CHAPTER XIV.
Pan Zagloba knew perfectly that the little knight was more inclinedtoward Krysia than Basia; but for that very reason he resolved to setKrysia aside. Knowing Pan Michael through and through, he was convincedthat if he had no choice, he would turn infallibly to Basia, with whomthe old noble himself was so blindly in love that he could not get itinto his head how any man could prefer another to her. He understoodalso that he could not render Pan Michael a greater service than to gethim his haiduk, and he was enchanted at thought of that match. He wasangry at Pan Michael, at Krysia also; it was true he would prefer thatPan Michael should marry Krysia rather than no one, but he determinedto do everything to make him marry the haiduk. And precisely becausethe little knight's inclination toward Krysia was known to him, hedetermined to make a Ketling of her as quickly as possible.
Still, the answer which Zagloba received a few days later from Pan Yanstaggered him somewhat in his resolution. Pan Yan advised him tointerfere in nothing, for he feared that in the opposite case greattroubles might rise easily between the friends. Zagloba himself did notwish this, therefore certain reproaches made themselves heard in him;these he stilled in the following manner:--
"If Michael and Krysia were betrothed, and I had thrust Ketling betweenthem like a wedge, then I say nothing. Solomon says, 'Do not poke yournose into another man's purse,' and he is right. But every one is freeto wish. Besides, taking things exactly, what have I done? Let any onetell me what."
When he had said this, Zagloba put his hands on his hips, pouted hislips, and looked challengingly on the walls of his chamber, as ifexpecting reproaches from them; but since the walls made no answer, hespoke on: "I told Ketling that I had predestined the haiduk to Michael.But is this not permitted me? Maybe it is not true that I havepredestined her! If I wish any other woman for Michael, may the goutbite me!"
The walls recognized the justice of Zagloba in perfect silence; and hecontinued further: "I told the haiduk that Ketling was brought down byKrysia; maybe that is not true? Has he not confessed; has he notsighed, sitting near the fire, so that the ashes were flying throughthe room! And what I saw, I have told others. Pan Yan has sound sense;but no one will throw my wit to the dogs. I know myself what may betold, and what would be better left in silence. H'm! he writes not tointerfere in anything. That may be done also. Hereafter I willinterfere in nothing. When I am a third party in presence of Krysia andKetling, I will go out and leave them alone. Let them help themselveswithout me. In fact, I think they will be able. They need no help, fornow they are so pushed toward each other that their eyes are growingwhite; and besides, the spring is coming, at which time not only thesun, but desires begin to grow warm. Well! I will leave them alone; butI shall see what the result will be."
And, in truth, the result was soon to appear. During Holy Week theentire company at Ketling's house went to Warsaw and took lodgings inthe hotel on Dluga Street, to be near the churches and perform theirdevotions at pleasure, and at the same time to sate their eyes with theholiday bustle of the city. Ketling performed here the honors of host,for though a foreigner by origin, he knew the capital thoroughly andhad many acquaintances in every quarter, through whom he was able tomake everything easy. He surpassed himself in politeness, and almostdivined the thoughts of the ladies he was escorting, especially Krysia.Besides, all had taken to loving him sincerely. Pan Michael's sister,forewarned by Zagloba, looked on him and Krysia with a more and morefavorable eye; and if she had said nothing to the maiden so far, it wasonly because he was silent. But it seemed to the worthy "auntie" anatural thing and proper that the cavalier should win the lady,especially as he was a cavalier really distinguished, who was met atevery step by marks of respect and friendship, not only from the lowerbut from the higher people; he was so capable of winning all to hisside by his truly wonderful beauty, bearing, dignity, liberality,mildness in time of peace, and manfulness in war.
"What God will give, and my husband decide, will come to pass," saidPani Makovetski to herself; "but I will not cross these two."
Thanks to this decision, Ketling found himself oftener with Krysia andstayed with her longer than when in his own house. Besides, the wholecompany always went out together. Zagloba generally gave his arm to PanMichael's sister, Ketling to Krysia, and Basia, as the youngest, wentalone, sometimes hurrying on far ahead, then halting in front of shopsto look at goods and various wonders from beyond the sea, such as shehad never seen before. Krysia grew accustomed gradually to Ketling; andnow when she was leaning on his arm, when she listened to hisconversation or looked at his noble face, her heart did not beat in herbreast with the former disquiet, presence of mind did not leave her,and she was seized not by confusion, but by an immense and intoxicatingdelight. They were continually by themselves; they knelt near eachother in the churches; their voices were mingled in prayer and in pioushymns.
Ketling knew well the condition of his heart. Krysia, either from lackof decision or because she wished to tempt herself, did not saymentally, "I love him;" but they loved each other greatly. A friendshiphad sprung up between them; and besides love, they had immense regardfor each other. Of love itself they had not spoken yet; time passed forthem as a dream, and a serene sky was above them. Clouds of reproacheswere soon to hide it from Krysia; but the present was a time of repose.Specially through intimacy with Ketling, through becoming accustomed tohim, through that friendship which with love bloomed up between them,Krysia's alarms were ended, her impressions were not so violent, theconflicts of her blood and imagination ceased. They were near eachother; it was pleasant for them in the company of each other; andKrysia, yielding herself with her whole soul to that agreeable present,was unwilling to think that it would ever end, and that to scatterthose illusions it needed only one word[14] from Ketling, "I love."That word was soon uttered. Once, when Pan Michael's sister and Basiawere at the house of a sick relative, Ketling persuaded Krysia and PanZagloba to visit the king's castle, which Krysia had not seen hitherto,and concerning whose curiosities wonders were related throughout thewhole country. They went, then, three in company. Ketling's liberalityhad opened all doors, and Krysia was greeted by obeisances from thedoorkeepers as profound as if she were a queen entering her ownresidence. Ketling, knowing the castle perfectly, conducted her throughlordly halls and chambers. They examined the theatre, the royal baths;they halted before pictures representing the battles and victoriesgained by Sigismund and Vladislav over the savagery of the East; theywent out on the terraces, from which the eye took in an immense stretchof country. Krysia could not free herself from wonder; he explainedeverything to her, but was silent from moment to moment, and lookinginto her dark-blue eyes, he seemed to say with his glance, "What areall these wonders in comparison with thee, thou wonder? What are allthese treasures in comparison with thee, thou treasure?" The young ladyunderstood that silent speech. He conducted her to one of the royalchambers, and stood before a door concealed in the wall.
