CHAPTER II.
The new year 1655 came. January was frosty, but dry; a stern wintercovered sacred Jmud with a white coat three feet thick, the forestswere bending and breaking under a wealth of snow bunches, snow dazzledthe eyes during days of sunshine, and in the night by the moon thereglittered as it were sparks vanishing on a surface stiffened by frost;wild beasts approached the dwellings of men, and the poor gray birdshammered with their beaks the windows covered with hoar frost andsnow-flowers.
On a certain evening Panna Aleksandra was sitting in the servants' hallwith her work-maidens. It was an old custom of the Billeviches, whenthere were no guests, to spend evenings with the servants singing hymnsand edifying simple minds by their example. In this wise did PannaAleksandra; and the more easily since among her house-maidens were somereally noble, very poor orphans. These performed every kind of work,even the rudest, and were servants for ladies; in return they weretrained in good manners, and received better treatment than simplegirls. But among them were peasants too, differing mainly in speech,[6]for many did not know Polish.
Panna Aleksandra, with her relative Panna Kulvyets, sat in the centre,and the girls around on benches; all were spinning. In a great chimneywith sloping sides pine-logs were burning, now dying down and nowflaming freshly with a great bright blaze or with sparks, as the youthstanding near the chimney threw on small pieces of birch or pitch-pine.When the flame shot upward brightly, the dark wooden walls of thegreat hall were to be seen, with an unusually low ceiling resting oncross-beams. From the beams hung, on threads, many-colored stars, madeof wafers, trembling in the warm air; behind, from both sides of thebeams, were bunches of combed flax, hanging like captured Turkishhorse-tail standards. Almost the whole ceiling was covered with them.On the dark walls glittered, like stars, tin plates, large and small,standing straight or leaning on long oaken shelves.
In the distance, near the door, a shaggy-haired man of Jmud was makinga great noise with a hand-mill, and muttering a song with nasalmonotone. Panna Aleksandra slipped her beads through her fingers insilence; the spinners spun on, saying nothing the one to the other.
The light of the flame fell on their youthful, ruddy faces. They, withboth hands raised,--with the left feeding the soft flax, with the rightturning the wheel,--spun eagerly, as if vying with one another, urgedon by the stern glances of Panna Kulvyets. Sometimes, too, they lookedat one another with quick eye, and sometimes at Panna Aleksandra, as ifin expectation that she would tell the man to stop grinding, and wouldbegin the hymn; but they did not cease working. They spun and spun on;the threads were winding, the wheel was buzzing, the distaff played inthe hand of Panna Kulvyets, the shaggy-haired man of Jmud rattled onwith his mill.
But at times he stopped his work. Evidently something was wrong withthe mill, for at those times was heard his angry voice: "It's down!"
Panna Aleksandra raised her head, as if roused by the silence whichfollowed the exclamations of the man; then the blaze lighted up herface and her serious blue eyes looking from beneath black brows. Shewas a comely lady, with flaxen hair, pale complexion, and delicatefeatures. She had the beauty of a white flower. The mourning robesadded to her dignity. Sitting before the chimney, she seemed buried inthought, as in a dream; doubtless she was meditating over her own lot,for her fates were in the balance. The will predestined her to be thewife of a man whom she had not seen for ten years; and as she was nowalmost twenty, there remained to her but unclear childhoodreminiscences of a certain boisterous boy, who at the time when he withhis father had come to Vodokty, was more occupied with racing throughthe swamps with a gun than in looking at her. "Where is he, and whatmanner of man is he now?" These were the questions which thrustthemselves on the mind of the dignified lady. She knew him also, it istrue, from the narratives of the late under-chamberlain, who fouryears before had undertaken the long journey to Orsha. According tothose narratives, he was a cavalier "of great courage, though veryquick-tempered." By the contract of marriage for their descendantsconcluded between old Billevich and Kmita the father, Kmita the son wasto go at once to Vodokty and be accepted by the lady; but a great warbroke out just then, and the cavalier, instead of going to the lady,went to the fields of Berestechko. Wounded at Berestechko, he recoveredat home; then he nursed his sick father, who was near death; after thatanother war broke out, and thus four years passed. Since the death ofthe old colonel considerable time had elapsed, but no tidings of Kmita.
