Pan Michael: An Historical Novel of Poland, the Ukraine, and Turkey

  CHAPTER XVII.

  Though Zagloba received the news of Ketling's departure withastonishment, still no suspicion came into his head; for it was easy toadmit that Charles II. had remembered the services which the Ketlingshad rendered the throne in time of disturbance, and that he wished toshow his gratitude to the last descendant of the family. It would seemeven most wonderful were he to act otherwise. Besides, Ketling showedZagloba certain letters from beyond the sea, and convinced himdecisively. In its way that journey endangered all the old noble'splans, and he was thinking with alarm of the future. Judging by hisletter, Volodyovski might return any day.

  "The winds have blown away in the steppes the remnant of his grief,"thought Zagloba. "He will come back more daring than when he departed;and because some devil is drawing him more powerfully to Krysia, he isready to propose to her straightway. And then,--then Krysia will sayyes (for how could she say no to such a cavalier, and, besides, thebrother of Pani Makovetski?), and my poor, dearest haiduk will be onthe ice."

  But Zagloba, with the persistence special to old people, determined atall costs to marry Basia to the little knight. Neither the arguments ofPan Yan, nor those which at intervals he used on himself, had seriouseffect. At times he promised mentally, it is true, not to interfereagain in anything; but he returned afterward involuntarily with greaterpersistence to the thought of uniting this pair. He meditated for wholedays how to effect this; he formed plans, he framed stratagems. And hewent so far that when it seemed to him that he had hit upon the means,he cried out straightway, as if the affair were over, "May God blessyou!"

  But now Zagloba saw before him almost the ruin of his wishes. Thereremained nothing more to him but to abandon all his efforts and leavethe future to God's will; for the shadow of hope that before hisdeparture Ketling would take some decisive step with reference toKrysia could not remain long in Zagloba's head. It was only from sorrowand curiosity, therefore, that he determined to inquire of the youngknight touching the time of his going, as well as what he intended todo before leaving the Commonwealth.

  Having invited Ketling to a conversation, Zagloba said with a greatlygrieved face, "A difficult case! Each man knows best what he ought todo, and I will not ask you to stay; but I should like to know at leastsomething about your return."

  "Can I tell what is waiting for me there, where I am going?" answeredKetling,--"what questions and what adventures? I will return sometime,if I can. I will stay there for good if I must."

  "You will find that your heart will draw you back to us."

  "God grant that my grave will be nowhere else but in the land whichgave me all that it could give!"

  "Ah, you see in other countries a foreigner is a stepchild all hislife; but our mother opens her arms to you at once, and cherishes youas her own son."

  "Truth, a great truth. Ei! if only I could-- For everything in the oldcountry may come to me, but happiness will not come."

  "Ah! I said to you, 'Settle down; get married.' You would not listen tome. If you were married, even if you went away, you would have toreturn, unless you wished to take your wife through the raging waves;and I do not suppose that. I gave you advice. Well, you wouldn't takeit; you wouldn't take it."

  Here Zagloba looked attentively at Ketling's face, wishing somedefinite explanation from him, but Ketling was silent; he merely hunghis head and fixed his eyes on the floor.

  "What is your answer to this?" asked Zagloba, after a while.

  "I had no chance whatever of taking it," answered the young knight,slowly.

  Zagloba began to walk through the room, then he stopped in front ofKetling, joined his hands behind his back, and said, "But I tell youthat you had. If you had not, may I never from this day forward bindthis body of mine with this belt here! Krysia is a friend of yours."

  "God grant that she remain one, though seas be between us!"

  "What does that mean?"

  "Nothing more; nothing more."

  "Have you asked her?"

  "Spare me. As it is, I am so sad because I am going."

  "Ketling, do you wish me to speak to her while there is time?"

  Ketling considered that if Krysia wished so earnestly that theirfeelings should remain secret, perhaps she might be glad if anopportunity were offered of denying them openly, therefore he answered,"I assure you that that is vain, and I am so far convinced that I havedone everything to drive that feeling from my head; but if you arelooking for a miracle, ask."

  "Ah, if you have driven her out of your head," said Zagloba, with acertain bitterness, "there is nothing indeed to be done. Only permit meto remark that I looked on you as a man of more constancy."

  Ketling rose, and stretching upward his two hands feverishly, said withviolence unusual to him, "What will it help me to wish for one of thosestars? I cannot fly up to it, neither can it come down to me. Woe topeople who sigh after the silver moon!"

  Zagloba grew angry, and began to puff. For a time he could not evenspeak, and only when he had mastered his anger did he answer with abroken voice, "My dear, do not hold me a fool; if you have reasons togive, give them to me, as to a man who lives on bread and meat, not asto one who is mad,--for if I should now frame a fiction, and tell youthat this cap of mine here is the moon, and that I cannot reach it withmy hand, I should go around the city with a bare, bald head, and thefrost would bite my ears like a dog. I will not wrestle with statementslike that. But I know this: the maiden lives three rooms distant fromhere; she eats; she drinks; when she walks, she must put one footbefore the other; in the frost her nose grows red, and she feels hot inthe heat; when a mosquito bites her, she feels it; and as to the moon,she may resemble it in this, that she has no beard. But in the way thatyou talk, it may be said that a turnip is an astrologer. As to Krysia,if you have not tried, if you have not asked her, it is your own fault;but if you have ceased to love the girl, and now you are going away,saying to yourself 'moon,' then you may nourish any weed with yourhonesty as well as your wit,--that is the point of the question."

