CHAPTER VII
SEXAGESIMA
The days that followed the departure of the _pobratim_ were sad onesindeed. The Zwillievics had gone back to Montenegro; then Milena, nothaving any excuse to remain longer a guest of the Bellacics, wasobliged to go back with a sinking heart to her lonely, out-of-the-waycottage; a dreary house which had never been a home to her.
When the Christmas snow had melted away, a sudden strong gale of winddried up the sods, so that the grass everywhere was withered andscorched; the very rocks themselves looked lean, pinched-up, bare andsharp. All nature had put on a wizened, wolfish, wintry appearance.The weather was not only cold, it was bleak and gloomy.
After a fortnight of a dull, overcast sky, it began to drizzle;everything smelt of mildew; the mouldy turf oozed with moisture, therotting trees dripped with dampness. The world was decaying. If attimes a ray of sunlight pierced the grey clouds, its pale yellow,languid light brought with it neither warmth nor comfort. Evidentlythe sun was pining away, dying; our bereaved planet was moaning forthe loss of his life-giving light.
During all this time the dull sirocco never ceased to blow, either ina low, unending wail, or in louder and more fitful blasts. Usually,as soon as one gust had passed away, a stronger one came rolling downthe mountain side, increasing in sound as it drew nearer; thenpassing, it died away in the distance.
These booming blasts made every mother think of her sailor boy,tossed far away on the raging mountain waves; wives lighted candlesto St. Nicholas, for the safety of their husbands; whilst the girlsthought of their lovers by day, and at night they dreamt continuallyof flowers, babies, stagnant waters, white grapes, lice and othersuch omens of ill-luck.
For poor, forlorn Milena, those days were like the murky morninghours that follow a night of revelry. She was dull, down-hearted,dispirited; nor had she, indeed, anything to cheer her up. In herutter solitude, she spun from the moment she got up to the moment shewent to bed; interrupting herself only to eat a crust of bread andsome olives, or else to mope listlessly. At times, however, herloneliness, and the utter stillness of her house, oppressed her insuch a way that it almost drove her to distraction.
She mused continually over all the events of her life during the lastmonths, after her merry girlhood had come to an end by that hatefuland hasty marriage of hers; she recalled to mind that time of miserywith her old miserly mother-in-law, who even counted the grains ofparched Indian-corn she ate. Still, soon after this old dame's death,came that fated St. John's Eve. It was the first ray of sunlight inthe gloom of her married life. It was also the first time she hadseen Uros.
She had not fallen in love with him that evening; she had only likedhim because he was good-looking and his ways were so winning.Everybody was fond of him, he was so winsome.
Little by little, after that, his presence began to haunt her, hisface was always before her eyes. When she woke in the morning, hisname was on her lips. Still, that was not love; she even fancied sheonly liked to teaze him because she was a married woman, a matron,whilst he was but a boy; moreover, he was so shy.
When Radonic came home, she woke to the stern reality of life; she atlast found out that she hated her husband and loved Uros, who, thougha boy, was, withal, older than herself. That was the time whenRadonic's rage being roused by Vranic, he had almost killed Milenko.Then, lastly, shuddering and appalled, she remembered that night whenUros came to sing his farewell song.
She stopped spinning now; the corners of her pretty, childish mouthwere drawn down; she hid her face between her hands, whilst the tearstrickled slowly through her fingers.
Why had she been so foolishly weak? Now the thought of that nightdrove her mad. Could she but blot away the past months and begin lifeanew!
Alas! what was done could never be undone. She rocked herself on herstool in a brown study. What was she to do? What was to become ofher?
Radonic would return in a few months; then he would kill her. That, atleast, would put a stop to her misery. But the thought of having tolive for months in mortal dread was worse than death itself. Themaddest thoughts came to her mind. She would leave Budua, dress up asa boy, go off to Cattaro, embark for some distant town. And then?
Far away the people spoke a gibberish she could not understand, andthey were heathens, who even ate meat on fast-days. These thoughts,in her loneliness, were almost driving her to distraction, when,unexpectedly, her husband came back home. His ship, in a tempest, hadbeen dashed against a reef, off the shores of Ustica, the westernmostof the AEolian Islands. Not only the vessel, but also the cargo, andeven two sailors, were lost.
On seeing her husband appear before her, Milena felt all her bloodfreeze within her veins. She had disliked Radonic from the very firstmoment she had cast her eyes upon him; since her marriage herantipathy had increased with his ill-treatment, so that now shepositively loathed him.
Still, when the first moment of almost insurmountable dread was over,she heaved a deep sigh of relief. His return was a godsend to her.Had he not just come in time to save her from ignominy? She evenmastered herself so far as to make Radonic believe that she was gladto see him, that she was longing for his return, and for a while hebelieved it. Still, when his mouth was pressed on hers, as he claspedher fondly in his arms, the kiss he gave her now was even worse thanthe first one she had received from him on her wedding-day. It seemedas if he had seared her lips with burning, cauterising steel. After aday or two, she could not keep up this degrading comedy any longer;her whole being revolted against it in such a way that Radonichimself could not help noticing how obnoxious his presence was toher.
She was, however, glad about one thing. Her husband, having lost hislarge vessel and all his costly cargo, for he had of late beentrading on his own account, would not be able to settle down inBudua, as he had intended doing; then, being now quite poor, peoplewould not be envying her any more. What good had her husband's richesdone to her? None at all.