Panna Aleksandra therefore had something to meditate upon, and perhapsshe was pining for the unknown. In her pure heart, especially becauseit knew not love as yet, she bore a great readiness for that feeling. Aspark only was needed to kindle on that hearth a flame quiet butbright, and as steady as the undying sacred fire of Lithuania.
Disquiet then seized her,--at times pleasant, at times bitter; and hersoul was ever putting questions to which there was no answer, or ratherthe answer must come from distant fields. The first question waswhether he would marry her with good-will and respond with readiness toher readiness. In those days contracts by parents for the marriage oftheir children were usual; and if the parents died the children, heldby the blessing, observed in most cases the contract. In the engagementitself the young lady saw nothing uncommon; but good pleasure does notalways go hand in hand with duty; hence the anxiety that weighed downthe blond head of the maiden. "Will he love me?" And then a flock ofthoughts surrounded her, as a flock of birds surround a tree standingalone in spacious fields: "Who art thou? What manner of person? Artwalking alive in the world, or perhaps thou hast fallen? Art thoudistant or near?" The open heart of the lady, like a door open to aprecious guest, called involuntarily to distant regions, to forests andsnow-fields covered with night: "Come hither, young hero; for there isnaught in the world more bitter than waiting."
That moment, as if in answer to the call, from outside, from thosesnowy distances covered with night, came the sound of a bell.
The lady trembled, but regaining her presence of mind, remembered thatalmost every evening some one came to Vodokty to get medicine for theyoung colonel.
Panna Kulvyets confirmed that idea by saying, "Some one from theGashtovts for herbs."
The irregular sound of the bell shaken by the shaft rang moredistinctly each moment; at last it stopped on a sudden. Evidently thesleigh had halted before the door.
"See who has come," said Panna Kulvyets to the man of Jmud who wasturning the mill.
The man went out of the servants' hall, but soon returned, and takingagain the handle of the mill, said phlegmatically, "Panas Kmitas."[7]
"The word is made flesh!" cried Panna Kulvyets.
The spinners sprang to their feet; the flax and the distaffs fell tothe floor.
Panna Aleksandra rose also. Her heart beat like a hammer; a flush cameforth on her face, and then pallor; but she turned from the chimney,lest her emotion might be seen.
Then in the door appeared a certain lofty figure in a fur mantle andfur-bound cap. A young man advanced to the middle of the room, andseeing that he was in the servants' hall, inquired in a resonant voice,without removing his cap, "Hei! but where is your mistress?"
"I am the mistress," said Panna Billevich, in tones sufficiently clear.
Hearing this, the newly arrived removed his cap, cast it on the floor,and inclining said, "I am Andrei Kmita."
The eyes of Panna Aleksandra rested with lightning-like swiftness onthe face of Kmita, and then dropped again to the floor; still duringthat time the lady was able to see the tuft shaven high, yellow aswheat, an embrowned complexion, blue eyes, looking quickly to thefront, dark mustache, a face youthful, eagle-like, but joyous andgallant.
He rested his left hand on his hip, raised his right to his mustache,and said: "I have not been in Lyubich yet, for I hastened here like abird to bow down at the feet of the lady, the chief hunter's daughter.The wind--God grant it was a happy one!--brought me straight from thecamp."
"Did you know of the death of my grandfather?"
asked the lady.
"I did not; but I bewailed with hot tears my benefactor when I learnedof his death from those rustics who came from this region to me. He wasa sincere friend, almost a brother, of my late father. Of course it iswell known to you that four years ago he came to us at Orsha. Then hepromised me your ladyship, and showed a portrait about which I sighedin the night-time. I wished to come sooner, but war is not a mother:she makes matches for men with death only."
