CHAPTER XXI.
Ketling was so changed that he was barely able to make a low obeisanceto the ladies; then he stood motionless, with his hat at his breast,with his eyes closed, like a wonder-working image. Pan Michael embracedhis sister on the way, and approached Krysia. The maiden's face was aswhite as linen, so that the light down on her lip seemed darker thanusual; her breast rose and fell violently. But Pan Michael took herhand mildly and pressed it to his lips; then his mustaches quivered fora time, as if he were collecting his thoughts; at last he spoke withgreat sadness, but with great calmness,--
"My gracious lady, or better, my beloved Krysia! Hear me without alarm,for I am not some Scythian or Tartar, or a wild beast, but a friend,who, though not very happy himself, still desires your happiness. Ithas come out that you and Ketling love each other; Panna Basia in justanger threw it in my eyes. I do not deny that I rushed out of thishouse in a rage and flew to seek vengeance on Ketling. Whoso loses hisall is more easily borne away by vengeance; and I, as God is dear tome, loved you terribly and not merely as a man never married loves amaiden. For if I had been married and the Lord God had given me an onlyson or a daughter, and had taken them afterward, I should not havemourned over them, I think, as I mourned over you."
Here Pan Michael's voice failed for a moment, but he recovered quickly;and after his mustache had quivered a number of times, he continued,"Sorrow is sorrow; but there is no help. That Ketling fell in love withyou is not a wonder. Who would not fall in love with you? And that youfell in love with him, that is my fate; there is no reason either towonder at that, for what comparison is there between Ketling and me? Inthe field he will say himself that I am not the worse man; but that isanother matter. The Lord God gave beauty to one, withheld it from theother, but rewarded him with reflection. So when the wind on the roadblew around me, and my first rage had passed, conscience saidstraightway, Why punish them? Why shed the blood of a friend? They fellin love, that was God's will. The oldest people say that against theheart the command of a hetman is nothing. It was the will of God thatthey fell in love; but that they did not betray, is their honesty. IfKetling even had known of your promise to me, maybe I should havecalled to him, 'Quench!' but he did not know of it. What was his fault?Nothing. And your fault? Nothing. He wished to depart; you wished to goto God. My fate is to blame, my fate only; for the finger of God is tobe seen now in this, that I remain in loneliness. But I have conqueredmyself; I have conquered!"
Pan Michael stopped again and began to breathe quickly, like a man who,after long diving in water, has come out to the air; then he tookKrysia's hand. "So to love," said he, "as to wish all for one's self,is not an exploit. 'The hearts are breaking in all three of us,'thought I; 'better let one suffer and give relief to the other two.'Krysia, God give you happiness with Ketling! Amen. God give you,Krysia, happiness with Ketling! It pains me a little, but that isnothing--God give you--that is nothing--I have conquered myself!"
The soldier said, "that is nothing," but his teeth gritted, and hisbreath began to hiss through them. From the other end of the room, thesobbing of Basia was heard.
"Ketling, come here, brother!" cried Volodyovski.
Ketling approached, knelt down, opened his arms, and in silence, withthe greatest respect and love, embraced Krysia's knees.
But Pan Michael continued in a broken voice, "Press his head. He hashad his suffering too, poor fellow. God bless you and him! You will notgo to the cloister. I prefer that you should bless me rather than havereason to curse me. The Lord God is above me, though it is hard for menow."
Basia, not able to endure longer, rushed out of the room, seeing which,Pan Michael turned to Makovetski and his sister. "Go to the otherchamber," said he, "and leave them; I too will go somewhere, for I willkneel down and commend myself to the Lord Jesus." And he went out.
Halfway down the corridor he met Basia, at the staircase, on the verysame place where, borne away by anger, she had divulged the secret ofKrysia and Ketling, But this time Basia stood leaning against the wall,choking from sobs.
At sight of this Pan Michael was touched at his own fate; he hadrestrained himself up to that moment as best he was able, but then thebonds of sorrow gave way, and tears burst from his eyes in a torrent."Why do you weep?" cried he, pitifully.