Even in that she was doomed to disappointment. The widow of one ofthe sailors who had got drowned at Ustica came to beg for a pittance.She had several little children at home clamouring for bread. Milenagave her some flour and some oil, and promised to speak to herhusband.
"But," said she, "we, too, are very poor now."
"Poor!" replied the woman. "Why, you are richer now than you everwere."
"How, if we've lost our ship with all its cargo?"
"Yes, but it was insured."
"Insured? What's that?"
"You mustn't ask me, for I'm only a poor ignorant woman. Only theysay that when a ship is insured, you get far more money for it thanit was ever really worth."
"And who is to give you money for a few planks rotting at the bottomof the sea, or some stray spars washed ashore?" asked Milena,incredulously.
"Who? Ah! that's more than I can tell. Anyhow, I know it's true, forall that."
Milena, astonished, stared at the poor woman. She asked herselfwhether grief had not muddled the widow's brain. No, she did not lookinsane.
"Who told you such foolish things, my poor Stosija?" said she,enquiringly, after a while; "for you know very well that you arespeaking nonsense."
"It is no nonsense, for the _pop_ himself told me."
Milena's bewilderment increased.
"Moreover, the priest added that insurances are one of the manysacrilegious inventions which lead men to perdition." Then, loweringher voice to a whisper: "They have a pact with Satan."
Milena drew back appalled.
"When a ship is insured the owners care very little what becomes ofthe precious lives they have on board. The captains themselves gethardened. They do not light any more tapers to St. Nicholas to sendthem prosperous gales; the priests offer no more prayers for theirsafety; and, as for silver _ex-votos_, why, no one thinks of them anymore. The _pop_ is so angry that he says, if he had his own way, he'dexcommunicate every captain, even every sailor, embarking on aninsured ship."
"Mercy on us!" quoth Milena, crossing herself repeatedly.
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"In fact, since all these new-fangled, heathenish inventions, youhear of nothing but fires on land and shipwrecks at sea. People oncewent to bed as soon as it was dark; at eight o'clock every fire andevery light was put out. Now, people will soon be turning night intoday, as they do in Francezka and Vnetci (Venice), flying thus in thevery face of God Himself. Now all the rotten ships are sent to sea,where they founder at the very first storm. It isn't true, perhaps?"
"Aye, it must be true," sighed Milena, "if the _pop_ says so."
"Once fires and shipwrecks were sent as punishments to the wicked, oras trials to the good; now, with the insurances, God Himself has beendeprived of His scourge. The wicked prosper, the rich grow richer,and as for the poor--even the Virgin Mary and all the saints turn adeaf ear to them."
Milena shook her head despondingly.
"For instance," continued Stosija, "would the miser's heart ever havebeen touched, had his barns been insured."
"What miser?" asked Milena.
"Is it possible that you don't know the story of 'Old Nor and theMiser'?"
"Oh! it's a story," added Milena, disappointed.
"Yes, it's a story, but it's true for all that, for it happened atGrohovo, and my grandfather, who was alive at that time, knew boththe miser and the idiot. Well, the miser--who had as much money ashis trees had leaves, and that is more than he could count--was oneday brewing _rakee_, when an old man, who lived on the publiccharity, or in doing odd jobs that could be entrusted to him, stoppedat his door.
"'I smell _rakee_,' said Old Nor" (ninny), "who, by-the-bye, was notquite such an idiot as he was believed to be.
"'Oh, you do!' quoth the miser, sneeringly.
"'Yes,' said Nor, his eyes twinkling and his mouth watering.
"'And I suppose you'd like to taste some?'
"'That I should; will you give me a sip?'
"'Why not?'
"Thereupon the miser dipped a small ladle in a kettle of boilingwater and offered it to Old Nor.
"The idiot drank down the hot water without wincing.
"'It's good, isn't it?' asked the rich man.
"'Delicious!' and the old man smacked his lips.
"'It warms the pit of your stomach nicely?'
"'It even burns it.'
"'It's rare stuff, I can tell you; will you have some more?'
"'It's of your own brewing, one can see; I'll have some more.'
"The miser once more dipped the ladle in the hot water and offered itagain to the beggar, who quaffed the contents unflinchingly.
"'You see, bad tongues say I'm a miser, but it's all slander; forwhen I like a fellow, I'd give him the shirt off my back, and I likeyou, Old Nor. Will you have another ladleful?'
"'Willingly,' and the ninny's eyes flashed.
"Thereupon he again swallowed up the scalding water, but not a muscleof his face twitched.
"'Are you not afraid it'll go to your head, old man?' asked themiser, mischievously.
"'Old Nor's head isn't muddled with so little,' added he, scowling.
"'Then try another cup?'
"'No,' replied the ninny, shaking his head, 'for to-day I've hadenough. As soon as the _Cesar_' (emperor) 'sends me the money he owesme, and I marry the Virgin Mary--for that was his craze--I'll giveyou something that'll warm the pit of your stomach, too.'
"Then he turned round and went off without any thanks or wishing theblessing of God on the miser's dwelling, as he was wont to do.
"The miser's house was all surrounded by sheds, storehouses andstables; barns groaning under the weight of corn, hay and straw; hissacks were heaped with flour and wheat; his cellars overflowed withwine and oil; in his dairies you could have bathed in milk, for heneither lacked cows, nor sheep, nor goats. Well, not long after thebeggar had been scalded with hot water, a fire broke out in hisgranaries at night, and all the wealth that was stored therein waswasted by fire.
