +instant he let them gaze at one another.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh, what a bold fellow," thought he of Yatsek, "nothing confuses him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The silence continued, at once unendurable and ridiculous. Yatsek +himself felt this, also, for he was the first man to break it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down, young sirs," said he, "not only do I invite, but I beg you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis looked at one another with astonishment, this new turn +confused them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is this? What is it? Of what is he thinking?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you, I beg you," repeated Yatsek, and he pointed to benches.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We stay as we are, for it pleases us, dost understand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too much ceremony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What ceremony?" cried Lukash. "Dost thou claim to be a senator, or a +bishop, thou--thou Pompeius!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek did not move from the chair, but his back began to quiver as if +from sudden laughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why call me Pompeius?" inquired he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because the name fits thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it may be because thou art a fool," replied Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strike, whoso believes in God!" shouted Yan.</p> + +<p class="normal">Evidently Yatsek had had talk enough also, for something seemed to +snatch him from the chair on a sudden, and he sprang like a cat toward +the brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen, ye road-blockers," said he with a voice cold as steel, "what +do ye want of me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Blood!" cried Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou wilt not squirm away from us this time!" shouted Marek. "Come out +at once," said he, grasping toward his side for a sabre.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Stanislav pushed in quickly between them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not permit," cried he. "This is another man's dwelling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," added Yatsek, "this is another man's dwelling, and I will not +injure Pan Gideon. I will not cut you up under his roof, but I will +find you to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will find thee to-morrow!" roared Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye have sought conflicts and raised pretexts all day, why, I cannot +tell, for I have not known you, nor have ye known me, but ye must +answer for this, and because ye have insulted me I would meet not four +men but ten like you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho! oho! One will suffice thee. It is clear," cried out Yan, "that +thou hast not heard of the Bukoyemskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have spoken of four," said Yatsek, turning on a sudden to Stanislav, +"but perhaps you will join with these cavaliers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav bowed politely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since you make the inquiry--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "We +will not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down any +man who interferes with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as he +thought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, and +art standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, and +very safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. In +what a company do I find myself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had a +mild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veins +swelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teeth +were gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked with +anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on the +steel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskis +sprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourth +caught Stanislav by the shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are ahead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unhand me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold Stashko, ye, and I will settle with this man while ye are holding +him," shouted Mateush; and seizing Yatsek he dragged him aside to begin +at him straightway, but Yatsek with presence of mind pulled himself +free of Mateush, and sheathed his sword, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I choose the man who is to fight first and the time. So I tell you +to-morrow, and in Vyrambki, not here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh thou wilt not sneak away from us! Now! now!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Yatsek crossed his arms on his breast. "Ha, if ye wish without +fighting to kill me under the roof of our host, let me know it."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this rage seized the brothers; they stamped the floor with their +boot-heels, pulled their mustaches, and panted like wild bears. But +since they feared infamy no man of them had the daring to rush at +Tachevski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-morrow, I tell you! Say to Pan Gideon that ye are going to visit +me, and inquire for the road to Vyrambki. Beyond the brook stands a +crucifix since the time of the pestilence. There I will wait for you at +midday to-morrow, and there, with God's help I will finish you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He uttered the last words as if with sorrow, then he opened the door +and walked out of the chamber. In the yard the dogs ran around Yatsek, +and knowing him well, fondled up to him. He turned without thinking +toward the posts near the windows, as if looking for his horse there; +then, remembering that that horse was no longer alive, he sighed, and, +feeling the cool breath of air, repeated in spirit,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The wind is blowing always in the eyes of the poor man. I will walk +home."</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, Stanislav was wringing his hands from fierce pain and anger, +while saying to the Bukoyemskis, with terrible bitterness,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who asked you to do this? My worst enemy could not have hurt me more +than have you with your service."</p> + +<p class="normal">They pitied him immensely, and fell to embracing him, one after the +other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stashko," said Mateush. "They sent us a decanter for the night; give +thyself comfort for God's sake."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<p class="normal">The world was still gray when Father Voynovski was clattering along +through deep snow with a lantern to the doves, partridges, and rabbits +which he kept in his granary in a special enclosure. A tame fox with +bells on her neck followed his footsteps; at his side went a Spitz dog +and a porcupine. Winter sleep did not deaden the latter in the warm +room of the priest's house. The beasts and their master, when they had +crossed the yard slowly, stopped under the out-jutting straw eaves of +the granary, from which long icicles were hanging. The lantern swayed, +the key was heard in the lock, the bolt whined, the door squeaked +louder than the key, and the old man went in with his animals. After a +while he took his seat on a block, placed his lantern on a second +block, and put between his knees a linen bag holding grain and also +cabbage leaves. He began then to yawn aloud and to empty the bag on the +floor there in front of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Before he had finished three rabbits advanced from dark corners jumping +toward him; next were seen the eyes of doves, glittering and bead-like +in the light of the lantern; then rust-colored partridges, moving their +heads on lithe necks as they came on in close company. Being the most +resolute, the pigeons fell straightway to hammering the floor with +their bills, while the partridges moved with more caution, looking now +at the falling grain, now at the priest, and now at the she fox; with +her they had been acquainted a long time, since, taken as chicks the +past summer and reared from being little, they saw the beast daily.</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest kept on throwing grain, muttering morning prayer as he did +so: "<i>Pater noster, qui es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen</i>--" Here he +stopped and turned to the fox, and she, while touching his side, +trembled as if a fever were shaking her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, the skin on thee trembles as soon as thou seest them. It is the +same every day. Learn to keep down thy inborn appetite, for thou hast +good food at all seasons and sufferest no hunger. Where did I stop?" +Here he closed his eyes as if waiting for an answer, and since he did +not have it he began at the first words: "<i>Pater noster, qui es in +coelis, sanctificetur nomen Tuum, adveniat regnum Tuum</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">And again he halted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, thou art squirming," said he, putting his hand on the back of the +she fox. "There is such a vile nature in thee, that not only must thou +eat, but commit murder also. Catch her, Filus, by the tail, and bite +her if she does any injury--<i>Adveniat regnum Tuum</i>--Oh such a daughter! +Thou wouldst say, I know, that men are glad too, to eat partridges; but +know this, that a man gives them peace during fast days, while in thee +the soul of that vile Luther is sitting, for thou wouldst eat meat on +good Friday--<i>Fiat voluntas Tua</i>--<i>Trus! trus! trus!</i>--<i>sicut in +coelo</i>--here are both one with the other!--<i>et in terra</i>." And thus +speaking he threw the cabbage and then the grain, scolding the doves +somewhat that, though spring was not near yet, they walked around one +another frequently, cooing and strutting.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, when he had emptied the bag he rose, raised the lantern, and +was preparing to go, when Yatsek appeared on the threshold.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Yatsus!" cried the priest, "art thou here--what art thou doing so +early?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek kissed the priest's hand, and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have come to confession, my benefactor, and at early mass I should +like to approach the Lord's table."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To confession? That is well, but what has so urged thee? Tell, but +right off, for this is not without reason."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell truly. I must fight a duel this day, and since in fighting +with five men an accident is more likely than with one, I should like +to clear my soul of offences."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With five men? God's wounds! But what didst thou do to them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is just this: that I did nothing. They sought a quarrel, and they +have challenged me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who are they?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Bukoyemskis, who are foresters, and Tsyprianovitch from Yedlinka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know them. Come to the house and tell how it happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went out of the granary, but when half-way to the house the priest +stopped on a sudden, looked into Tachevski's eyes quickly, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hear me, Yatsek, there is a woman in this quarrel."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other smiled; with some melancholy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is, and there is not," said he, "for really, she is the +question, but she is innocent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, ha! innocent! they are all innocent. But dost thou know what +Ecclesiastes says of women?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not remember, benefactor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Neither do I remember all, but what I have forgotten I will read in +the house to thee. '<i>Inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus</i> +(says he) <i>venatorum est et sagena cor ejus</i>.' (I have found woman more +bitter than death. Her heart is a trap and a snare). And farther on he +adds something, but at the end he says: '<i>Qui placet Deo, effugiet +illam, qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa</i>.' (Whoso is pleasing +to God will escape her, but whoso is a sinner will be caught by her.) I +have warned thee not one time but ten not to loiter in that mansion and +now the blow strikes thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh, it is easier for you to warn than for me not to visit," answered +Yatsek, with a sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing good will meet thee in that house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," said the young man, quietly.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they went on in silence, but the priest with a face of anxiety, for +with his whole soul he loved Yatsek. When his father had died of the +pestilence, the young man was left in the world without any near +relative, without property, having only a very few serfs in Vyrambki. +The old priest cared for him tenderly. He could not give the youth +property, for he with the soul of an angel distributed to the needy all +that his poor parish gave him; still, he helped Yatsek in secret, and +besides, he watched over him, taught him, not only what was in books, +but the whole art of knighthood. For in his day that priest had been a +famed warrior, a comrade and friend of the glorious Pan Michael. He had +been with Charnyetski, he had gone through the whole Swedish conflict, +and only when all had been finished did he put on the robe of a cleric, +because of a ghastly misfortune. He loved Yatsek, in whom he valued, +not simply the son of a famed knightly family, but a serious, lofty +soul, just such as his own was. So he was grieved over the man's +immense poverty, and that ill-fated love which had seized him. Because +of this love, the young man, instead of seeking bread and fame in the +great world of action, was wasting himself and leading a half peasant +life in that dark little corner. Hence he felt a determined dislike for +the house of Pan Gideon, taking it ill of Pan Gideon himself that he +was so cruel to his people. As to Father Voynovski, those "worms of the +earth"<a name="div2Ref_02" href="#div2_02"><sup>[2]</sup></a> were as dear as the apple of his eye to him, but besides them +he loved also everything living, as well those pets which he scolded, +as birds, fish, and even the frogs which croak and sing in the +sun-warmed waters during summer.</p> + +<p class="normal">There walked, however, in that robe of a priest, not only an angel but, +besides, an ex-warrior; hence when he learned that his Yatsek must +fight with five enemies he thought only of this: how that young man +would prosper, and would he come out of the struggle undefeated?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou wilt not yield?" asked he, halting at the threshold, "for I have +taught thee what I knew myself, and what Pan Michael showed me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should not like to let them slash me to death," replied Yatsek, with +modesty, "for a great war with the Turks is approaching."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this the eyes of the old man flashed up like stars. In one moment he +seized Yatsek by the button loop of his coat and fell to inquiring,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Praised be the name of the Lord! How dost thou know this? Who told +thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Grothus, the starosta," answered the young man.</p> + +<p class="normal">Long did the conversation of Yatsek continue with the priest, long was +his confession till Mass time, and when at last after Mass they were +both in the house and had sat down to heated beer at the table, the +mind of the old man was haunted continually by thoughts of that war +with the pagan. Therefore he fell to complaining of the corruption of +manners and the decay of devotion in the Commonwealth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" said he, "the field of salvation and glory is open to men, +but they prefer private quarrels and the slaughter of one another. +Though ye have the chance to give your own blood in defence of the +cross and the faith, ye are willing to spill the blood of a brother. +For whom? for what reason? For personal squabbles, or women, or similar +society nonsense. I know this vice to be inveterate in the +Commonwealth, and <i>mea culpa</i>, for in time of vain sinful youth I +myself was a slave to it. In winter camps, when the armies think mainly +of idleness and drinking, there is no day without duels; but in fact +the church forbids duels, and punishes for fighting them. Duelling is +sinful at all times, and before a Turkish war the sin is the greater, +for then every sabre is needed, and every sabre serves God and +religion. Therefore our king, who is a defender of the faith, detests +duels, and in the field in the face of the enemy, when martial law +dictates, they are punished severely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the king in his youth fought more than one, and more than two +duels," said Yatsek. "Moreover, what can I do, revered Father? I did +not challenge. They called me out. Can I fail to meet them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou canst not, and therefore my soul is confounded. Ah, God will be +on the side of the innocent."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek began to take farewell, for midday was not more than two hours +from him, and a road of some length was before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait," said the priest. "I will not let thee leave in this fashion. I +will have my man make the sleigh ready, put straw in it, and go to the +meeting-place. For if at Pan Gideon's they knew nothing of the duel, +they will send no assistance, and how will it be if one of them, or if +thou, be wounded severely? Hast thought of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not, and they have not thought, that is certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, seest thou! I will go too. I will not be on the field, I will stay +at thy house in Vyrambki. I will take with me the sacrament, and a boy +with a bell too, for who knows what may happen? It is not proper for a +priest to witness such actions, but except that, I should be there with +great willingness, were it only to freshen thy courage."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek looked at him with eyes as mild as a maiden's. "God reward," +said he, "but I shall not lose courage, for even if I had to lay down +my life--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Better be silent," broke in the priest. "Art thou not sorry not to be +nearing the Turk--and not to be meeting a death of more glory?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am, my benefactor, but I shall try that those man-eaters do not gulp +me down at one effort."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski thought a moment and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if I were to go to the field and explain the reward which would +meet them in heaven, were they to die at the hands of the pagan, +perhaps they would give up the duel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God prevent!" exclaimed Yatsek. "They would think that I sent thee. +God prevent! Better that I go to them straightway than listen to such +speeches."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am powerless," said the priest. "Let us go."</p> + +<p class="normal">He summoned his servant and ordered him to attach the horse with all +haste to the sleigh; then he and Yatsek went out to assist the man. But +when the priest saw the horse on which Yatsek had come, he pushed back +in amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of the Father and the Son, where didst thou find such a +poor little creature?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And indeed at the fence stood a sorry small nag, with shaggy head +drooping low, and cheeks with long hair hanging down from them. The +beast was not greatly larger than a she goat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I borrowed it from a peasant. See, how I might go to the Turkish war!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he laughed painfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">To this the priest answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"No matter on what thou goest, if thou come home on a Turkish +war-horse, and may God give thee this, Yatsus; but meanwhile put the +saddle on my beast, for thou canst not go on this poor little wretch to +those nobles."</p> + +<p class="normal">They arranged everything then, and moved forward,--the priest with the +church boy and bell and a driver for the sleigh, and Yatsek on +horseback. The day was monotonous and misty in some sort; for a thaw +had settled down and snow covered the frozen ground deeply, but its +surface had softened considerably, so that horsehoofs sank without +noise and sleigh-runners moved along the road quietly. Not far beyond +Yedlina they met loads of wood and peasants walking near them; these +people knelt at the sound of the bell, thinking that the priest was +going with the Lord God to a dying man. Then began fields lying next to +the forest,--fields white and empty; these were covered with haze. +Flocks of crows were flying over them. Nearer the forest the haze +became denser and denser, descended, filled all the space, and +stretched upward. When they had advanced somewhat farther, the two men +heard cawing, but the crows were invisible. The bushes at the roadside +were ghostlike. The world had lost its usual sharp outlines, and was +changed into some kind of region deceitful, uncertain,--delusive and +blurred in near places, but entirely unknown in the distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek advanced along the silent snow, thinking over the battle +awaiting him, but thinking more over Panna Anulka; and half to himself +and half to her he soliloquized in spirit: "My love for thee has been +always unchangeable, but I have no joy in my heart from it. Eh! in +truth I had little joy earlier from other things. But now, if I could +even embrace thy dear feet for one instant, or hear a good word from +thee, or even know that thou art sorry if evil befalls me-- All between +me and thee is like that haze there before me, and thou thyself art as +if out beyond the haze. I see nothing, and know not what will be, nor +what will meet me, nor what will happen."</p> + +<p class="normal">And Yatsek felt that deep sadness was besieging his spirit, just as +dampness was besieging his garments.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I prefer that all should be ended, and quickly," said he, sighing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski was attacked also by thoughts far from gladsome, and +said in his own mind,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poor boy has grieved to the utmost. He has not used his youth, he +has gnawed himself through this ill-fated love of his, and now those +Bukoyemskis will cut him to pieces. The other day at Kozenitse they +hacked Pan Korybski after the festival. And even though they should not +cut up Yatsek, nothing useful can come of this duel. My God! this lad +is pure gold; and he is the last sprout from a great trunk of +knightliness. He is the last drop of nourishing blood in his family. If +he could only save himself this time! In God is my hope that he has not +forgotten those two blows, one a feint under the arm with a side +spring, the other with a whirl through the cheek. Yatsek!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Yatsek did not hear, for he had ridden ahead, and the call from the +old man was not repeated. On the contrary, he was troubled very +seriously on remembering that a priest who was going with the Sacrament +should not think of such subjects. He fell then to repenting and +imploring the Lord God for pardon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, he was more and more grieved in his spirit. He was mastered by +an evil foreboding and felt almost certain that that strange duel +without seconds would end in the worst manner possible for Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile they reached the crossroad which lay on the right toward +Vyrambki, and on the left toward Pan Gideon's. The driver stopped as +had been commanded. Yatsek approached the sleigh then and dismounted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go on foot to the crucifix, for I should not know what to do +with this horse while the sleigh is taking you to my house and coming +back to me. They are there now, it may be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not noon yet, though near it," said the priest, and his voice +was changed somewhat. "But what a haze! Ye will have to grope in this +duel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can see well enough!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The cawing of crows and of daws was heard then above them a second +time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am listening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since thou hast come to this conflict, remember the Knights of +Tachevo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will not be ashamed of me, father, they will not."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the priest remarked that Yatsek's face had grown pitiless, his eyes +had their usual sadness, but the maiden mildness had gone from them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is well. Kneel down now," said he. "I will bless thee, and make +thou the sign of the cross on thyself before opening the struggle."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he made the sign of the cross on Yatsek's head as he knelt on the +snow there.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man tied the horse behind the sleigh at the side of the poor +little nag of the peasant, kissed the priest's hand, and walked off +toward that crucifix at the place of the duel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come back to me in health!" cried the priest after Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the cross there was no one. Yatsek passed around the figure +repeatedly, then sat on a stone at the foot of the crucifix and waited.</p> + +<p class="normal">Round about immense silence was brooding; only great tear-like drops, +formed of dense haze, and falling from the arms of the crucifix, struck +with low sound the soft snow bank. That quiet, filled with a certain +sadness, and that hazy desert, filled with a new wave of sorrow the +heart of the young man. He felt lonely to a point never known to him +earlier. "Indeed I am as much alone in the world as that stick there," +said he to himself, "and thus shall I be till death comes to me." And +he waved his hand. "Well, let it end some time!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With growing bitterness he thought that his opponents were not in a +hurry, because they were joyous. They were sitting at Pan Gideon's +conversing with "her," and they could look at "her" as much as might +please them.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he was mistaken, for they too were hastening. After a while the +sound of loud talking came up to him, and in the white haze quivered +the four immense forms of the Bukoyemskis, and a fifth one,--that of +Pan Stanislav, somewhat smaller.</p> + +<p class="normal">They talked in loud voices, for they were quarrelling about this: who +should fight first with Tachevski. For that matter the Bukoyemskis were +always disputing among themselves about something, but this time their +dispute struck Stanislav, who was trying to show them that he, as the +most deeply offended, should in that fight be the first man. All grew +silent, however, in view of the cross, and of Yatsek standing under it. +They removed their caps, whether out of respect for the Passion of +Christ, or in greeting to their enemy, may be left undecided.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek inclined to them in silence, and drew his weapon, but the heart +in his breast beat unquietly at the first moment, for they were in +every case five against one, and besides, the Bukoyemskis had simply a +terrible aspect,--big fellows, broad shouldered, with broomlike +mustaches, on which the fog had settled down in blue dewdrops; their +brows were forbidding, and in their faces was a kind of brooding and +murderous enjoyment, as if this chance to spill blood caused them +gladness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do I place this sound head of mine under the Evangelists?" thought +Yatsek. But at that moment of alarm, indignation at those roysterers +seized him,--those men whom he hardly knew, whom he had never injured, +but who, God knew for what reason, had fastened to him, and had come +now to destroy him if possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">So in spirit he said to them: "Wait a while, O ye road-blockers! Ye +have brought your lives hither!"</p> + +<p class="normal">His cheeks took on color, and his teeth gritted fiercely. They, +meanwhile, stripped their coats off and rolled up the sleeves of their +jupans. This they did without need all together, but they did it since +each thought that he was to open the duel.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last they all stood in a row with drawn sabres, and Yatsek, stepping +towards them, halted, and they looked at one another in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Stanislav interrupted them,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will serve you first."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! I first, I first!" repeated all the Bukoyemskis in a chorus.</p> + +<p class="normal">And when Stanislav pushed forward they seized him by the elbows.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again a quarrel began, in which Stanislav reviled them as outlaws. They +jeered at him as a dandy, among themselves the term "dogbrother" was +frequent. Yatsek was shocked at this, and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have never seen cavaliers of this kind." And he put his sabre into +the scabbard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Choose, or I will go!" said he, with a loud voice, and firmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Choose, thou!" cried Stanislav, hoping that on him would the choice +fall.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush began shouting that he would not permit any small +whipper-snapper to manage them, and he shouted so that his front teeth, +which, being very long, like the teeth of a rabbit, were shining +beneath his mustaches; but he grew silent when Yatsek, drawing his +sabre, again indicated him with the edge of it, and added, "I choose +thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">The remaining brothers and Stanislav drew back at once, seeing that +they would never agree, in another way, but their faces grew gloomy, +for, knowing the strength of Mateush they felt almost certain that no +work would be left them when he had finished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Begin!" called out Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tachevski felt at the first blow the strength of his enemy, for in his +own grasp the sabre blade quivered. He warded the blow off, however, +and warded off, also, the second one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has less skill than strength," thought Tachevski, after the third +blow. Then, crouching somewhat, for a better spring, he pressed on with +impetus.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other three, inclining downward the points of their sabres, stood +open-mouthed, following the course of the struggle. They saw now that +Tachevski too "knew things," and that with him it would not be easy. +Soon they thought that he knew things very accurately, and alarm seized +the brothers, for, despite endless bickering they loved one another +immensely. The cry, "Ha!" was rent from the breast, now of one, and now +of another, as each keener blow struck.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the blows became quicker and quicker; at last they were +lightning-like.</p> + +<p class="normal">The spectators saw clearly that Tachevski was gaining more confidence. +He was calm, but he sprang around like a wild-cat and his eyes shot out +ominous flashes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is bad!" thought Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">That moment a cry was heard. Mateush's sabre fell. He raised both hands +to his head and dropped to the earth, his face in one instant being +blood-covered.</p> + +<p class="normal">At sight of that the three younger brothers bellowed like bulls, and in +the twinkle of an eye rushed with rage at Tachevski, not intending, of +course, to attack him together, but because each wished to be first in +avenging Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they perhaps would have swept Tachevski apart on their sabres if +Stanislav, springing in to assist him, had not cried with all the power +in his bosom,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shame! Away! Murderers, not nobles! Shame! Away! or you must deal with +me, murderers! Away!" And he slashed at the brothers till they came to +their senses. But at this time Mateush had risen on his hands and +turned toward them a face which was as if a mask made of blood had just +covered it. Yan, seizing him by the armpits, seated him on the snow. +Lukash hurried also to give him assistance.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Tachevski pushed up to Marek, who was gritting his teeth, and +repeated in a quick voice, as if fearing lest the common attack might +repeat itself,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you please! If you please!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the sabres were clanking a second time ominously. But with Marek, +who was as much stronger than his enemy as he was less dexterous, +Tachevski had short work. Marek used his great sabre like a flail, so +that Yatsek at the third blow struck his right shoulder-blade, cut +through the bone, and disarmed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now Lukash and Yan understood that a very ugly task was before them, +and that the slender young man was a wasp in reality,--a wasp which it +would have been wise not to irritate. But with increased passion, they +stood now against him to a struggle which ended as badly for them as it +had for their elders. Lukash, cut through his cheek to the gums, fell +with impetus, and, besides, struck a stone which the deep snow had +hidden; while from Yan, the most dexterous of the brothers, his sabre, +together with one of his fingers, fell to the ground at the end of some +minutes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek, without a scratch, gazed at his work, as it were, with +astonishment, and those sparks which a moment before had been +glittering in his eyeballs began now to quench gradually. With his left +hand he straightened his cap, which during the struggle had slipped +somewhat over his right ear, then he removed it, breathed deeply once +and a second time, turned to the cross, and said, half to himself and +half to Stanislav,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God knows that I am innocent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now it is my turn," said Stanislav. "But you are panting, perhaps you +would rest; meanwhile I will put their cloaks on my comrades, lest this +damp cold may chill them ere help comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Help is near," said Tachevski. "Over there in the mist is a sleigh +sent by Father Voynovski, and he himself is at my house. Permit me. I +will go for the sleigh in which those gentlemen will feel easier than +here on this snow field."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he started while Stanislav went to cover the Bukoyemskis who were +sitting arm to arm in the snow, except Yan, the least wounded. Yan on +his knees was in front of Mateush, holding up his own right hand lest +blood might flow from the finger stump too freely; in his left he held +snow with which he was washing the face of his brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How are ye?" asked Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, he has bitten us, the son of a such a one!" said Lukash, and he +spat blood abundantly; "but we will avenge ourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot move my arm at all, for he cut the bone," added Marek. "Eh, +the dog! Eh!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Mateush is cut over the brows!" called out Yan; "the wound should +be covered with bread and spider-web but I will staunch the blood with +snow for the present."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If my eyes were not filled with blood," said Mateush, "I would--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But he could not finish since blood loss had weakened him, and he was +interrupted by Lukash who had been borne away suddenly by anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he is cunning, the dog blood! He stings like a gnat, though he +looks like a maiden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is just that cunning," said Yan, "which I cannot pardon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further conversation was interrupted by the snorting of horses. The +sleigh appeared in the haze dimly, and next it was there at the side of +the brothers. Out of the sleigh sprang Tachevski, who commanded the +driver to step down and help them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man looked at the Bukoyemskis, took in the whole case with a +glance, and said not a word, but on his face was reflected, as it +seemed, disappointment, and, turning toward the horses, he crossed +himself. Then the three men fell to raising the wounded. The brothers +protested against the assistance of Yatsek, but he stopped them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If ye gentlemen had wounded me, would ye leave me unassisted? This is +the service of a noble which one may not meet with neglect or refusal."</p> + +<p class="normal">They were silent, for he won them by these words--somewhat, and after a +while they were lying upon straw in the broad sleigh more comfortably, +and soon they were warmer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whither shall I go?" asked the driver.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait. Thou wilt take still another," answered Stanislav, and turning +to Yatsek, he said to him,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, gracious sir, it is our time!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it is better to drop this," said Yatsek, regarding him with a look +almost friendly. "That God there knows why this has happened, and you +took my part when these gentlemen together attacked me. Why should you +and I fight a duel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must and will fight," replied Stanislav, coldly. "You have insulted +me, and, even if you had not, my name is in question at present--do you +understand? Though I were to lose life, though this were to be my last +hour--we must fight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let it be so! but against my will," said Tachevski.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they began. Stanislav, had more skill than the brothers, but he was +weaker than any of them. It was clear that he had been taught by better +masters, and that his practice had not been confined to inns and +markets. He pressed forward quickly, he parried with readiness and +knowledge. Yatsek, in whose heart there was no hatred, and who would +have stopped at the lesson given the Bukoyemskis, began to praise him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With you," said he, "the work is quite different. Your hand was +trained by no common swordsman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too bad that you did not train it!" said Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he was doubly rejoiced, first at the praise, and then because he +had given answer, for only the most famed among swordsmen could let +himself speak in time of a duel, and polite conversation was considered +moreover as the acme of courtesy. All this increased Stanislav in his +own eyes. Hence he pressed forward again with good feeling. But after +some fresh blows he was forced to acknowledge in spirit that Tachevski +surpassed him. Yatsek defended himself as it seemed with unwillingness +but very easily, and in general he acted as though engaged not in +fighting, but in fencing for exercise. Clearly, he wished to convince +himself as to what Stanislav knew, and as to how much better he was +than the brothers, and when he had done this with accuracy he felt at +last sure of his own case.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav noted this also, hence delight left him, and he struck with +more passion. Tachevski then twisted himself as if he had had enough of +amusement, gave the "feigned" blow, pressed on and sprang aside after a +moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou hast got it!" said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav felt, as it were, a cold sting in the arm, but he answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go on. That is nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he cut again, that same moment the point of Yatsek's sabre laid his +lower lip open and cut the skin under it. Yatsek sprang aside now a +second time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou art bleeding!" said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is nothing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glory to God if 'tis nothing! But I have had plenty, and here is my +hand for you. You have acted like a genuine cavalier."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav greatly roused, but pleased also at these words, stood for a +moment, as if undecided whether to make peace or fight longer. At last +he sheathed his sabre and gave his hand then to Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let it be so. In truth, as it seems, I am bleeding."</p> + +<p class="normal">He touched his chin with his left hand and looked at the blood with +much wonder. It had colored his palm and his fingers abundantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold snow on the wound to keep it from swelling," said Yatsek, "and go +to the sleigh now."</p> + +<p class="normal">So speaking he took Stanislav by the arm and conducted him to the +Bukoyemskis, who looked at him silently, somewhat astonished, but also +confounded. Yatsek roused real respect in them, not only as a master +with the sabre, but as a man of "lofty manners," such manners precisely +as they themselves needed.</p> + +<p class="normal">So after a while this inquiry was made of Stanislav by Mateush,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it with thee, O Stashko?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well. I might go on foot," was the answer, "but I choose the sleigh, +the journey will be quicker."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek sat toward them sidewise, and cried to the driver,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Vyrambki."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whither?" asked Stanislav.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To my house. You will not have much comfort, but it is difficult +otherwise. At Pan Gideon's you would frighten the women, and Father +Voynovski is at my house. He dresses wounds to perfection and he will +care for you. You can send for your horses, and then do what may please +you. I will ask the priest also to go to Pan Gideon and tell him with +caution what has happened." Here Yatsek fell to thinking and soon after +he added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oho! the trouble has not come yet, but now we shall see it. God knows +that you, gentlemen, insisted on this duel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True! we insisted," said Stanislav. "I will declare that and these +gentlemen also will testify."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will testify, though my shoulder pains terribly," said Marek, +groaning. "Oi! but you have given us a holiday. May the bullets strike +you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was not far to Vyrambki. Soon they entered the enclosure, and met +the priest wading in snow, for he, alarmed about what might happen, +could not stay in the house any longer, and had set out to meet them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek sprang from the sleigh when he saw him. Father Voynovski pushed +forward quickly to meet him, and saw his friend sound and uninjured.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," cried he, "what has happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I bring you these gentlemen," said Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">The face of the old man grew bright for a moment, but became serious +straightway, when he saw the Bukoyemskis and Stanislav blood-bedaubed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All five!" cried he, clasping his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are five!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"An offence against heaven! Gentlemen, how is it with you?" asked he, +turning to the wounded men.</p> + +<p class="normal">They touched their caps to him, except Marek, who, since the cutting of +his shoulder-blade, could move neither his left nor his right hand. He +merely groaned, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has peppered us well. We cannot deny it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is nothing," said the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We hope in God that it is nothing," answered Father Voynovski. "Come +to the house now as quickly as possible! I will care for you this +minute. Move on with the sleigh," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">And then he himself followed promptly with Yatsek. But after a while he +stopped on the roadway. Joy shone, in his face again. He embraced +Yatsek's neck on a sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me press thee, O Yatsek," cried he. "Thou hast brought in a sleigh +load of enemies, like so many wheat sheaves."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek kissed his hand then, and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"They would have it so, my benefactor."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest put his hand on the head of the young man again, as if +wishing to bless him, but all at once he restrained himself, because +gladness in this case was not befitting his habit, so he looked more +severe, and continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Think not that I praise thee. It was thy luck that they themselves +wished this, but still, it is a scandal."</p> + +<p class="normal">They drove into the courtyard. Yatsek sprang to the sleigh so that he +might, with the driver and the single house-servant, help out the +wounded men. But they stepped out themselves, except Marek, whose arms +they supported and soon they were all in Yatsek's dwelling. Straw had +been spread there already, and even Yatsek's own bed had been covered +with a white, slightly worn horse skin. At the head a felt roll served +as pillow. On the table near the window was bread kneaded with +spider-web, excellent for blood stopping. There were also choice +balsams which the priest had for healing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man took off his soutane and went to dressing the wounds with +the skill of a veteran who had seen thousands of wounded men, and who +from long practice knew how to handle wounds better than many a +surgeon. His work went on quickly, for, except Marek, the men had +suffered slightly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marek's shoulder-blade needed considerably longer work, but when at +last it was dressed the priest wiped his bloody hands, and then rested.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said he, "thanks to the Lord Jesus, it has passed without +grievous accident. This also is certain, that you feel better, +gentlemen, all of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"One would like a drink!" said Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would not hurt! Give command, Yatsek, to bring water."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush rose up on the straw. "How water?" asked he in a voice of +emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marek, who was lying face downward on Yatsek's bed groaning, called out +quickly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The revered father must wash his hands, of course."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereupon Yatsek looked with real despair at the priest, who laughed and +then added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are soldiers! Wine is permitted, but in small quantity."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek drew him by the sleeve to the alcove.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benefactor," whispered he, "what can I do? The pantry is empty, and so +is the cellar. Time after time I must tighten my girdle. What can I +give them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is something here, there is something!" said the old man. "When +leaving home I made arrangements, and brought a little with me. Should +that not suffice I will get more at the brewery in Yedlina--for myself, +of course, for myself. Command to give them one glass at the moment to +calm them after the encounter."</p> + +<p class="normal">When he heard this Yatsek set to work quickly, and soon the Bukoyemskis +were comforting one another. Their good feeling for Yatsek increased +every moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We fought, for that happens to every man," said Mateush, "but right +away I thought thee a dignified cavalier."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not true; it was I who thought so first," put in Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou think? Hast thou ever been able to think?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think just now that thou art a blockhead, so I am able to +think,--but my mouth pains me."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus they were quarrelling already. But that moment a mounted man +darkened the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some one has come!" exclaimed Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek went to see who it was, and returned quickly, with troubled +visage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gideon has sent a man," said he, "with notice that he is waiting +for us at dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him eat it alone!" replied Yan Bukoyemski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What shall we say to him?" inquired Yatsek, looking at Father +Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell him the truth," said the old man--"but better, I will tell it +myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went out to the messenger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell Pan Gideon," said he, "that neither Pan Tsyprianovitch nor the +Bukoyemskis can come, for they have been wounded in a duel to which +they challenged Pan Tachevski; but do not forget to tell him that they +are not badly wounded. Now hurry!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man rushed away with every foot which his horse had, and the priest +fell to quieting Yatsek, who was greatly excited. He did not fear to +meet five men in battle, but he feared greatly Pan Gideon, and still +more what Panna Anulka would say and would think of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, it has happened," continued the priest, "but let them learn at +the earliest that it was not through thy fault."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you testify, gentlemen?" inquired Yatsek, turning to the wounded +men.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Though we are dry, we will testify," answered Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, Yatsek's alarm increased more and more, and soon after, when a +sleigh with Pan Gideon and Pan Grothus stopped at the porch, the heart +died in him utterly. He sprang out, however, to greet and bow down to +the knees of Pan Gideon; but the latter did not even glance at Yatsek, +just as though he had not seen the man, and with a gloomy stern face he +strode into the chamber. He inclined to the priest with respect but +with coldness, for since the day that the old man had reproached him +from the altar for excessive severity toward peasants, the stubborn old +noble was unable to forgive him; so now, after that cold salute, he +turned to the wounded men straightway, and gazed at them a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious gentlemen," said he, "after what has just happened, I should +not pass the threshold of this building, be sure of that, did I not +wish to show how cruelly I am wounded by that wrong which you have +suffered. See how my hospitality has ended! See how in my house my +rescuers have been recompensed. But I say this, that whoso has wronged +you has wronged me, whoso has spilt your blood has done worse than +spill mine, for the man who challenged you under my roof has insulted +me--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Mateush interrupted him suddenly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"We challenged him, not he us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true, gracious benefactor," said Stanislav. "There is no blame +to this cavalier in all that has happened, but to us, for which we beg +your grace's pardon submissively."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would have been well for the judge to examine the witnesses before +he passed sentence," said Father Voynovski, with seriousness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lukash, too, wished to say something, but since his cheek was cut to +the gum and his gum to the teeth, the pain was acute when his chin +moved, so he only put his palm on the plaster which was drying, and +said with one side of his mouth,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"May the devils take the sentence and my jaw with it also."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon was confused in some measure by these voices, still, he had +no thought of yielding. On the contrary, he looked around with stern +glance, as if wishing in that way to express silent blame for defenders +of Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not for me to offer pardon to my rescuers. No blame touches you, +gentlemen. On the contrary, I know and understand all this matter, for +I see that you were insulted on purpose. Indeed, that same jealousy, +which on a dying horse failed to ride living wolves down, increased +later on the desire for vengeance. I was not alone in seeing how that +'cavalier,' whom you defend so magnanimously, gave occasion and did +everything from the earliest moment of meeting to force you to that +action. But the fault is mine more than any man's, since I was mild +with him, and did not tell the man to find for himself at a fair or a +dram shop more fitting society."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Yatsek heard this his face grew as pale as linen. As to the +priest, the blood rose to his forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was challenged! What was he to do? Be ashamed of yourself!" +exclaimed Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pan Gideon looked down at him and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are worldly questions, in which the laity are as experienced, +and more so, than the clergy, but I will answer your question, so that +no one here should accuse me of injustice. 'What was he to do?' As a +younger to an older man, as a guest to his host, as a man who ate my +bread so many times when he had none of his own to eat, he should first +of all have informed me of the question. And I with my dignity of a +host would have settled it, and not have let matters come to this: that +my rescuers, and such worthy gentlemen, are lying here in their own +blood on straw in this hut as in a hog pen."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would have thought me a coward!" cried Yatsek, trembling as in a +fever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon did not answer a word, and feigned, as he had from the +first, not to see him. Instead of answering he turned then to +Stanislav, and continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, with Pan Grothus the starosta, will go to your father in Yedlinka +this instant, to express our condolence. I doubt not that he will +accept my hospitality, hence I invite you with your comrades here +present to return to my mansion. I also remind you that you are here by +chance merely, and that at the moment you are really my guests, to whom +I wish with all my heart to show gratitude. Your father, Pan +Tsyprianovitch, cannot visit the man who has wounded you, and under my +roof you will have greater comfort, and will not die of hunger, which +might happen very easily in this place."</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav was troubled greatly and delayed for a while to give answer, +both out of regard for Yatsek, and because that, being a very decent +young man, he was concerned about propriety; meanwhile his lip and +chin, which had swollen beneath the plaster, deformed him very +sensibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have felt neither hunger nor thirst here," said he, "as has been +shown already; but in truth we are guests of your grace, and my father, +not knowing how things have happened, might hesitate to come to us. But +how am I to appear before those ladies, your grace's relatives, with a +face which could rouse only abhorrence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then his face twisted, for his lip pained him from long speaking, and +his features, in fact, were not beautiful at the moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be not troubled. Those ladies feel disgust, but not toward your +wounds, after the healing of which your former good-looks will return +to you. Three sleighs will come here with servants immediately, and in +my house good beds are waiting. Meanwhile, farewell, since it is time +for me and Pan Grothus to set out for Yedlinka--With the forehead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he bowed once to the five nobles. To Father Voynovski he bowed +specially, but he made no inclination whatever to Yatsek. When near the +door the priest approached him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have too little justice and too little tenderness," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I acknowledge sins only at confession," retorted Pan Gideon, and he +passed through the doorway. After him went the starosta, Pan Grothus.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek had been a whole hour as if tortured. His face changed, and at +moments he knew not whether to fall at the feet of Pan Gideon with a +prayer for forgiveness, or spring at his throat and avenge the +humiliation through which he was passing. But he remembered that he was +in his own house, that before him was standing the guardian of Panna +Anulka; hence, as the two men walked out he moved after them, not +giving an account to himself of his action, but because of custom which +commanded to conduct guests, and in some kind of blind hope that +perhaps even at parting the stubborn Pan Gideon would bow to him. But +this hope failed him also; only Pan Grothus, a kindly man, as was +evident, and of good wit pressed his hand at the entrance, and +whispered, "Despair not, his first rage will pass, cavalier, and all +will arrange itself."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek did not think thus, and he would have been sure that his case +was lost utterly had he known that Pan Gideon, though indignant, +feigned anger far more than he felt it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Stanislav and the Bukoyemskis were his rescuers, but Yatsek had not +killed them, and a duel of itself was too common to rouse such +unmerciful hatred. But Pan Gideon, from the moment that the starosta +had told him how aged men marry and sometimes have children, looked +with other eyes upon Panna Anulka. That which perhaps had never +occurred to him earlier, seemed all at once possible and also alluring. +At thought of the charms of that maiden, marvellous as a rose, the soul +warmed in him, and still more powerfully did pride play in the old +noble. So then, the race of Pangovski might flourish afresh and bloom +up again; and besides, born from such a patrician as Panna Anulka, not +only related to all the great houses in the Commonwealth, but herself +the last sprout of a race from whose wealth rose in greater part the +Sobieskis, Jolkievskis, Daniloviches, and many others. There was a +whirl in Pan Gideon's brain at the thought of this, and he felt that +not only he but the Commonwealth was concerned in Pangovskis of that +kind. So straightway fear rose in him lest it should happen that the +lady might love some one else, and give her hand to another man. One +more important than himself in that region, he had not discovered; +there were younger men, however. But who? Pan Stanislav? Yes! He was +young, of good looks, very rich, but noble in the third generation, +descended from ennobled Armenians. That such a <i>homo novus</i> should +indeed strive for Panna Anulka could not find place in the head of Pan +Gideon in any shape. It was laughable to think of the Bukoyemskis, +though good nobles and claiming kindred with Saint Peter. There +remained then Tachevski alone, a real "Lazarus," it is true, as poor as +a church mouse, but from an ancient stock of great knights; from +Tachevo who had the Kovala escutcheon, one of whom was a real giant, +and had taken part in the dreadful defeat of the Germans at Tannenberg; +he had been famous not only in the Commonwealth but at foreign courts +also. Only a Tachevski could compare with the Sieninskis. Besides, he +was young, daring, handsome, and melancholy; this last often moves the +heart in a woman. He was also at home in Belchantska, and seemed a +friend, nay, a brother to the lady. Hence, Pan Gideon fell now to +recalling various cases, as, for instance, disputes and poutings among +the young people, then their reconciliations and friendship, then +various words and glances, sadness and rejoicing in common, and +laughter. Things which a short time before he had thought scarcely +worthy of notice seemed now suspicious. Yes! danger could threaten only +from that side. The old noble thought, also, that Panna Anulka might, +in part at least, be the cause of the duel, and he was terrified. +Hence, to anticipate the danger, he tried to present to the young lady +in the strongest light possible, all the dishonor of Yatsek's late +action, and to rouse in her due anger; and then by feigning greater +rage than he felt, or than the case called for, to burn all the bridges +between his own mansion and Vyrambki, and, when he had humiliated +Yatsek without mercy, to close the doors of the house to him forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he was reaching his object. Yatsek walked back from the porch, took +a seat at the table, thrust his fingers through his hair, supported his +elbows, and was as silent as if pain had taken speech from him. Father +Voynovski approached and put his hand on his shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsus, suffer what thou must," said he, "but a foot of thine should +never enter that mansion hereafter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It never will," replied Yatsek, in a dull voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But yield not to pain. Remember who thou art."</p> + +<p class="normal">The young man set his teeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I remember, but for that very reason pain burns me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one here applauds Pan Gideon for his action," said Stanislav. "It +is one thing to censure, and another to trample a man's honor."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereupon the Bukoyemskis were moving, and Mateush, whom speech troubled +least, added promptly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under his roof I will say nothing, but when I recover and meet him on +the road, or at a neighbor's, I will tell him to kiss a dog's snout +that same minute."</p> + +<p class="normal">"O, yei!" said Marek. "To insult such a cavalier! The hour will come +when that will not be forgiven him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile three sleighs with sofas and three servants, besides drivers, +appeared to convey the wounded men to Belchantska. Because of regard +for the expected arrival of Pan Serafin, Yatsek dared not detain them, +and because also of this: that they were really the guests of Pan +Gideon. As to the men, they would not have remained after hearing of +Yatsek's great poverty lest they might burden him. They took farewell +and gave thanks for his hospitality with a heartiness as great as if +there had never been a quarrel between them.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when Stanislav was taking his seat in the last sleigh Yatsek sprang +forward on a sudden,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will go with you," said he. "I cannot endure to do otherwise! I +cannot endure! Before Pan Gideon returns I must--for the last time--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski, since he knew Yatsek, knew that words would be +useless; still, he drew him aside and began to expostulate,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek! O Yatsek! a woman again. God grant that a still greater wrong +may not meet thee. O Yatsek, remember the words of Ecclesiastes: 'In a +thousand I found one man, among all I found not one woman.' Take pity +on thyself and remember this."</p> + +<p class="normal">But these words were as peas against a battlement. In a moment Yatsek +was sitting in the sleigh at the side of Stanislav, and they started.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the east wind had broken the mist and driven it to the +wilderness; then the bright sun from a blue sky looked at them.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon had not invented when he spoke of the "abhorrence" which at +his house both women felt for the conqueror. Yatsek convinced himself +of this from one glance at them. Pani Vinnitski met him with an +offended face, and snatched her hand away when he wished to kiss it in +greeting; and the young lady, without compassion for his suffering and +embarrassment, did not answer his greeting. She was occupied with +Stanislav, sparing neither tender looks nor anxious questions; she +pushed her care so far that when he rose from the armchair in the +dining-room to go to the chamber set apart for the wounded she +supported him by the arm, and though he opposed and excused himself she +conducted him to the threshold.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For thee there is nothing in this house. All is lost!" cried despair +and also jealousy in Yatsek's heart at sight of this action. Toward him +that maiden had shown changing humors, and with one kindly word had +given usually ten that were cold, when not biting, hence his pain was +the keener, that till then he had not supposed that she could be kind, +sweet, and angel-like to a man whom she loved really. That Panna Anulka +loved Stanislav the ill-fated Yatsek had no doubt whatever. He would +have endured not only such a wound as that given Stanislav, but would +have shed all his blood with delight, if she would speak even once in +her life to him with such a voice, and look with such eyes at him as +she had looked then at Stanislav. Hence, besides pain, an immeasurable +sorrow now seized him. This sent a torrent of tears toward his +eyeballs, and if those tears did not gush out and flow down his cheeks, +they flooded his heart and pervaded his being. Thus did Yatsek feel his +whole breast fill with tears, and, to give the last blow at this +juncture, never had Panna Anulka seemed to him so beautiful beyond +measure as at that moment, with her pale face and her crown of golden +hair slightly dishevelled from emotion. "She is an angel, but not for +thee," complained the sorrow within him; "wonderful, but another will +take her!" And he would have fallen at her feet and confessed all his +suffering and devotion, but at the same time he felt that just after +that which had happened it would not be proper to do so, and that if he +did not control himself and stifle the struggle in his spirit he would +tell her something quite different from that which he wanted, and sink +himself utterly in her estimation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile Pani Vinnitski, as an elderly person and one skilled in +medicine, entered the chamber with Stanislav, while the young lady +turned back from the threshold. Yatsek, understanding that he must use +the opportunity approached her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should like a word with you," said he, struggling to control +himself, and with a trembling voice which, as it were, belonged to +another.</p> + +<p class="normal">She looked at him with cold astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you wish?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek's face was lighted with a smile of such pain that it was almost +like that of a martyr.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I wish for myself will not come to me, though I were to give my +own soul's salvation to get it," said he, shaking his head; "but for +one thing I beg you: do not accuse me, cherish no offence against me, +have some compassion, for I am not of wood nor of iron."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no word to say," replied she, "and there is no time for +talking."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! there is always some time to say a kind word to the man for whom +this world is grievous."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it because you have wounded my rescuers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The blame is not mine, as God stands by the innocent! The messenger +who came for those gentlemen to Vyrambki should have declared what +Father Voynovski told him to tell here; namely, that I did not +challenge them. Did you know that they were the challengers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did. The attendant, being a simple man, did not repeat, it is true, +every word which the priest sent; he merely cried out that 'the young +lord of Vyrambki had slashed them to pieces;' then Pan Gideon, on +returning from Vyrambki, ran in from the road and explained what had +happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon feared lest the news that Yatsek had been challenged might +reach the young lady from other lips and weaken her anger, hence he +wished above all to describe the affair in his own way, not delaying to +add that Yatsek by venomous insults had forced them to challenge him. +He reckoned on this: that Panna Anulka, taking things woman fashion, +would be on the side of the men who had suffered most.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still, it seemed to Yatsek that the beloved eyes looked on him less +severely, so he repeated the question,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you know this position?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew," replied she, "but I remember that which you should not have +forgotten if you had even a trifling regard for me,--that I owe my life +to those gentlemen. And I have learnt from my guardian that you forced +them to challenge you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, not have regard for you? Let God, who looks into men's hearts, +judge that statement."</p> + +<p class="normal">All on a sudden her eyes blinked time after time; then she shook her +head till a tress fell to the opposite shoulder, and she said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that true?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, true!" continued he, in a panting and deeply sad voice. "I +should have let men cut me down, it seems, so as not to annoy you. The +blood which was dearest to you would not have been shed then. But there +is no help now for the omission. There is no help now for anything! +Your guardian told you that I forced those gentlemen to challenge me. I +leave that too to God's judgment. But did your guardian tell you that +he himself had insulted me beyond mercy and measure beneath my own roof +tree? I have come now to you because I knew that I should not find him +here. I have come to satisfy my unhappy eyes with the last look at you. +I know that this is all one to you, but I thought that even in that +case--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Yatsek halted, for tears stopped his utterance. Parma Anulka's +mouth began also to quiver and to take on more and more the shape of a +horseshoe, and only haughtiness joined to timidity, the timidity of a +maiden, struggled in her with emotion. But perhaps she was restrained +by this also: that she wished to get from Yatsek a still more +complaining confession, and perhaps because she did not believe that he +would go from her and never come back again. More than once there had +been misunderstandings between them, more than once had Pan Gideon +offended him greatly, and still, after brief exhibitions of anger, +there had followed silent or spoken explanations and all had gone on +again in the old way.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it will be this time also," thought Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">For her it was sweet to listen to Yatsek and to see that great love +which, though it dared not express itself in determinate utterance, was +still beaming from him with a submission which was matched only by its +mightiness. Hence she yearned to hear him speak with her the longest +time possible with that wondrous voice, and to lay at her feet for the +longest time possible that young, loving, pained heart of his.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he, inexperienced in love matters and blind as are all who love +really, could not take note of this, and did not know what was +happening within her. He looked on her silence as hardened +indifference, and bitterness was gradually drowning his spirit. The +calmness with which he had spoken at first began now to desert him, his +eyes took on another light, drops of cold sweat came out on his +temples: something was tearing and breaking the soul in him. He was +seized by despair of such kind that when a man lies in the grip of it +he reckons with nothing, and is ready with his own hands to tear his +own wounded heart open. He spoke yet as it were calmly, but his voice +had a new sound, it was firmer, though hoarser.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this the case," asked he, "and is there not one word from thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka shrugged her shoulders in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The priest told me the truth when he warned that here a still greater +wrong was in store for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In what have I wronged thee?" asked she, bitterly, pained by the +sudden change which she saw in him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he waded on farther in blindness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Had I not seen how thou didst treat this Pan Stanislav, I should think +that thou hadst no heart in thy bosom. Thou hast a heart, but for him, +not for me. He glanced at thee, and that was sufficient."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Yatsek grasped the hair of his head with both hands on a sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would to God that I had cut him to pieces!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A flame flashed, as it were, through Panna Anulka; her cheeks +crimsoned, anger blazed in her eyes as well at herself as at Yatsek; +because a moment before she had been ready for weeping, her heart was +seized now by indignation, deep and sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, sir, have lost your senses!" cried she, raising her head and +shaking back the tress from her shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">She was on the point of rushing away, but that brought Yatsek to utter +desperation; he seized her hands and detained her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not thou art to go. I am the person to go," said he, with set teeth. +"And before going I say this to thee: though for years I have loved +thee more than health, more than life, and more than my own soul, I +will never come back to thee. I will gnaw my own hands off in torture, +but, so help me, God, I will never come back to thee!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, forgetting his worn Hungarian cap on the floor there, he sprang +to the doorway, and in an instant she saw him through the window, +hurrying away along the garden by which the road to Vyrambki was +shorter,--and he vanished.</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka stood for a time as if a thunderbolt had struck her. Her +thoughts had scattered like a flock of birds in every direction; she +knew not what had happened. But when thoughts returned to her all +feeling of offence was extinguished, and in her ears were sounding only +the words: "I loved thee more than health, more than life, more than my +own soul, but I will never come back to thee!" She felt now that in +truth he would never come back, just because he had loved her so +tremendously. Why had she not given him even one kind word for which, +before anger had swept the man off, he had begged as if for alms, or a +morsel of bread to give strength on a journey? And now endless grief +and fear seized her. He had rushed off in pain and in madness. He may +fall on the road somewhere. He may in despair work on himself something +evil, and one heartfelt word might have healed and cured everything. +Let him hear her voice even. He must go, beyond the garden, through the +meadow to the river. He will hear her there yet before he vanishes.</p> + +<p class="normal">And rushing from the house she ran to the garden. Deep snow lay on the +middle path, but his tracks there were evident. She ran in them. She +sank at times to her knees, and on the road lost her rosary, her +handkerchief, and her workbag with thread in it, and, panting, she +reached the garden gate finally.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Yatsek! Pan Yatsek!" cried she.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the field beyond the garden was empty. Besides, that same wind +which had blown the morning haze off, made a great sound among the +branches of apple and pear trees; her weak voice was lost in that sound +altogether. Then, not regarding the cold nor her light, indoor +clothing, she sat on a bench near the gate and fell to crying. Tears as +large as pearls dropped down her cheeks and she, having nothing else +now with which to remove them, brushed those tears away with that tress +on her shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will not come back."</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the wind sounded louder and louder, shaking wet snow from the +dark branches.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Yatsek rushed into his house like a whirlwind, without cap and +with dishevelled hair, the priest divined clearly enough what had +happened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I foretold this," said he. "God give thee aid, O my Yatsek; but I ask +nothing till thou hast come to thy mind and art quiet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ended! All is ended!" said Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he walked up and down in the chamber, like a wild beast in +confinement.</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest said no word, interrupted him in nothing, and only after +long waiting did he rise, put his arms around Yatsek's shoulders, kiss +his head, and lead him by the hand to an alcove.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man knelt before a small crucifix which was hanging over the +bed there, and when the sufferer had knelt at his side the priest +prayed as follows:</p> + +<p class="normal">"O Lord, Thou knowest what pain is, for Thou didst endure it on the +cross for the offences of mankind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hence I bring my bleeding heart to Thee, and at Thy feet which are +pierced I implore Thee for mercy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cry not to Thee: 'take this pain from me,' but I cry 'give me +strength to endure it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"For I, O Lord, am a soldier submissive to Thy order, and I desire much +to serve Thee, and the Commonwealth, my mother-- But how can I do this +when my heart is faint and my right hand is weakened?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because of this make me forget myself and make me think only of Thy +glory, and the rescue of my mother, for those things are of far greater +moment than the pain of a pitiful worm, such as I am.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And strengthen me, O Lord, in my saddle, so that through lofty deeds +against pagans I may reach a glorious death, and also heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Thy crown of thorns, hear me!</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the wound in Thy side, hear me!</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Thy hands and feet pierced with nails, hear me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then they knelt for a long time, but at the middle of the prayer it was +evident that the pain in Yatsek's breast had broken, for on a sudden he +covered his face with both hands and fell to sobbing. When they had +risen and gone to the adjoining chamber Father Voynovski sighed deeply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Yatsek," said he, "I saw much of life in my years of a warrior, +during which sorrow greater than thine met me. I have no thought to +speak touching this to thee. I will say only that in a time of most +terrible anguish I composed this very prayer and to it owe deliverance. +I have repeated it frequently in misfortune since that day, and always +with solace; we have repeated it now for this reason. And how dost thou +feel? Art thou not freed in some measure? Pray tell me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I feel pain, but it burns less severely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, seest thou! Now drink some wine. I will tell thee, or rather I +will show thee, something which should give thee comfort. Look!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And bending his head down he showed beneath his white hair a dreadful +scar, which passed across his whole crown from one side to the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"From that," said he, "I came very near dying. The wound pained me +awfully, but the scar gives no trouble. In like manner, Yatsek, thy +wound will cease to pain when a scar takes the place of it. Tell me now +what has happened to thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek began, but met failure. It was not in his nature to invent, or +increase, or exaggerate, so now he himself wondered over this: that all +which had torn him with such torture seemed less cruel in the +narrative. But Father Voynovski, clearly a man of experience, and +knowing the world, heard him out to the end, and then added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is difficult, I understand that, to describe looks or even gestures +which may be altogether contemptuous and insulting. Often even one +look, or one wave of the hand, has led men to duels and to bloodshed. +The main point is this: thou hast told the young lady that thou wilt +not go back to her. Youth is giddy, and when guided by sadness it +changes as the moon in the sky does. And love too is like that +mendacious moon, which when it seems to decrease is just growing and +swelling toward its fulness. How is it then, hast thou the true wish of +doing what thy words tell me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"So help me, God, I have told my whole wish, and if thou desire I will +repeat the same in an oath on that cross there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what dost thou think to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To go into the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been hoping for that. I have desired it this long time. I have +known what detained thee, but go now. When thou hast broken thy fetters +go into the world. Thou wilt wait for no good thing in this place, no +good thing has met thee here, or will meet thee here ever. To thee the +life here has been ruin. It was a happiness that I was near by and +trained thee in Latin, and in working with thy sword even somewhat; +without these two kinds of knowledge thou wouldst have dropped down to +be a peasant. Thank me not, Yatsus, for that was pure devotion on my +part. I shall be sad here without thee, but I am not in question. Thou +wilt go into the world. That, as I understand, means that thou wilt +join the army. That road is the straightest and the most honorable, +also, especially since war with the pagan is approaching. The pen and +the chancellery are more certain, men tell us, than promotion from the +sabre, but they are less fitted for blood such as thine is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not thought of another service," said Yatsek, "but I shall not +join the infantry, and I cannot in any way reach the higher banners, +for I am in terrible poverty--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A noble who has Latin on his tongue and a sabre in his fist will make +his way always," interrupted the priest; "but there is no need of +talking, thou must have good horses. We must think over this carefully. +Now I will tell thee something of which I have never yet spoken. I hold +for thee ten ruddy ducats which thy late mother left with me--and her +letter, in which she begs not to give thee this money, lest it be spent +ere the time comes. Only in sudden need may I give it when either +the ferry or the wagon is awaiting thee--when some dilemma presents +itself--well, the dilemma is here at this moment! Thou hadst an +honorable, a holy, and an unhappy mother, for when that woman was dying +there was great need in her dwelling, and she took from her own mouth +that which she left with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God give eternal rest to her," said Yatsek. "Let those ten ducats be +used for masses to benefit her soul, and Vyrambki I will sell even for +a trifle."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski grew very tender at these words; a tear glistened in +his eye, and again he put his arms around Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is honest blood in thee," said he, "but thou art not free to +reject this gift from thy mother, even for the purpose which thou hast +mentioned. Masses will not be lacking in her case, be sure of that, +though in truth she has no great need of them; but to other souls +suffering in purgatory they will be of service. As to Vyrambki it would +be better to mortgage it; though a noble has but the smallest estate, +how differently do people esteem him from one who is landless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I am in a hurry. I should like to go even to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To-day thou wilt not go, though the sooner the better. I must write +for thee letters to my comrades and friends. We must talk also with the +brewers in Yedlina who have money and also good horses, so that no +armored warrior may have a better outfit. In my house there are some +old arms and some sabres, not so much ornamented as tested on Swedish +and Turkish shoulders."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the priest looked through the window and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the sleigh is waiting, and a traveller should start when his +sleigh comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">An expression of pain now shot over the face of the young man; he +kissed the priest's hand and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have one other prayer, my benefactor and father; let me go with you +now and live in your house till I leave this region. Those roofs are +visible from this dwelling. They are too near me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course! I wished to propose this; thou hast taken the words from my +lips. There is no work for thee here, and I shall be glad from my soul +to have thee under my roof tree. Be of good cheer, O my Yatsus. The +world does not end in Belchantska, but stands open widely before thee. +God alone knows how far thou wilt ride when once thou art on horseback. +War is awaiting thee! Glory is awaiting thee! and that which pains thee +to-day will be healed at another time. I see now how the wings are +growing out at thy shoulders. Fly then, O bird of the Lord, for to that +wert thou predestined and created."</p> + +<p class="normal">And joy like a sunray lighted up the honest face of the old man. He +struck his thigh with his palm, soldier fashion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now take thy cap and we will go."</p> + +<p class="normal">But small things stand often in the way of important ones, and the +comic is mixed with the tragic. Yatsek glanced round the room; then he +gazed with concern at the priest, and repeated,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My cap!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well! Thou wilt not go bareheaded--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But suppose it remained at Belchantska?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are thy love tricks, old woman! What wilt thou do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What shall I do? I might get a cap from my man, but I could not go in +the cap of a peasant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou canst not go in a peasant's cap, but send thy man to +Belchantska."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would not for anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest was becoming impatient.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Plague take it! War, glory, the wide world--these are all waiting for +the man, but his cap is gone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is an old hat in the bottom of a trunk which my father took from +a Swedish officer at Tremeshno--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take it, and let us go."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek vanished and returned a little later wearing the yellow hat of a +Swedish horseman, which was too large for him. Amused by the sight of +it, the priest caught at his left side as if seeking his sabre.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is well," said he, "that it is not a Turkish turban. But this is a +real carnival!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek smiled in reply, and then added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are some stones in the buckle; they may be of value."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then they took seats in the sleigh and moved forward. Immediately +beyond the enclosure Belchantska and the mansion were as visible +through leafless alders as something on one's hand. The priest looked +carefully at Yatsek, who merely drew the big Swedish hat over his eyes +and did not look, though something besides his Hungarian cap had been +left in the mansion.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<p class="normal">"He will not come back! All is lost!" exclaimed Panna Anulka to herself +at the first moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">And a marvellous thing! There were five men in that mansion, one of +whom was young and presentable; and besides Pan Grothus, the starosta, +Pan Serafin was expected. In a word, rarely had there been so many +guests at Belchantska. Meanwhile it seemed to the young lady that a +vacuum had surrounded her suddenly, and that some immense want had come +with it; that the mansion was empty, the garden empty, and that she +herself was as much alone as if in an unoccupied steppe land, and that +she would continue to be thus forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hence her heart was as straitened with merciless sorrow as if she had +lost one who was nearest of all to her. She felt sure that Yatsek would +not return, all the more since her guardian had offended him mortally; +still, she could not imagine how it would be without him, without +his face, his laughter, his words, his glances. What would happen +to-morrow, after to-morrow, next week, next month? For what would she +rise from her bed every morning? Why would she arrange her tresses? For +whom would she dress and curl her hair? For what was she now to live?</p> + +<p class="normal">And she had a feeling as if her heart had been a candle which some one +had quenched by blowing it out on a sudden. There was nothing save +darkness and a vacuum.</p> + +<p class="normal">But when she entered the room and saw that Hungarian cap on the floor, +all those indefinite feelings gave way to an enormous and simple +yearning for Yatsek. Her heart grew warm in her again, and she began to +call him by name. Therewith a certain gleam of hope flew through her +spirit. Raising the cap she pressed it to her bosom unwittingly; then +she put it in her sleeve and began to think thuswise: "He will not come +as hitherto daily, but before the return of Pan Grothus and my guardian +from Yedlinka, he must come for his cap, so I shall see him and say +that he was unjust and cruel, and that he should not have done what he +has done."</p> + +<p class="normal">But she was not sincere with herself, for she wished to say more, to +find some warm, heartfelt word which would join again the threads newly +broken between them. If this could happen, if they could meet without +anger in the church, or at odd times in the houses of neighbors, means +would be found in the future to turn everything to profit. What methods +there might be to do this, and what the profit could be, she did not +stop to consider at the moment, for beyond all she was thinking how to +see Yatsek at the earliest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile Pani Vinnitski came out of the chamber in which the wounded +men were then lying, and on seeing the excited face and reddened eyes +of the young woman she began thus to quiet her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear not, no harm will come to them. Only one of the Bukoyemskis is +struck a little seriously, but no harm will happen even to that one. +The others are injured slightly. Father Voynovski dressed their wounds +with such skill that there is no need to change anything. The men too +are cheerful and in perfect spirits."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks be to God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But has Yatsek gone? What did he want here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He brought the wounded men hither--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know, but who would have expected this of him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They themselves challenged him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They do not deny that, but he beat all five of them, one after +another. One might have thought that a clucking hen could have beaten +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Aunt does not know the man," answered Panna Anulka, with a certain +pride in her expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">But in the voice of Pani Vinnitski there was as much admiration as +blame; for, born in regions exposed to Tartar inroads at all times, she +had learned from childhood to count daring and skill at the sabre as +the highest virtues of manhood. So, when the earliest alarm touching +the five guests had vanished, she began to look somewhat differently at +that duel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still," continued she, "I must confess that they are worthy gentlemen, +for not only do they cherish no hatred against him, but they praise +him, especially Pan Stanislav. 'That man is a born soldier,' said he. +And they were angry every man of them at Pan Gideon, who exceeded the +measure, they say, at Vyrambki."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But aunt did not receive Yatsek better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He got the reception which he merited. But didst thou receive him +well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, thou. I saw how thou didst frown at him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear aunt--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the girl stopped suddenly, for she felt that unless she did so, +she would burst into weeping. Because of this conversation Yatsek had +grown in her eyes. He had fought alone against such trained men, had +conquered them all, overcome them. He had told her, it is true, that he +hunted wild boars with a spear, but peasants at the edge of the +wilderness go against them with clubs, so that amazes no one. But to +finish five knightly nobles a man must be better and more valiant and +skilful than they. It seemed to Panna Anulka simply a marvel that a man +who had such mild and sad eyes could be so terrible in battle. To her +alone had he yielded; from her alone had he suffered everything; to her +alone had he been mild and pliant. Why was this? Because he had loved +her beyond his health, beyond happiness, beyond his own soul's +salvation. He had confessed that to her an hour earlier. And yearning +for him rushed like an immense wave to her heart again. Still, she felt +that something between them had changed, and that if she should see him +anew, and see him afterward often, she would not permit herself to play +with him again as she had played up to that day, now casting him into +the abyss, now cheering him, giving him hope, now thrusting him away, +now attracting him; she felt that do what she might she would look on +him with greater respect, and would be more submissive and cautious.</p> + +<p class="normal">At moments, however, a voice was heard in her saying that he had acted +too peevishly, that he had uttered words more offensive and bitter than +she had; but that voice became weaker and weaker, and the wish for +reconciliation was growing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he would only return before those men came from Yedlinka!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile an hour passed, then two and three hours. Still, there was no +sign from Yatsek. Next it occurred to her that the hour was too late, +that he would not come, he would send some one to get the cap. After +that she determined to send it to Yatsek with a letter, in which she +would explain what was weighing her heart down. And since his messenger +might come any moment she, to prepare all things in season, shut +herself up in her small maiden chamber and went at the letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God pardon thee for the suffering and sadness in which thou hast +left me, for if thou couldst see my heart thou wouldst not have done +what thou hast done. Therefore, I send not only thy cap, but a kind +word, so that thou shouldst be happy and forget--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here she saw that she was not writing her own thoughts at all, or her +wishes, so, drawing her pen through the words, she fell to writing a +new letter with more emotion and feeling:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I send thy cap, for I know that I shall not see thee in this house +hereafter, and that thou wilt not weep for any one here, least of all +for such an orphan as I am; but neither shall I weep because of thy +injustice, though it is sad beyond description--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But reality showed these words to be false, since sudden tears put +blots on the paper. How send a proof of this kind, especially if he had +thrown her out of his heart altogether? After a while it occurred to +her that it might be better not to write of his injustice, and of his +peevish procedure, since, if she did, he would be ready for still +greater stubbornness. Thus thinking, she looked for a third sheet of +paper, but there was no more in her chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now she was helpless, for if she borrowed paper of Pani Vinnitski she +could not avoid questions impossible of answer; then she felt that she +was losing her head, and that in no case could she write to Yatsek that +which she wanted to tell him; hence she grew disconsolate and sought, +as women do usually, solace in suffering; she gave a free course to her +tears again.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile night was in front of the entrance, and sleighbells were +tinkling--Pan Gideon and his two guests were coming. The servants were +lighting the candles in every chamber, for the gloom was increasing. +The young lady brushed aside every tear and entered the drawing-room +with, a certain timidity; she feared that all would see straightway +that she had been weeping, and have, God knows what suspicions,--they +might even torment her with questions. But in the drawing-room there +were none save Pan Gideon and Pan Grothus. For Pan Serafin she asked +straightway, wishing to turn attention from her own person.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has gone to his son and the Bukoyemskis," said Pan Gideon, "but I +pacified him on the road by showing that nothing evil had happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he looked at her carefully, but his face, gloomy at most times, +and his gray, severe eyes were bright with a sort of exceptional +kindness. Approaching, he placed his hand on the bright head of the +maiden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no need for thee to be troubled," said he. "In a couple of +days they will be well, every man of them. We need say no more. We owe +them gratitude, it is true, and hence I was anxious about them, but +really, they are strangers to us, and of rather lowly condition."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lowly condition?" repeated she, as an echo, and merely to say +something.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, yes, for the Bukoyemskis have nothing whatever, and Pan Stanislav +is a <i>homo novus</i>. For that matter, what are they to me! They will go +their way, and the same quiet will be in this house as has been here +hitherto."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka thought to herself that there would be great quiet indeed, +for there would be only three in the mansion; but she gave no +expression to that thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will busy myself with the supper," said she.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go, housewife, go!" said Pan Gideon. "Because of thee there is joy in +the household, and profit--and have a silver service brought on," added +he, "to show this Pan Serafin that good plate is found not alone among +newly made noble Armenians."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka hurried to the servants' apartments. She wished before +supper to finish another affair most important for her, so she summoned +a serving-lad, and said to him,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Listen, Voitushko; run to Vyrambki and tell Pan Tachevski that the +young lady sends this cap, and bows very much to him. Here is a coin +for thee, and repeat what thou art to tell him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The young lady sends the cap and bows to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not that she bows, but that she bows very much to him--dost +understand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then stir! And take an overcoat, for the frost bites in the +night-time. Let the dogs go with thee, too--that she bows very much, +remember. And come back at once--unless Pan Tachevski gives an answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Having finished that affair she withdrew to the kitchen to busy herself +at the supper which was then almost ready since they had been expecting +guests with Pan Gideon. Then, after she had dressed and arranged her +hair, she entered the dining-hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Sarafin greeted her kindly, for her beauty and youth had pleased +his heart greatly at Yedlinka. Since he had been put quite at rest +touching Stanislav, when they were seated at the table he began to +speak with her joyously, endeavoring, even with jests, to scatter that +shade of seriousness which he saw on her forehead, and the cause of +which he attributed specially to the duel.</p> + +<p class="normal">But for her the supper was not to end without incident, since +immediately after the second course Voitushko stood at the door of the +dining-hall and cried out, as he blew his chilled fingers,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg the young lady's attention. I left the cap, but Pan Tachevski is +not in Vyrambki, for he drove away with Father Voynovski."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon on hearing these words was astonished; he frowned, and fixed +his iron eyes on the serving-lad.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is this?" asked he. "What cap? Who sent thee to Vyrambki?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The young lady," answered the lad with timidity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I sent him," said Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">And seeing that all eyes were turned on her she was dreadfully +embarrassed, but the elusive wit of a woman soon came to her +assistance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Yatsek attended the wounded men hither," said she; "but since +auntie and I received him with harshness he was angry and flew away +home without his cap, so I sent the cap after him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed, we did not receive him very charmingly," added Pani Vinnitski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon drew breath and his face took on a less dreadful expression.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye did well," remarked he. "I myself would have sent the cap, for of +course he has not a second one."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the honest and clever Pan Serafin took the part of Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My son," said he, "has no feeling against him. He and the other +gentlemen forced Pan Tachevski to the duel; when it was over he took +them to his house, dressed their wounds, and entertained them. The +Bukoyemskis say the same, adding that he is an artist at the sabre, +who, had he had the wish, might have cut them up in grand fashion. Ha! +they wanted to teach him a lesson, and themselves found a teacher. If +it is true that His Grace the King is moving against the Turks, such a +man as Tachevski will be useful."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon was not glad to hear these words, and added: "Father +Voynovski taught him those sword tricks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have seen Father Voynovski only once, at a festival," said Pan +Serafin, "but I heard much of him in my days of campaigning. At the +festival other priests laughed at him; they said that his house was +like the ark, that he cares for all beasts just as Noah did. I know, +however, that his sabre was renowned, and that his virtue is famous. If +Pan Tachevski has learned sword-practice from him, I should wish my +son, when he recovers, not to seek friendship elsewhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They say that the Diet will strive at once to strengthen the army," +said Pan Gideon, wishing to change the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, all will work at that," said Pan Grothus.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the conversation continued on the war. But after supper Panna +Anulka chose the right moment, and, approaching Pan Serafin, raised her +blue eyes to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are very kind," said she.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you say that?" asked Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You took the part of Pan Yatsek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whose part?" inquired the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Tachevski's. His name is Yatsek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you blamed him severely. Why did you blame him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My guardian blamed him still more severely. I confess to you, however, +that we did not act justly, and I think that some reparation is due +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He would surely be glad to receive it from your hands," said Pan +Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">The young lady shook her golden head in sign of disagreement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh no!" replied she, smiling sadly, "he is angry with us, and +forever."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin glanced at her with a genuine fatherly kindness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who in the world, charming flower, could be angry forever with you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! Pan Yatsek could--but as to reparation this is the best reparation +in his case: declare to Pan Yatsek that you feel no offence toward him, +and that you believe in his innocence. After that my guardian will be +forced to do him some justice, and justice from us is due to Pan +Yatsek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see that you have not been so very bitter against him, since you are +now taking his part with such interest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do so because I feel reproaches of conscience, and I wish no +injustice to any man, besides, he is alone in the world, and is in +great, very great, poverty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you," answered Pan Serafin, "that in my own mind I have +decided as follows: your guardian, as a hospitable neighbor, has +declared that he will not let me go till my son has recovered; but both +my son and the Bukoyemskis might go home even to-morrow. Still, before +I leave here I will visit most surely Pan Yatsek and Father Voynovski, +not through any kindness, but because I understand that I owe them this +courtesy. I do not say that I am bad, still, I think that if any one in +this case is really good you are the person. Do not contradict me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She did contradict, for she felt that for her it was not a question +merely of justice to Yatsek, but of other affairs, of which Pan +Serafin, who knew not her maiden calculations, could know nothing. +Her heart, however, rose toward him with gratitude, and when saying +good-night she kissed his hand, for which Pan Gideon was angry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is only of the second generation; before that his people were +merchants. Remember who thou art!" said the old noble.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<p class="normal">Two days later Yatsek went to Radom with the ten ducats to dress +himself decently before the journey. Father Voynovski remained at home +brooding over this problem: "Whence am I to get money enough for the +equipment of a warrior, for a wagon, for horses, a saddle-horse, and an +attendant, all of which Yatsek must have if he cares for respect, and +does not wish men to consider him nobody?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Especially did it become Yatsek to appear in that form, since he bore a +great, famous name, though somewhat forgotten in the Commonwealth.</p> + +<p class="normal">A certain day Father Voynovski sat down at his small table, wrinkled +his brows till his white hair fell over his forehead, and began then to +reckon how much would be needed. His "animalia," that is, the dog +Filus, the tame fox, and a badger, were rolling balls near his feet; +but he gave them no attention whatever, so tremendously was he occupied +and troubled, for the "reckoning" refused to come out in any way, and +failed every moment. It failed not merely in details, but in the main +principles. The old man rubbed his forehead more and more violently and +at last he spoke audibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He took ten ducats with him. Very well; of that, beyond doubt, he will +bring nothing back. Let us count farther: from Kondrat, the brewer, +five as a loan, from Slonka, three. From Dudu six Prussian thalers and +a borrowed saddle-horse, to be paid for in barley if there is a +harvest. Total, eight golden ducats, six thalers, and twenty ducats of +mine--too little! Even if I should give him the Wallachian as an +attendant, that would be, counting his own mount, two horses; and for a +wagon two more are needed--and for Yatsek at least two more. It is +impossible to go with fewer, for, if one horse should die he must have +another. And a uniform for his man, and supplies for the wagon, kettles +and cover and camp chest--tfu! He could only join the dragoons with +such money."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he turned to the animals which were raising a considerable uproar.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be quiet, ye traitors, or your hides will be sold to Jew hucksters!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And again talk began:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek is right, he will have to sell Vyrambki. Still, if he does, he +will have nothing to answer when any one asks him: 'Whence dost thou +come?' 'Whence?' 'From Wind.' 'Which Wind?' 'Wind in the Field.' +Immediately every one will slight such a person. It would be better to +mortgage the place if a man could be found to give money. Pan Gideon +would be the most suitable person, but Yatsek would not hear of Pan +Gideon, and I myself would not talk with him on the subject--My God! +People are mistaken when they say: 'poor as a church mouse!' A man is +often much poorer. A church mouse has Saint Stephen;<a name="div2Ref_03" href="#div2_03"><sup>[3]</sup></a> he lives in +comfort, and has his wax at all seasons. O Lord Jesus, who multiplied +loaves and fishes, multiply these few ruddy ducats, and these few +thalers, for to thee, O Lord, nothing will be diminished, and Thou wilt +help the last of the Tachevskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then it occurred to him that the Prussian thalers, since they came from +a Lutheran country, could rouse only abhorrence in heaven; as to the +ducats he hesitated whether to put them under Christ's feet for the +night would he find them there multiplied in the morning? He did not +feel worthy of a miracle, and even he struck himself a number of times +on the breast in repentance for his insolent idea. He could not dwell +on this longer, however, for some one had come to the front of his +dwelling.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a while the door opened and a tall, gray haired man entered. He +had black eyes and a wise, kindly countenance. The man bowed on the +threshold.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. I saw you in Prityk, at the festival, but only at a distance, for +the throng there was great," said the priest, approaching his guest +with vivaciousness. "I greet you on my lowly threshold with gladness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have come hither with gladness," answered Pan Serafin. "It is an +important and pleasant duty to salute a knight so renowned, and a +priest who is so saintly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he kissed the old man on the shoulder and the hand, though the +priest warded off these acts, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ho, what saintliness! These beasts here may have before God greater +merit than I have."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pan Serafin spoke so sincerely and with such simplicity that he won +the priest straightway. They began at once, therefore, to speak +pleasant words which were heartfelt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know your son," said the priest; "he is a cavalier of worth +and noble manners. In comparison, those Bukoyemskis seem simply +serving-men. I will say to you that Yatsek Tachevski has conceived such +a love for Pan Stanislav that he praises him always."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And my Stashko treats him in like manner. It happens frequently that +men fight and later on love each other. None of us feel offence toward +Pan Tachevski, nay, we should like to conclude with him real +friendship. I have just been at his house in Vyrambki, expecting to +find him. I wished to invite to Yedlinka you, my benefactor, and Pan +Tachevski."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek is in Radom, but he will return and would be glad, doubtless, +to serve you-- But have you seen, your grace, how they treated him at +Pan Gideon's?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have seen that themselves," said Pan Serafin, "and are sorry, not +Pan Gideon, however, but the women."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are few men so stubborn as Pan Gideon, and he incurs a serious +account before the Lord sometimes for this reason--as for the +women--God be with them-- Let them go, what is the use in hiding this: +that one of them caused the duel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I divined that before my son told me. But the cause is innocent."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are all innocent-- Do you know what Ecclesiastes says of women?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin did not know, so the priest took down the Vulgate and read +an extract from Ecclesiastes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do you think of that?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are women even of that kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek is going into the world for no other cause, and I am far from +dissuading him. On the contrary, I advise him to go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you? Is he going soon? The war will come only next summer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know that to a certainty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do, for I inquired and I inquired because I cannot keep my own son +from it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, because he is a noble. Yatsek is going immediately, for, to tell +the truth, it is painful for him to remain here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, I understand everything. Haste is the best cure in such +a case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will stay only as long as may be needed to mortgage Vyrambki, or +sell it. It is only a small strip of land. I advise Yatsek not to sell +but to mortgage. Though he may never come back, he can sign himself +always as from it, and that is more decent for a man of his name and +his origin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Must he sell or mortgage in every case?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He must. The man is poor, quite poor. You know how much it costs to go +to a war, and he cannot serve in a common dragoon regiment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin thought a while, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My benefactor, perhaps I would take a mortgage on Vyrambki."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski blushed as does a maiden when a young man confesses on +a sudden that for which she is yearning beyond all things; but the +blush flew over his face as swiftly as summer lightning through the sky +of evening; then he looked at Pan Serafin, and asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you take it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin answered with all the sincerity of an honest spirit:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want it since I wish, without loss to myself, to render an honorable +young man a service, for which I shall gain his gratitude. And, Father +benefactor, I have still another idea. I will send my one son to that +regiment in which Pan Yatsek is to serve, and I think that my Stashko +will find in him a good friend and comrade. You know how important a +comrade is and what a true friend at one's side means in camp where a +quarrel comes easily, and in war where death comes still more easily. +God has not, in my case been sparing of fortune, and He has given me +only one son. Pan Yatsek is brave, sober, a master at the sabre, as has +been shown--and he is virtuous, for you have reared him. Let him and my +son be like Orestes and Pylades--that is my reckoning."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski opened his arms to him widely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God himself sent you! For Yatsek I answer as I do for myself. He is a +golden fellow, and his heart is as grateful as wheat land. God sent +you! My dear boy can now show himself as befits the Tachevski +escutcheon, and most important of all, he can, after seeing the wide +world, forget altogether that girl for whom he has thrown away so many +years, and suffered such anguish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has he loved her then from of old?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, to tell the truth, he has loved her since childhood. Even now he +says nothing, he sets his teeth, but he squirms like an eel beneath a +knife edge. Let him go at the earliest, for nothing could or can come +from this love of his."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed, then the old man continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But we must speak of these matters more accurately. How much can you +lend on Vyrambki? It is a poor piece of land."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even one hundred ducats."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear God, your grace!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why? If Pan Yatsek ever pays me it will be all the same how much I +lend him. If he does not pay I shall get my own also, for though the +land about here is poor, that new soil must be good beyond the forest. +To-day I will take my son and the Bukoyemskis to Yedlinka, and you will +do us the favor to come as soon as Pan Yatsek returns to you from +Radom. The money will be ready."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your grace came from heaven with your golden heart and your money," +said Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he commanded to bring mead which he poured out himself, and they +drank with much pleasure as men do who have joy at their heart strings. +With the third glass the priest became serious.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the assistance, for the good word, for the honesty, let me pay," +said he, "even with good advice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am listening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not settle your son in Vyrambki. The young lady is beautiful beyond +every description. She may also be honorable, I say naught against +that; but she is a Sieninski, not she alone, but Pan Gideon is so proud +of this that if any man, no matter who, were to ask for her, even +Yakobus our king's son, he would not seem too high to Pan Gideon. Guard +your son, do not let him break his young heart on that pride, or wound +himself mortally like Yatsek. Out of pure and well-wishing friendship +do I say this, desiring to pay for your kindness with kindness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin drew his palm across his forehead as he answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"They dropped down on us at Yedlinka as from the clouds because of what +happened on the journey. I went once to Pan Gideon's on a neighborly +visit, but he did not return it. Noting his pride and its origin I have +not sought his acquaintance or friendship. What has come came of +itself. I will not settle my son in Vyrambki, nor let him be foolish at +Pan Gideon's mansion. We are not such an ancient nobility as the +Sieninskis, nor perhaps as Pan Gideon, but our nobility grew out of +war, out of that which gives pain, as Charnyetski described it. We +shall be able to preserve our own dignity--my son is not less keen on +that point than I am. It is hard for a young man to guard against +Cupid, but I will tell you, my benefactor, what Stashko told me when +recently at Pan Gideon's. I inquired touching Panna Anulka. 'I would +rather,' said he, 'not pluck an apple than spring too high after it, +for if I should not reach the fruit, shame would come of my effort.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! he has a good thought in his head!" exclaimed Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has been thus from his boyhood," added Pan Serafin with a certain +proud feeling. "He told me also, that when he had learnt what the girl +had been to Tachevski, and what he had passed through because of her, +he would not cross the road of so worthy a cavalier. No, my benefactor, +I do not take a mortgage on Vyrambki to have my son near Pan Gideon's. +May God guard my Stanislav, and preserve him from evil."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen! I believe you as if an angel were speaking. And now let some +third man take the girl, even one of the Bukoyemskis, who boast of such +kinsfolk."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin smiled, drank out his mead, took farewell, and departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski went to the church to thank God for that unexpected +assistance, and then he waited for Yatsek impatiently.</p> + +<p class="normal">When at last Yatsek came, the old man ran out to the yard and seized +him by the shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek," exclaimed he, "thou canst give ten ducats for a crupper. Thou +hast one hundred ducats, as it were, on the table, and Vyrambki remains +to thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek fixed on Father Voynovski eyes that were sunken from +sleeplessness and suffering, and asked, with astonishment,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A really good thing, since it came from the heart of an honest man."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski noted with the greatest consolation that Yatsek in +spite of his terrible suffering, and all his heart tortures, received, +as it were, a new spirit on learning of the agreement with Pan Serafin. +For some days he spoke and thought only of horses, wagons, outfit, and +servants, so that it seemed as though there was no place for aught else +in him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is thy medicine, thy balsam; here are thy remedies," repeated the +priest to himself; "for if a man entrapped by a woman and never so +unhappy were going to the army he would have to be careful not to buy a +horse that had heaves or was spavined; he would have to choose sabres, +and fit on his armor, try his lance once and a second time, and, +turning from the woman to more fitting objects, find relief for his +heart in them."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he remembered how, when young, he himself had sought in war either +death or forgetfulness. But since war had not begun yet, death was +still distant from Yatsek in every case; meantime he was filled with +his journey, and with questions bound up in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was plenty to do. Pan Serafin and his son came again to the +priest with whom Yatsek was living. Then all went to the city together +to draw up the mortgage. There, also, they found a part of Yatsek's +outfit; the remainder, the experienced and clear-headed priest advised +to search out in Warsaw or Cracow. This beginning of work took up some +days, during which young Stanislav, whose slight wound was almost +healed, gave earnest assistance to Yatsek, with whom he contracted a +more and more intimate acquaintance and friendship. The old men were +pleased at this, for both held it extremely important. The honest Pan +Serafin even began to be sorry that Yatsek was going so promptly, and +to persuade the priest not to hasten his departure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand," said he, "I understand well, my benefactor, why you +wish to send him away at the earliest; but in truth I must tell you +that I think no ill of that Panna Anulka. It is true that immediately +after the duel she did not receive Pan Yatsek very nicely, but remember +that she and Pani Vinnitski were snatched from the jaws of the wolves +by my son and the Bukoyemskis. What wonder, then, that, at sight of the +blood and the wounds of those gentlemen, she was seized with an anger, +which Pan Gideon roused in her purposely, as I know. Pan Gideon is a +stubborn man, truly; but when I was there the poor girl came to me +perfectly penitent. 'I see,' said she, 'that we did not act justly, and +that some reparation is due to Pan Yatsek.' Her eyes became moist +immediately, and pity seized me, because that face of hers is comely +beyond measure. Besides, she has an honest soul and despises +injustice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the dear God! let not Yatsek hear of this; for his heart would rush +straightway to death again, and barely has he begun to breathe now in +freedom. He ran away from Pan Gideon's bareheaded; he swore that he +would never go back to that mansion, and God guard him from doing so. +Women, your grace, are like will-o'-the-wisps which move at night over +swamp lands at Yedlinka. If you chase one it flees, if you flee it +pursues you. That is the way of it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a wise statement, which I must drive into Stashko," said Pan +Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let Yatsek go at the earliest. I have written letters already to +various acquaintances, and to dignitaries whom I knew before they were +dignitaries, and to warriors the most famous. In those letters your +son, too, is recommended as a worthy cavalier; and when his turn comes +to go he shall have letters also, though he may not need them, since +Yatsek will prepare the way for him. Let the two serve together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"From my whole soul I thank you, my benefactor. Yes! let them serve +together, and may their friendship last till their lives end. You have +mentioned the regiment of Alexander, the king's son, which is under +Zbierhovski. That is a splendid regiment,--perhaps the first among the +hussars,--so I should like Stashko to join it; but he said to me: 'The +light-horse for six days in the week, and the hussars, as it were, only +on Sunday.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true generally," answered the priest. "Hussars are not sent on +scouting expeditions, and it is rare also that they go skirmishing, as +it is not fitting that such men should meet all kinds of faces; but +when their turn comes, they so press on and trample that others do not +spill so much blood in six days as they do on their Sunday. But then, +war, not the warriors, command; hence sometimes it happens that hussars +perform every-day labor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, my benefactor, know that beyond any man."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski closed his eyes for a moment, as if wishing to recall +the past more in detail; then he raised them, looked at the mead, +swallowed one mouthful, then a second, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it was when toward the end of the Swedish war we went to punish +that traitor, the Elector, for his treaties with Carolus. Pan +Lyubomirski, the marshal, took fire and sword to the outskirts of +Berlin. I was then in his own regiment, in which Viktor was lieutenant +commander. The Brandenburger<a name="div2Ref_04" href="#div2_04"><sup>[4]</sup></a> met us as best he was able, now with +infantry, now with general militia in which were German nobles; and I +tell you that at last, on our side, the arms of the hussars and the +Cossacks of the household seemed almost as if moving on hinges."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was it such difficult work then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was not difficult, for at the mere sight of us muskets and spears +trembled in the hands of those poor fellows as tree branches tremble +when the wind blows around them; but there was work daily from morning +till twilight. Whether a man thrusts his spear into a breast or a back, +it is labor. Ah! but that was a lovely campaign! for, as people said, +it was active, and in my life I have never seen so many men's backs and +so many horse rumps as in that time. Even Luther was weeping in hell, +for we ravaged one half of Brandenburg thoroughly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is pleasant to remember that treason came to just punishment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course it is pleasant. The Elector appeared then and begged peace +of Lyubomirski. I did not see him, but later on soldiers told me that +the marshal walked along the square with his hands on his hips while +the Elector tripped after him like a whip-lash. The Elector bowed so +that he almost touched the ground with his wig, and seized the knees of +the marshal. Nay! they even said that he kissed him wherever it +happened; but I give no great faith to that statement, though the +marshal, who had a haughty heart, loved to bend down the enemy; but he +was a polite man in every case, and would not permit things of that +kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant that it may happen with the Turks this time as it did then +with the Elector."