  To this Ketling answered, "It is not sweet, but bitter in my mouth fromthe food which you are giving me. I go, for I must; I do not ask,because I have nothing to ask about. But you judge me unjustly,--Godknows how unjustly!"

  "Ketling! I know, of course, that you are a man of honor; but I cannotunderstand those ways of yours. In my time a man went to a maiden andspoke into her eyes with this rhyme, 'If you wish me, we will livetogether; if not, I will not buy you.'[15] Each one knew what he had todo; whoever was halting, and not bold in speech, sent a better man totalk than himself. I offered you my services, and offer them yet. Iwill go; I will talk; I will bring back an answer, and according tothat, you will go or stay."

  "I must go! it cannot be otherwise, and will not."

  "You will return."

  "No! Do me a kindness, and speak no more of this. If you wish toinquire for your own satisfaction, very well, but not in my name."

  "For God's sake, have you asked her already?"

  "Let us not speak of this. Do me the favor."

  "Well, let us talk of the weather. May the thunderbolt strike you, andyour ways! So you must go, and I must curse."

  "I take farewell of you."

  "Wait, wait! Anger will leave me this moment. My Ketling, wait, for Ihad something to say to you. When do you go?"

  "As soon as I can settle my affairs. I should like to wait in Courlandfor the quarter's rent; and the house in which we have been living Iwould sell willingly if any one would buy it."

  "Let Makovetski buy it, or Michael. In God's name! but you will not goaway without seeing Michael?"

  "I should be glad in my soul to see him."

  "He may be here any moment. He may incline you to Krysia."

  Here Zagloba stopped, for a certain alarm seized him suddenly. "I wasserving Michael in good intent," thought he, "but terribly against hiswill; if discord is to rise between him and Ketling, better let Ketlinggo away." Here Zagloba rubbed his bald head with
his hand; at last headded, "One thing and another was said out of pure goodwill. I have sofallen in love with you that I would be glad to detain you by allmeans; therefore I put Krysia before you, like a bit of bacon. But thatwas only through good-will. What is it to me, old man? In truth, thatwas only good-will,--nothing more. I am not match-making; if I were, Iwould have made a match for myself. Ketling, give me your face,[16] andbe not angry."

  Ketling embraced Zagloba, who became really tender, and straightwaygave command to bring the decanter, saying, "We will drink one likethis every day on the occasion of your departure."

  And they drank. Then Ketling bade him good-by and went out. Immediatelythe wine roused fancy in Zagloba; he began to meditate about Basia,Krysia, Pan Michael, and Ketling, began to unite them in couples, tobless them; at last he wished to see the young ladies, and said, "Well,I will go and see those kids."

  The young ladies were sitting in the room beyond the entrance, andsewing. Zagloba, after he had greeted them, walked through the room,dragging his feet a little; for they did not serve him as formerly,especially after wine. While walking, he looked at the maidens, whowere sitting closely, one near the other, so that the bright head ofBasia almost touched the dark one of Krysia. Basia followed him withher eyes; but Krysia was sewing so diligently that it was barelypossible to catch the glitter of her needle with the eye.

  "H'm!" said Zagloba.

  "H'm!" repeated Basia.

  "Don't mock me, for I am angry."

  "He'll be sure to cut my head off!" cried Basia, feigning terror.

  "Strike! strike! I'll cut your tongue out,--that's what I'll do!"

  Saying this, Zagloba approached the young ladies, and putting his handson his hips, asked without any preliminary, "Do you want Ketling ashusband?"

  "Yes; five like him!" said Basia, quickly.

  "Be quiet, fly! I am not talking to you. Krysia, the speech is to you.Do you want Ketling as husband?"

  Krysia had grown pale somewhat, though at first she thought thatZagloba was asking Basia, not her; then she raised on the old noble herbeautiful dark-blue eyes. "No," answered she, calmly.

  "Well, 'pon my word! No! At least it is short. 'Pon my word!--'pon myword! And why do you not want him?"

  "I want no one."

  "Krysia, tell that to some one else," put in Basia.

  "What brought the married state into such contempt with you?" continuedZagloba.

  "Not contempt; I have a vocation for the convent," answered Krysia.

  There was in her voice so much seriousness and such sadness that Basiaand Zagloba did not admit even for a moment that she was jesting; butsuch great astonishment seized both that they began to look as ifdazed, now on each other, now on Krysia.

  "Well!" said Zagloba, breaking the silence first.

  "I wish to enter a convent," repeated Krysia, with sweetness.

  Basia looked at her once and a second time, suddenly threw her armsaround her neck, pressed her rosy lips to her cheek, and began to sayquickly, "Oh, Krysia, I shall sob! Say quickly that you are onlytalking to the wind; I shall sob, as God is in heaven, I shall!"