"The miser grieved and lamented, but he soon had masons andbricklayers come from all around, and in a short time they built himfiner stables, sheds and stores than the old ones; and after theharvest was gathered, and the aftermath was garnered, and all theouter buildings were filled, with the grace of God, a terrible firebroke out one morning, and before the men could bring any help, forthe flames rose fiercely on every side like living springs that haveburst their flood-gates, so that the water poured down upon it onlyscattered the fire far around, and the fine new buildings camecrumbling down with a crash, just like houses built upon sand. Thenthe miser had new masons and bricklayers, and also architects andengineers. Soon they built him stately store-houses of stone andbeautiful barns of bricks, higher, vaster and stronger than theformer ones. These granaries were like palaces, and a wonder in theland. When the fruits of the field were gathered and the heart of themiser was rejoiced at the sight of so much wealth, then, in themiddle of the day, as he was seated at table eating cakes overflowingwith honey, and quaffing down bumpers of wine, then the fire brokeout in his barns, and, behold, his buildings looked like a dreadfuldragon spouting and spurting sparks of fire, and vomiting out volumesof smoke and flames. It was, indeed, a terrible sight.
"The rich man saw at last that the hand of God was weighing upon him,and he felt himself chastened. He cast about for some time, notknowing what to do. So he took a fat calf and two lambs and a kid,and killed them; and he cooked them; and he baked bread; and heinvited all his acquaintances, rich and poor, to a feast, where hespared neither wine nor _slivovitz_; and he did not scald theirthroats with hot water, but with his own strong _rakee_. Then, whenthey had all eaten and were merry, he said to them:
"'The Lord, in His mercy, has scourged me--for whom the Lord lovethHe chasteneth--He has given me a warning and a foretaste of whatmight be awaiting me hereafter. Therefore, I am humbled, and Isubmit; but if God has chosen any one among you to chastise me,kindly tell me, and I swear, on my soul, on the Cross of our Saviour,Who died for our sins, not only never to harm him, but to forgive himfreely.'
"Thereupon Old Nor rose and said:
"'_Gospod_, it is I who have burnt down your barns. One day I passedby your door and begged you for a draught of the liquor you werebrewing; then you offered me scalding water, and when I gulped itdown you laughed at me because you thought me witless. Three timesdid I drink down the fiery water you offered me; three times did Iconsume with fire all the barns that surround your house. Still, Ionly made you see, but not taste, fire, for I might have burned youdown in your house, like a rat in his hole, and then the pit of yourstomach would have been warm indeed; but I did not do so, because Iam Old Nor, and the little children jibe and the big children jeer atme, and all laugh and make mouths at me.'
"The rich man bowed down his head, rebuked. Then he stretched out hisarms and clasped the beggar to his breast, saying:
"'Brother, you are, after all, a better and a wiser man than I am,for if I was wicked to you, it was only out of sheer wantonness.'
"Then he plied him, not with warm water, but with sparkling wine andstrong _slivovitz_, and sent him home jolly drunk. From that time hemended his ways, gave pence to the poor, presents to the _pop_,candles and incense to the Church. Therefore, he was beloved by allwho knew him, his barns groaned again with the gifts of God, hisflocks and his herds increased by His blessings.
"Now, tell me. If the insurance company had paid him for the damageevery time his barns had been burnt, would he have been happy withhis ill-gotten wealth? No; his heart might have been hardened, andSatan at last have got possession of his soul."
That evening Milena referred to her husband all that Stosija had saidto her. Radonic scowled at his wife, and then he grunted:
"The _pop_--like all priests, in fact--is a drivelling old idiot; sohe had better mind his own business, that is, mumble his meaninglessprayers, and not meddle with what he doesn't understand."
"What! is there anything a _pop_ doesn't understand?" asked Milena,astonished.
Radonic laughed.
"Oh! he'll soon see somet
hing that'll make his jaw fall and his eyesstart from their sockets."
"And what's that?"
"A thing which you yourself won't believe in--a ship without masts."
"And what are its sails tied to?"
"It needs no sails; it has only a big chimney, a black funnel, thatsends forth clouds of smoke, flames and sparks; then, two tremendouswheels that go about splashing and churning the water into a mass ofbeautiful spray, with a thundering noise; then, every now and then,it utters a shrill cry that is heard miles away."
"Holy Virgin!" gasped Milena; "but it must be like Svet Gjorgje'sdragon!"
"Oh!" sneered Radonic, "St. George's dragon was but a toy to it."
"And where have you seen this monster?"
"It isn't a monster at all; it's a steamer. I saw one on my lastvoyage. It came from the other side of the world, from that countrywhere the sun at midday looks just like a burnished copper plate."
"Of course," added Milena, nodding, "if it's on the other side of theearth, they can only see the sun after it's set. But where is thatplace of darkness? Is it Kitay?"
"Oh, no! it's Englezka."
"But to return to what the _pop_ said. Then it's true that you'll getmore money for your ship even than what it was worth?"
"Whether I get more or whether I get less, I'm not going to keep allthe beggars of the town with the money the insurance company willgive me. If sailors don't want their wives to go begging and theirbrats to starve, they can insure their lives, or not get married. Asfor Stosija, you can tell her to go to the _pop_, and not comebothering here; though I doubt whether a priest will even say aprayer for you without the sight of your money. Anyhow, to-morrow Istart for Cattaro, where I hope to settle the insurance business."
On the morrow Radonic went off, and Milena heaved a deep sigh ofrelief; for, although the utter loneliness in which she lived was attimes unbearable to her, still it was better than her husband'sunkindness.