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My experience, though not lofty, is long, and I will say to you +sincerely that it will go, I think, as well or still better. The +marshal was a warrior of experience and especially a lucky one, but +still, we could not compare Lyubomirski with His Grace the King +reigning actually."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then they mentioned all the victories of Sobieski and the battles in +which they themselves had taken part. And so they drank to the health +of the king, and rejoiced, knowing that with him as a leader the young +men would see real war; not only that, but, since the war was to be +against the ancient enemy of the cross, they would win immense glory.</p> + +<p class="normal">In truth no one knew accurately anything yet about the question. It was +not known whether the Turkish power would turn first on the +Commonwealth or the Empire. The question of a treaty with Austria was +to be raised at the Diet. But in provincial diets and the meetings of +nobles men spoke of war only. Statesmen who had been in Warsaw, and at +the court, foretold it with conviction, and besides, the whole people +had been seized by a feeling that it must come--a feeling almost +stronger than certainty, and brought out as well by the former deeds of +the king as by the general desire and the destiny of the nation.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<p class="normal">On the road to Radom Father Voynovski had invited Pan Serafin and +Stanislav to his house for a rest, after which he and Yatsek were to +visit them at Yedlinka. During this visit three of the Bukoyemskis +appeared, unexpectedly. Marek, whose shoulder-blade had been cut, could +not move yet, but Mateush, Lukash, and Yan came to bow down before the +old man and thank him for his care of them when wounded. Yan had lost a +little finger, and the older brothers had big scars, one man on his +cheek, the other on his forehead, but their wounds had then healed and +they were as healthy as mushrooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two days before they went on a hunt to the forest, smoked out a sleepy +she-bear, speared her, and took her cub which they brought as a gift to +Father Voynovski, whose fondness for wild beasts was known by all +people.</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest whom they had pleased as "innocent boys" was amused with +them and the little bear very greatly. He shed tears from laughter when +the cub seized a glass filled with mead for a guest, and began to roar +in heaven-piercing notes to rouse proper terror, and thus save the +booty.</p> + +<p class="normal">On seeing that no one wished the mead, the bear stood on its hind-legs +and drank out the cup in man fashion. This roused still greater +pleasure in the audience. The priest was amused keenly, and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not make this cub my butler or beekeeper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" cried Stanislav, laughing, "the beast was a short time at school +with the Bukoyemskis, but learned more in one day from them than it +would all its life in the forest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not true," put in Lukash, "for this beast has by nature such wit that +it knows what is good without learning. Barely had we brought the cub +from the forest when it gulped down as much vodka (whiskey) right off +as if it had drunk the stuff every morning with its mother, and then +gave a whack on the snout to a dog, as if saying 'This for thee--don't +sniff at me'--after that it went off and slept soundly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank you, gentlemen. I will have real pleasure from this bear," said +the priest, "but I will not make the creature my butler or beekeeper, +for though knowing drinks well, it would stay too near them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bears can do more than one thing. Father Glominski at Prityk has a +bear which pumps the organ they say. But some people are scandalized, +for at times he roars, especially when any one punches him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, there is no cause for scandal in that," replied Father +Voynovski; "birds build nests in churches and sing to the glory of God; +no one is scandalized. Every beast serves God, and the Saviour was born +in a stable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They say, besides," added Mateush, "that the Lord Jesus turned a +miller into a bear, so maybe there is a human soul in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case you killed the miller's wife, and must answer," said Pan +Serafin. "His Grace the King is very jealous of his bears and does not +keep foresters to kill them."</p> + +<p class="normal">When they heard this the three brothers grew anxious, but it was only +after long thinking that Mateush, who wished to say something in +self-defence, answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pshaw! are we not nobles? The Bukoyemskis are as good as the +Sobieskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">But a happy thought came to Lukash, and his face brightened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We gave our knightly word," said he, "not to shoot bears, and we shoot +no bears; we spear them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His Grace the King is not thinking of bears at the present," said Yan; +"and besides, no one will tell him. Let any forester here say a word. +It is a pity, however, that we boasted in presence of Pan Gideon and +Pan Grothus, for Pan Grothus has just gone to Warsaw, and as he sees +the king often, he may mention this accidentally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But when did ye see Pan Gideon?" asked the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yesterday. He was conducting Pan Grothus; You know, benefactor, the +inn called Mordovnia? They stopped there to let their beasts rest. Pan +Gideon asked about many things, and he talked also of Yatsek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"About me?" inquired Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. 'Is it true,' asked he, 'that Tachevski is going to the army?' +'True,' we answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'But when?'</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Soon, we think.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Pan Gideon said again: 'That is well. Of course he will join the +infantry?'</p> + +<p class="normal">"At that we all became angry, and Mateush said. 'Do not say that, your +grace, for Yatsek is our friend now, and we must be on his side.' And +as we began to pant, he restrained himself. 'I do not mention this out +of any ill-will, but I know that Vyrambki is not an estate of the +crown,'" said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An estate, or not, what is that to him?" cried the priest. "He need +not trouble his head with it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But it was clear that Pan Gideon thought otherwise, and did trouble his +head about Yatsek; for an hour later the youth who brought in a +decanter of mead brought a sealed letter also.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a messenger to your grace from Pan Gideon," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski took the letter, broke the seal, opened it, struck the +paper with the back of his hand, and, approaching the window, began to +read.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek grew pale from emotion; he looked at the letter as at a rainbow, +for he divined that there must be mention of him in it. Thoughts flew +through his head as swallows fly. "Well," thought he, "the old man is +penitent; here is his excuse. It must be so and even cannot be +otherwise. Pan Gideon has no more cause now to be angry than those men +who suffered in the duel, so his conscience has spoken. He has +recognized the injustice of his conduct. He understands how grievously +he injured an innocent person, and he desires to correct the +injustice."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek's heart began to beat like a hammer. "Oh! I will go to the war," +said he in his soul--"not for me is happiness over there. Though I +forgive her I cannot forget. But to see once more, before going, that +beloved Anulka, who is so cruel, to have a good look once again at her, +to hear her voice anew. O Gracious God, refuse not this blessing!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And his thoughts flew with still greater swiftness than swallows; but +before they had stopped flying something took place which no man there +had expected: on a sudden Father Voynovski crushed the letter in his +hand and grasped toward his left side as if seeking a sabre. His face +filled with blood, his neck swelled, and his eyes shot forth lightning. +He was simply so terrible that Pan Serafin, his son, and the +Bukoyemskis looked at him with amazement, as if he had been turned into +some other person through magic.</p> + +<p class="normal">Deep silence reigned in the chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the priest bent toward the window, as if gazing at some +object outside it, then he turned away looked first at the walls and +then at his guests. It was clear that he had been struggling with +himself and had come to his mind again, for his face had grown pale, +and the flame was now dim in his eyeballs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious gentlemen," said he, "that man is not merely passionate, but +evil altogether. To say in excitement more than justice permits befalls +every man, but to continue committing injustice and trampling on those +who are offended is not the deed of a noble, or a Catholic." Then, +stooping, he raised the crumpled letter and turned to Tachevski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek, if there is still in thy heart any splinter, take this knife +and cut it out thoroughly. Read, poor boy, read aloud, it is not for +thee to be ashamed, but for him who wrote this letter. Let these +gentlemen learn what kind of man is Pan Gideon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek seized the letter with trembling hands, opened it and read:</p> +<div class="letter"> + +<p class="normal">"<span class="sc">My very gracious Priest, Pastor, Benefactor, Etc., Etc.</span>,--Having +learned that Tachevski of Vyrambki, who has frequented my house, is to +join the army during these days, I, in memory of the bread with which I +nourished his poverty, and for the services in which sometimes I was +able to use him, send the man a horse, and a ducat to shoe the beast, +with the advice not to waste the money on other and needless objects.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Offering at the same time to you my willing and earnest services, I +inscribe myself, etc., etc."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek grew so very pale after reading the letter that the men present +had fears for him, especially the priest who was not sure that that +pallor might not be the herald of some outburst of madness, for he knew +how terrible was that young man in his anger, though usually so mild. +He began therefore at once to restrain him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gideon is old, and has lost one arm," said he quickly, "thou canst +not challenge him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Yatsek did not burst out, for at the first moment immeasurable and +painful amazement conquered all other feelings.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot challenge him," repeated he, as an echo, "but why does he +continue to trample me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon Pan Serafin rose, took both Yatsek's hands, shook them +firmly, kissed him on the forehead, and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gideon has injured, not thee, but himself, and if thou drop +revenge every man will wonder all the more at thy noble soul which +deserves the high blood in thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are wise words!" cried the priest, "and thou must deserve them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Stanislav now embraced Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In truth," said he, "I love thee more and more."</p> + +<p class="normal">This turn of affairs was not at all pleasing to the Bukoyemskis, who +had not ceased to grit their teeth from the moment of hearing the +letter. Following Stanislav they embraced Yatsek also.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No matter how things are," said Lukash at last, "I should do +differently in Yatsek's place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?" asked the two brothers with curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is just it. I don't know how, but I should think out something, +and would not yield my position."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since thou knowst not do not talk."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But ye, do ye know anything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be quiet!" said the priest. "Be sure I shall not leave the letter +unanswered. Still, to drop revenge is a Christian and a Catholic +action."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh but! Even you, father, snatched for a sabre the first moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I carried a sabre too long. <i>Mea Culpa!</i> Still, as I have +said, this fact comes in also. Pan Gideon is old, he has only one arm; +iron rules are not in place here. And I tell you, gentlemen, that for +this very reason I am disgusted to the last degree with this raging old +fellow who makes use of his impunity so unjustly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still, it will be too narrow for him in our neighborhood," said Yan +Bukoyemski. "Our heads for this: that not a living foot will go under +that roof of his."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Meanwhile an answer is needed," said Father Voynovski, "and +immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a time yet they considered as to who should write,--Yatsek, at whom +the letter was aimed, or the priest to whom it was directed. Yatsek +settled the question by saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"For me that whole house and all people in it are as if dead, and it is +well for them that in my soul this is settled."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is well that the bridges are burnt!" said the priest; as he sought +pen and paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is well that the bridges are burnt," repeated Yan Bukoyemski, "but +it would be better that the mansion rose in smoke! This was our way in +the Ukraine: when some strange man came in and knew not how to live +with us, we cut him to pieces and up in smoke went his property."</p> + +<p class="normal">No one turned attention to these words save Pan Serafin, who waved his +hands with impatience, and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, gentlemen, came in here from the Ukraine, I, from Lvoff, and Pan +Gideon from Pomorani; according to your wit Pan Tachevski might count +us all as intruders; but know this, that the Commonwealth is a great +mansion occupied by a family of nobles, and a noble is at home in every +corner."</p> + +<p class="normal">Silence followed, except that from the alcove came the squeaking of a +pen and words in an undertone which the priest was dictating to +himself. Yatsek rested his forehead on his palms and sat motionless for +some time; all at once he straightened himself, looked at those +present, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is something in this beyond my understanding."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We do not understand, either," added Lukash, "but if thou wilt pour +out more mead we will drink it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek poured into the glasses mechanically, following at the same time +the course of his own thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gideon," said he, "might be offended because the duel began at his +mansion, though such things happen everywhere; but now he knows that I +did not challenge, he knows that he offended me under my own roof +unjustly, he knows that with you I am now in agreement, and that I +shall not appear at his house again,--still he pursues me, still he is +trying to trample me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, there is some kind of special animosity in this," said Pan +Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! then there is as you think something in it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In what?" asked the priest, who had come out with a letter now +written, and heard the last sentence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In this special hatred against me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest looked at a shelf on which among other books was the Holy +Bible, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"That which I will say to thee now I said long ago: there is a woman in +it." Here he turned to those present. "Have I repeated to you, +gentlemen, what Ecclesiastes says about woman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But he could not finish, for Yatsek sprang up as if burnt by living +fire. He thrust his fingers through his hair and almost screamed, for +immense pain had seized him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still more do I fail to understand; for if any one in the world--if to +any one in the world--if there be any one of such kind--then with my +whole soul--"</p> + +<p class="normal">But he could not say a word more, for the pain in his heart had gripped +his throat as if in a vice of iron, and rose to his eyes as two bitter, +burning tears, which flowed down his cheeks. The priest understood him +then perfectly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Yatsek," advised he, "better burn out the wound, even with awful +pain than let it fester. For this reason I do not spare thee. I, in my +time, was a soldier of this world, and understand many things. I know +that regret and remembrance, no matter how far a man travels, drag like +dogs after him, and howl in the night-time. They give him no chance to +sleep because of this howling. What must he do then? Kill those dogs +straightway. Thou at this moment feelest that thou wouldst have given +all thy blood over there; for which reason it seems to thee so +marvellous and terrible that from that side alone vengeance pursues +thee. The thing seems to thee impossible; but it is possible--for if +thou hast wounded the pride and self-love of a woman, if she thought +that thou wouldst whine and thou hast not whined when she beat thee, +and thou didst not fawn in her presence, but hast tugged at thy chain +and hast broken it, know that she will never and never forgive thee, +and her hatred, more raging than that of any man living, will always +pursue thee. Against this there is only one refuge: crush the love, +even on thy own heart, and hurl it, like a broken bow, far from +thee--that is thy one refuge!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again there was a moment of silence. Pan Serafin nodded, confirming the +priest, and, as a man of experience, he admired all the wisdom of his +statement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true," added Yatsek, "that I have tugged at the chain, and have +broken it. So it is not Pan Gideon who pursues me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what I should do," said Lukash, on a sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell, do not hide!" cried the other two.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do ye know what the hare said?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What hare? Art thou drunk?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why that hare at the boundary ridge."</p> + +<p class="normal">And, evidently encouraged, he stood up, put his hand on his hip and +began to sing:</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t2" style="text-indent:-4px"> +"A hare was just sitting for pleasure,<br> +Just sitting at the boundary ridge.</p> +<p class="t0">But the hunters did not see him,</p> +<p class="t2">Did not know<br> +That he was sitting lamenting<br> +And making his will<br> +At the boundary ridge."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">Here he turned to his brothers and asked them,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do ye know the will made by that hare at the boundary ridge?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We know, but it is pleasant to hear it repeated."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then listen.</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t1" style="text-indent:-4px"> +"Kiss me all ye horsemen and hunters,<br> +Kiss me at the boundary ridge.</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">"This is what I would write to all at Belchantska if I were in Yatsek's +position; and if he does not write it, may the first Janissary +disembowel me if I do not write it in my own name and yours to Pan +Gideon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, as God is dear to me, that is a capital idea!" cried Yan, much +delighted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is to the point and full of fancy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let Yatsek write that!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said the priest, made impatient by the talk of the brothers. "I +am writing, not Yatsek, and it would not become me to take your words." +Here he turned to Pan Serafin and Stanislav and Yatsek. "The task was +difficult, for I had to twist the horns of his malice and not abandon +politeness, and also to show him that we understood whence the sting +came. Listen, therefore, and if any one of you gentlemen has made a +nice judgment I beg you to criticise this letter." And he began,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Great mighty benefactor, and to me very dear Sir and Brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he struck the letter with the back of his hand, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will observe, gentlemen, that I do not call him 'my very +gracious,' but 'my very dear.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will have enough!" said Pan Serafin, "read on, my benefactor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then listen: 'It is known to all citizens of our Commonwealth that +only those people know how to observe due politeness in every position +who have lived from youth upward among polite people, or who, coming of +great blood, have brought politeness into the world with them. Neither +the one nor the other has come to your grace as a portion, while on the +contrary the Mighty Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski inherited from renowned +ancestors both blood and a lordly spirit. He forgives you your peasant +expressions and sends back your peasant gifts. Rustics keep inns in +cities and also eating-houses on country roads for the entertainment of +people. If you will send to the great Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski the +bill for such entertainment as he received at your house he will pay +it, and add such gratuity as seems proper to his generous nature.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, as God is dear to me!" exclaimed Pan Serafin, "Pan Gideon will +have a rush of blood!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! it was necessary to bring down his pride, and at the same time to +burn the bridges. Yatsek himself wanted that-- Now listen to what I +write from myself to him: 'I have inclined Pan Tachevski to see that +though the bow is yours, the poisoned arrow with which you wished to +strike that worthy young gentleman was not in your own quiver. Since +reason in men, and strength in their bones, weaken with years, and +senile old age yields easily to suggestions from others, it deserves +more indulgence. With this I end, adding as a priest and a servant of +God, this: that the greater the age, the nearer life's end, the less +should a man be a servant of hatred and haughtiness. On the contrary, +he should think all the more of the salvation of his soul, a thing +which I wish your grace. Amen. Herewith remaining, etc. I subscribe +myself, etc.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All is written out accurately," said Pan Serafin; "nothing to be +added, nothing taken away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha!" said the priest, "do you think that he gets what he deserves?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oi! certain words burnt me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And me," added Lukash. "It is sure that when a man hears such speeches +he wants to drink, just as on a hot day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek, attend to those gentlemen. I will seal the letter and send it +away."</p> + +<p class="normal">So saying he took the ring from his finger and went to the alcove. But +while sealing the letter some other thought came to his head, as it +happened, for when he returned, he said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is done. The affair is over. But do you not think it too cutting? +The man is old, it may cost him his health. Wounds given by the pen are +no less effective than those by the sword or the bullet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True! true!" said Yatsek, and he gritted his teeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">But just this exclamation of pain decided the matter. Pan Serafin +added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My revered benefactor, your scruples are honorable, but Pan Gideon had +no scruples whatever; his letter struck straight at the heart, while +yours strikes only at malice and pride. I think, therefore, that it +ought to be sent."</p> + +<p class="normal">And the letter was sent. After that still more hurried preparations +were made for Yatsek's departure.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<p class="normal">But Tachevski's friends did not foresee that the priest's letter would +be in a certain sense useful to Pan Gideon, and serve his home policy. +He did not indeed receive it without anger. Yatsek, who so far had been +merely an obstacle, became thenceforth, though not the author of the +letter, an object of hatred. That hatred in the stubborn old heart of +Pan Gideon bloomed like a poison flower, but his ingenious mind +determined to use the priest's letter. In view of this he restrained +his fierce rage, his face assumed a look of contemptuous pity, and he +went with the answer to Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou hast paid toll, and art assaulted for doing so," said he. "I did +not wish this, for I am a man of experience, and I know people; but +when thou didst clasp thy hands and say that injustice had been done, +that I had exceeded in sternness, and thou hadst been too severe to +him, that he ought not to leave us in anger, I yielded. I sent him +assistance in money. I sent him a horse. I wrote him a nice letter +also. I thought he would come and bow down, give us thanks, take +farewell as became a man who had spent so much time in this mansion; +but see what he has sent me in answer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At these words he drew the priest's letter from his girdle and gave it +to the young lady. She began to read, and soon her dark brows met in +anger, but when she reached the place where the priest declared that +Pan Gideon wished to humiliate Yatsek, thanks to the suggestions of +another, her hands trembled, her face became scarlet, then grew as pale +as linen, and remained pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">Though Pan Gideon saw all this he feigned not to see it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God forgive them for what they attribute to me," said he, after a +moment of silence. "He alone knows whether my ancestors are much below +the Tachevskis, of whose greatness more fables than truth are related. +What I cannot forgive is this: that they pay thee, my poor dear, for +thy kindness of an angel, with such ingratitude."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was not Pan Yatsek who wrote this, but Father Voynovski," answered +Anulka, seizing, as it were, the last plank of salvation.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old noble sighed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dost thou believe, girl," inquired he, "that I love thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe," answered she, bending and kissing his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Though thou believe," said he, stroking her bright head with great +tenderness, "thou knowest not clearly that thou art my whole +consolation. Rarely do I permit myself words such as these, and rarely +do I tell that which my heart feels, since former suffering is +concealed in it. But thou shouldst understand that I have only thee in +the world. I would increase hourly, not thy disappointment, pain, and +trouble, but thy joy and happiness. I do not ask what began to bud in +thy heart, but I will say this to thee: whether that was, as I think, a +pure, sisterly feeling, or something more, that young man was unworthy. +He has heaped on us ingratitude in return for our sincere friendship. +My Anulka, thou wouldst deceive thyself wert thou to think that the +priest wrote this letter without Yatsek's knowledge. They wrote it +together and knowest why they replied with such insolence? As I have +heard, Tachevski got money from that Armenian in Yedlinka. That is what +he needs, and now since he has it he cares for naught else, and for no +one any longer. This is the truth, and in thy soul thou must +acknowledge that to think otherwise would be willing self-deception."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see," answered Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon meditated awhile as if he were dwelling on something.</p> + +<p class="normal">"People say," added he finally, "that it is a vice of old people to +praise past times and lay blame on the present. But no, this is not a +vice. The world is growing worse, people are becoming worse. In my day +no man would have acted as has Tachevski. Dost thou know the first +cause of this? That night on the tree, which exposed this lord cavalier +to the ridicule of people. To hurry, as it were, to help some one and +then climb a tree out of terror, may happen, but in such a case it is +better not to boast of it, for the thing is ridiculous, ridiculous! I +do not hold up the Bukoyemskis or Pan Stanislav as heroes: they are +drunkards, road-blockers, gamblers--I know them! Our lives were less in +their minds than were wolf skins. But there is lurking in this Yatsek +such envy that he could not forgive them that chance aid which they +gave us. Out of that rose the duel. May God punish me if I had not +reason to be angry. Ha, they made friends after the duel, for it is +clear that our cavalier understood that he could get money from Pan +Serafin, so he preferred to turn his malice against this mansion. +Pride, animosity, ingratitude, and greed, those are the things which he +has manifested, and nothing better. He has injured me. Never mind. God +forgive him! But why should he attack thee, my dear flower? A neighbor +for long years, a guest for long years--daily visits. A gypsy in such a +position would become faithful; a swallow grows used to its roof; a +stork returns to its nest; but he spat on our house as soon as he felt +in his purse the coin of the Armenian. No! No! No man in my day would +have acted in that style."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anulka listened with her palms on her temples, and with eyes looking +out before her in fixedness, so Pan Gideon stopped and looked at her +once, and a second time.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why dost thou forget thyself?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not forgotten myself, but I am so sad that words have deserted +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">And not finding words she found tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon let her cry till she had finished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is better," said he at last, "to let that sadness pass off with +tears than let it stay in the heart and be petrified. Ah, it is hard! +Let him go, let him clink other men's coin, let him touch the mud with +his saddle-cloth, let him strut as a lord, and court Warsaw harlots. +But we will remain here, my girl. That is no great delight, it is true, +but still it is a delight, if thou remember that no one in this house +will deceive thee, no one here will offend thee, no one will break thy +heart; that here thou wilt be always as an eye in the head of each +person, that thy happiness will be the first question always, and also +the last question of my life. Come--"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stretched his arms toward her, and she fell on his breast with +emotion and gratitude, as she would on the breast of a father who was +comforting her in a moment of suffering.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon fell to stroking her bright head with the one hand that +remained to him, and long did they sit there in silence. Meanwhile it +was growing dark, the frosty window-panes glittered in the moonlight, +and dogs made themselves heard here and there with prolonged barking.</p> + +<p class="normal">The warmth of the maiden's body penetrated to the heart of Pan Gideon +which began to beat with more vigor, and since he feared to make a +declaration too early, he would not expose himself then to temptation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stand up, child," said he. "Thou wilt not weep now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not," answered she, kissing his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Seest thou! Ah, this is it! Remember always the place where thou hast +a sure refuge, and where it will be calm for thee, and pleasant. Every +young man is glad to race over the world like a tempest, but for me +thou art the only one. Fix this well in mind. More than once, perhaps, +hast thou thought, 'My guardian seems a savage wolf; he is glad to find +some one to shout at, and he has no understanding of my young ideas;' +but knowest thou of what this guardian has thought and is thinking at +present? Often of his past happiness, often of that pain, which like an +arrow is fixed in his heart--that is true, but besides that only of +thee and thy future, only of this: to secure every good thing for thee. +Pan Grothus and I talked whole hours of this. He laughed because, as he +said, one thought alone remained with me. My one point was to secure to +thee after my death even a sufficient and quiet morsel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God not grant me to wait for that!" cried she, bending again to +the hand of Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in her voice there was such sincerity that the stern face of the +old noble was radiant with genuine joy for the moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dost thou love me a little?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, guardian!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God reward thee, child. My age is not yet so advanced, and my body, +save for the wounds in my heart and my person, would be sufficiently +stalwart. But as men say, death is ever sitting 'at the gate, and +knocks at the door whensoever it pleases. Were it to knock here thou +wouldst be alone in the world with Pani Vinnitski. Pan Grothus is a +good man and wealthy; he would respect my testament and wishes at all +times, but as to other relatives of my late wife--who knows what they +would do? And this estate and this mansion I got with my wife. Her +relatives might wish to resist, and raise lawsuits. There is need to +have foresight in all things. Pan Grothus gave advice touching this +case--true, it is effective--but strange, and therefore I will not +speak to thee yet of it. I should like to see His Grace the King--to +leave thee and my will to his guardianship, but the king is occupied +now with the coming war and the Diet. Pan Grothus says that if there is +war the troops will move first under the hetmans, and the king will +join them at Cracow--perhaps then--perhaps we shall go together. But +whatever happens, know this, my child; all that I have will be thine, +though I should have to follow at last the advice of Pan Grothus. +Yes!--even for one hour before death! Yes, so help me, God. For I am +not a wind in the field, not a harebrain, not a purse emptier, not a +Tachevski."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka returned to her room filled with gratitude toward her +guardian, who up to that hour had never spoken to her with such +kindness; and at the same time she was disenchanted, embittered, and +disgusted with the world and with people. In the first moment she could +not and knew not how to think calmly; she had only the feeling that a +grievous wrong had been done her, a great injustice, and that an +awfully keen disappointment had struck her.</p> + +<p class="normal">For her love, for her sorrow, for her yearning, for all that she had +done to bind the broken threads together, her only reward was a hateful +suspicion. And there was no remedy. She could not, of course, write to +Yatsek a second time, to justify herself and explain the position. A +blush of shame and humiliation covered her face at the mere thought of +this. Besides, she was almost sure that Yatsek had gone. And next would +come war; perhaps she would never behold him in life again; perhaps he +would fall and die with the conviction that a perverse and wicked heart +was in her bosom. All at once boundless sorrow seized her. Yatsek stood +before her eyes as if living, with his embrowned face and those pensive +eyes which more than once she had laughed at, as being the eyes of a +maiden.</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl's thought flies like a swift swallow after the traveller, and +calls to him: "Yatsek! I wish thee no evil! God sees my heart, Yatsek." +Thus does she call to him, but he makes no answer; he rides on straight +ahead. What does he think of her? He only frowns and spits from disgust +as he travels.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again there are pearls on her eyelids. A certain weakness has come on +her, a moment of resignation in which she says to herself: "Ah, this is +difficult! May God forgive him, and go with him, and never mind me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But her lips quiver like those of a child, her eyes look like those of +a tortured bird, and somewhere off in a hidden corner of her soul, +which is as pure as a tear, she blames God in the deepest secret for +that which has met her.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then again she felt certain that Yatsek had never loved her, and she +could not understand why he had not loved her, even a little.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My guardian spoke truly," said she.</p> + +<p class="normal">But later on came reflection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, that could not be."</p> + +<p class="normal">Immediately she recalled those words of Yatsek, which were fixed in her +memory as in marble. "Not thou art to go, I am the person to go; but I +say to thee: though for years I have loved thee more than health, more +than life, more than my own soul, I will never come back to thee. I +will gnaw my own hands off in torture, but, so help me, God, I will +never come back to thee." And he was pale as a wall when he said this, +and almost mad from pain and from anger. He had not come back, that was +true! He had appeared no more, he had left her, he had renounced her, +he had abandoned her, he had wronged her; with an unworthy suspicion he +and the priest had composed the dreadful letter--all that was true, and +her guardian was right in that. But that Yatsek had never loved her, +that after he had found money he had departed with a light and joyful +heart, that he thought of paying court to others, that he had ceased +altogether to think of her,--this was incredible. Her guardian might +think so in his carefulness, but the truth was quite different. He who +has no love does not grow pale, does not set his teeth, does not gnaw +his fists, does not rend his soul in anguish. Such being the case, the +young lady thought the difference was only this, that instead of one +two were now suffering, hence a certain consolation, and even a certain +hope, entered her. The days and months which were to come seemed +gloomier, it may be, but not so bitter. The words of the letter ceased +to burn her like red-hot iron, for though she doubted not that Yatsek +had assisted in the writing, it is one thing to act through sorrow and +pain, and another through deliberate malice.</p> + +<p class="normal">So again great compassion for Yatsek took hold of her; so great was it, +and especially so ardent, that it could not be simply compassion. Her +thoughts began to weave, and turn into a certain golden thread, which +was lost in the future, but which at the same time cast on her the +glitter of a wedding.</p> + +<p class="normal">The war would soon end and also the separation. That cruel Yatsek would +not return to Belchantska. Oh, no! a man so resolute as he when once he +says a thing will adhere to it; but he will come back to those parts, +and return to Vyrambki; he will live near by, and then that will happen +which God wishes. He went away it may be with tears, it may be with +pain, with wringing of hands--God comfort him! He will come home with a +full heart, and with joy, and, especially after war, with great glory.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile she will be there quietly in Belchantska, where her guardian +is so kind; she will explain to that guardian that Yatsek is not so bad +as other young men--and farther on moved that golden thread which began +to wind round her heart again.</p> + +<p class="normal">The goldfinch, in the Dantsic clock of the drawing-room, whistled out a +late hour, but sleep flew from the young lady altogether.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lying now in her bed she fixed her clear eyes on the ceiling and +considered what disposition to make of her troubles and sorrows. If +Yatsek had gone it was only because he was running away from her, for +according to what she had heard war was still far from them. Her +guardian had not mentioned that young Stanislav and the Bukoyemskis +were to go away also; it was proper to come to an understanding with +them and learn something of Yatsek, and say some kind word which might +reach him through them, even in distant camps, and in war time.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had not much hope that those gentlemen would come to Pan Gideon's, +for it was known to her that they had gone over to Yatsek, and that for +a certain time they had been looking with disfavor on Pan Gideon; but +she relied on another thing.</p> + +<p class="normal">In some days there would be a festival of the Most Holy Lady; a great +festival at the parish church of Prityk, where all the neighboring +nobles assembled with their families. She would see Pan Stanislav and +the Bukoyemskis, if not in front of the church then at dinner in the +priest's house. On that day the priest received every one.</p> + +<p class="normal">She hoped too that in the throng she would be able to speak with them +freely, and that she would not meet any hindrance from her guardian +who, though not very kind toward those gentlemen recently, could not +break with them in view of the service which they had shown him.</p> + +<p class="normal">To Prityk from Belchantska the road was rather long, and Pan Gideon, +who did not like hurry, passed the night at Radom, or at Yedlina, if he +chose the road through the latter place.</p> + +<p class="normal">This time because of the overflow they took the safer though longer +road through Radom, and started one day before the festival--on wheels, +not on runners, for winter had broken on a sudden, and thoroughly. +After them moved two heavily laden wagons with servants, provisions, a +bed and sofas for decent living at inns where they halted.</p> + +<p class="normal">The stars were still twinkling, and the sky had barely begun to grow +pale in the east when they started. Pani Vinnitski led morning prayers +in the dark. Pan Gideon and the young lady joined her with very drowsy +voices, for the evening before they had gone to bed late because of +preparations for the journey. Only beyond the village and the small +forest, in which thousands of crows found their night rest, did the +ruddy light shine on the equally ruddy face and drowsy eyes of the +young lady. Her lips were fixed ready for yawning, but when the first +sun-ray lighted the fields and the forest she shook herself out of the +drowsiness and looked around with more sprightliness, for the clear +morning filled her with a certain good hope, and a species of gladness. +The calm, warm, coming day promised to be really wonderful. In the air +appeared, as it were, the first note of early spring. After +unparalleled snows and frosts came warm sunny days all at once, to the +astonishment of people. Men had said that from the New Year it seemed +as if some power had cut off the winter as it were with a knife-blade, +and herdsmen foretold by the lowing of cattle, then restive in the +stables, that the winter would not come back again. In fact, spring +itself was then present. In furrows, in the forest, at the north side +of woods and along streams, strips of snow still existed; but the sun +was warming them from above, and from beneath were flowing out streams +and currents, making in places broad overflows in which were reflected +wet leafless trees, as in mirrors. The damp ridges of fields gleamed +like belts of gold in the sun-rays. At times a strong wind rose, but so +filled with gladsome warmth as if it came from out the sun's body +directly, and flying over the fields wrinkled the waters, throwing down +with its movement thousands of pearls from the slender dark twigs of +the tree branches.</p> + +<p class="normal">Because of the thaws and road "stickiness," and also because of the +weighty carriage which was drawn by six horses with no little effort, +they moved very slowly. As the sun rose more and more the air grew so +warm that Panna Sieninski untied the ribbons of her hood, which dropped +to the back of her head, and unbuttoned her weasel-skin shuba.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you so warm?" inquired Pani Vinnitski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spring, Auntie! real spring!" was the answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she was so charming with her bright and somewhat dishevelled head +pushed out from her hood, with laughing eyes and rosy face, that the +stern eyes of Pan Gideon grew mild as he glanced at her. For a while he +seemed as if looking at her then for the first time, and spoke as if +half to himself,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God lives thou art at thy best also!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She smiled at him in answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, how slowly we are moving," said she after a while. "The road is +awful! Is it not true that on a long road one should wait till it dries +somewhat?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon's face became serious, and he looked out of the carriage +without giving an answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yedlina!" said he, soon after.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then perhaps one may go to the church?" inquired Pani Vinnitski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will not, first because the church is sure to be closed, for the +priest has gone to Prityk, and second, because he has offended me +greatly, and I will hide my hand if he approaches." Then he added: "I +ask you, and thee also, Anulka, not to converse with him in any way."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence succeeded. Suddenly the tramping of horses was +heard behind the carriage, and the sounds made as the beasts pulled +their feet out of the mud; these resembled the firing of muskets,--then +piercing words were heard on both sides of the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the forehead! with the forehead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">That was from the Bukoyemskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the forehead!" answered Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is your grace for Prityk?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I go every year. I suppose your lordships are going also to the +festival?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may lay a wager on that," replied Marek. "One must be purified +from sin before war comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But is it not early yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should it be too early?" asked Lukash. "All that has been sinned +up to the moment will fall from one's shoulders, since that is the use +of absolution; and as to sins incurred later, the priest absolves from +those in presence of the enemy, <i>in partikulo mortis</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wish to say <i>in articulo</i>" corrected Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the same, if only repentance is real."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do you understand repentance?" inquired the amused Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How do I understand repentance? Father Vior, the last time, commanded +that we give ourselves thirty stripes in discipline, and we gave fifty; +for we thought: Well, since this pleases the Heavenly Powers, let them +have all they want of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this even the serious Pani Vinnitski laughed and Panna Anulka hid +her face in her sleeve as if warming her nose there.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lukash noticed, as did his brothers, that their answer had roused +laughter, hence they were somewhat offended and silent; so for a time +were heard only the rattling of chains on the carriage, the snorting of +horses, the sound of mud under hoofs, and the croaking of crows. +Immense flocks of these birds were sailing away in the sunlight from +small places and villages to the pine woods.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! they feel this very minute that there will be food even to wade +in," said the youngest Bukoyemski, turning his eyes toward the crows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, war is their harvest," said Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They do not feel it yet, for war is far off," said Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Far or near, it is certain!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how do you know?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We all know what the talk was at the district diets, and what +instructions will be given to the general Diet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, but it is not known if they were the same everywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Prylubski, who has travelled through a great part of the +Commonwealth, says they were the same everywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is Pan Prylubski?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He comes from Olkuts, and makes levies for the bishop of Cracow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But has the bishop commanded to make levies before the assembling of +the Diet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, your grace, how it is! This is the best proof that war is +certain. The bishop wants a splendid light cavalry regiment--well, Pan +Prylubski came to these parts because he has heard of us somewhat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ho! ho! Your glory has gone far through the world. Are you going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All of you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should we not all go? It is a good thing during war to have a +friend at one's side, and still better a brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, and Pan Stanislav?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He and Pan Yatsek will serve in one regiment."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon glanced quickly at the young lady sitting in front; a sudden +flame rushed over her cheeks, and he inquired further,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are they so intimate already? Under whom will they serve?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under Pan Zbierhovski."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course in the dragoons?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In God's name, what are you saying? That is the hussar regiment of +Prince Alexander."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it possible! Is it possible! That is no common regiment--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Yatsek is no common man."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon had it on his lips to say that such a stripling in the +hussars would be a soldier, not an officer, but he held back the +remark, fearing it might seem that his letter was not so polite, or his +help so considerable as he had told Anulka, so he frowned and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard of the mortgage of Vyrambki; how much was given on it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"More than you would have given," answered Marek, dryly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon's eyes glittered for a moment with savage anger, but he +restrained himself a second time, for it occurred to him that further +conversation might serve his purpose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the better," said he, "the cavalier must be satisfied."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis, though slow-witted by nature, began to exaggerate, one +more than the other, just to show Pan Gideon how little Tachevski cared +for him and all in his mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course!" called out Lukash, "when he went away he was almost wild +from delight. He sang so that the candles at the inn toppled over. It +is true, that we had drunk some at parting."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon looked again at Panna Sieninski, and saw that her rosy face +full of youth and life had become as it were petrified. Her hood had +fallen off entirely, her eyes were closed as in sleep; only from the +movement of her nostrils and the slight quivering of her chin could it +be known that she was not sleeping, but listening, and listening +intently. It was painful to look at her, but the merciless noble +thought,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If there is a splinter in thy heart yet will I pluck it out of thee!" +And he said aloud,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just as I expected--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did you expect?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That you gentlemen would be drunk at the parting, and that Pan +Tachevski would go away singing. Of course, he who is seeking fortune +must hurry, and if it smiles on him, perhaps he may catch it--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course!" exclaimed Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father Voynovski," added Marek, "gave Tachevski a letter to Pan +Zbierhovski, who is his friend, and in Zbierhova the land is such that +you can sow onions in any place,--and he has an only daughter, just +fifteen years of age. So don't you bother about Tachevski; he will make +his way without you, and without these sands around Radom!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not bother myself about him," said Pan Gideon, dryly. "But +perhaps you gentlemen are in a hurry to ride on? My carriage moves in +this mud like a tortoise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, here is to you with the forehead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the forehead! with the forehead! I am the servant of your +lordships!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are yours in the same way!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Having said this the brothers moved forward more speedily, but when +they had ridden an arrow-shot from the carriage they reined in again +and talked with animation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did ye see?" asked Lukash, "I said 'Of course!' twice, and twice I +thrust a sword into his heart as it were; he almost burst out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did better," said Marek, "for I struck both the girl and the old +man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How? Tell us, do not hide!" called the brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did ye not hear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We heard, but do thou repeat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I struck with what I said of Panna Zbierhovski. Ye saw how the girl +became pale? I looked at her; she had her hand on her knee and she +opened and closed it, opened and closed it, just like a cat before +scratching. A man could see that anger was diving down into her."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Mateush reined in his horse, and he added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was sorry for her--such a dear little flower--and do ye remember +what old Pan Serafin said?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did he say?" inquired, with great curiosity, Lukash, Marek, and +Yan, reining in their horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush looked at them a while through his protruding eyes, then said +as if in sorrow,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if I have forgotten?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile not only Pan Gideon, but Pani Vinnitski, who generally knew +very little of what was happening around her, turned attention to the +changed face of the young lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what is the matter, Anulka? Art thou cold?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," answered the girl, with a sort of sleepy voice which seemed not +her own. "Nothing is the matter, only the air affects me strangely--so +strangely."</p> + +<p class="normal">Though her voice broke from moment to moment she had no tears in her +eyes; on the contrary, in her dry pupils there glittered sparks +peculiar, uncommon, and her face had grown older. Seeing this Pan +Gideon said to himself,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would it not be better to strike while the iron is hot?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<p class="normal">Many nobles appeared at the festival from near and even distant places. +There were assembled the Kohanovskis, the Podgaiyetskis, the +Silnitskis, the Potvorovskis, the Sulgostovskis, Tsyprianovitch with +his son, the Bukoyemskis and many others. But the greatest interest was +roused by the arrival of Prince Michael Chartoryski, the voevoda of +Sandomir, who stopped at Prityk on his way to the Diet at Warsaw and, +in waiting for the festival, had passed some days in devotion. All were +glad of his presence, for he added splendor to the occasion, and at the +same time it was possible to learn from him no little touching public +questions. He spoke of the injustices which the Porte had committed +against the Commonwealth in fixing the boundary of Podolia, and the +raids which in defiance of treaties had ruined Russian lands recently. +He declared war to be certain. He said that a treaty with the Emperor +would be concluded beyond question, and that even adherents of France +would not show it open opposition, since the French court, though +unfriendly in general to the Empire, knew the peril in which the +Commonwealth found itself. Whether the Turks would hurl themselves +first against Cracow, or Vienna was unknown to Prince Michael, but it +was known to him that the enemy were preparing "arms and men" +at Adrianople, and in addition to the forces with Tököli at Koshytsi, +nay those in all Hungary, thousands were assembling from Rumelia, from +Asia, from regions on the Euphrates and the Tigris, from Africa, from +the Red Sea to the waves of the measureless ocean.</p> + +<p class="normal">The nobles heard this news eagerly; the older men, who knew how +gigantic was the power of the pagan, with anxiety in their faces, the +younger men with knit brows, and with fire in their glances. But hope +and enthusiasm were predominant, for fresh in their minds was the +memory of Hotsim, where the king reigning actually, a hetman at that +time, leading Polish forces, besieged a Turkish power greater than his +own, bore it apart upon sabres, and trampled it with horsehoofs. They +were comforted by the thought that the Turks, who rushed with +irresistible daring on all troops of other nations, felt their hearts +weaken when they had to stand eye to eye in the open field against that +terrible "Lehistan" cavalry. Still greater hope and still higher +enthusiasm were roused by the preaching of Father Voynovski. Pan Gideon +was somewhat afraid lest in that sermon there might be some reference +to sins, and certain points of blame which would touch him and his +treatment of Yatsek, but there was nothing of that sort. War and the +mission of the Commonwealth had swept the priest away heart and soul. +"Christ," said he, "has chosen thee among all the nations, He has +placed thee on guard before all the others, He has commanded thee to +stand beneath His cross and defend, to thy last drop of blood and the +last breath in thee, that faith which is the foundation of living. The +field of glory lies open before thee, hence, though blood were to flow +around thee on both sides, though arrows and darts were to stick in +thee, rise, lion of God, shake thy mane, and thunder so that from that +thunder the marrow will melt in the bones of the pagan, and crescents +and horse-tails will fall, like a pine wood in front of a tempest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus did Father Voynovski speak to the knightly hearers before him, +because he was an old soldier who had fought all his life and knew how +it was on the battlefield. When he spoke of war it seemed to those +present that they were looking on the canvases in the king's castle at +Warsaw, on which various battles and Polish victories were presented as +if real.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, now," said he, "the regiments are starting. Their spears are +lowered to a line with the middle of the horse-ears; they have bent +forward in the saddle, there is a cry of fear among the pagans, and +delight up in heaven. The Most Holy Mother runs to the window with all +her might, crying: 'Oh come, dear Son, and see how the Poles are +attacking!' The Lord Jesus with his holy cross blesses them. 'By God's +wounds!' he cries, 'there they are, my nobles, my warriors. Their pay +here is ready for them!' And the archangel, holy Michael, strikes his +palms on his thighs and shouts: 'Into them, the dog-brothers! Strike!' +That is how they rejoice up in heaven. And those down here cut and cut. +Men, standards, horses roll over and over. They rush across the bellies +of Janissaries, over captured cannon, and trampled crescents; they +advance to glory, to reward, to an accomplished mission, to salvation, +to immortality."</p> + +<p class="normal">When at last he finished with the words, "And Christ calls you, too; it +is your time now to the field of glory!" there rose a shout in the +church, and a clattering of sabres. At Mass, when during the Gospel +every blade sounded in its scabbard, and steel glittered in the +sunlight, it seemed to tender women that war had already begun; and +they fell to sobbing, committing their fathers and husbands and +brothers to the Most Holy Lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis, whispering among themselves, made a vow to move +immediately after the festival, and not to take to their lips, until +Easter, water, milk, or even beer, but content themselves with drinks +which keep up heat in the blood, and therefore valor.</p> + +<p class="normal">General enthusiasm was so great that even the cold, stern Pan Gideon +did not resist it. He thought for a while that, though his left arm was +missing, he might hold the reins in his teeth, and with his right hand +take vengeance once more for the wrongs which he had suffered from +cursed pagans, and besides gild anew his former services to the +Commonwealth. But he made no vow, and left the whole matter for further +meditation.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the service was concluded in splendor. From the cemetery were +fired cannon given by the Kohanovskis for important occasions. In the +tower the swinging bells thundered. The tame bear in the choir pumped +the organ with such vigor that the tin pipes almost flew from their +settings. The church was filled with smoke from censers, and trembled +from the voices of people. Mass was celebrated by the prelate +Tvorkovski, from Radom,--a learned man, full of sentences, quotations, +examples, and proverbs; at the same time he was gladsome, and knew the +world thoroughly. For these reasons, men went to him for counsel in +every question; and so did Pan Gideon, who went the more readily, as +the prelate was a friend of his. On the eve of the festival, Pan Gideon +was with him at confession; but when, besides the confession, he began +to acknowledge his intentions, the object of which was Panna Anulka, +the prelate deferred that to a later and special meeting, saying that +he had barely time to hear the sins of common people. "On the way back +from the festival," said he to Pan Gideon, "you can send home the women +and stay with me at Radom, where, <i>procul negotiis</i> (far from +business), I can listen to you in freedom."</p> + +<p class="normal">And thus did they manage. Hence, a day later they sat down before a +decanter of worthy Hungarian and a plate of roast almonds, which the +prelate took with wine very willingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am silent," said he; "and attentive--speak on!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon took a draught from the glass and looked from his iron eyes +with some discontent at the prelate, because the latter had not eased +his conversation by a proper beginning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hm! somehow it is not easy; I see that it is more difficult than I +imagined."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will help you. Did you wish to speak of some holy thing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of a holy thing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes; which has two heads and four feet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What sort of holy thing is that?" asked Pan Gideon, astonished.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I mention a riddle. Guess it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear prelate, whoso has important affairs in his head has no time +for riddles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pshaw! Think a while!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some holy thing with two heads and four feet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God lives, I know not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is holy matrimony. Is that not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, as God is dear to me! Yes, yes, precisely on that subject do I +wish to talk with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is a question of Anulka Sieninski?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of her exactly. Do you see, my benefactor, she, of course, is not my +relative, or if she is, the relationship is so distant that no one +could prove it. But I have become attached to her, for I reared her, +and I am bound in gratitude to her family, for what the Pangovskis had +in Russia, just as the Jolkievskis, Danilovitches, and Sobieskis, they +had from the Sieninskis, or through them. I should like to leave the +orphan what I have, but in fact the fortune of the Pangovskis has +vanished through Tartar attacks; there remains only the estate of my +late wife. It is mine; she left it by will to me; but this place is +full of her relatives. First of all is Pan Grothus, the starosta of +Raigrod. I do not fear him, for he is rich beyond need, and a good man. +For that matter it was he who gave me this idea, which before that had +occurred, it is true, more than once to me; for the desire was at the +bottom of my heart in a slumber, but he roused it. In addition to Pan +Grothus are the Sulgostovskis, the Krepetskis, the Zabierzovskis. These +look even to-day with ill-will at the young lady; but how would they +look after my death? If I make a will and leave what I own to her they +will go to the courts; there will be lawsuits dragging on from tribunal +to tribunal. How could she, poor thing, help herself? I cannot leave +her in such a condition. Attachment, compassion, and gratitude are +strong links. I ask with a clear conscience if I am not bound to secure +her even in such a way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate bit a nut in two and showed the second half to Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know why this nut pleases me? Because it is good! If it were +decayed I would not eat it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then that Anulka pleases your taste, for she is an almond. Hai! and +what an almond! If she were fifty years old it is certain that your +conscience would not be so troubled concerning her future."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon was confused at this, but the prelate continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not take this ill of you, for, as you see, there must be a good +reason for everything, and God has so arranged that every man prefers a +young turnip to an old one. With wine it is different, therefore we +agree willingly as to wine with the arrangement of Providence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, it is true. Except wine, what is young is better always; Pan +Kohanovski wrote only humorously, that an old man, like an old oak, is +better than a young one. This is the one question for me: if I leave +property to her as my wife no one will dare move a finger; but if I +leave it to her as a ward, there will be many lawsuits and quarrels, +and perhaps armed attacks also. Who could protect her from the latter? +Of course not Pani Vinnitski!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is undoubted."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But since I am neither a giddy nor an empty man, I did not wish to +decide this alone, hence I have come to you to confirm me in the +conviction that I am acting wisely, and that you will support me with +clear counsel."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate thought a while, and then added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, that advice in a matter of this kind is difficult, and a man +repeats more than once to himself with Bœtius, <i>Si tacuisses, +philosophus mansisses</i> (if thou remain silent, thou wilt be a +philosopher); or with Job, 'Even a fool if he remain silent will be +considered a wise man.' Your intention, in so far as it is roused by +warm affection, is justified, and in so far also as it flows from care +for the good of the girl, is even praiseworthy. But will not some +injustice be done her, will there not be need to constrain her, or to +lead her with threats to the altar? For I have heard that she and +Yatsek Tachevski are in love. And truly, without beating about the +bushes, I have more than once seen him a frequent guest at your +mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you seen?" inquired Pan Gideon, abruptly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing sinful, but signs through which intimacy and love are denoted. +I saw more than once how they held each other's hands longer than was +needed, how they followed each other with their eyes. I saw him once in +a tree dropping cherries down into her apron, and how they so looked at +each other that the cherries fell to the ground past one rim of the +apron. I saw her when looking at flying storks lean on him, and +then--women are always subtle--scold him for coming too near her. And +what more did I see? Various things which prove secret wishes. You will +say that this is nothing. Of course, nothing! But that she felt the +will of God toward him as much, or more, than he toward her, only a +blind man could help seeing, and I wonder that you did not see this. I +wonder still more, if you did see it, that you did not stop it in view +of your own intentions."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon had seen and known this, but still the words of the prelate +produced on him a terrible impression. It is one thing when some +pain-causing secret is hidden in the heart, and quite another when a +strange hand pushes into one's bosom and shakes up that secret. So now +his face became purple, his eyes filled with blood, a great bunch of +veins came out on his forehead, and he began to pant on a sudden, and +to breathe so quickly that the prelate, in alarm, asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon answered, with a motion of the hand, that it was nothing, +but he remained silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drink some wine," cried the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stretched out his arm and with trembling hand took the glass, raised +it to his lips, drank, blew through his lips, and whispered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It darkened before my eyes just a trifle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because of what I told you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. That for some time has occurred to me often, but now I am fatigued +by the fast, by the journey, and by the spring, which is unexpected and +early."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then perhaps it would be better not to wait for May, but be bled +immediately."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will be bled, but I will rest a while now, and we will return later +on to this business."</p> + +<p class="normal">A fairly long time passed before Pan Gideon recovered completely, but +at last he recovered. The veins relaxed on his forehead, his heart +began to beat evenly, and he continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not say that strength fails me. Were I to squeeze with my one +hand I could crush, as I think, this silver goblet very easily; but +though strength and health are both in God's hand they are not +identical."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man's life is fragile!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But just because of that, if something is to be done there is need to +act quickly. You speak, my benefactor, of Pan Yatsek and that affection +which the young people might feel for each other. I will say sincerely +that I was not blind. I too saw what was happening, but only in recent +days did I note it; for remember that till recently she was a green +berry, which even now has barely ripened. He came every day, it is +true, but because, perhaps, he had not much to eat in his own house; +besides, I received him, as it were, through compassion. Father +Voynovski trained him in Latin and at the sabre, and I gave him +nourishment. That's the whole story. Only a year ago he reached +manhood. I looked on them as children who were thinking of various +plays and amusements. I considered it an ordinary occurrence. But that +such a pauper should dare to think; and, besides, of whom?--of Panna +Anulka! That, I confess, never came to my mind, and only in the last +hours did I take note of anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense! A pauper is a pauper, but Tachevski--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of Hungerdeath! No, my benefactor, he who licks a stranger's saucepan +should be asked only into dogs' company. When I saw what kind of man he +was I looked at him more carefully, and know you what I found? This, +that not merely was he a pauper and a giddy head, but a venomous +reptile, ever ready to sting the hand feeding him. Thank God he is +gone; but he has stung, not me alone, but that innocent maiden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon began to relate how it was, painting with such blackness the +deeds of Tachevski that a hangman might have been called in immediately +to take him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never fear, my benefactor," said he at last. "During our journey to +Prityk the Bukoyemskis poured out in full to Anulka; ah, to the full so +completely that it flowed over, and now the situation is such that +never will the girl feel such abhorrence for any creature of God as for +that whipper-snapper, that roysterer, that abortion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be moderate, or your blood will boil again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True. And I did not wish to speak of him, but of this, that I have not +in view any injustice to the girl, or any constraint. Persuasion is +another thing, but even that should be used by a stranger, yet by a man +who is at the same time her friend and mine,--a man known for wit and +dignity, who can use noble phrases, move the heart and convince the +reason. Hence my desire is to beg you, my special benefactor, to see to +this. You will not refuse me; you will do this, not merely from +friendship, you will do it because it is honorable and proper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a question of her good and of yours, hence I will not refuse; +but I should like to have time to decide how this may be accomplished +most easily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will go at once to the barber and have myself bled, so as to go +home clearer witted,--but do you make your plan. For you that will not +be difficult, and on the other side there will be, as I think, no +obstacle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There can be only one obstacle, lord brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Friendship should tell the truth, hence I speak freely. You are an +honorable person, I know that, but rather stubborn. You have this +reputation, and you have it because your dependants all fear you +tremendously. Not only the peasants, concerning whom you have +quarrelled with Father Voynovski, but your servants, attendants, and +managers. Tachevski feared you, Pani Vinnitski fears you, the young +lady fears you. Two matchmakers will appear according to custom. I will +do what I can, but I will not guarantee that the other may not destroy +all my labor."</p> + +<p class="normal">During one moment Pan Gideon's eyes flashed with anger, for he did not +like to have the truth told in his presence; but amazement now +conquered his anger, so he asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of what are you speaking? What other matchmaker is there?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fear," said the prelate.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<p class="normal">They were unable to go that same day to Belchantska, for Pan Gideon +weakened considerably after bleeding, and said that some rest was +needed. Next morning, however, he felt brighter; he had grown young, as +it were, and he approached his own mansion with good hope, though with +a certain disquiet. Occupied with his own thoughts entirely, he spoke +little along the way with the prelate, but when they were entering the +village he felt his disquiet increasing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is a wonder to me," said he. "Ere this time I came home as a man +who is master, and all others were concerned about this, with what face +would I greet them; while now I am the anxious one, I ask myself how +will they greet me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Virgil has said," replied the prelate, "'<i>amor omnia vincit</i>' (love +conquers everything), but he forgot to add, that it changes everything +also. This Delilah will not shear your locks, for you are bald, but +that I shall see you spinning at her feet, as Hercules spun at the feet +of Omphale, is certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ei! my nature is not of that kind. I have known always how to hold in +my fists both servants and household."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So people say, but for this very reason it lies in the position that +some one will take you in hand very thoroughly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The hand is a dear one!" said Pan Gideon, with a joyousness which for +him was unusual.</p> + +<p class="normal">They drove very slowly, for the mud in the village was terrible; since +they had started from Radom not so soon after midday, night had fallen +already. In the cottages at the two sides of the road light came from +the windows and stretched in red lines to the cottages opposite. Here +and there near the fence appeared some human form, that of a woman, or +of a man who, seeing the travellers, bared his head and bowed as low as +his girdle. It was clear from these bowings, which seemed excessive, +that Pan Gideon held people in his fist, nay more, that he held them +too firmly, and that Father Voynovski blamed him, not without reason, +for tyranny. But the old noble felt in his bosom a softer heart than +had ever been in it till that evening, so looking at those bent +figures, and seeing the windows of those cottages leaning earthward, he +said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will grant some favor to those subjects whose part she takes +always."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, see to it that thou do so," said the prelate.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they were silent. Pan Gideon was occupied for a time with his own +thoughts, then he added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that you need no advice in this matter; but you must explain to +the lady what a benefaction is becoming ready for her, and that I think +about her first of all; but in case of resistance, which I do not +expect,--well, then even scold her in some degree."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You said that you did not wish to constrain her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I said so, but it is one thing if I were to threaten, and another if +some one else, who, besides, is a spiritual person, exposes her +ingratitude."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave that task to me. I have undertaken it and will use my best +efforts; but I will talk to the girl in the most tender way possible."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, very well! But one word more. She feels great abhorrence +for Tachevski, but should there be any mention of him it would be well +to say something more against him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he has acted as you say, this will not be needed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are arriving. Well! In the name of the Father and the Son--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the Holy Ghost--Amen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They arrived, but no one came out to meet them, for the wheels made no +sound because of deep mud, and the dogs did not bark at the horses or +at the men, whom they recognized. It was dark in the hall, for the +servants were evidently sitting in the kitchen; and it happened that +when Pan Gideon first called, "Is any one here?" no one came to him, +and at the second call, in sharper tones, the young lady herself +appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">She came holding a light in her hand, but since she was in the gleam of +it and they in the darkness she, not seeing them at once, remained near +the threshold; and they did not speak for a moment since to begin with, +it seemed a special sign to them, that she had come out before others, +and second, because her beauty astonished them as much as if they had +never beheld it till that moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">The fingers with which she grasped the candle seemed transparent and +rosy; the gleam crept along her bosom, lighted her lips and her small +face which looked somewhat drowsy and sad, perhaps because her eyes +were in a deep shade while her forehead and the glorious bright hair, +which was as a crown just above it, were still in full radiance. And +she all in quiet and splendor stood there in the gloom like an angel +created from ruddy brightness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, as God is dear to me, a vision!" said the prelate.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Pan Gideon called,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anulka!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Leaving the light on a nitch of the chimney, she ran to them and gave +greeting, joyously. Pan Gideon pressed her to his heart with much +feeling, commanded her to rejoice at the arrival of a guest so +distinguished, a man famous as a giver of counsel, and when after +greeting they entered the dining-hall he asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is supper over?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. The servants were to bring it from the kitchen, and that is why no +one was standing at the entrance."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate looked at the old noble, and asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then perhaps without waiting?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no," answered Pan Gideon, "Pani Vinnitski will be here directly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon Pani Vinnitski made herself felt in reality, and fifteen +minutes later they sat down to heated wine and fried eggs. The prelate +ate and drank well, but at the end of the supper his face became +serious, and he said, turning to Panna Anulka,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My gracious young lady, God knows why people call me a counsellor and +why they take advice of me, but since your guardian does so, I must +speak with you on a certain task of importance which he has given my +poor wit to accomplish."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Pan Gideon heard this, the veins swelled on his forehead; the +young lady paled somewhat, and rose in disquiet, for, through some +unknown reason, it seemed to her that the prelate would talk about +Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I beg you to another room," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they left the dining-hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon sighed deeply once and a second time; then he drummed on the +table with his fingers, and feeling the need of talking down his +internal emotion by words of some kind, he said to Pani Vinnitski,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you noticed how all the relatives of my late wife hate Anulka?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Especially the Krepetskis," answered Pani Vinnitski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! they almost grit their teeth when they see her; but soon they will +grit them still harder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will learn in good season; but meanwhile we must find a bed for +the prelate."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a time Pan Gideon was alone. Two servants came to remove the +supper dishes, but he sent them away with a quick burst of anger, and +there was silence in the dining-hall, only the great Dantsic clock +repeated loudly and with importance: tik-tak! tik-tak! Pan Gideon +placed his hand on his bald head and began to walk in the chamber. He +approached the door beyond which the prelate was talking with Anulka, +but he heard merely sounds in which he distinguished the voice but not +the words of the prelate. So in turn he walked and halted. He went to +the window, for it seemed to him that there he would breathe with more +freedom. He looked for a while at the sky, with eyes from which +expression had vanished,--that sky over which the wind was hurrying the +torn clouds of spring, with light on their upper edges through which +the pale moon seemed to rise higher and higher. As often as he rested +an evil foreboding took hold of him. He looked through the window close +to which black limbs of trees were wrestling back and forth with the +wind, as if in torment; in the same way his thoughts were struggling +back and forth, disordered, evil, resembling reproaches of conscience, +and painful forebodings that some bad thing would happen, and that near +punishment was waiting--but when it grew bright out of doors, again +better hope entered him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Every one has a right to think of his own happiness--as to Yatsek +Tachevski it was of little importance what such people do! What was the +question at present? The happiness and calm future of a young girl; but +besides this there smiled on him a little life in his old age--and this +belongs to him. This only is real, the rest is wind, wind!</p> + +<p class="normal">And he felt again a turning of the head, and black spots danced before +his vision, but that lasted very briefly. Then he approached the door +behind which his fate was in the balance. Meanwhile the light on the +table acquired a long wick and the chamber grew gloomy. At times the +voice of the prelate became sharper, so that words would have reached +the ear of Pan Gideon had it not been for that loud and continuous +"tik-tak." It was easy to understand that such a conversation could not +end quickly, still, Pan Gideon's alarm grew and grew, turning, as it +were, into certain wonderful questions woven into the past, with +memories not only of former misfortunes and pain, but also of former +unextinguished transgressions, of former grievous sins, and of recent +injustices inflicted not only on Tachevski, but on others.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why and wherefore shouldst thou be happy?" asked his conscience.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he would have given at that moment he knew not how much if even +Pani Vinnitski might return to the chamber, so that he should not be +alone with those thoughts of his. But Pani Vinnitski was occupied +somewhere with work in another part of the mansion, while in that +dining-hall there was nothing but the clock with its "tik-tak!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For what deed should God reward thee?" asked his conscience.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon felt now that if that girl, who was at once like a flower +and an angel, should fail him, there would be a darkness in his life +which would last till the night of death should descend on him.</p> + +<p class="normal">With that the door opened on a sudden and Panna Sieninski came in from +the next chamber. She was pale; there were tears in her eyes; and +behind her was the prelate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Art thou weeping?" asked Pan Gideon, with a hoarse, stifled voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"From gratitude, guardian," cried she, stretching her hands to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">And she fell at his knees there.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<p class="normal">That evening, or late at night, Pani Vinnitski appeared in the room of +her relative, and, finding the young lady still dressed, she talked to +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot recover from amazement," said she; "sooner should I have +looked for death than that such an idea should have come to the head of +Pan Gideon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Neither did I look for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it then? And is it so, really? I know not what to do, to be +glad, or the opposite. We know that the prelate as a spiritual person +has better judgment than the laity. He is right when he says that till +death thou wilt have a roof over thy head, and that roof thy own, not +another's. But Pan Gideon is old"--here she spoke lower--"art thou not +a little afraid of him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is all in the past; there is nothing to think of at present," +answered Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How dost thou say that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say that I owe him gratitude for a refuge, and a morsel of bread, +and that these are poorly paid for by my person which no one else cares +for; but since he cares, that too, is a favor on his part."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He began long ago to wish for this," said the old woman mysteriously. +"After he had talked to-day with thee he called me. I thought that +there was something wrong with the supper, and that he would reproach +me, but he said nothing. I saw that for some reason he was cheerful, +and all at once he broke the news to me. My legs trembled under me. +'What is the matter?' asked he. 'You are turned, like Lot's wife, to a +pillar of salt,' said he. 'Is it because I have taken such a mushroom?' +'No,' I answered, 'but because it is so unexpected.' 'With me,' said +he, then, 'that is an old idea. Like a fish at the bottom of a river it +was unknown till some one helped it to swim to the surface. And dost +thou know who that was?' I felt sure that it was the prelate. 'Not at +all,' said he, 'but Pan Grothus.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I thought Pan Yatsek--" said Anulka through her set teeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why Yatsek?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To show that he did not care for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou knowest that Yatsek has not seen Pan Gideon."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Anulka began to repeat feverishly,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, I know! He had something else in his head! Let that go! I do not +want to know anything. I do not, I do not! It is all finished, and +finished forever."</p> + +<p class="normal">A dry, nervous weeping shook her bosom. After a moment she repeated +again,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is finished beyond recall!" Then they knelt down to an "Our +Father," which they repeated each evening in company.</p> + +<p class="normal">Next day Anulka appeared with a calm face, but something had changed in +her, something remained unexpressed, something had shut itself up in +her. She was not sad, but all at once, she had grown, as it were, some +years older, and she had in her now a certain calm dignity, so that Pan +Gideon, who hitherto had taken into account himself only, began without +noting it, to consider her also. In general he was unable to command +himself, and it seemed to him specially strange that he felt in some +sense his dependence on Anulka. He began to fear those thoughts which +she did not express, but which she might conceal in her spirit. He +tried to forestall such, and put in place of them others, of the kind +which he wanted. Even the silence of Pani Vinnitski was oppressive and +seemed to him suspicious; so he worked out fantastic pictures, talked, +joked, but there flashed up in his steel eyes at times certain gleams +of impatience.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile news of his engagement had gone through the neighborhood. Of +this engagement he now made no secret; on the contrary, he sent letters +announcing it to Pan Serafin, and to his nearest neighbors; he wrote +letters to the Kohanovskis, to the Podlodovskis, to the Sulgostovskis, +to Pan Grothus, to the Krepetskis, and even to distant relatives of his +late wife, with invitations to the betrothal, after which the marriage +would be celebrated immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon would have preferred to get a dispensation from the banns +even, but unfortunately it was the Lenten season, and he had to wait +till after Easter. He took both women, therefore, to Radom where the +young lady was to find her wedding outfit, and he to buy horses more +showy than those which he had at that time in his stables.</p> + +<p class="normal">Reports came to him that among the relatives who had hoped to inherit +everything not only after his late wife, but after him, there was as +much movement as there is in a beehive; but this pleased him, since he +hated them all from his innermost spirit, and was planning at all times +to harm them. Those tidings of meetings, whispered conferences, and +counsels shortened his visit to Radom. And when at last his stay there +was ended, and the horses together with new harness were purchased, he +returned on Easter eve to his mansion. Guests began to arrive almost at +the same time, for the betrothal was to take place on the third day +after Easter.</p> + +<p class="normal">First came the Krepetskis who were both the nearest relatives and +nearest neighbors. The father was almost eighty years old, with the +visage of a vulture, and renowned as a miser. He had three daughters: +Tekla, the youngest, was pretty and pleasant; Agneshka and Johanna were +not youthful, they were testy old maids with pimples on their cheeks at +all seasons. He had a son, Martsian, nicknamed Pniak (stump) in the +neighborhood. He bore the name justly, for at the first glance he +seemed a great stump; he had a mighty chest, and broad shoulders. His +bow-legs were so short that he was almost dwarflike, and his arms +reached his kneepans. Some thought him a hunchback; he was not, +however, but his head without a neck was fixed so closely to his body +that his high shoulders reached his ears, very nearly. Out of that +head peered prominent, lustful eyes, and his face was like that of a +he-goat. A small beard which he wore as if in defiance of general +custom, increased the resemblance.</p> + +<p class="normal">He did not serve as a warrior, for he had been ridiculed from service, +for which reason he had had in his time many duels. There was uncommon +strength in his stumpy body, and people feared him in all places, since +he was a quarreller and a road-blocker, who, in every affair, was glad +to seek pretexts; he was as irritable as a vicious beast, and wounded +savagely in Radom one Krepetski, his cousin, a handsome and worthy +young man who almost died of the injuries then inflicted. He felt +respect only for Yatsek, whose skill at the sabre was known to him, and +before the Bukoyemskis, one of whom, Lukash, threw him over a fence +like a bundle of straw once in Yedlina. He had the deserved reputation +of being a great profligate. Pan Gideon had driven him out of the +mansion a few years before that, because he had looked too much in goat +fashion at Panna Anulka, a little girl at that period. But since then +some years had passed, and, as they had met later in Radom, and in +neighboring houses, Pan Gideon invited him now with the family.</p> + +<p class="normal">Immediately after the Krepetskis came the Sulgostovskis, twin brothers, +who so resembled each other that when they put on coats of like fashion +no man could distinguish them; next came three remote Sulgostovskis +from beyond Prityk--and then a numerous family formed of nine people, +the handsome Zabierzovskis. From Yedlinka came Pan Serafin, but alone, +since his son had gone to his regiment already; Pan Podlodovski, the +starosta, once the agent of the great lord in Zamost; the Kohanovskis; +the priest from Prityk; the prelate Tvorkovski from Radom, who was to +bless the ring, and many small nobles from near and distant places, +some even without invitation, with this idea, that a guest though quite +unknown would be sure to find welcome, and that when there is a chance +to eat and drink a man should not miss it.</p> + +<p class="normal">Belchantska was crowded with carriages and wagons, the stables were +filled with horses, the outbuildings with servants of all sorts; +everywhere in the mansion were colored coats, sabres, shaven foreheads; +and with these went Latin, the twittering of women, farthingales, +laces, and various ornaments. Maids were flying around with hot water, +and tipsy servants with excellent wine in decanters. From morning until +night-hours the kitchen was steaming like a tar pit. The windows of the +mansion gleamed and flashed every evening, so that the whole place +around there was radiant.</p> + +<p class="normal">And amid all this tumult Pan Gideon moved through the chambers, walked +about and gave welcome, magnificent, important, grown young as it were +for the second time, dressed in crimson, and wearing a sabre which +glittered with jewels, a sabre which Panna Anulka had inherited; it was +her only dowry from wealthy forefathers. If giddiness seized him he +leaned on an armchair, and again he moved forward, showed honor to +guests who were personages, and struck one heel against the other when +greeting older ladies; but above all he followed with eyes which were +more and more enamoured "his Anulka," who bloomed in that many-colored +throng. Amid glances which were frequently ill-wishing, frequently +jealous, and filled sometimes with venom, she was as fair as a lily, +somewhat sad, or only conscious, it may be, of the weight of that fact +which she had to encounter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus things continued till the evening of the third day, that is, +Tuesday, when the mortars of the mansion thundered in the yard, thus +announcing to the guests and the country that the solemn moment had +come, the moment of betrothal.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guests ranged themselves then as a half-circle in the drawing-room, +men and women in splendid costumes bright as a rainbow in the light of +the candles. In front of them stood Pan Gideon and Panna Anulka. +Silence settled down, and the eyes of all people were fixed on the +bride, who with downcast eyes, with attention and dignity on her face, +without a smile, but not sad, seemed as if drowsy.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate Tvorkovski in his surplice, having near him young Tekla +Krepetski, who held a silver plate with rings on it, advanced from the +half-circle and addressed those who were soon to be married. He spoke +learnedly, long, and with eloquence, showing what were the <i>sponsalia +de futuro</i>, and what great importance from the earliest days of +Christianity was attached to betrothals. He quoted Tertullian, and the +Council of Trent, and the opinion of various learned canonists, then +turning to Pan Gideon and Panna Sieninski he explained to them how wise +their decision was, what great benefaction they promised each other, +and how their future happiness depended on themselves only.</p> + +<p class="normal">Those present listened with admiration, but also with impatience, for +as relatives from whom their inheritance was slipping they looked on +that marriage with repugnance. Pan Gideon, who from standing long had +grown dizzy, began to rest on one leg and then on the other, and to +give signs with his eyes to the prelate to finish; these signs he was +not quick to notice, but at last he blessed the rings and put them on +the fingers of the affianced.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the mortars thundered again in the yard, and from the gallery in +the dining-hall was heard a loud orchestra made up of five Radom Jews +who played nicely. The guests came now in turn to congratulate, for the +greater part with sourness and insincerely. The two Krepetski old maids +simply jeered as they courtesied to their "Aunt," and Pan Martsian, +when kissing her hands, recommended himself to her graces with such a +goat glance that Pan Gideon ought to have driven him from the mansion a +second time.</p> + +<p class="normal">But others, more remote relatives, being better and less greedy, gave +sincere, cordial wishes. Now the door of the dining-hall was thrown +open; Pan Gideon gave his arm to his betrothed, and after him moved the +other couples amid the glitter and the quivering of flames caused by a +sudden cold gust which had blown through the entrance. From the kitchen +came the servants, half tipsy, with decanters of wine and an +unreckonable number of dishes.</p> + +<p class="normal">From the opening of doors there was such cold air in the dining-hall +that guests, while sitting down to the table, were seized the first +moment with a shiver, while the flickering of candles made the whole +hall, in spite of its elegant furnishing, seem dark and gloomy. But it +was proper to hope that wine would soon warm the blood in all present, +and wine was not spared by Pan Gideon. He was rather stingy in +every-day life, but on exceptional occasions he liked so to show +himself that people spoke long of him afterward. This happened now. +Behind every guest an attendant was standing with a mossy and +big-bellied bottle, while under the table were hidden a number of +servants with bottles also, so that in case a guest could not find more +to drink on the table he put down a goblet twixt his knees and they +filled it immediately. Immense glasses for drinkers, great goblets, +glittered in front of each man, but before ladies were smaller glasses, +either French or Italian.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guests did not occupy the whole table, however, for Pan Gideon had +commanded to set more plates than there were guests in the mansion. The +prelate cast his eyes on those empty places and fell to praising the +hospitality of the house and the master; at that moment he rose in his +chair somewhat, wishing to arrange the folds of his soutane, hence +those present supposed that he was going to offer the earliest toast, +and were silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are listening!" said a number of voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, there is no reason," said the prelate, with joyousness. "There is +no toast yet, though the time will come soon for it. I see some of you +gentlemen rubbing your heads rather early, and the Kohanovskis are +whispering as well as counting on their fingers. It is difficult to +expect rhymes from any if not from the Kohanovskis. I wish to say only +that it is an old Polish and praiseworthy custom to leave thus a place +for a guest who is unexpected."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh," answered Pan Gideon, "as the house is lighted up some one may +come from the darkness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And perhaps some one is coming," said Kohanovski. "It may be Pan +Grothus?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No-- Pan Grothus has gone to the Diet. If a man comes he will be +unexpected."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the earth is soft, we shall not hear him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, a dog is barking under the window, so some one is coming."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one will drive in from that side, for the windows look into the +garden."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the dog is not barking, he is howling."</p> + +<p class="normal">That was the case really. The dog had barked once, twice, a third time, +then the barking turned to a low, gloomy howling.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Gideon quivered despite himself, for he remembered how years and +years earlier in another place, at his house, which stood five miles +from Pomorani, in Russia, dogs had howled in the same way before a +sudden onrush of Tartars.</p> + +<p class="normal">The thought came to Panna Anulka, that she had no cause to expect any +one, and that should any man come to her from the darkness to that +lighted mansion he would be late in his coming. But it seemed somehow +strange to other guests, all the more as the first dog was joined by a +second, and a double howl was heard now near that window. So they +listened in disagreeable silence, which was broken only after a while +by Martsian Krepetski,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"A guest at whom the dogs howl is nothing to us," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wine!" called Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the glasses were full, hence there was no need to pour at that +moment. Old Krepetski, father of Martsian, rose from his chair somewhat +heavily, wishing to speak, as seemed evident. All turned their eyes to +him. Old men began to surround their ears with their hands to hear +better, but he only moved his lips after long waiting, his chin almost +meeting his nose, for he was toothless.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, notwithstanding the fact that the earth was soft from +thawing, there came from the other side of the house, as it were, a +dull clatter and it was heard rather long, long enough to go twice +round the courtyard. Hence old Krepetski, who had raised his glass, +held it a while, looked at the door, and then put the glass down again; +other guests acted in like manner.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See who has come!" said Pan Gideon to his attendant.</p> + +<p class="normal">The youth rushed out, returned straightway, and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is strange," said the prelate. "The sound was heard clearly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We all heard it," said one of the twin Sulgostovskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the dogs have stopped howling," said others.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then the door of the entrance, badly fastened by the servant, as was +evident, opened of itself, and a new draught of air entered with such +violence that it quenched from ten to twenty candles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is that?" "Shut the door!" "The candles are dying!" said a number +of voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">But with the wind had rushed into the hall, as it were, some unknown +terror. Pani Vinnitski, who was superstitious and timid, began then to +cross herself audibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Woman! be silent!" commanded Pan Gideon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then turning to Panna Sieninski he kissed her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A quenched candle cannot trouble my gladness," said he, "and God grant +me to be as happy to the end of my days as I am at this moment. Is that +not right, my Anulka?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, guardian," said she, bending toward his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen!" ended the prelate, who rose to address them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious ladies and gentlemen, since that unexpected sound stopped, as +is evident, Pan Krepetski's ideas let me be the earliest expounder of +those feelings with which our hearts are warmed toward the future wife +and her husband. Hence, ere we cry out <i>O Hymen, O Hymenaios</i>, before +we, in Roman fashion, begin to call Thalassius, the beautiful youth who +God grant may appear at the earliest, let us raise <i>ex imo</i> this first +toast to their prosperity and coming happiness: <i>Vivant, crescant, +floreant</i>" (may they live, increase, flourish).</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Vivant! Vivant!</i>" thundered all guests.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Radom orchestra was heard that moment, and outside the windows the +drivers fell to cracking their whips.</p> + +<p class="normal">Long did the shouts last, with the stamping of feet, the sounding of +horns and the cracking of whips. The servants, too, raised a shout +throughout the whole mansion, and in the dining-hall, amid endless +cheers, rose great sounds of wine-gulping.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Vivant, crescant, floreant!</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">Silence came only when Pan Gideon stood up, raised his glass, and said +in a loud voice,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My guests and relatives, very gracious and most dear to my heart! I +express with inadequate words my gratitude to all; I will first bow to +you profoundly for that brotherly and neighborly good-feeling which you +have shown me by meeting here under my poor roof in such numbers--"</p> + +<p class="normal">The words "under my poor roof" were pronounced with a kind of +marvellously mild, and, as it were, submissive accents, then he sat +down and bent his head, so that the forehead rested really on the +table. And the guests wondered that a man usually so distant and so +haughty should speak with such affection. They thought that great +happiness melts even hearts the most obdurate, and, waiting for what he +had to say further, they looked at his iron-gray head resting yet on +the edge of the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Silence! We are listening!" said voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in fact deep silence had followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pan Gideon was motionless.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter? What has happened? For God's sake! Speak on!" +cried they.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Pan Gideon answered only with a terrible rattling; then his +shoulders and arms began on a sudden to quiver.</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Sieninski sprang from her chair pale as a wall, and cried in +terrified accents,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guardian! guardian!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At the table were dismay and confusion; cries and questions rose +everywhere. Guests surrounded Pan Gideon, the prelate seized his arms +and brought him to the back of the chair, some began to throw water on +him, others cried, "Take him to the bed and bleed him as quickly as +possible." Some of the women were tearful; some ran, as if frantic, +through the chambers with groans or with sharp lamentation. But Pan +Gideon remained sitting, his head was thrown back, the veins in his +forehead were distended like straps, his eyes were closed firmly, the +hoarseness and rattling grew louder.</p> + +<p class="normal">The unexpected guest had come indeed out of darkness and entered the +mansion, dreadful and merciless.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<p class="normal">The servants, at command of the prelate, bore the sick man to the other +end of the mansion, to the "chancellery," which served Pan Gideon also +as a bedroom. They sent immediately for the village blacksmith, who +knew how to bleed, and bled men as well as animals. It appeared after a +moment that he was in front of the mansion with a whole crowd gathered +there for entertainment, but he was quite drunk, unluckily. Pani +Vinnitski remembered that Father Voynovski had the fame of being an +excellent physician, so a carriage was sent with all speed for him, +though it seemed clear that every effort would fail, and that no rescue +was possible for the sick man. That was in truth the position.</p> + +<p class="normal">Except Panna Anulka, Pani Vinnitski, the two Krepetskis, and Pan +Zabierzovski, who occupied himself somewhat with medicine, the prelate +admitted none to the chancellery, lest a throng might hinder recovery. +All other guests, as well women as men, had gathered into the adjoining +large chamber where beds for men had been provided. All were like a +flock of frightened sheep, filled with fear, alarm, and curiosity. +Watching the door, they waited for tidings, and some of them made +remarks in undertones touching that terrible happening, and touching +those omens which had announced it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you notice how the lights quivered, and the flames were in some +manner blackish? From this it is clear that Death had overshadowed +them," said one of the Sulgostovskis, in a whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Death was among us, and we did not know her."<a name="div2Ref_05" href="#div2_05"><sup>[5]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">"The dogs howled at her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that clatter! Perhaps that was just Death on her journey."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is clear that God did not favor the marriage, which would have been +an injustice to the family."</p> + +<p class="normal">Further whispering was stopped by the coming of Pani Vinnitski and +Martsian.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Vinnitski hurried through the chamber, she was in haste to bring a +reliquary which warded off evil spirits; but Martsian they surrounded +immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian shrugged his shoulders, raised them till his head seemed to be +in his bosom, and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is rattling yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there no hope?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None."</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment through the open door came distinctly the solemn words +of the prelate,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ego te absolve a peccatis tuis--et ab omnibus censuris, in nomine +Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti</i>. Amen." (I absolve thee from thy +sins, and from all blame, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy +Ghost.)</p> + +<p class="normal">All knelt and began to pray. Pani Vinnitski passed between the kneeling +people, holding with both hands the reliquary. Martsian followed and +closed the door after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But it was not closed long, for a quarter of an hour later Martsian +appeared in it and said in his squeaking voice of a clarionet,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then with the words, "Eternal rest," they moved one after another to +the chancellery, to cast a last look at the dead man.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile at the other end of the house, in the dining-hall, revolting +scenes were enacted. The servants of the household had hated Pan Gideon +as much as they had feared him; hence it seemed to them that with his +death would come an hour of relief, delight, and impunity. To servants +from outside an occasion was offered for revelry; so all servants, as +well those of the house as others summoned in to assist them, tipsy +more or less since midday, rushed now at the wine and the viands. +Servants raised to their lips whole flasks of Dantsic liquor, +Malmoisie, and Hungarian wine; others, more greedy for food, seized +pieces of meat and cake. The snow-white tablecloth was stained in one +twinkle with gravies. In the disturbance chairs were overturned on the +floor and candlesticks on the table. Ornamented cut glasses fell from +drunken hands to the floor with a crash and were broken. Quarrels and +fights burst out here and there in the dining-hall. Some stole table +ornaments directly. In one word, an orgy began, sounds of which flew to +the other end of the mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian Krepetski, and after him the two Sulgostovskis, young +Zabierzovski and one more of the guests, rushed toward those outcries, +and at sight of what was happening drew their sabres. At the first +moment disturbance increased. The Sulgostovskis went no further than to +strike with the flat of the weapons, but Martsian was seized by an +access of fury. His staring eyes protruded still farther, his teeth +glittered from under his mustaches, and he began to cut with the sabre +edge whatever man met him. Some were covered with blood, others hid +under the table; the remainder crowded in disordered flight through the +door, and Martsian cut at this throng while he shouted,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dog brothers! Scoundrels! I am master in this place!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he rushed after them to the entrance whence his shrieking voice was +heard shouting,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Clubs! rods!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And the guests stood in the hall, as in ruins, gazing with mortified +look, and shaking their heads at the spectacle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have never seen such a sad sight," said one Sulgostovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A wonderful death, and wonderful happenings! Look at this it is just +as if Tartars had raided the mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or evil spirits," added Zabierzovski. "A terrible night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They commanded the servants hidden under the table to crawl forth and +bring some order to the dining-hall. They came out, perfectly sobered +from terror, and went to work nimbly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile Martsian had returned. He was calmer, but his lips were still +trembling from anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will come to their minds!" said he, addressing those present. +"But I thank you, gentlemen, for helping me to punish those ruffians. +It will not be easier here for them than it was in the days of the dead +man! My head upon that point."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Sulgostovskis looked at him quickly, and one said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not to thank us more than we you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why art thou qualifying to be the only judge here?" asked the other of +the twins.</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian, as if wishing to spring to their eyes, sprang upward on his +short bow-legs straightway, and shouted,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have the right, the right!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What right?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A better right than yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that? Hast read the will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is a will to me?" Here he blew on the palm of his hand; "that's +what it is,--wind! To whom has he willed it--to his wife? But where is +his wife? That is the question--we are next of kin here. We--the +Krepetskis, not you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But we will see about that. God kill thee!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God kill thee! Clear out!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou goat! Thou nasty cur! Why dost thou tell us to go? Better have a +care of thy goat forehead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are ye threatening?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Martsian shook his sabre and pushed up to the brothers. They too +grasped at their weapons.</p> + +<p class="normal">But at that moment the offended voice of the prelate was heard there +behind them,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious gentlemen, the dead man is not cold yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Sulgostovskis were terribly ashamed, and one of them said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Reverend prelate, we are not to blame; we have our own bread and do +not desire that of others, but this serpent is beginning to sting, and +wishes to drive people out of this mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What people? Whom?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whomever he comes upon. To-day us, whom he has ordered away, +to-morrow, perhaps, the orphan bride living under this roof here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is untrue! untrue!" cried Martsian.</p> + +<p class="normal">And, winding himself into a ball, he laughed sneeringly, rubbed his +hands, bowed down and said with a certain envenomed sincerity,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the contrary, on the contrary! I invite all to the funeral and to +the feast following after the interment. I beg most humbly; my father +and I beg. And as to Panna Sieninski, she will find at all times a +roof, and protection, and care at all times, at all times!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he went on rubbing his hands very gleefully.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<p class="normal">Martsian had determined indeed to tell Panna Anulka that she must +always consider Belchantska as her own, but he deferred this +information till after the funeral; he wished first to talk with his +father, who, because of the legal actions on which he had been working +all his lifetime, was skilled in law, and was able to avoid in advance +many troubles. Both were convinced that their cause was a good one; so +the next day, just at the moment when men were placing Pan Gideon in +his coffin, they shut themselves up in a side chamber and began with +good courage to take counsel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Providence is above us," said the old man, "nothing but Providence, to +which Pan Gideon will answer seriously for the injustice which he +intended to do us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, let him answer," replied Martsian. "It is our happiness that he +only intended and did not succeed, for now we will take everything. The +Sulgostovskis have quarrelled with me already, but I will tear the +souls out of those wretches before I let them have even one field of +Belchantska."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha, the scoundrels! the sons of a such a one! God twist them! I have +no fear of such people, I fear only a will. Hast thou asked the +prelate? If any one knows of a will it is he."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had no chance yesterday, for he attacked me when quarrelling with +the Sulgostovskis and said to us: 'The dead man is not cold yet,' then +he went for a coffin and a priest, and to-day there has been no +opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if Pan Gideon has willed all to that girl?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He had not the right, for this estate belonged to his late wife, our +nearest relative."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But a will has been mentioned, and there will be costs and going to +tribunals, and God knows what more in addition."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father is accustomed to lawsuits. But I have fixed in my head +something of such sort that there will be no need of lawsuits; +meanwhile <i>beatus qui tenet</i>" (happy is the man in possession); "for +this reason I shall not leave Belchantska. I have sent for our servants +already. Let the Sulgostovskis or the Zabierzovskis drive me out +later."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the girl, if it is willed to her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who will take her side? She is as much alone in this world as a +finger; she has no relatives, no friends--an ordinary orphan. Who will +wish to expose his neck for her, lay himself open to quarrels, duels, +expenses? How does she concern any one? Tachevski was in love with her, +but Tachevski is gone, he may never come back, and if he should he has +nothing; he knows as much as my horse about lawsuits. To tell the +truth, the position is such that if not Pan Gideon, but her own father, +had left her Belchantska, we might come in here and manage in our own +way, under pretext of guarding the orphan. I think that Pan Gideon +intended to make a will only in the contract of marriage, so either no +will at all will be found, or if it be found it will be some old one +with a clause for Panna Anulka from her guardian."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can break such a will," said the old man, "my head on that! Though +a lawsuit will not be avoided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How so? I hear father's words, but I think it will be avoided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If, for speaking between us, Pan Gideon's wife was weak-minded, if she +left all to her husband he had the right to leave it to whomever he +selected."</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Krepetski uttered the last words almost in a whisper, while looking +around on all sides, though he knew that there was no one in the room +except him and Martsian.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How could she leave it to him when she died suddenly?" asked Martsian.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was dated the year after their marriage. It is clear that Pan +Gideon wheedled her out of it, because they inhabited perilous places, +and no man could know when the Tartars might howl out his requiem. They +drew up wills to each other in the town at Pomorani; these wills were +brought by Pan Gideon to this place. I thought to start lawsuits +against him at that time, but saw that I could not do so successfully. +Now it is different."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We shall succeed now without lawsuits."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If so, all the better; but we must be ready for action."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ei! there is no need to be ready."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will get on without father."</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Pan Krepetski, on hearing this, flashed into anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou wilt get on? What? How? But spoil not my labor. He will get on! +But didst thou not advise me to leave the Silnitskis in peace touching +Dranjkov? According to thee, there was no way to master them. No way? +Why not? They had witnesses to swear to the land--a great thing! I made +men put earth into their boots from my courtyard. Well, and what after +that? They went to Silnitski's land, and took no false oath when each +one of them testified: 'I swear that the land on which I am standing +belongs to Krepetski.' Thou wouldst have thought a whole year, but +never invented a reason of that kind. Thou wilt get on? Look at him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he began to move his toothless jaws angrily, as if he were chewing +some substance; and his chin touched his nose, which was hooked like +the beak of some bird of prey.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pant out thy anger, my father, and listen," said Martsian. "Wherever +it is a question of carrying on lawsuits I yield to thee always; but as +to what concerns women, my experience is greater, and I trust in myself +with more confidence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it possible?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Therefore, if it comes to a struggle with Parma Anulka it will not be +before any tribunal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What art thou working out?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To divine is not difficult. Is this not my opportunity? Or wilt thou +find another such girl in this region?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian threw his head up and looked in the eyes of his father. The +father looked at him, too, with a glance of inquiry, chewed with his +gums, and then asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it, pray tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not tell? Since yesterday it is circling through my head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hm! Why not? Because she is as needy as Lazarus."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I will come into Belchantska with songs, and unhindered. She is +indigent, but the girl is of great blood. And remember the words of Pan +Gideon, that if one were to look through the papers of the Sieninskis, +it would be possible to drive from their land one-half of the +inhabitants of a province. The Sobieskis grew great from them, hence +there should be royal protection. The king himself ought to think of a +provision. And the girl has pleased my eye this long time, for she is a +dainty morsel--dainty! oh dainty!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he sprang about on his short legs, licking his mustache as he did +so; wherewith he looked so revolting that old Krepetski remarked to +him,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"She will not want thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And she wanted old Pan Gideon. Are the girls few who have wanted me? A +great many young men have gone to the army; so we may buy girls by the +bundle, like shoe-nails. Old Pan Gideon knew why he sent me from the +mansion. He would not have done so, had he himself not been looking at +Panna Anulka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But supposing that she will not want thee--then what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Evil gleams shone from the eyes of Martsian.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then," replied he, with emphasis, "it is possible so to act with a +girl who has no protection, that she herself will beg thee to go to the +church with her."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man was frightened at these words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!" said he. "But dost thou not know that act to be criminal?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that no one would take the part of Panna Anulka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I say to thee, have a care! As it is there are voices against +thee. If a man win or lose a lawsuit for property he will not become +infamous, but thy thought is of crime--dost understand me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, it will not go to that unless she herself wants it. But do not +hinder, only act as I tell thee. After the funeral let father take +Tekla home with him, and if there is any excuse also old Pani +Vinnitski. I will stay with the girls, with Agneshka and Johanna. They +are reptiles, raging at any woman who is younger and comelier than they +are. They began yesterday to point their stings at the orphan, but what +will they do when living under one roof with her? They will stab, and +bite, and insult her, refuse her the bread of compassion. I see this, +as if I were reading it in a book, and it is all as water to my mill."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What wilt thou grind with it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What will I grind? This: that I will quarrel with those serpents. I +will invent something against them; I will give one a slap in the face +when it pleases me, then the orphan will kiss me on the hands, on the +knees. 