This bold speech confused the lady somewhat. Wishing to change thesubject, she said, "Then you have not seen Lyubich yet?"
"There will be time for that. My first service is here; and here thedearest inheritance, which I wish to receive first. But you turned fromthe hearth, so that to this moment I have not been able to look you inthe eye--that's the way! Turn, and I will stand next the hearth; that'sthe way!"
Thus speaking, the daring soldier seized by the hand Olenka,[8] who didnot expect such an act, and brought her face toward the fire, turningher like a top. She was still more confused, and covering her eyes withher long lashes, stood abashed by the light and her own beauty. Kmitareleased her at last, and struck himself on the doublet.
"As God is dear to me, a beauty! I'll have a hundred Masses said for mybenefactor because he left you to me. When the betrothal?"
"Not yet awhile; I am not yours yet," said Olenka.
"But you will be, even if I have to burn this house! As God lives, Ithought the portrait flattered. I see that the painter aimed high, butmissed. A thousand lashes to such an artist, and stoves to paint, notbeauties, with which eyes are feasted! Oh, 'tis a delight to be theheir to such an inheritance, may the bullets strike me!"
"My late grandfather told me that you were very hot-headed."
"All are that way with us in Smolensk; not like your Jmud people. One,two! and it must be as we want; if not, then death."
Olenka laughed, and said with a voice now more confident, raising hereyes to the cavalier, "Then it must be that Tartars dwell among you?"
"All one! but you are mine by the will of parents and by your heart."
"By my heart? That I know not yet."
"Should you not be, I would thrust myself with a knife!"
"You say that laughing. But we are still in the servants' hall; I begyou to the reception-room. After a long road doubtless supper will beacceptable. I beg you to follow me."
Here Olenka turned to Panna Kulvyets. "Auntie, dear, come with us."
The young banneret glanced quickly. "Aunt?" he inquired,--"whose aunt?"
"Mine,--Panna Kulvyets."
"Then she is mine!" answered he, going to kiss her hand. "I have in mycompany an officer named Kulvyets-Hippocentaurus. Is he not arelative?"
"He is of the same family," replied the old maid, with a courtesy.
"A good fellow, but a whirlwind like myself," added Kmita.
Meanwhile a boy appeared with a light. They went to the antechamber,where Pan Andrei removed his shuba; then they passed to thereception-room.
Immediately after their departure the spinners gathered in a closecircle, and one interrupted another, talking and making remarks. Thestately young man pleased them greatly; therefore they did not sparewords on him, vying with one another in praises.
"Light shines from him," said one; "when he came I thought he was aking's son."
"And he has lynx eyes, so that he cuts with them," said another; "donot cross such a man."
"That is worst of all," said a third.
"He met the lady as a betrothed. It is easily seen that she pleased himgreatly, for whom has she not pleased?"
"But he is not worse than she, never fear! Could you get his equal, youwould go even to Orsha, though likely that is at the end of the world."
"Ah, lucky lady!"
"It is always best for the rich in the world. Ei, ei, that's gold, nota knight."
"The Patsuneli girls say that that cavalry captain who is stopping withold Pakosh is a handsome cavalier."
"I have not seen him; but how compare him with Pan Kmita! Such anotheras Pan Kmita surely there is not in the world!"
"It's down!" cried the man of Jmud on a sudden, when something brokeagain in the mill.
"Go out, shaggy head, with thy freaks! Give us peace, for we cannothear.--True, true; hard to find better than Pan Kmita in the wholeworld; surely in Kyedani there is none such."
"Dream of one like him!"
"May his like come in a dream!"
In such fashion did the girls talk among themselves in the servants'hall. Meanwhile in the dining-room the table was laid in all haste,while in the drawing-room Panna Aleksandra conversed face to face withKmita, for Aunt Kulvyets had gone to bustle about the supper.