Alas! no sooner had Radonic started than Vranic came with his odioussolicitations, for nothing would discourage that man. In herinnocence she could rely on her strength, so she had spurned him fromher. She had till then never been afraid of any man. Was she not aMontenegrin? She had, in many a skirmish, not only loaded herfather's guns, but also fired at the Turks herself; nor had she evermissed her man. Still, since that fateful night all her courage wasgone. Was Vranic not a seer, a man who could peer into his fellowcreatures as if they were crystal? Did he not know that she hadsinned? He had told her that all her struggles were unavailing; shewas like the swallow when the snake fascinates it. She, therefore,had been cowed down to such a degree that she almost felt herselffalling into his clutches.
Not knowing what to do, she had gone to Mara, and had confessed partof her troubles to her; she had asked her for help against Vranic.Although Uros' mother did not dabble in witchcraft, still she was awoman with great experience. So she thought for a while, and then shegave Milena a tiny bit of red stuff, and told her to wear it underher left arm-pit; it was the most powerful spell she knew of, andpeople could not harm her as long as she wore it. She followed Mara'sadvice; but Vranic was a seer, and such simples were powerlessagainst him.
Radonic came back from Cattaro, and, by his humour, things must havegone on well for him; still, strange to say, he brought no money backwith him. He only said he had put his money in a bank, so that hemight get interest for it, till such times when he should buy anothership.
"And what is a bank?" asked Milena, astonished.
Radonic shrugged his shoulders, and answered peevishly, that she wastoo stupid to understand such things. "Montenegrins," he added, "haveno banks, nor any money to put in banks; they only know how to fightagainst the Turks."
For a few days Milena asked all her acquaintances what a bank was,and at last she was informed that it was like insurances, one ofthose modern inventions made to enrich the rich. Putting money in abank was like sinking a deep well. After that you were not onlysupplied for your lifetime, but your children and the children ofyour children were then provided for; for who can drink the water ofa well and dry it up?
For Milena, all these things were wonders which she could notunderstand. She only sighed, and thought that Stosija was right whenshe had said to her that this world was for the wealthy; the poorwere nowhere, not even in church.
Although Radonic had come back, still Vranic, far from desisting fromhis suit, became always more pressing; for he seemed quite sure thatshe would never speak to her husband against him. Once more she wentto Mara and asked her for advice.
"Why not mention the subject to your husband?" asked her friend.
"First, I dare not; then, it would be quite useless. He would notbelieve me; Vranic has him entirely under his power. In fact, I amquite sure if Radonic is unbearable, it is the seer who sets him onto bait me."
"But to what purpose?"
"Because he thinks that, sooner or later, I'll be driven to despair,and find myself at his mercy. Though I'm no seer myself, still I seethrough him."
Withal Uros' mother was a woman of great experience, still, she couldnot help her friend; she only comforted her in a motherly way, andher heart yearned for her.
As Milena, weary and dejected, was slowly trudging homewards, shesaw, not far from her house, a small animal leisurely crossing afield. Was it a cat? She stood stock-still for a moment and stared.Surely, it was neither a hare, nor a rabbit, nor a dog. It was a big,dark-coloured cat! How her heart began to beat at that sight!
At that moment she forgot that it was almost dusk, that the days werestill short, that the light was vanishing fast. She forgot that itwould be very disagreeable meeting Vranic--always lurkingthereabout--that her husband would soon be coming home. In fact,forgetting everything and everybody, she began running after the cat,which scampered off the moment it saw her. Still, the quicker the catran, the quicker Milena went after it.
Of course, she knew quite well, as you and I would have known, thatthe cat was no cat at all, for real pussies are quiet, home-lovingpets, taking, at most, a stroll on the pantiles, but never go roamingabout the fields as dogs are sometimes apt to do.
That cat, of course, was a witch--not a simple _baornitza_, but areal sorceress, able to do whatever she chose to put her hand to.
The nimble cat ran with the speed of a stone hurled from a sling, andMilena, panting, breathless, stumbling every now and then, ran afterit with all her might. Several times the fleet-footed animaldisappeared; still, she was not disheartened, but ran on and came insight of it after some time. At last, she saw the cat run straighttowards a distant cottage. Milena slackened her speed, then shestopped to look round.
The cottage was built on a low muddy beach. She remembered havingbeen in that lonely spot once before with Uros; she had seen thestrand all covered with bloated bluish medusas, melting away in thesun.
With a beating heart and quivering limbs Milena stopped on thethreshold of the hut, and looked about her for the cat. The door wasajar; perhaps it had gone in. For a moment she hesitated whether sheshould turn on her heels and run off or enter.
A powerful witch like that could, all at once, assume the mosthorrible shape, and frighten her out of her wits!
As she stood there, undecided as to what she was to do, the dooropened, as if by a sudden blast of wind, and there was no time toretreat. Milena then, to her surprise, saw an old woman standing inthe middle of the hut. She was quietly breaking sticks and puttingthem on a smouldering fire. As for the cat, it was, of course,nowhere to be seen.
The old woman, almost bent double by age, turned, and seeing Milena,smiled. Her face did not express the slightest fear or ill-humour,nay, she seemed as if she had been expecting her.
"Good evening, _domlada_," said the old woman, with a most winningvoice, "have you lost your way, or is there anything you want of me?"