'I am thy defender, thy brother, thy true friend,' I will say to +her, 'thou art here the real mistress.' And dost thou think, father, +that the heart in her will not soften, that she will not fall in love +with him who will be a shield and defence to her, who will wipe away +her tears, who will watch day and night over her? And if in her sorrow +and abandonment and tears she comes to some extraordinary confidence, +so much the better! so much the better! so much the better!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Martsian rubbed his hands and so exhibited his goat eyes to his +father that the old man had to spit in abhorrence. "Tfu! Pagan!" +exclaimed he. "There is always one thing in thy mind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed ants walk on me when I look at her. It wasn't for nothing that +Pan Gideon drove me from the mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence now followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then thou wilt tell Johanna and Agneshka to act as thou wishest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no need to say anything to them or to teach them; their +nature suffices. Tekla alone is a dove, they are kites, the two +others."</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian had not deceived himself, his sisters had begun, each in her +own way to take charge of Anulka. Tekla took her every little while in +her arms and wept with her, Agneshka and Johanna solaced her, but in +another fashion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did not happen, did not happen," said Agneshka, "but be at rest, +thou wilt not be our aunt, because the Lord was not willing, but no one +here will harm thee, or grudge thee a morsel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And no one will drive thee to work," said the other, "for we know that +thou art not used to it; when thou hast recovered, if thou thyself +wish, then that is different; in every case wait till thy sorrow is +over, for indeed great misfortune has struck thee. Thou wert to be +mistress here, thou wert to have thy husband, and now except us thou +hast no one. But believe that though we are not relatives we will be to +thee as if relatives. Be reconciled to the will of God. The Lord has +tried thee, but for that cause he pardons thee other sins. For if thou, +perhaps, hast trusted too much in thy beauty, or didst desire wealth +and rich clothing (we are all sinful for that matter, therefore I only +say this), that will be accounted to thee against other sins."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen," said Agneshka. "Give to the church for the soul of the dead man +some ornament, or some little jewel, for thou hast no need of bridal +robes now, and we will ask father to permit thee to do this."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then they looked with sharp eyes at the robes on the table, and at the +chests in which lay the trousseau. Such a desire at last seized them to +see what was hidden that Johanna burst out with these words,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps we might help thee in selecting?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And both rushed at the chests, boxes, and bundles, in which were still +lying unpacked the robes brought from Radom, and out with them, to be +opened and examined before the light, and under the light, and then the +two girls began to try them on their own persons.</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Anulka sat, as if stunned, in the arms of the dear Tekla, seeing +nothing, knowing nothing of what they were doing to her and around her.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<p class="normal">As a betrothed she had felt as if something in her life had grown +black, as if something had been quenched, had been cut off and ended; +hence that betrothal had not roused in her heart any gladness. She had +only consented to the marriage because such was the will of Pan Gideon, +and because of her gratitude for care, and still more because, after +Yatsek's departure, there remained in her heart only bitterness and +sorrow, with this painful thought, that save her guardian she had no +one, and that without him she would be a lost orphan, wandering among +enemies and strangers. But all on a sudden a thunderbolt had struck +that hearth at which she was to sit with some kind of peace, though a +sad one, now the only man in this world who to her was important had +vanished. It was not strange, then, that the thunderbolt had stunned +her, that all thoughts were confused in her head, while in her heart +sorrow for that only near soul had been fused into one with a feeling +of amazement and terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">So the words of the elder sisters, who had begun straightway to pilfer +her dresses, struck her ears just like sounds without meaning. Then +Martsian came, bowed, rubbed his hands, jumped around her; but she +understood him no more than she did all the others, who, according to +custom, approached her with phrases of sympathy, which were more +elaborate the less they were heartfelt. It was only when Pan Serafin +put his hand on her head in the style of a father and said: "God will +be over thee, my orphan," that something moved in her suddenly, and +then tears rushed to her eyelids. Now for the first time the thought +came to her that she was as a poor little leaf given over to the will +of the whirlwind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile began ceremonies, which, since Pan Gideon had been a man of +position in his neighborhood, lasted ten days, in accordance with +custom. At the betrothal, with few exceptions, invited guests only were +present, but to the funeral came all near and distant neighbors, hence +the mansion was swarming. Receptions, speeches, processions, and +returns from the church followed one after the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the first days exclusive attention was given to the incomplete +widow; but later, when people beheld the Krepetskis in possession and +saw that they alone appeared in the mansion as masters, they ceased to +regard the young lady, and toward the end of the funeral solemnities no +one paid more heed to her than to any house visitor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin alone had a thought for her. He was moved by her tears and +touched by her misfortune. The servants had begun to whisper that the +Krepetski old maids had swept off her whole trousseau, and the old lord +had hidden in his box her "little jewels," and that in the house they +were already beginning to browbeat the "young lady." When these reports +went to Pan Serafin they moved his kind heart, and he resolved to see +Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But that kindly man was prejudiced much against Panna Anulka because of +Yatsek, so at the very beginning he answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry for her, the poor lady, for she is in need, but in what can +I help her? That, speaking between us, God punished her for Yatsek is +certain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Yatsek is gone, as is Stanislav, and she is here simply an +orphan."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course he is gone, but how did he go? You saw him going, but I went +with him farther, and I tell you that the poor boy had his teeth set, +and the heart in him was bleeding, so that he could not utter a +syllable. Oh! he loved that girl as people loved only in the old time; +they know not to-day how to love in that manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still he was able to move his hands," said Pan Serafin, "for I heard +that just beyond Radom he had a quarrel and cut up a passing noble, or +even two of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, because he has a girl's face every road-blocker thinks that he can +get on with him cheaply. Some drunken fellows sought a quarrel. What +was he to do? I blame in him that method; I blame it, but remember, +your grace, that a man with a heart torn by love is like a lion seeking +to devour some one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True; but as to the girl. Ah, my benefactor, God knows if she is as +much to blame as we imagine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Woman is insidious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Insidious or not, but when I heard that Pan Gideon wished to marry her +it occurred to me straightway that he roused up everything, for it must +have been all-important for him to get rid of Yatsek forever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," said the priest, shaking his head. "We remarked immediately from +the letter that it was written at her instigation. I remember that +perfectly, and I could repeat to your grace every word of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I, too, remember, but we could not know what Pan Gideon had told her, +and how he described Yatsek's deeds to the lady. The Bukoyemskis, for +example, confessed to me, that meeting her and Pan Gideon while +travelling to Prityk they said purposely, that Yatsek went away after +great stirrup cups, laughing, gladsome, and uncommonly curious about +the daughter of Pan Zbierhovski to whom you had given him a letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here they lied! And what for?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, they lied to show the girl and Pan Gideon that Yatsek had no +thought for them. But note this, your grace, if the Bukoyemskis spoke +thus out of friendship for Yatsek, what must Pan Gideon have said out +of hatred."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is sure that he did not spare Yatsek. Still, even if she were less +to blame than we imagine, tell me what of that? Yatsek has gone, and +perhaps will never come back to us, for I know that he will spare his +life less than Pan Gideon spared his reputation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek would have gone in every case," answered Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if he does not return I will not tear the soutane on my body. A +death in defence of the country and fighting Mohammedan vileness is a +worthy end for a Christian knight, and a worthy end for a great family. +But I will add one thing: I should have preferred to see him go without +that painful dart which is sticking in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Neither had my only son special happiness in life; he too went, and +perhaps will not return to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">They grew thoughtful, for their souls were filled with love for those +young men.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tvorkovski, the prelate, came upon them while thoughtful, and learned +that they had been talking of Panna Sieninski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you, gentlemen," said he, "but let this be a secret. Pan +Gideon left no will, the Krepetskis have a right to the property. I +know that he had the wish to provide for his wife and leave all to her, +but he was not able. Do not mention this before the Krepetskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But have you said nothing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I? Those are hard people, and with me the question is that +they should not be too hard toward the orphan, hence I withheld +information, and then told them this: 'Not only does God sometimes try +a man, but one man tries another.' When they heard this they were +disquieted greatly, and fell to inquiring: 'How is it? Does your grace +know anything?' 'What has to be shown will be shown,' remarked I, 'but +remember one thing. Pan Gideon had the right to will what he owned to +whatever person pleased him.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the prelate laughed, and, putting his hands behind his violet +girdle, continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I say, gentlemen, that the legs trembled under old Krepetski when he +heard this; he began to contradict. 'Oh,' said he, 'that is impossible! +he had not the right. Neither God nor men would agree to that.'</p> + +<p class="normal">"I looked at him severely, and said: 'If you think of God, you do well, +for at your age it is proper to have His mercy in mind, and not turn to +earthly tribunals, for it may happen very easily that you will not have +time to await a decision.' He was frightened then terribly, and I +added: 'And be kind to the orphan, lest God punish you sooner than you +imagine.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereupon Father Voynovski, whose compassionate heart was moved at the +fate of the maiden, embraced the wise prelate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benefactor," cried he, "with such a head you ought to be chancellor. I +understand! I understand! You said nothing, you did not miss the truth, +and you have frightened the Krepetskis, who think that perhaps there is +a will, nay, that it is even in your possession; they must count with +this, and be moderate toward the orphan."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate, pleased with the praise, rapped his head with his +knuckles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not quite like a nut with holes in it?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ho, there is so much reason there that it finds room with difficulty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If God wish, it will burst, but meanwhile, I think that I have saved +the orphan really. I must confess, however, that the Krepetskis spoke +of her with greater humanity and with more kindness than I had +expected. The women, it is true, have taken some trifles, but the old +man declared that he would have them given back to the young lady."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Though the Krepetskis were the worst among men," said Pan Serafin, +"they would not dare to rob an orphan over whom the eyes of such a wise +and good priest are so watchful. But, my very reverend benefactor, I +wish to mention another thing. I wish to beg you to show me this favor; +come now to Yedlinka, let me have the honor of entertaining under my +roof such a notable personage, with whom conversation is like the honey +of wisdom and politeness. Father Voynovski has promised already to +visit me, and we will talk, the three of us, concerning public and +private matters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know what hospitality yours is," answered the prelate, with +affability, "to refuse would be real suffering, and since Lent, the +time of self-subjection is past, I will go for a pleasant day to you, +willingly. Let us take farewell of the Krepetskis, but first of the +orphan, so that they shall see the esteem in which we hold her."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went, and finding Anulka alone, spoke kind, heartfelt words, which +gave her consolation and courage. Pan Serafin stroked her bright head, +just as would a mother who desires to comfort a sorrowing child; the +prelate did the same, and the honest Father Voynovski was so moved by +her thin face and her beauty in its sadness, which reminded him of a +flower of the field cut down too early by a scythe-stroke, that he too +pressed her temples, and having a mind always thinking of Yatsek, he +said half to himself, half to her,--"How can one wonder at Yatsek, +since this picture was before him. But those Bukoyemskis lied, when +they said that he went away gladly."</p> + +<p class="normal">When Anulka heard these words, she put her lips to his hand on a +sudden, and for a long time she could not withdraw them. The sobbing, +which came from her heart, shook her bosom; and they left her in an +immense, irrepressible onrush of weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later they were in Yedlinka, where good news was awaiting them. +A man had arrived bringing a letter from Stanislav, in which he stated +that he and Yatsek had joined the hussars of Prince Alexander; that +they were well, and Yatsek, though pensive at all times, had gained a +little cheerfulness, and was not so forgetful as during the first days. +Besides words of filial love, there was in the letter one bit of news +which astonished Pan Serafin: "If thou, my father, my most beloved and +great mighty benefactor, see the Bukoyemskis on their return be not +astonished, and save them with kindness, for they have been met by most +marvellous accidents, and I cannot help them. If they were not to go to +the war they would die, I think, from sorrow, which even now has almost +killed them."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the course of the following months Pan Serafin visited Belchantska +repeatedly, wishing to learn what was happening to Anulka. This was not +caused by any personal motive, for Stanislav was not in love with the +young lady, and she had broken altogether with Yatsek; he acted mainly +from kindness, and a little from curiosity, for he wished to discover +in what way, and how far the girl had aided in breaking the bonds of +attachment between herself and Yatsek. He met opposition, however. The +Krepetskis respected his wealth, hence they received him politely; but +theirs was a wonderfully watchful hospitality, so continuous and active +that Pan Serafin could not find himself alone with the girl for one +instant.</p> + +<p class="normal">He understood that they did not wish him to ask her how she was +treated, and that set him to thinking, though he did not find that she +was either ill treated, or made to serve greatly. He saw her, it is +true, once and a second time cleaning with a crust of bread white satin +shoes of such size that they could not be for her own feet, and darning +stockings in the evening, but the Krepetski girls did the same, hence +there could not be in this any plan to humiliate the orphan by labor. +The old maids were at times as biting and stinging as nettles, but Pan +Serafin remarked soon that such was their nature, and that they could +not restrain themselves always from gnawing even at Martsian, whom +still they feared so much that when either one had thrust out her sting +half its length a look from him made her draw it back quickly. Martsian +himself was polite and agreeable to Anulka, though without forwardness, +and after the departure of old Krepetski and Tekla he became still more +agreeable.</p> + +<p class="normal">This departure was not pleasing to Pan Serafin, though it was simple +enough that they could not leave an old man, who was somewhat disabled +in walking, without the care of a woman, and since they had two houses +they had divided the family. Pan Serafin would have preferred that +Tekla remain with the orphan, but when on an occasion he hinted +remotely that the ages of the two maidens made them company for each +other, the elder sister met his words in the worst manner possible,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anulka has shown the world," said Johanna, "that age does not trouble +her. Our late uncle and Pani Vinnitski have proved this--so we are not +too old for her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are as much older than she, as Tekla is younger, and I do not know +as we are that much," added the second sister; "besides our heads must +manage this household."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Martsian broke into the conversation,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tekla's service," said he, "is dearest to father. He loves her beyond +any one, at which we cannot wonder. We thought to send Panna Anulka +with them, but she is accustomed to this house, so I think she will +feel more at home in it. As to our care, I will do what I can to make +it not too disagreeable."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, with feet clattering, he approached the young lady, and tried to +kiss her hand, which she drew away quickly, as if frightened. Pan +Serafin thought that it was not proper to remove Pani Vinnitski, but he +kept to himself that idea, not wishing to interfere in questions beyond +his authority. He noted more than once that on Anulka's face fear as +well as sadness was evident, but at this he was not greatly astonished, +for her fate was in fact very grievous. An orphan, without a kindred +soul near her, without her own roof above her head, she was forced to +live on the favor of people who to her were repulsive, and who had an +evil fame generally, she was forced to suffer pain over the vanished +and brighter past, and to be in dread of the present. And though a +person may be in suffering to the utmost, that person will have some +solace if he, or she, may cherish hope of a better future. But she had +no chance for hope, and she had none. To-morrow must be for her as +to-day and the endless years to come, with the same drag of orphanhood, +loneliness, and living on the bread of a stranger's favor.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin spoke of this often with Father Voynovski, whom he saw +almost daily, since it was pleasant for them to talk about their young +heroes. Father Voynovski, however, shrugged his shoulders with sympathy +and magnified the keenness of the prelate who, by hanging the threat of +a will like a Damocles sword above the Krepetskis, had protected the +orphan, at least from evil treatment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such a keen man!" said he. "Now you have him, and now he has slipped +from you. Sometimes I think that perhaps he has not told the whole +truth to us, and that there is a will in his hands, and that he will +bring it out unexpectedly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That has occurred to me also, but why should he hide it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not; perhaps to test human nature. I think only of this: Pan +Gideon was a clear-sighted man, and it cannot find place in my head +that he should not have made long ago some provision."</p> + +<p class="normal">But after a time the ideas of both men were turned in a different +direction, for the Bukoyemskis arrived, or rather walked in from Radom.</p> + +<p class="normal">They appeared at Yedlinka one evening, with sabres, it is true, but +with not very sound boots, and with torn coats on their bodies. They +had such woe-be-gone faces that, if Pan Serafin had not for some time +been expecting them, he would have been terribly frightened, and would +have thought that news of his son's death had come with them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The four brothers embraced his knees, and kissed his hands straightway; +he, looking at their misery, dropped his arms at his sides in +amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stashko wrote," said he, "that it had gone ill with you, but this is +terrible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have sinned, benefactor!" answered Marek, beating his breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">The other brothers repeated his words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have sinned, we have sinned, we have sinned!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell me how, and in what. How is Stashko? He has written me that he +saved you. What happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stashko is well, benefactor; he and Pan Yatsek are as bright as two +suns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Glory to God! glory to God! Thanks for the good news. Have you no +letter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He wrote, but did not give us the letter. It might be lost," said he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you not hungry? Oh, what a condition! It is as if I had four men +risen from the dead now before me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are not hungry, for entertainment is ready at the house of every +noble--but we are unfortunate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down. Drink something warm, but while the servants are heating it +tell me what happened. Where have you been?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Warsaw," said Mateush, "but that is a vile city."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is swarming with gamblers and drunkards, and on Long Street and in +the Old City at every step there is a tavern."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"One son of a such a one persuaded Lukash to play dice with him. Would +to God that the pagans had impaled the wicked scoundrel on a stake ere +that happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And he cheated?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He won all that Lukash had, and then all that we had. Desperation took +hold of us, and we wanted to win the coin back, but he won further our +horse with a saddle and with pistols in the holsters. Then, I say to +your grace, that Lukash wished to stab himself. What was to be done? +How were we to help comforting a brother? We sold the second horse, so +that Lukash might have a companion to walk with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand what happened," remarked Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When we became sober there was still keener suffering; two horses were +gone, and we had greater need of consolation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So ye consoled yourselves till the fourth horse was gone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Till the fourth horse. We sinned, we sinned!" repeated the contrite +brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But was that the end?" continued Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How the end, our father and special benefactor? We met a deceiver, one +Poradski, who scoffed at us. 'So this is the way they shear fools!' +says he. 'I will take you,' says he, 'as my serving men, for I am +making the levy for a regiment.' Lukash cried out that the man was +exposing us to ridicule, and when he would not stop Lukash slashed him +on the snout with a sabre. Poradski's friends sprang to help him, and +we to help Lukash, and we cut till the marshal's guard whirled in and +went at us. And we yielded only when the others fell to shouting: +'Gracious gentlemen, they are attacking freedom, and injuring the +Commonwealth in our persons.' That is how it happened, and God blessed +us immediately, for we wounded eight attendants in a flash, and three +of these mortally; the others were at our feet,--there were five of +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin seized his head, and Marek continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes! Now we know all; God helped us till people shouted that the fight +was near the king's palace, and a crime,--that we should die for it. We +were frightened and ran. They tried to seize us, but when we, in old +fashion, cut one on the face and another on the neck, they fled in a +hurry. Stanislav saved us with the horses of his attendants, but even +then we had to work hard to bring our heads with us; we were hunted to +Senkotsin; if the horses had been slow our case would have ended. Our +names were not known; that was lucky, and there will be no accusation +against us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Long silence followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are those horses which Stanislav gave you?" asked Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">The brothers began their confession a third time,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have sinned, benefactor, we have sinned!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin walked with long strides through the chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I understand," said he, "why ye did not bring Stashko's letter. He +wrote me that various sad things had happened you, and he predicted +your return, thinking that ye would need money for horses and outfits, +but how ye would end was unknown to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So it is, benefactor," said Yan.</p> + +<p class="normal">Men now brought in heated wine, to which the brothers betook themselves +with great willingness, for they were road weary. Still they were +frightened by the silence of Pan Serafin, who was striding up and down +in the chamber, his face severe and gloomy. So again Marek spoke to +him,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your grace, my benefactor, has asked about Stanislav's horses. Two of +them foundered before we reached Groyets, for we galloped all the way +in a terrible windstorm; we sold them for a trifle to Jew wagoners, for +the beasts were no good after foundering. And we had not a coin to keep +the souls in us; since we left in such a hurry Pan Stanislav had no +time to assist us. Then strengthened a little we rode farther, two men +on each animal. But your grace will understand this. We met then some +noble on the road, and immediately he seized his side, laughing. 'What +kind of Jerusalem nobles are these?' asked he. And we from such +terrible scornfulness were ready for anything. So we had endless +encounters and fights till we came to Bialobregi, where for dear peace +we sold the last two of our crowbaits; then, when people wondered at +our travelling on foot we replied that we were making that journey +through a vow of devotion. So forgive us now like a father, for there +are not more ill-fated men in this world, as I think, than we +brothers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true! it is true!" exclaimed Mateush and Lukash; while Yan, the +youngest, moved by remembrance of past suffering, and wine, raised his +voice, and cried,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are orphans of the Lord! What is left now in this world to us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing but brotherly love," put in Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they fell to embracing one another, shedding bitter tears as they +did so; then all drew up to Pan Serafin, but Marek seized his knees +before the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, father," said he, "our first-born protector, be not angry. Lend us +once more for the levy, and from plunder, God grant, we will give it +back faithfully; if you lend not--it is well also, but be not angry, +only forgive us! Forgive us through that great friendship which we +cherish for Stashko; for I tell you, let any man harm even one of +Stashko's fingers, we will bear that man apart on our sabres! Is this +not true, dearest brothers?--on our sabres?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give him hither, the son of a such a one!" cried Mateush, Lukash, and +Yan.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin halted before them, put his hand on his forehead, and +answered in these words,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am angry, it is true! but less angry than grief-stricken; for when I +think that in this Commonwealth there are many such men as ye, the +heart in me is straitened, and I ask myself: Will this mother of ours +have the power with such children to meet the attacks which are +threatening her? Ye wish to implore me, and ye expect my forgiveness. +By the living God! it is not a question here of me, and not of my +horses, but of something a hundred times greater, a question of the +public weal, and the future of this Commonwealth; and of this, that ye +do not understand the position, that even such a thought has not come +to you; and since there are thousands such as ye are, the greater is +the sorrow and the keener the anxiety, the more dreadful the +desperation both of me and each honest son of this country--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, benefactor! How have we sinned against the country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How? By lawlessness, license, by riot and drunkenness. Oh! With us, +people treat such things over lightly, and do not see how the +pestilence is spreading, how the walls of this lordly building are +weakened, and our heads are endangered by the ceiling. War is +approaching; it is not known yet whether the foe will turn his power +against us directly--but, ye Christian soldiers, what is the best that +ye are doing? The trumpet is calling you to battle, but in your heads +there is nothing save wine and lawlessness. With a glad heart ye cut +down the guardians of that law which gives order of some kind. Who +established those laws? Nobles. Who trampled them? Nobles! How can this +country move to the field of glory, if this advance post of +Christianity is inhabited not by warriors but drunkards, not by +citizens but roysterers and rioters?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here Pan Serafin stopped and, pressing his hand to his forehead, walked +again with great steps through the chamber. The brothers glanced at one +another in amazement and confusion, for they had not thought to hear +from him anything of that sort.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he sighed deeply and continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye were called out against pagans, and ye spill the blood of +Christians; ye were summoned in defence of this country, and ye have +gone out as its enemies, for it is evident that the greater the +disorder in a fortress, the weaker is the fortress. Fortunately there +are still honest children of this mother, but of men such as ye there +are, as I have said, many legions; for here not freedom, but riot is +nourishing, not obedience, but impunity, not stern discipline, but +wantonness, not love of country, but self-seeking; for here diets are +broken, here the treasury is plundered, disorder increases, and civil +wars like unbridled horses trample the country; hence drunken heads are +fixing its fortunes; here is oppression of peasants, and from high to +low lawlessness so that my heart bleeds, and I fear defeat, with God's +anger as the consequence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In God's name must we hang ourselves?" cried Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin measured the chamber a number of times with his steps yet, +and spoke on, as if it were to himself, and not to the Bukoyemskis,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Through the length and the breadth of this Commonwealth there is +one immense feast, and on the wall an unknown hand is now writing: +'Mane--Tekel--Fares.' Wine is flowing, but blood and tears also are +flowing. I am not the only person who sees this, I am not the only man +predicting evil, but it is vain to put a light before the sightless, or +sing songs to those who have no hearing."</p> + +<p class="normal">Silence followed. The four brothers stared now at one another, and now +at Pan Serafin with increasing confusion; at last Lukash said in a low +voice to the other three,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"May I split, if I understand anything!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And may I split!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And may I!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we could drink a couple of times--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quiet, do not mention it--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us go home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With the forehead to your grace, our benefactor!" said Marek, pushing +out in front and bending down to the knees of Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But whither?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Lesnichovka. God help us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I will help you," said Pan Serafin; "but such grief seized me that +I had to pour it out. Go upstairs, gentlemen,--rest; later on ye will +learn my decision."</p> + +<p class="normal">An hour later he commanded to drive to Father Voynovski's. The priest +was scandalized no little by the deeds of the Bukoyemskis, but at +moments he could not restrain himself from laughter, for having served +many years in the army he recalled various happenings which had met him +and his comrades. But he could not forgive the brothers for drinking +away the horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A soldier will often run riot," said he, "but to drink away his horse! +that is treason to the service. I will tell the Bukoyemskis that I +should have been glad if martial law had taken the heads from their +shoulders, and that certainly would have given an example to rioters, +but I confess to you that I should have been sorry, for all four are +splendid fellows. I know from of old what men are, and I can say in +advance what each is good for. As to the Bukoyemskis, it will be +unhealthy for those pagans who strike breast to breast with them in +battle. What do you think to do with them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not leave them without rescue, but I think if I were to send +them off alone the same kind of thing might meet them a second time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True!" said the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hence it has occurred to me to go with them, and give them straight +into the hands of the captain. Once with the flag and under discipline, +they can grant themselves nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, this is a splendid idea! Take them to Cracow; there the +regiments will assemble. As I live I will go with you! Thus we shall +see our boys, and come back with more pleasantness."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Pan Serafin laughed, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your grace will come back alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going myself to the war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish to serve again in the army?" asked Father Voynovski, in +astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, and no; for it is one thing to go to the army and make a career +out of service, and another to go on a single expedition. Of course, I +am old, but older than I have gone to the ranks more than once in reply +to Gradiva's trumpet. I have sent my only son, that is true, but it is +not possible to yield up too much for the country. Thus did my fathers +think, therefore, that Mother showed them the greatest honor at her +disposal. Hence my last copper coin, and my last drop of blood are now +ready to be sacrificed for her sake! Should it come to die--think, your +grace, what nobler death, what greater happiness could meet me? A man +must die once, and is there not greater pleasure in dying on the field +of glory, at the side of one's son, than in bed; to die from a sabre or +a bullet than from sickness; in addition fighting against pagans for +the faith and the country?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Pan Serafin, moved by his own words, opened his arms and +repeated,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant this! God grant this!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Father Voynovski took him in his arms, and pressing him, said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant that in this Commonwealth there be as many men like you as +possible; there are not many as honorable, more honorable there are +none whatever. It is true that it becomes a noble better to die on the +field than in bed, and in old times every man held that idea, but +to-day worse times have come on us. The country and the faith are one +immense altar, and a man is a morsel of myrrh, predestined for burning +to the glory of that altar. Yes, times are worse at the present. Then +war is nothing new to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin felt his breast, and continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have here a few wounds from sabres and shots of the old time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be pleasanter for me to defend the flag," said Father +Voynovski, "than listen to old women's sins in this neighborhood. And +more than one of them tells me such nonsense, just as if she had come +to shake out fleas at confession. When a man commits sin he has at +least something to speak about, and all the more if he is a soldier! +When I took this robe of a priest I became a chaplain in the regiment +of Pan Modlishevski. Ah, I remember that well. Between one absolution +of sins and another there was sometimes a shooting in the teeth, or +blades were drawn. Ah, there was great need of chaplains in that time. +I should like now to go, but my parish is large, and there is a tempest +of work in it; the vicar is wilful but worst of all is a wound from a +gunshot, which I received long ago, and which does not let me stay more +than an hour in the saddle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should be happy to have a comrade," said Pan Serafin, "but I +understand that even without that wound your grace could not leave the +parish."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I shall see. In a couple of days I will ride and learn how long +I can stay in the saddle. Something may have straightened out in me. +But who will look to the management at Yedlinka?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have a forester, a simple man, but so honest that he might almost be +canonized."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know; that one who is followed by wild beasts. Some say that he is a +wizard; you know better, however. But he is old and sickly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish to take also that Vilchopolski who on a time served Pan Gideon. +Perhaps you remember him? a young noble who lost one foot, but he is +vigorous and daring. Krepetski removed him because he was too +independent. He came to me two days ago offering his service, and +to-day I will agree with him surely. Pan Gideon did not like him, since +the man would not let any one blow on his pudding, but Pan Gideon +praised his activity and faithfulness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is to be heard in Belchantska?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not been there for some time. It is clear that Vilchopolski +does not praise the Krepetskis, but I had no chance to inquire about +everything in detail."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will look in there to-morrow, though they are not over glad to +behold me, and then I will return to rub the ears of the Bukoyemskis. I +will command them to come to confession, and for penance the whips will +be moving. Let them give one another fifty lashes; that will be good +for them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will, that is certain. But now I must take farewell of your grace +because of Vilchopolski."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Pan Serafin shortened his belt-strap, so that his sabre might not +be in the way when he was entering the wagon. A moment later he was on +the road moving toward Yedlinka, thinking meanwhile of his expedition, +and smiling at the thought that he would work stirrup to stirrup with +his one son, against pagans. After he had passed Belchantska he saw two +horses under packs, and a trunk-laden wagon which Vilchopolski was +driving. He commanded the young man to sit over into his wagon, and +then he inquired,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you leaving Belchantska already?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Vilchopolski pointed to the trunks, and wishing to prove that though he +served he was not without learning, he said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, your grace, <i>omnia mea mecum porto</i>" (I am taking all my things +with me).</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then was there such a hurry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was not a hurry, but there was need; therefore I accept all your +grace's conditions with pleasure, and in case you go away, as you have +mentioned, I will guard your house and possessions with faithfulness."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin was pleased with the answer and the daring, firm face of +the young man; so, after a moment of meditation, he added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of faithfulness I have no doubt, for I know that you are a noble, but +inexperience I fear, and incautiousness. In Yedlinka one must sit like +a stone, and watch day and night, because it is almost in the +wilderness, and in great forests there is no lack of bandits, who at +times attack houses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not wish an attack upon Yedlinka, but for myself I should like +it, to convince your grace that courage and alertness would not be +lacking on my part."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You look as though you had both," said Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent a while, and then continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is one other thing of importance of which to forewarn you. Pan +Gideon is in God's hands at the present, and touching the dead nothing +save that which is good may be mentioned; but it is known that he was +hard to his people. Father Voynovski blamed him for this, and there was +variance between them. The sweat of the peasant was not spared in +Belchantska; trials were short and punishment grievous. We will be +outspoken--there was oppression, and his agents were too cruel with +people. This is not my case, be sure of that; there must be discipline, +but paternal. I look on excessive severity as a great sin against God +and the country. Fix it well in your mind that a man is not curds, and +it is not allowable to press him too cruelly. I do not wring out +people's tears--and I remember that before God all are equal."</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed. Vilchopolski seized Pan Serafin's hand +and put his lips to it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see that you understand me," said Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, your grace; and I answer, More than a hundred times I +wanted to say to Pan Gideon: 'Find another manager;' more than a +hundred times I wanted to go from his service, but--well, I could not +do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why was that? Is there a lack of work in the world?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Vilchopolski was confused and spoke as if fear had seized hold of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It did not happen--I could not go--day after day I loitered. Besides, +there was severity, and there was not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How was that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The people were driven to work, it is true, no one could prevent that; +but as to flogging, I will say briefly that instead of whips straw +ropes were used on them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who was so merciful--you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. But I chose to obey the will of an angel, not that of a devil."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, but tell me whose will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Anulka's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! so it was she?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Really an angel. She too was in dread of Pan Gideon, who in recent +times only began to regard what she told him. But all loved her so much +that each man exposed himself to Pan Gideon's anger rather than refuse +what she asked of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May God bless her for that! So you all conspired against Pan Gideon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your grace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And it was not discovered?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was discovered once, but I did not betray the young lady. Pan +Gideon flogged me himself, for I declared to him that if any other man +flogged, or if he flogged me except on a carpet, I, a noble, would let +his house up in smoke, and shoot him besides that. And it would have +been done as I promised, even had I to join forest bandits in +consequence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You please me for this," said Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"More than once I found it difficult to stay with Pan Gideon," +continued Vilchopolski; "but in the house there was simply one of God's +cherubim, and so, though a man might wish to go, he would stay there. +After that, as the young lady grew up Pan Gideon gave her more +consideration, and recently he gave thought to no one save Panna +Anulka. He knew often that she commanded to give wheat to the poor from +the granary, then, as I have said, she had straw used instead of whips; +besides, she had labor remitted; he affected not to notice it. At last +he was so much ashamed that she had no need to do anything in secret. +She was a real protector of people, and for that reason may God, as you +have said, bless and save her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why do you say 'save'?" inquired Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because it is worse for her now than it has been."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have the fear of God! What is the danger?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The two women are terrible. Young Krepetski himself restrains them +apparently, but I know why he does this; but let him be careful, some +one may shoot him down like a dog if he is not."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was deep night then, but very clear, for the full moon was shining, +and by the light of it Pan Serafin saw that the eyes of the young man +were glittering like wolf eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What dost thou know of him?" asked Pan Serafin, with curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that he removed me not merely for my independence, but because +I watched and listened carefully to what people in the house said. I +went away because I had to go, but Belchantska is not far from +Yedlinka, and in case of need--"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he was silent, and on the road was heard only the sound of the +pines as they were moved by the night wind.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<p class="normal">AT Belchantska it was not only evil for the young woman, but worse and +worse daily. A good deal of time had passed since that moment in which +old Pan Gideon had noticed that Martsian gazed at the young girl with +too much of a "goat's look," and had driven him from the mansion. Later +on, Martsian saw her at church, and sometimes at the houses of +neighbors, and always her beauty of springtime roused fresh desires in +him. Now when he was living under one roof with her, when he saw her +daily, he fell in love in his own way, that is, with the beastlike +desire, and that feeling of which he was alone capable. A change had +taken place in his wishes. His first intent had been to bring the girl +to shame, and then marry her only in case that a will should be found +in her favor. Now he was ready to go with her to the altar, if he could +in any case have and possess her forever. Reason, which when urged by +desire becomes its obedient assistant, told him, moreover, that a young +lady bearing the name of Sieninski was, although dowerless, a match of +great moment. But even if reason had told him the opposite, Martsian +would not have listened, for as each day appeared he lost some part of +his self-mastery. He burnt, he raged, and if up to that time he had +restrained himself from violence it was only because desire, even the +most urgent, craves and yearns for a willing surrender, and is charmed +with the thought of mutuality in which it sees the highest pleasure, +and deceives itself even when there is no cause whatever for doing so.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus Krepetski deceived himself, and thus he pampered his wishes with +pictures of that blissful moment in which the young lady would herself, +radiant and willing, incline to his embraces. But he dreaded to lose +should he risk all on the hazard of a trial, and when he put to himself +in spirit this question, What would follow? fear seized him in presence +of himself, and in presence of the terror which would threaten him; for +the laws of the Commonwealth guarding the honor of woman were pitiless, +and around him were sabres of nobles by the hundred, which would flash +above his head most unfailingly. But he felt also that the hour might +come in which he would care for nothing, since in his insolent, wild +spirit there was hidden a craving for battle, and a hunger for peril; +so not without a certain charm for him was the picture of a great +throng of nobles besieging Belchantska--the flame of conflagration +above him, and a red executioner standing, axe in hand, somewhere off +in the mist of a distant city.</p> + +<p class="normal">And thus desire, dread, and also a longing for battle struggled like +three whirlwinds within him. At the same time, wishing to give exit to +that storm, and to cool that flood which was seething in his person as +water in a caldron, he grew mad, wallowed in riot throughout village +inns, rode down his horses, fell upon people, and drank to kill in +every dramshop of Radom, Prityk, and Yedlina. He collected around him a +company of road-blockers, who did not go to the war because of evil +fame, or of poverty. He paid these men and tyrannized over them; he did +this thinking that such a mob might be useful in the future, but he did +not admit any man of them to confidence, and never mentioned in their +presence the name of the young lady. Once when a certain Vysh, from +some Vyshkov of unknown situation, mentioned her in rude, obscene +fashion, Martsian slashed the fellow on his snout and drew blood from +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian galloped home at breakneck speed, and usually about daylight. +But that mad riding sobered him thoroughly. He dropped down in his +clothes to the horse skin which covered his bed, and slept like a stone +for some hours on it; when he rose he put on his best garments, went +then to the women, and strove to please the young lady, whom his eyes +did not leave for one moment, he meanwhile rousing desire, while his +glances crawled over her person. And more than once, when he was alone +with Anulka, his lips were pushed forward, his arms of monstrous +length quivered as if powerless against his wish to seize hold of +her; his voice became stifled, his words became insolent, vague, +and double-meaning; through them circled both flattery and an +ill-restrained threatening.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Anulka feared him simply as she would have feared a tamed wolf, or +a bear, and with difficulty did she hide the repulsion with which the +sight of him filled her. For in spite of the parrot-like colors in +which he arrayed himself, in spite of the shining jewels at his neck, +and the costly flageolet which he never let slip from his fingers, he +looked worse each day, and more repulsive. Sleepless nights, rioting, +drinking, and flaming desires had placed on him their impress. He grew +thin, his shoulders drooped, through this his arms, long by nature, +seemed longer, so that his hands reached below his knees and were +beyond human proportions. His gigantic trunk was like a knotty section +of a tree trunk, and his short bow-legs bent still more from mad +riding. Moreover, the skin of his face took on a kind of green pallor, +and because of his sunken cheeks, his protruding eyes and pouting lips +were pushed forward phenomenally. He became simply dreadful to look at, +especially when he laughed, for from his eyeballs when lighted with +laughter looked out a kind of nervous, unrestrained threat and malice. +But the feeling of her misfortune, deep sadness, and unhappiness +produced in Anulka a dignity of which she had not a trace somewhat +earlier. This dignity imposed on Krepetski. Once she had been a +twittering maiden, active all day as a water-mill; now she had learned +to be silent, and her eyes had a fixity of expression. So, though her +heart trembled often from fear of Krepetski, she restrained him by her +calm glance and her silence. He drew back then as if fearing to offend +such a majesty. It is true that she seemed to him still more desirable, +but also more difficult of access. She, however, feeling that from him +immense danger was threatening, and later on being perfectly convinced +of this, strove to avoid him, to be alone with him the shortest time +possible, to turn away conversation from things which might facilitate +confession, and finally she had the boldness sometimes to indicate that +she was not by any means abandoned and left to the favor or ill-will of +fortune, as it might seem to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">She avoided even memories of Yatsek, understanding that after what had +passed between them he could not be then, and would not be ever a +defence to her. She felt besides that every word touching him would +rouse hatred and anger in Martsian. But having noted that the +Krepetskis were careful of the prelate, and looked as if with secret +dread on him, she let it be understood frequently that she was under +his special protection, which rose from a secret agreement which, in +view of every contingency, Pan Gideon had concluded. The prelate, who +from time to time came to Belchantska, aided her notably, for he turned +to the Krepetskis with pleasure, since he was studying mankind; he +expressed himself with mystery, and quoted subtle phrases in Latin; he +reminded Martsian of various things which that young man might +interpret as suited him.</p> + +<p class="normal">But a great point was this: The servants and the whole village loved +the "young lady." People considered the Krepetskis as intruders, and +her as the genuine inheritor. All feared Martsian, except Vilchopolski. +But even after the removal of that young noble, the unseen care of the +people went, as it were, with Anulka, and Martsian understood that the +fear which he roused had its limit, beyond which for him would begin +real danger. He understood also that Vilchopolski, whose eyes had a +daring expression, would not go far from Belchantska, and that if the +young lady should be in need of defence he would not draw back before +anything; hence he confessed to himself that she was not really so +deserted by every one as at first he had thought, and as on a time he +had told his old father.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who will take her part? No one!" said he, when the old man commanded +him to remember the terrible punishments which the laws threatened for +an attempt on the honor of a woman.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last he understood that there were such defenders. That raised one +more obstacle, but obstacles and perils were only an incitement to a +nature like Martsian's. He deceived himself yet, thinking that he would +move the young lady and make her love him; but there came moments in +which he saw, as clearly as a thing on the palm, that he was quite +powerless; and then he raged, as said the comrades of his revels, and +had it not been for a certain dull, but strong and irresistible +foreboding that if he attacked the girl he should lose her forever, he +would long ere that have set free the wild beast within him.</p> + +<p class="normal">And in just those times did he drink without measure and memory.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile relations in the house had become unendurable, seasoned with +bitterness and poison. The Krepetski old maids hated Anulka, not only +because she was younger than they and more beautiful, but because +people loved her, and because Martsian took her part for every reason, +and even for no reason. They flamed up at last with implacable hatred +toward their brother; but seeing that Anulka never complained, they +tortured her all the more stubbornly. Once Agneshka burnt her with a +red-hot shovel, as if by accident. Martsian, hearing of this through +the servants, went to ask pardon of the young lady, and beg her to seek +his protection at all times; but he pushed up to her with such +insistence, and fell to kissing her hand with such greed and so +disgustingly, that she fled from him, unable to repress her abhorrence. +Thereupon he broke into a rage and beat his sister so viciously that +for two days she feigned illness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The two "heiresses" as they were called at the mansion did not spare +biting words on the young lady, or open inventions and humiliations, +taking vengeance in this way for all they were forced to endure from +their brother. But out of hatred for Martsian they warned her against +him, censuring her at the same time for yielding to his wishes, for +they saw that with nothing could they wound and offend her so painfully +as with this implication. The house became a hell for her, and every +hour in it a torment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hatred toward those people, who themselves hated one another, was +poisoning even her heart. She began to think of a cloister, but she +kept the thought in her bosom, for she knew that they would not let her +enter one, and that by unfettering Martsian's anger she would expose +herself to great peril. Alarm and fear of danger dwelt in her +continually, and produced the desire of death, a desire which she had +never felt previously. Meanwhile each day added to her cup new drops of +bitterness. Once, early in the morning, Agneshka surprised Martsian +looking through the keyhole of the orphan's chamber. He withdrew +gritting his teeth and threatening with his fist, but the "heiress" +called her sister immediately, and the two, finding the girl still +undressed, began to torment her, as usual.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou didst know that he was standing there," said the elder, "for the +floor squeaks outside the door, and there is a noise when any one +stands near it; but to thee, as is clear, his presence was agreeable."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bah! he licked his lips before dainties, and she did not hide them," +interrupted Agneshka. "Hast thou no fear of God, shameless creature?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such a one should be put before the church at a pillory."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And expelled from the mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sodom and Gomorrah!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tfu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And when will the need be to send to Radom for a woman?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What sort of a name wilt thou give it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tfu! thou dish-rag!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And they spat on her.</p> + +<p class="normal">The heart stormed up in the hapless maiden, for the measure was passed +then.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be off!" cried she, pointing to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">But her face grew pale as linen, and darkness fell on her eyes; for a +moment it seemed to her that she was flying into some gulf without +bottom, then she lost consciousness, feeling, and memory. On recovering +she found herself wet from water which had been poured on her, and her +breast pinched in places. The faces of the old maids bending over her +showed fear, but after a while they felt reassured when they saw that +she was conscious.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Complain, complain!" said Johanna. "Thy paramour will defend thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And thou wilt thank him in thy own way."</p> + +<p class="normal">Setting her teeth Anulka answered no syllable.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Martsian divined all that must have happened upstairs, for some +hours later from the chancellery, where he had shut himself in with his +sisters, came howls from which the whole mansion was terrified.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the afternoon, when old Krepetski came, the two sisters fell with a +scream to his knees imploring him to remove them from that den of +profligacy and torture. But he to the same degree that he loved his +youngest daughter hated the elder ones; so he not only took no pity on +the ill-fated hags, but he called for sticks, and compelled them to +stay there.</p> + +<p class="normal">The only being in that terrible house in whom Johanna and Agneshka, if +they had wished to be friendly and kind, might have found compassion, +sympathy, and even protection, was Panna Anulka. But they preferred to +torment the poor girl, and gloat over her, for, with the exception of +Tekla, that was a family in which each member did all in his or her +power to poison the life and increase the misfortune of the others.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Panna Anulka feared the love of Martsian more than the hatred of +his sisters. And he thrust himself more and more on her, pushed himself +forward more and more shamelessly, was more and more insistent, and +gazed at her more and more greedily. It had become clear that he was +ceasing to command himself, that wild desire was tearing him as a +whirlwind tears a tree, and that he might give way at any moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact that moment came soon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Once, after warm weather had grown settled, Anulka went at daybreak to +bathe in the shady river; before undressing she saw Martsian's face on +the opposite bank sticking out from thick bushes. That instant she +rushed away breathlessly. He pursued her, but trying to spring over the +water he failed and fell into it; he was barely able to climb out, and +went home drenched to the very last thread of his clothing. Before +dinner he had beaten a number of servants till the blood came; during +dinner he said not a word to any person. Only at the end of the meal +did he turn to his sisters,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave me alone," said he, "with Panna Anulka; I have to talk with her +on matters of importance."</p> + +<p class="normal">The sisters, on hearing this, looked at each other significantly, and +the young lady grew pale from amazement; though he had long tried to +seize every moment in which he might be alone with her, he had never +let himself ask for such a moment openly.</p> + +<p class="normal">When the sisters had gone he rose, looked beyond one door and another, +to convince himself that no one was listening, then he drew up to +Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me your hand," said he, "and be reconciled."</p> + +<p class="normal">She drew back both hands unconsciously, and pushed away from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian's wish for calmness was evident, but he sprang forward twice +on his bow-legs, for he could never abandon that habit, and said, with +a voice full of effort,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are unwilling! But to-day I came very near drowning for your sake. +I beg your pardon for that fright, but it was not caused by any bad +reason. Mad dogs began yesterday to run between Vyrambki and this +mansion, and I took a gun to make sure of your safety."</p> + +<p class="normal">Anulka's knees trembled under her a little, but she said with good +presence of mind and with calmness,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I want no protection which would bring only shame to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should like to defend you, not merely now, but till death and at all +times! Not offending God, but with His blessing. Dost understand me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">A moment of silence followed this question. Through the open window +came the sound of cutting wood, made by an old lame man attached to the +kitchen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because thou hast no wish to understand," replied Martsian. "Thou +seest this long time that I cannot live without thee. Thou art as +needful to me as this air is for breathing. To me thou art wonderful, +and dear above all things. I cannot exist--without thee I shall burn up +and vanish! If I had not restrained myself I should have grabbed thee +long ago as a hawk grabs a dove. It grows dry in my throat without +thee, as it does without water--everything in me quivers toward thee. I +cannot sleep, I cannot live--see here even now--"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he stopped, for his teeth were chattering as if in a fever. He had +a spasm, he caught at the arms of the chair with his bony fingers, as +if fearing to fall, and panted some time very loudly. Then he +continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou lackest fortune--that is nothing! I have enough. I need not +fortune, but thee. Dost thou wish to be mistress in this mansion? Thou +wert to marry Pan Gideon; I am not worse, as I think, than Pan Gideon. +But do not say no! do not, by the living God, do not say it, for I +cannot tell what will happen. Thou art wonderful! thou, my--!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He knelt quickly, embraced her knees with his two hands, and pressed +them toward his bosom. But, beyond even her own expectation, Anulka's +fear vanished without a trace in that terrible moment. The knightly +blood began to act in her; readiness for battle to the last breath +was roused in the woman. Her hands pushed back with all force his +sweat-covered forehead, which was nestling up toward her knees at that +moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! no! I would rather die a thousand deaths! No!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose up, pallid, his hair erect, his mustache quivering. Beneath the +mustache were glittering his long decayed teeth, and for a time he was +filled with cold rage as he stood there; but still he controlled +himself, still presence of mind did not desert him entirely. But when +Anulka pushed toward the door on a sudden, he stopped the way to her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is this true?" inquired he, with a hoarse voice. "Thou wilt not have +me? Wilt thou repeat that once more to me, to my eyes? Wilt thou not +have me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not! And do not threaten, for I feel no fear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not threaten thee, but I want to take thee as wife, nay more, I +beg thee bethink thyself! By the living God, bethink thyself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In what am I to bethink myself? I am free, I have my will, and I say +before your eyes: Never!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He approached her, so nearly that his face pushed up to hers, and he +continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then perhaps instead of being mistress, thou dost choose to carry wood +to the kitchen? Or dost thou not wish it? How will it be, O noble lady! +To which of thy estates wilt thou go from this mansion? And if thou +stay, whose bread wilt thou eat here; on whose kindness wilt thou live? +In whose power wilt thou find thyself? Whose bed, whose chamber is that +in which thou art sleeping? What will happen if I command to remove the +door fastenings? And dost thou ask in what thou art to bethink thyself? +In this: which thou art to choose!--marriage, or no marriage!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ruffian!" screamed Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">But now happened something unheard of. Seized with sudden fury, +Krepetski bellowed with a voice that was not human, and seizing the +girl by the hair he began with a certain wild and beastly relish to +beat her without mercy or memory. The longer he had mastered himself up +to that time, the more did his madness seem wild then, and terrible; at +that moment beyond doubt he would have killed the young lady had it not +been that to her cries for assistance servants burst into the chamber. +First that man cutting wood at the kitchen broke in with an axe through +the window, after him came kitchen servants, the two sisters, the +butler, and two of Pan Gideon's old servitors.</p> + +<p class="normal">The butler was a noble from a distant village in Mazovia, moreover, a +man of rare strength, though rather aged; he caught Martsian's arms +from behind, and drew them so mightily that the elbows almost met at +his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is not permitted, your grace!" exclaimed he. "It is infamous!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me go!" roared Krepetski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the iron hands held him as in vices, and a serious, low voice was +heard near his ear,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will break your bones unless you restrain yourself!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the sisters led, or rather carried the young lady from the +chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come to the chancellery to rest," said the butler. "I advise your +grace earnestly."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he pushed the man before him as he would a child, while Martsian, +with chattering teeth, moved on with his short legs, crying for a +halter and the hangman; but he could not resist, for a moment later he +had grown so weak all at once, from the outburst, that he was unable +even to stand unassisted. So, when the butler in the chancellery threw +him on the horse skin with which the bed was covered, Martsian did not +even try to rise; he lay there panting with heaving sides, like a horse +after over-exertion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something to drink!" shouted he.</p> + +<p class="normal">The butler opened the door, called a boy, and, whispering some words, +gave him keys: the lad returned with a pint glass and a demijohn of +brandy.</p> + +<p class="normal">The butler filled the glass to the brim, sniffed at it, and said +approaching Martsian,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drink, your grace."</p> + +<p class="normal">Krepetski seized it with both hands, but they trembled so that liquor +dropped on his breast; then the butler raised him, put the glass to his +lips, and inclined it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He drank and drank, holding the glass greedily when the butler tried to +remove it from his mouth. At last he drank all, and fell backward.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It may be too much," said the butler, "but you had become very weak +when I gave it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Though Martsian wished to say something, he merely hissed in the air, +like a man who has burnt his mouth with too hot a liquid.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh," said the butler, "you owe me a good gift, for I have shown no +petty service. God preserve us, if anything is done--in such an affair +it is the axe and the executioner, not to mention this, that misfortune +might happen here any minute. The people love that young lady beyond +measure. And it will be difficult to hide what has been done from the +prelate, though I will tell all to be silent. How do you feel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian looked at him with staring eyes and open mouth as he panted. +Once and a second time he tried to say something, then hiccoughing +seized him, his eyes grew expressionless, he closed his lids on a +sudden, and then began a rattling in his throat as if the man were +dying.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sleep, or die, dirty dog!" growled the butler as he looked at him. And +he went from the room to the outbuildings. Half an hour later he +returned and knocked at the young lady's chamber. Finding the two +sisters with her he said to them,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ladies, perhaps you would look in a moment at the chancellery, for the +young lord has grown very feeble. But if he sleeps it is better not to +wake him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then when alone with Panna Anulka he inclined to her knees, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Young lady, there is need to flee from this mansion. All is ready."</p> + +<p class="normal">And she, though broken and barely able to stand on her feet, sprang up +in one instant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is well, and I am ready! Save me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will conduct you to a wagon which is waiting beyond the river. +To-night I will bring your clothing. Pan Krepetski is as drunk as Bela, +and will lie like a dead man till morning. Only take a cloak, and let +us go. No one will stop us; have no fear on that point."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God reward! God reward!" repeated she, feverishly.</p> + +<p class="normal">They went out through the garden to that gate by which Yatsek used to +enter from Vyrambki. On the way the butler said to her,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Long ago Vilchopolski arranged with the servants that if an attack +upon you were attempted, they would set fire to the granary. Pan +Krepetski would be forced to the fire, and you would have time to +escape through the garden to a place beyond the river, where a man was +to wait with a wagon. But it is better not to burn anything. To set +fire is a crime, no matter what happens. Krepetski will be like a stone +until morning, so no pursuit threatens you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are we going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To Pan Serafin's; defence there is easy. Vilchopolski is there. So are +the Bukoyemskis and other foresters. Krepetski will try to take you +back, but will fail. And later on Pan Serafin will conduct you to +Radom, or farther. That will be settled with the priests. Here is the +wagon! Fear no pursuit. It is not far to Yedlinka, and God gives a +wonderful evening. I will bring your clothing to-night. If they try to +stop me I will not mind them. May the Most Holy Mother, the guardian +and protectress of orphans conduct you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And taking her by the hand like a child, he seated her in the wagon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Move on!" cried he to the driver.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was growing dark in the world, and the twilight of evening was +quenching, but from the remnant of its rays the stars in the clear sky +were rosy. The calm evening was filled with the odors of the earth, of +leaves, and of blossoming alders, while nightingales were filling with +their song, as with a warm rain of spring, the garden, the trees, and +the whole region.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<p class="normal">That evening Pan Serafin was sitting on a bench in the front of his +mansion, entertaining Father Voynovski, who had come after evening +prayers to see him, and the four Bukoyemskis, who were stopping then +permanently at Yedlinka. Before them on a table, with legs crossed like +the letter X, stood a pitcher of mead and some glasses. They, while +listening to the murmur of the forest, were drinking from time to time +and conversing of the war, raising their eyes to the heavens in which +the sickle of the moon was shining clearly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks to your grace, our benefactor, we shall be ready soon for the +road," said Mateush Bukoyemski. "What has happened is passed. Even +saints have their failings; then how must it be with frail men, who +without the grace of God can do nothing? But when I look at that moon, +which forms the Turkish standard, my fist is stung as if mosquitoes +were biting. Well, God grant a man to gratify his hands at the +earliest."</p> + +<p class="normal">The youngest Bukoyemski fell to thinking.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why is it, my reverend benefactor," asked he at last, "that Turks +cherish some kind of worship for the moon, and bear it on their +standards?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But have not dogs some devotion toward the moon also?" asked the +priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, but why should the Turks have it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just because they are dog-brothers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, as God is dear to me, that explains all," said the young man, +looking at the moon then in wonderment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the moon is not to blame," said the host, "and it is delightful to +gaze at it when in the calm of night it paints all the trees with its +beams, as if some one had coated them with silver. I love greatly to +sit by myself on such a night, gaze at the sky, and marvel at the Lord +God's almightiness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, at such times the soul flies on wings, as it were, to its +Creator," said Father Voynovski. "God in his mercy created the moon as +well as the sun, and what an immense benefaction. As to the sun, well, +everything is visible in the daytime, but if there were no moon people +would break their necks in the night if they travelled, not to mention +this, that in perfect darkness devilish wickedness would be greater by +far than it is at the present."</p> + +<p class="normal">They were silent for a while and passed over the peaceful sky with +their eyes; the priest took a pinch of snuff then, and added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fix this in your memories, gentlemen, that a kind Providence thinks +not only of the needs, but the comfort of people."</p> + +<p class="normal">The rattle of wheels, which in the night stillness reached their ears +very clearly, interrupted the conversation. Pan Serafin rose from his +seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God is bringing some guest," said he, "for the whole household is +here. I am curious to know who it may be."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely some one with news from our lads," added Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">All rose, and thereupon a wagon drawn by two horses entered in through +the gateway.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some woman is on the seat," called out Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true."</p> + +<p class="normal">The wagon passed through half the courtyard and stopped at the +entrance. Pan Serafin looked at the face of the woman, recognized it in +the wonderful moonlight, and cried,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Anulka!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he almost lifted her in his arms from the wagon, then she bent at +once to his knees, and burst into weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An orphan!" cried she, "who begs for rescue and a refuge!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she nestled up to his knees, embraced them with still greater +vigor, and sobbed more complainingly. Such great astonishment seized +every man there, that for a time no one uttered a syllable; at last Pan +Serafin raised the orphan and pressed her to his heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"While there is breath in my nostrils," cried he, "I will be to thee a +father. But tell me what has happened? Have they driven thee from +Belchantska?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Krepetski has beaten me, and threatened me with infamy," answered she, +in a voice barely audible.</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski, who was there very near her, heard this answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews!" exclaimed he, seizing his white +hair with both hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">The four Bukoyemskis gazed with open mouths, and eyes bursting from +their sockets, but understood nothing. Their hearts were moved at once, +it is true, by the weeping of the orphan, but they considered that +Panna Anulka had wrought foul injustice on Yatsek. They remembered also +the teaching of Father Voynovski, that woman is the cause of all evil. +So they looked at one another inquiringly, as if hoping that some clear +idea would come, if not to one, to another of them. At last words came +to Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, now, here is Krepetski for you. But in every case that Martsian +will get from us a----, or won't he?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he seized at his left side, and, following his example, the other +three brothers began to feel for the hilts of their sabres.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, Pan Serafin had led in the young lady and committed her to +Pani Dzvonkovski, his housekeeper, a woman of sensitive heart and +irrepressible eloquence, and explained to her that she was to concern +herself with this the most notable guest that had come to them. He said +that the housekeeper was to yield up her own bedroom to the lady, light +the house, make a fire in the kitchen, find calming medicines and +plasters for the blue spots, prepare heated wine and various dainties. +He advised the young lady herself to lie down in bed until all was +given her, and to rest, deferring detailed discourse till the morrow.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she desired to open her heart straightway to those gentlemen with +whom she had sought rescue. She wanted to cast out immediately from her +soul all that anguish which had been collecting so long in it, and that +misfortune, shame, humiliation, and torture in which she had been +living at Belchantska. So, shutting herself up with Father Voynovski +and Pan Serafin, she spoke as if to a confessor and a father. She told +them everything, both her sorrow for Yatsek, and that she had consented +to marry her guardian only because she thought Yatsek had contemned +her, and because she had heard from the Bukoyemskis that Yatsek was to +marry Parma Zbierhovski. Finally, she explained what her life had been +in Belchantska,--or rather, what her sufferings had been there; she +explained the torturing malice of the two sisters, the ghastly advances +of Martsian, and the happenings of that day which were the cause of her +flight from the mansion.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they seized their own heads while they listened. The hand of Father +Voynovski, an old soldier, went to his left side involuntarily, in the +manner of the Bukoyemskis, though for many a day he had not carried a +weapon; but the worthy Pan Serafin put his palms on the temples of the +maiden, and said to her,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him try to take thee. I had an only son, but now God has given me +a daughter."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski, who had been struck most by what she had said +touching Yatsek, remembering all that had happened, could not take in +the position immediately. Hence he thought and thought, smoothed with +his palm the whole length of his crown which was milk-white, and then +he asked finally,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Didst thou know of that letter which Pan Gideon wrote to Yatsek?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I begged him to write it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I understand nothing. Why didst thou do so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I wanted Yatsek to return to us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How return?" cried the priest, with real anger. "The letter was such +that just because of it Yatsek went away to the ends of the earth +broken-hearted, to forget, and cast out of him that love which thou, my +young lady, didst trample."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her eyes blinked from amazement, and she put her hands together, as if +praying.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My guardian told me that he had written the letter of a father. O Holy +Mother! What was there in it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Insults, contempt, a trampling upon the man's poverty and his honor. +Dost understand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then from the gill's breast was rent a shriek of such pain and +sincerity that the honest heart of the priest quivered in him. He +approached her, removed the hands with which she had covered her face, +and asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then didst thou not know of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not--I did not!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And thou didst wish Yatsek to return to thee?</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In God's name! Why was that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears as large as pearls began again to drop from her closed lashes in +abundance, and quickly; her face was red from maiden shame, she caught +for air with her open lips, the heart was throbbing in her as in a +captured bird, and at last after great effort, she whispered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because--I love him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My child, is that possible!" cried out Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the voice broke in his breast, for tears were choking him also. He +was seized at the same instant by delight and immense compassion for +the girl, and astonishment that "a woman" in this case was not the +cause of all evil, but an innocent lamb on which so much suffering had +fallen God knew for what reason. He caught her in his arms, pressed her +to his heart. "My child! my child!" repeated he, time after time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis, meanwhile, had betaken themselves, with the glasses +and pitcher, to the dining-room; had emptied the pitcher +conscientiously to the bottom, and were waiting for the priest and Pan +Serafin, in the hope that with their coming supper would be put on the +table.</p> + +<p class="normal">They returned at last with moistened eyes and with emotion on their +faces. Pan Serafin breathed deeply once, and a second time, then he +said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pani Dzvonkovski is putting the poor thing to bed. Indeed, a +man is unwilling to believe his own ears. We too, are to blame; but +Krepetski,--what he has done is simply infamous and disgraceful. We may +not let him go without punishment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the contrary," answered Marek, "we will talk about this with that +'stump.' Oh-ho!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he turned to Father Voynovski,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am very sorry for her, but still, I think that God punished her for +Yatsek. Is that not true?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou art a fool!" called out Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how is that? Why?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man, whose breast was full of pity, fell to talking quickly and +passionately of the innocence and suffering of the girl, as if wishing +in that way to make up for the injustice which he had permitted +regarding her; but after a time all discussion was interrupted by the +coming of Pani Dzvonkovski, who burst into the room like a bomb into a +fortress.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her face was as flooded with tears as if it had been dipped in a full +bucket, and right on the threshold she fell to crying, with arms +stretched out before her,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"People, whoso believes in God! Vengeance, justice! As God lives! her +dear shoulders are all in blue lumps, those shoulders once white as +wafers--hair torn out by the handful, golden hair! my dearest dove! my +innocent lamb! my precious little flower!"</p> + +<p class="normal">On hearing this, Mateush Bukoyemski, already excited by the narrative +of Father Voynovski, bellowed out at one moment, the next he was +accompanied by Marek, Lukash, and Yan till the servants rushed into the +dining-hall and the dogs began to bark at the entrance. But +Vilchopolski, who a moment later returned from his night review of +haystacks, met now another humor of the brothers. Their hair was on +end, their eyes were staring with rage, their right hands were grasping +at their sabre hilts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Blood!" shouted Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give him hither, the son of a such a one!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Kill him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"On sabres with him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And they moved toward the door as one man; but Pan Serafin sprang to +the entrance and stopped them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Halt!" cried he. "Martsian deserves not the sabre, but the headsman!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<p class="normal">And he had to speak long in pacifying the angry brothers. He explained +to them that were they to cut down Krepetski at once it would be the +act not of nobles but assassins.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is need first of all," said he, "to visit our neighbors, to come +to an understanding with Father Tvorkovski, to have the support of the +clergy and the nobles, to obtain the testimony of the servants at +Belchantska, then to take the case before a tribunal, and only when the +sentence is passed to stand behind it with weapons. If," continued he, +"ye were to bear Martsian apart on your sabres immediately, his father +would not fail to report in all places that ye did so through agreement +with Panna Anulka; by this her reputation might suffer, and the old man +would summon you, and, instead of going to the war, ye would have to +drag around through tribunals, for, not being under the authority of +the hetman as yet, ye would not escape a civil summons. That is how +this matter stands at the moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How so?" inquired Yan, with sorrow; "then we are to let the wrong done +this dove go unpunished?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But do ye think," said the priest, "that life will be pleasant for +Krepetski when infamy is hanging over him, or the axe of the headsman, +and in addition when general contempt is surrounding him? That is a +worse torment than a quick death would be, and I should not wish, for +all the silver in Olkuts, to be in his skin at this moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if he will wriggle out?" inquired Marek. "His father is an old +trickster, who has won more than one lawsuit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he wriggles out, Yatsek on returning will whisper a word in his +ear."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye do not know Yatsek yet! He has the eyes of a maiden, but it is +safer to take her young cubs from a she-bear than to pain him +unjustly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereupon Vilchopolski till then only listening spoke in gloomy +accents,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Krepetski has written his own sentence, whether he awaits the +return of Pan Tachevski or not-- But there is another point; he will +try, with armed hand, to get back the young lady, and then--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we shall see!" interrupted Pan Serafin. "But let him only try! +That is something quite different!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he shook his sabre, threateningly, while the Bukoyemskis began to +grit their teeth straightway.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him try! let him try!" said they.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, gentlemen," said Vilchopolski, "you are going to the war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will arrange then in another way," replied Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the butler. He +had brought trunks filled with the wardrobe of Panna Sieninski which, +as he said, he did only with difficulty. The Krepetski sisters tried to +prevent him, and even wished to wake Martsian, and keep the trunks in +the mansion, but they could not wake him; and the butler persuaded them +that they should not act thus, both in view of their own good and that +of their brother, otherwise an action would be brought against them for +robbery, and they would be summoned for damages before a tribunal. As +women who do not know law they were frightened and yielded. The butler +thought that Martsian would try surely to get back the young lady, but +he did not think that the man would use violence immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will be restrained from that," said the butler, "by his father, who +understands well the significance of <i>raptus puellae</i>. He knows nothing +yet of what has happened, but from here I will go to him directly and +explain the whole matter, for two reasons. First, so that he may +restrain Martsian, and second, because I do not wish to be in +Belchantska to-morrow when Martsian wakes and learns that I have helped +the young lady in fleeing. He would rush on me surely, and then to one +of us something ugly might happen."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski praised the man's prudence and, +finding that he was a well-wishing person, and experienced, a man who +had eaten bread from more than one oven, and to whom law itself was no +novelty, begged him to aid in examining the question. There were two +councils then, one of these being formed of the four Bukoyemskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin, knowing how to restrain them most easily from murderous +intentions, and detain them at home, sent a large demijohn of good mead +to the brothers; this they were glad to besiege at the moment, and +began to drink one to another. Their hearts were moved, and they +remembered involuntarily the night when Panna Anulka crossed for the +first time the threshold of that house there in Yedlinka. They recalled +how they had fallen in love with her straightway, how through her they +had quarrelled, and then in one voice adjudged her to Stanislav, and +thus made an offering of their passion to friendship.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last Mateush drank his mead, put his head on his palm, sighed, and +continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek was sitting that night on a tree like a squirrel. Who could +have thought then that he was just the man to whom the Lord God had +given her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And commanded us to continue in our orphanhood," added Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do ye remember," asked Lukash, "how the rooms were all bright from her +presence? They would not have been brighter from a hundred burning +candles. And she at one time stood up, at another sat down, and a third +time she laughed. And when she looked at a man it was as warm in his +bosom as if he had drunk heated wine that same instant. Let us take a +glass now on our terrible sadness."</p> + +<p class="normal">They drank again; then Mateush struck a blow with his fist on the +table, and shouted,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ei! if she had not loved that Yatsek so!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then what?" asked Yan, angrily, "dost think that she would fall in +love with thee right away? Look at him--my dandy!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well thou art no beauty!" retorted Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">And they looked at each other with ill-feeling. But Lukash, though +given greatly to quarrels, began now to pacify his brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for thee, not for thee, not for any of us," said he. "Another will +get her and take her to the altar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For us there is nothing but sorrow and weeping," blurted out Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then at least we will love one another. No one in this world loves us! +No one!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No one! no one!" repeated they all in succession, mingling their wine +with their tears as they said so.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But she is sleeping up there!" added Yan on a sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She is sleeping, the poor little thing," responded Lukash; "she is +lying down like a flower cut by the scythe, like a lamb torn by a +villainous wolf. My born brothers! is there no man here who will take +even a pull at the wild beast?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It cannot be but there is!" cried out Mateush, Marek, and Yan. And +again they grew indignant, and the more they drank the oftener they +gritted their teeth, first one, then another, or one of them struck his +fist on the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have an idea!" said the youngest on a sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell it! Have God in thy heart!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here it is. We have promised Pan Serafin not to cut up that 'stump.' +Have we not promised?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have, but tell what thou hast to say; ask no questions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Though we have promised we must take revenge for our young lady. Old +Krepetski will come here, as they said, to see if Pan Serafin will not +give back the young lady. But we know that he will not give her, do we +not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will not! he will not!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But think ye not this way: Martsian will hurry to meet his father on +the road back, to see and inquire if he has succeeded."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God is in heaven, he will do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the road, half-way between Belchantska and Yedlinka, is a tar pit +near the roadside. If we should wait at that tar pit for Martsian--?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, but what for?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Psh! quiet!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Psh!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And they began to look around through the room, though they knew that +save themselves there was not a living soul in it, and then they +whispered. They whispered long, now louder, now lower. At last their +faces grew radiant, they finished their wine at one draught, embraced +one another, and in silence went out of the room one after the other, +in goose fashion.</p> + +<p class="normal">They saddled their horses without the least noise, and each led his +beast by the bit from the courtyard. When they had gone through the +gate they mounted and rode stirrup by stirrup to the roadway where Yan, +though the youngest, took command and said then to his brothers,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I with Marek will go to the tar pit, and do ye bring that cask +before daybreak."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> + +<p class="normal">Old Krepetski, as had been foreseen by the butler, went to Yedlinka +after midday on the morrow, but beyond all expectation he appeared +there with so kindly a face, and so gladsome, that Pan Serafin, who had +the habit of dozing after dinner, and felt somewhat drowsy, became wide +awake with astonishment at sight of him. Almost at the threshold the +old fox began to mention neighborly friendship and say what delight his +old age would find in more frequent and mutual visits; he gave thanks +for the kindly reception, and only after finishing these courtesies did +he come to the real question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benefactor and neighbor," said he, "I have come with the salute which +was due you, but also, as you must have divined, with a request which, +in view of my age, you, I trust, will give ear to most kindly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will yield gladly to every proper wish which you may utter," said +Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man began to rub his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I knew that! I knew it beforehand," said he. "What a thing it is to +deal with a man who has real wisdom; one comes to an agreement +immediately. I said to my son 'Leave that to me! the moment,' said I, +'that thou hast to do with Pan Serafin all will go well, for there is +not another man, not merely so wise, but so honorable in this region.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You praise me too greatly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no, I say too little. But let us come to the question."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us."</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Krepetski was silent for a while, as if seeking expressions. He +merely moved his jaws, so that his chin met his nose. At last he +laughed joyously, put his hand on Pan Serafin's knee, and continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My benefactor, you see our goldfinch has flown from the cage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know. Because the cat frightened it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is there not pleasure in talking with such people?" cried the old man, +rubbing his hands. "Oh, that is wit! The prelate Tvorkovski would burst +with envy, as God is dear to me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am listening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, to the question, and straight from the bridge. We should like to +take back that goldfinch."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should you not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Krepetski moved his chin toward his nose once, and a second time. +He was alarmed; the affair went too easily; but he clapped his hands, +and cried with feigned joyousness,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, now the affair is finished! Would to God that such men as you +were born everywhere!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is finished so far as I am concerned," said Pan Serafin. "Only +there is need to ask that little bird whether she wants to go back +again; besides she cannot go back to-day, for your son has so throttled +her that she is barely breathing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is she sick?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sick; she is lying in bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But is she not pretending?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin's face grew dark in a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My gracious sir," said he, "let us talk seriously. Your son Martsian +has acted unworthily with Panna Anulka, not in human fashion, and not +as a noble; he has acted altogether with infamy. Before God and man you +have offended grievously to give an orphan into hands such as his, and +intrust her to a tyrant so shameless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is not a bit of truth in what she says," cried the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not? You know not what she has said, and still you deny. It is not +she who is speaking; blue lumps and marks of blows speak for her, marks +which my housekeeper saw on her young body. As to Martsian, all the +servants in Belchantska have seen his approaches and his cruelty, and +are ready to testify when needed. In my house is Vilchopolski who is +going to-day to Radom to tell the prelate Tvorkovski what has +happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you have promised to give me the girl."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I only said that I would not detain her. If she wants to go back, +very well! If she wishes to stay with me, very well also! But attempt +not to bring me to refuse my roof and a morsel of bread to an orphan +who is grievously offended."</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Krepetski's jaws moved time after time. For a while he was silent, +and then began,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, and you are wrong. To refuse a shelter and bread to an +orphan would be unworthy, but as a wise man consider that it is one +thing not to refuse hospitality, and something different to stand with +rebellion against the authority of a father. I love Tekla, my youngest +daughter, sincerely, but it happens sometimes that I give her a push. +Well, what then? If she, after being punished by me, should flee to +you, would you not permit me to take her, or would you refer me to her +pleasure? Think of this--what sort of order would there be in the +world, if women had their will? A married woman, even when old, must +hearken to her husband, and yield to him; but what must it be in the +case of an immature girl, as against the commands of her father, or +guardian?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Anulka is not your daughter, nor even your relative."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But we inherited the guardianship over her from Pan Gideon. If Pan +Gideon had punished the girl, you, of course, would not have had a word +against him; but it is the same thing touching me and my son, to whom I +have committed the management of Belchantska. Some one must manage, +some one must have authority to punish. Difficult to do without that. I +do not deny that Martsian, as a man, young and impulsive, exceeded the +measure, perhaps, especially since he was met with ingratitude. But +that is my affair! I will examine, judge, and punish; but I will take +the girl back, and I think, with your permission, that even the king +himself would have no right to raise any hindrance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You speak as in a tribunal," said Pan Serafin. "I do not deny that you +have appearances on your side; but appearance is one thing, and the +real truth another. I do not wish to hinder you in anything, but I tell +you honestly what the opinion of people is, and with that opinion I +advise you to reckon. For you it is not a question of Panna Anulka, nor +of guardianship over her, but you suspect that there may be a will in +the hands of the prelate, with a provision for the young lady, +therefore you are afraid that Belchantska might slip from you together +with Panna Anulka. Not long ago I heard one of the neighbors speak in +this way: 'Were it not for that uncertainty the Krepetskis would be the +first to drive the orphan from the house, for those people have not God +in their hearts.' It is very disagreeable for me and repulsive to say +such things in my house to you, but you ought to know them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Flames of anger gleamed in the eyes of the old man, but he controlled +himself, and said with a voice which was quiet, though somewhat +broken,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The malice of people! Low malice, nothing more, and stupidity besides +that. How could it be? We would then drive from the house a young lady +whom Martsian wants to marry? By the dear God, think over this! The two +things do not hold together."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They talk in this way: 'If it shall appear that Belchantska is hers +then Martsian will marry her, but if the place is not hers he will +simply disgrace her.' I am not any man's conscience, so I merely repeat +what people say, but with this addition of my own, that your son +threatened shame to the girl. I know that surely, and you, who know +Martsian and his vile desires, know it also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know one and another thing, but I know not what you wish to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What I wish to say? This, which I have said to you already. If Panna +Anulka agrees to return to you I have no right to oppose her or you, +but if she is not willing, I will not expel her from this house, for I +have given my word not to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The question is not that you should expel her, but that you should +permit me to take her, just as you would permit me if one of my own +daughters were with you. This only I beg, that you stand not in my +way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I will tell you clearly. I will permit no violence in my house! I +am master, and you, who have just mentioned the king, should understand +that on this point the king himself could not oppose me."</p> + +<p class="normal">On hearing this Pan Krepetski balled his fists, so that his palms were +pierced by his finger-nails.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Violence? That is just what I fear. I, if ever I have had to act +against people (and who has not had to deal with the malice of men?), +have acted against them through the law, always, not through violence. +But what the proverb says is not true, that the apple falls near its +tree.--It falls far away sometimes. I, for your good and safety, +desired to settle this question in peacefulness. You are undefended in +the forest, while Martsian--it is grievous for a father to say this of +a son--has not taken after me in any way. I am ashamed to confess it, +but I am not able to answer for him. The whole district is in dread of +his passionateness, and justly, for he is ready to disregard everything +and he has about fifty sabres at his order. You, on the other hand, are +unarmed. I repeat it, you live in the forest, and I advise you to +reckon with this situation. I am alarmed myself at it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hereupon Pan Serafin rose, walked up to Krepetski, and gazed into his +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you wish to frighten me?" inquired he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid myself," repeated the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">But their further conversation was interrupted by sudden shouts in the +courtyard from the direction of the granary and the kitchen, so they +sprang to the open window, and at the first moment were petrified with +amazement. There between two fences ran with tremendous speed toward +the gate and the courtyard some kind of rare monster, unlike any +creature on earth, and behind it on excited horses dashed the four +Bukoyemskis, shouting and cutting the air with their whip-lashes. The +monster rushed into the yard, and behind it came the brothers, like +hell hunters, and continued their chasing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jesus, Mary!" cried out Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">He ran to the porch, and after him ran old Krepetski.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only there could they see with more clearness. The monster seemed like +a giant bird, but also like a horse and a rider, for it ran on four +legs with a certain form sitting on it. But the rider and the beast +were so covered with feathers that their heads seemed two bundles.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was impossible to see clearly, for the steed rushed like a wind +round the courtyard. The Bukoyemskis followed closely, and did not +spare blows, by which feathers were torn away and fell to the ground, +or circled in the air as do snowflakes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the monster roared like a wounded bear, and so did the +brothers. Pan Serafin's voice and that of his visitor were lost in the +general tumult, though all the power in their lungs was used then in +shouting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop! By God's wounds, will ye stop!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But the four brothers urged on, as if seized by insanity--and they had +rushed five times round the yard when from the kitchen, and the +stables, and barns, and granaries, and outhouses a great crowd of +servants ran in, who hearing the cry "Stop!" repeated as if in +desperation by Pan Serafin, plunged forward and, seizing bits and +bridles, strove to stop the horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the horses of the four brothers were brought to a standstill, +but with the feathery steed there was very great trouble. Without a +bridle, beaten, terrified, the beast reared at sight of the servants, +or sprang to one side with the suddenness of lightning. They stopped it +only at the fence when preparing to spring over. One of the men grasped +its forelock, another caught its nostrils, a number seized its mane; it +could not jump with such a burden, and fell to its knees. The beast +sprang up quickly, it is true, but did not try to rush away; it only +trembled throughout its whole body.</p> + +<p class="normal">They removed the rider, who, as it seemed then, had not been thrown +because his feet were bound firmly beneath the beast's belly. They +pulled the feathers from his head, and under the feathers appeared a +visage covered so thickly with tar that no man there recognized the +features.</p> + +<p class="normal">The rider gave faint signs of life, and only when taken to the porch +did old Krepetski and Pan Serafin see who it was and cry out +"Martsian!" with amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is that vile scoundrel!" said Mateush. "We have punished him not +a little, and have hunted him in here, so that Panna Sieninski may know +that tender souls have not gone from this world yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin seized his head with his hands, and shouted,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil take you and your tender souls! Ye are nothing but bandits!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then, turning to Pani Dzvonkovski who had run up with the others and +was crossing herself, he cried,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pour vodka into his mouth. Let him regain consciousness, and be taken +to bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was hurry and disorder. Some ran to make the bed ready, others +for hot water, still others for vodka; a number began to pull the +feathers off Martsian, in which they were aided by his father, who was +gritting his teeth, and repeating,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he alive? Is he dead? He is alive! Vengeance! Oh Vengeance!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he sprang up on a sudden, jumped forward, and thrusting up to the +very eyes of Pan Serafin, fingers, bent now like talons, he shouted,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You were in the conspiracy! You have killed my son--you Armenian +assassin!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin grew very pale, and seized his sabre, but almost at the +same instant he remembered that he was the host, and Krepetski a +visitor, so he dropped the hilt, and raised two fingers immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By that God who is above us," said he, "I swear that I knew +nothing--and I am ready to swear on the cross in addition--Amen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are witnesses that he knew nothing!" cried Marek Bukoyemski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God has punished," said Pan Serafin; "for you threatened me, as a +defenceless old man, with the passion of your son. Here is his passion +for you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A criminal offence!" bellowed the old man. "The headsman against you, +and your heads under the sword edge! Vengeance! Justice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"See what ye have done!" said Pan Serafin, as he turned to the +Bukoyemskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I said it was better to run away at once," answered Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pani Dzvonkovski now came with Dantsic liquor, and fell to pouring it +from the bottle into the open mouth of the sufferer. Martsian coughed, +and opened his eyes the next minute. His father knelt down to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Art alive? Art alive?" asked he in a wild joyful outburst.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the son could not answer yet, and was like a great owl, which, +struck with a bullet, has fallen on its back and lies there, with +outstretched wings, panting. Still consciousness was coming to him, and +with it memory. His glance passed from the face of his father to that +of Pan Serafin, and then to the Bukoyemskis. Thereupon it grew so +terrible that if there had been the least place for fear in the hearts +of the brothers, a shiver would have passed from foot to head through +their bodies.</p> + +<p class="normal">But they only went nearer to Martsian, like four bulls which are ready +to rush with, their horns at an enemy, and Mateush inquired,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well? Was that too little?"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> + +<p class="normal">A few hours later on old Krepetski took his son to Belchantska, though +the young man was unable to stand, and did not know clearly what was +happening. First of all the servants had washed him with great trouble, +and had put on him fresh linen, but after this had been done such +weakness came upon Martsian, that he fainted repeatedly, and thanks +only to the angelica and pimpernel bitters which Pani Dzvonkovski now +gave him was he brought back to consciousness. Pan Serafin advised to +place him in bed and defer the departure till recovery was perfect, but +Pan Krepetski, whose old heart was raging, did not wish to owe +gratitude to a man against whom he was planning a lawsuit for harboring +the young lady; hence he had them put hay in a wagon, and, placing a +rug, instead of a bed, under Martsian he moved toward Belchantska, +hurling threats at the Bukoyemskis and also Pan Serafin. While +threatening vengeance he was forced to accept Pan Serafin's assistance, +and borrow from him hay, clothing, and linen, but, blinded by anger, he +took no note of the strange situation. Pan Serafin himself had no mind +whatever for laughter; since the act of the four brothers disturbed and +concerned him very greatly.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this juncture came Father Voynovski who had been summoned by letter. +The Bukoyemskis, now greatly confused, were sitting in the office, not +showing their noses, hence Pan Serafin had to tell all that had +happened. The priest struck the skirt of his soutane from time to time +as he listened, but he was not so grieved as Pan Serafin had expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If Martsian dies," said he at length, "then woe to the Bukoyemskis, +but if, as I think, he squirms out of it, I suppose that they will take +private vengeance and not raise a lawsuit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because it is unpleasant to be ridiculed by the country. At the same +time his conduct toward Panna Anulka would be discovered. That would +give him no enviable reputation. His life is not laudable, hence he +should avoid the chance of letting witnesses tell in public what they +know of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That may be true," said Pan Serafin, "but it is difficult to forgive +the Bukoyemskis tricks of such a character."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest waved his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Bukoyemskis are the Bukoyemskis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How?" asked Pan Serafin, with astonishment. "I thought that your grace +would be more offended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My gracious sir," said the old man, "you have served in the army, but +I have served longer, and have seen so many soldiers' tricks during my +time that nothing common can surprise me. It is bad that such things +happen. I blame the Bukoyemskis, but I have seen worse things, +especially as in this case the question was of an orphan. I will go +still farther and say sincerely, that I should grieve more if +Martsian's deeds had gone unpunished. Think, we are old, but if we were +young our hearts too would boil up over deeds such as his are. That is +why I cannot blame the Bukoyemskis altogether."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, true, but still Martsian may not live until morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is in the hands of God; but you say he is not wounded?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not, but he is all one blue spot, and faints continually."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, he will get out of that; he fainted from fatigue. But I must go to +the Bukoyemskis and inquire how it happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">The brothers received him with rapture, for they hoped that he would +take their part with Pan Serafin. They began to quarrel at once as to +who should tell the tale, and stopped only when the priest gave Mateush +the primacy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Mateush resumed his voice and spoke as follows,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father benefactor, God saw our innocence! For, when we learned from +Pani Dzvonkovski how that poor little orphan had blue lumps all over +her body, we came into this room in such grief that had it not been for +the mead which Pan Serafin sent us in a pitcher, our hearts would have +burst perhaps. And I say to your grace, we drank and shed tears--we +drank and shed tears. And we had this in mind too, that she was no +common girl, but a young lady descended from senators. It is known to +you, for example, that the higher blood a horse has, the thinner his +skin is; slash a common drudge with a whip, he will hardly feel it, but +strike a noble steed, and immediately a welt will come out on him. +Think, Father benefactor, what a thin, tender skin such a dear little +girl must have on her shoulders, and all over her body, just like a +wafer--say yourself--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What do I know of her skin?" cried Father Voynovski, in anger. "Tell +me better, how did ye plaster up Martsian."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We promised Pan Serafin on oath not to cut him in pieces, but we knew +that old Krepetski would come here, and we guessed immediately that +Martsian would gallop out to meet him. So, according to arrangement, +two of us took down to the tar pit before daylight a great salt-barrel +filled with feathers, which we got from the wife of a forester. We +picked out at the place a cask of thick tar, and waited at the hut near +that tar pit. We look--old Krepetski is riding along--that is no harm, +let him ride! We wait, we wait till we are tired of waiting; then we +think about going to Belchantska. That moment a boy from the tar pit +tells us that Martsian is coming up the road. We ride out and halt +there in front of him. 'With the forehead! With the forehead!' 'But +whither?' 'Straight ahead,' says he, 'by the woods.' 'But to whose +harm?' 'To harm or to profit,' says he, 'get ye out of this!' And then +to the sabre. But we seized him by the neck. 'Oh! this cannot be!' +cried he. In a flash we had him down from the horse, which Yan took by +the bridle. He fell to screaming, to kicking, to biting, to gnawing, +but we, like a lightning flash, took him to the barrels which stood one +near the other, and said, 'Oh! thou son of such an one! thou wilt +injure orphans, threaten young ladies with infamy, disregard lofty +blood, beat an orphan on the shoulders, and think that no one will take +the part of thy victim; learn now that there are tender hearts in the +country.' And that moment we thrust him into the tar, head downward. We +raise him out, and again in with him. 'Learn that there are feeling +souls!' said we.--And in with him then among the feathers!--'Learn now +that there is chivalrous daring!' And again with him into the tar +barrel. 'Learn to know the Bukoyemskis!' And again with him into the +feathers! We wanted to give him another dose, but the tar boiler +shouted that he would smother; and indeed he was thickly coated, so +that neither his nose nor his eyes were visible to any one; we put him +then on the saddle and tied his feet firmly under the animal's belly +lest he fly from his position. We painted the horse, and scattered +feathers over him also, then lashing this rather wild beast with whips, +after we had taken off his bridle, we drove him ahead of us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And ye drove him up here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As a strange beast, for we wished to console the young lady even a +little, and show her our brotherly affection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye gave her a lovely consolation. When she saw him through the window, +the fright nearly killed her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When she recovers she will think of us gratefully. Orphans always like +to feel guardianship over them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ye have done her more harm than service. Who knows if the Krepetskis +will not take her away again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that? By the dear God! will we let them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But who will defend the girl when ye are in prison?"</p> + +<p class="normal">When they heard this the brothers were greatly concerned, and looked +with anxious eyes at one another. But Lukash at last struck his +forehead. "We will not be imprisoned," said he, "for first we will go +to the army; but if it comes to that, if there is a question of Panna +Anulka's safety, help will be found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Found! Of course it will," cried out Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What help?" inquired Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will challenge Martsian as soon as he recovers. He will not go +alive out of our hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But if he dies now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then God will help us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But ye will pay with your lives!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before that we will shell out the Turks, and the Lord Jesus will +reward us for that service. Only let your grace take our part with Pan +Serafin; for if Stanislav had been here he would have been with us +while giving this bath to that Martsian."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But would not Yatsek give it?" inquired Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek will give him a better bath!" cried the priest, as if +unwittingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Further converse was stopped by the coming of Pan Serafin, who appeared +with a ready and weighty decision.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been thinking of what we should do," said he, very seriously. +"And does your grace know what I have decided? It is this, that we +should all go to Cracow with Panna Anulka. I know not if we shall see +our boys in that city, for no one knows where the regiments will be +quartered, or what will be the order of their marching. But we should +place the girl under protection of the king or the queen; or, if that +is not done, secure her in some cloister for a season. I have also +determined, as you know, to take the field in my old age and serve with +my son, or, if such be God's will, to die with him. During our absence +the girl would not be safe, even in Radom, under the protection of the +prelate Tvorkovski. These gentlemen"--here he pointed to the +Bukoyemskis "need to be under the hetman immediately. It is unknown +what might happen should they stay here. I have acquaintances at +court,--Pan Matchynski, Pan Gninski, Pan Grothus,--and shall get their +influence for the orphan, as I think. That done I will find +Zbierhovski's regiment, and go straight to my son where I shall see +Yatsek also. What think you of this, my benefactor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God lives," cried Father Voynovski, "this is a splendid idea! And I +will go with you--and I will go with you to Yatsek. And as to Panna +Anulka, oh, all will be well! The Sobieskis owe a great debt to the +Sieninskis. She will be out of danger in Cracow and nearer; for I am +certain that Yatsek has not forgotten her. And when the war ends that +will happen which God wishes. Give me a substitute here in my parish +from Radom, and I will be with you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"All together!" roared the Bukoyemskis with rapture "to Cracow!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the field of glory!" cried Father Voynovski.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> + +<p class="normal">Consultations now followed touching the expedition; for not only were +there no voices against it, but Father Voynovski was searching for a +vicar in Radom. This plan, however, was an old one, modified by adding +to it the person of Panna Anulka, who would be taken to Cracow and +secured from the Krepetskis through protection from the king or the +cloister. Pan Serafin saw that the king, occupied as he was with the +war, would have no time to talk about private questions; but there +remained the queen, to whom access might be easy through notable +dignitaries, related for the greater part to the Sieninskis and the +Tachevskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was fear also that the Krepetskis might attack Yedlinka when Pan +Serafin and the Bukoyemskis had gone, and seize on rich property in +furniture and silver. But Vilchopolski guaranteed that with the +servants and the foresters he would defend the place and not let the +Krepetskis touch anything. Pan Serafin, however, took the silver to +Radom and left it in the Bernardine cloister, where he had placed money +before that in large sums, not wishing to keep it at home near the edge +of great forests.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, he kept an attentive ear toward Belchantska for much +depended on that place. If Martsian died the Bukoyemskis would have to +give a grave answer; if he recovered hope existed that there would not +be even a lawsuit, since it was difficult to admit that the Krepetskis +would expose themselves willingly to ridicule. Pan Serafin considered +it as more likely that the old man would not leave him at peace +touching Panna Anulka but he thought that if the orphan were in the +care of the king the kernel of a lawsuit would be lost to the +Krepetskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">He learned, through the butler, that the old man had gone to Radom and +Lublin, and remained rather long in those places.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the first week Martsian suffered grievously, and there was fear +that the tar which he had swallowed might choke him, or stop his +intestines. But the second week he grew better. He did not, it is true, +leave the bed, for he had not strength to stand unassisted, his bones +pained him greatly, and he was mortally weary; but he began to curse +the Bukoyemskis, and to take keen delight in projects of vengeance. In +fact, after two weeks had passed, his "revellers from Radom" began to +visit him, various gallows-birds with sabres held up by hempen cords, +men with holes in their boots, and gaunt stomachs, thirsty and hungry +at all hours. Meanwhile he counselled with these, and was plotting not +only against the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafin, but against the young +lady, of whom he could not think without gnashing of teeth; and he +developed such monstrous inventions against her, that his father +forewarned him, that they were of criminal nature.