Then the two men hastened to the stables, followed by Basia; and in the s.p.a.ce of a few "Our Fathers," the two sleighs were driven up before the house. Pan Michael and Krysia took their places in one. Pan Adam and the little haiduk in the other, and moved on without drivers.
When they had gone, Pani Makovetski turned to Zagloba and said, "Pan Adam has proposed for Basia."
"How is that?" asked Zagloba, alarmed.
"His G.o.dmother, the wife of the chamberlain of Lvoff, is to come here to-morrow to talk with me; Pan Adam himself has begged of me permission to talk with Basia, even hintingly, for he understands himself that if Basia is not his friend, the trouble and pains will be useless."
"It was for this that you, my benefactress, sent them sleigh-riding?"
"For this. My husband is very scrupulous. More than once he has said to me, "I will guard their property, but let each choose a husband for herself; if he is honorable, I will not oppose, even in case of inequality of property." Moreover, they are of mature years and can give advice to themselves."
"But what answer do you think of giving Pan Adam"s G.o.dmother?"
"My husband will come in May. I will turn the affair over to him; but I think this way,--as Basia wishes, so will it be."
"Pan Adam is a stripling!"
"But Michael himself says that he is a famous soldier, noted already for deeds of valor. He has a respectable property, and his G.o.dmother has recounted to me all his relations. You see, it is this way: his great-grandfather was born of Princess Senyut; he was married the first time to--"
"But what do I care for his relations?" interrupted Zagloba, not hiding his ill-humor; "he is neither brother nor G.o.dfather to me, and I tell your ladyship that I have predestined the little haiduk to Michael; for if among maidens who walk the world on two feet there is one better or more honest than she, may I from this moment begin to walk on all-four like a bear!"
"Michael is thinking of nothing yet; and even if he were, Krysia has struck his eye more. Ah! G.o.d, whose ways are inscrutable, will decide this."
"But if that bare-lipped youngster goes away with a water-melon,[12] I shall be drunk with delight," added Zagloba.
Meanwhile in the two sleighs the fates of both knights were in the balance. Pan Michael was unable to utter a word for a long time; at last he said to Krysia, "Do not think that I am a frivolous man, or some kind of fop, for not such are my years."
Krysia made no answer.
"Forgive me for what I did yesterday, for it was from the good feeling which I have for you, which is so great that I was altogether unable to restrain it. My gracious lady, my beloved Krysia, consider who I am; I am a simple soldier, whose life has been pa.s.sed in wars. Another would have prepared an oration beforehand, and then come to confidence; I have begun with confidence. Remember this also, that if a horse, though trained, takes the bit in his teeth and runs away with a man, why should not love, whose force is greater, run away with him? Love carried me away, simply because you are dear to me. My beloved Krysia, you are worthy, of castellans and senators; but if you do not disdain a soldier, who, though in simple rank, has served the country not without some glory, I fall at your feet, I kiss your feet, and I ask, do you wish me? Can you think of me without repulsion?"
"Pan Michael!" answered Krysia. And her hand, drawn from her m.u.f.f, hid itself in the hand of the knight.
"Do you consent?" asked Volodyovski.
"I do!" answered Krysia; "and I know that I could not find a more honorable man in all Poland."
"G.o.d reward you! G.o.d reward you, Krysia!" said the knight, covering the hand with kisses. "A greater happiness could not meet me. Only tell me that you are not angry at yesterday"s confidence, so that I may find relief of conscience."
"I am not angry."
"Oh that I could kiss your feet!" cried Pan Michael.
They remained some time in silence; the runners were whistling on the snow, and s...o...b..a.l.l.s were flying from under the horse"s feet. Then Pan Michael said, "I marvel that you regard me."
"It is more wonderful," answered Krysia, "that you came to love me so quickly."
At this Pan Michael"s face grew very serious, and he said, "It may seem ill to you that before I shook off sorrow for one, I fell in love with another. I own to you also, as if I were at confession, that in my time I have been giddy; but now it is different. I have not forgotten that dear one, and shall never forget her; I love her yet, and if you knew how much I weep for her, you would weep over me yourself."
Here voice failed the little knight, for he was greatly moved, and perhaps for that reason he did not notice that these words did not seem to make a very deep impression on Krysia.
Silence followed again, interrupted this time by the lady: "I will try to comfort you, as far as my strength permits."
"I loved you so soon," said Pan Michael, "because you began from the first day to cure my wounds. What was I to you? Nothing! But you began at once, because you had pity in your heart for an unfortunate. Ah! I am thankful to you, greatly thankful! Who does not know this will perhaps reproach me, since I wished to be a monk in November, and am preparing for marriage in December. First, Pan Zagloba will be ready to jeer, for he is glad to do that when occasion offers; but let the man jeer who is able! I do not care about that, especially since the reproach will not fall on you, but on me."
Krysia began to look at the sky thoughtfully, and said at last, "Must we absolutely tell people of our engagement?"
"What is your meaning?"
"You are going away, it seems, in a couple of days?"
"Even against my will, I must go."
"I am wearing mourning for my father. Why should we exhibit ourselves to the gaze of people? Let our engagement remain between ourselves, and people need not know of it till you return from Russia. Are you satisfied?"
"Then I am to say nothing to my sister?"
"I will tell her myself, but after you have gone."
"And to Pan Zagloba?"
"Pan Zagloba would sharpen his wit on me. Ei, better say nothing! Basia too would tease me; and she these last days is so whimsical and has such changing humor as never before. Better say nothing." Here Krysia raised her dark-blue eyes to the heavens: "G.o.d is the witness above us; let people remain uninformed."
"I see that your wit is equal to your beauty. I agree. Then G.o.d is our witness. Amen! Now rest your shoulder on me; for as soon as our contract is made, modesty is not opposed to that. Have no fear! Even if I wished to repeat yesterday"s act, I cannot, for I must take care of the horse."
Krysia gratified the knight, and he said, "As often as we are alone, call me by name only."
"Somehow it does not fit," said she, with a smile. "I never shall dare to do that."
"But I have dared."
"For Pan Michael is a knight, Pan Michael is daring, Pan Michael is a soldier."
"Krysia, you are my love!"
"Mich--" But Krysia had not courage to finish, and covered her face with her m.u.f.f.
After a while Pan Michael returned to the house; they did not converse much on the road, but at the gate the little knight asked again, "But after yesterday"s--you understand--were you very sad?"
"Oh, I was ashamed and sad, but had a wonderful feeling," added she, in a lower voice.
All at once they put on a look of indifference, so that no one might see what had pa.s.sed between them. But that was a needless precaution, for no one paid heed to them. It is true that Zagloba and Pan Michael"s sister ran out to meet the two couples, but their eyes were turned only on Basia and Pan Adam.
Basia was red, certainly, but it was unknown whether from cold or emotion; and Pan Adam was as if poisoned. Immediately after, too, he took farewell of the lady of the house. In vain did she try to detain him; in vain Pan Michael himself tried to persuade him to remain to supper: he excused himself with service and went away. That moment Pan Michael"s sister, without saying a word, kissed Basia on the forehead; the young lady flew to her own chamber and did not return to supper.
Only on the next day did Zagloba make a direct attack on her and inquire, "Well, little haiduk, a thunderbolt, as it were, struck Pan Adam?"
"Aha!" answered she, nodding affirmatively and blinking.