Milena hesitated; had she been spoken to in a rough, disagreeablemanner, she would, doubtless, have been daunted by the thought thatshe was putting her soul
in jeopardy by having recourse to the witch;but the woman's voice was so soft and soothing, her words soencouraging, her ways so motherly, that, getting over hernervousness, she went in at once, and, almost without knowing it, shefound herself induced to relate all her troubles to this utterstranger.
"First, if you want me to help you," said the old woman, "you musttry and help yourself."
"And how so?"
"By thinking as little as possible of a handsome youth who is now atsea."
Milena blushed.
"Then you must bear your husband's ill-humour, even his blows,patiently, and, little by little, get him to understand what kind ofa man Vranic is. Radonic is in love with you; therefore, 'the sackcannot remain without the twine.' You must not fear Vranic; 'theplace of the uninvited guest is, you know, behind the door.'Moreover, to protect you against him, I'll give you a most powerfulcharm."
Saying this, she went to a large wooden chest and got out of it alittle bag, which she handed to Milena.
"In it," whispered the old woman, mysteriously, "there is some hairof a wolf that has tasted human flesh, the claw of a rabid old cat, atiny bit of a murdered man's skull, a few leaflets of rue gathered onSt. John's Night under a gibbet, and some other things. It is apotent spell; still, efficient as it is, you must help it in itswork."
Milena promised the old woman to be guided entirely by her advice.
"Remember never to give way to Vranic in the least, for, even with mycharm, if you listen to him you might become his prey. You must notdo like the dove did."
"And what did the dove do?"
"What! don't you know? Well, sit down there, and I'll tell you."
"But I'm afraid I'll be troubling you."
"Not at all; besides, I'll prepare my soup while I chat."
"Still, I'm afraid my husband might get home and not find me; then----"
"Then you'll keep him a little longer at the inn."
Saying these words, the witch threw some vegetables in the potsimmering on the hob, and on the fire something like a pinch of salt,for at once the wood began to splutter and crackle; after that, shewent to the door and looked out.
"See how it pours!" said she. "Radonic will have to wait till therain is over."
Milena shuddered and crossed herself; she was more than everconvinced that the old woman was a mighty sorceress who had commandover the wind and the rain.
"Well," began the _stari-mati_, "once a beautiful white dove hadbuilt her nest in a large tree; she laid several eggs, hatched them,and had as many lovely dovelets. One day, a sly old fox, passingunderneath, began leering at the dove from the corner of his eye, asold men ogle pretty girls at windows. The dove got uneasy. Thereupon,the fox ordered the bird to throw down one of her young ones. 'If youdon't, I swear by my whiskers to climb up the tree and gobble youdown, you ----, and all your young ones.'
"The poor dove was in sore trouble, and, quaking with fear, seeing thefox lay its front paws on the trunk of the tree, she, flurried as shewas, caught one of her little ones by its neck and threw it down. Thefox made but a mouthful of it, grumbling withal that it was such ameagre morsel.
"'Mind and fatten those that are left, for I'll call again to-morrow,and if the others are only skin and bones, as the little scarecrowyou've thrown me down is, you'll have, at least, to give me two.'
"The fox went off. The poor dove remained in her nest, mourning overher lost little one, and shuddering as she thought of the morrow.Just then another bird happened to perch above the branch where thedove had her nest.
"'I say, dove,' said the other bird, 'what's up, that you are cooingin such a dreary, disconsolate way?'
"The dove thereupon related all that had happened.
"'Oh, you simpleton! oh, you fool!' quoth the other bird, 'how couldyou have been so silly as to believe the sly old fox? You ought tohave known that foxes cannot climb trees; therefore, when he comesto-morrow, ordering you to throw him down a couple of your littleones, just you tell him to come up himself and get them.'
"The day after, when the fox came for his meal, the dove simplyanswered:
"'Don't you wish you may get it!'
"And the dove laughed in her sleeve to see the fox look so sheepish.
"'Who told you that?' said Reynard; 'you never thought of ityourself, you are too stupid.'
"'No,' quoth the dove, 'I did not. The bird that has built her nestby the sedges near the river told it me.'
"'So,' said the fox; and he turned round and went off to the birdthat had built her nest by the river sedges, without even sayingta-ta to the dove. He soon found her out.
"'I say, bird, what made you build your nest in such a breezy spot?'said the fox, with a twinkling eye.
"'Oh! I don't mind the wind,' said the bird. 'For instance, when itblows from the north-east, I put my head under my left wing, likethis."
"Thereupon, the bird put its head under its left wing, and peeped atthe fox with its right eye.
"'And when it blows from the south-west?' asked the fox.
"'Then I do the contrary.'
"And the bird put its head under its right wing, and peeped at thefox with its left eye.
"'And when it blows from every side of the compass at once?'
"'It never does,' said the bird, laughing.
"'Yes it does; in a hurricane.'
"'Then I cover my head with both my wings, like this.'
"No sooner had the poor bird buried her head under both her wings,than the sly old fox jumped at her, and ate her up.
"But," said the witch, finishing her story, "if you are like thedove, I'm not like the bird of the sedges; and Vranic would find merather tough to eat me up. And now, hurry home, my dear; if ever youwant me again, you know where to find me."
The rain had ceased, and Milena, thanking the old woman for herkindness, went off. She had been back but a few minutes when Radonicreturned home, ever so much the worse for drink. Not finding anysupper ready, he at first began to grumble; then, little by little,thinking himself very ill-used, he got into a tremendous rage. Havingreached this paroxysm of wrath, he set to smash all the crockery thathe could lay his hands on, whilst Milena, terrified, went and shutherself up in the next room, and peeped at him through the keyhole.