</p> + +<p class="normal">The echo of those plots and threats went to Yedlinka, and produced +various impressions on different people. Pan Serafin, a man of much +courage, but prudent, was somewhat alarmed by them, especially when he +remembered that this enmity of wicked and dangerous people would strike +his son also. Father Voynovski, who had hotter blood in his veins, was +keenly indignant, and prophesied that the Krepetskis would meet a vile +ending. At the same time, though entirely won over to Anulka, he turned +from time to time to Pan Serafin, and then to the Bukoyemskis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who caused the Trojan war? A woman! Who causes quarrels and battles at +all times? A woman! And it is the same now! Innocent or guilty, a +woman!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But the Bukoyemskis cared little for the danger which threatened every +one from Martsian, and even promised themselves various amusements +because of it. They were warned, however, seriously from many sides. +The Sulgostovskis, the Silnitskis, the Kohanovskis, and others, all +greatly indignant at Martsian, came, one after the other, with tidings +to Yedlinka. They said that he was gathering a party, and even bandits +of the forest. They offered assistance, but the brothers wished no +assistance. Lukash, who spoke most frequently in the name of the other +three replied thus to Rafal Silnitski, who implored them to be +careful,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no harm in thinking before war of our arms, and also of +methods in which, from disuse, we have grown somewhat rusty, straighten +ourselves out, and have practice. Belchantska is no fortress, so let +Martsian see to his own safety, for who knows what may strike him. But +if he wishes to nourish us with ingratitude, let him try it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Silnitski looked with astonishment at Lukash, and asked,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nourish with ingratitude? But, as I think, he owes you no gratitude." +Lukash was sincerely indignant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How not owe? Could we not have cut him to pieces? Who gave him life? +Pani Krepetski once, but a second time our moderation; if he is going +to count on it always, tell him that he is mistaken."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And tell him that he will see Panna Anulka as much as he will see his +own ears," added Marek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should he not see her, then?" finished Yan. "It is not difficult +for a man to see his own ears if they are cut from him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation then ended. The brothers repeated it to Panna Anulka +to calm her, which was superfluous, for the lady was not timid by +nature. Her fear, too, of the Krepetskis, and especially of Martsian, +was measured by her conviction that no danger threatened her in +Yedlinka. When, on the day after her arrival at Pan Serafin's, she saw +through the window Martsian in feathers, looking like some filthy +beast, urged on with whips by the Bukoyemskis, in the first moment of +her dreadful surprise, which was mixed with amazement and even +compassion, she conceived so much confidence in the power of the +brothers, that she could not even imagine how any one could avoid +fearing them. Martsian passed for a terrible person and a fighter, and +see what they did with him. It is true that Yatsek in his time had cut +up all those brothers, but Yatsek in her eyes had grown now beyond +common estimate altogether, and in general he appeared to her before +the last parting from a side so mysterious that she did not know with +what measure to esteem him. The remarks which were made about him by +the Bukoyemskis themselves, and Pan Serafin, with the words of the +priest, who spoke of him oftenest, confirmed in her only wonder for +that friend of her childhood, who had been so near to her once, but was +now so remote and so different. These accounts fixed in her that +longing, and that still sweeter feeling toward Yatsek, which, confessed +to the priest in a moment of excitement, she concealed again in the +depth of her heart, as a pearl is concealed in a mussel shell.</p> + +<p class="normal">With all this she had in her soul a conviction, unshaken by anything, +that she must meet him, and that she would meet him even in the near +future. She had torn herself from the house of the Krepetskis; she felt +above her the powerful hands of well-wishing people; hence that +certainty became the joy and the root of her existence. It restored to +her health with contentment, and she bloomed afresh, as a flower blooms +in springtime. That Yedlinka mansion which had been hitherto so serious +was now bright from her presence. She had taken possession of Pani +Dzvonkovski, of Pan Serafin, and the Bukoyemskis. The whole house was +filled with her, and wherever she showed her little confident nose and +her young, gladsome eyes, delight and smiles followed. But she feared +Father Voynovski a little, since it seemed to her that he held in his +hand her fate and also Yatsek's. Hence she looked upon him with a +certain submissiveness. But with his compassionate heart, which in +general was as wax for all God's creation, he loved her sincerely, and +besides, when he learned to know her more closely, he esteemed her pure +spirit increasingly, though at times he called her a jaybird and a +squirrel, because, as he said, she was this moment here and the next in +another place.</p> + +<p class="normal">After that first confession they spoke no further of Yatsek, just as if +they had agreed not to do so; both felt it too delicate a matter. Pan +Serafin made no mention of Yatsek to her in the presence of people, but +when no one was with them he was not ceremonious on that point; and +once, when she asked if he would meet his son quickly in Cracow, he +answered with a question,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"And would you not like to meet some one there also?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He thought that she would wind out of it jestingly, but to her bright +face came a shade of sadness, and she answered then seriously,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should be glad to beg pardon, as soon as is possible, of any one +whom I have injured."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at her with some emotion, but after a while it was clear that +another idea had come to him, for he stroked her bright face, and then +added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ei! thou hast the wherewithal to reward so that the king himself could +not reward better."</p> + +<p class="normal">When she heard this she lowered her eyes in his presence, and was +wonderful as she stood there and blushed like the dawn of the morning.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> + +<p class="normal">Preparations for starting went forward briskly. Attendants were chosen +with care, strong men and sober. Arms, horses, wagons, and brichkas +were ready. Observing ways of the period, they had not forgotten dogs, +which in time of marching went under the wagons and at places of rest +were used to hunt hares and foxes. The multitude of supplies and the +preparations astonished the lady, who had not supposed that campaigning +demanded such details, and, thinking this trouble taken perhaps for her +safety, she inquired of Pan Serafin touching the matter. He, as a +prudent man, and one of experience, replied thus to her,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is certain that we have thy person in mind, for, as I think, we +shall not leave here without meeting some violence from Martsian. Thou +hast heard that he has summoned his roysterers with whom he is +bargaining and drinking. We should be disgraced were we to let any man +snatch thee away from us. What will be, will be, but though we had to +fall one on another, we must take thee to Cracow uninjured." Then she +kissed his hand, saying that she was not worthy to cause them this +peril; but he waved his hand simply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We should not dare to appear before men," said he, "unless we did +this, and matters moreover are such that each coincides with the other. +It is not enough to set out for a war, one must prepare for it wisely. +Thou art astonished that we have three or four horses each man of us, +as well as attendants, but thou must know that in war horses are the +main question; many of them die on the way, crossing rivers and +marshes, or from various camp accidents. And then what? If thou buy in +haste a new horse, with faults and bad habits, that beast will fail at +the critical moment. Though my son and Tachevski took a good party and +excellent horses, we have foreseen every accident, and take each a new +saddle beast. Father Voynovski, unrivalled in knowledge of horses, +bought cheaply from old Pan Podlodovski such a Turkish steed for Pan +Yatsek that the hetman himself would not refuse to appear on him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which horse is for your son?" inquired the young lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin looked at her, and shook his head smiling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Father Voynovski is right in his judgment of woman. 'That evil,' +said he, 'will be sly, even if it be the most honest.' Thou askest +which horse is for Stanislav. Well, I answer in this way. Yatsek's +horse is that sorrel with a star on his forehead, and a white left hind +fetlock."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You annoy me!" exclaimed the young lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">And spitting like a cat at him, she turned, and then vanished. But that +same day the pith of small loaves of bread and some salt disappeared +from the dishes, and Lukash the next day beheld something curious. At +the well in the courtyard the sorrel horse had his nose in the white +hands of the lady, and when he was led later on to the stable he looked +back at her time after time expressing with short neighs his yearning. +Lukash could not learn at the time the cause of this "confidence," for +he was intent on loading a wagon, so it was some time after midday that +he approached the young lady, and said, with eyes glowing from +emotion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you noticed one thing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?" inquired Panna Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That even a beast knows a real dainty."</p> + +<p class="normal">She forgot that he had seen her in the morning, and noting that look in +his eyes raised her beautiful brows with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What have you in mind?" asked she.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?" repeated Lukash, "Yatsek's horse!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, a horse!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then she burst into laughter and ran from the porch to her chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood there astonished, and a little confused, understanding neither +why she had run from him, nor what had roused her sudden laughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Another week passed, and preparations were then almost finished, but +somehow Pan Serafin was not urgent for the journey. He deferred it from +day to day, improved various details, complained of heat, and at last +drooped in spirits. Anulka was eager to be on the road. The Bukoyemskis +were growing uneasy, and at length Father Voynovski agreed that farther +delay was a loss of time without reason. But Pan Serafin met their +impatience with these words,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have news that the king has not gone yet to Cracow, and will not go +quickly. Meantime the troops are to meet there, but only in part, and +no one knows the day of this meeting. I ordered Stanislav to send me a +man every month, with a letter giving details as to where regiments are +quartered, whither they are to march, and under whose orders. Seven +weeks have passed without tidings. A letter may come to me now any +moment, hence my delay; and I am alarmed somewhat. Think not that we +must find our young men at Cracow, in every case. On the contrary, it +may happen that they will not be there at any time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?" inquired Anulka, disquieted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This, that regiments do not need to march through Cracow. Wherever a +regiment is it can move thence as directly as the stroke of a sickle, +but where Pan Zbierhovski may be at the moment I know not. He may have +been sent to the boundary of Silesia, or to the army of the grand +hetman who is coming from Russia. Regiments are hurried from place to +place very often, just to train them in marching. In the course of +seven weeks various commands may have come of which Stanislav should +have informed me, but he has not done so. Hence I am anxious, for it is +well known that in camps there are frequent disputes and also duels. +Perhaps something has happened. But even if all is in order, we ought +to know where the regiment is, and what is its starting point."</p> + +<p class="normal">All became gloomy at these words, save Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A regiment is not a needle," said he "nor is it a button, which if +torn from a coat is found with much difficulty. Be not concerned over +this. We shall learn of them in Cracow more quickly than we could here +in Yedlinka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But on the road we may miss the letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave a command to send it on after us. That is the right way. +Meanwhile in Cracow we will find the safest place possible for the +lady, and then our minds will be free when we start for the second +time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Reason! Reason!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is my advice then. If no letter comes ere to-morrow we will start +in the cool of the evening for Radom--then farther, to Kieltse, +Yendreyov, and Miehov."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps the day after during daylight we could reach Radom, so as not +to pass in the night through those forests, and thus avoid an ambush if +the Krepetskis should make one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"An ambush is nothing! Better go in the cool!" said Mateush. "If they +attack they will do so as well in the day as at night, and now at night +things are visible."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he rubbed his hands gleefully. The three others followed his +example.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Father Voynovski thought otherwise. He had great doubts touching a +road attack.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Martsian might perhaps venture, but the old man is too prudent; he +knows too well what such a deed signifies and how much, more than once, +men have suffered for violence to women. Besides against the power of +our party Martsian could not reckon on victory, while in every event he +could reckon on vengeance from Yatsek and Stanislav."</p> + +<p class="normal">The delight of the Bukoyemskis was spoiled by the priest, but they were +soothed by Vilchopolski, who struck the floor with his wooden leg, +shook his head, and opposed, saying,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Though up to Radom and even to Kieltse and Miehov you meet no +adventure, I advise you to neglect no precaution till you touch the +gates of Cracow; along the road there are woods everywhere, and I, as a +man knowing Martsian best of all, am convinced that that devil is now +planning an ambush."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> + +<p class="normal">At last came the day of departure. The party moved out of Yedlinka at +daylight, with beautiful weather, and with horses and men in good +number. Besides the iron and leather-covered carriage intended for the +ladies and the priest, in case his old gun-wound should annoy him on +horseback too greatly, there were three well-laden wagons drawn each by +four horses. At each wagon were three men, including the driver. Behind +Pan Serafin six mounted attendants, in turquoise-colored livery, led +reserve horses. The priest had two men, each Bukoyemski had two also, +besides a forester who guarded the trunk-laden wagons, altogether +thirty-four persons well armed with muskets and sabres. It is true that +in case of attack some could not aid in defending, since they would +have to guard wagons and horses, but even in that case the Bukoyemskis +felt sure that they could go through the world with those attendants, +and that it would not be healthy for a party three or four times their +number to attack them. Their hearts were swelling with a delight so +enormous that hardly could they stay in their saddles. They had fought +manfully in their time against Tartars and Cossacks, but those were +common, small wars, and later on, when they settled in the wilderness, +their youth had passed merely in inspecting inclosures, in a ceaseless +watch over foresters, in killing bears when it was their duty to +preserve them, and in drunken frolics at Kozenitse and Radom and +Prityk. But now, for the first time, when each put his stirrup near the +stirrup of his brother, when they were going to a war against the +immense might of Turkey, they felt that this was their true +destination, that their past life had been vain and wretched, and that +now had begun in reality the deeds and achievements for which God the +Father had created Polish nobles, God the Son redeemed them, and the +Holy Ghost made them sacred. They could not think this out clearly, or +express it in phrases, for in those things they had never been +powerful, but they wished to fire off their guns then in ecstasy. Their +advance seemed too slow to them. They wished to let out their horses +and rush like a whirlwind, fly toward that great destination, to that +great battle of the Poles with the pagans, to that triumph through +Polish hands of the cross above the crescent, to a splendid death, and +to glory for the ages. They felt loftier in some way, purer, more +honorable, and in their nobility still more ennobled.</p> + +<p class="normal">They had scarcely a thought then for Martsian and his rioting company, +or for barriers and engagements on the roadway. All that seemed to them +now something trivial, vain, and unworthy of attention. And if whole +legions had stood in their way, they would have shot over them like a +tempest, they would have ridden across them just in passing, put them +under the bellies of their horses, and rushed along farther. Their +native leonine impulses were roused, and warlike, knightly blood had +begun to play in them with such vigor that if command had been given +those four men to charge the whole bodyguard of the Sultan, they would +not have hesitated one instant.</p> + +<p class="normal">But similar feelings, and founded, moreover, on old recollections, +filled the hearts of Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski. The priest had +passed the flower of his life on the field with a lance in his hand, or +a sabre. He remembered whole series of reverses and victories, he +remembered the dreadful rebellion of Hmelnitski, Joltevody, Korsun, +Pilavtse, Zbaraj the renowned, and the giant battle of Berestechko. He +remembered the Swedish war, with its never-ending record of struggles +and the attack of Rakotsi. He had been in Denmark, for a triumphing +people, not satisfied with crushing and driving out Sweden, had sent in +pursuit of it Charnyetski's invincible regiments to the borders of a +distant ocean; he had helped to defeat Dolgoruki and Hovanski; he had +known the noblest knights and greatest men of the period; he had been a +pupil of Pan Michael the immortal; he had been enamoured of slaughter, +storms, battles, and bloodshed, but all that had lasted only till +personal misfortune had broken his spirit, and he took on himself holy +orders. From that day he changed altogether, and when, turning to +people in front of the altar, he said to them: "Peace be with you;" he +believed himself uttering Christ's own commandment, and that every war, +as opposed to that commandment, "is abhorrent" to Heaven, a sin against +mercy, a stain on Christian nations. But a war against Turks was the +one case which he excepted. "God," said he, "put the Polish people on +horseback, and turned their breasts eastward; by that same act He +showed them His will and their calling. He knew why He chose us for +that position, and put others behind our shoulders; hence, if we wish +to fulfil His command and our mission with worthiness, we must face +that vile sea, and break its waves with our bosoms."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski judged, therefore, that God had placed on the throne +purposely a sovereign who, when hetman, had shed pagan blood in such +quantity, that his hands might give the last blow to the enemy, and +avert ruin from Christians at once and forever. It seemed to him that +just then had appeared the great day of destination, the day to +accomplish God's purpose; hence he considered that war as a sacred way +of the cross, and was charmed at the thought, that age, toil, and +wounds had not pressed him to the earth so completely, that he might +not take part in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">He would be able yet to wave a flag, he, the old soldier of Christ, +would spur on his horse, and spring with a cross in his hand to the +thickest of the battle, with the certainty in his heart that behind him +and that cross a thousand sabres would bite on the skulls of the pagans +and a thousand lances would enter their bodies.</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally thoughts flew to his head which were personal, and more in +accord with his earlier disposition. He could hold the cross in his +left, but in the right hand a sabre. As a priest he could not do this +against Christians, but against Turks it was proper! Oh, proper! Now he +would show young men for the first time how pagan lights should be +extinguished, how pagan champions must be mowed down and cut to pieces; +he would show of what kind were the warriors of his day. Nay! on more +fields than one men had marvelled at his prowess. It may happen now +that even the king will be astounded! And this thought at that moment +so filled him with rapture that he failed in his rosary: "Hail +Mary--slay! kill!--full of grace--at them!--The Lord is with Thee--cut +them down!" Till at last he recovered. "Tfu! to the evil one with +this--glory is smoke. Has insanity seized me? <i>non nobis, non nobis sed +nomini tuo</i>" (not to us, not to us, but to Thy name) and he passed the +beads through his fingers more attentively.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin was repeating also his litany of the morning, but from time +to time he looked now at the priest, now at the young lady, now at the +Bukoyemskis, who were riding at the side of the carriage, now at the +trees and the dew-covered grassy openings between them. At last, when +he had finished the final "Hail, Mary!" he turned to the old man, and +said, sighing deeply,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your grace seems to be in rather good spirits?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And also your grace," said Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, that is true. Until a man starts, he is bustling and hurrying and +in trouble; only when the wind blows around him in the field is it +light at his heartstrings. I remember how when, ten years ago, we were +marching to Hotsim, there was a wonderful willingness in every warrior, +so that though the action took place in the harsh weather of November, +more than one threw his coat off because of the warmth which came out +of his heart then. Well, God, who gave such a victory that time, will +give it undoubtedly now, for the leader is the same, and the vigor and +valor of the men not inferior. I know nations splendidly, Swedes, +French, even Germans, but against Turks there is no one superior to our +men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard how his grace the king said the same," replied Father +Voynovski. "'The Germans,' said he, 'stand under fire patiently, though +they blink when attacking, but,' said he, 'if I can bring mine up nose +to nose I am satisfied, for they will sweep everything before them as +can no other cavalry in existence.' And this is true. The Lord Jesus +has gifted us richly with this power, not only the nobles, but the +peasants. For instance, our field infantry, when they spit on their +palms and advance with their muskets, the best of the Janissaries +cannot in any way equal them. I have seen both more than once in the +struggle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If God has preserved in health Yatsek and Stashko, I am glad that +their earliest campaign will be made against Turkish warriors. But how +does your grace think, against whom will the Turks turn their main +forces?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Against the emperor, as it seems, for they are warring against him, +and helping rebellion in Hungary. But the Turks have two or three +armies, hence it is unknown where we shall meet them decisively. For +this cause, beyond doubt, no main camp has been organized, and +regiments move from one place to another, as reports come. The +regiments under Pan Yablonovski are now at Trembovla; others are +concentrating on Cracow; others as happens to each of them. I know not +where the voevoda of Volynia is quartered at present, nor where +Zbierhovski's command is. At moments I think that my son has not +written this long time because his regiment may be moving toward these +parts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If he is commanded to Cracow, he must march near us, surely. That, +however, depends upon where he was earlier and whence he is starting at +present. We may get news at Radom. Is not our first night halt at +Radom?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is. I should wish too that the prelate Tvorkovski saw Panna Anulka +and gave her final counsels. He will furnish us letters to help her in +Cracow."</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation stopped for a time; then Pan Serafin raised his eyes +again to Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But," asked he, "what will happen, think you, should she meet Yatsek +in Cracow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know not. In every case that will take place which God wishes. +Yatsek might win a fortune by marriage, while she is as poor as a +Turkish saint--but wealth alone is mere nonsense, the splendor of a +family is the great point in this case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Panna Anulka is of high lineage, and she is like gold--besides we know +well that they are love-stricken, mortally."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course, mortally, mortally."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest did not speak very willingly on this point, that was clear, +for he turned the conversation to other subjects.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said he, "but let us think of this, that a robber is watching +for that golden maiden. Do you remember Vilchopolski's words?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin looked at the depth of the forest on all sides.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. But the Krepetskis will not dare," said he. "They will not dare! +Our party is fairly large, and your grace sees the calmness of +everything around us. I wish the girl to be in that carriage for +safety, but she begged to be on horseback--she has no fear of +anything."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, she has good blood. But I note that she masters you thoroughly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you, too, somewhat," answered Pan Serafin. "But as to me I confess +right away; when she begs for a thing she knows how to move her eyes in +such fashion that you must yield where you stand. Women have various +methods, but have you noticed that she has that sort of blinking before +which a man drops his arms. Near Belchantska I will tell her to enter +the carriage, but so far she wishes absolutely to be on horseback, +because, as she says, it is healthier."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In such weather it is surely healthier."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look how rosy the girl is, just like a euphorbia laurel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is her rosiness to me?" replied Father Voynovski. "But in truth +the dear day is lovely."</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact the weather was really wonderful, and the morning fresh and +dewy. Single drops on the needlelike pine leaves glittered with the +rainbow-like colors of diamonds. The forest interior was brightened by +hazel trees filled with the sun rays of morning. Farther in, orioles +were twittering with joyousness. Roundabout was the odor of pine, the +whole earth seemed rejoicing, and the blue air was cloudless.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus pushing forward, they reached the same tar pit at which Martsian +had been seized by the brothers. But the fear that some ambush might be +there lurking proved groundless. Near the well were two tar-laden +wagons, nothing more. To these, which belonged to peasants, were +attached two wretched little horses, whose heads were sunk in bags of +oats to their foreheads; the drivers, each near the side of his horse, +were eating cheese and bread, but at sight of the showy party they put +away these provisions; when asked if they had seen armed men, they +answered that since morning a mounted man had been waiting, but that +shortly before, on seeing this party from a distance, he had rushed +away with all the speed of his beast in the opposite direction. The +news alarmed Pan Serafin. It seemed to him that this horseman had been +sent as a scout by Krepetski; and he redoubled his watchfulness. He +commanded two attendants to ride at both sides and examine the forest; +he sent two others ahead with this order: "If ye see an armed group +fire your muskets, and return with all haste to the wagons." An hour +passed, however, without a report from them. The party pushed forward +slowly, watching in front and at both sides with carefulness, but it +was quiet in the forest, except that the orioles twittered, while here +and there was heard the hammering of those little smiths of the forest, +the hard-working woodpeckers.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last they reached a wide plain, but before going out on it Pan +Serafin and the priest directed Anulka to sit in the carriage, since +they had to pass now not far from Belchantska, the trees of which, and +even the mansion between them, were visible to the eye without glasses. +The young lady looked on that house with emotion, for in it she had +passed very many of the best, and the bitterest, days of her existence. +She had wished to look first of all at Vyrambki, but the Belchantska +lindens so covered it that the dwelling was not to be seen from the +carriage. It occurred to Anulka that she might never again in her life +see those places, so she sighed quietly and became sorrowful.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis looked challengingly and quickly at the mansion, the +village, and the neighborhood, but great quiet reigned in those places. +Along broad fallow lands, which were flooded in sunlight, were grazing +cows and sheep, guarded by dogs, and crowds of children. Here and there +flocks of geese seemed white spots, and had it not been for summer +heat, one might have thought from afar that they were bits of snow +lying on the hill slopes; for the rest the region seemed empty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin, who lacked not the daring of a cavalier, wished to show +the Krepetskis how little he cared for them, and directed to make the +first halt at that place, and give rest to the horses. So the party +stopped; on one side were fields of wheat waving under the wind and +rustling gently; on the other was the silence of the plain broken only +by the snorting of horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Health! health!" said the attendants in answer to the snorting.</p> + +<p class="normal">But that calm was not to the taste of the youngest Bukoyemski, who +turned toward the mansion and cried to the absent Krepetskis, while he +beckoned with his hand an invitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But come out here, ye sons of a such a one! O Stump, show thy dog +snout; we will soon put a cross on it with our sabres!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he bent toward the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your ladyship," said he, "that Martsian and his company are not in a +hurry to attack us, neither he nor his bandits from the wilderness."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But do bandits attack?" asked the lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh-ho! they do, but not us. And there are many of them in the +wilderness of Kozenitse, and in the forest toward Cracow. If his Grace +the King would grant pardon, enough would be found of those bandits +right here in this neighborhood to make two good regiments."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should rather meet bandits than Pan Martsian's company, of which +people tell in Belchantska such terrible stories. I have not heard of +bandits attacking a mansion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They do not, for a bandit has the same kind of sense that a wolf has. +Consider, young lady, that a wolf never kills sheep or horned cattle in +the neighborhood where his lair is."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He speaks truth," said the other brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yan, glad of this praise, explained further.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The bandit attacks no village or mansion near his hiding place. For if +neighboring people should pursue, they, knowing the forests and secret +spots in them, would hunt him out the more easily. So bandits go to a +distance, and plunder houses or fall upon travellers in great or small +parties."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have they no fear?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They have no fear of God. Why should they fear men?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Panna Anulka had turned her mind elsewhere, so, when Pan Serafin +came to the carriage, she began to blink and implore him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I stay in the carriage when no attack threatens? May I not +go on horseback?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why?" asked Pan Serafin. "The sun is high. It would burn your face. +There is one who would not like that."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thereupon she withdrew on a sudden to the depth of the carriage, and +Pan Serafin turned to the brothers,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I not told her the truth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But not being quick-witted, they missed the point of the answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who would not like?" inquired they. "Who?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The prince bishop of Cracow, the German emperor, and the king of +France," answered he.</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave the sign then, and all started.</p> + +<p class="normal">They passed Belchantska, and advanced again among tilled fields, fallow +land, meadows, and broad wind-swept spaces which were bordered on the +horizon by a blue rim of forest. At Yedlina they stopped for a second +rest, during which the brewers, the citizens, and the peasants took +farewell of Father Voynovski--and before evening they stopped for their +first night rest at Radom.</p> + +<p class="normal">Martsian had not given the least sign of life. They learned that he had +passed the day previous in Radom, and had drunk with his company, but +had gone home for the night; hence the priest and Pan Serafin breathed +with more freedom, judging that no danger threatened them now on the +journey.</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate Tvorkovski furnished letters to Father Hatski, to Gninski, +the vice-chancellor who, as they knew, was enrolling a whole regiment +for the coming war at his own cost, and one also to Pan Matchynski. He +was rejoiced to see Panna Anulka and Father Voynovski, for whom he felt +a great friendship, and Pan Serafin, in whom he prized a skilled +Latinist, who understood every quotation and maxim. He, too, had heard +of Martsian's threats, but had lent no great weight to them, judging +that if an attack had been planned it would have been made in the wilds +of Kozenitse, more favorable for that kind of deed than the forests +between Radom and Kieltse.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Martsian will not attack you," said he to Pan Serafin, "and his father +will not bring an action, for he would meet me; he knows that I have +other weapons against him besides the church censure."</p> + +<p class="normal">The prelate entertained them all day, and let them start only toward +evening. Since danger seemed set aside most decidedly, Pan Serafin +agreed to night travel, all the more since great heat was beginning. +The first five miles, however, they passed during daylight. On the +river Oronka, which here and there formed morasses, began again, in +those days, extensive pine forests, which surrounded Oronsk, Sucha, +Krogulha, and extended as far as Shydlovets, and beyond, toward +Mrochkov and Bzin, down to Kieltse. They moved slowly, for in some +places the old road lay among sandy hillocks and holes, while in others +it sank very notably and became a muddy, stick-covered ridgeway. This +ridge lay in a quagmire through which a man could pass neither with +wagon nor horse, nor go on foot at any season, unless during very dry +summers. These places enjoyed no good repute, but for this Pan Serafin +and his party cared little; they were confident of their strength, and +glad to move in cool air when heat did not trouble men, or flies annoy +horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">A clear and pleasant night came down quickly, with a full moon which +appeared above the pine woods, enormous and ruddy, decreasing and +growing pale as it rose, till in time it was white, and sailed like a +silver swan through the dark blue of the night sky. The wind ceased, +and the motionless pine wood was buried in a stillness broken only by +the voices of gnats flying in from broad pools, and by the playing of +landrails in the grass of the neighboring meadows.</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski intoned: "Hail, O Wise Lady! and Mansions dear to +God," to which the four bass voices of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafin +answered immediately: "Adorned by the golden table and seven columns." +Panna Anulka joined the chorus, after her the attendants, and soon that +pious hymn was resounding through the forest. But when they had +finished all the "Hours," and repeated all the "Hail, Marys!" silence +set in again. The priest, the brothers, and Pan Serafin conversed for +some time yet in lowered voices; then they began to doze, and at last +fell asleep soundly.</p> + +<p class="normal">They did not hear either the "Vio! Vio!" of the drivers, or the +snorting of horses, or the explosive sound made when hoofs were drawn +out of mud on that long ridge way which lay in the sticky and +reed-covered quagmire. The party came to the ridge somewhat before +midnight. The shouts of attendants, who were advancing in front, first +roused the sleepers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop! stop!"</p> + +<p class="normal">All opened their eyes. The Bukoyemskis straightened in their saddles +and sprang ahead promptly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what is the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The road is barred. There is a ditch across it, and beyond the ditch a +breastwork."</p> + +<p class="normal">The sabres of the brothers came biting from their scabbards and gleamed +in the moonlight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To arms! an ambuscade!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin found himself at the obstruction in one moment, and +understood that there was no chance of being mistaken: a broad ditch +had been dug across the ridgeway. Beyond the ditch lay whole pine trees +which, with their branches sticking up, formed a great breastwork. The +men who stopped the road in that fashion had evidently intended to let +the party in on the ridge, from which there was no escape on either +side, and attack in the rear then.</p> + +<p class="normal">"To your guns! to muskets!" thundered Father Voynovski. "They are +coming!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact about a hundred yards in the rear certain dark, square forms, +strange, quite unlike men, appeared on the ridge, and ran toward the +wagons very quickly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fire!" commanded the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">A report was heard, and brilliant flashes rent the night gloom. Only +one form rolled to the earth, but the other men ran the more swiftly +toward the wagons, and after them denser groups made their appearance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Instructed by whole years of war, the priest divined straightway that +those men were carrying bundles before them, straw, reeds, or willows, +and that was why the first discharge had effected so little.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fire! In order! four at a time!--and at their knees!" cried he.</p> + +<p class="normal">Two attendants held guns charged with slugs. These men took their +places with others, and spat at the knees of the attackers. A cry of +pain was heard promptly, and this time the whole front rank of bundles +tumbled down to the mud on the ridgeway, but the next rank of men +sprang over those who were prostrate, and came still nearer the wagons.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fire!" was commanded a third time.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again came a salvo, with more effect this time, for the onrush was +stopped, and disorder appeared among the attackers.</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest acquired courage, for he knew that the attackers had +outwitted themselves in the choice of position. It is true that not a +living soul would escape in case they should triumph, and the bandits +had this in view specially; but, not having men to hem in the party on +all sides, they were forced to attack only over the ridgeway, hence in +a thin body, which again lightened defence beyond common, so that five +or six valiant warriors might ward off attack until daylight.</p> + +<p class="normal">The attackers, too, began to use muskets, but caused no great damage, +clearly because of poor weapons. Their first fire struck only a horse +and one attendant. The Bukoyemskis begged to charge the enemy, +guaranteeing to sweep right and left into the quagmire any men whom +they might not crush in the mud of the roadway. But the priest, who +kept their strength for the last, would not send them; he commanded the +brothers, however, as excellent marksmen, to roast the attackers from a +distance, and Pan Serafin commanded to watch the ditch sharply, and the +breastwork.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they attack us from that side," said he, "they may do something, +but they will not get us cheaply."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he hastened for a moment to the carriage where the ladies were +praying without great fear, though audibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, this is nothing!" said he. "Have no fear!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no fear," answered Panna Anulka. "But I should like to be on +horseback."</p> + +<p class="normal">Shots drowned further words. The attackers, confused for a moment, +pressed along the ridge now, with wonderful and simply blind daring, +since it was clear that they would not effect much on that side.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hm!" thought the priest. "Were it not for the women, we might charge +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he had begun to think of sending the four brothers with four other +good warriors, when he looked at both flanks and trembled.</p> + +<p class="normal">On the two sides of that quagmire appeared crowds of men, who, +springing from hillock to hillock, or along sheaves of reeds, which had +been fixed in soft places on purpose, were running toward the wagons.</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest turned to them, in the shortest time possible, two ranks of +attendants, but he understood in a flash the extent of his peril. His +party was surrounded on three sides. The attendants were, it is true, +chosen men, who had been more than once in sharp struggles, but they +were insufficient in number, especially as some had to guard extra +horses. Hence it was evident that after the first fire, inadequate +because of so many attackers, there would be a hand-to-hand struggle +before guns could be loaded a second time, and the side which proved +weaker would be forced to go down in that trial.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only one plan remained, to retreat by the ridgeway, that is, leave the +wagons, command the Bukoyemskis to sweep all before them, and push on +behind the four brothers, keeping the women among the horses in the +centre. So when they had fired at both sides again, the priest ordered +the women to mount, and arranged all for the onrush. In the first rank +were the four brothers, behind them six attendants, then Panna Anulka +and Pani Dzvonkovski, at the side the priest and Pan Serafin, behind +them eight attendants, four in a rank. After the charge and retreat +from the ridgeway he intended to reach the first village, collect all +the peasants, return then and rescue the wagons.</p> + +<p class="normal">Still he stopped for a moment, and only when the attackers were little +more than twenty yards distant, and when on a sudden wild sounds were +heard beyond the breastwork, did he shout the order,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strike!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strike!" roared the Bukoyemskis, and they moved like a hurricane which +destroys all things before it. When they had ridden to the enemy the +horses rose on their haunches and plunged into the dense crowd of +robbers, trampling some, pushing others to the quagmire, overthrowing +whole lines of people. The brothers cut with sabres unsparingly, and +without stopping. There was great shouting, and splashing of bodies as +men fell into the water near the ridgeway, but the four dreadful +horsemen pushed forward; their arms moving like those of a windmill to +which a gale gives dreadful impetus. Some attackers sprang willingly +into the water to save themselves; others put forks and bill-hooks +against the onrushing brothers. Clubs and spears were raised also; but +again the horses reared, and, breaking everything before them, swept on +like a whirlwind in a young forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Had not the road been so narrow, and those who were slashed had all +escape barred to them, and those behind not pushed on those in front, +the Bukoyemskis would have passed the whole ridgeway. But since more +than one of the bandits preferred battle to drowning, resistance +continued, and, besides, it became still more stubborn. The hearts of +the robbers were raging. They began to fight then not merely for +plunder, or seizing some person, but from venom. At moments when shouts +ceased, the gritting of teeth became audible and curses rose loudly. +The rush of the Bukoyemskis was arrested. It came to their minds at +that moment that they would have to die, perhaps. And when, on a +sudden, they heard still farther out there the tramping of horses, and +loud shouts were raised in all parts of the thicket surrounding the +quagmire, they felt sure that the moment of death was approaching. +Hence they smashed terribly; they would not sell their lives cheaply in +any case.</p> + +<p class="normal">But now something marvellous happened. Many voices were heard all at +once shouting: "Strike!" Sabres gleamed in the moonlight. Certain +horsemen fell to cutting and hewing in the rear of the robbers, who, +because of this sudden attack, were seized in one instant with terror. +Escape in the rear was now closed to them; nothing remained but escape +at either side of the roadway. Only some, therefore, offered a +desperate resistance. The more numerous sprang like ducks to the turfy +quagmire on both sides. The quagmire broke under them; then grasping +grass, clumps, and reeds, they clung to hillocks, or lay on their +bellies not to sink the first moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Only a small company, armed with scythes fixed to poles, defended +themselves for some time yet with madness. Because of this many +horsemen were wounded. But at last even this handful, seeing that for +them there was no rescue whatever, threw down their weapons, fell on +their knees, and begged mercy. They were taken alive to be witnesses.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile horsemen from both sides stood facing one another, and raised +their voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Halt! halt! Who are ye?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But who are ye?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake! these are our people!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And two riders pushed from the ranks quickly. One inclined to Pan +Serafin, seized his hand straightway, and covered it with kisses; the +other rushed to the priest's shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stanislav!" cried Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek!" shouted the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">The greetings and embraces continued till speech came to Pan Serafin,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, whence come ye?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our regiment was marching to Cracow. Yatsek and I had permission to +visit you at Yedlinka. Meanwhile we learned at Radom, while halting for +food there, that thou, father, and the priest, and the Bukoyemskis had +set out an hour earlier by the highroad toward Kieltse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did the prelate tell thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! We did not see him. Radom Jews told us; we did not go then to +Yedlinka, but moved on at once lest we might miss you. At midnight we +heard firing, so we all rushed to give aid, thinking that bandits had +fallen upon travellers. It did not occur to us that ye were the +persons. God be thanked, God be thanked, that we came up in season!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not bandits attacked us, but the Krepetskis. It is a question of Panna +Anulka, who is with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God lives!" exclaimed Stanislav. "Then I think that his soul will +leave Yatsek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wrote to thee about her, but it is evident that my letter did not +reach thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, for we are marching these three weeks. I have not written of late +because I had to come hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">Shouts from the Bukoyemskis, the attendants, and the warriors stopped +further converse. At that moment also attendants ran up with lighted +torches. A supply had been taken by Pan Serafin that he might have +wherewith to give light during darkness. It was as clear on the road as +in daylight, and in those bright gleams Yatsek saw the gray horse on +which Panna Anulka was sitting.</p> + +<p class="normal">He grew dumb at sight of her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, she is with us," said Father Voynovski, seeing his astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then Yatsek urged his horse forward, and halted before her. He +uncovered his head, and remained there lost as he looked at her. His +face was as white as chalk, his breath had almost left him, and he was +speechless.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a moment the cap fell to the earth from his fingers, his head +dropped to the mane of the horse, and his eyes closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But he is wounded!" cried Lukash Bukoyemski.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek was really wounded. One of those robbers, who defended +themselves to the utmost, cut him, with a scythe in the left shoulder, +and since he and the men marched without mail, the very end of the iron +had cut into his arm rather deeply from the shoulder to the elbow. The +wound was not over grievous, but it bled quite profusely; because of +this the young man had then fainted. The experienced Father Voynovski +commanded to put him in a wagon, and, when the wound had been dressed, +he left him in care of the women. Yatsek opened his eyes somewhat +later, and began again to look, as at a rainbow, into the face of Panna +Anulka, which was there bending over him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the attendants filled the ditch and removed all obstructions. +The wagons and the men passed to the dry road beyond, where they halted +to bring the train into order, take some rest, and question the +prisoners. From Tachevski the priest went to the Bukoyemskis to see if +they had suffered. But they had not. The horses were torn and even +stabbed with forks, but not seriously; the men themselves were in +excellent humor, for all were admiring their valor, since they had +crushed before war, more opponents than had many others during years of +campaigning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, gentlemen, ye may join Pan Zbierhovski," said the hussars here +and there. "From of old it is known, and God grant that men will see +soon, that our regiment is the first even among hussars. Pan +Zbierhovski admits no common men, or any man easily, but he will accept +you with gladness, and we shall be charmed from our hearts to find you +in our company."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis knew that this might not be, for they could not have +the attendants, or the outfit demanded in such a high regiment, but +they listened to those speeches with rapture, and when cups went the +round, they let no man surpass them.</p> + +<p class="normal">When that part was ended, the captured bandits were seized by their +heads, and led from the mud to Zbierhovski and the priest and Pan +Serafin. No bandit had escaped, for with a detachment of twelve hundred +there were men to surround the whole quagmire and both ends of the +ridgeway. The appearance of the prisoners astonished Pan Serafin. He +had thought to find Martsian among them, as he had told Stanislav, and +Martsian's Radom outcasts also; meanwhile he saw before him a ragged +rabble reeking with turf and bespattered with mud of the ridgeway, a +company made up, like all bodies of that kind, of deserters from the +infantry, of runaway servants and serfs, in a word, of all kinds of +wicked, wild scoundrels working at robbery in remote places and +forests. Many such parties were raging, especially in the wooded region +of Sandomir, and since they were strengthened by men who were eager for +anything, men who if captured were threatened with terrible punishment, +their attacks were uncommonly daring, and they fought savage battles.</p> + +<p class="normal">The search through the quagmire continued for a time yet, then Pan +Serafin turned to Zbierhovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious colonel," said he. "These are highway robbers. We thought +them quite different. This was an attack of common bandits. We thank +you, and all your men with grateful hearts for effective assistance, +without which, as is possible, we should not have seen the sun rise +this morning."</p> + +<p class="normal">"These night marches are good," said Zbierhovski, and he smiled while +he was speaking. "The heat does not trouble, and it is possible to +serve others. Do you wish to examine these captives immediately?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Since I have looked at them closely already, it is not needed. The +court in the town will examine them, and the headsman will guide them."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this a tall, bony fellow, with a gloomy face, and light hair pushed +out from the captives and said, as he bent to Pan Serafin's stirrup.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Great mighty lord, spare our lives, and we will tell truth. We are +common bandits, but the attack was not common."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest and Pan Serafin, on hearing this, looked at each other with +roused curiosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who art thou?" asked the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am a chief. There were two of us, for this party was formed of two +bands, but the other man fell. Give me pardon, and I will tell +everything."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski stopped for a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We cannot save you from justice," said he, "but for you it is better +in every case to tell truth, than be forced to declare it under +torture. Besides, if ye confess, God's judgment and man's will be more +lenient."</p> + +<p class="normal">The bandit looked at his companions, uncertain whether to speak or be +silent. Meanwhile the priest added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"And if ye tell the whole truth, we can intercede with the king, and +commend you to his mercy. He accepts offenders in the infantry, and +recommends mercy now to judges."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that case," said the man, "I will tell everything. My name is Obuh; +the leader of the other band was Kos, and a noble engaged us to fall on +your graces."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But do ye know the name of that noble?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not know him, for I am from distant places, but Kos knew him, +and said his name was Vysh."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest and Pan Serafin looked at each other with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Vysh,<a name="div2Ref_06" href="#div2_06"><sup>[6]</sup></a> didst thou say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But was there no one with him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was another, a lean, thin, young man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not they," said Pan Serafin to the priest in a whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But they may have been Martsian's company."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he said aloud to the man,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did they tell you to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This: 'Do what ye like with the people,' said they; 'the wagons and +plunder are yours; but in the company there is a young lady whom ye are +to take and bring by roundabout ways between Radom and Zvolenie to +Polichna. Beyond Polichna a party will attack you and take the lady. Ye +will pretend to defend her, but not so as to harm our men. Ye will get +a thaler apiece for this, besides what ye find in the wagons.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is as if on one's palm," said the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then did only those two talk with Kos and thee?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Later, a third person came in the night with them; he gave us a ducat +apiece to bind the agreement. Though the place was as dark as in a +cellar, one of our men who had been a serf of his recognized that third +person as Pan Krepetski."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! that is he!" cried Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And is that man here, or has he fallen?" inquired Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am here!" called out a voice from some distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come nearer. Didst thou recognize Pan Krepetski? But how, since it was +so dark, that thou couldst hit a man on the snout without knowing it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because I know him from childhood. I knew him by his bow-legs and his +head, which sits, as it were, in a hole between his shoulders, and by +his voice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did he speak to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He spoke with us, and afterward I heard him speak to those who came +with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did he say to them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He said this: 'If I could have trusted money with you, I should not +have come, even if the night were still darker.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And wilt thou testify to this before the mayor in the town, or the +starosta?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When he heard this, Pan Zbierhovski turned to his attendants and +said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Guard this man with special care, for me."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> + +<p class="normal">They began now to counsel. The advice of the Bukoyemskis was to +disguise some peasant woman in the dress of a lady, put her on +horseback, give her attendants and soldiers dressed up as bandits, and +go to the place designated by Martsian, and, when he made the attack as +agreed upon, surround him immediately, and either wreak vengeance +there, or take him to Cracow and deliver him to justice. They offered +to go themselves, with great willingness, to carry out the plan, and +swore that they would throw Martsian in fetters at the feet of Panna +Anulka.</p> + +<p class="normal">This proposal pleased all at the first moment, but when they examined +it more carefully the execution seemed needless and difficult. Pan +Zbierhovski might rescue from danger people whom he met on his march, +but he had not the right to send soldiers on private expeditions, and +he had no wish either to do so. On the other hand, since there was a +bandit who knew and was ready to indicate to the courts the chief +author of the ambush, it was possible to bring that same author to +account any moment, and to have issued against him a sentence of +infamy. For this reason both Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski grew +convinced that there would be time for that after the war, since there +was no fear that the Krepetskis, who owned large estates, would flee +and abandon them. This did not please the Bukoyemskis, however, for +they desired keenly to finish the question. They even declared that +since that was the decision, they would go themselves with their +attendants for Martsian. But Pan Serafin would not permit this, and +they were stopped finally by Yatsek, who implored them by all that was +sacred to leave Krepetski to him, and him only.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I," said he, "will not act through courts against Martsian, but after +all that I have heard from you here, if I do not fall in the war, as +God is in heaven, I will find the man, and it will be shown whether +infamy would not be pleasanter and easier also than that which will +meet him."</p> + +<p class="normal">And his "maiden" eyes glittered so fiercely that though the Bukoyemskis +were unterrified warriors a shiver went through them. They knew in what +a strange manner passion and mildness were intertwined in the spirit of +Yatsek, together with an ominous remembrance of injustice.</p> + +<p class="normal">He said then repeatedly: "Woe to him!--Woe to him!" and again he grew +pale from his blood loss. Day had come already, and the morning light +had tinted the world in green and rose colors; that light sparkled in +the dewdrops, on the grass and the reeds, and the tree leaves and the +needles of dwarf pines here and there on the edge of the quagmire. Pan +Zbierhovski had commanded to bury the bodies of the fallen bandits, +which was done very quickly, for the turf opened under spades easily, +and when no trace of battle was left on that roadway, the march was +continued toward Shydlovets.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Serafin advised the young lady to sit again in the carriage, where +she might have a good sleep before they reached the next halting place, +but she declared so decisively that she would not desert Yatsek that +even Father Voynovski did not try to remove her. So they went together, +only two besides the driver, for sleep was so torturing Pani +Dzvonkovski, that after a while they transferred her to the carriage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek was lying face upward on bundles of hay arranged lengthwise in +one side of the wagon, while she sat on the other, bending every little +while toward his wounded shoulder, and watching to see if blood might +not come through the bandages. At times she put a leather bottle of old +wine to the mouth of the wounded man. This wine acted well to all +seeming, for after a while he was wearied of lying, and had the driver +draw out the bundle on which his feet were then resting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I prefer to ride sitting," said he, "since I feel all my strength +now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But the wound, will that not pain you more if you are sitting?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek turned his eyes to her rosy face, and said in a sad and low +voice, "I will give the same answer as that knight long ago when King +Lokietek saw him pierced with spears by the Knights of the Cross, on a +battlefield. 'Is thy pain great?' asked the king. The knight showed his +wounds then. 'These pain least of all,' said he in answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Panna Sieninski dropped her eyes. "But what pains you more?" inquired +she in a whisper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A yearning heart, and separation, and the memory of wrongs inflicted."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a while silence continued, but the hearts began to throb in both +with power which increased every moment, for they knew that the time +had come then in which they could and should confess everything which +each had against the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is true," said she, "I did you an injustice, when, after the duel, +I received you with angry face, and inhumanly. But that was the only +time, and, though God alone knows how much I regretted that afterward, +still I say it is my fault! and from my whole soul I implore you." +Yatsek put his sound hand to his forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not that," answered he, "was the thorn, not that the great anguish!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it was not that, but the letter from Pan Gideon. How could you +suspect me of knowing the contents of the letter, or having suggested +them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And she began to tell, with a broken voice, how it happened: how she +had implored Pan Gideon to make a step toward being reconciled: how he +had promised to write a heartfelt and fatherly letter, but he wrote +entirely the opposite. Of this she learned only later from Father +Voynovski, and from this it was shown that Pan Gideon having other +plans, simply wanted to separate them from each other forever.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time, since her words were a confession, and also a renewal +of painful and bitter memories, her eyes were dimmed with tears, and +from constraint and shame a deep blush came out on her cheeks from one +instant to another.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did Father Voynovski," asked she at last, "not write to you that I +knew nothing, and that I could not even understand why I received for +my sincere feelings a recompense of that kind?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father Voynovski," answered Yatsek, "only wrote me that you were going +to marry Pan Gideon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But did he not write that I consented to do so only through orphanhood +and pain and desertion, and out of gratitude to my guardian? For I knew +not then how he had treated you; I only knew that I was despised and +forgotten."</p> + +<p class="normal">When he heard this Yatsek closed his eyes and began to speak with great +sadness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgotten? Is that God's truth? I was in Warsaw, I was at the king's +court, I went through the country with my regiment, but whatever I did, +and wherever I travelled, not for one moment didst thou go from my +heart and my memory. Thou didst follow me as his shadow a man. And +during nights without sleep, in suffering and in pain, which came +simply from torture, many a time have I called to thee: 'Take pity, +have mercy! grant to forget thee!' But thou didst not leave me at any +time, either in the day, or the night, or in the field, or under a +house roof, until at last I understood that only then could I tear thee +from my heart when I had torn the heart itself from my bosom."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he stopped, for his voice was choked from emotion; but after a +time he continued,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"So after that often and often I said in my prayers: 'O God, grant me +death, for Thou seest that it is impossible for me to attain her, and +impossible for me to be without her!' And that was before I had hoped +for the favor of seeing thee in life again--thou, the only one in the +world--thou, beloved!"</p> + +<p class="normal">As he said this he bent toward her and touched her arm with his temple.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou," whispered he, "art as that blood which gives life to me, as +that sun in the heavens. The mercy of God is upon me, that I see thee +once more-- O beloved! beloved!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And it seemed to her that Yatsek was singing some marvellous song at +that moment. Her eyes were filled with a wave of tears then, and a wave +of happiness flooded her heart. Again there was silence between them; +but she wept long with such a sweet weeping as she had never known in +her life till that morning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yatsek," said she at last, "why have we so tormented each other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God has rewarded us a hundred fold," said he in answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">And for the third time there was silence between them; only the wagon +squeaked on, pushing forward slowly over the ruts of the roadway. +Beyond the forest they came out onto great fields bathed in sunlight; +on those fields wheat was rustling, dotted richly with red poppies and +blue star thistles. There was great calm in that region. Above fields +on which the grain had been reaped, here and there skylarks were +soaring, lost in song, motionless; on the edges of the fields sickles +glittered in the distance; from the remoter green pastures came the +cries and songs of men herding cattle. And to both it seemed that the +wheat was rustling because of them; that the poppies and star thistles +were blooming because of them; that, the larks were singing because of +them; that the calls of the herdsmen were uttered because of them; that +all the sunny peace of those fields and all those voices were simply +repeating their ecstasy and happiness.</p> + +<p class="normal">They were roused from this oblivion by Father Voynovski, who had pushed +up unnoticed to the wagon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How art thou, Yatsus?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek trembled and looked with shining eyes at him, as if just roused +from slumber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, benefactor?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How art thou?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh! it will not be better in paradise!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest looked seriously first at him, then at the young lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that true?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">And he galloped off to the company. But the delightful reality embraced +them anew. They began to look on each other, and sink in the eyes of +each other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"O, thou not-to-be-looked-at-sufficiently!" said Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">But she lowered her eyes, smiled at the corners of her mouth till +dimples appeared in her rosy cheeks, and asked in a whisper,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"But is not Panna Zbierhovski more beautiful?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek looked at her with amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, Panna Zbierhovski?"</p> + +<p class="normal">She made no answer; she simply laughed in her fist, with a laugh as +resonant as a silver bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, when the priest had galloped to the company, the men, who +loved Yatsek, fell to inquiring,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, how is it there? How is our wounded man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is no longer in this world!" replied Father Voynovski.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God lives! What has happened? How is he not in the world?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not, for he says that he is in paradise--a woman!!!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis, as men who understand without metaphor all that is +said to them, did not cease to look at the priest with astonishment +and, removing their caps, were just ready to say, "eternal rest," when +a general outbreak of laughter interrupted their pious thoughts and +intention. But in that laughter of the company there was sincere +good-will and sympathy for Yatsek. Some of the men had learned from Pan +Stanislav how sensitive that cavalier was, and all divined how he must +have suffered, hence the words of the priest delighted them greatly. +Voices were heard at once, therefore: "God knows! we have seen how he +fought with his feelings, how he answered questions at random, how he +left buckles unfastened, how he forgot himself when eating or drinking, +how he turned his eyes to the moon during night hours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Those are infallible signs of unfortunate love," added some. "It is +true," put in others, "that he is now as if in paradise, for if no +wounds give more pain than those caused by Love, there is no sweeter +thing than mutuality."</p> + +<p class="normal">These and similar remarks were made by Yatsek's comrades. Some of them, +having learned of the hardships which the lady had passed through, and +how shamefully Krepetski had treated her, fell to shaking their sabres, +and crying; "Give him hither!" Some became sensitive over the maiden, +some, having learned how Martsian had been handled by the Bukoyemskis, +raised to the skies the native valor and wit of those brothers. But +after a while universal attention was centred again on the lovers: +"Well," cried out all, "let us shout to their health and good fortune +<i>et felices rerum successus!</i>" and immediately a noisy throng moved +toward the wagon on horseback. In one moment almost the whole regiment +had surrounded Pan Yatsek and Panna Anulka. Loud voices thundered: +"<i>Vivant! floreant!</i>" others cried before the time: "<i>Crescite et +multiplicamini!</i>" Whether Panna Anulka was really frightened by those +cries, or rather as an "insidious woman," she only feigned terror +father Voynovski himself could not have decided. It is enough that, +sheltering her bright head at the unwounded shoulder of Yatsek, she +asked with shamefaced confusion,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is this, Yatsek? what are they doing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He surrounded her with his sound arm, and said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"People are giving thee, dearest flower, and I am taking thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"After the war?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before the war."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In God's name, why so hurried?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But it was evident that Yatsek had not heard this query for instead of +replying, he said to her,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let us bow to the dear comrades for this good-will, and thank them."</p> + +<p class="normal">Hence they bowed toward both sides, which roused still greater +enthusiasm. Seeing the blushing face of the maiden, which was as +beautiful as the morning dawn, the warriors struck their thighs with +their palms from admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By the dear God!" cried they. "One might be dazzled!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"An angel would be enamoured; what can a sinful man do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is no wonder that he was withering with sorrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">And again hundreds of voices thundered more powerfully,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Vivant! crescant! floreant!</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">Amid those shouts, and in clouds of golden dust they entered +Shydlovets. At the first moment the inhabitants were frightened, and, +leaving in front of their houses the workshops in which they were +cutting out whetstones from sandrock, they ran to their chambers. But, +learning soon that those were the shouts of a betrothal, and not of +anger, they rushed in a crowd to the street and followed the soldiers. +A throng of horses and men was formed straightway. The kettledrums of +the horsemen were beaten, the trumpets and crooked horns sounded. +Gladness became universal. Even the Jews, who through fear had stayed +longer in the houses, shouted: "<i>Vivait!</i>"<a name="div2Ref_07" href="#div2_07"><sup>[7]</sup></a> though they knew not well +what the question was.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Tachevski said to Panna Anulka,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before the war, before the war, even though death were to come one +hour later."</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> + +<p class="normal">"How is that?" inquired Father Voynovski, at the dinner which his +comrades gave Yatsek. "We are going in five or six days; thou mightst +die in the war; is it worth while to marry before a campaign, instead +of waiting for the happy end of it, and then marrying at your leisure?"</p> + +<p class="normal">His comrades, when they heard these prudent words, burst into laughter; +some of them held their sides, others cried in a chorus,--"Oh! it is +worth while, benefactor! and just for this reason that he may die is it +worth while all the more."</p> + +<p class="normal">The priest was a little angry, but when the three hundred best men, not +excepting Pan Stanislav insisted, and Yatsek would not hear of delay, +it had to be as he wanted. Renewed relations with the court, and the +favor of the king and queen facilitated the affair very greatly. The +queen declared that the coming Pani Tachevski would be under her +protection till the war ended, and the king himself promised to be at +the marriage, and to think of a fitting dowry when his mind was less +occupied. He remembered that many lands of the Sieninskis had passed to +the Sobieskis, and how his ancestors had grown strong from them, hence +he felt under obligations to the orphan, who, besides, had attracted +him by her beauty, and also roused his compassion by her harsh fate, +and the evils which she had suffered.</p> + +<p class="normal">Pan Matchynski, a friend from of old, to Father Voynovski, and also a +friend of the king, promised to remind him of the young lady, but after +the war; for at that time when on the shoulders of Yan III the fate of +all Europe was resting, and of all Christianity, it was not permitted +to trouble him with private interests. Father Voynovski was comforted +with this promise as much as if Yatsek had then received a good "crown +estate," for all knew that word from Pan Matchynski was as sure of +fulfilment as had been the words of Zavisha. To speak strictly, he was +the author of all the good which had met Panna Sieninski in Cracow; he +mentioned Father Voynovski to the king and queen; finally he won for +the young lady the queen, who, though capricious in her likings, and +fickle, began from the first moment to show her special favor and +friendship, which seemed even almost too sudden.</p> + +<p class="normal">A dispensation from banns was received easily through protection of the +court, and the favor of the bishop of Cracow. Even earlier, Pan Serafin +had obtained for the young couple handsome lodgings from a Cracow +merchant, whose ancestors and those of Pan Serafin had done business in +their day, when the latter were living in Lvoff, and importing brocades +from the Orient. That was a beautiful lodging, and, because of the +multitude of civil and military dignitaries in the city, so good a one +could not be obtained by many a voevoda. Stanislav had determined that +Yatsek should pass those few days before the campaign as it were in a +genuine heaven, and he ornamented those lodgings unusually with fresh +flowers and tapestry; other comrades helped him with zeal, each +lending, the best of what he had, rugs, tapestry, carpets, and such +like costly articles, which in wealthy hussar regiments were taken in +campaigns even.</p> + +<p class="normal">In one word, all showed the young couple the greatest good-will, and +helped them as each one was able and with what he commanded, except the +four Bukoyemskis. They, in the first days after coming to Cracow, went +sometimes twice in a day to Stanislav and to Yatsek, and to merchants +at the inns with whom officers from the regiment of Prince Alexander +drank not infrequently, but afterward the four brothers vanished as if +they had fallen into water. Father Voynovski thought that they were +drinking in the suburbs, where servants had seen them one evening, and +where mead and wine were cheaper than in the city, but immediately +after that all report of them vanished. This angered the priest as well +as the Tsyprianovitches, for the brothers were bound to Pan Serafin in +gratitude; this they should not have forgotten. "They may be good +soldiers," said the priest, "but they are giddy heads in whose +sedateness we cannot put confidence. Of course they have found some +wild company in which they pass time more pleasantly than with any of +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">This judgment proved inaccurate, however, for on the eve of Yatsek's +marriage, when his quarters were filled with acquaintances who had come +with good wishes and presents, the four brothers appeared in their very +best garments. Their faces were calm, serious, and full of +mysteriousness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What has happened to you?" asked Pan Serafin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have been tracking a wild beast!" replied Lukash.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quiet!" said Mateush, giving him a punch in the side, "Do not tell +till the time comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then he looked at the priest, at Pan Serafin and his son, and turning +finally to Yatsek, began to clear his throat, like a man who intends to +speak in some detail.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, begin right away!" urged his brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">But he looked at them with staring eyes, and inquired,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"How was it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How? Hast thou forgotten?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has broken in me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wait--I know," cried Yan. "It began: 'Our most worthy--' Go on!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our most worthy Pilate," began Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why 'Pilate'?" interrupted the priest. "Perhaps it is Pylades?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Benefactor thou hast hit the nail on the head," cried Yan. "As I live, +it is Pylades."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our worthy Pylades!" began Mateush, now reassured, "though not the +iron Boristhenes, but the gold-bearing Tagus itself were to flow in our +native region, we, being exiled through attacks of barbarians, should +have nothing but our hearts glowing with friendship to offer thee, +neither could we honor this day as it merits by any thank-offering--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou speakest as if cracking nuts," cried out Lukash excitedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">But Mateush kept on repeating: "As it merits,--as it merits--" He +stopped, looked at his brothers, calling with his eyes for rescue, but +they had forgotten entirely that which was to come later.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis began now to frown, and the audience to titter. Seeing +this Pan Serafin resolved to assist them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who composed this speech for you?" asked he.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pan Gromyka, of Pan Shumlanski's regiment," said Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There it is. A strange horse is more likely to balk and rear than your +own beast; so now embrace Yatsek and tell him what ye have to say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surely that is the best way."</p> + +<p class="normal">And they embraced Yatsek one after another. Then Mateush +continued,--"Yatsus! we know that thou art no Pilate, and thou knowest +that after losing Kieff regions we are poor fellows, in short we are +naked. Here is all that we can give, and accept with thankful heart +even this."</p> + +<p class="normal">Then they handed him some object wound up in a piece of red satin, and +at that moment the three younger brothers repeated, with feeling,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Accept it, Yatsus, accept! Accept!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accept, and God repay you," answered Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus speaking, he put the object on the table, and began to unroll the +satin. All at once he started back, and cried,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"As God lives, it is the ear of a man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"But dost thou know whose ear? Martsian Krepetski's!" thundered the +brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah!"</p> + +<p class="normal">All present were so tremendously astonished that silence followed +immediately.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tfu!" cried Father Voynovski, at last.</p> + +<p class="normal">And measuring the brothers, one after the other, with a stern glance, +he began at the eldest,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are ye Turks to bring in the ears of beaten enemies? Ye are a shame to +this Christian army and all nobles. If Krepetski deserved death a +hundred times, if he were even a heretic, or out and out a pagan, it +would still be an inexpressible shame to commit such an action. Oh, ye +have delighted Yatsek, so that he spits from his mouth that which comes +into it. But I tell you that for such a deed ye are to expect not +gratitude but contempt, and shame also; for there is no regiment in all +the cavalry, or even a regiment in the infantry, which would accept +such barbarians as comrades."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Mateush stepped out in front of his brothers, and, flaming with +rage, said,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is gratitude for you, here is reward, here is the justice of +people, and a judgment. If any layman were to utter this judgment I +should cut one ear from him, and also the other to go with it, but +since a clerical person speaks thus, let the Lord Jesus judge him, and +take the side of the innocent! Your Grace asks: 'Are ye Turks?' but I +ask: Do you think that we cut off the ear of a dead man? My born +brothers, ye innocent orphans, to what have ye come, that they make +Turks of you, enemies of the faith! To what?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Here his voice quivered, for his grief had exceeded his auger. The +three brothers, roused by the unjust judgment, began to cry out with +equal sorrow,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"They make Turks of us!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enemies of the faith!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Vile pagans!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then tell, in the name of misfortune, how it was," said the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lukash cut off Martsian's ear in a duel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whence did Krepetski come hither?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He rode into Cracow. He was here five days. He rode in behind us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let one speak. Speak thou, but to the point."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here the priest turned to Yan, the youngest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An acquaintance of ours from the regiment of the Bishop of Sandomir," +began Yan, "told us by chance, three days ago, that he had seen in a +wineshop on Kazamir street a certain wonder. 'A noble,' says he, 'as +thick as a tree stump, with a great head so thrust into his body that +his shoulders come up to his ears, on short crooked legs,' says he, +'and he drinks like a dragon. A viler monkey I have not seen in my +life,' says he. And we, since the Lord Jesus has given us this gift +from birth, take everything in at a twinkle, we look at one another +that instant: Well, is not that Krepetski? Then we said to the man, +'Take us to that wineshop.' 'I will take you.' And he took us. It was +dark, but we looked till we saw something black in one corner behind a +table. Lukash walked up to it, and made sparks fly before the very eyes +of him who was hiding there. 'Krepetski,' cries he, and grabs him by +the shoulder. We to our sabres. Krepetski sprang away, but saw that +there was no escape, for we were between him and the doorway. Did he +not jump then? He jumped up time after time as a cock does. 'What,' +says he, 'do ye think that I am afraid? Only come at me one by one, not +in a crowd, unless ye are murderers, not nobles.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The scoundrel!" interrupted the priest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What did he try to do with us? That is what Lukash asked him. 'Oh!' +said Lukash, 'thou son of such a mother, thou didst hire a whole +regiment of cut-throats against us. It would be well,' said he, 'to +give thee to the headsman, but this is the shorter way!' Then he +presses on, and they fall to cutting. After the third or fourth blow, +his head leans to one side. I look--and there is an ear on the floor. +Mateush raises it immediately, and cries,--'Leave the other to us, do +not cut it. This,' said he 'will be for Yatsek, and the other for Panna +Anulka.' But Martsian dropped his sabre, for his blood had begun to +flow terribly, and he fainted. We poured water on his head, and wine +into his mouth, thinking that he would revive and meet the next one of +us; but that could not be. He recovered consciousness, it is true, and +said: 'Since ye have sought justice yourselves, ye are not free to seek +any other,' and he fainted again. We went away then, sorry not to have +the other ear. Lukash said that he could have killed the man, but he +spared him for us, and especially for Yatsek. And I do not know if any +one could act more politely, for it is no sin to crush such vermin as +Martsian, but it is clear that politeness does not pay now-a-days, +since we have to suffer for showing it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True! He speaks justly!" said the other brothers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said the priest, "if the matter stands thus it is different, +but still the gift is unsavory."</p> + +<p class="normal">The brothers looked with amazement one at another.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why say unsavory?" asked Marek. "You do not think we brought it for +Yatsek to eat, do you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you from my soul for your good wishes," said Tachevski. "I +think that ye did not bring it to me to be stored away."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It has grown a little green--it might be smoke-dried."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let a man bury it at once," said the priest with severity; "it is the +ear of a Christian in every case."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In Kieff we have seen better treatment," growled out Mateush.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Krepetski came hither undoubtedly," remarked Yatsek, "to make a new +attack on Anulka."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He will not take her away from the king's palace," said the prudent +Pan Serafin, "but he did not come for that, if I think correctly. His +attack failed, so I suppose he only wanted to learn whether we know +that he arranged it, and if we have complained of him. Perhaps old +Krepetski did not know of his son's undertaking; but perhaps he did +know; if he did, then both must be greatly alarmed, and I am not at all +surprised that Martsian came here to investigate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," said Stanislav, laughing, "he has no luck with the Bukoyemskis, +indeed he has not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him go," said Tachevski. "To-day I am ready to forgive him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Bukoyemskis and Stanislav, who knew the stubbornness of the young +cavalier, looked at him with astonishment, and he, as if answering +them, added,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Anulka will be mine immediately, and to-morrow I shall be a +Christian knight and defender of the faith, a man whose heart should be +free of all hate and personalities."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God bless thee for that!" cried the priest.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> + +<p class="normal">At last the long-wished-for day of his happiness came to Tachevski. In +Cracow a report had gone out among the citizens, and was repeated with +wonder, that in the army was a knight who would marry on one day and +mount his horse the day following. When the report went out also that +the king and queen would be at the marriage, crowds began from early +morning to assemble in the church and outside it. At length the crowd +was so great that the king's men had to bring order to the square so +that the marriage guests might have a free passage. Tachevski's +comrades assembled to a man; this they did out of good-will and +friendship, and also because it was dear to each one of them to be seen +in a company where the king himself would be present, and to belong, as +it were, to his private society. Many dignitaries appeared also, even +men who had never heard of Tachevski, for it was known that the queen +favored the marriage, and at the court much depended on her inclination +and favor.</p> + +<p class="normal">To some of the lords it was not less wonderful than to the citizens +that the king should find time to be at the marriage of a simple +officer, while on that king's shoulders the fate of the whole world was +then resting, and day after day couriers from foreign lands were flying +in on foaming horses; hence some considered this as coming from the +kindness of the monarch and his wish to win the army, while others made +suppositions that there existed some near bond of kinship, difficult to +be acknowledged; others ridiculed these suppositions, stating justly +that in such a case the queen, who had so little condescension for the +failings of cavaliers that the king more than once had been forced to +make explanations, would not have been so anxious for the union of the +lovers.</p> + +<p class="normal">People remembered little of the Sieninskis, so to avoid every calumny +and gossip the king declared that the Sobieskis owed much to that +family. Then people of society were concerned with Panna Anulka, and, +as is usual at courts, at one time they pitied, at another time they +were moved by her sufferings, and next they lauded her virtue and +comeliness. Reports of her beauty spread widely even among citizens, +but when at last they saw her no one was disappointed.</p> + +<p class="normal">She came to the church with the queen, hence all glances went first to +that lofty lady whose charms were still brilliant, like the bright sun +before evening; but when they were turned to the bride, all men among +dignitaries, the military, the nobles, and citizens whispered, and even +loud voices were heard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wonderful, wonderful! That man owes much to his eyes, who has beheld +once in life such a woman."</p> + +<p class="normal">And this was true. Not always in those times was a maiden dressed in +white for her marriage, but the young ladies and the assistants arrayed +Anulka in white, for such was her wish, and that was the color of her +finest robe also. So in white, with a green wreath on her golden hair, +and with a face confused a trifle, and pale, with downcast eyes, she, +silent, and slender, looked like a snowy swan, or simply like a white +lily. Even Yatsek himself, to whom she seemed in some sort a new +person, was astonished at sight of her. "In God's name!" said he to +himself, "how can I approach her? She is a genuine queen, or entirely +an angel with whom it is sinful to speak unless kneeling." And he was +almost awestruck. But when at last he and she knelt side by side before +the altar, and heard the voice of Father Voynovski full of emotion, as +he began with the words: "I knew you both as little children," and +joined their hands with his stole, when he heard his own low voice: "I +take thee as wife," and the hymn, <i>Veni Creator</i> burst forth a moment +later, it seemed to Yatsek that happiness would burst his bosom, and +that all the easier since he was not wearing his armor. He had loved +this woman from childhood, and he knew that he loved her, but now, for +the first time, he understood how he loved her without measure or +limit. And again he began to say to himself: I must die, for if a man +during life were to have so much happiness, what more could there be +for him in heaven? But he thought that before he died he must thank +God; and all at once there flew before the eyes of his soul Turkish +warriors in legions, beards, turbans, sashes, crooked sabres, horsetail +standards. So from his heart was rent the shout to God: "I will thank +to the full, to the full!" And he felt, that for those enemies of the +cross and the faith, he would become a destroying lion. That vision +lasted only one twinkle, then his breast was filled with a boundless +wave of love and rapture.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the ceremony was ended, the retinue moved to the dwelling +prepared for the young couple by Stanislav, and ornamented by his +comrades in the regiment. For one moment only could Yatsek press to his +heart the young Pani Tachevski, for straightway both ran to meet the +king and queen, who had come from the church to them. Two high +armchairs had been fixed for the royal pair at the table, so, after the +blessing, during which the young people knelt before majesty, Yatsek +begged the gracious lord and lady to the wedding feast, but the king +had to give a refusal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear comrade," said he, "I should be glad to talk with thee, and still +more with thee, my relative," here he turned to Pani Tachevski, "and +discuss the coming dowry. I will remain a moment and drink a health to +you, but I may not sit down, for I have so much on my head, that every +hour now is precious."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We believe that!" cried a number of voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tachevski seized the feet of the king, who took a filled goblet from +the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious gentlemen!" said he, "the health of the young couple!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A shout was heard: "<i>Vivant! crescant, floreant!</i>" Then the king again +spoke,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enjoy your happiness quickly," said he to Tachevski, "for it deserves +that, and it will not be long. Thou shouldst remain here a few days, +but then thou must follow on quickly for we shall not wait for thee."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is easier for her to hold out without thee, than Vienna without +us," said Pan Marek Matchynski, smiling at Yatsek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But Lyubomirski is shelling out the Turks there," said one of the +hussars.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have good news from our men," said the king. "This I have commanded +Matchynski to bring, to be read to you, and gladden the hearts of our +warriors. It is what the Duke of Lorraine, commander-in-chief for the +emperor, writes me of the battle near Presburg."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he read somewhat slowly, for he read to the nobles in Polish, and +the letter was in the French language.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'The emperor's cavalry advanced with effect and enthusiasm, but the +action was ended by the Poles who left no work to the Germans. I cannot +find words sufficient to praise the strength, valor, and bearing of the +officers and soldiers led by Pan Lyubomirski.<a name="div2Ref_08" href="#div2_08"><sup>[8]</sup></a></p> + +<p class="normal">"'The battle,' writes the Duke of Lorraine, 'was a great one, and our +glory not small.'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will show that we are not worse," cried the warriors.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe and am confident, but we must hasten, for later letters +portend evil. Vienna is barely able to breathe, and all Christianity +has its eyes on us. Shall we be there in season?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Few regiments have remained here, the main forces are at the Tarnovski +Heights waiting, as I have heard, under the hetmans," said Father +Voynovski, "but though our hands are needed at Vienna, they are not +needed so much as a leader like your Royal Grace."</p> + +<p class="normal">Sobieski smiled at this and answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"That, word for word, is what the Duke of Lorraine writes. So, +gentlemen, keep the bridles in hand, for any hour I may order the +sounding of trumpets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When, gracious lord?" called a number of voices.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king grew impressive in a moment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will send off to-morrow those regiments which are still with me," +then he glanced quickly at Tachevski, as if testing him. "Since her +grace the queen will go to the Heights with us to see the review there, +thou, unless thou ask of us an entirely new office, may remain here, if +thou engage to overtake us exactly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Yatsek, putting his arm around his wife, pushed one step toward the +king with her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious lord," said he, "if the German empire, or even the kingdom of +France were offered me in exchange for this lady, God, who sees my +whole heart, knows that I would not accept either, and that I would not +give her for any treasure in existence. But God forbid that I should +abandon my service, or lose an opportunity, or neglect a war for +religion, or desert my own leader for the sake of private happiness. If +I did I should despise myself, and she, for I know her, would also +despise me. O gracious lord, if ill luck or misfortune were to bar the +road and I could not join thee I should burn up from shame and from +anguish." Here tears dimmed his eyes, blushes came to his cheeks, and, +in a voice trembling from emotion, he added: "To-day I blasphemed +before the altar, for I said: 'O God, I will thank to the full, to the +full for this.'--But only with my life, with my blood, with my labor +could I return thanks for the happiness which has met me. For this very +reason I shall ask no new office, and when thou shalt move, gracious +leader and king, I will not delay even one day behind thee. I will go +at the same hour, though I were to fall on the morrow." And he knelt at +the feet of Sobieski, who, bending forward, embraced his head and then +answered,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give me more of such men, and the Polish name will go through the +world thundering."</p> + +<p class="normal">Father Voynovski had tears in his eyes, the Bukoyemskis were weeping +like beavers. Emotion and enthusiasm seized every man present.</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the pagans, for the faith!" roared many voices. And then began +rattling of sabres. But when it had grown somewhat quiet Pani Tachevski +bent to the ear of her husband and, with pale lips, whispered into +it,--</p> + +<p class="normal">"O Yatsek, wonder not at my tears, for if thou go I may never see thee +hereafter--but go!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<p class="normal">Still they remained two days together. The court, it is true, set out +the day following, but the queen, with all her court ladies, and a +multitude of lay and church dignitaries, followed the king to Tarnovski +Heights where the camp was and where a great review had been ordered. +The retinue being numerous moved slowly and hence to overtake it was +easy. The subsequent advance of the forces, with the king at the head +of them, from the boundary to Vienna astonished the world by its +swiftness, especially since the king hastened on and arrived before the +main army, but to Tarnovski Heights the queen dragged on six days, with +her retinue. In two days the Tachevskis came up with the escort. Pani +Tachevski took her seat then in a court carriage, and Yatsek hurried on +to the camp for the night, to join there his regiment. For the royal +pair the time of separation was approaching. On August 22 the king took +solemn farewell of his beloved "Marysienka." In the early morning he +mounted and marshalled before her the army; next he moved at the head +of it to Glivitsi.</p> + +<p class="normal">People noted that although he always took farewell of the queen with +great sorrow, since he loved her as the apple of his eye, and was +pained by even a short absence, his face this time was radiant. So the +church and lay dignitaries took courage. They knew how tremendous was a +war with that enemy, who besides had never advanced with such forces. +"The Turks have moved three parts of the world, it is true," said they +to themselves, "but if our lord, their greatest crusher and destroyer, +goes with such delight to this struggle, we have no cause for anxiety +touching it." And hope filled their bosoms, the sight of the warriors +increased it still more, and changed it to perfect confidence in +victory. The army, with all the camp followers seemed very +considerable. As far as the eye reached the sun shone on helmets, on +armor, on sabres, on barrels of muskets and cannon. The glitter was so +bright that eyes were dazzled by the excess of it. Rainbow-hued ensigns +and banners played in the blue air, above the army. The rolling of +drums throughout the foot regiments was mingled with responses from +trumpets, crooked horns, and kettledrums, and also the hellish noise of +a Janissary orchestra, and the neighing of horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">At first the train moved toward one side, to afford a free way to all +movements of the army, and only then the review began really. The royal +carriage halted on a plain not too high, a little to the right of the +road by which the regiments were to pass while advancing. In the first +carriage sat the queen wearing plumes, laces, and velvets glittering +with jewels. She was beautiful and imposing, with the full majesty in +her face of a woman who possesses all in life that the most daring +designs can imagine, for she had a crown, and the unspeakable love of +the most glorious of contemporary monarchs. She, in common with those +dignitaries in the suite of the king, felt most certain that when her +husband was on horseback for action, he would be followed, as he had +been followed at all times, by destruction and triumph. And she felt +that at the moment the eyes of all the world from Tsargrad to Rome, +Madrid, and Paris, were turned on him that all Christianity was +stretching out hands to him, and that only in those iron arms of his +warriors did people see rescue. Hence her heart rose with the pride of +a woman. "Our might is increasing, and glory will raise us above all +other kings," said she in spirit; and therefore, though her husband was +leading barely twenty and some thousands of men against countless hosts +of Osmanli, her breast was filled with delight and no cloud of alarm or +distrust darkened then her white forehead. "Look at the victor, look at +your father, the king," said she to her children, who, as little birds +fill a nest, filled the carriage--"when he returns, the world will +kneel to him in thanksgiving."</p> + +<p class="normal">In other carriages were visible the charming features of youthful court +ladies, the mitres of bishops, and the dignified, stern faces of +senators, who remained at home to manage the government in place of His +Majesty. The king himself was with the army, but all could see him very +clearly on the height at some distance, among hetmans and generals, +where he produced the impression of a giant on horseback. The army was +to pass a little lower, before his feet, as it seemed to spectators.</p> + +<p class="normal">First there moved forward, with a deep, rolling sound and the biting of +chain-links, Pan Kantski's artillery; after it went foot regiments with +a musket on the shoulder of each man, under officers with sabres on +straps, and carrying long canes with which they kept all ranks in +order. Those regiments marched four abreast and seemed moving +fortresses, their step preserved time and was thundering. Each regiment +when passing the carriage of Her Majesty gave a loud shout to salute +her, and lowered its ensign in homage. Among them were some with a +costlier outfit than others, and showing a form beyond common in +dignity, but the most showy regiment of all was made up of Kashubians +in blue coats and yellow belts for ammunition. These Kashubians, large +and strong fellows, were so carefully chosen that each seemed a brother +to the next man; the heavy muskets moved in the mighty hands of those +warriors as would walking-sticks. At the sound of the fife they halted +before the king as one person, and presented arms with such accuracy +that he smiled with delight, and the dignitaries said to one another: +"Eh! To strike upon these men will not be healthy for even the Sultan's +own body-guard. Those are real lions, not people!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But immediately after them moved squadrons of light-horse. One might +have thought them real centaurs to such a degree had each man and horse +become one single entity. These were undegenerate sons of those +horsemen who in their day had trampled all Germany, cleaving apart with +their sabres and with horse hoofs whole regiments, nay, entire armies +of Luther's adherents. The heaviest foreign cavalry, if only equal in +number could not oppose them, and the lightest could not escape from +them by fleeing. The king himself had said of those men when at Hotsim: +"If they are led to the enemy they will cut down all in front of them, +as a mower cuts grass at his labor." And though at this moment they +advanced past the carriages slowly, each person, even one quite +unknowing in warfare, divined very quickly that at the right moment +nothing save a hurricane could surpass them in swiftness, power to +whirl, strike down, and overthrow. Crooked trumpets and drums went on +thundering in front of them, while they marched forward, squadron after +squadron, with drawn sabres which seemed flaming swords in the +quivering sunlight. When they had passed the court carriages they +advanced like a wave starting suddenly, going first at a trot which +turned soon to a gallop, and, when they had outlined a great giant +circle, they passed again, and this time they rushed like a tempest and +near the queen's carriage; but while they were doing this they shouted, +"Slay! Kill!" and in extended right hands held their sabres pointed +forward as if in attacking, on horses whose nostrils were distended to +the utmost, with waving manes, as if wild from the impetus of their +onrush. And they passed thus a second time, and then at the third turn +they, without breaking ranks, stood still on a sudden. They did this so +accurately, so evenly, and with such agreement that foreigners, of whom +at that court there were many, and especially those who saw then for +the first time Polish cavalry in action, gazed at one another with +amazement, as if each man were questioning his own eyesight.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they had vanished the field glittered with dragoons everywhere and +bloomed like a blossom. Some of those regiments had appeared under Pan +Yablonovski, some had been assembled by magnates, and one by the king, +from his own private fortune; this was commanded by Pan de Maligny, Her +Majesty's brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the dragoons served common folk for the greater part, but men +trained to riding from childhood, experienced in fighting of various +sorts, stubborn under fire, less terrible at close quarters than +nobles, but disciplined and most enduring of military labor.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the greatest delight for the eyes and the spirit began only when +the hussars started forward. They moved on in calmness as was proper +for regiments of such value; their lances pointing upward seemed a +forest, and at the points, moved by the light breeze, was a rainbow +cloud of streamers. Their horses were heavier than those in other +squadrons; their steel armor was inlaid with gold; on their shoulders +were wings, in which the feathers, even when moving slowly, made that +sound heard in forests among branches. The great dignity, and, as it +were, the pride which issued forth from them, made so deep an +impression that the queen and court ladies, the senators, and above +all, foreign visitors, rose in their carriages to see them more +accurately. There was something tremendous in that march, for it came +to the mind of each man unwittingly, that when an avalanche of iron +like that should rush forward it would crush, grind, and drive apart +all things in front of it, and that there was no human strength which +could stop it. And this was undoubted. Not so distant at that time was +the day when three thousand such horsemen had rubbed into dust Swedish +legions five times their own number; still less remote was that other +day when one squadron of the same kind had passed, like a spirit of +destruction, through the whole army of Karl Gustav; and quite recent +was the day when at Hotsim those same hussars under that same king +there present had trampled in the earth Turkish guards formed of +Janissaries, as easily as standing wheat in the open. Many of the men +who had shared in that shattering of the enemy at Hotsim were serving +then under the banners of that day, and these warriors, proud, calm, +and confident, were starting now toward the walls of a foreign capital +to reap a new harvest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Terror and strength seemed the soul of that body. An afternoon breeze +rose behind them on a sudden, whistled in their streamers, blew forward +the waving manes of their horses, and made so mighty a sound in the +wings at the shoulders of each mounted warrior, that the horses from +Spain which drew the court carriages rose on their haunches. The +squadrons approached to a line twenty yards from the carriages, turned +to one side and marched past in squadrons. Then it was that Pani +Tachevski saw her husband for the last time before the expedition. He +rode in the second rank at the edge of the squadron, all in iron and +winged armor, the ear pieces of his helmet hid his cheeks altogether. +His large golden bay Turkish stallion bore him on easily despite the +weighty armor, throwing his head upward, rattling his bit, and +snorting loudly, as if in good omen for the rider. Yatsek turned his +iron-covered head toward his wife, and moved his lips as if whispering, +but though no distinct word reached her ears she divined that he was +giving her the last "Fare thee well!" and such an impulse of yearning +and love seized her heart that if she could have, at the cost of her +life, changed at that moment to a swallow she would have perched on his +shoulder, or on the flag of his lance point, and gone with him; she +would not have stopped for one twinkle to calculate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fare thee well, Yatsek! God guard thee!" cried she, stretching her +hands to him. And her eyes were tear-bedewed while he rode past in +solemnity, gleaming in the sunlight, and, as it were, rendered sacred +by the service imposed on him.</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Behind this the regiment of Prince Alexander came up and marched past +still others, equally terrible and equally brilliant Then other +regiments described a great circle and halted on the plain almost in +the places from which they had started in the time of reviewing, but +now in marching order.</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">From the carriages on the height the eye could embrace all the +regiments very nearly. Far away and near by were seen crimson uniforms, +glittering armor, the flashing of swords, the upturned forest of +lances, the broad cloud of streamers, and above them great banners like +giant blossoms. From the regiments standing nearer, the breeze brought +the odor of horse sweat, and the shouts of commanders, the shrill note +of fifes, and the deep sound of kettledrums. But in those shouts, in +those sounds, in that delight and that eagerness for battle, there was +something triumphant. A perfect confidence in the victory of the cross +above the crescent,--that confidence was flowing through every heart in +those legions.</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The king remained yet for a moment at the carriage of Her Majesty, but +when a blessing had been given him with a cross and with relics by the +bishop of Cracow, he rushed at a gallop to the army. The air was rent +suddenly by the keen sound of trumpets, while masses of foot and of +cavalry stirred, began slowly to lengthen, and finally those masses +moved, all of them, westward. In advance were the banners of the light +horse, behind them hussars; the dragoons closed the movement.</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The prince bishop of Cracow raised with both hands the cross, holding +relics as high above his head as was possible:</p> + +<p class="normal">"O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have mercy on Thy people!"</p> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20px">* * * * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Just then more than twenty thousand breasts raised the anthem which Pan +Kohovski had composed for that moment:</p> +<div class="poem2"> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px"> +"For Thee, O pure Lady,<br> +O Mother Immaculate,<br> +We go to defend Christ,</p> +<p class="t1">Our Lord.</p> +<p class="t1"> </p> +<p class="t0" style="text-indent:-4px">"For thee, O dear country,<br> +For you, O white eagles,<br> +We will crush every enemy.</p> +<p class="t1"><span class="sc">On the Field of Glory.</span>"</p> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<br> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_01" href="#div2Ref_01">Footnote 1</a>: Kromer.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_02" href="#div2Ref_02">Footnote 2</a>: His pets.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_03" href="#div2Ref_03">Footnote 3</a>: On Saint Stephen's day people used to cast various kinds +of grain at the priest at the altar in memory of the stoning of that +saint.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_04" href="#div2Ref_04">Footnote 4</a>: The Elector just mentioned, <i>i. e</i>., the Elector of +Brandenburg.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_05" href="#div2Ref_05">Footnote 5</a>: Among the Poles and Slavs generally death is represented +as a woman.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_06" href="#div2Ref_06">Footnote 6</a>: This man is mentioned on page 224.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_07" href="#div2Ref_07">Footnote 7</a>: Jewish pronunciation of <i>vivant</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_08" href="#div2Ref_08">Footnote 8</a>: Carolus Dux Lotharingiae Joanni III, Poloniae Regi, etc. +Julius 31, 1683.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:70%; margin-left:15%; border:4px solid black"> +<tr><td> +<h2><i>THE ZAGLOBA ROMANCES</i><br> +<i>by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from</i><br> +<i>the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin</i>.</h2> + +<h3>WITH FIRE AND SWORD</h3> + +<p class="normal">An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. +$1.50.</p> + +<p class="hang2">The first of the famous trilogy of historical romances of Poland, +Russia, and Sweden. Their publication has been received as an event in +literature. Charles Dudley Warner, in <i>Harper's Magazine</i>, affirms that +the Polish author has in Zagloba <i>given a new creation to literature</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>A capital story</i>. The only modern romance with which it can be +compared for fire, sprightliness, rapidity of action, swift changes, +and absorbing interest is "The Three Musketeers" of Dumas.--<i>New York +Tribune</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h3>THE DELUGE</h3> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. A Sequel to "With +Fire and Sword." With map. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. $3.00.</p> + +<p class="normal">Marvellous in its grand descriptions.--<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Has the humor of a Cervantes and the grim vigor of Defoe.--<i>Boston +Gazette</i>.</p> +<br> + +<h3>PAN MICHAEL</h3> + +<p class="normal">An Historical Novel of Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine. A Sequel to +"With Fire and Sword" and "The Deluge." Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">The interest of the trilogy, both historical and romantic, is +splendidly sustained.--<i>The Dial</i>, Chicago.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span><br> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> + +</td></tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:70%; margin-left:15%; border:4px solid black"> +<tr><td> +<h2>QUO VADIS</h2> + +<p class="hang1">A Narrative of the Time of Nero. By Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from +the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the greatest books of our day.--<i>The Bookman</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The book is like a grand historical pageant.--<i>Literary World</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Of intense interest to the whole Christian civilization.--<i>Chicago +Tribune</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Interest never wanes; and the story is carried through its many phases +of conflict and terror to a climax that enthralls.--<i>Chicago Record</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">As a study of the introduction of the gospel of love into the pagan +world typified by Rome, it is marvellously fine.--<i>Chicago Interior</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The picture here given of life in Rome under the last of the Caesars is +one of unparalleled power and vividness.--<i>Boston Home Journal</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">One of the most remarkable books of the decade. It burns upon the brain +the struggles and triumphs of the early church.--<i>Boston Daily +Advertiser</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">It will become recognized by virtue of its own merits as the one heroic +monument built by the modern novelist above the ruins of decadent Rome, +and in honor of the blessed martyrs of the early Church.--<i>Brooklyn +Eagle</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Our debt to Sienkiewicz is not less than our debt to his translator +and friend, Jeremiah Curtin. The diversity of the language, the rapid +flow of thought, the picturesque imagery of the descriptions are all +his.--<i>Boston Transcript</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span><br> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> + +</td></tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:70%; margin-left:15%; border:4px solid black"> +<tr><td> +<h2>THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS</h2> + +<p class="hang1">An Historical Romance of Poland and Germany. By Henryk Sienkiewicz. +Translated from the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Illustrated. 2 vols. +Crown 8vo. 2.00.</p> + +<p class="normal">The greatest work Sienkiewicz has given us.--<i>Buffalo Express</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">It seems superior even to "Quo Vadis" in strength and realism.--<i>The +Churchman</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">The construction of the story is beyond praise. It is difficult +to conceive of any one who will not pick the book up with +eagerness.--<i>Chicago Evening Post</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">There are some scenes in the book that for power and excitement +remind one of the great encounter between Ursus and the bull in "Quo +Vadis."--<i>Minneapolis Tribune</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Vivid, dramatic, and vigorous.... His imaginative power, his command of +language, and the picturesque scenes he sets combine to fascinate the +reader.--<i>Philadelphia Bulletin</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">A book that holds your almost breathless attention as in a vise from +the very beginning, for in it love and strife, the most thrilling of +all worldly subjects, are described masterfully.--<i>The Boston Journal</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Another remarkable book. His descriptions are tremendously effective; +one can almost hear the sound of the carnage; to the mind's eye the +scene of battle is unfolded by a master artist.--<i>The Hartford +Courant</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thrillingly dramatic, full of strange local color and very faithful to +its period, besides having that sense of the mysterious and weird that +throbs in the Polish blood and infects alike their music and +literature.--<i>The St. Paul Globe</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span><br> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4> +</td></tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:70%; margin-left:15%; border:4px solid black"> +<tr><td> +<h2><i>OTHER NOVELS AND ROMANCES</i><br> +<i>by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from</i><br> +<i>the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin</i>.</h2> + + +<h3>CHILDREN OF THE SOIL</h3> + +<p class="continue">Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">It must be reckoned among the finer fictions of our time, and shows its +author to be almost as great a master in the field of the domestic +novel as he had previously been shown to be in that of imaginative +historical romances.--<i>The Dial</i>, Chicago.</p> + + +<h3>HANIA, AND OTHER STORIES</h3> + +<p class="continue">With portrait. Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the highest level of the author's genius.--<i>The Outlook</i>.</p> + + +<h3>SIELANKA, A FOREST PICTURE</h3> + +<p class="continue">And Other Stories. With frontispiece. Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">They exhibit the masterly genius of Sienkiewicz even better than his +longer romances. They abound in fine character-drawings and beautiful +descriptions.--<i>Chicago Inter-Ocean</i>.</p> + + +<h3>LIFE AND DEATH AND OTHER<br> +LEGENDS AND STORIES</h3> + +<p class="continue">Illustrated. 16mo. Decorated cloth, $1.00.</p> + + +<h3>WITHOUT DOGMA</h3> + +<p class="hang1">A Novel of Modern Poland. (Translated from the Polish by Iza Young.) +Crown 8vo. $1.50.</p> + +<p class="normal">A human document read in the light of a great imagination.--<i>Boston +Beacon</i>.</p> + +<hr class="W90"> + +<h4>LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, <span class="sc">Publishers</span><br> +<span class="sc">Boston, Massachusetts</span></h4></td> +</tr></table> +<br> +<br> +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's On the Field of Glory, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE FIELD OF GLORY *** + +***** This file should be named 37406-h.htm or 37406-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/0/37406/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: On the Field of Glory + An Historical Novel of the Time of King John Sobieski + +Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz + +Translator: Jeremiah Curtin + +Release Date: September 12, 2011 [EBook #37406] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE FIELD OF GLORY *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/onfieldofgloryhi00sieniala + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY + + + + + + + THE WORKS OF + HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ + + TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL POLISH + BY JEREMIAH CURTIN. + + * * * + + _The Zagloba Romances_ + + With Fire and Sword. 1 vol. + The Deluge. 2 vols. + Pan Michael. 1 vol. + + * * * + + Quo Vadis. 1 vol. + The Knights of the Cross. 2 vols. + Children of the Soil. 1 vol. + Hania, and Other Stories. 1 vol. + Sielanka, and Other Stories. 1 vol. + In Vain. 1 vol. + Life and Death and Other Legends and Stories. 1 vol. + On The Field Of Glory. 1 vol. + + * * * + + Without Dogma. (Translated by Isa Young.) 