Olenka grew somewhat pale, and dropped on the bench heavily. Kmita thought that she would faint; but grief acted more quickly than the sudden announcement, and she began to weep. Both knights accompanied her immediately.
"Olenka," said Kmita, at last, wishing to turn his wife"s thoughts in another direction, "do you not think that she is in heaven?"
"Not for her do I weep, but over the loss of her, and over the loneliness of Pan Michael. As to her eternal happiness, I should wish to have such hope for my own salvation as I have for hers. There was not a worthier maiden, or one of better heart, or more honest. O my Anulka![4] my Anulka, beloved!"
"I saw her death," said Kharlamp; "may G.o.d grant us all to die with such piety!"
Here silence followed, as if some of their sorrow had gone with their tears; then Kmita said, "Tell us how it was, and take some mead to support you."
"Thank you," said Kharlamp; "I will drink from time to time if you will drink with me; for pain seizes not only the heart, but the throat, like a wolf, and when it seizes a man it might choke him unless he received some a.s.sistance. I was going from Chenstohova to my native place to settle there quietly in my old age. I have had war enough; as a stripling I began to practise, and now my mustache is gray. If I cannot stay at home altogether, I will go out under some banner; but these military confederations to the loss of the country and the profit of the enemy, and these civil wars, have disgusted me thoroughly with arms. Dear G.o.d! the pelican nourishes its children with its blood, it is true; but this country has no longer even blood in its breast.
Sviderski[5] was a great soldier. May G.o.d judge him!"
"My dearest Anulka!" interrupted Pani Kmita, with weeping, "without thee what would have happened to me and to all of us? Thou wert a refuge and a defence to me! O my beloved Anulka!"
Hearing this, Kharlamp sobbed anew, but briefly, for Kmita interrupted him with a question, "But where did you meet Pan Michael?"
"In Chenstohova, where he and she intended to rest, for they were visiting the shrine there after the journey. He told me at once how he was going from your place to Cracow, to Princess Griselda, without whose permission and blessing a.n.u.sia was unwilling to marry. The maiden was in good health at that time, and Pan Michael was as joyful as a bird. "See," said he, "the Lord G.o.d has given me a reward for my labor!" He boasted also not a little,--G.o.d comfort him!--and joked with me because I, as you know, quarrelled with him on a time concerning the lady, and we were to fight a duel. Where is she now, poor woman?"
Here Kharlamp broke out again, but briefly, for Kmita stopped him a second time: "You say that she was well? How came the attack, then, so suddenly?"
"That it was sudden, is true. She was lodging with Pani Martsin Zamoyski, who, with her husband, was spending some time in Chenstohova.
Pan Michael used to sit all the day with her; he complained of delay somewhat, and said they might be a whole year on the journey to Cracow, for every one on the way would detain him. And this is no wonder! Every man is glad to entertain such a soldier as Pan Michael, and whoever could catch him would keep him. He took me to the lady too, and threatened smilingly that he would cut me to pieces if I made love to her; but he was the whole world to her. At times, too, my heart sank, for my own sake, because a man in old age is like a nail in a wall.
Never mind! But one night Pan Michael rushed in to me in dreadful distress: "In G.o.d"s name, can you find a doctor?" "What has happened?"
"The sick woman knows no one!" "When did she fall ill?" asked I. "Pani Zamoyski has just given me word," replied he. "It is night now. Where can I look for a doctor, when there is nothing here but a cloister, and in the town more ruins than people?" I found a surgeon at last, and he was even unwilling to go; I had to drive him with weapons. But a priest was more needed then than a surgeon; we found at her bedside, in fact, a worthy Paulist, who, through prayer, had restored her to consciousness. She was able to receive the sacrament, and take an affecting farewell of Pan Michael. At noon of the following day it was all over with her. The surgeon said that some one must have given her something, though that is impossible, for witchcraft has no power in Chenstohova. But what happened to Pan Michael, what he said,--my hope is that the Lord Jesus will not account this to him, for a man does not reckon with words when pain is tearing him. You see," Pan Kharlamp lowered his voice, "he blasphemed in his forgetfulness."
"For G.o.d"s sake, did he blaspheme?" inquired Kmita, in a whisper.
"He rushed out from her corpse to the ante-chamber, from the ante-chamber to the yard, and reeled about like a drunken man. He raised his hands then, and began to cry with a dreadful voice: "Such is the reward for my wounds, for my toils, for my blood, for my love of country! I had one lamb," said he, "and that one, O Lord, Thou didst take from me. To hurl down an armed man," said he, "who walks the earth in pride, is a deed for G.o.d"s hand; but a cat, a hawk, or a kite can kill a harmless dove, and--""
"By the wounds of G.o.d!" exclaimed Pani Kmita, "say no more, or you will draw misfortune on this house."
Kharlamp made the sign of the cross and continued, "The poor soldier thought that he had done service, and still this was his reward. Ah, G.o.d knows better what He does, though that is not to be understood by man"s reason, nor measured by human justice. Straightway after this blasphemy he grew rigid and fell on the ground; and the priest read an exorcism over him, so that foul spirits should not enter him, as they might, enticed by his blasphemy."