When he had broken a sufficient number of plates and dishes, he feltvexed at having vented his rage in such a foolish way, then to pityhimself at having such a worthless wife, who left him without supper,and growing sentimental, he began to groan and hiccough and curse,till he at last rolled off the stool on which he had been rockinghimself, and went to sleep on the floor.
On the morrow the husband was moody, the wife sad; neither of themspoke or looked at the other. The whole of that day, Milena--in herloneliness--revolved within her mind what she would do to get rid ofVranic's importunities, and, above all, how she could prevent himfrom harming Uros, as he had threatened to do.
The day passed away slowly; in the evening Radonic came home moredrunk than he had ever been, therefore maliciously angry andspiteful.
The front room of the house, like that of almost all other cottages,was a large but dark and dismal-looking chamber, pierced with severalsmall windows, all thickly grated; the ceiling was raftered, andpieces of smoked mutton, wreaths of onions, bundles of herbs, andother provisions dangled down from hooks, or nails, driven in nearlyevery beam. As in all country-houses, the hearth was built in thevery midst of this room, and the smoke, curling upwards, found anoutlet from a hole in the roof. That evening, as it was pouring andblowing, the gusts of wind and rain prevented the smoke from findingits way out.
Milena was seated on a three-legged stool at a corner of the hearth,by a quaint, somewhat prehistoric, kind of earthenware one-wickoil-lamp, which gave rather less light than our night-lamps usuallydo, though it flickered and sputtered and smoked far more. She wassewing a very tiny bit of a rag, but she took much pride in it, forevery now and then she looked at it with the fond eyes of a girlsewing her doll's first bodice. Hearing her husband's s
tep on theshingle just outside, she started to her feet, thrust the rag away,looking as if she had almost been caught doing something very guilty.After that she began mixing the soup boiling in the pot with greatalacrity.
Radonic was not a handsome man at the best of times, but now,besotted by drink, shuffling and reeling, he was positivelyloathsome. He stopped for a moment on the sill to look at his wife,grinning at her in a half-savage, half-idiotic way.
Milena shuddered when she saw him, and turned her eyes away. Heevidently noticed the look of horror she cast on him, for holdinghimself to the door-post with one hand, he shook the other at her, inhis increasing anger.
"What have you been doing all the day?--gadding about, or sitting onthe door-step to beckon to the youths who pass by?" he said, in athick, throaty voice, interrupted every now and then with a drunkenhiccough. Then he let go the door-post and shuffled in.
"A fine creature, a very fine creature, a slut, a good-for-nothingslut, not worth the salt she eats! You hear, madam? you hear,darling? it's to you I'm speaking."
Milena stood pale, awe-stricken, twisting the fringe of her apronround her fingers, looking at him with amazement. It was certainlynot the first time in her life that she had seen a drunken man;still, she had never known anyone so fiendish when tipsy.
"A nice kind of woman for a fellow to marry," he went on, "a thingthat stands twisting her fingers from morning to night, but whocannot find time to prepare a little supper for a hungry man, in theevening." Then, with a grunt: "What have you been doing the whole ofthe live-long day?"
Milena did not answer.
"I say, will you speak? by the Virgin, will you speak? or I'll slapthat stupid sallow face of yours till I make it red with your blood."
Milena did try to answer, but the words stuck in her throat and wouldnot come out. Radonic thought she was defying him.
"Ah, you'll not answer! You were fooling about the town, or sittingat the window eating pumpkin seeds, waiting for the dogs that pass toadmire those meaningless eyes of yours. They are dark, it's true, butI'll make them ten times darker."
Thereupon he made a rush at her, but, swift-footed as she was, sheran on the opposite side of the room. She glanced at the door, but hehad shut and bolted it, therefore--being afraid that he might be uponher before she managed to open it--she only kept running round thehearth, waiting till chance afforded her some better way of escape.
He ran after her for some time, but, drunk and asthmatic as he was,he stopped at last, irritated by his non-success. Vexed at seeing afaint smile on her lips, he took up a plate, that had been sparedfrom the day before, and shied it at her. She was too quick for him,for she deftly moved aside, and the plate was smashed against anoaken press.
He gnashed his teeth with rage and showed her his fists; then he bentdown, picked up a log, and flourished it wildly about. She at oncemade for the door. He flung the piece of wood at her with all hismight. She once more stooped to avoid it, but, in her eagerness toget out, she was this time rather flurried; moreover, the missilehurled at her was, this time, much bigger than the former one, sothat the log just caught her at the back of her head. She uttered ashrill cry, and fell on the ground in a death-like swoon.
Radonic, seeing Milena fall, thought he had killed her. He felt atthat moment such a terrible fright that it seemed to him as if athunderbolt had come down upon him.
He grew deathly pale, his jaw fell, he began to tremble from head tofoot, just as when he had a fit of the ague. His teeth chattered, hisknees were broken, his joints relaxed. He had never in his whole lifefelt such a fright. In a moment his drunkenness seemed to vanish, andhe was again in his senses.
"Milena," said he, in a faint, quivering, moaning tone. "Milena, mylove!"
She did not answer, she did not move; to all appearance she was dead.
The muscles of his throat were twitching in such a way that he almostfancied someone had stabbed him through the neck.
Was she now worth her salt to him? he asked himself bitterly; aye, hewould give all his money to bring her back to life if he only could.