Basia raised her head, thrusting, like a child, now one and now theother fist into her eyes, choking and gulping at the air with openmouth, and answered with sobbing, "I am so sorry! Oh, for God's sake! OJesus! Pan Michael is so honest, so worthy! Oh, for God's sake!"
Pan Michael seized her hands and began kissing them from gratitude."God reward you! God reward you for your heart!" said he. "Quiet; donot weep."
But Basia sobbed the more, almost to choking. Every vein in her wasquivering from sorrow; she began to gulp for air more and more quickly;at last, stamping from excitement, she cried so loudly that it washeard through the whole corridor, "Krysia is a fool! I would ratherhave one Pan Michael than ten Ketlings! I love Pan Michael with all mystrength,--better than auntie, better than uncle, better than Krysia!"
"For God's sake! Basia!" cried the knight. And wishing to restrain heremotion, he seized her in his embrace, and she nestled up to his breastwith all her strength, so that he felt her heart throbbing like awearied bird; then he embraced her still more firmly, and they remainedso.
Silence followed.
"Basia, do you wish me?" asked the little knight.
"I do, I do, I do!" answered Basia.
At this answer transport seized him in turn; he pressed his lips to herrosy lips, and again they remained so.
Meanwhile a carriage rattled up to the house, and Zagloba rushed intothe ante-room, then to the dining-room, in which Pan Makovetski wassitting with his wife. "There is no sign of Michael!" cried he, in onebreath; "I looked everywhere. Pan Krytski said that he saw him withKetling. Surely they have fought!"
"Michael is here," answered Pani Makovetski; "he brought Ketling andgave him Krysia."
The pillar of salt into which Lot's wife was turned had surely a lessastonished face than Zagloba at that moment. Silence continued for awhile; then the old noble rubbed his eyes and asked, "What?"
"Krysia and Ketling are sitting in there together, and Michael has goneto pray," said Makovetski.
Zagloba entered the next room without a moment's hesitation; and thoughhe knew of all, he was astonished a second time, seeing Ketling andKrysia sitting forehead to forehead. They sprang up, greatly confused,and had not a word to say, especially as the Makovetskis came in afterZagloba.
"A lifetime would not suffice to thank Michael," said Ketling, at last."Our happiness is his work."
"God give you happiness!" said Makovetski. "We will not opposeMichael."
Krysia dropped into the embraces of Pani Makovetski, and the two beganto cry. Zagloba was as if stunned. Ketling bowed to Makovetski's kneesas to those of a father; and either from the onrush of thoughts, orfrom confusion, Makovetski said, "But Pan Deyma killed Pan Ubysh. ThankMichael, not me!" After a while he asked, "Wife, what was the name ofthat lady?"
But she had no time for an answer, for at that moment Basia rushed in,panting more than usual, more rosy than usual, with her forelockfalling down over her eyes more than usual; she ran up to Ketling andKrysia, and thrusting her finger now into the eye of one, and now intothe eye of the other, said, "Oh, sigh, love, marry! You think that PanMichael will be alone in the world? Not a bit of it; I shall be withhim, for I love him, and I have told him so. I was the first to tellhim, and he asked if I wanted him, and I told him that I would ratherhave him than ten others; for I love him, and I'll be the best wife,and I will never leave him! I'll go to the war with him! I've loved himthis long time, though I did not tell him, for he is the best and theworthiest, the beloved-- And now marry for yourselves, and I will takePan Michael, to-morrow, if need be--for--"
Here breath failed Basia.
All looked at her, not understanding whether she had gone mad or was
telling the truth; then they looked at one another, and with that PanMichael appeared in the door behind Basia.
"Michael," asked Makovetski, when presence of mind had restored hisvoice to him, "is what we hear true?"
"God has wrought a miracle," answered the little knight, with greatseriousness, "and here is my comfort, my love, my greatest treasure."
After these words Basia sprang to him again like a deer.
Now the mask of astonishment fell from Zagloba's face, and his whitebeard began to quiver; he opened his arms widely and said, "God knows Ishall sob! Haiduk and Michael, come hither!"