1 vol. + + + + + + + ON THE FIELD OF + GLORY + + + AN HISTORICAL NOVEL + OF THE TIME OF KING JOHN SOBIESKI + + + BY + HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ + _Author of "Quo Vadis," "With Fire and Sword," "The Deluge," + "Knights of the Cross" etc_. + + + + TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH ORIGINAL BY + JEREMIAH CURTIN + + + + + BOSTON + LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY + 1906 + + + + + + + _Copyright, 1906_, + By Jeremiah Curtin + * * * + _All rights reserved_ + + + + Published January, 1906 + + + + + THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. + + + + + + TO + SIR THOMAS G. SHAUGHNESSY, + PRESIDENT OF THE CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILROAD. + + * * * + +My Dear Sir Thomas: + +Railroads are to nations what arteries and veins are to each +individual. Every part of a nation enjoys common life with every other +through railroads. Books bring remote ages to the present, and assemble +the thoughts of mankind and of God in one divine company. I find great +pleasure on railroads in the day and the night, at all seasons. You +enjoy books with a keen and true judgment. Let me inscribe to you, +therefore, this volume. + + Jeremiah Curtin. + + + + + INTRODUCTORY + + +The book before us gives pictures of Polish character and life on the +eve of the second great siege of Vienna. + +Twice was that city beleaguered by Turkey. The first siege was +commanded by Solyman, that Sultan who was surnamed Magnificent by +western nations; to Turks he was known as the Lord of his Age and the +Lawgiver. + +The first siege was repelled by the bravery of the garrison, by the +heroism of Count Salm its commander, by the terrible weather of 1529, +and also through turbulence of the Janissary forces. The second siege +was crushed in 1683 by Sobieski's wise strategy, the splendid impetus +of the Poles, and the firmness of the allies. + +Had the Polish king not appeared the Sultan would have triumphed, hence +Sobieski and his men are hailed ever since as the saviours of Vienna. + +The enthusiasm of the time for Sobieski and his force was tremendous. + +"There was a man sent from God whose name was John," this was the +Gospel read at the Thanksgiving Mass in Saint Stephen's, the cathedral, +the noble old church of that rescued and jubilant city. Some Poles went +to Rome after that to get relics; the Pope gave this answer: "Take +earth steeped in blood from the field where your countrymen fell at +Vienna." + +Many times have men here in America asked me: Are the Poles really held +by such an intensity of passion? if they are, why does it seize them, +whence does it come, what is the source and the cause of it? I reply to +these questions as best I am able, and truthfully: It comes from the +soul of the Slavs in some part, and in some part from history. The +Poles have as a race their original gift to begin with; this gift, or +race element, has met in its varied career certain peoples, ideas, and +principles. The result of this meeting is this: that the Polish part of +the Slav world holds touching itself an unconquerable ideal. It has +absorbed, as it thinks, certain principles from which it could not now +separate. + +The Poles could not if they would, and would not if they could, be +dissevered from that which, as they state, they have worked out in +history, that which no power on earth can now take from them, and to +which they are bound with the faith of a martyr. + +Through ideas and principles, that is, truths gained in their +experience as a people, and which in them are incarnate and living, the +Poles feel predestined to triumph, time, of course, being given. + +What are these ideas and principles? men ask of me often. Combined all +in one they mean the victory and supremacy of Poland. They have been +worked out during centuries, I answer, of Polish experience with +Germany, with Russia, with Rome and Byzantium, with Turks and with +Tartars. But beyond all do they come as the fruit of collisions with +Germany and Russia, and as the outcome of teachings from Rome and the +stern opposition of Byzantium. Through this great host of enemies and +allies, and their own special character, came that incisive dramatic +career which at last met a failure so crushingly manifest. + +The inward result and the spiritual harvest to be reaped from this +awful catastrophe are evident only through what is revealed in the +conduct, the deeds, and the words of the people who had to wade through +the dreadful defeat and digest the experience. + +Polish character in most of its main traits was developed completely +even earlier than the days of Sobieski, and the men who appeared then +in action differ little from those of the present, hence the pictures +in this volume are perfectly true and of far-reaching interest in our +time. + + JEREMIAH CURTIN. + +January, 1906. + + + + + + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY + + + + + CHAPTER I + + +The winter of 1682-83 was a season of such rigor that even very old +people could not remember one like it. During the autumn rain fell +continually, and in the middle of November the first frost appeared, +which confined waters and put a glass bark upon trees of the forest. +Icicles fastened on pines and broke many branches. In the first days of +December the birds, after frequent biting frosts, flew into villages +and towns, and even wild beasts came out of dense forests and drew near +the houses of people. About Saint Damasius' day the heavens became +clouded, and then snow appeared; ten days did it fall without ceasing. +It covered the country to a height of two ells; it hid forest roads, it +hid fences, and even cottage windows. Men opened pathways with shovels +through snow-drifts to go to their granaries and stables; and when the +snow stopped at last, a splitting frost came, from which forest trees +gave out sounds that seemed gunshots. + +Peasants, who at that time had to go to the woodlands for fuel, went in +parties to defend themselves, and were careful that night should not +find them at a distance from the village. After sunset no man dared +leave his own doorstep unless with a fork or a bill-hook, and dogs gave +out, until daylight, short frightened yelps, as they do always when +barking at wolves which are near them. + +During just such a night and in such a fierce frost a great equipage on +runners pushed along a forest road carefully; it was drawn by four +horses and surrounded by attendants. In front, on a strong beast, rode +a man with a pole and a small iron pot on the end of it; in this pot +pitch was burning, not to make the road visible, for there was +moonlight, but to frighten away wolves from the party. On the box of +the equipage sat a driver, and on a saddled horse a postilion, and at +each side rode two men armed with muskets and slingshots. + +The party moved forward very slowly, since the road was little beaten +and in places the snow-drifts, especially at turnings, rose like waves +on the roadway. + +This slowness disturbed Pan Gideon Pangovski, who, relying on his +numerous attendants and their weapons, had determined to travel, though +in Radom men had warned him of the danger, and all the more seriously +since in going to Belchantska he would have to pass the Kozenitse +forests. + +Those immense forests began at that period a good way before Yedlina, +and continued far beyond Kozenitse to the Vistula, and toward the other +side of the Stenjytsa, and northward to Rytchivol. + +It had seemed to Pan Gideon that, if he left Radom before midday, he +would reach home very easily at sunset. Meanwhile he had been forced in +a number of places to open the road close to fences; some hours were +lost at this labor, so that he came to Yedlina about twilight. Men +there gave the warning that he would better remain for the night in the +village; but since at the blacksmith's a pitch light had been found to +burn before the carriage, Pan Gideon commanded to continue the journey. + +And now night had surprised him in the wilderness. + +It was difficult to go faster because of increasing snowdrifts; hence +Pan Gideon was more and more disquieted and at last fell to swearing, +but in Latin, lest he frighten the two ladies who were with him, Pains +Vinnitski his relative and his ward Panna Anulka Sieninski. + +Panna Anulka was young and high-hearted, in no degree timid. On the +contrary, she drew aside the leather curtain at the window, and, +commanding the horseman at the side not to stop the view to her, looked +at the drifts very joyfully, and at the pine trunks with long strips of +snow on them over which played reddish gleams from the pitch pot, which +with the moonlight made moving figures very pleasant to her eyesight. +Then rounding her lips to the form of a bird bill she began to whistle, +her breath became visible and was rosier than firelight, this too +amused her. + +But Pani Vinnitski, who was old and quite timid, fell to complaining. + +Why leave Radom, or at least why not pass the night in Yedlina since +they had been warned of the danger? All this through some person's +stubbornness. To Belchantska there was a long piece of road yet, and +all in a forest, hence wolves would meet them undoubtedly, unless +Raphael, the Archangel and patron of travellers, would pity them in +their wandering, but alas, of this they were quite undeserving. + +When he heard this opinion, Pan Gideon became thoroughly impatient. To +speak of being lost in the wilderness was all that was needed to upset +him. + +The road for that matter was straight, and as for wolves, well, they +would or would not come. He had good attendants, and besides, a wolf is +not anxious to meet with a warrior--not only because he fears him far +more than a common man, but also because of the love which the +quick-witted beast has for warriors. + +The wolf understands well that no dweller in towns and no peasant will +give him food gratis; the warrior alone is the man who feeds wolves, +and at times in abundance, hence it is not without reason that men have +called war "the wolf's harvest." + +But still Pan Gideon speaking thus, and praising the wolves in some +small degree, was not quite convinced of their affection; hence he was +thinking whether or not to command an attendant to slip from his horse +and sit next the young lady. In such case he himself would defend one +door of the carriage, and that attendant the other, while the freed +horse would either rush off ahead or escape in the rear, and thus draw +the wolves after him. + +But the time to do this had not come, as it seemed to Pan Gideon. +Meanwhile he placed near his ward on the front seat, a knife and two +pistols; these he wished to have near him since he had only his right +hand for service. + +They advanced some furlongs farther in quiet, and the road was growing +wider. Pan Gideon, who knew the way perfectly, drew breath as if +relieved somewhat. + +"The Malikov field is not far," said he. + +In every case he hoped for more safety in that open space than in the +forest. + +But just then the attendant in front turned his horse suddenly, and, +rushing to the carriage, spoke hurriedly to the driver and to others, +who answered abruptly, as men do when there is no time for loitering. + +"What is it?" asked Pan Gideon. + +"Some noise in the field." + +"Is it wolves?" + +"Some outcry. God knows what!" + +Pan Gideon was on the point of commanding the horseman with the torch +to spring forward and see what was happening, when he remembered that +in cases like this it was better not to be without fire and to keep all +his people together, and, further, that defence in the open is easier +than in a forest, so he commanded to move on with the equipage. + +But after a while the horseman reappeared at the window. + +"Wild boars," said he. + +"Wild boars!" + +"A terrible grunting is heard on the right of the road." + +"Praise God for that!" + +"But perhaps wolves have attacked them." + +"Praise God for that also! We shall pass unmolested. Move on!" + +In fact the guess of the attendant proved accurate. When they had +driven out to the field they saw, at a distance of two or three +bow-shots on the right near the road, a dense crowd of wild boars, and +a circle of wolves moving nimbly around them. A terrible grunting, not +of fear but of rage, was given out with growing vigor. When the sleigh +reached the middle of the plain, the men, watching from the horses, +observed that the wolves had not dared yet to rush at the wild boars; +they only pressed on them more and more eagerly. + +The boars had arranged themselves in a round compact body, the young in +the middle, the old and the strong on the outside, thus, as it were, +forming a moving and terrible fortress, which gleamed with white tusks +and was impervious to attack or to terror. + +Between the garland of wolves and that wall of tusks and snouts a +white, snowy ring was clearly visible, since the whole field was in +moonlight. + +Some of the wolves sprang up to the boars, but they sprang back very +quickly, as if frightened by the clash of the tusks and the more +terrible outbursts of grunting. If the wolves had closed in battle with +the boars the struggle would have then held them completely, and the +sleigh might have passed without notice; but since this had not +happened, there was fear lest they might stop that dreadful onset and +try then another one. + +Indeed after a while a few dropped away from the pack and ran toward +the party, after them followed others. But the sight of armed men +confused them; some began to follow the sleigh, others stopped a few +tens of steps from it, or ran around with mad speed, as if to urge +themselves on to the equipage. + +The attendants wished to fire, but Pan Gideon forbade them, lest +gunshots might bring the whole pack to his people. + +Meanwhile the horses, though accustomed to wolves, began to push to one +side and turn their heads to their flanks with loud snorting, but soon +something worse happened, and this raised the danger a hundredfold. + +The young horse which the torchbearer was riding reared suddenly once, +and a second time, and then rushed madly sidewise. + +The rider, knowing that were he to fall he would be torn to bits the +next moment, seized hold of his saddle-bow, but dropped his pot the +same instant; the light sank in the snow deeply; the flame threw out +sparks and was extinguished. The light of the moon was alone on that +plain then. + +The driver, a Russ from Pomorani, began to pray; the Mazovian +attendants fell to cursing. + +Emboldened by darkness, the wolves pressed on with more insolence, and +from the direction of the wild boars some fresh ones ran up to them. A +few came rather near, with snapping teeth, and the hair standing +straight on their shoulders. Their eyes were all bloodshot, and a +greenish light flashed from them. + +A moment had come which was really terrible. + +"Shall we shoot?" inquired one of the escort. + +"Frighten them with shouts," said Pan Gideon. + +Thereupon rose with keenness, "A-hu! a-hu!" The horses gained courage, +and the wolves, impressed by the voices of men, withdrew some tens of +paces. + +Then a still greater wonder was manifest. + +All at once forest echoes from behind repeated the shouts of the +attendants, but with rising force, ever louder and louder, as it were +outbursts of wild laughter; and some moments later a crowd of dark +horsemen appeared at both sides of the carriage and shot past with all +the speed of their beasts toward the wild boars and the wolves which +encircled them. + +In the twinkle of an eye neither wolves nor boars held the snow plain; +they had scattered as if a whirlwind had struck them. Gunshots were +heard, also shouts, and again those strange outbursts of laughter. Pan +Gideon's attendants rushed after the horsemen, so that there remained +at the sleigh only the postilion and the driver. + +Inside the sleigh there was such mighty amazement that no one dared +move a lip for some moments. + +"But the word became flesh!" called out Pani Vinnitski, at last. "That +must be help from above us." + +"May it be blessed, whencesoever it came. Our plight was growing evil," +said Pan Gideon. + +"God sent those young knights!" said Panna Anulka, who wished to add +her word. + +It would have been difficult to divine how this maiden could have seen +that those men were knights and young, in addition, for they shot past +like a whirlwind; but no person asked for her reasons, since the older +man and woman were occupied overmuch with what was happening before +them. + +Meanwhile, on the plain the sounds of pursuit were heard yet for the +space of some Our Fathers, and not very far from the sleigh was a wolf +with its back broken, evidently by a sling-shot. The beast was on its +haunches and howling so dreadfully that every one shivered. + +The man on the leading horse slipped down to kill the beast, for the +horses were plunging with such violence that the sleigh-pole was +cracking. + +After a time the horsemen seemed black again on the snow field. They +came in a crowd, without order, in a mist, for though the night was +cold and the air very clear, the horses had been driven unsparingly, +and were smoking like chimneys. + +The horsemen approached with loud laughter and singing, and when they +had drawn near, one of them shot up to the sleigh, and asked in glad, +resonant accents,-- + +"Who is travelling?" + +"Pangovski from Belchantska. Whom am I to thank for this rescue?" + +"Stanislav Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka!" + +"The Bukoyemskis!" + +"Thanks to your mightinesses. God sent you in season. Thanks!" + +"Thanks!" repeated a youthful voice. + +"Glory to God that it was in season!" continued Pan Stanislav, removing +his fur cap. + +"From whom did ye hear of us?" + +"No one informed us, but as the wolves are now running in packs, we +rode out to save people; since a person of such note has been found, +our delight is the greater, and the greater our service to God," said +Pan Stanislav, politely. + +But one of the Bukoyemskis now added,-- + +"Not counting the wolf skins." + +"A beautiful deed and a real knightly work," said Pan Gideon. "God +grant us to give thanks for it as promptly as possible. I think, too, +that desire for human flesh has left those wolves now, and that we +shall reach home without danger." + +"That is by no means so certain. Wolves might be enticed again easily +and make a new onrush." + +"There is no help against that; but we will not surrender!" + +"There is help, namely this: to attend you to the mansion. It may +happen that we shall save some one else as we travel." + +"I dared not ask for that, but since such is your kindness, let it be +as you say, for the ladies here will feel safer." + +"I have no fear as we are, but from all my soul I am grateful!" said +Panna Anulka. + +Pan Gideon gave the order and they moved forward, but they had gone +only a few tens of paces when the cracked sleigh-pole was broken and +the equipage halted. + +New delays. + +The attendants had ropes and fell to mending the broken parts +straightway, but it was unknown whether such a patched work would not +come apart after some furlongs. + +Pan Stanislav hesitated somewhat, and then said, removing his fur cap a +second time,-- + +"To Yedlinka through the fields it is nearer than to Belchantska. Honor +our house then, your mightiness, and spend the night under our roof +tree. No man can tell what might meet us in that forest, or whether +even now we may not be too few to resist all the wolves that will rush +to the roadway. We will bring home the sleigh in some fashion, and the +shorter the road is the easier our problem. It is true that the honor +surpasses the service, but the case being one of sore need a man may +not cherish pride over carefully." + +Pan Gideon did not answer those words at the moment, for he felt +reproach in them. He called to mind that when two years before Pan +Serafin Tsyprianovitch had made him a visit, he received the man +graciously, it is true, but with a known haughtiness, and did not pay +back the visit. Pan Gideon had acted in that way since Pan Serafin's +family was noble only two generations, he was a "homo novus," an +Armenian by origin. His grandfather had bought and sold brocades in +Kamenyets. Yakob, the son of that merchant, had served in the artillery +under the famous Hodkievitch, and at Hotsim had rendered such service +that, through the power of Pan Stanislav Lyubomirski, he had been +ennobled, and then received Yedlinka for a lifetime. That life estate +was made afterward the property of Pan Serafin, his heir, in return for +a loan given the Commonwealth during Swedish encounters. The young man +who had come to the road with such genuine assistance was the son of +Pan Serafin. + +Pan Gideon felt this reproof all the more, since the words "cherish +pride over carefully" had been uttered by Pan Stanislav with studied +emphasis and rather haughtily. But just that knightly courage pleased +the old noble, and since it would have been hard to refuse the +assistance, and since the road to his own house was in truth long and +dangerous, he said to Pan Stanislav,-- + +"Unless you had assisted us the wolves would perhaps be gnawing our +bones at this moment; let me pay with good-will for your kindness. +Forward then, forward!" + +The sleigh was now mended. The pole had been broken as if an axe had +gone through it, so they tied one end of each rope to a runner, the +other to a collar, and moved on in a large gladsome company, amid +shouts from attendants and songs from the Bukoyemskis. + +It was no great distance to Yedlinka, which was rather a forest farm +than a village. Soon there opened in front of the wayfarers a large +field some tens of furlongs in area, or rather a broad clearing +enclosed on four sides by a pine wood, and on this plain a certain +number of houses, the roofs of which, covered with straw, were gleaming +and sparkling in moonlight. + +Beyond peasant cottages, and near them, Pan Serafin's outbuildings were +visible stretching in a circle around the edge of a courtyard, in which +stood the mansion, which was much disproportioned. The pile had been +reconstructed by its latest owners, and from being a small house, in +which dwelt on a time the king's foresters, it had become large, even +too large, for such a small forest clearing. From its windows a bright +light was shining, which gave a rosy hue to the snow near the walls of +the mansion, to the bushes in front of it, and to the wellsweep which +stood on the right of the entrance. + +It was clear that Pan Serafin was expecting his son, and perhaps also +guests from the road, who might come with him, for barely had the +sleigh reached the gate when servants rushed out with torches, and +after the servants came the master himself in a coat made of mink skin, +and wearing a weasel-skin cap, which he removed promptly at sight of +the equipage. + +"What welcome guest has the Lord sent to our wilderness?" inquired he, +descending the steps at the entrance. + +Pan Stanislav kissed his father's hand, and told whom he had brought +with him. + +"I have long wished," said Pan Gideon, as he stepped from the carriage, +"to do that to which grievous need has constrained me this evening, +hence I bless the more ardently this chance which agrees with my wish +so exactly." + +"Various things happen to men, but this chance is for me now so happy, +that with delight I beg you to enter my chambers." + +Pan Serafin bowed for the second time, and gave his arm then to Pani +Vinnitski; the whole company entered behind him. + +The guests were seized straightway by that feeling of contentment which +is felt always by travellers when they come out of darkness and cold +into lighted, warm chambers. In the first, and the other apartments, +fires were blazing in broad porcelain chimneys, and servants began to +light here and there gleaming tapers. + +Pan Gideon looked around with a certain astonishment, for the usual +houses of nobles were far from that wealth which struck the eye in Pan +Serafin's mansion. + +By the light of the fires and the tapers and candles he could see in +each apartment a furnishing such as might not be met with in many a +castle: carved chests and bureaus and armchairs from Italy, clocks here +and there, Venetian glass, precious bronze candlesticks, weapons from +the Orient, which were inlaid with turquoise and hanging from wall +mats. On the floors soft Crimean rugs, and on two long walls were +pieces of tapestry which would have adorned the halls of any magnate. + +"These came to them from trade," thought Pan Gideon, with well-defined +anger, "and now they can turn up their noses and boast of wealth won +not by weapons." + +But Pan Serafin's heartiness and real hospitality disarmed the old +noble, and when he heard, somewhat later, the clatter of dishes in the +dining-hall near them, he was perfectly mollified. + +To warm the guests who had come out of cold they brought heated, spiced +wine immediately. They began then to discuss the recent peril. Pan +Gideon had great praise for Pan Stanislav, who, instead of sitting in a +warm room at home, had saved people on the highroad without regarding +the terrible frost, and the toil, and the danger. + +"Of a truth," said he, "thus, in old days, did those famous knights +act, who, wandering through the world, saved men from cannibals, +dragons, and various other vile monsters." + +"If any man of them saved such a marvellous princess as this one," +added Stanislav, "he was as happy at that time as we are this minute." + +"No man ever saved a more wonderful maiden! True, as God is dear to me! +He has told the whole truth!" cried the four Bukoyemskis with +enthusiasm. + +Panna Anulka smiled in so lovely a fashion that two charming dimples +appeared in her cheeks, and she dropped her eyelids. + +But the compliment seemed over bold to Pan Gideon, for his ward, though +an orphan without property, was descended from magnates, hence he +changed the conversation. + +"But have your graces," asked he, "been moving long on the road in this +fashion?" + +"Since the great snows fell, and we shall keep on till the frost +stops," said Stanislav. + +"And have ye killed many wolves?" + +"Enough to give overcoats to all of us." + +Here the Bukoyemskis laughed as loud as if four horses were neighing, +and when they had quieted a little, Mateush, the eldest one added,-- + +"His Grace the King will be proud of his foresters." + +"True," said Pan Gideon. "And I have heard that ye are head foresters +in the king's wilderness in these parts. But do not the Bukoyemskis +originate in the Ukraine?" + +"We are of those Bukoyemskis." + +"Indeed--indeed--of good stock, the Yelo-Bukoyemskis are connected there +with even great houses." + +"And with St. Peter!" added Lukash. + +"Eh!" said Pan Gideon. And he began to look around with suspicion and +sternly at the brothers to see if they were not trying to jest with +him. But their faces were clear, and they nodded with earnest +conviction, confirming in this way the words of their brother. Pan +Gideon was astonished immensely, and repeated: "Relatives of Saint +Peter? But how is that?" + +"Through the Pregonovskis." + +"Indeed! And the Pregonovskis?" + +"Through the Usviats." + +"And the Usviats through some one else," said the old noble, with a +smile, "and so on to the birth of Christ, the Lord. So! It is a great +thing to have relatives in a senate down here, but what must it be to +have kinsmen in the heavenly assembly--promotion is certain in that +case. But how have ye wandered to our wilderness from the Ukraine, for +men have told me that ye are some years in this neighborhood?" + +"About three. Rebellions have long since levelled everything in the +Ukraine, and boundaries have vanished. We would not serve Pagans in +partisan warfare, so we served first in the army and then became +tenants till Pan Malchinski, our relative, made us chief foresters in +this place." + +"Yes," said Pan Serafin, "I wondered that we found ourselves side by +side in this wilderness, for we are not of this country, but the +changing fortunes of men have transported us hither. The inheritance of +your mightiness," here he turned to Pan Gideon, "is also, as I know, in +Rus near the castle of Pomorani." + +Pan Gideon quivered at this, as if some one had struck an open wound in +his body. + +"I had property there, and I have it there still," said he, "but those +places to me are abhorrent, for misfortunes alone struck me there, just +like thunderbolts." + +"The will of God," said Pan Serafin. + +"It is vain to revolt against that; still, life in those regions is +difficult." + +"Your grace, as is known, has served long in the army." + +"Till I lost my arm. I avenged my country's wrongs, and my own there. +And if the Lord Jesus will pardon one sin for each head that I took +from a pagan, hell, as I trust, will never be seen by me." + +"Of course not, of course not! Service is a merit, and so is suffering. +Best of all is it to cast gloomy thoughts from us." + +"Gladly would I be rid of them, still, they do not leave me. But +enough! I am a cripple at present, and this lady's guardian. I have +removed in old age to a silent region which the enemy never visits. I +live, as you know, in Belchantska." + +"That is well, and I have acted in like manner," added Pan Serafin. +"Young men, though it is quiet now on the borders, hurry off to Tartar +trails in the hope of adventure, but it is ghastly and woful in places +where each man is mourning for some one." + +Pan Gideon put his hand to his forehead where he held it rather long, +till at length he said sadly,-- + +"Only a peasant or a magnate can live in the Ukraine. When an onrush of +pagans strikes that country the peasant flees to a forest and can live +for some months in it like a wild beast; the magnate can live, for he +has troops and strong castles of his own to protect him. But even +then--the Jolkievskis lived in those regions and perished, the +Danilovitches lived there and perished. Of the Sobieskis, the brother +of our gracious King Yan perished also. And how many others! One of the +Vishnievetskis squirmed on a hook in Stambul till he died there. Prince +Koretski was beaten to death with iron rods. The Kalinovskis are +gone,--and before them the Herburts and the Yaglovetskis paid their +blood tribute. How many of the Sieninskis have died at various periods, +and once they possessed almost the whole country--what a graveyard! +Were I to recount all the names I could not finish till morning. And +were I to give the names, not of magnates alone but of nobles, a month +would not suffice me." + +"True! true! So that a man wonders why the Lord God has thus multiplied +those Turks and Tartars. So many of them have been killed that when an +earthtiller works in the springtime his ploughshare bites at every step +on the skull of a pagan. Dear God! Even our present king has crushed +them to death in such numbers that their blood would form a large +river, and still they are coming." + +These words had truth in them. The Commonwealth, rent by disorder and +unruliness, could not have strong armies sufficient to end in one +mighty struggle the Tartar-Turk avalanche. For that matter, all Europe +could not command such an army. Still, the Commonwealth was inhabited +by men of great daring, who would not yield their throats willingly to +the knife of the eastern attacker. On the contrary, to that terrible +region bristling with grave-mounds, and reeking with blood at the +borders, Red Russia, Podolia, and the Ukraine, new waves of Polish +settlers followed each after the other; these not only stirred up +fertile lands, but their own craving for endless wars, battles, and +adventures. + +"The Poles," wrote an old chronicler, "go to Russia for skirmishes with +Tartars."[1] + +So from Mazovia went peasants; daring nobles went also, for each one of +whom it was shameful "to die in his bed like a peasant." And there grew +up in those red lands mighty magnates, who, not satisfied with action +even there, went frequently much farther--to Wallachia, or the Crimea, +seeking victory, power, death, salvation, and glory. + +It was even said that the Poles did not wish one great war that would +end the whole question. Though this was not true, still, continual +disturbance was dear to that daring generation--but the invader on his +part paid with blood dearly for his venture. + +Neither the Dobrudja nor Belgorod lands, nor the Crimean reed barrens +could support their wild Tartar denizens, hence hunger drove them to +the border where rich booty was waiting, but death was waiting also, +very often. + +The flames of fire lighted up invasions unknown yet to history. Single +regiments cut into bits with their sabres and trampled into dust under +horsehoofs detachments surpassing them tenfold in number. Only +swiftness beyond reckoning could save the invaders; in general when a +Tartar band was overtaken by troops of the Commonwealth it was lost +beyond rescue. + +There were expeditions, especially the smaller ones, from which not one +man went back to the Crimea. Terrible in their time both to Turks and +to Tartars were Pretvits and Hmieletski; knights of less note, +Volodyovski, Pelka, and the elder Rushits, wrote their names down with +blood in men's memories. These for some years, or some tens of years, +at that time, were resting in their graves and in glory; but even of +the mighty ones none had drawn so much blood from the followers of +Islam as the king reigning then, Yan Sobieski. + +At Podhaitsi, Kalush, Hotsim, and Lvoff there were lying till that time +unburied such piles of pagan bones that broad fields beneath them were +as white as if snow-covered. At last on all hordes there was terror. +The borders drew breath then, and when the insatiable Turk began to +seek lighter conquests the whole tortured Commonwealth breathed with +more freedom. + +There remained only painful remembrances. + +Far away from Pan Serafin's dwelling, and next to the castle of +Pomorani, stood a tall cross on a hill, and two lances upon it. Twenty +and some years before that Pan Gideon had placed this cross on the site +of his fire-consumed mansion, hence, as he thought of that cross and of +all those lives dear to him which had been lost in that region, the +heart whined in the old man from anguish. + +But since he was stern to himself and to others, and would not shed +tears before strangers, and could not endure paltry pity from any man, +he would not speak longer of his misfortunes, and fell to inquiring of +his host how he lived in that forest inheritance. + +"Here," said Pan Serafin, "is stillness, oh, stillness! When the forest +is not sounding, and the wolves are not howling, thou canst almost hear +snow fall. There is calmness, there is fire in the chimney and a +pitcher of heated wine in the evening--old age needs nothing further." + +"True. But your son?" + +"A young bird leaves the nest sometimes. And here certain trees whisper +that a great war with the pagan is approaching." + +"To that war even gray falcons will hasten. Were it not for this, I +should fly with the others." + +Here Pan Gideon shook his coat sleeve, in which there was only a bit of +his arm near the shoulder. + +And Pan Serafin poured out heated wine to him. + +"To the success of Christian weapons!" + +"God grant it! Drink to the bottom." + +Stanislav entertained at the same time Pani Vinnitski, Panna Anulka, +and the four Bukoyemskis with a pitcher of wine which steamed quite as +actively as the other. The ladies touched the glasses however with +their lips very sparingly, but the Bukoyemskis needed no urging, hence +the world seemed to them more joyous each moment, and Panna Anulka more +beautiful, so, unable to find words to express their delight, they +began to look at one another with amazement and panting; then each +nudged another with his elbow. Mateush at last found expression,-- + +"We are not to wonder that the wolves wished to try the bones and the +body of this lady, for even a wild beast knows a real tid-bit!" + +Marek, Lukash, and Yan, the three remaining Bukoyemskis slapped their +thighs then in ecstasy. + +"He has hit the nail on the head, he has! A tid-bit! Nothing short of +it!" + +"A Saint Martin's cake!" + +On hearing this Panna Anulka laid one hand on the other, and, feigning +terror, said to Stanislav,-- + +"Oh, help me, for I see that these gentlemen only saved me from the +wolves to eat me themselves." + +"Gracious maiden," said Stanislav, joyfully, "Pan Mateush said that we +were not to wonder at the wolves, but I say I do not wonder at the +Bukoyemskis." + +"What shall I do then, except to ask who will save me?" + +"Trifle not with sacred subjects!" cried Pani Vinnitski. + +"Well, but these gentlemen are ready to eat me and also auntie. Are +they not?" + +This question remained for some time without answer. Moreover, it was +easy to note from the faces of the brothers that they had much less +desire for the additional eating. But Lukash, who had quicker wit than +his brothers, now added, "Let Mateush speak; he is the eldest." + +Mateush was somewhat bothered, and answered, "Who knows what will meet +him to-morrow?" + +"A good remark," said Stanislav, "but to what do you apply it?" + +"How to what?" + +"Why, nothing. I only ask, why mention to-morrow?" + +"But knowest thou that love is worse than a wolf, for a man may kill a +wolf, but to kill love is beyond him." + +"I know, but that again is another question." + +"But if there be wit enough, a question is nothing." + +"In that case may God give us wit." + +Panna Anulka hid her laughter behind her palm; after her laughed +Stanislav, and then the Bukoyemskis. Further word-play was stopped by a +servant announcing the supper. + +Pan Serafin gave his arm to Pani Vinnitski; after them went Pan Gideon; +Stanislav conducted Panna Anulka. + +"A dispute with Pan Bukoyemski is difficult," said the young lady, made +gladsome. + +"For his reasons are like wilful horses, each goes its own way; but he +has told two truths which are hard of denial." + +"What is the first one?" + +"That no man knows what will meet him on the morrow, just as yesterday +I did not know, for example, that to-day I should see you." + +"And the other?" + +"That a man can kill a wolf, but to kill love is beyond him. This also +is a great truth." + +Stanislav sighed; the young lady lowered her shady eyelashes and was +silent. Only after a while, when they were sitting at the table, did +she say to him,-- + +"But you will come, gentlemen, soon to my guardian's, so that he may +show you some gratitude for saving us and for your hospitality also?" + +The gloomy feelings of Pan Gideon brightened notably at supper, and +when the host in splendid phrases proposed first the health of the +ladies and that of the honored guest afterward, the old noble answered +very cordially, thanking for the rescue from difficult straits, and +giving assurance of never-ending gratitude. + +After that they conversed of public questions, of the king, of the Diet +which was to meet the May following of the war with which the Turkish +Sultan was threatening the German Empire, and for which that Knight of +Malta, Pan Lyubomirski, was bringing in volunteers. + +The four brothers listened with no slight curiosity, because every Pole +was received with open arms among Germans; since the Turks despised +German cavalry, while Polish horsemen roused proper terror. + +Pan Gideon blamed Lyubomirski's pride somewhat, since he spoke of +German counts thuswise: "Ten of them could find place in one glove of +mine;" still, he praised the man's knightliness, boundless daring, and +great skill in warfare. + +On hearing this, Lukash Bukoyemski declared for himself and his +brothers that in spring they would hasten to Lyubomirski, but while the +frost raged they would kill wolves, and avenge the young lady, as +behooved them. + +"For, though we are not to wonder at the wolves," said Mateush, "when +one thinks that such a pure dove might have been turned into wolf's +meat the heart flies to the throat from pure anger, and at the same +time it is hard to keep tears down. What a pity that wolf skins are so +low-priced,--the Jews give barely one thaler for three of them!--but it +is hard to keep our tears down, and even better to give way to them, +for whoso could not compassionate innocence and virtue would be a +savage, whom no man should name as a knight and a noble." + +In fact, he gave way to his tears then, as did his three brothers; +though wolves in the worst case could threaten only the life, not the +virtue of the lady, still the eloquence of Lukash so moved his three +brothers that their hearts became soft as warmed wax while they +listened. They wished to shoot in the air from their pistols in honor +of the young lady; but the host opposed, saying that he had a sick +forester in the mansion, a man of great merit, who needed silence. + +Pan Gideon, who supposed this to be some reduced relative of Pan +Serafin, or in the worst case a village noble, inquired touching him, +through politeness; but on learning that he was a serving-man and a +peasant he shrugged his shoulders and looked with displeased and +wondering eyes at Pan Serafin. + +"Oh yes!" said he. "I forgot what people say of your marvellous +kindness." + +"God grant," answered Pan Serafin, "that they say nothing worse of me. +I have to thank this man for much; and may every one meet such a +person, for he knows herbs very thoroughly and can give aid in every +illness." + +"I wonder, since he cures others so ably, that he has not cured himself +thus far. Send him my relative, Pani Vinnitski,--she knows many +simples, and presses them on people; but meanwhile permit us to think +of retiring, for the road has fatigued me most cruelly, and the wine +has touched me also a trifle, just as it has the Bukoyemskis." + +In fact, the heads of the Bukoyemskis were steaming, while the eyes of +those brothers were mist-covered and tender; so when Pan Stanislav +conducted them to another building, where they were to pass the night +together, they followed him with most uncertain tread on frozen snow, +which squeaked under them. They wondered why the moon, instead of +shining in the heavens, was perched on the roof of a barn and was +smiling. + +But Panna Anulka had dropped into their hearts so profoundly that they +wished to speak more of her. + +Pan Stanislav, who felt no great wish for sleep, directed to bring a +thick-bellied bottle; then they sat near the broad chimney, and, by the +bright light of the torch, drank in silence at first, listening only to +the crickets in the chamber. At last Mateush filled his breast well +with air and blew with such force at the chimney that the flame bent +before him. + +"O Jesus! My dear brothers," cried he, "weep, for a sad fate has met +me." + +"What fate? Speak, do not hide thy condition!" + +"It is this. I am so in love that the knees are weakening under me!" + +"And I? Dost think that I am not in love?" shouted Marek. + +"And I?" screamed out Lukash. + +"And I," ended Yan. + +Mateush wanted to give them an answer of some kind, but could not at +first, for a hiccough had seized him. He only stared with great +wonderment, and looked as if he saw them for the first time in life at +that moment. Then rage was depicted on his countenance. + +"How is this, O sons of a such a one?" cried he, "ye wish to block the +road to your eldest brother, and deprive him of happiness?" + +"O indeed!" answered Marek, "what does this mean? Is Panna Anulka an +entail of some kind, that only the eldest brother can get her? We are +sons of one father and mother, so if thou call us sons of a such a one, +thou art blaming thy father and mother. Each man is free to love as he +chooses." + +"Free, but woe to you, for ye are all bound to me in obedience." + +"Must we all our lives serve a horseskull? Hei?" + +"O pagan, thou art barking like a dog!" + +"Thou art thyself doing that. Jacob was younger than Esau, and Joseph +was younger than all his brothers, so thou art blaming the Scriptures, +and barking against true religion." + +Pushed to the wall by these arguments, Mateush could not find an answer +with promptness, and when Yan made some remark touching Cain, the first +brother, he lost his head utterly. Anger rose in him higher and higher, +till at last he began with his right hand to search for the sabre which +he had not there with him. It is unknown to what it would have come had +not Yan, who for some time had been pressing a finger to his forehead, +as if wrestling with an idea, cried out in a great voice, and +suddenly,-- + +"I am the youngest brother, I am Joseph, so Panna Anulka is for me. +undisputedly." + +The others turned to him straightway. From their eyes were shooting +fire sparks, in their faces was indignation. + +"What? For thee? For thee! thou goose egg! thou straw scarecrow, thou +horse strangler, thou dry slipper--thou drunkard! For thee?" + +"Shut thy mouth, it is written in the Scriptures." + +"What Scriptures, thou dunce?" + +"All the same--but it is there. Ye are drunk, not I." + +But at this moment Pan Stanislav happened in among them. + +"Ah, is it not a shame for you," said he, "being nobles and brothers to +raise such a quarrel? Is this the way to nourish love among brothers? +But about what are ye fighting? Is Panna Anulka a mushroom that the +first man who finds her in the forest can put her in his basket? It is +the custom among pelicans, and they are not nobles, or even people, to +yield everything through family affection, and when they fail to find +fish they feed one another with blood from their own bodies. Think of +your dead parents; they are shedding tears up there now over this +quarrelling among sons whom they surely advised to act differently from +this when they blessed them. For those parents heavenly food is now +tasteless, and they dare not raise their eyes to the Evangelists whose +names they gave you in holy baptism." + +Thus spoke Pan Stanislav and though at first he wished to laugh he was +touched as he spoke by his own words, for he too had drunk somewhat +because of the company at dinner. At last the Bukoyemskis were greatly +moved by his speech, and all four of them ended in tears, while Mateush +the eldest one cried to them,-- + +"Oh kill me, for God's sake, but call me not Cain!" + +Thereupon Yan, who had mentioned Cain, threw himself into the arms of +Mateush. + +"Oh, brother," cried he, "give me to the hangman for doing so." + +"Forgive me, or I shall burst open from sorrow," cried Marek. + +"I have barked like a dog against the commandment," said Lukash. + +And they fell to embracing one another, but Mateush freed himself +finally from his brothers, sat on a bench very suddenly, unbuttoned his +coat, threw open his shirt, and, baring his breast, exclaimed in broken +accents,-- + +"Here ye have me! here, like a pelican!" + +Thereupon they sobbed the more loudly. + +"A pelican! a genuine pelican! As God is dear to me,--a pelican!" + +"Take Panna Anulka." + +"She is thine! Take her, thou," said the brothers. + +"Let the youngest man have her." + +"Never! Impossible!" + +"Devil take her!" + +"Devil take her!" + +"We don't want her!" + +Hereupon Marek struck his thighs with his palms till the chamber +resounded. + +"I know what's to be done," cried he. + +"What dost thou know? Speak, do not hide it!" + +"Let Stanislav have her!" + +When they heard this the other three sprang from their benches. Marek's +idea struck them to the heart so completely that they surrounded Pan +Stanislav. + +"Take her, Stashko!" + +"It will please us most of all." + +"If thou love us!" + +"Do this to please us!" + +"May God bless you!" cried Mateush; and he raised his eyes heavenward, +as he stretched his hands over Stanislav. + +Stanislav blushed, and he stood there astonished, repeating,-- + +"Fear God's wounds!" + +But his heart quivered at the thought, for having passed two whole +years with his father amid the dense forests, and seeing few people, he +had not met for a legion of days such a marvellous maiden. He had seen +some one like her in Brejani, for he had been sent by his father to +gain elegance at the court there and a knowledge of government. But he +was a lad then, and time had effaced those remote recollections. And +now he saw in the midst of those forests unexpectedly just such a +beautiful flower as the other one, and men said to him straightway: "Oh +take it!" In view of this he was dreadfully shamefaced and answered,-- + +"Fear God! How could ye or I get her?" + +But they, as is usual with men who are tipsy, saw no obstacle to +anything and insisted. + +"No man of us will be jealous," said Marek, "take her! We must go to +the war whatever happens; we have had watching enough in this forest. +Thirty thalers for the whole God-given year. It does not buy drink for +us, and what is there left then for clothing? We sold our saddle +beasts, and now we hunt wolves with thy horses and outfits--A hard lot +for orphans. Better perish in war--But take her thou, if thou love us!" + +"Take her!" cried out Mateush, "but we will go to Rakuz, to +Lyubomirski, to help the Germans in shelling out pagans." + +"Take her immediately." + +"Take her to-morrow! To the church with her straightway!" + +But Stanislav had recovered from astonishment and was as sober as if he +had not touched a drop since the morning. + +"Oh, stop, what are ye saying? Just as if only your will or mine were +all that is needed! But what will she say and what will Pan Gideon say? +Pan Gideon is self-willed and haughty. Even though the young lady grew +friendly in time, he might prefer to see her sow rue than be the wife +of any poor devil like me, or like any one of you brothers." + +"Oh pshaw!" exclaimed Yan. "Is Pan Gideon the Castellan of Cracow, or +grand hetman? If he is too high for us let him beware how he thrusts up +his nose in our presence. Are the Bukoyemskis too small to be his +gossips?" + +"Ah, never mind! He is old, the time of his death is not distant, let +him have a care lest he be stopped by Saint Peter in heaven's gateway. +Oh take our part! holy Peter, and say this to him: 'Thou didst not know +during life, thou son of a such a one, how to respect my blood +relatives; kiss now the dog's snout for thy conduct.' Let that be said +after death to Pan Gideon. But meanwhile we will not let him belittle +us in his lifetime." + +"How! because we have no fortune must we be despised and treated like +peasants?" + +"Is that the pay for our blood, for our wounds, for our service to the +country?" + +"O my brothers, ye orphans of God! many an injustice has met you, but +one more grievous than this no man has ever yet put on us." + +"That is true, that is true!" exclaimed Lukash and Marek and Yan in sad +accents. + +And tears of grief flowed down their faces afresh and abundantly, but +when they had wept out their fill they fell to storming, for it seemed +to them that such an offence to men of birth should not be forgotten. + +Lukash, the most impulsive of all the four brothers, was the first to +make mention of this matter. + +"It is difficult to challenge him to sabres," said he, "for he has lost +an arm and is old, but if he has contemned us, we must have +satisfaction. What are we to do? Think of this!" + +"My feet have been frozen to-night," said Lukash, "and are burning +tremendously. But for this, I could think out a remedy." + +"My feet are not burning, but my head is on fire," added Marek. + +"From that which is empty thou wilt never pour anything." + +"Gland is blamed always by Katchan!" said Mateush. + +"Ye give a quarrel instead of an answer!" cried Lukash. But Stanislav +interrupted;-- + +"An answer?" said he, "but to whom?" + +"To Pan Gideon." + +"An answer to what?" + +"To what? How 'to what'?" + +They looked at one another, with no small astonishment, and then turned +to Lukash,-- + +"What dost thou wish of us?" + +"But what do ye wish of me?" + +"Adjourn this assembly till daylight," said Stanislav. "The fire here +is dying, midnight is past now a long time. The beds are all ready at +the walls there, and rest is ours honestly, for we have worked in the +frost very faithfully." + +The fire had gone out; it was dark in the chamber, so the advice of the +host had power to convince the four brothers. Conversation continued +some little time yet, but with decreasing intensity. Somewhat later a +whispered "Our Father" was heard, at one moment louder, at another one +lower, interrupted now and then with deep sighing. + +The coals in the chimney began to grow dark and be covered with ashes; +at moments something squeaked near the fire, and the crickets chirped +sadly in the corners, as if mourning for the light which had left them. +Next the sound of boots cast from feet to the floor, after that a short +interval of silence, and then immense snoring from the four sleeping +brothers. + +But Stanislav could not sleep, all his thoughts whirled about Panna +Anulka, like active bees about blossoms. + +How could a man sleep with such a buzzing in his cranium! He closed his +lids, it is true, once and a second time, but finding that useless he +pondered. + +"I will see if there is light in her chamber," thought he, finally. + +And he passed through the doorway. + +There was no light in her windows, but the gleam of the moon quivered +on the uneven panes as on wrinkled water. The world was silent, and +sleeping so soundly that even the snow seemed to slumber in the bath of +greenish moonlight. + +"Dost thou know that I am dreaming of thee?" asked Stanislav in a +whisper, as he looked at the silent window. + +The elder Tsyprianovitch, Pan Serafin, in accordance with his inborn +hospitality, and his habit, spared neither persuasion nor pressing to +detain his guests longer in Yedlinka. He even knelt before Pani +Vinnitski, an act which did not come easily because of his gout, which, +though moderate so far, was somewhat annoying. All that, however, +availed not. Pan Gideon insisted on going before midday, and at last, +since there was no answer to the statement that he was looking for +guests at his mansion, Pan Serafin had to yield, and they started that +clear frosty forenoon of wonderful weather. The snow on the fields, and +on tree branches, seemed covered with myriads of fire sparks, which so +glittered in the sunlight that the eye could barely suffer the gleams +shooting back from the earth and the forest. The horses moved at a +vigorous trot till their flanks panted; the sleigh runners whistled +along the snow road; the carriage curtains were pushed back on both +sides, and now at one window and now at the other appeared the rosy +face of the young lady with gladsome eyes and a nose which the frost +had reddened somewhat, a charming framed picture. + +She advanced like a queen, for the carriage was encircled by a "life +guard" made up of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Stanislav. The four brothers +were riding strong beasts from the Yedlinka stables (they had sold or +pledged not only their horses but the best of their sabres). They +rushed on now at the side, sometimes forcing their horses to rear, and +sometimes urging them on with such impetus that balls torn from the +frozen snow by their hoofs shot away whistling through the air like +stone missiles. + +Perhaps Pan Gideon was not greatly charmed with these body-guards, for +during the advance he begged the cavaliers not to give themselves +trouble, since the road in the daytime was safe, and of robbers in the +forest no report had arisen; but when they had insisted on conducting +the ladies, nothing was left him but to pay for politeness with +politeness, and invite them to Belchantska. Pan Gideon had a promise +also from Pan Serafin to visit him, but only after some days, since it +was difficult for an old man to tear himself free of his household +abruptly. + +For the men, this journey passed quickly in wonders of horsemanship, +and for Panna Anulka in appearing at the windows. The first halt to +give rest to their horses was half-way on the road, at a forest inn +which bore the ill omened name "Robbery." Next the inn stood a shed and +the shop of a blacksmith. In front of his shop the blacksmith was +shoeing some horses. At the side of the inn were seen sleighs owned by +peasants; to these were attached lean, rough-coated sorry little beasts +covered over completely with hoar frost; their tails were between their +hind-legs, and bags of oats were tied under their noses. + +People crowded out of the inn to look at the carriage surrounded by +cavaliers and remained at a distance. These were not land tillers but +potters, who made their pots at Kozenitse in the summer and took them +in sleighs to sell during winter in the villages; but they appeared +more especially at festivals through the country. These people, +thinking that some man of great dignity must be travelling in a +carriage with such an escort, took their caps off in spite of the +weather and looked with curiosity at the party. + +The warmly dressed travellers did not leave the equipage. The +attendants remained mounted, but a page took wine in a decanter to the +inn to be heated. Meanwhile Pan Gideon beckoned "the bark shoes" to +come to him, and then he fell to inquiring whence they came, whither +they were going, and was there no danger from wild beasts in any place. + +"Of course there is," answered an old town-dweller, "but we travel +during daylight and in company. We are waiting here for friends from +Prityk and other places. Perhaps too some earth tillers will come, and +if fifteen or twenty sleighs appear, we will move on at night. Unless +they come we will not start, though we take clubs with us." + +"But has no accident happened about here?" + +"The wolves ate a Jew during daylight. He was taking geese, as it +seems, for on the road were found bones of a horse and a man,--besides, +there were goose feathers. People knew by his cap that the man was a +Jew. But early this morning some man came hither on foot, a young +noble, who passed the whole night on a pine tree. He says that his +horse dropped down dead, and there before his eyes the wolves ate the +beast up. This man grew so stiff on the tree that he had barely +strength to speak to us, and now he is sleeping." + +"What is his name? Did he tell whence he came?" + +"No. He just drank some hot beer and fell on a bench as if lifeless." + +Pan Gideon turned then to the horsemen,-- + +"Have ye heard that?" + +"We have." + +"We must rouse the man, and make inquiries. He has no horse, how could +we leave him alone here? My page could sit on the second front carriage +horse, and give up his own. They say that the man is a noble. Perhaps +he is here from a distance." + +"He must be in a hurry," said Pan Stanislav, "since he was travelling +at night, and besides without company. I will rouse him and make +inquiry." + +But his plan proved superfluous, since at that moment the page returned +from the inn with a tray on which mugs of hot wine were steaming. + +"I beg to tell your grace that Pan Tachevski is here," began he on +reaching the carriage. + +"Pan Tachevski? What the devil is he doing in this place?" + +"Pan Tachevski!" repeated Panna Anulka. + +"He is making ready, and will come out this minute," said the page. "He +almost knocked the tray from my hand when he heard of your coming--" + +"But who spoke of the tray to thee?" + +The page became silent immediately, as if power of speech had deserted +him. + +Pan Gideon seized a goblet of wine, took one and a second draught, and +said then to Pan Stanislav, as if with a certain repulsion,-- + +"He is an acquaintance of ours, and in some sense a neighbor from +Charny-- Well--rather giddy and unreliable--of those Tachevskis who +long ago were, as some people say, of some note in the province." + +Further explanations were stopped by Tachevski, who, coming out +hurriedly, walked with firm stride toward the carriage, but on his face +was a certain hesitation. He was a young noble of medium stature. He +had splendid dark eyes, and was as lean as a splinter. His head was +covered with a Hungarian cap, recalling, one might say, the time of +King Batory; he wore a gray coat lined with sheepskin, and long, +yellow, Swedish boots reaching up to his body. No one wore such boots +then in Poland. They had been taken during war in the days of Yan +Kazimir, that was evident, and brought now through need from the +storehouse by Tachevski. While approaching, he looked first at Pan +Gideon, then at the young lady, and smiled, showing white, perfect +teeth, but his smile was rather gloomy, his face showed embarrassment +and even a trace of confusion. + +"I rejoice beyond measure," said he, as he stood at the carriage and +removed his cap gracefully, "to see, in good health, Pani Vinnitski and +Panna Sieninski, with your grace, my benefactor, for the road is now +dangerous; this I have learned from experience." + +"Cover your head, or your ears will be frozen," said Pan Gideon, +abruptly. "I thank you for the attention, but why are you wandering +through the wilderness?" + +Tachevski looked quickly at the young lady, as if to inquire: "Thou +knowst why, dost thou not?" but seeing her eyes downcast, and noting +also that she was biting a ribbon of her hood for occupation, he +answered in a voice of some harshness,-- + +"Well, the fancy struck me to gaze at the moon above pine trees." + +"A pretty fancy. But did the wolves kill thy horse?" + +"They only ate him, for I myself drove his life out." + +"We know. And thou wert roosting, like a crow, all the night in a pine +tree." + +Here the Bukoyemskis burst into such mighty laughter that their horses +were put on their haunches. Tachevski turned and measured them one +after another, with glances which were ice cold and as sharp as a sword +edge. + +"Not like a crow," said he then to Pan Gideon, "but like a horseless +noble, at which condition it is granted you, my benefactor, to laugh, +but it may be unhealthy for another to do so." + +"Oho! oho! oho!" repeated the Bukoyemskis, urging toward him their +horses. Their faces grew dark in one moment, and their mustaches +quivered. Again Tachevski measured them, and raised his head higher. + +But Pan Gideon spoke with a voice as severe and commanding as if he had +power over all of them. + +"No quarrels here, I beg! This is Pan Tachevski," said he after a +while, with more mildness, turning to the cavaliers, "and this is Pan +Tsyprianovitch, and each of the other four nobles is a Pan Bukoyemski, +to whom I may say we owe our lives, for wolves met us yesterday. These +gentlemen came to our aid unexpectedly, and God knows in season." + +"In season," repeated Panna Anulka, with emphasis, pouting a little, +and looking at Pan Stanislav bewitchingly. + +Tachevski's cheeks flushed, but on his face there appeared as it were +humiliation, his eyes became mist-covered, and, with immense sadness in +his accents, he said,-- + +"In season, for they were in company, and happy because on good horses, +but wolf teeth at that time were cutting old Voloshyn, and my last +friend had vanished. But--" even here he looked with greater good-will +at the Bukoyemskis--"may your hands be sacred, for ye have done that +which with my whole soul I wished to do, but God did not let me." + +Panna Anulka seemed changeable, like all women, perhaps too she was +sorry for Tachevski, since her eyes became pleasant and twinkling, her +lids opened and closed very quickly, and she asked with a different +voice altogether,-- + +"Old Voloshyn? My God, I loved him so much and he knew me. My God!" + +Tachevski looked at her straightway with thankfulness. + +"He knew you, gracious lady, he knew you." + +"Grieve not, Pan Yatsek, grieve not so cruelly." + +"I grieved before this, but on horseback. I shall grieve now on foot. +God reward you, however, for the kind words." + +"But mount now the mouse-colored horse," said Pan Gideon. "The page +will ride the off leader, or sit behind the carriage. There is an extra +burka at the saddle, put it on, for thou hast been freezing all night, +and the cold is increasing." + +"No," said Tachevski, "I am warm. I left my shuba behind, since I felt +no need of it." + +"Well, for the road!" + +They started. Yatsek Tachevski taking his place near the left carriage +window, Stanislav Tsyprianovitch at the right, so the young lady +sitting in front might without turning her head look freely at the one +and the other. + +But the Bukoyemskis were not glad to see Yatsek. They were angry that +he had taken a place at the side of the carriage, so, bringing their +horses together till their heads almost touched, they talked with one +another and counselled,-- + +"He looked at us insolently," said Mateush. "As God is in heaven he +wants to insult us." + +"Just now he turned his horse's tail to us. What do ye say to that?" + +"Well, he could not turn the horse's head, for horses do not travel +tail forward like crawfish. But that he is making up to that young lady +is certain," put in Marek. + +"Thou hast taken in the situation correctly. See how he bends and leans +forward. If his stirrup strap breaks he will fall." + +"He will not fall, the son of a such a one, for the saddle straps are +strong, and he is a firm rider." + +"Bend thyself, bend till we break thee!" + +"Just look how he smiles at her!" + +"Well, brothers, are we to permit this? Never, as God lives! The girl +is not for us, that may be, but does he remember what we did +yesterday?" + +"Of course! He must divine that, for he is cunning, and now he is +making up to her to spite us." + +"And in contempt for our poverty and orphanhood." + +"Oh! upon my word a great magnate--on another man's horse." + +"Well, for that matter we are not riding our own beasts." + +"One horse remains to us anyhow, so if three sit at home the fourth man +may ride to the war if he wishes; but that fellow has not even a +saddle, for the wolves have made bits of it." + +"Besides, he sticks his nose up. What has he against us? Just tell me." + +"Well, ask him." + +"Shall I do it right away?" + +"Eight away, but politely, so as not to offend old Pan Gideon. Only +after he has answered can we challenge." + +"And then we shall have him!" + +"Which of us is to do this?" + +"I, of course, for I am the eldest," said Mateush. "I will rub the +icicle from my mustache, and then at him!" + +"But remember well what he says to thee." + +"I will repeat every word, like the Lord's prayer." + +Thereupon the eldest Bukoyemski set to rubbing off with his glove the +ice from his mustache, and then urging his horse to the horse of Pan +Yatsek he called,-- + +"My dear Sir?" + +"What?" inquired Yatsek, turning his head from the carriage +unwillingly. + +"What have you against us?" + +Yatsek looked at him with astonishment, and answered,-- + +"Nothing!" then, shrugging his shoulders, he turned again to the +carriage. + +Mateush rode on some time in silence considering whether to return and +report to his brothers or speak further. The second course seemed to +him better, so he continued,-- + +"If thou think to do anything, I say that thou wilt do what thou hast +said to me. Nothing!" + +On Yatsek's face was an expression of constraint and annoyance. He +understood that they were seeking a quarrel, for which at that moment +he had not the least wish whatever. But he found need of some answer, +and that of such kind as to end the conversation, so he asked,-- + +"Well, thy brothers over there, are they also--" + +"Of course! but what is 'also'?" + +"Think it out thyself and do not interrupt now my more agreeable +occupation." + +Mateush rode along the side of the carriage ten or fifteen steps +farther. At last he turned his horse. + +"What did he tell thee? Speak out!" said the brothers. + +"There was no success." + +"Because thou didst not know how to handle him," said Lukash. "Thou +shouldst have tickled his horse in the belly with thy stirrup, or, +since thou knowst his name, have said: 'Yatsek, here is a platsek (a +cake) for thee!'" + +"Or said this to him: 'The wolves ate thy horse, buy a he goat in +Prityk.'" + +"That is not lost, but what did it mean when he said: 'Are thy brothers +also?'" + +"Maybe he wanted to ask if we were fools also." + +"Of course! As God is dear to me!" cried Marek. "He could not think +otherwise. But what now?" + +"His death, or ours. As God lives, what he says is open heresy. We must +tell Stashko." + +"Tell nothing, for since we give up the young lady to Stashko, Stashko +must challenge him, and here the great point is that we challenge +first." + +"When? At Pan Gideon's a challenge is not proper. But here is +Belchantska." + +In fact Belchantska was not distant. On the edge of the forest stood +the cross of Pan Gideon's establishment, with a tin Saviour hanging +between two spears; on the right, where the road turned round a pine +wood, broad meadows were visible, with a line of alders on the edge of +a river, and beyond the alders on the bank opposite and higher, were +the leafless tops of tall trees, and smoke rising from cottages. Soon +the retinue was moving past cottages, and when it had gone beyond +fences and buildings Pan Gideon's dwelling was before the eyes of the +horsemen,--a broad court surrounded by an old and decayed picket fence +which in places was leaning. + +From times the most ancient no enemy had appeared in that region, so no +one had thought defence needful for the dwelling. In the broad court +there were two dovecotes. On one side were the quarters for servants, +on the other the storehouse, provision rooms, and a big cheese house +made of planks and small timbers. Before the mansion and around the +court were pillars with iron rings for the halters of horses; on each +pillar a cap of frozen snow was fixed firmly. The mansion was old and +broad, with a low roof of straw. In the court hunting dogs were rushing +around, and among them a tame stork with a broken wing was walking +securely; the bird as it seemed had left its warm room a little earlier +to get exercise and air in the cold courtyard. + +At the mansion the people were waiting for the company, since Pan +Gideon had sent a man forward with notice. The same man came out now to +meet them and, bowing down, said to Pan Gideon,-- + +"Pan Grothus, the starosta of Raygrod, has come." + +"In God's name!" cried Pan Gideon. "Has he been waiting long for me?" + +"Not an hour. He wished to go, but I told him that you were coming and +in sight very nearly." + +"Thou didst speak well." Then he turned to the guests,-- + +"I beg you, gentlemen, Pan Grothus is a relative through my wife. He is +returning, it is evident, to Warsaw from his brother's, for he is a +deputy to the Diet. Please enter." + +After a time they were all in the dining-room in presence of the +starosta of Raygrod, whose head almost grazed the ceiling, for in +stature he surpassed the Bukoyemskis, and the rooms were exceedingly +low in that mansion. Pan Grothus was a showy noble with an expression +of wisdom, and the face and bald head of a statesman. A sword scar on +his forehead just over the nose and between his two eyebrows seemed a +firm wrinkle, giving his face a stern, and, as it were, angry aspect. +But he smiled at Pan Gideon with pleasantness, and opened his arms to +him, saying,-- + +"Well, I, a guest, am now welcoming the host to his own mansion." + +"A guest, a dear guest," cried Pan Gideon. "God give thee health for +having come to me, lord brother. What dost thou hear over there now in +Warsaw?" + +"Good news of private matters, of public also, for war is now coming." + +"War? How is that? Are we making it?" + +"Not yet, but in March a treaty will be signed with the Emperor, then +war will be certain." + +Though even before the New Year there had been whispers of war with the +Sultan, and there were those who considered it inevitable, the +confirmation of these rumors from the lips of a person so notable, and +intimately acquainted with politics as Pan Grothus, imposed on Pan +Gideon and the guests in his mansion very greatly. Barely had the host, +therefore, presented them to the starosta, when a conversation followed +touching war, touching Toekoeli and the bloody struggles throughout +Hungary, from which, as from an immense conflagration, there was light +over all parts of Austria and Poland. That was to be a mighty struggle, +before which the Roman Caesar and all German lands were then trembling. +Pan Grothus, skilled much in public matters, declared that the Porte +would move half of Asia and all Africa, and appear with such strength +as the world had not seen up to that day. But these previsions did not +injure good-humor in any one. On the contrary they were listened to +with rapture by young men, who were wearied by long peace at home, and +to whom war presented fields of glory, service, and even profit. + +When Mateush Bukoyemski heard the words of the starosta he so struck +his knee with his palm that the sound was heard throughout the mansion. + +"Half Asia, and what in addition?" asked he. "O pshaw! Is that +something new for us?" + +"Nothing new, thou speakest truth!" said the host, whose face, usually +gloomy, was lighted up now with sudden gladness. "If that question is +settled, the call to arms will be issued immediately, and the levies +will begin without loitering." + +"God grant this! God grant it at the earliest! Think now of that old +Deviantkievich at Hotsim, blind of both eyes. His sons aimed his lance +in the charge, and he struck on the Janissaries as well as any other +man. But I have no sons." + +"Well, lord brother, if there be any one who can stay at home +rightfully you are that person," said the starosta. "It is bad not to +have a son in the war, worse not to have an eye, but worst of all not +to have an arm." + +"I accustomed both hands to the sabre," said Pan Gideon, "and in my +teeth I can hold the bridle. Moreover, I should like to fall fighting +on the field against pagans, not because the happiness of my life has +been broken--not from revenge--no--but for this reason, speaking +sincerely: I am old, I have seen much, I have meditated deeply, I have +seen among men so much hatred, so much selfishness, so much disorder in +this Commonwealth, I have seen our self-will, our disobedience and +breaking of Diets, so much lawlessness of all sorts, that I say this +here now to you. Many times in desperation have I asked the Lord God: +Why, O Lord, hast thou created our Commonwealth, and created this +people? I ask without answer and it is only when the pagan sea swells, +when that vile dragon opens its jaws to devour Christianity and +mankind, when, as you say, the Roman Caesar and all German lands are +shivering in front of this avalanche, that I learn why God created us +and imposed on us this duty. The Turks themselves know this. Other men +may tremble, but we will not, as we have not trembled thus far; so let +our blood flow to the very last drop, and let mine be mixed with the +rest of it. Amen." + +The eyes of Pan Gideon were glittering and he was moved very deeply, +but still he let no tears fall from his eyes; it may be because he had +cried them out so much earlier, and it may be because he was harsh to +himself and to others. But Pan Grothus put his arm around his neck and +then he kissed him on both cheeks. + +"True, true," said he. "There is much evil among us, and only with +blood may our ransom from evil be effected. That service, that watching +which God has given us, was predestined to our people. And the time is +approaching in which we shall prove this. That is our real position. +There are tidings that the avalanche of pagans will turn on Vienna; +when it does we will go there and before the whole world show that we +are purely Christ's warriors, created in defence of the cross, and the +faith of the Saviour. Other nations, who till now have lived without +care behind our shoulders, will see in the clear day of heaven how our +task is accomplished, and with God's will, while the earth stands, our +service and our glory will not leave us." + +At these words enthusiasm seized the young men. The Bukoyemskis sprang +up from their chairs, and called in loud voices,-- + +"God grant it! When will the levies be? God grant it!" + +"The souls are tearing out of us," said Stanislav. "We are ready this +minute." + +Yatsek was the only man silent, and his face did not brighten. That +news which filled all hearts with pleasure was for him a source of keen +suffering and bitterness. His thoughts and his eyes ran to Panna Anulka +who was passing along near the dining-room joyously, and with +measureless complaint and reproach they spoke thus to her,-- + +"Had it not been for thee I should have gone to some magnate, and +though I might not have found fortune, I should have a horse and good +arms in every case, and should go now with a regiment to find death, or +else glory. Thy beauty, thy glances, those pleasant words, which at +times thou didst throw like small alms at me, have brought about this, +that I am here on those last little fields of mine, well-nigh expiring +from hunger. Because of thee I have not seen the great world. I have +not gained any polish. In what have I offended that thou hast enslaved +me, as it were, soul and body? And in truth I would rather perish than +be without seeing thee for a twelvemonth. I have lost my last horse in +hurrying to save thee, and now, in return for this, thou art laughing +with another, and glancing at him most bewitchingly. But what shall I +do? War is coming. Am I to be a serving man, or be disgraced among foot +soldiers? What have I done that toward me thou art merciless?" + +In this fashion did Yatsek Tachevski complain, he a man who felt his +misery all the more keenly that he was a noble of great knightly +family, though terribly impoverished. And though it was not true that +Panna Anulka had never had mercy on him, it was true that for her sake +he had never gone out to the great world, but had remained with only +two serfs on poor pasture land where the first wants of life were +beyond him. He was seventeen years of age, and she thirteen, when he +fell in love with her beyond memory, and for five years he had loved +the girl each year increasingly, and each year with more gloominess, +for hopelessly. Pan Gideon had received him with welcome at first, as +the scion of a great knightly family to which in former days had +belonged in those regions whole countrysides; but afterward, when he +noted how matters were tending, he began to be harsh to him, and at +times even cruel. He did not close the house against the man, it is +true, but he kept him away from the young lady, since he had for her +views and hopes of another kind altogether. Panna Anulka noting her +power over Yatsek amused herself with him just as a young girl does +with flowers in a meadow. At times she bends over one, at times she +plucks one, at times she weaves one into her tresses, later she throws +it away, and later thinks nothing of flowers, whatever, and still later +on she searches out new ones. + +Yatsek had never mentioned his love to the young lady, but she knew of +it perfectly, though she feigned not to know, and in general not to +wish to know of anything which happened within him. She wondered at +him, wondered how he pleased her. Once, when they were chasing some +bees, she fell under his cloak and fondled up to his heart for a +moment, but for two days she would not forgive him because of this. At +times she treated him almost contemptuously, and when it seemed to him +that all had been ended forever, she, with one sweet look, one hearty +word filled him with endless delight, and with hope beyond limit. If at +times, because of a wedding, or a name's day, or a hunt in the +neighborhood, he did not come for some days she was lonely, but when he +did come she took revenge on him for her loneliness, and tormented him +long for it. He passed his worst moments when there were guests at the +mansion, and there happened among them some young man who was clever +and good-looking. Then Yatsek thought that in her heart there was not +even the simplest compassion. Such were his thoughts now because of Pan +Stanislav and all that Pan Grothus had told of the coming war added +bitterness to his cup, which was then overflowing. + +Self-control in Pan Gideon's mansion was habitual with Yatsek, still, +he could hardly sit to the end of the supper as he heard the words of +the lady and Pan Stanislav. He saw, unhappy victim, that the other man +pleased her, for he was in fact an adroit and agreeable young fellow, +and far from being stupid. The talk at table turned always on the +levies. Stanislav, learning from Pan Grothus that perhaps the levies +would be made under him in those regions, turned to the lady on a +sudden, and asked,-- + +"What regiment do you prefer?" + +"The hussars," said she, looking at his shoulders. + +"Because of the wings?" + +"Yes. Once I saw hussars and thought them a heavenly army. I dreamt of +them afterward two nights in succession." + +"I know not whether I shall dream when a hussar, but I know that I +shall dream of you earlier, and of wings also." + +"Why is that?" + +"I should dream of a real angel." + +Panna Anulka dropped her eyes till a shade fell on her rosy cheeks from +her eyelids. + +"Be a hussar," said she, after an interval. + +Yatsek gritted his teeth, drew his palm over his moistened forehead, +and during the supper he did not get word or look from the lady. Only +when they had risen from the table did a sweet, beloved voice sound at +his ear. + +"But will you go to this war with the others?" + +"To die! to die!" answered Yatsek. + +And in that answer there was such a genuine, true groan of anguish that +the voice was heard again, as if in sympathy,-- + +"Why sadden us?" + +"No one will weep for me." + +"How know you that?" said the voice now a third time. + +Then she slipped away to the other guests as swiftly as a dream vision, +and bloomed, like a rose, at the other end of the drawing-room. + +Meanwhile, the two elder men sat after the meal over goblets of mead, +and when they had discussed public questions sufficiently they began to +chat about private ones. Pan Grothus followed Panna Anulka with tender +eyes for a time, and then said to Pan Gideon,-- + +"That is a brilliant spot over there. Just look at those young people +who are flying like moths round a candle. But that is no wonder, for +were we not in years we too should be flying." + +Pan Gideon waved his hand in displeasure. + +"Swarms they are,--rustics, homespuns, nothing better." + +"How so? Tachevski is not a homespun." + +"No, but he is poor. The Bukoyemskis are not homespuns; they even +declare that they are kinsmen of Saint Peter, which may help them in +heaven, but on earth they are nothing but foresters in the king's +wilderness." + +Pan Grothus wondered at the relationship of the Bukoyemskis no less +than had Pan Gideon when he heard of it the first time, so he fell to +inquiring in detail, till at last he laughed heartily, and added,-- + +"Saint Peter was a great apostle, and I have no wish to detract from +his honor; all the more, since feeling old, I shall soon need his +influence. But between you and me, there is not much in this kinship to +boast of--no, he was merely a fisherman. If you speak of Joseph, who +came from King David,--well, you may talk to me." + +"I say only that there is no one here fit for the girl, either among +those whom you see now under my roof, or in the whole neighborhood." + +"But he who is sitting near Pani Vinnitski seems a nice gentleman." + +"Tsyprianovitch? Yes, he is; but Armenian by origin and of a family +noble only three generations." + +"Then why invite them? Cupid is traitorous, and before there is time to +turn once the pudding may be cooked for you." + +Pan Gideon, who, in presenting the young men had stated how much he +owed them, explained now in detail about the wolves and the assistance, +because of which he was forced to invite the young rescuers to his +mansion through gratitude simply. + +"True, true," said Pan Grothus, "but in his own way Amor may cook the +pudding before you have noticed it. This girl's blood is not water." + +"Ai! she is a slippery weasel," said Pan Gideon. "She can and will +bite, but she will twist out besides from between a man's fingers, and +no common person could catch her. Great blood has this inborn quality +that it yields not, but rules and regulates. I am not of those who are +led by the nose very easily, still, I yield to her often. It is true, +that I owe much to the Sieninskis, but even if I did not there would be +only slight difference. When she stands before me and puts a tress from +one shoulder to the other, inclines her head to me, and glances, she +gets what she wishes most frequently. And more than once do I think, +what a blessing of God, what an honor, that the last child, the last +heiress of such a famed family, is under my roof tree. Of course you +know of the Sieninskis--once all Podolia was theirs. In truth, the +Sobieskis, the Daniloviches, the Jolkevskis grew great through them. It +is the duty of His Grace the King to remember this, all the more since +now almost nothing remains of those great possessions; and the girl, if +she has any property, will have only that which remains after me to +her." + +"But what will your relatives say in this matter?" + +"There are only distant Pangovskis, who will not prove kinship. But +often my peace is destroyed by the thought that after me may come +quarrels, with lawsuits and wrangling, as is common in this country. +The relatives of my late wife are for me the great question. From my +wife comes a part of my property, namely: the lands with this mansion." + +"I shall not appear with a lawsuit," said Pan Grothus, "but I would not +guarantee as to others." + +"That is it! That is it! I have been thinking of late to visit Warsaw +and beg the king to be a guardian to this orphan, but his head is full +now of other questions." + +"If you had a son it would be a simple matter to give the girl to him." + +Pan Gideon gazed at the starosta with a look so full of pain that the +other stopped speaking. Both men were silent for a long time, till Pan +Gideon said with emotion,-- + +"To you I might say, my lord brother, with Virgil, _infandum jubes +renovare dolorem_ (thou commandest me to call up unspeakable sorrow). +That marriage would be simple--and I will tell you that had it not been +for this simple method I should have died long ago perhaps. My son +while in childhood was stolen by the Tartars. People have returned more +than once from captivity among pagans when the memory of them had +perished. Whole years have I looked for a miracle--whole years have I +lived in the hope of it. To-day even, when I drink something I think to +myself we, perhaps now! God is greater than human imagining. But those +moments of hope are very shortlived, while the pain is enduring and +daily. No! Why deceive myself? My blood will not be mingled with that +of the Sieninskis, and, if relatives rend what I have into fragments, +this last child of the family to which I owe everything, will be +without bread to nourish her." + +Both drank in silence again. Pan Grothus was thinking how to milden the +pain which he had roused in Pan Gideon unwittingly, and how to console +the man in suffering. At last an idea occurred to him which he +considered very happy. "Ai!" exclaimed he, "there is a way to do +everything, and you, my lord brother, can secure bread for the girl +without trouble." + +"How?" asked Pan Gideon, with a certain disquiet. + +"Does it not happen often that old men take as wives even girls not +full grown yet? An example in history is Konietspolski the grand +hetman, who married a green girl, though he was older than you are. It +is true also, that, having taken too many youth-giving medicines, he +died the first night after marriage, but neither Pan Makovski, +pocillator of Radom, nor Pan Rudnitski lost their lives, though both +had passed seventy. Besides, you are sturdy. Should the Lord again +bless you, well, so much the better; if not, you would leave in +sufficiency and quiet the young widow, who might choose then the +husband that pleased her." + +Whether such an idea had ever come to Pan Gideon we may not determine; +it suffices, that, after these words of Pan Grothus, he was greatly +confused, and, with a hand trembling somewhat, poured mead to the +starosta till it flowed over the goblet, and the generous liquor +dropped down to the floor after passing the table. + +"Let us drink to the success of Christian arms!" said he. + +"That in its time," said Pan Grothus, following the course of his own +thoughts still further; "and dwell in your own way on what I have said +to you, for I have struck, as I think, the true point of the question." + +"But why? What reason is there? Drink some more--" + +Further words were interrupted by the movement of chairs at the larger +table. Pani Vinnitski and Panna Anulka wished to retire to their +chamber. The voice of the young lady, as resonant as a bell made of +silver, repeated: "Good-night, good-night;" then she courtesied +prettily to Pan Grothus, kissed the hand of Pan Gideon, touched his +shoulder with her nose and her forehead cat fashion, and vanished. Pan +Stanislav, the Bukoyemskis, and Yatsek went out soon after the ladies. +The two older men only remained in the dining-room and conversed long +in it, for Pan Gideon commanded to bring still better mead in another +decanter. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + +Whether by chance or a trick of the young lady is unknown to us; it +suffices, however, that the four Bukoyemskis received a large chamber +in an outbuilding, and Pan Stanislav with Yatsek a smaller one near it. +This confused the two men no little, and then, so as not to speak to +each other, they began straightway the litany and continued it longer +than was usual. But when they had finished there followed a silence +which annoyed both of them, for though their feelings toward each other +were unfriendly, they felt that they might not betray them, and that +they should for a time, and especially at the house of Pan Gideon, show +politeness. + +Yatsek ungirded his sabre, drew it out of the scabbard, looked at the +edge by the light of the chimney, and fell to rubbing the blade with +his handkerchief. + +"After frost," said he half to himself, half to Stanislav, "a sabre +sweats in a warm chamber, and rust appears on it straightway." + +"And last night it must have frozen solidly," said Stanislav. + +He spoke without evil intention, and only because it occurred to him +that Tachevski had been in a splitting frost all the night previous; +but Yatsek placed the point of his blade on the floor, and looked +quickly into the eyes of the other man. + +"Are you referring to this,--that I sat on a pine tree?" + +"Yes," replied Stanislav, with simplicity; "of course there was no +stove there." + +"But what would you have done in my position?" + +Stanislav wished to answer "the same that you did," but the question +was put to him sharply, so he answered,-- + +"Why break my head over that, since I was not in it?" + +Anger flashed for an instant on the face of Pan Yatsek, but to restrain +himself he began to blow on the sabre and rub the blade with still +greater industry. At last he returned it to the scabbard, and added,-- + +"God sends adventures and accidents." + +And his eyes, which one moment earlier had been gleaming, were covered +again with the usual sadness, for just then he remembered his one +friend, the horse, which those wolves had torn to pieces. + +Meanwhile the door opened and the four Bukoyemskis walked into the +chamber. + +"The frost has weakened, and the snow sends up steam," said Mateush. + +"There will be fog," added Yan. + +And then they took note of Yatsek, whom they had not seen the first +moment. + +"Oh art thou in such company?" asked Lukash, as he turned to Stanislav. + +All four brothers put their hands on their hips and cast challenging +glances at Yatsek. + +Yatsek seized a chair and, pushing it to the middle of the chamber, +turned to the Bukoyemskis with a sudden movement; then he sat astride +of the chair, as on horseback, rested his elbows on the back of it, +raised his head, and answered with equally challenging glances. Thus +were they opposed then; he, with feet stretching widely apart in his +Swedish boots, they, shoulder to shoulder, quarrelsome, threatening, +enormous. + +Stanislav saw that it was coming to a quarrel, but he wished to laugh +at the same time. Thinking that he could hinder a collision at any +instant he let them gaze at one another. + +"Eh, what a bold fellow," thought he of Yatsek, "nothing confuses him." + +The silence continued, at once unendurable and ridiculous. Yatsek +himself felt this, also, for he was the first man to break it. + +"Sit down, young sirs," said he, "not only do I invite, but I beg you." + +The Bukoyemskis looked at one another with astonishment, this new turn +confused them. + +"How is this? What is it? Of what is he thinking?" + +"I beg you, I beg you," repeated Yatsek, and he pointed to benches. + +"We stay as we are, for it pleases us, dost understand?" + +"Too much ceremony." + +"What ceremony?" cried Lukash. "Dost thou claim to be a senator, or a +bishop, thou--thou Pompeius!" + +Yatsek did not move from the chair, but his back began to quiver as if +from sudden laughter. + +"But why call me Pompeius?" inquired he. + +"Because the name fits thee." + +"But it may be because thou art a fool," replied Yatsek. + +"Strike, whoso believes in God!" shouted Yan. + +Evidently Yatsek had had talk enough also, for something seemed to +snatch him from the chair on a sudden, and he sprang like a cat toward +the brothers. + +"Listen, ye road-blockers," said he with a voice cold as steel, "what +do ye want of me?" + +"Blood!" cried Mateush. + +"Thou wilt not squirm away from us this time!" shouted Marek. "Come out +at once," said he, grasping toward his side for a sabre. + +But Stanislav pushed in quickly between them. + +"I will not permit," cried he. "This is another man's dwelling." + +"True," added Yatsek, "this is another man's dwelling, and I will not +injure Pan Gideon. I will not cut you up under his roof, but I will +find you to-morrow." + +"We will find thee to-morrow!" roared Mateush. + +"Ye have sought conflicts and raised pretexts all day, why, I cannot +tell, for I have not known you, nor have ye known me, but ye must +answer for this, and because ye have insulted me I would meet not four +men but ten like you." + +"Oho! oho! One will suffice thee. It is clear," cried out Yan, "that +thou hast not heard of the Bukoyemskis." + +"I have spoken of four," said Yatsek, turning on a sudden to Stanislav, +"but perhaps you will join with these cavaliers?" + +Stanislav bowed politely. + +"Since you make the inquiry--" + +"But we first, and according to seniority," said the Bukoyemskis. "We +will not withdraw from that. We have settled it, and will cut down any +man who interferes with us." + +Yatsek looked quickly at the brothers, and in one moment divined, as he +thought, the arrangement, and he paled somewhat. + +"So that is it!" said he again to Stanislav; "thou hast hirelings, and +art standing behind them. By my faith the method seems certain, and +very safe, but whether it is noble and knightly is another point. In +what a company do I find myself?" + +On hearing this opinion which disgraced him, Stanislav, though he had a +mild spirit by nature, felt the blood rush to his visage. The veins +swelled on his forehead, lightning flashed from his eyes, his teeth +were gritting terribly, and he grasped the hilt of his sabre. + +"Come out! Come out this instant!" cried he in a voice choked with +anger. + +Sabres flashed; it was bright in the chamber, for light fell on the +steel blades from a torch in the chimney. But three of the Bukoyemskis +sprang between the opponents and stood in a line there, the fourth +caught Stanislav by the shoulders. + +"By the dear God, restrain thyself, Stashko! We are ahead of thee!" + +"We are ahead of thee!" cried the three others. + +"Unhand me!" screamed Stanislav, hoarsely. + +"We are ahead!" + +"Unhand me!" + +"Hold Stashko, ye, and I will settle with this man while ye are holding +him," shouted Mateush; and seizing Yatsek he dragged him aside to begin +at him straightway, but Yatsek with presence of mind pulled himself +free of Mateush, and sheathed his sword, saying,-- + +"I choose the man who is to fight first and the time. So I tell you +to-morrow, and in Vyrambki, not here." + +"Oh thou wilt not sneak away from us! Now! now!" + +But Yatsek crossed his arms on his breast. "Ha, if ye wish without +fighting to kill me under the roof of our host, let me know it." + +At this rage seized the brothers; they stamped the floor with their +boot-heels, pulled their mustaches, and panted like wild bears. But +since they feared infamy no man of them had the daring to rush at +Tachevski. + +"To-morrow, I tell you! Say to Pan Gideon that ye are going to visit +me, and inquire for the road to Vyrambki. Beyond the brook stands a +crucifix since the time of the pestilence. There I will wait for you at +midday to-morrow, and there, with God's help I will finish you!" + +He uttered the last words as if with sorrow, then he opened the door +and walked out of the chamber. In the yard the dogs ran around Yatsek, +and knowing him well, fondled up to him. He turned without thinking +toward the posts near the windows, as if looking for his horse there; +then, remembering that that horse was no longer alive, he sighed, and, +feeling the cool breath of air, repeated in spirit,-- + +"The wind is blowing always in the eyes of the poor man. I will walk +home." + +Meanwhile, Stanislav was wringing his hands from fierce pain and anger, +while saying to the Bukoyemskis, with terrible bitterness,-- + +"Who asked you to do this? My worst enemy could not have hurt me more +than have you with your service." + +They pitied him immensely, and fell to embracing him, one after the +other. + +"Stashko," said Mateush. "They sent us a decanter for the night; give +thyself comfort for God's sake." + + + + + CHAPTER III + + +The world was still gray when Father Voynovski was clattering along +through deep snow with a lantern to the doves, partridges, and rabbits +which he kept in his granary in a special enclosure. A tame fox with +bells on her neck followed his footsteps; at his side went a Spitz dog +and a porcupine. Winter sleep did not deaden the latter in the warm +room of the priest's house. The beasts and their master, when they had +crossed the yard slowly, stopped under the out-jutting straw eaves of +the granary, from which long icicles were hanging. The lantern swayed, +the key was heard in the lock, the bolt whined, the door squeaked +louder than the key, and the old man went in with his animals. After a +while he took his seat on a block, placed his lantern on a second +block, and put between his knees a linen bag holding grain and also +cabbage leaves. He began then to yawn aloud and to empty the bag on the +floor there in front of him. + +Before he had finished three rabbits advanced from dark corners jumping +toward him; next were seen the eyes of doves, glittering and bead-like +in the light of the lantern; then rust-colored partridges, moving their +heads on lithe necks as they came on in close company. Being the most +resolute, the pigeons fell straightway to hammering the floor with +their bills, while the partridges moved with more caution, looking now +at the falling grain, now at the priest, and now at the she fox; with +her they had been acquainted a long time, since, taken as chicks the +past summer and reared from being little, they saw the beast daily. + +The priest kept on throwing grain, muttering morning prayer as he did +so: "_Pater noster, qui es in coelis, sanctificetur nomen_--" Here he +stopped and turned to the fox, and she, while touching his side, +trembled as if a fever were shaking her. + +"Ah, the skin on thee trembles as soon as thou seest them. It is the +same every day. Learn to keep down thy inborn appetite, for thou hast +good food at all seasons and sufferest no hunger. Where did I stop?" +Here he closed his eyes as if waiting for an answer, and since he did +not have it he began at the first words: "_Pater noster, qui es in +coelis, sanctificetur nomen Tuum, adveniat regnum Tuum_." + +And again he halted. + +"Ah, thou art squirming," said he, putting his hand on the back of the +she fox. "There is such a vile nature in thee, that not only must thou +eat, but commit murder also. Catch her, Filus, by the tail, and bite +her if she does any injury--_Adveniat regnum Tuum_--Oh such a daughter! +Thou wouldst say, I know, that men are glad too, to eat partridges; but +know this, that a man gives them peace during fast days, while in thee +the soul of that vile Luther is sitting, for thou wouldst eat meat on +good Friday--_Fiat voluntas Tua_--_Trus! trus! trus!_--_sicut in +coelo_--here are both one with the other!--_et in terra_." And thus +speaking he threw the cabbage and then the grain, scolding the doves +somewhat that, though spring was not near yet, they walked around one +another frequently, cooing and strutting. + +At last, when he had emptied the bag he rose, raised the lantern, and +was preparing to go, when Yatsek appeared on the threshold. + +"Ah, Yatsus!" cried the priest, "art thou here--what art thou doing so +early?" + +Yatsek kissed the priest's hand, and answered,-- + +"I have come to confession, my benefactor, and at early mass I should +like to approach the Lord's table." + +"To confession? That is well, but what has so urged thee? Tell, but +right off, for this is not without reason." + +"I will tell truly. I must fight a duel this day, and since in fighting +with five men an accident is more likely than with one, I should like +to clear my soul of offences." + +"With five men? God's wounds! But what didst thou do to them?" + +"It is just this: that I did nothing. They sought a quarrel, and they +have challenged me." + +"Who are they?" + +"The Bukoyemskis, who are foresters, and Tsyprianovitch from Yedlinka." + +"I know them. Come to the house and tell how it happened." + +They went out of the granary, but when half-way to the house the priest +stopped on a sudden, looked into Tachevski's eyes quickly, and said,-- + +"Hear me, Yatsek, there is a woman in this quarrel." + +The other smiled; with some melancholy. + +"There is, and there is not," said he, "for really, she is the +question, but she is innocent." + +"Ah, ha! innocent! they are all innocent. But dost thou know what +Ecclesiastes says of women?" + +"I do not remember, benefactor." + +"Neither do I remember all, but what I have forgotten I will read in +the house to thee. '_Inveni amariorem morte mulierem, quae laqueus_ +(says he) _venatorum est et sagena cor ejus_.' (I have found woman more +bitter than death. Her heart is a trap and a snare). And farther on he +adds something, but at the end he says: '_Qui placet Deo, effugiet +illam, qui autem peccator est, capietur ab illa_.' (Whoso is pleasing +to God will escape her, but whoso is a sinner will be caught by her.) I +have warned thee not one time but ten not to loiter in that mansion and +now the blow strikes thee." + +"Eh, it is easier for you to warn than for me not to visit," answered +Yatsek, with a sigh. + +"Nothing good will meet thee in that house." + +"True," said the young man, quietly. + +And they went on in silence, but the priest with a face of anxiety, for +with his whole soul he loved Yatsek. When his father had died of the +pestilence, the young man was left in the world without any near +relative, without property, having only a very few serfs in Vyrambki. +The old priest cared for him tenderly. He could not give the youth +property, for he with the soul of an angel distributed to the needy all +that his poor parish gave him; still, he helped Yatsek in secret, and +besides, he watched over him, taught him, not only what was in books, +but the whole art of knighthood. For in his day that priest had been a +famed warrior, a comrade and friend of the glorious Pan Michael. He had +been with Charnyetski, he had gone through the whole Swedish conflict, +and only when all had been finished did he put on the robe of a cleric, +because of a ghastly misfortune. He loved Yatsek, in whom he valued, +not simply the son of a famed knightly family, but a serious, lofty +soul, just such as his own was. So he was grieved over the man's +immense poverty, and that ill-fated love which had seized him. Because +of this love, the young man, instead of seeking bread and fame in the +great world of action, was wasting himself and leading a half peasant +life in that dark little corner. Hence he felt a determined dislike for +the house of Pan Gideon, taking it ill of Pan Gideon himself that he +was so cruel to his people. As to Father Voynovski, those "worms of the +earth"[2] were as dear as the apple of his eye to him, but besides them +he loved also everything living, as well those pets which he scolded, +as birds, fish, and even the frogs which croak and sing in the +sun-warmed waters during summer. + +There walked, however, in that robe of a priest, not only an angel but, +besides, an ex-warrior; hence when he learned that his Yatsek must +fight with five enemies he thought only of this: how that young man +would prosper, and would he come out of the struggle undefeated? + +"Thou wilt not yield?" asked he, halting at the threshold, "for I have +taught thee what I knew myself, and what Pan Michael showed me." + +"I should not like to let them slash me to death," replied Yatsek, with +modesty, "for a great war with the Turks is approaching." + +At this the eyes of the old man flashed up like stars. In one moment he +seized Yatsek by the button loop of his coat and fell to inquiring,-- + +"Praised be the name of the Lord! How dost thou know this? Who told +thee?" + +"Pan Grothus, the starosta," answered the young man. + +Long did the conversation of Yatsek continue with the priest, long was +his confession till Mass time, and when at last after Mass they were +both in the house and had sat down to heated beer at the table, the +mind of the old man was haunted continually by thoughts of that war +with the pagan. Therefore he fell to complaining of the corruption of +manners and the decay of devotion in the Commonwealth. + +"My God!" said he, "the field of salvation and glory is open to men, +but they prefer private quarrels and the slaughter of one another. +Though ye have the chance to give your own blood in defence of the +cross and the faith, ye are willing to spill the blood of a brother. +For whom? for what reason? For personal squabbles, or women, or similar +society nonsense. I know this vice to be inveterate in the +Commonwealth, and _mea culpa_, for in time of vain sinful youth I +myself was a slave to it. In winter camps, when the armies think mainly +of idleness and drinking, there is no day without duels; but in fact +the church forbids duels, and punishes for fighting them. Duelling is +sinful at all times, and before a Turkish war the sin is the greater, +for then every sabre is needed, and every sabre serves God and +religion. Therefore our king, who is a defender of the faith, detests +duels, and in the field in the face of the enemy, when martial law +dictates, they are punished severely." + +"But the king in his youth fought more than one, and more than two +duels," said Yatsek. "Moreover, what can I do, revered Father? I did +not challenge. They called me out. Can I fail to meet them?" + +"Thou canst not, and therefore my soul is confounded. Ah, God will be +on the side of the innocent." + +Yatsek began to take farewell, for midday was not more than two hours +from him, and a road of some length was before him. + +"Wait," said the priest. "I will not let thee leave in this fashion. I +will have my man make the sleigh ready, put straw in it, and go to the +meeting-place. For if at Pan Gideon's they knew nothing of the duel, +they will send no assistance, and how will it be if one of them, or if +thou, be wounded severely? Hast thought of this?" + +"I have not, and they have not thought, that is certain." + +"Ah, seest thou! I will go too. I will not be on the field, I will stay +at thy house in Vyrambki. I will take with me the sacrament, and a boy +with a bell too, for who knows what may happen? It is not proper for a +priest to witness such actions, but except that, I should be there with +great willingness, were it only to freshen thy courage." + +Yatsek looked at him with eyes as mild as a maiden's. "God reward," +said he, "but I shall not lose courage, for even if I had to lay down +my life--" + +"Better be silent," broke in the priest. "Art thou not sorry not to be +nearing the Turk--and not to be meeting a death of more glory?" + +"I am, my benefactor, but I shall try that those man-eaters do not gulp +me down at one effort." + +Father Voynovski thought a moment and added,-- + +"But if I were to go to the field and explain the reward which would +meet them in heaven, were they to die at the hands of the pagan, +perhaps they would give up the duel." + +"God prevent!" exclaimed Yatsek. "They would think that I sent thee. +God prevent! Better that I go to them straightway than listen to such +speeches." + +"I am powerless," said the priest. "Let us go." + +He summoned his servant and ordered him to attach the horse with all +haste to the sleigh; then he and Yatsek went out to assist the man. But +when the priest saw the horse on which Yatsek had come, he pushed back +in amazement. + +"In the name of the Father and the Son, where didst thou find such a +poor little creature?" + +And indeed at the fence stood a sorry small nag, with shaggy head +drooping low, and cheeks with long hair hanging down from them. The +beast was not greatly larger than a she goat. + +"I borrowed it from a peasant. See, how I might go to the Turkish war!" + +And he laughed painfully. + +To this the priest answered,-- + +"No matter on what thou goest, if thou come home on a Turkish +war-horse, and may God give thee this, Yatsus; but meanwhile put the +saddle on my beast, for thou canst not go on this poor little wretch to +those nobles." + +They arranged everything then, and moved forward,--the priest with the +church boy and bell and a driver for the sleigh, and Yatsek on +horseback. The day was monotonous and misty in some sort; for a thaw +had settled down and snow covered the frozen ground deeply, but its +surface had softened considerably, so that horsehoofs sank without +noise and sleigh-runners moved along the road quietly. Not far beyond +Yedlina they met loads of wood and peasants walking near them; these +people knelt at the sound of the bell, thinking that the priest was +going with the Lord God to a dying man. Then began fields lying next to +the forest,--fields white and empty; these were covered with haze. +Flocks of crows were flying over them. Nearer the forest the haze +became denser and denser, descended, filled all the space, and +stretched upward. When they had advanced somewhat farther, the two men +heard cawing, but the crows were invisible. The bushes at the roadside +were ghostlike. The world had lost its usual sharp outlines, and was +changed into some kind of region deceitful, uncertain,--delusive and +blurred in near places, but entirely unknown in the distance. + +Yatsek advanced along the silent snow, thinking over the battle +awaiting him, but thinking more over Panna Anulka; and half to himself +and half to her he soliloquized in spirit: "My love for thee has been +always unchangeable, but I have no joy in my heart from it. Eh! in +truth I had little joy earlier from other things. But now, if I could +even embrace thy dear feet for one instant, or hear a good word from +thee, or even know that thou art sorry if evil befalls me-- All between +me and thee is like that haze there before me, and thou thyself art as +if out beyond the haze. I see nothing, and know not what will be, nor +what will meet me, nor what will happen." + +And Yatsek felt that deep sadness was besieging his spirit, just as +dampness was besieging his garments. + +"But I prefer that all should be ended, and quickly," said he, sighing. + +Father Voynovski was attacked also by thoughts far from gladsome, and +said in his own mind,-- + +"The poor boy has grieved to the utmost. He has not used his youth, he +has gnawed himself through this ill-fated love of his, and now those +Bukoyemskis will cut him to pieces. The other day at Kozenitse they +hacked Pan Korybski after the festival. And even though they should not +cut up Yatsek, nothing useful can come of this duel. My God! this lad +is pure gold; and he is the last sprout from a great trunk of +knightliness. He is the last drop of nourishing blood in his family. If +he could only save himself this time! In God is my hope that he has not +forgotten those two blows, one a feint under the arm with a side +spring, the other with a whirl through the cheek. Yatsek!" + +But Yatsek did not hear, for he had ridden ahead, and the call from the +old man was not repeated. On the contrary, he was troubled very +seriously on remembering that a priest who was going with the Sacrament +should not think of such subjects. He fell then to repenting and +imploring the Lord God for pardon. + +Still, he was more and more grieved in his spirit. He was mastered by +an evil foreboding and felt almost certain that that strange duel +without seconds would end in the worst manner possible for Yatsek. + +Meanwhile they reached the crossroad which lay on the right toward +Vyrambki, and on the left toward Pan Gideon's. The driver stopped as +had been commanded. Yatsek approached the sleigh then and dismounted. + +"I will go on foot to the crucifix, for I should not know what to do +with this horse while the sleigh is taking you to my house and coming +back to me. They are there now, it may be." + +"It is not noon yet, though near it," said the priest, and his voice +was changed somewhat. "But what a haze! Ye will have to grope in this +duel." + +"We can see well enough!" + +The cawing of crows and of daws was heard then above them a second +time. + +"Yatsek!" + +"I am listening." + +"Since thou hast come to this conflict, remember the Knights of +Tachevo." + +"They will not be ashamed of me, father, they will not." + +And the priest remarked that Yatsek's face had grown pitiless, his eyes +had their usual sadness, but the maiden mildness had gone from them. + +"That is well. Kneel down now," said he. "I will bless thee, and make +thou the sign of the cross on thyself before opening the struggle." + +Then he made the sign of the cross on Yatsek's head as he knelt on the +snow there. + +The young man tied the horse behind the sleigh at the side of the poor +little nag of the peasant, kissed the priest's hand, and walked off +toward that crucifix at the place of the duel. + +"Come back to me in health!" cried the priest after Yatsek. + +At the cross there was no one. Yatsek passed around the figure +repeatedly, then sat on a stone at the foot of the crucifix and waited. + +Round about immense silence was brooding; only great tear-like drops, +formed of dense haze, and falling from the arms of the crucifix, struck +with low sound the soft snow bank. That quiet, filled with a certain +sadness, and that hazy desert, filled with a new wave of sorrow the +heart of the young man. He felt lonely to a point never known to him +earlier. "Indeed I am as much alone in the world as that stick there," +said he to himself, "and thus shall I be till death comes to me." And +he waved his hand. "Well, let it end some time!" + +With growing bitterness he thought that his opponents were not in a +hurry, because they were joyous. They were sitting at Pan Gideon's +conversing with "her," and they could look at "her" as much as might +please them. + +But he was mistaken, for they too were hastening. After a while the +sound of loud talking came up to him, and in the white haze quivered +the four immense forms of the Bukoyemskis, and a fifth one,--that of +Pan Stanislav, somewhat smaller. + +They talked in loud voices, for they were quarrelling about this: who +should fight first with Tachevski. For that matter the Bukoyemskis were +always disputing among themselves about something, but this time their +dispute struck Stanislav, who was trying to show them that he, as the +most deeply offended, should in that fight be the first man. All grew +silent, however, in view of the cross, and of Yatsek standing under it. +They removed their caps, whether out of respect for the Passion of +Christ, or in greeting to their enemy, may be left undecided. + +Yatsek inclined to them in silence, and drew his weapon, but the heart +in his breast beat unquietly at the first moment, for they were in +every case five against one, and besides, the Bukoyemskis had simply a +terrible aspect,--big fellows, broad shouldered, with broomlike +mustaches, on which the fog had settled down in blue dewdrops; their +brows were forbidding, and in their faces was a kind of brooding and +murderous enjoyment, as if this chance to spill blood caused them +gladness. + +"Why do I place this sound head of mine under the Evangelists?" thought +Yatsek. But at that moment of alarm, indignation at those roysterers +seized him,--those men whom he hardly knew, whom he had never injured, +but who, God knew for what reason, had fastened to him, and had come +now to destroy him if possible. + +So in spirit he said to them: "Wait a while, O ye road-blockers! Ye +have brought your lives hither!" + +His cheeks took on color, and his teeth gritted fiercely. They, +meanwhile, stripped their coats off and rolled up the sleeves of their +jupans. This they did without need all together, but they did it since +each thought that he was to open the duel. + +At last they all stood in a row with drawn sabres, and Yatsek, stepping +towards them, halted, and they looked at one another in silence. + +Pan Stanislav interrupted them,-- + +"I will serve you first." + +"No! I first, I first!" repeated all the Bukoyemskis in a chorus. + +And when Stanislav pushed forward they seized him by the elbows. + +Again a quarrel began, in which Stanislav reviled them as outlaws. They +jeered at him as a dandy, among themselves the term "dogbrother" was +frequent. Yatsek was shocked at this, and added,-- + +"I have never seen cavaliers of this kind." And he put his sabre into +the scabbard. + +"Choose, or I will go!" said he, with a loud voice, and firmly. + +"Choose, thou!" cried Stanislav, hoping that on him would the choice +fall. + +Mateush began shouting that he would not permit any small +whipper-snapper to manage them, and he shouted so that his front teeth, +which, being very long, like the teeth of a rabbit, were shining +beneath his mustaches; but he grew silent when Yatsek, drawing his +sabre, again indicated him with the edge of it, and added, "I choose +thee." + +The remaining brothers and Stanislav drew back at once, seeing that +they would never agree, in another way, but their faces grew gloomy, +for, knowing the strength of Mateush they felt almost certain that no +work would be left them when he had finished. + +"Begin!" called out Stanislav. + +Tachevski felt at the first blow the strength of his enemy, for in his +own grasp the sabre blade quivered. He warded the blow off, however, +and warded off, also, the second one. + +"He has less skill than strength," thought Tachevski, after the third +blow. Then, crouching somewhat, for a better spring, he pressed on with +impetus. + +The other three, inclining downward the points of their sabres, stood +open-mouthed, following the course of the struggle. They saw now that +Tachevski too "knew things," and that with him it would not be easy. +Soon they thought that he knew things very accurately, and alarm seized +the brothers, for, despite endless bickering they loved one another +immensely. The cry, "Ha!" was rent from the breast, now of one, and now +of another, as each keener blow struck. + +Meanwhile the blows became quicker and quicker; at last they were +lightning-like. + +The spectators saw clearly that Tachevski was gaining more confidence. +He was calm, but he sprang around like a wild-cat and his eyes shot out +ominous flashes. + +"It is bad!" thought Stanislav. + +That moment a cry was heard. Mateush's sabre fell. He raised both hands +to his head and dropped to the earth, his face in one instant being +blood-covered. + +At sight of that the three younger brothers bellowed like bulls, and in +the twinkle of an eye rushed with rage at Tachevski, not intending, of +course, to attack him together, but because each wished to be first in +avenging Mateush. + +And they perhaps would have swept Tachevski apart on their sabres if +Stanislav, springing in to assist him, had not cried with all the power +in his bosom,-- + +"Shame! Away! Murderers, not nobles! Shame! Away! or you must deal with +me, murderers! Away!" And he slashed at the brothers till they came to +their senses. But at this time Mateush had risen on his hands and +turned toward them a face which was as if a mask made of blood had just +covered it. Yan, seizing him by the armpits, seated him on the snow. +Lukash hurried also to give him assistance. + +But Tachevski pushed up to Marek, who was gritting his teeth, and +repeated in a quick voice, as if fearing lest the common attack might +repeat itself,-- + +"If you please! If you please!" + +And the sabres were clanking a second time ominously. But with Marek, +who was as much stronger than his enemy as he was less dexterous, +Tachevski had short work. Marek used his great sabre like a flail, so +that Yatsek at the third blow struck his right shoulder-blade, cut +through the bone, and disarmed him. + +Now Lukash and Yan understood that a very ugly task was before them, +and that the slender young man was a wasp in reality,--a wasp which it +would have been wise not to irritate. But with increased passion, they +stood now against him to a struggle which ended as badly for them as it +had for their elders. Lukash, cut through his cheek to the gums, fell +with impetus, and, besides, struck a stone which the deep snow had +hidden; while from Yan, the most dexterous of the brothers, his sabre, +together with one of his fingers, fell to the ground at the end of some +minutes. + +Yatsek, without a scratch, gazed at his work, as it were, with +astonishment, and those sparks which a moment before had been +glittering in his eyeballs began now to quench gradually. With his left +hand he straightened his cap, which during the struggle had slipped +somewhat over his right ear, then he removed it, breathed deeply once +and a second time, turned to the cross, and said, half to himself and +half to Stanislav,-- + +"God knows that I am innocent." + +"Now it is my turn," said Stanislav. "But you are panting, perhaps you +would rest; meanwhile I will put their cloaks on my comrades, lest this +damp cold may chill them ere help comes." + +"Help is near," said Tachevski. "Over there in the mist is a sleigh +sent by Father Voynovski, and he himself is at my house. Permit me. I +will go for the sleigh in which those gentlemen will feel easier than +here on this snow field." + +And he started while Stanislav went to cover the Bukoyemskis who were +sitting arm to arm in the snow, except Yan, the least wounded. Yan on +his knees was in front of Mateush, holding up his own right hand lest +blood might flow from the finger stump too freely; in his left he held +snow with which he was washing the face of his brother. + +"How are ye?" asked Stanislav. + +"Ah, he has bitten us, the son of a such a one!" said Lukash, and he +spat blood abundantly; "but we will avenge ourselves." + +"I cannot move my arm at all, for he cut the bone," added Marek. "Eh, +the dog! Eh!" + +"And Mateush is cut over the brows!" called out Yan; "the wound should +be covered with bread and spider-web but I will staunch the blood with +snow for the present." + +"If my eyes were not filled with blood," said Mateush, "I would--" + +But he could not finish since blood loss had weakened him, and he was +interrupted by Lukash who had been borne away suddenly by anger. + +"But he is cunning, the dog blood! He stings like a gnat, though he +looks like a maiden." + +"It is just that cunning," said Yan, "which I cannot pardon." + +Further conversation was interrupted by the snorting of horses. The +sleigh appeared in the haze dimly, and next it was there at the side of +the brothers. Out of the sleigh sprang Tachevski, who commanded the +driver to step down and help them. + +The man looked at the Bukoyemskis, took in the whole case with a +glance, and said not a word, but on his face was reflected, as it +seemed, disappointment, and, turning toward the horses, he crossed +himself. Then the three men fell to raising the wounded. The brothers +protested against the assistance of Yatsek, but he stopped them. + +"If ye gentlemen had wounded me, would ye leave me unassisted? This is +the service of a noble which one may not meet with neglect or refusal." + +They were silent, for he won them by these words--somewhat, and after a +while they were lying upon straw in the broad sleigh more comfortably, +and soon they were warmer. + +"Whither shall I go?" asked the driver. + +"Wait. Thou wilt take still another," answered Stanislav, and turning +to Yatsek, he said to him,-- + +"Well, gracious sir, it is our time!" + +"Oh, it is better to drop this," said Yatsek, regarding him with a look +almost friendly. "That God there knows why this has happened, and you +took my part when these gentlemen together attacked me. Why should you +and I fight a duel?" + +"We must and will fight," replied Stanislav, coldly. "You have insulted +me, and, even if you had not, my name is in question at present--do you +understand? Though I were to lose life, though this were to be my last +hour--we must fight." + +"Let it be so! but against my will," said Tachevski. + +And they began. Stanislav, had more skill than the brothers, but he was +weaker than any of them. It was clear that he had been taught by better +masters, and that his practice had not been confined to inns and +markets. He pressed forward quickly, he parried with readiness and +knowledge. Yatsek, in whose heart there was no hatred, and who would +have stopped at the lesson given the Bukoyemskis, began to praise him. + +"With you," said he, "the work is quite different. Your hand was +trained by no common swordsman." + +"Too bad that you did not train it!" said Stanislav. + +And he was doubly rejoiced, first at the praise, and then because he +had given answer, for only the most famed among swordsmen could let +himself speak in time of a duel, and polite conversation was considered +moreover as the acme of courtesy. All this increased Stanislav in his +own eyes. Hence he pressed forward again with good feeling. But after +some fresh blows he was forced to acknowledge in spirit that Tachevski +surpassed him. Yatsek defended himself as it seemed with unwillingness +but very easily, and in general he acted as though engaged not in +fighting, but in fencing for exercise. Clearly, he wished to convince +himself as to what Stanislav knew, and as to how much better he was +than the brothers, and when he had done this with accuracy he felt at +last sure of his own case. + +Stanislav noted this also, hence delight left him, and he struck with +more passion. Tachevski then twisted himself as if he had had enough of +amusement, gave the "feigned" blow, pressed on and sprang aside after a +moment. + +"Thou hast got it!" said he. + +Stanislav felt, as it were, a cold sting in the arm, but he answered,-- + +"Go on. That is nothing!" + +And he cut again, that same moment the point of Yatsek's sabre laid his +lower lip open and cut the skin under it. Yatsek sprang aside now a +second time. + +"Thou art bleeding!" said he. + +"That is nothing!" + +"Glory to God if 'tis nothing! But I have had plenty, and here is my +hand for you. You have acted like a genuine cavalier." + +Stanislav greatly roused, but pleased also at these words, stood for a +moment, as if undecided whether to make peace or fight longer. At last +he sheathed his sabre and gave his hand then to Yatsek. + +"Let it be so. In truth, as it seems, I am bleeding." + +He touched his chin with his left hand and looked at the blood with +much wonder. It had colored his palm and his fingers abundantly. + +"Hold snow on the wound to keep it from swelling," said Yatsek, "and go +to the sleigh now." + +So speaking he took Stanislav by the arm and conducted him to the +Bukoyemskis, who looked at him silently, somewhat astonished, but also +confounded. Yatsek roused real respect in them, not only as a master +with the sabre, but as a man of "lofty manners," such manners precisely +as they themselves needed. + +So after a while this inquiry was made of Stanislav by Mateush,-- + +"How is it with thee, O Stashko?" + +"Well. I might go on foot," was the answer, "but I choose the sleigh, +the journey will be quicker." + +Yatsek sat toward them sidewise, and cried to the driver,-- + +"To Vyrambki." + +"Whither?" asked Stanislav. + +"To my house. You will not have much comfort, but it is difficult +otherwise. At Pan Gideon's you would frighten the women, and Father +Voynovski is at my house. He dresses wounds to perfection and he will +care for you. You can send for your horses, and then do what may please +you. I will ask the priest also to go to Pan Gideon and tell him with +caution what has happened." Here Yatsek fell to thinking and soon after +he added,-- + +"Oho! the trouble has not come yet, but now we shall see it. God knows +that you, gentlemen, insisted on this duel." + +"True! we insisted," said Stanislav. "I will declare that and these +gentlemen also will testify." + +"I will testify, though my shoulder pains terribly," said Marek, +groaning. "Oi! but you have given us a holiday. May the bullets strike +you!" + +It was not far to Vyrambki. Soon they entered the enclosure, and met +the priest wading in snow, for he, alarmed about what might happen, +could not stay in the house any longer, and had set out to meet them. + +Yatsek sprang from the sleigh when he saw him. Father Voynovski pushed +forward quickly to meet him, and saw his friend sound and uninjured. + +"Well," cried he, "what has happened?" + +"I bring you these gentlemen," said Yatsek. + +The face of the old man grew bright for a moment, but became serious +straightway, when he saw the Bukoyemskis and Stanislav blood-bedaubed. + +"All five!" cried he, clasping his hands. + +"There are five!" + +"An offence against heaven! Gentlemen, how is it with you?" asked he, +turning to the wounded men. + +They touched their caps to him, except Marek, who, since the cutting of +his shoulder-blade, could move neither his left nor his right hand. He +merely groaned, saying,-- + +"He has peppered us well. We cannot deny it." + +"That is nothing," said the others. + +"We hope in God that it is nothing," answered Father Voynovski. "Come +to the house now as quickly as possible! I will care for you this +minute. Move on with the sleigh," said he. + +And then he himself followed promptly with Yatsek. But after a while he +stopped on the roadway. Joy shone, in his face again. He embraced +Yatsek's neck on a sudden. + +"Let me press thee, O Yatsek," cried he. "Thou hast brought in a sleigh +load of enemies, like so many wheat sheaves." + +Yatsek kissed his hand then, and answered,-- + +"They would have it so, my benefactor." + +The priest put his hand on the head of the young man again, as if +wishing to bless him, but all at once he restrained himself, because +gladness in this case was not befitting his habit, so he looked more +severe, and continued,-- + +"Think not that I praise thee. It was thy luck that they themselves +wished this, but still, it is a scandal." + +They drove into the courtyard. Yatsek sprang to the sleigh so that he +might, with the driver and the single house-servant, help out the +wounded men. But they stepped out themselves, except Marek, whose arms +they supported and soon they were all in Yatsek's dwelling. Straw had +been spread there already, and even Yatsek's own bed had been covered +with a white, slightly worn horse skin. At the head a felt roll served +as pillow. On the table near the window was bread kneaded with +spider-web, excellent for blood stopping. There were also choice +balsams which the priest had for healing. + +The old man took off his soutane and went to dressing the wounds with +the skill of a veteran who had seen thousands of wounded men, and who +from long practice knew how to handle wounds better than many a +surgeon. His work went on quickly, for, except Marek, the men had +suffered slightly. + +Marek's shoulder-blade needed considerably longer work, but when at +last it was dressed the priest wiped his bloody hands, and then rested. + +"Well," said he, "thanks to the Lord Jesus, it has passed without +grievous accident. This also is certain, that you feel better, +gentlemen, all of you." + +"One would like a drink!" said Mateush. + +"It would not hurt! Give command, Yatsek, to bring water." + +Mateush rose up on the straw. "How water?" asked he in a voice of +emotion. + +Marek, who was lying face downward on Yatsek's bed groaning, called out +quickly,-- + +"The revered father must wash his hands, of course." + +Hereupon Yatsek looked with real despair at the priest, who laughed and +then added,-- + +"They are soldiers! Wine is permitted, but in small quantity." + +Yatsek drew him by the sleeve to the alcove. + +"Benefactor," whispered he, "what can I do? The pantry is empty, and so +is the cellar. Time after time I must tighten my girdle. What can I +give them?" + +"There is something here, there is something!" said the old man. "When +leaving home I made arrangements, and brought a little with me. Should +that not suffice I will get more at the brewery in Yedlina--for myself, +of course, for myself. Command to give them one glass at the moment to +calm them after the encounter." + +When he heard this Yatsek set to work quickly, and soon the Bukoyemskis +were comforting one another. Their good feeling for Yatsek increased +every moment. + +"We fought, for that happens to every man," said Mateush, "but right +away I thought thee a dignified cavalier." + +"Not true; it was I who thought so first," put in Lukash. + +"Thou think? Hast thou ever been able to think?" + +"I think just now that thou art a blockhead, so I am able to +think,--but my mouth pains me." + +Thus they were quarrelling already. But that moment a mounted man +darkened the window. + +"Some one has come!" exclaimed Father Voynovski. + +Yatsek went to see who it was, and returned quickly, with troubled +visage. + +"Pan Gideon has sent a man," said he, "with notice that he is waiting +for us at dinner." + +"Let him eat it alone!" replied Yan Bukoyemski. + +"What shall we say to him?" inquired Yatsek, looking at Father +Voynovski. + +"Tell him the truth," said the old man--"but better, I will tell it +myself." + +He went out to the messenger. + +"Tell Pan Gideon," said he, "that neither Pan Tsyprianovitch nor the +Bukoyemskis can come, for they have been wounded in a duel to which +they challenged Pan Tachevski; but do not forget to tell him that they +are not badly wounded. Now hurry!" + +The man rushed away with every foot which his horse had, and the priest +fell to quieting Yatsek, who was greatly excited. He did not fear to +meet five men in battle, but he feared greatly Pan Gideon, and still +more what Panna Anulka would say and would think of him. + +"Well, it has happened," continued the priest, "but let them learn at +the earliest that it was not through thy fault." + +"Will you testify, gentlemen?" inquired Yatsek, turning to the wounded +men. + +"Though we are dry, we will testify," answered Mateush. + +Still, Yatsek's alarm increased more and more, and soon after, when a +sleigh with Pan Gideon and Pan Grothus stopped at the porch, the heart +died in him utterly. He sprang out, however, to greet and bow down to +the knees of Pan Gideon; but the latter did not even glance at Yatsek, +just as though he had not seen the man, and with a gloomy stern face he +strode into the chamber. He inclined to the priest with respect but +with coldness, for since the day that the old man had reproached him +from the altar for excessive severity toward peasants, the stubborn old +noble was unable to forgive him; so now, after that cold salute, he +turned to the wounded men straightway, and gazed at them a moment. + +"Gracious gentlemen," said he, "after what has just happened, I should +not pass the threshold of this building, be sure of that, did I not +wish to show how cruelly I am wounded by that wrong which you have +suffered. See how my hospitality has ended! See how in my house my +rescuers have been recompensed. But I say this, that whoso has wronged +you has wronged me, whoso has spilt your blood has done worse than +spill mine, for the man who challenged you under my roof has insulted +me--" + +Here Mateush interrupted him suddenly,-- + +"We challenged him, not he us!" + +"That is true, gracious benefactor," said Stanislav. "There is no blame +to this cavalier in all that has happened, but to us, for which we beg +your grace's pardon submissively." + +"It would have been well for the judge to examine the witnesses before +he passed sentence," said Father Voynovski, with seriousness. + +Lukash, too, wished to say something, but since his cheek was cut to +the gum and his gum to the teeth, the pain was acute when his chin +moved, so he only put his palm on the plaster which was drying, and +said with one side of his mouth,-- + +"May the devils take the sentence and my jaw with it also." + +Pan Gideon was confused in some measure by these voices, still, he had +no thought of yielding. On the contrary, he looked around with stern +glance, as if wishing in that way to express silent blame for defenders +of Yatsek. + +"It is not for me to offer pardon to my rescuers. No blame touches you, +gentlemen. On the contrary, I know and understand all this matter, for +I see that you were insulted on purpose. Indeed, that same jealousy, +which on a dying horse failed to ride living wolves down, increased +later on the desire for vengeance. I was not alone in seeing how that +'cavalier,' whom you defend so magnanimously, gave occasion and did +everything from the earliest moment of meeting to force you to that +action. But the fault is mine more than any man's, since I was mild +with him, and did not tell the man to find for himself at a fair or a +dram shop more fitting society." + +When Yatsek heard this his face grew as pale as linen. As to the +priest, the blood rose to his forehead. + +"He was challenged! What was he to do? Be ashamed of yourself!" +exclaimed Father Voynovski. + +But Pan Gideon looked down at him and answered,-- + +"Those are worldly questions, in which the laity are as experienced, +and more so, than the clergy, but I will answer your question, so that +no one here should accuse me of injustice. 