He wanted to go up to her, but his feet seemed rooted to the spotwhere he stood; with widely opened eyes he stared at the figure lyingmotionless on the floor. Was the blood trickling from her head? Amoment afterwards he was kneeling down by her side, lifting her uptenderly; for, brute as he was, he loved her.
She was not dead, for her heart was beating still. Her head wasbleeding; but the cut was very slight, hardly skin deep. He began tobathe her face with water, and tried to recall her to her senses.Still her fainting-fit, owing, perhaps, to the state of her health,lasted for some time; and those moments of torture seemed for himeverlasting.
At last Milena opened her eyes; and seeing her husband's face bentclose upon hers, she shuddered, and tried to free herself from hisarms.
"_Ljuba_," said Radonic, "forgive me. I was a brute; but I didn'tmean to harm you."
"It's a pity you didn't kill me; then there would have been an end tothis wretched life of mine."
"Do you hate me so very much?"
"Have I any reason to love you?"
"Forgive me, my love. I've been drinking to-night; and when the winegets to my head, then I know I'm nasty."
"No, you hate me, and I know why."
"Why?"
"Vranic sets you against me; and when your anger is roused, and yourbrain muddled, you come and want to kill me."
Radonic did not reply.
"But rather than torture me as you do, kill me at once, to pleaseyour friend."
Milena stopped for an instant; then she began again, in a lower tone:
"And that man is doubtless there, behind that door, listening to allthat has happened."
Radonic ground his teeth, clenched his fists, snorted like ahigh-mettled horse, started up, and would have rushed to the door hadMilena not prevented him.
"No," said she, "do not be so rash. Abide your time; catch him on thehip."
"Why does he hate you?"
"Can't you guess? Did he not want to marry me?"
Radonic groaned.
"Oh! it would not be a difficult matter to turn Vranic into a friend;but I prefer being beaten by you than touched by that fiend."
Radonic started like a mad bull; and, not knowing what to do, he gavethe table such a mighty thump that he nearly shivered it.
"Listen! Yesterday, when you had rolled on the floor, and weresleeping away your drunken rage----"
"Then?"
"I went to sit on the doorstep----"
"Well, go on."
"A moment afterwards Vranic was standing in front of me."
The husband's eyes flashed with rage.
"Knowing that you would not wake, he begged me to let him come in. Hesaw me wretched and forlorn; he would comfort me."
"You lie!" He hissed these words out through his set teeth, andcaught hold of her neck to throttle her. Then, all at once, he turnedhis mad rage against himself, and thumped his head with all hisstrength, exclaiming:
"Fool, fool, fool that I am!" Then, after a short silence, and with asullen look: "And you, what did you do?"
"I got up, came in, and slammed the door in his face."
Radonic caught his wife in his arms, and kissed her.
"Tell me one thing more. Where were you yesterday evening?"
She smiled.
"Where do you think I was? Well, I'll tell you, because you'll neverguess. I was at the witch's, who lives down there by the sea shore."
"What for?"
"Because I'm tired of this life. I went to ask her for a charmagainst your bosom friend."
"And what can a foolish old woman do for you?" said the husband,trying to put on a sceptical look.
"I have not been all over the world as you have; still, I know thatour blood also is red."
"And what did the _baornitza_ tell you?"
"That a flowing beard is but a vain ornament when the head is light."
Radonic shrugged his shoulders and
tried not to wince.
"Besides, she gave me this charm;" and showing him her amulet, shebegged him to wear it for a few days. "It will not do you any harm;wear it for my sake, even if you don't believe in it," she pleadedsoftly.
Radonic yielded, and allowed Milena to fasten the little bag roundhis neck, looking deep into her beautiful eyes uplifted towards his.She blushed, feeling the fire of his glances.
"And now," added she, with a sigh of relief, "he'll break his viper'sfangs against that bone, if our proverbs are true."
Radonic tried to keep up his character of an _esprit-fort_, and said:"Humbug!" but there was a catch in his voice as he uttered this word.
"Now, I feel sure that as long as you have this talisman you'll notopen your mouth or reveal a single word of what I've told you."
"Whom do you take me for?"
"Yes, but at times our very eyes deceive us; moreover, Vranic is aman to whom everybody is like glass. He reads your innermostthoughts."
"He is sharp; nothing more, I tell you."
"Anyhow, that is a powerful charm, and if you'll only dissimulate----"
"Oh! I can be a match for him if I like."
"You must promise me one thing more."
"What is it?"
"No knives; no bloodshed."
Radonic did not answer for a moment, but cast on Milena an angrylook, his hand seeking the handle of his knife.
"Will you promise?"
"Are you so fond of him that you are frightened I'll kill him?"
"I hate him."
"Then----"
"Still, it is no reason to murder him."
Radonic seemed lost in his own thoughts.
"Moreover, he is weak and puny, whilst you are made of iron." Shelaid her hand on his shoulder. "No knives, then; it's understood?"
"I promise to use no knife."
The morrow was a beautiful day; winter seemed already to be wakingfrom its short sleep. The sun was shining brightly, and as the breezewas fresh and bracing, his cheerful warmth was pleasant, especiallyfor people who have to depend upon his rays for their only heat.Spring seemed already to be at hand, and, in fact, the first violetsand primroses might have been seen glinting in sunny spots.