Pan Andrei did not remove his gaze from Olenka, and his eyes shotsparks more and more every moment; at last he said,--
"There are men to whom land is dearer than all things else; there areothers who chase after plunder in war, others love horses; but I wouldnot give you for any treasure. As God lives, the more I look the more Iwish to marry; so that even if it were to-morrow-- Oh, that brow,--justas if painted with burned cork!"
"I hear that some use such strange things, but I am not of that kind."
"And eyes as from heaven! From confusion, words fail me."
"You are not greatly confused, if in my presence you can be so urgentthat I am wonder-stricken."
"That is our way in Smolensk,--to go boldly at women as we do intobattle. You must, my queen, grow accustomed to this, for thus will itever be."
"You must put it aside, for thus it cannot be."
"Perhaps I may yield, may I be slain! Believe, believe me not, but withgladness would I bend the skies for you. For you, my queen, I am readyto learn other manners; for I know myself that I am a simple soldier, Ihave lived more in camps than in chambers of castles."
"Oh, that harms nothing, for my grandfather was a soldier; but I givethanks for the good-will," said Olenka; and her eyes looked with suchsweetness on Pan Andrei that his heart melted like wax in a moment, andhe answered,--
"You will lead me on a thread."
"Ah, you are not like those who are led on threads; to do that is mostdifficult with men who are unsteady."
Kmita showed in a smile teeth as white as a wolf's teeth, "How isthat?" asked he. "Are the rods few that the fathers broke on me in themonastery to bring me to steadiness and make me remember various fairmaxims for guidance in life--"
"And which one do you remember best?"
"'When in love, fall at the feet,'--in this fashion."
When he had spoken, Kmita was already on his knees. The lady screamed,putting her feet under the table.
"For God's sake! they did not teach that in the monastery. Leave off,or I shall be angry--my aunt will come this minute--"
Still on his knees, he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "Let awhole squadron of aunts come; I shall not forbid their pleasure."
"But stand up!"
"I am standing."
"Sit down!"
"I am sitting."
"You are a traitor, a Judas!"
"Not true, for when I kiss 'tis with sincerity,--will you beconvinced?"
"You are a serpent!"
Panna Aleksandra laughed, however, and a halo of youth and gladnesscame from her. His nostrils quivered like the nostrils of a young steedof noble blood.
"Ai! ai!" said he. "What eyes, what a face! Save me, all ye saints, forI cannot keep away!"
"There is no reason to summon the saints. You were absent four yearswithout once looking in here; sit still now!"
"But I knew only the counterfeit. I will have that painter put in tarand then in feathers, and scourge him through the square of Upita. Iwill tell all in sincerity,--forgive, if it please you; if not, take myhead. I thought to myself when looking at that portrait: 'A prettylittle rogue, pretty; but there is no lack of pretty ones in the world.I have time.' My late father urged me hither, but I had always oneanswer: 'I have time! The little wife will not van
ish; maidens go notto war and do not perish.' I was not opposed at all to the will of myfather, God is my witness; but I wanted first to know war and feel iton my own body. This moment I see my folly. I might have married andgone to war afterward; and here every delight was waiting for me.Praise be to God that they did not hack me to death! Permit me to kissyour hand."
"Better, I'll not permit."
"Then I will not ask. In Orsha we say, 'Ask; but if they don't give,take it thyself.'"
Here Pan Andrei clung to the hand of the lady and began to kiss it; andthe lady did not resist too greatly, lest she might exhibit ill-will.
Just then Panna Kulvyets came in. When she saw what was going on, sheraised her eyes. That intimacy did not please her, but she dared notscold. She gave invitation to supper.
Both went to the supper-room, holding each the other's hand as if theywere related. In the room stood a table covered, and on it an abundanceof all kinds of food, especially choice smoked meats and a mouldy thickbottle of strength-giving wine. It was pleasant for the young peoplewith each other, gladsome, vivacious. The lady had supped already;therefore Kmita sat alone, and began to eat with animation equal tothat with which he had just been conversing.