"One may go to the cathedral through this door. There is a longcorridor, which ends with a balcony not far from the high altar. Fromthis balcony the king and queen hear Mass usually."
"I know that way well," put in Zagloba, "for I was a confidant of YanKazimir. Marya Ludovika loved me passionately; therefore both invitedme often to Mass, so that they might take pleasure in my company andedify themselves with piety."
"Do you wish to enter?" asked Ketling, giving a sign to the doorkeeper.
"Let us go in," said Krysia.
"Go alone," said Zagloba; "you are young and have good feet; I havetrotted around enough already. Go on, go on; I will stay here with thedoorkeeper. And even if you should say a couple of 'Our Fathers,' Ishall not be angry at the delay, for during that time I can restmyself."
They entered. Ketling took Krysia's hand and led her through a longcorridor. He did not press her hand to his heart; he walked calmly andcollectedly. At intervals the side windows threw light on their forms,then they sank again in the darkness. Her
heart beat somewhat, becausethey were alone for the first time; but his calmness and mildness madeher calm also. They came out at last to the balcony on the right sideof the church, not far from the high altar. They knelt and began topray. The church was silent and empty. Two candles were burning beforethe high altar, but all the deeper part of the nave was buried inimpressive twilight. Only from the rainbow-colored panes of the windowsvarious gleams entered and fell on the two wonderful faces, sunk inprayer, calm, like the faces of cherubim.
Ketling rose first and began to whisper, for he dared not raise hisvoice in the church, "Look," said he, "at this velvet-covered railing;on it are traces where the heads of the royal couple rested. The queensat at that side, nearer the altar. Rest in her place."
"Is it true that she was unhappy all her life?" whispered Krysia,sitting down. "I heard her history when I was still a child, for it isrelated in all knightly castles. Perhaps she was unhappy because shecould not marry him whom her heart loved."
Krysia rested her head on the place where the depression was made bythe head of Marya Ludovika, and closed her eyes. A kind of painfulfeeling straitened her breast; a certain coldness was blown suddenlyfrom the empty nave and chilled that calm which a moment before filledher whole being.
Ketling looked at Krysia in silence; and a stillness really churchlikeset in. Then he sank slowly to her feet, and began to speak thus with avoice that was full of emotion, but calm:--
"It is not a sin to kneel before you in this holy place; for where doestrue love come for a blessing if not to the church? I love you morethan life; I love you beyond every earthly good; I love you with mysoul, with my heart; and here before this altar I confess that love toyou."
Krysia's face grew pale as linen. Resting her head on the velvet backof the prayer-stool, the unhappy lady stirred not, but he spoke on:--
"I embrace your feet and implore your decision. Am I to go from thisplace in heavenly delight, or in grief which I am unable to bear, andwhich I can in no way survive?"
He waited awhile for an answer; but since it did not come, he bowed hishead till he almost touched Krysia's feet, and evident emotion masteredhim more and more, for his voice trembled, as if breath were failinghis breast,--
"Into your hands I give my happiness and life. I expect mercy, for myburden is great."
"Let us pray for God's mercy!" exclaimed Krysia, suddenly, dropping onher knees.
Ketling did not understand her; but he did not dare to oppose thatintention, therefore he knelt near her in hope and fear. They began topray again. From moment to moment their voices were audible in theempty church, and the echo gave forth wonderful and complaining sounds.
"God be merciful!" said Krysia.
"God be merciful!" repeated Ketling.
"Have mercy on us!"
"Have mercy on us!"
She prayed then in silence; but Ketling saw that weeping shook herwhole form. For a long time she could not calm herself; and then,growing quiet, she continued to kneel without motion. At last she roseand said, "Let us go."
They went out again into that long corridor. Ketling hoped that on theway he would receive some answer, and he looked into her eyes, but invain. She walked hurriedly, as if wishing to find herself as soon aspossible in that chamber in which Zagloba was waiting for them. Butwhen the door was some tens of steps distant, the knight seized theedge of her robe.
"Panna Krysia!" exclaimed he, "by all that is holy--"
Then Krysia turned away, and grasping his hand so quickly that he hadnot time to show the least resistance, she pressed it in the twinkle ofan eye to her lips. "I love you with my whole soul; but I shall neverbe yours!" and before the astonished Ketling could utter a word, sheadded, "Forget all that has happened."
A moment later they were both in the chamber. The doorkeeper wassleeping in one armchair, and Zagloba in the other. The entrance of theyoung people roused them. Zagloba, however, opened his eye and began toblink with it half consciously; but gradually memory of the place andthe persons returned to him.
"Ah, that is you!" said he, drawing down his girdle, "I dreamed thatthe new king was elected, but that he was a Pole. Were you at thebalcony?"
"We were."
"Did the spirit of Marya Ludovika appear to you, perchance?"
"It did!" answered Krysia, gloomily.