“He met the lady as a betrothed. It is easily seen that she pleased him greatly, for whom has she not pleased?”
“But he is not worse than she, never fear! Could you get his equal, you would 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, not a knight.”
“The Patsuneli girls say that that cavalry captain who is stopping with old Pakosh is a handsome cavalier.”
“I have not seen him; but how compare him with Pan Kmita! Such another as Pan Kmita surely there is not in the world!”
“It’s down!” cried the man of Jmud on a sudden, when something broke again in the mill.
“Go out, shaggy head, with thy freaks! Give us peace, for we cannot hear.—True, true; hard to find better than Pan Kmita in the whole world; 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 with Kmita, for Aunt Kulvyets had gone to bustle about the supper.
Pan Andrei did not remove his gaze from Olenka, and his eyes shot sparks more and more every moment; at last he said—
“There are men to whom land is dearer than all things else; there are others who chase after plunder in war, others love horses; but I would not give you for any treasure. As God lives, the more I look the more I wish to marry; so that even if it were tomorrow—Oh, that brow—just as 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 urgent that I am wonder-stricken.”
“That is our way in Smolensk—to go boldly at women as we do into battle. You must, my queen, grow accustomed to this, for thus will it ever be.”
“You must put it aside, for thus it cannot be.”
“Perhaps I may yield, may I be slain! Believe, believe me not, but with gladness would I bend the skies for you. For you, my queen, I am ready to learn other manners; for I know myself that I am a simple soldier, I have lived more in camps than in chambers of castles.”
“Oh, that harms nothing, for my grandfather was a soldier; but I give thanks for the goodwill,” said Olenka; and her eyes looked with such sweetness on Pan Andrei that his heart melted like wax in a moment, and he answered—
“You will lead me on a thread.”
“Ah, you are not like those who are led on threads; to do that is most difficult with men who are unsteady.”
Kmita showed in a smile teeth as white as a wolf’s teeth, “How is that?” asked he. “Are the rods few that the fathers broke on me in the monastery to bring me to steadiness and make me remember various fair maxims 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 a whole 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 be convinced?”
“You are a serpent!”
Panna Aleksandra laughed, however, and a halo of youth and gladness came from her. His nostrils quivered like the nostrils of a young steed of noble blood.
“Ai! ai!” said he. “What eyes, what a face! Save me, all ye saints, for I cannot keep away!”
“There is no reason to summon the saints. You were absent four years without once looking in here; sit still now!”
“But I knew only the counterfeit. I will have that painter put in tar and then in feathers, and scourge him through the square of Upita. I will tell all in sincerity—forgive, if it please you; if not, take my head. I thought to myself when looking at that portrait: ‘A pretty little 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 one answer: ‘I have time! The little wife will not vanish; maidens go not to war and do not perish.’ I was not opposed at all to the will of my father, God is my witness; but I wanted first to know war and feel it on my own body. This moment I see my folly. I might have married and gone 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 kiss your 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; and the 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, she raised her eyes. That intimacy did not please her, but she dared not scold. She gave invitation to supper.
Both went to the supper-room, holding each the other’s hand as if they were related. In the room stood a table covered, and on it an abundance of all kinds of food, especially choice smoked meats and a mouldy thick bottle of