"Did he come to himself quickly?"
"He lay as if dead about an hour; then he recovered and went to his room; he would see no one. At the time of the burial I said to him, "Pan Michael, have G.o.d in your heart." He made me no answer. I stayed three days more in Chenstohova, for I was loath to leave him; but I knocked in vain at his door. He did not want me. I struggled with my thoughts: what was I to do,--try longer at the door, or go away? How was I to leave a man without comfort? But finding that I could do nothing, I resolved to go to Pan Yan Skshetuski. He is his best friend, and Pan Zagloba is his friend also; maybe they will touch his heart somehow, and especially Pan Zagloba, who is quick-witted, and knows how to talk over any man."
"Did you go to Pan Yan?"
"I did, but G.o.d gave no luck, for he and Zagloba had gone to Kalish to Pan Stanislav. No one could tell when they would return. Then I thought to myself, "As my road is toward Jmud, I will go to Pan Kmita and tell what has happened.""
"I knew from of old that you were a worthy cavalier," said Kmita.
"It is not a question of me in this case, but of Pan Michael," said Kharlamp; "and I confess that I fear for him greatly lest his mind be disturbed."
"G.o.d preserve him from that!" said Pani Kmita.
"If G.o.d preserves him, he will certainly take the habit, for I tell you that such sorrow I have never seen in my life. And it is a pity to lose such a soldier as he,--it is a pity!"
"How a pity? The glory of G.o.d will increase thereby," said Pani Kmita.
Kharlamp"s mustache began to quiver, and he rubbed his forehead.
"Well, gracious benefactress, either it will increase or it will not increase. Consider how many Pagans and heretics he has destroyed in his life, by which he has surely delighted our Saviour and His Mother more than any one priest could with sermons. H"m! it is a thing worthy of thought! Let every one serve the glory of G.o.d as he knows best. Among the Jesuits legions of men may be found wiser than Pan Michael, but another such sabre as his there is not in the Commonwealth."
"True, as G.o.d is dear to me!" cried Kmita. "Do you know whether he stayed in Chenstohova?"
"He was there when I left; what he did later, I know not. I know only this: G.o.d preserve him from losing his mind, G.o.d preserve him from sickness, which frequently comes with despair,--he will be alone, without aid, without a relative, without a friend, without consolation."
"May the Most Holy Lady in that place of miracles save thee, faithful friend, who hast done so much for me that a brother could not have done more!"
Pani Kmita fell into deep thought, and silence continued long; at last she raised her bright head, and said, "Yendrek, do you remember how much we owe him?"
"If I forget, I will borrow eyes from a dog, for I shall not dare to look an honest man in the face with my own eyes."
"Yendrek, you cannot leave him in that state."
"How can I help him?"
"Go to him."
"There speaks a woman"s honest heart; there is a n.o.ble woman," cried Kharlamp, seizing her hands and covering them with kisses.
But the advice was not to Kmita"s taste; hence he began to twist his head, and said, "I would go to the ends of the earth for him, but--you yourself know--if you were well--I do not say--but you know. G.o.d preserve you from any accident! I should wither away from anxiety-- A wife is above the best friend. I am sorry for Pan Michael but--you yourself know--"
"I will remain under the protection of the Lauda fathers. It is peaceful here now, and I shall not be afraid of any small thing.
Without G.o.d"s will a hair will not fall from my head; and Pan Michael needs rescue, perhaps."
"Oi, he needs it!" put in Kharlamp.
"Yendrek, I am in good health. Harm will come to me from no one; I know that you are unwilling to go--"
"I would rather go against cannon with an oven-stick!" interrupted Kmita.
"If you stay, do you think it will not be bitter for you here when you think, "I have abandoned my friend"? and besides, the Lord G.o.d may easily take away His blessing in His just wrath."
"You beat a knot into my head. You say that He may take away His blessing? I fear that."
"It is a sacred duty to save such a friend as Pan Michael."
"I love Michael with my whole heart. The case is a hard one! If there is need, there is urgent need, for every hour in this matter is important. I will go at once to the stables. By the living G.o.d, is there no other way out of it? The Evil One inspired Pan Yan and Zagloba to go to Kalish. It is not a question with me of myself, but of you, dearest. I would rather lose all I have than be without you one day.
Should any one say that I go from you not on public service, I would plant my sword-hilt in his mouth to the cross. Duty, you say? Let it be so. He is a fool who hesitates. If this were for any one else but Michael, I never should do it."
Here Pan Andrei turned to Kharlamp. "Gracious sir, I beg you to come to the stable; we will choose horses. And you, Olenka, see that my trunk is ready. Let some of the Lauda men look to the threshing. Pan Kharlamp, you must stay with us even a fortnight; you will take care of my wife for me. Some land may be found for you here in the neighborhood. Take Lyubich! Come to the stable. I will start in an hour. If "tis needful, "tis needful!"