Olenka looked at him with sidelong glance, glad that he was eating anddrinking. When he had appeased his first hunger, she began again toinquire,--
"Then you are not direct from Orsha?"
"Scarcely do I know whence I come,--here to-day, tomorrow in anotherplace. I prowled near the enemy as a wolf around sheep, and what waspossible to seize I seized."
"And how had you daring to meet such a power, before which the grandhetman himself had to yield?"
"How had I daring? I am ready for all things, such is the nature withinme."
"That is what my grandfather said. Great luck that you were notkilled!"
"Ai, they covered me with cap and with hand as a bird is covered on thenest; but I, whom they covered, sprang out and bit them in anotherplace. I made it so bitter for them that there is a price on myhead-- A splendid half-goose!"
"In the name of the Father and the Son!" cried Olenka, with unfeignedwonder, gazing with homage on that young man who in the same momentmentions the price on his head and the half-goose. "Had you many troopsfor defence?"
"I had, of course, my poor dragoons,--very excellent men, but in amonth they were all kicked to bits. Then I went with volunteers whom Igathered wherever I could without question. Good fellows for battle,but knave upon knave! Those who have not perished already will sooneror later be meat for the crows."
Pan Andrei laughed, emptied his goblet of wine, and added: "Suchplunderers you have not seen yet. May the hangman light them!Officers,--all nobles from our parts, men of family, worthy people, butagainst almost every one of them is a sentence of outlawry. They arenow in Lyubich, for where else could I send them?"
"So you have come to us with the whole squadron?"
"I have. The enemy took refuge in towns, for the winter is bitter.My men too are as ragged as brooms after long sweeping. The princevoevoda assigned me winter quarters in Ponyevyej. God knows thebreathing-spell is well earned!"
"Eat, I beg you."
"I would eat poison for your sake! I left a part of my ragged fellowsin Ponyevyej, a part in Upita, and the most worthy officers I invitedto Lyubich as guests. These men will come to beat to you with theforehead."
"But where did the Lauda men find you?"
"They found me on the way to winter quarters in Ponyevyej. Had I notmet them I should have come here."
"But drink."
"I would drink even poison for you!"
"Were the Lauda men the first to tell you of my grandfather's death andthe will?"
"They told of the death.--Lord, give light to the soul of mybenefactor!--Did you send those men to me?"
"Think not such a thing! I had nothing but mourning and prayer on mymind."
"They too said the same. They are an arrogant set of homespuns. Iwanted to give them a reward for their toil; instead of accepting it,they rose against me and said that the nobility of Orsha might takedrink-money, but the Lauda men never. They spoke very foully to me;while listening, I thought to myself: 'If you don't want money, thenI'll command to give you a hundred lashes.'"
Panna Aleksandra seized her head. "Jesus Mary! and did you do that?"
Kmita looked at her in astonishment. "Have no fears! I did not, thoughmy soul revolts within me at such trashy nobility, who pretend to bethe equal of us. But I thought to myself, 'They will cry me downwithout cause in those parts, call me tyrant, and calumniate me beforeyou!'"
"Great is your luck," said Olenka, drawing a deep breath of relief,"for I should not have been able to look you in the eyes."
"But how so?"
"That is a petty nobility, but ancient and renowned. My deargrandfather always loved them, and went with them to war. He served allhis life with them. In time of peace he received them in his house.That is an old friendship of our family which you must respect. Youhave moreover a heart, and will not break that sacred harmony in whichthus far we have lived."
"I knew nothing of them at that moment,--may I be slain if I did!--butyet I confess that this barefooted nobledom somehow cannot find placein my head. With us a peasant is a peasant, and nobles are all men ofgood family, who do not sit two on one mare. God knows that such scurvyfellows have nothing to do with the Kmitas nor with the Billeviches,just as a mudfish has nothing to do with a pike, though this is a fishand that also."