Milena was returning from market, and her eyes were wandering far onthe wide expanse of glittering blue waters, but her thoughts, likefleet halcyons, dived far away into the hazy distance, unfathomableto the sight itself, and she hummed to herself the following song:
"A crystal rill I fain would be, And down the deep dell then I'd go; Close to his cottage I would flow. Thus every morn my love I'd see, Oft to his lips I might be pressed, And nestle close unto his breast."
Then she sighed and tried not to think, for hers, indeed, was forlornhope.
All at once she heard someone walking behind her, coming nearer andnearer. She hastened her steps; still, the person who followed herwalked on quicker.
"What a hurry you are in, Milena," said Vranic, coming up to her.
"Oh! is it you?" she replied, with feigned surprise; then sheshuddered, thinking that she had not her amulet, and was at the mercyof this artful man. "You frightened me."
"Dear me, I'm afraid I'm always frightening you! Still, believe me,I'd give my soul to the devil for one of your smiles, for a good wordfrom you, Milena."
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Children are deceived with cakes, women with sweet words, they say."
He cast a sidelong glance at her.
"You don't look well, to-day; you are pale."
"Am I?"
"Yes; what's the matter?"
"How can I look well, with that brute of a husband of mine?"
"Ah, yes! he got home rather the worse for drink yesterday evening,didn't he?"
"You ought to know; you were with him."
"Well, yes, I was; at least, part of the evening."
"And when he was as mad as a wild bull, you sent him home to me,didn't you?"
"I?"
"Vranic, when will you finish persecuting me? What have I done toyou?"
"Milena, it is true I am bad; but is it my fault? has not the worldmade me what I am? Why have I not a right to my share of happiness asother men?"
"I am sorry for you, Vranic, but what can I do for you?"
"You can do whatever you like with me, make me as good as a lamb."
"How?"
"Have pity on me; I love you!"
"How can you say you love me, when you have tried to harm me in everypossible way?"
"I was jealous; besides, I saw that you hated me, therefore you knowit was my only chance of success. In love and in war all means aregood."
She shuddered; still, she managed to master herself and hide theloathing she felt for him.
"So you thought that, after having driven me to distraction----"
"I should be your friend in need."
"Fine friend." Then after a pause: "Anyhow, my present life is suchthat, rather than bear it any longer, I'll go and drown myself someday or other."
"You'd never do that, Milena."
"Why not? Therefore, if you care for me ever so little, use yourinfluence over Radonic, undo your work, get him to be a little lessof a brute than he has been of late."
"And then you'll laugh at me?"
"Who does good can expect better," and she tried to look at him lessharshly than she was wont to do, and did not turn her eyes away fromhim.
"No, Milena, first----"
"What! first the pay, then the work? It would be against theproverb."
"Then promise me at least that you will try to love me a little?"
"No," said she, with a toss of her pretty head, and a smile in hermischievous, sparkling eyes; "I promise nothing."
He thereupon took her hand and kissed it, saying:
"I am making a poor bargain, for I am sure that your heart is empty."
"If you cannot manage to awaken love in an empty heart, it will beyour fault; besides, you can always be in time to undo your work."
"How so?"
"You have me in your power, for Radonic, in your hands, is as pliableas putty, is he not?"
"Perhaps!" and the wrinkles of his cheeks deepened into a grim smile.
"Then let my husband come home a little less cross than he has beenof late, will you?" she said, in a coaxing tone, and her voice hadfor him all the sweetness of the nightingale's trill.
"I'll try," and his blinking, grey-green eyes gloated upon her,whilst that horrible cast in them made her shiver and feel sick; butthen she thought of Uros, and the idea that his life might be indanger by the power this man wielded over her husband made herconceal her real state of feelings and smile upon him pleasantly.
He put his arm round her waist, and whispered words of love into herear, words that seemed to sink deep into her flesh and blister her;and she felt like a bird, covered over with slime by a snake, beforebeing swallowed up.
He, at that moment--withal he was a seer--fancied Milena falling inhis arms; his persevering love had conquered at last. Radonic wouldnow be sent away to sea again, perhaps never to come back, and hewould remain the undisputed master of Milena's heart.
"Well, love me a little and I'll change your life from a hell into aheaven. I'll read your slightest wish in your eyes to satisfy it."
"Thank you," she said, shuddering, disengaging herself from hisgrasp, but feeling herself growing pale.
"What is the matter, my love?" he asked.
"Nothing, only I told you I was not feeling well; my husband almostkilled me yesterday."
"Well, I promise that it'll be the last time he touches you."
They had now reached the door of her house, and Vranic, after havingrenewed his protestations, went off, whilst Milena entered the houseand locked herself in.
That evening Radonic came home rather earlier than usual. He wassober, but in a sullen mood, and looked at Milena sheepishly. She setthe supper on the table and waited upon him; when he had finished,she took the dish and sa
t down on the hearth to have her meal.
"Well," quoth Radonic, puffing at his pipe, "have you seen Vranicto-day?"
"Yes, I met him when I was coming home from market."
"Henceforth," said he, "I forbid you going to market again."
"Very well," said she, meekly.
"And?"
"He accompanied me home."
"And what did he say?"
"That you were pulpy, therefore he could do with you whatever heliked."
"Ah! he said that, did he?" and in his rage Radonic broke his pipe."Then?"
"He would first undo his work, make you as gentle as a lamb, then hewould send you off to sea, and----"
Radonic muttered a fearful oath between his teeth.
"Can't you understand? Has he not spoken well of me?"
"He has, the villain, and it wanted all my patience not to clutch himby the neck and pluck his vile tongue out of his mouth--but I'll bidemy time."