'What was he to do?' As a +younger to an older man, as a guest to his host, as a man who ate my +bread so many times when he had none of his own to eat, he should first +of all have informed me of the question. And I with my dignity of a +host would have settled it, and not have let matters come to this: that +my rescuers, and such worthy gentlemen, are lying here in their own +blood on straw in this hut as in a hog pen." + +"You would have thought me a coward!" cried Yatsek, trembling as in a +fever. + +Pan Gideon did not answer a word, and feigned, as he had from the +first, not to see him. Instead of answering he turned then to +Stanislav, and continued,-- + +"I, with Pan Grothus the starosta, will go to your father in Yedlinka +this instant, to express our condolence. I doubt not that he will +accept my hospitality, hence I invite you with your comrades here +present to return to my mansion. I also remind you that you are here by +chance merely, and that at the moment you are really my guests, to whom +I wish with all my heart to show gratitude. Your father, Pan +Tsyprianovitch, cannot visit the man who has wounded you, and under my +roof you will have greater comfort, and will not die of hunger, which +might happen very easily in this place." + +Stanislav was troubled greatly and delayed for a while to give answer, +both out of regard for Yatsek, and because that, being a very decent +young man, he was concerned about propriety; meanwhile his lip and +chin, which had swollen beneath the plaster, deformed him very +sensibly. + +"We have felt neither hunger nor thirst here," said he, "as has been +shown already; but in truth we are guests of your grace, and my father, +not knowing how things have happened, might hesitate to come to us. But +how am I to appear before those ladies, your grace's relatives, with a +face which could rouse only abhorrence?" + +Then his face twisted, for his lip pained him from long speaking, and +his features, in fact, were not beautiful at the moment. + +"Be not troubled. Those ladies feel disgust, but not toward your +wounds, after the healing of which your former good-looks will return +to you. Three sleighs will come here with servants immediately, and in +my house good beds are waiting. Meanwhile, farewell, since it is time +for me and Pan Grothus to set out for Yedlinka--With the forehead!" + +And he bowed once to the five nobles. To Father Voynovski he bowed +specially, but he made no inclination whatever to Yatsek. When near the +door the priest approached him. + +"You have too little justice and too little tenderness," said he. + +"I acknowledge sins only at confession," retorted Pan Gideon, and he +passed through the doorway. After him went the starosta, Pan Grothus. + +Yatsek had been a whole hour as if tortured. His face changed, and at +moments he knew not whether to fall at the feet of Pan Gideon with a +prayer for forgiveness, or spring at his throat and avenge the +humiliation through which he was passing. But he remembered that he was +in his own house, that before him was standing the guardian of Panna +Anulka; hence, as the two men walked out he moved after them, not +giving an account to himself of his action, but because of custom which +commanded to conduct guests, and in some kind of blind hope that +perhaps even at parting the stubborn Pan Gideon would bow to him. But +this hope failed him also; only Pan Grothus, a kindly man, as was +evident, and of good wit pressed his hand at the entrance, and +whispered, "Despair not, his first rage will pass, cavalier, and all +will arrange itself." + +Yatsek did not think thus, and he would have been sure that his case +was lost utterly had he known that Pan Gideon, though indignant, +feigned anger far more than he felt it. + +Stanislav and the Bukoyemskis were his rescuers, but Yatsek had not +killed them, and a duel of itself was too common to rouse such +unmerciful hatred. But Pan Gideon, from the moment that the starosta +had told him how aged men marry and sometimes have children, looked +with other eyes upon Panna Anulka. That which perhaps had never +occurred to him earlier, seemed all at once possible and also alluring. +At thought of the charms of that maiden, marvellous as a rose, the soul +warmed in him, and still more powerfully did pride play in the old +noble. So then, the race of Pangovski might flourish afresh and bloom +up again; and besides, born from such a patrician as Panna Anulka, not +only related to all the great houses in the Commonwealth, but herself +the last sprout of a race from whose wealth rose in greater part the +Sobieskis, Jolkievskis, Daniloviches, and many others. There was a +whirl in Pan Gideon's brain at the thought of this, and he felt that +not only he but the Commonwealth was concerned in Pangovskis of that +kind. So straightway fear rose in him lest it should happen that the +lady might love some one else, and give her hand to another man. One +more important than himself in that region, he had not discovered; +there were younger men, however. But who? Pan Stanislav? Yes! He was +young, of good looks, very rich, but noble in the third generation, +descended from ennobled Armenians. That such a _homo novus_ should +indeed strive for Panna Anulka could not find place in the head of Pan +Gideon in any shape. It was laughable to think of the Bukoyemskis, +though good nobles and claiming kindred with Saint Peter. There +remained then Tachevski alone, a real "Lazarus," it is true, as poor as +a church mouse, but from an ancient stock of great knights; from +Tachevo who had the Kovala escutcheon, one of whom was a real giant, +and had taken part in the dreadful defeat of the Germans at Tannenberg; +he had been famous not only in the Commonwealth but at foreign courts +also. Only a Tachevski could compare with the Sieninskis. Besides, he +was young, daring, handsome, and melancholy; this last often moves the +heart in a woman. He was also at home in Belchantska, and seemed a +friend, nay, a brother to the lady. Hence, Pan Gideon fell now to +recalling various cases, as, for instance, disputes and poutings among +the young people, then their reconciliations and friendship, then +various words and glances, sadness and rejoicing in common, and +laughter. Things which a short time before he had thought scarcely +worthy of notice seemed now suspicious. Yes! danger could threaten only +from that side. The old noble thought, also, that Panna Anulka might, +in part at least, be the cause of the duel, and he was terrified. +Hence, to anticipate the danger, he tried to present to the young lady +in the strongest light possible, all the dishonor of Yatsek's late +action, and to rouse in her due anger; and then by feigning greater +rage than he felt, or than the case called for, to burn all the bridges +between his own mansion and Vyrambki, and, when he had humiliated +Yatsek without mercy, to close the doors of the house to him forever. + +And he was reaching his object. Yatsek walked back from the porch, took +a seat at the table, thrust his fingers through his hair, supported his +elbows, and was as silent as if pain had taken speech from him. Father +Voynovski approached and put his hand on his shoulder. + +"Yatsus, suffer what thou must," said he, "but a foot of thine should +never enter that mansion hereafter." + +"It never will," replied Yatsek, in a dull voice. + +"But yield not to pain. Remember who thou art." + +The young man set his teeth. + +"I remember, but for that very reason pain burns me!" + +"No one here applauds Pan Gideon for his action," said Stanislav. "It +is one thing to censure, and another to trample a man's honor." + +Hereupon the Bukoyemskis were moving, and Mateush, whom speech troubled +least, added promptly,-- + +"Under his roof I will say nothing, but when I recover and meet him on +the road, or at a neighbor's, I will tell him to kiss a dog's snout +that same minute." + +"O, yei!" said Marek. "To insult such a cavalier! The hour will come +when that will not be forgiven him." + +Meanwhile three sleighs with sofas and three servants, besides drivers, +appeared to convey the wounded men to Belchantska. Because of regard +for the expected arrival of Pan Serafin, Yatsek dared not detain them, +and because also of this: that they were really the guests of Pan +Gideon. As to the men, they would not have remained after hearing of +Yatsek's great poverty lest they might burden him. They took farewell +and gave thanks for his hospitality with a heartiness as great as if +there had never been a quarrel between them. + +But when Stanislav was taking his seat in the last sleigh Yatsek sprang +forward on a sudden,-- + +"I will go with you," said he. "I cannot endure to do otherwise! I +cannot endure! Before Pan Gideon returns I must--for the last time--" + +Father Voynovski, since he knew Yatsek, knew that words would be +useless; still, he drew him aside and began to expostulate,-- + +"Yatsek! O Yatsek! a woman again. God grant that a still greater wrong +may not meet thee. O Yatsek, remember the words of Ecclesiastes: 'In a +thousand I found one man, among all I found not one woman.' Take pity +on thyself and remember this." + +But these words were as peas against a battlement. In a moment Yatsek +was sitting in the sleigh at the side of Stanislav, and they started. + +Meanwhile the east wind had broken the mist and driven it to the +wilderness; then the bright sun from a blue sky looked at them. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + +Pan Gideon had not invented when he spoke of the "abhorrence" which at +his house both women felt for the conqueror. Yatsek convinced himself +of this from one glance at them. Pani Vinnitski met him with an +offended face, and snatched her hand away when he wished to kiss it in +greeting; and the young lady, without compassion for his suffering and +embarrassment, did not answer his greeting. She was occupied with +Stanislav, sparing neither tender looks nor anxious questions; she +pushed her care so far that when he rose from the armchair in the +dining-room to go to the chamber set apart for the wounded she +supported him by the arm, and though he opposed and excused himself she +conducted him to the threshold. + +"For thee there is nothing in this house. All is lost!" cried despair +and also jealousy in Yatsek's heart at sight of this action. Toward him +that maiden had shown changing humors, and with one kindly word had +given usually ten that were cold, when not biting, hence his pain was +the keener, that till then he had not supposed that she could be kind, +sweet, and angel-like to a man whom she loved really. That Panna Anulka +loved Stanislav the ill-fated Yatsek had no doubt whatever. He would +have endured not only such a wound as that given Stanislav, but would +have shed all his blood with delight, if she would speak even once in +her life to him with such a voice, and look with such eyes at him as +she had looked then at Stanislav. Hence, besides pain, an immeasurable +sorrow now seized him. This sent a torrent of tears toward his +eyeballs, and if those tears did not gush out and flow down his cheeks, +they flooded his heart and pervaded his being. Thus did Yatsek feel his +whole breast fill with tears, and, to give the last blow at this +juncture, never had Panna Anulka seemed to him so beautiful beyond +measure as at that moment, with her pale face and her crown of golden +hair slightly dishevelled from emotion. "She is an angel, but not for +thee," complained the sorrow within him; "wonderful, but another will +take her!" And he would have fallen at her feet and confessed all his +suffering and devotion, but at the same time he felt that just after +that which had happened it would not be proper to do so, and that if he +did not control himself and stifle the struggle in his spirit he would +tell her something quite different from that which he wanted, and sink +himself utterly in her estimation. + +Meanwhile Pani Vinnitski, as an elderly person and one skilled in +medicine, entered the chamber with Stanislav, while the young lady +turned back from the threshold. Yatsek, understanding that he must use +the opportunity approached her. + +"I should like a word with you," said he, struggling to control +himself, and with a trembling voice which, as it were, belonged to +another. + +She looked at him with cold astonishment. + +"What do you wish?" + +Yatsek's face was lighted with a smile of such pain that it was almost +like that of a martyr. + +"What I wish for myself will not come to me, though I were to give my +own soul's salvation to get it," said he, shaking his head; "but for +one thing I beg you: do not accuse me, cherish no offence against me, +have some compassion, for I am not of wood nor of iron." + +"I have no word to say," replied she, "and there is no time for +talking." + +"Ah! there is always some time to say a kind word to the man for whom +this world is grievous." + +"Is it because you have wounded my rescuers?" + +"The blame is not mine, as God stands by the innocent! The messenger +who came for those gentlemen to Vyrambki should have declared what +Father Voynovski told him to tell here; namely, that I did not +challenge them. Did you know that they were the challengers?" + +"I did. The attendant, being a simple man, did not repeat, it is true, +every word which the priest sent; he merely cried out that 'the young +lord of Vyrambki had slashed them to pieces;' then Pan Gideon, on +returning from Vyrambki, ran in from the road and explained what had +happened." + +Pan Gideon feared lest the news that Yatsek had been challenged might +reach the young lady from other lips and weaken her anger, hence he +wished above all to describe the affair in his own way, not delaying to +add that Yatsek by venomous insults had forced them to challenge him. +He reckoned on this: that Panna Anulka, taking things woman fashion, +would be on the side of the men who had suffered most. + +Still, it seemed to Yatsek that the beloved eyes looked on him less +severely, so he repeated the question,-- + +"Did you know this position?" + +"I knew," replied she, "but I remember that which you should not have +forgotten if you had even a trifling regard for me,--that I owe my life +to those gentlemen. And I have learnt from my guardian that you forced +them to challenge you." + +"I, not have regard for you? Let God, who looks into men's hearts, +judge that statement." + +All on a sudden her eyes blinked time after time; then she shook her +head till a tress fell to the opposite shoulder, and she said,-- + +"Is that true?" + +"True, true!" continued he, in a panting and deeply sad voice. "I +should have let men cut me down, it seems, so as not to annoy you. The +blood which was dearest to you would not have been shed then. But there +is no help now for the omission. There is no help now for anything! +Your guardian told you that I forced those gentlemen to challenge me. I +leave that too to God's judgment. But did your guardian tell you that +he himself had insulted me beyond mercy and measure beneath my own roof +tree? I have come now to you because I knew that I should not find him +here. I have come to satisfy my unhappy eyes with the last look at you. +I know that this is all one to you, but I thought that even in that +case--" + +Here Yatsek halted, for tears stopped his utterance. Parma Anulka's +mouth began also to quiver and to take on more and more the shape of a +horseshoe, and only haughtiness joined to timidity, the timidity of a +maiden, struggled in her with emotion. But perhaps she was restrained +by this also: that she wished to get from Yatsek a still more +complaining confession, and perhaps because she did not believe that he +would go from her and never come back again. More than once there had +been misunderstandings between them, more than once had Pan Gideon +offended him greatly, and still, after brief exhibitions of anger, +there had followed silent or spoken explanations and all had gone on +again in the old way. + +"So it will be this time also," thought Panna Anulka. + +For her it was sweet to listen to Yatsek and to see that great love +which, though it dared not express itself in determinate utterance, was +still beaming from him with a submission which was matched only by its +mightiness. Hence she yearned to hear him speak with her the longest +time possible with that wondrous voice, and to lay at her feet for the +longest time possible that young, loving, pained heart of his. + +But he, inexperienced in love matters and blind as are all who love +really, could not take note of this, and did not know what was +happening within her. He looked on her silence as hardened +indifference, and bitterness was gradually drowning his spirit. The +calmness with which he had spoken at first began now to desert him, his +eyes took on another light, drops of cold sweat came out on his +temples: something was tearing and breaking the soul in him. He was +seized by despair of such kind that when a man lies in the grip of it +he reckons with nothing, and is ready with his own hands to tear his +own wounded heart open. He spoke yet as it were calmly, but his voice +had a new sound, it was firmer, though hoarser. + +"Is this the case," asked he, "and is there not one word from thee?" + +Panna Anulka shrugged her shoulders in silence. + +"The priest told me the truth when he warned that here a still greater +wrong was in store for me." + +"In what have I wronged thee?" asked she, bitterly, pained by the +sudden change which she saw in him. + +But he waded on farther in blindness. + +"Had I not seen how thou didst treat this Pan Stanislav, I should think +that thou hadst no heart in thy bosom. Thou hast a heart, but for him, +not for me. He glanced at thee, and that was sufficient." + +Then Yatsek grasped the hair of his head with both hands on a sudden. + +"Would to God that I had cut him to pieces!" + +A flame flashed, as it were, through Panna Anulka; her cheeks +crimsoned, anger blazed in her eyes as well at herself as at Yatsek; +because a moment before she had been ready for weeping, her heart was +seized now by indignation, deep and sudden. + +"You, sir, have lost your senses!" cried she, raising her head and +shaking back the tress from her shoulder. + +She was on the point of rushing away, but that brought Yatsek to utter +desperation; he seized her hands and detained her. + +"Not thou art to go. I am the person to go," said he, with set teeth. +"And before going I say this to thee: though for years I have loved +thee more than health, more than life, and more than my own soul, I +will never come back to thee. I will gnaw my own hands off in torture, +but, so help me, God, I will never come back to thee!" + +Then, forgetting his worn Hungarian cap on the floor there, he sprang +to the doorway, and in an instant she saw him through the window, +hurrying away along the garden by which the road to Vyrambki was +shorter,--and he vanished. + +Panna Anulka stood for a time as if a thunderbolt had struck her. Her +thoughts had scattered like a flock of birds in every direction; she +knew not what had happened. But when thoughts returned to her all +feeling of offence was extinguished, and in her ears were sounding only +the words: "I loved thee more than health, more than life, more than my +own soul, but I will never come back to thee!" She felt now that in +truth he would never come back, just because he had loved her so +tremendously. Why had she not given him even one kind word for which, +before anger had swept the man off, he had begged as if for alms, or a +morsel of bread to give strength on a journey? And now endless grief +and fear seized her. He had rushed off in pain and in madness. He may +fall on the road somewhere. He may in despair work on himself something +evil, and one heartfelt word might have healed and cured everything. +Let him hear her voice even. He must go, beyond the garden, through the +meadow to the river. He will hear her there yet before he vanishes. + +And rushing from the house she ran to the garden. Deep snow lay on the +middle path, but his tracks there were evident. She ran in them. She +sank at times to her knees, and on the road lost her rosary, her +handkerchief, and her workbag with thread in it, and, panting, she +reached the garden gate finally. + +"Pan Yatsek! Pan Yatsek!" cried she. + +But the field beyond the garden was empty. Besides, that same wind +which had blown the morning haze off, made a great sound among the +branches of apple and pear trees; her weak voice was lost in that sound +altogether. Then, not regarding the cold nor her light, indoor +clothing, she sat on a bench near the gate and fell to crying. Tears as +large as pearls dropped down her cheeks and she, having nothing else +now with which to remove them, brushed those tears away with that tress +on her shoulder. + +"He will not come back." + +Meanwhile the wind sounded louder and louder, shaking wet snow from the +dark branches. + +When Yatsek rushed into his house like a whirlwind, without cap and +with dishevelled hair, the priest divined clearly enough what had +happened. + +"I foretold this," said he. "God give thee aid, O my Yatsek; but I ask +nothing till thou hast come to thy mind and art quiet." + +"Ended! All is ended!" said Yatsek. + +And he walked up and down in the chamber, like a wild beast in +confinement. + +The priest said no word, interrupted him in nothing, and only after +long waiting did he rise, put his arms around Yatsek's shoulders, kiss +his head, and lead him by the hand to an alcove. + +The old man knelt before a small crucifix which was hanging over the +bed there, and when the sufferer had knelt at his side the priest +prayed as follows: + +"O Lord, Thou knowest what pain is, for Thou didst endure it on the +cross for the offences of mankind. + +"Hence I bring my bleeding heart to Thee, and at Thy feet which are +pierced I implore Thee for mercy. + +"I cry not to Thee: 'take this pain from me,' but I cry 'give me +strength to endure it.' + +"For I, O Lord, am a soldier submissive to Thy order, and I desire much +to serve Thee, and the Commonwealth, my mother-- But how can I do this +when my heart is faint and my right hand is weakened? + +"Because of this make me forget myself and make me think only of Thy +glory, and the rescue of my mother, for those things are of far greater +moment than the pain of a pitiful worm, such as I am. + +"And strengthen me, O Lord, in my saddle, so that through lofty deeds +against pagans I may reach a glorious death, and also heaven. + +"By Thy crown of thorns, hear me! + +"By the wound in Thy side, hear me! + +"By Thy hands and feet pierced with nails, hear me!" + +Then they knelt for a long time, but at the middle of the prayer it was +evident that the pain in Yatsek's breast had broken, for on a sudden he +covered his face with both hands and fell to sobbing. When they had +risen and gone to the adjoining chamber Father Voynovski sighed deeply. + +"My Yatsek," said he, "I saw much of life in my years of a warrior, +during which sorrow greater than thine met me. I have no thought to +speak touching this to thee. I will say only that in a time of most +terrible anguish I composed this very prayer and to it owe deliverance. +I have repeated it frequently in misfortune since that day, and always +with solace; we have repeated it now for this reason. And how dost thou +feel? Art thou not freed in some measure? Pray tell me!" + +"I feel pain, but it burns less severely." + +"Ah, seest thou! Now drink some wine. I will tell thee, or rather I +will show thee, something which should give thee comfort. Look!" + +And bending his head down he showed beneath his white hair a dreadful +scar, which passed across his whole crown from one side to the other. + +"From that," said he, "I came very near dying. The wound pained me +awfully, but the scar gives no trouble. In like manner, Yatsek, thy +wound will cease to pain when a scar takes the place of it. Tell me now +what has happened to thee." + +Yatsek began, but met failure. It was not in his nature to invent, or +increase, or exaggerate, so now he himself wondered over this: that all +which had torn him with such torture seemed less cruel in the +narrative. But Father Voynovski, clearly a man of experience, and +knowing the world, heard him out to the end, and then added,-- + +"It is difficult, I understand that, to describe looks or even gestures +which may be altogether contemptuous and insulting. Often even one +look, or one wave of the hand, has led men to duels and to bloodshed. +The main point is this: thou hast told the young lady that thou wilt +not go back to her. Youth is giddy, and when guided by sadness it +changes as the moon in the sky does. And love too is like that +mendacious moon, which when it seems to decrease is just growing and +swelling toward its fulness. How is it then, hast thou the true wish of +doing what thy words tell me?" + +"So help me, God, I have told my whole wish, and if thou desire I will +repeat the same in an oath on that cross there." + +"And what dost thou think to do?" + +"To go into the world." + +"I have been hoping for that. I have desired it this long time. I have +known what detained thee, but go now. When thou hast broken thy fetters +go into the world. Thou wilt wait for no good thing in this place, no +good thing has met thee here, or will meet thee here ever. To thee the +life here has been ruin. It was a happiness that I was near by and +trained thee in Latin, and in working with thy sword even somewhat; +without these two kinds of knowledge thou wouldst have dropped down to +be a peasant. Thank me not, Yatsus, for that was pure devotion on my +part. I shall be sad here without thee, but I am not in question. Thou +wilt go into the world. That, as I understand, means that thou wilt +join the army. That road is the straightest and the most honorable, +also, especially since war with the pagan is approaching. The pen and +the chancellery are more certain, men tell us, than promotion from the +sabre, but they are less fitted for blood such as thine is." + +"I have not thought of another service," said Yatsek, "but I shall not +join the infantry, and I cannot in any way reach the higher banners, +for I am in terrible poverty--" + +"A noble who has Latin on his tongue and a sabre in his fist will make +his way always," interrupted the priest; "but there is no need of +talking, thou must have good horses. We must think over this carefully. +Now I will tell thee something of which I have never yet spoken. I hold +for thee ten ruddy ducats which thy late mother left with me--and her +letter, in which she begs not to give thee this money, lest it be spent +ere the time comes. Only in sudden need may I give it when either +the ferry or the wagon is awaiting thee--when some dilemma presents +itself--well, the dilemma is here at this moment! Thou hadst an +honorable, a holy, and an unhappy mother, for when that woman was dying +there was great need in her dwelling, and she took from her own mouth +that which she left with me." + +"God give eternal rest to her," said Yatsek. "Let those ten ducats be +used for masses to benefit her soul, and Vyrambki I will sell even for +a trifle." + +Father Voynovski grew very tender at these words; a tear glistened in +his eye, and again he put his arms around Yatsek. + +"There is honest blood in thee," said he, "but thou art not free to +reject this gift from thy mother, even for the purpose which thou hast +mentioned. Masses will not be lacking in her case, be sure of that, +though in truth she has no great need of them; but to other souls +suffering in purgatory they will be of service. As to Vyrambki it would +be better to mortgage it; though a noble has but the smallest estate, +how differently do people esteem him from one who is landless." + +"But I am in a hurry. I should like to go even to-day." + +"To-day thou wilt not go, though the sooner the better. I must write +for thee letters to my comrades and friends. We must talk also with the +brewers in Yedlina who have money and also good horses, so that no +armored warrior may have a better outfit. In my house there are some +old arms and some sabres, not so much ornamented as tested on Swedish +and Turkish shoulders." + +Here the priest looked through the window and said,-- + +"But the sleigh is waiting, and a traveller should start when his +sleigh comes." + +An expression of pain now shot over the face of the young man; he +kissed the priest's hand and added,-- + +"I have one other prayer, my benefactor and father; let me go with you +now and live in your house till I leave this region. Those roofs are +visible from this dwelling. They are too near me." + +"Of course! I wished to propose this; thou hast taken the words from my +lips. There is no work for thee here, and I shall be glad from my soul +to have thee under my roof tree. Be of good cheer, O my Yatsus. The +world does not end in Belchantska, but stands open widely before thee. +God alone knows how far thou wilt ride when once thou art on horseback. +War is awaiting thee! Glory is awaiting thee! and that which pains thee +to-day will be healed at another time. I see now how the wings are +growing out at thy shoulders. Fly then, O bird of the Lord, for to that +wert thou predestined and created." + +And joy like a sunray lighted up the honest face of the old man. He +struck his thigh with his palm, soldier fashion. + +"Now take thy cap and we will go." + +But small things stand often in the way of important ones, and the +comic is mixed with the tragic. Yatsek glanced round the room; then he +gazed with concern at the priest, and repeated,-- + +"My cap!" + +"Well! Thou wilt not go bareheaded--" + +"How could I?" + +"Where is it?" + +"But suppose it remained at Belchantska?" + +"There are thy love tricks, old woman! What wilt thou do?" + +"What shall I do? I might get a cap from my man, but I could not go in +the cap of a peasant." + +"Thou canst not go in a peasant's cap, but send thy man to +Belchantska." + +"I would not for anything." + +The priest was becoming impatient. + +"Plague take it! War, glory, the wide world--these are all waiting for +the man, but his cap is gone!" + +"There is an old hat in the bottom of a trunk which my father took from +a Swedish officer at Tremeshno--" + +"Take it, and let us go." + +Yatsek vanished and returned a little later wearing the yellow hat of a +Swedish horseman, which was too large for him. Amused by the sight of +it, the priest caught at his left side as if seeking his sabre. + +"It is well," said he, "that it is not a Turkish turban. But this is a +real carnival!" + +Yatsek smiled in reply, and then added,-- + +"There are some stones in the buckle; they may be of value." + +Then they took seats in the sleigh and moved forward. Immediately +beyond the enclosure Belchantska and the mansion were as visible +through leafless alders as something on one's hand. The priest looked +carefully at Yatsek, who merely drew the big Swedish hat over his eyes +and did not look, though something besides his Hungarian cap had been +left in the mansion. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + +"He will not come back! All is lost!" exclaimed Panna Anulka to herself +at the first moment. + +And a marvellous thing! There were five men in that mansion, one of +whom was young and presentable; and besides Pan Grothus, the starosta, +Pan Serafin was expected. In a word, rarely had there been so many +guests at Belchantska. Meanwhile it seemed to the young lady that a +vacuum had surrounded her suddenly, and that some immense want had come +with it; that the mansion was empty, the garden empty, and that she +herself was as much alone as if in an unoccupied steppe land, and that +she would continue to be thus forever. + +Hence her heart was as straitened with merciless sorrow as if she had +lost one who was nearest of all to her. She felt sure that Yatsek would +not return, all the more since her guardian had offended him mortally; +still, she could not imagine how it would be without him, without +his face, his laughter, his words, his glances. What would happen +to-morrow, after to-morrow, next week, next month? For what would she +rise from her bed every morning? Why would she arrange her tresses? For +whom would she dress and curl her hair? For what was she now to live? + +And she had a feeling as if her heart had been a candle which some one +had quenched by blowing it out on a sudden. There was nothing save +darkness and a vacuum. + +But when she entered the room and saw that Hungarian cap on the floor, +all those indefinite feelings gave way to an enormous and simple +yearning for Yatsek. Her heart grew warm in her again, and she began to +call him by name. Therewith a certain gleam of hope flew through her +spirit. Raising the cap she pressed it to her bosom unwittingly; then +she put it in her sleeve and began to think thuswise: "He will not come +as hitherto daily, but before the return of Pan Grothus and my guardian +from Yedlinka, he must come for his cap, so I shall see him and say +that he was unjust and cruel, and that he should not have done what he +has done." + +But she was not sincere with herself, for she wished to say more, to +find some warm, heartfelt word which would join again the threads newly +broken between them. If this could happen, if they could meet without +anger in the church, or at odd times in the houses of neighbors, means +would be found in the future to turn everything to profit. What methods +there might be to do this, and what the profit could be, she did not +stop to consider at the moment, for beyond all she was thinking how to +see Yatsek at the earliest. + +Meanwhile Pani Vinnitski came out of the chamber in which the wounded +men were then lying, and on seeing the excited face and reddened eyes +of the young woman she began thus to quiet her. + +"Fear not, no harm will come to them. Only one of the Bukoyemskis is +struck a little seriously, but no harm will happen even to that one. +The others are injured slightly. Father Voynovski dressed their wounds +with such skill that there is no need to change anything. The men too +are cheerful and in perfect spirits." + +"Thanks be to God!" + +"But has Yatsek gone? What did he want here?" + +"He brought the wounded men hither--" + +"I know, but who would have expected this of him?" + +"They themselves challenged him." + +"They do not deny that, but he beat all five of them, one after +another. One might have thought that a clucking hen could have beaten +him." + +"Aunt does not know the man," answered Panna Anulka, with a certain +pride in her expression. + +But in the voice of Pani Vinnitski there was as much admiration as +blame; for, born in regions exposed to Tartar inroads at all times, she +had learned from childhood to count daring and skill at the sabre as +the highest virtues of manhood. So, when the earliest alarm touching +the five guests had vanished, she began to look somewhat differently at +that duel. + +"Still," continued she, "I must confess that they are worthy gentlemen, +for not only do they cherish no hatred against him, but they praise +him, especially Pan Stanislav. 'That man is a born soldier,' said he. +And they were angry every man of them at Pan Gideon, who exceeded the +measure, they say, at Vyrambki." + +"But aunt did not receive Yatsek better." + +"He got the reception which he merited. But didst thou receive him +well?" + +"I?" + +"Yes, thou. I saw how thou didst frown at him." + +"My dear aunt--" + +Here the girl stopped suddenly, for she felt that unless she did so, +she would burst into weeping. Because of this conversation Yatsek had +grown in her eyes. He had fought alone against such trained men, had +conquered them all, overcome them. He had told her, it is true, that he +hunted wild boars with a spear, but peasants at the edge of the +wilderness go against them with clubs, so that amazes no one. But to +finish five knightly nobles a man must be better and more valiant and +skilful than they. It seemed to Panna Anulka simply a marvel that a man +who had such mild and sad eyes could be so terrible in battle. To her +alone had he yielded; from her alone had he suffered everything; to her +alone had he been mild and pliant. Why was this? Because he had loved +her beyond his health, beyond happiness, beyond his own soul's +salvation. He had confessed that to her an hour earlier. And yearning +for him rushed like an immense wave to her heart again. Still, she felt +that something between them had changed, and that if she should see him +anew, and see him afterward often, she would not permit herself to play +with him again as she had played up to that day, now casting him into +the abyss, now cheering him, giving him hope, now thrusting him away, +now attracting him; she felt that do what she might she would look on +him with greater respect, and would be more submissive and cautious. + +At moments, however, a voice was heard in her saying that he had acted +too peevishly, that he had uttered words more offensive and bitter than +she had; but that voice became weaker and weaker, and the wish for +reconciliation was growing. + +"If he would only return before those men came from Yedlinka!" + +Meanwhile an hour passed, then two and three hours. Still, there was no +sign from Yatsek. Next it occurred to her that the hour was too late, +that he would not come, he would send some one to get the cap. After +that she determined to send it to Yatsek with a letter, in which she +would explain what was weighing her heart down. And since his messenger +might come any moment she, to prepare all things in season, shut +herself up in her small maiden chamber and went at the letter. + +"May God pardon thee for the suffering and sadness in which thou hast +left me, for if thou couldst see my heart thou wouldst not have done +what thou hast done. Therefore, I send not only thy cap, but a kind +word, so that thou shouldst be happy and forget--" + +Here she saw that she was not writing her own thoughts at all, or her +wishes, so, drawing her pen through the words, she fell to writing a +new letter with more emotion and feeling: + +"I send thy cap, for I know that I shall not see thee in this house +hereafter, and that thou wilt not weep for any one here, least of all +for such an orphan as I am; but neither shall I weep because of thy +injustice, though it is sad beyond description--" + +But reality showed these words to be false, since sudden tears put +blots on the paper. How send a proof of this kind, especially if he had +thrown her out of his heart altogether? After a while it occurred to +her that it might be better not to write of his injustice, and of his +peevish procedure, since, if she did, he would be ready for still +greater stubbornness. Thus thinking, she looked for a third sheet of +paper, but there was no more in her chamber. + +Now she was helpless, for if she borrowed paper of Pani Vinnitski she +could not avoid questions impossible of answer; then she felt that she +was losing her head, and that in no case could she write to Yatsek that +which she wanted to tell him; hence she grew disconsolate and sought, +as women do usually, solace in suffering; she gave a free course to her +tears again. + +Meanwhile night was in front of the entrance, and sleighbells were +tinkling--Pan Gideon and his two guests were coming. The servants were +lighting the candles in every chamber, for the gloom was increasing. +The young lady brushed aside every tear and entered the drawing-room +with, a certain timidity; she feared that all would see straightway +that she had been weeping, and have, God knows what suspicions,--they +might even torment her with questions. But in the drawing-room there +were none save Pan Gideon and Pan Grothus. For Pan Serafin she asked +straightway, wishing to turn attention from her own person. + +"He has gone to his son and the Bukoyemskis," said Pan Gideon, "but I +pacified him on the road by showing that nothing evil had happened." + +Then he looked at her carefully, but his face, gloomy at most times, +and his gray, severe eyes were bright with a sort of exceptional +kindness. Approaching, he placed his hand on the bright head of the +maiden. + +"There is no need for thee to be troubled," said he. "In a couple of +days they will be well, every man of them. We need say no more. We owe +them gratitude, it is true, and hence I was anxious about them, but +really, they are strangers to us, and of rather lowly condition." + +"Lowly condition?" repeated she, as an echo, and merely to say +something. + +"Why, yes, for the Bukoyemskis have nothing whatever, and Pan Stanislav +is a _homo novus_. For that matter, what are they to me! They will go +their way, and the same quiet will be in this house as has been here +hitherto." + +Panna Anulka thought to herself that there would be great quiet indeed, +for there would be only three in the mansion; but she gave no +expression to that thought. + +"I will busy myself with the supper," said she. + +"Go, housewife, go!" said Pan Gideon. "Because of thee there is joy in +the household, and profit--and have a silver service brought on," added +he, "to show this Pan Serafin that good plate is found not alone among +newly made noble Armenians." + +Panna Anulka hurried to the servants' apartments. She wished before +supper to finish another affair most important for her, so she summoned +a serving-lad, and said to him,-- + +"Listen, Voitushko; run to Vyrambki and tell Pan Tachevski that the +young lady sends this cap, and bows very much to him. Here is a coin +for thee, and repeat what thou art to tell him." + +"The young lady sends the cap and bows to him." + +"Not that she bows, but that she bows very much to him--dost +understand?" + +"I understand." + +"Then stir! And take an overcoat, for the frost bites in the +night-time. Let the dogs go with thee, too--that she bows very much, +remember. And come back at once--unless Pan Tachevski gives an answer." + +Having finished that affair she withdrew to the kitchen to busy herself +at the supper which was then almost ready since they had been expecting +guests with Pan Gideon. Then, after she had dressed and arranged her +hair, she entered the dining-hall. + +Pan Sarafin greeted her kindly, for her beauty and youth had pleased +his heart greatly at Yedlinka. Since he had been put quite at rest +touching Stanislav, when they were seated at the table he began to +speak with her joyously, endeavoring, even with jests, to scatter that +shade of seriousness which he saw on her forehead, and the cause of +which he attributed specially to the duel. + +But for her the supper was not to end without incident, since +immediately after the second course Voitushko stood at the door of the +dining-hall and cried out, as he blew his chilled fingers,-- + +"I beg the young lady's attention. I left the cap, but Pan Tachevski is +not in Vyrambki, for he drove away with Father Voynovski." + +Pan Gideon on hearing these words was astonished; he frowned, and fixed +his iron eyes on the serving-lad. + +"What is this?" asked he. "What cap? Who sent thee to Vyrambki?" + +"The young lady," answered the lad with timidity. + +"I sent him," said Panna Anulka. + +And seeing that all eyes were turned on her she was dreadfully +embarrassed, but the elusive wit of a woman soon came to her +assistance. + +"Pan Yatsek attended the wounded men hither," said she; "but since +auntie and I received him with harshness he was angry and flew away +home without his cap, so I sent the cap after him." + +"Indeed, we did not receive him very charmingly," added Pani Vinnitski. + +Pan Gideon drew breath and his face took on a less dreadful expression. + +"Ye did well," remarked he. "I myself would have sent the cap, for of +course he has not a second one." + +But the honest and clever Pan Serafin took the part of Yatsek. + +"My son," said he, "has no feeling against him. He and the other +gentlemen forced Pan Tachevski to the duel; when it was over he took +them to his house, dressed their wounds, and entertained them. The +Bukoyemskis say the same, adding that he is an artist at the sabre, +who, had he had the wish, might have cut them up in grand fashion. Ha! +they wanted to teach him a lesson, and themselves found a teacher. If +it is true that His Grace the King is moving against the Turks, such a +man as Tachevski will be useful." + +Pan Gideon was not glad to hear these words, and added: "Father +Voynovski taught him those sword tricks." + +"I have seen Father Voynovski only once, at a festival," said Pan +Serafin, "but I heard much of him in my days of campaigning. At the +festival other priests laughed at him; they said that his house was +like the ark, that he cares for all beasts just as Noah did. I know, +however, that his sabre was renowned, and that his virtue is famous. If +Pan Tachevski has learned sword-practice from him, I should wish my +son, when he recovers, not to seek friendship elsewhere." + +"They say that the Diet will strive at once to strengthen the army," +said Pan Gideon, wishing to change the conversation. + +"True, all will work at that," said Pan Grothus. + +And the conversation continued on the war. But after supper Panna +Anulka chose the right moment, and, approaching Pan Serafin, raised her +blue eyes to him. + +"You are very kind," said she. + +"Why do you say that?" asked Pan Serafin. + +"You took the part of Pan Yatsek." + +"Whose part?" inquired the old man. + +"Pan Tachevski's. His name is Yatsek." + +"But you blamed him severely. Why did you blame him?" + +"My guardian blamed him still more severely. I confess to you, however, +that we did not act justly, and I think that some reparation is due +him." + +"He would surely be glad to receive it from your hands," said Pan +Serafin. + +The young lady shook her golden head in sign of disagreement. + +"Oh no!" replied she, smiling sadly, "he is angry with us, and +forever." + +Pan Serafin glanced at her with a genuine fatherly kindness. + +"Who in the world, charming flower, could be angry forever with you?" + +"Oh! Pan Yatsek could--but as to reparation this is the best reparation +in his case: declare to Pan Yatsek that you feel no offence toward him, +and that you believe in his innocence. After that my guardian will be +forced to do him some justice, and justice from us is due to Pan +Yatsek." + +"I see that you have not been so very bitter against him, since you are +now taking his part with such interest." + +"I do so because I feel reproaches of conscience, and I wish no +injustice to any man, besides, he is alone in the world, and is in +great, very great, poverty." + +"I will tell you," answered Pan Serafin, "that in my own mind I have +decided as follows: your guardian, as a hospitable neighbor, has +declared that he will not let me go till my son has recovered; but both +my son and the Bukoyemskis might go home even to-morrow. Still, before +I leave here I will visit most surely Pan Yatsek and Father Voynovski, +not through any kindness, but because I understand that I owe them this +courtesy. I do not say that I am bad, still, I think that if any one in +this case is really good you are the person. Do not contradict me!" + +She did contradict, for she felt that for her it was not a question +merely of justice to Yatsek, but of other affairs, of which Pan +Serafin, who knew not her maiden calculations, could know nothing. +Her heart, however, rose toward him with gratitude, and when saying +good-night she kissed his hand, for which Pan Gideon was angry. + +"He is only of the second generation; before that his people were +merchants. Remember who thou art!" said the old noble. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + +Two days later Yatsek went to Radom with the ten ducats to dress +himself decently before the journey. Father Voynovski remained at home +brooding over this problem: "Whence am I to get money enough for the +equipment of a warrior, for a wagon, for horses, a saddle-horse, and an +attendant, all of which Yatsek must have if he cares for respect, and +does not wish men to consider him nobody?" + +Especially did it become Yatsek to appear in that form, since he bore a +great, famous name, though somewhat forgotten in the Commonwealth. + +A certain day Father Voynovski sat down at his small table, wrinkled +his brows till his white hair fell over his forehead, and began then to +reckon how much would be needed. His "animalia," that is, the dog +Filus, the tame fox, and a badger, were rolling balls near his feet; +but he gave them no attention whatever, so tremendously was he occupied +and troubled, for the "reckoning" refused to come out in any way, and +failed every moment. It failed not merely in details, but in the main +principles. The old man rubbed his forehead more and more violently and +at last he spoke audibly. + +"He took ten ducats with him. Very well; of that, beyond doubt, he will +bring nothing back. Let us count farther: from Kondrat, the brewer, +five as a loan, from Slonka, three. From Dudu six Prussian thalers and +a borrowed saddle-horse, to be paid for in barley if there is a +harvest. Total, eight golden ducats, six thalers, and twenty ducats of +mine--too little! Even if I should give him the Wallachian as an +attendant, that would be, counting his own mount, two horses; and for a +wagon two more are needed--and for Yatsek at least two more. It is +impossible to go with fewer, for, if one horse should die he must have +another. And a uniform for his man, and supplies for the wagon, kettles +and cover and camp chest--tfu! He could only join the dragoons with +such money." + +Then he turned to the animals which were raising a considerable uproar. + +"Be quiet, ye traitors, or your hides will be sold to Jew hucksters!" + +And again talk began: + +"Yatsek is right, he will have to sell Vyrambki. Still, if he does, he +will have nothing to answer when any one asks him: 'Whence dost thou +come?' 'Whence?' 'From Wind.' 'Which Wind?' 'Wind in the Field.' +Immediately every one will slight such a person. It would be better to +mortgage the place if a man could be found to give money. Pan Gideon +would be the most suitable person, but Yatsek would not hear of Pan +Gideon, and I myself would not talk with him on the subject--My God! +People are mistaken when they say: 'poor as a church mouse!' A man is +often much poorer. A church mouse has Saint Stephen;[3] he lives in +comfort, and has his wax at all seasons. O Lord Jesus, who multiplied +loaves and fishes, multiply these few ruddy ducats, and these few +thalers, for to thee, O Lord, nothing will be diminished, and Thou wilt +help the last of the Tachevskis." + +Then it occurred to him that the Prussian thalers, since they came from +a Lutheran country, could rouse only abhorrence in heaven; as to the +ducats he hesitated whether to put them under Christ's feet for the +night would he find them there multiplied in the morning? He did not +feel worthy of a miracle, and even he struck himself a number of times +on the breast in repentance for his insolent idea. He could not dwell +on this longer, however, for some one had come to the front of his +dwelling. + +After a while the door opened and a tall, gray haired man entered. He +had black eyes and a wise, kindly countenance. The man bowed on the +threshold. + +"I am Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka," said he. + +"Yes. I saw you in Prityk, at the festival, but only at a distance, for +the throng there was great," said the priest, approaching his guest +with vivaciousness. "I greet you on my lowly threshold with gladness." + +"I have come hither with gladness," answered Pan Serafin. "It is an +important and pleasant duty to salute a knight so renowned, and a +priest who is so saintly." + +Then he kissed the old man on the shoulder and the hand, though the +priest warded off these acts, saying,-- + +"Ho, what saintliness! These beasts here may have before God greater +merit than I have." + +But Pan Serafin spoke so sincerely and with such simplicity that he won +the priest straightway. They began at once, therefore, to speak +pleasant words which were heartfelt. + +"I know your son," said the priest; "he is a cavalier of worth +and noble manners. In comparison, those Bukoyemskis seem simply +serving-men. I will say to you that Yatsek Tachevski has conceived such +a love for Pan Stanislav that he praises him always." + +"And my Stashko treats him in like manner. It happens frequently that +men fight and later on love each other. None of us feel offence toward +Pan Tachevski, nay, we should like to conclude with him real +friendship. I have just been at his house in Vyrambki, expecting to +find him. I wished to invite to Yedlinka you, my benefactor, and Pan +Tachevski." + +"Yatsek is in Radom, but he will return and would be glad, doubtless, +to serve you-- But have you seen, your grace, how they treated him at +Pan Gideon's?" + +"They have seen that themselves," said Pan Serafin, "and are sorry, not +Pan Gideon, however, but the women." + +"There are few men so stubborn as Pan Gideon, and he incurs a serious +account before the Lord sometimes for this reason--as for the +women--God be with them-- Let them go, what is the use in hiding this: +that one of them caused the duel?" + +"I divined that before my son told me. But the cause is innocent." + +"They are all innocent-- Do you know what Ecclesiastes says of women?" + +Pan Serafin did not know, so the priest took down the Vulgate and read +an extract from Ecclesiastes. + +"What do you think of that?" asked he. + +"There are women even of that kind." + +"Yatsek is going into the world for no other cause, and I am far from +dissuading him. On the contrary, I advise him to go." + +"Do you? Is he going soon? The war will come only next summer." + +"Do you know that to a certainty?" + +"I do, for I inquired and I inquired because I cannot keep my own son +from it." + +"No, because he is a noble. Yatsek is going immediately, for, to tell +the truth, it is painful for him to remain here." + +"I understand, I understand everything. Haste is the best cure in such +a case." + +"He will stay only as long as may be needed to mortgage Vyrambki, or +sell it. It is only a small strip of land. I advise Yatsek not to sell +but to mortgage. Though he may never come back, he can sign himself +always as from it, and that is more decent for a man of his name and +his origin." + +"Must he sell or mortgage in every case?" + +"He must. The man is poor, quite poor. You know how much it costs to go +to a war, and he cannot serve in a common dragoon regiment." + +Pan Serafin thought a while, and said,-- + +"My benefactor, perhaps I would take a mortgage on Vyrambki." + +Father Voynovski blushed as does a maiden when a young man confesses on +a sudden that for which she is yearning beyond all things; but the +blush flew over his face as swiftly as summer lightning through the sky +of evening; then he looked at Pan Serafin, and asked,-- + +"Why do you take it?" + +Pan Serafin answered with all the sincerity of an honest spirit: + +"I want it since I wish, without loss to myself, to render an honorable +young man a service, for which I shall gain his gratitude. And, Father +benefactor, I have still another idea. I will send my one son to that +regiment in which Pan Yatsek is to serve, and I think that my Stashko +will find in him a good friend and comrade. You know how important a +comrade is and what a true friend at one's side means in camp where a +quarrel comes easily, and in war where death comes still more easily. +God has not, in my case been sparing of fortune, and He has given me +only one son. Pan Yatsek is brave, sober, a master at the sabre, as has +been shown--and he is virtuous, for you have reared him. Let him and my +son be like Orestes and Pylades--that is my reckoning." + +Father Voynovski opened his arms to him widely. + +"God himself sent you! For Yatsek I answer as I do for myself. He is a +golden fellow, and his heart is as grateful as wheat land. God sent +you! My dear boy can now show himself as befits the Tachevski +escutcheon, and most important of all, he can, after seeing the wide +world, forget altogether that girl for whom he has thrown away so many +years, and suffered such anguish." + +"Has he loved her then from of old?" + +"Well, to tell the truth, he has loved her since childhood. Even now he +says nothing, he sets his teeth, but he squirms like an eel beneath a +knife edge. Let him go at the earliest, for nothing could or can come +from this love of his." + +A moment of silence followed, then the old man continued,-- + +"But we must speak of these matters more accurately. How much can you +lend on Vyrambki? It is a poor piece of land." + +"Even one hundred ducats." + +"Fear God, your grace!" + +"But why? If Pan Yatsek ever pays me it will be all the same how much I +lend him. If he does not pay I shall get my own also, for though the +land about here is poor, that new soil must be good beyond the forest. +To-day I will take my son and the Bukoyemskis to Yedlinka, and you will +do us the favor to come as soon as Pan Yatsek returns to you from +Radom. The money will be ready." + +"Your grace came from heaven with your golden heart and your money," +said Father Voynovski. + +Then he commanded to bring mead which he poured out himself, and they +drank with much pleasure as men do who have joy at their heart strings. +With the third glass the priest became serious. + +"For the assistance, for the good word, for the honesty, let me pay," +said he, "even with good advice." + +"I am listening." + +"Do not settle your son in Vyrambki. The young lady is beautiful beyond +every description. She may also be honorable, I say naught against +that; but she is a Sieninski, not she alone, but Pan Gideon is so proud +of this that if any man, no matter who, were to ask for her, even +Yakobus our king's son, he would not seem too high to Pan Gideon. Guard +your son, do not let him break his young heart on that pride, or wound +himself mortally like Yatsek. Out of pure and well-wishing friendship +do I say this, desiring to pay for your kindness with kindness." + +Pan Serafin drew his palm across his forehead as he answered,-- + +"They dropped down on us at Yedlinka as from the clouds because of what +happened on the journey. I went once to Pan Gideon's on a neighborly +visit, but he did not return it. Noting his pride and its origin I have +not sought his acquaintance or friendship. What has come came of +itself. I will not settle my son in Vyrambki, nor let him be foolish at +Pan Gideon's mansion. We are not such an ancient nobility as the +Sieninskis, nor perhaps as Pan Gideon, but our nobility grew out of +war, out of that which gives pain, as Charnyetski described it. We +shall be able to preserve our own dignity--my son is not less keen on +that point than I am. It is hard for a young man to guard against +Cupid, but I will tell you, my benefactor, what Stashko told me when +recently at Pan Gideon's. I inquired touching Panna Anulka. 'I would +rather,' said he, 'not pluck an apple than spring too high after it, +for if I should not reach the fruit, shame would come of my effort.'" + +"Ah! he has a good thought in his head!" exclaimed Father Voynovski. + +"He has been thus from his boyhood," added Pan Serafin with a certain +proud feeling. "He told me also, that when he had learnt what the girl +had been to Tachevski, and what he had passed through because of her, +he would not cross the road of so worthy a cavalier. No, my benefactor, +I do not take a mortgage on Vyrambki to have my son near Pan Gideon's. +May God guard my Stanislav, and preserve him from evil." + +"Amen! I believe you as if an angel were speaking. And now let some +third man take the girl, even one of the Bukoyemskis, who boast of such +kinsfolk." + +Pan Serafin smiled, drank out his mead, took farewell, and departed. + +Father Voynovski went to the church to thank God for that unexpected +assistance, and then he waited for Yatsek impatiently. + +When at last Yatsek came, the old man ran out to the yard and seized +him by the shoulders. + +"Yatsek," exclaimed he, "thou canst give ten ducats for a crupper. Thou +hast one hundred ducats, as it were, on the table, and Vyrambki remains +to thee." + +Yatsek fixed on Father Voynovski eyes that were sunken from +sleeplessness and suffering, and asked, with astonishment,-- + +"What has happened?" + +"A really good thing, since it came from the heart of an honest man." + +Father Voynovski noted with the greatest consolation that Yatsek in +spite of his terrible suffering, and all his heart tortures, received, +as it were, a new spirit on learning of the agreement with Pan Serafin. +For some days he spoke and thought only of horses, wagons, outfit, and +servants, so that it seemed as though there was no place for aught else +in him. + +"Here is thy medicine, thy balsam; here are thy remedies," repeated the +priest to himself; "for if a man entrapped by a woman and never so +unhappy were going to the army he would have to be careful not to buy a +horse that had heaves or was spavined; he would have to choose sabres, +and fit on his armor, try his lance once and a second time, and, +turning from the woman to more fitting objects, find relief for his +heart in them." + +And he remembered how, when young, he himself had sought in war either +death or forgetfulness. But since war had not begun yet, death was +still distant from Yatsek in every case; meantime he was filled with +his journey, and with questions bound up in it. + +There was plenty to do. Pan Serafin and his son came again to the +priest with whom Yatsek was living. Then all went to the city together +to draw up the mortgage. There, also, they found a part of Yatsek's +outfit; the remainder, the experienced and clear-headed priest advised +to search out in Warsaw or Cracow. This beginning of work took up some +days, during which young Stanislav, whose slight wound was almost +healed, gave earnest assistance to Yatsek, with whom he contracted a +more and more intimate acquaintance and friendship. The old men were +pleased at this, for both held it extremely important. The honest Pan +Serafin even began to be sorry that Yatsek was going so promptly, and +to persuade the priest not to hasten his departure. + +"I understand," said he, "I understand well, my benefactor, why you +wish to send him away at the earliest; but in truth I must tell you +that I think no ill of that Panna Anulka. It is true that immediately +after the duel she did not receive Pan Yatsek very nicely, but remember +that she and Pani Vinnitski were snatched from the jaws of the wolves +by my son and the Bukoyemskis. What wonder, then, that, at sight of the +blood and the wounds of those gentlemen, she was seized with an anger, +which Pan Gideon roused in her purposely, as I know. Pan Gideon is a +stubborn man, truly; but when I was there the poor girl came to me +perfectly penitent. 'I see,' said she, 'that we did not act justly, and +that some reparation is due to Pan Yatsek.' Her eyes became moist +immediately, and pity seized me, because that face of hers is comely +beyond measure. Besides, she has an honest soul and despises +injustice." + +"By the dear God! let not Yatsek hear of this; for his heart would rush +straightway to death again, and barely has he begun to breathe now in +freedom. He ran away from Pan Gideon's bareheaded; he swore that he +would never go back to that mansion, and God guard him from doing so. +Women, your grace, are like will-o'-the-wisps which move at night over +swamp lands at Yedlinka. If you chase one it flees, if you flee it +pursues you. That is the way of it!" + +"That is a wise statement, which I must drive into Stashko," said Pan +Serafin. + +"Let Yatsek go at the earliest. I have written letters already to +various acquaintances, and to dignitaries whom I knew before they were +dignitaries, and to warriors the most famous. In those letters your +son, too, is recommended as a worthy cavalier; and when his turn comes +to go he shall have letters also, though he may not need them, since +Yatsek will prepare the way for him. Let the two serve together." + +"From my whole soul I thank you, my benefactor. Yes! let them serve +together, and may their friendship last till their lives end. You have +mentioned the regiment of Alexander, the king's son, which is under +Zbierhovski. That is a splendid regiment,--perhaps the first among the +hussars,--so I should like Stashko to join it; but he said to me: 'The +light-horse for six days in the week, and the hussars, as it were, only +on Sunday.'" + +"That is true generally," answered the priest. "Hussars are not sent on +scouting expeditions, and it is rare also that they go skirmishing, as +it is not fitting that such men should meet all kinds of faces; but +when their turn comes, they so press on and trample that others do not +spill so much blood in six days as they do on their Sunday. But then, +war, not the warriors, command; hence sometimes it happens that hussars +perform every-day labor." + +"You, my benefactor, know that beyond any man." + +Father Voynovski closed his eyes for a moment, as if wishing to recall +the past more in detail; then he raised them, looked at the mead, +swallowed one mouthful, then a second, and said,-- + +"So it was when toward the end of the Swedish war we went to punish +that traitor, the Elector, for his treaties with Carolus. Pan +Lyubomirski, the marshal, took fire and sword to the outskirts of +Berlin. I was then in his own regiment, in which Viktor was lieutenant +commander. The Brandenburger[4] met us as best he was able, now with +infantry, now with general militia in which were German nobles; and I +tell you that at last, on our side, the arms of the hussars and the +Cossacks of the household seemed almost as if moving on hinges." + +"Was it such difficult work then?" + +"It was not difficult, for at the mere sight of us muskets and spears +trembled in the hands of those poor fellows as tree branches tremble +when the wind blows around them; but there was work daily from morning +till twilight. Whether a man thrusts his spear into a breast or a back, +it is labor. Ah! but that was a lovely campaign! for, as people said, +it was active, and in my life I have never seen so many men's backs and +so many horse rumps as in that time. Even Luther was weeping in hell, +for we ravaged one half of Brandenburg thoroughly." + +"It is pleasant to remember that treason came to just punishment." + +"Of course it is pleasant. The Elector appeared then and begged peace +of Lyubomirski. I did not see him, but later on soldiers told me that +the marshal walked along the square with his hands on his hips while +the Elector tripped after him like a whip-lash. The Elector bowed so +that he almost touched the ground with his wig, and seized the knees of +the marshal. Nay! they even said that he kissed him wherever it +happened; but I give no great faith to that statement, though the +marshal, who had a haughty heart, loved to bend down the enemy; but he +was a polite man in every case, and would not permit things of that +kind." + +"God grant that it may happen with the Turks this time as it did then +with the Elector." + +"My experience, though not lofty, is long, and I will say to you +sincerely that it will go, I think, as well or still better. The +marshal was a warrior of experience and especially a lucky one, but +still, we could not compare Lyubomirski with His Grace the King +reigning actually." + +Then they mentioned all the victories of Sobieski and the battles in +which they themselves had taken part. And so they drank to the health +of the king, and rejoiced, knowing that with him as a leader the young +men would see real war; not only that, but, since the war was to be +against the ancient enemy of the cross, they would win immense glory. + +In truth no one knew accurately anything yet about the question. It was +not known whether the Turkish power would turn first on the +Commonwealth or the Empire. The question of a treaty with Austria was +to be raised at the Diet. But in provincial diets and the meetings of +nobles men spoke of war only. Statesmen who had been in Warsaw, and at +the court, foretold it with conviction, and besides, the whole people +had been seized by a feeling that it must come--a feeling almost +stronger than certainty, and brought out as well by the former deeds of +the king as by the general desire and the destiny of the nation. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + +On the road to Radom Father Voynovski had invited Pan Serafin and +Stanislav to his house for a rest, after which he and Yatsek were to +visit them at Yedlinka. During this visit three of the Bukoyemskis +appeared, unexpectedly. Marek, whose shoulder-blade had been cut, could +not move yet, but Mateush, Lukash, and Yan came to bow down before the +old man and thank him for his care of them when wounded. Yan had lost a +little finger, and the older brothers had big scars, one man on his +cheek, the other on his forehead, but their wounds had then healed and +they were as healthy as mushrooms. + +Two days before they went on a hunt to the forest, smoked out a sleepy +she-bear, speared her, and took her cub which they brought as a gift to +Father Voynovski, whose fondness for wild beasts was known by all +people. + +The priest whom they had pleased as "innocent boys" was amused with +them and the little bear very greatly. He shed tears from laughter when +the cub seized a glass filled with mead for a guest, and began to roar +in heaven-piercing notes to rouse proper terror, and thus save the +booty. + +On seeing that no one wished the mead, the bear stood on its hind-legs +and drank out the cup in man fashion. This roused still greater +pleasure in the audience. The priest was amused keenly, and added,-- + +"I will not make this cub my butler or beekeeper." + +"Ha!" cried Stanislav, laughing, "the beast was a short time at school +with the Bukoyemskis, but learned more in one day from them than it +would all its life in the forest." + +"Not true," put in Lukash, "for this beast has by nature such wit that +it knows what is good without learning. Barely had we brought the cub +from the forest when it gulped down as much vodka (whiskey) right off +as if it had drunk the stuff every morning with its mother, and then +gave a whack on the snout to a dog, as if saying 'This for thee--don't +sniff at me'--after that it went off and slept soundly." + +"Thank you, gentlemen. I will have real pleasure from this bear," said +the priest, "but I will not make the creature my butler or beekeeper, +for though knowing drinks well, it would stay too near them." + +"Bears can do more than one thing. Father Glominski at Prityk has a +bear which pumps the organ they say. But some people are scandalized, +for at times he roars, especially when any one punches him." + +"Well, there is no cause for scandal in that," replied Father +Voynovski; "birds build nests in churches and sing to the glory of God; +no one is scandalized. Every beast serves God, and the Saviour was born +in a stable." + +"They say, besides," added Mateush, "that the Lord Jesus turned a +miller into a bear, so maybe there is a human soul in him." + +"In that case you killed the miller's wife, and must answer," said Pan +Serafin. "His Grace the King is very jealous of his bears and does not +keep foresters to kill them." + +When they heard this the three brothers grew anxious, but it was only +after long thinking that Mateush, who wished to say something in +self-defence, answered,-- + +"Pshaw! are we not nobles? The Bukoyemskis are as good as the +Sobieskis." + +But a happy thought came to Lukash, and his face brightened. + +"We gave our knightly word," said he, "not to shoot bears, and we shoot +no bears; we spear them." + +"His Grace the King is not thinking of bears at the present," said Yan; +"and besides, no one will tell him. Let any forester here say a word. +It is a pity, however, that we boasted in presence of Pan Gideon and +Pan Grothus, for Pan Grothus has just gone to Warsaw, and as he sees +the king often, he may mention this accidentally." + +"But when did ye see Pan Gideon?" asked the priest. + +"Yesterday. He was conducting Pan Grothus; You know, benefactor, the +inn called Mordovnia? They stopped there to let their beasts rest. Pan +Gideon asked about many things, and he talked also of Yatsek." + +"About me?" inquired Yatsek. + +"Yes. 'Is it true,' asked he, 'that Tachevski is going to the army?' +'True,' we answered. + +"'But when?' + +"'Soon, we think.' + +"Then Pan Gideon said again: 'That is well. Of course he will join the +infantry?' + +"At that we all became angry, and Mateush said. 'Do not say that, your +grace, for Yatsek is our friend now, and we must be on his side.' And +as we began to pant, he restrained himself. 'I do not mention this out +of any ill-will, but I know that Vyrambki is not an estate of the +crown,'" said he. + +"An estate, or not, what is that to him?" cried the priest. "He need +not trouble his head with it!" + +But it was clear that Pan Gideon thought otherwise, and did trouble his +head about Yatsek; for an hour later the youth who brought in a +decanter of mead brought a sealed letter also. + +"There is a messenger to your grace from Pan Gideon," said he. + +Father Voynovski took the letter, broke the seal, opened it, struck the +paper with the back of his hand, and, approaching the window, began to +read. + +Yatsek grew pale from emotion; he looked at the letter as at a rainbow, +for he divined that there must be mention of him in it. Thoughts flew +through his head as swallows fly. "Well," thought he, "the old man is +penitent; here is his excuse. It must be so and even cannot be +otherwise. Pan Gideon has no more cause now to be angry than those men +who suffered in the duel, so his conscience has spoken. He has +recognized the injustice of his conduct. He understands how grievously +he injured an innocent person, and he desires to correct the +injustice." + +Yatsek's heart began to beat like a hammer. "Oh! I will go to the war," +said he in his soul--"not for me is happiness over there. Though I +forgive her I cannot forget. But to see once more, before going, that +beloved Anulka, who is so cruel, to have a good look once again at her, +to hear her voice anew. O Gracious God, refuse not this blessing!" + +And his thoughts flew with still greater swiftness than swallows; but +before they had stopped flying something took place which no man there +had expected: on a sudden Father Voynovski crushed the letter in his +hand and grasped toward his left side as if seeking a sabre. His face +filled with blood, his neck swelled, and his eyes shot forth lightning. +He was simply so terrible that Pan Serafin, his son, and the +Bukoyemskis looked at him with amazement, as if he had been turned into +some other person through magic. + +Deep silence reigned in the chamber. + +Meanwhile the priest bent toward the window, as if gazing at some +object outside it, then he turned away looked first at the walls and +then at his guests. It was clear that he had been struggling with +himself and had come to his mind again, for his face had grown pale, +and the flame was now dim in his eyeballs. + +"Gracious gentlemen," said he, "that man is not merely passionate, but +evil altogether. To say in excitement more than justice permits befalls +every man, but to continue committing injustice and trampling on those +who are offended is not the deed of a noble, or a Catholic." Then, +stooping, he raised the crumpled letter and turned to Tachevski. + +"Yatsek, if there is still in thy heart any splinter, take this knife +and cut it out thoroughly. Read, poor boy, read aloud, it is not for +thee to be ashamed, but for him who wrote this letter. Let these +gentlemen learn what kind of man is Pan Gideon." + +Yatsek seized the letter with trembling hands, opened it and read: + + +"My very gracious Priest, Pastor, Benefactor, Etc., Etc.,--Having +learned that Tachevski of Vyrambki, who has frequented my house, is to +join the army during these days, I, in memory of the bread with which I +nourished his poverty, and for the services in which sometimes I was +able to use him, send the man a horse, and a ducat to shoe the beast, +with the advice not to waste the money on other and needless objects. + +"Offering at the same time to you my willing and earnest services, I +inscribe myself, etc., etc." + + +Yatsek grew so very pale after reading the letter that the men present +had fears for him, especially the priest who was not sure that that +pallor might not be the herald of some outburst of madness, for he knew +how terrible was that young man in his anger, though usually so mild. +He began therefore at once to restrain him. + +"Pan Gideon is old, and has lost one arm," said he quickly, "thou canst +not challenge him!" + +But Yatsek did not burst out, for at the first moment immeasurable and +painful amazement conquered all other feelings. + +"I cannot challenge him," repeated he, as an echo, "but why does he +continue to trample me?" + +Thereupon Pan Serafin rose, took both Yatsek's hands, shook them +firmly, kissed him on the forehead, and added,-- + +"Pan Gideon has injured, not thee, but himself, and if thou drop +revenge every man will wonder all the more at thy noble soul which +deserves the high blood in thee." + +"Those are wise words!" cried the priest, "and thou must deserve them." + +Pan Stanislav now embraced Yatsek. + +"In truth," said he, "I love thee more and more." + +This turn of affairs was not at all pleasing to the Bukoyemskis, who +had not ceased to grit their teeth from the moment of hearing the +letter. Following Stanislav they embraced Yatsek also. + +"No matter how things are," said Lukash at last, "I should do +differently in Yatsek's place." + +"How?" asked the two brothers with curiosity. + +"That is just it. I don't know how, but I should think out something, +and would not yield my position." + +"Since thou knowst not do not talk." + +"But ye, do ye know anything?" + +"Be quiet!" said the priest. "Be sure I shall not leave the letter +unanswered. Still, to drop revenge is a Christian and a Catholic +action." + +"Oh but! Even you, father, snatched for a sabre the first moment." + +"Because I carried a sabre too long. _Mea Culpa!_ Still, as I have +said, this fact comes in also. Pan Gideon is old, he has only one arm; +iron rules are not in place here. And I tell you, gentlemen, that for +this very reason I am disgusted to the last degree with this raging old +fellow who makes use of his impunity so unjustly." + +"Still, it will be too narrow for him in our neighborhood," said Yan +Bukoyemski. "Our heads for this: that not a living foot will go under +that roof of his." + +"Meanwhile an answer is needed," said Father Voynovski, "and +immediately." + +For a time yet they considered as to who should write,--Yatsek, at whom +the letter was aimed, or the priest to whom it was directed. Yatsek +settled the question by saying,-- + +"For me that whole house and all people in it are as if dead, and it is +well for them that in my soul this is settled." + +"It is well that the bridges are burnt!" said the priest; as he sought +pen and paper. + +"It is well that the bridges are burnt," repeated Yan Bukoyemski, "but +it would be better that the mansion rose in smoke! This was our way in +the Ukraine: when some strange man came in and knew not how to live +with us, we cut him to pieces and up in smoke went his property." + +No one turned attention to these words save Pan Serafin, who waved his +hands with impatience, and answered,-- + +"You, gentlemen, came in here from the Ukraine, I, from Lvoff, and Pan +Gideon from Pomorani; according to your wit Pan Tachevski might count +us all as intruders; but know this, that the Commonwealth is a great +mansion occupied by a family of nobles, and a noble is at home in every +corner." + +Silence followed, except that from the alcove came the squeaking of a +pen and words in an undertone which the priest was dictating to +himself. Yatsek rested his forehead on his palms and sat motionless for +some time; all at once he straightened himself, looked at those +present, and said,-- + +"There is something in this beyond my understanding." + +"We do not understand, either," added Lukash, "but if thou wilt pour +out more mead we will drink it." + +Yatsek poured into the glasses mechanically, following at the same time +the course of his own thoughts. + +"Pan Gideon," said he, "might be offended because the duel began at his +mansion, though such things happen everywhere; but now he knows that I +did not challenge, he knows that he offended me under my own roof +unjustly, he knows that with you I am now in agreement, and that I +shall not appear at his house again,--still he pursues me, still he is +trying to trample me." + +"True, there is some kind of special animosity in this," said Pan +Serafin. + +"Ha! then there is as you think something in it?" + +"In what?" asked the priest, who had come out with a letter now +written, and heard the last sentence. + +"In this special hatred against me." + +The priest looked at a shelf on which among other books was the Holy +Bible, and said,-- + +"That which I will say to thee now I said long ago: there is a woman in +it." Here he turned to those present. "Have I repeated to you, +gentlemen, what Ecclesiastes says about woman?" + +But he could not finish, for Yatsek sprang up as if burnt by living +fire. He thrust his fingers through his hair and almost screamed, for +immense pain had seized him. + +"Still more do I fail to understand; for if any one in the world--if to +any one in the world--if there be any one of such kind--then with my +whole soul--" + +But he could not say a word more, for the pain in his heart had gripped +his throat as if in a vice of iron, and rose to his eyes as two bitter, +burning tears, which flowed down his cheeks. The priest understood him +then perfectly. + +"My Yatsek," advised he, "better burn out the wound, even with awful +pain than let it fester. For this reason I do not spare thee. I, in my +time, was a soldier of this world, and understand many things. I know +that regret and remembrance, no matter how far a man travels, drag like +dogs after him, and howl in the night-time. They give him no chance to +sleep because of this howling. What must he do then? Kill those dogs +straightway. Thou at this moment feelest that thou wouldst have given +all thy blood over there; for which reason it seems to thee so +marvellous and terrible that from that side alone vengeance pursues +thee. The thing seems to thee impossible; but it is possible--for if +thou hast wounded the pride and self-love of a woman, if she thought +that thou wouldst whine and thou hast not whined when she beat thee, +and thou didst not fawn in her presence, but hast tugged at thy chain +and hast broken it, know that she will never and never forgive thee, +and her hatred, more raging than that of any man living, will always +pursue thee. Against this there is only one refuge: crush the love, +even on thy own heart, and hurl it, like a broken bow, far from +thee--that is thy one refuge!" + +Again there was a moment of silence. Pan Serafin nodded, confirming the +priest, and, as a man of experience, he admired all the wisdom of his +statement. + +"It is true," added Yatsek, "that I have tugged at the chain, and have +broken it. So it is not Pan Gideon who pursues me!" + +"I know what I should do," said Lukash, on a sudden. + +"Tell, do not hide!" cried the other two. + +"Do ye know what the hare said?" + +"What hare? Art thou drunk?" + +"Why that hare at the boundary ridge." + +And, evidently encouraged, he stood up, put his hand on his hip and +began to sing: + + + "A hare was just sitting for pleasure, + Just sitting at the boundary ridge. + But the hunters did not see him, + Did not know + That he was sitting lamenting + And making his will + At the boundary ridge." + + +Here he turned to his brothers and asked them,-- + +"Do ye know the will made by that hare at the boundary ridge?" + +"We know, but it is pleasant to hear it repeated." + +"Then listen. + + + "Kiss me all ye horsemen and hunters, + Kiss me at the boundary ridge. + + +"This is what I would write to all at Belchantska if I were in Yatsek's +position; and if he does not write it, may the first Janissary +disembowel me if I do not write it in my own name and yours to Pan +Gideon." + +"Oh, as God is dear to me, that is a capital idea!" cried Yan, much +delighted. + +"It is to the point and full of fancy!" + +"Let Yatsek write that!" + +"No," said the priest, made impatient by the talk of the brothers. "I +am writing, not Yatsek, and it would not become me to take your words." +Here he turned to Pan Serafin and Stanislav and Yatsek. "The task was +difficult, for I had to twist the horns of his malice and not abandon +politeness, and also to show him that we understood whence the sting +came. Listen, therefore, and if any one of you gentlemen has made a +nice judgment I beg you to criticise this letter." And he began,-- + +"Great mighty benefactor, and to me very dear Sir and Brother." + +Here he struck the letter with the back of his hand, and said,-- + +"You will observe, gentlemen, that I do not call him 'my very +gracious,' but 'my very dear.'" + +"He will have enough!" said Pan Serafin, "read on, my benefactor." + +"Then listen: 'It is known to all citizens of our Commonwealth that +only those people know how to observe due politeness in every position +who have lived from youth upward among polite people, or who, coming of +great blood, have brought politeness into the world with them. Neither +the one nor the other has come to your grace as a portion, while on the +contrary the Mighty Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski inherited from renowned +ancestors both blood and a lordly spirit. He forgives you your peasant +expressions and sends back your peasant gifts. Rustics keep inns in +cities and also eating-houses on country roads for the entertainment of +people. If you will send to the great Lord Pan Yatsek Tachevski the +bill for such entertainment as he received at your house he will pay +it, and add such gratuity as seems proper to his generous nature.'" + +"Oh, as God is dear to me!" exclaimed Pan Serafin, "Pan Gideon will +have a rush of blood!" + +"Ha! it was necessary to bring down his pride, and at the same time to +burn the bridges. Yatsek himself wanted that-- Now listen to what I +write from myself to him: 'I have inclined Pan Tachevski to see that +though the bow is yours, the poisoned arrow with which you wished to +strike that worthy young gentleman was not in your own quiver. Since +reason in men, and strength in their bones, weaken with years, and +senile old age yields easily to suggestions from others, it deserves +more indulgence. With this I end, adding as a priest and a servant of +God, this: that the greater the age, the nearer life's end, the less +should a man be a servant of hatred and haughtiness. On the contrary, +he should think all the more of the salvation of his soul, a thing +which I wish your grace. Amen. Herewith remaining, etc. I subscribe +myself, etc.'" + +"All is written out accurately," said Pan Serafin; "nothing to be +added, nothing taken away." + +"Ha!" said the priest, "do you think that he gets what he deserves?" + +"Oi! certain words burnt me." + +"And me," added Lukash. "It is sure that when a man hears such speeches +he wants to drink, just as on a hot day." + +"Yatsek, attend to those gentlemen. I will seal the letter and send it +away." + +So saying he took the ring from his finger and went to the alcove. But +while sealing the letter some other thought came to his head, as it +happened, for when he returned, he said,-- + +"It is done. The affair is over. But do you not think it too cutting? +The man is old, it may cost him his health. Wounds given by the pen are +no less effective than those by the sword or the bullet." + +"True! true!" said Yatsek, and he gritted his teeth. + +But just this exclamation of pain decided the matter. Pan Serafin +added,-- + +"My revered benefactor, your scruples are honorable, but Pan Gideon had +no scruples whatever; his letter struck straight at the heart, while +yours strikes only at malice and pride. I think, therefore, that it +ought to be sent." + +And the letter was sent. After that still more hurried preparations +were made for Yatsek's departure. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + +But Tachevski's friends did not foresee that the priest's letter would +be in a certain sense useful to Pan Gideon, and serve his home policy. +He did not indeed receive it without anger. Yatsek, who so far had been +merely an obstacle, became thenceforth, though not the author of the +letter, an object of hatred. That hatred in the stubborn old heart of +Pan Gideon bloomed like a poison flower, but his ingenious mind +determined to use the priest's letter. In view of this he restrained +his fierce rage, his face assumed a look of contemptuous pity, and he +went with the answer to Anulka. + +"Thou hast paid toll, and art assaulted for doing so," said he. "I did +not wish this, for I am a man of experience, and I know people; but +when thou didst clasp thy hands and say that injustice had been done, +that I had exceeded in sternness, and thou hadst been too severe to +him, that he ought not to leave us in anger, I yielded. I sent him +assistance in money. I sent him a horse. I wrote him a nice letter +also. I thought he would come and bow down, give us thanks, take +farewell as became a man who had spent so much time in this mansion; +but see what he has sent me in answer!" + +At these words he drew the priest's letter from his girdle and gave it +to the young lady. She began to read, and soon her dark brows met in +anger, but when she reached the place where the priest declared that +Pan Gideon wished to humiliate Yatsek, thanks to the suggestions of +another, her hands trembled, her face became scarlet, then grew as pale +as linen, and remained pale. + +Though Pan Gideon saw all this he feigned not to see it. + +"May God forgive them for what they attribute to me," said he, after a +moment of silence. "He alone knows whether my ancestors are much below +the Tachevskis, of whose greatness more fables than truth are related. +What I cannot forgive is this: that they pay thee, my poor dear, for +thy kindness of an angel, with such ingratitude." + +"It was not Pan Yatsek who wrote this, but Father Voynovski," answered +Anulka, seizing, as it were, the last plank of salvation. + +The old noble sighed. + +"Dost thou believe, girl," inquired he, "that I love thee?" + +"I believe," answered she, bending and kissing his hand. + +"Though thou believe," said he, stroking her bright head with great +tenderness, "thou knowest not clearly that thou art my whole +consolation. Rarely do I permit myself words such as these, and rarely +do I tell that which my heart feels, since former suffering is +concealed in it. But thou shouldst understand that I have only thee in +the world. I would increase hourly, not thy disappointment, pain, and +trouble, but thy joy and happiness. I do not ask what began to bud in +thy heart, but I will say this to thee: whether that was, as I think, a +pure, sisterly feeling, or something more, that young man was unworthy. +He has heaped on us ingratitude in return for our sincere friendship. +My Anulka, thou wouldst deceive thyself wert thou to think that the +priest wrote this letter without Yatsek's knowledge. They wrote it +together and knowest why they replied with such insolence? As I have +heard, Tachevski got money from that Armenian in Yedlinka. That is what +he needs, and now since he has it he cares for naught else, and for no +one any longer. This is the truth, and in thy soul thou must +acknowledge that to think otherwise would be willing self-deception." + +"I see," answered Anulka. + +Pan Gideon meditated awhile as if he were dwelling on something. + +"People say," added he finally, "that it is a vice of old people to +praise past times and lay blame on the present. But no, this is not a +vice. The world is growing worse, people are becoming worse. In my day +no man would have acted as has Tachevski. Dost thou know the first +cause of this? That night on the tree, which exposed this lord cavalier +to the ridicule of people. To hurry, as it were, to help some one and +then climb a tree out of terror, may happen, but in such a case it is +better not to boast of it, for the thing is ridiculous, ridiculous! I +do not hold up the Bukoyemskis or Pan Stanislav as heroes: they are +drunkards, road-blockers, gamblers--I know them! Our lives were less in +their minds than were wolf skins. But there is lurking in this Yatsek +such envy that he could not forgive them that chance aid which they +gave us. Out of that rose the duel. May God punish me if I had not +reason to be angry. Ha, they made friends after the duel, for it is +clear that our cavalier understood that he could get money from Pan +Serafin, so he preferred to turn his malice against this mansion. +Pride, animosity, ingratitude, and greed, those are the things which he +has manifested, and nothing better. He has injured me. Never mind. God +forgive him! But why should he attack thee, my dear flower? A neighbor +for long years, a guest for long years--daily visits. A gypsy in such a +position would become faithful; a swallow grows used to its roof; a +stork returns to its nest; but he spat on our house as soon as he felt +in his purse the coin of the Armenian. No! No! No man in my day would +have acted in that style." + +Anulka listened with her palms on her temples, and with eyes looking +out before her in fixedness, so Pan Gideon stopped and looked at her +once, and a second time. + +"Why dost thou forget thyself?" asked he. + +"I have not forgotten myself, but I am so sad that words have deserted +me." + +And not finding words she found tears. + +Pan Gideon let her cry till she had finished. + +"It is better," said he at last, "to let that sadness pass off with +tears than let it stay in the heart and be petrified. Ah, it is hard! +Let him go, let him clink other men's coin, let him touch the mud with +his saddle-cloth, let him strut as a lord, and court Warsaw harlots. +But we will remain here, my girl. That is no great delight, it is true, +but still it is a delight, if thou remember that no one in this house +will deceive thee, no one here will offend thee, no one will break thy +heart; that here thou wilt be always as an eye in the head of each +person, that thy happiness will be the first question always, and also +the last question of my life. Come--" + +He stretched his arms toward her, and she fell on his breast with +emotion and gratitude, as she would on the breast of a father who was +comforting her in a moment of suffering. + +Pan Gideon fell to stroking her bright head with the one hand that +remained to him, and long did they sit there in silence. Meanwhile it +was growing dark, the frosty window-panes glittered in the moonlight, +and dogs made themselves heard here and there with prolonged barking. + +The warmth of the maiden's body penetrated to the heart of Pan Gideon +which began to beat with more vigor, and since he feared to make a +declaration too early, he would not expose himself then to temptation. + +"Stand up, child," said he. "Thou wilt not weep now?" + +"I will not," answered she, kissing his hand. + +"Seest thou! Ah, this is it! Remember always the place where thou hast +a sure refuge, and where it will be calm for thee, and pleasant. Every +young man is glad to race over the world like a tempest, but for me +thou art the only one. Fix this well in mind. More than once, perhaps, +hast thou thought, 'My guardian seems a savage wolf; he is glad to find +some one to shout at, and he has no understanding of my young ideas;' +but knowest thou of what this guardian has thought and is thinking at +present? Often of his past happiness, often of that pain, which like an +arrow is fixed in his heart--that is true, but besides that only of +thee and thy future, only of this: to secure every good thing for thee. +Pan Grothus and I talked whole hours of this. He laughed because, as he +said, one thought alone remained with me. My one point was to secure to +thee after my death even a sufficient and quiet morsel." + +"May God not grant me to wait for that!" cried she, bending again to +the hand of Pan Gideon. + +And in her voice there was such sincerity that the stern face of the +old noble was radiant with genuine joy for the moment. + +"Dost thou love me a little?" + +"Oh, guardian!" + +"God reward thee, child. My age is not yet so advanced, and my body, +save for the wounds in my heart and my person, would be sufficiently +stalwart. But as men say, death is ever sitting 'at the gate, and +knocks at the door whensoever it pleases. Were it to knock here thou +wouldst be alone in the world with Pani Vinnitski. Pan Grothus is a +good man and wealthy; he would respect my testament and wishes at all +times, but as to other relatives of my late wife--who knows what they +would do? And this estate and this mansion I got with my wife. Her +relatives might wish to resist, and raise lawsuits. There is need to +have foresight in all things. Pan Grothus gave advice touching this +case--true, it is effective--but strange, and therefore I will not +speak to thee yet of it. I should like to see His Grace the King--to +leave thee and my will to his guardianship, but the king is occupied +now with the coming war and the Diet. Pan Grothus says that if there is +war the troops will move first under the hetmans, and the king will +join them at Cracow--perhaps then--perhaps we shall go together. But +whatever happens, know this, my child; all that I have will be thine, +though I should have to follow at last the advice of Pan Grothus. +Yes!--even for one hour before death! Yes, so help me, God. For I am +not a wind in the field, not a harebrain, not a purse emptier, not a +Tachevski." + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + +Panna Anulka returned to her room filled with gratitude toward her +guardian, who up to that hour had never spoken to her with such +kindness; and at the same time she was disenchanted, embittered, and +disgusted with the world and with people. In the first moment she could +not and knew not how to think calmly; she had only the feeling that a +grievous wrong had been done her, a great injustice, and that an +awfully keen disappointment had struck her. + +For her love, for her sorrow, for her yearning, for all that she had +done to bind the broken threads together, her only reward was a hateful +suspicion. And there was no remedy. She could not, of course, write to +Yatsek a second time, to justify herself and explain the position. A +blush of shame and humiliation covered her face at the mere thought of +this. Besides, she was almost sure that Yatsek had gone. And next would +come war; perhaps she would never behold him in life again; perhaps he +would fall and die with the conviction that a perverse and wicked heart +was in her bosom. All at once boundless sorrow seized her. Yatsek stood +before her eyes as if living, with his embrowned face and those pensive +eyes which more than once she had laughed at, as being the eyes of a +maiden. + +The girl's thought flies like a swift swallow after the traveller, and +calls to him: "Yatsek! I wish thee no evil! God sees my heart, Yatsek." +Thus does she call to him, but he makes no answer; he rides on straight +ahead. What does he think of her? He only frowns and spits from disgust +as he travels. + +Again there are pearls on her eyelids. A certain weakness has come on +her, a moment of resignation in which she says to herself: "Ah, this is +difficult! May God forgive him, and go with him, and never mind me!" + +But her lips quiver like those of a child, her eyes look like those of +a tortured bird, and somewhere off in a hidden corner of her soul, +which is as pure as a tear, she blames God in the deepest secret for +that which has met her. + +Then again she felt certain that Yatsek had never loved her, and she +could not understand why he had not loved her, even a little. + +"My guardian spoke truly," said she. + +But later on came reflection. + +"No, that could not be." + +Immediately she recalled those words of Yatsek, which were fixed in her +memory as in marble. "Not thou art to go, I am the person to go; but I +say to thee: though for years I have loved thee more than health, more +than life, more than my own soul, I will never come back to thee. I +will gnaw my own hands off in torture, but, so help me, God, I will +never come back to thee." And he was pale as a wall when he said this, +and almost mad from pain and from anger. He had not come back, that was +true! He had appeared no more, he had left her, he had renounced her, +he had abandoned her, he had wronged her; with an unworthy suspicion he +and the priest had composed the dreadful letter--all that was true, and +her guardian was right in that. But that Yatsek had never loved her, +that after he had found money he had departed with a light and joyful +heart, that he thought of paying court to others, that he had ceased +altogether to think of her,--this was incredible. Her guardian might +think so in his carefulness, but the truth was quite different. He who +has no love does not grow pale, does not set his teeth, does not gnaw +his fists, does not rend his soul in anguish. Such being the case, the +young lady thought the difference was only this, that instead of one +two were now suffering, hence a certain consolation, and even a certain +hope, entered her. The days and months which were to come seemed +gloomier, it may be, but not so bitter. The words of the letter ceased +to burn her like red-hot iron, for though she doubted not that Yatsek +had assisted in the writing, it is one thing to act through sorrow and +pain, and another through deliberate malice. + +So again great compassion for Yatsek took hold of her; so great was it, +and especially so ardent, that it could not be simply compassion. Her +thoughts began to weave, and turn into a certain golden thread, which +was lost in the future, but which at the same time cast on her the +glitter of a wedding. + +The war would soon end and also the separation. That cruel Yatsek would +not return to Belchantska. Oh, no! a man so resolute as he when once he +says a thing will adhere to it; but he will come back to those parts, +and return to Vyrambki; he will live near by, and then that will happen +which God wishes. He went away it may be with tears, it may be with +pain, with wringing of hands--God comfort him! He will come home with a +full heart, and with joy, and, especially after war, with great glory. + +Meanwhile she will be there quietly in Belchantska, where her guardian +is so kind; she will explain to that guardian that Yatsek is not so bad +as other young men--and farther on moved that golden thread which began +to wind round her heart again. + +The goldfinch, in the Dantsic clock of the drawing-room, whistled out a +late hour, but sleep flew from the young lady altogether. + +Lying now in her bed she fixed her clear eyes on the ceiling and +considered what disposition to make of her troubles and sorrows. If +Yatsek had gone it was only because he was running away from her, for +according to what she had heard war was still far from them. Her +guardian had not mentioned that young Stanislav and the Bukoyemskis +were to go away also; it was proper to come to an understanding with +them and learn something of Yatsek, and say some kind word which might +reach him through them, even in distant camps, and in war time. + +She had not much hope that those gentlemen would come to Pan Gideon's, +for it was known to her that they had gone over to Yatsek, and that for +a certain time they had been looking with disfavor on Pan Gideon; but +she relied on another thing. + +In some days there would be a festival of the Most Holy Lady; a great +festival at the parish church of Prityk, where all the neighboring +nobles assembled with their families. She would see Pan Stanislav and +the Bukoyemskis, if not in front of the church then at dinner in the +priest's house. On that day the priest received every one. + +She hoped too that in the throng she would be able to speak with them +freely, and that she would not meet any hindrance from her guardian +who, though not very kind toward those gentlemen recently, could not +break with them in view of the service which they had shown him. + +To Prityk from Belchantska the road was rather long, and Pan Gideon, +who did not like hurry, passed the night at Radom, or at Yedlina, if he +chose the road through the latter place. + +This time because of the overflow they took the safer though longer +road through Radom, and started one day before the festival--on wheels, +not on runners, for winter had broken on a sudden, and thoroughly. +After them moved two heavily laden wagons with servants, provisions, a +bed and sofas for decent living at inns where they halted. + +The stars were still twinkling, and the sky had barely begun to grow +pale in the east when they started. Pani Vinnitski led morning prayers +in the dark. Pan Gideon and the young lady joined her with very drowsy +voices, for the evening before they had gone to bed late because of +preparations for the journey. Only beyond the village and the small +forest, in which thousands of crows found their night rest, did the +ruddy light shine on the equally ruddy face and drowsy eyes of the +young lady. Her lips were fixed ready for yawning, but when the first +sun-ray lighted the fields and the forest she shook herself out of the +drowsiness and looked around with more sprightliness, for the clear +morning filled her with a certain good hope, and a species of gladness. +The calm, warm, coming day promised to be really wonderful. In the air +appeared, as it were, the first note of early spring. After +unparalleled snows and frosts came warm sunny days all at once, to the +astonishment of people. Men had said that from the New Year it seemed +as if some power had cut off the winter as it were with a knife-blade, +and herdsmen foretold by the lowing of cattle, then restive in the +stables, that the winter would not come back again. In fact, spring +itself was then present. In furrows, in the forest, at the north side +of woods and along streams, strips of snow still existed; but the sun +was warming them from above, and from beneath were flowing out streams +and currents, making in places broad overflows in which were reflected +wet leafless trees, as in mirrors. The damp ridges of fields gleamed +like belts of gold in the sun-rays. At times a strong wind rose, but so +filled with gladsome warmth as if it came from out the sun's body +directly, and flying over the fields wrinkled the waters, throwing down +with its movement thousands of pearls from the slender dark twigs of +the tree branches. + +Because of the thaws and road "stickiness," and also because of the +weighty carriage which was drawn by six horses with no little effort, +they moved very slowly. As the sun rose more and more the air grew so +warm that Panna Sieninski untied the ribbons of her hood, which dropped +to the back of her head, and unbuttoned her weasel-skin shuba. + +"Are you so warm?" inquired Pani Vinnitski. + +"Spring, Auntie! real spring!" was the answer. + +And she was so charming with her bright and somewhat dishevelled head +pushed out from her hood, with laughing eyes and rosy face, that the +stern eyes of Pan Gideon grew mild as he glanced at her. For a while he +seemed as if looking at her then for the first time, and spoke as if +half to himself,-- + +"As God lives thou art at thy best also!" + +She smiled at him in answer. + +"Oh, how slowly we are moving," said she after a while. "The road is +awful! Is it not true that on a long road one should wait till it dries +somewhat?" + +Pan Gideon's face became serious, and he looked out of the carriage +without giving an answer. + +"Yedlina!" said he, soon after. + +"Then perhaps one may go to the church?" inquired Pani Vinnitski. + +"We will not, first because the church is sure to be closed, for the +priest has gone to Prityk, and second, because he has offended me +greatly, and I will hide my hand if he approaches." Then he added: "I +ask you, and thee also, Anulka, not to converse with him in any way." + +A moment of silence succeeded. Suddenly the tramping of horses was +heard behind the carriage, and the sounds made as the beasts pulled +their feet out of the mud; these resembled the firing of muskets,--then +piercing words were heard on both sides of the carriage. + +"With the forehead! with the forehead!" + +That was from the Bukoyemskis. + +"With the forehead!" answered Pan Gideon. + +"Is your grace for Prityk?" + +"I go every year. I suppose your lordships are going also to the +festival?" + +"You may lay a wager on that," replied Marek. "One must be purified +from sin before war comes." + +"But is it not early yet?" + +"Why should it be too early?" asked Lukash. "All that has been sinned +up to the moment will fall from one's shoulders, since that is the use +of absolution; and as to sins incurred later, the priest absolves from +those in presence of the enemy, _in partikulo mortis_." + +"You wish to say _in articulo_" corrected Pan Gideon. + +"All the same, if only repentance is real." + +"How do you understand repentance?" inquired the amused Pan Gideon. + +"How do I understand repentance? Father Vior, the last time, commanded +that we give ourselves thirty stripes in discipline, and we gave fifty; +for we thought: Well, since this pleases the Heavenly Powers, let them +have all they want of it." + +At this even the serious Pani Vinnitski laughed and Panna Anulka hid +her face in her sleeve as if warming her nose there. + +Lukash noticed, as did his brothers, that their answer had roused +laughter, hence they were somewhat offended and silent; so for a time +were heard only the rattling of chains on the carriage, the snorting of +horses, the sound of mud under hoofs, and the croaking of crows. +Immense flocks of these birds were sailing away in the sunlight from +small places and villages to the pine woods. + +"Ah! they feel this very minute that there will be food even to wade +in," said the youngest Bukoyemski, turning his eyes toward the crows. + +"Yes, war is their harvest," said Mateush. + +"They do not feel it yet, for war is far off," said Pan Gideon. + +"Far or near, it is certain!" + +"And how do you know?" + +"We all know what the talk was at the district diets, and what +instructions will be given to the general Diet." + +"True, but it is not known if they were the same everywhere." + +"Pan Prylubski, who has travelled through a great part of the +Commonwealth, says they were the same everywhere." + +"Who is Pan Prylubski?" + +"He comes from Olkuts, and makes levies for the bishop of Cracow." + +"But has the bishop commanded to make levies before the assembling of +the Diet?" + +"You see, your grace, how it is! This is the best proof that war is +certain. The bishop wants a splendid light cavalry regiment--well, Pan +Prylubski came to these parts because he has heard of us somewhat." + +"Ho! ho! Your glory has gone far through the world. Are you going?" + +"Of course!" + +"All of you?" + +"Why should we not all go? It is a good thing during war to have a +friend at one's side, and still better a brother." + +"Well, and Pan Stanislav?" + +"He and Pan Yatsek will serve in one regiment." + +Pan Gideon glanced quickly at the young lady sitting in front; a sudden +flame rushed over her cheeks, and he inquired further,-- + +"Are they so intimate already? Under whom will they serve?" + +"Under Pan Zbierhovski." + +"Of course in the dragoons?" + +"In God's name, what are you saying? That is the hussar regiment of +Prince Alexander." + +"Is it possible! Is it possible! That is no common regiment--" + +"Pan Yatsek is no common man." + +Pan Gideon had it on his lips to say that such a stripling in the +hussars would be a soldier, not an officer, but he held back the +remark, fearing it might seem that his letter was not so polite, or his +help so considerable as he had told Anulka, so he frowned and said,-- + +"I have heard of the mortgage of Vyrambki; how much was given on it?" + +"More than you would have given," answered Marek, dryly. + +Pan Gideon's eyes glittered for a moment with savage anger, but he +restrained himself a second time, for it occurred to him that further +conversation might serve his purpose. + +"All the better," said he, "the cavalier must be satisfied." + +The Bukoyemskis, though slow-witted by nature, began to exaggerate, one +more than the other, just to show Pan Gideon how little Tachevski cared +for him and all in his mansion. + +"Of course!" called out Lukash, "when he went away he was almost wild +from delight. He sang so that the candles at the inn toppled over. It +is true, that we had drunk some at parting." + +Pan Gideon looked again at Panna Sieninski, and saw that her rosy face +full of youth and life had become as it were petrified. Her hood had +fallen off entirely, her eyes were closed as in sleep; only from the +movement of her nostrils and the slight quivering of her chin could it +be known that she was not sleeping, but listening, and listening +intently. It was painful to look at her, but the merciless noble +thought,-- + +"If there is a splinter in thy heart yet will I pluck it out of thee!" +And he said aloud,-- + +"Just as I expected--" + +"What did you expect?" + +"That you gentlemen would be drunk at the parting, and that Pan +Tachevski would go away singing. Of course, he who is seeking fortune +must hurry, and if it smiles on him, perhaps he may catch it--" + +"Of course!" exclaimed Lukash. + +"Father Voynovski," added Marek, "gave Tachevski a letter to Pan +Zbierhovski, who is his friend, and in Zbierhova the land is such that +you can sow onions in any place,--and he has an only daughter, just +fifteen years of age. So don't you bother about Tachevski; he will make +his way without you, and without these sands around Radom!" + +"I do not bother myself about him," said Pan Gideon, dryly. "But +perhaps you gentlemen are in a hurry to ride on? My carriage moves in +this mud like a tortoise." + +"Well, here is to you with the forehead!" + +"With the forehead! with the forehead! I am the servant of your +lordships!" + +"We are yours in the same way!" + +Having said this the brothers moved forward more speedily, but when +they had ridden an arrow-shot from the carriage they reined in again +and talked with animation. + +"Did ye see?" asked Lukash, "I said 'Of course!' twice, and twice I +thrust a sword into his heart as it were; he almost burst out." + +"I did better," said Marek, "for I struck both the girl and the old +man." + +"How? Tell us, do not hide!" called the brothers. + +"Did ye not hear?" + +"We heard, but do thou repeat." + +"I struck with what I said of Panna Zbierhovski. Ye saw how the girl +became pale? I looked at her; she had her hand on her knee and she +opened and closed it, opened and closed it, just like a cat before +scratching. A man could see that anger was diving down into her." + +But Mateush reined in his horse, and he added,-- + +"I was sorry for her--such a dear little flower--and do ye remember +what old Pan Serafin said?" + +"What did he say?" inquired, with great curiosity, Lukash, Marek, and +Yan, reining in their horses. + +Mateush looked at them a while through his protruding eyes, then said +as if in sorrow,-- + +"But if I have forgotten?" + +Meanwhile not only Pan Gideon, but Pani Vinnitski, who generally knew +very little of what was happening around her, turned attention to the +changed face of the young lady. + +"But what is the matter, Anulka? Art thou cold?" + +"No," answered the girl, with a sort of sleepy voice which seemed not +her own. "Nothing is the matter, only the air affects me strangely--so +strangely." + +Though her voice broke from moment to moment she had no tears in her +eyes; on the contrary, in her dry pupils there glittered sparks +peculiar, uncommon, and her face had grown older. Seeing this Pan +Gideon said to himself,-- + +"Would it not be better to strike while the iron is hot?" + + + + + CHAPTER X + + +Many nobles appeared at the festival from near and even distant places. +There were assembled the Kohanovskis, the Podgaiyetskis, the +Silnitskis, the Potvorovskis, the Sulgostovskis, Tsyprianovitch with +his son, the Bukoyemskis and many others. But the greatest interest was +roused by the arrival of Prince Michael Chartoryski, the voevoda of +Sandomir, who stopped at Prityk on his way to the Diet at Warsaw and, +in waiting for the festival, had passed some days in devotion. All were +glad of his presence, for he added splendor to the occasion, and at the +same time it was possible to learn from him no little touching public +questions. He spoke of the injustices which the Porte had committed +against the Commonwealth in fixing the boundary of Podolia, and the +raids which in defiance of treaties had ruined Russian lands recently. +He declared war to be certain. He said that a treaty with the Emperor +would be concluded beyond question, and that even adherents of France +would not show it open opposition, since the French court, though +unfriendly in general to the Empire, knew the peril in which the +Commonwealth found itself. Whether the Turks would hurl themselves +first against Cracow, or Vienna was unknown to Prince Michael, but it +was known to him that the enemy were preparing "arms and men" +at Adrianople, and in addition to the forces with Toekoeli at Koshytsi, +nay those in all Hungary, thousands were assembling from Rumelia, from +Asia, from regions on the Euphrates and the Tigris, from Africa, from +the Red Sea to the waves of the measureless ocean. + +The nobles heard this news eagerly; the older men, who knew how +gigantic was the power of the pagan, with anxiety in their faces, the +younger men with knit brows, and with fire in their glances. But hope +and enthusiasm were predominant, for fresh in their minds was the +memory of Hotsim, where the king reigning actually, a hetman at that +time, leading Polish forces, besieged a Turkish power greater than his +own, bore it apart upon sabres, and trampled it with horsehoofs. They +were comforted by the thought that the Turks, who rushed with +irresistible daring on all troops of other nations, felt their hearts +weaken when they had to stand eye to eye in the open field against that +terrible "Lehistan" cavalry. Still greater hope and still higher +enthusiasm were roused by the preaching of Father Voynovski. Pan Gideon +was somewhat afraid lest in that sermon there might be some reference +to sins, and certain points of blame which would touch him and his +treatment of Yatsek, but there was nothing of that sort. War and the +mission of the Commonwealth had swept the priest away heart and soul. +"Christ," said he, "has chosen thee among all the nations, He has +placed thee on guard before all the others, He has commanded thee to +stand beneath His cross and defend, to thy last drop of blood and the +last breath in thee, that faith which is the foundation of living. The +field of glory lies open before thee, hence, though blood were to flow +around thee on both sides, though arrows and darts were to stick in +thee, rise, lion of God, shake thy mane, and thunder so that from that +thunder the marrow will melt in the bones of the pagan, and crescents +and horse-tails will fall, like a pine wood in front of a tempest." + +Thus did Father Voynovski speak to the knightly hearers before him, +because he was an old soldier who had fought all his life and knew how +it was on the battlefield. When he spoke of war it seemed to those +present that they were looking on the canvases in the king's castle at +Warsaw, on which various battles and Polish victories were presented as +if real. + +"See, now," said he, "the regiments are starting. Their spears are +lowered to a line with the middle of the horse-ears; they have bent +forward in the saddle, there is a cry of fear among the pagans, and +delight up in heaven. The Most Holy Mother runs to the window with all +her might, crying: 'Oh come, dear Son, and see how the Poles are +attacking!' The Lord Jesus with his holy cross blesses them. 'By God's +wounds!' he cries, 'there they are, my nobles, my warriors. Their pay +here is ready for them!' And the archangel, holy Michael, strikes his +palms on his thighs and shouts: 'Into them, the dog-brothers! Strike!' +That is how they rejoice up in heaven. And those down here cut and cut. +Men, standards, horses roll over and over. They rush across the bellies +of Janissaries, over captured cannon, and trampled crescents; they +advance to glory, to reward, to an accomplished mission, to salvation, +to immortality." + +When at last he finished with the words, "And Christ calls you, too; it +is your time now to the field of glory!" there rose a shout in the +church, and a clattering of sabres. At Mass, when during the Gospel +every blade sounded in its scabbard, and steel glittered in the +sunlight, it seemed to tender women that war had already begun; and +they fell to sobbing, committing their fathers and husbands and +brothers to the Most Holy Lady. + +The Bukoyemskis, whispering among themselves, made a vow to move +immediately after the festival, and not to take to their lips, until +Easter, water, milk, or even beer, but content themselves with drinks +which keep up heat in the blood, and therefore valor. + +General enthusiasm was so great that even the cold, stern Pan Gideon +did not resist it. He thought for a while that, though his left arm was +missing, he might hold the reins in his teeth, and with his right hand +take vengeance once more for the wrongs which he had suffered from +cursed pagans, and besides gild anew his former services to the +Commonwealth. But he made no vow, and left the whole matter for further +meditation. + +Meanwhile the service was concluded in splendor. From the cemetery were +fired cannon given by the Kohanovskis for important occasions. In the +tower the swinging bells thundered. The tame bear in the choir pumped +the organ with such vigor that the tin pipes almost flew from their +settings. The church was filled with smoke from censers, and trembled +from the voices of people. Mass was celebrated by the prelate +Tvorkovski, from Radom,--a learned man, full of sentences, quotations, +examples, and proverbs; at the same time he was gladsome, and knew the +world thoroughly. For these reasons, men went to him for counsel in +every question; and so did Pan Gideon, who went the more readily, as +the prelate was a friend of his. On the eve of the festival, Pan Gideon +was with him at confession; but when, besides the confession, he began +to acknowledge his intentions, the object of which was Panna Anulka, +the prelate deferred that to a later and special meeting, saying that +he had barely time to hear the sins of common people. "On the way back +from the festival," said he to Pan Gideon, "you can send home the women +and stay with me at Radom, where, _procul negotiis_ (far from +business), I can listen to you in freedom." + +And thus did they manage. Hence, a day later they sat down before a +decanter of worthy Hungarian and a plate of roast almonds, which the +prelate took with wine very willingly. + +"I am silent," said he; "and attentive--speak on!" + +Pan Gideon took a draught from the glass and looked from his iron eyes +with some discontent at the prelate, because the latter had not eased +his conversation by a proper beginning. + +"Hm! somehow it is not easy; I see that it is more difficult than I +imagined." + +"Then I will help you. Did you wish to speak of some holy thing?" + +"Of a holy thing?" + +"Yes; which has two heads and four feet." + +"What sort of holy thing is that?" asked Pan Gideon, astonished. + +"I mention a riddle. Guess it." + +"My dear prelate, whoso has important affairs in his head has no time +for riddles." + +"Pshaw! Think a while!" + +"Some holy thing with two heads and four feet?" + +"Yes." + +"As God lives, I know not." + +"It is holy matrimony. Is that not so?" + +"True, as God is dear to me! Yes, yes, precisely on that subject do I +wish to talk with you." + +"Then it is a question of Anulka Sieninski?" + +"Of her exactly. Do you see, my benefactor, she, of course, is not my +relative, or if she is, the relationship is so distant that no one +could prove it. But I have become attached to her, for I reared her, +and I am bound in gratitude to her family, for what the Pangovskis had +in Russia, just as the Jolkievskis, Danilovitches, and Sobieskis, they +had from the Sieninskis, or through them. I should like to leave the +orphan what I have, but in fact the fortune of the Pangovskis has +vanished through Tartar attacks; there remains only the estate of my +late wife. It is mine; she left it by will to me; but this place is +full of her relatives. First of all is Pan Grothus, the starosta of +Raigrod. I do not fear him, for he is rich beyond need, and a good man. +For that matter it was he who gave me this idea, which before that had +occurred, it is true, more than once to me; for the desire was at the +bottom of my heart in a slumber, but he roused it. In addition to Pan +Grothus are the Sulgostovskis, the Krepetskis, the Zabierzovskis. These +look even to-day with ill-will at the young lady; but how would they +look after my death? If I make a will and leave what I own to her they +will go to the courts; there will be lawsuits dragging on from tribunal +to tribunal. How could she, poor thing, help herself? I cannot leave +her in such a condition. Attachment, compassion, and gratitude are +strong links. I ask with a clear conscience if I am not bound to secure +her even in such a way?" + +The prelate bit a nut in two and showed the second half to Pan Gideon. + +"Do you know why this nut pleases me? Because it is good! If it were +decayed I would not eat it." + +"Then what?" + +"Then that Anulka pleases your taste, for she is an almond. Hai! and +what an almond! If she were fifty years old it is certain that your +conscience would not be so troubled concerning her future." + +Pan Gideon was confused at this, but the prelate continued,-- + +"I do not take this ill of you, for, as you see, there must be a good +reason for everything, and God has so arranged that every man prefers a +young turnip to an old one. With wine it is different, therefore we +agree willingly as to wine with the arrangement of Providence." + +"Yes, it is true. Except wine, what is young is better always; Pan +Kohanovski wrote only humorously, that an old man, like an old oak, is +better than a young one. This is the one question for me: if I leave +property to her as my wife no one will dare move a finger; but if I +leave it to her as a ward, there will be many lawsuits and quarrels, +and perhaps armed attacks also. Who could protect her from the latter? +Of course not Pani Vinnitski!" + +"That is undoubted." + +"But since I am neither a giddy nor an empty man, I did not wish to +decide this alone, hence I have come to you to confirm me in the +conviction that I am acting wisely, and that you will support me with +clear counsel." + +The prelate thought a while, and then added,-- + +"You see, that advice in a matter of this kind is difficult, and a man +repeats more than once to himself with B[oe]tius, _Si tacuisses, +philosophus mansisses_ (if thou remain silent, thou wilt be a +philosopher); or with Job, 'Even a fool if he remain silent will be +considered a wise man.' Your intention, in so far as it is roused by +warm affection, is justified, and in so far also as it flows from care +for the good of the girl, is even praiseworthy. But will not some +injustice be done her, will there not be need to constrain her, or to +lead her with threats to the altar? For I have heard that she and +Yatsek Tachevski are in love. And truly, without beating about the +bushes, I have more than once seen him a frequent guest at your +mansion." + +"What have you seen?" inquired Pan Gideon, abruptly. + +"Nothing sinful, but signs through which intimacy and love are denoted. +I saw more than once how they held each other's hands longer than was +needed, how they followed each other with their eyes. I saw him once in +a tree dropping cherries down into her apron, and how they so looked at +each other that the cherries fell to the ground past one rim of the +apron. I saw her when looking at flying storks lean on him, and +then--women are always subtle--scold him for coming too near her. And +what more did I see? Various things which prove secret wishes. You will +say that this is nothing. Of course, nothing! But that she felt the +will of God toward him as much, or more, than he toward her, only a +blind man could help seeing, and I wonder that you did not see this. I +wonder still more, if you did see it, that you did not stop it in view +of your own intentions." + +Pan Gideon had seen and known this, but still the words of the prelate +produced on him a terrible impression. It is one thing when some +pain-causing secret is hidden in the heart, and quite another when a +strange hand pushes into one's bosom and shakes up that secret. So now +his face became purple, his eyes filled with blood, a great bunch of +veins came out on his forehead, and he began to pant on a sudden, and +to breathe so quickly that the prelate, in alarm, asked,-- + +"What is the matter?" + +Pan Gideon answered, with a motion of the hand, that it was nothing, +but he remained silent. + +"Drink some wine," cried the priest. + +He stretched out his arm and with trembling hand took the glass, raised +it to his lips, drank, blew through his lips, and whispered,-- + +"It darkened before my eyes just a trifle." + +"Because of what I told you?" + +"No. That for some time has occurred to me often, but now I am fatigued +by the fast, by the journey, and by the spring, which is unexpected and +early." + +"Then perhaps it would be better not to wait for May, but be bled +immediately." + +"I will be bled, but I will rest a while now, and we will return later +on to this business." + +A fairly long time passed before Pan Gideon recovered completely, but +at last he recovered. The veins relaxed on his forehead, his heart +began to beat evenly, and he continued,-- + +"I will not say that strength fails me. Were I to squeeze with my one +hand I could crush, as I think, this silver goblet very easily; but +though strength and health are both in God's hand they are not +identical." + +"Man's life is fragile!" + +"But just because of that, if something is to be done there is need to +act quickly. You speak, my benefactor, of Pan Yatsek and that affection +which the young people might feel for each other. I will say sincerely +that I was not blind. I too saw what was happening, but only in recent +days did I note it; for remember that till recently she was a green +berry, which even now has barely ripened. He came every day, it is +true, but because, perhaps, he had not much to eat in his own house; +besides, I received him, as it were, through compassion. Father +Voynovski trained him in Latin and at the sabre, and I gave him +nourishment. That's the whole story. Only a year ago he reached +manhood. I looked on them as children who were thinking of various +plays and amusements. I considered it an ordinary occurrence. But that +such a pauper should dare to think; and, besides, of whom?--of Panna +Anulka! That, I confess, never came to my mind, and only in the last +hours did I take note of anything." + +"Nonsense! A pauper is a pauper, but Tachevski--" + +"Of Hungerdeath! No, my benefactor, he who licks a stranger's saucepan +should be asked only into dogs' company. When I saw what kind of man he +was I looked at him more carefully, and know you what I found? This, +that not merely was he a pauper and a giddy head, but a venomous +reptile, ever ready to sting the hand feeding him. Thank God he is +gone; but he has stung, not me alone, but that innocent maiden." + +"How is that?" + +Pan Gideon began to relate how it was, painting with such blackness the +deeds of Tachevski that a hangman might have been called in immediately +to take him. + +"Never fear, my benefactor," said he at last. "During our journey to +Prityk the Bukoyemskis poured out in full to Anulka; ah, to the full so +completely that it flowed over, and now the situation is such that +never will the girl feel such abhorrence for any creature of God as for +that whipper-snapper, that roysterer, that abortion." + +"Be moderate, or your blood will boil again." + +"True. And I did not wish to speak of him, but of this, that I have not +in view any injustice to the girl, or any constraint. Persuasion is +another thing, but even that should be used by a stranger, yet by a man +who is at the same time her friend and mine,--a man known for wit and +dignity, who can use noble phrases, move the heart and convince the +reason. Hence my desire is to beg you, my special benefactor, to see to +this. You will not refuse me; you will do this, not merely from +friendship, you will do it because it is honorable and proper." + +"It is a question of her good and of yours, hence I will not refuse; +but I should like to have time to decide how this may be accomplished +most easily." + +"Then I will go at once to the barber and have myself bled, so as to go +home clearer witted,--but do you make your plan. For you that will not +be difficult, and on the other side there will be, as I think, no +obstacle." + +"There can be only one obstacle, lord brother." + +"What is it?" + +"Friendship should tell the truth, hence I speak freely. You are an +honorable person, I know that, but rather stubborn. You have this +reputation, and you have it because your dependants all fear you +tremendously. Not only the peasants, concerning whom you have +quarrelled with Father Voynovski, but your servants, attendants, and +managers. Tachevski feared you, Pani Vinnitski fears you, the young +lady fears you. Two matchmakers will appear according to custom. I will +do what I can, but I will not guarantee that the other may not destroy +all my labor." + +During one moment Pan Gideon's eyes flashed with anger, for he did not +like to have the truth told in his presence; but amazement now +conquered his anger, so he asked,-- + +"Of what are you speaking? What other matchmaker is there?" + +"Fear," said the prelate. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + +They were unable to go that same day to Belchantska, for Pan Gideon +weakened considerably after bleeding, and said that some rest was +needed. Next morning, however, he felt brighter; he had grown young, as +it were, and he approached his own mansion with good hope, though with +a certain disquiet. Occupied with his own thoughts entirely, he spoke +little along the way with the prelate, but when they were entering the +village he felt his disquiet increasing. + +"This is a wonder to me," said he. "Ere this time I came home as a man +who is master, and all others were concerned about this, with what face +would I greet them; while now I am the anxious one, I ask myself how +will they greet me." + +"Virgil has said," replied the prelate, "'_amor omnia vincit_' (love +conquers everything), but he forgot to add, that it changes everything +also. This Delilah will not shear your locks, for you are bald, but +that I shall see you spinning at her feet, as Hercules spun at the feet +of Omphale, is certain." + +"Ei! my nature is not of that kind. I have known always how to hold in +my fists both servants and household." + +"So people say, but for this very reason it lies in the position that +some one will take you in hand very thoroughly." + +"The hand is a dear one!" said Pan Gideon, with a joyousness which for +him was unusual. + +They drove very slowly, for the mud in the village was terrible; since +they had started from Radom not so soon after midday, night had fallen +already. In the cottages at the two sides of the road light came from +the windows and stretched in red lines to the cottages opposite. Here +and there near the fence appeared some human form, that of a woman, or +of a man who, seeing the travellers, bared his head and bowed as low as +his girdle. It was clear from these bowings, which seemed excessive, +that Pan Gideon held people in his fist, nay more, that he held them +too firmly, and that Father Voynovski blamed him, not without reason, +for tyranny. But the old noble felt in his bosom a softer heart than +had ever been in it till that evening, so looking at those bent +figures, and seeing the windows of those cottages leaning earthward, he +said,-- + +"I will grant some favor to those subjects whose part she takes +always." + +"Oh, see to it that thou do so," said the prelate. + +And they were silent. Pan Gideon was occupied for a time with his own +thoughts, then he added,-- + +"I know that you need no advice in this matter; but you must explain to +the lady what a benefaction is becoming ready for her, and that I think +about her first of all; but in case of resistance, which I do not +expect,--well, then even scold her in some degree." + +"You said that you did not wish to constrain her." + +"I said so, but it is one thing if I were to threaten, and another if +some one else, who, besides, is a spiritual person, exposes her +ingratitude." + +"Leave that task to me. I have undertaken it and will use my best +efforts; but I will talk to the girl in the most tender way possible." + +"Very well, very well! But one word more. She feels great abhorrence +for Tachevski, but should there be any mention of him it would be well +to say something more against him." + +"If he has acted as you say, this will not be needed." + +"We are arriving. Well! In the name of the Father and the Son--" + +"And the Holy Ghost--Amen!" + +They arrived, but no one came out to meet them, for the wheels made no +sound because of deep mud, and the dogs did not bark at the horses or +at the men, whom they recognized. It was dark in the hall, for the +servants were evidently sitting in the kitchen; and it happened that +when Pan Gideon first called, "Is any one here?" no one came to him, +and at the second call, in sharper tones, the young lady herself +appeared. + +She came holding a light in her hand, but since she was in the gleam of +it and they in the darkness she, not seeing them at once, remained near +the threshold; and they did not speak for a moment since to begin with, +it seemed a special sign to them, that she had come out before others, +and second, because her beauty astonished them as much as if they had +never beheld it till that moment. + +The fingers with which she grasped the candle seemed transparent and +rosy; the gleam crept along her bosom, lighted her lips and her small +face which looked somewhat drowsy and sad, perhaps because her eyes +were in a deep shade while her forehead and the glorious bright hair, +which was as a crown just above it, were still in full radiance. And +she all in quiet and splendor stood there in the gloom like an angel +created from ruddy brightness. + +"Oh, as God is dear to me, a vision!" said the prelate. + +Then Pan Gideon called,-- + +"Anulka!" + +Leaving the light on a nitch of the chimney, she ran to them and gave +greeting, joyously. Pan Gideon pressed her to his heart with much +feeling, commanded her to rejoice at the arrival of a guest so +distinguished, a man famous as a giver of counsel, and when after +greeting they entered the dining-hall he asked,-- + +"Is supper over?" + +"No. The servants were to bring it from the kitchen, and that is why no +one was standing at the entrance." + +The prelate looked at the old noble, and asked,-- + +"Then perhaps without waiting?" + +"No, no," answered Pan Gideon, "Pani Vinnitski will be here directly." + +Thereupon Pani Vinnitski made herself felt in reality, and fifteen +minutes later they sat down to heated wine and fried eggs. The prelate +ate and drank well, but at the end of the supper his face became +serious, and he said, turning to Panna Anulka,-- + +"My gracious young lady, God knows why people call me a counsellor and +why they take advice of me, but since your guardian does so, I must +speak with you on a certain task of importance which he has given my +poor wit to accomplish." + +When Pan Gideon heard this, the veins swelled on his forehead; the +young lady paled somewhat, and rose in disquiet, for, through some +unknown reason, it seemed to her that the prelate would talk about +Yatsek. + +"I beg you to another room," said he. + +And they left the dining-hall. + +Pan Gideon sighed deeply once and a second time; then he drummed on the +table with his fingers, and feeling the need of talking down his +internal emotion by words of some kind, he said to Pani Vinnitski,-- + +"Have you noticed how all the relatives of my late wife hate Anulka?" + +"Especially the Krepetskis," answered Pani Vinnitski. + +"Ha! they almost grit their teeth when they see her; but soon they will +grit them still harder." + +"How is that?" + +"You will learn in good season; but meanwhile we must find a bed for +the prelate." + +After a time Pan Gideon was alone. Two servants came to remove the +supper dishes, but he sent them away with a quick burst of anger, and +there was silence in the dining-hall, only the great Dantsic clock +repeated loudly and with importance: tik-tak! tik-tak! Pan Gideon +placed his hand on his bald head and began to walk in the chamber. He +approached the door beyond which the prelate was talking with Anulka, +but he heard merely sounds in which he distinguished the voice but not +the words of the prelate. So in turn he walked and halted. He went to +the window, for it seemed to him that there he would breathe with more +freedom. He looked for a while at the sky, with eyes from which +expression had vanished,--that sky over which the wind was hurrying the +torn clouds of spring, with light on their upper edges through which +the pale moon seemed to rise higher and higher. As often as he rested +an evil foreboding took hold of him. He looked through the window close +to which black limbs of trees were wrestling back and forth with the +wind, as if in torment; in the same way his thoughts were struggling +back and forth, disordered, evil, resembling reproaches of conscience, +and painful forebodings that some bad thing would happen, and that near +punishment was waiting--but when it grew bright out of doors, again +better hope entered him. + +Every one has a right to think of his own happiness--as to Yatsek +Tachevski it was of little importance what such people do! What was the +question at present? The happiness and calm future of a young girl; but +besides this there smiled on him a little life in his old age--and this +belongs to him. This only is real, the rest is wind, wind! + +And he felt again a turning of the head, and black spots danced before +his vision, but that lasted very briefly. Then he approached the door +behind which his fate was in the balance. Meanwhile the light on the +table acquired a long wick and the chamber grew gloomy. At times the +voice of the prelate became sharper, so that words would have reached +the ear of Pan Gideon had it not been for that loud and continuous +"tik-tak." It was easy to understand that such a conversation could not +end quickly, still, Pan Gideon's alarm grew and grew, turning, as it +were, into certain wonderful questions woven into the past, with +memories not only of former misfortunes and pain, but also of former +unextinguished transgressions, of former grievous sins, and of recent +injustices inflicted not only on Tachevski, but on others. + +"Why and wherefore shouldst thou be happy?" asked his conscience. + +And he would have given at that moment he knew not how much if even +Pani Vinnitski might return to the chamber, so that he should not be +alone with those thoughts of his. But Pani Vinnitski was occupied +somewhere with work in another part of the mansion, while in that +dining-hall there was nothing but the clock with its "tik-tak!" + +"For what deed should God reward thee?" asked his conscience. + +Pan Gideon felt now that if that girl, who was at once like a flower +and an angel, should fail him, there would be a darkness in his life +which would last till the night of death should descend on him. + +With that the door opened on a sudden and Panna Sieninski came in from +the next chamber. She was pale; there were tears in her eyes; and +behind her was the prelate. + +"Art thou weeping?" asked Pan Gideon, with a hoarse, stifled voice. + +"From gratitude, guardian," cried she, stretching her hands to him. + +And she fell at his knees there. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + +That evening, or late at night, Pani Vinnitski appeared in the room of +her relative, and, finding the young lady still dressed, she talked to +her. + +"I cannot recover from amazement," said she; "sooner should I have +looked for death than that such an idea should have come to the head of +Pan Gideon." + +"Neither did I look for it." + +"How is it then? And is it so, really? I know not what to do, to be +glad, or the opposite. We know that the prelate as a spiritual person +has better judgment than the laity. He is right when he says that till +death thou wilt have a roof over thy head, and that roof thy own, not +another's. But Pan Gideon is old"--here she spoke lower--"art thou not +a little afraid of him?" + +"It is all in the past; there is nothing to think of at present," +answered Anulka. + +"How dost thou say that?" + +"I say that I owe him gratitude for a refuge, and a morsel of bread, +and that these are poorly paid for by my person which no one else cares +for; but since he cares, that too, is a favor on his part." + +"He began long ago to wish for this," said the old woman mysteriously. +"After he had talked to-day with thee he called me. I thought that +there was something wrong with the supper, and that he would reproach +me, but he said nothing. I saw that for some reason he was cheerful, +and all at once he broke the news to me. My legs trembled under me. +'What is the matter?' asked he. 'You are turned, like Lot's wife, to a +pillar of salt,' said he. 'Is it because I have taken such a mushroom?' +'No,' I answered, 'but because it is so unexpected.' 'With me,' said +he, then, 'that is an old idea. Like a fish at the bottom of a river it +was unknown till some one helped it to swim to the surface. And dost +thou know who that was?' I felt sure that it was the prelate. 'Not at +all,' said he, 'but Pan Grothus.'" + +A moment of silence followed. + +"But I thought Pan Yatsek--" said Anulka through her set teeth. + +"Why Yatsek?" + +"To show that he did not care for me." + +"Thou knowest that Yatsek has not seen Pan Gideon." + +Then Anulka began to repeat feverishly,-- + +"Yes, I know! He had something else in his head! Let that go! I do not +want to know anything. I do not, I do not! It is all finished, and +finished forever." + +A dry, nervous weeping shook her bosom. After a moment she repeated +again,-- + +"It is finished beyond recall!" Then they knelt down to an "Our +Father," which they repeated each evening in company. + +Next day Anulka appeared with a calm face, but something had changed in +her, something remained unexpressed, something had shut itself up in +her. She was not sad, but all at once, she had grown, as it were, some +years older, and she had in her now a certain calm dignity, so that Pan +Gideon, who hitherto had taken into account himself only, began without +noting it, to consider her also. In general he was unable to command +himself, and it seemed to him specially strange that he felt in some +sense his dependence on Anulka. He began to fear those thoughts which +she did not express, but which she might conceal in her spirit. He +tried to forestall such, and put in place of them others, of the kind +which he wanted. Even the silence of Pani Vinnitski was oppressive and +seemed to him suspicious; so he worked out fantastic pictures, talked, +joked, but there flashed up in his steel eyes at times certain gleams +of impatience. + +Meanwhile news of his engagement had gone through the neighborhood. Of +this engagement he now made no secret; on the contrary, he sent letters +announcing it to Pan Serafin, and to his nearest neighbors; he wrote +letters to the Kohanovskis, to the Podlodovskis, to the Sulgostovskis, +to Pan Grothus, to the Krepetskis, and even to distant relatives of his +late wife, with invitations to the betrothal, after which the marriage +would be celebrated immediately. + +Pan Gideon would have preferred to get a dispensation from the banns +even, but unfortunately it was the Lenten season, and he had to wait +till after Easter. He took both women, therefore, to Radom where the +young lady was to find her wedding outfit, and he to buy horses more +showy than those which he had at that time in his stables. + +Reports came to him that among the relatives who had hoped to inherit +everything not only after his late wife, but after him, there was as +much movement as there is in a beehive; but this pleased him, since he +hated them all from his innermost spirit, and was planning at all times +to harm them. Those tidings of meetings, whispered conferences, and +counsels shortened his visit to Radom. And when at last his stay there +was ended, and the horses together with new harness were purchased, he +returned on Easter eve to his mansion. Guests began to arrive almost at +the same time, for the betrothal was to take place on the third day +after Easter. + +First came the Krepetskis who were both the nearest relatives and +nearest neighbors. The father was almost eighty years old, with the +visage of a vulture, and renowned as a miser. He had three daughters: +Tekla, the youngest, was pretty and pleasant; Agneshka and Johanna were +not youthful, they were testy old maids with pimples on their cheeks at +all seasons. He had a son, Martsian, nicknamed Pniak (stump) in the +neighborhood. He bore the name justly, for at the first glance he +seemed a great stump; he had a mighty chest, and broad shoulders. His +bow-legs were so short that he was almost dwarflike, and his arms +reached his kneepans. Some thought him a hunchback; he was not, +however, but his head without a neck was fixed so closely to his body +that his high shoulders reached his ears, very nearly. Out of that +head peered prominent, lustful eyes, and his face was like that of a +he-goat. A small beard which he wore as if in defiance of general +custom, increased the resemblance. + +He did not serve as a warrior, for he had been ridiculed from service, +for which reason he had had in his time many duels. There was uncommon +strength in his stumpy body, and people feared him in all places, since +he was a quarreller and a road-blocker, who, in every affair, was glad +to seek pretexts; he was as irritable as a vicious beast, and wounded +savagely in Radom one Krepetski, his cousin, a handsome and worthy +young man who almost died of the injuries then inflicted. He felt +respect only for Yatsek, whose skill at the sabre was known to him, and +before the Bukoyemskis, one of whom, Lukash, threw him over a fence +like a bundle of straw once in Yedlina. He had the deserved reputation +of being a great profligate. Pan Gideon had driven him out of the +mansion a few years before that, because he had looked too much in goat +fashion at Panna Anulka, a little girl at that period. But since then +some years had passed, and, as they had met later in Radom, and in +neighboring houses, Pan Gideon invited him now with the family. + +Immediately after the Krepetskis came the Sulgostovskis, twin brothers, +who so resembled each other that when they put on coats of like fashion +no man could distinguish them; next came three remote Sulgostovskis +from beyond Prityk--and then a numerous family formed of nine people, +the handsome Zabierzovskis. From Yedlinka came Pan Serafin, but alone, +since his son had gone to his regiment already; Pan Podlodovski, the +starosta, once the agent of the great lord in Zamost; the Kohanovskis; +the priest from Prityk; the prelate Tvorkovski from Radom, who was to +bless the ring, and many small nobles from near and distant places, +some even without invitation, with this idea, that a guest though quite +unknown would be sure to find welcome, and that when there is a chance +to eat and drink a man should not miss it. + +Belchantska was crowded with carriages and wagons, the stables were +filled with horses, the outbuildings with servants of all sorts; +everywhere in the mansion were colored coats, sabres, shaven foreheads; +and with these went Latin, the twittering of women, farthingales, +laces, and various ornaments. Maids were flying around with hot water, +and tipsy servants with excellent wine in decanters. From morning until +night-hours the kitchen was steaming like a tar pit. The windows of the +mansion gleamed and flashed every evening, so that the whole place +around there was radiant. + +And amid all this tumult Pan Gideon moved through the chambers, walked +about and gave welcome, magnificent, important, grown young as it were +for the second time, dressed in crimson, and wearing a sabre which +glittered with jewels, a sabre which Panna Anulka had inherited; it was +her only dowry from wealthy forefathers. If giddiness seized him he +leaned on an armchair, and again he moved forward, showed honor to +guests who were personages, and struck one heel against the other when +greeting older ladies; but above all he followed with eyes which were +more and more enamoured "his Anulka," who bloomed in that many-colored +throng. Amid glances which were frequently ill-wishing, frequently +jealous, and filled sometimes with venom, she was as fair as a lily, +somewhat sad, or only conscious, it may be, of the weight of that fact +which she had to encounter. + +Thus things continued till the evening of the third day, that is, +Tuesday, when the mortars of the mansion thundered in the yard, thus +announcing to the guests and the country that the solemn moment had +come, the moment of betrothal. + +The guests ranged themselves then as a half-circle in the drawing-room, +men and women in splendid costumes bright as a rainbow in the light of +the candles. In front of them stood Pan Gideon and Panna Anulka. +Silence settled down, and the eyes of all people were fixed on the +bride, who with downcast eyes, with attention and dignity on her face, +without a smile, but not sad, seemed as if drowsy. + +The prelate Tvorkovski in his surplice, having near him young Tekla +Krepetski, who held a silver plate with rings on it, advanced from the +half-circle and addressed those who were soon to be married. He spoke +learnedly, long, and with eloquence, showing what were the _sponsalia +de futuro_, and what great importance from the earliest days of +Christianity was attached to betrothals. He quoted Tertullian, and the +Council of Trent, and the opinion of various learned canonists, then +turning to Pan Gideon and Panna Sieninski he explained to them how wise +their decision was, what great benefaction they promised each other, +and how their future happiness depended on themselves only. + +Those present listened with admiration, but also with impatience, for +as relatives from whom their inheritance was slipping they looked on +that marriage with repugnance. Pan Gideon, who from standing long had +grown dizzy, began to rest on one leg and then on the other, and to +give signs with his eyes to the prelate to finish; these signs he was +not quick to notice, but at last he blessed the rings and put them on +the fingers of the affianced. + +Then the mortars thundered again in the yard, and from the gallery in +the dining-hall was heard a loud orchestra made up of five Radom Jews +who played nicely. The guests came now in turn to congratulate, for the +greater part with sourness and insincerely. The two Krepetski old maids +simply jeered as they courtesied to their "Aunt," and Pan Martsian, +when kissing her hands, recommended himself to her graces with such a +goat glance that Pan Gideon ought to have driven him from the mansion a +second time. + +But others, more remote relatives, being better and less greedy, gave +sincere, cordial wishes. Now the door of the dining-hall was thrown +open; Pan Gideon gave his arm to his betrothed, and after him moved the +other couples amid the glitter and the quivering of flames caused by a +sudden cold gust which had blown through the entrance. From the kitchen +came the servants, half tipsy, with decanters of wine and an +unreckonable number of dishes. + +From the opening of doors there was such cold air in the dining-hall +that guests, while sitting down to the table, were seized the first +moment with a shiver, while the flickering of candles made the whole +hall, in spite of its elegant furnishing, seem dark and gloomy. But it +was proper to hope that wine would soon warm the blood in all present, +and wine was not spared by Pan Gideon. He was rather stingy in +every-day life, but on exceptional occasions he liked so to show +himself that people spoke long of him afterward. This happened now. +Behind every guest an attendant was standing with a mossy and +big-bellied bottle, while under the table were hidden a number of +servants with bottles also, so that in case a guest could not find more +to drink on the table he put down a goblet twixt his knees and they +filled it immediately. Immense glasses for drinkers, great goblets, +glittered in front of each man, but before ladies were smaller glasses, +either French or Italian. + +The guests did not occupy the whole table, however, for Pan Gideon had +commanded to set more plates than there were guests in the mansion. The +prelate cast his eyes on those empty places and fell to praising the +hospitality of the house and the master; at that moment he rose in his +chair somewhat, wishing to arrange the folds of his soutane, hence +those present supposed that he was going to offer the earliest toast, +and were silent. + +"We are listening!" said a number of voices. + +"Oh, there is no reason," said the prelate, with joyousness. "There is +no toast yet, though the time will come soon for it. I see some of you +gentlemen rubbing your heads rather early, and the Kohanovskis are +whispering as well as counting on their fingers. It is difficult to +expect rhymes from any if not from the Kohanovskis. I wish to say only +that it is an old Polish and praiseworthy custom to leave thus a place +for a guest who is unexpected." + +"Oh," answered Pan Gideon, "as the house is lighted up some one may +come from the darkness." + +"And perhaps some one is coming," said Kohanovski. "It may be Pan +Grothus?" + +"No-- Pan Grothus has gone to the Diet. If a man comes he will be +unexpected." + +"But the earth is soft, we shall not hear him." + +"Well, a dog is barking under the window, so some one is coming." + +"No one will drive in from that side, for the windows look into the +garden." + +"But the dog is not barking, he is howling." + +That was the case really. The dog had barked once, twice, a third time, +then the barking turned to a low, gloomy howling. + +Pan Gideon quivered despite himself, for he remembered how years and +years earlier in another place, at his house, which stood five miles +from Pomorani, in Russia, dogs had howled in the same way before a +sudden onrush of Tartars. + +The thought came to Panna Anulka, that she had no cause to expect any +one, and that should any man come to her from the darkness to that +lighted mansion he would be late in his coming. But it seemed somehow +strange to other guests, all the more as the first dog was joined by a +second, and a double howl was heard now near that window. So they +listened in disagreeable silence, which was broken only after a while +by Martsian Krepetski,-- + +"A guest at whom the dogs howl is nothing to us," said he. + +"Wine!" called Pan Gideon. + +But the glasses were full, hence there was no need to pour at that +moment. Old Krepetski, father of Martsian, rose from his chair somewhat +heavily, wishing to speak, as seemed evident. All turned their eyes to +him. Old men began to surround their ears with their hands to hear +better, but he only moved his lips after long waiting, his chin almost +meeting his nose, for he was toothless. + +Meanwhile, notwithstanding the fact that the earth was soft from +thawing, there came from the other side of the house, as it were, a +dull clatter and it was heard rather long, long enough to go twice +round the courtyard. Hence old Krepetski, who had raised his glass, +held it a while, looked at the door, and then put the glass down again; +other guests acted in like manner. + +"See who has come!" said Pan Gideon to his attendant. + +The youth rushed out, returned straightway, and answered,-- + +"There is no one." + +"That is strange," said the prelate. "The sound was heard clearly." + +"We all heard it," said one of the twin Sulgostovskis. + +"And the dogs have stopped howling," said others. + +Then the door of the entrance, badly fastened by the servant, as was +evident, opened of itself, and a new draught of air entered with such +violence that it quenched from ten to twenty candles. + +"What is that?" "Shut the door!" "The candles are dying!" said a number +of voices. + +But with the wind had rushed into the hall, as it were, some unknown +terror. Pani Vinnitski, who was superstitious and timid, began then to +cross herself audibly. + +"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost--" + +"Woman! be silent!" commanded Pan Gideon. + +Then turning to Panna Sieninski he kissed her hand. + +"A quenched candle cannot trouble my gladness," said he, "and God grant +me to be as happy to the end of my days as I am at this moment. Is that +not right, my Anulka?" + +"Yes, guardian," said she, bending toward his hand. + +"Amen!" ended the prelate, who rose to address them. + +"Gracious ladies and gentlemen, since that unexpected sound stopped, as +is evident, Pan Krepetski's ideas let me be the earliest expounder of +those feelings with which our hearts are warmed toward the future wife +and her husband. Hence, ere we cry out _O Hymen, O Hymenaios_, before +we, in Roman fashion, begin to call Thalassius, the beautiful youth who +God grant may appear at the earliest, let us raise _ex imo_ this first +toast to their prosperity and coming happiness: _Vivant, crescant, +floreant_" (may they live, increase, flourish). + +"_Vivant! Vivant!_" thundered all guests. + +The Radom orchestra was heard that moment, and outside the windows the +drivers fell to cracking their whips. + +Long did the shouts last, with the stamping of feet, the sounding of +horns and the cracking of whips. The servants, too, raised a shout +throughout the whole mansion, and in the dining-hall, amid endless +cheers, rose great sounds of wine-gulping. + +"_Vivant, crescant, floreant!_" + +Silence came only when Pan Gideon stood up, raised his glass, and said +in a loud voice,-- + +"My guests and relatives, very gracious and most dear to my heart! I +express with inadequate words my gratitude to all; I will first bow to +you profoundly for that brotherly and neighborly good-feeling which you +have shown me by meeting here under my poor roof in such numbers--" + +The words "under my poor roof" were pronounced with a kind of +marvellously mild, and, as it were, submissive accents, then he sat +down and bent his head, so that the forehead rested really on the +table. And the guests wondered that a man usually so distant and so +haughty should speak with such affection. They thought that great +happiness melts even hearts the most obdurate, and, waiting for what he +had to say further, they looked at his iron-gray head resting yet on +the edge of the table. + +"Silence! We are listening!" said voices. + +And in fact deep silence had followed. + +But Pan Gideon was motionless. + +"What is the matter? What has happened? For God's sake! Speak on!" +cried they. + +But Pan Gideon answered only with a terrible rattling; then his +shoulders and arms began on a sudden to quiver. + +Panna Sieninski sprang from her chair pale as a wall, and cried in +terrified accents,-- + +"Guardian! guardian!" + +At the table were dismay and confusion; cries and questions rose +everywhere. Guests surrounded Pan Gideon, the prelate seized his arms +and brought him to the back of the chair, some began to throw water on +him, others cried, "Take him to the bed and bleed him as quickly as +possible." Some of the women were tearful; some ran, as if frantic, +through the chambers with groans or with sharp lamentation. But Pan +Gideon remained sitting, his head was thrown back, the veins in his +forehead were distended like straps, his eyes were closed firmly, the +hoarseness and rattling grew louder. + +The unexpected guest had come indeed out of darkness and entered the +mansion, dreadful and merciless. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + +The servants, at command of the prelate, bore the sick man to the other +end of the mansion, to the "chancellery," which served Pan Gideon also +as a bedroom. They sent immediately for the village blacksmith, who +knew how to bleed, and bled men as well as animals. It appeared after a +moment that he was in front of the mansion with a whole crowd gathered +there for entertainment, but he was quite drunk, unluckily. Pani +Vinnitski remembered that Father Voynovski had the fame of being an +excellent physician, so a carriage was sent with all speed for him, +though it seemed clear that every effort would fail, and that no rescue +was possible for the sick man. That was in truth the position. + +Except Panna Anulka, Pani Vinnitski, the two Krepetskis, and Pan +Zabierzovski, who occupied himself somewhat with medicine, the prelate +admitted none to the chancellery, lest a throng might hinder recovery. +All other guests, as well women as men, had gathered into the adjoining +large chamber where beds for men had been provided. All were like a +flock of frightened sheep, filled with fear, alarm, and curiosity. +Watching the door, they waited for tidings, and some of them made +remarks in undertones touching that terrible happening, and touching +those omens which had announced it. + +"Did you notice how the lights quivered, and the flames were in some +manner blackish? From this it is clear that Death had overshadowed +them," said one of the Sulgostovskis, in a whisper. + +"Death was among us, and we did not know her."[5] + +"The dogs howled at her." + +"And that clatter! Perhaps that was just Death on her journey." + +"It is clear that God did not favor the marriage, which would have been +an injustice to the family." + +Further whispering was stopped by the coming of Pani Vinnitski and +Martsian. + +Pani Vinnitski hurried through the chamber, she was in haste to bring a +reliquary which warded off evil spirits; but Martsian they surrounded +immediately. + +"How is he?" + +Martsian shrugged his shoulders, raised them till his head seemed to be +in his bosom, and answered,-- + +"He is rattling yet." + +"Is there no hope?" + +"None." + +At that moment through the open door came distinctly the solemn words +of the prelate,-- + +"_Ego te absolve a peccatis tuis--et ab omnibus censuris, in nomine +Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti_. Amen." (I absolve thee from thy +sins, and from all blame, in the name of the Father and Son and Holy +Ghost.) + +All knelt and began to pray. Pani Vinnitski passed between the kneeling +people, holding with both hands the reliquary. Martsian followed and +closed the door after him. + +But it was not closed long, for a quarter of an hour later Martsian +appeared in it and said in his squeaking voice of a clarionet,-- + +"He is dead!" + +Then with the words, "Eternal rest," they moved one after another to +the chancellery, to cast a last look at the dead man. + +Meanwhile at the other end of the house, in the dining-hall, revolting +scenes were enacted. The servants of the household had hated Pan Gideon +as much as they had feared him; hence it seemed to them that with his +death would come an hour of relief, delight, and impunity. To servants +from outside an occasion was offered for revelry; so all servants, as +well those of the house as others summoned in to assist them, tipsy +more or less since midday, rushed now at the wine and the viands. +Servants raised to their lips whole flasks of Dantsic liquor, +Malmoisie, and Hungarian wine; others, more greedy for food, seized +pieces of meat and cake. The snow-white tablecloth was stained in one +twinkle with gravies. In the disturbance chairs were overturned on the +floor and candlesticks on the table. Ornamented cut glasses fell from +drunken hands to the floor with a crash and were broken. Quarrels and +fights burst out here and there in the dining-hall. Some stole table +ornaments directly. In one word, an orgy began, sounds of which flew to +the other end of the mansion. + +Martsian Krepetski, and after him the two Sulgostovskis, young +Zabierzovski and one more of the guests, rushed toward those outcries, +and at sight of what was happening drew their sabres. At the first +moment disturbance increased. The Sulgostovskis went no further than to +strike with the flat of the weapons, but Martsian was seized by an +access of fury. His staring eyes protruded still farther, his teeth +glittered from under his mustaches, and he began to cut with the sabre +edge whatever man met him. Some were covered with blood, others hid +under the table; the remainder crowded in disordered flight through the +door, and Martsian cut at this throng while he shouted,-- + +"Dog brothers! Scoundrels! I am master in this place!" + +And he rushed after them to the entrance whence his shrieking voice was +heard shouting,-- + +"Clubs! rods!" + +And the guests stood in the hall, as in ruins, gazing with mortified +look, and shaking their heads at the spectacle. + +"I have never seen such a sad sight," said one Sulgostovski. + +"A wonderful death, and wonderful happenings! Look at this it is just +as if Tartars had raided the mansion." + +"Or evil spirits," added Zabierzovski. "A terrible night!" + +They commanded the servants hidden under the table to crawl forth and +bring some order to the dining-hall. They came out, perfectly sobered +from terror, and went to work nimbly. + +Meanwhile Martsian had returned. He was calmer, but his lips were still +trembling from anger. + +"They will come to their minds!" said he, addressing those present. +"But I thank you, gentlemen, for helping me to punish those ruffians. +It will not be easier here for them than it was in the days of the dead +man! My head upon that point." + +The Sulgostovskis looked at him quickly, and one said,-- + +"You have not to thank us more than we you." + +"How is that?" + +"Why art thou qualifying to be the only judge here?" asked the other of +the twins. + +Martsian, as if wishing to spring to their eyes, sprang upward on his +short bow-legs straightway, and shouted,-- + +"I have the right, the right!" + +"What right?" + +"A better right than yours." + +"How is that? Hast read the will?" + +"What is a will to me?" Here he blew on the palm of his hand; "that's +what it is,--wind! To whom has he willed it--to his wife? But where is +his wife? That is the question--we are next of kin here. We--the +Krepetskis, not you." + +"But we will see about that. God kill thee!" + +"God kill thee! Clear out!" + +"Thou goat! Thou nasty cur! Why dost thou tell us to go? Better have a +care of thy goat forehead!" + +"Are ye threatening?" + +Here Martsian shook his sabre and pushed up to the brothers. They too +grasped at their weapons. + +But at that moment the offended voice of the prelate was heard there +behind them,-- + +"Gracious gentlemen, the dead man is not cold yet." + +The Sulgostovskis were terribly ashamed, and one of them said,-- + +"Reverend prelate, we are not to blame; we have our own bread and do +not desire that of others, but this serpent is beginning to sting, and +wishes to drive people out of this mansion." + +"What people? Whom?" + +"Whomever he comes upon. To-day us, whom he has ordered away, +to-morrow, perhaps, the orphan bride living under this roof here." + +"That is untrue! untrue!" cried Martsian. + +And, winding himself into a ball, he laughed sneeringly, rubbed his +hands, bowed down and said with a certain envenomed sincerity,-- + +"On the contrary, on the contrary! I invite all to the funeral and to +the feast following after the interment. I beg most humbly; my father +and I beg. And as to Panna Sieninski, she will find at all times a +roof, and protection, and care at all times, at all times!" + +And he went on rubbing his hands very gleefully. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + +Martsian had determined indeed to tell Panna Anulka that she must +always consider Belchantska as her own, but he deferred this +information till after the funeral; he wished first to talk with his +father, who, because of the legal actions on which he had been working +all his lifetime, was skilled in law, and was able to avoid in advance +many troubles. Both were convinced that their cause was a good one; so +the next day, just at the moment when men were placing Pan Gideon in +his coffin, they shut themselves up in a side chamber and began with +good courage to take counsel. + +"Providence is above us," said the old man, "nothing but Providence, to +which Pan Gideon will answer seriously for the injustice which he +intended to do us." + +"Well, let him answer," replied Martsian. "It is our happiness that he +only intended and did not succeed, for now we will take everything. The +Sulgostovskis have quarrelled with me already, but I will tear the +souls out of those wretches before I let them have even one field of +Belchantska." + +"Ha, the scoundrels! the sons of a such a one! God twist them! I have +no fear of such people, I fear only a will. Hast thou asked the +prelate? If any one knows of a will it is he." + +"I had no chance yesterday, for he attacked me when quarrelling with +the Sulgostovskis and said to us: 'The dead man is not cold yet,' then +he went for a coffin and a priest, and to-day there has been no +opportunity." + +"But if Pan Gideon has willed all to that girl?" + +"He had not the right, for this estate belonged to his late wife, our +nearest relative." + +"But a will has been mentioned, and there will be costs and going to +tribunals, and God knows what more in addition." + +"Father is accustomed to lawsuits. But I have fixed in my head +something of such sort that there will be no need of lawsuits; +meanwhile _beatus qui tenet_" (happy is the man in possession); "for +this reason I shall not leave Belchantska. I have sent for our servants +already. Let the Sulgostovskis or the Zabierzovskis drive me out +later." + +"But the girl, if it is willed to her?" + +"Who will take her side? She is as much alone in this world as a +finger; she has no relatives, no friends--an ordinary orphan. Who will +wish to expose his neck for her, lay himself open to quarrels, duels, +expenses? How does she concern any one? Tachevski was in love with her, +but Tachevski is gone, he may never come back, and if he should he has +nothing; he knows as much as my horse about lawsuits. To tell the +truth, the position is such that if not Pan Gideon, but her own father, +had left her Belchantska, we might come in here and manage in our own +way, under pretext of guarding the orphan. I think that Pan Gideon +intended to make a will only in the contract of marriage, so either no +will at all will be found, or if it be found it will be some old one +with a clause for Panna Anulka from her guardian." + +"We can break such a will," said the old man, "my head on that! Though +a lawsuit will not be avoided." + +"How so? I hear father's words, but I think it will be avoided." + +"If, for speaking between us, Pan Gideon's wife was weak-minded, if she +left all to her husband he had the right to leave it to whomever he +selected." + +Old Krepetski uttered the last words almost in a whisper, while looking +around on all sides, though he knew that there was no one in the room +except him and Martsian. + +"How could she leave it to him when she died suddenly?" asked Martsian. + +"It was dated the year after their marriage. It is clear that Pan +Gideon wheedled her out of it, because they inhabited perilous places, +and no man could know when the Tartars might howl out his requiem. They +drew up wills to each other in the town at Pomorani; these wills were +brought by Pan Gideon to this place. I thought to start lawsuits +against him at that time, but saw that I could not do so successfully. +Now it is different." + +"We shall succeed now without lawsuits." + +"If so, all the better; but we must be ready for action." + +"Ei! there is no need to be ready." + +"How, then?" + +"I will get on without father." + +Old Pan Krepetski, on hearing this, flashed into anger. + +"Thou wilt get on? What? How? But spoil not my labor. He will get on! +But didst thou not advise me to leave the Silnitskis in peace touching +Dranjkov? According to thee, there was no way to master them. No way? +Why not? They had witnesses to swear to the land--a great thing! I made +men put earth into their boots from my courtyard. Well, and what after +that? They went to Silnitski's land, and took no false oath when each +one of them testified: 'I swear that the land on which I am standing +belongs to Krepetski.' Thou wouldst have thought a whole year, but +never invented a reason of that kind. Thou wilt get on? Look at him!" + +And he began to move his toothless jaws angrily, as if he were chewing +some substance; and his chin touched his nose, which was hooked like +the beak of some bird of prey. + +"Pant out thy anger, my father, and listen," said Martsian. "Wherever +it is a question of carrying on lawsuits I yield to thee always; but as +to what concerns women, my experience is greater, and I trust in myself +with more confidence." + +"Is it possible?" + +"Therefore, if it comes to a struggle with Parma Anulka it will not be +before any tribunal." + +"What art thou working out?" + +"To divine is not difficult. Is this not my opportunity? Or wilt thou +find another such girl in this region?" + +Martsian threw his head up and looked in the eyes of his father. The +father looked at him, too, with a glance of inquiry, chewed with his +gums, and then asked,-- + +"How is it, pray tell me." + +"Why not tell? Since yesterday it is circling through my head." + +"Hm! Why not? Because she is as needy as Lazarus." + +"But I will come into Belchantska with songs, and unhindered. She is +indigent, but the girl is of great blood. And remember the words of Pan +Gideon, that if one were to look through the papers of the Sieninskis, +it would be possible to drive from their land one-half of the +inhabitants of a province. The Sobieskis grew great from them, hence +there should be royal protection. The king himself ought to think of a +provision. And the girl has pleased my eye this long time, for she is a +dainty morsel--dainty! oh dainty!" + +And he sprang about on his short legs, licking his mustache as he did +so; wherewith he looked so revolting that old Krepetski remarked to +him,-- + +"She will not want thee." + +"And she wanted old Pan Gideon. Are the girls few who have wanted me? A +great many young men have gone to the army; so we may buy girls by the +bundle, like shoe-nails. Old Pan Gideon knew why he sent me from the +mansion. He would not have done so, had he himself not been looking at +Panna Anulka." + +"But supposing that she will not want thee--then what?" + +Evil gleams shone from the eyes of Martsian. + +"Then," replied he, with emphasis, "it is possible so to act with a +girl who has no protection, that she herself will beg thee to go to the +church with her." + +The old man was frightened at these words. + +"Ah!" said he. "But dost thou not know that act to be criminal?" + +"I know that no one would take the part of Panna Anulka." + +"But I say to thee, have a care! As it is there are voices against +thee. If a man win or lose a lawsuit for property he will not become +infamous, but thy thought is of crime--dost understand me?" + +"Oh, it will not go to that unless she herself wants it. But do not +hinder, only act as I tell thee. After the funeral let father take +Tekla home with him, and if there is any excuse also old Pani +Vinnitski. I will stay with the girls, with Agneshka and Johanna. They +are reptiles, raging at any woman who is younger and comelier than they +are. They began yesterday to point their stings at the orphan, but what +will they do when living under one roof with her? They will stab, and +bite, and insult her, refuse her the bread of compassion. I see this, +as if I were reading it in a book, and it is all as water to my mill." + +"What wilt thou grind with it?" + +"What will I grind? This: that I will quarrel with those serpents. I +will invent something against them; I will give one a slap in the face +when it pleases me, then the orphan will kiss me on the hands, on the +knees. 'I am thy defender, thy brother, thy true friend,' I will say to +her, 'thou art here the real mistress.' And dost thou think, father, +that the heart in her will not soften, that she will not fall in love +with him who will be a shield and defence to her, who will wipe away +her tears, who will watch day and night over her? And if in her sorrow +and abandonment and tears she comes to some extraordinary confidence, +so much the better! so much the better! so much the better!" + +Here Martsian rubbed his hands and so exhibited his goat eyes to his +father that the old man had to spit in abhorrence. "Tfu! Pagan!" +exclaimed he. "There is always one thing in thy mind." + +"Indeed ants walk on me when I look at her. It wasn't for nothing that +Pan Gideon drove me from the mansion." + +A moment of silence now followed. + +"Then thou wilt tell Johanna and Agneshka to act as thou wishest?" + +"There is no need to say anything to them or to teach them; their +nature suffices. Tekla alone is a dove, they are kites, the two +others." + +Martsian had not deceived himself, his sisters had begun, each in her +own way to take charge of Anulka. Tekla took her every little while in +her arms and wept with her, Agneshka and Johanna solaced her, but in +another fashion,-- + +"What did not happen, did not happen," said Agneshka, "but be at rest, +thou wilt not be our aunt, because the Lord was not willing, but no one +here will harm thee, or grudge thee a morsel." + +"And no one will drive thee to work," said the other, "for we know that +thou art not used to it; when thou hast recovered, if thou thyself +wish, then that is different; in every case wait till thy sorrow is +over, for indeed great misfortune has struck thee. Thou wert to be +mistress here, thou wert to have thy husband, and now except us thou +hast no one. But believe that though we are not relatives we will be to +thee as if relatives. Be reconciled to the will of God. The Lord has +tried thee, but for that cause he pardons thee other sins. For if thou, +perhaps, hast trusted too much in thy beauty, or didst desire wealth +and rich clothing (we are all sinful for that matter, therefore I only +say this), that will be accounted to thee against other sins." + +"Amen," said Agneshka. "Give to the church for the soul of the dead man +some ornament, or some little jewel, for thou hast no need of bridal +robes now, and we will ask father to permit thee to do this." + +Then they looked with sharp eyes at the robes on the table, and at the +chests in which lay the trousseau. Such a desire at last seized them to +see what was hidden that Johanna burst out with these words,-- + +"Perhaps we might help thee in selecting?" + +And both rushed at the chests, boxes, and bundles, in which were still +lying unpacked the robes brought from Radom, and out with them, to be +opened and examined before the light, and under the light, and then the +two girls began to try them on their own persons. + +Panna Anulka sat, as if stunned, in the arms of the dear Tekla, seeing +nothing, knowing nothing of what they were doing to her and around her. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + +As a betrothed she had felt as if something in her life had grown +black, as if something had been quenched, had been cut off and ended; +hence that betrothal had not roused in her heart any gladness. She had +only consented to the marriage because such was the will of Pan Gideon, +and because of her gratitude for care, and still more because, after +Yatsek's departure, there remained in her heart only bitterness and +sorrow, with this painful thought, that save her guardian she had no +one, and that without him she would be a lost orphan, wandering among +enemies and strangers. But all on a sudden a thunderbolt had struck +that hearth at which she was to sit with some kind of peace, though a +sad one, now the only man in this world who to her was important had +vanished. It was not strange, then, that the thunderbolt had stunned +her, that all thoughts were confused in her head, while in her heart +sorrow for that only near soul had been fused into one with a feeling +of amazement and terror. + +So the words of the elder sisters, who had begun straightway to pilfer +her dresses, struck her ears just like sounds without meaning. Then +Martsian came, bowed, rubbed his hands, jumped around her; but she +understood him no more than she did all the others, who, according to +custom, approached her with phrases of sympathy, which were more +elaborate the less they were heartfelt. It was only when Pan Serafin +put his hand on her head in the style of a father and said: "God will +be over thee, my orphan," that something moved in her suddenly, and +then tears rushed to her eyelids. Now for the first time the thought +came to her that she was as a poor little leaf given over to the will +of the whirlwind. + +Meanwhile began ceremonies, which, since Pan Gideon had been a man of +position in his neighborhood, lasted ten days, in accordance with +custom. At the betrothal, with few exceptions, invited guests only were +present, but to the funeral came all near and distant neighbors, hence +the mansion was swarming. Receptions, speeches, processions, and +returns from the church followed one after the other. + +During the first days exclusive attention was given to the incomplete +widow; but later, when people beheld the Krepetskis in possession and +saw that they alone appeared in the mansion as masters, they ceased to +regard the young lady, and toward the end of the funeral solemnities no +one paid more heed to her than to any house visitor. + +Pan Serafin alone had a thought for her. He was moved by her tears and +touched by her misfortune. The servants had begun to whisper that the +Krepetski old maids had swept off her whole trousseau, and the old lord +had hidden in his box her "little jewels," and that in the house they +were already beginning to browbeat the "young lady." When these reports +went to Pan Serafin they moved his kind heart, and he resolved to see +Father Voynovski. + +But that kindly man was prejudiced much against Panna Anulka because of +Yatsek, so at the very beginning he answered,-- + +"I am sorry for her, the poor lady, for she is in need, but in what can +I help her? That, speaking between us, God punished her for Yatsek is +certain." + +"But Yatsek is gone, as is Stanislav, and she is here simply an +orphan." + +"Of course he is gone, but how did he go? You saw him going, but I went +with him farther, and I tell you that the poor boy had his teeth set, +and the heart in him was bleeding, so that he could not utter a +syllable. Oh! he loved that girl as people loved only in the old time; +they know not to-day how to love in that manner." + +"Still he was able to move his hands," said Pan Serafin, "for I heard +that just beyond Radom he had a quarrel and cut up a passing noble, or +even two of them." + +"Ah, because he has a girl's face every road-blocker thinks that he can +get on with him cheaply. Some drunken fellows sought a quarrel. What +was he to do? I blame in him that method; I blame it, but remember, +your grace, that a man with a heart torn by love is like a lion seeking +to devour some one." + +"True; but as to the girl. Ah, my benefactor, God knows if she is as +much to blame as we imagine." + +"Woman is insidious." + +"Insidious or not, but when I heard that Pan Gideon wished to marry her +it occurred to me straightway that he roused up everything, for it must +have been all-important for him to get rid of Yatsek forever." + +"No," said the priest, shaking his head. "We remarked immediately from +the letter that it was written at her instigation. I remember that +perfectly, and I could repeat to your grace every word of it." + +"I, too, remember, but we could not know what Pan Gideon had told her, +and how he described Yatsek's deeds to the lady. The Bukoyemskis, for +example, confessed to me, that meeting her and Pan Gideon while +travelling to Prityk they said purposely, that Yatsek went away after +great stirrup cups, laughing, gladsome, and uncommonly curious about +the daughter of Pan Zbierhovski to whom you had given him a letter." + +"Here they lied! And what for?" + +"Well, they lied to show the girl and Pan Gideon that Yatsek had no +thought for them. But note this, your grace, if the Bukoyemskis spoke +thus out of friendship for Yatsek, what must Pan Gideon have said out +of hatred." + +"It is sure that he did not spare Yatsek. Still, even if she were less +to blame than we imagine, tell me what of that? Yatsek has gone, and +perhaps will never come back to us, for I know that he will spare his +life less than Pan Gideon spared his reputation." + +"Yatsek would have gone in every case," answered Pan Serafin. + +"And if he does not return I will not tear the soutane on my body. A +death in defence of the country and fighting Mohammedan vileness is a +worthy end for a Christian knight, and a worthy end for a great family. +But I will add one thing: I should have preferred to see him go without +that painful dart which is sticking in him." + +"Neither had my only son special happiness in life; he too went, and +perhaps will not return to me." + +They grew thoughtful, for their souls were filled with love for those +young men. + +Tvorkovski, the prelate, came upon them while thoughtful, and learned +that they had been talking of Panna Sieninski. + +"I will tell you, gentlemen," said he, "but let this be a secret. Pan +Gideon left no will, the Krepetskis have a right to the property. I +know that he had the wish to provide for his wife and leave all to her, +but he was not able. Do not mention this before the Krepetskis." + +"But have you said nothing?" + +"Why should I? Those are hard people, and with me the question is that +they should not be too hard toward the orphan, hence I withheld +information, and then told them this: 'Not only does God sometimes try +a man, but one man tries another.' When they heard this they were +disquieted greatly, and fell to inquiring: 'How is it? Does your grace +know anything?' 'What has to be shown will be shown,' remarked I, 'but +remember one thing. Pan Gideon had the right to will what he owned to +whatever person pleased him.'" + +Here the prelate laughed, and, putting his hands behind his violet +girdle, continued,-- + +"I say, gentlemen, that the legs trembled under old Krepetski when he +heard this; he began to contradict. 'Oh,' said he, 'that is impossible! +he had not the right. Neither God nor men would agree to that.' + +"I looked at him severely, and said: 'If you think of God, you do well, +for at your age it is proper to have His mercy in mind, and not turn to +earthly tribunals, for it may happen very easily that you will not have +time to await a decision.' He was frightened then terribly, and I +added: 'And be kind to the orphan, lest God punish you sooner than you +imagine.'" + +Hereupon Father Voynovski, whose compassionate heart was moved at the +fate of the maiden, embraced the wise prelate. + +"Benefactor," cried he, "with such a head you ought to be chancellor. I +understand! I understand! You said nothing, you did not miss the truth, +and you have frightened the Krepetskis, who think that perhaps there is +a will, nay, that it is even in your possession; they must count with +this, and be moderate toward the orphan." + +The prelate, pleased with the praise, rapped his head with his +knuckles. + +"Not quite like a nut with holes in it?" asked he. + +"Ho, there is so much reason there that it finds room with difficulty." + +"If God wish, it will burst, but meanwhile, I think that I have saved +the orphan really. I must confess, however, that the Krepetskis spoke +of her with greater humanity and with more kindness than I had +expected. The women, it is true, have taken some trifles, but the old +man declared that he would have them given back to the young lady." + +"Though the Krepetskis were the worst among men," said Pan Serafin, +"they would not dare to rob an orphan over whom the eyes of such a wise +and good priest are so watchful. But, my very reverend benefactor, I +wish to mention another thing. I wish to beg you to show me this favor; +come now to Yedlinka, let me have the honor of entertaining under my +roof such a notable personage, with whom conversation is like the honey +of wisdom and politeness. Father Voynovski has promised already to +visit me, and we will talk, the three of us, concerning public and +private matters." + +"I know what hospitality yours is," answered the prelate, with +affability, "to refuse would be real suffering, and since Lent, the +time of self-subjection is past, I will go for a pleasant day to you, +willingly. Let us take farewell of the Krepetskis, but first of the +orphan, so that they shall see the esteem in which we hold her." + +They went, and finding Anulka alone, spoke kind, heartfelt words, which +gave her consolation and courage. Pan Serafin stroked her bright head, +just as would a mother who desires to comfort a sorrowing child; the +prelate did the same, and the honest Father Voynovski was so moved by +her thin face and her beauty in its sadness, which reminded him of a +flower of the field cut down too early by a scythe-stroke, that he too +pressed her temples, and having a mind always thinking of Yatsek, he +said half to himself, half to her,--"How can one wonder at Yatsek, +since this picture was before him. But those Bukoyemskis lied, when +they said that he went away gladly." + +When Anulka heard these words, she put her lips to his hand on a +sudden, and for a long time she could not withdraw them. The sobbing, +which came from her heart, shook her bosom; and they left her in an +immense, irrepressible onrush of weeping. + +An hour later they were in Yedlinka, where good news was awaiting them. +A man had arrived bringing a letter from Stanislav, in which he stated +that he and Yatsek had joined the hussars of Prince Alexander; that +they were well, and Yatsek, though pensive at all times, had gained a +little cheerfulness, and was not so forgetful as during the first days. +Besides words of filial love, there was in the letter one bit of news +which astonished Pan Serafin: "If thou, my father, my most beloved and +great mighty benefactor, see the Bukoyemskis on their return be not +astonished, and save them with kindness, for they have been met by most +marvellous accidents, and I cannot help them. If they were not to go to +the war they would die, I think, from sorrow, which even now has almost +killed them." + +In the course of the following months Pan Serafin visited Belchantska +repeatedly, wishing to learn what was happening to Anulka. This was not +caused by any personal motive, for Stanislav was not in love with the +young lady, and she had broken altogether with Yatsek; he acted mainly +from kindness, and a little from curiosity, for he wished to discover +in what way, and how far the girl had aided in breaking the bonds of +attachment between herself and Yatsek. He met opposition, however. The +Krepetskis respected his wealth, hence they received him politely; but +theirs was a wonderfully watchful hospitality, so continuous and active +that Pan Serafin could not find himself alone with the girl for one +instant. + +He understood that they did not wish him to ask her how she was +treated, and that set him to thinking, though he did not find that she +was either ill treated, or made to serve greatly. He saw her, it is +true, once and a second time cleaning with a crust of bread white satin +shoes of such size that they could not be for her own feet, and darning +stockings in the evening, but the Krepetski girls did the same, hence +there could not be in this any plan to humiliate the orphan by labor. +The old maids were at times as biting and stinging as nettles, but Pan +Serafin remarked soon that such was their nature, and that they could +not restrain themselves always from gnawing even at Martsian, whom +still they feared so much that when either one had thrust out her sting +half its length a look from him made her draw it back quickly. Martsian +himself was polite and agreeable to Anulka, though without forwardness, +and after the departure of old Krepetski and Tekla he became still more +agreeable. + +This departure was not pleasing to Pan Serafin, though it was simple +enough that they could not leave an old man, who was somewhat disabled +in walking, without the care of a woman, and since they had two houses +they had divided the family. Pan Serafin would have preferred that +Tekla remain with the orphan, but when on an occasion he hinted +remotely that the ages of the two maidens made them company for each +other, the elder sister met his words in the worst manner possible,-- + +"Anulka has shown the world," said Johanna, "that age does not trouble +her. Our late uncle and Pani Vinnitski have proved this--so we are not +too old for her." + +"We are as much older than she, as Tekla is younger, and I do not know +as we are that much," added the second sister; "besides our heads must +manage this household." + +But Martsian broke into the conversation,-- + +"Tekla's service," said he, "is dearest to father. He loves her beyond +any one, at which we cannot wonder. We thought to send Panna Anulka +with them, but she is accustomed to this house, so I think she will +feel more at home in it. As to our care, I will do what I can to make +it not too disagreeable." + +Then, with feet clattering, he approached the young lady, and tried to +kiss her hand, which she drew away quickly, as if frightened. Pan +Serafin thought that it was not proper to remove Pani Vinnitski, but he +kept to himself that idea, not wishing to interfere in questions beyond +his authority. He noted more than once that on Anulka's face fear as +well as sadness was evident, but at this he was not greatly astonished, +for her fate was in fact very grievous. An orphan, without a kindred +soul near her, without her own roof above her head, she was forced to +live on the favor of people who to her were repulsive, and who had an +evil fame generally, she was forced to suffer pain over the vanished +and brighter past, and to be in dread of the present. And though a +person may be in suffering to the utmost, that person will have some +solace if he, or she, may cherish hope of a better future. But she had +no chance for hope, and she had none. To-morrow must be for her as +to-day and the endless years to come, with the same drag of orphanhood, +loneliness, and living on the bread of a stranger's favor. + +Pan Serafin spoke of this often with Father Voynovski, whom he saw +almost daily, since it was pleasant for them to talk about their young +heroes. Father Voynovski, however, shrugged his shoulders with sympathy +and magnified the keenness of the prelate who, by hanging the threat of +a will like a Damocles sword above the Krepetskis, had protected the +orphan, at least from evil treatment. + +"Such a keen man!" said he. "Now you have him, and now he has slipped +from you. Sometimes I think that perhaps he has not told the whole +truth to us, and that there is a will in his hands, and that he will +bring it out unexpectedly." + +"That has occurred to me also, but why should he hide it?" + +"I know not; perhaps to test human nature. I think only of this: Pan +Gideon was a clear-sighted man, and it cannot find place in my head +that he should not have made long ago some provision." + +But after a time the ideas of both men were turned in a different +direction, for the Bukoyemskis arrived, or rather walked in from Radom. + +They appeared at Yedlinka one evening, with sabres, it is true, but +with not very sound boots, and with torn coats on their bodies. They +had such woe-be-gone faces that, if Pan Serafin had not for some time +been expecting them, he would have been terribly frightened, and would +have thought that news of his son's death had come with them. + +The four brothers embraced his knees, and kissed his hands straightway; +he, looking at their misery, dropped his arms at his sides in +amazement. + +"Stashko wrote," said he, "that it had gone ill with you, but this is +terrible!" + +"We have sinned, benefactor!" answered Marek, beating his breast. + +The other brothers repeated his words. + +"We have sinned, we have sinned, we have sinned!" + +"Tell me how, and in what. How is Stashko? He has written me that he +saved you. What happened?" + +"Stashko is well, benefactor; he and Pan Yatsek are as bright as two +suns." + +"Glory to God! glory to God! Thanks for the good news. Have you no +letter?" + +"He wrote, but did not give us the letter. It might be lost," said he. + +"Are you not hungry? Oh, what a condition! It is as if I had four men +risen from the dead now before me." + +"We are not hungry, for entertainment is ready at the house of every +noble--but we are unfortunate." + +"Sit down. Drink something warm, but while the servants are heating it +tell me what happened. Where have you been?" + +"In Warsaw," said Mateush, "but that is a vile city." + +"Why so?" + +"It is swarming with gamblers and drunkards, and on Long Street and in +the Old City at every step there is a tavern." + +"Well, what?" + +"One son of a such a one persuaded Lukash to play dice with him. Would +to God that the pagans had impaled the wicked scoundrel on a stake ere +that happened." + +"And he cheated?" + +"He won all that Lukash had, and then all that we had. Desperation took +hold of us, and we wanted to win the coin back, but he won further our +horse with a saddle and with pistols in the holsters. Then, I say to +your grace, that Lukash wished to stab himself. What was to be done? +How were we to help comforting a brother? We sold the second horse, so +that Lukash might have a companion to walk with him." + +"I understand what happened," remarked Pan Serafin. + +"When we became sober there was still keener suffering; two horses were +gone, and we had greater need of consolation." + +"So ye consoled yourselves till the fourth horse was gone?" + +"Till the fourth horse. We sinned, we sinned!" repeated the contrite +brothers. + +"But was that the end?" continued Pan Serafin. + +"How the end, our father and special benefactor? We met a deceiver, one +Poradski, who scoffed at us. 'So this is the way they shear fools!' +says he. 'I will take you,' says he, 'as my serving men, for I am +making the levy for a regiment.' Lukash cried out that the man was +exposing us to ridicule, and when he would not stop Lukash slashed him +on the snout with a sabre. Poradski's friends sprang to help him, and +we to help Lukash, and we cut till the marshal's guard whirled in and +went at us. And we yielded only when the others fell to shouting: +'Gracious gentlemen, they are attacking freedom, and injuring the +Commonwealth in our persons.' That is how it happened, and God blessed +us immediately, for we wounded eight attendants in a flash, and three +of these mortally; the others were at our feet,--there were five of +them." + +Pan Serafin seized his head, and Marek continued,-- + +"Yes! Now we know all; God helped us till people shouted that the fight +was near the king's palace, and a crime,--that we should die for it. We +were frightened and ran. They tried to seize us, but when we, in old +fashion, cut one on the face and another on the neck, they fled in a +hurry. Stanislav saved us with the horses of his attendants, but even +then we had to work hard to bring our heads with us; we were hunted to +Senkotsin; if the horses had been slow our case would have ended. Our +names were not known; that was lucky, and there will be no accusation +against us." + +Long silence followed. + +"Where are those horses which Stanislav gave you?" asked Pan Serafin. + +The brothers began their confession a third time,-- + +"We have sinned, benefactor, we have sinned!" + +Pan Serafin walked with long strides through the chamber. + +"Now I understand," said he, "why ye did not bring Stashko's letter. He +wrote me that various sad things had happened you, and he predicted +your return, thinking that ye would need money for horses and outfits, +but how ye would end was unknown to him." + +"So it is, benefactor," said Yan. + +Men now brought in heated wine, to which the brothers betook themselves +with great willingness, for they were road weary. Still they were +frightened by the silence of Pan Serafin, who was striding up and down +in the chamber, his face severe and gloomy. So again Marek spoke to +him,-- + +"Your grace, my benefactor, has asked about Stanislav's horses. Two of +them foundered before we reached Groyets, for we galloped all the way +in a terrible windstorm; we sold them for a trifle to Jew wagoners, for +the beasts were no good after foundering. And we had not a coin to keep +the souls in us; since we left in such a hurry Pan Stanislav had no +time to assist us. Then strengthened a little we rode farther, two men +on each animal. But your grace will understand this. We met then some +noble on the road, and immediately he seized his side, laughing. 'What +kind of Jerusalem nobles are these?' asked he. And we from such +terrible scornfulness were ready for anything. So we had endless +encounters and fights till we came to Bialobregi, where for dear peace +we sold the last two of our crowbaits; then, when people wondered at +our travelling on foot we replied that we were making that journey +through a vow of devotion. So forgive us now like a father, for there +are not more ill-fated men in this world, as I think, than we +brothers." + +"It is true! it is true!" exclaimed Mateush and Lukash; while Yan, the +youngest, moved by remembrance of past suffering, and wine, raised his +voice, and cried,-- + +"We are orphans of the Lord! What is left now in this world to us?" + +"Nothing but brotherly love," put in Marek. + +And they fell to embracing one another, shedding bitter tears as they +did so; then all drew up to Pan Serafin, but Marek seized his knees +before the others. + +"Oh, father," said he, "our first-born protector, be not angry. Lend us +once more for the levy, and from plunder, God grant, we will give it +back faithfully; if you lend not--it is well also, but be not angry, +only forgive us! Forgive us through that great friendship which we +cherish for Stashko; for I tell you, let any man harm even one of +Stashko's fingers, we will bear that man apart on our sabres! Is this +not true, dearest brothers?--on our sabres?" + +"Give him hither, the son of a such a one!" cried Mateush, Lukash, and +Yan. + +Pan Serafin halted before them, put his hand on his forehead, and +answered in these words,-- + +"I am angry, it is true! but less angry than grief-stricken; for when I +think that in this Commonwealth there are many such men as ye, the +heart in me is straitened, and I ask myself: Will this mother of ours +have the power with such children to meet the attacks which are +threatening her? Ye wish to implore me, and ye expect my forgiveness. +By the living God! it is not a question here of me, and not of my +horses, but of something a hundred times greater, a question of the +public weal, and the future of this Commonwealth; and of this, that ye +do not understand the position, that even such a thought has not come +to you; and since there are thousands such as ye are, the greater is +the sorrow and the keener the anxiety, the more dreadful the +desperation both of me and each honest son of this country--" + +"For God's sake, benefactor! How have we sinned against the country?" + +"How? By lawlessness, license, by riot and drunkenness. Oh! With us, +people treat such things over lightly, and do not see how the +pestilence is spreading, how the walls of this lordly building are +weakened, and our heads are endangered by the ceiling. War is +approaching; it is not known yet whether the foe will turn his power +against us directly--but, ye Christian soldiers, what is the best that +ye are doing? The trumpet is calling you to battle, but in your heads +there is nothing save wine and lawlessness. With a glad heart ye cut +down the guardians of that law which gives order of some kind. Who +established those laws? Nobles. Who trampled them? Nobles! How can this +country move to the field of glory, if this advance post of +Christianity is inhabited not by warriors but drunkards, not by +citizens but roysterers and rioters?" + +Here Pan Serafin stopped and, pressing his hand to his forehead, walked +again with great steps through the chamber. The brothers glanced at one +another in amazement and confusion, for they had not thought to hear +from him anything of that sort. + +But he sighed deeply and continued,-- + +"Ye were called out against pagans, and ye spill the blood of +Christians; ye were summoned in defence of this country, and ye have +gone out as its enemies, for it is evident that the greater the +disorder in a fortress, the weaker is the fortress. Fortunately there +are still honest children of this mother, but of men such as ye there +are, as I have said, many legions; for here not freedom, but riot is +nourishing, not obedience, but impunity, not stern discipline, but +wantonness, not love of country, but self-seeking; for here diets are +broken, here the treasury is plundered, disorder increases, and civil +wars like unbridled horses trample the country; hence drunken heads are +fixing its fortunes; here is oppression of peasants, and from high to +low lawlessness so that my heart bleeds, and I fear defeat, with God's +anger as the consequence." + +"In God's name must we hang ourselves?" cried Lukash. + +Pan Serafin measured the chamber a number of times with his steps yet, +and spoke on, as if it were to himself, and not to the Bukoyemskis,-- + +"Through the length and the breadth of this Commonwealth there is +one immense feast, and on the wall an unknown hand is now writing: +'Mane--Tekel--Fares.' Wine is flowing, but blood and tears also are +flowing. I am not the only person who sees this, I am not the only man +predicting evil, but it is vain to put a light before the sightless, or +sing songs to those who have no hearing." + +Silence followed. The four brothers stared now at one another, and now +at Pan Serafin with increasing confusion; at last Lukash said in a low +voice to the other three,-- + +"May I split, if I understand anything!" + +"And may I split!" + +"And may I!" + +"If we could drink a couple of times--" + +"Quiet, do not mention it--" + +"Let us go home." + +"Let us go." + +"With the forehead to your grace, our benefactor!" said Marek, pushing +out in front and bending down to the knees of Pan Serafin. + +"But whither?" + +"To Lesnichovka. God help us." + +"And I will help you," said Pan Serafin; "but such grief seized me that +I had to pour it out. Go upstairs, gentlemen,--rest; later on ye will +learn my decision." + +An hour later he commanded to drive to Father Voynovski's. The priest +was scandalized no little by the deeds of the Bukoyemskis, but at +moments he could not restrain himself from laughter, for having served +many years in the army he recalled various happenings which had met him +and his comrades. But he could not forgive the brothers for drinking +away the horses. + +"A soldier will often run riot," said he, "but to drink away his horse! +that is treason to the service. I will tell the Bukoyemskis that I +should have been glad if martial law had taken the heads from their +shoulders, and that certainly would have given an example to rioters, +but I confess to you that I should have been sorry, for all four are +splendid fellows. I know from of old what men are, and I can say in +advance what each is good for. As to the Bukoyemskis, it will be +unhealthy for those pagans who strike breast to breast with them in +battle. What do you think to do with them?" + +"I will not leave them without rescue, but I think if I were to send +them off alone the same kind of thing might meet them a second time." + +"True!" said the priest. + +"Hence it has occurred to me to go with them, and give them straight +into the hands of the captain. Once with the flag and under discipline, +they can grant themselves nothing." + +"True, this is a splendid idea! Take them to Cracow; there the +regiments will assemble. As I live I will go with you! Thus we shall +see our boys, and come back with more pleasantness." + +At this Pan Serafin laughed, and said,-- + +"Your grace will come back alone." + +"How is that?" + +"I am going myself to the war." + +"Do you wish to serve again in the army?" asked Father Voynovski, in +astonishment. + +"Yes, and no; for it is one thing to go to the army and make a career +out of service, and another to go on a single expedition. Of course, I +am old, but older than I have gone to the ranks more than once in reply +to Gradiva's trumpet. I have sent my only son, that is true, but it is +not possible to yield up too much for the country. Thus did my fathers +think, therefore, that Mother showed them the greatest honor at her +disposal. Hence my last copper coin, and my last drop of blood are now +ready to be sacrificed for her sake! Should it come to die--think, your +grace, what nobler death, what greater happiness could meet me? A man +must die once, and is there not greater pleasure in dying on the field +of glory, at the side of one's son, than in bed; to die from a sabre or +a bullet than from sickness; in addition fighting against pagans for +the faith and the country?" + +Then Pan Serafin, moved by his own words, opened his arms and +repeated,-- + +"God grant this! God grant this!" + +Then Father Voynovski took him in his arms, and pressing him, said,-- + +"God grant that in this Commonwealth there be as many men like you as +possible; there are not many as honorable, more honorable there are +none whatever. It is true that it becomes a noble better to die on the +field than in bed, and in old times every man held that idea, but +to-day worse times have come on us. The country and the faith are one +immense altar, and a man is a morsel of myrrh, predestined for burning +to the glory of that altar. Yes, times are worse at the present. Then +war is nothing new to you?" + +Pan Serafin felt his breast, and continued,-- + +"I have here a few wounds from sabres and shots of the old time." + +"It would be pleasanter for me to defend the flag," said Father +Voynovski, "than listen to old women's sins in this neighborhood. And +more than one of them tells me such nonsense, just as if she had come +to shake out fleas at confession. When a man commits sin he has at +least something to speak about, and all the more if he is a soldier! +When I took this robe of a priest I became a chaplain in the regiment +of Pan Modlishevski. Ah, I remember that well. Between one absolution +of sins and another there was sometimes a shooting in the teeth, or +blades were drawn. Ah, there was great need of chaplains in that time. +I should like now to go, but my parish is large, and there is a tempest +of work in it; the vicar is wilful but worst of all is a wound from a +gunshot, which I received long ago, and which does not let me stay more +than an hour in the saddle." + +"I should be happy to have a comrade," said Pan Serafin, "but I +understand that even without that wound your grace could not leave the +parish." + +"Well, I shall see. In a couple of days I will ride and learn how long +I can stay in the saddle. Something may have straightened out in me. +But who will look to the management at Yedlinka?" + +"I have a forester, a simple man, but so honest that he might almost be +canonized." + +"I know; that one who is followed by wild beasts. Some say that he is a +wizard; you know better, however. But he is old and sickly." + +"I wish to take also that Vilchopolski who on a time served Pan Gideon. +Perhaps you remember him? a young noble who lost one foot, but he is +vigorous and daring. Krepetski removed him because he was too +independent. He came to me two days ago offering his service, and +to-day I will agree with him surely. Pan Gideon did not like him, since +the man would not let any one blow on his pudding, but Pan Gideon +praised his activity and faithfulness." + +"What is to be heard in Belchantska?" + +"I have not been there for some time. It is clear that Vilchopolski +does not praise the Krepetskis, but I had no chance to inquire about +everything in detail." + +"I will look in there to-morrow, though they are not over glad to +behold me, and then I will return to rub the ears of the Bukoyemskis. I +will command them to come to confession, and for penance the whips will +be moving. Let them give one another fifty lashes; that will be good +for them." + +"It will, that is certain. But now I must take farewell of your grace +because of Vilchopolski." + +Then Pan Serafin shortened his belt-strap, so that his sabre might not +be in the way when he was entering the wagon. A moment later he was on +the road moving toward Yedlinka, thinking meanwhile of his expedition, +and smiling at the thought that he would work stirrup to stirrup with +his one son, against pagans. After he had passed Belchantska he saw two +horses under packs, and a trunk-laden wagon which Vilchopolski was +driving. He commanded the young man to sit over into his wagon, and +then he inquired,-- + +"Are you leaving Belchantska already?" + +Vilchopolski pointed to the trunks, and wishing to prove that though he +served he was not without learning, he said,-- + +"See, your grace, _omnia mea mecum porto_" (I am taking all my things +with me). + +"Then was there such a hurry?" + +"There was not a hurry, but there was need; therefore I accept all your +grace's conditions with pleasure, and in case you go away, as you have +mentioned, I will guard your house and possessions with faithfulness." + +Pan Serafin was pleased with the answer and the daring, firm face of +the young man; so, after a moment of meditation, he added,-- + +"Of faithfulness I have no doubt, for I know that you are a noble, but +inexperience I fear, and incautiousness. In Yedlinka one must sit like +a stone, and watch day and night, because it is almost in the +wilderness, and in great forests there is no lack of bandits, who at +times attack houses." + +"I do not wish an attack upon Yedlinka, but for myself I should like +it, to convince your grace that courage and alertness would not be +lacking on my part." + +"You look as though you had both," said Pan Serafin. + +He was silent a while, and then continued,-- + +"There is one other thing of importance of which to forewarn you. Pan +Gideon is in God's hands at the present, and touching the dead nothing +save that which is good may be mentioned; but it is known that he was +hard to his people. Father Voynovski blamed him for this, and there was +variance between them. The sweat of the peasant was not spared in +Belchantska; trials were short and punishment grievous. We will be +outspoken--there was oppression, and his agents were too cruel with +people. This is not my case, be sure of that; there must be discipline, +but paternal. I look on excessive severity as a great sin against God +and the country. Fix it well in your mind that a man is not curds, and +it is not allowable to press him too cruelly. I do not wring out +people's tears--and I remember that before God all are equal." + +A moment of silence followed. Vilchopolski seized Pan Serafin's hand +and put his lips to it. + +"I see that you understand me," said Pan Serafin. + +"I understand, your grace; and I answer, More than a hundred times I +wanted to say to Pan Gideon: 'Find another manager;' more than a +hundred times I wanted to go from his service, but--well, I could not +do so." + +"Why was that? Is there a lack of work in the world?" + +Vilchopolski was confused and spoke as if fear had seized hold of him. + +"It did not happen--I could not go--day after day I loitered. Besides, +there was severity, and there was not." + +"How was that?" + +"The people were driven to work, it is true, no one could prevent that; +but as to flogging, I will say briefly that instead of whips straw +ropes were used on them." + +"Who was so merciful--you?" + +"No. But I chose to obey the will of an angel, not that of a devil." + +"I understand, but tell me whose will?" + +"Panna Anulka's." + +"Ah! so it was she?" + +"Really an angel. She too was in dread of Pan Gideon, who in recent +times only began to regard what she told him. But all loved her so much +that each man exposed himself to Pan Gideon's anger rather than refuse +what she asked of him." + +"May God bless her for that! So you all conspired against Pan Gideon?" + +"Yes, your grace." + +"And it was not discovered?" + +"It was discovered once, but I did not betray the young lady. Pan +Gideon flogged me himself, for I declared to him that if any other man +flogged, or if he flogged me except on a carpet, I, a noble, would let +his house up in smoke, and shoot him besides that. And it would have +been done as I promised, even had I to join forest bandits in +consequence." + +"You please me for this," said Pan Serafin. + +"More than once I found it difficult to stay with Pan Gideon," +continued Vilchopolski; "but in the house there was simply one of God's +cherubim, and so, though a man might wish to go, he would stay there. +After that, as the young lady grew up Pan Gideon gave her more +consideration, and recently he gave thought to no one save Panna +Anulka. He knew often that she commanded to give wheat to the poor from +the granary, then, as I have said, she had straw used instead of whips; +besides, she had labor remitted; he affected not to notice it. At last +he was so much ashamed that she had no need to do anything in secret. +She was a real protector of people, and for that reason may God, as you +have said, bless and save her." + +"Why do you say 'save'?" inquired Pan Serafin. + +"Because it is worse for her now than it has been." + +"Have the fear of God! What is the danger?" + +"The two women are terrible. Young Krepetski himself restrains them +apparently, but I know why he does this; but let him be careful, some +one may shoot him down like a dog if he is not." + +It was deep night then, but very clear, for the full moon was shining, +and by the light of it Pan Serafin saw that the eyes of the young man +were glittering like wolf eyes. + +"What dost thou know of him?" asked Pan Serafin, with curiosity. + +"I know that he removed me not merely for my independence, but because +I watched and listened carefully to what people in the house said. I +went away because I had to go, but Belchantska is not far from +Yedlinka, and in case of need--" + +Here he was silent, and on the road was heard only the sound of the +pines as they were moved by the night wind. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + +AT Belchantska it was not only evil for the young woman, but worse and +worse daily. A good deal of time had passed since that moment in which +old Pan Gideon had noticed that Martsian gazed at the young girl with +too much of a "goat's look," and had driven him from the mansion. Later +on, Martsian saw her at church, and sometimes at the houses of +neighbors, and always her beauty of springtime roused fresh desires in +him. Now when he was living under one roof with her, when he saw her +daily, he fell in love in his own way, that is, with the beastlike +desire, and that feeling of which he was alone capable. A change had +taken place in his wishes. His first intent had been to bring the girl +to shame, and then marry her only in case that a will should be found +in her favor. Now he was ready to go with her to the altar, if he could +in any case have and possess her forever. Reason, which when urged by +desire becomes its obedient assistant, told him, moreover, that a young +lady bearing the name of Sieninski was, although dowerless, a match of +great moment. But even if reason had told him the opposite, Martsian +would not have listened, for as each day appeared he lost some part of +his self-mastery. He burnt, he raged, and if up to that time he had +restrained himself from violence it was only because desire, even the +most urgent, craves and yearns for a willing surrender, and is charmed +with the thought of mutuality in which it sees the highest pleasure, +and deceives itself even when there is no cause whatever for doing so. + +Thus Krepetski deceived himself, and thus he pampered his wishes with +pictures of that blissful moment in which the young lady would herself, +radiant and willing, incline to his embraces. But he dreaded to lose +should he risk all on the hazard of a trial, and when he put to himself +in spirit this question, What would follow? fear seized him in presence +of himself, and in presence of the terror which would threaten him; for +the laws of the Commonwealth guarding the honor of woman were pitiless, +and around him were sabres of nobles by the hundred, which would flash +above his head most unfailingly. But he felt also that the hour might +come in which he would care for nothing, since in his insolent, wild +spirit there was hidden a craving for battle, and a hunger for peril; +so not without a certain charm for him was the picture of a great +throng of nobles besieging Belchantska--the flame of conflagration +above him, and a red executioner standing, axe in hand, somewhere off +in the mist of a distant city. + +And thus desire, dread, and also a longing for battle struggled like +three whirlwinds within him. At the same time, wishing to give exit to +that storm, and to cool that flood which was seething in his person as +water in a caldron, he grew mad, wallowed in riot throughout village +inns, rode down his horses, fell upon people, and drank to kill in +every dramshop of Radom, Prityk, and Yedlina. He collected around him a +company of road-blockers, who did not go to the war because of evil +fame, or of poverty. He paid these men and tyrannized over them; he did +this thinking that such a mob might be useful in the future, but he did +not admit any man of them to confidence, and never mentioned in their +presence the name of the young lady. Once when a certain Vysh, from +some Vyshkov of unknown situation, mentioned her in rude, obscene +fashion, Martsian slashed the fellow on his snout and drew blood from +him. + +Martsian galloped home at breakneck speed, and usually about daylight. +But that mad riding sobered him thoroughly. He dropped down in his +clothes to the horse skin which covered his bed, and slept like a stone +for some hours on it; when he rose he put on his best garments, went +then to the women, and strove to please the young lady, whom his eyes +did not leave for one moment, he meanwhile rousing desire, while his +glances crawled over her person. And more than once, when he was alone +with Anulka, his lips were pushed forward, his arms of monstrous +length quivered as if powerless against his wish to seize hold of +her; his voice became stifled, his words became insolent, vague, +and double-meaning; through them circled both flattery and an +ill-restrained threatening. + +But Anulka feared him simply as she would have feared a tamed wolf, or +a bear, and with difficulty did she hide the repulsion with which the +sight of him filled her. For in spite of the parrot-like colors in +which he arrayed himself, in spite of the shining jewels at his neck, +and the costly flageolet which he never let slip from his fingers, he +looked worse each day, and more repulsive. Sleepless nights, rioting, +drinking, and flaming desires had placed on him their impress. He grew +thin, his shoulders drooped, through this his arms, long by nature, +seemed longer, so that his hands reached below his knees and were +beyond human proportions. His gigantic trunk was like a knotty section +of a tree trunk, and his short bow-legs bent still more from mad +riding. Moreover, the skin of his face took on a kind of green pallor, +and because of his sunken cheeks, his protruding eyes and pouting lips +were pushed forward phenomenally. He became simply dreadful to look at, +especially when he laughed, for from his eyeballs when lighted with +laughter looked out a kind of nervous, unrestrained threat and malice. +But the feeling of her misfortune, deep sadness, and unhappiness +produced in Anulka a dignity of which she had not a trace somewhat +earlier. This dignity imposed on Krepetski. Once she had been a +twittering maiden, active all day as a water-mill; now she had learned +to be silent, and her eyes had a fixity of expression. So, though her +heart trembled often from fear of Krepetski, she restrained him by her +calm glance and her silence. He drew back then as if fearing to offend +such a majesty. It is true that she seemed to him still more desirable, +but also more difficult of access. She, however, feeling that from him +immense danger was threatening, and later on being perfectly convinced +of this, strove to avoid him, to be alone with him the shortest time +possible, to turn away conversation from things which might facilitate +confession, and finally she had the boldness sometimes to indicate that +she was not by any means abandoned and left to the favor or ill-will of +fortune, as it might seem to him. + +She avoided even memories of Yatsek, understanding that after what had +passed between them he could not be then, and would not be ever a +defence to her. She felt besides that every word touching him would +rouse hatred and anger in Martsian. But having noted that the +Krepetskis were careful of the prelate, and looked as if with secret +dread on him, she let it be understood frequently that she was under +his special protection, which rose from a secret agreement which, in +view of every contingency, Pan Gideon had concluded. The prelate, who +from time to time came to Belchantska, aided her notably, for he turned +to the Krepetskis with pleasure, since he was studying mankind; he +expressed himself with mystery, and quoted subtle phrases in Latin; he +reminded Martsian of various things which that young man might +interpret as suited him. + +But a great point was this: The servants and the whole village loved +the "young lady." People considered the Krepetskis as intruders, and +her as the genuine inheritor. All feared Martsian, except Vilchopolski. +But even after the removal of that young noble, the unseen care of the +people went, as it were, with Anulka, and Martsian understood that the +fear which he roused had its limit, beyond which for him would begin +real danger. He understood also that Vilchopolski, whose eyes had a +daring expression, would not go far from Belchantska, and that if the +young lady should be in need of defence he would not draw back before +anything; hence he confessed to himself that she was not really so +deserted by every one as at first he had thought, and as on a time he +had told his old father. + +"Who will take her part? No one!" said he, when the old man commanded +him to remember the terrible punishments which the laws threatened for +an attempt on the honor of a woman. + +At last he understood that there were such defenders. That raised one +more obstacle, but obstacles and perils were only an incitement to a +nature like Martsian's. He deceived himself yet, thinking that he would +move the young lady and make her love him; but there came moments in +which he saw, as clearly as a thing on the palm, that he was quite +powerless; and then he raged, as said the comrades of his revels, and +had it not been for a certain dull, but strong and irresistible +foreboding that if he attacked the girl he should lose her forever, he +would long ere that have set free the wild beast within him. + +And in just those times did he drink without measure and memory. + +Meanwhile relations in the house had become unendurable, seasoned with +bitterness and poison. The Krepetski old maids hated Anulka, not only +because she was younger than they and more beautiful, but because +people loved her, and because Martsian took her part for every reason, +and even for no reason. They flamed up at last with implacable hatred +toward their brother; but seeing that Anulka never complained, they +tortured her all the more stubbornly. Once Agneshka burnt her with a +red-hot shovel, as if by accident. Martsian, hearing of this through +the servants, went to ask pardon of the young lady, and beg her to seek +his protection at all times; but he pushed up to her with such +insistence, and fell to kissing her hand with such greed and so +disgustingly, that she fled from him, unable to repress her abhorrence. +Thereupon he broke into a rage and beat his sister so viciously that +for two days she feigned illness. + +The two "heiresses" as they were called at the mansion did not spare +biting words on the young lady, or open inventions and humiliations, +taking vengeance in this way for all they were forced to endure from +their brother. But out of hatred for Martsian they warned her against +him, censuring her at the same time for yielding to his wishes, for +they saw that with nothing could they wound and offend her so painfully +as with this implication. The house became a hell for her, and every +hour in it a torment. + +Hatred toward those people, who themselves hated one another, was +poisoning even her heart. She began to think of a cloister, but she +kept the thought in her bosom, for she knew that they would not let her +enter one, and that by unfettering Martsian's anger she would expose +herself to great peril. Alarm and fear of danger dwelt in her +continually, and produced the desire of death, a desire which she had +never felt previously. Meanwhile each day added to her cup new drops of +bitterness. Once, early in the morning, Agneshka surprised Martsian +looking through the keyhole of the orphan's chamber. He withdrew +gritting his teeth and threatening with his fist, but the "heiress" +called her sister immediately, and the two, finding the girl still +undressed, began to torment her, as usual. + +"Thou didst know that he was standing there," said the elder, "for the +floor squeaks outside the door, and there is a noise when any one +stands near it; but to thee, as is clear, his presence was agreeable." + +"Bah! he licked his lips before dainties, and she did not hide them," +interrupted Agneshka. "Hast thou no fear of God, shameless creature?" + +"Such a one should be put before the church at a pillory." + +"And expelled from the mansion." + +"Sodom and Gomorrah!" + +"Tfu!" + +"And when will the need be to send to Radom for a woman?" + +"What sort of a name wilt thou give it?" + +"Tfu! thou dish-rag!" + +And they spat on her. + +The heart stormed up in the hapless maiden, for the measure was passed +then. + +"Be off!" cried she, pointing to the door. + +But her face grew pale as linen, and darkness fell on her eyes; for a +moment it seemed to her that she was flying into some gulf without +bottom, then she lost consciousness, feeling, and memory. On recovering +she found herself wet from water which had been poured on her, and her +breast pinched in places. The faces of the old maids bending over her +showed fear, but after a while they felt reassured when they saw that +she was conscious. + +"Complain, complain!" said Johanna. "Thy paramour will defend thee." + +"And thou wilt thank him in thy own way." + +Setting her teeth Anulka answered no syllable. + +But Martsian divined all that must have happened upstairs, for some +hours later from the chancellery, where he had shut himself in with his +sisters, came howls from which the whole mansion was terrified. + +In the afternoon, when old Krepetski came, the two sisters fell with a +scream to his knees imploring him to remove them from that den of +profligacy and torture. But he to the same degree that he loved his +youngest daughter hated the elder ones; so he not only took no pity on +the ill-fated hags, but he called for sticks, and compelled them to +stay there. + +The only being in that terrible house in whom Johanna and Agneshka, if +they had wished to be friendly and kind, might have found compassion, +sympathy, and even protection, was Panna Anulka. But they preferred to +torment the poor girl, and gloat over her, for, with the exception of +Tekla, that was a family in which each member did all in his or her +power to poison the life and increase the misfortune of the others. + +But Panna Anulka feared the love of Martsian more than the hatred of +his sisters. And he thrust himself more and more on her, pushed himself +forward more and more shamelessly, was more and more insistent, and +gazed at her more and more greedily. It had become clear that he was +ceasing to command himself, that wild desire was tearing him as a +whirlwind tears a tree, and that he might give way at any moment. + +In fact that moment came soon. + +Once, after warm weather had grown settled, Anulka went at daybreak to +bathe in the shady river; before undressing she saw Martsian's face on +the opposite bank sticking out from thick bushes. That instant she +rushed away breathlessly. He pursued her, but trying to spring over the +water he failed and fell into it; he was barely able to climb out, and +went home drenched to the very last thread of his clothing. Before +dinner he had beaten a number of servants till the blood came; during +dinner he said not a word to any person. Only at the end of the meal +did he turn to his sisters,-- + +"Leave me alone," said he, "with Panna Anulka; I have to talk with her +on matters of importance." + +The sisters, on hearing this, looked at each other significantly, and +the young lady grew pale from amazement; though he had long tried to +seize every moment in which he might be alone with her, he had never +let himself ask for such a moment openly. + +When the sisters had gone he rose, looked beyond one door and another, +to convince himself that no one was listening, then he drew up to +Anulka. + +"Give me your hand," said he, "and be reconciled." + +She drew back both hands unconsciously, and pushed away from him. + +Martsian's wish for calmness was evident, but he sprang forward twice +on his bow-legs, for he could never abandon that habit, and said, with +a voice full of effort,-- + +"You are unwilling! But to-day I came very near drowning for your sake. +I beg your pardon for that fright, but it was not caused by any bad +reason. Mad dogs began yesterday to run between Vyrambki and this +mansion, and I took a gun to make sure of your safety." + +Anulka's knees trembled under her a little, but she said with good +presence of mind and with calmness,-- + +"I want no protection which would bring only shame to me." + +"I should like to defend you, not merely now, but till death and at all +times! Not offending God, but with His blessing. Dost understand me?" + +A moment of silence followed this question. Through the open window +came the sound of cutting wood, made by an old lame man attached to the +kitchen. + +"I do not understand." + +"Because thou hast no wish to understand," replied Martsian. "Thou +seest this long time that I cannot live without thee. Thou art as +needful to me as this air is for breathing. To me thou art wonderful, +and dear above all things. I cannot exist--without thee I shall burn up +and vanish! If I had not restrained myself I should have grabbed thee +long ago as a hawk grabs a dove. It grows dry in my throat without +thee, as it does without water--everything in me quivers toward thee. I +cannot sleep, I cannot live--see here even now--" + +And he stopped, for his teeth were chattering as if in a fever. He had +a spasm, he caught at the arms of the chair with his bony fingers, as +if fearing to fall, and panted some time very loudly. Then he +continued,-- + +"Thou lackest fortune--that is nothing! I have enough. I need not +fortune, but thee. Dost thou wish to be mistress in this mansion? Thou +wert to marry Pan Gideon; I am not worse, as I think, than Pan Gideon. +But do not say no! do not, by the living God, do not say it, for I +cannot tell what will happen. Thou art wonderful! thou, my--!" + +He knelt quickly, embraced her knees with his two hands, and pressed +them toward his bosom. But, beyond even her own expectation, Anulka's +fear vanished without a trace in that terrible moment. The knightly +blood began to act in her; readiness for battle to the last breath +was roused in the woman. Her hands pushed back with all force his +sweat-covered forehead, which was nestling up toward her knees at that +moment. + +"No! no! I would rather die a thousand deaths! No!" + +He rose up, pallid, his hair erect, his mustache quivering. Beneath the +mustache were glittering his long decayed teeth, and for a time he was +filled with cold rage as he stood there; but still he controlled +himself, still presence of mind did not desert him entirely. But when +Anulka pushed toward the door on a sudden, he stopped the way to her. + +"Is this true?" inquired he, with a hoarse voice. "Thou wilt not have +me? Wilt thou repeat that once more to me, to my eyes? Wilt thou not +have me?" + +"I will not! And do not threaten, for I feel no fear." + +"I do not threaten thee, but I want to take thee as wife, nay more, I +beg thee bethink thyself! By the living God, bethink thyself!" + +"In what am I to bethink myself? I am free, I have my will, and I say +before your eyes: Never!" + +He approached her, so nearly that his face pushed up to hers, and he +continued,-- + +"Then perhaps instead of being mistress, thou dost choose to carry wood +to the kitchen? Or dost thou not wish it? How will it be, O noble lady! +To which of thy estates wilt thou go from this mansion? And if thou +stay, whose bread wilt thou eat here; on whose kindness wilt thou live? +In whose power wilt thou find thyself? Whose bed, whose chamber is that +in which thou art sleeping? What will happen if I command to remove the +door fastenings? And dost thou ask in what thou art to bethink thyself? +In this: which thou art to choose!--marriage, or no marriage!" + +"Ruffian!" screamed Panna Anulka. + +But now happened something unheard of. Seized with sudden fury, +Krepetski bellowed with a voice that was not human, and seizing the +girl by the hair he began with a certain wild and beastly relish to +beat her without mercy or memory. The longer he had mastered himself up +to that time, the more did his madness seem wild then, and terrible; at +that moment beyond doubt he would have killed the young lady had it not +been that to her cries for assistance servants burst into the chamber. +First that man cutting wood at the kitchen broke in with an axe through +the window, after him came kitchen servants, the two sisters, the +butler, and two of Pan Gideon's old servitors. + +The butler was a noble from a distant village in Mazovia, moreover, a +man of rare strength, though rather aged; he caught Martsian's arms +from behind, and drew them so mightily that the elbows almost met at +his shoulders. + +"This is not permitted, your grace!" exclaimed he. "It is infamous!" + +"Let me go!" roared Krepetski. + +But the iron hands held him as in vices, and a serious, low voice was +heard near his ear,-- + +"I will break your bones unless you restrain yourself!" + +Meanwhile the sisters led, or rather carried the young lady from the +chamber. + +"Come to the chancellery to rest," said the butler. "I advise your +grace earnestly." + +And he pushed the man before him as he would a child, while Martsian, +with chattering teeth, moved on with his short legs, crying for a +halter and the hangman; but he could not resist, for a moment later he +had grown so weak all at once, from the outburst, that he was unable +even to stand unassisted. So, when the butler in the chancellery threw +him on the horse skin with which the bed was covered, Martsian did not +even try to rise; he lay there panting with heaving sides, like a horse +after over-exertion. + +"Something to drink!" shouted he. + +The butler opened the door, called a boy, and, whispering some words, +gave him keys: the lad returned with a pint glass and a demijohn of +brandy. + +The butler filled the glass to the brim, sniffed at it, and said +approaching Martsian,-- + +"Drink, your grace." + +Krepetski seized it with both hands, but they trembled so that liquor +dropped on his breast; then the butler raised him, put the glass to his +lips, and inclined it. + +He drank and drank, holding the glass greedily when the butler tried to +remove it from his mouth. At last he drank all, and fell backward. + +"It may be too much," said the butler, "but you had become very weak +when I gave it." + +Though Martsian wished to say something, he merely hissed in the air, +like a man who has burnt his mouth with too hot a liquid. + +"Eh," said the butler, "you owe me a good gift, for I have shown no +petty service. God preserve us, if anything is done--in such an affair +it is the axe and the executioner, not to mention this, that misfortune +might happen here any minute. The people love that young lady beyond +measure. And it will be difficult to hide what has been done from the +prelate, though I will tell all to be silent. How do you feel?" + +Martsian looked at him with staring eyes and open mouth as he panted. +Once and a second time he tried to say something, then hiccoughing +seized him, his eyes grew expressionless, he closed his lids on a +sudden, and then began a rattling in his throat as if the man were +dying. + +"Sleep, or die, dirty dog!" growled the butler as he looked at him. And +he went from the room to the outbuildings. Half an hour later he +returned and knocked at the young lady's chamber. Finding the two +sisters with her he said to them,-- + +"Ladies, perhaps you would look in a moment at the chancellery, for the +young lord has grown very feeble. But if he sleeps it is better not to +wake him." + +Then when alone with Panna Anulka he inclined to her knees, and said,-- + +"Young lady, there is need to flee from this mansion. All is ready." + +And she, though broken and barely able to stand on her feet, sprang up +in one instant. + +"It is well, and I am ready! Save me!" + +"I will conduct you to a wagon which is waiting beyond the river. +To-night I will bring your clothing. Pan Krepetski is as drunk as Bela, +and will lie like a dead man till morning. Only take a cloak, and let +us go. No one will stop us; have no fear on that point." + +"God reward! God reward!" repeated she, feverishly. + +They went out through the garden to that gate by which Yatsek used to +enter from Vyrambki. On the way the butler said to her,-- + +"Long ago Vilchopolski arranged with the servants that if an attack +upon you were attempted, they would set fire to the granary. Pan +Krepetski would be forced to the fire, and you would have time to +escape through the garden to a place beyond the river, where a man was +to wait with a wagon. But it is better not to burn anything. To set +fire is a crime, no matter what happens. Krepetski will be like a stone +until morning, so no pursuit threatens you." + +"Where are we going?" + +"To Pan Serafin's; defence there is easy. Vilchopolski is there. So are +the Bukoyemskis and other foresters. Krepetski will try to take you +back, but will fail. And later on Pan Serafin will conduct you to +Radom, or farther. That will be settled with the priests. Here is the +wagon! Fear no pursuit. It is not far to Yedlinka, and God gives a +wonderful evening. I will bring your clothing to-night. If they try to +stop me I will not mind them. May the Most Holy Mother, the guardian +and protectress of orphans conduct you!" + +And taking her by the hand like a child, he seated her in the wagon. + +"Move on!" cried he to the driver. + +It was growing dark in the world, and the twilight of evening was +quenching, but from the remnant of its rays the stars in the clear sky +were rosy. The calm evening was filled with the odors of the earth, of +leaves, and of blossoming alders, while nightingales were filling with +their song, as with a warm rain of spring, the garden, the trees, and +the whole region. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + +That evening Pan Serafin was sitting on a bench in the front of his +mansion, entertaining Father Voynovski, who had come after evening +prayers to see him, and the four Bukoyemskis, who were stopping then +permanently at Yedlinka. Before them on a table, with legs crossed like +the letter X, stood a pitcher of mead and some glasses. They, while +listening to the murmur of the forest, were drinking from time to time +and conversing of the war, raising their eyes to the heavens in which +the sickle of the moon was shining clearly. + +"Thanks to your grace, our benefactor, we shall be ready soon for the +road," said Mateush Bukoyemski. "What has happened is passed. Even +saints have their failings; then how must it be with frail men, who +without the grace of God can do nothing? But when I look at that moon, +which forms the Turkish standard, my fist is stung as if mosquitoes +were biting. Well, God grant a man to gratify his hands at the +earliest." + +The youngest Bukoyemski fell to thinking. + +"Why is it, my reverend benefactor," asked he at last, "that Turks +cherish some kind of worship for the moon, and bear it on their +standards?" + +"But have not dogs some devotion toward the moon also?" asked the +priest. + +"Of course, but why should the Turks have it?" + +"Just because they are dog-brothers." + +"Well, as God is dear to me, that explains all," said the young man, +looking at the moon then in wonderment. + +"But the moon is not to blame," said the host, "and it is delightful to +gaze at it when in the calm of night it paints all the trees with its +beams, as if some one had coated them with silver. I love greatly to +sit by myself on such a night, gaze at the sky, and marvel at the Lord +God's almightiness." + +"Yes, at such times the soul flies on wings, as it were, to its +Creator," said Father Voynovski. "God in his mercy created the moon as +well as the sun, and what an immense benefaction. As to the sun, well, +everything is visible in the daytime, but if there were no moon people +would break their necks in the night if they travelled, not to mention +this, that in perfect darkness devilish wickedness would be greater by +far than it is at the present." + +They were silent for a while and passed over the peaceful sky with +their eyes; the priest took a pinch of snuff then, and added,-- + +"Fix this in your memories, gentlemen, that a kind Providence thinks +not only of the needs, but the comfort of people." + +The rattle of wheels, which in the night stillness reached their ears +very clearly, interrupted the conversation. Pan Serafin rose from his +seat. + +"God is bringing some guest," said he, "for the whole household is +here. I am curious to know who it may be." + +"Surely some one with news from our lads," added Father Voynovski. + +All rose, and thereupon a wagon drawn by two horses entered in through +the gateway. + +"Some woman is on the seat," called out Lukash. + +"That is true." + +The wagon passed through half the courtyard and stopped at the +entrance. Pan Serafin looked at the face of the woman, recognized it in +the wonderful moonlight, and cried,-- + +"Panna Anulka!" + +And he almost lifted her in his arms from the wagon, then she bent at +once to his knees, and burst into weeping. + +"An orphan!" cried she, "who begs for rescue and a refuge!" + +Then she nestled up to his knees, embraced them with still greater +vigor, and sobbed more complainingly. Such great astonishment seized +every man there, that for a time no one uttered a syllable; at last Pan +Serafin raised the orphan and pressed her to his heart. + +"While there is breath in my nostrils," cried he, "I will be to thee a +father. But tell me what has happened? Have they driven thee from +Belchantska?" + +"Krepetski has beaten me, and threatened me with infamy," answered she, +in a voice barely audible. + +Father Voynovski, who was there very near her, heard this answer. + +"Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews!" exclaimed he, seizing his white +hair with both hands. + +The four Bukoyemskis gazed with open mouths, and eyes bursting from +their sockets, but understood nothing. Their hearts were moved at once, +it is true, by the weeping of the orphan, but they considered that +Panna Anulka had wrought foul injustice on Yatsek. They remembered also +the teaching of Father Voynovski, that woman is the cause of all evil. +So they looked at one another inquiringly, as if hoping that some clear +idea would come, if not to one, to another of them. At last words came +to Marek. + +"Well, now, here is Krepetski for you. But in every case that Martsian +will get from us a----, or won't he?" + +And he seized at his left side, and, following his example, the other +three brothers began to feel for the hilts of their sabres. + +Meanwhile, Pan Serafin had led in the young lady and committed her to +Pani Dzvonkovski, his housekeeper, a woman of sensitive heart and +irrepressible eloquence, and explained to her that she was to concern +herself with this the most notable guest that had come to them. He said +that the housekeeper was to yield up her own bedroom to the lady, light +the house, make a fire in the kitchen, find calming medicines and +plasters for the blue spots, prepare heated wine and various dainties. +He advised the young lady herself to lie down in bed until all was +given her, and to rest, deferring detailed discourse till the morrow. + +But she desired to open her heart straightway to those gentlemen with +whom she had sought rescue. She wanted to cast out immediately from her +soul all that anguish which had been collecting so long in it, and that +misfortune, shame, humiliation, and torture in which she had been +living at Belchantska. So, shutting herself up with Father Voynovski +and Pan Serafin, she spoke as if to a confessor and a father. She told +them everything, both her sorrow for Yatsek, and that she had consented +to marry her guardian only because she thought Yatsek had contemned +her, and because she had heard from the Bukoyemskis that Yatsek was to +marry Parma Zbierhovski. Finally, she explained what her life had been +in Belchantska,--or rather, what her sufferings had been there; she +explained the torturing malice of the two sisters, the ghastly advances +of Martsian, and the happenings of that day which were the cause of her +flight from the mansion. + +And they seized their own heads while they listened. The hand of Father +Voynovski, an old soldier, went to his left side involuntarily, in the +manner of the Bukoyemskis, though for many a day he had not carried a +weapon; but the worthy Pan Serafin put his palms on the temples of the +maiden, and said to her,-- + +"Let him try to take thee. I had an only son, but now God has given me +a daughter." + +Father Voynovski, who had been struck most by what she had said +touching Yatsek, remembering all that had happened, could not take in +the position immediately. Hence he thought and thought, smoothed with +his palm the whole length of his crown which was milk-white, and then +he asked finally,-- + +"Didst thou know of that letter which Pan Gideon wrote to Yatsek?" + +"I begged him to write it." + +"Then I understand nothing. Why didst thou do so?" + +"Because I wanted Yatsek to return to us." + +"How return?" cried the priest, with real anger. "The letter was such +that just because of it Yatsek went away to the ends of the earth +broken-hearted, to forget, and cast out of him that love which thou, my +young lady, didst trample." + +Her eyes blinked from amazement, and she put her hands together, as if +praying. + +"My guardian told me that he had written the letter of a father. O Holy +Mother! What was there in it?" + +"Insults, contempt, a trampling upon the man's poverty and his honor. +Dost understand?" + +Then from the gill's breast was rent a shriek of such pain and +sincerity that the honest heart of the priest quivered in him. He +approached her, removed the hands with which she had covered her face, +and asked,-- + +"Then didst thou not know of this?" + +"I did not--I did not!" + +"And thou didst wish Yatsek to return to thee? + +"I did!" + +"In God's name! Why was that?" + +Tears as large as pearls began again to drop from her closed lashes in +abundance, and quickly; her face was red from maiden shame, she caught +for air with her open lips, the heart was throbbing in her as in a +captured bird, and at last after great effort, she whispered,-- + +"Because--I love him!" + +"My child, is that possible!" cried out Father Voynovski. + +But the voice broke in his breast, for tears were choking him also. He +was seized at the same instant by delight and immense compassion for +the girl, and astonishment that "a woman" in this case was not the +cause of all evil, but an innocent lamb on which so much suffering had +fallen God knew for what reason. He caught her in his arms, pressed her +to his heart. "My child! my child!" repeated he, time after time. + +The Bukoyemskis, meanwhile, had betaken themselves, with the glasses +and pitcher, to the dining-room; had emptied the pitcher +conscientiously to the bottom, and were waiting for the priest and Pan +Serafin, in the hope that with their coming supper would be put on the +table. + +They returned at last with moistened eyes and with emotion on their +faces. Pan Serafin breathed deeply once, and a second time, then he +said,-- + +"Pani Dzvonkovski is putting the poor thing to bed. Indeed, a +man is unwilling to believe his own ears. We too, are to blame; but +Krepetski,--what he has done is simply infamous and disgraceful. We may +not let him go without punishment." + +"On the contrary," answered Marek, "we will talk about this with that +'stump.' Oh-ho!" + +Then he turned to Father Voynovski,-- + +"I am very sorry for her, but still, I think that God punished her for +Yatsek. Is that not true?" + +"Thou art a fool!" called out Father Voynovski. + +"But how is that? Why?" + +The old man, whose breast was full of pity, fell to talking quickly and +passionately of the innocence and suffering of the girl, as if wishing +in that way to make up for the injustice which he had permitted +regarding her; but after a time all discussion was interrupted by the +coming of Pani Dzvonkovski, who burst into the room like a bomb into a +fortress. + +Her face was as flooded with tears as if it had been dipped in a full +bucket, and right on the threshold she fell to crying, with arms +stretched out before her,-- + +"People, whoso believes in God! Vengeance, justice! As God lives! her +dear shoulders are all in blue lumps, those shoulders once white as +wafers--hair torn out by the handful, golden hair! my dearest dove! my +innocent lamb! my precious little flower!" + +On hearing this, Mateush Bukoyemski, already excited by the narrative +of Father Voynovski, bellowed out at one moment, the next he was +accompanied by Marek, Lukash, and Yan till the servants rushed into the +dining-hall and the dogs began to bark at the entrance. But +Vilchopolski, who a moment later returned from his night review of +haystacks, met now another humor of the brothers. Their hair was on +end, their eyes were staring with rage, their right hands were grasping +at their sabre hilts. + +"Blood!" shouted Lukash. + +"Give him hither, the son of a such a one!" + +"Kill him!" + +"On sabres with him!" + +And they moved toward the door as one man; but Pan Serafin sprang to +the entrance and stopped them. + +"Halt!" cried he. "Martsian deserves not the sabre, but the headsman!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + +And he had to speak long in pacifying the angry brothers. He explained +to them that were they to cut down Krepetski at once it would be the +act not of nobles but assassins. + +"There is need first of all," said he, "to visit our neighbors, to come +to an understanding with Father Tvorkovski, to have the support of the +clergy and the nobles, to obtain the testimony of the servants at +Belchantska, then to take the case before a tribunal, and only when the +sentence is passed to stand behind it with weapons. If," continued he, +"ye were to bear Martsian apart on your sabres immediately, his father +would not fail to report in all places that ye did so through agreement +with Panna Anulka; by this her reputation might suffer, and the old man +would summon you, and, instead of going to the war, ye would have to +drag around through tribunals, for, not being under the authority of +the hetman as yet, ye would not escape a civil summons. That is how +this matter stands at the moment." + +"How so?" inquired Yan, with sorrow; "then we are to let the wrong done +this dove go unpunished?" + +"But do ye think," said the priest, "that life will be pleasant for +Krepetski when infamy is hanging over him, or the axe of the headsman, +and in addition when general contempt is surrounding him? That is a +worse torment than a quick death would be, and I should not wish, for +all the silver in Olkuts, to be in his skin at this moment." + +"But if he will wriggle out?" inquired Marek. "His father is an old +trickster, who has won more than one lawsuit." + +"If he wriggles out, Yatsek on returning will whisper a word in his +ear." + +"Ye do not know Yatsek yet! He has the eyes of a maiden, but it is +safer to take her young cubs from a she-bear than to pain him +unjustly." + +Hereupon Vilchopolski till then only listening spoke in gloomy +accents,-- + +"Pan Krepetski has written his own sentence, whether he awaits the +return of Pan Tachevski or not-- But there is another point; he will +try, with armed hand, to get back the young lady, and then--" + +"Then we shall see!" interrupted Pan Serafin. "But let him only try! +That is something quite different!" + +And he shook his sabre, threateningly, while the Bukoyemskis began to +grit their teeth straightway. + +"Let him try! let him try!" said they. + +"But, gentlemen," said Vilchopolski, "you are going to the war." + +"We will arrange then in another way," replied Father Voynovski. + +Further conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the butler. He +had brought trunks filled with the wardrobe of Panna Sieninski which, +as he said, he did only with difficulty. The Krepetski sisters tried to +prevent him, and even wished to wake Martsian, and keep the trunks in +the mansion, but they could not wake him; and the butler persuaded them +that they should not act thus, both in view of their own good and that +of their brother, otherwise an action would be brought against them for +robbery, and they would be summoned for damages before a tribunal. As +women who do not know law they were frightened and yielded. The butler +thought that Martsian would try surely to get back the young lady, but +he did not think that the man would use violence immediately. + +"He will be restrained from that," said the butler, "by his father, who +understands well the significance of _raptus puellae_. He knows nothing +yet of what has happened, but from here I will go to him directly and +explain the whole matter, for two reasons. First, so that he may +restrain Martsian, and second, because I do not wish to be in +Belchantska to-morrow when Martsian wakes and learns that I have helped +the young lady in fleeing. He would rush on me surely, and then to one +of us something ugly might happen." + +Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski praised the man's prudence and, +finding that he was a well-wishing person, and experienced, a man who +had eaten bread from more than one oven, and to whom law itself was no +novelty, begged him to aid in examining the question. There were two +councils then, one of these being formed of the four Bukoyemskis. + +Pan Serafin, knowing how to restrain them most easily from murderous +intentions, and detain them at home, sent a large demijohn of good mead +to the brothers; this they were glad to besiege at the moment, and +began to drink one to another. Their hearts were moved, and they +remembered involuntarily the night when Panna Anulka crossed for the +first time the threshold of that house there in Yedlinka. They recalled +how they had fallen in love with her straightway, how through her they +had quarrelled, and then in one voice adjudged her to Stanislav, and +thus made an offering of their passion to friendship. + +At last Mateush drank his mead, put his head on his palm, sighed, and +continued,-- + +"Yatsek was sitting that night on a tree like a squirrel. Who could +have thought then that he was just the man to whom the Lord God had +given her?" + +"And commanded us to continue in our orphanhood," added Marek. + +"Do ye remember," asked Lukash, "how the rooms were all bright from her +presence? They would not have been brighter from a hundred burning +candles. And she at one time stood up, at another sat down, and a third +time she laughed. And when she looked at a man it was as warm in his +bosom as if he had drunk heated wine that same instant. Let us take a +glass now on our terrible sadness." + +They drank again; then Mateush struck a blow with his fist on the +table, and shouted,-- + +"Ei! if she had not loved that Yatsek so!" + +"Then what?" asked Yan, angrily, "dost think that she would fall in +love with thee right away? Look at him--my dandy!" + +"Well thou art no beauty!" retorted Mateush. + +And they looked at each other with ill-feeling. But Lukash, though +given greatly to quarrels, began now to pacify his brothers. + +"Not for thee, not for thee, not for any of us," said he. "Another will +get her and take her to the altar." + +"For us there is nothing but sorrow and weeping," blurted out Marek. + +"Then at least we will love one another. No one in this world loves us! +No one!" + +"No one! no one!" repeated they all in succession, mingling their wine +with their tears as they said so. + +"But she is sleeping up there!" added Yan on a sudden. + +"She is sleeping, the poor little thing," responded Lukash; "she is +lying down like a flower cut by the scythe, like a lamb torn by a +villainous wolf. My born brothers! is there no man here who will take +even a pull at the wild beast?" + +"It cannot be but there is!" cried out Mateush, Marek, and Yan. And +again they grew indignant, and the more they drank the oftener they +gritted their teeth, first one, then another, or one of them struck his +fist on the table. + +"I have an idea!" said the youngest on a sudden. + +"Tell it! Have God in thy heart!" + +"Here it is. We have promised Pan Serafin not to cut up that 'stump.' +Have we not promised?" + +"We have, but tell what thou hast to say; ask no questions." + +"Though we have promised we must take revenge for our young lady. Old +Krepetski will come here, as they said, to see if Pan Serafin will not +give back the young lady. But we know that he will not give her, do we +not?" + +"He will not! he will not!" + +"But think ye not this way: Martsian will hurry to meet his father on +the road back, to see and inquire if he has succeeded." + +"As God is in heaven, he will do so." + +"On the road, half-way between Belchantska and Yedlinka, is a tar pit +near the roadside. If we should wait at that tar pit for Martsian--?" + +"Well, but what for?" + +"Psh! quiet!" + +"Psh!" + +And they began to look around through the room, though they knew that +save themselves there was not a living soul in it, and then they +whispered. They whispered long, now louder, now lower. At last their +faces grew radiant, they finished their wine at one draught, embraced +one another, and in silence went out of the room one after the other, +in goose fashion. + +They saddled their horses without the least noise, and each led his +beast by the bit from the courtyard. When they had gone through the +gate they mounted and rode stirrup by stirrup to the roadway where Yan, +though the youngest, took command and said then to his brothers,-- + +"Now I with Marek will go to the tar pit, and do ye bring that cask +before daybreak." + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + +Old Krepetski, as had been foreseen by the butler, went to Yedlinka +after midday on the morrow, but beyond all expectation he appeared +there with so kindly a face, and so gladsome, that Pan Serafin, who had +the habit of dozing after dinner, and felt somewhat drowsy, became wide +awake with astonishment at sight of him. Almost at the threshold the +old fox began to mention neighborly friendship and say what delight his +old age would find in more frequent and mutual visits; he gave thanks +for the kindly reception, and only after finishing these courtesies did +he come to the real question. + +"Benefactor and neighbor," said he, "I have come with the salute which +was due you, but also, as you must have divined, with a request which, +in view of my age, you, I trust, will give ear to most kindly." + +"I will yield gladly to every proper wish which you may utter," said +Pan Serafin. + +The old man began to rub his hands. + +"I knew that! I knew it beforehand," said he. "What a thing it is to +deal with a man who has real wisdom; one comes to an agreement +immediately. I said to my son 'Leave that to me! the moment,' said I, +'that thou hast to do with Pan Serafin all will go well, for there is +not another man, not merely so wise, but so honorable in this region.'" + +"You praise me too greatly." + +"No, no, I say too little. But let us come to the question." + +"Let us." + +Old Krepetski was silent for a while, as if seeking expressions. He +merely moved his jaws, so that his chin met his nose. At last he +laughed joyously, put his hand on Pan Serafin's knee, and continued,-- + +"My benefactor, you see our goldfinch has flown from the cage." + +"I know. Because the cat frightened it." + +"Is there not pleasure in talking with such people?" cried the old man, +rubbing his hands. "Oh, that is wit! The prelate Tvorkovski would burst +with envy, as God is dear to me!" + +"I am listening." + +"Well, to the question, and straight from the bridge. We should like to +take back that goldfinch." + +"Why should you not?" + +Pan Krepetski moved his chin toward his nose once, and a second time. +He was alarmed; the affair went too easily; but he clapped his hands, +and cried with feigned joyousness,-- + +"Well, now the affair is finished! Would to God that such men as you +were born everywhere!" + +"It is finished so far as I am concerned," said Pan Serafin. "Only +there is need to ask that little bird whether she wants to go back +again; besides she cannot go back to-day, for your son has so throttled +her that she is barely breathing." + +"Is she sick?" + +"Sick; she is lying in bed." + +"But is she not pretending?" + +Pan Serafin's face grew dark in a moment. + +"My gracious sir," said he, "let us talk seriously. Your son Martsian +has acted unworthily with Panna Anulka, not in human fashion, and not +as a noble; he has acted altogether with infamy. Before God and man you +have offended grievously to give an orphan into hands such as his, and +intrust her to a tyrant so shameless." + +"There is not a bit of truth in what she says," cried the old man. + +"Why not? You know not what she has said, and still you deny. It is not +she who is speaking; blue lumps and marks of blows speak for her, marks +which my housekeeper saw on her young body. As to Martsian, all the +servants in Belchantska have seen his approaches and his cruelty, and +are ready to testify when needed. In my house is Vilchopolski who is +going to-day to Radom to tell the prelate Tvorkovski what has +happened." + +"But you have promised to give me the girl." + +"No, I only said that I would not detain her. If she wants to go back, +very well! If she wishes to stay with me, very well also! But attempt +not to bring me to refuse my roof and a morsel of bread to an orphan +who is grievously offended." + +Old Krepetski's jaws moved time after time. For a while he was silent, +and then began,-- + +"You are right, and you are wrong. To refuse a shelter and bread to an +orphan would be unworthy, but as a wise man consider that it is one +thing not to refuse hospitality, and something different to stand with +rebellion against the authority of a father. I love Tekla, my youngest +daughter, sincerely, but it happens sometimes that I give her a push. +Well, what then? If she, after being punished by me, should flee to +you, would you not permit me to take her, or would you refer me to her +pleasure? Think of this--what sort of order would there be in the +world, if women had their will? A married woman, even when old, must +hearken to her husband, and yield to him; but what must it be in the +case of an immature girl, as against the commands of her father, or +guardian?" + +"Panna Anulka is not your daughter, nor even your relative." + +"But we inherited the guardianship over her from Pan Gideon. If Pan +Gideon had punished the girl, you, of course, would not have had a word +against him; but it is the same thing touching me and my son, to whom I +have committed the management of Belchantska. Some one must manage, +some one must have authority to punish. Difficult to do without that. I +do not deny that Martsian, as a man, young and impulsive, exceeded the +measure, perhaps, especially since he was met with ingratitude. But +that is my affair! I will examine, judge, and punish; but I will take +the girl back, and I think, with your permission, that even the king +himself would have no right to raise any hindrance." + +"You speak as in a tribunal," said Pan Serafin. "I do not deny that you +have appearances on your side; but appearance is one thing, and the +real truth another. I do not wish to hinder you in anything, but I tell +you honestly what the opinion of people is, and with that opinion I +advise you to reckon. For you it is not a question of Panna Anulka, nor +of guardianship over her, but you suspect that there may be a will in +the hands of the prelate, with a provision for the young lady, +therefore you are afraid that Belchantska might slip from you together +with Panna Anulka. Not long ago I heard one of the neighbors speak in +this way: 'Were it not for that uncertainty the Krepetskis would be the +first to drive the orphan from the house, for those people have not God +in their hearts.' It is very disagreeable for me and repulsive to say +such things in my house to you, but you ought to know them." + +Flames of anger gleamed in the eyes of the old man, but he controlled +himself, and said with a voice which was quiet, though somewhat +broken,-- + +"The malice of people! Low malice, nothing more, and stupidity besides +that. How could it be? We would then drive from the house a young lady +whom Martsian wants to marry? By the dear God, think over this! The two +things do not hold together." + +"They talk in this way: 'If it shall appear that Belchantska is hers +then Martsian will marry her, but if the place is not hers he will +simply disgrace her.' I am not any man's conscience, so I merely repeat +what people say, but with this addition of my own, that your son +threatened shame to the girl. I know that surely, and you, who know +Martsian and his vile desires, know it also." + +"I know one and another thing, but I know not what you wish to say." + +"What I wish to say? This, which I have said to you already. If Panna +Anulka agrees to return to you I have no right to oppose her or you, +but if she is not willing, I will not expel her from this house, for I +have given my word not to do so." + +"The question is not that you should expel her, but that you should +permit me to take her, just as you would permit me if one of my own +daughters were with you. This only I beg, that you stand not in my +way." + +"Then I will tell you clearly. I will permit no violence in my house! I +am master, and you, who have just mentioned the king, should understand +that on this point the king himself could not oppose me." + +On hearing this Pan Krepetski balled his fists, so that his palms were +pierced by his finger-nails. + +"Violence? That is just what I fear. I, if ever I have had to act +against people (and who has not had to deal with the malice of men?), +have acted against them through the law, always, not through violence. +But what the proverb says is not true, that the apple falls near its +tree.