"My grandfather used to say that blood and honor, not wealth, make aman; and these are honorable people, or grandfather would not have madethem my guardians."
Pan Andrei was astonished and opened wide his eyes, "Did yourgrandfather make all the petty nobility of Lauda guardians over you?"
"He did. Do not frown, for the will of the dead is sacred. It is awonder to me that the messengers did not mention this."
"I should have-- But that cannot be. There is a number of villages.Will they all discuss about you? Will they discuss me,--whether I am totheir thinking or not? But jest not, for the blood is storming up inme."
"Pan Andrei, I am not jesting; I speak the sacred and sincere truth.They will not debate about you; but if you will not repulse them norshow haughtiness, you will capture not only them, but my heart. I,together with them, will thank you all my life,--all my life, PanAndrei."
Her voice trembled as if in a beseeching request; but he did not letthe frown go from his brow, and was gloomy. He did not burst intoanger, it is true, though at moments there flew over his face as itwere lightnings; but he answered with haughtiness and pride,--
"I did not look for this! I respect the will of the dead, and I thinkthe under-chamberlain might have made those petty nobles your guardianstill the time of my coming; but when once I have put foot here, noother, save me, will be guardian. Not only those gray coats, but theRadzivills of Birji themselves have nothing in this place to do withguardianship."
Panna Aleksandra grew serious, and answered after a short silence: "Youdo ill to be carried away by pride. The conditions laid down by my lategrandfather must be either all accepted or all rejected. I see no otherway. The men of Lauda will give neither trouble nor annoyance, for theyare worthy people and peaceful. Do not suppose that they will bedisagreeable. Should any trouble arise, they might say a word; but itis my opinion that all will pass in harmony and peace, and then theguardianship will be as if it had not been."
Kmita held silence a moment, then waved his hand and said: "It is truethat the marriage will end everything. There is nothing to quarrelabout. Let them only sit quietly and not force themselves on me; forGod knows I will not let my mustache be blown upon. But no more ofthem. Permit an early wedding; that will be best."
"It is not becoming to mention that now, in time of mourning."
"Ai, but shall I be forced to wait long?"
"Grandfather himself stated that no longer than half a year."
"I shall be as dried up as a chip
before that time. But let us not beangry. You have begun to look on me as sternly as on an offender. Godbe good to you, my golden queen! In what am I to blame if the naturewithin me is such that when anger against a man takes me I would tearhim to pieces, and when it passes I would sew him together again."
"'Tis a terror to live with such a man," answered Olenka, morejoyously.
"Well, to your health! This is good wine; for me the sabre and wine arethe basis. What kind of terror to live with me? You will hold meensnared with your eyes, and make a slave of me,--a man who hithertowould endure no superior. At the present time I chose to go with my ownlittle company in independence rather than bow to the hetman. My goldenqueen, if anything in me does not please you, overlook it; for Ilearned manners near cannon and not among ladies, in the tumult ofsoldiers and not at the lute. Our region is restless, the sabre isnever let go from the hand. There, though some outlawry rests on a man,though he be pursued by sentences, 'tis nothing! People respect him ifhe has the daring of a warrior. For example, my companions who in someother place would have long been in prison are in their fashion worthypersons. Even women among us go in boots, and with sabres leadparties,--like Pani Kokosinski, the aunt of my lieutenant. She died aheroes death; and her nephew in my command has avenged her, though inlife he did not love her. Where should we, even of the greatestfamilies, learn politeness? But we know when there is war how to fight,when there is a diet how to talk; and if the tongue is not enough, thenthe sabre. That's the position; as a man of such action did the latechamberlain know me, and as such did he choose me for you."
"I have always followed the will of my grandfather willingly," answeredthe lady, dropping her eyes.
"Let me kiss your hand once again, my dear girl! God knows you havecome close to my heart. Feeling has so taken hold of me that I know nothow I can find that Lyubich which I have not yet seen."
"I will give you a guide."