--It falls far away sometimes. I, for your good and safety, +desired to settle this question in peacefulness. You are undefended in +the forest, while Martsian--it is grievous for a father to say this of +a son--has not taken after me in any way. I am ashamed to confess it, +but I am not able to answer for him. The whole district is in dread of +his passionateness, and justly, for he is ready to disregard everything +and he has about fifty sabres at his order. You, on the other hand, are +unarmed. I repeat it, you live in the forest, and I advise you to +reckon with this situation. I am alarmed myself at it." + +Hereupon Pan Serafin rose, walked up to Krepetski, and gazed into his +eyes. + +"Do you wish to frighten me?" inquired he. + +"I am afraid myself," repeated the old man. + +But their further conversation was interrupted by sudden shouts in the +courtyard from the direction of the granary and the kitchen, so they +sprang to the open window, and at the first moment were petrified with +amazement. There between two fences ran with tremendous speed toward +the gate and the courtyard some kind of rare monster, unlike any +creature on earth, and behind it on excited horses dashed the four +Bukoyemskis, shouting and cutting the air with their whip-lashes. The +monster rushed into the yard, and behind it came the brothers, like +hell hunters, and continued their chasing. + +"Jesus, Mary!" cried out Pan Serafin. + +He ran to the porch, and after him ran old Krepetski. + +Only there could they see with more clearness. The monster seemed like +a giant bird, but also like a horse and a rider, for it ran on four +legs with a certain form sitting on it. But the rider and the beast +were so covered with feathers that their heads seemed two bundles. + +It was impossible to see clearly, for the steed rushed like a wind +round the courtyard. The Bukoyemskis followed closely, and did not +spare blows, by which feathers were torn away and fell to the ground, +or circled in the air as do snowflakes. + +Meanwhile the monster roared like a wounded bear, and so did the +brothers. Pan Serafin's voice and that of his visitor were lost in the +general tumult, though all the power in their lungs was used then in +shouting. + +"Stop! By God's wounds, will ye stop!" + +But the four brothers urged on, as if seized by insanity--and they had +rushed five times round the yard when from the kitchen, and the +stables, and barns, and granaries, and outhouses a great crowd of +servants ran in, who hearing the cry "Stop!" repeated as if in +desperation by Pan Serafin, plunged forward and, seizing bits and +bridles, strove to stop the horses. + +At last the horses of the four brothers were brought to a standstill, +but with the feathery steed there was very great trouble. Without a +bridle, beaten, terrified, the beast reared at sight of the servants, +or sprang to one side with the suddenness of lightning. They stopped it +only at the fence when preparing to spring over. One of the men grasped +its forelock, another caught its nostrils, a number seized its mane; it +could not jump with such a burden, and fell to its knees. The beast +sprang up quickly, it is true, but did not try to rush away; it only +trembled throughout its whole body. + +They removed the rider, who, as it seemed then, had not been thrown +because his feet were bound firmly beneath the beast's belly. They +pulled the feathers from his head, and under the feathers appeared a +visage covered so thickly with tar that no man there recognized the +features. + +The rider gave faint signs of life, and only when taken to the porch +did old Krepetski and Pan Serafin see who it was and cry out +"Martsian!" with amazement. + +"This is that vile scoundrel!" said Mateush. "We have punished him not +a little, and have hunted him in here, so that Panna Sieninski may know +that tender souls have not gone from this world yet." + +Pan Serafin seized his head with his hands, and shouted,-- + +"The devil take you and your tender souls! Ye are nothing but bandits!" + +Then, turning to Pani Dzvonkovski who had run up with the others and +was crossing herself, he cried,-- + +"Pour vodka into his mouth. Let him regain consciousness, and be taken +to bed." + +There was hurry and disorder. Some ran to make the bed ready, others +for hot water, still others for vodka; a number began to pull the +feathers off Martsian, in which they were aided by his father, who was +gritting his teeth, and repeating,-- + +"Is he alive? Is he dead? He is alive! Vengeance! Oh Vengeance!" + +Then he sprang up on a sudden, jumped forward, and thrusting up to the +very eyes of Pan Serafin, fingers, bent now like talons, he shouted,-- + +"You were in the conspiracy! You have killed my son--you Armenian +assassin!" + +Pan Serafin grew very pale, and seized his sabre, but almost at the +same instant he remembered that he was the host, and Krepetski a +visitor, so he dropped the hilt, and raised two fingers immediately. + +"By that God who is above us," said he, "I swear that I knew +nothing--and I am ready to swear on the cross in addition--Amen!" + +"We are witnesses that he knew nothing!" cried Marek Bukoyemski. + +"God has punished," said Pan Serafin; "for you threatened me, as a +defenceless old man, with the passion of your son. Here is his passion +for you!" + +"A criminal offence!" bellowed the old man. "The headsman against you, +and your heads under the sword edge! Vengeance! Justice!" + +"See what ye have done!" said Pan Serafin, as he turned to the +Bukoyemskis. + +"I said it was better to run away at once," answered Lukash. + +Pani Dzvonkovski now came with Dantsic liquor, and fell to pouring it +from the bottle into the open mouth of the sufferer. Martsian coughed, +and opened his eyes the next minute. His father knelt down to him. + +"Art alive? Art alive?" asked he in a wild joyful outburst. + +But the son could not answer yet, and was like a great owl, which, +struck with a bullet, has fallen on its back and lies there, with +outstretched wings, panting. Still consciousness was coming to him, and +with it memory. His glance passed from the face of his father to that +of Pan Serafin, and then to the Bukoyemskis. Thereupon it grew so +terrible that if there had been the least place for fear in the hearts +of the brothers, a shiver would have passed from foot to head through +their bodies. + +But they only went nearer to Martsian, like four bulls which are ready +to rush with, their horns at an enemy, and Mateush inquired,-- + +"Well? Was that too little?" + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + +A few hours later on old Krepetski took his son to Belchantska, though +the young man was unable to stand, and did not know clearly what was +happening. First of all the servants had washed him with great trouble, +and had put on him fresh linen, but after this had been done such +weakness came upon Martsian, that he fainted repeatedly, and thanks +only to the angelica and pimpernel bitters which Pani Dzvonkovski now +gave him was he brought back to consciousness. Pan Serafin advised to +place him in bed and defer the departure till recovery was perfect, but +Pan Krepetski, whose old heart was raging, did not wish to owe +gratitude to a man against whom he was planning a lawsuit for harboring +the young lady; hence he had them put hay in a wagon, and, placing a +rug, instead of a bed, under Martsian he moved toward Belchantska, +hurling threats at the Bukoyemskis and also Pan Serafin. While +threatening vengeance he was forced to accept Pan Serafin's assistance, +and borrow from him hay, clothing, and linen, but, blinded by anger, he +took no note of the strange situation. Pan Serafin himself had no mind +whatever for laughter; since the act of the four brothers disturbed and +concerned him very greatly. + +At this juncture came Father Voynovski who had been summoned by letter. +The Bukoyemskis, now greatly confused, were sitting in the office, not +showing their noses, hence Pan Serafin had to tell all that had +happened. The priest struck the skirt of his soutane from time to time +as he listened, but he was not so grieved as Pan Serafin had expected. + +"If Martsian dies," said he at length, "then woe to the Bukoyemskis, +but if, as I think, he squirms out of it, I suppose that they will take +private vengeance and not raise a lawsuit." + +"Why so?" + +"Because it is unpleasant to be ridiculed by the country. At the same +time his conduct toward Panna Anulka would be discovered. That would +give him no enviable reputation. His life is not laudable, hence he +should avoid the chance of letting witnesses tell in public what they +know of him." + +"That may be true," said Pan Serafin, "but it is difficult to forgive +the Bukoyemskis tricks of such a character." + +The priest waved his hand. + +"The Bukoyemskis are the Bukoyemskis." + +"How?" asked Pan Serafin, with astonishment. "I thought that your grace +would be more offended." + +"My gracious sir," said the old man, "you have served in the army, but +I have served longer, and have seen so many soldiers' tricks during my +time that nothing common can surprise me. It is bad that such things +happen. I blame the Bukoyemskis, but I have seen worse things, +especially as in this case the question was of an orphan. I will go +still farther and say sincerely, that I should grieve more if +Martsian's deeds had gone unpunished. Think, we are old, but if we were +young our hearts too would boil up over deeds such as his are. That is +why I cannot blame the Bukoyemskis altogether." + +"True, true, but still Martsian may not live until morning." + +"That is in the hands of God; but you say he is not wounded?" + +"He is not, but he is all one blue spot, and faints continually." + +"Oh, he will get out of that; he fainted from fatigue. But I must go to +the Bukoyemskis and inquire how it happened." + +The brothers received him with rapture, for they hoped that he would +take their part with Pan Serafin. They began to quarrel at once as to +who should tell the tale, and stopped only when the priest gave Mateush +the primacy. + +Mateush resumed his voice and spoke as follows,-- + +"Father benefactor, God saw our innocence! For, when we learned from +Pani Dzvonkovski how that poor little orphan had blue lumps all over +her body, we came into this room in such grief that had it not been for +the mead which Pan Serafin sent us in a pitcher, our hearts would have +burst perhaps. And I say to your grace, we drank and shed tears--we +drank and shed tears. And we had this in mind too, that she was no +common girl, but a young lady descended from senators. It is known to +you, for example, that the higher blood a horse has, the thinner his +skin is; slash a common drudge with a whip, he will hardly feel it, but +strike a noble steed, and immediately a welt will come out on him. +Think, Father benefactor, what a thin, tender skin such a dear little +girl must have on her shoulders, and all over her body, just like a +wafer--say yourself--" + +"What do I know of her skin?" cried Father Voynovski, in anger. "Tell +me better, how did ye plaster up Martsian." + +"We promised Pan Serafin on oath not to cut him in pieces, but we knew +that old Krepetski would come here, and we guessed immediately that +Martsian would gallop out to meet him. So, according to arrangement, +two of us took down to the tar pit before daylight a great salt-barrel +filled with feathers, which we got from the wife of a forester. We +picked out at the place a cask of thick tar, and waited at the hut near +that tar pit. We look--old Krepetski is riding along--that is no harm, +let him ride! We wait, we wait till we are tired of waiting; then we +think about going to Belchantska. That moment a boy from the tar pit +tells us that Martsian is coming up the road. We ride out and halt +there in front of him. 'With the forehead! With the forehead!' 'But +whither?' 'Straight ahead,' says he, 'by the woods.' 'But to whose +harm?' 'To harm or to profit,' says he, 'get ye out of this!' And then +to the sabre. But we seized him by the neck. 'Oh! this cannot be!' +cried he. In a flash we had him down from the horse, which Yan took by +the bridle. He fell to screaming, to kicking, to biting, to gnawing, +but we, like a lightning flash, took him to the barrels which stood one +near the other, and said, 'Oh! thou son of such an one! thou wilt +injure orphans, threaten young ladies with infamy, disregard lofty +blood, beat an orphan on the shoulders, and think that no one will take +the part of thy victim; learn now that there are tender hearts in the +country.' And that moment we thrust him into the tar, head downward. We +raise him out, and again in with him. 'Learn that there are feeling +souls!' said we.--And in with him then among the feathers!--'Learn now +that there is chivalrous daring!' And again with him into the tar +barrel. 'Learn to know the Bukoyemskis!' And again with him into the +feathers! We wanted to give him another dose, but the tar boiler +shouted that he would smother; and indeed he was thickly coated, so +that neither his nose nor his eyes were visible to any one; we put him +then on the saddle and tied his feet firmly under the animal's belly +lest he fly from his position. We painted the horse, and scattered +feathers over him also, then lashing this rather wild beast with whips, +after we had taken off his bridle, we drove him ahead of us." + +"And ye drove him up here?" + +"As a strange beast, for we wished to console the young lady even a +little, and show her our brotherly affection." + +"Ye gave her a lovely consolation. When she saw him through the window, +the fright nearly killed her." + +"When she recovers she will think of us gratefully. Orphans always like +to feel guardianship over them." + +"Ye have done her more harm than service. Who knows if the Krepetskis +will not take her away again?" + +"How is that? By the dear God! will we let them?" + +"But who will defend the girl when ye are in prison?" + +When they heard this the brothers were greatly concerned, and looked +with anxious eyes at one another. But Lukash at last struck his +forehead. "We will not be imprisoned," said he, "for first we will go +to the army; but if it comes to that, if there is a question of Panna +Anulka's safety, help will be found." + +"Found! Of course it will," cried out Marek. + +"What help?" inquired Father Voynovski. + +"We will challenge Martsian as soon as he recovers. He will not go +alive out of our hands." + +"But if he dies now?" + +"Then God will help us." + +"But ye will pay with your lives!" + +"Before that we will shell out the Turks, and the Lord Jesus will +reward us for that service. Only let your grace take our part with Pan +Serafin; for if Stanislav had been here he would have been with us +while giving this bath to that Martsian." + +"But would not Yatsek give it?" inquired Mateush. + +"Yatsek will give him a better bath!" cried the priest, as if +unwittingly. + +Further converse was stopped by the coming of Pan Serafin, who appeared +with a ready and weighty decision. + +"I have been thinking of what we should do," said he, very seriously. +"And does your grace know what I have decided? It is this, that we +should all go to Cracow with Panna Anulka. I know not if we shall see +our boys in that city, for no one knows where the regiments will be +quartered, or what will be the order of their marching. But we should +place the girl under protection of the king or the queen; or, if that +is not done, secure her in some cloister for a season. I have also +determined, as you know, to take the field in my old age and serve with +my son, or, if such be God's will, to die with him. During our absence +the girl would not be safe, even in Radom, under the protection of the +prelate Tvorkovski. These gentlemen"--here he pointed to the +Bukoyemskis "need to be under the hetman immediately. It is unknown +what might happen should they stay here. I have acquaintances at +court,--Pan Matchynski, Pan Gninski, Pan Grothus,--and shall get their +influence for the orphan, as I think. That done I will find +Zbierhovski's regiment, and go straight to my son where I shall see +Yatsek also. What think you of this, my benefactor?" + +"As God lives," cried Father Voynovski, "this is a splendid idea! And I +will go with you--and I will go with you to Yatsek. And as to Panna +Anulka, oh, all will be well! The Sobieskis owe a great debt to the +Sieninskis. She will be out of danger in Cracow and nearer; for I am +certain that Yatsek has not forgotten her. And when the war ends that +will happen which God wishes. Give me a substitute here in my parish +from Radom, and I will be with you!" + +"All together!" roared the Bukoyemskis with rapture "to Cracow!" + +"And the field of glory!" cried Father Voynovski. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + +Consultations now followed touching the expedition; for not only were +there no voices against it, but Father Voynovski was searching for a +vicar in Radom. This plan, however, was an old one, modified by adding +to it the person of Panna Anulka, who would be taken to Cracow and +secured from the Krepetskis through protection from the king or the +cloister. Pan Serafin saw that the king, occupied as he was with the +war, would have no time to talk about private questions; but there +remained the queen, to whom access might be easy through notable +dignitaries, related for the greater part to the Sieninskis and the +Tachevskis. + +There was fear also that the Krepetskis might attack Yedlinka when Pan +Serafin and the Bukoyemskis had gone, and seize on rich property in +furniture and silver. But Vilchopolski guaranteed that with the +servants and the foresters he would defend the place and not let the +Krepetskis touch anything. Pan Serafin, however, took the silver to +Radom and left it in the Bernardine cloister, where he had placed money +before that in large sums, not wishing to keep it at home near the edge +of great forests. + +Meanwhile, he kept an attentive ear toward Belchantska for much +depended on that place. If Martsian died the Bukoyemskis would have to +give a grave answer; if he recovered hope existed that there would not +be even a lawsuit, since it was difficult to admit that the Krepetskis +would expose themselves willingly to ridicule. Pan Serafin considered +it as more likely that the old man would not leave him at peace +touching Panna Anulka but he thought that if the orphan were in the +care of the king the kernel of a lawsuit would be lost to the +Krepetskis. + +He learned, through the butler, that the old man had gone to Radom and +Lublin, and remained rather long in those places. + +For the first week Martsian suffered grievously, and there was fear +that the tar which he had swallowed might choke him, or stop his +intestines. But the second week he grew better. He did not, it is true, +leave the bed, for he had not strength to stand unassisted, his bones +pained him greatly, and he was mortally weary; but he began to curse +the Bukoyemskis, and to take keen delight in projects of vengeance. In +fact, after two weeks had passed, his "revellers from Radom" began to +visit him, various gallows-birds with sabres held up by hempen cords, +men with holes in their boots, and gaunt stomachs, thirsty and hungry +at all hours. Meanwhile he counselled with these, and was plotting not +only against the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafin, but against the young +lady, of whom he could not think without gnashing of teeth; and he +developed such monstrous inventions against her, that his father +forewarned him, that they were of criminal nature. + +The echo of those plots and threats went to Yedlinka, and produced +various impressions on different people. Pan Serafin, a man of much +courage, but prudent, was somewhat alarmed by them, especially when he +remembered that this enmity of wicked and dangerous people would strike +his son also. Father Voynovski, who had hotter blood in his veins, was +keenly indignant, and prophesied that the Krepetskis would meet a vile +ending. At the same time, though entirely won over to Anulka, he turned +from time to time to Pan Serafin, and then to the Bukoyemskis. + +"Who caused the Trojan war? A woman! Who causes quarrels and battles at +all times? A woman! And it is the same now! Innocent or guilty, a +woman!" + +But the Bukoyemskis cared little for the danger which threatened every +one from Martsian, and even promised themselves various amusements +because of it. They were warned, however, seriously from many sides. +The Sulgostovskis, the Silnitskis, the Kohanovskis, and others, all +greatly indignant at Martsian, came, one after the other, with tidings +to Yedlinka. They said that he was gathering a party, and even bandits +of the forest. They offered assistance, but the brothers wished no +assistance. Lukash, who spoke most frequently in the name of the other +three replied thus to Rafal Silnitski, who implored them to be +careful,-- + +"There is no harm in thinking before war of our arms, and also of +methods in which, from disuse, we have grown somewhat rusty, straighten +ourselves out, and have practice. Belchantska is no fortress, so let +Martsian see to his own safety, for who knows what may strike him. But +if he wishes to nourish us with ingratitude, let him try it!" + +Pan Silnitski looked with astonishment at Lukash, and asked,-- + +"Nourish with ingratitude? But, as I think, he owes you no gratitude." +Lukash was sincerely indignant. + +"How not owe? Could we not have cut him to pieces? Who gave him life? +Pani Krepetski once, but a second time our moderation; if he is going +to count on it always, tell him that he is mistaken." + +"And tell him that he will see Panna Anulka as much as he will see his +own ears," added Marek. + +"Why should he not see her, then?" finished Yan. "It is not difficult +for a man to see his own ears if they are cut from him." + +The conversation then ended. The brothers repeated it to Panna Anulka +to calm her, which was superfluous, for the lady was not timid by +nature. Her fear, too, of the Krepetskis, and especially of Martsian, +was measured by her conviction that no danger threatened her in +Yedlinka. When, on the day after her arrival at Pan Serafin's, she saw +through the window Martsian in feathers, looking like some filthy +beast, urged on with whips by the Bukoyemskis, in the first moment of +her dreadful surprise, which was mixed with amazement and even +compassion, she conceived so much confidence in the power of the +brothers, that she could not even imagine how any one could avoid +fearing them. Martsian passed for a terrible person and a fighter, and +see what they did with him. It is true that Yatsek in his time had cut +up all those brothers, but Yatsek in her eyes had grown now beyond +common estimate altogether, and in general he appeared to her before +the last parting from a side so mysterious that she did not know with +what measure to esteem him. The remarks which were made about him by +the Bukoyemskis themselves, and Pan Serafin, with the words of the +priest, who spoke of him oftenest, confirmed in her only wonder for +that friend of her childhood, who had been so near to her once, but was +now so remote and so different. These accounts fixed in her that +longing, and that still sweeter feeling toward Yatsek, which, confessed +to the priest in a moment of excitement, she concealed again in the +depth of her heart, as a pearl is concealed in a mussel shell. + +With all this she had in her soul a conviction, unshaken by anything, +that she must meet him, and that she would meet him even in the near +future. She had torn herself from the house of the Krepetskis; she felt +above her the powerful hands of well-wishing people; hence that +certainty became the joy and the root of her existence. It restored to +her health with contentment, and she bloomed afresh, as a flower blooms +in springtime. That Yedlinka mansion which had been hitherto so serious +was now bright from her presence. She had taken possession of Pani +Dzvonkovski, of Pan Serafin, and the Bukoyemskis. The whole house was +filled with her, and wherever she showed her little confident nose and +her young, gladsome eyes, delight and smiles followed. But she feared +Father Voynovski a little, since it seemed to her that he held in his +hand her fate and also Yatsek's. Hence she looked upon him with a +certain submissiveness. But with his compassionate heart, which in +general was as wax for all God's creation, he loved her sincerely, and +besides, when he learned to know her more closely, he esteemed her pure +spirit increasingly, though at times he called her a jaybird and a +squirrel, because, as he said, she was this moment here and the next in +another place. + +After that first confession they spoke no further of Yatsek, just as if +they had agreed not to do so; both felt it too delicate a matter. Pan +Serafin made no mention of Yatsek to her in the presence of people, but +when no one was with them he was not ceremonious on that point; and +once, when she asked if he would meet his son quickly in Cracow, he +answered with a question,-- + +"And would you not like to meet some one there also?" + +He thought that she would wind out of it jestingly, but to her bright +face came a shade of sadness, and she answered then seriously,-- + +"I should be glad to beg pardon, as soon as is possible, of any one +whom I have injured." + +He looked at her with some emotion, but after a while it was clear that +another idea had come to him, for he stroked her bright face, and then +added,-- + +"Ei! thou hast the wherewithal to reward so that the king himself could +not reward better." + +When she heard this she lowered her eyes in his presence, and was +wonderful as she stood there and blushed like the dawn of the morning. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + +Preparations for starting went forward briskly. Attendants were chosen +with care, strong men and sober. Arms, horses, wagons, and brichkas +were ready. Observing ways of the period, they had not forgotten dogs, +which in time of marching went under the wagons and at places of rest +were used to hunt hares and foxes. The multitude of supplies and the +preparations astonished the lady, who had not supposed that campaigning +demanded such details, and, thinking this trouble taken perhaps for her +safety, she inquired of Pan Serafin touching the matter. He, as a +prudent man, and one of experience, replied thus to her,-- + +"It is certain that we have thy person in mind, for, as I think, we +shall not leave here without meeting some violence from Martsian. Thou +hast heard that he has summoned his roysterers with whom he is +bargaining and drinking. We should be disgraced were we to let any man +snatch thee away from us. What will be, will be, but though we had to +fall one on another, we must take thee to Cracow uninjured." Then she +kissed his hand, saying that she was not worthy to cause them this +peril; but he waved his hand simply. + +"We should not dare to appear before men," said he, "unless we did +this, and matters moreover are such that each coincides with the other. +It is not enough to set out for a war, one must prepare for it wisely. +Thou art astonished that we have three or four horses each man of us, +as well as attendants, but thou must know that in war horses are the +main question; many of them die on the way, crossing rivers and +marshes, or from various camp accidents. And then what? If thou buy in +haste a new horse, with faults and bad habits, that beast will fail at +the critical moment. Though my son and Tachevski took a good party and +excellent horses, we have foreseen every accident, and take each a new +saddle beast. Father Voynovski, unrivalled in knowledge of horses, +bought cheaply from old Pan Podlodovski such a Turkish steed for Pan +Yatsek that the hetman himself would not refuse to appear on him." + +"Which horse is for your son?" inquired the young lady. + +Pan Serafin looked at her, and shook his head smiling. + +"Well, Father Voynovski is right in his judgment of woman. 'That evil,' +said he, 'will be sly, even if it be the most honest.' Thou askest +which horse is for Stanislav. Well, I answer in this way. Yatsek's +horse is that sorrel with a star on his forehead, and a white left hind +fetlock." + +"You annoy me!" exclaimed the young lady. + +And spitting like a cat at him, she turned, and then vanished. But that +same day the pith of small loaves of bread and some salt disappeared +from the dishes, and Lukash the next day beheld something curious. At +the well in the courtyard the sorrel horse had his nose in the white +hands of the lady, and when he was led later on to the stable he looked +back at her time after time expressing with short neighs his yearning. +Lukash could not learn at the time the cause of this "confidence," for +he was intent on loading a wagon, so it was some time after midday that +he approached the young lady, and said, with eyes glowing from +emotion,-- + +"Have you noticed one thing?" + +"What?" inquired Panna Anulka. + +"That even a beast knows a real dainty." + +She forgot that he had seen her in the morning, and noting that look in +his eyes raised her beautiful brows with astonishment. + +"What have you in mind?" asked she. + +"What?" repeated Lukash, "Yatsek's horse!" + +"Oh, a horse!" + +Then she burst into laughter and ran from the porch to her chamber. + +He stood there astonished, and a little confused, understanding neither +why she had run from him, nor what had roused her sudden laughter. + +Another week passed, and preparations were then almost finished, but +somehow Pan Serafin was not urgent for the journey. He deferred it from +day to day, improved various details, complained of heat, and at last +drooped in spirits. Anulka was eager to be on the road. The Bukoyemskis +were growing uneasy, and at length Father Voynovski agreed that farther +delay was a loss of time without reason. But Pan Serafin met their +impatience with these words,-- + +"I have news that the king has not gone yet to Cracow, and will not go +quickly. Meantime the troops are to meet there, but only in part, and +no one knows the day of this meeting. I ordered Stanislav to send me a +man every month, with a letter giving details as to where regiments are +quartered, whither they are to march, and under whose orders. Seven +weeks have passed without tidings. A letter may come to me now any +moment, hence my delay; and I am alarmed somewhat. Think not that we +must find our young men at Cracow, in every case. On the contrary, it +may happen that they will not be there at any time." + +"How is that?" inquired Anulka, disquieted. + +"This, that regiments do not need to march through Cracow. Wherever a +regiment is it can move thence as directly as the stroke of a sickle, +but where Pan Zbierhovski may be at the moment I know not. He may have +been sent to the boundary of Silesia, or to the army of the grand +hetman who is coming from Russia. Regiments are hurried from place to +place very often, just to train them in marching. In the course of +seven weeks various commands may have come of which Stanislav should +have informed me, but he has not done so. Hence I am anxious, for it is +well known that in camps there are frequent disputes and also duels. +Perhaps something has happened. But even if all is in order, we ought +to know where the regiment is, and what is its starting point." + +All became gloomy at these words, save Father Voynovski. + +"A regiment is not a needle," said he "nor is it a button, which if +torn from a coat is found with much difficulty. Be not concerned over +this. We shall learn of them in Cracow more quickly than we could here +in Yedlinka." + +"But on the road we may miss the letter." + +"Leave a command to send it on after us. That is the right way. +Meanwhile in Cracow we will find the safest place possible for the +lady, and then our minds will be free when we start for the second +time." + +"Reason! Reason!" + +"This is my advice then. If no letter comes ere to-morrow we will start +in the cool of the evening for Radom--then farther, to Kieltse, +Yendreyov, and Miehov." + +"Perhaps the day after during daylight we could reach Radom, so as not +to pass in the night through those forests, and thus avoid an ambush if +the Krepetskis should make one." + +"An ambush is nothing! Better go in the cool!" said Mateush. "If they +attack they will do so as well in the day as at night, and now at night +things are visible." + +Then he rubbed his hands gleefully. The three others followed his +example. + +But Father Voynovski thought otherwise. He had great doubts touching a +road attack. + +"Martsian might perhaps venture, but the old man is too prudent; he +knows too well what such a deed signifies and how much, more than once, +men have suffered for violence to women. Besides against the power of +our party Martsian could not reckon on victory, while in every event he +could reckon on vengeance from Yatsek and Stanislav." + +The delight of the Bukoyemskis was spoiled by the priest, but they were +soothed by Vilchopolski, who struck the floor with his wooden leg, +shook his head, and opposed, saying,-- + +"Though up to Radom and even to Kieltse and Miehov you meet no +adventure, I advise you to neglect no precaution till you touch the +gates of Cracow; along the road there are woods everywhere, and I, as a +man knowing Martsian best of all, am convinced that that devil is now +planning an ambush." + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + +At last came the day of departure. The party moved out of Yedlinka at +daylight, with beautiful weather, and with horses and men in good +number. Besides the iron and leather-covered carriage intended for the +ladies and the priest, in case his old gun-wound should annoy him on +horseback too greatly, there were three well-laden wagons drawn each by +four horses. At each wagon were three men, including the driver. Behind +Pan Serafin six mounted attendants, in turquoise-colored livery, led +reserve horses. The priest had two men, each Bukoyemski had two also, +besides a forester who guarded the trunk-laden wagons, altogether +thirty-four persons well armed with muskets and sabres. It is true that +in case of attack some could not aid in defending, since they would +have to guard wagons and horses, but even in that case the Bukoyemskis +felt sure that they could go through the world with those attendants, +and that it would not be healthy for a party three or four times their +number to attack them. Their hearts were swelling with a delight so +enormous that hardly could they stay in their saddles. They had fought +manfully in their time against Tartars and Cossacks, but those were +common, small wars, and later on, when they settled in the wilderness, +their youth had passed merely in inspecting inclosures, in a ceaseless +watch over foresters, in killing bears when it was their duty to +preserve them, and in drunken frolics at Kozenitse and Radom and +Prityk. But now, for the first time, when each put his stirrup near the +stirrup of his brother, when they were going to a war against the +immense might of Turkey, they felt that this was their true +destination, that their past life had been vain and wretched, and that +now had begun in reality the deeds and achievements for which God the +Father had created Polish nobles, God the Son redeemed them, and the +Holy Ghost made them sacred. They could not think this out clearly, or +express it in phrases, for in those things they had never been +powerful, but they wished to fire off their guns then in ecstasy. Their +advance seemed too slow to them. They wished to let out their horses +and rush like a whirlwind, fly toward that great destination, to that +great battle of the Poles with the pagans, to that triumph through +Polish hands of the cross above the crescent, to a splendid death, and +to glory for the ages. They felt loftier in some way, purer, more +honorable, and in their nobility still more ennobled. + +They had scarcely a thought then for Martsian and his rioting company, +or for barriers and engagements on the roadway. All that seemed to them +now something trivial, vain, and unworthy of attention. And if whole +legions had stood in their way, they would have shot over them like a +tempest, they would have ridden across them just in passing, put them +under the bellies of their horses, and rushed along farther. Their +native leonine impulses were roused, and warlike, knightly blood had +begun to play in them with such vigor that if command had been given +those four men to charge the whole bodyguard of the Sultan, they would +not have hesitated one instant. + +But similar feelings, and founded, moreover, on old recollections, +filled the hearts of Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski. The priest had +passed the flower of his life on the field with a lance in his hand, or +a sabre. He remembered whole series of reverses and victories, he +remembered the dreadful rebellion of Hmelnitski, Joltevody, Korsun, +Pilavtse, Zbaraj the renowned, and the giant battle of Berestechko. He +remembered the Swedish war, with its never-ending record of struggles +and the attack of Rakotsi. He had been in Denmark, for a triumphing +people, not satisfied with crushing and driving out Sweden, had sent in +pursuit of it Charnyetski's invincible regiments to the borders of a +distant ocean; he had helped to defeat Dolgoruki and Hovanski; he had +known the noblest knights and greatest men of the period; he had been a +pupil of Pan Michael the immortal; he had been enamoured of slaughter, +storms, battles, and bloodshed, but all that had lasted only till +personal misfortune had broken his spirit, and he took on himself holy +orders. From that day he changed altogether, and when, turning to +people in front of the altar, he said to them: "Peace be with you;" he +believed himself uttering Christ's own commandment, and that every war, +as opposed to that commandment, "is abhorrent" to Heaven, a sin against +mercy, a stain on Christian nations. But a war against Turks was the +one case which he excepted. "God," said he, "put the Polish people on +horseback, and turned their breasts eastward; by that same act He +showed them His will and their calling. He knew why He chose us for +that position, and put others behind our shoulders; hence, if we wish +to fulfil His command and our mission with worthiness, we must face +that vile sea, and break its waves with our bosoms." + +Father Voynovski judged, therefore, that God had placed on the throne +purposely a sovereign who, when hetman, had shed pagan blood in such +quantity, that his hands might give the last blow to the enemy, and +avert ruin from Christians at once and forever. It seemed to him that +just then had appeared the great day of destination, the day to +accomplish God's purpose; hence he considered that war as a sacred way +of the cross, and was charmed at the thought, that age, toil, and +wounds had not pressed him to the earth so completely, that he might +not take part in it. + +He would be able yet to wave a flag, he, the old soldier of Christ, +would spur on his horse, and spring with a cross in his hand to the +thickest of the battle, with the certainty in his heart that behind him +and that cross a thousand sabres would bite on the skulls of the pagans +and a thousand lances would enter their bodies. + +Finally thoughts flew to his head which were personal, and more in +accord with his earlier disposition. He could hold the cross in his +left, but in the right hand a sabre. As a priest he could not do this +against Christians, but against Turks it was proper! Oh, proper! Now he +would show young men for the first time how pagan lights should be +extinguished, how pagan champions must be mowed down and cut to pieces; +he would show of what kind were the warriors of his day. Nay! on more +fields than one men had marvelled at his prowess. It may happen now +that even the king will be astounded! And this thought at that moment +so filled him with rapture that he failed in his rosary: "Hail +Mary--slay! kill!--full of grace--at them!--The Lord is with Thee--cut +them down!" Till at last he recovered. "Tfu! to the evil one with +this--glory is smoke. Has insanity seized me? _non nobis, non nobis sed +nomini tuo_" (not to us, not to us, but to Thy name) and he passed the +beads through his fingers more attentively. + +Pan Serafin was repeating also his litany of the morning, but from time +to time he looked now at the priest, now at the young lady, now at the +Bukoyemskis, who were riding at the side of the carriage, now at the +trees and the dew-covered grassy openings between them. At last, when +he had finished the final "Hail, Mary!" he turned to the old man, and +said, sighing deeply,-- + +"Your grace seems to be in rather good spirits?" + +"And also your grace," said Father Voynovski. + +"Yes, that is true. Until a man starts, he is bustling and hurrying and +in trouble; only when the wind blows around him in the field is it +light at his heartstrings. I remember how when, ten years ago, we were +marching to Hotsim, there was a wonderful willingness in every warrior, +so that though the action took place in the harsh weather of November, +more than one threw his coat off because of the warmth which came out +of his heart then. Well, God, who gave such a victory that time, will +give it undoubtedly now, for the leader is the same, and the vigor and +valor of the men not inferior. I know nations splendidly, Swedes, +French, even Germans, but against Turks there is no one superior to our +men." + +"I have heard how his grace the king said the same," replied Father +Voynovski. "'The Germans,' said he, 'stand under fire patiently, though +they blink when attacking, but,' said he, 'if I can bring mine up nose +to nose I am satisfied, for they will sweep everything before them as +can no other cavalry in existence.' And this is true. The Lord Jesus +has gifted us richly with this power, not only the nobles, but the +peasants. For instance, our field infantry, when they spit on their +palms and advance with their muskets, the best of the Janissaries +cannot in any way equal them. I have seen both more than once in the +struggle." + +"If God has preserved in health Yatsek and Stashko, I am glad that +their earliest campaign will be made against Turkish warriors. But how +does your grace think, against whom will the Turks turn their main +forces?" + +"Against the emperor, as it seems, for they are warring against him, +and helping rebellion in Hungary. But the Turks have two or three +armies, hence it is unknown where we shall meet them decisively. For +this cause, beyond doubt, no main camp has been organized, and +regiments move from one place to another, as reports come. The +regiments under Pan Yablonovski are now at Trembovla; others are +concentrating on Cracow; others as happens to each of them. I know not +where the voevoda of Volynia is quartered at present, nor where +Zbierhovski's command is. At moments I think that my son has not +written this long time because his regiment may be moving toward these +parts." + +"If he is commanded to Cracow, he must march near us, surely. That, +however, depends upon where he was earlier and whence he is starting at +present. We may get news at Radom. Is not our first night halt at +Radom?" + +"It is. I should wish too that the prelate Tvorkovski saw Panna Anulka +and gave her final counsels. He will furnish us letters to help her in +Cracow." + +The conversation stopped for a time; then Pan Serafin raised his eyes +again to Father Voynovski. + +"But," asked he, "what will happen, think you, should she meet Yatsek +in Cracow?" + +"I know not. In every case that will take place which God wishes. +Yatsek might win a fortune by marriage, while she is as poor as a +Turkish saint--but wealth alone is mere nonsense, the splendor of a +family is the great point in this case." + +"Panna Anulka is of high lineage, and she is like gold--besides we know +well that they are love-stricken, mortally." + +"Of course, mortally, mortally." + +The priest did not speak very willingly on this point, that was clear, +for he turned the conversation to other subjects. + +"Well," said he, "but let us think of this, that a robber is watching +for that golden maiden. Do you remember Vilchopolski's words?" + +Pan Serafin looked at the depth of the forest on all sides. + +"Yes. But the Krepetskis will not dare," said he. "They will not dare! +Our party is fairly large, and your grace sees the calmness of +everything around us. I wish the girl to be in that carriage for +safety, but she begged to be on horseback--she has no fear of +anything." + +"Well, she has good blood. But I note that she masters you thoroughly." + +"And you, too, somewhat," answered Pan Serafin. "But as to me I confess +right away; when she begs for a thing she knows how to move her eyes in +such fashion that you must yield where you stand. Women have various +methods, but have you noticed that she has that sort of blinking before +which a man drops his arms. Near Belchantska I will tell her to enter +the carriage, but so far she wishes absolutely to be on horseback, +because, as she says, it is healthier." + +"In such weather it is surely healthier." + +"Look how rosy the girl is, just like a euphorbia laurel." + +"What is her rosiness to me?" replied Father Voynovski. "But in truth +the dear day is lovely." + +In fact the weather was really wonderful, and the morning fresh and +dewy. Single drops on the needlelike pine leaves glittered with the +rainbow-like colors of diamonds. The forest interior was brightened by +hazel trees filled with the sun rays of morning. Farther in, orioles +were twittering with joyousness. Roundabout was the odor of pine, the +whole earth seemed rejoicing, and the blue air was cloudless. + +Thus pushing forward, they reached the same tar pit at which Martsian +had been seized by the brothers. But the fear that some ambush might be +there lurking proved groundless. Near the well were two tar-laden +wagons, nothing more. To these, which belonged to peasants, were +attached two wretched little horses, whose heads were sunk in bags of +oats to their foreheads; the drivers, each near the side of his horse, +were eating cheese and bread, but at sight of the showy party they put +away these provisions; when asked if they had seen armed men, they +answered that since morning a mounted man had been waiting, but that +shortly before, on seeing this party from a distance, he had rushed +away with all the speed of his beast in the opposite direction. The +news alarmed Pan Serafin. It seemed to him that this horseman had been +sent as a scout by Krepetski; and he redoubled his watchfulness. He +commanded two attendants to ride at both sides and examine the forest; +he sent two others ahead with this order: "If ye see an armed group +fire your muskets, and return with all haste to the wagons." An hour +passed, however, without a report from them. The party pushed forward +slowly, watching in front and at both sides with carefulness, but it +was quiet in the forest, except that the orioles twittered, while here +and there was heard the hammering of those little smiths of the forest, +the hard-working woodpeckers. + +At last they reached a wide plain, but before going out on it Pan +Serafin and the priest directed Anulka to sit in the carriage, since +they had to pass now not far from Belchantska, the trees of which, and +even the mansion between them, were visible to the eye without glasses. +The young lady looked on that house with emotion, for in it she had +passed very many of the best, and the bitterest, days of her existence. +She had wished to look first of all at Vyrambki, but the Belchantska +lindens so covered it that the dwelling was not to be seen from the +carriage. It occurred to Anulka that she might never again in her life +see those places, so she sighed quietly and became sorrowful. + +The Bukoyemskis looked challengingly and quickly at the mansion, the +village, and the neighborhood, but great quiet reigned in those places. +Along broad fallow lands, which were flooded in sunlight, were grazing +cows and sheep, guarded by dogs, and crowds of children. Here and there +flocks of geese seemed white spots, and had it not been for summer +heat, one might have thought from afar that they were bits of snow +lying on the hill slopes; for the rest the region seemed empty. + +Pan Serafin, who lacked not the daring of a cavalier, wished to show +the Krepetskis how little he cared for them, and directed to make the +first halt at that place, and give rest to the horses. So the party +stopped; on one side were fields of wheat waving under the wind and +rustling gently; on the other was the silence of the plain broken only +by the snorting of horses. + +"Health! health!" said the attendants in answer to the snorting. + +But that calm was not to the taste of the youngest Bukoyemski, who +turned toward the mansion and cried to the absent Krepetskis, while he +beckoned with his hand an invitation. + +"But come out here, ye sons of a such a one! O Stump, show thy dog +snout; we will soon put a cross on it with our sabres!" + +Then he bent toward the carriage. + +"Your ladyship," said he, "that Martsian and his company are not in a +hurry to attack us, neither he nor his bandits from the wilderness." + +"But do bandits attack?" asked the lady. + +"Oh-ho! they do, but not us. And there are many of them in the +wilderness of Kozenitse, and in the forest toward Cracow. If his Grace +the King would grant pardon, enough would be found of those bandits +right here in this neighborhood to make two good regiments." + +"I should rather meet bandits than Pan Martsian's company, of which +people tell in Belchantska such terrible stories. I have not heard of +bandits attacking a mansion." + +"They do not, for a bandit has the same kind of sense that a wolf has. +Consider, young lady, that a wolf never kills sheep or horned cattle in +the neighborhood where his lair is." + +"He speaks truth," said the other brothers. + +Yan, glad of this praise, explained further. + +"The bandit attacks no village or mansion near his hiding place. For if +neighboring people should pursue, they, knowing the forests and secret +spots in them, would hunt him out the more easily. So bandits go to a +distance, and plunder houses or fall upon travellers in great or small +parties." + +"Have they no fear?" + +"They have no fear of God. Why should they fear men?" + +But Panna Anulka had turned her mind elsewhere, so, when Pan Serafin +came to the carriage, she began to blink and implore him. + +"Why should I stay in the carriage when no attack threatens? May I not +go on horseback?" + +"Why?" asked Pan Serafin. "The sun is high. It would burn your face. +There is one who would not like that." + +Thereupon she withdrew on a sudden to the depth of the carriage, and +Pan Serafin turned to the brothers,-- + +"Have I not told her the truth?" + +But not being quick-witted, they missed the point of the answer. + +"Who would not like?" inquired they. "Who?" + +Pan Serafin shrugged his shoulders. + +"The prince bishop of Cracow, the German emperor, and the king of +France," answered he. + +He gave the sign then, and all started. + +They passed Belchantska, and advanced again among tilled fields, fallow +land, meadows, and broad wind-swept spaces which were bordered on the +horizon by a blue rim of forest. At Yedlina they stopped for a second +rest, during which the brewers, the citizens, and the peasants took +farewell of Father Voynovski--and before evening they stopped for their +first night rest at Radom. + +Martsian had not given the least sign of life. They learned that he had +passed the day previous in Radom, and had drunk with his company, but +had gone home for the night; hence the priest and Pan Serafin breathed +with more freedom, judging that no danger threatened them now on the +journey. + +The prelate Tvorkovski furnished letters to Father Hatski, to Gninski, +the vice-chancellor who, as they knew, was enrolling a whole regiment +for the coming war at his own cost, and one also to Pan Matchynski. He +was rejoiced to see Panna Anulka and Father Voynovski, for whom he felt +a great friendship, and Pan Serafin, in whom he prized a skilled +Latinist, who understood every quotation and maxim. He, too, had heard +of Martsian's threats, but had lent no great weight to them, judging +that if an attack had been planned it would have been made in the wilds +of Kozenitse, more favorable for that kind of deed than the forests +between Radom and Kieltse. + +"Martsian will not attack you," said he to Pan Serafin, "and his father +will not bring an action, for he would meet me; he knows that I have +other weapons against him besides the church censure." + +The prelate entertained them all day, and let them start only toward +evening. Since danger seemed set aside most decidedly, Pan Serafin +agreed to night travel, all the more since great heat was beginning. +The first five miles, however, they passed during daylight. On the +river Oronka, which here and there formed morasses, began again, in +those days, extensive pine forests, which surrounded Oronsk, Sucha, +Krogulha, and extended as far as Shydlovets, and beyond, toward +Mrochkov and Bzin, down to Kieltse. They moved slowly, for in some +places the old road lay among sandy hillocks and holes, while in others +it sank very notably and became a muddy, stick-covered ridgeway. This +ridge lay in a quagmire through which a man could pass neither with +wagon nor horse, nor go on foot at any season, unless during very dry +summers. These places enjoyed no good repute, but for this Pan Serafin +and his party cared little; they were confident of their strength, and +glad to move in cool air when heat did not trouble men, or flies annoy +horses. + +A clear and pleasant night came down quickly, with a full moon which +appeared above the pine woods, enormous and ruddy, decreasing and +growing pale as it rose, till in time it was white, and sailed like a +silver swan through the dark blue of the night sky. The wind ceased, +and the motionless pine wood was buried in a stillness broken only by +the voices of gnats flying in from broad pools, and by the playing of +landrails in the grass of the neighboring meadows. + +Father Voynovski intoned: "Hail, O Wise Lady! and Mansions dear to +God," to which the four bass voices of the Bukoyemskis and Pan Serafin +answered immediately: "Adorned by the golden table and seven columns." +Panna Anulka joined the chorus, after her the attendants, and soon that +pious hymn was resounding through the forest. But when they had +finished all the "Hours," and repeated all the "Hail, Marys!" silence +set in again. The priest, the brothers, and Pan Serafin conversed for +some time yet in lowered voices; then they began to doze, and at last +fell asleep soundly. + +They did not hear either the "Vio! Vio!" of the drivers, or the +snorting of horses, or the explosive sound made when hoofs were drawn +out of mud on that long ridge way which lay in the sticky and +reed-covered quagmire. The party came to the ridge somewhat before +midnight. The shouts of attendants, who were advancing in front, first +roused the sleepers. + +"Stop! stop!" + +All opened their eyes. The Bukoyemskis straightened in their saddles +and sprang ahead promptly. + +"But what is the matter?" + +"The road is barred. There is a ditch across it, and beyond the ditch a +breastwork." + +The sabres of the brothers came biting from their scabbards and gleamed +in the moonlight. + +"To arms! an ambuscade!" + +Pan Serafin found himself at the obstruction in one moment, and +understood that there was no chance of being mistaken: a broad ditch +had been dug across the ridgeway. Beyond the ditch lay whole pine trees +which, with their branches sticking up, formed a great breastwork. The +men who stopped the road in that fashion had evidently intended to let +the party in on the ridge, from which there was no escape on either +side, and attack in the rear then. + +"To your guns! to muskets!" thundered Father Voynovski. "They are +coming!" + +In fact about a hundred yards in the rear certain dark, square forms, +strange, quite unlike men, appeared on the ridge, and ran toward the +wagons very quickly. + +"Fire!" commanded the priest. + +A report was heard, and brilliant flashes rent the night gloom. Only +one form rolled to the earth, but the other men ran the more swiftly +toward the wagons, and after them denser groups made their appearance. + +Instructed by whole years of war, the priest divined straightway that +those men were carrying bundles before them, straw, reeds, or willows, +and that was why the first discharge had effected so little. + +"Fire! In order! four at a time!--and at their knees!" cried he. + +Two attendants held guns charged with slugs. These men took their +places with others, and spat at the knees of the attackers. A cry of +pain was heard promptly, and this time the whole front rank of bundles +tumbled down to the mud on the ridgeway, but the next rank of men +sprang over those who were prostrate, and came still nearer the wagons. + +"Fire!" was commanded a third time. + +Again came a salvo, with more effect this time, for the onrush was +stopped, and disorder appeared among the attackers. + +The priest acquired courage, for he knew that the attackers had +outwitted themselves in the choice of position. It is true that not a +living soul would escape in case they should triumph, and the bandits +had this in view specially; but, not having men to hem in the party on +all sides, they were forced to attack only over the ridgeway, hence in +a thin body, which again lightened defence beyond common, so that five +or six valiant warriors might ward off attack until daylight. + +The attackers, too, began to use muskets, but caused no great damage, +clearly because of poor weapons. Their first fire struck only a horse +and one attendant. The Bukoyemskis begged to charge the enemy, +guaranteeing to sweep right and left into the quagmire any men whom +they might not crush in the mud of the roadway. But the priest, who +kept their strength for the last, would not send them; he commanded the +brothers, however, as excellent marksmen, to roast the attackers from a +distance, and Pan Serafin commanded to watch the ditch sharply, and the +breastwork. + +"If they attack us from that side," said he, "they may do something, +but they will not get us cheaply." + +Then he hastened for a moment to the carriage where the ladies were +praying without great fear, though audibly. + +"Oh, this is nothing!" said he. "Have no fear!" + +"I have no fear," answered Panna Anulka. "But I should like to be on +horseback." + +Shots drowned further words. The attackers, confused for a moment, +pressed along the ridge now, with wonderful and simply blind daring, +since it was clear that they would not effect much on that side. + +"Hm!" thought the priest. "Were it not for the women, we might charge +them." + +And he had begun to think of sending the four brothers with four other +good warriors, when he looked at both flanks and trembled. + +On the two sides of that quagmire appeared crowds of men, who, +springing from hillock to hillock, or along sheaves of reeds, which had +been fixed in soft places on purpose, were running toward the wagons. + +The priest turned to them, in the shortest time possible, two ranks of +attendants, but he understood in a flash the extent of his peril. His +party was surrounded on three sides. The attendants were, it is true, +chosen men, who had been more than once in sharp struggles, but they +were insufficient in number, especially as some had to guard extra +horses. Hence it was evident that after the first fire, inadequate +because of so many attackers, there would be a hand-to-hand struggle +before guns could be loaded a second time, and the side which proved +weaker would be forced to go down in that trial. + +Only one plan remained, to retreat by the ridgeway, that is, leave the +wagons, command the Bukoyemskis to sweep all before them, and push on +behind the four brothers, keeping the women among the horses in the +centre. So when they had fired at both sides again, the priest ordered +the women to mount, and arranged all for the onrush. In the first rank +were the four brothers, behind them six attendants, then Panna Anulka +and Pani Dzvonkovski, at the side the priest and Pan Serafin, behind +them eight attendants, four in a rank. After the charge and retreat +from the ridgeway he intended to reach the first village, collect all +the peasants, return then and rescue the wagons. + +Still he stopped for a moment, and only when the attackers were little +more than twenty yards distant, and when on a sudden wild sounds were +heard beyond the breastwork, did he shout the order,-- + +"Strike!" + +"Strike!" roared the Bukoyemskis, and they moved like a hurricane which +destroys all things before it. When they had ridden to the enemy the +horses rose on their haunches and plunged into the dense crowd of +robbers, trampling some, pushing others to the quagmire, overthrowing +whole lines of people. The brothers cut with sabres unsparingly, and +without stopping. There was great shouting, and splashing of bodies as +men fell into the water near the ridgeway, but the four dreadful +horsemen pushed forward; their arms moving like those of a windmill to +which a gale gives dreadful impetus. Some attackers sprang willingly +into the water to save themselves; others put forks and bill-hooks +against the onrushing brothers. Clubs and spears were raised also; but +again the horses reared, and, breaking everything before them, swept on +like a whirlwind in a young forest. + +Had not the road been so narrow, and those who were slashed had all +escape barred to them, and those behind not pushed on those in front, +the Bukoyemskis would have passed the whole ridgeway. But since more +than one of the bandits preferred battle to drowning, resistance +continued, and, besides, it became still more stubborn. The hearts of +the robbers were raging. They began to fight then not merely for +plunder, or seizing some person, but from venom. At moments when shouts +ceased, the gritting of teeth became audible and curses rose loudly. +The rush of the Bukoyemskis was arrested. It came to their minds at +that moment that they would have to die, perhaps. And when, on a +sudden, they heard still farther out there the tramping of horses, and +loud shouts were raised in all parts of the thicket surrounding the +quagmire, they felt sure that the moment of death was approaching. +Hence they smashed terribly; they would not sell their lives cheaply in +any case. + +But now something marvellous happened. Many voices were heard all at +once shouting: "Strike!" Sabres gleamed in the moonlight. Certain +horsemen fell to cutting and hewing in the rear of the robbers, who, +because of this sudden attack, were seized in one instant with terror. +Escape in the rear was now closed to them; nothing remained but escape +at either side of the roadway. Only some, therefore, offered a +desperate resistance. The more numerous sprang like ducks to the turfy +quagmire on both sides. The quagmire broke under them; then grasping +grass, clumps, and reeds, they clung to hillocks, or lay on their +bellies not to sink the first moment. + +Only a small company, armed with scythes fixed to poles, defended +themselves for some time yet with madness. Because of this many +horsemen were wounded. But at last even this handful, seeing that for +them there was no rescue whatever, threw down their weapons, fell on +their knees, and begged mercy. They were taken alive to be witnesses. + +Meanwhile horsemen from both sides stood facing one another, and raised +their voices. + +"Halt! halt! Who are ye?" + +"But who are ye?" + +"Tsyprianovitch of Yedlinka." + +"For God's sake! these are our people!" + +And two riders pushed from the ranks quickly. One inclined to Pan +Serafin, seized his hand straightway, and covered it with kisses; the +other rushed to the priest's shoulder. + +"Stanislav!" cried Pan Serafin. + +"Yatsek!" shouted the priest. + +The greetings and embraces continued till speech came to Pan Serafin,-- + +"For God's sake, whence come ye?" + +"Our regiment was marching to Cracow. Yatsek and I had permission to +visit you at Yedlinka. Meanwhile we learned at Radom, while halting for +food there, that thou, father, and the priest, and the Bukoyemskis had +set out an hour earlier by the highroad toward Kieltse." + +"Did the prelate tell thee?" + +"No! We did not see him. Radom Jews told us; we did not go then to +Yedlinka, but moved on at once lest we might miss you. At midnight we +heard firing, so we all rushed to give aid, thinking that bandits had +fallen upon travellers. It did not occur to us that ye were the +persons. God be thanked, God be thanked, that we came up in season!" + +"Not bandits attacked us, but the Krepetskis. It is a question of Panna +Anulka, who is with us." + +"As God lives!" exclaimed Stanislav. "Then I think that his soul will +leave Yatsek." + +"I wrote to thee about her, but it is evident that my letter did not +reach thee." + +"No, for we are marching these three weeks. I have not written of late +because I had to come hither." + +Shouts from the Bukoyemskis, the attendants, and the warriors stopped +further converse. At that moment also attendants ran up with lighted +torches. A supply had been taken by Pan Serafin that he might have +wherewith to give light during darkness. It was as clear on the road as +in daylight, and in those bright gleams Yatsek saw the gray horse on +which Panna Anulka was sitting. + +He grew dumb at sight of her. + +"Yes, she is with us," said Father Voynovski, seeing his astonishment. + +Then Yatsek urged his horse forward, and halted before her. He +uncovered his head, and remained there lost as he looked at her. His +face was as white as chalk, his breath had almost left him, and he was +speechless. + +After a moment the cap fell to the earth from his fingers, his head +dropped to the mane of the horse, and his eyes closed. + +"But he is wounded!" cried Lukash Bukoyemski. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + +Yatsek was really wounded. One of those robbers, who defended +themselves to the utmost, cut him, with a scythe in the left shoulder, +and since he and the men marched without mail, the very end of the iron +had cut into his arm rather deeply from the shoulder to the elbow. The +wound was not over grievous, but it bled quite profusely; because of +this the young man had then fainted. The experienced Father Voynovski +commanded to put him in a wagon, and, when the wound had been dressed, +he left him in care of the women. Yatsek opened his eyes somewhat +later, and began again to look, as at a rainbow, into the face of Panna +Anulka, which was there bending over him. + +Meanwhile the attendants filled the ditch and removed all obstructions. +The wagons and the men passed to the dry road beyond, where they halted +to bring the train into order, take some rest, and question the +prisoners. From Tachevski the priest went to the Bukoyemskis to see if +they had suffered. But they had not. The horses were torn and even +stabbed with forks, but not seriously; the men themselves were in +excellent humor, for all were admiring their valor, since they had +crushed before war, more opponents than had many others during years of +campaigning. + +"Now, gentlemen, ye may join Pan Zbierhovski," said the hussars here +and there. "From of old it is known, and God grant that men will see +soon, that our regiment is the first even among hussars. Pan +Zbierhovski admits no common men, or any man easily, but he will accept +you with gladness, and we shall be charmed from our hearts to find you +in our company." + +The Bukoyemskis knew that this might not be, for they could not have +the attendants, or the outfit demanded in such a high regiment, but +they listened to those speeches with rapture, and when cups went the +round, they let no man surpass them. + +When that part was ended, the captured bandits were seized by their +heads, and led from the mud to Zbierhovski and the priest and Pan +Serafin. No bandit had escaped, for with a detachment of twelve hundred +there were men to surround the whole quagmire and both ends of the +ridgeway. The appearance of the prisoners astonished Pan Serafin. He +had thought to find Martsian among them, as he had told Stanislav, and +Martsian's Radom outcasts also; meanwhile he saw before him a ragged +rabble reeking with turf and bespattered with mud of the ridgeway, a +company made up, like all bodies of that kind, of deserters from the +infantry, of runaway servants and serfs, in a word, of all kinds of +wicked, wild scoundrels working at robbery in remote places and +forests. Many such parties were raging, especially in the wooded region +of Sandomir, and since they were strengthened by men who were eager for +anything, men who if captured were threatened with terrible punishment, +their attacks were uncommonly daring, and they fought savage battles. + +The search through the quagmire continued for a time yet, then Pan +Serafin turned to Zbierhovski. + +"Gracious colonel," said he. "These are highway robbers. We thought +them quite different. This was an attack of common bandits. We thank +you, and all your men with grateful hearts for effective assistance, +without which, as is possible, we should not have seen the sun rise +this morning." + +"These night marches are good," said Zbierhovski, and he smiled while +he was speaking. "The heat does not trouble, and it is possible to +serve others. Do you wish to examine these captives immediately?" + +"Since I have looked at them closely already, it is not needed. The +court in the town will examine them, and the headsman will guide them." + +At this a tall, bony fellow, with a gloomy face, and light hair pushed +out from the captives and said, as he bent to Pan Serafin's stirrup. + +"Great mighty lord, spare our lives, and we will tell truth. We are +common bandits, but the attack was not common." + +The priest and Pan Serafin, on hearing this, looked at each other with +roused curiosity. + +"Who art thou?" asked the priest. + +"I am a chief. There were two of us, for this party was formed of two +bands, but the other man fell. Give me pardon, and I will tell +everything." + +Father Voynovski stopped for a moment. + +"We cannot save you from justice," said he, "but for you it is better +in every case to tell truth, than be forced to declare it under +torture. Besides, if ye confess, God's judgment and man's will be more +lenient." + +The bandit looked at his companions, uncertain whether to speak or be +silent. Meanwhile the priest added,-- + +"And if ye tell the whole truth, we can intercede with the king, and +commend you to his mercy. He accepts offenders in the infantry, and +recommends mercy now to judges." + +"In that case," said the man, "I will tell everything. My name is Obuh; +the leader of the other band was Kos, and a noble engaged us to fall on +your graces." + +"But do ye know the name of that noble?" + +"I did not know him, for I am from distant places, but Kos knew him, +and said his name was Vysh." + +The priest and Pan Serafin looked at each other with astonishment. + +"Vysh,[6] didst thou say?" + +"Yes." + +"But was there no one with him?" + +"There was another, a lean, thin, young man." + +"Not they," said Pan Serafin to the priest in a whisper. + +"But they may have been Martsian's company." + +Then he said aloud to the man,-- + +"What did they tell you to do?" + +"This: 'Do what ye like with the people,' said they; 'the wagons and +plunder are yours; but in the company there is a young lady whom ye are +to take and bring by roundabout ways between Radom and Zvolenie to +Polichna. Beyond Polichna a party will attack you and take the lady. Ye +will pretend to defend her, but not so as to harm our men. Ye will get +a thaler apiece for this, besides what ye find in the wagons.'" + +"That is as if on one's palm," said the priest. + +"Then did only those two talk with Kos and thee?" + +"Later, a third person came in the night with them; he gave us a ducat +apiece to bind the agreement. Though the place was as dark as in a +cellar, one of our men who had been a serf of his recognized that third +person as Pan Krepetski." + +"Ha! that is he!" cried Pan Serafin. + +"And is that man here, or has he fallen?" inquired Father Voynovski. + +"I am here!" called out a voice from some distance. + +"Come nearer. Didst thou recognize Pan Krepetski? But how, since it was +so dark, that thou couldst hit a man on the snout without knowing it?" + +"Because I know him from childhood. I knew him by his bow-legs and his +head, which sits, as it were, in a hole between his shoulders, and by +his voice." + +"Did he speak to you?" + +"He spoke with us, and afterward I heard him speak to those who came +with him." + +"What did he say to them?" + +"He said this: 'If I could have trusted money with you, I should not +have come, even if the night were still darker.'" + +"And wilt thou testify to this before the mayor in the town, or the +starosta?" + +"I will." + +"When he heard this, Pan Zbierhovski turned to his attendants and +said,-- + +"Guard this man with special care, for me." + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + +They began now to counsel. The advice of the Bukoyemskis was to +disguise some peasant woman in the dress of a lady, put her on +horseback, give her attendants and soldiers dressed up as bandits, and +go to the place designated by Martsian, and, when he made the attack as +agreed upon, surround him immediately, and either wreak vengeance +there, or take him to Cracow and deliver him to justice. They offered +to go themselves, with great willingness, to carry out the plan, and +swore that they would throw Martsian in fetters at the feet of Panna +Anulka. + +This proposal pleased all at the first moment, but when they examined +it more carefully the execution seemed needless and difficult. Pan +Zbierhovski might rescue from danger people whom he met on his march, +but he had not the right to send soldiers on private expeditions, and +he had no wish either to do so. On the other hand, since there was a +bandit who knew and was ready to indicate to the courts the chief +author of the ambush, it was possible to bring that same author to +account any moment, and to have issued against him a sentence of +infamy. For this reason both Pan Serafin and Father Voynovski grew +convinced that there would be time for that after the war, since there +was no fear that the Krepetskis, who owned large estates, would flee +and abandon them. This did not please the Bukoyemskis, however, for +they desired keenly to finish the question. They even declared that +since that was the decision, they would go themselves with their +attendants for Martsian. But Pan Serafin would not permit this, and +they were stopped finally by Yatsek, who implored them by all that was +sacred to leave Krepetski to him, and him only. + +"I," said he, "will not act through courts against Martsian, but after +all that I have heard from you here, if I do not fall in the war, as +God is in heaven, I will find the man, and it will be shown whether +infamy would not be pleasanter and easier also than that which will +meet him." + +And his "maiden" eyes glittered so fiercely that though the Bukoyemskis +were unterrified warriors a shiver went through them. They knew in what +a strange manner passion and mildness were intertwined in the spirit of +Yatsek, together with an ominous remembrance of injustice. + +He said then repeatedly: "Woe to him!--Woe to him!" and again he grew +pale from his blood loss. Day had come already, and the morning light +had tinted the world in green and rose colors; that light sparkled in +the dewdrops, on the grass and the reeds, and the tree leaves and the +needles of dwarf pines here and there on the edge of the quagmire. Pan +Zbierhovski had commanded to bury the bodies of the fallen bandits, +which was done very quickly, for the turf opened under spades easily, +and when no trace of battle was left on that roadway, the march was +continued toward Shydlovets. + +Pan Serafin advised the young lady to sit again in the carriage, where +she might have a good sleep before they reached the next halting place, +but she declared so decisively that she would not desert Yatsek that +even Father Voynovski did not try to remove her. So they went together, +only two besides the driver, for sleep was so torturing Pani +Dzvonkovski, that after a while they transferred her to the carriage. + +Yatsek was lying face upward on bundles of hay arranged lengthwise in +one side of the wagon, while she sat on the other, bending every little +while toward his wounded shoulder, and watching to see if blood might +not come through the bandages. At times she put a leather bottle of old +wine to the mouth of the wounded man. This wine acted well to all +seeming, for after a while he was wearied of lying, and had the driver +draw out the bundle on which his feet were then resting. + +"I prefer to ride sitting," said he, "since I feel all my strength +now." + +"But the wound, will that not pain you more if you are sitting?" + +Yatsek turned his eyes to her rosy face, and said in a sad and low +voice, "I will give the same answer as that knight long ago when King +Lokietek saw him pierced with spears by the Knights of the Cross, on a +battlefield. 'Is thy pain great?' asked the king. The knight showed his +wounds then. 'These pain least of all,' said he in answer." + +Panna Sieninski dropped her eyes. "But what pains you more?" inquired +she in a whisper. + +"A yearning heart, and separation, and the memory of wrongs inflicted." + +For a while silence continued, but the hearts began to throb in both +with power which increased every moment, for they knew that the time +had come then in which they could and should confess everything which +each had against the other. + +"It is true," said she, "I did you an injustice, when, after the duel, +I received you with angry face, and inhumanly. But that was the only +time, and, though God alone knows how much I regretted that afterward, +still I say it is my fault! and from my whole soul I implore you." +Yatsek put his sound hand to his forehead. + +"Not that," answered he, "was the thorn, not that the great anguish!" + +"I know it was not that, but the letter from Pan Gideon. How could you +suspect me of knowing the contents of the letter, or having suggested +them?" + +And she began to tell, with a broken voice, how it happened: how she +had implored Pan Gideon to make a step toward being reconciled: how he +had promised to write a heartfelt and fatherly letter, but he wrote +entirely the opposite. Of this she learned only later from Father +Voynovski, and from this it was shown that Pan Gideon having other +plans, simply wanted to separate them from each other forever. + +At the same time, since her words were a confession, and also a renewal +of painful and bitter memories, her eyes were dimmed with tears, and +from constraint and shame a deep blush came out on her cheeks from one +instant to another. + +"Did Father Voynovski," asked she at last, "not write to you that I +knew nothing, and that I could not even understand why I received for +my sincere feelings a recompense of that kind?" + +"Father Voynovski," answered Yatsek, "only wrote me that you were going +to marry Pan Gideon." + +"But did he not write that I consented to do so only through orphanhood +and pain and desertion, and out of gratitude to my guardian? For I knew +not then how he had treated you; I only knew that I was despised and +forgotten." + +When he heard this Yatsek closed his eyes and began to speak with great +sadness. + +"Forgotten? Is that God's truth? I was in Warsaw, I was at the king's +court, I went through the country with my regiment, but whatever I did, +and wherever I travelled, not for one moment didst thou go from my +heart and my memory. Thou didst follow me as his shadow a man. And +during nights without sleep, in suffering and in pain, which came +simply from torture, many a time have I called to thee: 'Take pity, +have mercy! grant to forget thee!' But thou didst not leave me at any +time, either in the day, or the night, or in the field, or under a +house roof, until at last I understood that only then could I tear thee +from my heart when I had torn the heart itself from my bosom." + +Here he stopped, for his voice was choked from emotion; but after a +time he continued,-- + +"So after that often and often I said in my prayers: 'O God, grant me +death, for Thou seest that it is impossible for me to attain her, and +impossible for me to be without her!' And that was before I had hoped +for the favor of seeing thee in life again--thou, the only one in the +world--thou, beloved!" + +As he said this he bent toward her and touched her arm with his temple. + +"Thou," whispered he, "art as that blood which gives life to me, as +that sun in the heavens. The mercy of God is upon me, that I see thee +once more-- O beloved! beloved!" + +And it seemed to her that Yatsek was singing some marvellous song at +that moment. Her eyes were filled with a wave of tears then, and a wave +of happiness flooded her heart. Again there was silence between them; +but she wept long with such a sweet weeping as she had never known in +her life till that morning. + +"Yatsek," said she at last, "why have we so tormented each other?" + +"God has rewarded us a hundred fold," said he in answer. + +And for the third time there was silence between them; only the wagon +squeaked on, pushing forward slowly over the ruts of the roadway. +Beyond the forest they came out onto great fields bathed in sunlight; +on those fields wheat was rustling, dotted richly with red poppies and +blue star thistles. There was great calm in that region. Above fields +on which the grain had been reaped, here and there skylarks were +soaring, lost in song, motionless; on the edges of the fields sickles +glittered in the distance; from the remoter green pastures came the +cries and songs of men herding cattle. And to both it seemed that the +wheat was rustling because of them; that the poppies and star thistles +were blooming because of them; that, the larks were singing because of +them; that the calls of the herdsmen were uttered because of them; that +all the sunny peace of those fields and all those voices were simply +repeating their ecstasy and happiness. + +They were roused from this oblivion by Father Voynovski, who had pushed +up unnoticed to the wagon. + +"How art thou, Yatsus?" asked he. + +Yatsek trembled and looked with shining eyes at him, as if just roused +from slumber. + +"What is it, benefactor?" + +"How art thou?" + +"Eh! it will not be better in paradise!" + +The priest looked seriously first at him, then at the young lady. + +"Is that true?" asked he. + +And he galloped off to the company. But the delightful reality embraced +them anew. They began to look on each other, and sink in the eyes of +each other. + +"O, thou not-to-be-looked-at-sufficiently!" said Yatsek. + +But she lowered her eyes, smiled at the corners of her mouth till +dimples appeared in her rosy cheeks, and asked in a whisper,-- + +"But is not Panna Zbierhovski more beautiful?" + +Yatsek looked at her with amazement. + +"What, Panna Zbierhovski?" + +She made no answer; she simply laughed in her fist, with a laugh as +resonant as a silver bell. + +Meanwhile, when the priest had galloped to the company, the men, who +loved Yatsek, fell to inquiring,-- + +"Well, how is it there? How is our wounded man?" + +"He is no longer in this world!" replied Father Voynovski. + +"As God lives! What has happened? How is he not in the world?" + +"He is not, for he says that he is in paradise--a woman!!!" + +The Bukoyemskis, as men who understand without metaphor all that is +said to them, did not cease to look at the priest with astonishment +and, removing their caps, were just ready to say, "eternal rest," when +a general outbreak of laughter interrupted their pious thoughts and +intention. But in that laughter of the company there was sincere +good-will and sympathy for Yatsek. Some of the men had learned from Pan +Stanislav how sensitive that cavalier was, and all divined how he must +have suffered, hence the words of the priest delighted them greatly. +Voices were heard at once, therefore: "God knows! we have seen how he +fought with his feelings, how he answered questions at random, how he +left buckles unfastened, how he forgot himself when eating or drinking, +how he turned his eyes to the moon during night hours." + +"Those are infallible signs of unfortunate love," added some. "It is +true," put in others, "that he is now as if in paradise, for if no +wounds give more pain than those caused by Love, there is no sweeter +thing than mutuality." + +These and similar remarks were made by Yatsek's comrades. Some of them, +having learned of the hardships which the lady had passed through, and +how shamefully Krepetski had treated her, fell to shaking their sabres, +and crying; "Give him hither!" Some became sensitive over the maiden, +some, having learned how Martsian had been handled by the Bukoyemskis, +raised to the skies the native valor and wit of those brothers. But +after a while universal attention was centred again on the lovers: +"Well," cried out all, "let us shout to their health and good fortune +_et felices rerum successus!_" and immediately a noisy throng moved +toward the wagon on horseback. In one moment almost the whole regiment +had surrounded Pan Yatsek and Panna Anulka. Loud voices thundered: +"_Vivant! floreant!_" others cried before the time: "_Crescite et +multiplicamini!_" Whether Panna Anulka was really frightened by those +cries, or rather as an "insidious woman," she only feigned terror +father Voynovski himself could not have decided. It is enough that, +sheltering her bright head at the unwounded shoulder of Yatsek, she +asked with shamefaced confusion,-- + +"What is this, Yatsek? what are they doing?" + +He surrounded her with his sound arm, and said,-- + +"People are giving thee, dearest flower, and I am taking thee." + +"After the war?" + +"Before the war." + +"In God's name, why so hurried?" + +But it was evident that Yatsek had not heard this query for instead of +replying, he said to her,-- + +"Let us bow to the dear comrades for this good-will, and thank them." + +Hence they bowed toward both sides, which roused still greater +enthusiasm. Seeing the blushing face of the maiden, which was as +beautiful as the morning dawn, the warriors struck their thighs with +their palms from admiration. + +"By the dear God!" cried they. "One might be dazzled!" + +"An angel would be enamoured; what can a sinful man do?" + +"It is no wonder that he was withering with sorrow." + +And again hundreds of voices thundered more powerfully,-- + +"_Vivant! crescant! floreant!_" + +Amid those shouts, and in clouds of golden dust they entered +Shydlovets. At the first moment the inhabitants were frightened, and, +leaving in front of their houses the workshops in which they were +cutting out whetstones from sandrock, they ran to their chambers. But, +learning soon that those were the shouts of a betrothal, and not of +anger, they rushed in a crowd to the street and followed the soldiers. +A throng of horses and men was formed straightway. The kettledrums of +the horsemen were beaten, the trumpets and crooked horns sounded. +Gladness became universal. Even the Jews, who through fear had stayed +longer in the houses, shouted: "_Vivait!_"[7] though they knew not well +what the question was. + +But Tachevski said to Panna Anulka,-- + +"Before the war, before the war, even though death were to come one +hour later." + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI + + +"How is that?" inquired Father Voynovski, at the dinner which his +comrades gave Yatsek. "We are going in five or six days; thou mightst +die in the war; is it worth while to marry before a campaign, instead +of waiting for the happy end of it, and then marrying at your leisure?" + +His comrades, when they heard these prudent words, burst into laughter; +some of them held their sides, others cried in a chorus,--"Oh! it is +worth while, benefactor! and just for this reason that he may die is it +worth while all the more." + +The priest was a little angry, but when the three hundred best men, not +excepting Pan Stanislav insisted, and Yatsek would not hear of delay, +it had to be as he wanted. Renewed relations with the court, and the +favor of the king and queen facilitated the affair very greatly. The +queen declared that the coming Pani Tachevski would be under her +protection till the war ended, and the king himself promised to be at +the marriage, and to think of a fitting dowry when his mind was less +occupied. He remembered that many lands of the Sieninskis had passed to +the Sobieskis, and how his ancestors had grown strong from them, hence +he felt under obligations to the orphan, who, besides, had attracted +him by her beauty, and also roused his compassion by her harsh fate, +and the evils which she had suffered. + +Pan Matchynski, a friend from of old, to Father Voynovski, and also a +friend of the king, promised to remind him of the young lady, but after +the war; for at that time when on the shoulders of Yan III the fate of +all Europe was resting, and of all Christianity, it was not permitted +to trouble him with private interests. Father Voynovski was comforted +with this promise as much as if Yatsek had then received a good "crown +estate," for all knew that word from Pan Matchynski was as sure of +fulfilment as had been the words of Zavisha. To speak strictly, he was +the author of all the good which had met Panna Sieninski in Cracow; he +mentioned Father Voynovski to the king and queen; finally he won for +the young lady the queen, who, though capricious in her likings, and +fickle, began from the first moment to show her special favor and +friendship, which seemed even almost too sudden. + +A dispensation from banns was received easily through protection of the +court, and the favor of the bishop of Cracow. Even earlier, Pan Serafin +had obtained for the young couple handsome lodgings from a Cracow +merchant, whose ancestors and those of Pan Serafin had done business in +their day, when the latter were living in Lvoff, and importing brocades +from the Orient. That was a beautiful lodging, and, because of the +multitude of civil and military dignitaries in the city, so good a one +could not be obtained by many a voevoda. Stanislav had determined that +Yatsek should pass those few days before the campaign as it were in a +genuine heaven, and he ornamented those lodgings unusually with fresh +flowers and tapestry; other comrades helped him with zeal, each +lending, the best of what he had, rugs, tapestry, carpets, and such +like costly articles, which in wealthy hussar regiments were taken in +campaigns even. + +In one word, all showed the young couple the greatest good-will, and +helped them as each one was able and with what he commanded, except the +four Bukoyemskis. They, in the first days after coming to Cracow, went +sometimes twice in a day to Stanislav and to Yatsek, and to merchants +at the inns with whom officers from the regiment of Prince Alexander +drank not infrequently, but afterward the four brothers vanished as if +they had fallen into water. Father Voynovski thought that they were +drinking in the suburbs, where servants had seen them one evening, and +where mead and wine were cheaper than in the city, but immediately +after that all report of them vanished. This angered the priest as well +as the Tsyprianovitches, for the brothers were bound to Pan Serafin in +gratitude; this they should not have forgotten. "They may be good +soldiers," said the priest, "but they are giddy heads in whose +sedateness we cannot put confidence. Of course they have found some +wild company in which they pass time more pleasantly than with any of +us." + +This judgment proved inaccurate, however, for on the eve of Yatsek's +marriage, when his quarters were filled with acquaintances who had come +with good wishes and presents, the four brothers appeared in their very +best garments. Their faces were calm, serious, and full of +mysteriousness. + +"What has happened to you?" asked Pan Serafin. + +"We have been tracking a wild beast!" replied Lukash. + +"Quiet!" said Mateush, giving him a punch in the side, "Do not tell +till the time comes." + +Then he looked at the priest, at Pan Serafin and his son, and turning +finally to Yatsek, began to clear his throat, like a man who intends to +speak in some detail. + +"Well, begin right away!" urged his brothers. + +But he looked at them with staring eyes, and inquired,-- + +"How was it?" + +"How? Hast thou forgotten?" + +"It has broken in me." + +"Wait--I know," cried Yan. "It began: 'Our most worthy--' Go on!" + +"Our most worthy Pilate," began Mateush. + +"Why 'Pilate'?" interrupted the priest. "Perhaps it is Pylades?" + +"Benefactor thou hast hit the nail on the head," cried Yan. "As I live, +it is Pylades." + +"Our worthy Pylades!" began Mateush, now reassured, "though not the +iron Boristhenes, but the gold-bearing Tagus itself were to flow in our +native region, we, being exiled through attacks of barbarians, should +have nothing but our hearts glowing with friendship to offer thee, +neither could we honor this day as it merits by any thank-offering--" + +"Thou speakest as if cracking nuts," cried out Lukash excitedly. + +But Mateush kept on repeating: "As it merits,--as it merits--" He +stopped, looked at his brothers, calling with his eyes for rescue, but +they had forgotten entirely that which was to come later. + +The Bukoyemskis began now to frown, and the audience to titter. Seeing +this Pan Serafin resolved to assist them. + +"Who composed this speech for you?" asked he. + +"Pan Gromyka, of Pan Shumlanski's regiment," said Mateush. + +"There it is. A strange horse is more likely to balk and rear than your +own beast; so now embrace Yatsek and tell him what ye have to say." + +"Surely that is the best way." + +And they embraced Yatsek one after another. Then Mateush +continued,--"Yatsus! we know that thou art no Pilate, and thou knowest +that after losing Kieff regions we are poor fellows, in short we are +naked. Here is all that we can give, and accept with thankful heart +even this." + +Then they handed him some object wound up in a piece of red satin, and +at that moment the three younger brothers repeated, with feeling,-- + +"Accept it, Yatsus, accept! Accept!" + +"I accept, and God repay you," answered Yatsek. + +Thus speaking, he put the object on the table, and began to unroll the +satin. All at once he started back, and cried,-- + +"As God lives, it is the ear of a man!" + +"But dost thou know whose ear? Martsian Krepetski's!" thundered the +brothers. + +"Ah!" + +All present were so tremendously astonished that silence followed +immediately. + +"Tfu!" cried Father Voynovski, at last. + +And measuring the brothers, one after the other, with a stern glance, +he began at the eldest,-- + +"Are ye Turks to bring in the ears of beaten enemies? Ye are a shame to +this Christian army and all nobles. If Krepetski deserved death a +hundred times, if he were even a heretic, or out and out a pagan, it +would still be an inexpressible shame to commit such an action. Oh, ye +have delighted Yatsek, so that he spits from his mouth that which comes +into it. But I tell you that for such a deed ye are to expect not +gratitude but contempt, and shame also; for there is no regiment in all +the cavalry, or even a regiment in the infantry, which would accept +such barbarians as comrades." + +At this Mateush stepped out in front of his brothers, and, flaming with +rage, said,-- + +"Here is gratitude for you, here is reward, here is the justice of +people, and a judgment. If any layman were to utter this judgment I +should cut one ear from him, and also the other to go with it, but +since a clerical person speaks thus, let the Lord Jesus judge him, and +take the side of the innocent! Your Grace asks: 'Are ye Turks?' but I +ask: Do you think that we cut off the ear of a dead man? My born +brothers, ye innocent orphans, to what have ye come, that they make +Turks of you, enemies of the faith! To what?" + +Here his voice quivered, for his grief had exceeded his auger. The +three brothers, roused by the unjust judgment, began to cry out with +equal sorrow,-- + +"They make Turks of us!" + +"Enemies of the faith!" + +"Vile pagans!" + +"Then tell, in the name of misfortune, how it was," said the priest. + +"Lukash cut off Martsian's ear in a duel." + +"Whence did Krepetski come hither?" + +"He rode into Cracow. He was here five days. He rode in behind us." + +"Let one speak. Speak thou, but to the point." + +Here the priest turned to Yan, the youngest. + +"An acquaintance of ours from the regiment of the Bishop of Sandomir," +began Yan, "told us by chance, three days ago, that he had seen in a +wineshop on Kazamir street a certain wonder. 'A noble,' says he, 'as +thick as a tree stump, with a great head so thrust into his body that +his shoulders come up to his ears, on short crooked legs,' says he, +'and he drinks like a dragon. A viler monkey I have not seen in my +life,' says he. And we, since the Lord Jesus has given us this gift +from birth, take everything in at a twinkle, we look at one another +that instant: Well, is not that Krepetski? Then we said to the man, +'Take us to that wineshop.' 'I will take you.' And he took us. It was +dark, but we looked till we saw something black in one corner behind a +table. Lukash walked up to it, and made sparks fly before the very eyes +of him who was hiding there. 'Krepetski,' cries he, and grabs him by +the shoulder. We to our sabres. Krepetski sprang away, but saw that +there was no escape, for we were between him and the doorway. Did he +not jump then? He jumped up time after time as a cock does. 'What,' +says he, 'do ye think that I am afraid? Only come at me one by one, not +in a crowd, unless ye are murderers, not nobles.'" + +"The scoundrel!" interrupted the priest. + +"What did he try to do with us? That is what Lukash asked him. 'Oh!' +said Lukash, 'thou son of such a mother, thou didst hire a whole +regiment of cut-throats against us. It would be well,' said he, 'to +give thee to the headsman, but this is the shorter way!' Then he +presses on, and they fall to cutting. After the third or fourth blow, +his head leans to one side. I look--and there is an ear on the floor. +Mateush raises it immediately, and cries,--'Leave the other to us, do +not cut it. This,' said he 'will be for Yatsek, and the other for Panna +Anulka.' But Martsian dropped his sabre, for his blood had begun to +flow terribly, and he fainted. We poured water on his head, and wine +into his mouth, thinking that he would revive and meet the next one of +us; but that could not be. He recovered consciousness, it is true, and +said: 'Since ye have sought justice yourselves, ye are not free to seek +any other,' and he fainted again. We went away then, sorry not to have +the other ear. Lukash said that he could have killed the man, but he +spared him for us, and especially for Yatsek. And I do not know if any +one could act more politely, for it is no sin to crush such vermin as +Martsian, but it is clear that politeness does not pay now-a-days, +since we have to suffer for showing it." + +"True! He speaks justly!" said the other brothers. + +"Well," said the priest, "if the matter stands thus it is different, +but still the gift is unsavory." + +The brothers looked with amazement one at another. + +"Why say unsavory?" asked Marek. "You do not think we brought it for +Yatsek to eat, do you?" + +"I thank you from my soul for your good wishes," said Tachevski. "I +think that ye did not bring it to me to be stored away." + +"It has grown a little green--it might be smoke-dried." + +"Let a man bury it at once," said the priest with severity; "it is the +ear of a Christian in every case." + +"In Kieff we have seen better treatment," growled out Mateush. + +"Krepetski came hither undoubtedly," remarked Yatsek, "to make a new +attack on Anulka." + +"He will not take her away from the king's palace," said the prudent +Pan Serafin, "but he did not come for that, if I think correctly. His +attack failed, so I suppose he only wanted to learn whether we know +that he arranged it, and if we have complained of him. Perhaps old +Krepetski did not know of his son's undertaking; but perhaps he did +know; if he did, then both must be greatly alarmed, and I am not at all +surprised that Martsian came here to investigate." + +"Well," said Stanislav, laughing, "he has no luck with the Bukoyemskis, +indeed he has not." + +"Let him go," said Tachevski. "To-day I am ready to forgive him." + +The Bukoyemskis and Stanislav, who knew the stubbornness of the young +cavalier, looked at him with astonishment, and he, as if answering +them, added,-- + +"For Anulka will be mine immediately, and to-morrow I shall be a +Christian knight and defender of the faith, a man whose heart should be +free of all hate and personalities." + +"God bless thee for that!" cried the priest. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII + + +At last the long-wished-for day of his happiness came to Tachevski. In +Cracow a report had gone out among the citizens, and was repeated with +wonder, that in the army was a knight who would marry on one day and +mount his horse the day following. When the report went out also that +the king and queen would be at the marriage, crowds began from early +morning to assemble in the church and outside it. At length the crowd +was so great that the king's men had to bring order to the square so +that the marriage guests might have a free passage. Tachevski's +comrades assembled to a man; this they did out of good-will and +friendship, and also because it was dear to each one of them to be seen +in a company where the king himself would be present, and to belong, as +it were, to his private society. Many dignitaries appeared also, even +men who had never heard of Tachevski, for it was known that the queen +favored the marriage, and at the court much depended on her inclination +and favor. + +To some of the lords it was not less wonderful than to the citizens +that the king should find time to be at the marriage of a simple +officer, while on that king's shoulders the fate of the whole world was +then resting, and day after day couriers from foreign lands were flying +in on foaming horses; hence some considered this as coming from the +kindness of the monarch and his wish to win the army, while others made +suppositions that there existed some near bond of kinship, difficult to +be acknowledged; others ridiculed these suppositions, stating justly +that in such a case the queen, who had so little condescension for the +failings of cavaliers that the king more than once had been forced to +make explanations, would not have been so anxious for the union of the +lovers. + +People remembered little of the Sieninskis, so to avoid every calumny +and gossip the king declared that the Sobieskis owed much to that +family. Then people of society were concerned with Panna Anulka, and, +as is usual at courts, at one time they pitied, at another time they +were moved by her sufferings, and next they lauded her virtue and +comeliness. Reports of her beauty spread widely even among citizens, +but when at last they saw her no one was disappointed. + +She came to the church with the queen, hence all glances went first to +that lofty lady whose charms were still brilliant, like the bright sun +before evening; but when they were turned to the bride, all men among +dignitaries, the military, the nobles, and citizens whispered, and even +loud voices were heard. + +"Wonderful, wonderful! That man owes much to his eyes, who has beheld +once in life such a woman." + +And this was true. Not always in those times was a maiden dressed in +white for her marriage, but the young ladies and the assistants arrayed +Anulka in white, for such was her wish, and that was the color of her +finest robe also. So in white, with a green wreath on her golden hair, +and with a face confused a trifle, and pale, with downcast eyes, she, +silent, and slender, looked like a snowy swan, or simply like a white +lily. Even Yatsek himself, to whom she seemed in some sort a new +person, was astonished at sight of her. "In God's name!" said he to +himself, "how can I approach her? She is a genuine queen, or entirely +an angel with whom it is sinful to speak unless kneeling." And he was +almost awestruck. But when at last he and she knelt side by side before +the altar, and heard the voice of Father Voynovski full of emotion, as +he began with the words: "I knew you both as little children," and +joined their hands with his stole, when he heard his own low voice: "I +take thee as wife," and the hymn, _Veni Creator_ burst forth a moment +later, it seemed to Yatsek that happiness would burst his bosom, and +that all the easier since he was not wearing his armor. He had loved +this woman from childhood, and he knew that he loved her, but now, for +the first time, he understood how he loved her without measure or +limit. And again he began to say to himself: I must die, for if a man +during life were to have so much happiness, what more could there be +for him in heaven? But he thought that before he died he must thank +God; and all at once there flew before the eyes of his soul Turkish +warriors in legions, beards, turbans, sashes, crooked sabres, horsetail +standards. So from his heart was rent the shout to God: "I will thank +to the full, to the full!" And he felt, that for those enemies of the +cross and the faith, he would become a destroying lion. That vision +lasted only one twinkle, then his breast was filled with a boundless +wave of love and rapture. + +Meanwhile the ceremony was ended, the retinue moved to the dwelling +prepared for the young couple by Stanislav, and ornamented by his +comrades in the regiment. For one moment only could Yatsek press to his +heart the young Pani Tachevski, for straightway both ran to meet the +king and queen, who had come from the church to them. Two high +armchairs had been fixed for the royal pair at the table, so, after the +blessing, during which the young people knelt before majesty, Yatsek +begged the gracious lord and lady to the wedding feast, but the king +had to give a refusal. + +"Dear comrade," said he, "I should be glad to talk with thee, and still +more with thee, my relative," here he turned to Pani Tachevski, "and +discuss the coming dowry. I will remain a moment and drink a health to +you, but I may not sit down, for I have so much on my head, that every +hour now is precious." + +"We believe that!" cried a number of voices. + +Tachevski seized the feet of the king, who took a filled goblet from +the table. + +"Gracious gentlemen!" said he, "the health of the young couple!" + +A shout was heard: "_Vivant! crescant, floreant!_" Then the king again +spoke,-- + +"Enjoy your happiness quickly," said he to Tachevski, "for it deserves +that, and it will not be long. Thou shouldst remain here a few days, +but then thou must follow on quickly for we shall not wait for thee." + +"It is easier for her to hold out without thee, than Vienna without +us," said Pan Marek Matchynski, smiling at Yatsek. + +"But Lyubomirski is shelling out the Turks there," said one of the +hussars. + +"I have good news from our men," said the king. "This I have commanded +Matchynski to bring, to be read to you, and gladden the hearts of our +warriors. It is what the Duke of Lorraine, commander-in-chief for the +emperor, writes me of the battle near Presburg." + +And he read somewhat slowly, for he read to the nobles in Polish, and +the letter was in the French language. + +"'The emperor's cavalry advanced with effect and enthusiasm, but the +action was ended by the Poles who left no work to the Germans. I cannot +find words sufficient to praise the strength, valor, and bearing of the +officers and soldiers led by Pan Lyubomirski.[8] + +"'The battle,' writes the Duke of Lorraine, 'was a great one, and our +glory not small.'" + +"We will show that we are not worse," cried the warriors. + +"I believe and am confident, but we must hasten, for later letters +portend evil. Vienna is barely able to breathe, and all Christianity +has its eyes on us. Shall we be there in season?" + +"Few regiments have remained here, the main forces are at the Tarnovski +Heights waiting, as I have heard, under the hetmans," said Father +Voynovski, "but though our hands are needed at Vienna, they are not +needed so much as a leader like your Royal Grace." + +Sobieski smiled at this and answered,-- + +"That, word for word, is what the Duke of Lorraine writes. So, +gentlemen, keep the bridles in hand, for any hour I may order the +sounding of trumpets." + +"When, gracious lord?" called a number of voices. + +The king grew impressive in a moment. + +"I will send off to-morrow those regiments which are still with me," +then he glanced quickly at Tachevski, as if testing him. "Since her +grace the queen will go to the Heights with us to see the review there, +thou, unless thou ask of us an entirely new office, may remain here, if +thou engage to overtake us exactly." + +Yatsek, putting his arm around his wife, pushed one step toward the +king with her. + +"Gracious lord," said he, "if the German empire, or even the kingdom of +France were offered me in exchange for this lady, God, who sees my +whole heart, knows that I would not accept either, and that I would not +give her for any treasure in existence. But God forbid that I should +abandon my service, or lose an opportunity, or neglect a war for +religion, or desert my own leader for the sake of private happiness. If +I did I should despise myself, and she, for I know her, would also +despise me. O gracious lord, if ill luck or misfortune were to bar the +road and I could not join thee I should burn up from shame and from +anguish." Here tears dimmed his eyes, blushes came to his cheeks, and, +in a voice trembling from emotion, he added: "To-day I blasphemed +before the altar, for I said: 'O God, I will thank to the full, to the +full for this.'--But only with my life, with my blood, with my labor +could I return thanks for the happiness which has met me. For this very +reason I shall ask no new office, and when thou shalt move, gracious +leader and king, I will not delay even one day behind thee. I will go +at the same hour, though I were to fall on the morrow." And he knelt at +the feet of Sobieski, who, bending forward, embraced his head and then +answered,-- + +"Give me more of such men, and the Polish name will go through the +world thundering." + +Father Voynovski had tears in his eyes, the Bukoyemskis were weeping +like beavers. Emotion and enthusiasm seized every man present. + +"On the pagans, for the faith!" roared many voices. And then began +rattling of sabres. But when it had grown somewhat quiet Pani Tachevski +bent to the ear of her husband and, with pale lips, whispered into +it,-- + +"O Yatsek, wonder not at my tears, for if thou go I may never see thee +hereafter--but go!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + +Still they remained two days together. The court, it is true, set out +the day following, but the queen, with all her court ladies, and a +multitude of lay and church dignitaries, followed the king to Tarnovski +Heights where the camp was and where a great review had been ordered. +The retinue being numerous moved slowly and hence to overtake it was +easy. The subsequent advance of the forces, with the king at the head +of them, from the boundary to Vienna astonished the world by its +swiftness, especially since the king hastened on and arrived before the +main army, but to Tarnovski Heights the queen dragged on six days, with +her retinue. In two days the Tachevskis came up with the escort. Pani +Tachevski took her seat then in a court carriage, and Yatsek hurried on +to the camp for the night, to join there his regiment. For the royal +pair the time of separation was approaching. On August 22 the king took +solemn farewell of his beloved "Marysienka." In the early morning he +mounted and marshalled before her the army; next he moved at the head +of it to Glivitsi. + +People noted that although he always took farewell of the queen with +great sorrow, since he loved her as the apple of his eye, and was +pained by even a short absence, his face this time was radiant. So the +church and lay dignitaries took courage. They knew how tremendous was a +war with that enemy, who besides had never advanced with such forces. +"The Turks have moved three parts of the world, it is true," said they +to themselves, "but if our lord, their greatest crusher and destroyer, +goes with such delight to this struggle, we have no cause for anxiety +touching it." And hope filled their bosoms, the sight of the warriors +increased it still more, and changed it to perfect confidence in +victory. The army, with all the camp followers seemed very +considerable. As far as the eye reached the sun shone on helmets, on +armor, on sabres, on barrels of muskets and cannon. The glitter was so +bright that eyes were dazzled by the excess of it. Rainbow-hued ensigns +and banners played in the blue air, above the army. The rolling of +drums throughout the foot regiments was mingled with responses from +trumpets, crooked horns, and kettledrums, and also the hellish noise of +a Janissary orchestra, and the neighing of horses. + +At first the train moved toward one side, to afford a free way to all +movements of the army, and only then the review began really. The royal +carriage halted on a plain not too high, a little to the right of the +road by which the regiments were to pass while advancing. In the first +carriage sat the queen wearing plumes, laces, and velvets glittering +with jewels. She was beautiful and imposing, with the full majesty in +her face of a woman who possesses all in life that the most daring +designs can imagine, for she had a crown, and the unspeakable love of +the most glorious of contemporary monarchs. She, in common with those +dignitaries in the suite of the king, felt most certain that when her +husband was on horseback for action, he would be followed, as he had +been followed at all times, by destruction and triumph. And she felt +that at the moment the eyes of all the world from Tsargrad to Rome, +Madrid, and Paris, were turned on him that all Christianity was +stretching out hands to him, and that only in those iron arms of his +warriors did people see rescue. Hence her heart rose with the pride of +a woman. "Our might is increasing, and glory will raise us above all +other kings," said she in spirit; and therefore, though her husband was +leading barely twenty and some thousands of men against countless hosts +of Osmanli, her breast was filled with delight and no cloud of alarm or +distrust darkened then her white forehead. "Look at the victor, look at +your father, the king," said she to her children, who, as little birds +fill a nest, filled the carriage--"when he returns, the world will +kneel to him in thanksgiving." + +In other carriages were visible the charming features of youthful court +ladies, the mitres of bishops, and the dignified, stern faces of +senators, who remained at home to manage the government in place of His +Majesty. The king himself was with the army, but all could see him very +clearly on the height at some distance, among hetmans and generals, +where he produced the impression of a giant on horseback. The army was +to pass a little lower, before his feet, as it seemed to spectators. + +First there moved forward, with a deep, rolling sound and the biting of +chain-links, Pan Kantski's artillery; after it went foot regiments with +a musket on the shoulder of each man, under officers with sabres on +straps, and carrying long canes with which they kept all ranks in +order. Those regiments marched four abreast and seemed moving +fortresses, their step preserved time and was thundering. Each regiment +when passing the carriage of Her Majesty gave a loud shout to salute +her, and lowered its ensign in homage. Among them were some with a +costlier outfit than others, and showing a form beyond common in +dignity, but the most showy regiment of all was made up of Kashubians +in blue coats and yellow belts for ammunition. These Kashubians, large +and strong fellows, were so carefully chosen that each seemed a brother +to the next man; the heavy muskets moved in the mighty hands of those +warriors as would walking-sticks. At the sound of the fife they halted +before the king as one person, and presented arms with such accuracy +that he smiled with delight, and the dignitaries said to one another: +"Eh! To strike upon these men will not be healthy for even the Sultan's +own body-guard. Those are real lions, not people!" + +But immediately after them moved squadrons of light-horse. One might +have thought them real centaurs to such a degree had each man and horse +become one single entity. These were undegenerate sons of those +horsemen who in their day had trampled all Germany, cleaving apart with +their sabres and with horse hoofs whole regiments, nay, entire armies +of Luther's adherents. The heaviest foreign cavalry, if only equal in +number could not oppose them, and the lightest could not escape from +them by fleeing. The king himself had said of those men when at Hotsim: +"If they are led to the enemy they will cut down all in front of them, +as a mower cuts grass at his labor." And though at this moment they +advanced past the carriages slowly, each person, even one quite +unknowing in warfare, divined very quickly that at the right moment +nothing save a hurricane could surpass them in swiftness, power to +whirl, strike down, and overthrow. Crooked trumpets and drums went on +thundering in front of them, while they marched forward, squadron after +squadron, with drawn sabres which seemed flaming swords in the +quivering sunlight. When they had passed the court carriages they +advanced like a wave starting suddenly, going first at a trot which +turned soon to a gallop, and, when they had outlined a great giant +circle, they passed again, and this time they rushed like a tempest and +near the queen's carriage; but while they were doing this they shouted, +"Slay! Kill!" and in extended right hands held their sabres pointed +forward as if in attacking, on horses whose nostrils were distended to +the utmost, with waving manes, as if wild from the impetus of their +onrush. And they passed thus a second time, and then at the third turn +they, without breaking ranks, stood still on a sudden. They did this so +accurately, so evenly, and with such agreement that foreigners, of whom +at that court there were many, and especially those who saw then for +the first time Polish cavalry in action, gazed at one another with +amazement, as if each man were questioning his own eyesight. + +When they had vanished the field glittered with dragoons everywhere and +bloomed like a blossom. Some of those regiments had appeared under Pan +Yablonovski, some had been assembled by magnates, and one by the king, +from his own private fortune; this was commanded by Pan de Maligny, Her +Majesty's brother. + +In the dragoons served common folk for the greater part, but men +trained to riding from childhood, experienced in fighting of various +sorts, stubborn under fire, less terrible at close quarters than +nobles, but disciplined and most enduring of military labor. + +But the greatest delight for the eyes and the spirit began only when +the hussars started forward. They moved on in calmness as was proper +for regiments of such value; their lances pointing upward seemed a +forest, and at the points, moved by the light breeze, was a rainbow +cloud of streamers. Their horses were heavier than those in other +squadrons; their steel armor was inlaid with gold; on their shoulders +were wings, in which the feathers, even when moving slowly, made that +sound heard in forests among branches. The great dignity, and, as it +were, the pride which issued forth from them, made so deep an +impression that the queen and court ladies, the senators, and above +all, foreign visitors, rose in their carriages to see them more +accurately. There was something tremendous in that march, for it came +to the mind of each man unwittingly, that when an avalanche of iron +like that should rush forward it would crush, grind, and drive apart +all things in front of it, and that there was no human strength which +could stop it. And this was undoubted. Not so distant at that time was +the day when three thousand such horsemen had rubbed into dust Swedish +legions five times their own number; still less remote was that other +day when one squadron of the same kind had passed, like a spirit of +destruction, through the whole army of Karl Gustav; and quite recent +was the day when at Hotsim those same hussars under that same king +there present had trampled in the earth Turkish guards formed of +Janissaries, as easily as standing wheat in the open. Many of the men +who had shared in that shattering of the enemy at Hotsim were serving +then under the banners of that day, and these warriors, proud, calm, +and confident, were starting now toward the walls of a foreign capital +to reap a new harvest. + +Terror and strength seemed the soul of that body. An afternoon breeze +rose behind them on a sudden, whistled in their streamers, blew forward +the waving manes of their horses, and made so mighty a sound in the +wings at the shoulders of each mounted warrior, that the horses from +Spain which drew the court carriages rose on their haunches. The +squadrons approached to a line twenty yards from the carriages, turned +to one side and marched past in squadrons. Then it was that Pani +Tachevski saw her husband for the last time before the expedition. He +rode in the second rank at the edge of the squadron, all in iron and +winged armor, the ear pieces of his helmet hid his cheeks altogether. +His large golden bay Turkish stallion bore him on easily despite the +weighty armor, throwing his head upward, rattling his bit, and +snorting loudly, as if in good omen for the rider. Yatsek turned his +iron-covered head toward his wife, and moved his lips as if whispering, +but though no distinct word reached her ears she divined that he was +giving her the last "Fare thee well!" and such an impulse of yearning +and love seized her heart that if she could have, at the cost of her +life, changed at that moment to a swallow she would have perched on his +shoulder, or on the flag of his lance point, and gone with him; she +would not have stopped for one twinkle to calculate. + +"Fare thee well, Yatsek! God guard thee!" cried she, stretching her +hands to him. And her eyes were tear-bedewed while he rode past in +solemnity, gleaming in the sunlight, and, as it were, rendered sacred +by the service imposed on him. + + * * * * * + +Behind this the regiment of Prince Alexander came up and marched past +still others, equally terrible and equally brilliant Then other +regiments described a great circle and halted on the plain almost in +the places from which they had started in the time of reviewing, but +now in marching order. + + * * * * * + +From the carriages on the height the eye could embrace all the +regiments very nearly. Far away and near by were seen crimson uniforms, +glittering armor, the flashing of swords, the upturned forest of +lances, the broad cloud of streamers, and above them great banners like +giant blossoms. From the regiments standing nearer, the breeze brought +the odor of horse sweat, and the shouts of commanders, the shrill note +of fifes, and the deep sound of kettledrums. But in those shouts, in +those sounds, in that delight and that eagerness for battle, there was +something triumphant. A perfect confidence in the victory of the cross +above the crescent,--that confidence was flowing through every heart in +those legions. + + * * * * * + +The king remained yet for a moment at the carriage of Her Majesty, but +when a blessing had been given him with a cross and with relics by the +bishop of Cracow, he rushed at a gallop to the army. The air was rent +suddenly by the keen sound of trumpets, while masses of foot and of +cavalry stirred, began slowly to lengthen, and finally those masses +moved, all of them, westward. In advance were the banners of the light +horse, behind them hussars; the dragoons closed the movement. + + * * * * * + +The prince bishop of Cracow raised with both hands the cross, holding +relics as high above his head as was possible: + +"O God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, have mercy on Thy people!" + + * * * * * + +Just then more than twenty thousand breasts raised the anthem which Pan +Kohovski had composed for that moment: + + + "For Thee, O pure Lady, + O Mother Immaculate, + We go to defend Christ, + Our Lord. + + "For thee, O dear country, + For you, O white eagles, + We will crush every enemy. + ON THE FIELD OF GLORY." + + + + FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: Kromer.] + +[Footnote 2: His pets.] + +[Footnote 3: On Saint Stephen's day people used to cast various kinds +of grain at the priest at the altar in memory of the stoning of that +saint.] + +[Footnote 4: The Elector just mentioned, _i. e_., the Elector of +Brandenburg.] + +[Footnote 4: The Elector just mentioned, _i. e_., the Elector of +Brandenburg.] + +[Footnote 5: Among the Poles and Slavs generally death is represented +as a woman.] + +[Footnote 6: This man is mentioned on page 224.] + +[Footnote 7: Jewish pronunciation of _vivant_.] + +[Footnote 8: Carolus Dux Lotharingiae Joanni III, Poloniae Regi, etc. +Julius 31, 1683.] + + + + + + _THE ZAGLOBA ROMANCES_ + _by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from_ + _the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin_. + + WITH FIRE AND SWORD + +An Historical Novel of Poland and Russia. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. +$1.50. + +The first of the famous trilogy of historical romances of Poland, +Russia, and Sweden. Their publication has been received as an event in +literature. Charles Dudley Warner, in _Harper's Magazine_, affirms that +the Polish author has in Zagloba _given a new creation to literature_. + +_A capital story_. The only modern romance with which it can be +compared for fire, sprightliness, rapidity of action, swift changes, +and absorbing interest is "The Three Musketeers" of Dumas.--_New York +Tribune_. + + + THE DELUGE + +An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. A Sequel to "With +Fire and Sword." With map. 2 vols. Crown 8vo. $3.00. + +Marvellous in its grand descriptions.--_Chicago Inter-Ocean_. + +Has the humor of a Cervantes and the grim vigor of Defoe.--_Boston +Gazette_. + + + PAN MICHAEL + +An Historical Novel of Poland, Russia, and the Ukraine. A Sequel to +"With Fire and Sword" and "The Deluge." Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +The interest of the trilogy, both historical and romantic, is +splendidly sustained.--_The Dial_, Chicago. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + QUO VADIS + +A Narrative of the Time of Nero. By Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from +the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Illustrated. Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +One of the greatest books of our day.--_The Bookman_. + +The book is like a grand historical pageant.--_Literary World_. + +Of intense interest to the whole Christian civilization.--_Chicago +Tribune_. + +Interest never wanes; and the story is carried through its many phases +of conflict and terror to a climax that enthralls.--_Chicago Record_. + +As a study of the introduction of the gospel of love into the pagan +world typified by Rome, it is marvellously fine.--_Chicago Interior_. + +The picture here given of life in Rome under the last of the Caesars is +one of unparalleled power and vividness.--_Boston Home Journal_. + +One of the most remarkable books of the decade. It burns upon the brain +the struggles and triumphs of the early church.--_Boston Daily +Advertiser_. + +It will become recognized by virtue of its own merits as the one heroic +monument built by the modern novelist above the ruins of decadent Rome, +and in honor of the blessed martyrs of the early Church.--_Brooklyn +Eagle_. + +Our debt to Sienkiewicz is not less than our debt to his translator +and friend, Jeremiah Curtin. The diversity of the language, the rapid +flow of thought, the picturesque imagery of the descriptions are all +his.--_Boston Transcript_. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS + +An Historical Romance of Poland and Germany. By Henryk Sienkiewicz. +Translated from the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin. Illustrated. 2 vols. +Crown 8vo. 2.00. + +The greatest work Sienkiewicz has given us.--_Buffalo Express_. + +It seems superior even to "Quo Vadis" in strength and realism.--_The +Churchman_. + +The construction of the story is beyond praise. It is difficult +to conceive of any one who will not pick the book up with +eagerness.--_Chicago Evening Post_. + +There are some scenes in the book that for power and excitement +remind one of the great encounter between Ursus and the bull in "Quo +Vadis."--_Minneapolis Tribune_. + +Vivid, dramatic, and vigorous.... His imaginative power, his command of +language, and the picturesque scenes he sets combine to fascinate the +reader.--_Philadelphia Bulletin_. + +A book that holds your almost breathless attention as in a vise from +the very beginning, for in it love and strife, the most thrilling of +all worldly subjects, are described masterfully.--_The Boston Journal_. + +Another remarkable book. His descriptions are tremendously effective; +one can almost hear the sound of the carnage; to the mind's eye the +scene of battle is unfolded by a master artist.--_The Hartford +Courant_. + +Thrillingly dramatic, full of strange local color and very faithful to +its period, besides having that sense of the mysterious and weird that +throbs in the Polish blood and infects alike their music and +literature.--_The St. Paul Globe_. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + _OTHER NOVELS AND ROMANCES_ + _by Henryk Sienkiewicz. Translated from_ + _the Polish by Jeremiah Curtin_. + + + CHILDREN OF THE SOIL + +Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +It must be reckoned among the finer fictions of our time, and shows its +author to be almost as great a master in the field of the domestic +novel as he had previously been shown to be in that of imaginative +historical romances.--_The Dial_, Chicago. + + + HANIA, AND OTHER STORIES + +With portrait. Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +At the highest level of the author's genius.--_The Outlook_. + + + SIELANKA, A FOREST PICTURE + +And Other Stories. With frontispiece. Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +They exhibit the masterly genius of Sienkiewicz even better than his +longer romances. They abound in fine character-drawings and beautiful +descriptions.--_Chicago Inter-Ocean_. + + + LIFE AND DEATH AND OTHER + LEGENDS AND STORIES + +Illustrated. 16mo. Decorated cloth, $1.00. + + + WITHOUT DOGMA + +A Novel of Modern Poland. (Translated from the Polish by Iza Young.) +Crown 8vo. $1.50. + +A human document read in the light of a great imagination.--_Boston +Beacon_. + + + * * * * * + + LITTLE, BROWN, & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS + BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's On the Field of Glory, by Henryk Sienkiewicz + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON THE FIELD OF GLORY *** + +***** This file should be named 37406.txt or 37406.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/0/37406/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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