"Oh, I shall find the way. I am used to much pounding around by night.I have an attendant from Ponyevyej who must know the road. And thereKokosinski and his comrades are waiting for me. With us the Kokosinskisare a great family, who use the seal of Pypka. This one was outlawedwithout reason because he burned the house of Pan Orpishevski, carriedoff a maiden, and cut down some servants. A good comrade!-- Give meyour hand once more. I see it is time to go."
Midnight began to beat slowly on the great Dantzig clock standing inthe hall.
"For God's sake! 'tis time, 'tis time!" cried Kmita. "I may not staylonger. Do you love me, even as much as would go around your finger?"
"I will answer another time. You will visit me, of course?"
"Every day, even if the ground should open under me! May I be slain!"
Kmita rose, and both went to the antechamber. The sleigh was alreadywaiting before the porch; so he enrobed himself in the shuba, and beganto take farewell, begging her to return to the chamber, for the coldwas flying in from the porch.
"Good-night, my dear queen," said he, "sleep sweetly, for surely Ishall not close an eye thinking of your beauty."
"May you see nothing bad! But better, I'll give you a man with a light,for there is no lack of wolves near Volmontovichi."
"And am I a lamb to fear wolves? A wolf is a friend to a soldier, foroften has he profit from his hand. We have also firearms in the sleigh.Good-night, dearest, good-night."
"With God."
Olenka withdrew, and Pan Kmita went to the porch. But on the way,through the slightly open door of the servants' hall he saw a number ofpairs of eyes of maidens who waiting to see him once more had not yetlain down to sleep. To them Pan Andrei sent, soldier-fashion, kissesfrom his mouth with his hand, and went out. After a while the bellbegan to jingle, at first loudly, then with a continually decreasingsound, ever fainter and fainter, till at last it was silent.
It grew still in Vodokty, till the stillness amazed Panna Aleksandra.The words of Pan Andrei were sounding in her ears; she heard hislaughter yet, heartfelt, joyous; in her eyes stood the rich form of theyoung man; and now after that storm of words, mirth, and joyousness,such marvellous silence succeeded. The lady bent her ear,--could shenot hear even one sound more from the sleigh? But no! it was soundingsomewhere off in the forest, near Volmontovichi. Therefore a mightysadness seized the maiden, and never had she felt so much alone in theworld.
Taking the light, slowly she went to her chamber, and knelt down to saythe Lord's Prayer. She began five times before she could finish withproper attention; and when she had finished, her thoughts, as if onwings, chased after that sleigh and that figure sitting within. On oneside were pine-woods, pine-woods on the other, in the middle a broadroad, and he driving on,--Pan Andrei! Here it seemed to Olenka that shesaw as before her the blond foretop, the blue eyes, the laughing mouthin which are gleaming teeth as white as the teeth of a young dog. Forthis dignified lady could hardly deny before her own face that thiswild cavalier had greatly pleased her. He alarmed her a little, hefrightened her a little, but he attracted her also with that daring,that joyous freedom and sincerity, till she was ashamed that he pleasedher, especially with his haughtiness when at mention of the guardianshe reared his head like a Turkish war-horse and said, "Even theRadzivills of Birji themselves have nothing to do here withguardianship."
"That is no dangler around women; that is a true man," said the lady toherself. "He is a soldier of the kind that my grandfather loved most ofall,--and he deserved it!"
So meditated the lady; and a happiness undimmed by anything embracedher. It was an unquiet; but that unquiet was something dear. Then shebegan to undress; the door creaked, and in came Panna Kulvyets, with acandle in her hand.
"You sat terribly long," said she. "I did not wish to interfere withyoung people, so that you might talk your fill the first time. He seemsa courteous cavalier. But how did he please you?"
Panna Aleksandra gave no answer at first, but barefooted ran up to heraunt, threw herself on her neck, and placing her bright head on herbosom, said with a fondling voice, "Auntie, oh, Auntie!"
"Oho!" muttered the old maid, raising her eyes and the candle towardheaven.